An Interview with Rachel Brimble

It's my utmost pleasure to host Harlequin author, dear friend and agency mate, Rachel Brimble, to Tattered Pages today, who spoils us with some information about her busy life, her latest release and those WIPs! 

Let's start by asking, of the characters you've created, which one is your favorite and why?

I couldn't possibly choose a character because I love them all in different ways, BUT I am usually in love with the main character of the book I am working on at any one time. At the moment, my heroine is a Victorian prostitute trying for a better life. I just love Laura. She is so determined and feisty, yet has a heart of gold. She makes me very happy :)

 

My favorite setting, however, is Templeton Cove where my novels for Harlequin take place. As I'm planning books three and four, the entire town and community have now become very real and very dear to me. I really hope I can keep adding more and more stories to the series because I can't imagine every saying good bye to the town now!

I'm always falling in love with my characters, too! They become so real, don't they? What are you working on now?

I am just coming to the end of the first draft for my second Victorian romance for E-Kensington. I hope to have it finished, polished and submitted to my agent by the end of February. In addition to that, I am plotting my next romantic suspense for Harlequin Superromance - this will be the third book in the series. I'm very excited about it! :D

Love it! So, after finishing a manuscript, do you take some time off or dive right in to the next story?

Time off? Time off? What's that?? LOL!!

Seriously, I dive straight back in - more often than not, I'm working on more than one project. I love working this way because it gives me somewhere to redirect my attention when I hit a stumbling block. I often find working on something else (especially a different sub-genre), frees my mind and when I resume work on the 'halted' book, I know exactly where I went wrong. There's method in my madness, honestly!

There are never enough hours in the day, are there? But that's a great strategy! What’s on your nightstand (or downloaded onto your Kindle) right now?

Right now, I am reading the debut novel of my dear, sweet friend from the UK - Alexandra Brown's Cupcakes at Carringtons. Just fabulous! I'm also reading the huge bonkbuster of the 1980s, Lace by Shirley Conran. I can't believe I missed this the first time round. Such a great, epic story :)

Uhhh...sounds like two books I need to check out! What about hobbies? What are your favorite things to do besides writing?

I love to knit, read and walk my beloved black Labrador, Max - I am also thinking of taking up an American history course as I'm obsessed with all things American despite being a Brit, living in the UK. Hence why I write for the US market!

Thank you so much for this peek inside Rachel's world!! And now on with the show!

 

Old friends, new secrets 

Sergeant Cat Forrester lives by her own set of rules. When her childhood friend is murdered, Cat's world is thrown into chaos. Especially because Jay Garrett-a man from her past-is a suspect, and he needs her help to prove he's innocent. After all they once shared, how can she say no? 

 

The attraction flares between them, and getting involved with a suspect is a huge risk. But the more time Cat spends with Jay, the stronger the tug on her heart. He is the same caring, irresistible man she remembers. Yet she can't let her emotions interfere with the case-solving it is top priority. And as she digs deeper, she discovers Jay has secrets that may jeopardize any possible future together.

 

“I need your help, Cat. I’m in trouble. Big trouble.”

The timbre of despair in his voice alerted her to grief. Loss. She heard it loud and clear. It didn’t matter whether the speaker was male or female, young or old. When you lost someone before you should, it always sounded the same. She was trained to recognize it--personally and professionally. To listen and help. To alleviate others’ pain and hide her own. She stopped pacing and tightened her grip on the receiver.

“What’s wrong?”

“It’s Sarah.”

Her mind whirled back seven years ago to the last time she and her family took their annual holiday to Templeton Cove. A picturesque town situated amongst the spectacular “English Riviera” region of South West England. The place Jay and his family had lived for generations.

“Sarah? Is she okay?” Cold dread seeped into Cat’s blood, making goose bumps erupt on her arms. “Jay?”

“She’s dead, Cat. Murdered.”

She sucked in a breath as a lump of stone dropped into her abdomen. “What?”

“You need to come to the Cove. Investigate her death. The police here aren’t getting anywhere.” His shaky breath rasped down the line. “I’m a suspect, Cat. You have to help me. You have to help me show them--”

“Wait. You’re a suspect?” How could good, kind-hearted Jay Garrett be a suspect in a murder investigation? The Jay she remembered always smiled, laughed and kissed with lips that could lead a girl into all sorts of trouble…

“Please tell me you’re the detective you always swore you would be. You have to help me. I need you.”

He needs me. After all this time. “Jay, listen to me. If you’re a suspect, what happened? Cops do not go around accusing people--”

“The cops are walking around like their bloody heads are cut off.  Sarah’s parents are waiting for them to release her body while the police point the finger at me rather than the real killer. I feel trapped, Cat. You’ve got to come to the Cove.”

Rachel lives with her husband and two young daughters in a small town near Bath in the UK. After having several novels published by small US presses, she secured agent representation in 2011. In 2012, she sold two books to Harlequin Superromance. She also writes Victorian romance for Kensington--her debut was released in April 2013.

Rachel is a member of the Romantic Novelists Association and Romance Writers of America. When she isn’t writing, you’ll find Rachel with her head in a book or walking the beautiful English countryside with her family and beloved black Lab, Max. Her dream place to live is Bourton-on-the-Water in South West England…although she hopes a dream visit to Canada might just change her mind!

She likes nothing more than connecting and chatting with her readers and fellow romance writers. Rachel would love to hear from you!

Links:

http://www.rachelbrimble.com/

http://rachelbrimble.blogspot.co.uk/

https://twitter.com/RachelBrimble

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rachel-Brimble/181873201887441?fref=ts