I have a confession.

My name is Rose Gordon, and I love flawed characters—especially when it's the hero.

While we each have a small part of ourselves that roots for the bad boy's redemption and love to see him fall to that dreaded state of love, I also like to see the “nice guy” get the girl, too.


In all four of my Groom Series books, the hero is the furtherest thing from a “Lady's Man” as one can get. Each hero has his own “oddity” and unique solution on how to handle his predicament. Yet, despite his oddity or foolishness, still manages to win the heroine's affection.

Her Sudden Groom--

Hero: Mr. Alexander Banks, heir to a barony

Oddity: Science Nerd

Situation: He's just been told he has one month to marry or he'll have to marry the worst chit in England.

His Brilliant Solution: Treat his quest for a bride, and courtship of her, as a science experiment!

Her Reluctant Groom--

Hero: Marcus Sinclair, Earl of Sinclair

Oddity: Heavily scarred over the upper half of his body, limps

Situation: Has fallen in love with the younger sister of the lady who jilted him

His Brilliant Solution: Two parts: 1. Send the spinster heroine to London where she has a chance to make a real match. One with a man who wasn't disfigured in more ways than one while chasing down her sister. 2. Then try his damnedest to forget about her.  

Her Secondhand Groom--
Hero: Patrick Ramsey, Viscount Drakely

Oddity: Widower with three young girls whose first wife hated marital intimacies

Situation: As his three daughters are getting older, they need both a mother and a governess. As fate would have it, Patrick has just found a woman who he thinks could suit both roles!

His Brilliant Solution: Marry this Plain Jane from the village and have her play both the role of mother and governess. Surely her personality is just as bland as her looks and he'll have no problem                                                                 
keeping his hands to himself...

Her Imperfect Groom-- 

Hero: Sir Wallace Benedict

Oddity: Extreme social awkwardness. Counts everything, fidgets, strives for perfection, cannot maintain eye contact. (Modern day this would be classified as Aspergers Syndrome)

Situation: This thrice-jilted baronet has built a wall around his heart, knowing full well that no woman could possibly love him despite his oddities. But that doesn't stop him from being attracted to one Miss Edwina Banks.

His Brilliant Solution: When the woman he's fallen in love with reveals her plan to offer him wooing advice to win back the affections of the first lady who jilted him, Wallace decides to use her wooing advice her.

Like I said, I love flawed, imperfect heroes who have obstacles to overcome in order to find their happily-ever-after. To me, it makes the ending that much sweeter.

Hello, one and all. My names is Niles Thornton, Baron Quinton. Feel free to call me Quin, since that's what everyone else does. I'll only grumble about the responsibilities that come with the title for a bit. You know, responsibilities such as acting like a respectable gent and doing as the ladies expect of me, that sort of thing.

My authoress, Miss Gayle, thought to do an interview with me today. I wasn't overly enamored of that idea, however. After all, she might ask me questions about things I am not overly fond of discussing--like my father--and I couldn't have that.

Besides, I'm Lord Quinton. I shouldn't have to do as she says. So I refused her suggestion of the interview and took matters into my own hands. I'm sure she'll thank me for it later. I mean, can we be serious for a moment? Who would want to read an interview with me, after all?

Precisely--no one.

Does anyone know where they keep the brandy in this place? I don't seem to see a sideboard, or even a glass for that matter. What sort of place doesn't have a good stock of brandy?

"Ahem. The ladies of Timeless Quills have placed all spirits under lock and key, just as I instructed them to do."

Jonas? Good God, who invited him today? Just because he's my best friend, he seems to think he can just barge into my non-interviews and get rid of the spirits.

"And why would you have done anything of that sort?" I ask on a groan.

"For the same reason I removed it all from Quinton Abbey." Jonas takes a seat and makes himself comfortable, despite the clenched fist forming in my right hand. "And don't worry, all of you lovely readers out there. Truly, he'll thank me for it later."

"I'll thank you to leave me in peace."

"I'm afraid I can't do that."

I punch the striped silk cushion on the sofa I'm seated upon, since it really wouldn't do to plant Jonas a facer with an audience watching us so closely. "And why not?"

"Lady Quinton wrote me," Jonas answers, as cool as you please.

Of course, Aurora and her penchant for writing would be at the root of the issue. I should have known it. Granted, some of her writings had been rather helpful..but still. I ought to insist she allow me to see any letters she's written before she sends them. If I'd done that, I could have prevented Jonas's current interruption.

"Did Miss Gayle know that you'd be interrupting her blog today?"

"Did Miss Gayle know that you intended to ignore her request for an interview and take matters into your own hands?" Jonas crosses his arms over his chest, assuming what I can only imagine is meant to be a menacing posture.

A knock sounds at the door, even as my fists are yet again forming.

Damnation, who else intends to interrupt me while I'm trying to deal with Miss Gayle's blog? And with no brandy, for Christ's sake. "Come!" I bark out, fully intent on sending whoever it is away without preamble.

But then my half-sister, Nia, comes through the door. "Aurora sent for me," she says, rushing inside...but then she halts suddenly when she sees Jonas. Her mouth opens and closes, like a fish forgetting it has gills and trying to breathe like a human.

Yet another missive my sweet wife has sent without informing me. "Why in God's name would she send for you?" I regret the harsh tone as soon as the words have left my mouth. It isn't Nia's fault Jonas has removed my access to brandy. "I apologize. Do you know why she sent for you?" This time, my tone is kinder though no less aggrieved.

But Nia's eyes flutter over to Jonas and away, and a harsh blush stains her cheeks. And then I know.

She's matchmaking again. "AURORA!!!"

**The authoress, Catherine Gayle, steps in before any more harm can be done.

If you'd like to get to know Quin, Aurora, Jonas, and Nia better, you can find them in TWICE A RAKE, the first book in my Lord Rotheby's Influence series. Nia and Jonas will have their own time in the spotlight sometime in the not too distant future. Be on the lookout for their story. 

We're mere days away from the release of the 2nd book in the Daring Debutatne's Series, The Gypsy Bride!

But before The Gypsy Bride, was The Robber Bride. And today I've invited my hero and heroine here for an interview so you can get to know them. Everyone, please welcome Phineas Dartwell, Earl of Leyburn, and-Oh, dear...

Jerrica: Lord Leyburn, where is Miss Barclay?

Phineas: How the devil should I know? Blasted girl keeps disappearing.

Jerrica: Well, she said she'd be here, and if I know Miss Barclay, she is a woman of her word-

Phineas: [scoffs] Clearly, you don't know Miss Barclay at all.

Jerrica: Well, perhaps we could get started anyway. I do have a few questions I wanted to ask you.

Phineas: All right...go right ahead.

Jerrica: I heard you've been working on a secret project in your studio. [Phineas blushes] Would you mind telling us the subject of the secret painting.

Phineas: Ahem. Well, then it wouldn't be a secret, would it?

Jerrica: That's true, but then again, I don't think you and I run in the same circles, seeing as you live almost 200 years in the past.

Phineas: Nice try, Mrs. Knight-Catania, but I am no fool. I know you have very close relationships with several people of my acquaintance, including one Victoria Barclay.

Jerrica: You're not a very trusting person, are you?

Phineas: My closest friend is constantly lying to my face and evading my company. How could I possibly have confidence in people I hardly know at all?

Jerrica: Point taken. All right then...if you won't talk about your paintings, will you tell me about your association with Lady Beecham?

Phineas: [nearly falls out of chair laughing] I will gladly tell you that I would rather have all my teeth pulled barbarically from my mouth than spend a single moment in the company of that woman.

Jerrica: [slightly taken aback] Goodness. Is she that bad?

Phineas: [levels me with an evil eye] You should know. You wrote her, didn't you?

Jerrica: [blushing] Oh, right. Sorry about that.

[Victoria rushes in, hair askew, color high in her cheeks]

Victoria: Have I missed anything? I'm so sorry I'm late. I was unavoidably detained.

Phineas: You ought to give warning to people when you're not going to be on time, Vickie.

Victoria: [rolls her eyes] What would you have me do? Send a messenger all this way to tell you I would be a mere five minutes late?

Phineas: Don't be obtuse, Victoria.

Victoria: I shall try to refrain from obtusivity in the future, my lord.

Phineas: [grumbles] Do you see what I put up with?

Jerrica: Now, now, let's not argue. Miss Barclay is here now, isn't she?

Victoria: Exactly. And isn't that what matters?

Phineas: Would it really hurt you to be a bit more respectful of other people's time?

Victoria: Have you a pressing engagement, Finny?

Phineas: Perhaps I do, but frankly, what I have to do is none of your concern.

Victoria: I never said it was, I-

Jerrica: Stop! [Phineas and Victoria turn to look at me] Perhaps it would be best if we continued this interview another day.

Phineas: [to Victoria] Now do you see what you've done?

Victoria: Me?!?! You're the one who won't stop harping on my timeliness-

Phineas: Or lack thereof, as it were-

Victoria: Yet look at all the time you've wasted scolding me when we could have been nearly done with this whole thing by now.

[Phineas glowers at Victoria; Victoria crosses her arms over her chest and gives him a haughty look]

Jerrica: All right...well, thank you both for being here today. It was...interesting, to say the least. But despite this interview-gone-wrong, I do hope our readers will check out The Robber Bride, available now in e-book and print formats at all major retailers!

Caroline is one of my most favorite characters to write.  She’s fun. She’s adventurous (well, she thinks she is.) She has a big heart. She genuinely cares for her family and friends. AND she loves to meddle. Though, to be honest, Caroline wouldn’t say she “meddles” she would say she “fixes”.


Here are her stats:
Age - 30
Married (arranged, though Staveley is wonderful and lets her do whatever she wants without complaint...most of the time.)
Hair - Golden brown
Eyes - Hazel
Mother of 3 - 2 girls and 1 boy
Sister 
Friend to many


If you’ve read any of my books that feature Caroline, you know there are a lot of people in her world who need fixing.

A Scandalous Wife:

Robert Beckford, Earl of Masten (and Caroline’s oldest brother) is more than a little rigid in his life. He is a bit stodgy and set in his ways.

Lydia, Countess of Masten (Caroline’s sister-in-law) has led a troubled life, more so than anyone else in my world. Though she’s been married to Robert for five years, she hasn’t seen him since the day they married.

ENTER Caroline – She wants her brother to be happy and she thinks his wife is the perfect girl for the job. So she manages (a better word that meddles) to bring the two of them face to face and then manages the rest, as best as she can, from the sidelines.

A Scandalous Charade:

Lucas Beckford (Caroline’s second brother) is a charming devil-may-care rake, who goes about life one pleasure to the next.

Lady Juliet St. Claire (sister to one of Caroline’s friends) is a frosty heiress who loves her freedom almost as much as she does her family.

ENTER Caroline – When Caroline notices a spark between her roguish brother and good-girl Juliet, she manages (still a better word that meddles) to foster a relationship between the pair. And when Luke foolishly messes up in the grandest of ways, Caroline still manages to find a way to help the two of them find their way back together.

A Scandalous Secret:

Chester Peyton, Marquess of Astwick (one of Caroline’s friends) lost his heart more than a dozen years ago to a Scottish girl who deserted him.

Lady Hannah Campbell (the sister to one of Caroline’s friends) returns to London, widowed with two sons, which is no easy task as everywhere she goes, she sees reminders of her first love.

ENTER Caroline – As soon as Caroline realizes Chet and Hannah have a past, she sees no reason why they shouldn’t have a future too. So she – yes – manages to find a way to bring the star-crossed lovers face to face once more.

A Scandalous Pursuit:

Alexander Everett, Duke of Kelfield (long time friend of Caroline’s husband) finds himself in a compromising situation with an innocent girl he has long lusted after, and the only recourse is marriage.

Olivia Danbury (Caroline’s cousin) inexplicably finds herself headed down the aisle toward the scandalous duke, which is not the best situation for a girl who already had a fiancé.

ENTER Caroline – Alex and Livvie’s relationship is the one Caroline didn’t fully support. She loves the pair dearly. Alex is her favorite of all her husband’s friends, especially has he has assisted her in managing others’ futures. And she loves Livvie as though she were her sister. But they have so much going against them, she fears both will be hurt in the process – so she stays close, to help in case she is needed.

A Scandalous Past:

Brendan Reese, Earl of Clayworth (one of Caroline’s friends) is widowed and would prefer to stay that way. And he desperately needs to find his traitorous mother’s lost letters that could send him to the gaols.

Cordelia Avery (one of Caroline’s cousin Olivia’s friends) reminds Caroline of herself as she does have a tendency to med…er…fix things and people. One person she has no interest in fixing is the fraudulent Earl of Clayworth, not when the sinful Marquess of Haversham is nearby. How unfortunate for her that only Clayworth’s kisses make her toes curl.

ENTER Caroline – For several books Caroline had a match between Clayworth and Cordie in mind. She adores both of them so dearly that when Clayworth’s scandalous past finally catches up with him, Caroline even teams up with the despicable Haversham in order to save her friends from an uncertain end.

So there you are. A very brief overview of how Caroline has shaped the books in my Scandalous series. As I write my new Heroes Returned trilogy, I’m fairly certain she will find her way inside those books as well. After all, there are a lot of people who need fixing in her world. 

~ AVA STONE