*Blog Tour* Guest Post with Lila DiPasqua & Giveaway!

THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED by Lila DiPasqua

A Fiery Tales Collection
Historical Romance
Berkley (Sensation)
ISBN: 978-0425237007

OUT NOW!


Inspired by “The Emperor’s New Clothes,” “The Ugly Duckling, and “The Princess and the Pea,” Lila DiPasqua spins three sexy tales that give new meaning to the term bedtime story…


The Marquis’ New Clothes: To save her cousin, Aimee de Miran must retrieve a jeweled ring from the most sinfully seductive man at court, the Marquis de Nattes. But to search his considerable wardrobe she’ll have to get very close to the notorious rake…and soon she finds herself very close to him indeed, with his clothes—and hers—utterly forgotten…


The Lovely Duckling: Reputed for his carnal skills, Joseph d’Alumbert prefers amorous encounters without emotional entanglement—until a quick-witted lady stirs tender feelings and hot desire. Emilie de Sarron suffered burns to her body as an infant, and keeps her scars—and her heart—well hidden. But Joseph is determined to peel away her inhibitions, one slow steamy kiss at a time, to reveal the beautiful swan inside…


The Princess and the Diamonds: Princess Gabrielle can’t sleep at night. There is something hard in her bed. No, not just the stolen diamonds tucked under her mattress, but the handsome Marquis on it….whose carnal talents she can’t resist. But he threatens her secret mission, and worse, she stands to lose far more than the diamonds---her heart is at stake….

“…Strong-minded heroines you can relate to, breathtaking carnally gifted male leads…DiPasqua writes with a comfortable elegance and grace, and in turn, crafts a sexy collection that readers will love.” – Fresh Fiction.

“Ripe with steamy affairs, these lusty stories are hot enough to warm the coldest winter night.” – Publishers Weekly

Read an excerpt of THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED – http://www.liladipasqua.com/princessbook.html

Read an excerpt of AWAKNED BY A KISS http://www.liladipasqua.com/awakenbook.html

About the Author:

Lila DiPasqua writes wicked & witty historical romance for Penguin/Berkley. She lives with her real-life hero husband and three children and is a firm believer in the happily-ever-after. She loves history and enjoys traveling. She has been to four continents so far. Her novels, AWAKENED BY A KISS, and THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED are featured in Doubleday as well as Rhapsody Book Clubs. To learn more about Lila and her books, visit http://www.liladipasqua.com/

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Hi Everyone! Please join me in welcoming the lovely Lila DiPasqua to Lovin' Me Some Romance!

Guest Post:

THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED….Where did you get your ideas for that?—Part 2!

As many of you know, I’m on a blog tour for THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED. I’m fortunate enough today to be at one of my all-time favorite blogs, Lovin’ Me Some Romance! I want to thank VFG for having me back!

Yesterday, I was talking about where I get my inspiration. As a short recap, my answer was –everywhere. History books. Conversations I hear on the train…and, in the case of the second story in THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED, The Lovely Duckling, while sitting in a hotel room at the RWA National Conference in Washington D.C.

I had just landed my first contract. I jumped on a plane, flew down and got to meet my agent and editor in person for the first time!

I knew that while I was in Washington my editor wanted to meet with me to discuss what I’d write for book two (AWAKENED BY A KISS was book one and it was completed). She wanted another Fiery Tales collection, just like AWAKENED BY A KISS. My agent asked if I thought I could come up with three more fairy tales, set in a historical setting, and give them an interesting twist.

My answer—Heck, yes!

By the time I landed in Washington, I had my idea for The Marquis’ New Clothes. But what about the other two stories? Which fairy tales should I choose? How was I going to make them familiar, yet unique?

I love The Ugly Duckling. I really wanted to do my own version of this wonderful tale. I tried to come up with different ways to make my heroine “ugly”. Different things that would make her feel unattractive. They were all dismissed, one after another.

Then, in my hotel room in Washington, while I was leisurely getting ready for dinner, I had the TV on.

A news feature came on. It was about three sisters—beautiful women—triplets! They were taking about the fire they were in as infants. A fire that claimed their mother’s life. These 22 year old women talked about how difficult it was growing up. The teasing and horrible taunts. How they always wore long-sleeved clothing—no matter the temperature—to cover up the scars on their bodies and arms.

I was moved by their courage. And by the two boyfriends of two of these women were dating. By the end of the feature, I think I was a tad in love with them, too! One of the guys had dated one of the triplets for 2 years and hadn’t even seen her bare arms—until one hot summer night. That was the night he finally convinced her to remove her sweatshirt. (He knew she wore a tee shirt underneath and that she was uncomfortable, given the heat). She finally got the nerve to do it and show him her scars. She said to him (with tears in her eyes), “Here I am. Take me or leave me!”

Her boyfriend is definitely hero material. He relayed to the reporter that his response, after taking in the deeply scarred skin was, “I’ll take you.”

Seriously, I was in tears myself! And that was the moment both Emilie de Sarron and Joseph d’Alumbert were born in my imagination.

Emilie, too, was burned in a fire. It claimed the life of both her parents. All her life she’s put up with horrible taunts and cruel names like, Charred and Scarred de Sarron. Emilie Embers. And many others. Worse, at her introduction into society, she was horribly teased and publicly humiliated—the hero, Joseph, regrettably a part of this fiasco. It was the final straw. For ten years, Emilie withdrew from society. Now she’s back and she’s determined to grab a bit bliss—albeit strictly physical. Believing love and marriage are unattainable, she’s convinced that at least a physical encounter is doable. How? Well, she’s going to use the anonymity of a masquerade—orgiastic—ball in order to find a willing lover, and indulge. She never expected that the very man she gives herself to is none other than Joseph.

Tomorrow I’ll tell you about how I got the idea for my version of The Princess and the Pea. Check my blog tomorrow morning http://liladipasqua.blogspot.com/ for details of where I’ll be doing just that!

QUESTION: Let’s talk about fairy tales! What’s your favorite fairy tale themes? Do you like Ugly Duckling stories? Perhaps a Cinderella, rags to riches tale? Maybe a Beauty and the Beast kind of story? Got any favorite movies or romances novels with these fairy tale themes?

Giveaway Details:

The wonderful Lila DiPasqua is offering: Two lucky commenters will win a FIERY TALES SET – a signed copy of AWAKENED BY A KISS and THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED! GIVEAWAY OPEN WORLDWIDE.

*Answer Lila DiPasqua's Question in the Comments Field with a Valid Email Address (Entrants that do not leave an email address will be disqualified)*

**Contest Open to ALL**

***Must be 18 or Older to Enter***

****Contest Closes Wednesday, November 10th at Midnight U.S. Pacific Standard Time and the Winner will be Chosen Randomly and Announced Thursday, November 11th****

37 comments:

Charlotte Featherstone said...

What a great post, and no need to enter me, because I've already ordered this release. Good luck with it Lila!

For me, I'm a huge fan of the ugly duckling, and Beauty and the Beast is one of my all time fav themes--and disney movie. There's something about the underdog that I love. For the ugly duckling, my fav is when the hero sees the ugly duckling for who she is, and there isn't any magical transformation to the beautiful swan--only in his eyes. I'm not really a fan of duckling who gets a redo and makever to become the swan and then garners attention. That's actually a pet peeve of mine.

Elizabeth said...

Cinderalla i just love it when she get's the prince and leaves her old life behined

tetewa said...

My favorite was Little Red Riding Hood, thats probably why I enjoy reading Paranoramls today! tWarner419@aol.com

Carrie at In the Hammock Blog said...

Wow, that's incredible story from the news, i can see why you were moved to tears.

As for fairy tales, I LOVE the original Snow White, not the watered down version of today. It's so dark and there are so many different themes besides just 'girl falls in love with man she's never met.' There was a made for tv version that I loved, with Kristin Kreuk from Smallville in the lead.

thank you for the contest!

inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

Andrea I said...

I like Beauty and the Beast. I'm so glad you're writing books based on fairy tales.

andrea.infinger@gmail.com

Johanna R Jochum said...

I love fairy tale themed romances! I love Cinderella stories. The rags to riches stories are my fav. Beauty and the Beast stories are also fantastic. I love a heroine that can tame a awful hero. A favorite Cinderella story of mine is CHARMING THE PRINCE by Teresa Medieros and I love THE RAVEN PRINCE by Elizabeth Hoyt for a awesome Beauty and the Beast story. Thanks for sharing today!

evjochum@aol.com

AzuresHeart said...

I love the B&B theme... I try to get any romance books with this theme... I think it all stems from the Beauty and Beast TV show.

azuresheart at hotmail dot com

Scorpio M. said...

The best B&B romance I read is an oldie by Amanda Quick called RAVISHED. Fab read. I do adore ugly duckling storylines...love the 'look at me NOW' moment that always occurs in that trope.

jenma76 at hotmail dot com

krazymama_98 said...

I liked her first one, it was toasty! :-) So I will be getting this one too, for sure!

Modokker said...

My favorite is Cinderella. I remember watching it as a child. Gives me good memories to this day.

Lisa B

modokker at yahoo dot com

Blodeuedd said...

My fav tale, I do like all the usual ones, but my fav is that...now I can't remmeber the name. A Norwegian tale, something about a wind, it's the Psyche story in a nutshell.

And I love that movie Ever After, awww, such a good Cinderella story

blodeuedd1 at gmail dot com

Yas said...

Hi Lila!!
OMG, can't wait for this book to come out.
The very first fairy tale I remember being read to me by my mommy and sister was a Turkish version of The Little Mermaid. LOL, so I'm a little partial to that. Beauty and the Beast is another great one - because the "Prince" doesn't save the heroine, she saves him. *Wink*

booklover0226 said...

Hello there!

I love the tale of Little Red Riding Hood, especially the movie The Company of Wolves. The movie was both scary and sexy!

Thanks,
Tracey D
booklover0226 at gmail dot com

Stephanie said...

I love Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella. I like a lot of the adapted movies they have made from the original including Ever After, Another Cinderella Story, and A Cinderella Story.

Thanks for the giveaways.

smccar1(at)hotmail(dot)com

Danielle Gorman said...

Wow, that was a really moving story. I think I may have teared up. For me, I like Cinderella stories. I like to see all of the different ways that it can be retold. Growing up, one of my favorite movies was Hey There Cinderella. It was with the Muppets. I would watch that movie over and over. When I got older I became a big fan of Ever After. It was just so wonderfully written and casted. Loved Drew Barrymore in it.
iqb99@yahoo.com

elaing8 said...

my favorite fairy tale theme is a Cinderella type story. Rags to riches.I also like Beauty and the Beast type stories.
elaing8(at)netscape(dot)net

Lila DiPasqua said...

@Charlotte Featherstone--Hi Charlotte! Great to see you here! I've got to say, I totally agree. I'd rather see the ugly duckling heroine become a swan in his eyes than to see her get a makeover and then win his favor. Thanks for the good wishes!

@Elizabeth--I do, too! It's just so romantic! :)

@tetewa--OOOO! I love Little Red Riding Hood. I wrote it as a straight historical romance in AWAKENED BY A KISS. Hope you'll take a peek at the excerpt link above. My wolf is pretty sexy (if I do say so myself) and a tad cunning, like any good wolf should be. ;)

@Carrie at In the Hammock Blog---So glad you liked the post! I've never seen the made for TV version of Snow White you mention, but I'm going to look into it. I'm intrigued! Thanks for sharing!

Lila DiPasqua said...

@Andrea I---Thanks for the lovely comment!! And Beauty and the Beast is definitely a favorite for many. Great fairy tale! :)

Johanna R Jochum--Love your comment (cause I'm sort of partial to fairy tales, too...hehe) And I love those two authors!! So glad you stopped by. :)

@AzuresHeart --Oh wow, I LOVED that TV show! I never missed an episode. Thanks for sharing. :)

@Scorpio M.--I know what you mean. It's the big payoff to that kind of story! Like Charlotte, I'm a total sucker for an underdog story. :)

Lila DiPasqua said...

krazymama_98--- LOL Thanks so much! I've never heard anyone describe my book like that....but I LIKE IT! *big grins* So glad you stopped by! :)

Lisa B--I'm the same! And I've falling in love with Cinderella all over again. I just finished my sexy retelling of Cinderella--A MIDNIGHT DANCE--a full length Fiery Tale historical romance which will be out next Aug. Oh, and I just got a peek at the cover. WOW, is all I can say!! I haven't been able to stop staring at it.

Lila DiPasqua said...

Blodeuedd --I have a book of different fairy tales from different parts of the world. I'll have to look that one up! Sounds interesting. And I LOVED Ever After!! One of my all time favorite movies. :)

@Yas --Yas!! So great of you to stop by! Thanks so much for your enthusiasm in my books. It's very much appreciated. :) And you're right about Beauty and the Beast. Maybe that's why so many woman love that tale. :)

Cybercliper said...

I love Beauty and the Beast and Ugly Duckling fairy tales - I have always been for the underdog - especially those of good heart and soul but are judged so harshly because of outward appearances. I love fairy tales because they sometimes allow the 'deserving' to win a reward, while the 'entitled' loses out. Let's you feel that there is still justice in the world :-) annhonATaolDOTcom

Lila DiPasqua said...

I left some comments and it didn't save properly. Please excuse me if this shows up as a duplicate. :)

@Tracey D -I've got to check that movie out! Thanks for sharing! :)

@Stephanie--I'm a total Cinderella fan---and wasn't Ever After amazing? :)

@Danielle Gorman --I think we need to start an Ever After fan group here. So many of us love that great Cinderella retelling! Keep that movie in mind when you see my very own upcoming Cinderella story--A MIDNIGHT DANCE!

@elaing8--Can't go wrong with those two classics! :)

@cybercliper--Well put! I think that's much of what's at the core of the appeal of fairy tales--that and a HEA. Thanks for sharing! :)

Martha Lawson said...

I like the Beauty and Beast stories!!

follow on gfc

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

Spav said...

I've always liked the beauty and the beast theme.

spav05(at)gmail(dot)com

Zeee said...

I've always loved Cinderella. And although I'm not a fan of the Disney animated movie, I love love love the other variations of the tale. There's Ever After, Ella Enchanted and Maid in Manhattan.

Anonymous said...

Hi,

Popping in late as I was so busy yesterday!!!

But, I love Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast, those are my favourtie stories.

Valerie
in Germany

valb0302@yahoo.com

Maureen said...

Beauty and the Beast is probably my favorite fairy tale. My kids were little when Disney made their movie so we went together to see it in the movies and it is still my favorite Disney movie.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

Daz said...

I'd have to say that Cinderalla would be my favorite if I had to pick one. I first fell in love with the Ladybird storybook version, followed by the Disney cartoon. The movie Ever After was a favorite and the most recent book "adaptation" would be "A Kiss at Midnight" by Eloisa James which I thoroughly enjoyed.

langshipley@yahoo.com.au

Carol L. said...

My 2 favorites were Beauty and The Beast and Cinderella.I also cannot wait to read The Princess In His Bed.

Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com

mrsshukra said...

I've always liked the beauty and the beast theme! Elizabeth Hoyt's To Beguile a Beast is one of my favorites.

delilah0180(at)yahoo(dot)com

latishajean said...

I have to say my favorite is snow white and beauty and the beast. I really enjoyed the interview and can't wait to read the book. Thank you so much :)
tishajean@charter.net

Allison('s)Reads said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Allison('s)Reads said...

Hi Lila and VFG, enjoyed the post very much - it's always so neat to find out more background behind the stories, and I love the descriptions for the tales in The Princess in His Bed collection. I personally identify with the Ugly Duckling. And fav re-watch movies that come to mind? Well, there's Ever After with Drew Barrymore. Bridget Jone's Diary with Renee Z., and even Emma with Gwyneth Paltrow. Ahh... need more time in the day! Congratulation Lila on your latest book! Allison (cadnac AT gmail DOT com)

apple said...

I like the ugly duckling type stories where the hero/heroine is better than they thought they were whether it's looks, money, station, family connections, etc.
applebabe at rocketmail dot com

Lila DiPasqua said...

Martha Lawson - Nice choice! Thanks for sharing! :)

Lila DiPasqua said...

@ Spav - A wonderful and popular fairy tale! :) Thanks!

@Zeee --Cinderella stories are my favorite, too---and I've enjoyed all those you list! :)

@Valerie - Great stories, indeed! :)

@Maureen --Definitely a beloved fairy tale. :)

@Carol L.--Thanks so much for your interest in THE PRINCESS IN HIS BED. I love both your choices in fairy tales! :)

@Daz --Another vote for Cinderella! I hope you'll check out my version of Cinderella - A MIDNIGHT DANCE out next August! :)

@mrsshukra --Great fairy tale and great book! I love Elizabeth Hoyt! :)

@latishajean --Thanks for the lovely comment and for sharing your favorites. :)

@Allison('s)Reads --Thanks sooo much! I appreciate your lovely comment! Oh, and I like those movie choices. :)

@apple--The Ugly Duckling is just such a wonderful fairy tale! Thanks for stopping by to chat with me. :)

Jasmine1485 said...

Beauty and the Beast is by far my favourite, I saw the Disney movie when I was very little and it was immediately and permanently loved :) I think I like it because the Beast is such a tortured soul and so hated by everyone but he is redeemed by love, I guess that would be my favourite fairy tale theme.

Kate1485 at hotmail.com

 
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