Skip to main content

GUEST LAUNCH PARTY + GIVEAWAY: The Wedding Affair by Leigh Michaels


Please give a big welcome to fellow Casablanca Author Leigh Michaels, who has a new release in stores this month: The Wedding Affair!

It’s great to be back with all my fellow Casablanca authors for the launch party for The Wedding Affair, my September book. It’s my third single-title spicy historical romance, after a long career of writing sweet contemporaries. Like my other two historicals, The Mistress' House and Just One Season in London, this is a triple story – three heroes, three heroines, and three romances which all wind together during the time leading up to a Regency wedding day.

The Wedding Affair came about partly because I was reading the manuscript of my previous book, Just One Season in London, to my husband (is this a guy to love or what?), and when we got to the end, he said, “But we didn’t get to see the wedding!”

“The wedding would be anticlimactic,” I said. “Trust me, I’m the writer. The story is over and all the characters are happy, so the wedding would just be a piece tacked on to the end of the book.”

But he started me thinking… and that’s dangerous at my house.

I’d already come up with the basic story in The Wedding Affair, but I thought the characters met at a house party – the big parties of the Regency era when friends and family gathered at a country house, often to hunt. Sometimes they stayed for weeks, entertaining themselves with billiards and charades and impromptu balls and walks and picnics. The parties went on for way longer than modern hosts and hostesses would put up with, because travel was so difficult that they all wanted to make the trip worth the effort.

So I started thinking about combining the house party with a wedding. The guests could gather at a great country house for the buildup to the wedding ceremony, with parties and balls and outings and picnics – and affairs going on in the background.

So that’s how I wrote The Wedding Affair – to make my husband happy.

Bear in mind this is a guy who’s a sloppy sentimentalist but hates to admit it. He brings me flowers, but he says he bought them so he can take photos to use in his graphics design work (he designs book covers, among many other things). He sheds a tear when I leave for a writers’ conference. He gets mushy over chick flicks.

And he loves my books, which means I can forgive him for anything else at all.

Here’s a short section from The Wedding Affair, where Olivia, Lady Reyne, has just heard a tale that the Duke of Somervale always keeps a diamond bracelet or three at hand for his next mistress:

If only Sir Jasper had thought to offer her a diamond bracelet – something worthwhile, instead of merely forgiving her rent – she might have been tempted... No, for even the most expensive diamond bracelet in the world couldn’t make Sir Jasper tempting.

But the Duke of Somervale was a different proposition altogether. Diamond bracelets, and the security such jewels represented, must be merely the icing on the cake for his mistresses.

What Olivia herself couldn’t do with the proceeds of a diamond bracelet!

“Do you keep a chest of diamond bracelets to woo your mistresses, your grace?” she asked sweetly.

“Certainly not, Lady Reyne.”

Olivia told herself it was just as well, if only because she wouldn’t know the first thing about converting a diamond bracelet into ready money. “What a relief it is to know that, sir.”

His expression didn’t change, but his eyebrows went up.

Walk away, she told herself. But the sparkle in his midnight-blue eyes said if she did, he would consider he had routed her.

“A relief, I mean, to be assured you’re so sensible,” she went on. “Surely you keep rubies and sapphires and emeralds on hand as well, set in necklaces and brooches. After all, not every woman appreciates diamonds – or bracelets, for that matter.”

For an instant he stared at her, and Olivia’s insides quaked. However great the temptation to bait him, what in heaven’s name had made her succumb to it?

Then he threw back his head and laughed.

He really was gorgeous, she thought. Kate was right – he could be charming and funny and delightful...

Stop right there, Olivia told herself, and think – before you dig yourself into a hole you can’t climb out of.

But she opened her mouth again anyway. “However,” she said softly, “I happen to be one of the ones who does. Appreciate diamond bracelets, I mean. So if you’re thinking of wooing another mistress anytime soon, your grace, do keep me in mind.”

Thanks for stopping by!


And thank you to Leigh, for celebrating with us today. To enter the giveaway please leave a comment telling us your favorite part about weddings. I'll be giving away two sets of Leigh's trilogy: The Mistress' House, Just One Season in London and The Wedding Affair. US and Canada addresses only and please leave an email address so we can let you know if you've won. Good luck!


THE WEDDING AFFAIR BY LEIGH MICHAELS – IN STORES SEPETEMBER 2011

You’re invited to the wedding of the year!
The Duke of Somervale, whose sister’s wedding is the event of the ton, is fighting off debutantes and desperately needs help from beautiful, stubborn Olivia Reyne. But she is engrossed with problems engulfing her dearest friends and family. The last thing Olivia needs is to be embroiled with a duke whose dark gaze makes her forget herself entirely...

Discover a new side of a beloved author as Leigh Michaels draws you into the glittering, glitzy world of Regency England and an affair you’ll never forget.

About the Author
Leigh Michaels is the author of nearly 100 books, including 80 contemporary novels, more than a dozen non-fiction books and three Regency romances from Sourcebooks Casablanca: The Mistress’ House, Just One Season in London and The Wedding Affair. More than 35 million copies of her romance novels have been published by Harlequin. A 6 time RITA finalist, she has also received two Reviewer's Choice awards from RT Book Reviews, and was the 2003 recipient of the Johnson Brigham Award. Leigh also teaches romance writing on the Internet at Gotham Writers’ Workshop. She lives in Ottumwa, Iowa. For more information, please visit www.leighmichaels.com.

Comments

  1. Leigh, congrats on your latest release! The Wedding Affairs sounds fabulous.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I am impressed--a trilogy of triples! And if the excerpt is any indication, each is delightful. Can we ask how many books you've dedicated to your beloved spouse?

    ReplyDelete
  3. Congrats on the release! I think we met in LA. Great to see you here!

    ReplyDelete
  4. Congrats on the new release! Olivia's cheek in that exchange was brilliant.

    My favorite part of the wedding is the kiss after being pronounced Man and Wife.

    little lamb lst at yahoo dot com

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi Leigh. Congrats on your new release. Sounds great. My favorite part about weddings is the first time the groom sees the bride and the joy on the couple's faces.
    Crystal816[at]hotmail[dot]com

    ReplyDelete
  6. Thank you for stopping by! Lovely to be back... I've dedicated probably half a dozen books to my DH. The first one, of course, and several along the way where he was very involved in brainstorming.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like a great idea to me to have 3 couples in one book. That should keep a lot going on. I would probably get all the names mixed up. Congratulations and tons of good luck!
    Amelia

    ReplyDelete
  8. Congratulatiosn to Leigh on her new release! My favorite part of a wedding is usually during the ceremony itself - the vows section - because I love see what each couple comes up with ...my favorite part of the after wedding is the reception because that seems to be where all of the action takes place...lol...love watching the couple take their first dance and cut the cake.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Hi Leigh! Congratulations on the release of The Wedding Affair. My faovurite part of a wedding is when the groom and bride first lay eyes on each other during the wedding ceremony. The eyes, the smiles, these says it all. The part where they make connect despite a crowded room and maintain it is electrifying and very sweet.
    Cambonified (at) yahoo (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  10. Weddings are the best. Always love the ceremony, to see how each couple makes it heir own. But weddings are also a great time to catch up with friends and relatives that you don't see very often. And of course, the food is usually just fab!

    pennsdog@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  11. When it's over lol. The best part is when everything goes smoothly and then you can enjoy everything. I really like it all lol. Congratulations on your book - I really enjoyed the excerpt.

    ReplyDelete
  12. Your husband sounds like the role model for a hero for sure! Congrat's on the new release and I love the idea of (like Grace says) a trilogy of triples. What fun!

    ReplyDelete
  13. Congrat on your new release! It sounds like a wonderful read, can't wait to read it.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Leigh, Congrats on the release. The Wedding Affair sounds amazing!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Thank you, everybody... yes, my guy is a very good model for a hero. His sense of humor appears in just about every hero I write.

    One of the things I love about the triple romances is that the characters all interact and affect each other, and observe... so while one couple is involved in their own romance, they're often also noticing something strange about one of the others -- and that fact comes up again later.

    One reviewer said it's a wonder I can keep my head on straight. I passed that comment on to my best friend who instantly said, "Your head is on straight???" Gotta love the BFF!

    ReplyDelete
  16. COngratulations on your new release! My favorite part is the "I do's" and the "You may now kiss the bride" :-)

    justforswag(AT)yahoo(DOT)com

    ReplyDelete
  17. Definitely on my TBR list now.

    Congrats on your continuing success.

    What I love best about weddings is if there's a laugh. When our friends got married, the priest said during the service how much he enjoyed counseling them, because he loved to laugh and proceded to read a funny children's book for his homily.

    While my husband is a sweetheart too, he's sworn he never will read my books. A shame, because he's a great editor, but probably good because he'd realize one of my heroines is based on him.... Thanks! juleejadams at gmail dot com

    ReplyDelete
  18. Congrats on your new release! It always must be exciting to have a new book out.
    My favorite part of a wedding is when the bride walks down the aisle. And when I was on vacation just recently, I got to see just that....a bride walking down the aisle in front of Lake Louise in Canada. They had a beautiful place for a wedding.

    csolinda(at)hotmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  19. Hi Leigh!
    CONGRATS on your latest release!!!

    I love what your husband said...
    “But we didn’t get to see the wedding!”
    That's what I always think when I am reading a really good story too, lol:) I am glad he got you thinking (no matter how dangerous) since it sounds like this is one not to be missed:)

    My favorite part about weddings? The end! Out of the ones I've been to it seems to be least stressful, most happiest time for everyone at the wedding... most of all the bride!

    Thanks for the giveaway!
    yadkny@hotmail.com

    ReplyDelete
  20. My favorite part about weddings is when the couples first see each other at the altar (whatever that may be). The love, hope and future shining in their eyes gives me hope for life. I am amazed to see so many men just wanting to scoop up their brides and run when they first see them in all their finery. Thank you for the giveaway and thank you for a wonderful interview!
    Macladie25 AT yahoo Dot Com

    ReplyDelete
  21. Congrats on the release, sounds like a great story to read!

    I love attending weddings, whether small or large. Seeing the happiness in the couple, the wedding dress, the bridesmaids dresses, the men in tux's...

    Eva
    evitap67(at)gmail(dot)com

    ReplyDelete
  22. My favorite part about my wedding is when my Hubby saw me for the first time in my wedding dress =D

    These books sound fun and interesting, can't wait to check them out!

    emilytardy@yahoo.com

    ReplyDelete
  23. I loved the excerpt. A new trilogy for my TRL.:) My favorite part of the wedding is watching the Groom's face when he see his Bride for the first time and then the look when they turn around as man and wife.
    Thanks for the opportunity.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

    ReplyDelete
  24. Enjoyed the excerpt - Diamonds ARE a girl's best friend, after all!

    ReplyDelete
  25. Congrats on the new release, Leigh. The part I love most is the gathering of family and friends to celebrate the love between two people. It's fun to sit around the table and chat while enjoying the food.

    janie1215 AT excite DOT com

    ReplyDelete
  26. Wow! Great excerpt and great cover! Congrats!

    ReplyDelete
  27. Love the beautiful purple cover and the excerpt. Congrats, Leigh!!!

    ReplyDelete
  28. Congratulations to Sue P and CrystalGB--I'll be emailing you both shortly!

    Danielle

    ReplyDelete
  29. Congrats for the new release...my favorite part of the wedding is preparations of the wedding, selecting outfits, having bachlor party a night be4 and finally getting married to the guy i love.

    ReplyDelete

Post a Comment