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Guest Blogger: Juniper Bell
Wednesday, July 28th, 2010

My “Brand New Look” contest ends today! Be sure to check Monday’s post for the contest rules and the prize list!

Please welcome my guest today, Juniper Bell! ~DD

I’d like to give a big thank you to Delilah for having me on her blog. Delilah, you’re one of my heroes and it’s a thrill to be here! Call it a Release Day treat for myself—my latest book, My Three Lords, comes out today from Ellora’s Cave.

My Three Lords is an erotic Regency ménage about one newly married young lady and three very naughty lords. I wrote the story because the idea came to me, because lords were the Alpha heroes of their time, and the thought of three of them … mmm. I didn’t worry about whether such a story could have happened in that time period. Regency romances come in many flavors, from sweet to steamy, although I generally picture formal balls and strict rules of behavior. Think every Jane Austen movie ever made.

I don’t think of threesomes … or in the case of my book, a foursome. Would a gently bred girl and three noblemen really end up in bed together?

So I did a little research, and lo and behold, people back then did all kinds of things they weren’t supposed to. Or at least, they thought about it. I found examples of erotica written around that time—not during the Regency itself, but from ten years earlier and about fifty years later. And some of what I read made me blush. One book, written by “Anonymous”, wrote about lusty governesses seducing schoolboys, anal sex, lots of man-on-man sex, woman-on-woman, multiple partners, group sex, even brothers and sisters experimenting.

I have no idea if his story is true. But at least it proves that people thought about sex then—a lot, in his case. Erotic books were written, published and read. But I wonder, why should that surprise me? The infamous Marquis de Sade was still alive at the time my book takes place (1811). Casanova had only died about thirteen years earlier. Those guys would put some of our current-day studs to shame.

After all, why would the Regency-era sex drive be any less than ours? Human nature hasn’t changed that much. Just because social behavior was strictly controlled doesn’t mean people didn’t get down and dirty in the privacy of their own bedrooms. In fact, maybe the lure of the forbidden made it even more tempting.

If Mr. Anonymous could write scorching erotica in the 1800’s, I can write scorching erotica set then. Maybe my story wouldn’t have happened, maybe it would. Who knows? But I’ll wager my best silk gloves that some adventurous lords and ladies thought about it. Ah, the seductive power of fantasies.

So is My Three Lords historically plausible or not? I say, based on my research, that I have no idea. But if you read it in the spirit of erotic fantasy, absolutely.

And that’s the best way to enjoy it anyway.

Here’s the blurb and an excerpt from My Three Lords, which releases today from Ellora’s Cave.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

How is one innocent country girl to choose between a Duke, a Marquis and an Earl? Must she?

When Miss Alicia Silverwood marries the Earl of Dorchester, he whisks her off to Notre Plaisir, a country manor where erotic surprises await in the company of three powerful lords.

The young Earl needs a wife and heir. The cynical Marquis de Beaumont needs a playmate. And the commanding Duke of Warrington needs a reason to live. As for the new Lady Dorchester, she’s about to discover the true nature of her own sensual needs. On top of that, she’s falling in love.

It might take a miracle for Lady Alicia and her three lords come to an arrangement that makes them all happy. Or perhaps all that’s required is a little scandalous rule-breaking.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

“I make you two promises, Alicia. The first is that I shall not take your maidenhead. Only one man may do so, and that is your husband. The second is that tonight you will experience more pleasure than you’ve ever imagined, thanks to me. If the Earl were here tonight, you’d receive no gentle caresses, no stroking such as I intend to give you. Your nipples would be left untouched, save for a rough tweak or two. Whereas I intend to savor their sweetness and watch them stand to attention like pink sentinels of your desire.”

Pinned as if I were a helpless butterfly, I lost myself in the soothing cadence of his speech. I became aware of the heat and strength of his body, and an unfamiliar tingling in my belly.

“You may think you prefer the Earl, but you’d regret it deeply. Your deflowering would be painful rather than pleasurable. Harsh rather than sweet. Such an event in a young girl’s life should bring tears of joy along with the tears of pain. That is what I offer, and the Earl, cognizant of your best interests as well as his own, has allowed me to provide this service. Do you understand?”

I nodded, and when he didn’t respond, whispered, “Yes.”

“Then come. Rise now.”

The weight lifted off me and he helped me to my feet. When I stood facing him, I saw a look such as I’d never seen on his jaded face before. He looked almost tender. Slowly, gently, he traced the skin along the edge of my loosened stays. I felt a prickling in the tips of my breasts. When I looked down at myself, my nipples were just as he said, pink and standing up under the layers of undergarments. He hooked his finger in the busk between my breasts. My breath caught.

“I won’t proceed further unless I have your full consent. Despite my reputation, I am not in the habit of forcing my attentions on unwilling girls. I must know that you accept what I’m offering you, fully and completely.”

His black gaze seared into me, as if he could see all the hidden corners of my soul. And perhaps he could, because God help me, I wanted the things he’d promised, and more. I wanted to lie down on the bed and roll myself in the bedclothes, or strip off my chemise and run outside under the stars. I didn’t fully understand what was happening to me. My body felt heavy and yet light at the same time.

“I do,” I whispered. “I accept.”

His eyes glittered in the candlelight. I felt dizzy. For a moment, I was back in the barn at home, caught with a goatherd’s hand hovering over my breast. I’d looked up in alarm at the sound of soft laughter. The sight of the Marquis’ delighted, mocking smile had turned me to stone.

There had been another feeling as well, a charge in the air that had made my skin prickle.

I felt it again as his eyes deliberately consumed my body, top to toe. Under my eyelashes, I performed an inspection of my own. The Marquis was not a bad-looking man, slender of build, perhaps a head taller than myself. As always, he was dressed in the height of fashion, with an embroidered cream waistcoat and a splendid coat of dark blue superfine that fit him to perfection. He always appeared to be mocking the world around him, but over the years I had on occasion seen him perform small kindnesses that surprised me.

“There has always been a special feeling between us, has there not?” As he spoke, he deftly removed my stays until I stood in nothing more than my chemise. I shivered at his nearness. Not for the first time, I thought what a powerful man he was, not in physique but in presence…a powerful man inclined to darkness.

He picked up a candle and slowly walked around me, shining its light on my body. The warmth from the candle paled in comparison to the penetrating weight of his gaze. I fixed my eyes on the pretty dressing table on the far side of the room. I counted five silver-backed brushes and considered attempting to count the individual bristles to distract myself from the strange feelings stealing over me.

A gentle touch on my posterior made me start. His hand cupped my bottom and warmth flooded my being. How could such a simple touch create such an uproar within me? With a firm hand and wandering fingers, he stroked my flesh. I felt the back of my chemise inch up my legs. The feel of his fingertips roaming across the backs of my thighs was so exquisite, I closed my eyes so the pleasure would continue.

“Ah no, my dear, you are not allowed to close your eyes. I want you to fully comprehend that it is I, the dreaded Marquis de Beaumont, who is bringing you this enjoyment. Whose hands are now stroking your tender buttocks?”
Tendrils of fire seemed to spread across my bottom as he quickened his touch. “Yours,” I gasped.

“And who intends to remove this interfering chemise from your body?”

My throat became suddenly parched. If he removed my chemise, I would be naked before the most notorious rake in England. “You,” I whispered. “But, please…”

“Yes?” His fingers danced up the curve of my spine and my belly seemed to quiver in response. Cool air caressed my back as he drew up the chemise. “Ah, so lovely. I’ve waited a very long time for this moment.”

I clutched the front of it to my chest. My head was such a confusing swarm of thoughts, I didn’t know what I wanted to say. Please continue. Stop this instant. The two opposite impulses battled in my mind. “Why me?” I managed. “Why a long time?”

“Why you?” My question did not make him pause in his intrusions on my body. Every inch of exposed skin drew a caress or a pat from his relentless, curious, knowing hands. Every touch sent a cascade of shivers across my flesh. “I’m sure you don’t remember, but you first caught my eye as a girl dashing after your brothers. You ran directly into me, like a Spanish bull into a cape. I have been accustomed to find myself a figure of fright for young girls. But you seemed to have no fear of me. I plucked you off the ground and held you high. You looked back at me with those frank eyes of yours, whose color I find no words for, somewhere in the mysterious realm between gray and blue, and you said, quite simply, “You were directly in my path. You will please to put me down now.” And so I did, and watched, bemused, as you raced away to join your brothers. At that moment I knew you were an unusual girl.”

By this time he was in front of me, loosing my hands from their grip on my chemise. I looked up at him and found myself surprised by a hint of softness in his usually sharp eyes.

“This chemise,” he told me softly, “can hide nothing from me. I know your soul, ma chérie, perhaps better than you do yourself. You desire things you cannot name. You sense it in the springtime air, the moonlight over a stream, the scent of lilacs in the sunshine. The world promises you something just beyond your senses, something you cannot grasp, simply because you don’t yet know how. I will show you how, my dear.”

26 comments to “Guest Blogger: Juniper Bell”

  1. Sherry S.
    Comment
    1
    · July 28th, 2010 at 7:36 am · Link

    I loved the excerpt and for this book it sounds very hot. I don’t read a lot of historical books but this one seems like one I would love to read. The only story of Juniper’s that I’ve read was a free read but I enjoyed it very much.



  2. Rasha
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    2
    · July 28th, 2010 at 8:00 am · Link

    The book sounds great and thanks for hosting DD! I am not a historical romance reader either but this sounds like fun. Good luck 🙂



  3. Lisa J
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    3
    · July 28th, 2010 at 8:12 am · Link

    Sounds hot! Good luck with this one.



  4. Valerie
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    4
    · July 28th, 2010 at 8:14 am · Link

    Great post. Another book to add to my growing wishlist!!

    Loved the excerpt, and three lords? Yum, yum and YUM!!!

    Valerie
    in Germany



  5. desi reilly
    Comment
    5
    · July 28th, 2010 at 8:16 am · Link

    hi they are al good i would liekto read all of the books and would like to tell you how i like them
    good luck for more to come 😛



  6. sue brandes
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    6
    · July 28th, 2010 at 8:44 am · Link

    I really enjoy historical romance books. This one sounds so good.



  7. CrystalGB
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    7
    · July 28th, 2010 at 8:50 am · Link

    Hi Juniper. Your book sounds great. Loved the excerpt.



  8. Karen H in NC
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    8
    · July 28th, 2010 at 9:08 am · Link

    Hi Juniper,

    You are a new-to-me author and I enjoyed reading the excerpt of your book. I think I will be placing it on my BTB list so I can read the rest of the story.

    I read mostly historicals, regencies in particular and while I’ve read some pretty hot love scenes and I believe this scene in your book could (and probably did) happen…I don’t necessarily believe the female would be so young and a virgin. In most cases in marriages of the ton, the wife is expected to produce an heir, and maybe a spare, before she is free to ‘mess around’ as it were. It would be at that point in her life that this scenario would be more likely. But that’s just IMHO. 🙄



  9. Cheryl McInnis
    Comment
    9
    · July 28th, 2010 at 9:21 am · Link

    Juniper, I agree, that is one intriguing excerpt-left me wanting to know more 😛
    I find the premise of the story very believable. I think that throughout time, no matter what the prevailing society’s “rules”, human beings are all the same and no doubt got themselves into all kinds of shenanigans, especially the sexual ones 😆



  10. Mrs. Hanson
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    10
    · July 28th, 2010 at 10:26 am · Link

    What an interesting premise! Will have to add this to my To Buy list.



  11. Larena Wirum
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    11
    · July 28th, 2010 at 10:29 am · Link

    Your book sounds great. Very hot. :mrgreen: As for if it is possible I remember hearing about a well known admiral that was involved in a threesome and that was around that time period. So I would say it is definitely possible. :mrgreen:



  12. Joder
    Comment
    12
    · July 28th, 2010 at 11:39 am · Link

    I love the sound of this…super sexy and fits my menage love perfectly. Definitely adding this to my wishlist.



  13. Cathy M
    Comment
    13
    · July 28th, 2010 at 1:30 pm · Link

    I think that the fact that social behavior was so restrictive, fostered a lot of love and lust whenever and where ever you could sneak in a private moment.



  14. Debra H
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    14
    · July 28th, 2010 at 2:10 pm · Link

    I loved the excerpt and have added it to my TBR pile. Congrats on the release.

    deb ;0)



  15. Tara W
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    15
    · July 28th, 2010 at 2:27 pm · Link

    I don’t know if it’s historically plausible or not ( I tend to believe it is.), but I definitely give the excerpt a thumbs up!.



  16. Jane
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    16
    · July 28th, 2010 at 2:39 pm · Link

    Happy Release Day, Juniper.



  17. Juniper Bell
    Comment
    17
    · July 28th, 2010 at 3:39 pm · Link

    Thanks to everyone for your comments, your congrats, and for sharing my release day with me! I haven’t been able to stop in until now as I’m at the RWA conference in Orlando, gawking at all the romance superstars — and learning lots of new things about the Regency period. (Did you know there was a very popular S&M brothel?) History really can surprise you. 😉

    KarenH, you make a very good point about the need for heirs. I hope the way I’ve dealt with that issue in my story is believable, because it definitely was something I had to address. Thanks for your comment.

    Larena, I’ve got to find out more about this admiral, how fascinating! Thanks for bringing that up.

    Juniper



  18. gigi
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    18
    · July 28th, 2010 at 3:58 pm · Link

    Happy Release Day! Can’t wait to read this one…love your other books.
    gigi



  19. Ana Ovi
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    19
    · July 28th, 2010 at 5:34 pm · Link

    I have a tendency to read historical erotica and 4somes? Who would complain about something like that? I mean really. This book is definitely going on my buy list 😀
    😀



  20. Estella
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    20
    · July 28th, 2010 at 6:33 pm · Link

    Happy release day, Juniper!
    This sounds like a very good read. Hope it does well for you.



  21. Brandy Blake
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    21
    · July 28th, 2010 at 6:36 pm · Link

    Ahhmmm… Juniper, were can I get me 3 naughty lords lol THis sounds aweSomE!!! 😈

    brandyzbooks@yahoo.com



  22. Anna Shah Hoque
    Comment
    22
    · July 28th, 2010 at 6:52 pm · Link

    Congratulations on the new release Juniper!!! It looks like a scandalously delicious and HOT read!!! I loved reading the excerpt…perfect teaser! :mrgreen:



  23. savonna
    Comment
    23
    · July 29th, 2010 at 1:32 am · Link

    Congrats on the release, Juniper!! I love the excerpt.



  24. Stacey Smith
    Comment
    24
    · July 29th, 2010 at 3:59 am · Link

    I love historicals and this sounds like a very Hot one.can’t wait to read it.

    sasluvbooks (at)yahoo.com



  25. Carol L
    Comment
    25
    · July 29th, 2010 at 6:19 am · Link

    Hi Juniper,
    Congrats on your release. Hi Delilah. I loved this excerpt. Three Lords and the tease of this excerpt has it already on my wish list.
    Thank you for the tease of what’s to come. 🙂
    Carol L.
    Lucky4750@aol.com



  26. Katy M
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    26
    · July 29th, 2010 at 6:24 am · Link

    Great excerpt! I love your intro about your research. I love reading books that feature the different forms of erotica in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. I’ll be adding this book to my wish list!



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