Today, Regency romance author Eva Leigh joins us on the blog to discuss her Last Chance Scoundrels series, ahead of the publication of A Rogue’s Rules for Seduction. Eva talks about how Star Wars inspired her, and how much she enjoyed writing Dom and Willa’s second chance love story!
Read on to find out more, and don’t forget to grab your copy of A Rogue’s Rules for Seduction now. Plus, we’re giving away a picnic blanket from the Tartan Blanket Co. worth over £100 to one lucky winner! Enter here.
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Ever since I first saw Han Solo raffishly smirking at Princess Leia from the other side of the Millenium Falcon, I’ve been a sucker for a scoundrel. There’s something irresistible about a man who doesn’t take himself too seriously, who’s playful but also possesses a bit of an edge, quick with a quip or a kiss, who’s a bit of a bad boy and might not be trustworthy–except when it comes to what goes on in the bedroom, where you are guaranteed a good time.
Some of my other favorite scoundrels include Indiana Jones (also played by Harrison Ford), Remington Steele, and even the fox Robin Hood from the animated Disney film. I’m definitely a “good girl” rule follower, so give me a male main character full of charming and chaotic energy, and I become capable of making Very Bad Decisions.
I had just finished up my ‘80s movie-inspired series, The Union of the Rakes, and was searching for a concept for a new series. This new series had to be just as fun, with seductive men worthy of being romance heroes. I couldn’t help but turn to a trio of scoundrels, men who don’t have titles but plenty of allure, and don’t necessarily adhere to anyone’s standards of good behavior. What could be more delicious than making such scoundrels forced to commit to women who were respectable (at least, on the surface they were respectable)? But what would force these heartbreakers to give up their prized bachelorhood? I needed something big, something scandalous, which would force their families to give these men an ultimatum: marry, or else lose every last farthing.
What if one of these scoundrels left his bride at the altar (for what he thinks are the right reasons), and two of his friends helped him do it? The Last Chance Scoundrels were born the moment that Dominic Kilburn decided that his fiancee, Lady Willa Ransome, was too good for him, and her brothers assisted him in fleeing the wedding ceremony. It’s this key moment that impels their families to issue that ultimatum. Through the first two books in the series, the Ransome brothers find and marry their perfect matches.
But what about Dom, miserable because he gave up the one woman he loved above all others? And what about Willa, humiliated in front of London, and heartbroken over Dom’s rejection?
A Rogue’s Rules for Seduction is the conclusion of the Last Chance Scoundrels, and it’s a second chance romance between Dom and Willa. True to their scoundrel natures, Willa’s brothers trick her and Dom into attending a house party on an isolated Scottish island, forcing Willa and her former groom-to-be to face their past. Much as Willa wants to hate Dom, the attraction between them is more incendiary than ever. Dom can’t stop himself from longing for Willa, wishing for something that he believes can never be.
Anyone familiar with historical romances is well familiar with the fact that house parties are the perfect place for romantic, sexy shenanigans. The house party in A Rogue’s Rules for Seduction is no exception, complete with naughty party games, amateur theatricals, and moonlight beaches perfect for forbidden kisses.
Dom is one of my favorite heroes–a giant of a man from the tough docklands of London, with a rough city accent that comes out whenever he’s feeling stressed or emotional. He’s got a tough exterior but is wildly intelligent and capable of profound emotion. We’ve seen him brooding and heartbroken in the first two Last Chance Scoundrels books, but in his book, we finally get to see the jilting from his perspective, and learn his reasons why he felt he had to abandon Willa. Dom not only epically grovels to atone for his mistake, but he’s also willing to literally get on his knees to give Willa whatever she desires.
Can I say how much I enjoyed writing Willa? She’s just as stubborn and forceful as Dom, unwilling to compromise herself to fit into someone else’s idea of who she’s supposed to be. Willa is no delicate flower debutante. She’s tempestuous, headstrong, and not afraid to speak her mind, the perfect match for fiery Dom.
(I do have to note that when Dom and Willa finally do yield to the explosive desire between them, readers are going to be treated to some of my hottest love scenes to date…which, if you’ve read some of my other books, you know is saying something!)
If you loved reading about Kieran and Finn, Willa’s brothers, they play prominent roles in A Rogue’s Rules for Seduction. I have always loved writing male friendships, especially the way they veer back and forth between roasting each other and offering unwavering support. It was such fun writing the three friends together at the house party, and we also get glimpses of Kieran and Finn’s HEAs with their respective brides as Willa and Dom struggle to reach their own happily ever after.
Saying goodbye to the Last Chance Scoundrels is bittersweet, but even when the final page is written and read, I know that scoundrels have my heart forever.
