The Reluctant Wife Blog Tour

Hi Amanda, I’m waving really madly from New Zealand. Thanks for having me over to blog today. It’s my first visit here, for my first contemporary release-perfect!

What was the hardest part of writing your book?

Hmmm, everything – no, only joking! As it was my first contemporary everything felt foreign. I had to get use to changing the speech, language, clothes, description, setting used by my characters.  However, I guess the toughest part of writing THE RELUCTANT WIFE,  was dealing with a topic that is quite emotional for me. I suffer from endometriosis and have had to deal with all the issues this condition brings. The journey was rather cathartic  actually. It was fun to give Abby, my heroine, her happy ever after.

Favorite book that you read?

Gosh, you’re asking some tough questions. I have so many it would be too hard to pick one. The latest book I’ve read, which I loved, is my critique partner, Gracie O’Neil’s, Shadow Seer: Book Two of The Scroll of Shadows Trilogy. If you love a great romantic suspense with a dash of paranormal, then I’m sure you’ll love this book.

If you were stuck on an island, name two things you could bring with you? 

Bear Grylls, the survival expert. He’d know what to do in order to survive and he’s HOT! I’m sure I could think of ways to keep us both entertained and warm at night...

Second, I’d take my tooth brush. Even without tooth paste I’d feel fresh if my teeth were clean! Plus I’m sure Bear would appreciate it.

Favorite character to write about in your novel?

I think it was Dante- my hero. He was such a conflicted soul who set down a path that he felt was right for his family, but which was wrong for all the right reasons. He was forced to take over his father’s corporate empire at the age of twenty and he’s responsible for many employees, his large extended family and the family title – he’s a Conte. He feels weighed down by duty and responsibility, and when his brother dies, leaving him the only male, he panics when his latest test results show an abnormality.

If he dies without an heir it would see his mother and sisters lose everything.  His latest test results are not good. He feels his mortality and needs a son.

He needs his wife back but he is scared to love her. Is it far to make Abby fall in love with him, if he’s a dead man walking? His mother never remarried when his father died young and Abby is still in her mid-twenties. He doesn’t want her to pine for him for the rest of her life.

I loved teaching him that Abby would happily have his love even if it was only for one day. Love is everything.

Describe the weirdest/spontaneous thing you’ve done?

LOL – what a question. I’m one of life’s least spontaneous people. I plan, I plot all my books, and I generally have a strategy for everything and anything I do. That does not mean I’m boring. It just  means I have goals that I want to achieve and I try to ensure I meet them.

One of the scariest, spontaneous things I did was buy a house on a whim. I’ve just told you that I plot and plan, yet I bought a house off the plans with little or no thought. My best-friend took me to see the townhouse she was buying off plan and I immediately bought the one next door to her unit. When I got home that night I broke out into a cold sweat and couldn’t sleep for a week. But it all worked out fine. I sold my house once my new town-house was built and my friend and I lived next door to each other quite happily.

Thanks for blogging with me. I thought I’d share an excerpt from The Reluctant Wife

Lunch went smoothly. Everybody was trying so hard to disguise their amazement at Abby’s return. Now they were off to the hospital to see her grandmother.

Abby held tightly to the seat as she sat alongside Dante in his sports car while he expertly edged it through the city’s busy traffic. She loved the rumble of the powerful engine and felt safe with Dante in control behind the wheel.

“I should be able to make up the fifteen minutes. Don’t worry, we won’t be late.”

They’d been late to the luncheon, where she’d had to suffer all the family’s teasing over their freshly showered arrival. It was good-natured banter and she got a reminder of what a fabulous actor Dante was. She could almost believe he was a man totally besotted at being reconciled with his wife.

The luncheon had been the soothing balm she’d needed. Dante might not be welcoming, but his family certainly was. Her grandmother would love being fussed over by the gregarious Lombardi extended family. It should help her recuperation immensely. For that, and his help in quickly organizing the surgery, she owed him.

She reached forward and turned the car’s air-conditioning up another notch. Dante’s mood should have cooled her significantly, but her nervousness over her grandmother’s condition, and the pointed questions she’d no doubt face when they met, made her perspire.

“Are you too hot or too cold?”

She eyed him over her sunglasses. Not as cold as your heart, she wanted to yell. Instead, not trusting herself to speak, she shook her head.

“I can put the top down if you like.”

“No, I’m fine,” she said lying.

The black Porsche suited him to a tee. It was powerful, fast, and sleek, and it screamed wealth and sex. Everything about the car matched the man. Why had she not seen it before they married? The car hardly spoke of a man used to compromise.

Because all she’d seen at nineteen was the excitement of him, the beauty of him—and the fairy tale.

The one thing the Porsche Carrera definitely did not represent was family man. Before she thought about what she was saying the words popped out of her mouth. “I think you’ll need a new car.”

“I’m going to, actually. I’m awaiting the new Carrera GTS.”

“That’s not what I meant. This car is not suitable for children.”

She watched the frown lines appear around his eyes and his mouth firm.

“In what way?”

“Besides being too fast and dangerous? The baby’s seat can’t go in the front and there isn’t enough room to safely position it in the back. Let alone fit a stroller.” She watched his hands tighten on the steering wheel. “I’d make the most of driving this car while you can.”

 “You’re right. I’ll need to get something that is safe and sturdy. With loads of airbags.” He finally looked briefly at her. “What do you suggest? A station wagon perhaps?”

The thought of a man as virile and as testosterone-filled as Dante driving a station wagon made her laugh out loud.

“What’s so funny?”

“You. Driving a station wagon.”

“I’ll drive whatever car is best for our child.”

 “A child means the world to you, doesn’t it?”

He remained silent concentrating on the road. “It isn’t only about duty, though. I admit I want a son to carry on the Lombardi name and title, but it’s more than that. And, yes, I married you because I thought it was time to be a father and…you were very desirable.”

The truth hurt. He’d never loved her. Even though she’d known it deep inside, the shock of hearing him admit it made her heart shrivel up.

“It was my brother’s death that made me understand I couldn’t take anything for granted. It was time and you—the first time I looked in your eyes I realized you’d be perfect.”

“Every girl’s dream. To be swept off her feet to become a baby-maker.”

 “I’m sorry. I’m sorry for not getting to know you properly first. I thought marriage to me, to be a part of my family, was what you wanted.”

He was looking at the road, straight ahead. His mouth was a firm line and she could almost see regret etched on his forehead. Regret for marrying her or regret that he’d been so dictatorial?

Giveaway: Now, tell me what kind of car Dante drives, and I’ll draw one lucky winner who’ll receive a copy of my May 2012 Regency historical, Invitation to Scandal, in book or eBook format.

About Bron:

New Zealander Bronwen Evans grew up loving books. She’s always indulged her love for story-telling, and is constantly gobbling up movies, books and theatre. Her head is filled with characters and stories, particularly lovers in angst. Is it any wonder she’s a proud romance writer?

She writes both historical and contemporary sexy romances for the modern woman who likes intelligent, spirited heroines, and compassionate alpha heroes. Her debut Regency romance, Invitation to Ruin won the RomCon 2012 Readers Crown Best Historical and was an RT Reviewers’ Choice Nominee Best First Historical 2011. To Dare the Duke of Dangerfield was a FINALIST in the Kindle Book Review Indie Romance Book of the Year 2012. Look out for her first Entangled Publishing Indulgence released Dec 2012, The Reluctant Wife.

Bronwen loves hearing from avid romance readers at romance@bronwenevans.com
you can keep up with Bronwen’s news by visiting her website www.bronwenevans.com

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