A CONVENIENT CHRISTMAS WEDDING BY REGINA SCOTT



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!
• How do you want your readers to follow or contact you?                                                                                                                         www.reginascott.com                                                                               www.facebook.com/authorreginascott                                                                                              www.pinterest.com/reginascottpins                                                                     www.goodreads.com/reginascott.

       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!