TBR Tuesday: Susanne Lord's In Search of Scandal

I'm so excited to welcome Susanne Lord to Romancing the Victorians for TBR Tuesday. I read and reviewed Susanne's debut novel, In Search of Scandal, for Night Owl Reviews and thoroughly enjoyed Will and Charlotte's story. Not only was I thrilled to find a fabulous new voice in Victorian historical romance, but I loved her characters, humor, and the emotion woven throughout the story.

From the back cover:

All of London is abuzz with the tale of Will Repton. The lone survivor of a massacre in Tibet has returned to England a hero, but the traumatized explorer has no time for glory. Another dangerous expedition awaits. Nothing will deter him from his quest, and no one will unearth his secret—until Will meets Charlotte Baker…

Now let's find out a bit more about Susanne!

1. What book have you read more than once and still go back to because you love it so much? What keeps you coming back?

LORD CAREW’S BRIDE by Mary Balogh is such a favorite of mine that re-reading the book is like visiting old friends. The ‘friends-to-lovers’ romance between Hartley Wade and Samantha Newman is perfection. Hart has been left with a disability from a riding accident and is a rather average-looking man, but is kind, honorable and quietly confident. Samantha is warm and open-hearted herself, but disillusioned by romantic relationships and wounded from events in her past. I’ll not say anything more lest I ruin this for first-time readers, but if you love a beta-hero, Balogh has created the absolute best in Lord Carew.

2. What convinces you to add a book to your TBR pile?

A wounded, reclusive or misunderstood hero is nearly always a TBR for me. I’m always on the hunt for those heroes like the men in FLOWERS FROM THE STORM by Laura Kinsale, NOT QUITE A HUSBAND by Sherry Thomas and THE MADNESS OF LORD IAN MACKENZIE by Jennifer Ashley.

3. What's the one writing accompaniment you can't do without? (music? tea? coffee? sticky notes? fuzzy slippers? etc.)
This question made me laugh as I wrote an entire blog post about ‘my go-to place to write’ and the rituals I follow in a writing day. Short answer: coffee, and my two writing partners who keep me motivated, inspired and accountable.

4. What's your favorite scene in your most recent book?

The epilogue of IN SEARCH OF SCANDAL is my favorite scene but no spoilers here! Leaving your characters with their own, unique ‘happily ever after’ is always a challenge, but Will and Charlotte were given the ending they truly needed and deserved, while also (hopefully) inspiring curiosity about the other characters in the series.

5. Reveal something you learned while writing your last book (about yourself, your setting, history, etc.)

My father was diagnosed with stage 4 colon cancer in March of last year, and passed away in June. I was on deadline for a book, so on all the four-hour Amtrak rides home to visit my parents I was writing my ‘fairy tale set in England,’ as a friend aptly put it. The day my father passed, I was sitting on a cot in his hospital room, writing. In the hard days that followed, I kept writing and when I wasn’t writing, I was reading historical romances because those things soothed me. They still soothe me.

Romance authors and the genre don’t get much respect, but I never knew before how desperately comfort could be needed, and how much can be found in a book, especially a fairy tale. So I learned to be grateful to those who spend hours alone in a room, drinking coffee and typing, to share a story that can provide so much comfort.

Thank you so much for visiting Romancing the Victorians, Susanne!

Here's a link to grab your own copy of In Search of Scandal. I thoroughly recommend adding this one to your TBR pile! :)

TBR Tuesday: Lily Maxton's The Mistake

I am so excited to welcome Lily Maxton to Romancing the Victorians! I first discovered Lily when I read and reviewed her novella, The Love Match, for Night Owl Reviews. I was hooked on her characters, her voice, the lovely banter and attraction she was able to create between her characters and I have vowed to add every single Lily Maxton book to my TBR pile. 

Her newest release is The Mistake, and I can't wait to read it. 

Here's a bit more about The Mistake...

Infamous courtesan Julia Forsythe is the former mistress of a ruthless marquess. She’s also expecting his child. But while she longs to flee from his cold clutches, the welfare of her unborn babe prevents it. Now she must find a way to remain a “mistress” in name, if not in deed. And her plans are only complicated by a growing affection for the estate’s head gardener…

Fifteen years ago, Adam Radcliff once shared a close friendship with Julia. Now they stand worlds apart in both lives and statuses, sharing only the memory of that old friendship. But even as Julia slips out of the marquess’s lascivious clutches, she finds herself seeking the pleasure of Adam’s company. Now Adam is falling more deeply for Julia, even knowing that wanting another man’s mistress will only bring ruin upon them both…

Grab it now!
Amazon
Barnes and Noble
iTunes

Add it to your Goodreads "Want to Read" Shelf

Now let's find out a bit more about Lily...

Bio

Lily Maxton grew up in the Midwest, reading, writing, and daydreaming amidst cornfields. After graduating with a degree in English, she decided to put her natural inclinations to good use and embark on a career as a writer.

When she’s not working on a new story, she likes to tour old houses, add to her tea stash, and think of reasons to avoid housework.

Fast Five with Lily Maxton

1. What book have you read more than once and still go back to because you love it so much? What keeps you coming back?

Almost anything by Lisa Kleypas, really—I think that woman might own my soul. To get more specific, I’ll say Seduce Me at Sunrise in the Hathaway series. In Seduce Me at Sunrise, the humor that comes from the family dynamic is wonderful, and I absolutely love the romance between Win and Kev, who have longed for each other since they were children and never acted on it (I’m a sucker for childhood love if it’s done well…so much angst and sweetness!).

2. What convinces you to add a book to your TBR pile?

The first thing is if I’ve read and enjoyed other books by that author—then I’ll automatically add them to my TBR. Second is a toss-up between an interesting blurb and recommendations from other readers.

3. What's the one writing accompaniment you can't do without? (music? tea? coffee? sticky notes? fuzzy slippers? etc.)

Something caffeinated! Coffee more often lately, but I like tea as well!

4. What's your favorite scene in your most recent book?

There’s a scene where my hero and heroine are at a pub, and they’re making up a back story about a morose man who’s drinking away his sorrows. There’s one point when they’re arguing about something and the heroine brings up Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet to prove her point, and our baffled hero asks who Mr. Darcy is. I had so much fun writing that scene. Another reason I like it is because it’s the first scene that really shows how these characters interact together when they let their guard down.

5. Reveal something you learned while writing your last book (about yourself, your setting, history, etc.)

I learned that the flower Sweet William is edible and supposedly tastes like cloves (I’ve never tried it myself). I don’t know if I’ll ever fully understand the directions my research takes me in.

Be sure to enter the Rafflectopter giveaway to win a $5 Amazon gift card or an ebook copy of Lily's wonderful novella, The Love Match.

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