Jessica Cale

Although heroes in romantic fiction are often described as rakes, in reality, "rakehells" were notorious for very bad behavior as Jude Knight explains today on our sister blog, Dirty, Sexy History. Real rakehells were sexual predators and morally bankrupt, seducing innocents and partying their estates into debt and themselves into early graves. Not at all the befitting a romantic hero! In this special post, Jude walks us through the challenge of writing a rakehell who is both accurate and likable. Without further ado, I am honored to welcome Jude Knight to the blog to introduce us to the Marquis of Aldridge. -JC  Writing a believable rakehell My visual reference for the Marquis of Aldridge I planned for my Marquis of Aldridge to be a real rake: a person whose behaviour, despite his social status as the heir to a duke, causes mothers to warn their daughters about him. On the other hand, I didn't want him to be a totally unsympathetic character. He made his fi

Holly and Hopeful Hearts When the Duchess of Haverford sends out invitations to a Yuletide house party and a New Year’s Eve ball at her country estate, Hollystone Hall, those who respond know that Her Grace intends to raise money for her favorite cause and promote whatever marriages she can. Eight assorted heroes and heroines set out with their pocketbooks firmly clutched and hearts in protective custody. Or are they? 25% of all proceeds from Holly and Hopeful Hearts will be donated to the Malala Fund.  An additional 25% of Jessica Cale's proceeds will be donated to Equality NC. Amazon US  |  Amazon UK  |  Amazon Australia  |  Amazon Canada     Smashwords  | Kobo  | Barnes & Noble  |  iBooks Charlotte meets Baby Charlotte woke with the distinct feeling she was being watched. She sat up in an overstuffed bed, enveloped in layers of soft, sweet-smelling bedclothes. The room was enormous, bright, and tastefully decorated; it was not even a little bit