Shameless Promotion Day
Apr 27th 2009
Suzanne EnochOn Writing!
I was trying to think of a subtle way to start a conversation where I could mention that “hey, by the way, my new book comes out tomorrow”. Then I decided to just come out and say it, because everybody would figure out what I was up to, anyway.
So tomorrow is the official release date for my new book and the final entry in the Notorious Gentlemen trilogy, Always a Scoundrel. The last of that naughty trio of friends, Lord Bramwell Lowry Johns, who knows he’s the baddest boy around and thinks nothing can surprise him, finds himself both surprised and set against a man even worse than himself – his own mentor.
And then there’s Rosamund Davies, the sensible one in her family, trying to hold everything together and keep herself and her impulsive younger brother out of trouble. Trouble, though is precisely what’s headed for her – and so is help, though from the least likely source imaginable.
The fun with Always a Scoundrel was in creating two bad boys: one redeemable, and one not. Finding that one line that a hero can’t cross while obliterating every other one in sight gave me some places to go that I hadn’t traveled before. My editor says it’s my darkest book yet, but I also think it’s one of the most humorous. How could it not be, with Bram involved? (These are a couple of my inspirational Bram photos, by the way.)
Who’s the baddest boy you’ve read? Have you tried to like a bad boy but found that he crossed that line? And what’s your line-that-can’t-be-crossed where a hero is concerned ? Oh, and are you going to buy Always a Scoundrel?
45 Comments »
45 Responses to “Shameless Promotion Day”
Bronte on 27 Apr 2009 at 3:03 am #
When I think of bad boys and books I must admit I tend to think of Anne stuart. I think she writes some of the baddest contemporary boys around. I struggled a bit with the hero from “Into the fire”. He grew on me but a hero that has been to jail (for something he did, not was set up or undercover etc), and when he’s first introduced is heavily into drugs and alcohol is not a hero that you immediately want to love. SHe also writes a hero that has 1. Slept with men for his job and 2. Has sex with the heroine to prove he can make her want him and he can remain unaffected. For some magical reason though I still love her books. The lines that can’t be crossed where I’m concerned are 1. Cruel to animals or 2. Cheating once in a relationship. And yes, definitely going to buy always a scoundrel!
Deb Marlowe on 27 Apr 2009 at 4:48 am #
Oh, Suzanne, Always a Scoundrel sounds fab! And love your inspirational pics. Yep–gotta have it!
Ayse on 27 Apr 2009 at 4:59 am #
Judith McNaught writes books that get me so frustrated I just wanna scream at the hero at times or throw the book at a wall. She is just sooo good.
Her heros are uber alpha, and yet I still love them by the end of the book. The only one that was a bit much for me was Whitney My Love. The rape scene crossed the line for me grrr. I like a bad boy as long as he doesn’t come off as downright evil.
My favorite bad boys are: Sebastian from Lord of Scoundrels
Reggie from The Rake and the Reformer
Sebastian from Devil in Winter = wow was he bad in the previous book
Can’t wait for the new book Suzanne. Awesome cover!
Gillian on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:11 am #
I count on you all providing reminders—I can hardly keep my daily to-do list straight, let alone what’s coming out when, so I love it when you all say “Hey, the book is out!”
Cail on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:24 am #
Sebastian from Devil in Winter, hands down is my favorite bad boy ever.
And a big old YES to getting your book. ASAP.
Freshechelle on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:27 am #
I’m almost done with your book (B&N put it on the shelf this w/e but not Rachel’s or Lori’s new reads). On my way to the airport now, hope to finish it on the plane. Very nice dedication. Thanks for the great read. No time to answer your questions. Bye for now.
Lisa H on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:51 am #
Sebastion from Devil in Winter was my favorite, although not too terribly bad. I loved him more and more as the book went on, Lisa Kleypas wrote his voice so well.
I don’t like heros who cheat or even flirt with other women once they have realized they are in love with the heroine.
Although I loved Phury in the first few Black Dagger Brotherhood books, by the time we got to his book, I was questioning him. He was starting to kill the lessers in gruesome ways and using drugs heavily. He also treated Carmia crappy for a while. He was redeemed by the end of the book, but I was wondering how that would all play out.
Suzanne, who is the hunk that inspired your hero, and YES I will be buying your book!
Kathy/Cookiedough on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:53 am #
Happy day before release day Suzanne!!!
I liked a real life bad boy TOO much when I was 24. he looked like Spike from Buffy- and that show wasn’t on in, ahem, 1989.
He crossed the line when he introduced me to his girlfriend he had been with for a year. This was info I could have used, say a month or two ago! and he still thought we’d continue our fun on the side.
Mooslady on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:54 am #
I am with Bronte, no cheating in a relationship, cruelty to animals(or children). I think I might add no physical violence to women. I read a book whose title I have forgotten where the “hero” actually roughed up the girl before falling in love with her. I say no way to that, reminenscent(can’t spell this early) of the whole rape thing Ayse mentioned. Some things go beyond foolish choices into just wrong and say bad things about a person’s character.
I am absolutely going to buy Bram’s story. I always thought he came across as looking for pleasure/meaning in life in the wrong places but not mean and always ready to help a friend, definitely redeemable.
Margaret on 27 Apr 2009 at 6:00 am #
I agree on Sebastian from LORD OF SCOUNDRELS and Sebastian from DEVIL IN WINTER. Altho the latter was really a bad boy in the preceding book, he comes around nicely in his own story.
Lines that can’t be crossed? Cheating and beating. Beating is pretty obvious to me. Hit me once and watch the dust clouds as I boogie down the road to freedom. I’ve read all the reasons that women will stay with a man who beats them, but I still don’t understand. I’d rather live alone.
As for cheating, I think it’s like Humpty Dumpty. When the trust is broken, you can patch it back together but there will always be cracks. The relationship will be more fragile than it was before. I can’t imagine living with a cheater. I also don’t understand a woman who marries a guy she cheated with. If she marries a guy who cheats on his wife, she probably will be a wife who gets cheated on. I think cheaters of either sex rarely change their stripes.
ALWAYS A SCOUNDREL is on my list for purchase next week, Sabrina. Congratulations on publication!
LisaK on 27 Apr 2009 at 6:23 am #
As for bad boys: the aforementioned two Sebastions, of course, but also Jack Dodger from Lorraine Heath’s “Between The Devil And Desire”. I love how he transforms from a man who cares about nothing but his money to a man who would do everything for his loved ones.
As for lines that can’t be crossed, Maragret expressed really nicely what I feel, too. I’ve once read a book, I think it was the second romance I ever read, that I actually liked very much (at the beginning).
The heroine was forced to marry the hero because she became pregnant. Nothing unusual so far. Then, the baby died. That really made me teary-eyed and think “Huh? Aren’t romances supposed to be … beautiful?”.
But, okay.
But then the hero couldn’t deal with his grief and slept with his former mistress. All in great detail. I was practically devastated. The former mistress had been mentioned before and I actually thought she was a pretty nice person and until then I really, really liked the hero, but that. Absolutely. Doesn’t. Do. It. For. Me.
Left me wondering if there are many romances out there which are like that (cheating heroes, bah!).
Lucky me, I don’t think there are.
LisaK on 27 Apr 2009 at 6:25 am #
Oh, and I forgot to mention that AAS already is on its way to me and I so can’t wait to start. Come to me, me pretty thing!
Buffie on 27 Apr 2009 at 6:36 am #
Suzanne, I am SOOOO looking forward to this book!!! I have heard some fabulous things about this book (mostly from AndreaW at RNTV). I can’t wait to get my hands on it and find a quiet corner somewhere in this madhouse so that I can read cover to cover without stopping.
LoriHandeland on 27 Apr 2009 at 6:43 am #
I agree with Bronte. I always remember Anne Stuart’s bad boys. There was one who was a hitman and killed the heroine’s father. I can never remember titles–someone help! But I loved that book.
I remember dating a guy once–he was much older than me. My dad took one look at him and said “who the hell are you?” Made me so nervous I didn’t see the guy again. And when I found out some stuff about the guy–whoa, my dad was SO right.
The hero line that can’t be crossed for me is disrespect. The hero and heroine can argue, fight etc. But a lack of respect for the heroine is unforgivable.
And I am definitely off to the store tomorrow for many reasons, but one is AAS!!
Ayse on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:06 am #
Derek Craven is also very high on my list of faves
can’t believe I forgot him
Ayse on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:09 am #
I haven’t read any Anne Stuart. What’s a good one to start with?
Louisa Cornell on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:37 am #
I already have Always a Scoundrel in my hot little hands. Our Anderson guy at Wal-Mart always puts books out early and I jumped on it like a duck on a junebug! Can’t wait to read it!
Everyone has named some of my favorite bad boys – Sebastian from Lord of Scoundrels, Sebastian from The Devil in Winter, Zarek from Dance with the Devil by Sherrilyn Kenyon, Ivan (or John) from Dangerous to Love by Rexanne Bechnel. Oh and I loved Derek Craven too.
I’ll go with beating, cheating and humiliating. Any of those and I am done with the boy.
Andrea on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:38 am #
Got it, read it, loved it, reviewed it and highly recommend it! Brava, Suzanne!!
Pesky on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:47 am #
Definitely going to buy your book.
This question is harder than it sounds. I read books with heroes a lot of time that in RL I’d say… “Dude, I think you forgot to pick up your sense of humanity at the dry cleaners last week” And these are characters I hear people refer to as “sexy, and commanding”. Stalker and creepy more like it. These books I’m more of an observer to.Sebastian took that step over, but he was horrified himself in what he did in Lisa Kleypas book…therefore redeamable. To be redeamable you have to acknowledge that you did wrong.
The books I lose myself in are good, decent men. Some of my favorites are Jo Goodman’s Ferron, Suzanne’s Rick, Anne Mallory’s Three Nights of Sin, Lisa Kleypas men from the It Happened One…series…and many more. I like my men decent in rl and those are the ones I’m drawn to in books as well.
Kat on 27 Apr 2009 at 8:02 am #
I think my favorite hero is Karen Marie Moning’s Adam Black from Immortal Highlander. Something about a fairie in a kilt. YUMMY!
I think I’m with everyone else on Whitney, My Love. . . although I do adore that book.
I have to add Devil Cynster from Stephanie Lauren’s Devil’s Bride (any of the Cynster men from that series.) and Simon Tremaine from Sabrina’s Only a Duke will do to the hero list too — I’ve read it at least half a dozen times now. Something about an adventurer and Dukes. . . *sigh* Must resist yesterday’s FROS.
JudyPatooty on 27 Apr 2009 at 8:14 am #
Yipppeeee! New book! Absolutely, positively gonna buy your new book as soon as I see it in Kindle format!
Everyone has already named my favorite bad boys – the two Sebastians, Zarek, Derek Craven. Oh, and add Zadist from J.R. Ward’s Black Dagger Brotherhood.
Cheating is definitely a line I don’t like to see crossed. The bad boy can be tempted all he wants, but if he does the deed, I’d find it really hard to accept him as the real hero of the story.
SheridanLA on 27 Apr 2009 at 8:15 am #
oooh tomorrow I have THREE books to buy!!! squueeeeeee!!!!
Suzanne Enoch on 27 Apr 2009 at 9:02 am #
Margaret, what a great description of “the uncrossable lines” and why that’s so. I think we should call it the Humpty Dumpty rule from now on. *g*
Lisa H, the guy in the photos is Nacho somebody. I posted one of the pics before, and — sorry, can’t remember which goddess it was — one of y’all knew his identity. I believe he’s a pro soccer player somewhere in South America.
Suzanne Enoch on 27 Apr 2009 at 10:34 am #
Andrea, I read your review. Thanks! I’m glad you liked it so much. I kind of think AaS is my best-written book to date. My mom, however, will probably still prefer “Taming Rafe”. She always does. Sigh.
EMMANUELLE JAPPONT on 27 Apr 2009 at 10:36 am #
There’s this book from Anne stuart named “called as Ice” I think where the hero is basicaly doing anything to complete his job even being the lover of another man for months while claiming he is not bisexual… right ! He just “does what he has to do”. I wouldn’t have minded a gay turned straight or a bisexual hero but one in denial… noway. As a result I had no kind of connection whatsoever ith the hero. It really put me off…
As for my favorite bad boy well Sebastian from the devil in winter was really something, and so was Tristan viscount Dare from The Rake… sigh sigh sigh
Nicole Jordan on 27 Apr 2009 at 10:47 am #
Definitely will be buying AAS, Suzanne! It sounds delicious.
I think Sherrilyn Kenyon writes great bad boys. And so does Linda Howard and Anne Stuart. But I agree with Emmauelle, AnneS can go right up to the line and sometimes cross it.
Margaret on 27 Apr 2009 at 11:08 am #
Good grief! How could I forget Derek Craven? Yes, indeed. What a guy.
Sabrina, I don’t know the name of your “inspiration” for AaS, but your book ought to win some major award. He is definitely inspiring.
Rachel Gibson on 27 Apr 2009 at 12:01 pm #
Ivan Tramore–Megan McKinney’s When Angels Fall. So wounded and wicked. I loved him.
A hero crosses the line with any sort of physical abuse, and I absolutely hate any kind of public humiliation.
rachelg
amy1242 on 27 Apr 2009 at 12:04 pm #
I agree with all of the above so far. If I wanted to read about cheating, rape and abuse, I’d just pick up the news paper. My favorite bad boy hero is one who’s ignorant in the power of love, who is not looking for it and is completely blind sided by it. I also like strong, saucy heroines, who aren’t afraid to make him suffer a little (my dark side) and doesn’t give in like some love struck pup.
Sabrina, looking forward to your book. Shopping commences tomorrow after the kids get on the bus for school!
Claudia Dain on 27 Apr 2009 at 12:08 pm #
Now, Margaret, I don’t want to make you blush, but it’s Suzie, not Sabrina who is the author of Always a Scoundrel. If you look for that title under Jeffries, you’ll be very annoyed! *G*
Enoch, everyone! Go to the shelves and look for Enoch!
I have a lot of lines that can’t be crossed. I know, I know; I’m rigid. Beating, cheating, deceiving, disrespecting, cruelty, addictions, heartless, thoughtless, stupid. Ignorant is okay; you can fix ignorant. You can’t fix stupid.
Suzanne Enoch on 27 Apr 2009 at 12:29 pm #
LOL, Claudia — not that I mind being mistaken for Sabrina, but thanks for the clarification. *g*
I think the ultimate uncrossable line is being unfaithful. After all, as bad as he is, and whether he realizes he’s in love or not, the hero should have a sense when he’s met “the one”, and frankly he shouldn’t be able to think about anyone else.
amy1242 on 27 Apr 2009 at 12:42 pm #
Oops Suzanne & Claudia! I did the same thing. Must be those “S” names. Shame on me!!
Deb Marlowe on 27 Apr 2009 at 12:57 pm #
Forgot to name my fave bad boys–it was early!
Vere from Loretta Chase’s The Last Hellion. I love that book. His transformation is a beautiful thing.
Hmm..I’m wondering if Lord Ruan is going to turn out to be a bad boy in Claudia’s Courtesan series…or if Sophia is going to reform him!?
Sigh…Draker or Byrne? I can never choose which of those two Sabrina Jeffries heroes I love best–I guess I’ll take them both!
Dain? That’s just a given!
Margaret on 27 Apr 2009 at 2:01 pm #
Thank you, Claudia. My only excuse for my mistake is I have been awake since yesterday morning and was waiting for my first cuppa when I wrote. I’m just surprised it was anything intelligible.
My deepest apologies, Suzanne! (color me red faced here) I’ll buy the book no matter what name you use. LOL
dbrown3400 on 27 Apr 2009 at 2:03 pm #
I think the two Anne Stuart titles you are looking for Lori are Nightfall and Moonrise. They’re among my favorites. My favorite bad boy is Cash Boudreaux from Sandra Brown’s Slow Heat in Heaven.
The cute UPS guy should deliver my pre-ordered copy of Always a Scoundrel tomorrow. Seems like I’ve been waiting forever for Bram’s story. Can’t wait to read it.
I’m with Claudia on stupid men. Just can’t fix ‘em. At least the ones with addictions can be reformed. Just finished a book where the hero had been an opium addict but reformed.
Suzanne Enoch on 27 Apr 2009 at 4:58 pm #
No worries, Margaret — and Amy. I just want everyone to enjoy the book. Call ME whatever you want.
TinaLouiseF on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:18 pm #
I like Lisa K, Sherilynn K and Stephanie L’s heros.
Of course I’m going to buy AaS.
And Highland Scoundrel
And True Love & Other Disasters
And whatever else I find.
My car doesn’t need fuel to make it run, right. Hopefully a 1/4 tank of gas will meke it to Friday – payday.
Rowena on 27 Apr 2009 at 5:27 pm #
I pre-ordered a copy of this book for my sister and I started reading this book last night. Bram has been my favorite since I first met him in Sully’s book. I have been so anxious for his book and am so glad that it’s finally here. So far, it’s filled with lots of awesomeness. So kudo’s to you Suzanne for writing a delightful series that brought me many hours of enjoyment.
I don’t have a favorite bad boy, I’m shameless enough to love them all! =)
Janae on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:12 pm #
I’ve been dying to read Bram’s story since we first met him last summer. Unfortunately, I’m going to have to wait until Wednesday to pick up AAS since we’ll be spending the day at Disneyland tomorrow, celebrating my ds’s 9th birthday (I cannot believe that he’s that old!).
I agree 100% with Claudia. Those are all good reasons to not stick around. Stupid is irredeemable and so annoying.
Hmm, favorite bad boy. That’s hard because they are so many that are so bad that they’re good. I do agree with Sebastion from Devil in the Winter and Adam Black from the Immortal Highlander.
Suzanne Enoch on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:15 pm #
Have fun at Disneyland, Janae! Apparently Hugh Jackman was there with his family last Thursday — maybe you’ll sit where his bottom was.
Suzanne Enoch on 27 Apr 2009 at 7:16 pm #
Thanks, Rowena! I’m glad you’re enjoying AaS.
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Apr 2009 at 8:09 pm #
Do you even need to ask? Of COURSE I’m buying Always a Scoundrel!
Well, the line a guy can’t cross question is hard. I adore Richard Armitage’s character in Robin Hood, so when he left the bastard child he’d sired on a maid to die (or something like that), I knew that was definitely a line. Unfortunately, I still liked him, so I just pretend that episode didn’t happen. *G*
Sabrina Jeffries on 27 Apr 2009 at 10:18 pm #
Suzie, you’re welcome to use my name whenever you like as long as I can use yours, too.
It doesn’t help that we all have new books coming out within a month of each other. Very confusing.
Ann on 28 Apr 2009 at 10:10 am #
Suzanne: Are you going to be doing any more Samantha Jellicoe books? Those are my favorites and I would LOVE to see more!
Jo on 01 May 2009 at 9:45 am #
Oh yes, Suzanne, more Rick and Sam. Soon. Pleeeaaaassssseeeee.