Hello everyone. I am so excited to welcome today's guest author
Ashley March. Ashley is one of my most favorite people and her books rock! Please join me in welcoming Ashley to the blog.
Thanks so much Danielle for hosting me today as I get ready for the upcoming release of ROMANCING THE COUNTESS on September 6th! I'm so excited to be blogging at Ramblings From This Chick for the first time!
I'm going to post my first interview with my heroine soon, but first I'd like to give you a little background about the book in case you're not familiar with it yet.
ROMANCING THE COUNTESS begins when Leah George and Sebastian Medinger, the Earl of Wriothesly, receive the news that their spouses have died in a carriage accident. While Sebastian only puts together the fact his wife was having an affair with his best friend the night they died, Leah has known about her husband's affair for a year. Raised by a very strict mother to always follow Society's expectations of propriety and also embarrassed and ashamed to realize her husband didn't truly love her as she thought, she keeps the affair secret. After her husband dies, she realizes that she doesn't have to be miserable for the rest of her life. She can be free to do whatever she wishes, as long as she's willing to accept the consequences her actions might bring.
DISCLAIMER: The Following interview was conducted toward the beginning of the book.
ASHLEY: I know what happened in the past with Ian, your husband. How do you feel now that he's gone?
Leah: Would it be wrong of me to say that I'm relieved? Yes, of course it would be. I cried, you know, when I heard that he died. And I'm glad I cried. For a long time I thought that I'd turned into someone else, someone I didn't recognize and I didn't want to be. If I cried that must mean I still felt something. I never wished him dead, not once, even after finding Ian together with Angela. But to not admit that I'm relieved that I don't have to live the rest of my life as a shadow would be a lie, too. It's amazing to know that I can wake up tomorrow, look in the mirror, and not despise myself.
ASHLEY: What do you intend to do now? Do you have any plans? Will you marry again?
LEAH: *laughing* The wonder of it is that I can do anything I want. There are so many possibilities and opportunities open to widows. Of course, my mother wants me to return to my family's house and live with them again, but she believes me to be the same girl who once did everything she expected. I'm not that same girl anymore, and I'm not the same woman who married Ian. I might marry again...someday. But it's not something I think about now or even look forward to. I've spent so much time doing things for other people, acting the way others wanted me to act. For a little while I want to do exactly what please me. Perhaps I'll never get married again...
ASHLEY: I heard that you are planning to host a country house party at Ian's estate--only three months into your widowhood! Surely you know this will cause a scandal. Is this what you want--a scandal, to be the center of Society's attention?
LEAH: *smiles* I have a plan, don't worry. The country house party is not to be what everyone expects. As far as causing a scandal--no, my intention is not to cause a scandal, but neither do I care if one is made. As I said before, what I do from now on, I do because I want to be happy. For now, hosting a country house party will make happy. And I'm willing to live with the consequences, whatever they may be. I'd rather be reckless and happy then obedient and miserable for the rest of my life.
ASHLEY: And what of Sebastian Madinger, the Earl of Wriothesly? He's said that he intends to stop you from such reckless behavior so no one will suspect the truth of your spouses' affair. What do you intend to do about him?
LEAH: Sebastian is a good man, and I know he means well. But he's smart and grieving over his wife and, to tell you the truth, I think he's a little paranoid. No one is going to conclude that Ian and Angela were having an affair simply because I host a house party. If anything, they'll soon believe me more of a devoted widow than before. And as far as Sebastian and the house party...well, I didn't tell him anything about it. I suppose he could find out once the invitations are delivered to the guests, but by that time it will be too late for him to intercede.
ASHLEY: You're not afraid of him going to the house party at all, of what he'll do when he realizes that you went against his wishes?
LEAH, laughing: Afraid? Not at all! Let him come. *smiles slyly* After all, I have a plan in place if he does show up.
To read my next interview with Leah and my interviews with Sebastian, make sure to keep up with my ROMANCING THE COUNTESS Book Tour (details at www.ashleymarch.com).
But for now, I'd like to celebrate the release of ROMANCING THE COUNTESS next week (on Tuesday!!) by giving away books! In ROMANCING THE COUNTESS, Leah is obviously a widow. In your historical romances, which type of heroines do you prefer? The shy and innocent? The self-aware and sexually aware? Debutantes? Spinsters? Widows? Who is your favorite heroine?
**Author Bio**
I was born and raised in East Texas, moved to Colorado after getting married eight years ago, and have been craving snow-free winters ever since. I have a husband who just keeps getting better and better over time and two beautiful daughters. I write contemporary and historical romances, I have two amazing critique partners, an awesome publisher (NAL), an absolutely fantastic agent (Sara Megibow of the Nelson Literary Agency) and, as can be seen above, a slight problem with using too many adjectives.
Life is simply...fantastic.
Places to find Ashley:
Ashley's Site | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads
**Giveaway**
One random commenter will be chose to win a copy of my newest book, ROMANCING THE COUNTESS, and will get a chance to send a copy of my debut, SEDUCING THE DUCHESS, to a friend (open internationally)! Also, find out how to win the ROMANCING THE COUNTESS Book Tour Grand Prize of 50+ romance novels by visiting www.ashleymarch.com!
**Bonus Giveaway**
In honor of Ashley's visit to the blog I would like to offer a copy of Ashley's e-book
ROMANCING LADY CECILY from Amazon.com. I absolutely adored this book and you can check out my review
here. So that means we'll have two winners. One winner will win a eBook copy of Romancing Lady Cecily, and one winner will win both
ROMANCING THE COUNTESS and
SEDUCING THE DUCHESS for a friend. So make sure to fill out the rafflecopter form.
*Must leave an answer to Ashley's question
*Make sure to leave an email address so we can notify the winner
*Winner will be notified within 48 hours of contest closing
Good Luck!
