Review & Interview: A Rake by Any Other Name by Mia Marlowe

Please welcome author Mia Marlowe!  She joins us today with an interview as she promotes her latest book, A Rake by Any Other Name.  Enjoy it after my thoughts on the book.

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Date of publication: November 2014

A Reluctant Lord. A Resistant Lady. A Superfluous Fiancée.

And a Devastating Family Secret…

When Richard Barrett, Lord Hartley, is abruptly called home to take the reins of the estate, he discovers the extent of the family’s financial straits. The remedy: marry the heiress their families have picked out for him. Unfortunately, he’s already planned to marry someone else.

Miss Sophie Goodnight isn’t too keen on becoming his purse with feet…and she sabotages all attempts to woo her. But when Lord Hartley discovers the shenanigans in his father’s past, he realizes that deciding between two beautiful women is the least of his problems.

I thoroughly enjoyed A Rake by Any Other Name.  It was filled with humor and a witty banter between the hero and heroine. I loved watching Richard and Sophie fall for each other despite their best efforts not to.  I wasn't sure I was going to like Richard at first.  He seemed kind of a spoiled eldest son.  But his true colors came out when he was with Sophie and he grew on me.  I found Sophie's character refreshing.  I loved her honesty and willingness to thumb her nose at tradition and society.  I thought they were perfect for each other. The story is also a great look at the realities of marriage during that time.  Most couples married for money or title and had no love between them.  

What I also liked about the book was the view that we get below stairs.  I liked the perspective of the servants.  You don't see that much in this type of book.  It allowed for some more great characters to round out the story.  We are also treated to another sweet blossoming romance between two of the servants.  I loved that!  This is the first in a new series and I hope that more of the Barrett family shows up in the next book.

Kari& Autumn: What inspired you to become a writer?

Mia: I met a romance writer. She was funny and wise and the wife of one of my DH’s co-workers. She gave me to courage to think “If she can do it, I can do it!” The Greeks have a work for that. It’s called “hubris.” ;-) I didn’t realize that writing is an ocean and I was only ready to wade in the shallow end. It took 4 years of reading “how to” writing books, entering contests and honing my craft before my agent sold my first novel.

Kari& Autumn: Where do you come up with the ideas for your books?

Mia: Ideas are everywhere. I’m not ashamed to admit that A Rake by Any Other Name (Somerfield Park series, Book 1) was inspired by my love for Downton Abbey. I adore the Regency era, so I thought “Why not assemble a large cast of interesting characters (both wellborn and servants) and throw them all together in a gorgeous Georgian manor on a 100,000 acre estate?”

Kari& Autumn: What exciting projects are waiting in the wings?

Mia: The second book in the Somerfield Park series, Never Resist a Rake, will be out next spring. And after that, a trio of romances with a pinch of psychic fun called the Order of the MUSE series will be available in the fall. If you’d like to be notified when new titles come out, please sign up for my newsletter! http://www.miamarlowe.com

Kari& Autumn: Who is your favorite literary character and why?

Mia: They always say the books you read as a child are the ones that stick with you. It’s true in my case. I so wanted to be Jo March. She was the strongest of the March sisters and her path was the least conventional for her time. Let me put my hands in my pockets and whistle my way through life!

Kari& Autumn: Just for fun, if you could be any animal, what would it be and why?

Mia: I’d like to be a blue footed booby. Mostly because the name makes me smile, but also because this species can both fly and swim under water. And it’s easy to tell which of the males is most virile. “Hey, check out the dark blue feet on that guy! That’s so hot!”

Thanks for hosting me, Kari & Autumn!  

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About the author:

Mia Marlowe is a rising star whose Touch of a Rogue was named one of Publishers Weekly‘s Top Ten Best Romances for Spring 2012. Mia learned about storytelling while singing professional opera. She knows what it’s like to sing a high “C” in a corset, so she empathizes with the trials of her historical heroines. Mia resides in Boston, Massachusetts. For more visit www.miamarlowe.com.

Buy Links for A Rake By Any Other Name:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1sfvrXt

Apple: http://bit.ly/1wCvcUG
Barnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/1o0l4FT
BAM: http://bit.ly/ZeSiFr
Book Depository: http://bit.ly/1vO3N2I

Chapters: http://bit.ly/ZMrFbj

Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1rthIGo

Kobo: http://bit.ly/1pIPzeQ