Interview and Giveaway with Samantha Grace

Samantha Grace Interview Intro:

Hey there Book Monsters and Literal Addicts! 

Book Monster Reviews and LITERAL ADDICTION are very pleased to welcome author, Samantha Grace to our sites today.

Samantha Grace made her debut February 2012 with a witty new historical romance series set in Regency England. Each story contains the elements she loves: romance, laughter and a touch of intrigue.

With a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and a Master of Social Work degree, Samantha has worked several years as a clinical social worker with a background in behavioral health and geriatrics. It is her belief that everyone has a story worth remembering, and she cherishes her work with aging adults, immersing herself in their tales of eras gone by.

Samantha is happily writing her next book and loves blogging with fellow authors at http://LadyScribes.blogspot.com.  She is married to her best friend, and she strives to stay a step ahead of their two precocious offspring while braving the bone chilling winters in Wisconsin.

Samantha's debut historical romance series, BEAU MONDE BACHELOR currently has two books, "Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel" and the most recent release " Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half" which was just released on June 1.  Let's take a look at both books in this great new series……

"Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel"

BEAU MONDE BACHELOR Series, Book 1

There’s no taming the wicked.

Jaded heiress Lana Hillary learned this lesson the hard way when the dashing man of her dreams turned out to be a lying scoundrel. With two Seasons behind her and the memory of his betrayal still fresh in her mind, Lana seeks a match with a respectable gent. But why must they all be so properly boring? Unable to rein in her bold nature for long, Lana flirts with trouble and finds herself entangled with the exact type of man she’s vowed to avoid.

Love ‘em-and- leave ‘em Lord Andrew Forest lives for pleasure and offers no apologies. But he receives a dose of his own medicine when his family’s innocent houseguest beds him then disappears without a by your leave. Rejected by the most captivating woman in England, Drew is determined to intercept Lana Hillary before she reaches London and convince her to marry him. Then he’ll teach the little vixen a thing or two about how to love a man.

  

" Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half"

BEAU MONDE BACHELOR Series, Book 2

He has no idea what he’s getting into… 

Widowed philanthropist Lady Amelia Audley would like nothing more than to forget wealthy bachelor Jake Hillary, but it’s blasted difficult when he is seated next to her at a dinner hosted by his mother. It’s even harder to forgive him for kissing her senseless a year earlier then disappearing without a word. Yet, Amelia must endure Jake’s company if she wishes to benefit from his mother’s connections and win support for a project dear to her heart, the renovation of the foundling hospital.

Jake Hillary has known nothing but heartbreak since he met Amelia. First, she chose his closest friend instead of him then she dismissed his love letters and took up with a rake while he tended to urgent family matters. When his debauched brother sets out to seduce her, Jake risks his heart once more and begins to court Amelia. Soon he and Amelia discover an abiding affection for one another, a love that has survived despite the efforts of others to keep them apart. Happiness seems within their reach at last until the past resurfaces and threatens to destroy their love forever.

We know!  It sounds like a great new series doesn't it?!  Before you run off to start ordering or adding to your TBR list. check out our interview with Samantha first so you can learn more about this great new author…….

                    Book Monster Reviews/LITERAL ADDICTION:  Hi Samantha!    Welcome to Book Monster and LITERAL ADDICTION!  Thank you for coming by to spend some time with us!

Samantha: Thanks for inviting me to join y’all today. This is very exciting for me. I remember showing up for a really fun chat when Book Monster Reviews hosted my friend and critique partner, Lydia Dare. I never dreamed I would get to be a guest one day. I think that deserves a whip crack! (Wa-POW)

                    Book Monster Reviews/LITERAL ADDICTION:  We always   like to start out by getting to know you a little bit better.

Q1):   Can you tell us 3 things about yourself that we can't find out on the internet, in your bio, etc?

 Samantha: Wow! Way to start out with an easy one. LOL. Let me see… When I was 21, I got to hang out all day in the Concord lounge at Heathrow with my 9 year old stepbrother, because they thought we were both minors and felt sorry for us. I didn’t correct them. Fresh fruit, sweet roles, comfy couches, showers… It was awesome!  

I’m terrified of heights, like close to panic attack proportions - breaking out in a cold sweat, racing heart, trembling. I had a bad fall repelling years ago and now it freaks me out to be up high.

I won an award for choir in high school, but there’s no way I’m going to sing in front of people alone. I can TALK to anyone. I don’t even mind public speaking very much, but if the world suddenly became like Glee, I’d be in trouble.

Q2):   What are 3 things that never fail to make you smile and 3 things that never fail to piss you off?

Samantha: Things that make me smile – my son and daughter when they are getting along; daddies taking care of their kids; a sign for a local business called “Family Value Reptiles”. It’s just funny to me.  

Things that piss me off – anyone messing with my family; anyone messing with my money; people in power taking advantage of the vulnerable. Other things irritate me on occasion, but these things really get me going.

Q3)  What was the first thing that popped into your head when you woke up this morning?

Samantha: Oh, crap!

I thought I had overslept and I needed to get my son to school by 6:15 am to catch a bus for a school trip. In reality, I was awake an hour earlier than I needed to be.

Q4)  How long have you been writing?  What age did you write your first book?

Samantha: I starting writing in fourth grade, but I didn’t start writing seriously until four years ago. I wrote my first book at age (mumble, mumble). You know, I thought I would accept aging with grace, but it’s been a little harder than I thought. My friend tells me to shut up and get another tattoo! So, I’ll come clean simply because I hope others will be inspired and not give up on their dreams because they think it’s too late. I was forty when I wrote my first book.

Q5)  Who or what inspired you to write your first novel?

Samantha: My mother-in-law saw the movie “The Bucket List”, and she came up with her own bucket list. When I thought about a list for myself, I realized the only thing I would regret was never writing a book. My first goal was to write one book, not even to get it published, but then I caught the bug. Suddenly, it wasn’t good enough just to write a book. I wanted to see it in print. Now, I want readers to love my books! It’s a never ending cycle.

Q6)  Who are some of your favorite authors and what are some of the books in your TBR pile?

Samantha: I enjoy reading Wally Lamb, Jodi Picoult, Sherry Thomas, and Lauren Willig, just to name a few. There are so many talented authors putting out books. Mostly I’m drawn to stories rather than particular names. If it sounds like an interesting plot, I’ll pick it up. I have tons of TBR books, but very little time to read, unfortunately. The books I’m most looking forward to reading or finishing are “Under Fire” by Catherine Mann, “More Than a Stranger” by Erin Knightely, and “The Most Improper Miss Sophie Valentine” by Jayne Fresina. I’m only a fourth of the way through “The Hunger Games”, but I’d like to finish it, too.

Book Monster Reviews/LITERAL ADDICTION:  Now we'd like to ask you some questions about you new BEAU MONDE BACHELOR Series.

7)  Can you please us what your new debut series BEAU MONDE BACHELOR is generally about and what we can expect from this series?

Samantha: The bachelors belong to an elite group in England during the early 1800s referred to as the Beau Monde or the ton (pronounced tone). They were sorta like modern day rock stars with women competing for their attention and late night partying. One of the only respectable options available to women at the time was marriage to a man who could support them well and give them prestige. Add to the equation that there were a lot more women than men at the time and things could get a little crazy with ambitious mamas and their daughters trying to catch one of these gentlemen any way they could. My stories are about these bachelors finding true love during a time when very few people married for love.

I like to change things up a bit, though, such as having the scoundrel chase after the debutante and try to convince her to marry him. Also, I like a little mystery I can’t figure out right away, a lot of humor, and steamy sex scenes. Basically, I write what I want to read.  

8)  The second book in the series, " Lady Amelia's Mess and a Half" was just released on June 1.  What's coming up next in the series?

Samantha: “Miss Lavigne’s Little White Lie” will be released in October. The story is about a ship’s captain, Daniel Hillary, who agrees to carry a lovely Creole lady, her cousin, and her peculiar younger brother to England after she approaches him in a tavern. His rule has always been no women on his ship, but Lisette Lavigne’s devotion to her family convinces him to change his mind. It doesn’t hurt that she’s very beautiful and perhaps willing to keep him company during the long voyage.

Lisette avoids telling Daniel is that she is running away from her criminal fiancé who wants to place her brother in an insane asylum and gain control of his inheritance. Unfortunately, the fiancé has a lot more at stake than losing access to the Lavigne family fortune, and he chases after her, placing everyone she loves in danger.

9)  Do you have any other upcoming projects that you'd like to share with us?

Samantha: I’m currently working on the fourth book, which will be released sometime in the early part of 2013, I imagine. It’s about the oldest Forest brother, Luke, who has inherited a dukedom and a surprise marital arrangement his father had negotiated on his behalf days before his death.

At first Luke tries to talk Lady Vivian into speaking with her brother about dissolving the agreement, because Luke has a lot of stuff going on internally, not to mention a dangerous voyage planned in a few months. She refuses to talk to her brother, of course. But she has several good reasons for not cooperating with Luke. One of those being she’ll be sent to a convent in Scotland if she messes up her betrothal.

Luke grows fond of the tomboyish Vivian in a short time and proposes an alternate plan he thinks she can’t refuse. He’ll take her to her mother’s house party and help her find a replacement husband. She pretends to agree to his scheme, but all along she plans to win his heart before they reach the house party. It has been a fun book to write.

10)  What would you like to say to the readers out there while we have you here today?

Samantha: It’s so great to be here and I look forward to chatting with y’all today. Have you ever read a Regency historical romance? What genre do you usually read, and who are some of your favorite authors?

Book Monster Reviews/LITERAL ADDICTION:  Thank you so much Samantha for taking time out of your busy schedule to sit down and chat with us.  We'd love to have you back with us in the fall to help you promote your next release.

Samantha: I would love to come back again! Thanks again for inviting me to Book Monster Reviews and LITERAL ADDICTION.

To keep up with Samantha and her latest news, visit her Website or you can follow her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads too.

   Samantha is giving away a signed copy of either “Miss Hillary Schools a Scoundrel” or “Lady Amelia’s Mess and a Half” (reader’s choice) to a winner from Book Monster and another winner over at the

 LITERALADDICTION Website.

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