Spotlight & Giveaway: A Duke in Time by Janna MacGregor

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Janna MacGregor to HJ!

Hi Janna and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, A Duke in Time!

 
Hello! It’s so lovely to be here today and spill the tea with your readers.
 

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Your husband drowns in a mudpuddle during a midnight horse race during a thunderstorm.
Imagine walking into the solicitor’s office for the reading of your belated spouse’s will only to discover that he had two other wives. Oh, the horror!! Then to compound matters, his half brother, a war hero duke, refuses to help you with the mess that your husband, the trigamist, left in his wake. Friendships unfold, and of course, a hot love story ignites between the female protagonist, Katherine, Lady Meriwether, and the male protagonist, Christian, the Duke of Randford. There are hijinks and shenanigans afoot, helpfully supplied by the trigamist’s bequests.
A Duke in Time is the first in my new series, The Widow Rules.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

Her entire future felt as if it hung by a thread. A stitch was nothing when dealing with a duke in a moment of time. Lucky for her, she was an expert at taking threads and turning them into masterpieces.

What inspired this book?

I’ve always loved to research working Regency women. One of my favorites is Harriot Mellon, a trailblazer of her time. She was the inspiration for Katherine. Harriot’s influence on society during the Regency period was great. An actress of moderate accomplishment, part of her fame and biggest success came from her career as a banker and major partner at Coutts & Co. It’s still in business, and it’s where the Queen banks.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

I always try to play one hundred questions with my characters. Meaning, I think of questions and how they might answer. That’s how I create a rough outline sketch of the female and male protagonists. I have to laugh at the question of whether they ever surprise me. They ALWAYS surprise me. I have a war hero duke who finds his humanity in helping veterans who returned from war without any support system or work. One of the surprising things that Christian, the Duke of Randford, told me was that he enjoyed growing roses. He’s quite the horticulturist. He surprised Katherine too.

What was your favorite scene to write?

The private dinner party scene which Katherine and Christian are both attending is one of my favorites. I always love dining room scenes because the craziest things can happen. Christian wants to gather support for a charity he’s building to help displaced soldiers returning from the war. He gets angry at the responses from the attendees and takes them to task. Realizing he’s made a huge faux pax, Christian is at odds at what to do next. Katherine comes to the rescue and smooths every ruffled feather. Shortly thereafter, they have an intimate conversation that breaks the ice that leads them to friendship and love.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

Probably the one where Katherine finally reveals the reason why she and Christian can’t be together. It brings tears to my eyes right now. She has an embarrassing secret and knows that if she marries Christian, she’ll ruin his reputation along with the charity he’s building.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

I always love to write about strong, independent women and the partners who come to love and support them. The Duke in Time captures that love. What’s different about this book is the story arc covers the three-book series. What did the trigamist do with all three wives’ dowries? Another difference is A Duke in Time also focuses on the friendships between the trigamist’s three wives. It was a blast creating all these characters. I can’t wait for the other two books to release.

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

Forgiveness, second chances, and love help pave the way for happily-ever-after.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’m writing book three in The Widow Rules series. The story features Beth Howell, the third wife who hates men. She enlists her best friend, Julian Raleah, the Marquess of Grayson, to help her find her lost dowry. Of course, Julian is a man, but he doesn’t count. Or does he? Julian has always been in love with Beth. Can he convince her to take a chance on him? You’ll have to read it and see!

I have another release in September. It’s a Christmas anthology with Eloisa James, Christi Caldwell, and Erica Ridley. Imagine an exclusive Christmas house party called the Revelry that’s hosted by a cantankerous duke, who thinks he’s a puppeteer, and his guests are his puppets. Hijinks are guaranteed to occur. All of the stories are connected. It was such a blast working with my favorite authors who I’m lucky enough to call friends.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: A print copy of A Duke in Time, #1 in The Widow Rules series by Janna MacGregor. The giveaway is US only.

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: What would do if walked into the solicitor’s office and saw three women claiming to be married to the same man? Would you stay for the fireworks or silently slip out muttering you really didn’t need to see the solicitor anyway?

 
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Excerpt from A Duke in Time:

This scene features Christian and Katherine when they first meet.

“You can’t leave me with this situation.” Lady Meriwether’s soft tone didn’t dull the steel in her voice. Then she added, “Your Grace,” almost as an afterthought.
Christian Vareck, the Duke of Randford, surmised by her stance that she was a no-nonsense individual, but the twisting of her hands revealed her understandable anguish at discovering she was one of Meri’s many wives.
The slightest twitch tugged at one of her red lips. They reminded him of a rose his mother had grown in the conservatory of his ancestral seat, Roseport. As a boy, he’d stood by his mother’s side as she pruned and grafted Roseport’s famed roses into works of art.
This particular Lady Meriwether’s mouth definitely resembled one of those crimson masterpieces. Under the spectacular color of a perfect bloom lay the thorns designed to skewer any hand that dare threatened. He’d lay odds on it.
Lady Meriwether tilted her head and peeked down the hallway seeing if anyone could overhear them. “You just proved why many believe that chivalry is dead.”
“I only speak the truth,” Christian countered. “My brother and his estate aren’t my concern.”
She brought her smoldering gaze back to his. The woman’s hazel eyes flashed, turning them into a beautiful golden green.
“I meant to say half brother,” Christian corrected.
The slight tap of her toe indicated her patience was waning. “Half, step, or whole. He was your family.”
“I’m agog you’re defending him after what he’s done, particularly to you, Lady Meriwether.” He shouldn’t be astonished that she upheld Meri’s memory. Christian’s half brother had possessed a certain finesse and appeal that women loved.
“My name is Katherine. Katherine Greer before I married your brother.” She released a long-suffering breath. “As the Duke of Randford, surely you can help sort out the details.”
“You would assume wrongly. This isn’t my problem to fix. It’s Meri’s estate which Mr. Hanes supervises. He asked if I could stop by. I’ve done my duty. Now I’ll be on my way.” He deftly placed his hat on his head, then adjusted it with a tug. “An honor to make your acquaintance, Lady Meriwether.”
His insufferable half brother had made a fine pickle of these marriages, but Christian Vareck’s duties lay elsewhere. Namely, settling into his position as the Duke of Randford and trying to help his men who came home to nothing after returning from the war.
However, before he left Lady Meriwether standing in the hall, he stole a long gander at her person. She honored Meri’s passing by wearing a mourning gown with a short gray silk spencer. Truly, a lighter color would suit her hazel eyes and light brown hair better. Meri’s tastes must have changed since Christian had been at war. His half brother normally favored light-haired women with full bodies and voluptuous bosoms.
Katherine Greer possessed none of those features. She had a lithe form that Christian had always preferred. It had to be her gaze that had first drawn Meri’s attention. Her large resolute hazel eyes fit perfectly with her heart-shaped face. The finishing touch of a delicate, refined nose made her pretty. However, her calm, steadfast demeanor at the situation signaled a woman who would not crumble at the first sign of trouble.
Christian had been back in London for a week, and since the war, he could appreciate beauty in the most unusual of places, even the family’s solicitor’s office and under such a tenuous situation. A man had to find amusement where he could since there was none on the battlefield. Plus, there were no guarantees a man would have enough time on earth to find other pleasures or even happiness.
Meri’s demise offered proof of that fact.
Christian moved toward the exit.
“Your Grace, please wait.” She took several steps forward, blocking the pathway. “Two women in Mr. Hanes’s office need your guidance. If this isn’t handled prudently, then we’ll all be ruined. You, above all others, know this is an impossible situation.”
“My half sibling was a virtuoso of the impossible.” He delivered his most sincere smile. “For instance, he was forever finding improbable and impossible situations to land in . . . just like that mud puddle.”
“That’s a little glib, even for a duke.” She clasped her gloved hands in front of her in a stance better suited for a governess with a wayward charge.
“Lady Meriwether,” he said patiently. “I asked Hanes to sort things out. Like you, I’ve just discovered what your husband has done. We can’t expect answers immediately.” He dipped his head once to indicate he was leaving again.
“You can’t leave. We”—she waved a hand between them—“are in this together. If word leaks what Meri has done, we’ll face real scandal. Those women in Mr. Hanes’s office need help. They’ll be ruined.” She took a step closer. “I hate to be crass, but you’re the duke, the head of the family, which makes it your mess. You need to clean it up.”
Without hesitating, he took one step back for safety. He groaned dramatically. “Lady Meriwether, lucky for you, I employ people to clean up messes. This office for instance. They’re the best legal minds in London.”
She laughed softly, but her eyes sparkled with a renewed aggravation. “Your brother retained the same people too.” She lifted one perfect eyebrow. “The best legal minds in London apparently don’t have a clue how to proceed.”
Her gaze pinned him in place.
He narrowed his eyes. “You wear sarcasm well, Lady Meriwether.”
“I take that as a compliment,” she purred, then tilted her head in challenge. “What are you afraid of?” she asked softly. “Me? The others?”
“Madame . . .” He lowered his voice. “I’ve faced Napoleon’s finest infantry in conditions that would curl your toes. I’ve seen fires and horrors on the battlefields that make hell look like a well-groomed park.” He allowed his gaze to rake over her form again. “Trust me. I highly doubt you or this dilemma can scare me.”
Instead of being offended, she smiled slightly. “We shall see, Your Grace.”
“Oh, the rapture. I can hardly wait,” he answered sardonically. It was bad form on his part, but Meri’s antics always brought out the worst in him. “Now, I must beg your leave.”
As he headed down the hallway, she called from behind. “Your Grace? When can I expect my dowry to be returned?”
He turned around sharply. “As you’ve probably surmised, Meri seems to have either spent it or misplaced it. My money is that he gambled it away.”
Katherine let out a tremulous breath, but her eyes never blinked. A subtle tightness formed around her perfect lips. He’d always been susceptible to red lips—not the painted ones of courtesans and actresses, but real ones like hers. Today, such a weakness caused his chest to squeeze. “How much is it?” he asked in the most even voice he could muster.
“Two hundred pounds,” she said.
He didn’t blink. “Was there anything else?”
She shook her head gently.
“Are you serious?” he asked incredulously.
His half brother had married this woman for two hundred pounds? Meri’s habit was to spend three times that amount on his horses and racing every month. Christian should know. He’d been the one to pay his bills over the last three years.
She lifted her chin in an act of defiance. “Rest assured, I never joke about money.”
Her golden-green eyes suddenly dulled, losing their earlier luster.
Christian inwardly winced. After being in London for only a week, he’d insulted the first woman he’d had a real conversation with outside of his staff.
She straightened her shoulders as if ready to bear any verbal blow he’d bestow. “It may not be a great amount to you, but it means the world to me. It represents everything,” she said quietly. This time, she was the one to turn from him.
“Lady Meriwether?”
She stopped but didn’t face him.
“I beg you to accept my humble apology. Though it’s no excuse, I’ve not been in polite company for a while. My manners are rusty,” he said gently. “Truly, it’s not a joke to me either. I’m sincere when I say I’m finished with my half brother’s mischief in more ways than one. However, I’ll discuss your money with Mr. Hanes. That’s all I can promise.”
“It’s not enough.” Without any other acknowledgment, she walked straight toward Mr. Hanes’s office.
Bloody hell. Leave it to Meri to part this world with a monumental scandal in his wake.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

“If…looking for something new with Austen’s spirit, humor, and dashing heroes, they can’t do better than MacGregor.” – Entertainment Weekly

A Duke in Time is the first book in a three-story arc that will have you rooting for leading heroines, searching for lost dowries, and falling for swoon-worthy heroes.

Katherine Vareck is in for the shock of her life when she learns upon her husband Meri’s accidental death that he had married two other women. Her entire business, along with a once-in-a-lifetime chance to be a royal supplier, is everything she’s been working for and now could be destroyed if word leaks about the three wives.

Meri’s far more upstanding brother, Christian, Duke of Randford has no earthly clue how to be of assistance. He spent the better part of his adult years avoiding Meri and the rest of his good-for-nothing family, so to be dragged back into the fold is…problematic. Even more so is the intrepid and beautiful Katherine, whom he cannot be falling for because she’s Meri’s widow. Or can he?

With a textile business to run and a strong friendship forming with Meri’s two other wives, Katherine doesn’t have time for much else. But there’s something about the warm, but compellingly taciturn Christian that draws her to him. When an opportunity to partner in a business venture brings them even closer, they’ll have to face their pasts if they want to share each other’s hearts and futures.

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Meet the Author:

Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mother for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and a smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pug. She loves to hear from readers.

Visit her at www.JannaMacGregor.com.
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