Guest Blogger: Sasha Cottman and ‘An Unsuitable Match’

An Unsuitable Match Hi Res Cover PicI’ve been incomunicado lately, what with end of term stuff, school holidays, and family issues, but we’re back in business tonight with the gorgeous and talented Sasha Cottman as she talks to us about her new novel, ‘An Unsuitable Match’.

Sasha’s debut novel, ‘Letter from a Rake’ won her huge raves and most recently was one of the finalists in the Romance Writers of Australia Ruby Awards (Romantic Book of the Year) – very prestigious.

Sasha started writing after attending a writing course with Anne Gracie – who better to learn about writing historical romance series from than Anne? It’s no wonder Sasha’s novels are fun, charming romps with engaging characters and plenty of heart. Sasha is here to talk about how she went from writing a standalone book to a series. Sasha is also going to do a ‘Clip Chips’ giveaway.Chip Clips She has these funky clips you use on open packets of chips etc to keep them fresh – great idea. I need some of those – and she’s going to give some away, but only to those who make a comment. So if you want some of these fun clips, please leave a comment (and a way to get in touch with you) and your name will go into the draw.

Take it away, Sasha.

 

Thanks Leisl.

Part way through writing Letter from a Rake, Letter From a RakeI suddenly realised I had the makings of a series. The secondary character of David Radley began to take shape as a likely hero for another novel. Thus the Duke of Strathmore series was born.

I have to confess at this point I love a good series. Nothing is more exciting knowing that when I have finished one book, another, with often familiar characters awaits me. I have lost count of the Stephanie Laurens’ Cynster series books I own. It was at that moment, I decided to not only write one but a number of stories about the Radley family. All standalone stories, but with intertwined characters who make ‘guest’ appearances in other stories.

In Letter from a Rake, David has declared his love for Lady Clarice Langham. In An Unsuitable Match, he now faces the almost insurmountable task of making his long held dream to marry her come to fruition. He has held a secret love for Clarice for many years and it comes as a shock to both her and a number of other people when it becomes public knowledge.

David is seen by many in London society, as an unashamed rake. The fact that he is illegitimate only adds to his lack of suitability as a husband. He has a lot of hurdles to overcome.

Clarice Langham was an intriguing person to write as my heroine. She hides herself from the world, concealing a dark secret about her past. When David declares his love for her, she is frightened. She does not believe that he is serious in his intent. No one could love someone like her. Add to that, the fact that her father opposes their relationship and a world of conflict presents itself.

For Clarice to overcome her fears and face a possible future with David, she has to find an inner bravery which she doesn’t feel she possesses. Fortunately, her cause is added by a number of strong secondary female characters who do have good intentions. David’s sisters Millie and Lucy see Clarice’s potential and work to bring her out of the long mourning period she has observed after the death of her mother. I enjoyed writing the scenes where the two of them conspire to create a happy ending for both their brother and Clarice. I have found in a number of books that female characters are written as being selfish and self-centred when it comes to other women. For both the Radley girls and Clarice’s grandmother, Lady Alice, they would like nothing better than to see Clarice happily married.

At the end of An Unsuitable Match, a glimpse is seen of Lucy’s possible future. I am currently writing book 3 in the Duke of Strathmore series where hopefully Lucy gets to meet her forever man. After all the match making she has done to get her two brothers married off to lovely girls, I think it is time she found happiness for herself.

 

An Unsuitable Match Hi Res Cover PicAn Unsuitable Match Blurb:

The Favourite Heiress…
 
Once engaged to the future Duke of Strathmore, the beautiful Lady Clarice Langham now finds herself in the humiliating position of celebrating his marriage – to another woman.  As a result of the scandal, it seems her reign as London’s most eligible debutante has come to an end.  But things begin to look up when handsome and charming rake David Radley makes it clear that, at least as far as he’s concerned, she’s still the catch of the season.
 
The Illegitimate Son…
 
The eldest son of the Duke of Strathmore, David Radley has been raised alongside his father’s legitimate children.  But while he is generally received as part of the family, not everyone thinks he should be, and especially not Clarice’s father, the Earl of Langham, who forbids her from having anything to do with him.
 
An Unsuitable Match…
 
David’s been in love with Clarice for years, and it isn’t long before the attraction between them develops into something deeper. Yet he senses Clarice is hiding something and until she reveals her secret, she won’t be free to follow her heart. Despite everything, David will not give up on Clarice, not even when another seems set to claim her…

Buy Links

An Unsuitable Match is available at the following places.

Amazon

Kobo

iTunes

GooglePlay

JB Hi Fi

Sainbury’s

 

sasha cottman author picAuthor Bio

Born in England, but raised in Australia, Sasha has a love for both countries. Having her heart in two places has created a love for travel, which at last count was to over 55 countries. A travel guide is always on her pile of new books to read.

Sasha lives with her husband, teenage daughter and a cat who thinks sitting on the keyboard is being helpful. Her family have managed to find all but one of her secret chocolate hiding places. On the weekends Sasha loves walking on the beach while devising new ways to torture her characters.

Social Media Links

You can follow Sasha and find out more about her and her books on her website:

http://www.sashacottman.com

Blog:http://www.sashacottman.com/in-the-regency-kitchen

Follow her on Twitter http://www.twitter.com/sashacottman

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/sashacottmanauthor    

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7136108.Sasha_Cottman

Sasha’s newest release An Unsuitable Match is released through Destiny Romance September 2014.

Book Trailer

An Unsuitable Match https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=af0ITmSQ5kQ

 

And don’t forget to comment to go into the drawer for a Chip Clip.

9 Comments on “Guest Blogger: Sasha Cottman and ‘An Unsuitable Match’”

  1. Thanks Louise, in between tearing myself away from Outlander I am busy trying to finish the third book in the series. Lucy Radley is hopefully going to get her HEA.

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