Tara Kingston | There’s Something About a Wicked Lord…

There’s just something about a hero who’s a bit wicked, but in all the right ways! In historical romance, he may be a titled noble with a bitter secret in his past or a rugged Highlander with a heart filled with regret. Perhaps he’s a rogue who has walled off his heart, a spy with secrets of his own, or a criminal whose love for the heroine pulls him from a dark place into a brighter future. He’s a man with flaws—some so profound they will stand in the way of his love for the heroine—but when he demonstrates his inner courage or compassion, he’s a hero I can root for on the road to happily ever after.

When I’m writing a romance, I make some key decisions about the hero while the story is just a kernel of an idea. While planning my new Victorian historical romance, WHEN A LADY DESIRES A WICKED LORD, I knew from the start that the hero would be an adventurer, a man who’d left England to seek his fortune. I decided to make him an archaeologist gone rogue, a daring scholar like Indiana Jones but with far different motives. Benedict Weston, Viscount Marlsbrook, would be a man with a title he never wanted, a title that seemed more of a burden than a blessing. During the Victorian era, some members of the nobility whose fortunes had eroded over time entered into marriages with wealthy heiresses hunting titles rather than love. But Lord Marlsbrook takes a far different approach to rebuilding his family’s estate—a decision that costs him the love of his life and a relationship with the man who was like a father to him. Benedict’s journey to reclaiming Alexandra’s love and redeeming himself in his own mind is at the heart of WHEN A LADY DESIRES A WICKED LORD.

In order for me to enjoy a romance, whether it’s historical, contemporary, or paranormal, both the hero and heroine must have courage and compassion. When I’m writing a love story, the characters may not make a show of these qualities—they may be under the surface, but the hero and heroine will allow these characteristics to emerge as the story moves toward a happily ever after. In my books, the hero most likely isn’t going to be a knight in shining armor charging in on a stallion, come to sweep the heroine away from it all. His figurative armor is likely to bear some tarnish and a few dents along the way, and he may downplay his inner integrity at every opportunity. But from the start of the story, these characteristics shine through his actions far more than his words. Of course, he has flaws. In WHEN A LADY DESIRES A WICKED LORD, Benedict is arrogant and fiercely driven to rebuild his family’s wealth. The heroine, Alexandra Quinn, provides a strong counterpoint to Benedict’s defensive arrogance. A brilliant Egyptologist, Alex is able to hold her own with Lord Marlsbrook while demonstrating a quiet courage and compassion that frees Benedict to reveal his own integrity and open his heart to love. They’re drawn to each other, and Benedict’s passion is wicked in all the right ways. But Alex’s heart and life itself are at risk. Drawn into a lethal mystery, Benedict must call upon his courage and put everything on the line to protect Alex from both a killer and himself.

And now, a little about the story:

He’ll protect her life with his own… but who will protect her heart?

Brilliant Egyptologist Alexandra Quinn is stunned when the man who’d shattered her young heart rescues her from an intruder at the last minute. Forced to work with the rakish Lord, they must identify a cunning murderer who’s left a blood-drenched trail from Cairo to London. Alex knows better than to trust Benedict, but the wicked promise in his kiss tempts her.

Benedict Weston, Viscount Marlsbrook, never wanted to be a hero. For years, he’s plundered antiquities in his quest to restore his family’s debt-ridden estate. Now, a killer has targeted the only woman he’s ever loved—the woman he craves with a soul-deep hunger. He’ll do whatever it takes to protect Alex—even from himself.

I hoped you enjoyed this peek at my process for creating the hero, Lord Marlsbrook, in WHEN A LADY DESIRES A WICKED LORD. If you’d like to learn more about my books, please connect with me on Facebook or visit my webpage at www.tarakingston.com.

About Tara Kingston

Award-winning author Tara Kingston writes historical romance laced with intrigue, danger, and adventures of the heart. She lives her own happily-ever-after in a cozy Victorian with her real-life hero and a pair of deceptively innocent-looking cats. When she’s not writing, reading, or burning dinner, Tara enjoys movie nights, cycling, hiking, DIY projects, and cheering on her favorite football team. Learn more about Tara’s books at www.tarakingston.com.