Fresh Fiction Blog | Susanna Fraser | Control Freaks in Love

When a reader asks me what my new novel, A MARRIAGE OF INCONVENIENCE, is about, I usually say, “It’s a Regency Cinderella tale,” or, if they seem like they want a slightly longer answer, “A historical romance about a marriage of convenience that’s almost destroyed when the bride’s family secrets come out.” But the real answer is “control freaks in love.”

James Wright-Gordon, my hero, is a wealthy viscount who inherited his title at the age of 15 and came into full control of his estates, fortune, and political birthright in the form of a seat in the House of Lords at 21. He doesn’t know what it’s like to NOT have power, and he’s confident enough about his intelligence and view of the world to have no qualms whatsoever about wielding it.

Because he really IS smart and well-intentioned, 90% of the time he uses his powers for good. Everyone from the tenants on his estate to his wife’s impoverished relatives are better housed, fed, and educated because James is so eager to decide how to improve their lives and then spend the money to make it happen. Heck, he’ll leave England itself a better place than he found it because he can’t see an injustice, or even a mere inefficiency, without feeling a compulsive drive to use the money and influence he inherited to fix it.

But the trouble is he doesn’t know where to stop. When he tries to dictate first to his younger sister and later to his new wife on matters of the heart, it only leads to heartbreak...and forces James to learn that no man is rich, powerful, and clever enough to control his whole world.

As for my heroine, Lucy Jones, on the surface she looks like James’s total opposite when it comes to control. She was orphaned as a young child and taken in by wealthy relatives who never let her forget she was an object of charity. Before her parents died, she was a proud, high-spirited child who enjoyed the power she had as eldest of a large brood of brothers and sisters. But when typhus carried off both her parents and all but two of her siblings, she realized the only way to protect herself and her baby brothers was to become what her aunt and uncle expected her to be--i.e. meek, mild, and subservient. Since that wasn’t her natural personality, the only way she could manage was by forcing herself to far greater self-control than comes naturally to a 9-year-old child.

By the time we meet her as a young woman, Lucy’s habits of self-control are so ingrained that she’s forgotten how to relax--which causes all kinds of trouble in the early days of her marriage. James wants a free-spirited, fun-loving wife who will uninhibitedly take all the pleasures he has to offer her--especially those of the bedroom--and Lucy has no idea how to be that woman.

Solving their problems takes trust, learning to overcome betrayal...and, as they each explore the limits of what they can and can’t control, some experiments with what we’d call kink.

Are you a control freak? Can you think of other characters in fiction who are--whether they admit it or not? Comment for a chance to win a copy of A MARRIAGE OF INCONVENIENCE.

Comments

I am a control freak. I can't recall any characters with this particular bent.
(Mary Preston 4:25am April 16, 2011)

I'm not so much a control freak as I am always in control lol. I haven't read any of your books yet but after reading the breif I will be looking into them soon. Thanks Tammy
(Tammy Lim 6:20am April 16, 2011)

I'm not a total control freak but I do like my personal things to be in order, ie. computer desk, closet, bathroom. Chaos is usually the order of the day and I'm ok with that. Learning to adapt is good for us. Thanks for the blog. I'll look for your book the next time I buy.
(Maude Allen 6:32am April 16, 2011)

I want to be in control of myself, but try to let others to their own thing.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 7:31am April 16, 2011)

My Husband likes to say that I'm a control freak, but I only seem to take control of a situation when something important needs to be done, something needs to be done that I don't need to do over, or I don't want to be embarassed by the results of whatever was done. I hope that made sense. I'm also the type of person that's cool under pressure, so I can think a little clearer if a clamity should arise. The one character who isn't really a "character" who gave me strength throughout my life is Helen Keller. She had her disabilities, yet managed to do great things with her life and help others. I try to pattern myself after her.
(Peggy Roberson 7:34am April 16, 2011)

Control is important to me but only on a personal level; so that makes me reluctant to accept the controlling pressures of those around me. Not always an easy situation!LOL I think most Alpha heroes and their female counterparts are control freaks to some degree or another so any character in that group qualifies, I think.
(Dolores Feagin 8:23am April 16, 2011)

CONTROL IS AN ISSUE FOR ME..I AM IN IT TO WIN IT!
(Silvana Moscato 8:34am April 16, 2011)

My control freakness relates to my life more than the minutae of my surroundings. Heaven help someone who tries to make me do something against what I think is right. I can't wait to read this book.
(Renee Brown 8:40am April 16, 2011)

I would probably be described as a control freak. I like order and hate chaos. I like to do things myself instead of delegating.
(Stacie Deramo 9:09am April 16, 2011)

I didn't think I am one but my husband says that Iam definitely one. :) lol
(May Pau 10:06am April 16, 2011)

I don't think I am a control freak, but I know I do not like to be controlled. Your book sounds interesting. Thanks for visiting.
(G S Moch 10:16am April 16, 2011)

I don't think I'm a control freak except when driving when my husband. He makes me drive when we are together. Book sounds great. Would love to win. Thanks for the opportunity.

Carrie
(Carrie Larks 10:36am April 16, 2011)

I am only a control freak when I or mine feel threatened. For example my
husband's quadruple by-pass surgery brought out my need for control big time.
Most of the time I just ride with the tide as long as I can get things done. Can
you hear my husband laughing?!?
(Sandra Spilecki 10:41am April 16, 2011)

I'm not too freakish when it comes to my control, but I'm definitely the person in charge of my house. If I was "in control" my house would be a lot neater and cleaner!
(MaryAnne Banks 11:32am April 16, 2011)

I've found most of the "Duke" character in HR tends to be control freak, rigid, or autocratic, and tightly control of their emotions. On a personal level, my mother is borderline control freak with a dictatorial blend!! And how do I cope w/ that!?!?! Keep at least a continent between us, is my advice. ;0
(Joy Johnson 11:40am April 16, 2011)

I'm definitely a control freak in day to day life. But I try to temper it for the most part.
(Pam Howell 11:46am April 16, 2011)

I am a control freak definitely---I want to do everything myself or keep very close control of it---and I'm always the driver if there is more than one person in the car.
(Sue Farrell 12:11pm April 16, 2011)

Oh I am such a control freak. Sometimes it drives my family nuts.
(Beth Melito 12:15pm April 16, 2011)

yes, i admit i am a little bit of a control freak. I'm not so interested in controlling what others do, but do want control over things that effect "my little world"
(d Kenney 12:38pm April 16, 2011)

I am a control freak on issues that I care about.
(G. Bisbjerg 12:49pm April 16, 2011)

I have the tendency to be a control freak but it doesn't come into play all of the time because some of the people around me are even bigger control freaks that I have to accomodate.
(Carol Drummond 12:56pm April 16, 2011)

Bit of a control freak on certain things, I am sure my husband would beg to differ though *L*
(Jean Patton 12:59pm April 16, 2011)

I'm not a cotrol freak though sometimes I'd like to be. For characters, I thought of Christina Dodd's book Tongue in Chic. It's all about controlled/controlling man meets free-spirited woman. I'd like to read your take on the subject.
(r w 1:10pm April 16, 2011)

I like to have some control over my life, but I don't consider myself a control freak.
(Anna Speed 1:12pm April 16, 2011)

I like to plan things out... so I guess I need to control certain things. Not a control freak though... I know that you sometimes have to go with the flow of things...
(Colleen Conklin 2:14pm April 16, 2011)

I'm married to a control freak and I think only one in a relationship will work. Your book sounds awesome and I love the cover! I hope you sell a lot of copies!
(Renee Pajda 2:41pm April 16, 2011)

I like to feel like I have some control over certain issues in my life, but I am not a control freek...although I know people who are...drives me crazy!
(Leanna Morris 2:44pm April 16, 2011)

Yeah, I probably am. So are most of the alpha males in romance stories, and many of the "strong, independent" heroines - takes the ability to control too I think!
(Robin Daily 3:16pm April 16, 2011)

Yes Susanna, I am a control freak to a point. I know when to cool my jets and sit back and listen. I think Scarlet O'Hara was a control freak, she just knew how to use the men and women to her advantage. Shrewd and coy at the same time.
(Rosemary Simm 3:44pm April 16, 2011)

I'm a bit of a control freak :) The first fictional character that comes to mind is Monk.
(Leni Kaye 4:01pm April 16, 2011)

Who isn't a control freak, I want everything done my way!
(Linda Pillow 4:11pm April 16, 2011)

I am not a control freak, but my husband has been trying for 40 yrs to be......lolol
(Joanne Bozik 4:16pm April 16, 2011)

Yes I am a controfreak on somethings but not everything.
(Cynthia Teer 4:21pm April 16, 2011)

No. Control is just a figment of your imagination. But if it makes you sleep better go for it.
(Jason Young 4:23pm April 16, 2011)

Control freak? No, I just need balance in my life.
(Sandra Greear 4:26pm April 16, 2011)

Oh Boy, you called me out on this. I am more of a control freak then I will admit, and I am trying very hard to not have that put upon my children. Luckily, I can admit this, try to simmer it down, AND laugh at myself about it too.
(Debra Simning-Chapman 4:44pm April 16, 2011)

I'm not a control freak at all. I'm more a 50/50 kinda gal and look for that in a man. There are times when one partner should take the lead and the other defer control. But to live that way 24/7 would be too oppressive for me.
(Joan Richard 5:09pm April 16, 2011)

I don't think I am a control freak usually. Unless someone is doing something wrong or taking way too long to do it, then I do tend to turn into one.

Your book sounds great.
(June A, Manning 5:15pm April 16, 2011)

I use to be in control, somewhat, but had to learn to relax.
(Deb Pelletier 5:44pm April 16, 2011)

I'm more anal than controlling, I just like to have the facts before making important decisions. Unimportant decisions, like where to go for dinner, I'm just as happy to leave to others.
(Diane Sallans 6:48pm April 16, 2011)

I am a control freak but I'm trying to let loose a little now.
It's hard on all the family so I've tried to let go some.
(Diane Sadler 6:51pm April 16, 2011)

I'm a control freak only to a certain point. I love the control freak hero in romance novels though, or ones that are kind of stuffy and become baffled by falling in love with a more free-spirited heroine.
(Rosie Nguy 7:28pm April 16, 2011)

No, I don't think I'm a control freak though I wish I were more in control of what's going on in my life. I'm not necessarily controlled by other people, rather by health and other circumstances.
(Sigrun Schulz 7:59pm April 16, 2011)

I take medication to keem my ocd under control. When my husband had cancer I was really bad, or so I was told, so they ended up putting me on some medication so I could sleep instead of staying up doing everything until it was perfect. It was a hard time. I have had several surgery's and have had to give up control of quite a bit and no longer worry about it.
(Brenda Rupp 7:59pm April 16, 2011)

I am definitely a control freak and I am always organizing and re-organizing things. Yikes, maybe a little OCD too... Good luck and happy writing!
(Tracie Travis 9:45pm April 16, 2011)

I am definitely a control freak but am mellowing out in my old age.
(Lisa Garrett 11:17pm April 16, 2011)

No, I am not a control freak but I need to be -- a liitle.
(Mona Garg 8:54pm April 17, 2011)

I was a control freak in my early age. I have given it up
later on.
(Betty Miles 5:57pm April 18, 2011)

I'm not a control freak except when it comes to food which I partake of at least 3 times a day plus snacks. Well, that's a big plus.
(Alyson Widen 8:30pm April 20, 2011)

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