SEASON FOR SURRENDER and the Most Important Room in the House
One randomly drawn commenter from each tour stop will win one autographed copy of SEASON
FOR SURRENDER. Contest is open internationally.
Tour Stops:
Additional tour stops can be found at:
http://events.litconnect.com/season-for-surrender-by-theresa-romain
The more stops readers comment on, the greater their chance of winning.
Thanks, Romance Junkies, for welcoming me today as part of my SEASON FOR SURRENDER blog tour!
SEASON FOR SURRENDER tells the story of Louisa Oliver, a shy bluestocking, and Alexander, Lord Xavier, an earl who feels trapped by his rakish reputation. Over the course of a Christmas house party, both Louisa and Alex overcome their deepest fears while finding an unexpected love.
So what’s the most important room in the house? Since it’s a Christmas house party, you might think it’s the dining room or the drawing room. Since a romance blossoms, you might think it’s—ahem—the bedroom.
It’s actually the library.
See, Alex persuades Louisa to attend his house party by saying she can have a crack at his famous library. In truth, he needs her to attend so he can win a wager. (She finds that out almost at once, and she has a little fun with that knowledge.) It’s not exactly noble, and he knows that. At least he follows through by taking her to look at the library the day after she arrives.
Louisa is impressed…sort of.
Crested bookshelves of rich wood lined the walls, crammed with thousands of books, while red-patterned draperies swaddled the room in diffuse light. Ancient oil portraits spanned the walls from the tops of the bookshelves to the tray ceiling, which was painted with sinuous characters from mythology. Comfortable-looking chairs and sofas—even a chaise longue—were arranged invitingly. A heavy russet carpet, woven in squares and medallions, cushioned Louisa’s feet as she crept around the room, breaths shallow in the exquisite hush.
“It’s marvelous, isn’t it?” Xavier sounded bored, as though reciting from a script he’d read thousands of times.
Louisa recalled her scheme. In an instant, she’d stilled her feet, straightened her posture, and schooled her expression into one of disdain.
“It’s very nice, I’m sure.” She turned to the earl, standing a few yards away, and granted him a pitying smile.
“How you flatter me,” he said drily. Good, he’d dropped that insufferable I’m-too-marvelous-to-live-among-mere-mortals voice.
“I would never want to flatter you.” She walked to the nearest bookshelf and scanned it, top to bottom. “To be honest, your library is a terrible mess. But it has potential.”
As you might guess, she’s not only talking about the library!
Her honesty intrigues Alex, because it’s been so long since he’s been able to be honest with someone himself. Known as the life of every party, he enjoys society—but he also likes languages and poetry, and Louisa is the first person to whom he can admit those interests. Once he does, he begins to consider what he’s made of his life and what he wants it to be instead.
When they come across an encoded book on the library’s shelves, Louisa and Alex are both curious about its meaning, and they begin working together to solve it. Soon, they don’t need an excuse to spend time together, but when they can steal a private moment, they always seem to end up in the library. It’s the room where they can both truly be themselves.
What do you like most about libraries? Or what’s the most important room in your house? Do tell! I’m offering a signed copy of SEASON FOR SURRENDER for giveaway to one random commenter.
Genre: Historical romance
Tone: Humorous, lighthearted, romantic
Heat Level: Sensual: Love scenes with euphemisms.
Publisher: Kensington/Zebra
Publishing Date: October 2, 2012
Format: Digital and Print (mass market)
Words: 92,000
Season for Surrender
by Theresa Romain
Back Cover Blurb:
HONOR AMONG ROGUES
Alexander Edgware, Lord Xavier, has quite a reputation—
for daring, wagering, and wickedness in all its delightful
forms. But the wager before him is hardly his preferred
sport: Xavier must persuade a proper young lady to attend
his famously naughty Christmas house party—and
stay the full, ruinous two weeks. Worse, the lady is
Louisa Oliver, a doe-eyed bookworm Xavier finds quite
charming. Yet to refuse the challenge is impossible—he
will simply have to appoint himself Miss Oliver’s protector…
MISCHIEF AMONG MISSES
Louisa knows her chance for a husband has passed. But she has no desire to retire
into spinsterhood without enjoying a few grand adventures first. When Lord Xavier’s
invitation arrives, Louisa is more intrigued than insulted. And once inside the
rogues’ gallery, she just may have a thing or two to teach her gentlemen friends
about daring…
Purchase Links:
Amazon.com: http://amzn.to/P89cw3
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/QaWDCo
Book Depository: http://bit.ly/OnAEtf
Books-a-Million: http://bit.ly/OckJYZ
Author Bio:
Historical romance author Theresa Romain pursued an impractical education that allowed her to read everything
she could get her hands on. She then worked for universities and libraries, where she got to read even more. Eventually
she started writing, too. She lives with her family in the Midwest.
Connect with Theresa at:
Website: http://theresaromain.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/theresaromain
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorTheresaRomain
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4844891.Theresa_Romain
October 4th, 2012 at 7:25 am
Romance Junkies, thanks for letting me blog with you today! I’m looking forward to talking about libraries, rooms, or whatever else people want to chat about.
October 4th, 2012 at 7:31 am
[...] post October 3: Reading Romances–guest post October 3: Romance Bandits–interview October 4: Romance Junkies–guest post October 5: Book Sniffers Anonymous–guest post Published in Reading, Reviews, [...]
October 4th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Hi Theresa,
I’m so ready to read Season For Surrender. It’s on my TRL . I LOVE Libraries. They offer so much knowledge and entertainment. I could sit there and browse for hours on end. I particularly enjoy History of any kind. There’s no better place to learn everything and anything. Thanks for this opportunity.
Carol L.
October 4th, 2012 at 9:41 am
Thanks for hosting Theresa today!
October 4th, 2012 at 9:43 am
Carol, thanks for adding Season for Surrender to your TRL. Hope you enjoy it–it definitely has a lot of library scenes! I agree, libraries are fascinating. I can’t even tell you how many hours I’ve spent in the Special Collections department of our city’s university library–sometimes researching, sometimes just browsing things that look interesting.
October 4th, 2012 at 10:39 am
I should have guessed that the library would be the most important room. It certainly is in my home, especially since it contains the music nook, with several instruments and a selection of play along percussion “toys” and kazoos. Many are the ways to play in our libraries, I know.
October 4th, 2012 at 10:46 am
I love libraries.
I used to volunteer there just so I have more access to books….
October 4th, 2012 at 5:51 pm
Kathleen, your library sounds like a very Regency-appropriate room, with all those instruments!
May, great plan. I did that too, and I think I checked books out almost every day. Quite an addiction, but at least it was free!
October 4th, 2012 at 6:32 pm
I like that libraries have all kinds of books to borrower.
bn100candg(at)hotmail(dot)com
October 4th, 2012 at 8:19 pm
Oh, I wish I had a library in my house – I have enough books lol. Instead, I have books all over my house which is kind of nice too but very disorganized. I’ve always enjoyed being surrounded by books – each one a new world. I’ve heard many good things about your book and it sounds like something I’d enjoy!!
October 4th, 2012 at 8:35 pm
SFS has been on my list for a while now. I love books and libraries, and I wish I had a library for real paper books in my house. I’m not sure if it’s just a sign of the times, but it seems like houses now aren’t built with a library room, unless a spare bedroom can be turned into one.
The most important room in my house is an open area for a living room & dining area & kitchen.
winnie966 at yahoo dot com
October 4th, 2012 at 8:38 pm
I used to love going to libraries when I was doing some research for my thesis. I love how I could find lots of books I’ve never even heard before there and reading them without having to spend a fortune to buy them LOL and I also love the quietness of the it, well until some very rude people came and start talking like they were spending the time in the beach ;p
And in my opinion, the most important room in my house would be my bedroom! It’s my sanctuary, where I could spend time reading, watching movies or just relaxing on my bed
Congrats on the release of SEASON FOR SURRENDER, Theresa!
I love the scene in the library which is included above. Can’t wait to read the whole book!
October 4th, 2012 at 8:47 pm
Gosh! But wouldn’t anyone who likes to read love libraries? It’s heaven on earth
The most important room in my house is the kitchen. It’s where the family congregates during mealtimes. Of course that’s where the food is!
October 4th, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Books, books, and more books! When I was a child, I loved libraries for the entertainment and knowledge provided by the books there and, hey, I still love libraries for the same reasons.
October 5th, 2012 at 12:07 am
What I love about libraries are the feelings of calm and endlessness. You can spend so much time there but you will discover new things all the time – that’s why I can’t get enough of libraries.
The living room is the centre of my home. Here I can do almost everything from working, to relaxing, to reading, to spend time with my family and much more.
October 5th, 2012 at 2:42 am
What I like about libraries?? Well books of course!!!
My “study” room (aka library) is my favorite part of the house. I go there to escape the everyday routine through a book or just sit there and relax. I love it.. it’s my own personal space.
Thank you for the international giveaway
October 5th, 2012 at 8:00 am
bn100–yes, you never know what you’ll come across. And you can’t beat the price of a library for trying new authors.
catslady–”books all over the house” is my favorite way to decorate. Isn’t it great being surrounded by all those words?
Winnie P, I think you’re right; not many homes now are built with a library space. It’s more likely to be listed as a home office, if anything. Though bookshelves can be put anywhere!
Aline, glad you enjoyed that little snippet from Season for Surrender. How wonderful to have a sanctuary-room! And I agree, I couldn’t have written my thesis without a library–and an excellent interlibrary loan department, too.
Linda, everyone seems to wind up in the kitchen, don’t they? Sometimes for a chat, sometimes for snitching!
Janie, how great that your love of libraries started when you were young. Did you do any summer reading clubs?
Melanie, sounds like your living room is really the heart of the house. What an excellent family space!
Kristia, you’re welcome.
So you have a room in your house for books and reading? Very cool!
October 5th, 2012 at 8:46 am
Congrats on the new release. I love libraries. They have all kinds of books and media that people can borrow, they’re quiet so there are no distractions and you can read in peace. I usually visit my local library at least once a week.
October 5th, 2012 at 12:51 pm
Joanne, do the library staff recognize you as a regular? When I worked at a library, it was nice to get to know the people who came in all the time, because we shared the same love of books!
October 5th, 2012 at 4:54 pm
I love libraries! I used to go to the library all the time, the library staff would even recognize me at the grocery store, lol. But I moved to a new town, and the library here does not have many romances
So, I started buying books and after I got my ereaders I buy a lot of ebooks. I do occasionally borrow ebooks from the library these days, since they do have more books that way.
In my home, the favorite rooms tend to be the living room (where everyone seems to gather especially when family visits) and my bedroom (love to curl up in bed with a good book & this is where I have my bookshelves).
October 6th, 2012 at 10:56 am
The library invokes a mood of secrecy and moments stolen to feed an insatiable appetite for books. I have books in every room of my house. You can guess the kind of person who lives in a home by the books they have on the shelves and if a few on the table have bookmarks keeping the place. I tend to think of secret passageways, hidden drawers in desks and the lighting in this important room. Did you know there’s a limit on how many books you can take out of a public library? 50 or $500. As a teen, I would go over the limit and carry out books by the armfuls.
October 7th, 2012 at 6:43 am
I’d so love a library in my house like the ones you read about. There’s something so intoxicating being surrounded by that many books. My guest room is the closest I have with one full wall of books. It’s a lovely thing to see
One day I’ll hopefully get a full room of them 
October 7th, 2012 at 11:41 am
June M, how fun to be recognized by the library staff! It’s too bad your new library doesn’t have many romances, but being able to borrow ebooks is a nice option. A bedroom full of bookshelves sounds like a beautiful place to retreat.
Sunnymay, you’re right–you can learn a lot about a person by looking at how many books they own, and what kind. The first time I was at the house of my now-husband, I was delighted that he owned a lot of books. We had a lot of duplicates, too–a clear sign we were meant to be together, right?
Anna, a room with a wall of books sounds delightful! Do you read in there too, or do you have another favorite spot for reading?