This month’s author never fails to bring sweet romance, vibrant characters and exciting adventures. With an elite courting contest, hidden motives, and dual identities…My Dear Miss Dupre is sure to follow suit. Welcome to the Index, Grace!
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New York, Rhode Island , New York City, Newport , Estates/Manors, Famous Landmarks , Aristocrats/Social Elite, Sailing/Shipping , Confirmed Bachelor, Disguised/Dual Identity, Gender NonConformists, Jilted, Spinster , Based on Actual Characters or Events, Bets/Contests Brings them Together, Love Triangle, Marriage of Convenience/Arranged Marriage, Mystery, Old Flame, Role Reversals, Save the Inheritance, Socially Unequal Romance, Suspense , Ruined Reputation, Secrets , Hitchcock-Grace
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Willow Dupré never thought she would have to marry, but with her father’s unexpected retirement from running the prosperous Dupré sugar refinery, she is forced into a different future. The shareholders are unwilling to allow a female to take over the company without a man at her side, so her parents devise a plan–find Willow a spokesman king in order for her to become queen of the business empire. Willow is presented with thirty potential suitors from the families of New York society’s elite group called the Four Hundred. She has six months to court the group and is told to to eliminate men each month to narrow her beaus until she chooses one to marry, ending the competition with a wedding. Willow reluctantly agrees, knowing she must do what is best for the business. She doesn’t expect to find anything other than a proxy . . . until she meets a gentleman who captures her attention, and she must discover for herself if his motives are pure. |
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Questions about Grace’s Story
Did any of the characters in this book “surprise” you?
Fritz Blythe was a complete astonishment in how he became one of the lead gentlemen! As Fritz is a budding flower dictionary author, I enjoyed researching for his vocation and in that research, his character bloomed and it made me emotional when his story had to take a turn . . . which I cannot reveal without spoilers!
Which scene (give us the chapter) is your favorite, the one you never tired of working with? Give us a reason to look forward to it.
Chapter 15 has one of my favorite scenes that was one of the very last I added after the first round of major edits with my publisher. In this scene, I have the characters visit Bailey’s Beach for the day where Willow has a series of quite calamitous events happen to her that had me laughing while writing and hopefully will have the reader laughing as well.
Did you include a real historical character or incident in your story?
The Vanderbilt ball, in all its lavishness, is one of the most famous balls in history. So, most of the outlandish costumes you see in those chapters, as well as the mention of quadrilles, are factual. In researching for the ball scenes, I was amazed at the grandeur and the amount spent for a single night of entertainment for New York’s elite families, $6 million in today’s money.
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Questions about Grace’s Reading
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What Christian Historical Novel did you reread last, and why did you reread it? Courting Morrow Little by Laura Frantz. This is the third time I’ve read this beauty from Laura and it is, in a word, MAGICAL. Get ready to neglect everything when you open this romantic, action-packed tale from Laura Frantz! With wonderful characters and a dreamy romance, you will find yourself on the frontier with Morrow thanks to the author’s rich descriptions. |
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If your job was to sell one author’s historical fiction (besides your own) which author’s wares would you want to peddle? And which is your favorite by that author? Jen Turano! During a time where I needed to laugh, I discovered her works, but not only do her stories help the world fade away, there is always a spiritual thread that makes the reader pause and reflect. A Most Peculiar Circumstance will have readers laughing one moment and on the edge of their seats the next with this delightful tale filled with humor, romance, and suspense. |
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