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Rachel Brimble will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

Author Interview: Rachel Brimble

1. How did you choose your genre? What made you write this book?

In the past, I have written contemporary romance and romantic suspense, but for the last 3 or 4 years, I have only written historicals. History is my passion and I think it was inevitable that, as my confidence in my writing grew, my love of history would become a big part of my career.

As for what made me write A Very Modern Marriage, this is the third book in the Ladies of Carson trilogy (all can be read stand-alone) so it would be easier to share the inspiration behind the entire series. It was after I read The Five by Hallie Rubenhold, a book about the lives of Jack the Ripper’s victims. It sounds odd inspiration for historical romance, but I was so moved by these women’s backgrounds and the circumstances that led to them being in Whitehall that I wanted to write a series where I made prostitutes heroines of their own stories… and give them each the happy ever after they deserved.

2. Writers write what they know, and must observe the world. Are you a firstborn, middle or last child, and how does this shape your view of the world?

I’m the youngest of two – I have an older brother. It’s strange because I sometimes consider myself the eldest, but I think that’s because I’m a parent and my brother isn’t so my life has been so different than his!

As for my view of the world, I’m not really sure that my position in the family has shaped it – I’ll have to think about that!

3. Where is your favorite place to write?

I am lucky enough to have a home office which I absolutely love – Two walls have floor-to-ceiling shelves filled with novels and non-fiction research books. The wall in front of my desk is covered with two huge corkboards which hold the visuals for the book I am working on, and the final wall is a window onto my garden.

My office is my happy place!

4. How do you feel about killing your darlings, and what do you do with the remains?

Haha! I very rarely kill my darlings, but if I feel have to I have very little resistance and can be quite brutal. If they are killed, I keep their remains in a file to possibly be exhumed at a later date…

5. You are introduced to your favorite author. Who is it, and what is that one burning question you must ask them?

I have so many favourite authors, but the one I would love to speak to at the moment is Tracy Borman who is Tudor historian. Not only does she write fantastic books about the period, but she is also Chief Curator of Historic Royal Palaces here in the UK.

If I could ask her one question it would be – is it possible I can spend a week shadowing you work at Hampton Court and the Tower of London? How utter fabulous that would be for a history nut like me!

6. Inquiring minds want to know…tell readers something about you that no one knows.

A few people know this about me, but not many – I haven’t had my hair professionally cut since the morning of my wedding almost 24 years ago. It is so curly I’ve managed to get away with my husband or daughters giving it a trim ever since – think of the money I’ve saved!

7. You are stranded on a deserted island with only a backpack for company. What three items are in your survival pack?

A photograph of my husband and daughters

A copy of Gone With The Wind

Pen and paper (does that count as two?)

8. If you could have one superpower in your existence, what would it be?

To be able to go to bed and sleep a solid 8 hours every night…

9. Favorite snack?

Popcorn

10. Indy 500 – Do you know how to get where you’re going or do you drive the speed limit?

Drive the speed limit

A Very Modern Marriage

by Rachel Brimble

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GENRE: Historical romance

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BLURB:

He needs a wife…

Manchester industrialist William Rose was a poor lad from the slums who pulled himself up by his bootstraps, but in order to achieve his greatest ambitions he must become the epitome of Victorian respectability: a family man.

She has a plan…

But the only woman who’s caught his eye is sophisticated beauty Octavia Marshall, one of the notorious ladies of Carson Street. Though she was once born to great wealth and privilege, she’s hardly respectable, but she’s determined to invest her hard-earned fortune in Mr Rose’s mills and forge a new life as an entirely proper businesswoman.

They strike a deal that promises them both what they desire the most, but William’s a fool if he thinks Octavia will be a conventional married woman, and she’s very much mistaken if she thinks the lives they once led won’t follow them wherever they go.

In the third instalment of Rachel Brimble’s exciting Victorian saga series, The Ladies of Carson Street will open the doors on a thoroughly modern marriage – and William is about to get a lot more than he bargained for…

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Excerpt:

Louisa and Jacob’s conversation dimmed as Mr Rose slowly turned his gaze to Octavia. She barely resisted the urge to flinch. His eyes were as dark as his hair, their gaze so intense it was as though he looked to read her thoughts, desires and dreams. The notion was bizarrely unnerving, intoxicating and a frisson of trepidation – or maybe shameful anticipation – shivered through her. Suddenly it didn’t seem such a bad idea to allow Mr Rose’s unexpected visit to play out. Yet, impromptu admittance was not the Carson Street way…

As Louisa and Jacob seemed too imbedded in debate to address Mr Rose and his companions, Octavia raised her chin and held Mr Rose’s unwavering stare. ‘I’m sorry, Mr Rose, but it’s house policy that no girl spends time alone with a man we do not know. Therefore, I kindly ask that you leave for the time being. However, if you wish—’

‘Now, now, Octavia,’ Louisa said firmly as she brushed past her. ‘I don’t think it’s necessary to toss Mr Rose so unceremoniously out of our establishment on such a cold and dreary night, do you?’

‘Louisa…’ Octavia looked pointedly at her friend, her eyebrows raised. ‘Jacob is right. Mr Fairham should not have taken it upon himself to offer his friend’s unkept appointment to Mr Rose. Therefore, Mr Rose should leave.’

Octavia faced Mr Rose and, once again, fought the urge to flinch when she found herself the object of his intense study a second time. She pulled back her shoulders. He had better think again if he thought for one minute she might be intimidated by him.

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AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Rachel lives in a small town near Bath, England. She is the author of over 25 published novels including the Ladies of Carson Street trilogy, the Shop Girl series (Aria Fiction) and the Templeton Cove Stories (Harlequin).

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association as well as the Historical Novel Society and has thousands of social media followers all over the world.

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Website: https://bit.ly/3wH7HQs

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