A dedicated Young Corinthian agent, James Marlowe accepts the riskiest of missions—go undercover as a traitor and infiltrate a deadly French crime organization. As he heads to Paris, he is prepared for all matters of intrigue—everything but a surprise encounter with the only woman he ever has loved. Five years ago, the exquisitely stunning Clarissa Collins spurned his love, breaking his heart in the process. Now, the accomplished painter is in peril up to her lovely neck and only he can protect her.
Blackmailed by a mysterious man who threatens to destroy her world, Lady Clarissa cannot imagine a crueler fate. Until she is reunited with James Marlowe, the enthralling man who seduced Clarissa body and soul, then betrayed her. Despite the hurt and misunderstanding that still simmers between them, their enduring passion ignites anew, leaving the two breathless with desire and need. With their lives and England’s safety hanging in the balance, they have little choice but to put the past behind them and work together to save everything they hold dear. As they attempt to escape the clutches of the malicious forces holding them, can Clarissa and James find their way back to each other hearts…this time forever?

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The Excerpt

In this exclusive excerpt from Stefanie Sloane’s The Sinner Who Seduced Me, former lovers James Marlowe and Clarissa Collins are forced to work together, lest their loved ones die. Can they cross the channel without murdering each other? Find out below!

“Are you comfortable?”
Clarissa swept the dark, dank ship’s cabin with a critical eye, then looked at James. “Not in the least. Did you specifically request the most inhospitable of ships or was it merely my luck?”
James took one step toward the scarred lattice-backed chair where Clarissa sat, the planked floor creaking ominously under his boots. Then he stopped, uttered some sort of oath, and turned abruptly toward the captain’s bed situated along the wall of the low-ceilinged cabin.
This would be the first significant amount of time they would spend in each other’s company since their unexpected reunion. Clarissa had insisted James accompany her on horseback rather than ride in the carriage. And then she’d shut herself up in her room for the entirety of their stop last night. Clarissa couldn’t help but miss the distance that had so conveniently separated them until now.
“There is a blockade in effect, Clarissa. Besides, it is important that we not be seen. Our presence will draw less attention in a ship of this nature rather than a more ‘hospitable’ vessel,” he said tightly.
“By nature, I assume you refer to the fact that it is piloted by common criminals?” Clarissa sat straighter in order to gain some relief from the tightly wound fabric about her chest. Unwanted emotion churned in her stomach. Anger? Fear? Certainly, though there was something else. Something she didn’t want to consider too closely.
“Are you well?” James asked, leaning against the opposite wall and folding his arms across his chest.
Clarissa breathed as deeply as she could, the binding fabric chafing against her skin as she did so. “Why would you ask such a question? No, of course I’m not well. You’ve placed my mother in danger, forced me into service, and torn me from my home.”
She rose from the chair and leaned her head against the wall, the wood rough beneath her forehead as she attempted to draw another, deeper breath. “Really, James, you’ve grown lack-witted in our time apart,” she added caustically, her head beginning to spin.
Dimly, she heard the sound of footsteps, then his hands were upon her, ripping the linen shirt from her waistband, before slipping them beneath the soft fabric. “What do you think you’re doing?” she demanded, batting at his hands as she tried to escape his hold.
He spun her around and yanked the bindings loose, quickly unraveling her with deft skill. “When I asked if you were well, I was referring to your physical state. This,” he paused, holding a fistful of the bindings at her eye level before tossing the length of fabric on the floor, “was slowly suffocating you.”
Clarissa stared at the length of soft white fabric on the floor, drawing in welcome draughts of briny sea air while she caught her breath. “I’m sorry,” she said simply, unable to look at him.
“For what, Clarissa?” he asked, gently catching her chin and turning her face up to his.
His touch was just as she remembered. Firm, yet gentle. “It’s been so long, and yet I’ve fallen into our old pattern.”
He cupped her cheek in his hand, his eyes searching hers. “Of quarreling? Yes, it has been quite some time, but I remember that part clearly.”
Clarissa shrank back, pressing against the rough wall behind her. James’s nearness suddenly threatened to overwhelm her senses. “It takes two to quarrel—”
“Clarissa,” he interrupted, laying one finger against her lips. “Please, I’ve no desire to fight with you. What’s in the past is just that—in the past.” He removed his finger and stepped back, gesturing for Clarissa to take the chair while he lay down on the bed.
She instantly missed the feel of his skin on hers—and hated herself for it. She knew he was right. There was no point in wasting time when her mother was in danger. And James was, in all likelihood, her only hope of assuring her mother’s safety. Durand and the rest of his gang were hardly the sort to inspire confidence in their promise to leave Isabelle unharmed if Clarissa completed her assignment. And to succeed, she needed James’s help.
Still, his transformation troubled Clarissa; his ability to remain calm and rational in her presence confused her. Or was it her response to him that frayed her nerves? She watched as he effortlessly folded his arms and cradled his skull in his intertwined fingers.
“And the present?” she queried, suddenly needing to think upon anything else but their shared past.
He appeared to be rocking slowly back and forth, the movement of the waves below providing an easy rhythm. “Once we arrive in Dover, we’ll travel by coach to Bennett’s London home—no more than a two-day ride. You’ll begin the painting no later than—”
“You misunderstand me,” Clarissa interrupted, tucking the tails of the linen shirt into her snug breeches. “What I meant was, how did you find yourself here, in the employ of such men?”
James dropped one booted foot to the floor. “Why do you want to know?” he asked, shifting to look at her.
“Why?” Clarissa parroted in disbelief. “Although you broke my heart, you were, at one time, an honorable man, James.” She struggled to remain calm. “I suppose I’m curious, that’s all. Why would the son of a British peer cast his lot with such a crew?”
James turned his head and stared once again at the low ceiling above him. “I broke your heart? Is that how you remember it?” he asked, his voice a low murmur.
“How else should I remember it? My father ripped apart the fabric of his marriage by taking a mistress and exposing my mother to the worst sort of pain imaginable. And you refused to lend your support to me—and my mother—at what was arguably the most difficult time in our lives—”
“You would not listen to reason,” he interrupted, his tone bitterly savage.
Clarissa gasped and clapped a hand across her mouth.
“And I’ve no doubt you’ll not listen to reason now,” James added, abruptly swinging his legs over the side of the bed and rising. “I’ve already told you, I’ve no desire to quarrel with you. How I came to work for Les Moines is of no consequence to you. Complete the painting so that you may return to Paris and your mother. That is all you need think on.”
He snatched the single lantern that lit the cabin and stalked toward the door.
“Where are you going—and why must you take the only light?” Clarissa asked, her throat thick with emotion.
James turned, fixing her with a stony gaze. “To fetch a pair of scissors, and I assumed you’d rather not alert the blockade ships to our presence with the light.”
“Wait, why would you need a pair of scissors?”
“For your hair.” He closed the lantern’s shutters then stepped over the threshold, slamming the door behind him.
Clarissa picked up the rickety chair and threw it against the door, finding satisfaction in the sound of the ancient wood splintering as it broke apart.
--

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Go out and buy your copy of Stefanie Sloane's 3rd book in her young corinthians series 'The Sinner Who Seduced Me' at a book retailer near you!

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Leave a comment on this post with your thoughts on the excerpt and you'll be enetered to win a copy of the book !

~*~GIVEAWAY DETAILS~*~

Stefanie has generously offered to giveaway a copy of 'The Sinner Who Seduced Me' to (1) one lucky commenter! All you have to do to be eligible to win is comment on this post about the excerpt, leave your thoughts on the previous YC books, or just mention how much you'd like to win your own copy! The giveaway will end on August 8th and the winner will be announced and contacted shortly thereafter.

Lord William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, is a wicked rake with little regard for society—a most unlikely suitor for the prim and proper Lady Lucinda Gray. But his latest assignment for the Young Corinthians, an elite spy organization, involves protecting her from a kidnapping plot and to do this, the notorious “Iron Will” must get close to Lucinda, and convince her that he’s a man worthy of her attention. It is a simple enough task to use his devilish charm to seduce her, but William never would have guessed that he’d become enthralled by the lovely Lady Grey—or that he’d lose his own heart in the bargain.
Beautiful and fiercely intelligent, Lucinda has managed to gracefully sidestep even the most persistent suitors. Until the Duke of Clairemont, that is. His rugged features, sinfully sensuous mouth, and piercing eyes are as alluring as the champion thoroughbred he tantalizingly offers in exchange for the honor of courting her, and she finds it hard to resist either temptation. The feelings he stirs in her both excite and arouse, urging her on despite the very real danger he represents. But when the truth is revealed, will Lucinda risk her heart and her life for a chance at everlasting love?

RJ: Hey Stefanie! Thanks so much for stopping by the blog for some book chat today. Congrats on your May release-which is also your debut historical romance novel, ‘The Devil in Disguise’! (Regency Rogues Series- Book 1, Ballantine Books, May 24, 2011) I am so happy to have you on! Can you tell me and the readers how it feels and what it means to you to have your debut novel hitting the shelves today?
SS: Hi to you Rita and all of you out there. First, thank you so much for inviting me to come and chat. I adore your blog and am honored to be here. Second, how does it feel to see my book on the shelves? In a word, AWESOME! I sold The Devil in Disguise in 2008—yes, that 2008. So this day has been a long time coming. It’s the realization of a very special dream, so it really means so much to me as both a writer and as a woman.


RJ: I am always curious to find out how a debut author fared on their journey to becoming published. How did your writing journey begin and how did you get here?  What pit-stops, wrong turns, and perfect lane changes did you make on your road to publication? 

SS: When I left my job as the Amazon.com Romance editor, I knew that I wanted to work on a novel—I just wasn’t exactly sure how to do it. So, in a very naïve fashion, I sat down and started to write—and didn’t stop until I typed “The End.” Then I signed with a top agent and made the very ridiculous assumption that I was about to embark on a bestselling writing career. 
The book didn’t sell and I was devastated—which wasn’t that surprising as I look back on it, because of my unrealistic expectations. But at the time, it was a real blow to my creative process. I sort of let life take over and I stopped writing for a while, which I regret. But I picked the pen back up in 2007 and slowly but surely made my way to today. 
If I had it to do all over again, I never would have let the disappointment of the first book not selling keep me from pursuing my dream of publication. You’ve got to believe in yourself, even when others don’t—actually, especially when other don’t!

RJ: Let’s jump right in and gush all about this debut book of yours, shall we? What is ‘The Devil in Disguise’ all about?

SS: A few of my friends have dubbed the series “James Bond in breeches,” which I think is a fabulous way to describe it. All of the books deal with men who are members of the Young Corinthians, an English spy organization, with The Devil in Disguise introducing William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont. He’s big, bad, and dangerous—at least, as far as the ton is concerned. And underneath his brawn and temper? A tender, bruised heart and soul in need of help, which Lady Lucinda Grey reveals with her love and encouragement—and a lot of patience.


RJ: Cover Love! This is the part of the interview where we gawk shamelessly at your gorgeous cover. I love the coloring and the overall cover is just so decadent! What are your thoughts on the cover and what was it like when you first saw the finished product?
SS: Honestly, I think that Ballantine absolutely hit it out of the park with all three of my covers. The colors are rich and provocative, the settings romantic yet dangerous, and the heroes and heroines are gorgeous—descriptions that match what you’ll find inside the books and throughout the Young Corinthian series. There were many emails and phone calls flying back and forth when I received the artwork and everyone agreed that the covers were perfect for the stories.


RJ: ‘The Devil in Disguise’ is not only your debut novel, but also Book 1 in your Regency Rogues series. What is the series premise and how did the idea for it come about?
SS: The Regency Rogues series centers on the Young Corinthians, a clandestine spy organization in service to the king. Hundreds of years old and so secret that most within the government do not know of its existence, the Young Corinthians bonds its members like brothers and asks that they give all for their country—which they all do without hesitation.
As for how the series premise came about, well, I’m a sucker for a good spy. James Bond. Jason Bourne. Simon Templar. Jack Ryan. A dangerous man with a dangerous job is, in my opinion, utterly delicious. When William Randall, the Duke of Clairemont, appeared in my mind, I desperately wanted for him to be a spy. And, as it turned out, he was more than qualified for the job, his adventurous nature and risk-taking tendencies making for the ideal candidate.


RJ: I am slowly warming up spy/mystery plots in my historicals. (Your book definitely helped!) What was it about this element that made you want to incorporate it into your books? Can you name another book that you feel utilizes this plot device well?
SS: As I mentioned, I love a good spy. I also love a good mystery, as, in my opinion, it only serves to heighten the excitement for and emotional investment in the book. So it seemed a natural fit for me to use such a plot device in my books.
As for another book that utilizes the spy/mystery plot well, any of Joanna Bourne’s books are excellent examples of what a spy story should be. Her writing is utterly captivating and heart-stoppingly entertaining.


RJ: Who are your main characters in this book? What are some of their most notable characteristics, flaws, and redeeming qualities? And why are they attracted to each other?
SS: My heroine is Lady Lucinda Grey. She’s the perfect English aristocrat, a lady above reproach, and keenly intelligent. As for flaws, her most glaring one would be her staunch belief that she needs no one’s help—especially not the Duke of Clairemont’s. William Randall, aka the Duke, is wild, dangerous, and, a man with a broken soul, though he’d never admit this to anyone, least of all himself. His most self-defeating flaw is his believe that love makes one weaker, rather than stronger. Why do they fall in love? Well, there’s the sexual current that runs between them and threatens to burn down the entire world. And then there’s the connection they hold that runs much deeper—and forces each to reevaluate their very beliefs. Can they let go in order to live and love? You’ll have to read the book to find out!


RJ: Okay, now it’s Stefanie Time! What is a day in the life of Stefanie Sloane like? 
SS: It’s so much less exciting than one would think! The first part of my day is devoted to my kids—getting them up, dressed, fed, and out the door to school. And then there’s the dogs. We walk, we play, and we generally do everything one can to exhaust a lab and a terrier mix. And then it’s writing time. I typically write for three to four hours in the late morning to mid-afternoon, then tackle administrative tasks like web updates, social networking, and the like. Somewhere in all of this I shower—hopefully—and then it’s time to pick up the kiddos and do the Mom dance until after the girls are in bed. The evening is spent enjoying time with my husband with maybe an hour or so spent editing and thinking about the next day’s to-dos. 


RJ: In your opinion, what do you think makes a good story? 
SS: There’s so much that goes into a good story. First of all, you must have interesting characters. If I don’t care about the characters, then I won’t want to read their story. Actually, while writing this I realized that the characters are probably the most important piece of the story for me. I have preferred settings and such, but a really well-written character will get me reading outside of my comfort zone every time. 


RJ: What can the readers and I expect on the book shelves next by you?
SS: Next up in the Young Corinthians series is The Angel in My Arms, which features Marcus MacInnes, a Corinthian that readers are introduced to in The Devil in Disguise. He’s a man for whom the concept of home has never made any sense—until he meets Miss Sarah Tisdale. Sarah makes him feel like he finally belongs—and so much more!

Quinn receiving 2008 RITA®

RJ: *sad face* Final Question: What is something shocking or interesting about you that the readers may not know? 
SS: Shocking or interesting? Oh man, I think that I might have to make something up. How about the fact that I’ve met Jeff Bezos, Bill Gates, and Al Gore? I know, so not that exciting, but it’s all that I’ve got! Oh wait, my BFF is Julia Quinn! There, finally something interesting! 

~*~GIVEAWAY DETAILS~*~

Stefanie has generously offered to giveaway a signed finished copy of 'The Devil in Disguise' to (1) one lucky commenter! All you have to do to be eligible to win is comment on this interview! The giveaway will end on June 7th and the winner will be announced and contacted shortly thereafter.

SUPER EXTRA ENTRY:
Young Corinthian candidates get 10 extra entries in the giveaway! How do you become a candidate you might ask? Head over to the "So You Want To Be A Young Corinthian" post for details. The candidate assignment has been detailed and if you participate you'll get the extra entries. Bonus Incentive: Guess the correct culprit and you'll be awarded an extra 2 entries. That's 12 possible extra entries! You won't know if you got the extra 2 until the giveaway winner is announced- at which time I will reveal the correct answer (The post is like Clue 19th century style! Super fun!) Have fun!

[You can also 'Like' Stefanie on Facebook for +2 extra entries]
*Please leave your email in your comment so you can be contacted if you win
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