The Book Junkie's Reads . . .: Virtual Tour - The Duke's Last Hunt by Rosanne E. Lortz

The Duke's Last Hunt

by Rosanne E. Lortz

Publication Date: September 1^st 2016

Madison Street Publishing

Genre: Historical Romance/Suspense/Regency

From The Book Junkie Reads . . . The Duke’s Last Hunt . . .

I am not sure. I do not care. I had fun with this read. I was able to get immersed right in this one the day I received it. I had no doubts or slow down to take in the time. I was in and then was finished before I realized that I was in deep.

Right from the onset you knew there was just something not quite right about things. The further you get in you begin to suspect. Then you just know deep down that things are off. Especially when there was a murder after all. I found it fun and light and laughs. No excuse for the humor found within. Things were serious when need be, but there was a light heartedness about things that made it less dire and dreary.

Lord Henry had me from the moment we meet him at the club with his friend. I could feel the hints of devilment within him. The hint at a little excitement. All this to be confirmed in many place throughout the read. He did have a serious side and a responsible side. He was my hero from the beginning.

Eliza had parents that I may or may not have wanted to strangle a few time, okay more. She was likeable (amiable) but just not at the top list for me. Other characters attracted my attention more like Jacob Pevensey. The suspense behind the ten-year break between brothers and other things took more center stage. The characters were drawing and wanting to know held me entertained all the way to the end.

I would like to know more about Rosanne E. Lortz works. I do recommend this one to anyone that enjoys a side of humor with their historical/regency suspense/mystery.

**This book was provided by Rosanne E. Lortz via Madison Street Publishing in exchange for an honest review.**

BLURB

With her third London season drawing to a close, the shy Eliza Malcolm seems unlikely to find any husband, let alone a titled one. But when the hunting-crazed Duke of Brockenhurst invites the Malcolms to visit Harrowhaven, Eliza’s father jumps at the chance to gain a wealthy son-in-law. Surrounded by quarreling parents, tactless acquaintances, the aloof dowager, and the unsettling duke, Eliza looks for one person kind enough to help her navigate the murky waters of Harrowhaven’s secrets….

Estranged from his brother the duke, Henry Rowland only planned to visit Harrowhaven for the afternoon, but after meeting his brother’s intended, his designs are overthrown. As misfortune strikes Harrowhaven, Jacob Pevensey is called in to investigate. Henry learns that the only way to safeguard Eliza Malcolm’s happiness is to face the past he has been running from for ten long years.

Buy Link: Amazon

INTERVIEW WITH ROSANNE LORTZ

How would you describe your style of writing to someone that has never read your work?

I write romantic fiction combined with a murder mystery, working in historical background without overloading my writing with details.

What mindset or routine do you feel the need to set when preparing to write (in general whether you are working on a project or just free writing)?

I have four kids, ages five and under. Which means that I have to be prepared to write anytime I get a chance. My mindset is urgency, I guess. :-) "Write now while you have a chance!!" Usually I write at 5:30 in the morning or 8:00 at night.

Do you take your character prep to heart? Do you nurture the growth of each character all the way through to the page? Do you people watch to help with development? Or do you build upon your character during story creation?

The characters in my latest book didn't come alive until about four chapters in. Then they kind of took over the plans I had for them, and I had to rewrite the first few chapters to fit their new personas. I don't people-watch, per se, for character planning, but I do incorporate things I've observed about people from my own life. For example, in The Duke's Last Hunt, Eliza Malcolm has severe social anxiety, so I drew upon what that looked like in people I know who share that with her.

Have you found yourself bonding with any particular character? If so which one(s)?

I really liked Cecil, the young curly-haired magistrate, in The Duke's Last Hunt...which is why I'm making plans to include him in further books.

Do you have a character that you have been working on that you can't wait to put to paper?

Yes, I have some characters to go into my Crusade trilogy that are just waiting to be put down on paper. One is the princess of France who ends up crossing over to the Holy Land at the tender age of eight for an arranged marriage....

Have you ever felt that there was something inside of you that you couldn't control? If so what? If no what spurs you to reach for the unexperienced?

I got this one from a friend. If you could have dinner with 7 fictional character, who would they be? Seven? That's a generous number.

I would dine with: Captain Wentworth (Persuasion), Isabel Archer (Portrait of a Lady), Marcus Didius Falco (Falco novels by Lindsey Davis), Brother Cadfael (Cadfael books by Ellis Peters), Lord Peter Wimsey (Lord Peter novels by Dorothy Sayers), Ender Wiggin (Ender's Game), and the inimitable Lady Catherine de Bourg (Pride and Prejudice).

Thank you, Rosanne Lortz,

You have a book that transported me. You have a list of dinner companions that intrigue me. I look forward to more of your work.

Thanks again,

The Book Junkie Reads . . .

Author Info

Rosanne E. Lortz ("Rose") is a history lover, a book addict, a mom to four boys, and a native of Portland, Oregon. When she's not writing, she teaches Latin and English composition and works as an editor at Madison Street Publishing. Rosanne's works include I Serve: A Novel of the Black Prince, Road from the West: Book I of the Chronicles of Tancred, The Life and Death of Saint Thomas Becket: Type of Paul, Type of Peter, Type of Christ, Castles, Customs, and Kings: True Tales by English Historical Fiction Authors (Vol 1 & 2), To Wed an Heiress, and the upcoming The Duke's Last Hunt.

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Giveaway

To win a paperback copy of The Duke's Last Hunt by Rosanne E. Lortz, please enter via the Gleam form The Duke's Last Hunt. Two copies are up for grabs! Rules – Giveaway ends at 11:59pm EST on September 16th. You must be 18 or older to enter. – Giveaway is open to US residents only. – Only one entry per household. – All giveaway entrants agree to be honest and not cheat the systems; any suspect of fraud is decided upon by blog/site owner and the sponsor, and entrants may be disqualified at our discretion – Winner has 48 hours to claim prize or new winner is chosen.