Regina Scott is an award-winning novelist.
“Bold, rugged—and bound to be grooms.” Who can resist such a tag line?
Certainly, not me!
A Convenient Christmas Wedding is an 1866
Christmas tale that entertains! Nora Underhill’s predicament draws my sympathy
and her fixes are fun and entertaining. With such a family—who needs enemies? Oh Nora, you are quite the girl! This
lovable character wins my heart, causing me to cheer her on through each and every
situation she faces. The story has clever problems and worthy solutions that
kept me smiling and wishing for the best.
Logger, Simon Wallin, is a man of action,
when felling trees and providing for his family, but not necessarily for
matrimonial commitments. When Nora
proposes, he is shock, especially when her offer starts to make sense and
benefits them both. This solution dissolves into a wonderful conflict of wills.
Twists and turns in their relationship happen when both her family and his ply
their influence—for better or worse.
Her characters are winsome and diverse. I
loved this novel so much I contacted Regina and asked her if she would have
time for questions and a review. I’ve popped onto her WEB page blog, which is
entertaining and informative. This is a place I will be revisiting and her
novel is a definite reread! I’m looking forward to ordering more of her books!
To think this all started with my plan to read Christmas novellas and novels
throughout the year and to challenge my blog visitors to do the same! Aren’t
you glad I did!
This is the first Regina Scott historical
novel that I’ve read. I was delighted to find A Convenient Christmas Wedding.
Regina how did you come up with this wonderful predicament? The Wallin family, of whom the hero
Simon is a member, first appeared in Would-Be
Wilderness Wife. I call it my “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers” book,
because they are all loggers living in the wilderness with few ladies about.
Drew, the oldest, has had to raise his younger brothers and sister after their
father died in a logging accident. Simon, only 2 years younger than Drew,
chafed at his leadership. Simon is logical, firm in his convictions. Even
though he’s lived in this large, gregarious family, he’s felt a little like an
outsider. I knew I had to find a compassionate, sweet-natured woman to partner
him if he was ever to find love. The local seamstress Nora, with all her
whimsy, starts out their relationship by appealing to logic that was impossible
for Simon to resist. Then, gradually, he begins to find Nora hard to resist.
Can I pry from you a mention of your
favorite scene in this novel? (Or if that would give too much away—what is your
third favorite scene and why?) I happen to love the wedding scene! I love the wedding scene too! One of
my favorite scenes is when Simon’s family tries to maneuver him into a game
that will reveal his growing feelings for Nora. It’s a game where you have to
think of a person, their occupation, and a characteristic as to why they are
lovable. The game was actually played in the 1800’s. For example, if you
started the game , you’d say “I love my love with an A, for his name is Adam,
he is an architect, and he’s very amiable.” Simon’s family goes through all
kinds of shenanigans to make sure he lands on the letter N, and he is just
oblivious! You have to love a family who wants the best for you, even when you
don’t know what’s best yet.
I love the depth of personality you show
in the characters as your story progresses. Do any of the characters remind you
of real life people or movie characters? I sometimes cast family and friends
in roles in my stories, but I didn’t with this book. I do often take a movie
star or model as my physical idea of a character. I pictured Simon as a Val
Kilmer as he was in Top Gun. He has that kind of sharp energy.
What is the most important take-away you
hope your readers will enjoy? (Without giving away too much of your story.) That family isn’t so much what you
were born into, but who you choose to love.
If you could compare one of the characters
in this book to yourself then whom would most resemble you? I’d love to say Nora. I envy her
boundless love and optimism, despite circumstances. But I’m afraid I’m a bit
more like Simon. Show me the logic, and I’m generally a happy girl.
When it comes to writing who was your
greatest encourager? (If you have many we will not hold you to formulating a
whole list. 😊 The Lord. He gives me the ideas; He gives me the words. I also have a wonderful critique partner who is so
good about pointing out places to improve in the kindest of ways. It’s funny,
but most of my family and friends still seem a bit surprised by the whole
thing, even after 35 books!
I saw—because I was poking around on your
WEB page—that you write in different time periods. I’m very interested in your Lady Emily Capers! I must know… do you have a favorite time
period? I adore the regency period in
England. I’ve set more than 20 stories there, including my Lady Emily Capers.
But I find so much fascinating in history that I’m glad to be able to write in
other periods as well. And it is nice to be writing about history in my own
backyard with my Frontier Bachelors series, set around pioneer Seattle. I can
go visit some of the places I’m writing about and I don’t have to get on an
airplane!
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Thank you Regina for an engaging interview! I've ordered Secrets and Sensibilites, book 1 in the Lady Emily Capers, which I will enjoy as soon as time allows. I'll review Regina's The Bride's Matchmaking Triplets due to be published this June!
