1–What is the title of your latest release? THE MARRIAGE LIST 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? I’m not good at this. Marquis meets young lady who has no interest in his rank. Now he must find a way to get her attention. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I have three sisters coming out at the same time. My only option was London. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? She’d be like my granddaughter, but yes. She’s interesting. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Committed, kind, handsome. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? I learned a lot about mining during the Regency to include the fact that the government owned most of the mines and that they were responsible for much of the violence. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I really try not to, but it happens. I will say that when you force yourself to write a chapter a day, you do have to let a lot of the editing wait. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Dark chocolate. Although, that’s really not much of…

1–What is the title of your latest release? KISS ME, MY DUKE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? My latest release is called “Kiss Me, My Duke” and is about a young housekeeper with a mysterious past who decidedly has no plans to kiss her arrogant employer-duke, but somehow winds up traveling with said handsome duke to London to search for a missing family member…and eventually doing a little kissing. Or, if that doesn’t grab you, here’s the tagline: Before she was his servant, she had another name…and all of London swooning at her feet.   3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I write Regency historical romances and most of the books in that genre are set in London–often during the Season, like in Bridgerton. Because I am willful and stubborn, I try to avoid London and have only set a couple of books there. But this book demanded a London setting, so my hero and heroine travel from a country townhouse straight to the Big City and visit some delightfully dangerous locales as part of their adventures. (They may even face down a lioness, but I’m not telling.)   4–Would you…

1–What is the title of your latest release? FELL IN LOVE WITH AN EARL 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Grumpy, wounded earl meets fierce governess heroine, add kittens and mischievous twin boys, hijinks, and romance ensues! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Well, this is the third book of the Games Earls Play series, and in the previous book I’d already settled Helena, the heroine in a small village near her sister’s country estate. For both books I wanted a country setting not too far from London, so I settled on Oxfordshire. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely! She’s incredibly kind but fierce, plus she loves cats! What’s not to like? 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Grumpy (at first), protective, loving. 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? This book reminded me of something I learned long ago, but sometimes forget, and that’s to try not to make assumptions about people, because we never truly know what they might be going through. Adrian doesn’t appear to advantage at first, but it’s grief that makes him difficult, not arrogance. 7–Do you edit as…

A WICKED GAME – Kate Bateman, teaser exclusive excerpt for Fresh Fiction.   The carriage gave a jolt, and Morgan caught her eye. “My business with Mister Crusoe might be done,” he said softly. “But there’s another matter between you and I that needs to be resolved. I seem to remember a certain bet we made, before I left for war.” He made sure to hold her stare. “Since I’m here, safe and well in London, I think it’s fair to say that you owe me three kisses.”       Harriet’s heart was pounding with a strange mixture of dread and relief. At last. She hadn’t stopped thinking about their foolish wager since the moment she’d heard Morgan was back in England. Or for any of the months before that, if she was being honest. The secret, scandalous part of her had fantasized that he’d come to her immediately on his return. That he’d be so desperate for her kisses that he’d gallop up to Bloomsbury on his fastest horse, hammer on her door or clamber in through her window, and claim his prize. That, of course, hadn’t happened. She didn’t live in a fairytale. Morgan had been back…

1–What is the title of your latest release? CINDERELLA AND THE DUKE 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book?  Pride and Prejudice meets Cinderella with a Regency twist! 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place?  I’ve always loved historical romances, in particular the Regency period. I guess it’s the Jane Austen fangirl in me. I liked the idea of doing a historical fairy tale retelling, and I especially liked the idea of doing Cinderella. The London Season had plenty of opportunities for lavish balls and parties, and it was definitely more common for a young woman be financially dependent on a wicked stepmother in the 1800s than it would be now. It just seemed like a good fit. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life?  Absolutely! Julia’s a funny and outgoing person, and she’s loyal to the people she loves. I’d have to be a little on my guard, though. She has a bit of a temper if she thinks people are jerking her around. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Funny, Passionate, Wounded 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book?  When I was researching wedding dresses, I…

One of the most fun things about both reading and writing historical romance is the blending of fact and fiction—finding those nuggets of truth amidst the earth of a novel. Some readers—especially Regency romance readers—expect there to be complete accuracy in the manners and forms of address mentioned in a novel. Fashion choices should align with what was really fashionable, and historical accuracy needs to be kept as close to reality as possible. That is all well and good and I don’t have a problem with any of that, although, as a reader, I do allow for more discretion than many others (it is a novel after all, and if an author wants to move around bits of historical fact I don’t mind so long as they know the truth of it and put in an author’s note at the end). When I was in college and studying British History, I even wrote a paper on the historical accuracy found in one of the romance novels I was reading. To say that professor was shocked at how accurate it was would be to understate his response. With all this in mind, when I set out to create a country for…

1–What is the title of your latest release? DESPERADO’S CARESS 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A bad boy who has one chance left to set his life straight; hunting down a criminal, if he survives 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? That’s easy. We live in horse and cowboy country.  It’s what I know, so… 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Absolutely, she’s strong, intelligent, and determined to catch her father’s murderer 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Hot, tough, tortured 6–What’s something you learned while writing this book? About women Pinkerton Agents in this time period of the old west. 7–Do you edit as you draft or wait until you are totally done? I edit as I draft; that works for me. 8–What’s your favorite foodie indulgence? Creme Brulee 9–Describe your writing space/office! I’m fortunate to now have a separate office where I can close the door; when I started writing I was a closet writer, literally in a large close in our former house. 10–Who is an author you admire? Diana Gabaldon 11–Is there a book that changed your life? The Black Lyon…

Instead of trying to find your perfect match in a dating app, we bring you the “Author-Reader Match” where we introduce you to authors you may fall in love with. It’s our great pleasure to present Samara Parish!   Writes: Fast-paced, high-stakes historical romances set in England and featuring STEM heroes and heroines who are rebels out to set society on its head. Her books are full of protagonists flawed in oh-so-relatable ways and a cast of secondary characters you will fall in love with.   About: I’m an Aussie author who loves to get away for the weekend, particularly when that means venturing into the fantasy worlds of regency ton. I love a good enemies-to-lover trope but want none of that drama in my real life, please! When I’m not reading or writing, I’m working in my obscenely large garden. I have a fruit orchard, veggie patch, dogs, cats, and far too many chickens but my day job is in a university physics department, so all excess eggs go to broke PhD students I also like to take a lot of courses. My latest has been fashion and I am consequently obsessed. If you want to talk about books…

1–What is the title of your latest release? MIDNIGHT CHRISTMAS WALTZ, Chronicles of the Westbrook Brides Prequel 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? A dazzling new series introducing the Westbrook family. Perfect for Bridgerton fans, this saga is chock-full of humor, intrigue, heartwarming loyalty, and sigh-worthy romantic adventures, featuring charming and often scandalous rogues and the spirited and unconventional women who become the Westbrook Brides. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? I love the Regency era and Christmas. What could be better than a holiday Regency house party at a ducal country estate? Family members from as far away as America make their way home for the festivities. 4–Would you hang out with your heroine in real life? Well, this prequel has more than one heroine, but Grandmama, the dowager duchess steals the show. I would definitely enjoy hanging out with her. She’s a bit eccentric, spirited, and her family means everything to her. She’s not above scheming a little to get them home for the holidays, but she’s not manipulative—just good-hearted and determined. 5–What are three words that describe your hero? Loyal, fierce, and passionate (ooh la la.) 6–What’s something you…

1–What is the title of your latest release? The Sisters of Sea View, Book One in a new series called On Devonshire Shores. 2–What’s the “elevator pitch” for your new book? Four genteel sisters (who’ve never had to work a day in their lives) are impoverished after their father’s death and decide to open their seaside home to guests to make ends meet. They expect to host elderly invalids who historically flocked to the shore for their health, but instead find themselves hosting eligible gentlemen including one man with a secret agenda. 3–How did you decide where your book was going to take place? Great question! I wanted to set the novel in a seaside resort town in 19th century England. I chose Sidmouth for a few reasons. One, Jane Austen spent a holiday there with her family, and two, I have also been able to visit the beautiful south coast of Devon. 4–Would you hang out with your protagonist in real life? Yes! I don’t have sisters of my own, so I enjoyed creating a family of sisters that I loved spending time with while writing this book. 5–What are three words that describe your protagonist? The first novel…