Stay Safe and Well

I hope if you are able to safely exercise in nearby woods you managed to see this year's blue bells. This was taken last year at Wollaton Hall, Nottinghamshire. Blue bells are such cheerful flowers, don't you think.

Thank You Essential Workers Everywhere

Just Published!

Twin Rogues in Winter

A Seductive Regency Romance

A pair of identical twins, a winter house party, a group of eligible young ladies, and the overwhelming temptation to switch identities. What could possibly go wrong?

Gareth and Callum Renford are identical twins, only the most discerning eye can tell them apart. Even their father gets them confused. But one thing sets them apart in a most dramatic way. One is a future marquess, and the other is not. So distinguishing one brother from the other is essential to any lady seeking a titled husband.

The two have always played the ‘which twin is which’ game and enjoyed confusing their friends and relatives. So when they are snowed in at a winter house party, they cannot resist. Will the guests be able to tell who is who? Not easily. And the mischievous pair are enjoying the game. Each would like to be valued for himself, regardless of his future prospects.

And while love is the greatest prize of all, they don't expect to find it.
But with a girl hiding under one twin's bed and the sudden reappearance of an old flame, the twins might get a little more than they bargained for in this cheerful Regency romp filled with secret passages, snowball fights, parlor games and a winter frost fair.
Links

Twin Rogues in Winter  US

Twin Rogues in Winter  UK

Twin Rogues in Winter  Canada

Twin Rogues in Winter  Australia

Things are Getting Curiouser and Curiouser

Well, things are getting curiouser and curiouser with the Seductive Regency Romances!

A curate who isn't a curate, but has to act like one for a year in The Curious Curate

An earl who is quite enigmatic--until he meets the love of his life, of course, in The Enigmatic Earl

A marquess who, due to the bounds of duty and war has become quite aloof--can love change that? Find out in The Aloof Marquess

And a viscount who is becoming quite volatile at the idea of marrying a bluestocking! In The Volatile Viscount

Stay tuned for the next installment of the Seductive Regency Romances, coming very soon.

Any idea who it will be? Here is a small clue. It is someone you met briefly at the end of The Curious Curate.

My Recent Visit to Blickling Hall

I have to confess I had never heard of Blickling until recently, but as we were in the area on a recent trip to Norfolk we decided to pay a visit. It's a beautiful Hall and unbeknownst to most people, the Blickling Estate is believed to be the birthplace of Anne Boleyn, most of us associate her more closely with Hever Castle where she lived while being courted by Henry VIII.

Blickling was also a spot where troops were billeted during World War II.

It's a fascinating place, and while it was wintry and cold on the day of our visit, the grounds still looked beautiful, though I will certainly go back in spring when things are coming to life.

The guides and volunteers at Blickling were wonderful, cheerful and full of information.

The best part of the Hall was actually the long gallery, which houses bookcases filled with thousands of books, a book lovers dream. I can easily imagine all of us book lovers browsing the books and walking the long gallery in winter, book in hand or sitting in a window seat reading!

I hope you'll check out the link to Blickling, Here  where you can find out more about it.

Byron

Often as Regency romance writers, we love to feature Byron in our books. While Byron doesn't actually apear in The Curious Curate, one of his poems does, along with many references to his notorious reputation.

In The Curious Curate and the Opera Singer when Amelie (my heroine) discovers more about Aiden (my hero), she compares the two, after all, Aiden has only been sent to act as a temporary curate to his uncle for a year due to his own bad behavior. Amelie teasingly refers to each of them as a scapegrace.

Despite his notoriety, Byron was a very talented writer and I discovered a poem while writing this novel that I fell in love with and gave a very special place in my book.

It is called, She Walks in Beauty

She Walks in Beauty

She walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that's best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow'd to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.

One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impaired the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o'er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o'er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!

George Gordon Byron was born in London1788 and died in Greece in 1824.

I have been lucky enough to visit his ancestral home Newstead Abbey, and you can find my photographs of that visit here. Or simply look to the right under pages and click on Pictures of Newstead Abbey.

About The Curious Curate and the Opera Singer: A Seductive Regency Romance

He's a rogue! Not a curate! The third son of a marquess and a little bit lost--well, not so much lost as good at finding trouble! The problem is--he doesn't have purpose, and his two older brothers do.

So, finding himself at a loss in London, he's soon managed to get into fight or two, then there's the occasional duel...

But his father is having none of it. So he orders him to spend a year with his Reverend uncle and mend his ways--as a temporary curate.

Already bored with his lifestyle, Aiden agrees, well, he doesn't actually agree, but he doesn't fight it!

It's not his father's threat to cut him off without a penny that worries Aiden, as unbeknownst to his father, he has amassed a fortune at the gaming tables, its being cut off from his family that he doesn't want to see happen, and he actually likes his Reverend uncle.

His year in Harelton is almost over, when Miss Amelie Rouen, opera singer, rides into his life.

She's beautiful, independent, unusual and playful...and just what he needs.

The Curious Curate and the Opera Singer: A Seductive Regency Romance

The Curious Curate

(and the Opera Singer)

A Seductive Regency Romance

When is a curate not a curate? When he is a dashing rogue sent to assist his Reverend uncle as penance for his unruly behavior.

When the Marquess of Tyden learned of his youngest son, Lord Aiden Renford’s, roguish behavior in Town—duels, fist fights, and gambling—he knew there was only one solution for it. To send him to his uncle for a year. Under the Reverend Matthew Renford’s gentle guidance, Aiden would learn humility and to behave like a gentleman. The penalty if he refused? He would be cut off, not only from his funds, but from his family and all access to the family’s estates.

While the locals are happy to embrace the new temporary curate and welcome him into their homes, Aiden soon discovers that although he is counting the days until he regains his freedom, a year in Harelton is not such a bad bargain, especially when an unexpected guest arrives at the vicarage only a week before he is free to leave.

Miss Amelie Rouen is an opera singer, something many Londoners unfortunately appeared to equate with being a Cyprian. While being pursued by an ardent admirer, she takes refuge at the Harelton Parish Vicarage, and finds herself in the care of an unusual curate with twinkling eyes and a mischievous sense of humor, who looks like he belongs anywhere but there.

Please note that this is a steamy love story

The Curious Curate US

The Curious Curate UK

The Curious Curate  Australia

The Curious Curate  Canada

My Latest Book

My sincere apologies for taking just a little longer than anticipated to release my latest book. My characters had a little more to say for themselves than I anticipated. And when characters speak, I do my best to listen, after all, it's their story!

My latest book The Curious Curate and the Opera Singer: A Seductive Regency Romance will be available this weekend. I will post the links soon!

Bembridge Windmill

Just in case you have ever wondered what a truly historic windmill looks like on the inside!

Bembridge Windmill, Isle of Wight was built in the early 1700's, the view from the top is spectacular. Inside there are steps and a narrow ladder to take you to each level, and a fascinating look at how a windmill used to work. It's a wonderful place to visit.

To find out more about Bembridge Windmill you can go to: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/bembridge-windmill/features/the-history-of-bembridge-windmill- 

Wollaton Hall and Deer Park

I've been looking through photographs of some of my visits to England's historic homes over the past few years, and thought I would put together a small video compilation of pictures of Wollaton Hall and Deer Park. It was built between 1580 and 1588 for Sir Francis Willoughby.

It is believed that the architect Robert Smythson who designed Longleat, (I haven't been there yet, but I'm adding it to my list) designed Wollaton, he also designed Hardwick Hall, (which you can see by clicking the link on the list to the left of my page) there are definite similarities.

Wollaton Hall now houses Nottingham's Natural History Museum and Nottingham's Industrial Museum, so there is lots to see and do. There is also a deer park, but on busy days, the deer do tend to stay far away from the visitors so I only saw them at a distance.

And a fun fact: Wollaton was used in the Christopher Nolan film "Batman Begins" as Wayne Manor.

Here's a link to find out more: https://www.visit-nottinghamshire.co.uk/things-to-do/wollaton-hall-and-park-p354961

My Visit to Highclere Castle/Downton Abbey

In honor of the new Downton Abbey movie, which along with everyone else, I can hardly wait to see, I thought I would repost some of my pictures from my visit to Highclere Castle/Downton Abbey.

I love visiting stately homes, and am a keen amateur photographer. So took tons of pics.

I adored not only the main house, the views from the outside, but the grounds and the Jackdaw Folly.

It's like stepping back in time, and really fires the imagination. I would urge anyone who has the opportunity to visit, but definitely to call ahead and book your tickets as it was incredibly busy when we visited, (we hadn't booked and were lucky to get in), and with the new movie just out, it will no doubt have sparked renewed attention and lots of visitors.

It was a very busy day when we visited Highclere and extremely warm. I would love to go back in winter, my favorite time of year. But here are some of my pictures, I tried to get as many as possible without capturing the other tourists.

The family motto in intricate stone script above the door and windows reads UNG JE SERVIRAY meaning Only one I will serve 

The grounds were beautiful and it's easy to see that the cast of Downton Abbey would have enjoyed their time filming there.

Views of the main house above and views of Jackdaws Folly and the grounds below

Views of the folly named Jackdaws Castle

Looking back from the folly to the main house

Links to the Highclere Castle website: https://www.highclerecastle.co.uk/ 

And Lady Canarvon's blog: https://www.ladycarnarvon.com/ 

My Books: Next in the Series

The next book in the Seductive Regency Romance series will be coming in October, with an unusual hero and heroine. Can you guess who it will be?  The hero appeared briefly in The Volatile Viscount.

Here at last!

The Volatile Viscount

The Volatile Viscount

A Seductive Regency Romance

Infuriated at being forced by his father into an arranged marriage with a bluestocking, Drake Warfield, Viscount Allum, is determined to get it over with and get on with his life. His gentle bluestocking, however, has other ideas.

How can someone who looks so sweet, soft and well… alluring, be so bossy, irritating and tempting all at the same time? She’s smart, practical, down to earth, curious and inadvertently sensual. And she is driving him completely insane.

She wears round owlish looking reading glasses that make her baby blue eyes look huge. Stargazes from her own library turret. Treats her household staff like family, and as the apple of her father’s eye, she always gets her own way. Until now. There are just a few things that Viscount Drake Allum is determined to set straight. Exactly who is now boss in that household. But will she listen? Unlikely.

This is the third book in the Seductive Regency Romance series, each is a stand alone romance based upon three close friends, with each finding the love of their lives in very different ways. I hope you will check them all out.

The Aloof Marquess  US  The Enigmatic Earl  US  The Volatile Viscount US

Here are some of the links:

The Volatile Viscount UK

The Volatile Viscount Australia

The Volatile Viscount Canada

The Volatile Viscount USA

If your country isn't listed, please simply type Milly Jane Maven into the search feature at your country's Amazon site. Thanks so much for reading!

Update, The Volatile Viscount

Just a little update on my latest book, after a slight delay The Volatile Viscount is publishing this weekend. This is the most playful of the three books about the trio of friends. The Aloof Marquess, The Enigmatic Earl, and The Volatile Viscount, so will be classified as a romantic comedy. I adore Verity, the heroine, she is a no nonsense kind of girl, just what the hero, Viscount Drake Allum, needs.

I will post the cover and information as soon as it is available. Hopefully by Sunday evening.

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.

Coming Soon!

Coming very soon, the next story in the Seductive Regency Short Stories belongs to Viscount Allum in The Volatile Viscount. Forced to make an arranged marriage with a notorious bluestocking, Allum is in for a series of surprises when he meets the young woman days before his wedding.

Stay tuned for the release date, but I can promise you it will be before the end of August!

The order so far:

The Aloof Marquess

The Engimatic Earl

and coming soon The Volatile Viscount

Have a fabulous weekend.

Here are the links to my author pages on Amazon UK and Amazon USA where you can find all my books in one spot.

Milly Jane Maven UK

Milly Jane Maven USA

Just Published!

Just published this weekend, my latest book The Enigmatic Earl, it is a playful Regency short story of a battle weary earl about to make his way to the London marriage mart, when he and his best friend Viscount Allum decide to take shelter from an impending storm at their favorite local haunt, the Angel Fayre Inn.

The complete book description is below, if you read The Aloof Marquess, you will recognize the names of Surcliffe and Allum as they were secondary characters.

I decided each of the appealing three lords needed their own stories. I have to admit to falling a little in love with Surcliffe myself!

The book will be available on Amazon this weekend. I do hope you will let me know what you think. Oh, and if you are an animal lover, then this one is for you! You will meet Rufus, a lovable wolfhound!

The Enigmatic Earl

The Enigmatic Earl

A Seductive Regency Short Story

Can a battle weary lord preparing to head for the Season’s marriage mart find love in an unexpected place?

When Richard Merilstone, the Earl of Surcliffe, and Drake Warfield, Viscount Allum, ride up to their favorite haunt the Angel Fayre Inn to escape an impending storm, they are dismayed to find it appears to be closed.

But when they enter the quiet inn they find not only the owners, Mr. and Mrs. Ambrose, who are preparing for a family trip, but their niece Miss Angela Lowry. Although the inn is closed for business, as old and valued customers they are invited to join the family for dinner.

The Season is in full swing and both gentlemen must leave for London in the following days to begin their search for a bride. It is time to marry and neither is looking forward to it. They don’t expect to have the same luck as their friend and neighbor James Ashburn, the Marquess of Telforn, who despite his marriage of convenience was lucky enough to find love.

But under the tender auspices of the owner’s beautiful young niece, one last night at the inn proves to be revealing in many ways for one of them, and his life may never be the same.

The Enigmatic Earl  US

The Enigmatic Earl  UK

The Enigmatic Earl  Australia

The Enigmatic Earl Canada

My Latest Book

I'm so happy to have published my latest book today. The Aloof Marquess, pictured below, is a short story which I think plays into the situation many young women of the Regency faced. 

Marrying for convenience to a man they barely knew.

In this case, Ellena is determined to get to know her new husband despite his seemingly remote and aloof demeanor.

This is a short story, one of several I will be writing this summer. The next two will focus on the Marquess's friends. Allum and Surcliffe.

I hope you will check them out. I will keep you posted when they available.

Best Wishes and have a wonderful weekend. Milly.

Just Published!

Just Published Today!

The Aloof Marquess

A Seductive Regency Short Story

Can a cold and remote Marquess become a warm, loving and playful husband? Unlikely, but not altogether impossible. Or is it? An arranged marriage, an aloof Marquess, a sensual and determined bride. And a romance that begins on their wedding night.

The Marquess of Telforn has decided to take a bride. Now. In his matter-of-fact way, he heads to London at the start of the Season, and within a week he makes his choice.

Lady Ellena Astonbury is startled when after only the briefest of encounters with the aloof Marquess at the first two events of the Season, he approaches her father with an offer, and her parents are delighted to accept.

The Marquess requests an almost immediate marriage, and within days, Ellena is a Marchioness. Knowing little of the Marquess, she realizes that she will have no alternative but to get to know her new husband after their wedding.

Can her gentle and sensual nature turn the aloof man she married into a real husband?

The Aloof Marquess  US

The Aloof Marquess  UK

The Aloof Marquess  Australia

The Aloof Marquess  Canada

What is on this blog?

Below I have included just a few personal favorite photographs of my visits to some of England's most beautiful historic locations. If you click the links on the top of the page you can see them under their various headings, from large estates to small locations.

Osborne House 

Victoria and Albert had an incredible relationship, they were known to gift each other with sensual statues, many of which are in the house, their relationship, as evidenced by their many children was a loving one.

Hardwick Hall 

Hardwick Hall, owned by Bess of Hardwick was always a big favorite of mine and most especially the Blue Room, what young history loving girl wouldn't want a room like this one?

Chatsworth House 

Home of the Dukes of Devonshire is one of England's true historic gems.

We picnicked as children beside the waterfall. Going to Chatsworth was an annual treat!

This is just a brief look into some of the photographs on this site. Please look under Pages to see more photographs. Thanks!