Interview and giveaway: Grace Burrowes - The Heir

Today I have Grace Burrowes over, the author of The Heir. At the bottom of this interview you have the chance you win your own copy of the book.

Welcome to Book Girl of Mur-Y-Castell!

Tell me something about yourself, so we get a better understanding about the woman behind the author.

GB: I’m an attorney practicing family law in rural Maryland, and I have been a single mom since Beloved Offspring came home from the hospital. The impact of that on my writing has been to make me especially appreciative of honorable men and appreciative of a really good book, too.

Your newest book is called The Heir; can you tell me what it is about?

GB: A lonely, overworked earl is so busy avoiding his ducal father’s marital schemes that he almost doesn’t realize he’s falling in love with his pretty, secretive housekeeper—it was big fun to write.

Tell us three reasons why we should fall madly in love with your hero Gayle Windham…

GB: His drop dead gorgeous good looks are not a reason to fall madly in love with him, but they certainly make looking at him more pleasant. More significantly, Gayle Windham, the Earl of Westhaven, is honest, hardworking, and beneath some gruff shyness, very kind. He’s also a devoted son even to his scheming ducal papa, his spendthrifty sisters, and his emotionally ailing brothers. He dotes on his aging horse and is particularly fond of marzipan.  

Which person in this book was the most fun to write?
GB: I met the hero first, in an earlier manuscript. Gayle agreed to marry a woman without realizing his father was coloring outside the lines to bring the wedding about. In exchange for his promise to marry, Gayle got control of the family finances. Fortunately for Gayle, his temporary fiancée’s swain got matters sorted out in time to prevent disaster. Gayle held on to the financial reins, and also to my imagination. 

Are you working on something new and exciting right now?

GB: I have never had so much fun in all my born days. I just finished the copy edit review of Devlin St. Just’s story, The Soldier due out next summer by Sourcebooks Casablanca, and the final manuscript for Valentine’s story is due to my editor at the end of the month, for release as The Virtuoso (working title) in October 2011. For next Christmas, we’re starting on the sisters’ stories with Lady Sophie’s Christmas Wish. It is very good to be me.

How did you feel when you heard you would get published?

GB: Overwhelmingly grateful, also nervous.

Do you have any advice for aspiring writers?

GB: I will be blogging about this for the next few Mondays on my website (www.graceburrowes.com) because I am being asked about it, not because I think I have any great wisdom to share. Mostly, aspiring writers should write. They should write a lot more than they talk about writing, socialize about writing, or—ahem—blog about writing. And yes, I am an aspiring writer and I always will be. 

What kinds of books do you read? Any favorite authors?

GB: I have been a voracious romance reader since adolescence. My all time favorite author is Judith Ivory, but my keeper shelf includes Sophia Nash, Mary Balogh, Loretta Chase, Meredith Duran, J.R. Ward, Joanna Bourne, Julie Ann Long, Carolyn Jewel, Eloisa James, and several others. There is a wonderful abundance of talent out there. In terms of craft or research, I’m reading Harriette Wilson’s Memoirs, which was a terrific read.

I am going to use a previous question and ask you to give this time four reasons why this is the book to read…

GB: Read this book because it will leave you smiling from ear to ear when the swain and the damsel finally get their happily ever after. Read this book because it’s full of love, not just the love of a man and a woman for each other, but the love between siblings, between parent and child, between grandparent and grandchild. It’s all about the love. Read this book because these people are facing tough odds, a really scurrilous pair of bad guys, and all manner of difficulties and they prevail, which will encourage YOU to prevail when the deck is stacked against you. Read this book because for a few hours, it will help you forget your woes and worries, and take you to a place where love does conquer all, and you are guaranteed a happily ever after. 

Thanks for a great interview Grace.

Giveaway:

*2 copies of The Heir

*Open to US and Canada

*Ends December 12th

 * Ask a question, comment on the book, the interview. Just something more so I can see that you want it :)

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THE HEIR BY GRACE BURROWES – IN STORES DECEMBER 2010

An Earl Who Can’t Be Bribed…
Gayle Windham, Earl of Westhaven, is the first legitimate son and heir to the Duke of Moreland. To escape his father’s inexorable pressure to marry, he decides to spend the summer at his townhouse in London, where he finds himself intrigued by the secretive ways of his beautiful housekeeper.

A Lady Who Can’t Be Protected…
Anna Seaton is a beautiful, talented, educated woman, which is why it is so puzzling to Gayle that she works as his housekeeper.

As the two draw closer and begin to lose their hearts to each other, Anna’s secrets threaten to bring the earl’s orderly life crashing down—and he doesn’t know how he’s going to protect her from the fallout…

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Grace Burrowes is the pen name for a prolific author of historical romances whose manuscripts have so far won, finaled, or garnered honorable mention in Romance Writers of America-run contests in Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, and Florida. Burrowes is a practicing attorney specializing in family law. She lives in rural Maryland and is working on her next book, The Soldier, set to release in July 2011.

Review: The Heir - Grace Burrowes

Genre: Historical romance
Pages: 480
Published: December 2010 Sourcebooks Casablanca

In this Regency era battle of wits, wills, and the sexes, a wily old duke is determined to see the succession of his line secured, and his three headstrong sons are equally determined to resist the bonds of matrimony. In The Heir, the first in the series, the Earl of Wyndham, weighed down by responsibilities and determined to avoid the rounds of country houses of and matchmaking mamas, decides to summer in London. There he discovers a potentially perfect duchess in his lovely, mysterious housekeeper...

Plot:

Gayle, the earl of Wyndham stays in the city over the summer. He is tired of his father trying to find a woman for him, any woman. But then he notices his pretty housekeeper, or more like she makes him see stars when she knocks him over the head. Anna Seaton is not all she says she is and her secret will lead everyone into danger.

My thoughts:

I was a bit worried when I started because I had read two reviews that wasn't thrilled over this book. But the more I read the more I liked it, and I put those doubts behind me.

Gayle, or Westhaven as they also call him is your typical lord. He has his mistress, he attends all the balls, but the difference is that he does not want some girl right out of the schoolroom that his father throws at him. He wants something more, but mostly he just seems angry at his father. Anna on the other hand is a total enigma, she works as a housekeeper, her deaf sister works there too. She speaks many languages, writes beautifully and speaks way too good not to be hiding something.

Yes there were times when I wanted to hit her over the head. She was just so stubborn, that stupid woman, but luckily Westhaven was a man who knew what he wanted and would not let go. He wanted to win her over and I did like that side of him, because he knew she loved him, but she was just too worried about others, which is a good thing, but she should have taken care of herself too.

The thing that kept me reading and reading was the mystery part. It was just killing me not knowing who she really was, what she had done and what she was running from. So that was the best part of this book.

The romance was also good, it seemed like they could not have each other, she wanted to keep running, he wanted the truth. And some good side characters, especially with his brother, I would want his story, and her sister's story too.

Final thoughts and recommendation:

She kept the plot going for a very long time, I am glad she did not spill the beans and told the reader why Anna was running, because it just made it impossible for me to put the book down. I am too curious for my own good. By saying that I will give the book a 3,5 because of the mystery part, a great way for me to drive myself crazy by reading and reading to find out the truth. And it was a good reason for running too, can't say more than that.

Reason for reading:

Sounded good

Cover:

I wish I could see the rest of his head too.

review copy from the publisher