Why I Love Classical Music by Carrie Lofty

My family did not listen to classical music much when I was growing up. We were much more of a pop music bunch, with MTV providing the soundtrack to most of my childhood--back when they played music, of course. The exception came at Christmas time, when my mothers' favorites included Bing Crosby and Tchaikovsky's THE NUTCRACKER. Cozy, happy memories of her baking cookies and making candy for holiday functions are twined with "Waltz of the Snowflakes" and the various coffee, tea and chocolate dances.

That's a good place to start: classical music as a portal into the most comforting of childhood memories.

In later years I expanded my repertoire not through learning to play an instrument, but out of a snobbish inclination that I should. Not the most honest of motives, I admit. The effect, however, was profound. What started with dabbling in the soundtrack to AMADEUS turned into an all-out classical music adventure when my daughters were just born.

Have you had children? Did you experience a brain void in those months after they were born? I found that I couldn't concentrate very well. Even the most formulaic books were beyond my limited ability to focus. I started listening to a lot of classical music once again, not out of a snobbish curiosity but because I enjoyed its soothing powers.

As my brain thawed, I took in more and more. I discovered that Beethoven's Fifth was more than just its famous opening four notes. I discovered that I am deeply fond of the cello, but that the right violin vibrato can make me cry. I also discovered a marvelous teaching series about classical music, which opened up the theory and history in ways I'd been unable to study before.

That interest coincided with my decision to actively pursue publication. Where else would I set a romance other than Salzburg, Austria, the birthplace of Mozart? And who else would it feature other than musicians? The decision was a natural extension of my fascination.

What I didn't know much about at the time was how romance publishing worked. The manuscript that became my June release, SONG OF SEDUCTION, received almost identical rejections wherever I submitted: a great book, but the setting is a deal-breaker.

I went on to indulge in other research obsessions, including Robin Hood (for WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS) and Spanish warrior monks (for SCOUNDREL'S KISS), but I never gave up on my sensuous Salzburg-set baby. Now we're mere days from its launch and I couldn't be happier. I think this happy occasion calls for a little Tchaikovsky.

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Born in California, raised in the Midwest, Carrie Lofty met her husband in England—the best souvenir! Since earning her master's in history, she's been devoted to raising two precocious daughters and writing romance.

In June 2010, SONG OF SEDUCTION, Carrie’s sensual tale of two lovelorn musicians in Napoleonic Austria will help launch Carina Press, Harlequin’s new digital-first venture. Its sequel, PORTRAIT OF SEDUCTION, will follow in early 2011. You can learn more about the author at her site: http://www.carrielofty.com/ and read her interesting guest post Why I Love unusual settings posted here at Historical Tapestry a few months ago.

Why I Love Unusual Settings by Carrie Lofty

I've always been just a little bit stubborn. Call me principled or hard-headed, but I tend to do things my own way. For example, medieval romances are much scarcer than they once were--maybe all those vampire brotherhoods horned in on the knight-hero's territory? But when I sat down to write the follow-up to my Robin Hood-themed debut, WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS, I somehow got it in my brain to set SCOUNDREL'S KISS in Spain.

Medieval Spain.

The Kingdom of Castile, to be exact.

Why? Once the idea fired up inside my imagination, I couldn't let it go. Maybe writing a warrior monk hero just sounded intriguing and sexy to me at the time. Imagine all the training and hard-earned experience of a warrior, but all the humility and, ahem, self-control of a monk. Talk about conflict!

But you see, I started out my career as an historian. More specifically, I studied nothing other than gunfighters and outlaws for roughly ten years. (Blame that fantastically melodramatic TV show from the early 90s, "The Young Riders.") Then I wondered what other places had history. Turns out...well, every place! *grin*

I became very curious, and the more exotic the better. But it turns out that historical romance is not as adventurous as I am. Regency settings, the Scottish Highlands--that wasn't enough for me. I wanted the thrill of new times and places to go along with the thrill of love's first blush.

Even since then, I've made it my mission to bring a little bit of the exotic to historical romance. I've set works in 1950s Italy, medieval England, and Napoleonic Austria, and my current work-in-progress takes place in Victorian South Africa! I even founded a multi-author blog in November of 2006, called Unusual Historicals (http://unusualhistoricals.blogspot.com/) to serve as a meeting place for like-minded fans and authors.

But more than exotic settings, I love a great romance. I love that zing that the hero and heroine feel when they realize they're with their one-and-only. I sigh happy sighs and clutch really great books to my heart. As a writer, that's always been my first and foremost goal. Otherwise, all my fascination with history and exotic locales blends into a boring textbook--that's not sensual or sexy at all!

Oh, speaking of stubborn, did I mention that the heroine of SCOUNDREL'S KISS is addiction to opium? I just can't seem to help myself!

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Born in California, raised in the Midwest, Carrie Lofty met her husband in England--the best souvenir! Since earning her master's in history, she's been devoted to raising two precocious daughters and writing romance, including her Robin Hood-themed debut, WHAT A SCOUNDREL WANTS. This June, Carrie's sensual tale of two lovelorn musicians in Napoleonic Austria will launch Carina Press, Harlequin's new all-digital venture. With Ann Aguirre, she also co-writes hot'n'dirty apocalyptic romances as Ellen Connor.

http://www.carrielofty.com/

http://www.ellenconnor.com/

Scoundrel's Kiss by Carrie Lofty

Turning his back on his old life as a rogue, Gavriel de Marqueda has joined a monastic order in Spain and taken a vow of chastity. Before he becomes a monk, he must pass one final test: help a woman who has lost her way. But when he lays eyes on Ada of Keyworth, he is tempted beyond measure by her sultry beauty and dangerous curves. Far from her home in England, Ada has been battling inner demons for more than a year. When she discovers that her only friend has abandoned her, she has no choice but to grudgingly accept Gavriel's help. But Ada is not fooled. Though Gavriel wears the robes of a monk, Ada sees that he is a virile man who looks at her with a hunger that matches her own - one that begs to be satisfied again and again.

Castile, Iberian Peninsula, 13th century. The fights between Moors and Christians have been going on for centuries. The Convivencia is in place, having Moors, Christians and Jews living together despite their religious beliefs causing deep social differences.

Ada of Keyworth is an English woman with a talent for languages who found a place in the court of a known aristocrat in Toledo. Her troubled past led her to a opium dependance to calm her dreams. While trying to end her thirst for more drugs she finds herself under the power of a merchant. The young woman ends up in a brothel to be sold as slave to pay her debts.

Gavriel of Marquaeda is a mysterious young man about to become a monk of the Order of Santiago. While on a mission in a local brothel with his master and another novice, he notices a dazzling woman being rescued by a young warrior, Jacob. Seeing him outnumbered, he decides to help and both get to save Ada from a life of servitude. The English woman will then become his final test before joining the Order: help her with the drug addiction and keep her safe.

The main characters in this story are a little different from what we normally expect in an historical romance. Ada is independent, tough and haunted by dreams and even guilt that never let her sleep. She's not the innocent and typical damsel in distress, this woman is determined to have a career and fend for herself when needs be.

Gavriel is training to join the Order of Santiago. His warrior past weights on his shoulders and he desperately seeks redemption. When he meets Ada, his world is completely shaken. While sometimes a little overbearing, he is also resigned about his future. His past and family would never let him find his peace and built a life with Ada.

These two are a perfect match, both determined to get through the worst ordeals while fighting for what they want. But they are far from being the flawless heroes who always save the day. It's one of the reasons why they win me over.

The secondary characters are also very endearing and I truly hope to see Bridget and Jacob in Carrie Lofty's future books.

I really enjoyed the fact that the author ends up with a note discussing the historical context and explaining the changes she made to suit her story. Writing a romance during the Reconquista in the Iberian Peninsula is probably not an easy task. The era and location are not usual among historical romance or even historical fiction, and from the first pages, I was immediately swept away.

Some details like the character's names who are so often misspelled, anglicized or even stereotyped (no Juanitas here!) feel familiar to anyone who is close to this culture. My grandmother's family is originally from the region of Castile and Leon and one of the characters has her family name which is common in the area but it was nonetheless funny to find here.

The language used by the characters might seem sometimes a tad too modern, especially Ada's, but nothing that spoils the story.

Scoundrel's Kiss is the sequel of What a Scoundrel Wants which I still didn't read but I planned to do as quickly as my TBR pile will allow me. I heartily recommend this book to everyone who enjoys a good romance and history as well.

Grade: 4/5