Re-release of GIFTS GONE ASTRAY

The new Gifts Gone Astray is here!

Have fun with my expanded and rewritten Regency comedy about a gifts mix up that brings true love to my hero and heroine.

Available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, Kobo, Inktera, Overdrive and Smashwords. Read for free with subscription to Scribd.

BUY LINKS: http://books2read.com/u/4Ag6aA

BLURB:
A book as fairy godmother? Stranger things have happened.

Everyone looks forward to the Earl of Langley’s annual family party because everyone, relative and employee alike, receives a gift.

Which includes Mr. Stephen Fairfax, tutor to the earl’s bratty son. But what a gift! And from the demure widow Mrs. Anne Copely, the earl’s niece, no less. If he accepts the gift book’s implicit invitation, his wildest dreams about the beautiful lady will come true. He might also lose his job, but he’ll take the chance.

Mrs. Anne Copely has enjoyed every minute she’s spent in the handsome tutor’s company. The subject of her gift interests them both, and studying the book together is the perfect way for them to spend many happy hours together. Although why he’s uneasy about an innocent collection of illustrations puzzles her.

A mix up of the first order, but when gifts go astray, love comes to the rescue.

A sweet, yet sensual Regency romantic comedy. 33,000 words.

EXCERPT:

The mantel clock chimed the hour.

Mrs. Copely jumped. “Oh, dear, look at the time! I must go back to the drawing room. So much to do before the party tonight. But, before I leave…We had some trouble with the gifts today. Yours went missing. I apologize—”

“But I received a gift. Someone left a parcel outside my door.”

“Thank the stars.” She pressed her hand to her bosom.

Her ripe, perfectly formed bosom.

Stephen’s throat dried.

“I worried that your present was lost.”

She worried about me. Capital! He coughed. “I have not yet unwrapped the gift. A book, I take it?”

“Yes. That book was one of my husband’s favorites. Mine, too. We spent many happy hours enjoying every page. I selected that particular volume with you in mind.”

I have a chance. “You flatter me with your consideration.”

“My pleasure.” She folded her hands at her waist. “As much as I long to, I will not ruin the surprise by telling you what the book is.” She smoothed her countenance into a blank stare, but her glorious chocolate eyes twinkled.

So, she wants to play games. He gave an inward smirk. He would love to play games of a different sort. But he would settle for a guessing game—for now. “Let me see.” He rested his chin in one palm. “A book on astronomy?”

Not a muscle in her face twitched.

“A collection of prints, mayhap? Of horses? Dogs?”

Her face remained immobile.

Damnation, but she was good at this. “Cats?”

A shapely brown eyebrow arched upward. “Cats?”

“Well, then, not cats. How about—” Erotic prints? “—bridges?”

Nary an eyelash flickered.

He spread his arms wide. “Very well, I give up. You are quite adept at this. I daresay you would prove formidable at the gaming tables.”

“Perhaps I should take up wagering, then. I can just see myself at the tables, winning everyone else’s money.” She laughed. “But I will not spoil your fun when you open the gift. I will offer a hint, though.” She gave a little hop. “I am sure you will like that book as much as I do.”

“You have piqued my curiosity even further. I will unwrap your present straightaway.”

“If you wish, we can study it together. That book was meant for more than one person.”

By Jupiter, yet another chance to be with her! Today was his lucky day. “I would like that very much.” More than anything.

“How I would love to see your face when you open the book!”

BUY LINKS: http://books2read.com/u/4Ag6aA

Thank you all,
Linda

50% Off! GIFTS GONE ASTRAY On Sale for $2.00

Still on sale, but I don't know for how long.

My Regency comedy, Gifts Gone Astray is on sale for $2.00 at The Wild Rose Press. That's 50% off. No better deal anywhere.

BUY LINK HERE: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=176_138&products_id=4545

Reviews here: http://lindabanche.blogspot.com/2011/07/gifts-gone-astray-reviews.html  

BLURB:

A gift is a wonderful surprise. Or maybe not.

At the Earl of Langley's family gathering, everyone receives a gift, including the servants. Tutor Stephen Fairfax expects a small token, but the present from family member Mrs. Anne Copely, the widow who has caught his eye, is a dream come true.

Until he opens it. What a gift! How did that demure lady acquire such a book? And she wants to "study" the positions in it with him? If he accepts her offer, tempting as it is, he could lose his job.

Anne has no idea why Mr. Fairfax is in such a flutter. Her present is a simple book of illustrations. The subject interests them both, and she would like nothing better than to examine the book--and Mr. Fairfax--more closely.

EXCERPT:

She glanced at the mantel clock. "Oh, look at the time! I must return to the drawing room. So much to do before the family party tonight. But, before I leave..." She swallowed. "We had some trouble with the gifts today. Yours went missing. I apologize—"

"But I received a gift. Someone left it outside my door."

"Thank the stars." She pressed her hand to her bosom.

Stephen’s gaze followed her hand, and his throat dried.

"I worried your present was lost."

She worried about me. Capital! He tore his attention from her breasts and lifted his head. "I have not yet unwrapped it. A book, I take it?"

"Yes. The volume belonged to my husband. He was a scholar, and that book was one of his favorites. Mine, too. We spent many happy hours enjoying it." Another dazzling smile curved her lips. "I selected it with you in mind."

His pulse thumped. I have a chance. "You flatter me with your consideration."

"My pleasure." She flashed another of her heart-stopping smiles. "As much as I long to, I will not ruin the surprise by telling you what the book is." She smoothed her face into a blank stare, but her glorious chocolate eyes twinkled.

So, she wanted to play games. He gave an inward smirk. He would love to play games of a different sort. But he would settle for a guessing game. For now.

Other titles on sale here: http://www.thewildrosepress.com/index.php?main_page=specials&page=1

Thank you all,
Linda

The Orrery

An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system.

Although orreries date from the time of the Greeks, British clock makers George Graham and Thomas Tompion built the first modern orrery in 1704. The Fourth Earl of Orrery commissioned a copy of the original instrument for his own use, thereby lending his name to the device.

An orrery is essentially a clock. When set in motion, the orrery shows the relative periods of the sun, the earth and its moon, and the planets in relation to each other. They are not usually built to scale, and may not contain all the planets and their satellites. A grand orrery contains all the planets known at the time of its construction. One method of dating a grand orrery is to note the planets and moons the instrument contains.

The devices were popular in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. King George II owned an orrery (1750 copy of his orrery at left), as did Thomas Jefferson (Jefferson's orrery here). John Winthrop taught astronomy at Harvard using an orrery (picture at right) that instrument maker Benjamin Martin built in London in 1767.

An orrery figures in my Regency comedy romance, Gifts Gone Astray. Since the latest planet discovered by 1817, the time of the story, was Uranus (then called George's Star after George III), my fictional grand orrery has Uranus as the last planet. In the upper left of the cover of Gifts Gone Astray (click on the image to enlarge it), you can see part of the orrery.

Gifts Gone Astray, blurb and excerpt on my "My Books" page, available from The Wild Rose Press, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, All Romance Ebooks and other places where ebooks are sold. See sidebar.

Thank you all,
Linda

Pictures from Wikipedia.

Chance to Win a Copy of GIFTS GONE ASTRAY on July 12

The Romance Reviews Sizzling Summers Reads Party runs from July 1 through July 31. Every day authors will give away books. Answer their questions correctly for a chance to win.

July 12 is the day for my question. A correct answer gives you a chance to win a PDF copy of Gifts Gone Astray.

On July 12, my question will be here: http://www.theromancereviews.com/event.php

Note: You must log in to answer the question.

You'll find the answer on my website, http://www.lindabanche.com

Have fun!

Thank you all,
Linda

Chance to Win a Copy of GIFTS GONE ASTRAY at the Romance Junkies Summer Splash Contest

The Romance Junkies Readers Summer Splash Contests run all through June and July.

I've contributed a PDF copy of Gifts Gone Astray. See my Books page for blurb.

My contest is here. You must join the loop to participate.

Note, my contest, #6, went up on June 3, so won't be up much longer. Have fun.

Thank you all,
Linda

Regency Railroads

We think of the railroad as a Victorian invention, but railroads as we know them today got their start during the Regency.

Goods and people have always traveled from one place to another. But such movement was limited to what animal power could provide (hence the term "horsepower") until the invention of the steam engine.

The first workable steam engine was the Newcomen engine, invented in 1712 by Thomas Newcomen. Better known is James Watt, who improved the Newcomen engine in 1765 and continued improvements for thirty-five years until his patent expired in 1800.

Mining played a large role in the history of the railroad. One of the Newcomen engine's first uses was to pump water out of mines and air in. Watt's improved engine harnessed steam for the locomotive, which powered the trains that transported the heavy ores from the mines to their destinations.

The steam locomotive pulling a train was a vast improvement in the hauling of freight. Trains now conveyed coal and ores, which previously depended on horse-drawn vehicles, in a much shorter amount of time and at a much lower cost

The name most often associated with the invention of the locomotive is mining engineer and inventor Richard Trevithick (1771-1833). He invented a steam engine of high enough power to move a loaded train's massive weight. He also built the first full-scale working railway steam locomotive in 1799 in Cornwall. The first railroad journey took place in 1804, as Trevithick's improved steam locomotive powered a train along the tramway of the Penydarren Ironworks, in Merthyr Tydfil in Wales.

Trevithick also built the first passenger locomotive, the Catch Me Who Can. In 1808, he demonstrated it in Bloomsbury, London, on a circular track.

Advances in railroad technology continued through the years of the Regency proper (1811-1820). Starting a company lagged the technology, since Parliament had to approve every railroad proposal. In 1821, Parliament authorized the Stockton and Darlington Railway, which would haul coal from the Durham mines to the North Sea ports.

The first inter-city passenger railroad was the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, which was formed in 1823. The Railway opened in 1830, and the picture above (from Wikipedia) records its first journey.

I set my Regency comedy, Gifts Gone Astray in 1817 in Langley, England, south of the projected route of the Liverpool and Manchester. The planning for the railroad's proposal forms part of the plot.

Thank you all,
Linda

My Name is Getting Bigger

I've lined up my five book covers from earliest to latest, left to right, top to bottom.

And I've noticed that my name becomes larger on each succeeding title. It can't have anything to do with the cover artist, because I've had two different ones. The first three covers are by Nicola Martinez, and the last two by Rae Monet.

Does the progressive increase in the size of my name mean anything? I doubt it. The name size is probably a function of the cover composition.

If nothing else, I like all my covers. I'm especially happy with my latest for An Inheritance for the Birds, mainly because it has ducks on it, and I love ducks. Quack.

Thank you all,
Linda

First Review for GIFTS GONE ASTRAY and Where I Guest This Week

My day started off with a bang when I found this 5 star review from Lindsay Townsend (TO TOUCH THE KNIGHT) on amazon:

"Gifts Gone Astray by Linda Banche is a delightful romantic comedy of misunderstandings, ghastly relations (old and young) a sinister suitor and two very different books sent as gifts to the 'wrong' people. "

Thank you so much, Lindsay. Full review here.

As for my guest blogs this week:

July 5 -- Interview at Regency Sketches

July 7 -- Spotlight at Miss Mae's site

July 8 -- 8PM Eastern , chat at facebook group Romantic Historical Fiction Lovers. You must join the group to join the chat. I'm giving away a PDF copy of Gifts Gone Astray.

Happy Fourth of July, everyone!

Thank you all,
Linda

Release Day! GIFTS GONE ASTRAY, Regency comedy

At long last, today is the release day for my latest Regency comedy novella, Gifts Gone Astray!

BLURB:
A gift is a wonderful surprise. Or maybe not.

At the Earl of Langley's family gathering, everyone receives a gift, including the servants. Tutor Stephen Fairfax expects a small token, but the present from family member Mrs. Anne Copely, the widow who's caught his eye, is a dream come true.

Until he opens it. What a gift! How did that demure lady acquire such a book? And she wants to "study" it with him? If he accepts her offer, tempting as it is, he could lose his job.

Anne has no idea why Mr. Fairfax is in such a flutter. Her present is a simple book of illustrations. The subject interests them both, and she would like nothing better than to examine the book--and Mr. Fairfax--more closely.

EXCERPT:
She glanced at the mantel clock. "Oh, look at the time! I must return to the drawing room. So much to do before the family party tonight. But, before I leave..." She swallowed. "We had some trouble with the gifts today. Yours went missing. I apologize—"

"But I received a gift. Someone left it outside my door."

"Thank the stars." She pressed her hand to her bosom.

Stephen's gaze followed her hand down and his throat dried.

"I worried your present was lost."

She worried about me. Capital! He tore his eager gaze from her breasts and lifted his head. "I have not yet unwrapped it. A book, I take it?"

"Yes. The volume belonged to my husband. He was a scholar, and that book was one of his favorites. Mine, too. We spent many happy hours enjoying it." Another dazzling smile curved her lips. "I selected it with you in mind."

His pulse thumped. I have a chance. "You flatter me with your consideration."

"My pleasure." She flashed another of her heart-stopping smiles. "As much as I long to, I will not ruin the surprise by telling you what the book is." She smoothed her face into a blank stare, but her glorious chocolate eyes twinkled.

So, she wanted to play games. He gave an inward smirk. He would love to play games of a different sort. But he would settle for a guessing game. For now.

Available at:

The Wild Rose Press

Note, depending where you are, the links might not yet be active.

Thank you all,
Linda
Linda Banche
Welcome to My World of Historical Hilarity!
http://www.lindabanche.com

GIFTS GONE ASTRAY: The Time and Place, 1817 in Langley, Cheshire

The Wild Rose Press releases my latest Regency comedy novella, Gifts Gone Astray, on Wednesday, July 29.

Anne and Stephens' romance takes place in Langley, Cheshire. Langley, the seat of the Earl of Langley, Stephen's employer, is a town on the western edge of the Macclesfield Forest. Langley is also east of the town of Bollin, and southeast of Liverpool and Manchester.

I selected this location because I set the story on a country estate. Macclesfield Forest provides a backdrop, and Stephen goes to Bollin on his day off. Also, the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, the first passenger railway, was in its formative stages, and the start-up process brings a businessman to consult with the Earl of Langley. The railroad also plays a role for Stephen. I wrote a post on Regency Railroads here.

The time is the summer of 1817, two years after the passage of the Corn Laws, which raised the price of grain so high most people couldn't afford it, and one year after The Year Without a Summer, which destroyed that year's crops in many places. The combination of the two events wreaked havoc with many landowners' incomes. Anne's brother, John, is one of those landowners. I wrote two posts on The Year Without a Summer, which is also the setting for Pumpkinnapper. Blog post part 1 is here, and Part 2 is here.

Stephen's story is here.

Anne's story is here.

I hope you will find Gifts Gone Astray to your taste.

Thank you all,
Linda

GIFTS GONE ASTRAY: The Heroine, Anne, In Her Own Words

My greetings to all. I am Mrs. Anne Copely. I have newly come to my Uncle James's country estate, Four Winds, for our annual family party. Although my job as teacher at Mrs. Black's girls' school is tolerable, this summer celebration is so festive, it has become the high point of my year.

Especially since my dear Edward's death. Oh, how I miss him. I am grateful for the three years we had, and the pain of his passing has diminished with time. While part of me will always love him, he has been gone these two years and I must continue on.

On my first day here, I noticed Mr. Stephen Fairfax, the new tutor for Uncle James's son. What a handsome man. And not only attractive, intelligent and kind, but we are both teachers and like books! Since everyone, including the servants, receives a gift at this fete, what better way to honor my late husband's memory than to give one of his favorite books to Mr. Fairfax?

Gracious, was I too forward in giving Mr. Fairfax a present? I hope not, since I disguised my action by giving several other servants gifts, too. I liked that book as much as my husband did. Will Mr. Fairfax see my special meaning?

I do so hope he likes the gift.

Thank you all,
Mrs. Anne Copely

Read Stephen's story here.

Gifts Gone Astray, Regency comedy, coming June 29, 2011 from The Wild Rose Press.

Blurb and excerpt here.

GIFTS GONE ASTRAY: The Hero, Stephen, In His Own Words

Greetings. I am Mr. Stephen Fairfax, lately arrived here at the Earl of Langley's country estate, Four Winds, to work as tutor for his lordship's young son.

And "work" is the appropriate term. Although I taught at Cambridge for several years before I accepted this post, I have never before seen such a badly-behaved child. I vow, my private name for the boy, "Horrible Harold" is too mild for this child's actions. I wonder if I will survive.

But survive I must, until, and if, I can find employment more to my liking. With so many of the former military returning after Napoleon's defeat, jobs are scarce. I lost my position at Cambridge six months ago. A nobleman with more influence than my baron father appropriated my job for his ex-soldier son.

But then, if I had never come to Four Winds, I would never have met Mrs. Anne Copely. The young widow is the most beautiful, intelligent, kind, gracious, indeed, the most glorious lady I have ever encountered. And she regards me with some favor, too. She has given me a gift as part of her family's summer party. The generous earl includes the servants in the gift-giving, but do I detect more in her present? I certainly hope so.

Now all I have to do is open the package…

Thank you all,
Mr. Stephen Fairfax

Gifts Gone Astray, Regency comedy, coming June 29, 2011 from The Wild Rose Press.

Blurb and excerpt here.

GIFTS GONE ASTRAY: Cover and Blurb/Excerpt

The Wild Rose Press has just sent me my cover for my latest Regency comedy novella, Gifts Gone Astray, and it's a beauty. Thank you, Rae Monet.

So, enjoy looking at the cover while you read the blurb and excerpt, to give you some idea of what the story is about:

BLURB:
A gift is a wonderful surprise. Or maybe not.

At the Earl of Langley's family gathering, everyone receives a gift, including the servants. Tutor Stephen Fairfax expects a small token, but the present from family member Mrs. Anne Copely, the widow who's caught his eye, is a dream come true.

Until he opens it. What a gift! How did that demure lady acquire such a book? And she wants to "study" it with him? If he accepts her offer, tempting as it is, he could lose his job.

Anne has no idea why Mr. Fairfax is in such a flutter. Her present is a simple book of illustrations. The subject interests them both, and she would like nothing better than to examine the book--and Mr. Fairfax--more closely.

EXCERPT:
She glanced at the mantel clock. "Oh, look at the time! I must return to the drawing room. So much to do before the family party tonight. But, before I leave..." She swallowed. "We had some trouble with the gifts today. Yours went missing. I apologize—"

"But I received a gift. Someone left it outside my door."

"Thank the stars." She pressed her hand to her bosom.

Stephen's gaze followed her hand down and his throat dried.

"I worried your present was lost."

She worried about me. Capital! He tore his eager gaze from her breasts and lifted his head. "I have not yet unwrapped it. A book, I take it?"

"Yes. The volume belonged to my husband. He was a scholar, and that book was one of his favorites. Mine, too. We spent many happy hours enjoying it." Another dazzling smile curved her lips. "I selected it with you in mind."

His pulse thumped. I have a chance. "You flatter me with your consideration."

"My pleasure." She flashed another of her heart-stopping smiles. "As much as I long to, I will not ruin the surprise by telling you what the book is." She smoothed her face into a blank stare, but her glorious chocolate eyes twinkled.

So, she wanted to play games. He gave an inward smirk. He would love to play games of a different sort. But he would settle for a guessing game. For now.

Thank you all,
Linda

My Fourth Contract: GIFTS GONE ASTRAY

The Wild Rose Press has accepted my latest Regency comedy novella, Gifts Gone Astray. I have no idea when it will come out, but I assume it will be sometime this year. I hope, I hope!

Anyway, here are the unedited blurb and excerpt, to give you some idea of what the story is about:

BLURB:
A gift is a wonderful surprise. Or maybe not.

At the Earl of Langley's family gathering, everyone receives a gift, including the servants. Tutor Stephen Fairfax expects a small token, but the present from family member Mrs. Anne Copley, the widow who's caught his eye, is a dream come true.

Until he opens it. What a gift! How did that demure lady acquire such a book? And she wants to "study" it with him? If he accepts her offer, tempting as it is, he could lose his job.

Anne has no idea why Mr. Fairfax is in such a flutter. Her present is a simple book of illustrations. The subject interests them both, and she would like nothing better than to examine the book--and Mr. Fairfax--more closely.

EXCERPT:
She glanced at the mantle clock. "Oh, look at the time! I must return to the drawing room. So much to do before the family party tonight. But, before I leave—" she swallowed "—we had some trouble with the gifts today. Yours went missing. I apologize—"

"But I received a gift. Someone left it outside my door."

"Thank the stars." She pressed her hand to her bosom.

Stephen's gaze followed her hand down and his throat dried.

"I worried your present was lost."

She worried about me. Capital! He tore his eager gaze from her breasts and lifted his head. "I have not yet unwrapped it. A book, I take it?"

"Yes. The volume belonged to my husband. He was a scholar, and that book was one of his favorites. Mine, too. We spent many happy hours enjoying it." Another dazzling smile curved her lips. "I selected it with you in mind."

His pulse thumped. I have a chance. "You flatter me with your consideration."

"My pleasure." She flashed another of her heart-stopping smiles. "As much as I long to, I will not ruin the surprise by telling you what the book is." She smoothed her face into a blank stare, but her glorious chocolate eyes twinkled.

So, she wanted to play games. He gave an inward smirk. He would love to play games of a different sort. But he would settle for a guessing game. For now.

Thank you all,
Linda