Spotlight & Giveaway: Four Weddings and a Duke by Michelle McLean

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Michelle McLean to HJ!

Hi Michelle and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Four Weddings and a Duke!

 
Hi! Thank you for having me!
 

Please summarize the book a la Twitter style for the readers here:

A former wallflower who is blossoming + an eccentric duke buried in his research + misguided past choices and misunderstood expectations = a marriage made in chaotic heaven.
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

If given the choice between rolling about in a field of manure or attending the wedding of his cousin and her prince, Alexander Reddington would happily choose the manure. A childish sentiment, perhaps. And at over six feet and fourteen stone, Alex was most definitely not a child. In fact, some found him downright intimidating judging by the wide berth many gave him every time he entered a room.
Yet, here he was, little better than a mere schoolboy, tugging on his overly tight cravat as the line of elegantly dressed aristocracy slowly filtered into the cathedral.

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

• Alexander’s botany-loving ways came from my daughter’s obsession with plants
• The frenemies bromance between Alex and Nigel were my favorite scenes to write
• The dedication is one of my favorites
• Lavinia’s eyesight issues are based on my own
• The artist in this book, Clara Pope, is a real person

What first attracts your main characters to each other?

Their mutual social awkwardness
 

Using just 5 words, how would you describe your main characters”love affair?

Optimistic, passionate, well-intentioned, unexpected, naive.
 

The First Kiss…

Once the register was signed, the rector and their witnesses, Timothy and Lord Abberforth, left them alone briefly so they could spend their first few minutes together as man and wife in private.
Lavinia gazed up at the duke, her husband, and drew in a tremulous breath. “I can’t believe we’ve actually done it,” she said with a slight laugh.
He raised a brow as if he couldn’t quite believe it, either. “Yes, we have. Your Grace,” he added.
She laughed. “That will take some getting used to.”
“You look wonderful,” he said, lightly cupping her cheek. “So beautiful.”
She smiled up at him shyly. “Thank you, Your Grace.”
He drew her closer, leaning down as if he would kiss her, though he left enough distance between them that it was clear he was leaving it up to her if she wanted his kiss or not. She moved closer and rose onto her toes, resting her hands on his chest as she turned her face up to meet his.
Lavinia meant only to press her lips to his in a quick, chaste kiss. They were in church, after all. It was hardly the place for passion, or the place where she wanted to explore their first true kiss.
Perhaps it would have been easier if he hadn’t been standing there, looking as resplendent as a king on his coronation day. Or if he hadn’t watched her walking up the aisle like she was his angel come to guide him to salvation. Or if he hadn’t cupped her face and brushed his thumbs across her cheeks, looking into her eyes as if she were the greatest prize a man had ever won.
Whatever it was, the moment his lips met hers, everything else ceased to exist. There were no other people. No rector. No crowd waiting for them to exit. No parents or friends or guests waiting just a few feet away.
It was just him. Just them.
Just his lips finally, finally moving over hers the way she’d imagined it a thousand times. The way she’d tried to imagine it.
Only it was nothing like she’d imagined. It was so much better.
His warm, soft lips pressed against hers gently at first, then with more pressure. His hand slipped around the back of her neck, grazing her hairline though he was careful not to disturb her carefully coiffed hair. But the brush of his fingers against her neck while his mouth moved hungrily against hers sent a shiver through her that had her clutching at him.
The music started up again, startling them apart. Lavinia’s eyes flew open, and she bit her lip, her cheeks flushing so hotly her eyes watered.
The duke leaned down to whisper in her ear. “We’ll be truly alone soon.”
She exhaled and gripped his arm as he led her back into the main chapel and up the aisle, smiling and waving at those offering them congratulations as they went. A ball of anxiety and anticipation settled in her stomach, warring with each other until she didn’t know if she was more frightened or excited about being alone with her new husband. But she was fairly sure she was going to be sick before they ever got that far.
As soon as they reached the doors, she sucked in a deep breath of fresh air and tried to focus on calming her jittery nerves. An endeavor made all the more difficult by the cheers that went up as soon as they stepped into the sun. She had forgotten about the crowds. It was like the duke’s kiss had erased everything from her mind but him.
They smiled and waved for a moment before the duke carefully led her down the stairs and into their waiting carriage. Which was festooned and beribboned…and thankfully enclosed.
He helped her get settled, closed the door, and rapped on the ceiling to let their driver know they were ready. The crowds could still somewhat see them through the windows, so they waved a bit more until the people thinned out and they could finally relax.
They both slumped back against the seats.
“I thought our mothers had chosen an open carriage for our ride to the celebration.”
He grunted. “They did. I made a last-minute adjustment to the plans. Do you mind?”
“Not at all. It was a relief, thank you.”
His expression softened. “My pleasure,” he said, taking her hand and pressing a quick kiss to the back of it.
The gesture was probably meant to be chivalrous. Friendly. Courteous.
He’d probably not meant her to gasp at the sudden warmth of his lips that permeated through to her skin even through the glove she wore. He’d probably not expected the fine tremble that went through her body at the brief contact. Or the way she leaned just a bit closer to him, tilting her face up as he closed the distance between them.
His lips descended again. Only this time, they weren’t in a church with all their friends and family waiting. They were alone. And they were man and wife.
His lips moved over hers, silently asking, then demanding, that she yield. And she did so willingly. Gladly. Slanting her head farther back and leaning in closer to give him better access.
He wrapped one arm around her and drew her close. His other hand cupped her face, his thumb stroking across her cheek and pressing gently on her chin. She yielded further, her mouth opening under his seeking lips. And when his tongue dipped inside, she leaned into him with a little whimper that seemed to break whatever control he’d been maintaining.
His hand slipped around the back of her neck, and he drew her even closer, their mouths moving almost feverishly together until…
The carriage pulled to a stop, and they both came up for air, looking around, a bit dazed.
The duke groaned. “It appears that we have arrived at our wedding breakfast, Your Grace.”

Without revealing too much, what is your favorite scene in the book?

I seriously love the frenemies dynamic between Alex and Nigel. There’s another scene I also love but that one would be a little spoilery so here’s another one that I love:

The scene was far too familiar for Alex’s comfort. Bainbridge, at his desk, rifling around yet again. That was it. He’d tried to get along with the man for Lavinia’s sake, but enough was enough!
Alex had asked him repeatedly to keep his hands off his desk. He had a system, damn it all, and every time Bainbridge went rifling through the paperwork, it took Alex days to repair the chaos.
He needed…a weapon of some kind. He slapped his hands to his thighs. Patted his chest. As if he usually strolled about London with daggers at his hips or a broadsword strapped to his back.
Bainbridge picked up another sheet of paper, his face alight with interest, and Alex rushed fully into the room, grabbing the first thing he could lay his hands on. He marched right up to the desk and pointed the…palm frond?—he stared at his hand and sighed—the palm frond at Bainbridge.
“Drop that paper right now!” he shouted.
Lavinia, who Alex hadn’t seen near the fireplace, and Bainbridge both froze, their eyes as wide as a barn owl’s. And then Lavinia’s forehead crinkled in confusion.
“Alex, what are you—”
“Don’t move!” he shouted at Bainbridge, who had folded one sheet of paper and put it into his vest pocket. “Drop it, I say!”
“Drop what? You’ve gone mad, Beaubrooke.”
“I just finished cataloging that pile last night. Now, unhand my research, you…you…knave! Before you destroy my entire system!”
He shook the frond at him again, and Bainbridge raised his hands and backed up. Right into the matching vase that held the other oversize palm fronds.
He seized one himself and brandished it. “Stay back, Beaubrooke! I’m warning you. I know how to defend myself. I was the fencing champion of our class in fourth year.”
Alex swung his frond at Bainbridge, whacking at him the way he would with a fencing sabre. “I was the champion fourth year. You were the champion third year. And only because I didn’t fence that year.”
Bainbridge parried and thrusted back. “Your memory is getting a bit spotty there, old sport. Perhaps you need a little refresher.”
He lunged with his frond, narrowly missing Alex who sucked in his gut and jumped backward just in time. “A coward’s move! Just admit it, you’re already beaten.”
“Coward? You’re the one dodging my blows. Stand still and take it, you scoundrel!”
They both swung, their fronds connecting with a crash of leaves and a cloud of dust.

If your book was optioned for a movie, what scene would be absolutely crucial to include?

There are scenes that are more fun, perhaps, but this scene explains why Lavinia does what she does throughout the rest of the book:

“Well, I can’t say that I am thrilled that you are leaving just as we are beginning to make some progress. Then again,” Timothy said with a shrug, “if I had a pretty wife who wished to spend time with me, I certainly wouldn’t be burying myself in old manuscripts, either.”
“You do have a pretty wife,” Alex reminded him.
“‘Who wished to spend time with me,’ I said. Anne is quite content to have me out from under her heels most of the day.”
Alex snorted. “I do wish to spend more time with Lavinia, I’ll grant you that. Though I am still reluctant to leave. I just began combing through a particularly promising manuscript, the one you found yesterday.”
Timothy nodded, listening, though his eyes were on his own manuscript.
“I’ve already found quite a bit of information on a few obscure species that I believe might prove to be hardier than the variety we have here in England.”
“Truly?” Timothy asked, perking up.
“Absolutely. If I could get my hands on a few shoots, we might make some real progress in this project.”
“That would be excellent. And I’m assuming from that excited gleam in your eye you know a person or two that might help?”
Alex raised his brows. “I know a few I can contact, yes.”
Timothy wasn’t wrong about the excitement, either. Being this close to realizing his dream overrode nearly everything else.
While he truly did look forward to his new life with Lavinia, he was not happy that his marriage was already interrupting his research.
“All in all, it sounds as though we have excellent prospects all around, then.”
“Indeed. And hopefully, once we are more settled, I’ll be able to get back to my research without too much interruption.”
“You’re expecting a new bride not to interrupt your research?” Timothy said with an indelicate snort. “I wish you luck with that.”
“My thanks,” Alex said with a wry smile.
“Of course,” Timothy continued, “even if your marriage doesn’t prove distracting, you’ll still have your estates to preside over and the interminable social calendar to navigate.”
Alex sighed. “I’m aware. But I’m hoping Lavinia will be able to rise to the occasion and help with much of that. She’s not as gregarious as her sisters, but she no doubt will be able to handle the social aspect of our lives quite nicely.”
Hopefully keeping him out of it as much as possible. The more she could take on, the more time he would have for his research.
Timothy arched an eyebrow. “Are you marrying a wife or a social secretary?”
Alex opened his mouth to respond and then snapped it shut again. “My mother was always a great help to my father. I simply have hope that Lavinia can be the same for me.”
Timothy made a noncommittal grunt and turned back to his work, and Alex took the opportunity to escape, hurrying up the stairs to the second level of this section of the library. And nearly running into Lavinia when he reached the top.
“Lavinia,” he said, pleasant surprise running through him. “I didn’t expect to see you until this evening.”
He raised her hand to his lips and pressed a quick kiss to it before turning to their mothers, who had taken a bit longer to catch up.

Readers should read this book …

if they want a fun Regency romp that will leave a smile on their faces 🙂

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

I am currently working on the second book in the series and making plans for the third. I also have the second book in my Victorian series coming up along with a few contemporary rom-coms written as Kira Archer.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

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Excerpt from Four Weddings and a Duke:

“Ask me anything you wish, Lavinia. You needn’t ask permission.”
“I wondered…” Her breath hitched when his fingers skimmed her palm. “If perhaps we should…”
She trailed off. She couldn’t say it. Oh, she wanted to. But it was too much. How did a wife go about seducing her husband? She had no experience with even talking to men, much less enticing them to…do more than talk.
“We should what?” he asked, his finger brushing against the pulse thundering in her wrist.
An idea occurred to her and that maddening finger caressing her skin finally decided her. “As a scientific man,” she said, “this would be purely in the interest of research, mind you.”
His eyebrow quirked up, but if he knew where she was going with this, he apparently wasn’t going to rescue her. Maybe he wanted to see how far she’d go with her suggestion. She wondered that herself.
“I do enjoy a good bit of research,” he said, his eyes narrowing as he studied her.
Just spit it out, girl! Or drop the matter entirely.
“As we are now wed…”
“We are,” he added, and she swallowed hard.
“We are, and will be expected to provide an heir or two for the estate, I assume…”
He nodded slowly. “Fair to assume that would be expected of us, yes.” His expression was unreadable, though surely, he knew what she was trying, and failing, to imply. She squared her shoulders.
“Then perhaps it would be best to see if we are compatible…in that way.”
His eyebrows hit his hairline, his eyes wide. And interested.

***
Oh, this woman! She had no idea how tantalizing that offer was. But he would be an absolute cad to agree. Tempting though it may be. Though the fact that she was asking meant she was at least ready to explore their marital relationship. Would he not then be a bigger cad to refuse?
“We have already kissed,” she added. “And I, at least, found the experience…quite pleasant.”
“Pleasant?” Well now, that was downright insulting. “I would hope it would have been a great deal more than pleasant.”
She smiled shyly. “Then perhaps we should try it again.”
Little minx. He might have his hands fuller than he expected.
“Do you not want to kiss me?” she asked, a slight frown furrowing her brow. She tried to pull her hands from his, but he held on, his eyes focusing on the full lips she was asking him to claim.
“What I want is irrelevant. It would be exceedingly wicked of me to agree.”
She pursed her lips. “Have you not ever wanted to be exceedingly wicked?”
He grunted. “That implies that I have not ever been. And you do not know me well enough to make that assumption.”
Her grin widened, and she looked so surprised and delighted—and possibly intrigued—with that declaration that he nearly laughed. He shook his head. “You’ve gone rogue on me.”
She took a deep breath and released it in a rush. “I have always been assured of my place in the world, Your Grace. I had no expectations for that to ever change. And now, suddenly, I find that everything has changed. And I think I find it…freeing.”
He nodded. “I can understand,” he said. Even though the change in his own fortunes had actually led to less freedom, he could certainly see that becoming a duchess would offer Lavinia a whole new world of freedom she hadn’t experienced before.
She tilted her head to look at him. “Do you not want to kiss me?”
He pulled her closer, his hands sliding up to lightly grip her upper arms. But he shook his head. “What a man wants and what a man should do are often two entirely different things.”
She stepped closer, reducing the space between them to a mere breath.
“And what am I, then?” she asked, her voice hardly more than a whisper. “Something you want or something you must do?”
He pulled her closer and wrapped an arm around her waist. Her breath came more quickly as he brought his hand up to drag his thumb over her bottom lip. Her mouth opened slightly with a silent gasp.
“I think you’ll find,” he said, gently brushing the tip of his nose over her own, “that sometimes duty and desire go hand-in-hand.”
“Do they?” she asked, her voice faint.
He cupped her cheek, and a faint shiver ran through her, igniting a heat in his blood that he hadn’t felt in a long time.
“Oh yes. I am the Duke of Beaubrooke. I have a great many responsibilities, including a duty to sire an heir and propagate my family line. However,” he said, taking her chin between his fingers to tilt her face up when her eyes fell, “just because it is my duty doesn’t mean it’s not also something I am very much looking forward to.”
Her eyes flicked back to his. “Are you?”
“Oh yes, Lavinia. Never doubt that.”
It was all he could do not to bend her over the potting table and show her just how wild and wicked he could be. She rose on her toes, her hands moving to his chest as she pressed herself closer.
But with her trembling against him, her eyes closing while she lifted her lips to his, his sense of honor warred with his baser nature that demanded he claim her.
“Lavinia,” he whispered, and she dragged in a shuddering breath.
“Yes, Your Grace.”
“If you are certain you are ready…”
“I am,” she said, pressing even closer to him. Close enough she could undoubtedly feel how ready he was.
“Then I think we should retire to our bedchamber.”

Excerpts. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

As the middle—and least marriageable—sister in a bevy of swans, Lavinia Wynnburn is quite content being the odd duck out. This way, she’s free to commit social faux pas without anyone much noticing. Until the Duke of Beaubrooke turns up the morning after a ball, asking for her hand in marriage.

Alexander Reddington doesn’t particularly care for social niceties, nor is he particularly good at them. But now that the spare has become the heir, he must marry…and soon. When he stumbles into the same corner as a socially awkward wallflower, he knows he’s found the perfect wife: one who won’t bother him to attend every simpering event of the season.

Only, Alexander’s shy and pretty new wife is finding her new position surprisingly exciting and keeps accepting every invitation that flutters past their door. And worse luck, he might even be falling for her. Now he must hide the truth about why he really proposed…before his unexpectedly happy marriage is dashed to pieces.
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Meet the Author:

Michelle McLean is a jeans and t-shirt kind of girl who is addicted to chocolate and Goldfish crackers and spent most of her formative years with her nose in a book. She has degrees in history and English and is thrilled that she sort of gets to use them. Her novel Truly, Madly, Sweetly, written as Kira Archer, was adapted as a Hallmark Original movie in 2018.

When Michelle’s not working, reading, or chasing her kids around, she can usually be found baking, diamond painting, or trying to find free wall space upon which to hang her diamond paintings. She resides in PA with her husband and two teens, the world’s most spoiled dog, and a cat who absolutely rules the house. She also writes contemporary romance as USA Today bestselling author Kira Archer.
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