A Hint of Wicked by Jennifer Haymore

About the Book:

CAUGHT BETWEEN DUTY AND DESIRE . . .

Sophie, the Duchess of Calton, has finally moved on. After seven years mourning the loss of her husband, Garrett, at Waterloo, she has married his cousin and heir, Tristan. Sophie gives herself to him body and soul. . . until the day Garrett returns from the Continent, demanding his title, his lands-and his wife.

TORN BETWEEN TWO HUSBANDS . . .

Now Sophie must choose between her first love and her new love, knowing that no matter what, her choice will destroy one of the men she adores. Will it be Garrett, her childhood sweetheart, whose loss nearly destroyed her once already? Or will it be Tristan, beloved friend turned lover, who supported her through the last, dark years and introduced her to a passion she had never known? As her two husbands battle for her heart, Sophie finds herself immersed in a dangerous game-where the stakes are not only love . . . but life and death.

I was lucky enough to get this author to agree to answer some questions. Here is what she had to say:

Could you please tell us a little about your book?

A HINT OF WICKED is a sexy Regency romance about a woman who lost her husband to war and remarries seven years later, only to have her first husband return to claim her.

Who or what is the inspiration behind this book?

The core idea for A Hint of Wicked was my husband’s—I use him as a sounding board and a brainstorming partner all the time. The story, however, has developed quite a bit from his original “vision,” which was of an enraged husband catching his mourning wife in bed with another man. I latched on to that scenario and ran with it, but I don’t think I ran in the same direction he envisioned for the story. I guess that’s my prerogative as the writer. . .

Who is your biggest supporter?

My husband and three kids support me endlessly. My family is so forgiving, too, when I’m locked up in my office and don’t see them for days at a time.

Your biggest critic?

Definitely myself. Everyone around me will tell you that I’m way too hard on myself.

What are you currently working on?

I’m currently working on edits for A TOUCH OF SCANDAL, the sequel to A HINT OF WICKED. It’s the continuing story of the “losing” man from A HINT OF WICKED. Most of the characters from the first book make an appearance, and Rebecca, Garrett’s younger sister, plays a big part in the story’s conflict.

Do you have any advice for writers or readers?

For writers: Keep writing, no matter what! It’s a roller coaster (that keeps on going when you’re published), but always remember a rejection is a milestone, not a failure.

What do you feel sets this book apart from others in the same genre?

It’s a little outside the box for a traditional Regency romance. I think it breaks some of the conventions of the genre, because while romances generally feature one hero and one heroine, in A HINT OF WICKED, the heroine wholly and deeply is in love with two men.

You know the scenario – you’re stuck on an island. What book would you bring with you and why?

Is there a book entitled: “How to Survive When You’re Stuck on a Desert Island”? No? Then it would probably have to be Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. . .

About the Author:

As a child, Jennifer Haymore traveled the South Pacific with her family on their homebuilt sailboat. The months spent on the sometimes-quiet, sometimes-raging seas sparked her love of adventure and grand romance. Since then, she's earned degrees in Computer Science and Education and held various jobs from bookselling to teaching inner-city children to acting, but she's never stopped writing. You can find Jennifer in Southern California trying to talk her husband into yet another trip to England, helping her three children with homework while brainstorming a new five-minute dinner menu, or crouched in a corner of the local bookstore writing her next novel.

You can learn more at her website: www.jenniferhaymore.com.