Guest Author: Michelle Styles

This week on Unusual Historicals, we're welcoming the return of long-time contributor Michelle Styles as she celebrates the release of her latest Mills & Boon romance, BREAKING THE GOVERNESS'S RULES, an early Victorian set in the North East of England. Here's the blurb:

'How delightful to meet you again, Miss Louisa Sibson.'

Jonathon, Lord Chesterholm's eyes bored holes into Louisa Sibsons back. The former fiancée he's thought dead is very much alive. Louisa has rebuilt her life, after being dishonourably dismissed from her post as governess for allowing Jonathon to seduce her. Now Louisa lives by a rulebook of morals and virtue. The devastating Lord Chesterholm will not ruin her again! But Jonathon will get to the bottom of Louisa's disappearance--and he'll enjoy breaking a few of her rules along the way!

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So what is this one about, Michelle?

This is the story of Louisa Sibson and Jonathon Fanshaw, Lord Chesterholm and their second chance. Louisa is a former governess who was dishonourably dismissed from her post after Jonathon seduced. She thought they would marry but he disappeared. Louisa has completely rebuilt her life and is determined that this time history will not repeat itself.

Four years before, Jonathon suffered a terrible carriage accident and thought he killed Louisa. However she is very much alive and he is determined to get to the bottom of the mystery.

This book is linked to COMPROMISING MISS MILTON. How so? Is this a sequel or a stand alone?

It is a standalone story and takes place a few weeks after the end of COMPROMISING MISS MILTON. When I was writing COMPROMISING MISS MILTON, Daisy had a friend who had to leave England because of her past. The more I thought about it, the more I wondered about that past. So in the end I had to write it. It is a stand alone book, but several characters notably the Blandishes from COMPROMISING MISS MILTON make a reappearance. Nella Blandish was such a great character that I was really delighted to explore her personality some more. Daisy and Adam come back during the epilogue.

You are on record for using myths and fairy tales as part of your inspiration. Did you use any here?

This is the one where I used the Psyche and Eros/Cupid myth. Not the more common first half of the myth that many people recognise as Beauty and the Beast, but the second half when Psyche has to battle Venus, the mother-in-law from Hades and prove that she is indeed worthy to become a goddess. In doing so, she manages reawaken Eros's interest and both Psyche and Eros have a growth arc. The second half is sometimes referred to as East of the Sun, West of the Moon as that is the fairy tale which grew out of the myth as it were.

It is one of the few myths where Eros appears as a grown man, rather than a cheeky cherub.

I had wanted to use the myth for a long time as it is one of my favourites. Then when I had to do revisions on the story, it suddenly all fell into place that I had used that myth subconsciously.

Do you know when this will be out in the US?

No I don't. It will be coming there--probably a month after they release COMPROMISING MISS MILTON. It will be out in April in Australia and New Zealand as part of a Three-in-One offering along with Diane Gaston and Ann Lethbridge's recent UK releases. Anyone who would like to get a copy can order from the Book Depository. The Book Depository does not charge shipping.

What's coming up for you?

Well I have had a busy few months with releases (last month saw the release of my short novella "THE PERFECT CONCUBINE" in the US and the release of the book I co-wrote with Kate Allen, THE LADY SOLDIER, as an ebook with new UK imprint Embrace Books. This is set continue in July with the UK release of TO MARRY A MATCHMAKER. I am busy writing my next one and really looking forward to attending the RWA National Conference at the end of June in New York City.

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Thank you Michelle for visiting today! Remember to leave a comment to be put in the draw for a signed copy of BREAKING THE GOVERNESS'S RULES. Michelle suggests telling her: What do you think of second chance romances? The winner will be drawn next Sunday at random. Void where prohibited. Best of luck!

You can learn more about Michelle's books by visiting her website

An Ordinary Day In: The Life of A Roman Businessman

By Michelle Styles

During the waning years of the Roman Republic, the day began at dawn for the successful Roman businessman. Given that lighting was not very good, most people rose with the dawn. Also, because of the traffic congestion in ancient Rome (gridlock is not a modern problem), carts were banned during daylight hours, this meant sleep was difficult in any case. In Roman calculations, the first hour started when day broke, not when you hit midnight. The 12th hour ended when the sun went down. Night time was then divided into 12.

After rising, the businessman dressed and had a simple and quick breakfast. The round of client visits was the first thing he attended to. Everyone in Rome was a client of someone else. Think the Mafia. Think networking as a way of life. You had to pay your respects, ask for favours and support your patron when called upon. The patron for his part was honour bound to offer food, to come to his assistance and to make him gifts often of money. Clients were received depending on status.

After attending to the clients and paying his own calls, if necessary, the businessman saw to his work The markets of Rome teemed with good from all over the known world. Things had to be bought and sold, warehouses tended to, goods manufactured and the various enterprises financed. All roads really did lead to Rome and it was a metropolis teeming with possibility. However they did not work all hours and it has been estimated most Roman workers were finished sometime around the sixth or seventh hour.

The remaining hours in the day were filled up with shows or spectacles if they happened to be on. Or if not, there was strolling, exercise and bathing in one of the public baths. To get the experience of a Roman bath, you need to visit a Turkish bath or modern day spa. It was not a quick in and out but a chance to network and gossip. Playing games such as 12 Lines (backgammon), latrunculi (a type of chess) , draughts and other games involving dice. If you visit the Forum in Rome, on the steps of the old court, you can see various game boards scratched in the marble. Out of consideration for Roman matrons, brothels were supposed to be closed until the ninth hour!

After bathing, the businessman generally either had guests around or went to someone else’s house. This was the main (if not the only) meal of the day. Cooking by the end of the Republic was an all consuming craze with people vying for the most extravagant meals they could give. So much so that in 169 BC, the serving of dormice was banned and later under Sulla, laws were passed in favour of cheap homely fare. Given how Sulla dined, there is more than a faint air hypocrisy about the laws. After dining, there was often some form of entertainment before the businessman retired to bed.

Michelle Styles's latest Roman story, "The Perfect Concubine", has just been released as a Harlequin Historical Undone. One commenter (from the US or Canada) will get a free download from e-harlequin. The lucky winner will be announced on Sunday 6 February. A simple hello will enter you.

Also this month on Harlequin Historical Undone, Elaine Golden has her debut release, An Imprudent Lady featuring a mid-30's heroine.

Michelle Styles writes historical romance set in a wide variety of periods including Roman, Viking, Regency and Victorian. You can learn more about Michelle's books on her website.