January 2014
On Sale: January 7, 2014
Featuring: Anthony Keaton; Gabrielle
352 pages ISBN: 1402286589 EAN: 9781402286582 Kindle: B00F3D8MPE Paperback / e-Book Add to Wish List
Hi, everyone! I'm Samantha Grace, author of ONE ROGUE TOO MANY. I'd like to thank Fresh Fiction for inviting me to share a little about my book and myself today. Interviewers often ask me if I have any writing idiosyncrasies. I've given the question some thought in the past and always said, "Not really." Well, I had a revelation last night. I do have a few peculiar habits when it comes to writing. Of course, I didn't realize it until I was frantically searching through stacks of paper for a fact I jotted down over a year ago. I never found that fact, but I unearthed lengthy handwritten backgrounds for the main characters for all the stories I've written. Birth order, parents, significant life events, how they felt about events, how they coped, etc. I realized something else last night. My character histories have to be written on loose-leaf, college rule notebook paper. Typing paper is acceptable in a pinch, but not my preference. (My sentences always start to slant without the lines.) And I must have a clipboard. I have no idea why, because I mostly write my notes at a desk or table. All I know is I NEED it. Okay. That's a little quirky; I'll admit it. Sometimes a written summary isn't enough once I dig into a story. I have to watch everything unfold so I can empathize with the character, and that means a flashback scene. More often than not, these flashbacks never make it into the book. Seems like a waste, doesn't it? I suppose it depends on how I look at it. If I can understand and relate to my character, I don't struggle as much with the story. Intuitively I know how a character will respond to a situation. In the end, it seems worth it. A flashback scene I wrote for ONE ROGUE TOO MANY actually made it into the book this time, and I'd love to share it with Fresh Fiction readers.
Gabby's hand stilled and she turned toward Anthony with a wide smile, setting her sketchbook and charcoal beside her on the garden bench. "That's Lady Bug to you, my lord."
She wasn't sure when she had begun to consider his nickname for her a term of endearment rather than the insult she was sure he had intended years ago. Perhaps her attitude toward him was a recent change, a transformation that had come over her during this break between school terms, but affection for him swelled within her chest.
He swept up her drawing and plopped beside her on the bench. "Your nose is red, little bug. Why are you sitting in the cold?"
She made a show of pulling her pelisse tighter around her, but she no longer sensed the chill with him near. "My muse cares little for my comfort. Inspiration strikes when it is least convenient."
"Would you like me to speak with her on your behalf?" He playfully bumped her shoulder then held her sketchbook up to scrutinize it. He glanced up and turned his head one way then the other, his lovely blond brows forming a V over his glorious blue eyes.
Gabby sighed softly, melting inside. Anthony had returned from his second year at Oxford, no longer a boy, but a handsome prince. She'd had plenty of time to revel in his perfection since he resumed posing for her not long after his return to the country. Her favorite sketch rested between the pages of her journal, hidden beneath her mattress.
No matter that she was thirteen and likely was viewed by the adults around her as too young to know her heart. She loved Anthony Keaton, the Earl of Ellis. Besides, she would be fourteen in a month. She was on the verge of becoming a woman.
Anthony's gaze landed on her and flared.
She blinked and quickly looked away as a burst of heat consumed her. He had caught her in the act of pining for him.
He cleared his throat, shifting away from her.
Her stomach took a dive, but she refused to believe his movement held any significance. Only weeks earlier he had grasped her hand when they'd stood side by side at his mother's grave site, his stoic expression ripping Gabby apart when she sensed the tremors coursing through him. He'd held on tighter while the men shoveled every last spade of dirt on his mother's resting spot and refused to relinquish Gabby's hand until their small group of mourners had reached Ellis Hall. He was reluctant to leave her now, too, which was the reason he'd sought her out before her father's coach carried him and her brother back to school. She sensed it deep within her bones.
He tapped her drawing. "Where, pray tell, do you see a lady in dance?"
"Right there." She nodded toward the aged oak standing sentry at the edge of the garden. "Can't you see it?"
"The tree?" He squinted. "The tree is dancing."
She rolled her eyes, hopped up from the bench, and marched toward the oak. "The tree isn't dancing, you dolt. Look at the lines of the bark." With a pointed finger, she indicated the outline of the figure that jumped out at her. It was as plain as the pleasing nose on his face. "Here is the curve of her arm and her side. And see how her hip is rounded here and then the length of her leg."
Anthony set the sketchbook aside and came over to examine the bark. He dragged his finger over the grooves in the tree. "How did you see it?"
She warmed at the awe present in his tone. "I see it. I don't know how."
He glanced down at her, his blue eyes alight with something that made her stomach quiver.
This wasn't how he typically looked at her. His admiration was becoming an uncomfortable fit. She scoffed to hide her true reaction. "How do you >not see it?"
He grinned. "I do now." He patted her shoulder, his touch branding her as his. "Thank you, bug. There is no telling the number of extraordinary things I miss when you aren't around to point them out."
She barely contained her happy sigh. Clasping her hands behind her back, she swayed, debating on whether to give him the gift she'd found earlier in the summer. Perhaps it would seem childish to him. Or it might be seen as one of those extraordinary things he had mentioned.
She held a finger up. "Wait here." Then she dashed for the house. At the French doors, she stopped and turned toward him. "Promise you won't go anywhere?"
"I promise, but hurry. The coach will be leaving soon."
Gabby ran inside and up the staircase, grateful she didn't cross paths with anyone who would scold her for unladylike behavior.
In her chambers, she hurried to her vanity to retrieve her simple treasure from the jewel box before rushing back to the garden. Anthony was still there, his cheeks pink from the cold air.
Her fingers tightened around her gift, the edges digging into her palm.
His smile seemed sad and unsettled her. She came forward slowly, doubting her decision to lay her feelings out to him.
"I am sorry about your mother," she said. "You mustn't ever think you are alone now."
"But I am. I'm an orphan with no family."
She shook her head. "We are your family. You have us."
Anthony had spent more time at their home than his neighboring estate for as long as she could remember. He had to know she spoke the truth.
"I'm fond of your family, Gabby, but that doesn't make them mine."
She came forward on a rush of emotion and grasped his hand. "We are yours. I am." She shoved the heart-shaped stone into his hand.
He uncurled his fingers and stared down at her offering. A shadow fell over his features. His lips turned down. "Gabby, I—"
Her brother flung the outside door open. "Ellis, what are you doing out here? It's time to go." Drew sauntered into the gardens, either oblivious to the fact he was interrupting or uncaring. Like Anthony, he was dressed in travel attire.
Anthony trapped the stone in his fist and tossed a jaunty grin toward her brother. "I wanted a breath of fresh air, and I stumbled upon the bug doing her sketches."
There was no endearment attached to the name this time, and Gabby shrank back. She had been the target of their taunts too often to lower her guard.
Drew gestured toward Anthony. "What's in your hand?"
Anthony snorted. "Nothing. Let's get out of here."
His derision drove a spike into her chest.
Drew was not easily distracted, however, and grabbed for Anthony's hand. "Come on. Give it over. You're holding on like it's a piece of gold."
"I am not!" Anthony stopped resisting and opened his fist.
Drew laughed. "A rock? What use do you have for a rock?"
Anthony's gaze lingered on her, his expression grim. "I told you it was nothing." He walked to the edge of the garden, drew his arm back, and flung it so far Gabby couldn't see where it landed.
Her heart seized and her throat burned. She drew a deep breath to keep from crying.
Her brother came forward and gathered her in an awkward hug. "Now, don't start crying again, princess. I will be back again before you know it."
A soft sob escaped her despite her determination to keep her tears inside.
Anthony shoved his hands into his pockets and studied the ground. "I'll wait by the coach."
And then he walked away without even saying good-bye, leaving her trust and love for him trampled and broken on the ground.
My first crush was a boy in the 4th grade named Cory. He was really good at kickball on the playground and I loved playing kickball too. We went on one date finally in the 7th grade. He took me fishing. I don't like to fish, but it was fun being with him! (Sue Galuska 11:46am January 16, 2014)
Hmmm, my first crush was a boy in my sixth grade class. Our desks faced each other... He was a great friend, but never knew that I really liked him... afterwards I never saw him again... he went to another school. (Colleen Conklin 11:54am January 16, 2014)
Sue, What a sweet story! And how great that you actually got to go on a date with your crush. I never did go out with any of my crushes. Who knows, maybe it would have just ruined my daydreams. :) (Samantha Grace 12:22pm January 16, 2014)
Hi, Colleen! That sounds much more like me. I never wanted my crushes to know I had a crush on them. lol (Samantha Grace 12:23pm January 16, 2014)
yes, it was long ago, but I remember :) (Denise Holcomb 1:00pm January 16, 2014)
Thanks for stopping by, Kent. :) (Samantha Grace 2:38pm January 16, 2014)
First crush? Not really. Maybe Tony Defranco from the singing group The Defrancos??haha I am not sure a clip board is quirky. Sounds necessary to me. I hate writing in a notebook without one. And my lines go all wonky if I try writing on blank pages. haha Love the cover and the title! ;-) (Lisa Hutson 3:03pm January 16, 2014)
I met my first crush at summer camp. *sigh* How could I forget that. LOL (Marcy Shuler 5:01pm January 16, 2014)
My first crush was in the 5th grade. His name was William and he asked me out to the movies. Since we were only 10 or 11 at the time,itdidn't happen. He later moved and went to anothe rschool,so I never saw him again. AH! young love. Marilyn Collins (Marilyn Collins 6:45pm January 16, 2014)
Wow, Congrats on your new book: ONE ROGUE TOO MANY. I love the beautiful purple dress and pretty book cover too! No, I do not really remember my first crush but I liked a cute football player in my town and he went for the little cheerleader instead of a cute farm girl like Me; Hee Hee! So, I left town and now in the big city of Austin, TX I am on my 2nd marriage for 25 years now and have my own Personal JESUS! So, I think I did pretty well after being divorced for 8 years. God has been good to me. I would love to win and read your fascinating new book this New Year in 2014. Thank You very much. Cecilia CECE (Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 7:02pm January 16, 2014)
My first crush was in 7th grade. He was just so cute, though I never told him. Just a lot of sighs. (Carol Woodruff 7:17pm January 16, 2014)
My first crush was a handsome young man that had teased me all through middle school. We went to the Junior Senior Prom together when I was a junior in high school. I thought dating him was a dream come true. Then, a friend of a friend took me to lunch to let me know that she had gotten pregnant with him, and her parents had to send her to New York for an illegal abortion. Abortion was not legal at the time, and New York was one of the best places to go for one at the time. Her new definitely ruined my romance! I was really disgusted with him after that! (Sandy Fielder 7:24pm January 16, 2014)
Hi Samantha!
I loved your excerpt from One Rouge Too Many! Often the excerpt that are shared really don't give us as readers a true "feel" of the story but this one did in spades!
Even though I'm in my 60's now (okay to be honest "late" 60's) I'll never forget my very first "crush". I lived in a small village at the time and at the end of my road was the baseball field that the boys in the neighborhood used to play "pick-up" games and that's where I first saw "Corky" and lost my young heart. I think I was probably in 6th grade and it's where I got my first kiss (okay more like a peck) from Corky and never missed going to watch the boys play for the entire summer. I finally figured out that the only reason he gave me that kiss was so the "team" would have someone routing for them (they were really bad baseball players and I think won once!).
Of course back them "kissing a boy" really wasn't the "done" thing but at least I knew as the next few years passed that once upon a time a had gotten my "first" kiss! (Jeanne Miro 8:47pm January 16, 2014)
My very first crush was in 1st Grade ( yeah, I know way early). His name was Stephen and we were born on the same day. His older sister was in some of my classes -- California in the 70s doing experimental educational. She tried to ecourage it with plans of a wedding in the future which completely freaked me out. :-D (Glenda Martillotti 8:56pm January 16, 2014)
I remember my first crush but he didn't notice me. (Kai Wong 9:36pm January 16, 2014)
Oh, yes! We were both in 7th grade, and he didn't know I existed. (Janie McGaugh 9:39pm January 16, 2014)
Thank you, Lisa! The odd part about the clip board is I don't write on it. LOL There is no real purpose to having it other than when I'm finished writing, I use the clip to hold my papers. Maybe that's not such a weird thing. It keeps everything together, but so would a paperclip. :) (Samantha Grace 9:40pm January 16, 2014)
Marcelyn, First love at summer camp. That would be a great memory. :) (Samantha Grace 9:41pm January 16, 2014)
Cecilia, Thank you! And congratulations on 25 years with the right guy! Second chance at love stories are some my favorites, and they are even better when it's real life. :) (Samantha Grace 9:46pm January 16, 2014)
Marilyn, Aww! That's so cute. :) (Samantha Grace 9:47pm January 16, 2014)
Oh, Sandy! I'm with you. Yuck! Thank goodness you found out about him early, but that had to be so tough to hear. :( (Samantha Grace 9:49pm January 16, 2014)
Jeanne, What a wonderful story of first love! So did the baseball team win more games that summer? ;)
Thank you for your kind words. I'm so glad you got a good feel for the story from the excerpt. I do love writing my flashback scenes. lol (Samantha Grace 9:54pm January 16, 2014)
Glenda, Hahaha… I can just imagine how talk of marriage might be a little much for a 1st grader. :D (Samantha Grace 9:55pm January 16, 2014)
Hi, Kai & Janie!
My first real crush didn't notice me either. I pined most of Jr. High. He was a basketball player, so I attended every home game and pined some more. *sigh* Then he moved away, and I was crush-free until high school when a new boy moved to our school. He had been in Catholic school up until 10th grade. Oh, my goodness. My heart still skips a beat when I think of him. LOL (Samantha Grace 10:01pm January 16, 2014)
Thank you for the best wishes, Elaine. I'm sorry to hear you lost your first crush. :( (Samantha Grace 10:07pm January 16, 2014)
Yes, I definitely remember my first crush. I fell in love with him when I was very, very young and was deeply in love by the time I was 7. I didn't get over him until I was in high school. By the time he deigned to notice me (after he'd dated my two best friends), and asked me out, telling me how great we'd be together, I was done. I told him he'd had enough years to realize how great we'd be together. I was moving on. (Michelle Willms 10:51pm January 16, 2014)
Yes I remember. Long time ago. Thanks for a chance to win your book. Love the cover. (Linda Hall 12:03pm January 17, 2014)
Yes, as it was so long ago. Thanks for the giveaway. (Kathleen Beale 7:04am January 17, 2014)
I do... it was in what is now middle school. I'm 61 now so that's been a while. :-)))
I love the cover! Purple is my fav color!
Thanks for the giveaway! (Linda Townsend 8:19am January 17, 2014)
I don't think a Woman ever forgets her first crush!! That's a part that stays with her for the rest of her life!! Everyone thought that I would marry mine, but it was not to be. Such is life, but I'm very happy with the person that I did marry. He was a crush as well!! As for your excerpt, it took my breath away!! I wish I had your book in front of me, so I could continue reading!! I adore the cover, too!! Congratulations on what I'm sure is going to be a great book!! It's on my TBR list for sure!! (Peggy Roberson 9:01am January 17, 2014)
I love historical romances....thanks!!! (Bonnie Capuano 9:11am January 17, 2014)
Ok it seems I'm the odd ball out. I don't remember my first crush :0 Thank you for the giveaway. One rouge too many sounds great, I look forward to reading it. (Alexisa Neely 9:23am January 17, 2014)
My first crush was in grade school, he was the paperboy. :-) (Margaret Branca 9:57am January 17, 2014)
I do...It was long time ago (May Pau 10:27am January 17, 2014)
mine was a long time ago when i was in middle school (Denise Smith 10:32am January 17, 2014)
Oh man. My first crush was in elementary school. We were best friends and I liked him for at least 5 years. Sigh. (Karin Anderson 10:38am January 17, 2014)
My first crush was in 5th grade---a really tall boy with blond hair. (Sue Farrell 10:58am January 17, 2014)
My first crush was in the first or second grade and it's been so long I cannot remember his name. (Lori Yost 11:58am January 17, 2014)
No, I don't remember my first crush. It's been a long, long time ago and many things have happened since. (Anna Speed 12:08pm January 17, 2014)
My first crush was in fifth grade he wasn't very popular or cute but he was really sweet. I cant remember his name though! (Denise Austin 1:32pm January 17, 2014)
The first crush I will admit to was a blue-eyed blonde who was studying to be a farmer. I think every other girl in middle school had a crush on him. When they finally discovered his taste in girls the majority of us moved on. (Sandra Spilecki 4:59pm January 17, 2014)
I love the front cover!! ...and I look forward to reading this! (Betty Hamilton 5:57pm January 17, 2014)
I remember my first crush. Of course he did not know I existed. (Mary Preston 6:47pm January 17, 2014)
first fiancee became a Trappist monk - second one was the keeper! It's been a good life, he's a good man and the kids were a nice surprise too! (Beth Fuller 6:53pm January 17, 2014)
Yes I remember my first crush, oh so many years ago! (Jean Patton 7:25pm January 17, 2014)
It's been a long time but I believe it was with an "older man" - a neighbor - he was 16 (I was probably 9) - very sweet guy. (Diane Sallans 9:26pm January 17, 2014)
My first crush was with a boy in my pre-school class. My parents have a picture of us at about age 5 in little graduation hats. I haven't thought about that in years. [email protected] (Amy Kincade 9:26pm January 17, 2014)
Barry Manillow. :) (MaryAnne Banks 11:15pm January 17, 2014)
Michelle Willms, Good for you! I love that you told him it was too late. :) (Samantha Grace 11:31am January 18, 2014)
Linda Hall & Kathleen Beale, Thank you for stopping by. Good luck in the drawing! :) (Samantha Grace 11:33am January 18, 2014)
Hi, Linda T! :) I love the purple too. I think Sourcebooks did a fantastic job on the cover. Of course, they never disappoint me.
Middle school was my first big crush too. (We called it Jr. High.) (Samantha Grace 11:35am January 18, 2014)
Aw, thank you, Peggy! Your comment made me smile. :)
Isn't it funny how life turns out? My husband was a complete surprise too, but the best thing that could have happened to me. (Samantha Grace 11:42am January 18, 2014)
Congratulations on the publication of One Rogue Too Many! The book sounds wonderful. Thanks for sharing the great excerpt. I love historical romance and have added this title to my wishlist. My first crush was a boy in fifth grade who didn't even notice me. (Bonnie H 9:58pm January 25, 2014)
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