Welcome
to the World of
Regency England
I love the Regency because it was such a fabulously
interesting time and place—it was a world aswirl in silks,
seduction and the intrigue of the Napoleonic Wars. Radical new ideas
were clashing with the conventional thinking of the past, and as
a result, people were challenging and changing the fundamentals of
their society.
In so many ways, it was the birth of the modern world, and for me,
its challenges, its characters and its conflicts have such relevance
to our own times . . . and hey, who can resist men in breeches and
boots!
In Lady Arianna Hadley and Allesandro de Quincy, the
Earl of Saybrook, I've sought to create two individuals who embody
the the intellectual curiosity—and courage—of the times.
They'll be setting off on some devilishly daunting adventures. So
lace up your corsets, tweak the tails of your cravat and let's enter
a world of glittering ballrooms and deadly intrigues . . .
The
latest ink from
Andrea's pen
It
was such fun doing my first booksigning as Andrea Penrose at the
RWA Conference in New York City!
And now, a little about
RECIPE FOR TREASON
the third book in the
Lady Arianna Regency-set Mystery Series:
A diabolical traitor, who's
always just out of reach …
England, 1814. Lady Arianna Hadley and her husband, the Earl of Saybrook,
want nothing more than to savor a quiet life embellished by the occasional
cup of the finest chocolate. However, when they receive orders to travel
to Scotland and capture an elusive traitor, they feel their duty to
the Crown must come first.
In a laboratory in Scotland, they discover a dying chemistry professor
and cryptic papers hinting at a dangerous new discovery now in enemy
hands. Racing against time, Arianna and Saybrook pursue their most
cunning and dangerous adversary yet through a complex network of intrigue
involving exotic chocolates, daredevil aviators, a missing inventor,
and a secret recipe that must be recovered at any cost ...
And
in case you missed the previous adventures!
SWEET REVENGE
the first book in the series:
Mystery,
mayhem, murder.
Danger, deception, devilry . . .
spiced with a dash of chocolate
London, 1813 Lady Arianna Hadley’s desire
to discover her disgraced father’s murderer has brought her back
to London from exile in the Caribbean. Masquerading as a male chef,
she is working in one of London’s aristocratic households in
order to get close to her main suspect. But when the Prince Regent
is taken ill after consuming Arianna’s special chocolate dessert,
she unexpectedly finds herself at the center of a dangerous scandal.
Because of his expertise in chocolate, the eccentric Earl of Saybrook,
a former military intelligence officer, is asked by the top brass at
Horse Guards to investigate the suspected poisoning. But during his
first interrogation of Arianna, someone tries to assassinate both of
them, and it quickly becomes clear that something very sinister is
afoot within the highest circles of government. They each have very
different reasons for wanting to uncover the truth, yet to have any
chance of doing so they must become allies
.
Trust. Treachery. Arianna must assume yet another identity as their
search takes them from the glittering ballrooms of Mayfair to the slums of
St. Giles. And their reluctant alliance is tested in more ways that one as
it becomes clear that someone is looking to plunge England into chaos . . .
THE
COCOA CONSPIRACY
the third book in the
Lady Arianna Regency-set Mystery Series:
Chocolate mixed with conspiracy
is a recipe for death…
Lady Arianna Hadley, now the Countess of Saybrook, is slowly settling
into married life with her new husband, the Earl of Saybrook. To celebrate
his birthday, she finds the perfect gift—a rare volume of botanical
engravings on Theobroma cacao, or chocolate . . . but she is forced
to fight off a mysterious stranger who tries to steal it away from
her in the bookstore.
The incident is forgotten until Arianna and Saybrook are asked to
attend a gathering of international dignitaries at a country estate,
where she is shocked to discover that her erstwhile assailant is among
the guests. But other events quickly prove even more ominous. And when
the chocolate book yields a bitter surprise, someone they hold dear
is incriminated in a plot to betray Great Britain at the upcoming Peace
Congress in Vienna.
Murder, treason, money, power. Once again, Arianna and Saybrook find
themselves drawn into a deadly web of international intrigue. To unmask
the real traitor, they journey to Vienna where amidst the seductive
pomp and pageantry of Europe’s reigning royalty they must root
out a cunning conspiracy—armed only with their wits and their
expertise in chocolate…
Click
here to read about the history of chocolate
Each chapter begins with some history on
Theobroma cacao, and a special chocolate recipe.
Here's a small taste!
SWEET
REVENGE BROWNIES
1 stick unsalted
butter, plus 3 T
6 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips, plus 4 oz. reserved
2 oz. unsweetened chocolate
2 extra large eggs
1 T instant coffee
1 T vanilla
3/4 c sugar
1/2 c flour
1 t baking powder
1/4 t salt
1 c walnuts
1. Preheat over to 350.
2. Melt the butter, 6 oz. of the semi-sweet chocolate
and the unsweetened chocolate in a pan set over simmering water.
Cool slightly.
3. In a large bowl stir together (don’t
beat) eggs, coffee powder, vanilla and sugar. Add melted chocolate
mixture and stir gently until well mixed. Cool to room temperature.
4. Sift together flour, salt, baking powder.
Add to the chocolate mixture. Toss walnuts and remaining 4
oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips together, and stir into batter.
Grease and flour a baking pan (I like a 9x9” one so the
brownies are thick, but you may prefer a 9 x 12”.) Spread
batter evenly in pan.
5. Bake 20 minutes in top oven shelf. Switch to
middle shelf and bake another 10-15 minutes.
