I would like you all to welcome Samantha Grace’s leading men, Drew, Jake, Daniel, Luke, Anthony, and Sebastian, to What I’m Reading.
All six men are gathered in the library. Lord Andrew Forest;
Lucas Forest, Duke of Foxhaven; Jake Hillary; Daniel Hillary; and Anthony
Keaton, Earl of Ellis sit to one side of the room while Sebastian, Baron Thorne
is alone. The gentlemen appear none too friendly with the baron.
Hello fellows, would you guys care for a drink?
The men mumble their thanks, but politely decline. Drew and
Luke watch the baron through narrowed, distrustful eyes, and Anthony avoids eye
contact all together. Jake and Daniel remain silent, which is a feat in itself
for the boisterous Captain Daniel Hillary.
Sam pulls Melody aside to speak quietly with her. “Oh, dear.
I was afraid something like this might happen if we got them all together in
the same room. Drew and Luke are still unhappy with Sebastian for fighting with
their good friend Anthony when he eloped with their sister Gabby. I think they
understand why Sebastian would be furious—after all, Gabby was the baron’s
fiancée when Anthony took her—but they haven’t forgiven Sebastian for placing
Gabby in harm’s way.”
Sam glances back over her shoulder toward the Hillary
brothers. “I’m afraid their association with Sebastian isn’t much better ever
since their older brother Ben jilted Sebastian’s sister. Jake and Daniel don’t
agree with what their brother did, but family loyalty is very strong among the
Hillarys. Are you sure that you want to do this? Maybe I should have a little
talk with them first.”
Making the decision, Sam approaches them. “Now, gentlemen. I
realize there might be some bad blood between you, but Melody was very kind to
invite you all here today. I need you to put your differences aside for one day
so we can make this a pleasant experience for our kind hostess and her readers.
Please, be on your best behavior. Otherwise…” Sam mimics typing with her
fingers in the air.
Drew bursts out laughing. “Ms. Grace, did you just subtly
threaten us?”
Sam blushes. “Perhaps, but I didn’t mean it. You know I love
you all. I simply want this to be a nice interview.”
The men flash their heart-melting grins. “I will make
certain everyone behaves,” Luke says.
“Thank you, Your Grace.” Sam waves goodbye and turns her men
over to Melody.
I personally thought it would be fun to ask you guys a few
questions and have my readers get to know you all. Are you guys up for the
challenge?
Sebastian’s dark eyes sparkle with mischief. “I’ve never
been one to back down from a challenge. Ellis can attest to that.”
Anthony, Earl of Ellis, chuckles. “I believe the baron is understating
it. He always has to do one better than me, whether it’s a foot race, shooting,
arm wrestling. I think he’s powerless to back down from any challenge involving
me.”
“That’s the pot calling the kettle black,” Luke says. “Anthony
is just as hopeless when it comes to competing against Sebastian.”
What’s one word you use to describe Sam?
Drew flashes his dimples. “Generous. Let’s just say she created
ample opportunity for me to woo my lady in Miss
Hillary Schools a Scoundrel.”
Jake and Daniel glower at him. “Watch what you say, Forest,”
Jake warns. “That is our sister you are talking about.”
“Ms. Grace is an excellent matchmaker,” Luke pipes up before
more words can be exchanged between the Hillarys and Drew. “I cannot imagine a
lady better suited for me than Vivian. She is all the adventure any man needs.”
“Shameless,” Jake says. “I think Ms. Grace took delight in
embarrassing me as much as possible in Lady
Amelia’s Mess and a Half.”
Daniel smirks at his brother, but then turns serious.
“Understanding. I know I behaved like a scoundrel when we first met, but she
showed no judgment when I revealed my past to her.”
Anthony nods. “And patient. Ms. Grace kept encouraging me to
talk to Gabby, but I had never learned to trust women. Now I am glad I
listened.”
Everyone looks to Sebastian. He shrugs. “I don’t want to
ruin the surprise, but I will be adding Ms. Grace to the Thorne Christmas card
list.”
What was one challenge you had to face in your story?
“Overcoming Helena’s—Pardon me—Lady Prestwick’s stubbornness,” Sebastian says.
Daniel snorts. “I can relate to loving a stubborn woman.
Lisette is as stubborn as they come.”
“Yeah, your wife
is the stubborn one,” Jake quips.
If you had to pick a favorite drink what would it be, and
why?
“Scotch for me,” Drew says. “As a matter of fact, I think I
will accept that drink.” He hops up from his chair and saunters to the sideboard
to pour a scotch.
Daniel cranes his neck trying to see what bottles sit on the
sideboard. “Is there any rum? I learned to enjoy it when I sailed my ship in
the Caribbean.”
Anthony clears his throat. “To be honest, I prefer coffee.
The stronger, the better.”
Jake, Luke, and Sebastian say they have no drink
preferences.
Now, if you had to be a color, what color would you be and
why?
Drew laughs. “Sebastian would be puce. According to my
sister, he’s as tenacious as a tick.” Puce is a reddish, pink color named after
a tick swollen with blood.
Sebastian glowers at his ex-fiancée’s brother. Luke crosses
his arms and frowns at both men. “Enough!” He turns toward Melody and offers a
polite grin. “Perhaps we should move on to a different question.”
If you were forced to live a life of a servant for a day
what job would you want to have?
“Lady’s maid!” Drew blurts as he returns from the sideboard
with two drinks. He hands one to Daniel.
Luke grins, his striking blue eyes twinkling. “You will
notice my brother was quick with his answer. Drew, just because you are adept
at removing ladies’ garments doesn’t mean you would make a good lady’s maid.”
Drew pretends to speak confidentially to the other men. “He
is just jealous he did not think of it first.”
“Maybe.” Luke’s grin grows wider, revealing the tiny gap
between his front teeth.
“Sebastian Thorne would make a good butler,” Anthony says.
“Sod off, Ellis.”
Anthony swivels toward the baron, his former friend. “Why
must you take everything as an insult? You are good with your fists and
protective of your ladies. A butler acts as a buffer between riffraff and
members of the household. He keeps out the undesirables. You would excel at
such a position.”
“Too bad Lady Melody doesn’t retain a butler,” Sebastian
responds with a grudging smile. “Then I wouldn’t be sitting in the library with
an undesirable.”
“Jake volunteers to scrub chamber pots,” Daniel says.
Jake rolls his eyes, not bothering to respond to his
brother’s ribbing.
If you could change anything in your story, what would you
change?
Jake rubs his forehead and grimaces. “I could do with less
being made to look like a fool. Shall I list some of the embarrassing things
Ms. Grace put me through? Let’s see… walking in on my brother getting his
butter churned.”
Daniel smirks. “You’re such a perv.”
“Of course, everyone calls me the depraved brother.” Jake returns to listing his embarrassing
moments. “Being attacked by a lightskirt at a masked ball. Again, your fault,
Daniel. Getting caught peeking in Amelia’s window…”
“That didn’t exactly end badly for you.” Daniel is sprawled
on the chair, displaying as much insolence as possible. “I seem to recall
mention of a steamy interlude on the dining room table. I told you he was a
perv. You got the girl. Stop complaining.”
“True. I suppose I should be thanking Ms. Grace instead of
calling her on the carpet. I loved Amelia from afar for too long. Thanks to Ms.
Grace, I’ve never been happier.”
Sebastian gestures toward Jake. “You are not the only one
forced into embarrassing situations, although I blame my sister for my
humiliation. Sisters should never be allowed to choose weapons for a duel. Gloves???
What the hell was she thinking?”
“Well I, for one, appreciate Miss Thorne’s quick thinking,”
Jake says. “After all, you challenged my brother Ben to the duel. He may have
deserved your anger for jilting your sister, but we prefer him breathing.”
“For now,” Sebastian mutters under his breath.
Last question, what is the talent you excel at and is it fit
for public?
“I’ve been told I am an excellent shot with a firearm,” Luke
says.
“You’re a decent duke, too,” his brother Drew adds. “It may have
taken you a while to feel comfortable stepping into our father’s shoes, but
you’ve stepped up to take care of your tenants. I used to be good at getting the ladies, but only one little
redhead piques my interest now.”
Daniel cocks one eyebrow. “Good answer, since that little
redhead is my baby sister.”
“I never hold that against her.” Drew holds his tumbler up
in a toast to the two Hillary men, clearly teasing them.
Jake chuckles. “You excel at being a smart ass, too.”
“I excel at most things, while your talent seems to lie in being accident-prone. What about you,
Thorne? What is your talent?”
“What isn’t he
good at?” Anthony asks. “The man wins almost every challenge he issues—knocking
apples off my head with a rock—
“I hardly considered it a win when you missed the apple on my head and blackened my eye,” Sebastian
quips.
“Er…yes, sorry about that.”
“It is in the past, Ellis. Let’s not dredge up old grudges.”
Sebastian turns toward Melody. “Ellis is not one to boast, so I will do the honors.
He has a good head for making a profit from his land. I would go so far as to
say he is an excellent landlord. And he can fit the most sausages in his mouth,
which we established not long ago. The man knows how to handle his sausage.”
Anthony turns crimson. “Would you please do me the honor of
never mentioning that incident again?”
“What do you think?” Sebastian winks at Melody.
I would like to thank you all for being good sports today
and is there anything you would like to say to my readers. Maybe you would like
to pitch to them on why they should read your story.
Luke, ever the diplomat, gestures to Sebastian. “It is
Thorne’s time in the spotlight. His new book IN BED WITH A ROGUE will be
released September 2nd. I think it is about time the baron had his
own happy ending.”
“Thank you, Your Grace,” Sebastian says. “But Lady Melody’s
readers could win all 6 of Ms. Grace’s books and read all of our stories. They
just have to enter the Rafflecopter at the bottom. Good luck, everyone.” He
stands as Melody does, takes her hand, and places a kiss on her knuckles. “It
was a pleasure, Lady Melody. I hope our paths cross again in the near future.”
He's the Talk of the Town
The whole town is tittering about
Baron Sebastian Thorne having been jilted at the altar. Every move he makes
ends up in the gossip columns. Tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes,
Sebastian vows to restore his family's reputation no matter what it takes.
She's the Toast of the Ton
Feted by the crème of society, the
beautiful widow Lady Prestwick is a vision of all that is proper. But Helena is
no angel, and when Sebastian uncovers her dark secret, he's quick to press his
advantage. In order to keep her hard-won good name, Helen will have to make a
deal with the devil. But she's got some tricks up her sleeves to keep this
notorious rogue on his toes...
Author Info:
Historical
romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when
she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney's Robin Hood. She didn't
care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first
happily-ever-after experience and she didn't want the warm fuzzies to end. Now
Samantha enjoys creating her own happy-endings for characters that spring from
her imagination. Publisher's Weekly describes her stories as "fresh
and romantic" with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance
writing as the best job ever.
Part-time
hospice social worker, moonlighting author, and pilates nut, she enjoys a happy
and hectic life with her real life hero and two kids in the Midwest.
To connect with Samantha…
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