Today, we welcome fellow author Laurie Lucking. Her debut novel, Common, releases on February 14! Make sure you pick it up –I’ve already read it (and endorsed it) and it’s phenomenal! Want to know more? Okay, here’s what the back cover says.

Only one person knows of the plot against the royal family and cares enough to try to stop it—the servant girl they banished.

Leah spends her days scrubbing floors, polishing silver, and meekly curtsying to nobility. Nothing distinguishes her from the other commoners serving at the palace, except her red hair.

And her secret friendship with Rafe, the Crown Prince of Imperia.

But Leah’s safe, ordinary world begins to splinter. Rafe’s parents announce his betrothal to a foreign princess, and she unearths a plot to overthrow the royal family. When she reports it without proof, her life shatters completely when the queen banishes her for treason.

Harbored by an unusual group of nuns, Leah must secure Rafe’s safety before it’s too late. But her quest reveals a villain far more sinister than an ambitious nobleman with his eye on the throne.

Can a common maidservant summon the courage to fight for her dearest friend?

Doesn’t that sound like such a great story?  Anyway, sit back and enjoy Laurie’s visual sneak peek into the world of Common!

 

 

Since my main character, Leah, is a chambermaid, most of her daily interactions are with fellow servants. But her brushes with royalty are when things really get interesting! Leah learns too late that heeding her ma’s warnings to steer clear of the royal family would’ve been the safer way to go, but her friendship with Prince Raphael is so worth it 🙂

 

Crown: The King and Queen of Imperia are proud of their royal status, and don’t want anyone to forget it! As long as they’re in charge, they plan to keep a distinct separation of rank between nobility and the serving class.

 

 

King Frederick: Old-fashioned and verbose, King Frederick is the eldest of a set of brothers known for their indifference toward servants. Although he’s the one who makes the speeches and royal pronouncements, much of the content is dictated by his wife.

 

 

Queen Beatrice: Cold, haughty Queen Beatrice likes to exert ultimate control over not only her servants, but also her husband and son. She prizes lineage and nobility above all else, so it frustrates her to no end that she can’t convince Prince Raphael to do the same.

 

 

Prince Raphael: Prince Raphael, or Rafe, detests formal banquets and parties and would much rather be outdoors than studying with his tutor. Although he doesn’t fully comprehend servant life, he treats Leah as an equal and hopes to better the condition of the serving class when he becomes king.

 

Princess Penelope: Princess Penelope of Trellich is beautiful and accomplished, everything King Frederick and Queen Beatrice are looking for in a match for their son. But there is more to the princess than meets the eye, and her secrets might prove disastrous for the entire kingdom.

 

 

Throne: The throne room is the perfect place for the king and queen to display their wealth and power. When Rafe suggests that Leah should meet with them there to disclose information about the princess, her hesitation turns out to be more than justified.

 

The royalty of Imperia and Trellich lead lives just as varied and complex as the lower classes, just with more pomp and circumstance and fancier clothes 🙂 In fact, one of these characters intrigued my publisher so much she asked me to consider making her the protagonist of my next book, and I think it just might happen…stay tuned!

Thank you so much for inviting me to visit today!

Thanks so much, Laurie, for giving us this visual tour! Mark your calendars because Common goes on sale February 14th. Stop by the Facebook party on Thursday, February 15th, and check out the other blog tour stops listed below to learn more about this romantic tale.

• Monday, February 5^th, Review of Common, Pam Halter, www.pamhalter.com
• Monday, February 5^th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, Taylor Bennett, www.taylor–bennett.com
• Tuesday, February 6^th, Visual Post, Nancy Moors, www.antrimcycle.com
• Tuesday, February 6^th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature, Rae E, www.anewlookonbooks.com
• Wednesday, February 7^th, Visual Post, J.M. Hackman, www.jmhackman.com
• Wednesday, February 7^th, Guest Post: Author’s Journey, Kristen Stieffel, www.newauthors.wordpress.com
• Thursday, February 8^th, Guest Post, Laura A. Grace, www.unicornquester.com
• Friday, February 9^th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, Jebraun Clifford, www.quillsandinkblotts.wordpress.com/
• Friday, February 9^th, Review of Common, Erica Hogan, www.booksaholic.wordpress.com/
• Saturday, February 10^th, Top 3 Post, Laurie Lucking, www.landsuncharted.com
• Sunday, February 11^th, Behind-the-Scenes Feature: Laurie’s Writing Process, Liv Fisher, www.livkfisher.blogspot.com/
• Sunday, February 11^th, Review of Common, Jebraun Clifford, www.jebraunclifford.com/
• Monday, February 12^th, Character Interview, Brenda Anderson, www.inspyromance.com/
• Monday, February 12^th, Visual Post, Jannette Fuller, www.jannettefuller.com/blog
• Tuesday, February 13^th, Interview with Laurie Lucking, KaLyn Cummins, www.authorkacummins.com
• Wednesday, February 14^th, Release-Day Feature, Laurie Lucking, www.laurielucking.com (Release Day)
• Thursday, February 15^th, Facebook Party Feature, Michele Israel Harper, www.micheleisraelharper.com (Facebook Launch Party)
• Friday, February 16^th, Review of Common, Cathrine Bonham, www.dolphin18cb.wordpress.com