https://www.withloveforbooks.com/2018/08/dangerous-by-minerva-spencer-book.htmlDangerous by Minerva Spencer - Book Review, Interview & Giveaway
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Review by Suze
While Mia was born a lady, she is an outcast in society now. She was abducted when she was a teenager and was sold to a sultan to be part of his harem. The sultan died and Mia managed to escape the palace. After many years she's finally back in London. Her father wants her to find a husband as quickly as possible, but there aren't many appealing matches. The only man Mia likes the sight of is Adam. However, he has a reputation and many members of the ton call him the Murderous Marquess. Will Mia take her chances and marry the handsome man she instantly feels attracted to or will she listen to the stories and go for a safer option?
Adam was married twice, but still doesn't have an heir. He needs to marry again to secure the future of his estate. Because of his reputation it isn't easy to find a wife. He also isn't looking for a love match. His heart was broken and he isn't looking for a repeat experience. Mia seems to be the exact right candidate to become his wife. He knows she has a hidden agenda and this intrigues him. Their match would be mutually beneficial and he decides to give it a shot. While spending time with Mia he discovers the situation isn't as simple as he thought. When feelings become part of the equation they are facing plenty of trouble. Will Adam and Mia be able to make their arrangement work?
Dangerous is a fantastic sexy romantic story. I was immediately intrigued by the enigmatic Mia. She's confident, bold and smart. Marriage means a solution to a problem for her and that is why she likes the idea of becoming Adam's wife, which is a fabulous idea for a riveting story. I couldn't wait to find out what would happen when the gruff, but sweet and alluring, Adam would discover her secrets. They are evenly matched and their strong personalities either clash or attract like a magnet. Their relationship is a real challenge from the start and I loved how well suited they are. I liked that they have a hidden agenda and are both keeping secrets, finding out what they were kept me on the edge of my seat. Mia and Adam are brilliant main characters with many mysterious personality traits that mesmerized me from beginning to end.
Minerva Spencer has a wonderful warm writing style. She makes her story come to life in a terrific dynamic way. There's plenty of action, there are many surprising twists and turns and the story is filled with unexpected adventures. She combines this with amazing sparkling chemistry that works really well. It's easy to see why Mia and Adam can't stay away from each other. I loved their original backgrounds and their fascinating pasts are giving them a nice layer of depth. Dangerous is a delightful enchanting story that put a big smile on my face.
Advice
If you love sexy original historical romance you don't want to miss Dangerous.
About Minerva Spencer
I write Regency Era romance and the first four books in my Outcasts series will be published by Kensington Press. The first book, Dangerous, will debut in June 2018.
Before I began writing I spent time as a dock worker, a reader for the blind, a criminal prosecutor, and I taught American History on the college level for five years. My last job was running an 8-bedroom bed and breakfast, a subject I will never write about...
I like historical fiction because I enjoy escaping into the past when I relax. And I write romance because I love a happy ending and everything that happens along the way.
I came to writing late in life and I feel like I have to write fast to catch up! I work every day looking out over the Sangre de Cristo mountains and my free range birds and dogs!
When I'm not writing I'm playing with my animals, knitting, DIYing, crocheting, sewing, or watching old movies.
Links
Website // Facebook // Twitter // Goodreads / Instagram
Interview
1) Can you tell our readers a bit about yourself?
I’ve done a lot of things--teacher, lawyer, and b&b owner--before I came to writing. I have to admit that writing books is the most enjoyable job I’ve ever had. I write all kinds of stuff but I really love writing Regency romance because there is almost a fantasy element when it comes to writing about the distant past.
2) How did you get the idea to write about outcasts?
I write about outcasts because I’ve felt like one more than once in my life. I’m from Canada and my father was a construction miner, so our family (a HUGE extended famiily of French Canadians) would chase the mines. From potash in Saskachewan to Uranium in New Mexico to Copper in Algeria. That meant we moved a lot-- 16 times before the 5th grade. Each time I had to go to a new school it was the same “outcast” experience of trying to find somewhere to fit in, dealing with the “stranger-danger” mentality, and making new friends.
And then we would move again…
Luckily we stopped moving when my parents bought their own business and I was able to spend several years in one place and see what fitting in felt like, too!
I think moving so much gave me a lifelong curiosity about other people and their lives. There are 7 billion people on the planet and everyone’s experience is so very different and precious to them. Writing is my way of trying to experience other lives.
3) Euphemia, the heroine of Dangerous, has an unusual background, what’s the inspiration behind her time in a harem?
I was interested in piracy and what happened to captives. She was a minor character in another story and I just became intrigued with her--as writers often do with their imaginary friends--and gave her a book of her own.
4) Can you describe the main characters of Dangerous in eight words each?
Mia: Pragmatic, loyal, resilient, affectionate, curious, optimistic, sensual, teasing.
Adam: Stoic, contained, sharp, remote, loving, private, jaded, passionate
5) Where does your love for historical romance come from?
I trace it back to Victoria Holt, who I still re-read every year.
6) You love a good happy ending, which key features should a successful happily ever after have?
I want my characters to find happiness with each other without either of them having to change or alter their core person in order to accommodate their lover. I guess I want them to love each other with their flaws and all. That doesn’t mean they don’t have to change some of their behaviors in order to be together. Finding that common ground is what I enjoy so much about building a romance novel.
7) You’ve done a lot of different things before becoming an author, how do your previous jobs influence your writing?
Most of my jobs have involved a LOT of social interaction and I love hearing about people’s lives. I really feel like doing so many different things has allowed me to get into characters heads more easily. I don’t put “whole” people into my books, but I certainly use bits and parts of the people I have met, even briefly. I hope that doesn’t make me sound like some kind of serial killer...
You live on a farm, can you tell a little about the animals?
I didn’t intend to start taking in unwanted animals, but the knowledge that nobody will want them kind of makes the decision for you.
We have 4 acres and several different structures and have had over 100 critters at our peak. Chickens are the animals I’m probably craziest about and for a few years we’d get lots of roosters abandoned in our front yard, which borders a road. That doesn’t happen very often as the craze for having chickens has slowed.
Because a lot of the animals we take in are old--chickens especially get abandoned when they no longer lay eggs-- there are a lot of pet losses, which means sad times. I try and console myself that I’ve given them the best possible life, no matter how short a time they spend with me.
We’ve been VERY lucking in finding a local vet who comes out and treats all the animals, from llamas to birds of all types to dogs. She is not an avian specialist but is always willing to learn and research treatment.
9) If you could travel back in time, which period would you like to see and where would you go?
I’d have to say really far back--maybe during the zenith of power of the Egyptian pharaohs.
10) You love DIY projects, how did you get the idea to combine your love for history with crafts?
I love reading about stuff in either historical romances or history books and seeing if I can reproduce it. Recently I made some quill pens. They are HARD to make and require something even sharper than an Xacto knife so people must have had some razor-sharp blades or awesome skills back in the 18th and 19th centuries. Anyhow, I finally ended up cheating and using metal nibs after carving a couple the “historical” way.
11) What are your plans for the future?
As far as leisure activities go, I hope to learn how to use a second-hand floor loom I purchased some time back and have yet to master. I’ve told myself I won’t buy anymore yarn until I’ve used up at least ¼ of my stash. Ha!
I plan to keep writing, in both historical romance and other genres, and maybe learn how to write a novella this year. My agent has recently asked me for a contemporary detective novel, so that has been one of the books I’m working on right now, along with a new Regency series.
Giveaway
Two very lucky readers of With Love for Books will reveice a signed paperback copy of Dangerous and a handmade bookmark from Minerva Spencer.
The winner will be notified by email and has 3 days to respond.
All of our giveaways are international.
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