Scandal's Bride - Historical Regency Fiction by Pamela Gibson ***Interview -- Excerpt -- Giveaway***

Scandal's Bride 

by Pamela Gibson 

GENRE: Historical (Regency) 


Marry in haste… 

Lady Gwendolyn Pettigrew longs to be a mother, but refuses to marry the lecherous old fool her father has found for her. When her best friend convinces her to consider her husband’s younger brother as a suitable candidate, Gwen agrees to a marriage of convenience, hoping against hope that her dream of becoming a mother will have a chance.

The Hon. John Montague, a penniless younger son, is handsome, witty, and thrilled that a woman with a dowry has agreed to wed him. Best of all she’s a fiercely independent bluestocking, a woman who won’t want to bother with a family. Because John has a shocking secret. He’s vowed never to bring a child into the world, a child who, like his own mother, might carry the strain of madness.

As secrets unfold, tension grows, threatening the fragile bonds they’ve forged. Worse, someone wants them to abandon their home and leave Yorkshire, and they’ll stop at nothing to make it happen.


An Interview with the Author

Pamela Gibson

Scandal's Bride



Welcome to JB's Bookworms with Brandy Mulder.  

What made you choose Historical Romance as your genre? 
I’ve always loved history. Growing up in a small California town with a two-hundred-year-old mission in the middle of it whets your imagination, especially if you have free run of the place, like I did as a child. This love carried over into college where I majored in history, but oddly enough, I didn’t discover historical romance until I was in my twenties. When I began writing novels, I began with contemporaries. But my first love was historical romance, especially Regencies. My favorite author was Mary Balogh, and I read every one of her books. When I felt competent enough to write in that genre, I did.


What historical periods are your favorite, and why?
I ‘d have to say the early 19th century is my favorite time period. England was involved in the Napoleonic War and the War of 1812. Advancements in science and medicine were being made. There was a great deal of political and social unrest as Britain moved away from agriculture toward an industrialized economy. What did it mean to the people affected? How were lives changed? To repeat an oft-used phrase, “so many stories, so little time.”

My other favorite place and time is middle nineteenth century in Mexico’s Alta California. The land was divided into vast ranchos encompassing thousands of acres. Society was rigid and rule-bound, just as English society was. Corruption among colonial governors was rampant, and war between Mexico and the United States was inevitable. Manifest Destiny was pushing settlers westward to a place of golden sunshine and fertile land. Again, there are so many stories here I will not have a chance to write even a fraction of them.


What gave you the idea for the storyline in Scandal's Bride?
I’ve always wanted to write a marriage of convenience trope, but they’re tricky. Most begin with characters who don’t like each other. Mine is different. I had two characters from the previous book, Scandal’s Child, who were perfect for this trope. Gwen hates her father’s choice of a husband for her, and is given a chance to find her own. John needs a wife with a dowry, but who will marry a penniless second son? Miranda, the heroine of the first book, tells them they could each solve the other’s problem.

They meet, John offers friendship and independence, two things important to Gwen. Gwen’s father will provide her with a dowry, which is important to John. Each comes with an endorsement from a trusted source. They marry and go off to Yorkshire to begin their perfect life, until they discover the catch.


If you're able to share, What drives your main character, Gwendolyn?
Two things are motivating Gwen when the book opens. First, she knows she will be turned out of her home when her father dies and her brother inherits, thus she must marry or she’ll end up being a governess or companion. Her brother is besotted with his wife, and his wife hates Gwen. Second, if she doesn’t find her own husband her father will force her to marry the man he has chosen for her, a man she despises. In either case, her basic needs—food, shelter, water—will be met. But Gwen wants more. She wants friendship, acceptance, independence, and she wants to be a mother. When she meets John (who she’s met before), she’s promised independence and being married, she believes she’ll become a mother. Ultimately, she wants love, but that comes later in the book.


How did you forge her for the part? Were their specific personality traits that she needed?
Gwen is an original, a bluestocking, a woman with an indulgent father who has allowed her to follow her own unconventional path. She hosts a weekly tea she calls a salon. He gives her free reign of his library. He allowed her to receive a more formal education.

As a result, Gwen is an optimist who has faith in her ability to achieve her goals. She’s impulsive and bold. She cares not a whit what others think of her.

This was important to the book because most women in society were bound by very conventional rules. They were raised to be meek, docile, and dependent. They would not have defied their fathers to forge their own happiness.

Gwen also has an important flaw. When John is reluctant to consummate the marriage she begins to care about her appearance and her body, wondering if he’s put off by her looks. This is the result of a bit of fat-shaming she has endured at the hands of her nasty, diamond-of-the-first-water sister-in-law. Underneath all this independence is a woman who is falling in love with her husband and wants him to be attracted to her.

It was important for the progression of the book for Gwen to gradually become less trusting, less optimistic, and more suspicious. She was the optimist. John was the doubter. There is, by the end of the book, a role reversal which of course changes as we get to the happily ever after.


What was your most difficult scene to write?
To me, the most difficult scene in the book is the black moment. There has to be powerful emotions at play and the reader has to become the character to appreciate what’s going on. When John returns home after solving the problem of their mysterious accidents, he finds Gwen gone. By now he knows she’s the most important person in his life and he doesn’t want to live apart. He loves her, but he’s never told her. He packs a bag and follows her, hoping to make things right. The scene that ensues has to be believable, while tugging at heartstrings. At this point in the book John has become the optimist and Gwen has become the doubter. Finding words to make things right again becomes critical.


What was the most fun?
I loved writing the first sex scene in this book because it is so important to the story. Gwen and John are friends. They know they have to consummate the marriage. Gwen is secretly eager, but doesn’t think she should show it. John is nervous. He doesn’t want to scare her. He assures her it will be clinical and over with quickly. When they get lost in the moment, John believes he frightened her and is overcome by guilt. He vows to himself he won’t touch her again. Gwen wasn’t frightened in the least. In fact, she wants to talk about it. She’s hurt and bewildered when John puts her off.

In my sex scenes I am less concerned about describing the action, and more concerned about what the characters are feeling before, during, and after. I hope I got it right, because the scene is key.


Will we be seeing another book from you soon? If so, will it have some of the characters in this story?
My third book in the Scandal series is Scandal’s Promise, a second chance trope, featuring a character from both books, Lady Emily Sinclair. She’s declined visiting Town for the season, preferring to remain at home on her family’s estate with an elderly maiden aunt. Her neighbor, a man she once loved who married someone else, is home from the wars and has shut himself up in his house. He’s a widower now and she’s determined to make contact with him, especially when she discovers he’s hiding a terrible secret.


Thanks so much for being with us today. Before you go, please tell us what we can find on your newsletter or website.
My newsletter is quarterly and short. It always features my newest release, a recipe, a release by another author, and the winners of a drawing for two Amazon gift cards. I sometimes share important events in my life. My website has books, buy links, the awards the books have won, a bio, and contact information. I also have a blog that appears a couple of times a month that is a little more chatty.

Thank you for having me


Thank you for Joining us today.
Keep scrolling for an excerpt for Scandal's Bride.

Excerpt

“May I come in?”

A frisson of excitement made every nerve ending tingle in anticipation. Did he want to consummate their marriage tonight? She looked down at her serviceable white cotton nightgown with its high neck and long sleeves. She’d put it on because it was heavy and warm. If she’d known John would be joining her in her bed, she would have left her hair loose and worn the pretty gown Miranda had given her as a wedding gift.

Oh Lord, oh Lord.

She let out the breath she didn’t even realize she was holding. Pulling the covers up to her chin, she called out, “Come in.”

He poked his head through the door. His coat and waistcoat were off, and his cravat was in his hand. He looked mussed and adorable.

“I want to apologize for my behavior. I shouldn’t have run off like I did. I was feeling . . . ill-tempered . . . and didn’t want to subject you to my mood. I promise not to do it again.”

She peeked over the top of her covers. “You are forgiven. But I must say I was worried about you. Where did you go?”

“I rode toward the village, turned around, and came back. I gave my horse a good gallop and then a rub down in the stable.”

“I see.” She paused, not knowing what else to say.

He smiled. “We’ll play whist tomorrow night. I know you enjoy the game.”

“I shall look forward to it.”

“Good night, Gwen.” He closed the door firmly, and his footsteps echoed down the hall.

Why were her eyes filling with tears?


AUTHOR Bio 

Author of eight books on California history and twelve romance novels, Pamela Gibson is a former City Manager who lives in the Nevada desert. Having spent the last three years messing about in boats, a hobby that included a five-thousand-mile trip in a 32-foot Nordic Tug, she now spends most of her time indoors happily reading, writing, cooking and keeping up with the antics of her gran-cats, gran-dog, and gran-fish. Sadly, the gran-lizard went to his final reward. If you want to learn more about her activities go to https://www.pamelagibsonwrites.com and sign up for her blog and quarterly newsletter. Or follow her in these places:






Pamela Gibson will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Comments

  1. It's a pleasure being here today. Thank you so much for hosting. Your questions made me dig deep.

    ReplyDelete
  2. I enjoyed the interview. I love finding out more about the book and the characters.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Thank you for sharing your book with us. I always look forward to finding out about another great read.

    ReplyDelete

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