[Narrator: It was, in fact, haunted.]

I’ve got a newsletter going out on Tuesday, and it’s an especially juicy one!

• Some super-cool news, exclusive to my newsletter peeps FIRST
• Giveaway! 5 copies of my latest release, The Worst Duke in the World. Open internationally, of course, and subscribers are automatically entered in this and all my giveaways
• My recent all-over-the-map reads
• Some fun tidbits about my next book
• Excerpt updates!

If you aren’t already subscribed, would you like to be? There’s an easy-peasy, spam-free signup form on my site and also on my Facebook page.

FACT.

Graphic by Sharlene Martin Moore / Graphics by Sharlene

I was honored recently to serve as host-for-a-day at the Romance of Reading page on Facebook, helping kick off its “Month of (Book) Love” celebration. I had great time chatting with fellow bookworms there — it’s truly one of the nicest  and most interesting literary groups on FB!

I was also honored by the introduction given by Bobbi Dumas, the group’s cofounder and a freelance writer, romance advocate and the dynamo behind Read a Romance Month. Bobbi graciously gave me permission to include it here on my blog:

When I was reviewing professionally, it was always thrilling to discover a debut author who really knocked your socks off. They were few and far between in those days . . . One such author I discovered was Lisa Berne, and her first book, You May Kiss the Bride, was breathtaking.

I’ve read all of her books now, all set in the Penhallow Dynasty series, and they are wonderful.

Moreover, Berne is a bit of an anomaly in historical romance these days. A bit less sexual, and a bit less of a modern gaze than is the current fashion.

All of her books feel more realistically “of their time” in a way, and yet the heroines maintain a subversiveness in them that gives them agency and power in being exactly who they are, while moving their love stories forward by twining with the hero in unexpected ways.

If I sound like a superfan, it’s because I am. I love the lyricism of her writing, the wit and insight she brings to her characters, and the daring choices she makes that definitely fall outside of the box of today’s typical historical romances . . . She’s different in brilliant and delightful ways, and I for one always look forward to her releases with joy and excitement.

* * *

By the way, here’s the nifty lineup of authors for March at the Romance of Reading!

Graphic by Sharlene Martin Moore / Graphics by Sharlene

Or a BookBubblier? A BookBubby? What I mean is, are you on BookBub? It’s a great place to discover new reads and also score amazing deals.

Please feel free to follow me there! You’ll be alerted when any of my books are on sale.

Yes!

Just about sums it up.

LOL!

Absolutely delighted to share these fun new tidbits with you!

♦ From Roses Are Blue:

I loved reading this book so much! . . . The Worst Duke in the World is mostly lighthearted and entertaining, with the sad part thankfully brief. I totally enjoyed the read, the romance, the smiles, and the wonderful happy ever after.   

Click here to read the full review.

♦ From Unabridged Chick:

Adorable. . . . Berne’s writing style had me laughing out loud more than once. . . . Honestly, it was kind of what I needed right now.

Click here to read the review in full.

♦ Popsugar has included The Worst Duke in the World again and says it “will sweep you off your feet,” including it in a post saying:

If you consider yourself a Bridgerton fan, this list of historical romance books is sure to ruffle your petticoats in the best way . . . [They will] bring you the same Bridgerton feels that you fell in love with the first time around. 

Click here to go to the full post!

♦ Finally, a big shout-out to the Naughty Librarian on YouTube, who unboxed The Worst Duke in the World with some very lovely things to say about it! Click here to go to the video; her comments begin around 4:30.

For more about The Worst Duke in the World — including all of Chapter 1 for your reading pleasure, order info, and a peek at the other nice things people are saying about it, click here. And if you’d like to listen to an audio sample (the narrator is amaaaaaaaazing!), click here.

Very true! Especially if it’s a bookstore. :)