Jennifer Haymore's The Scoundrel's Seduction is our June Top Pick in Romance! Sam Hawkins is an undercover agent, and is sworn to protect his king and country. When he is sent to assassinate an aristocratic conspirator, he carries out his orders, but the traitor's wife, the beguiling Lady Dunthorpe, witnessed the entire event. Sam is horrified and sees no choice but to kidnap her from the scene, yet Élise is glad to be free from her abusive husband. Soon, she is torn between her desire to escape from Sam and the heated attraction between them, but an unforeseen danger at last unites the pair, and they must put faith in each other as they run for their lives.
We chatted with Haymore about her favorite character, English history and more in a 7 questions interview.
Describe your book in one sentence.
An assassin and his target’s wife are thrown together and need to weed through the truth and the lies, and struggle against their growing attraction for each other.
What do you love most about writing historical romance?
I love so much about it! One of my favorite things is the lushness of the historical worlds I write in. Money, power, aristocracy and pomp and circumstance make a delicious backdrop.
What traits are most important in a romance heroine?
Inner strength, intelligence and a strong spirit.
Of all the characters you’ve ever written, which is your favorite?
That’s impossible! That’s like publicly picking one of your children out as your favorite!
I guess I’ll have to say, it’s my “firstborn” hero, the should-be hero of my first book, A Hint of Wicked, Garrett, the Duke of Calton. I think his story is the most heartbreaking of all my heroes, because he really does lose everything but fights back and ultimately earns his happily ever after.
How do you conquer writer’s block?
I just write through it. I think to myself, “You’re writing crap. It makes no sense. It’s horrible. But you’re writing it, and you’re not going to stop.” Invariably, I read it later on and discover that it’s not so horrible after all.
What’s your favorite period of English history?
Another hard question! I love so many periods of post-Roman English history. Of course I do love my beloved Regency period, but I also love the Middle Ages and Victorian England as well.
What are you working on next?
An offshoot of the House of Trent series, The Highland Knights. Many of the characters from the House of Trent will be making appearances, and some will find their own happily ever afters.
Author photo by Lawrence Balingit
