About THE VIRGIN AND THE VISCOUNT
In
the next sparkling romance in debut author Charis Michael’s Bachelor Lords of
London series, a proper viscount meets his match in a beguiling virgin who
can't help but break all the rules.
The
Virgin
Lady Elisabeth Hamilton-Baythes has a painful secret. At the innocent age of fifteen, she was abducted by highwaymen and sold to a brothel. After two days, a young lord discovers her and enacts a brave rescue to get her out. Now she's a grown woman, working to save other girls from the horror she saw that night and never forgetting the young man who rescued her.
The Viscount
Bryson Courtland, Viscount Rainsleigh has overcome an abusive boyhood, neglectful parents, and a bankrupt title to be one of the wealthiest noblemen in Britain. He works tirelessly to be upright and forthright and proper to a fault. Now he requires only one thing: A proper, forthright, proper wife.
The Unraveling
When a charity event puts Lord Bryson and Lady Elisabeth face-to-face, Bryson has no memory of the wounded girl of long ago. All he can see is a perfect candidate to be his future wife. Elisabeth has never forgotten him, but she worries that the brave boy who saved her so long ago has become a rich man with an unfulfilled life.
As a whirlwind courtship reveals the truth, Bryson must accept that Elisabeth is actually a shadow from his dark past, while Elisabeth must show that love is the noblest virtue of all.
Lady Elisabeth Hamilton-Baythes has a painful secret. At the innocent age of fifteen, she was abducted by highwaymen and sold to a brothel. After two days, a young lord discovers her and enacts a brave rescue to get her out. Now she's a grown woman, working to save other girls from the horror she saw that night and never forgetting the young man who rescued her.
The Viscount
Bryson Courtland, Viscount Rainsleigh has overcome an abusive boyhood, neglectful parents, and a bankrupt title to be one of the wealthiest noblemen in Britain. He works tirelessly to be upright and forthright and proper to a fault. Now he requires only one thing: A proper, forthright, proper wife.
The Unraveling
When a charity event puts Lord Bryson and Lady Elisabeth face-to-face, Bryson has no memory of the wounded girl of long ago. All he can see is a perfect candidate to be his future wife. Elisabeth has never forgotten him, but she worries that the brave boy who saved her so long ago has become a rich man with an unfulfilled life.
As a whirlwind courtship reveals the truth, Bryson must accept that Elisabeth is actually a shadow from his dark past, while Elisabeth must show that love is the noblest virtue of all.
About CHARIS MICHAELS
Charis
Michaels is thrilled to be making her debut with Avon Impulse. Prior to writing
romance, she studied Journalism at Texas A&M and managed PR for a trade
association. She has also worked as a tour guide at Disney World, harvested
peaches on her family’s farm, and entertained children as the “Story Godmother”
at birthday parties. She has lived in Texas, Florida, and London, England. She
now makes her home in the Washington, D.C.-metro area.
Google
Play: https://play.google.com/store/search?q=9780062412935+&c=books
2. What three things about you might surprise your readers?
4. Tell us about THE VIRGIN AND THE VISCOUNT
5. Where did the idea for the storyline come from?
6. What do you think readers will like/love about Bryson and Elisabeth?
8. Who are some of your book boyfriends? What draws you to them?
9. If you had to pick a favorite cocktail of choice, what would it be? (It can be non-alcoholic too)
10. What’s next for you?
Charis Michaels Q&A
1.
Tell us about yourself.
Well,
I’m a 43-year-old wife and mother who has dreamt of writing romance novels
since I read ALMOST HEAVEN by Judith McNaught when I was 16. For better
or for worse, I live the dream. I wear puffy dresses that are borderline
costumes. I love a good garden party. Castles and cottages are the
homes of my dreams. I’m a sucker for any television show, book, or movie
with a well-done romance and HEA.
I
lived in England for a time but I’m a native Texan and Texan at heart. I
love the beach but will never turn down a trip to Disney (in the off season).
2. What three things about you might surprise your readers?
I
worked at RWA (Romance Writers of America, the trade group for romance authors)
right out of college and promoted authors and romance novels for eight years.
Dream job.
I
wear small shoulder pads with every single outfit (rounded shoulders, what are
you gonna do?).
My
fantasy guy is a thug with a heart of gold (think Vin Diesel or Channing
Tatum), but I would not be able to stand this person IRL. I’m married to
the love of my life, a bald lawyer with three fancy degrees who enjoys napping.
Heart of gold? Yes. Thug? Not so much.
3.
Is there a genre(s) that you think “I might like to write one of those.”?
You
know, I am all-romance/all-the-time. Although if “sub-genres” count, I
definitely would eventually like to write contemporary romantic suspense/adventure
(remember those thugs with a heart of gold?). I have a completed romantic
adventure just sitting there, waiting for its moment in the sun.
4. Tell us about THE VIRGIN AND THE VISCOUNT
This
is the story of an incredibly powerful, serious, straight-laced, controlled
hero (the viscount) who thinks he wants one thing—a very proper wife—but who
falls in love with someone entirely different (the virgin). Slowly, she
unravels this man and teaches him the true meaning of nobility and honor.
I love a serious hero who loses control, and this one totally loses
control.
5. Where did the idea for the storyline come from?
As
originally written, the hero discovers a scar on the heroine’s body when they
are in bed on their wedding night—and he realizes that she is not who he thinks
she is. He’s crushed and angry and just…awful to her. This was
originally written more than ten years ago, and I’ve had to revise his reaction
and when and where it happens so it’s not so…well, so awful. But the new
scene, and how they come back from that horrible place, is so much fun to read.
That’s a long way of saying, the idea came from the notion of the hero
thinking his new bride is/was a virgin, and then discovering that she might not
be. I built the story around that emotional journey.
6. What do you think readers will like/love about Bryson and Elisabeth?
If
you like a buttoned-up hero that totally loses control, then you will love
Bryson. He’s powerful, in command, dominating, kind of old-school.
And then he loses all of that authority because of this woman. You’ve
gotta love a man who loses all authority because of a woman! (Or I
do.)
The
heroine is super capable, plain-spoken, and no-nonsense. But she’s also
generous of spirit, kind, and forgiving. I think the typical “unravel-er”
of buttoned-up men is portrayed as like a free spirit or a bohemian.
Elisaeth is not necessarily this archetype (if free spirit can be
considered an archetype). She is not beholden to the social climbing of
the haute ton, nor is she interested in doing anything for the sake of
appearances. But other than that, she is traditional and confident
and hopeful. She falls in love easily. She is curious about sex.
She is me or you on our best day.
7.
What was your favorite scene from the book?
Oooh,
there is a scene in a map room outside a ball where the hero confronts the
heroine about when/how they may have met in their pasts, and it is devastating
but so much fun. And then when the convene again to rehash it all in the
home of the heroine’s aunt? To die for (IMHO)!
8. Who are some of your book boyfriends? What draws you to them?
Is
it wrong that I don’t even have to look these up? Lord Dain from “Lord of
the Scoundrels.” Any of the Macleod brothers from Shannon McKenna’s
Macleod brothers series of romantic suspense, but especially Conner Macleod and
Miles Davenport. Captain Asher Flint from “I Kissed an Earl.”
Why?
Two words: Tortured and alpha. In that order.
9. If you had to pick a favorite cocktail of choice, what would it be? (It can be non-alcoholic too)
Oh,
I’m a margarita girl, all the way. Salt on the rim, if you please.
Frozen or on the rocks. Any iteration, from classic to pomegranate.
Thank you very much!
10. What’s next for you?
I’m
furiously trying to finish the third book in the Bachelor Lords trilogy:
One for the Rogue, out December 6th. When you read the Virgin and the
Viscount you’ll be able to identify the hero of this book right away.
He’s a handful but a lot of fun.
Thank
you for the interview! Great questions!
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