Stacy Reid on sweet, sweet revenge and delicious dukes
Stacy Reid, author of Sins of a Duke, loves a good revenge-themed romance. Here, she shares what makes the romance trope so attractive and shares some of her favorites.
Stacy: I find revenge romances deliciously wicked and satisfying. I love when the heroine or hero gets smacked in the face by love, and all the devious deeds they plotted crumble, and they then fight for something more worthy and beautiful — love. I adore revenge romances that are filled with the redemptive power of love, delicious angst, and have me raging at the characters. While the vengeance can be directed at the hero or heroine, or anyone else central to the story, the reasons for revenge must be just, heartfelt, powerful, and the method must be measure for measure. It was not so strange then that I infused all my love for the trope into my latest book from the Scandalous House of Calydon series, Sins of a Duke. I took my hero, Lucan Wynwood, the Duke of Mondvale, also known as the Lord of Sin, on a dark, painful path of revenge where he ultimately found the kind of love that leaves us in knots.
In the beginning my duke was here:
It would be a sister for a sister. The debt to pay must be comparable to the crime. Only then would Calydon understand the nature of his punishment. Calydon would have mourned the ruination of his precious wife. But a sister—he would have wiped her tears, soothed her fears, been there for her from birth. That was how Lucan had been with Marissa. And he knew instinctively Lady Constance's destruction would torment Calydon more. Lucan had resolved that Calydon must know what profound pain and sorrow felt like. And the depth of failure Lucan had felt when he had failed Marissa should be experienced by the man, measure for measure.
By the end he was here:
"From the moment I met you, you captivated me body and soul. Your beauty, your kind and generous mannerisms, even your scent stirred and enraptured me. When I realized my feelings for you were interfering with my vengeance, I tried to push you away. In the end, an end that may be too late for us, I now know you are more important to me than anything else."
Not only do I love revenge-themed romances, I simply adore dukes. Dukes are powerful, unattainable, dangerous, scandalous and honorable. They are the most arrogant and pompous in the haute monde, begging to be taken down a notch by a daring heroine! They are also the embodiment of the powerful, swoon-worthy alpha males that we see in the billionaire tycoons of today's contemporary romances.
Today I will share with you my favorite romances featuring dukes and revenge. Perfect combination! : ) (Some plot descriptions provided by the publishers.)
• These Old Shades by Georgette Heyer. A delicious story with a sinister revenge plot featuring Justin Alastair, the notorious Duke of Avon, and the ravishing beauty Leonie ...
• What I Did for a Duke by Julie Anne Long. A seductive and enthralling romp, where the formidable Alexander Moncrieffe, Duke of Falconbridge, seduces the innocent Genevieve for revenge!
• The Duke by Gaelen Foley. In this emotionally charged story, the Duke of Hawkscliffe will go to any lengths to unmask the murderer responsible for the death of his love. Even if it means engaging in a scandalous affair with London's most provocative courtesan, the desirable but aloof Belinda Hamilton.
• Duke of Midnight by Elizabeth Hoyt. A very engaging and satisfying read. Maximus Batten witnessed the brutal murders of his parents. Now the autocratic Duke of Wakefield, he spends his days ruling Parliament. But by night, disguised as the Ghost of St. Giles, he prowls the grim alleys of St. Giles, ever on the hunt for the murderer. One night he finds a fiery woman who meets him toe-to-toe — and won't back down ...
• The Duke of Dark Desires by Miranda Neville. In this enthralling story, Lady Jeanne de Falleron didn't seek a position as a governess simply to fall into bed with the Duke of Denford. Under the alias of Jane Grey, she must learn which of the duke's relatives is responsible for the death of her family — and take her revenge. She certainly can't afford the distraction of her darkly irresistible employer, or the smoldering desire he ignites within her.
• Fool Me Twice by Meredith Duran. Alastair de Grey has a single reason to live: vengeance. More beautiful than Lucifer, twice as feared, and thrice as cunning, he'll use any weapon to punish those who fooled and betrayed him — even an impertinent maid who doesn't know her place. But the more fascinated he becomes with the uppity redhead, the more dangerous his carefully designed plot becomes. For the one contingency he forgot to plan for was falling in love … and he cannot survive being fooled again.
I am always searching for deliciously wicked romances. What are some of your favorite historical romance reads? Whether they be revenge themed, or featuring sinful dukes, I am all ears!
Find out more about Stacy and her books at www.stacyreid.com.