The Ice Captain’s Daughter • #Freebie

October 13, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers 2 Comments

From October 13 through 11: 00 a.m. EST October 15, The Ice Captain’s Daughter is a free Kindle download at Amazon. This sweet, romantic novella, originally released in January of 2013, is the first historical romance I ever wrote.

At its core, the London Season was about marriage, and these marital arrangements were often quite practical in nature. The royal class often married for money. Accordingly, wealthy commoners frequently had the desire to marry royalty. Where the money came from was always critical to society, however. If a girl’s relatives were deemed to be “in trade,” her chances to make a good match might be doomed from the outset. Essentially, accepting money for work was “trade,” but sometimes hairs were split thin. For example, a solicitor was in trade, but a barrister was not. A surgeon was in trade, but a doctor was not. A military captain might be acceptable to society, but what about the captain of a merchant vessel? Is he in trade or not? Such is the backdrop for The Ice Captain’s Daughter.

To read a sample, go HERE. Enjoy the freebie! ~ Suzanne

Blurb: The daughter of a wealthy ice merchant, Miss Jillian Roring intends to marry for love. En route to her first season in London, however, a failed kidnapping sends her into the arms of the most jaded bachelor in England. When Logan and Jillian unwittingly violate the rigid rules of propriety in Victorian-era England, he is obliged to make her an offer of marriage. Because she aspires to be more than an obligation, Jillian refuses the match. Logan follows her to London to woo her properly, but his scheming ex-fiancée has other plans.

Can Logan convince Jillian that his love for her is real or will the cruel gossip and sharp tongues of London society tear their budding relationship apart?

A romantic Victorian-era tale set in 1899, England.

Clean & Wholesome, Victorian Romance

The Mannequin Series • Bestsellers!

September 14, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers Leave a comment

screen-shot-2016-09-14-at-9-16-41-am

My two books in the Mannequin series are currently #1 and #2 in the Teen & Young Adult Historical Romance category on Amazon! I’m happy my work is being read and thrilled to share the good news. Thank you! ~ Suzanne

Clean & Wholesome, Victorian Romance

#Freebie • The Mannequin • Sweet Victorian Romance

September 12, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers 1 Comment

Today is my BookBub feature, which is always terrific fun! Pick up a free Kindle copy of The Mannequin Monday, September 12 and Tuesday, September 13. If you enjoy clean and wholesome historical romance with a nod to some popular fairy-tale themes, this one is for you. ~ Suzanne

Blurb: When she was a poor country girl in a hand-me-down dress, Rosamund saved the Duke of Swanhaven from the brink of despair…only to fall in love with him. Now a celebrated mannequin for an exclusive London dressmaker, her glamorous life is empty without the man to whom she gave her heart. Can a beastly duke and a beautiful mannequin ever find a fairy-tale ending?

Follow me on BookBub HERE

Clean & Wholesome, Victorian Romance

#SALE • GRACE UNMASKED • Sweet Victorian Romance

August 15, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers 1 Comment

PhotoFunia-1471265921

It’s a countdown deal at Amazon! From Monday, August 15th – Friday, August 19th download Grace Unmasked (reg. $3.99) for only $0.99!

Blurb: On the heels of an unjust accusation, Grace flees from her country village to the anonymity of London. Although she intends to seek sanctuary with her cousin Joe Fiddick, she discovers he’s also suffered a setback and needs more help than she can offer. Desperate, she solicits assistance from Joe’s friend–the notorious rake, Lord Henley. Will the price of the handsome baron’s help be more than she’s willing to pay?

Although it’s a standalone, you can start with The Mannequin, which is Book One of the Mannequin series.

PhotoFunia-1471266056

Blurb: When she was a poor country girl in a hand-me-down dress, Rosamund saved the Duke of Swanhaven from the brink of despair…only to fall in love with him. Now a celebrated mannequin for an exclusive London dressmaker, her glamorous life is empty without the man to whom she gave her heart. Can a beastly duke and a beautiful mannequin ever find a fairy-tale ending?

Buy The Mannequin HERE • Buy Grace Unmasked HERE

And, as always, you can count on reading a pure, blush-free romance!

Victorian Romance

Young Love on the High Seas • Duke of a Gilded Age • #free

July 17, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers 3 Comments

DOGAsgr Duke of a Gilded Age is a Kindle Freebie from Sunday, July 17 through Tuesday, July 19th. If you like turn of the century sweet romantic fiction with a touch of adventure, grab your copy HERE. To read a sample, click HERE. No blushes, just pure romance.

Blurb: When American-born Wesley Parker inherits a dukedom in 1890, he must learn to be an aristocrat. Assigned to the task is his attorney’s daughter, prim Belle Oakhurst. As they travel to England together on a luxurious ocean liner, their tempestuous relationship encounters more than rough seas. Although Wesley is increasingly attracted to Belle, she is already engaged. While Belle begins to regret her hasty promise to marry, she is bound by honor and duty to keep her pledge. Furthermore, a thoughtless fabrication on her part threatens to expose her as a liar. Neither Wesley nor Belle can foresee that their voyage across the Atlantic will be fraught with peril, and will cost more than one man his life.

Victorian Romance

#SALE • THE MANNEQUIN • Sweet Victorian romance

July 11, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers Leave a comment

This wee sgrmannequin6x9 k, you can read The Mannequin for only 99 cents (or free via kindleunlimited)! This countdown deal is available Monday, July 11 through Friday, July 15, so don’t wait.

~ Suzanne

What reviewers on Amazon are saying: (198 five-star reviews!)

“I loved this story and all its twists and turns.” – maebelle

“[A] poignant tale of love, loss, and heartbreak.” – Juli D

“Engaging, romantic, fast paced, happiness, sadness.” – Colleen CF

“I would compare this to books written by Georgette Heyer or Barbara Cartland.” – Thomas Quarles

To read a sample of The Mannequin, click HERE.

To go directly to Amazon, click HERE.

Victorian Romance, Writing

Historical Research • Grace Unmasked

July 8, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers Leave a comment

When I was writing Grace Unmasked, I did some research on what historical events had taken place in 1883. I was hoping to incorporate something of interest, of course, to add to the historical ambiance. The eruption of the volcano on Krakatoa caught my eye, and triggered a childhood memory. My parents had taken the family to see a disaster movie entitled Krakatoa, East of Java, and I’d been riveted. The plot of the movie didn’t stand out to me as much as the special effects at the end, when the filmmakers sought to portray the explosive eruption and the resulting tsunami. I found a copy of the movie and watched it again. Considering what was available in terms of special effects in 1969, I was still impressed.

I did a little more research on the eruption itself, purchasing a used copy of Simkin and 51lwTNmqYPL._SX381_BO1,204,203,200_ Fiske’s Krakatau 1883. In it, there are many fascinating eyewitness accounts of the event, and facts about the aftereffects. For example, the violent eruption destroyed most of the island of Krakatau. The explosion could be heard over 1/13th of the earth’s surface. The resulting ash cast the Sunda Strait (which connects the Java Sea to the Indian Ocean) into darkness for almost 24 hours, and giant waves over 40 meters (appx. 131 feet) above sea level destroyed everything in their path. In addition, over 36,000 people were killed. The volcanic dust veil created spectacular atmospheric effects over a vast distance and lowered global temperatures as much as 1/2 degree Celsius in the following year. In fact, temperatures didn’t return to normal until five years later.

News of the disaster traveled quickly because of the telegraph system, and papers around the world carried the story the day after the massive eruption had occurred.

Now, Grace Unmasked is set in England, which is nowhere near Krakatau. So how did this event find its way–albeit indirectly–into the narrative? You’ll have to read the book to find out.

~ Suzanne

MANNEQUINTWOFINALCOVER

On the heels of an unjust accusation, Grace flees from her country village to the anonymity of London. Although she intends to seek sanctuary with her cousin Joe Fiddick, she discovers he’s also suffered a setback and needs more help than she can offer. Desperate, she solicits assistance from Joe’s friend–the notorious rake, Lord Henley. Will the price of the handsome baron’s help be more than she’s willing to pay?

Grace Unmasked is available for the Kindle HERE.

Edwardian Romance

Jessamine’s Folly • Sweet Edwardian Romance • #Freebie

June 6, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers 2 Comments

“Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.” ~ Samuel Johnson

After her estate is entailed away, Jessamine Foster has no choice but to live with relatives who detest her. When her aunt gives her an ultimatum to leave, Jessamine accepts a position as companion to Lord Kirkendale’s sister—even though she’s been warned her predecessors can’t seem to resist the earl’s exceptional good looks. Can Jessamine manage to hold onto her job without losing her heart?

To honor a promise made to his dying father, Lord Kirkendale agrees to an arranged marriage to a woman he cannot love. Although he is resigned to a life without sentiment, the arrival of his sister’s new companion awakens a slumbering passion. Can he find a way to secure his own happiness without sacrificing his family’s honor, or will his broken promise result in the ruination of the person he loves most?

This sweet Edwardian romance is free from Monday, June 6th to Wednesday, June 8th, so pick up your copy HERE.

Victorian Romance, Writing

Eating Elephants and Writing Grace Unmasked

May 29, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers Leave a comment

“When eating an elephant take one bite at a time.”

– U.S. Army General Creighton W. Abrams, Jr.

sgrmannequin6x9 How do you write a sequel to a popular book that’s sure to please everyone? You can’t, of course. When I planned the sequel to my bestselling book The Mannequin, however, I re-read the reviews to get an idea what readers enjoyed most. Ultimately, I concluded that lightning rarely strikes twice in the same place. I didn’t want to tell the same story a slightly different way, so I vowed to begin fresh. Easier said than done!

1920px-Château_de_Versailles,_salon_des_nobles,_Pygmalion_priant_Vénus_d'animer_sa_statue,_Jean-Baptiste_Regnault — *Pygmalion* by Jean-Baptiste Regnault, 1786

You see, when I wrote The Mannequin, I didn’t start out to write a novel based on Cendrillon (Cinderella), La Belle et la Bête (Beauty and the Beast), or Frances Hodgson Burnett’s The Secret Garden. As the story unfolded, however, I wove in some familiar elements, hoping to strike an emotional chord. In the development of Grace Unmasked, however, I wanted to draw on other inspiration. I chose the mythological figure of Pygmalion, a sculptor who falls in love with his creation. Many 20th Century plays, musicals, and movies have been written about Pygmalion, most notably George Bernard Shaw’s Pygmalion, the musical My Fair Lady, and even Gigi.

800px-Mary_Anderson_as_Galatea_by_Napoleon_Sarony_1883 — Actress Mary Anderson as Galatea (1883)

Since Grace Unmasked is set in 1883, I had to find a version of Pygmalion written early enough to warrant a mention in the narrative. I chose Pygmalion and Galatea, a play written by W.S. Gilbert. (Download a .pdf copy from Boise State University website HERE). The three-act blank verse production opened at the Haymarket Theatre in December, 1871, was quite popular, and sparked many imitations. Although Grace Unmasked is not a retelling of the myth, I touch upon a similar theme.

One other interesting aspect of Grace Unmasked is its length. I’d wanted it to be longer than The Mannequin (over 64,000 words), but I hadn’t planned for it to exceed 96,000 words! As Abe Lincoln said, when asked how long a man’s legs should be, “Long enough to reach the ground.” I wrote until the story was done…for the most part. That is to say, there are a few characters who might warrant a third book in the series. 😀

~ Suzanne

Blurb: On the heels of an unjust accusation, Grace flees from her country village to the anonymity of London. Although she intends to seek sanctuary with her cousin Joe Fiddick, she discovers he’s also suffered a setback and needs more help than she can offer. Desperate, she solicits assistance from Joe’s friend–the notorious rake, Lord Henley. Will the price of the handsome baron’s help be more than she’s willing to pay?

Grace Unmasked is available for pre-order at a special price HERE. Release date Tuesday, May 31, 2016.

Victorian Romance

Excerpt from Grace Unmasked

May 12, 2016 Suzanne G. Rogers 2 Comments

When Henley entered the breakfast room, he was somewhat startled to see a young lady standing in front of window, looking out at the garden view. He’d known Miss Fiddick would be joining him for breakfast, but he hadn’t pictured her looking quite so fetching from the back. She turned as he cleared his throat, and gave him a beaming smile. Dressed as she was the day before, he hadn’t noticed her even white teeth, tiny waistline, or clear blue eyes. Albeit grudgingly, he acknowledged to himself the girl had possibilities. It was a shame her charms would be wasted as the wife of some country farmer or school teacher. Inwardly he shrugged. Never had anyone’s business been less his problem.

“Good morning. How are you feeling?”

“With the help of liniment, I should survive.”

“I’m very glad.” He gestured toward the chafing dishes and platters of food set up on the sideboard nearby. “I hope you’re hungry.”

“Indeed, I am.” She glanced at his arm. “May I help you with your plate?”

“That’s very thoughtful, but Morris will assist me.”

After they were settled at the table, the girl began spouting a long list of things she admired about his lifestyle, including indoor lavatories, hot water, and milled soap. Then came an equally long litany of gratitude, from his leniency regarding her deception, to the kindly ministrations of Ursula, and thereafter for her clothes. He let her conversation flow past, unheeded, as he ate the egg dish Mrs. Evans had prepared.

“Lord Henley, had you heard the quagga has gone extinct?”

He glanced up. “What?”

“The last one in the entire world just died in Amsterdam. It’s rather sad, really.”

His eyebrows drew together. “The quagga, did you say?”

“Yes. It’s a species of zebra, native to South Africa.”

“I’ve not heard of it.”

“I rather doubted you had.”

Her tone held a note of reproach, and he chuckled. “I suppose this is your way of pointing out I’ve been neglecting you?”

“I’d never dream of making such an accusation.”

“No, of course not, but you’re right. You should know that I’m exceedingly absorbed with myself. It’s a personal failing of mine.”

She gave him a little smile. “I shan’t let you off that easily; I expect I was prattling on.” She shrugged. “I’ve no idea how to converse with a baron.”

“Neither do I, actually. Whenever I talk to myself, it’s usually about the weather.”

Blurb: On the heels of an unjust accusation, Grace flees from her country village to the anonymity of London. Although she intends to seek sanctuary with her cousin Joe Fiddick, she discovers he’s also suffered a setback and needs more help than she can offer. Desperate, she solicits assistance from Joe’s friend–the notorious rake, Lord Henley. Will the price of the handsome baron’s help be more than she’s willing to pay?

Grace Unmasked • Book Two of The Mannequin Series is available HERE for pre-order at the special price of $0.99. Release date: May 31, 2016.