Hello Lovelies! Please excuse our dust while we do a bit of construction on the blog. We will still be posting exciting reviews, brilliant guest posts, and exciting giveaways but we are in the process of transforming the blog and adding new content and features for you to enjoy.

Monday, February 6, 2012

Samantha Grace Guest Post & Giveaway

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I’d like to thank Royal Reviews for this opportunity to introduce Lord Andrew Forest and Miss Lana Hillary, the stars of my debut regency romance. Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel’s official release is tomorrow, and I’m thrilled to be here talking about two characters who are dear to my heart.

MissHillary_CVR.inddHE’LL NEVER SETTLE FOR ONE WOMAN…

Debonair bachelor Lord Andrew Forest lives for pleasure and offers no apologies. But he receives a dose of his own medicine when his family’s entrancing houseguest beds him, then disappears without so much as a  by-your-leave. He’d like to teach the little vixen a thing or two about how to love a man…if he can find her…

AND SHE WON’T SETTLE FOR HEARTBREAK…

After the dashing man of her dreams is revealed as a lying scoundrel, heiress Lana Hillary is ready to seek a match with a respectable gentleman—if only they weren’t so dreadfully boring. Unable to rein in her bold nature for long, Lana flirts with trouble and finds herself entangled with exactly the type of man she’s vowed to avoid.

As you’ve probably noticed, the summary on the back of books provides just a sliver of most stories. Today I’d like to give you a peek into how Lord Andrew Forest and his lady-love, Miss Lana Hillary, came to be the hero and heroine of their own book, and share what I love about both characters.

When Lord Andrew and Miss Hillary first came to life on the page, neither one of them were meant to take on a leading role. Lord Andrew, affectionately known as Drew, appeared in my very first attempt at a novel nearly four years ago. He played the younger brother to my hero and consistently upstaged his kin. My critique partners all had the same feedback; they loved Drew! Truthfully, so do I.

Drew is a bit of a misguided soul, but the love of a good woman is all he needs to become a great hero. The youngest of the Duke of Foxhaven’s three sons – the heir’s spare, spare—he has very little expectations placed on him. In fact, Drew’s sire is amused by his antics as long as his indulgences don’t reflect badly on the family. But there comes a time when wine, women, and song no longer fulfill Drew, and Miss Hillary is the catalyst. She challenges everything he believes to be true about proper ladies, and he’s intrigued.

Does Drew ever really change? “Would you ask a leopard to change his spots?” To his credit, he’s a good guy at heart. He cares about his family, and despite his tendency to love ‘em and leave ‘em, he has a positive regard for the fairer gender. And he is funny! He only changes in the ways that count. He’s still a passionate man who discovers true pleasure can come from loving one woman.

Lana Hillary was another delightful surprise to me. She played the heroine’s best friend in my first safely-tucked-away book, but her cheeky nature and tendency to speak her mind without censorship made me love her. She is exactly the kind of person I would befriend. Lana is down-to-earth, opinionated, loyal, and feisty. She’s the perfect lady to teach Drew how to love, even though he thinks he’s the one doing the educating. (Shh. Let’s not hurt his pride.) Essentially, he is right, too. Lana grows as much as Drew does, and it isn’t a smooth path for either one. Lana is the only daughter and the youngest child of a wealthy landowner. She has never seen much evidence of love’s existence. Her parents are estranged, and her mother suffers spells that require her to take refuge in the country. Lana sincerely wants to fulfill her duty by marrying a respectable gentleman. She doesn’t want to be a burden to her family, but she has been unsuccessful in catching the notice of a decent man since her broken betrothal. It wasn’t a pretty parting either. Her former fiancé was a vile man, and his betrayal causes her to doubt her judgment when it comes to Drew.

I’ve always believed obstacles can be an opportunity for couples to grow together or fall apart. Fortunately for Lord Andrew and Miss Hillary, they are perfectly suited and share a genuine regard for each other. In the end, they are able to let go of their pasts so that they can enjoy the happily ever after they deserve.

Now I would love to hear from you. What is one of your favorite obstacles heroes and heroines must overcome to reach a happy ending?

To learn more about Samantha’s Beau Monde bachelors, visit www.samanthagraceauthor.com. You can find her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/samanthagraceromanceauthor, Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/SamGraceAuthor, and Goodreads http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4946067.Samantha_Grace

She also enjoys blogging with her fellow Lady Scribes. http://ladyscribes.blogspot.com

I would like to thank Samantha Grace for her introduction to Lord Andrew and Miss Hilary.

Now Dear Readers, you too can meet these charming characters. All you have to do is answer the question Samantha Grace provided:

What is one of your favorite obstacles heroes and heroines must overcome to reach a happy ending?

I have two copies to giveaway.

Giveaway is worldwide and ends on March 9

28 comments:

Lauren said...

I really enjoy it when Heroes and heroines have to first overcome their misconceptions about each other and then have to fight against a common enemy to unite them. It makes them face their own weaknesses and then they are strong enough to band together to fight off the villain.
Great blog!

Linda said...

I enjoy novels in which the obstacles to happiness rest within the family dynamic, sibling rivalries, overbearing parents, etc. Thanks for the giveaway.

miki said...

my favourite couple must overcome their fear and misconception. To shopw they love each other for what they are ( without having to change)

thanks you a lot for this international giveaway

gfc: miki

isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

samantha@samanthagraceauthor.com said...

Lauren,

I love that as well. Nothing brings a people together faster than a common enemy. LOL.

What's really nice is what may be one person's weakness is the other's strength. I like couples that compliment each other.

samantha@samanthagraceauthor.com said...

Linda,

I think this is one of my favorites, too. I love stories about families, and most people can relate to these obstacles.

Thank you for stopping by today. :)

samantha@samanthagraceauthor.com said...

Miki,

I love to see characters overcoming their fears, because it encourages me not to let my fears be in charge.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts with us. :)

Martha Lawson said...

I guess I'd have to say a common enemy keeping them apart is also my favorite obstacle. The book sounds really good and I'd love to win a copy. (I will put it on my to buy list, just in case!)

mlawson17 at hotmail dot com

misskallie2000 said...

A hero and heroin must overcome their fears and open their hearts and minds and learn to trust each another. I like stories when they both fight their attraction then admit their feelings for one another. They learn to trust their hearts.
Thanks for the opportunity to enter giveaway.

misskallie2000 at yahoo dot com

Jane said...

Congrats on your debut release, Samantha. I like when they must overcome misconceptions about each other like the hero thinking the heroine is only looking to climb the social ladder or the heroine thinking the hero is only chasing her because of a bet.

janie1215 AT excite DOT com

Mary Preston said...

I love the arranged marriage. Strangers forced to wed for convenience sake.

marypres(AT)gmail(DOT)com

samantha@samanthagraceauthor.com said...

Thanks, Martha. :)

I definitely like it when the couple has to work together.

samantha@samanthagraceauthor.com said...

Misskallie2000,

Overcoming fears and learning to trust is one of those really hard things we all face. I think that's why I like these types of stories, too. I feel like I can relate.

samantha@samanthagraceauthor.com said...

Thank you, Jane. :)

That's exactly what I love about "Pride & Prejudice".

samantha@samanthagraceauthor.com said...

Marybelle,

I love the arranged marriage stirrings, too.

Vickie said...

One of my favorite obstacles for heros and heroines have is the class of society. I love it when the class of people mix and it drives everyone else crazy!

Thank you for the chance to win!

Marie Higgins said...

I LOVE this story, Samantha! I'm so excited it's out!! WOOT! So you want to know about obstacles... Well, I think I've written close to 40 stories (finished, anyway) and I think my favorite obstacles are when the h/h have a secret they know will destroy them (or the other), and as they're falling in love, they know they can NOT reveal the secret. Yet, we always knows it comes out one way or another. :)

Carol L. said...

Congrats on your release Samantha. I love when the H&H have to overcome Society's rules. When they aren't allowed to marry because one is below the standards of what Society expects. But the couple overcome it or a long lost title surfaces making them equals.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

Johanna J said...

A villian or villianous keeping them apart and causing problems for the couple is always a good obstacle for the hero and herione to overcome. Thanks for sharing with us today!


evjochum[AT]aol[DOT]com

Pam S (pams00) said...

You book sounds wonderful Samantha congrats on it's release!

Like others I enjoy overcoming fear, and misconceptions, ... I also want to add that I like when they have to overcome their past. I love seeing character growth.

pams00 @ aol.com

Linda said...

I like it best when the hero/heroine are desperately in love with each other but there is some external factor; they come from unequal backgrounds etc, that prevents them from being together & they work together to overcome it.

Thanks for the international giveaway.
thumbelinda03@yahoo.com

Carol L. said...

I love reading about the H/H overcoming their Denial of any feelings toward one another and the lengths they go through to do that.
Thanks for the opportunity.
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

Jeanne M said...

Angela -
First I want to thank you for introducing me to Samantha. This is the first I've heard about her release and it contains all the things I'm looking for in a novel.

Misunderstandings and their resolution is one of the obstacles I look for in a great book and I do so love a happy ending.

I like the heroes and heroines to have to overcome their initial impression of each other and have to work at really developing a true relationship before being able to reach their happily ever after.

One of the most important things is to have a reason that the reader can identify with and for resolution to either be realistic in regard to the actions that have taken place or a believeable scenerio for the misunderstanding to have occured.

I also think that secondary characters can also play an important role in develpoping the background of the characters as well as well as adding to the depth and complexity of the storyline.

Jeanne M said...

Angela -

Sorry I forogt to leave my email on precious comment.

jeannemiro (at) yahoo (dot) com

Maureen said...

I enjoy reading about couples that seem like there is no way for them to be together because they have other obligations. The obligations could be to family or a fiance or the military.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

Unknown said...

I really enjoy romances where there are both some kind of internal and external obstacles for the hero and heroine to overcome before they can really be together.

chibipooh(at)gmail(dot)com

Gigi said...

favorite obstacles heroes and heroines must overcome to reach a happy ending? mmm that there are perfect for each other, no matter what society says, or if life is to hard with them, they most stay together and defend their feelings, defend their love!
Thanks for the giveaway!
ilepachequin(at)hotmail(dot)com

Maureen said...

One of my favorite obstacles that heroes and heroines must overcome is their misconceptions about each other.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com

Eli Yanti said...

i'm prefer the arranged marriage ;)

eli_y83@yahoo.com