Sinful -- Out May 2010 from Harlequin Spice. HE MUST FIND REDEMPTION IN THE MOST UNLIKELY BEDCHAMBER... In Victorian England vice of every kind can be purchased, and Matthew, the Earl of Wallingford, makes certain he avails himself of every possible pleasure. Bored and jaded, he is as well known for his coldness as for his licentious affairs with beautiful women. While these numerous daliances fulfill Matthew's every physical need, they secretly leave him numb and emotionally void. Until one night when he finds himself beaten, eyes bandaged and in the care of a nurse with the voice of an angel--and a gentle touch that sooths the darkness in him and makes him yearn for more. Yet Jane Rankin is a lowly nurse, considered shy and plain by most. There is no place for her amongst the lords and ladies of aristocracy--despite Matthew's growing craving for the fire that burns behind her earnest facade. And then there is Matthew's secret. A secret so humiliating and scandalous it could destroy everyone he loves. A sin, he fears, not even the love of a good woman can take away... Read Excerpt | Read Reviews | Read Inspiration | Join Newsletter for free epilogue Order

Sinful’s Inspiration

Many years ago, I went to England and spent the day at Stourhead, which is famous for its formal gardens and follies. I knew, as I walked the paths, and sat beside a quaint little gothic cottage that I would one day set a book there. That book was Sinful, and the gardens became the grounds of Wallingford’s estate.

I thought I would include a few pictures so you can see what I saw when describing Wallingford’s home.

As well, when I wrote Addicted, Wallingford was already fully fleshed out. I knew his secrets, his inner workings, and what he needed for his happily ever after. Or at least I thought I did. The truth is, I had his heroine all wrong. After writing over 200 pages, I tossed them all out and began anew—I even changed the heroine’s name. Nothing about her was what Wallingford needed to grow and shed the darkness that was destroying him.

I truly despaired at this point. I was only weeks away from my deadline, and I didn’t have a handle on his heroine. Until.....I was on my way home for the Romance Writer’s of America conference. I remember sitting on the bus, with my head pressed against the window, and my iPod plugged in. I was mentally mulling over what the heck I was going to do to make this book work. And then I heard one of my favourite songs, Uninvited by Alanis Morrissette. As the music began to play the lyrics really hit me. Immediately I was imagining a very strong woman, an independent woman, but a woman with some vulnerabilities.
The words were so inspiring that by the time the song was done, I had more than an inkling of what Jane, Wallingford’s heroine was.

Jane, like Wallingford is full of secrets. She guards her soul, and Wallingford she knows, has the ability to pry her secrets out of her. She fears him for this, and as a consequence, she knows that it’s prudent to run, and never look back.

It’s amazing how one song can have such profound meaning. Here are the most inspiring lyrics of Alanis’ song, Uninvited.

Like anyone would be
I am flattered by your fascination with me
Like any hot-blooded woman
I have simply wanted an object to crave
But you, you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Must be strangely exciting
To watch the stoic squirm
Must be somewhat heartening
To watch shepherd need shepherd
But you you're not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

Like any uncharted territory
I must seem greatly intriguing
You speak of my love like
You have experienced love like mine before
But this is not allowed
You're uninvited
An unfortunate slight

I don't think you unworthy
I need a moment to deliberate

I hope you’ll listen to it while you read Sinful!

April 2011—Sinful that it was nominated for a 2010 Romantic Times reviewers choice for Best Erotic Book. Sinful won The Romance Reviews award for Best Erotic Romance.

"We have done what we promised never to do," he said, his voice husky in the dark quiet. "We—both of us—wished never to expose ourselves to the prying eyes of others. And yet we have done the unthinkable, we have sold ourselves to each other."

 She could not help but stiffen at his words. Indeed, they had agreed to complete honesty, to shed the mantle of secrets they both wore, and yet, the reminder of it did little to settle her nerves. She had known what she was getting. She had known that her secrets would now belong to him, yet that had not prevented her from coming to him.

 "We are both damaged souls, Jane, marred by darkness and sin. We're both scarred," he whispered, brushing his thumb against the uneven skin of her top lip. "You wear your scars on the outside, while mine are hidden deep. But they're there, Jane. You just have to look hard."

 "And will you let me look deep, my lord?"

 "You've made it clear that this is the only way I can have you."

 "Honesty will set you free."

 He smiled, and a soft sound of amusement passed between his lips. "The truth enslaves. It will chain us, bind us in a way that the two of us will fight to get free from."

 "I can bear the burden."

 "I wonder if you can. Because beyond this door we will cease to be the people we show to the world. Agreed?"

 "Yes."

 "I will be only Matthew here in this room with you, Jane. Tell me, who am I to expect? Who are you really?"

 "I do not know," she said, her voice trembling despite her attempts to appear as though she were firmly in control of her feelings. "I always thought I knew myself so well. But then—" The words froze in her throat and she looked away, but he caught her chin with the edge of his fingers and turned her face to his.
 "Only honesty, Jane. We promised. We will not go beyond this door
 until I have your word that you will be completely honest with me, as I
 have vowed to be with you."

 "I thought I knew what I wanted—who I was—that is, until that night
 in the hospital. You…you awakened feelings in me that were strange, terrifying yet exhilarating. These feelings were all things I forbid myself—feelings I've never wanted to have. I was quite satisfied with never having felt pleasure or passion, and then when I met you, I questioned everything I have ever believed in. You ask me who I truly am? The truth is, I do not know."
 
"Do you wish to know?"

 "I fear the answer I may uncover."

 His expression seemed to soften. She saw the flicker of something in his eye, before he shielded it with his thick lashes as he watched his thumb glide along her mouth, parting her lips. "I, too, am afraid, Jane. I fear what I will find inside me as well. I fear the things you will ask, and the answers I shall have to give you. Shall we forget this bargain of ours, then? Shall we pretend that we never agreed to bare our souls to one another? Should we forget that we ever met, ever touched. Ever kissed?"

 "Is that what you want?" she asked, fearing the answer.

 "No," he replied in a hard, almost choking voice. "It is not what I want. I want to know you, Jane. I want to understand what makes you different from the women I have known. I want to understand these feelings I had, that I still have."

 "Then we will go forward. And we shall never tell a soul what happens in this room. We will never speak of each other's secrets or use them to hurt one another once this week is over. For, a week is all I dare give to you."

 "Agreed. Our secret."

 Together they released the latch on the door and stepped into the cottage. With a quiet click the door closed behind Matthew. They were now completely alone.

When she turned and looked at him, Jane knew that Matthew would strip her utterly naked, and he would not have to remove one stitch of her clothes to do so.