Author to Author: Anna Campbell Tells Us About a New MUST Read

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Author: Anna
Published: May 12th, 2008

Your Scandalous Ways by Loretta Chase
Reviewed by Anna Campbell

WOW! What a book! Buy it! Read it! Tell your friends!

OK, that’s the May review done. What’s next? Cocktails? Cabana boys? A Mediterranean cruise?

What’s that, Marisa? You want MORE???!!! Sheesh!

Oh, OK, Miss M, but JUST for you, OK?

Loretta Chase is one of my all-time favorite authors and I think she’s one of the best writers ever to grace the romance genre. She has an unerring and unique ability to combine sparkling Regency wit and deeply heartfelt emotion in a blend richer than the best cup of coffee you ever tasted. So a new book from her is always an event in my world.

Then I heard her new story featured a courtesan heroine, a gorgeous half-Italian hero (shades of LORD OF SCOUNDRELS) and a Venetian setting. I was watering at the mouth in anticipation. Sorry, not a pretty picture, I know, but it had to be said!

I love stories about people falling in love with the least convenient person in the universe and this is a wonderful example of that subgenre. Francesca and James fight their attraction all the way but of course, they can’t escape the fact that they’re perfect for one another. The sensual tension in this book is hot and just builds and builds. I think you get the idea!

Why do I love YOUR SCANDALOUS WAYS? Let me count the ways!

The heroine, Francesca Bonnard, is strong and self-confident and a survivor. Added to which, she’s clever and witty and capable of deep and lasting love.

The hero, James Cordier, is classic Chase. Big and dark and sexy and passionate and sexy and… Hmm, think I said that before. One of the things I love about Loretta’s books is that the dialogue is sexier than most sex scenes you’ll read. Seriously! The interplay between these two, with the sizzling subtext of unwilling sexual attraction, will have you on the edge of your seat.

Then there’s the setting. Venice is a wonderful place for a romance – I wish I saw more of it in historicals. The decadence, the glamour, the danger, all serve to make this story a page turner. And honestly, wait till you get to the first love scene. Talk about making bells ring!

I also love the way the story weaves in real characters and events, like Lord Byron’s visit to Venice (there’s a few jokes at poor Byron’s expense too!). There’s such texture in the writing – you feel you’re walking the streets of Venice or overbalancing into a canal from a wonky gondola or sitting at a box in the opera listening to Rossini.

What a treat this book was! Seriously, buy it!

Marisa, NOW can I have my cocktail?

22 Responses to “Author to Author: Anna Campbell Tells Us About a New MUST Read”

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keoweegirl
on May 12th, 2008
@ 9:12 pm:

I don’t know about Marisa, Anna, but I’ll be more than happy to mix up a batch of cocktails and indulge in one (or more) with you! I’ve been so excited about this new book. I adore Venice and I adore stories from Loretta Chase. Mix the two together and I’m beyond ecstatic. The only thing that would make me happier is if *you* had a new book coming out at the same time!

~PJ
virgo33
on May 12th, 2008
@ 10:06 pm:

You don’t have to convince me, Anna. Loretta Chase is one of my very favorite authors, loved what I’ve read so far on it, and one reviewer claims it’s even better than Lord of Scoundrels. I’m a fan of writers who do well with showing you more about their characters with dialog, sexy or otherwise, lol.
Anna Campbell
on May 12th, 2008
@ 10:24 pm:

Ah, PJ, why are you so far away when I have a yen for a margarita and a good giggle? Sadly, January is STILL a long way away when it comes to another Anna Campbell!

Virgo, LC really is something special, isn’t she? Do you want to join PJ and me for cocktails?
Christine Wells
on May 13th, 2008
@ 12:41 am:

Anna, you had me at hello! As you know, I’d buy Loretta’s laundry list. Do people keep laundry lists in this day and age? Anyway, it seems that if they did, it would be mundane, unless someone like Loretta Chase was writing it.

What a fabulous read! LC writes such wonderful heroes. She has the battle of the sexes down to a T. I’m only sorry now that i’ve read the book and have to wait for the next Loretta to come out.

I think you certainly deserve that cocktail. I’ll send Sven over with the drinks tray;)
Anna Campbell
on May 13th, 2008
@ 1:17 am:

Ah, Christine! I knew I could rely on my lush…uh, lovely friend to find a good-looking Swede with a cocktail shaker! It IS a good read, isn’t it? The dialogue just sparkles – the cut and thrust between them is fantastic.
Annie West
on May 13th, 2008
@ 1:24 am:

Anna, fantastic! You’ve confirmed me in my plan to buy this book. Now I’ll just have to buy it sooner. When LC is good she’s stupendous. I can’t wait. And you’re right – Venice sounds so alluring. Love the sound of the wit too. I’m wondering if it’s as good as the dialogue in Mr Impossible. Rubbing my hands together with glee.

Annie
Anna Campbell
on May 13th, 2008
@ 1:33 am:

As you know, Annie, Mr. Impossible is one of my all-time favorite romances. I love the way the supposedly stupidest person in the story is actually the smartest! That sly humor is a real LC trademark, isn’t it? I must do a review about it here some time – but I feel my Loretta Chase fan-girldom is showing as this is my second review of her books already. I just recently read another great historical set in Venice – Amanda McCabe’s A Notorious Woman. It’s a renaissance story but she really makes the city come alive. I’m looking forward to the sequel, A Sinful Alliance, which is getting great reviews around the place too. It’s set at the court of Henry VIII – another setting you don’t see much of in romance, although it’s taken the historical fiction market by storm.
Marisa
on May 13th, 2008
@ 4:07 am:

Anna, you can definitely have that drink now. PJ, move over and start pouring!

Ah Anna, another fabulous review. I too enjoyed the chemistry between the protagonists in Your Scandalous Ways, their energy together practically jumps off the page. And Loretta does have a way with descriptions. Her prose allows you to feel as if you’ve been to Venice before and can smell the rain falling outside the window.

Anna you were the one who introduced me to Lord of Scoundrels and you haven’t steered me wrong yet. So I’ll definitely check out Amanda McCabe’s A Notorious Woman; I love the renaissance period in history and set in Venice — all the better.

Anna you must tell us what kind of ‘reader’ you are. Do you savor each book, reading it slowly not wanting it to end. OR do you devour the book in one sitting racing to find out what happens?
virgo33
on May 13th, 2008
@ 4:46 am:

Cocktails and Sven? I’m there! Anna, I loved Rupert and how smart he really was though most, including some readers I think from a few review comments, lol, didn’t seem to get that. I loved his “glass is half full” attitude and rascally charm.
Buffie
on May 13th, 2008
@ 6:06 am:

Oh Anna, another fabulous job!!!! Of course all you have to mention are drinks and cabana boys and you KNOW I’m there!!!!! Loretta Chase is an author who will stand the test of time. I can’t wait to dive into this latest release.

Smooches, darling!
AndreaW
on May 13th, 2008
@ 6:31 am:

Great review, Anna! This one sounds really good!

Confession time: *whispers* I’ve never read a Loretta Chase book before. I know! But this shouldn’t surprise some. I’ve never read a *gasp* Nora Roberts book either! Maybe someday.

Now, about those cocktails and cabana boys…
MaryKate
on May 13th, 2008
@ 7:07 am:

Anna, I spent time this weekend with our Queen Bella, Michelle Buonfiglio, and she said to me that she thought this book was VERY evocative of Lord of Scandals, but that she almost thought it might be “smarter” than LOS. What’s your opinion?

It’s funny, most Loretta Chase books don’t work for me, although LOS is in my Top 10 romances of all time. So I’m looking forward to reading this one.

Spectacular review, luv!
Maria
on May 13th, 2008
@ 7:19 am:

Hey Anna wait for me! Don’t I get a drink? Now you’ve made my mouth is water for this book. I haven’t yet read it, but LC, Venice, sexy hero – I’m in!

Andrea —- don’t wait – go ahead and pick up a LC book, and while you’re at it, check out Nora… I think you’ll find you’ve added two new authors to your TBR pile.
Gannon
on May 13th, 2008
@ 7:26 am:

Count me in for cocktails…and cabana boys!

Wonderful review, Anna! I’ll dash out ASAP and get LC’s newest.
Jeanne AKA The Duchesse
on May 13th, 2008
@ 7:42 am:

If it involves Sven and a cocktail shaker, I’m in! ;> I also love Venice as a setting, a city, a song, or anything else. I want to GO there. BTW, Marisa, that’s a great question about reading slow to savor or racing to the finish. I’ll be interested in seeing how our dear La Campbell responds… Grins. Great review, Anna, and a wry thanks for adding yet one more book to my TBR pile!
Esri Rose
on May 13th, 2008
@ 8:24 am:

A book set in Venice, with a cameo by Byron? I MUST HAVE IT!
jo robertson
on May 13th, 2008
@ 9:00 am:

Great review, Anna, and it certainly makes me want to buy Loretta’s book. Sorry, I’m a day late in reading the review, but I’m off to Amazon right now to order it.

I love that subtext that goes on between the protagonists. The whole idea of attraction that they know is BAD and won’t work, but it’s still there and they have to deal with it. And because we’re romance readers, we KNOW their assumption that it won’t/can’t work is all wrong. They’ll end up together and give us our HEA.
Maria
on May 13th, 2008
@ 10:20 am:

I am such a SUCKER for attraction between h/h where there is no possible way it will work – they are so completely different. I guess it’s because my husband and I are so COMPLETELY different – that I know there’s much to experience in those types of relationships.
Anna Campbell
on May 13th, 2008
@ 1:33 pm:

Ooh, Marisa, what a great question! What sort of reader are you? I think I’ve changed, actually – I used to be a race through to find out what happened but these days, when I’m really in love with a book, I dwell on every word. Mind you, if the book’s REALLY great, I race through and then I read my favorite bits again and dwell. And if it’s great beyond comparison, I just re-read the whole thing! Glad you loved LOS – it’s a classic, isn’t it? Re-reading it for the review I did for RNTV reminded me what a masterpiece of characterisation Dain is.

Virgo! Rascally charm? What a fantastic description. Actually one of the things I love about Loretta’s books is that she doesn’t hit the reader over the head with ‘YOU WILL THINK THIS NOW!’ It’s part of that sly humor I was talking about. I too have met people who accept Rupert at face value as thick as two bricks. Uh-huh, I think, knowing they’ve missed the most delicious joke. By the way, Sven is mixing your cocktail as we speak!

Buffie, so glad you enjoyed the review! I agree about Loretta standing the test of time. I often re-read her earlier trad Regencies. Have you read Knaves’ Wager or The Sandalwood Princess – they haven’t dated at all, IMHO.
Anna Campbell
on May 13th, 2008
@ 1:39 pm:

Andrea, if I promise to get Sven to name a cocktail after you, will you read a Loretta Chase? As you’ve probably guessed, I’m an absolute fan girl and so is Christine Wells! It’s funny how these big names sometimes pass you by – it’s happened to me with movies. You know, I’ve never seen Jurassic Park or Jaws or The Godfather. Don’t know why. I just haven’t!

Ooh, MK, that puts me on the spot. This book does have a touch of Lord of Scoundrels about it, certainly. The hero’s half Italian and definitely has a little of Dain’s darkness. I’m not quite sure the emotional arcs of the two characters touched my heart in quite the way LOS does – but honestly, that’s like saying something isn’t quite as good as the best chocolate you ever ate. And how the emotional core of a story touches you really is a personal thing, I find. A book of Loretta’s this did remind me of, perhaps more than LOS, is Captives of the Night which starts in Venice although it quickly moves to London. Glad Michelle is another fan of Your Scandalous Ways!
Anna Campbell
on May 13th, 2008
@ 1:42 pm:

Hey, and MK, from a fab reviewer such as yourself, I soak up each and every compliment

Hey, Maria, you KNOW you’re automatically on the list when Sven’s shaking his tail feather mixing up his cocktails. And ain’t that the greatest sight south of Stockholm?

Andrea, I suspect you’ll really like Nora too – I particularly love the Chesapeake Quartet. See if you can get the first one of those about Cam. Sigh.

Gannon, I’d love to know what you think of YWS. I think it’s a really clever, witty book! Hey, I think we might need to book a bigger room for this cocktail party. It’s getting mighty crowded in here!
Anna Campbell
on May 13th, 2008
@ 1:45 pm:

Esri, have you read LC before? I think you’ll really like her – she’s so SMART!

Jo, my Bandita friend! Lovely to see you here. I love dialogue that has a whole world of feeling running underneath it too while still being ‘dialogue’, if you know what I mean. LC is a master at that and it adds such richness to the story.

Maria, I love an opposites attract story too. Although these two aren’t exactly opposites, they’re soul mates right from the start. You get that feeling that they both get a fantastic joke that the rest of the world has just missed out on. And that’s what makes you cheer for them when they get together. Life has dealt both of them really difficult hands and they’ve reacted with courage and style! Fantastic stuff.