My hero and heroine of LOVING THE EARL take quite the journey together through three countries. But the most perilous journey takes place in the Swiss Alps as they travel the Great St. Bernard Pass.
There are only a few ways to travel through the Swiss Alps, or there were in the 18th Pass is only open during certain parts of the year because it’s in the mountains and we all know what happens a lot in the mountains—snow.
At first I thought it wouldn’t be that big of a deal, having them travel the pass but the more I researched it, the more I realized what a tricky thing this pass was and how I had to carefully plan their adventure.
I was a little disappointed because I wanted my couple to reach Venice during the festivals but the festivals took place in February and there was no way they could go over the pass in the middle of winter. So the festivals had to be shelved (maybe for another book? Hmmmm. Possibly).
But the more I researched the Great St. Bernard Pass, the more interested I became in it. century. The Valais, where Nathan and Claire embark on their journey through the Alps There is a hospice way up there in the pass. In this instance hospice means a place for travelers to find refuge. The hospice has been there since the 9th century and was named for St. Bernard Menthon in the 16th century. Napoleon Bonaparte marched his troops through the pass.
Originally the St. Bernard dogs were bred there to provide protection to the monks but it was soon discovered that they were excellent at search and rescue so they were later bred for that. Now the pass has a tunnel and the roads have been greatly improved which makes the dogs’ presence almost obsolete but apparently the kennels are still there and you can still see the dogs running around the property.
In Sharon Cullen’s sizzling novel of scandal and seduction, a headstrong beauty is pursued across Europe by London’s most notorious rake.
Having vowed never to wed again, widowed Viscountess Claire Hartford is about to do the unthinkable: travel unaccompanied across the continent in search of a lover. Her adventure begins sooner than expected, when she meets a magnificent cloaked stranger on her ship’s gangplank. He is Lord Blythe, a man whispered about in London’s ballrooms and drawing rooms, a scandalous rogue hell-bent on seduction.
Nathan Ferguson curses the day he agreed to look out for his best friend’s wayward sister. The charismatic earl is traveling to Paris to uncover the truth behind his father’s death, but his desire for Claire threatens to be his undoing.
From France to Italy, on a journey of passionate discovery and danger, Nathan is honor-bound to protect her—from himself most of all. What can he offer Claire? Only love, as he sets out to prove to the woman of his dreams that she belongs to him—body, heart, and soul.
Advance praise for Loving the Earl:
“Loving the Earl is charming and fast-paced. It’s filled with passion, intrigue, a resourceful heroine you’ll love, and a delicious hero you’ll fall in love with. An absolute delight!”—New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Jacquie D’Alessandro
“Sharon Cullen is a natural-born storyteller. Her twists and turns will keep you turning the pages.”—Margo Maguire, bestselling author of The Highlander’s Desire
“With its bad-boy hero and spunky heroine, Sharon Cullen’s Loving the Earl is sure to please readers looking for more than the typical Regency come-out story. Intrigue and romance fuse seamlessly in this adventurous romp that takes the reader from Dover to Paris to Venice and finally to a sigh-worthy happily ever after.”—Shana Galen, author of True Spies
Sharon Cullen is the author of the historical romance, THE NOTORIOUS LADY ANNE, LOVING THE EARL, and PLEASING THE PIRATE (available February 2014). She’s also published in romantic suspense, paranormal romance and contemporary romance. Her other job descriptions include chauffeur, laundress, cook and mediator to her three very busy kids, her husband and two dogs. She lives in southwest Ohio with her brood although her dream is to someday retire to St. Maarten and live on the beach.
If you’d like to find out more about Sharon and her books, you can visit her website. She’s addicted to social networking so you can find her on Facebook, Tumblr and Twitter. Friend her! Like her! Follow her! She’d love to hang out with you and talk about her passion—books.
Links for LOVING THE EARL:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Loving-Earl-Loveswept-Historical-Romance– ebook/dp/B00CQZ65N8/ref=sr_1_1ie=UTF8&qid=1383861206&sr=8-1&keywords=loving+the+earl
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/loving-the-earl-sharon– cullen/1115688094?ean=9780345540065
Random House: http://www.randomhouse.com/book/221562/loving-the-earl-by– sharon-cullen
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 