In Her Dreams by Katherine Givens – a review and guest post

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ABOUT THE BOOK: Release Date October 1, 2013

A flirty, fun, mix-and-match romance about two sisters who are betrothed to the wrong men…

Evangeline Vernon is a woman on the verge of spinsterhood — until the prim and proper Duke of Manchester steps in. Her family is pleased with the match, but the duke is not the passionate man Evangeline craves. Her heart belongs to an alluring, golden-haired gentleman, perfect in every way…except one: he doesn’t exist.

Angela Vernon is everything a proper, well-brought-up woman should be. She knows her place and understands society’s expectations — which include not being jealous of her sister and not coveting her sister’s suitor. But how can she bear the heartache of watching the only man she loves marry not only her sister, but a woman who doesn’t see past his exterior to the man he is beneath?

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In her dreams is a sweet, short historical romance. A delightful light read!

Two sisters, Evangeline and Angela Vernon, are the objects of their mother’s greedy plans to have her daughters married to men of wealth and stature; this more for her own enjoyment than an actual caring of her daughters. It reminds us of how far women have come in life, to be able to marry for love and attraction not just as an object, but I digress.

Angela and Evangeline are loving siblings. Unfortunately Evangeline (almost a spinster at 24 ((OMG)) is noticed by the Duke of Manchester and her mother has decided she is to marry him. Evangeline finds him boring, nice but not someone she’s attracted to. Her mother simply doesn’t care; she will marry him or else be thrown out of her father’s house!

Evangeline dreams of a golden haired man with magnificent green eyes and is undeniably attracted to him. She dreams of him every time she sleeps. His name is Alexander…she doesn’t know it, but he is the Earl of Cheshire, and he is quite real and also dreaming of her! Interesting, yes?

Getting ready for another ball at the Manchester’s house Evangeline discovers that her sister Angela is in love with Manchester but will not cross her mother’s plans. She is willing to have the man she loves marry her sister while she (per her mother’s wishes) will have to win the heart of a reclusive man, the Earl of Cheshire (who no one has seen in years).

Okay! That’s the set-up; I don’t do spoilers, so here’s the questions:

Can Evangeline convince Angela to tell Manchester she’s in love with him and win his heart despite her mother’s plans?

Will Manchester fall for Angela, despite his intensions of marrying Evangeline (he doesn’t believe love exists for people of their stature…mmmm)?

Will the ever elusive Alexander be able to convince Evangeline of his real love for her and get her to marry him instead?

Will the parents allow this?

This is quite a nice read, reminds me a little of “A Mid-Summer Night’s Dream”. It’s lighthearted, romantic in the historic tradition, although there is a little steamy romance as well…a good read with some wine and chocolate would make a really good day! Enjoy, it’s fun!

Reviewed by Georgianna

Copy supplied by the author

What Do You Mean Historical Romance Is Dying?

As of late, I’ve read a few blogs and articles about how historical romance is dead or dying. Others say there needs to be something new and different to reinvent the genre. Several are grumbling about the played out tropes and stereotypical characters. There are readers calling for stories that are new and exciting, not the traditional regencies that have been done over and over again. Change is the keyword for these unhappy readers, while others just think the genre is dead.

As a historical romance author, I have to disagree. Historical romance is alive! It is vibrant! It is radiant! It is effervescent! The traditional regencies remain in the majority of the market, because that is what the majority of readers crave. There has to be a reason the acquisition teams of publishers still acquire these regencies. Publishing is a business. Publishers are out to make money. If editors are still seeking historicals, it must mean this corner of the market is still profitable.

I know firsthand that historical romances are still sought after by editors. Back in May of this year, I sold my debut novella to Harlequin Australia’s imprint Escape Publishing. Titled *In Her Dreams*, the novella is set in nineteenth century England. Although my story is set in Victorian society, it is a historical romance with a twist. A twist that entertained the editor of my Harlequin line enough so that she offered me a contract. If historical romances were dead, why would she acquire such a piece? Also, let us not forget there are USA Today bestsellers, New York Times bestsellers, and very successful authors still in this genre. A few successful authors in this genre to name are Eloisa James, Loretta Chase, Brenda Joyce, Elizabeth Hoyt, Liz Carlyle, Sabrina Jeffries, and Madeline

Hunter. I could name more, but I’d bore you with my long, long list! There are also new voices blooming in this genre, such as Sarah MacLean, Heather Snow, and Ella Quinn. For those seeking something new and exciting in historical romances, there are books outside of the traditional regencies being published. Viking romances are a huge hit. Even I want to write my own Viking romance! Historicals are also being set in the ancient world, the Americas, and in Asia. A few examples of authors writing outside of regencies are Jeannie Lin, Kate Quinn, and Michelle Willingham.

The genre was inspired one of the greatest novelists of all time, Jane Austen. Others shaped and molded historical romances, such as Georgette Heyer and Victoria Holt. With other greats now carrying the torch, why would the genre be dead? Contemporaries and paranormals might be the big hits right now, but how can historicals wither to nothing when a loyal reader base remains? The truth is historical romances are alive, and the genre isn’t going anywhere. I see it changing yet again, changing with the new face of publishing. However, this does not mean it will turn to ashes. The fires still burn, and I am excited to see how the genre shall shift in the future. And, of course, I mean to be there for the ride as I continue to write my own stories as a proud historical romance author.

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In Her Dreams is Katherine’s debut novella, which is published with Harlequin Australia’s imprint Escape Publishing. She is working on a number of other projects and always has ideas flooding her head. In her spare time, Katherine loves to read about history, craft jewellery, and play with her ornery kitten named Bucky. To learn more about Katherine and her writing, please visit the following sites: Goodreads/ Website/ Twitter / Facebook. She loves to hear from readers.