Too Taste Temptation
Society Novel Spotlight
Elizabeth Hoyt

Donna GrantPublisher’s Weekly called Elizabeth Hoyt’s storytelling “mesmerizing.” The author of The Raven Prince, The Leopard Prince, The Serpent Prince, is set to launch a new series called “The Legend of The Four Soldiers”, with the April 29, 2008 release To Taste Temptation.

I recently sat down with Elizabeth and discussed the new novel and series. Read the interview below and answer the trivia question and you could win the complete collection of her Prince’s Trilogy.

1-Hi Elizabeth, welcome! To get started can you please tell us about your novel TO TASTE TEMPTATION and the launch of your new series "The Legend of Four Soldiers"?

Thank you for the welcome, Laurel! TO TASTE TEMPTATION is the first book in my new four-book series, "The Legend of the Four Soldiers". The books will be linked by four friends, survivors of a regimental massacre in the American Colonies during the French and Indian War. Now, six years after the massacre, these men have evidence that a traitor gave away their position to the French and their Indian allies. The Legend of the Four Soldiers is about these former soldiers search for the traitor, their search for justice, and their search for peace with the past.

The hero of TO TASTE TEMPTATION is Samuel Hartley, a self-made man from the American Colonies. He’s come to London to secretly hunt the traitor, but to do so he must enlist the help of the elegant widow, Lady Emeline Gordon—who has a few secrets of her own.

2-Each Chapter opens with a snippet from a fairy tale called "Iron Heart". Can you tell us more about this story and how was it an inspiration for the characters in TO TASTE TEMPTATION?

Like most of my fairy tales "Iron Heart" has bits and pieces of other fairy tales and myths, in this case The Seven Swans and the Welsh myth of Llewellyn and his brave dog, Gellert. Iron Heart is mute in the fairy tale and I wanted this to serve as sort of a reflection of Sam in the main story. Throughout TO TASTE TEMPTATION Sam has trouble talking about his experiences during the war. In fact, he’s actually accused of cowardice and says nothing to defend himself until the very end of the book.

3-Tell us about your Heroine. I found her to be a fascinating character and I identified with her to some extent with her fears, wants and needs.

I like strong heroines and I think Emeline, the heroine of TO TASTE TEMPTATION is one of my strongest. She has a very ordered life, bound by the rules of society—rules that she herself is an expert in—but underneath she knows that she doesn’t quite fit into the society she lives in. For instance, ladies are supposed to be sweet and biddable, and Emeline knows she’s anything but!

4-Samuel the hero in this story is American, can you tell us about him and why will readers fall in love with him?

Sam is a nice foil for London society at this time period. He grew up in the woods of Pennsylvania, was a soldier, and then a hard-nosed business man. He’s a bit amused by the pomp and rules of high society, I think. He’s had to hunt his own food and fight for survival at various times in his life. In that context, balls and dress and manners begin to look a bit silly. At the same time he’s deeply wounded by his wartime experiences and he needs Emeline to help him heal.

5-What was the most frustrating moment for the characters as you were writing this novel?

There’s a point in the book where Emeline puts a firm obstacle in front of Sam in his pursuit of her. For the first time he realizes that he may not be able to win this woman—no matter how much he tries, or how much he wants her—and it’s heartbreaking for him.

6-What is your favourite scene in the novel?

Um ... I think it was the first love scene. ;-)

7-After I read the book, I realized I had met only two of four soldiers. Will we be meeting the others in the second novel?

Yup.

8-What are some of the challenges of writing a novel where there is a difference in cultures between the main characters? Samuel was such a “manly man” and some of those sex scenes were downright primal. Do you think having a clash opens the dialogue further between the characters adding more mystery and excitement to the journey of Happily Ever After?

The clash of cultures makes it harder to attain a happily ever after, and thus makes the happily ever after that much more gratifying when it does come. Also, it gives Sam and Emeline a real subject to discuss. How important is wealth and position when one judges a man’s worth? I think that makes for meaty dialogue!

9-Your next novel in the series is going to be released in November 2008. What is the title and will it be on American or English soil, and finally whom will it feature?

TO SEDUCE A SINNER features Jasper Renshaw, Viscount Vale and it does take place in England—in fact, all of "The Legend of the Four Soldiers" series will be in Great Britain. Here’s the back cover copy:

THE ONE THING HE CANNOT REVEAL
For years, Melisande Fleming has loved Lord Vale from afar . . . watching him seduce a succession of lovers, and once, catching a glimpse of heartbreaking depths beneath his roguish veneer. When he’s jilted on his wedding day, she boldly offers to be his.

TO THE ONE WOMAN HE MOST DESIRES
Vale gladly weds Melisande, if only to produce an heir. But he’s pleasantly surprised: A shy and proper Lady by day, she’s a wanton at night, giving him her body—though not her heart.

IS HIS DEEPEST NEED . . .
Determined to learn her secrets, this sinner starts to woo his seductive new wife—while hiding the nightmares from his soldiering days in the Colonies that still haunt him. Yet when a deadly betrayal from the past threatens to tear them apart, Lord Vale must bare his soul to the woman he married...or risk losing her forever.

Readers can check out my website (www.elizabethhoyt.com) after the 15th of May to see the beautiful cover and stepback for To Seduce a Sinner. I hope you like it!

Cheers!
Elizabeth Hoyt
www.elizabethhoyt.com