DEFENDING THE DUCHESS - Rachelle McCalla - One Free Book

Welcome back, Rachelle. How did you come up with the idea for this story?

Over the course of my Reclaiming the Crown Series, readers got to know several of the members of the royal guard, including Linus, the hero of this book.  I knew I wanted to give Linus his own story because of his bravery and the sacrifices he’d made on behalf of the royal family in the previous stories.  And who would make a better heroine than the Queen’s own sister, the American, Julia Miller?  Once the two of them got together, exciting things started to happen.

Let’s do a party for Christian authors of historical fiction, what six people would you invite and why?

I don’t read much historical fiction.  I’m an avid reader of nonfiction history and biography. I adore Frederic Morton and Barbara Tuchman.

Many times, people (and other authors) think you have it made with so many books published. What is your most difficult problem with writing at this time in your career?

I have a lot of stories I want to tell, but I only have time to write a few books each year.  I wish I had more time to write, but at the same time, my four children keep me very busy, and I don’t want to sacrifice my time with them.  I need more hours in the day!

Tell us about the featured book.

Defending the Duchess tells the story of Seattle lawyer Julia Miller, whose sister married King Thaddeus of Lydia.  Julia is worried about her sister and has come to Lydia to help her transition to life in the palace, but Julia quickly discovers she has troubles of her own.  When she’s attacked and briefly kidnapped, royal guard Linus Murati come to her rescue—and stays by her side, determined to learn the identity of her attacker and keep her safe as the trouble builds.

Please give us the first page of the book.

Linus Murati stepped into the visual surveillance room of the royal guard headquarters, a three-story brick building located on the Lydian royal palace grounds across the rear courtyard from the garages.

“Get me suite 322 on screen, please,” he requested.

“I thought you had duchess duty tonight?” Simon accused Linus as he pulled up the view from the surveillance camera.

“I do. Miss Miller has requested an evening in.” Linus leaned over the back of his friend's chair and blinked at the image of the white paneled door where he'd left Queen Monica's pretty little sister mere minutes before. “But don't let her catch you calling her ‘duchess’ just yet. The queen has yet to announce the title—I don't believe Julia knows she's going to be royalty.”

“Official or not, that's the name we've assigned to her—wait now.” Simon broke off midsentence as the door on the screen opened and the dark-eyed beauty poked her head out, looking both directions before darting down the hall. “Thought you said she was in for the night.”

“That's what she told me.” Linus watched Julia’s progress, switching cameras as needed to keep up with her stealthy excursion down a set of stairs and around a bend in the hall. The woman had changed into shorts and a T-shirt and pulled her thick brown hair into a ponytail. “Do you suppose she's headed to the palace gym?”

“She's going the wrong direction for that.”

“Maybe she's lost,” Linus nearly growled as the woman took a corridor that led to an outside door. “I told her to page me if she wanted to go anywhere.”

“She's out.” The duchess stepped through an exit to the courtyard and skirted a hedgerow, her furtive glances making it clear that she was escaping deliberately—not merely adrift on her way to the gym. “Catch her.”

“She won't get through the gates.” Linus predicted, but ran for the door anyway. The queen's little sister was an American in town on a visit. She wouldn’t know her way around the kingdom of Lydia and might get lost if she stepped out alone. Besides that, as the ambush on the royal family just over two months before had taught them, even the most beloved royals could become targets of criminal activity.

Which was precisely why Julia needed a bodyguard.

How can readers find you on the Internet?

I’m on facebook, twitter, goodreads, and www.rachellemccalla.com

Thank you, Rachelle, for sharing this book with us. I just started reading it yesterday. As with all the others, I'm loving it.

Readers, here are links to the book. By using one when you order, you help support this blog.
Defending the Duchess (Love Inspired Suspense) - paperback
Defending the Duchess (Protecting the Crown) - Kindle


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