Mar
Boots in Bed & Duchessing
Today I am happy to reveal the cover for THE RUIN OF A ROGUE. The male model on this one certainly captures the perfidious sexiness of Marcus Lithgow while …
Lady B: Miss Neville!
Miranda: Good evening, Lady B. I’m unveiling a cover.
Lady B: That man is wearing a boot–
Miranda: Two, actually, though I grant you that one of them is particularly prominent.
Lady B: –in bed.
Miranda: I am sure you have learned, through consorting with writers, that the covers of novels do not always exactly represent their contents. I am bound to say that although there is a scene in The Ruin of a Rogue where Marcus brings Anne dinner in bed and he is wearing boots at the time …
Lady B: Never mind that. I have no objection to boots in bed. In fact [Lady B appears on the verge of blushing, a somewhat alarming sight] I have, in my time, been Duchessed.
Miranda: Uh, has Lord B been created a duke? Seems rather unlikely, though well deserved, of course.
Lady B: I am referring to the activities of the First Duke of Marlborough (an ancestor of mine). His wife reported that “The Duke returned from the wars today and did pleasure me in his top-boots.” Hence, among the cognoscenti, it is known as “duchessing” when the gentlemen is – ahem – too eager to waste time undressing.
Miranda: Wow, Lady B. That is really hot.
Lady B: When John Churchill wed Sarah Jennings it was a true love match. After his death, the Duke of Somerset proposed to her and she turned him down with these words:
”If I were young and handsome as I was, instead of old and faded as I am, and you could lay the empire of the world at my feet, you should never share the heart and hand that once belonged to John, Duke of Marlborough.”
There’s nothing like the romantic story of the Marlboroughs to remind us that, whatever anyone says, historical romances featuring incredibly hot dukes are FRIGGING REALISTIC. Also boots in bed. If you haven’t ever seen it, rent the DVD of the TV series The First Churchills. I promise you will enjoy the scene when John Neville, IN HIS BOOTS, leaps on Susan Hampshire ….
So let’s talk about love scenes. So we like them better with clothes, some clothes, no clothes? Any particular favorites you wish to recommend?
Mar 11, 2013
7:18 am
I LOVE the cover and that cover model is very hot indeed. I love when the male cover model has that look that he really loves and needs his lady, which is the look this guy is giving the heroine.
Talking about love scenes, I like when the H/H are so into it that they don’t have enough time to completely undress and just go out it with clothes on. Those scenes against the wall or the pool table are always interesting. That and when they go in a closet or that dark room and do it on the chaise, while somewhere in the house, a ball is being given.
I wish I could give examples, but to be honest I read so much that I remember that I read a book and I remember certain scenes, but putting them together is another thing. Hence the other day when I remembered reading a red haired hero and forgot it was Sarah’s Cross, who was the one I was thinking about. ::blushes::
Mar 11, 2013
12:02 pm
“I like when the H/H are so into it that they don’t have enough time to completely undress ” – me too, Jamie! I also find it very sexy when one of them is dressed, and one naked.
Mar 11, 2013
10:48 am
Great post Miranda! I’m looking forward to Ruin of a Rogue. (Though I’m a little sad they didn’t keep going with the riff on Oscar Wilde titles.
I have no preference for how clothed or unclothed the hero and heroines must be during their love scenes. Whatever works best and makes the most sense under the circumstances. Sometimes it’s a quick and furious release of sexual tension and frustration up against the wall. Others it’s a long, sensual, leisurely soul satisfying love making session in a proper bed. I’m good either way or any way in between. LOL
One memorable love scene for me was Eloisa’s An Affair Before Christmas, when Poppy and Fletch made love outside, in the snow. (I tend to find outdoors/unusual locations for love scenes most interesting. Huh.) And another one I can’t talk about as it hasn’t been officially released yet. But all I’ll say is Chapter 21!
Mar 11, 2013
12:04 pm
I was sorry to lose the Oscar titles, Lisa, but you know publishing. One doesn’t decide these things in a vacuum.
I Loved that scene of Eloisa’s – nothing says Christmas like sex in the snow!
Mar 11, 2013
12:00 pm
Miranda, I LOVE that cover! I adore how “painterly” they’ve made it and it totally hits all my reader cover art sweet spots. Congrats!
And as for love scenes, I like them everywhere, in every state of undress.
Also, Lady B is hilarious and I love the bits of gossip and info she drops.
Mar 11, 2013
12:04 pm
LOVE the cover!
And I love that story about the duke and duchess of Marlborough. How wonderful!
And yes, I love it when the hero and heroine are too impatient to mess with all those laces and buttons and just go at it. Love finds a way.
Mar 11, 2013
3:08 pm
Wonderful cover, Miranda, congrats! I like boots!
I do have to say there’s nothing like a spontaneous moment of passion that results in a not quite unclothed experience! After all, if it’s a stolen moment of satisfaction with the danger of being interrupted, it’s best not to be buck naked, right?! *wink*
Mar 11, 2013
3:39 pm
That is a GORGEOUS cover, Miranda! I love the colors and the boots, and the everything…
Mar 11, 2013
9:26 pm
that is a very lovely cover, can’t wait to read the pages that follow it
& I must say “oh, my Lady B” {wink} 
Mar 14, 2013
11:09 am
[...] lips purse. “What is it, gel? Miss Neville has brought gentlemen in BOOTS. It’s quite [...]
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12:01 am
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