Miss Merton’s Last Hope by Heather Boyd
Hello and thanks Collette for hosting me on the blog today. For those who don’t know me I’m Heather Boyd, regency romance author from down under (Australia). Today is release day for Miss Merton’s Last Hope, the fourth book in the Miss Mayhem series. Actually when you live on the far side of the world, book release days span about 2 days in total. I have an Australian release day then the rest of the world catches up the following morning.
Miss Merton’s Last Hope is a sensual regency romance featuring one of my favorite heroes, Walter George, and he’s consented to spend a few moments with us today for an exclusive interview.
Heather: Good morning Mr. George. How lovely to see you again!
Walter: And you. It’s been a few weeks since you were last in Brighton. Last I heard, you’d packed your trunks and run off to a scandalous house party.
Heather: I did do some travelling and you know writers have to go where the stories are. I had a lovely visit with Lord Windermere and of course a great deal of fun with Lady Heathcote as usual. Tell me what’s new in Brighton?
Walter: I don’t like to gossip.
Heather: True. That is one of your finer qualities, but if you don’t tell me something then you make it devilishly tricky to ease into conversation. Nothing? Well, perhaps we’ll just move along to the interview stage. I’ll start with an easy question: What is your favorite food?
Walter: Dessert. And before you ask I haven’t met a dessert I didn’t love.
Heather: That did make pinning down what to write about a tricky proposition for me. There were so many rich dessert dishes to choose from that year. You seemed to like all of the options put forward. When you walk into a room what do you notice first? Second?
Walter: I look to see if there is an instrument of music in the room. The second thing I look to see is who might be about to assault my ears with the sound from it. You have no idea how torturous amateur performers can be when confined to a small space.
Heather: (laughs) A wise preparation. Now, if you were granted three wishes, what would you ask for?
Walter: Comfort, warmth and good company.
Heather: Rather broad. You have a reputation as a sensible man. Do you think it deserved?
Walter: I suppose so. I’m not one of those fellows who rush about chasing whim or fashionable opinion. I like to make up my own mind and do things in my own pace.
Heather: (clearly I modeled him after one of my children) I think you proved that one beyond a shadow of a doubt with the speed of your courtship with Miss Merton.
Walter: I never did propose. Sometimes not even a long acquaintance reveals the truth about a person. Sometimes you have to push to get a straight answer.
Heather: Or dance the truth out of them as you did so cleverly in chapter three with Melanie. Thank you for that by the way. Who was your first crush?
Walter: (frowns) Really? You ask me that now after our story is finished? You should know?
Heather: Fine, fine. Keep your wig on.
Walter: (huffs) I don’t wear a wig.
Heather: You’re rather abrupt today. Is there somewhere you’d rather be instead of talking to me?
Walter: (smiles broadly) Is that a trick question? I’m a newly married man. Where should I want to be but with my wife?
Heather: (laughs) Very well. Last question. What would you do if you woke up to find an elephant in your kitchen garden?
Walter: (stands) Well, if that’s the nonsense you’re going on about these days I’ll take my leave. (bows) Good day, dear creator. Thank you so much for my happy ever after.
Heather: You’re welcome and do give my best to Melanie. Dear readers if you’re curious to know more about Miss Merton’s Last Hope please keep reading.
MISS MERTON’S LAST HOPE
Over the years, Melanie Merton has used every trick and ruse to repel overeager gentlemen callers without ever revealing the real reason she won’t say yes to an offer of marriage. When neighbor Walter George jumps to her defense against slurs cast by suitor number twelve, he also pries into her past—uncovering the circumstances around a tragic loss in her childhood and her aversion to being touched by anyone. But even protective Walter must be kept at a distance for his own good, because despite a growing attraction between them, Melanie must deny him too.
Unlike other men his age in Brighton, Walter George hadn’t considered Melanie Merton for a wife because he was convinced he’d never have a chance to impress his haughty neighbor. But that was before he understood her better, before he uncovered why she kept friends and suitors alike at bay. The right husband could restore the woman he sees into some semblance of the fun-loving child of his memory, but would Walter stand a chance or become just another unlucky suitor?
EXCERPT
Melanie Merton hated her life. She hated the clothes she wore. The house she lived in that was no longer hers to manage. The smiles she had to bestow upon her brother’s friends while overlooking their scowls. Even without the responsibilities she’d always enjoyed, and the hours on her own, she never had a moment’s peace. She just wanted a quiet morning, and that never seemed to happen lately unless she confined herself to her bedchamber.
Today, she was entertaining Mr. Linus Radley until his sister, Julia, her new sister-in-law, came down that morning. The forms of proper behavior that had been drilled into her head since she was a young girl made it impossible for her to say what was really on her mind, even when she wanted to. She was too polite to ask Mr. Radley to go away until a more reasonable hour of the day, and had ordered tea and cake to fill the endless minutes until Julia relieved her of this duty.
“It looks to be a lovely day for a stroll,” Mr. Radley said suddenly. “Might I entice you to venture out with me to look upon the sea? With your maid, of course.”
Melanie sighed with what she hoped sounded like regret and not irritation. She would not go out walking with Linus Radley, with or without a suitable chaperone. She had seen enough of him in the past weeks not to want anything more to do with him than she absolutely had to. He was a bully. “Unfortunately, I am otherwise engaged today.”
“Oh?”
Dear God, the man wants particulars.
About Heather Boyd
Bestselling historical author Heather Boyd believes every character she creates deserves their own happily-ever-after, no matter how much trouble she puts them through. With that goal in mind, she writes sizzling regency romance stories that skirt the boundaries of propriety to keep readers enthralled until the wee hours of the morning. Heather has published over twenty novels and shorter works. Catch her latest news www.heather-boyd.com. She lives north of Sydney, Australia, and does her best to wrangle her testosterone-fuelled family (including cat Morpheus) into submission.
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loved the character’s Q&A. sounds like a wonderful story
Loved that! I haven’t met a dessert I didn’t love either 😀
Or me!
Hi and thanks Collette for posting my interview with my leading man. I love Walter. He and I have remarkably similar tastes in desserts. LOL
He’s quite an intriguing gentleman!