Thanks to The Macaronis for having me today to start off the Carina Press M/M Week Blog Tour. Today, Carina Press is releasing six wonderful M/M romances, (two of which are historicals) and in celebration, the authors are going on a blog tour. As part of the tour, each author is giving away an ebook bundle of all 6 book releases. Yes – all six! All you need to do is comment on this post to be entered into today’s giveaway.
To start things off, today we’re going to have some fun with Regency cant. Cant is slang, usually from an underground group. For the purpose of this post, the underground group is thieves. And why am I babbling on about thieves? Because I have a book releasing today from Carina Press titled Brook Street: Thief. The book tells the story of a romance between Lord Benjamin Parker (a younger son of a marquis) and Cavin Fox (the thief).
Cavin lives in a flash house on King Street, deep in the heart of the slums (or rookery) of Regency London. Not a pleasant place to live. Over-crowded conditions with many families living in one house, narrow and very dangerous alleys, buildings that were on the verge of collapse. The rookery was full of criminals of all sorts, including thieves.
Cavin is what we would term today as a hustler or con-artist. He picks up gentlemen from gambling hells with the express intent of having sex with them then robbing them afterwards. To put gentlemen at their ease, he’s learned to not sound like a lower-class thief. To Benjamin, he appears a friendly, lower/middleclass man. Even though Cavin’s speech isn’t littered with cant, some terms are deeply ingrained in him, such as terms associated with thieving.
So now that you have a bit of background, it’s time to have some fun. And fun means quiz time! Don’t worry, I’m an easy teacher. I give gold stars to everyone, and also provide the answers after the questions.
There are a few basic thieves’ terms in the following questions. See if you can pick out the terms that go with their definitions.
1. To steal on the sly (similar to shoplifting).
A. Sneak
B. Pinch
C. Dive
2. To rob a house or a shop. To slip in undetected and take whatever’s lying around.
A. Sneak
B. Pinch
C. Dive
3. To pick a person’s pocket.
A. Sneak
B. Pinch
C. Dive
4. If someone cries beef, what are they doing?
A. Announcing they are in the mood for a hamburger.
B. Shouting, raising an alarm after someone.
C. Divulging a secret.
So how do you think you did? If you’re unsure, check the answer key below. And now you know a bit of Regency thieves cant.
Brook Street: Thief by Ava March – A lord intent on his first decadent night with a man finds love when he picks up a thief in a gambling hall.
Answer key: 1) B. 2) A. 3) C. 4) B.
Map Source: http://www.ph.ucla.edu/epi/snow/1818map/1818map.htm
———————–
A glance at the six books coming out from Carina this week makes me amazed at the scope of our corner of the romance world. The settings span centuries, from long ago in Ava March’s 1822 London story of class boundaries stretched and Erastes’s evocation of light and art in Florence in 1875, to not so long ago, with Larry Benjamin’s chronicle of young love in the 1970’s and 80’s and all the way to Kim Knox’s story of passion in dystopian 2050. Dev Bentham’s story is set in the present with love finally found, as is KC Burn’s tale of a relationship rekindled. Our protagonists are artists and aristocrats, pickpockets and soldiers, all steaming hot.
A Brush With Darkness by Erastes
Brook Street: Thief by Ava March
Moving in Rhythm by Dev Bentham
First Time, Forever by KC Burn
What Binds Us by Larry Benjamin
Just leave a comment on this post to enter to win an ebook bundle of all 6 releases in Carina’s M/M Week.
———————–
Check out the other stops along the tour. http://carinammweektour.blogspot.com/
19th March – Dev Bentham at Fiction Vixen http://www.fictionvixen.com
19th March – Ava March at The Macaronis https://historicromance.wordpress.com/
20th March – Larry Benjamin at Joyfully Jay http://joyfullyjay.blogspot.com/
21st March – Kim Knox at Rarely Dusty Books http://www.rarelydustybooks.com/
22nd March – Erastes at The Macaronis https://historicromance.wordpress.com/
23rd March – KC Burn at Babbling About Books, and More http://www.kbgbabbles.blogspot.com/
March 19, 2012 at 12:34 pm
I’ve always been fascinated by the underworld of the Regency period, so your new novel is definitely on my ‘To Be Read’ list.
Can I be entered into the prize draw please? Thanks!
March 20, 2012 at 12:25 am
Have you read The Regency Underworld by Low? It’s more a research book, but I found it very interesting.
You’re entered!
March 19, 2012 at 2:08 pm
I am excited to read the new novels available. I am making a to read list. You provide a perfect combination, romance AND m2m.
March 20, 2012 at 12:26 am
Thanks, Scotty! Hope you enjoy the books.
March 19, 2012 at 2:11 pm
I did rotten on the quiz – only two right… sigh…
I however, would love to be entered in the contest — I love your work, Ava, and have three of your books — and it’s funny I should come across this, as I have recommended your works to three people just this weekend! (oh how the gay romance lovers come out when there is green beer to be drank!)
March 20, 2012 at 12:27 am
But you still get a gold star 🙂 And thanks for the recs!
March 19, 2012 at 2:14 pm
Ooooh all these books sound great!!! Can’t wait to read them!
March 20, 2012 at 12:28 am
Thanks! I think Carina did a great job putting together a fab lineup of books for m/m week.
March 19, 2012 at 5:07 pm
This sounds very interesting! Please enter me in the contest.
I recognized most of the words, but wasn’t always sure of their meanings. 😀
March 20, 2012 at 12:29 am
*gold star* 🙂
March 19, 2012 at 6:55 pm
I did it! Four hits. A let me tell you it wasn’t easy (English is not my primary language).
Thank you for the interesting review, although I need no encouragement to reach for a new Ava March story. Historical romance is one of my favorite genre and hustlers/criminals ones of my fav characters.
March 20, 2012 at 12:31 am
*double gold star* for getting them all correct….though let’s up to a triple gold star, since English isn’t your primary language.
March 19, 2012 at 7:16 pm
Aww, I got only 50% correctly. Thanks for the answer key, I would have gone googling otherwise. 😀
March 20, 2012 at 12:31 am
Glad I was able to save you from googling 😉 *gold star*
March 19, 2012 at 7:17 pm
I actually did very well on the quiz. I’m sure it helped that I have already read Thief. It was my favorite book so far this year, I can’t recommend it enough. It was my first m/m romance and it was wonderful! I can’t to read some more books like it.
March 20, 2012 at 12:40 am
Thank so much! It’s wonderful to hear you enjoyed Thief, Andrea. And I’m honored that it was your first m/m romance. The genre is full of fab books, including my release week buddies’ books. Happy reading!!
*gold star*
March 19, 2012 at 7:23 pm
What a fun post– I only managed to get the last one right, so I obviously need to read these books. 😉
March 20, 2012 at 12:41 am
You still get a *gold star* 🙂
March 19, 2012 at 9:07 pm
100% Yay me! Now all I need is to use them in everyday speech. Yeah, probably not gonna happen… LOL
Would love to win the books! All are now on my TBR list.
March 20, 2012 at 12:42 am
*double gold star* Yep, I can see how it could be difficult to work the words into everyday speech. 🙂
March 19, 2012 at 10:38 pm
Glad to hear you’re giving gold starts out – definitely didn’t earn one !
These books look great – please sign me up!
Anyone know the stats on male vs female employment as thieves vs. prostitutes . . . I ‘m guessing I’d have been relegated to the latter.
March 20, 2012 at 12:43 am
*gold star* I’m one of those gold-stars-for-the-effort teachers, you know, the easy kind. Now you’ve got me wondering about those stats 🙂
March 19, 2012 at 10:46 pm
I absolutely adore the gay regencies by Ava. Please enter me in the drawing!
March 20, 2012 at 12:44 am
Thanks, Melissa! And thanks for stopping by. You’re entered. 🙂
March 20, 2012 at 1:18 am
Very interesting. I’m looking forward to read Brook Street: Thief.
Add me to the giveaway.
March 20, 2012 at 4:51 am
Hope you enjoy the book, Midia!
March 20, 2012 at 2:03 am
These books all sound so good. And I learned something today now too!
Please count me in for the giveaway.
March 20, 2012 at 4:54 am
Awesome! Glad to hear you liked the post, Storm.
March 20, 2012 at 2:59 am
I kicked booty on that quiz!!! I missed my calling…and time period. 🙂
March 20, 2012 at 4:55 am
*double stars stuck to Sophia’s forehead* ’cause you rock at kicking booty 😉
March 20, 2012 at 5:53 am
Great post 🙂 Aced the quiz! Now I’m ready to visit 😉
smaccall AT comcast.net
March 20, 2012 at 9:08 am
I got two right. *Hangs head in shame*. Loved the map – that part of London hasn’t changed at in terms of road layout.
March 20, 2012 at 10:15 am
Ooh~ I missed one. lol.. I was just guessing and am so happy I at least got 3 right! lol….
Thank you so much for the exciting contest! Please count me in!
Judi P.
March 20, 2012 at 2:51 pm
I am still in love with historicals from my het. romance days! I missed number 2 but still enjoyed the quiz! I think I would be too afraid to “pinch” anything… other than a nice butt!
Thanks for the post and giveaway!
OceanAkers@aol.com
March 20, 2012 at 2:52 pm
That was fun! Good luck with the blog tour and yay for more m/m historicals!
March 20, 2012 at 6:58 pm
I love regency novels *dreamy sigh*. Thanks for the giveaway!
Count me in, please 🙂
johnson.kierstena@gmail.com
March 21, 2012 at 3:06 am
Hello Ava,
Thank you to The Macaronis for hosting Ava March on the Carina Press M/M Week Blog Tour. Thank you to Ava for taking the time out of her busy day to spend time with us today & share about her current M/M Regency Romance, “Brook Street: Thief”.
I didn’t do to bad on the thieve terms quiz, 3 out of 4 right. 🙂 Ava, your book, “Brook Street: Thief” sounds so passionate, not to mention HOT. After reading your description here – Lord Benjamin Parker (a younger son of a marquis), intent on his first decadent night with a man finds love when he picks up a thief, Cavin Fox in a gambling hall…I had to go to your website for an Excerpt for this book…Oh Ava, how can you leave Us with a Teaser ending like that!!! LOL I have to read this Bookk!!!
Carina Press for offering up six M/M Books by 6 Great Authors & I’m such a BIG Fan of M/M/ Fiction & have filled my eReader with so many of their sub-genres….but of course I always have MORE room. LOL
I would very much appreciate if I could be entered into your giveaway for this very generous gift of 6 Great Book by 6 Fantastic Authors!
Bitter Harvest by Kim Knox
Brook Street: Thief by Ava March
A Brush with Darkness by Erastes
First Time, Forever by KC Burn
Moving in Rhythm by Dev Bentham
What Binds Us by Larry Benjamin
Thank You!
Take Care & Best Wishes,
PaParanormalFan (Renee’ S.)
paranormalromancefan@yahoo.com
March 21, 2012 at 4:53 am
Thanks so much to everyone for stopping by! Gold stars to all 🙂
March 21, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Sounds like fun; I’ve always loved historicals!
Please count me in!
March 24, 2012 at 1:21 am
You’re in Tracy!
March 22, 2012 at 2:23 pm
Thanks so much for the fun lesson! I do think “crying beef” needs to be brought back into common usage. It’s just too much fun to say. 🙂
March 24, 2012 at 1:22 am
It is a lot of fun to say 🙂
April 13, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Congrats to Elin Gregory, winner of the ebook bundle of all 6 M/M week releases! The random list generator loves you best.
Thanks to everyone for stopping by the post and entering the giveaway!