On this day in 1816, Rossini's opera THE BARBER OF SEVILLE premiered in Roma. In 1877, Tchaikovshy's ballet SWAN LAKE premiered in Moscow. On this day in Blogger Land, we celebrate another story of destined lovers - Sophia Nash's THE DUKE DIARIES, Book 3 in her Royal Entourage series:
The latest duke to be undone by drink in Sophia Nash’s Royal Entourage series is also the newest, titled for services rendered to the Crown. Caught in bed with his archenemy’s still-innocent sister the morning after the most outrageous bachelor party of the century, Rory Lennox, the Duke of Abshire, knows his goose is cooked. To make amends he enters into an engagement with her to hold society at bay, but tangles with his growing attraction for this fearless, plucky lady.
Verity Fitzroy is one of five plain sisters of the premier duke, Candover. And while she’s always been fascinated by Abshire, she has far too much pride to marry a gentleman against his will. She insists that she will break off the engagement at the end of the season, even if it renders her unmarriagable.
Meanwhile, a series of entries from a discovered diary begin appearing in a London paper. These entries detail the most scandalous, most shameful exploits of The Royal Entourage. With the French Revolution so fresh in the minds of the populace, these tales of excess could incite the country to a revolt. Speculation is that Abshire recorded his friends misdeeds, but Verity knows who the real culprit is, and the truth could destroy any hope of happiness she has with the duke. But when a series of mysterious accidents takes place, Abshire and Verity must each make peace with the past to discover a passionate love that will transform them forever.
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I am giving away a print copy of THE DUKE DIARIES to one randomly selected commenter. To enter the giveaway,
1. Leave a comment about the opera, ballet, or diaries.
2. This giveaway is open to all readers.
3. Comments are open through Saturday, February 23, 10 pm in Hawaii. I'll post the winner on Sunday, February 24.
Mahalo,
Kim in Hawaii
To learn more about Sophia and her books, check out her website at sophianash.com and Avon Romance at this link.
I'd be too concerned to keep a diary. I would NEVER want anyone to read it.
ReplyDeleteI use to have a diary during my younger years. Just some nonsense stories that happened to me during that day. I still post some entries nowadays but not that often.
ReplyDeleteI've been to one opera in my life and I didn't appreciate it because I was in high school. I never really kept a diary.
ReplyDeleteI would love to understand opera -- I've never seen one but I've listened to some short excerpts on CD. ^_^
ReplyDeleteI used to keep a personal diary and still keep one right now -- but it's mostly appointments and daily reminders now. ^_^
Thank you for the great giveaway!
I have been to operas and to ballets and enjoyed them. I have never written a diary. Never felt the need.
ReplyDeleteI have never been to an opera, but would love to try it once. We do take the kids to see a local production of the Nutcracker at Christmas. Always a good ballet.
ReplyDeleteMel
bournmelissa at hotmail dot com
I always kept a diary, right up to a few years ago. It's nice to be able to go through them, and see entries like "Mum and Dad came over", and other entries that bring back sweet memories for me.
ReplyDeleteIn my teenage years I kept a diary/journal. I've only seen the Nutcracker Ballet during Christmas time and have never been to an Opera.
ReplyDeleteCarol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
I took ballet lessons for some years when I was young until I was in high school and dancing on your toes is painful.
ReplyDeleteBack home one ballet school puts on The Nutcracker Ballet and I have always wanted to see it just never got a chance too. Diaries I don't really keep.
ReplyDeleteSeveral greatnieces have taken ballet lessons. So wish I could have been at the recitals.
ReplyDeleteI love watching operas and ballets at 1/2 discount when I was a college student. :) But no time to do it anymore...
ReplyDeleteThanks for the great post! I love Sophia's books :) Ummm... I'm not a big opera or ballet fan. And I never had the patience to keep a diary. I'm just boring!!! LOL...
ReplyDeleteI've never been to the opera. I've been to the ballet a few times--the Nutcracker. I don't keep diaries myself, but one of my favorite Julia Quinn books is The Secret Diaries of Miss Miranda Cheever. Sophia's latest sounds great. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in elementary school and Junior high I kept a diary, but after a while I would destroy it. Then start again, then destroy it. I wish I still had them now though. I've been to one opera and found it interesting, but I enjoy regular plays over operas. I have not been to the ballet.
ReplyDeleteI kept a diary when I was in high school and college. I remember writing in short hand so my little brother wouldn't find it and read it. Lol!
ReplyDeleteWen I was 16 I started a diary and ripped it up in just a couple of days because I too didn't want anyone reading my innermost thoughts. I've only seen one ballet in person but I did enjoy it and I also like some operas.
ReplyDeleteDarn, that was "when" lol.
ReplyDeleteMy niece takes ballet lessons. I have yet to attend an opera.
ReplyDeleteSadly, I have never developed an appreciation for the Opera or Ballet. I probably wrote in a diary when I was a kid but have no idea what might have happened to it. I think about starting a journal all the time. How can you pour yourself into a journal or diary when there's the potential to inadvertently hurt someone, even after you're gone?
ReplyDeleteI remember going to the opera once when I was an exchange student. I was in Berlin and we went to see an Italian opera, but sadly I was a teenager and I didn't appreciate it. I would love to go back and do it again, I don't even remember the title.
ReplyDeletetried keeping a journal a couple times, but it never lasted very long :) my life wasn't that exciting & the crappy stuff I'd just as soon forget :)
ReplyDeleteI keep trying to journal, I do ok for a few days, but then start slipping and generally just stop completely. Could be because not much is going on in my life, lol.
ReplyDeleteWhile I've never kept a diary, they have certainly opened a window into history like Samuel Pepys... The only ballet I've attended has been the Nutcracker!
ReplyDeleteI've never had any interest in keeping a diary.
ReplyDeleteI like the movies, The princess diaries.
ReplyDeleteZ
Never see opera bf. Love ballet and even dream being ballerine and when I was child I have diary :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was very young someone gave me a diary as a Christmas gift. I started writing in it and realized how very boring my life was. So I stopped writing in the diary and tried to find more excitement in life! ;o)
ReplyDeleteI would rather see a ballet than an opera, I think I'd be able to follow it a little easier. I tried to journal for a while years ago, but I just didn't have much to write about. :D
ReplyDeleteI've never kept a diary (been meaning to start a journal), I've only been to local amateur ballet, and one opera - I'd like to see a few more of both.
ReplyDeleteNever been to an opera or seen a ballet
ReplyDeleteI've never seen an opera or a ballet. I don't think I'd enjoy opera but I'd love to watch a ballet. I'm in total awe of the dancers abilities & grace.
ReplyDeleteNothing much to write about in a diary!
Not much on opera, though I do enjoy some of the music. I always loved ballet, starting when I was 9 or 10, and I took ballet lessons for a number of years. My favorite thing about it, though, is to watch the performances of the lead male dancer; it's generally breathtaking.
ReplyDeleteI have two diaries; one for my thoughts, and one for my dreams. Thank you for the great contest!
ReplyDeleteNever been to an opera or ballet.. But hubby always said Nightwish (a band I like) is metal mixed with Opera.
ReplyDelete