Samantha Grace | Follow Your Heart...or Follow Your Head

Hi, everyone! I’m Samantha Grace, Regency historical romance author, and I’m thrilled to be back at Fresh Fiction talking about my release, THE BEST OF BOTH ROGUES.

I wish I were actually here, here but I’m three days into a Caribbean cruise. We are on our last family vacation before our son begins his senior year in high school, and we couldn’t pass up the chance for one more hurrah while he’s still at home. As most of you probably know, being at sea means no Internet, so I won’t be able to respond to comments until I return, but I can’t wait to hear what’s on your minds.

THE BEST OF BOTH ROGUES is the third book in my Rival Rogues series, and here’s a confession. My rogues aren’t the nasty, arrogant kind. I’m not a fan of jerkiness in heroes, so don’t let the title fool you. I love to write about romantic, sexy heroes who are worthy of the heroine’s love and devotion, which caused me a bit of trouble when Benjamin Hillary came on the scene. Ben’s name initially popped up in my first series, Beau Monde Bachelors. Both of his younger brothers, Jake and Daniel, had their own love stories, and in the back of my mind, I knew Ben would get his chance eventually. Truthfully, I didn’t know anything about him when I was writing his brothers’ stories. I didn’t even know where he was, and his brothers weren’t talking. Family secrets. What could I do? I decided to worry about him later and forgot he fictionally existed.

It wasn’t until I was in the middle of writing IN BED WITH A ROGUE that Mr. Ben Hillary decided to show up. He tapped on my shoulder and said, “You know that scoundrel who left Eve Thorne at the altar?”

Yeah. Have we met?

“Sorry, no. I’m Ben. Jake and Daniel are my brothers. Well, that was me. I jilted Eve.”

What? How could you? Eve is so sweet and adorable! How could you humiliate her that way? Everyone is going to hate you! Even I’m not fond of you, and I love every one of my heroes, faults and all.

“I know. I know. I didn’t want to do it.”

What do you mean you didn’t want to do it? What on earth possessed you to jilt your bride on your wedding day if you didn’t want to leave her?

“It’s a long story.”

I’m not going anywhere. Spill.

And he did. Ben told me the tragic story from his past and what happened that day at the chapel while he was waiting for Eve to arrive. Softie that I am, I couldn’t help feeling sorry for him. But he still hurt a young lady who didn’t deserve it.

You know you’ll have to make amends.

“I do.”

And it will likely involve some embarrassing incident. Perhaps more than one.

“Do what you have to do, Ms. Grace.”

Eve is engaged now. You don’t have an easy road ahead.

“I understand. Please, just help me win her back.”

I couldn’t refuse him, because not only am I a softie, I’m a romantic. Ben and Eve deserved a second-chance at love story, and they needed a little help healing past wounds. So what can you expect from The Best of Both Rogues? The usual humor, antics, and witty banter, but I think it’s also one of my sweetest stories. In the end, I fell in love with Ben, and I hope readers will too.

What do you think you would do in Eve’s situation? Would you follow your heart and give a man who hurt you a second chance, or would you follow your head?

About Samantha Grace

Historical romance author Samantha Grace discovered the appeal of a great love story when she was just a young girl, thanks to Disney’s Robin Hood. She didn’t care that Robin Hood and Maid Marian were cartoon animals. It was her first happily-ever-after experience and she didn’t want the warm fuzzies to end. Now Samantha enjoys creating her own happy endings for characters that spring from her imagination. Publishers Weekly describes her stories as “fresh and romantic” with subtle humor and charm. Samantha describes romance writing as the best job ever.

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About THE BEST OF BOTH ROGUES

The worst thing Mr. Benjamin Hillary ever did was abandon his bride-to- be on their wedding day. The hardest thing he will ever have to do is watch her marry another man.

After two long years abroad, Ben finds Eve every bit as captivating as she was the first time he saw her, and he vows to set things right.

Lady Eve Thorne has a new man in her life, and Ben is nothing but trouble. She is no longer a starry-eyed young woman, and now that he's back, he can go hang for all she cares. At least that's what she keeps telling herself...

Read an Excerpt