BOOK TOUR + INTERVIEW: Convincing the Secretary, from Ava March!

Hi, there! CAN YOU BELIEVE THIS?! I’m part of an Ava March Book Tour!! *happily dancing around the room*

Fangirlings aside, welcome to my stop on the Convincing the Secretary Book Tour 😀

Convincing the Secretary

London Legal series #3

Ava March

ISBN13: 9781619222526

Length: 34,600 words (novella)

Genre: GLBT: Historical, Red Hot: Historical

Publication Date: March 8, 2016

Business and pleasure is a mix no gentleman should consider.

Lord Grayson Holloway goes after what he wants—be it in the law office on his clients’ behalf or in the bedchamber. His new position as partner puts him closer to achieving his goal of becoming the most successful solicitor in London. There’s just one problem—his new secretary. Broad of shoulder yet mild of manner, Edward tempts Gray like no other. Yet the young man barely notices him.

Edward Fenton tries to be a good secretary, but being in Lord Grayson’s hard, commanding presence rouses Edward’s most forbidden desires. Wicked, naughty desires no gentleman should consider giving in to, let alone with his new employer.

Gray is more than willing to mix business with pleasure. But convincing Edward to take a chance on a future with him? That might be the most challenging case Gray has ever taken on.

Warning: Includes buttoned-up gentlemen who become undone, improper use of a desk, spankings, and a big bad lord who has a soft spot for his virgin secretary.

Where to find Convincing the Secretary

Samhain Publishing | Amazon | iBooks | Google Play | Kobo | Barnes & Noble | ARe

As the dutiful fan that I am, I already have reviews for all three books! Just click on their covers bellow to access their reviews 😀

Also, being the brilliant and lovely human being that Ava is, she agreed to a quick interview!

1. First of all, I’d like to congratulate you on the latest releases and thank you for stopping by on The Book Adventures of Annelise Lestrange! The first question is about the hottest release in town, Convincing the Secretary, third book in the London Legal series. I couldn’t help but notice that Edward and Gray were your first couple that didn’t find “the missing piece of their souls” on their relationship. I mean, comparing them to Arthur and Leopold and several other couples, they were more independent from each other. Why this sudden change of modus operandi on your character’s personalities? Don’t get me wrong, I loved it, I’m just nosy, haha!

Thanks for the congratulations, and thanks for having me on your blog, Annelise! As for Edward and Gray, I wanted to do something a bit different with the guys. I wanted them to figure out how to better themselves on their own, and I think this is why their relationship dynamic feels different than other couples from my books. Their self-improvement is intertwined with their developing relationship, but it’s also independent in a way. Their character growth then set them up to be able to resolve conflict and have a healthy relationship together.

 

2. The next question takes us back to Leopold and Arthur. On both Convincing Arthur and Convincing Leopold, it is clear that Leopold suffers with a certain mental condition. As mental illness was one of society’s taboos, Leopold isn’t able to give us more details on his condition and us readers are left in the dark. Would his suffering be due a primitive and genetically predisposed form of depression?

I don’t believe Leopold inherited a predisposition toward depression. About 50% of people who develop depression have someone in their family tree with depression, and Leopold would fall into the other 50%. His father had no experience dealing with someone with depression, given he went from calling doctors for an adolescent Leopold to giving Leopold whatever he desired in an effort to make him happy. So I’d say no one his father knew besides Leopold had dealt with it, which would include Leopold’s mother. Losing his mother early in life likely put him more at risk than the average person to develop depression.

 

3. Can we expect more books in the London Legal series?

I would say 99% chance of no more books in that series. I’m not planning a 4^th book and I don’t currently have any ideas for a 4^th book. But one never knows when/if the muse will strike.

 

4. What can you tell us about To Kiss a Thief, your next programed release?

To Kiss a Thief features Sam, who is Cavin’s younger brother from Brook Street: Thief. It takes place 6 years after Thief, when Sam is 19 years old. The book will have a bit of a new adult feel, as both Sam and his hero are ‘college age’ (though neither are at university) and both navigating their first real relationship together. Sam’s character intrigued me in Thief – a smart, perceptive, loyal kid who earned his living as a thief until Cavin got him an honest job at Lord Benjamin’s town house. I wanted to see what he’d be like when he got older. As might be inferred from the book’s title, Sam hasn’t completely put his thieving ways behind him and they get him into a spot of trouble with a curious American. Their relationship is sweet, hot and includes quite a few inappropriate questions 🙂 The novella will be available as part of a duology with Cooper Davis, and we are currently targeting a fall 2016 release.

 

5. You have two paperback published books besides the vast collection of digital books, The Bound Series and All In With The Duke, the first one in the Gambling on Love series (and a secret autographed copy of Sharp Love just waiting for the next online giveaway to put my name on it, haha!). Can we expect more paperback versions of your books to decorate our shelves? Any plans to do to Brook Street series or London Legal series the same thing that was done to The Bound Series? (Ava reunited the trilogy plus two short stories with the series characters and published one book for them all.)

My publishers hold the print rights for the Brook Street and London Legal series, so ultimately it is up to the publishers on if a print version is made available. If the print rights ever revert to me, I would release print versions like I did with the Bound series. I like having books available in as many formats as possible, to give readers options.

[Dear publishers, please release her books in paperback. Thanks]

6. From all your works, only From Afar is a paranormal romance, and one with a great potential for a sequel, if you don’t mind me saying. Do you think of writing another paranormal story in your signature Regency London setting?

I’ve thought about it. When I wrote From Afar, I found the paranormal elements very refreshing. I could make my own rules versus strictly following the rules of the Regency period. I have a concept for a sequel to From Afar, which would be set in Rome. But in the years following From Afar’s release, I was busy with other contracted books and didn’t have time to write a sequel. I also have a werewolf story outlined that’s been sitting in my book concepts folder for some time. So maybe one of these days I’ll try my hand at a paranormal again.

 

How I love this woman.

me with Ava

Anyway, thanks again for bearing with me for the interview, Ava! And bellow, you can learn more about this amazing writer that currently holds my heart but you already knew that if you’re here for a while:

Ava March is a bestselling author of sexy, emotionally intense M/M historical erotic romances. She loves writing in the Regency time period, where proper decorum is of the utmost importance, but where anything can happen behind closed doors. With over fifteen works to her credit, her books have been finalists in the Rainbow Awards and More Than Magic contest, and deemed ‘must-haves’ for Historical M/M romance by RT Book Reviews readers. Visit her website at www.AvaMarch.com to find out more about her books or to sign-up for her newsletter.

Ava’s blog | Goodreads | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

If you’re into historical gay romances, you just HAVE TO read Ava’s books ❤

That’s it, thank you so much for reading and bearing with my fangirlings 😀

Convincing Arthur, from Ava March (London Legal #1)

Hi, again! Welcome to a very fangirl review ❤ Yes, I’m talking about an Ava March book, haha!

As I already mentioned once or twice, Ava is re-releasing her books in the London Legal series with new hot covers and adding a third book to the series. Convincing Arthur, the star of this particular review and first book in the series, was re-released on January 12^th and Convincing Leopold, second book in the series, will be re-released on February 9^th. As for the third and new book, Convincing the Secretary, despite being released only on March, its review is already available here 😀

To celebrate this re-releases, I decided to re-read and properly review the series. Ava deserves my time and you deserve to know about the best books in the world ❤ My picture was taken with the new cover, to help promoting the book around, but I actually own the old edition 🙂

from my Instagram 🙂

The Story

Arthur Barrington knew exactly what awaited for him when he accepted Leopold’s invitation for a short holiday at his friend’s country house in Yorkshire: pleasure beyond anything he knew and total chances of forgetting about his shattered heart. Recently out of a 10-years-long relationship, Arthur just needs to have a good time before search for another discreet gentleman, one willing to be committed, loyal and in love with him.

Leopold Thornton knew exactly what awaited him when he invited Arthur for a short holiday at his country house in Yorkshire: a chance to finally prove himself worthy of the man he has been in love with for the past ten years. Leopold knew he had to take it slow and that his ill and well-built reputation as the biggest whore in London would be held against him, but Leopold couldn’t stand to witness Arthur’s heartache any longer. Or to bear his own either.

Arthur and Leopold’s chemistry is undeniable and soon enough all it takes for both gentlemen to disrupt themselves in feverish desire is to be on each other’s company. Arthur is having the time of his life in Leopold’s bed and Leopold is on the fight with everything he has to win Arthur’s heart.

The only problem is that their life roles are switched. Can Leopold cure Arthur’s heartache without acquiring one of his own?

The Analysis

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as reader 🙂

To be honest, I lost track of how many times I have read this book. Despite being normally a hardcore fan of Ava’s work, Leopold also happens to be one of my Top Males from her. Yup, a lot of re-reads through the years since I’m 17 🙂 Just like my 16-year-old face, my favoritism still is the same as back then.

Convincing Arthur has almost all the elements that I most adore in a book: a gay couple, a historical setting in 19^th century England, hot non-vulgar sex scenes, deep and developed characters, a happy ending and third person styled narrator with switching points of view and Ava March’s flawless writing style. It would be ridiculous if I gave it any less than five stars.

As we’ll be talking about a literary piece of art and perfection, all impartiality will be left behind.

As my spoilerish summary indicated, the narrative style is third person and we get to be inside both Leopold and Arthur’s heads. This is my favorite style, as it gives the reader a full picture of what is happening. It works very well for March, as there is not a mystery element to the book. The whole feeling of the book leads the reader to guess the outcome of the romance, but not on a bothersome level. Just like a regular sugared historical romance, we wonder how the couple will manage to stay together. The details are the delight, haha!

As this is the first volume in a series, I think it doesn’t make sense to talk about lose ends 🙂

The plot is very simple with minor twists, but very well executed. Regency boy reconnects with wealthier regency boy, they have sex and now must decide whether both parts are happy in continuing the relationship or if it was indeed a one-time deal. The key is how the couple will communicated and this is the turning point on their relationship, what measures their success or failure. It is so real that my heart clenches: if there is no communication, there is no relationship.

One of the things that I like the most about March’s works is that I notice something different each time that I read her books. There is always something new that I need to add on my mental database about the portrayed couple. A line of thinking, a shed word, body responses to one another. It is just magical, haha!

Then, there are the characters.

My heart is Leopold’s and I will stand by him until the end of the days, but Arthur is also an incredible character. They are two men trying to make a completely forbidden relationship to work when all odds are against them. Besides being really romantic, it is sensible and beautiful. Their struggles are daily just like mine or yours and the reader is involved on their consciousness in such a way that we just want to help them to understand each other. We want to tell them what they think of themselves and we want to force them to talk, to clear things up.

Leopold’s feelings…

… and Arthur’s.

Leopold is beautiful, rich, funny, smart, loyal and skillful ~ if you catch my drift ~, but he bares several insecurities and a particular condition that will be more apparent and discussed on the second book. Arthur is the boy next door, dutiful and hardworking, but he dreads the idea of being utterly alone in the world, having the need of sharing his life with someone – actually, anyone that will have him on his terms, as we soon learn in the begging of the book. They are perfect on both qualities and flaws. Both were lacking individuals before the holiday in Yorkishire. Together, they help each other to become better people. Isn’t this beautiful?

Honestly, I can’t with myself. It’s too much love for only one person, haha!

A strong and ever present element in March’s books are the sex scenes. They are hot, explicit and dashing. You see, March has this gift that allows her to portray desire in a way that leads her readers into believing that the involved couple are in heaven while having sex. The sexual need of the partners is strong and restless and there’s nothing they’d rather do than be there, on that second, sharing their bodies with each other. This bound ensures high quality and well written scenes and vulgarity-free desire. All sex scenes are justified and helpful into building the relationship. They’re not there for mere appreciation of the moment, to put I mildly 😉 And I love March for being capable of this.

Bonus point: 19^th century London on March’s hands. You feel like you are walking London’s streets along Leopold and Arthur, as if you know all the directions they need to take to move around and reach their destinations. It’s not just a whatever scenario, it is alive and pulsing behind all the drama and romance ❤

Oh, and then there is this brand new shiny cover.

I really loved those *–* The minimal that every book deserves is a beautiful cover and London Legal series was in desperate need for prettier covers 🙂

Overall, I don’t care if it is a homosexual romance, I think everybody should read Ava March’s books because she is that awesome. #justsaying

Thank you for indulging my fangirling and congrats for finishing this review! 😀 There is still so much to be done and posted today that I’m getting some Britney vibes…

Wish me luck! Oh, and the review for Convincing Leopold will be posted on February 8^th 🙂

Convincing the Secretary, from Ava March (London Legal #3)

Good night! I know, the blog is on fire, haha! And it is about to burn all the way up because the reviewed book of the evening is HOT HOT HOT!

Ahem, do you remember when I did this mega post talking about the release of Convincing the Secretary, third book in the London Legal series, from Ava March? So, Ava sent me a copy two days ago as an early Christmas gift and allowed me to open and read it on the spot! 😀 ❤ Thanks so so so much, again!

from my Instagram!

 

I finished the book on the same day, but Ava plays so hard with my emotions that I needed to breathe before posting this review, haha!

Ok, I’m in control again. Without any more giber jabber, let’s do this and THANKS AGAIN, I LOVE YOU, AVA! ❤

The Story

Edward Fenton has always fantasized about a lasting relationship with someone that he truly loved and that felt the same way towards him. At first, his boss Arthur Barrington sounded like the perfect choice for his dream to come true. Except that the man is already way taken by his lover, Leopold Thornton. One can’t win them all.

With the arrival of a new solicitor in Barrington’s office, Edward is relocated as his secretary. Lord Grayson is the perfect definition of tall, black and handsome and sends Edward’s imagination to depths that he never knew himself capable of. But can a relationship with such a powerful man work out the way Edward dreams of?

Gray, in the other hand, knows he found the perfect match in the moment he understands Edward’s interests on him, but how to convince the young man that he is Mr. Perfect?

The Analysis

Just remembering that those were my impressions and opinion as a reader 🙂

Ava always catches my heart unguarded. I was completely okay with life, minding my own business, when I opened my e-mail and saw her gift. As the book isn’t going to be published until March of 2016, I was trying to lead a mental healthy life without being too much of a goner and counting the minutes for the pre-ordering to start on Amazon. But the heart attack was so worthy! This book was awesome! It is a short book (my copy had 100 pages), but the romance is so intense that you are breathless for the whole time! (Or maybe I was, because it was a gift from my favorite author and a book that I already knew about for quite a while.)

I’ll try to be professional now, but I won’t promise that I’ll be impartial, because that’s impossible when working with perfect books. #justsaying

I really love March’s narrative style. Third person, alternating points of views between the couple present in the book ❤ Both Edward and Gray had their own minds and you could see who was doing the thinking very clearly. Once again, March showed how important is communication in a relationship, as words unspoken do the damage in both men’s feelings.

The plot was simple, but not obvious, not for me. I mean, okay, boy meets boy in the 19^th century, boy is not sure if other boy likes boys as well, both give the relationship a try and things go wrong. To explain why I wasn’t very sure of the outcome of this particular work of March, I’ll have to talk about the characters, so hold that thought. Back to the plot, we get to see Arthur and Leopold again, which was awesomely cool (I always like to see my boys again; those two are the heroes of the first books in the series, Convincing Arthur and Convincing Leopold, respectively). There were no loose ends; it would have been nice to know a little more about Edward’s and Gray’s past, but no information was lacking inside of the proposition of the book.

The characters are the best part. You see, in a regular March novel, you’d have two individuals that really need to find true love, that feel incomplete and don’t know what they need until they meet their soul mates, for say. On this book, it was different. Both Edward and Gray are pinning for a happily ever after, but not necessarily with each other. Gray realizes faster that he needs Edward, that Edward is the one, but Edward was more down on the earth. He felt the need of having Gray around, but could (cof and did cof) survive a break up with him without dying the emotional death of break-ups, you know? Honestly, Edward impressed me. He made a cameo appearance previously in the series and I never paid much attention to him, he was so… Bleak? Haha! But being inside of his head, it all made sense and oh boy, he grows up SO MUCH! He is officially one of my favorite males from March now ❤

I always like her males, for God’s sake…

And, dealing with a book written by March, I can’t treat sex scenes as a bonus point, because they are always there and she never EVER disappoint her readers. Did I mention that NEVER happens? Okay, haha! Since the beggining, the bed roles between Edward and Gray are pretty clear and I was waiting for them to have a kind of Oliver and Vincent relationship behind closed doors. Once again, I was wrong! =O I mean, none of them gets to really submit and I thought that AWESOME. Neither was the “fragile” part, always so equal even inside of the bedchamber. AVA, YOU ROCKED HARD!

Bonus point: oh, this cover. Do I need to say more?

also from my Instagram! 😀

Overall, I knew I would love this book since Ava told me she was beginning to write it and I did, a lot. Ava, Thanks again for sending me this, it was the best Christmas present EVER! 😀

That’s it! Thanks for reading and humoring me as I once again talked about Ava March’s work 😉 I bet you all can’t wait until next year, when I’ll do a big re-reading and reviewing of ALL OF HER BOOKS, MWAHAHA MWAHAHA.

 

 

Ps: don’t worry, there will be Harry Potter and The Vampire Diaries reviews too, haha!