Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Shana Galen to HJ!
Hi Shana and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, An Affair with a Spare!
Please share a few Fun facts about An Affair With a Spare
Ever since I conceived of the Survivors series, I’ve wanted to write Rafe’s book. I can tell you it was a struggle to not to allow this charmer to take over other books where he had bit parts. Rafe so wanted to be the hero. Finally, he has his chance, and his book was so much fun to write!
Today I thought I’d share some fun facts about An Affair With a Spare.
- Rafe is quite the man-about-town. In his efforts to seduce Collette, the heroine, he takes her to several real places that were popular during the Regency. The first is Drury Lane. I describe the gas-lighting there that would have been newly installed when the book takes places. He also takes her to the British Museum where Collette’s chaperone is terrified by the stuffed giraffe. Finally, Rafe must flee to Wapping, which was a major shipping area just outside London. I found some great old pictures of Wapping, and you can see them on my Pinterest board [https://www.pinterest.ca/shanagalen/an-affair-with-a-spare-the-survivors-3/].
- In Collette Fortier, Rafe has definitely met his match. Rafe expects Collette to swoon at his feet, but she’s outwardly unimpressed by him. Inwardly, her attraction to him makes her nervous. And when she’s nervous, she spouts information about the mating habits of hedgehogs. All of the mating habits Collette discusses in the book are true. I had to do quite a bit of research on hedgehogs since I’m no expert (unless you count liking cute baby hedgehog pictures on twitter).
- My last fun fact is that one scene in the book is based in part on My Fair Lady. Collette and Rafe are trying to escape a pair of thugs and make it home without attracting any attention when they meet a spunky flower seller.
His arms tensed and then he released her. “We can’t stay here without attracting attention. You can tell me more later.” Hand on the small of her back, he guided her around a corner.
And they both stumbled into a girl carrying a bundle of flowers. The girl let out a screech and all the flowers scattered. Roses, lilies, daisies, and tulips rained down and littered the hard-packed earth.
“Oh, I’m terribly sorry,” Collette said, bending to collect a bunch of daisies.
“Who do you think you are?” the flower girl hollered, her Cockney accent so thick Collette could barely understand her. She was a small thing, skinny and scrawny and the size of a twelve-year-old. But she had the voice of a fishwife. “Look wot you done. All me flowers—ruined!”
“They are not ruined, miss,” Rafe said, his voice low and civil. He swept several roses into his hand. “We’ll help you collect them and you can be on your way.”
Unfortunately, one of the roses he held out as proof against hardship had a bent stem and the bud flopped over. The flower girl wailed even louder. “I’m done for! How could you do this to me? I ain’t done nothing to you.”
Candles flickered in windows above them, and a few people leaned out and yelled down for them to cease the noise and clear off. Collette exchanged a look with Rafe. The last thing they needed was the neighbors’ attention or for the Watch to intervene.
“Look, miss, there’s no need for all this racket,” Rafe said. “I’ll pay you.”
Like a wind-up doll, the flower girl stuck out her hand. Rafe reached into his coat and then placed a coin in her hand. She looked down. “A shilling? That’s it? I could have made a pound selling all them flowers.”
Rafe straightened. “Now, see here. Not only is that patent exaggeration, but our collision was an honest mistake. A shilling is more than fair.”
“Watch!” the flower girl cried. “Watchman!”
Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
As I mentioned, when Collette is nervous, she starts chatting about hedgehogs. When I was younger and nervous around professors or bosses, I’d talk way too much about my cats. I’d tell myself to shut up, but my mouth was somehow disconnected from my brain. Have you ever shared something you wish you could take back?
Thanks for blogging at HJ!
Giveaway: Print copy of An Affair with a Spare (The Survivors) by Shana Galen
To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: Have you ever shared something you wish you could take back?
Book Info:
He’s turned seduction into an art form…
Rafe Beaumont, fifth son of an earl, uses his irresistible charm with the ladies to glean dangerous war secrets. Now he’s putting those skills to the ultimate test: capturing an elusive assassin by seducing his daughter. The problem? She’s entirely immune to Rafe’s flattery.
Never before has Collette Fortier met a man as attractive as Rafe. But her father’s life is at stake, and succumbing to Rafe would be disastrous. But when Rafe turns the tables on her, offering support and friendship instead of a fleeting affair, Collette finds herself tempted in ways she never could have imagined…
“Bright, funny, poignant, and entertaining―everything historical romance fans could ask for.” ―Kirkus Reviews Starred Review for No Earls Allowed
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo |
Meet the Author:
Shana Galen is three-time Rita award nominee and the bestselling author of passionate Regency romps, including the RT Reviewers’ Choice The Making of a Gentleman. Kirkus says of her books, “The road to happily-ever-after is intense, conflicted, suspenseful and fun,” and RT Bookreviews calls her books “lighthearted yet poignant, humorous yet touching.” She taught English at the middle and high school level off and on for eleven years. Most of those years were spent working in Houston’s inner city. Now she writes full time. She’s happily married and has a daughter who is most definitely a romance heroine in the making.
Mary Preston
No, I’m very careful about what I share.
Debra Guyette
I have with someone I thought I could trust. LAter I was sorry.
Lori Meehan
I don’t think I have, I only talk about important things with people I can trust.
Linda Farabaugh
No I am a very tight lipped person. You won’t get any information or juicy tid bits out of me. For some reason I have always been good at not divulging things, best left unsaid.
Latifa Morrisette
I don’t think I have
Karina Angeles
YES! My hubby has big mouth and can’t keep a secret. He’s ruined surprise parties AND told the kids what their gifts are (for EVERY Christmas and birthday). I’ve learned not to tell him much and to leave him home when gift shopping.
Tammy Y
Sure
Cecilia Rodriguez
I get strange looks from things that I have shared.
Cheryl C.
Oh yes!
kermitsgirl
I’m an open book, so yeah, sometimes I blurt something out that I’m like “yikes, I should’ve waited/worded that better” – but people love me because they know exactly what they’re getting from me.
Elaine Mattheus
Yes, usually telling my mom something I shouldn’t have!!!
Rita Wray
I can’t think of anything.
isisthe12th
Sometimes if I give somebody something they don’t seem to appreciate it the way I do. Thank you
courtney kinder
Yes, I have. Thanks for the chance!
Olga
Yes.
Diane Sallans
don’t think so – keep private things private
Jackie Wisherd
I’m sure I have at one time or other but off hand I can’t think of something.
dholcomb1
I try to keep things close to the vest
Amy Rickman
Yes
Colleen C.
once or twice
Mary C
yes
Daniel M
yep
Joanne B
Can’t say that I ever have.
JOYE I
I probably did but can’t think of one situation now.
Colleen Capelle
Well, in a way. I had a bestfriend since elementary school and she started acting out in high school. I wish she didn’t know anything about me now.
Lilah Chavez
Yes, and I’m still obsessing over it…. But that’s my anxiety, i go over and over on how I should have said it or not said it… Even though it was a simple thing now and and inconsequential and many many many years ago!
Linda Leonard
Yes, but now consider it one of life’s lessons learned.
rachael
I ramble occasionally and wonder ‘why did I say that?’
Teresa Williams
No I don’t think so
Barbara Bates
No, I have not!
Karen Markuson
Yes, I’ve shared something that I wish I could take back. Unfortunately, we don’t get a do over.
erinf1
oh all the time!!! but, you just take a deep breath and get over it 😉 thanks for sharing!
BookLady
No, I haven’t
cbjake
I don’t think so.
erahime
Yes. At the time, I thought it was okay to mention it, but later on felt regret about it.
Janie McGaugh
Yes, on occasion!
Kim
Yes and I’ve tried to learn my lesson.
lorih824
Yes
Glenda
When I was younger, yes. I learned my lesson.
Martha Lawson
Can’t say that I have.
eawells
I have and definitely regretted it afterward.
Jana Leah
I have not.
Shannon Capelle
Yes I have and I learned some things are better not shared!
Sonia
I haven’t because I would need to trust the person first:)
Cathy P
Yes. I learned a hard lesson from it.
Irma
Not that I can remember, no.
bn100
no
Rose
Yes! I learned the hard way to be careful who you trust.
girlfromwva
yes, because i thought it was a person i could trust. but then the person betrayed me.
Susan J.
Sometimes
Terrill R.
I used to be notorious for over-sharing. I’m still pretty open, but with a much greater filter.