Samantha Hastings's Blog, page 5

Discussion Questions: The Duchess Contract

 

1.       Selina doesn’t have a choice over who she marries; how does she take control of her situation?

 

2.       Do you have a favorite scent or perfume/cologne? Do you associate any memories with a particular smell?

 

3.       In what ways is a marriage a social contract? Do you think Theophilus and Selina’s contract is fair? How would you change their bargain?

 

4.       Do you think the lion should have been put down for attacking the girl and causing her death?

 

5.       What causes Theophilus’s feelings to change toward Selina?

 

6.       How is respect different then love? Can you have one without the other?

 

7.       How does Selina’s relationship with her father and stepmother change?

 

8.       Which animal in the story is your favorite and why?

 

9.       Why does the Prince Regent help Selina socially? What does he hope to gain?

 

10.   Share alternate titles for the book.

Secret of the Sonnets: Author Copies!

My author copies have arrived! Aren't they beautiful? SECRET OF THE SONNETS is Jane Austen + Shakespeare with plenty of banter. Arriving on bookshelves January 3rd, 2023!

Snag your own copy from: Amazon Seagull Book Deseret Book

The Marquess and the Runaway Lady

 

The Marquess and the Runaway Lady  (2/21/23)

An entertaining Harlequin Historical debut

Will this disheveled runaway…

Become the diamond of the Season?

When the Marquess of Cheswick—Wick—takes in a mysterious woman, he’s shocked to discover she is Lady Louisa, an heiress who’s escaped her cruel aunt! Grieving the loss of two siblings, Wick avoids opening his heart to anyone else and stays away from the marriage mart. But when Louisa needs a husband in order to claim her inheritance, Wick’s determined to help—even if it means stepping back into his worst nightmare: the Season!

From Harlequin Historical: Your romantic escape to the past.

Preorder links: Amazon   Barnes & Noble   Indie   Harlequin  Walmart   Target   Powells   BAM

Blog Tour: SECRET OF THE SONNETS

 

Check out all the stops on my blog tour! A special thanks to all the bookbloggers, bookstagrammers, and bookish friends for helping out.

–January 2: Reading with Emily >> Interview
–January 3: Thindbooks Blog >> Interview
–January 4: Books and Everyday Life >> Review
–January 5: From the Heart of a Bibliophile Lair >> Review + Interview
–January 6: My Book a Day >> Review
–January 7: Why Not? Because I Said So >> Review + Interview
–January 8: Older & Smarter? >> Review
–January 9: @LoulasJoys >> Review
–January 10: Holly's Book Corner >> Review
–January 11: Heidi Reads >> Review
–January 12: Singing Librarian Books >> Review
–January 13: Ashleigh's Bookshelf >> Review
–January 14: The Clever Reader >> Review

Enter to win one of three copies from January 2-15th, 2023.

The MARQUESS AND THE RUNAWAY LADY

A sweet Regency Romance where the Marquess brings home the wrong runaway governess! And with a lot of help from his unruly sisters, he discovers her true identity and loses his heart. 

Request now on #Netgalley 

https://www.netgalley.com/catalog/book/274114

Read the prequel for free: https://books2read.com/u/mY8AYd

#TheMarquessAndTheRunawayLady #SweetRomance #SamanthaHastings #RegencyRomance  

Interview with Jenni L. Walsh

Samantha: Where did you learn about the WRENS—Women’s Royal Naval Service—and what inspired your story?

Jenni: I came across the mention of the WRENS in other historical fiction books. I was curious about them, quickly realized how awesome they were (hello motorcycle dispatch riders), and also quickly realized a novel hadn't yet been dedicated to them. I jumped at the chance to tell their stories through the fictional lens of Marion, who is a WREN during both WWI and WWII, and Evelyn, who serves during WWII.
 
Samantha: I love how you weave the two world wars together to show one beautiful, sometimes heartbreaking story. How did you create the structure of your novel?
Jenni: The novel can really be broken into two separate stories. And I wrote it as such, drafting Marion's story first. Then, I wrote Evelyn's. The fun part, though, is that their two separate stories eventually intersect, which reveals a big secret for the women.
 
Samantha: Who is your favorite character?
Jenni: Such a hard question! I love both Marion and Evelyn. I even grew quite attached to my secondary characters (I'm looking at you Eddie, Percy, and Sara). But Marion stole my heart. I put her through a lot in the novel and I love where she ended up in the end.
 
Samantha: Dare D-Evelyn was such a wonderful character. I adored her spunk and how she fought to be treated normally despite her corrected club-foot. But to the important question: Would you kiss the man you loved if your hair wasn’t combed? (This scenario is from a sweet romantic scene in the book).
Jenni: Our girl Evelyn has standards. And she wanted to make him work for that kiss! I'd probably make him wait, too ;)
 
Samantha: If you were a WREN, what position would you choose? From your explanation at the end of the book, there were: cooks and stewards, writers and telephonists, sail makers, coders and cyphers, and dispatch riders on motorcycles (so cool!).
Jenni: I really enjoyed learning about the motorcycle dispatch riders. They were right in the thick of it and had to be brave, practiced, and disciplined. As horrified as I'd be to ride along the front lines, I think it'd be an exhilarating way to contribute to the war efforts. I also think training the homing pigeons, like Marion does, would be interesting work.

Follow Jenni on Social Media!
Website: https://www.jennilwalsh.com/
Instagram
Twitter
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#TheCalloftheWrens #JenniLWalsh #HarperMuse #Bookreview #AuthorInterview

Book Review: The Call of the Wrens by Jenni L. Walsh

 THE CALL OF THE WRENS by Jenni L. Walsh

Review: ✨✨✨✨✨

The perfect read for fans of THE GUERNSEY AND POTATO PEEL PIE SOCIETY by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows!

The story highlights WRENS—Women’s Royal Naval Service—in both WWI and WWII. Fearless ladies who ride motorcycles to deliver messages (it doesn’t get much cooler than this). The main story lines revolve around Marion and Evelyn.

Marion Hoxton is a near mute orphan who is forced to join the WRENS or be homeless in 1917. Her best friend Eddie insists on coming with her with disastrous consequences.

Evelyn Fairchild was born with a club-foot and went through several surgeries until she was 16yo to correct it. Her parents want to treat her like she’s made of glass, but when she learns about the WRENS she knows she can be more than a debutante.

Walsh weaves an unforgettable tale with story threads from different times coming together for a powerful conclusion. It’s a beautiful and unforgettable book.

A Novel Disguise by Samantha Larsen

 

Coming May 15, 2023 (Under my pen name Samantha Larsen)

When Miss Tiffany Woodall assumes the identity of her half-brother after his death, she realizes she isn’t the only one with a secret to hide in this historical series debut, perfect for fans of Deanna Raybourn and Sherry Thomas.

1784 London.Miss Tiffany Woodall didn’t murder her half-brother, but she did bury him in the back garden so that she could keep her cottage. Now, the confirmed spinster has to pretend to be Uriah and fulfill his duties as the Duke of Beaufort’s librarian while searching Astwell Palace for Uriah’s missing diamond pin, the only thing of value they own. Her ruse is almost up when she is discovered by Mr. Samir Lathrop, the local bookseller, who tries to save her from drowning while she's actually just washing up in a lake after burying her brother.

Her plan is going by the book, until the rector proposes marriage and she starts to develop feelings for Mr. Lathrop.  But when her childhood friend, Tess, comes to visit, Tiffany quickly realizes her secret isn’t the only one hidden within these walls.  The body of a servant is found, along with a collection of stolen items, and someone else grows mysteriously ill. Can Tiffany solve these mysteries without her own disguise  being discovered? If not, she’ll lose her cottage and possibly her life.

Preorder links: Amazon    Goodreads    BN    BAM    Powells    Indie

Author Interview: Mimi Matthews

Mimi Matthews Interview

Samantha: Your characters are always so loveable! I know it’s hard to pick a favorite, but do you have one in this book?

Mimi: It’s really hard to choose! I love Julia and Jasper, of course, but I also have a soft spot for Daisy Blunt.

Samantha: I adored Goldfinch Hall as a setting in Yorkshire. It’s damp, creepy, and deliciously gothic! What was your inspiration for it?

Mimi: I’m a huge fan of gothic fiction and Victorian sensation novels. Remote, creepy houses often play a part in those stories. It’s always fun to include one of them in mine.

Samantha: Julia’s invalid parents remind me of Mr. Woodhouse in Jane Austen’s EMMA. How did you make them both comical and sinister?

Mimi: Their hypochondriacal quirks make them comical, a bit in the vein of Austen characters like Mrs. Bennet or Mr. Woodhouse. However, the power they hold over Julia makes them sinister.  They’re capable of controlling her future and taking away her bodily autonomy. Truly scary!

Samantha: Novel-reading and whether or not it is a healthy pastime for delicate young ladies is discussed many times in your book. Do you have a favorite novel or two?

Mimi: I have so many favorites! I love Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë. I also love Venetia by Georgette Heyer.

Samantha: You mentioned THE BLUE CASTLE by L.M. Montgomery as an inspiration for this story. What do you enjoy about that novel? And how does it relate to your new book?

Mimi: I love the sweetness of The Blue Castleand the way the heroine gains strength once she’s apart from her family. I can’t reveal what it was that inspired me in the story without spoiling one of the secrets in BELLE, except to say that it’s something that is itself inspired by the tale of Bluebeard’s Wife.

 

Connect with Mimi on Social Media:

Website

Facebook 

Instagram: @MimiMatthewsEsq

Twitter: @MimiMatthewsEsq

The Belle of Belgrave Square

 THE BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE by Mimi Matthews

Review: ✨✨✨✨✨

Mimi Matthew’s books are always a treat and this story was absolutely delectable!

Captain Blunt and Julia are an unlikely pairing. He is a strong man with a shocking past and reputation. She is the socially anxious daughter of invalids. The only thing they share in common is a love of horse riding. In sharing their secrets, they discover their inner strength.

THE BLUE CASTLE by L.M. Montgomery is one of my favorite books and I definitely saw shades of the story in THE BELLE OF BELGRAVE SQUARE. Author Mimi Matthews also used these books for inspiration, THE LAW AND THE LADY by Wilkie Collins (1875); LADY AUDLEY’S SECRET by Mary Elizabeth Braddon (1862).

I can hardly wait for the next book in the BELLES OF LONDON series!

Coming October 11, 2022.