Character Sketch

An in-depth look at a character by an author.

  • Character Sketch,  Contemporary

    Meet Emery Granger from Scandalous in a Kilt by Anna Durand @TheAnnaDurand #RLFblog #romance

    Welcome Emery (Granger) MacTaggart from Scandalous in a Kilt, a new erotic contemporary romance.

    Emery (Granger) MacTaggart

    Age: 34
    Gender: female
    Birthplace: Idaho, USA
    Profession: unemployed computer programmer
    Ethnicity: Caucasian
    Please provide a physical description.
    Emery is blonde and curvy, with blue eyes.
    Please tell us a little about your character.
    She’s a free spirit, unconventional in many ways but influenced by her traditionalist family. Emery loves to wear skimpy outfits, adores being silly as often as possible, and geeks out on superhero movies. Getting laid off from her job freed her from the daily grind but has left her broke and rudderless.
    Who is the significant other in your character’s life?
    His name is Rory MacTaggart, and he’s the second-oldest sibling in the MacTaggart clan. He’s also the only brother who hasn’t found a new wife, and the only one with three failed marriages in his past. He marries Emery to stop his family from pestering him to get a wife.
    How does your heroine dress?
    Emery likes to say she enjoys being as naked as possible at all times — without getting arrested, of course! She loves short-shorts and short skirts, but she also goes for jeans and a T-shirt when she wants to be super comfy.
    How educated is this character?
    Emery has a bachelor’s degree in computer programming, but her knowledge of all things ComicCon is entirely self-taught.
    Does she scrape by, live comfortably, live extravagantly?
    Since getting laid off from her job, she’s running out of money. For years, she focused on paying off her student loans — at the cost of not having much fun. She lives in a tiny, one-room apartment, at least until she accepts Rory’s scandalous offer for a marriage of convenience.
    What is your character’s family like?
    Emery comes from a loving family with two parents who are still married, and a younger sister who’s married with two twin daughters. She knows her family will do anything for her, and she feels the same about them.
    Is she close to family?
    In terms of their relationships with each other, yes. In terms of geography, no. Her parents live in Australia, and her sister lives in Germany.
    If someone from your character’s past showed up, who would she most NOT want it to be, and why?
    Emery hopes never to see her ex-boyfriend, Sebastian. The guy has serious issues and caused her a lot of grief.
    Can your heroine keep a secret? If not, why not? If yes, why?
    She can, but she hates secrets. They cause more trouble than they’re worth. This is why Emery insists she and Rory be totally honest with each other.
    How emotionally expressive is your character to others?
    Oh my, this girl has no qualms about showing her feelings! Emery hugs pretty much anybody who’s nice to her and tends to fling herself at her new husband whenever he does something sweet for her.
    Who in her life has the power to hurt this character the most? Why?
    That would be Rory, her new husband. Though she senses he has traumas in his past, he won’t talk about it. And his determination not to love her…Well, she worries that might drive him to break her heart even while his reluctant tenderness touches her deeply.

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    To honor the person who chose to share your story, please answer at least four of these questions. Questions with more than one point should be considered one question. You may answer as many more as you like.
    Why do you think your writer chose to write about you?
    She knows how much fun I am, and that Rory needs a weirdo for a wife. Who else could make him loosen up?
    What do you wish your writer had not told others about you?
    That thing with Sebastian… Ick. Did the world need to know about that?
    Why do you think your writer loves to write?
    Because we characters are awesome! Seriously, why else would anybody put up with our craziness? We make real people smile, laugh, cry, and sometimes want to smack us. But always, we’re loads of fun.
    What do you wish your writer would write next?
    Ooooh, that’s a hard one! Of course, I want more Hot Scots books. But I also love those paranormal stories. I am a ComicCon geek, after all, and can’t get enough of hunky guys with superpowers.
    What other character from your book do you think your writer should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
    Does Anna want me to spill the beans? Hmm…Not sure, but here goes! My new sister-in-law Jamie and her onetime boyfriend, the American Gavin Douglas, need a little bit of help with their broken romance. I told Anna I needed to meddle, just this once, and she’s letting me go crazy with it! Their story is Gift-Wrapped in a Kilt: A Hot Scots Christmas Tale, coming later this year.

    Tell us about Scandalous in a Kilt (Hot Scots, Book Three)

    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0797FFPMN
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/scandalous-in-a-kilt-anna-durand/1127622385
    iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/scandalous-in-a-kilt/id1324349676
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/scandalous-in-a-kilt
    Google Play https://play.google.com/store/books/details/Anna_Durand_Scandalous_in_a_Kilt
    Smashwords https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/767011
    Universal Book Link https://books2read.com/scandalous

    Anna Durand Social Media

    Anna Durand is an award-winning author of sizzling romances, including the bestseller Dangerous in a Kilt, recipient of a 2016 National Readers’ Choice Award and an Honorable Mention in the 2017 Readers’ Favorite Book Awards. The Hot Scots series emerged out of a love for all things Scottish she inherited from her late father. While she researching a planned Scottish historical romance, she realized she really needed to write a hot Highlander romance ASAP. A new series was born!
    Anna loves writing about spunky heroines and hunky heroes, in settings as diverse as modern Chicago and the fairy realm. Making use of her master’s in library science, she owns a cataloging services company that caters to indie authors and publishers. In her free time, you’ll find her binge-listening to audiobooks, playing with puppies, or crafting jewelry.
    Website https://annadurand.com/
    Blog https://www.spunkandhunks.com/
    Twitter https://twitter.com/TheAnnaDurand
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/AnnaDurandFiction
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/Anna_Durand/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/annadurand
    Google+ https://plus.google.com/+AnnaDurandFiction/
    Amazon Author Page https://amazon.com/author/annadurand
    BookBub author page https://www.bookbub.com/authors/anna-durand
    Newsletter https://annadurand.com/newsletter

     

  • Character Sketch,  Suspense

    Meet David Quinn from Sun Storm by Marlow Kelly @want2write #RLFblog #Romanticsuspense

    Meet David Quinn from Sun Storm by Marlow Kelly @want2write #RLFblog #RomanticsuspenseWelcome David Quinn from Sun Storm, a new Romantic suspense by Marlow Kelly.

    David Quinn

    Age: 33 years old
    Gender: Male
    Birthplace: Denver, Colorado
    Profession: A beekeeper after spending 15 years with the US Army Special Forces
    Please provide a physical description of your character.
    He is 5’11 tall with sandy, shoulder-length hair, and a scruffy beard. Lean and fit. Light green eyes that can scare people with a look. His friends call that look his death stare. He was grazed by a bullet in Afghanistan which left him with a long scar across one side of his face. It parts his beard with a jagged white line.
    Please tell us a little about your character.
    He is tired of killing, death and danger. He feels like he’s been fighting his whole life. First when he killed his stepfather for abusing his twin sister. After that they ran away from home and lived rough on the streets of Granite City, Montana. He needed some peace in his life. That’s why he didn’t want to get involved with Marie, but she was in trouble. He took one look at her soft brown eyes and knew he had to save her.
    Who is the significant other in your character’s life?
    Dr. Marie Wilson is very pretty although she doesn’t seem to realize it. She’s also a genius with two PhD’s one in Mechanical engineering, and the other in organic chemistry. She’s been sheltered by her rich father, but has never been loved. She has invented a small solar panel that can fit into a backpack and generates enough electricity to power an office building. She’s very naive and doesn’t seem to realize the consequences of her actions. She thought everyone would welcome her invention, but she was wrong. There are powerful people who will kill to stop her prototype being commercially developed.
    How educated is this character? Is he book smart, self-taught, widely-experienced?
    David received his GED while housed at a Granite City charity, Marshall House. He got his degree in business through the GoArmyEd program, which allows soldiers to earn their degree while serving.
    Does he scrape by, live comfortably, live extravagantly?
    He’s not rich, but has enough money to survive. He’s a man with very few needs. He doesn’t care about clothes or luxuries. He owns a ten acre parcel of land near Missoula, Montana. There’s a small camper on the land and a stream nearby to bathe in. He owns five beehives, which is a great start to his beekeeping business.
    What does he have a knack for doing?
    Surviving. He’s the ultimate survivor. He survived the hardships of living on the streets and he also survived getting shot in the face when he was with the Special Forces.
    What is your character’s family like?
    David’s father died when he was eight. His mom remarried when he was twelve, and died a year later. When he was fourteen he caught his stepfather trying to rape his twin sister, Sinclair. The Twins ran away, and made it to Granite City before they ran out of money. When they were living on the street they met Michael and Tim. The four of them stuck together, looking after each other. Later they joined the army where they met Finn Callaghan. The five of them have been family ever since.
    How do others perceive your character based upon looks? How true is this assumption?
    He believes his facial scars reveal the monster he has become. He has a very threatening demeanor, which he developed as a teen when he was living on the streets. Most people are scared of him, which suits him just fine. He’s puzzled as to why Marie can see through his facade.
    Does your character care about those assumptions?
    No, he doesn’t care what anyone thinks, except Marie. He cares about her. In spite of himself he wants her to like him. He can’t help it. Without trying she has gotten under his skin.
    What inner doubt causes your character the most difficulty?
    He’s scared that his ability to survive translates into an ability to kill. He refuses to carry a weapon because he doesn’t want to kill anymore. He’s so tired of death.

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    To honor the person who chose to share your story, please answer at least four of these questions. Questions with more than one point should be considered one question. You may answer as many more as you like.
    Why do you think your writer chose to write about you?
    Because she’s nuts. She could have written about a classically handsome man who was charming and had his act together, but she wrote about a burned out ex-soldier who’s struggling to come to terms with his actions in combat.
    Why do you think your writer loves to write?
    Once again, I think she’s nuts. She loves writing and at the same time she hates it. It’s a weird compulsion. One she wishes she could ignore. But the characters make up stories in her head, especially at night when she’s trying to sleep.
    What other character from your book do you think your writer should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
    She plans to write stories about all the members of my adopted family. We’re all street kids who come from disadvantaged backgrounds. We all have stories to tell about how we ended up on the street and how we’re going to find happiness. Tim’s story, Fire Storm, is next, and then she’s going to explore Michael and Sinclair’s romance in Wind Storm. The last book, Storm Surge, will be Finn and Kennedy’s story. She’s already written about how Finn and Kennedy met in the novella, The Wedding Deception.

    Sun Storm by Marlow Kelly

    Dr. Marie Wilson is a scientist on the verge of a breakthrough. She has come to Montana on the eve of a blizzard to prove her small, portable solar panel can generate electricity even in the harshest environment. But when four men invade her remote cabin with plans to kill her, she knows she’s in trouble.
    Ex-Special Forces soldier, David Quinn, has had enough of danger and death. All he wants is to be left alone on his Montana acreage to pursue his dream of being a beekeeper. But when his old mentor convinces him to help retrieve a stolen solar panel, he thinks it will be a simple job. But the moment he sets eyes on Marie, he knows their assignment is all kinds of wrong.
    Together, they escape. Chased by a businessman with unlimited resources, a gunman and a corrupt police force, they are thrust into the frozen Montana landscape. Can a cynical soldier and a naive scientist learn about love and trust in order to survive?
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07466K711

    Marlow Kelly Social Media

    After being thrown out of England for refusing to drink tea, Marlow Kelly made her way to Canada where she found love, a home and a pug named Max. She also discovered her love of storytelling. Encouraged by her husband, children and let’s not forget Max, she started putting her ideas to paper. Her need to write about strong women in crisis drives her stories.
Marlow is an award-winning author, and a member of the Romance Writers of America.
    Website http://www.marlowkelly.com
    Blog http://www.marlowkelly.com/marlows-blog
    Twitter https://twitter.com/want2write
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/marlowkelly
    Pinterest http://www.pinterest.com/Marlowkelly14/
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Marlow-Kelly/e/B00MZE72CS
    Newsletter http://eepurl.com/c9_XJf

     

  • Character Sketch,  Suspense

    Introducing Jake Carrington from All the Deadly Lies, by Marian Lanouette @AuthorMarian #RLFblog #Thriller

    Let’s meet Jake Carrington from All the Deadly Lies, a thriller, by Marian Lanouette. Welcome to Romance Lives Forever. I’m Kayelle Allen, author and owner of this blog. Happy to have you here! Please tell us about the story your author wrote.

    Hi Kayelle, thank you for hosting us today.

    All the Deadly Lies

    Genre Thriller
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings): R
    Homicide detective Jake Carrington takes murder personally…
    The victim was bludgeoned, stripped, and left for dead. Shanna Wagner deserves justice—and there’s no better cop than Lieutenant Jake Carrington to find her killer. The brutality of the crime reminds Jake of his sister’s murder seventeen years ago, and the remorseless man responsible, now up for parole.
    Then another woman is killed—and Jake goes dangerously close to the edge. He’ll have to face his personal demons and focus his formidable skills if he hopes to stop a vicious murderer from striking again—and hold on to his career, and his life…

    Introducing Jake Carrington

    Please tell me about yourself.
    Age: 32
    Gender: Male
    Birthplace: Wilkesbury, CT
    Profession: Homicide Cop
    Ethnicity: Irish American
    What do you look like?
    I’m six one, a hundred and seventy five pounds, with green eyes, and reddish brown hair with a sturdy medium build. In cop speak I’d be 6’1″, 175, green/chestnut, medium/solid.
    Who is the significant other in your life?
    Mia Andrews
    Please tell us about your education.
    I studied criminal justice at UConn in CT. I had attended there on a full sports scholarship. In my senior year I had an offer to play for my favorite team but turned them down. I had decided after my sister’s murder to follow in my father’s footsteps and become a cop.
    Do you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
    I think it’s pretty cut and dry. That said, the job taught me there’s shades of gray.
    If someone from your past showed up, who would you most NOT want it to be, and why?
    That’s easy, but every few years I have to face him down when I attend his parole hearings with the pictures of my sister’s crime scene. It’s George Spaulding. That murdering no good son of a…
    What is your biggest need?
    Peace, which seems to elude me.
    What would help you face hardship and meet any challenge?
    My partner and best friend Louie Romanelli and his wife have been with me throughout most my life and have carried me in times of despair.
    If you could make any one thing happen, what would it be?
    I was a selfish teenager. I couldn’t wait to meet up with my girlfriend and turned down my sister who had asked for a ride to her friend’s house.

    I’d turn the clock back and give Eva the ride she had asked for that fateful day.

    Where to buy All the Deadly Lies

    Publisher Kensington/Lyrical http://www.kensingtonbooks.com/book.aspx/35575
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Deadly-Lies-Jake-Carrington-Thriller-ebook/dp/B06VXQBR8B/
    Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/all-the-deadly-lies-marian-lanouette/1125814921
    Kobo https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/all-the-deadly-lies
    Apple/Itunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/all-the-deadly-lies/id1252337028?mt=11
    Google https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9781516104758&c=books

    Marian Lanouette

    A self-described tough blonde from Brooklyn, Marian Lanouette grew up as one of ten children. As far back as she could remember Marian loved to read. She was especially intrigued by the Daily News crime reports. Tragically, someone she knew was murdered. The killer never found.
    Her Jake Carrington thriller are inspired by her admiration for police work, her experience in working a crematorium, and her desire to write books where good prevails, even in the darkest times. Marian lives in New England with her husband.

    Marian Lanouette Social Media

    Website http://www.marianl.com
    Blog http://www.marianl.com/main
    Twitter https://twitter.com/AuthorMarian
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/marian.lanouette
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/marianlanouette/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6478248.Marian_Lanouette
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Marian-Lanouette/e/B0095YFGZ6
    Newsletter http://marianl.com/main/newsletter/

     

  • Character Sketch,  Shapeshifter

    Meet Lila from The Dragon Wore a Kilt by Holly Bargo @HollyBargoBooks #RLFblog #paranormal romance

    Welcome Connor Matasan from The Dragon Wore a Kilt, a new paranormal romance by Holly Bargo.

    Connor Matasan

    Age: 96
    Gender: Male
    Birthplace: Glencarol, Scotland
    Profession: Farmer
    Ethnicity: Scottish
    Species (for scifi/fantasy characters): sith
    Please provide a physical description.
    I suppose I resemble the typical romantic hero, tall and dark-haired. The ladies of Glencarol have liked the looks of the men in my family for centuries and I’m no exception.
    Please tell us a little about your character.
    I’m the earl of Matasan, but due to my being sith, the title passed to my great-nephew, Liam. As an immortal sith, converted from human by the ancient magic of Saroach who lives in the loch, I live a lonely life and guard the loch and the dragon from discovery. I’ve yet to figure out what the dragon actually does for us, but I’m bound to his will.
    Who is the significant other in your character’s life?
    Lila is my mate, given to me by Saroach. She’s perfect, amazing, talented, and too damned independent for my comfort. She’s mine.
    How does your hero dress?
    I prefer to wear the native dress of my people, a kilt. They’re comfortable, you know. And I look damned good in one.
    Does he scrape by, live comfortably, live extravagantly?
    The earls of Matasan own a large property and live comfortably, but we’re typical of our Scottish kin in that we’re not wasteful or extravagant. My great-nephew Liam is a financial genius; I focus more on the agricultural operations of our estate.
    Is he close to family?
    Family is everything, whether that family is related by blood or magic. I will protect them all and they will do the same for me.
    Can your hero keep a secret? If not, why not? If yes, why?
    My existence itself is an open secret. The village of Glencarol knows something us Matasans, even if they’re not really privy to our secrets.
    What is your hero’s biggest personal flaw?
    If you asked Lila, she would say my biggest flaw is arrogance. It’s true, I’m arrogant as has been every earl of Matasan. My will is law and no one but Lila ever defied me.
    What is your hero’s breaking point?
    I was captured by a witch who wanted to take my immortality and power for herself. She treated me much the same as I treated Lila and the realization broke me. I needed her forgiveness to restore me and it made me a better man… and a better mate for my beloved Lila.
    What happened to cause Lila to leave you?
    I can only say that I… devolved. Something about the dragon’s nature overwhelming my humanity caused me to treat her badly. Although, I can’t really blame the dragon nature, because Saroach was disappointed in me, too.

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    To honor the person who chose to share your story, please answer at least four of these questions.
    Why do you think Holly Bargo chose to write about you?
    I sought understanding and redemption. And I think the writer wishes men were, perhaps, a little like me, too.
    Was there anything your writer discovered about you that was a surprise to one or both of you?
    My writer held true to her principles. I could not charm her and she portrayed me as I was. That stung.
    Why do you think your writer loves to write?
    My writer loves men who are truly masculine, not male versions of women, but men who complement women and are strong enough to accept a strong woman.
    What do you wish your writer would write next?
    I want my writer to tackle Robbie’s story. My philandering sith brother needs a mate of his own, he needs someone to love and who will love him, too.

    Tell us about The Dragon Wore a Kilt

    Publisher Hen House Publishing (https://www.henhousepublishing.com)
    Amazon https://www.amazon.com/Dragon-Wore-Kilt-Holly-Bargo-ebook/dp/B014N34IU2

    Holly Bargo Social Media

    Holly Bargo is the author’s pseudonym and really did exist once upon a time as a fondly remembered, temperamental Appaloosa mare. Holly writes fantasy and romance and loves combining the two for exciting, sizzling stories touched by magic.
    Holly and her husband live on a hobby farm in southwest Ohio with an ancient horse, elderly llama, clowder of cats, and timid Great Dane named after Catwoman. They have two children, one enrolled in college and the other serving in the military.
    Website https://www.henhousepublishing.com
    Blog https://www.henhousepublishing.com/eggs-the-hen-house-blog
    Twitter https://twitter.com/HollyBargoBooks
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/HenHousePublishing1/
    Pinterest https://www.pinterest.com/henhousep/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/12756589.Holly_Bargo?
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Holly-Bargo/e/B00JRK6VGQ/

     

  • Character Sketch,  Medieval

    Meet Alys de Montfort from Heart of Honor by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #medievalromance

    Meet Alys de Montfort from Heart of Honor by Alexa Aston @AlexaAston #RLFblog #medievalromanceMeet Alys de Montfort from Heart of Honor, Knights of Honor Book 5, a new medieval historical romance.
    Age:18
    Gender: female
    Birthplace: Kinwick Castle, Southern England
    Profession: healer
    Ethnicity: Caucasian
    Please provide a physical description of your character.
    She has her mother’s long, chestnut hair and sapphire blue eyes and is tall and slender—but strong physically because of the work she does. She is a healer and knows much about herbs and creating medicines. People come from afar for her to treat them. She is happiest when caring for others and enjoys domestic tasks. She never become flustered, even if there’s a crisis. She’s also good with a sword and loves to ride her horse. She has a well of patience and is a good listener.
    Who is the significant other in her life?
    The man she thought she could never have—Kit Emory.
    What special skills does your character rely on?
    From the time she was young, Alys followed her mother, Merryn de Montfort, around. Merryn taught her daughter everything she knows about herbs and the healing arts. Alys surpassed her mother’s knowledge and even served as a lady-in-waiting at the royal court, where both King Edward and Queen Philippa would call upon her to address their aches and pains.
    Are any of his skills a source of pride? Embarrassment? Which ones and why?
    Poor Alys can’t carry a tune, though she does enjoy music. Instead of singing, she’ll hum from time to time.
    What is your character’s family like?
    Alys is the oldest child of Geoffrey and Merryn de Montfort. This is a close family, with six children and loving parents. She is barely older than her twin, Ancel, and she never lets him forget that. Alys has mothered her younger siblings—Hal, Edward, Nan, and Jessimond—and will make a wonderful mother to her own children.
    If someone from your character’s past showed up, who would he most want it to be, and why?
    This is actually the crux of Heart of Honor. Alys meets Sir Kit Emory at Windsor Castle when she is only twelve and fostering with the queen. Kit helps Alys through a crisis but both leave court soon after. Alys thinks of Kit fondly over the years, though she tries not to, knowing he was betrothed to a loathsome girl of her acquaintance and should be married by now. When she finds a badly-injured Kit on the road near Kinwick, Alys brings him home to nurse him back to health. When she discovers that Kit’s head injury has given him amnesia, she’s faced with a dilemma—tell him who he is and lose him again, forever—or selfishly keep the secret to herself and hope to make a life with him.
    What is your character’s biggest need at the beginning of the story?
    At the beginning of Heart of Honor, Alys is trying to find her place in the world. She is wondering if she is meant for marriage, as are most noblewomen, or if she should forsake it and dedicate her life to healing others.
    What is your heroine’s breaking point?
    After Kit’s memory returns and he finds out Alys knew who he was all along and kept it from him. Because of that, he’s done with her—which breaks her heart.

    About Your Writer: Questions for your character to answer about you.

    Why do you think your writer chose to write about you?
    Alexa always intended to tell all of the de Montforts’ love stories. She’s already written about my parents, Geoffrey and Merryn, and how they came together, as well as three of our cousins (Raynor, Elysande, and Avelyn). I’m lucky enough to be the first of Geoffrey and Merryn’s children that she is giving an HEA to! She’s hard at work on my twin brother’s story. I can’t wait to discover who she’ll pair Ancel with . . .
    Why do you think your writer loves to write?
    Alexa enjoys creating pairs of lovers who come together because she likes to bring out the best in others. When her heroes and heroines meet, they are better people for having come to know and love one another.
    What do you wish your writer would write next?
    Write my brothers’ and sisters’ stories, of course! I love Kit so very much and see how he’s enriched my life. I can’t wait for Ancel, Hal, Edward, Nan, and Jessimond to find their soul mates, too. Alexa’s promised me all of those love stories will unfold in 2018.
    What other character from your book do you think your writer should write a book about? Care to tell us why?
    I have a soft spot for Gilbert, our captain of the guard. He’s been loyal to the de Montforts for a very long time and helped me learn how to use a sword. Gilbert deserves to find true love.
    Is there anything you’d like to say to your writer?
    Thank you for making me a strong woman, one who nurtures and heals and has a large, loving family—but most of all, Alexa, I thank you for bringing Kit back to me. He is the love of my life and we plan on celebrating that love and treasuring it always.
    Tell us about Heart of Honor.
    1375 A.D. – When Sir Christopher “Kit” Emory’s beloved mother falls ill, he decides to seek the help of someone he met briefly at the royal court years ago—Lady Alys de Montfort, a renowned healer despite her young age. While traveling to her home at Kinwick Castle, Kit is accosted by a band of highwayman, who beat and rob him, leaving him to die. Fortunately, an escort party comes across him and Lady Alys insists they take the stranger home so she can use her skill in the healing arts to save his life.
    The man awakens and has no memory of his identity, but Alys believes he might be Kit Emory, a young man she’d met once when she was a young girl. Kit comforted her when the queen died and Alys never forgot his kindness to her. Alys does what she can to jog Kit’s memory, even as she struggles with her growing attraction to him, knowing Kit was betrothed and must now be wed. Kit also finds his desire deepening for Alys, but he doesn’t know his own name, much less if he has a wife or family. Until he recalls who he is, he refuses to commit his heart to Alys.
    Once Kit regains his memory and realizes he is free to pursue Alys, their road to love is anything but smooth.
    Join Kit and Alys as they overcome events that continue to tear them apart and threaten the love they have for one another.

    Amazon: http://amzn.com/B075189R82

    Alexa Aston Social Media

    Alexa Aston’s historical romances use history as a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire for one another grows into the treasured gift of love.

    She is the author of The Knights of Honor, a medieval romance series that takes place in 14th century England during the reign of Edward III and centers on the de Montfort family. Each romance focuses on the code of chivalry that bound knights of this era.

    A native Texan, Alexa lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots out stories while she walks every morning. She enjoys reading, watching movies, and can’t get enough of Fixer Upper or Game of Thrones. Alexa also writes romantic suspense, western historical, and standalone medieval novels as Lauren Linwood.

    Website https://alexaaston.wordpress.com/
    Blog http://embracingromance.com
    Twitter https://twitter.com/AlexaAston
    Facebook https://www.facebook.com/authoralexaaston/
    Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15846438.Alexa_Aston
    Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/author/alexaaston
    Newsletter http://madmimi.com/signups/422152/join

     

  • Character Sketch,  Historical

    Meet Jack Sharpe from The Long Way Home @JessicaCale #RLFblog #Historical

    Meet Jack Sharpe from The Long Way Home by JessicaCale.

    Author Bio

    Jessica Cale is the award-winning author of the historical romance series, The Southwark Saga. Originally from Minnesota, she lived in Wales for several years where she earned a BA in History and an MFA in Creative Writing while climbing castles and photographing mines for history magazines. She kidnapped (“married”) her very own British prince (close enough) and is enjoying her happily ever after with him in North Carolina.

    About the Book

    Title: The Long Way Home
    Genre: Historical Romance
    Book heat level (based on movie ratings G, PG, PG13, R): R
    A paranoid king, a poison plot, and hideous shoes…it’s not easy being Cinderella.          
    After saving the life of the glamorous Marquise de Harfleur, painfully shy barmaid Alice Henshawe is employed as the lady’s companion and whisked away to Versailles. There, she catches King Louis’ eye and quickly becomes a court favorite as the muse for Charles Perrault’s Cinderella. The palace appears to be heaven itself, but there is danger hidden beneath the façade and Alice soon finds herself thrust into a world of intrigue, murder, and Satanism at the heart of the French court.
    Having left his apprenticeship to serve King Charles as a spy, Jack Sharpe is given a mission that may just kill him. In the midst of the Franco-Dutch war, he is to investigate rumors of a poison plot by posing as a courtier, but he has a mission of his own. His childhood friend Alice Henshawe is missing and he will stop at nothing to see her safe. When he finds her in the company of the very people he is meant to be investigating, Jack begins to wonder if the sweet girl he grew up with has a dark side.
    When a careless lie finds them accidentally married, Alice and Jack must rely on one another to survive the intrigues of the court. As old affection gives way to new passion, suspicion lingers. Can they trust each other, or is the real danger closer than they suspect?

    Introducing Jack Sharpe

    Welcome to Romance Lives Forever! We’re happy to have you here today.
    Name: Jack Sharpe
    Age: 23
    Gender: Male
    Birthplace: Covent Garden, London
    Profession: Officially a soldier, unofficially a spy.
    Ethnicity/Species (if not human): English…probably.
    Describe your body and build, skin tone, height and weight. Include any unique features such as dimples, freckles, or scars.
    I’m tallish and gawky, with blue eyes and an abundance of curling black hair. I was a carpenter’s apprentice and I have little scars everywhere, but the biggest is a bullet hole beneath my left collarbone.
    Who is the significant other in your life?
    I would never presume to name her thus, though I suppose she is significant. I’ve always had a certain affection for Alice Henshawe. We grew up together, you see, and I seem to have inadvertently married her. You won’t hear a word of protest from me, but it was something of a surprise.
    Please tell us a little about yourself.
    What’s there to tell? My mother was an actress and I grew up a pickpocket in St. Giles before Mark Virtue took me on as an apprentice. An…incident…forced me to leave England at sixteen, and I’ve been with the army on the Continent ever since.
    How do you dress?
    By preference? I’ve been wearing the same patched clothes for years, but I’d be lost without my coat. My old master’s wife made it for me, and it’s full of secret pockets. It looks like any other coat when it’s on, but it’s filled with all the things I need to survive most any situation. Since I’ve arrived at Versailles, however, I’ve had to wear rather more silks than I’m comfortable with. My friend Achille is a Marquis, and he helps me to choose what to wear to court. I prefer darker colors, but If it were up to him, I’d be in lilac moire and violet hose.
    If we could only hear your voice (but not see you) what characteristic would identify you?
    I’ll be the one saying the wrong thing. When I’m nervous, I talk too much and too quickly, and I always sound like a right fool. Alice makes me very nervous. I wanted to tell her she looked lovely the other night, and ended up making some inane observation about her shoes. I’m hopeless.
    On what special skills do you rely?
    I’m quiet, I’m fast, and I’m good in dangerous situations. I can fight, spy, sew up wounds, start fires, and, should the need arise, I’m bloody good with a hammer. I can also make coffee. You’d be surprised how often that’s all you need.
    Are any of your skills a source of pride or embarrassment, and if so, which ones and why?
    I am very good with my hands. I can rob a man blind and be off with his pocket, his rings, and the buttons of his coat before he knows I’m there. This has been useful over the years, but it’s a source of embarrassment that I ever had to learn to do such a thing. I’m also not a bad actor. I drew up backstage in the theaters around Covent Garden and it comes naturally to me.
    What kinds of things do you always carry (in pockets or purse)?
    Three knives in my coat, two more in my boots. Two pistols, a spyglass, a map, enough money to get by or bribe a guard, half a dozen lock picks, a set of loaded dice given to me by the King of France, and a miniature portrait of a girl.
    Do you see morality as black-and-white, or with shades of gray?
    I see things as very black-and-white. That sounds mad coming from a pickpocket, doesn’t it? Truth is, the laws of man and real morality do not often match, and I live my life according to a very firm set of rules. No one I’ve met treats women with the reverence I do, but it isn’t at all moral the way they’re so often abused. Some might think I take my ideas of morality too far, but I’ve seen too much of the world to not follow ideas through to their logical conclusions.
    If someone from your past showed up, who would you most want it to be, and why?
    My sister, Joanna. Our mother sold her into service to the colonies when she was ten. Most don’t survive the crossing, let alone the work on the other side. She’d be seventeen now. I want to know if she’s alive, and I want to see her safe at home again.
    What would you like to tell your writer?
    I could have done without the cantarella, thanks! I’m very grateful to you for allowing me to find Alice, but was all that really necessary? I’ve never been so humiliated in my life for such a sustained period of time. Couldn’t there have been an easier–or less traumatic–way to get Alice to finally talk to me?

    Buy This Book

    Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Long-Home-Southwark-Saga-Book-ebook/dp/B01CBY47CO
    Barnes and Noble http://goo.gl/uPKJFu
    ARe https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thelongwayhome-1981157-153.html
    Kobo https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/the-long-way-home-62
    iBooks https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/the-long-way-home/id1086308046?mt=11

    Author Social Media