Win The Manservant by Michael Harwood
Win The Manservant by Michael Harwood. To enter the contest, fill out the form below between July 7 and July 28.
The Manservant: Private Chef Cooks Up a Stir with New Novel; a Sizzling Look at the Secret Side of Aristocracy
Brighton, United Kingdom – Having cooked for some of the world's richest and most prestigious families, Michael Harwood knows that the lives of "the other half" are just as intruiging and calamitous as anyone would suspect. While he has already released two hugely successful cookbooks, Harwood is now turning his hand to fiction, albeit heavily-influenced by his career as one the nation's most sought-after private chefs.
Everything plays out in 'The Manservant'. It's a far cry from Downtown Abbey, but a hundred times more interesting!
Synopsis:
In this bitingly witty, saucy, acutely observed debut novel, Michael Harwood pulls back the damask drapes to reveal life among the modern aristocracy--upstairs, downstairs, and occasionally, behind stairs...
Anthony Gowers assists guests at a high-end London hotel with the kind of requests that can't be filled from a room-service menu. His reward: lavish tips and a closet full of cashmere. Then a client's after-hours entertainment ends in a tabloid scandal, and Anthony quickly becomes the city's best-dressed unemployed person. . .
In desperation, Anthony takes a position in the countryside as personal butler to Lord Shanderson. As a former Royal footman, Anthony is well versed in the peerage's peculiar ways. But Castle Beadale conceals an abundance of intrigue behind its stately doors. On the surface, Lord Shanderson is a model English gentleman--with a few personal interests that Anthony is sure the absent Lady Shanderson knows nothing about. But when the horrendously high-maintenance Lady Shanderson returns, tempers will flare, secrets will be exposed, and Anthony must decide whether the perks of privilege he's enjoyed are worth the price he's compelled to pay. . .
"This book is very witty and light-hearted, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't based some of it on actual things I have witnessed and heard about behind the closed doors of the rich," admits Harwood, a member of the Guild of Food Writers. "They are of course heavily-masked, but will still give readers a very saucy insight into the lives of those that have always intrigued them."
Continuing, "With the sudden announcement that Downtown Abbey is about to wrap up, millions have a newfound thirst for stories and adventures (even if under the sheets!) about aristocracy and the super-rich. I've been mixing with them for years, and hope I can offer some interesting insight with an insanely-gripping fictional twist!"
Early reviews have been extremely positive. Gaele comments, "Beautifully written with insets of protocol and proper form that only add to the very "Britishness" of the story, this is a story that shows the writer's skill and abilities, making him one to watch on my lists."
Ginger Cat adds, "I enjoyed the narrator's wit and found the book to be very easy reading and great fun."
'The Manservant', from Kensington Publishing Corporation¸ is available now: http://amzn.to/1II3XBk.
For more information, visit the author's official website: http://mjharwoodauthor.com.
About the Author:
Michael Harwood is one of the UK's most sought after private chefs with clients on both sides of the Atlantic. He has cooked for Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Prince Phillip, The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince William and the Duchess of Cambridge. He has published two cookbooks, Miniature Feasts and The Ultimate Insanely Super Hot Chili Pepper Cookbook. A member of the Guild of Food Writers, he lives with his partner in Brighton, U.K.
