BRAZEN MARGO MAGUIRE

Margo Maguire’s historical novels – all 19 of them! – have been in print since 1999, and translated into twenty different languages. Her first career was that of a critical care nurse, but when burn-out hit, she studied and earned a degree in history. Now she writes full time, utilizing her passion for history in all her writing.

Read more about Margo on GLIAS.

Discover all her books on her website.

BRAZEN

Harper Collins

Read part of the story…

“Captain Briggs, how did you find me?”  Christina asked.

“It was a long and complicated process. I will not bore you with the details.”

“It must have been difficult…” A plan began to form in her mind. “Did my grandfather engage you to find my sister as well?”

He gave a nod, lifting his densely muscled arm as she wrapped the linen around the wound she’d caused. Christina kept her focus on her questions and not on the thick musculature of his arm and the odd prickle of awareness that skittered down her back.

“Did you know where my sister had been taken when our parents died? Who had raised her?”

“No. I went to London – where Sarah and Daniel Hayes lived – and started asking questions.”

Christina could not imagine what the questions had been or whom he would have asked. How did one begin to find a needle – or two – in a haystack?

“Can you locate anyone? Anyone at all?”

She found him looking at her, not at what she was doing, but at her face. He was very close, close enough that she could see flecks of silver in his light blue eyes. And his lashes – impossibly long and black as coal. A small crescent of a scar at the corner of his eye only added to the stunning appeal of his features.

He did not respond immediately to her question, holding her gaze until he blinked and turned to look at his arm. “Yes,” he finally said. “Anyone.”

Christina could think of no other person who showed such complete confidence. She finished the bandaging and tied the knot. “So… Windermere has paid you to find me?” she asked.

The brow over his right eye lowered ever so slightly. “He is not obliged to pay me until I take you to him.”

“Are you one of those Bow Street men?”

“No. Apparently, your grandfather heard of my expertise at… finding people… on the continent.”

“In the army?”

“Aye.” A muscle in his jaw tensed.

Christina knew he wasn’t about to leave Sweethope Cottage. After all, he must have come some distance for her. And he wouldn’t be paid until he produced her for her grandfather. He had to stay.

She did want to meet her sister. It was just that the situation with her brother was so immediate.

Christina quickly made up her mind. She was going to have to delay that meeting until she found Lang. And Captain Briggs was the key to doing so. He’d found Lily with few clues, and it couldn’t have been easy to find her, either.

She followed Briggs to the drawing room at the front of the house and waited when he stepped outside and went to his horse. Half naked, he reached up and took down a leather satchel while Christina gaped at his bare back. His shoulders. His lean waist. The ripple of muscle when he moved his arms. The way his longish, dark hair brushed his neck.

She watched with interest as he came back to the house, pulling on the fresh shirt that he’d taken from his satchel. He was far more rugged than her late husband, and seemed to fit into the rustic setting of Sweethope Cottage far better than Edward ever had.

It had surprised her to learn Edward had bequeathed her the country house, for she’d visited there only a few times. But of course, he had not planned on dying so precipitously. Or in such outrageous circumstances.

“If we leave now, we can make it to Windermere the day after tomorrow,” Captain Briggs said when he turned and saw her standing at the window in the drawing room.

“I’m not going to Windermere,” Christina replied.

“Yes, you are.”

“I need to go to London first.”

He tucked the long tails of his shirt into his trews. Then he caught her gaze and spoke quietly. “I’d rather not tie you to the back of my horse, Lady Fairhaven, but I will if I—”

“Do you order your wife about this way, Captain Briggs?”

“I have no wife, Lady Fairhaven. And I assure you that if I did have one, she would be far more tractable—”

“I am being blackmailed, Captain. I need to go to London right away.”

Questions for Margo…from Heather...

Do you write while listening to music?

Yes, I sure do. It helps me to get into the zone and also to block out everything else that’s going on around me because I usually write at Starbuck’s or another coffee shop. I prefer to listen to soundtracks, but not the kind with lyrics. I’ll listen to things like Pirates of the Caribbean or Pride and Prejudice. I love Finding Neverland and the music from the Transformer movies.  Sometimes I go for classical, and I’m a fan of the baroque. Love JS Bach, Vivaldi, and Corelli.

What was the first story you remember writing?

The first story I remember writing was when I was in 8^th grade. It was a sci-fi piece about an alien from another planet, and although I can’t recall the story itself, I do remember the illustrations. Drawing was my passion back then, and I kept up my artistic pursuits ever after. Although now I am more likely to remember the story rather than the picture. J

What is your favorite movie of all time?

Independence Day.  It’s one of the few movies I can stand to watch more than once. My husband thinks it’s a hoot, since I’m a Romance writer, for heaven’s sake. But there’s so much to love in ID. A lot of romance – plus a great alien invasion story! I think it must take me back to when I was a kid and we went to the Saturday afternoon matinees to watch monster movies.

What’s your favorite kind of story to get lost in?

That’s a tough one, because it really depends on my mood. There are times when a romantic comedy is just the thing that suits my fancy. Or I might like a dark and chilling romantic suspense novel. Of course I love historicals, love to get lost in the time period, in the manners and conventions of times long past.

How often do you get lost in a story?

Not nearly often enough! I am always reading at least two books, and though one of them might be a piece of non-fiction, I am never without a good romance. Unfortunately, I don’t have enough time to read for recreation these days. It seems my own writing takes up more and more of my time – with deadlines encroaching much faster than I’d like!

What is your favorite tradition from your childhood that you would love to pass on or did pass on to your children?

Thanksgiving. When I was a kid, all the aunts and uncles and cousins on my mom’s side of the family got together for a great Thanksgiving feast. We kept up our bond with each other that way, and my cousins and I are all still in touch with each other – all twenty of us. Now I’m the one who hosts Thanksgiving every year with my side of the family – all the aunts and uncles and cousins. My kids and their cousins are keeping the bonds they made when they were little.  

What’s the first thing you do when you finish a book?

Read. I dig through my TBR pile and pick something that appeals to me right at that moment. Then I keep on reading until my eyes shrivel up like raisins!

Do you read reviews of your books? If so, do you pay any attention to them, or let them influence your writing?

I avoid reading reviews of my books because whether they’re good or bad, they interfere with my ability to write. A great review and I start thinking I ought to do more of whatever the reviewer liked – even though more of that (whatever that was) might not work well in the next book. And a so-so review makes me wonder if I can write at all. Or I’ll overthink the things the reviewer didn’t like. So yeah – I try not to read reviews. Just keep my head in the sand, telling myself that if my editor likes my work well enough to publish it, and my fans like my work well enough to read it  – then I must be doing something right.

What has been the most unexpected thing about being a published author?

I’m amazed at how many people tell me they’d like to write a book. Or that they could write a book if only they had enough time. Like it’s something you can just pick up and do well – like making a meatloaf from a recipe. Not that there aren’t some talented undiscovered writers out there… it’s just that a lot of people think it’s just a matter of sitting down and typing up whatever comes to mind.

A question for my readers…
At this time of year, do you like to hunker down with a Christmas-themed movie or book? Tell me your favorites! 

A book for my commenters…
One lucky commenter will receive a copy of Seducing the Governess. (Featured book on Margo's March GLIAS visit.)

Please follow us on Facebook & Twitter (#GetLostStories) for a daily update on who’s visiting GLIAS and what they might be giving away! Join us tomorrow as Angi hosts NYT Bestselling suspense author Chritsy Reece.