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! :)