Bronwen Evans – Why Rheda Kerrich would be my best friend…
Let’s face it, not every woman you meet instantly becomes your best friend. There has to be something about her that 
piques your interest or just clicks. You have to admire certain traits in your friends, like compassion, loyalty, humor etc.
When I was mulling over ideas for my second book in the ‘Invitation to’ Regency romance series, INVITATION TO SCANDAL, I fell instantly in love with my heroine, Rheda Kerrich. Probably because she’s someone I’d be proud to call my best friend.
I connected with Rheda the minute she popped into my he
ad. I love that she’s a risk taker. She doesn’t sit back and let life dictate terms. She’s prepared to try and shape and mould her lot to suit her needs. If something is not right, she tries to fix it, not always successfully, but she doesn’t sit about and mope. And it’s not only her world she tries to make the best off. She has her local village to look after, especially the widows and orphans.
To better understand her character, let me briefly tell you about the book Rheda is in.
In Invitation to Scandal, Rufus Knight, Viscount Strathmore is desperately trying to capture a deadly French spy—for two reasons. One, because that’s his job, he works for the Secret Service, and two, because he hopes that in doing so he can learn the truth about his late father’s supposed treason and clear the Strathmore name. However, to find the spy he needs to capture Dark Shadow, a notorious Kent smuggler. The spy is using Dark Shadow’s network to send his communiqués.
On his first day in Deal, Kent, who does he spot with an unstamped barrel of brandy? You guessed it Miss Rheda Kerrick, dressed as a local farming wench. She’d be a perfect informant. A local beauty who can help him discover a smuggler, while also keeping his bed warm at night. However, his normal charm doesn’t appear to work, and she refuses to reveal her name or who gave her the cask. [CLUE FIVE: THAT’S]
Miss Rheda Kerrick, the eldest child of Baron de Winter, was left penniless and parentless at the age of seventeen when her dissolute father dies. She also has a younger brother, Daniel, who will inherit Tumsbury Cliff Manor and the estate. Facing bankruptcy she resorts to whatever means necessary to save Tumsbury Cliff for him. In addition, she quickly realizes that unless she wants to end up like her mother, married to a man who sees her only as a means to beget an heir, she’d better work out a way to become financially independent. At twenty-five she’s almost there. Prince Hammed has gifted her two Arabian mares, and her dream of owning her own cavalry horse breeding business is in her reach. She simply lacks one vital ingredient- a stallion. Unable to afford stud fees, she cheekily decides to ‘borrow’ Rufus’s magnificent stallion.
But Rufus is not as dumb as most men, and Rheda is caught red-handed. Her punishment is to aid Rufus in his mission. Rufus uses the opportunity to try and seduce the information from her and to her horror she longs to submit.
The more they work together the harder it is to resist the handsome rake. Rheda empathizes with his desire to clear his father’s name and restore his mother and sister to their rightful place in Society. Soon it’s more than her pride at stake. She’s beginning to fall in love with him. But once he learns the truth about Dark Shadow, how can they have any future together?
Rheda is a woman of strength and determination. It took strength to single handedly run an estate and hold onto her brother’s inheritance. It took strength to ignore the expectations of Society and to risk doing a little wrong in order to accomplish a lot of good. It took courage to defy convention and want to create her own safety net and financial independence. As women we could all learn from Rheda about this—ensure we have something concrete behind us. And finally, it takes strength to sacrifice everything for the ones you love—there is nothing in life more honorable.
Why is Rheda my best friend? She throws herself into life and it’s contagious. She is smart, brave and loyal. But like all my favorite romance heroines, she is strong. And if you get the chance to read INVITATION TO SCANDAL , I hope, that as I did, you will find yourself a new best friend, too.
I’d love to hear what characteristic you most identify with in your favourite heroines! Is it strength? Cunning? Bravery? Something else? What, to you, is the most important trait a heroine should have?
One random commenter will be chosen to win a copy of my newest book, INVITAION TO SCANDAL, (open internationally)! Also, find out how to win the INVITATION TO ROMANCE Blog Tour Grand Prize of a $200 Gift Card from Amazon or B&N PLUS 30+ ‘signed by the authors’ romance novels by visiting www.bronwenevans.com
There will be a one WORD hidden in each blog post ie. [WHO] in brackets (the word ‘WHO’ is the first clue). There are 30 words altogether. These words will spell a paragraph related toBron’s 1 May release INVITATION TO SCANDAL.
May 2nd, 2012 at 4:13 am
It’s 11pm here in New Zealand on Wednesday night and I’m off to bed. I’ll be up and about around lunchtime US time to answer any questions and to respond to comments – see you then!
May 2nd, 2012 at 5:28 am
Even though I do like heroines strong from the beginning of the story, I also love reading how they develop and find how much inner strength they possess. I also love it when they are very curious since more often than not it leads to getting into mischief.
May 2nd, 2012 at 6:22 am
I have not identified with any heroines I’ve read. I’m such a wimp who screams when she sees a small spider! I do like to read about heroines who are smart and brave with a quick wit and a sharp tongue!
May 2nd, 2012 at 8:02 am
I like a strong heroine, so I am sure I would very much enjoy your books.. But I also like that there is a soft side to a heroine too… I think a good mixture makes for a good heroine… A little Sass helps too…
THanks for sharing your books with us…Looking forward to reading your books…
May 2nd, 2012 at 9:28 am
I like intelligent heroines that can challenge the hero. Even in books with lots of angst, it also helps if the heroine has a sense of humor.
May 2nd, 2012 at 9:33 am
Enjoyed reading your comments. It depends on the times the story takes place in and the challenges that the heroine faces as to how I want to learn of her characteristics and attitude. In some stories, I like her to be strong but not assertive and in some I like her to be assertive in her actions. depends on the storyline for me.
May 2nd, 2012 at 11:23 am
I’m especially drawn to heroines who are friendly, intelligent and humble, maybe a little shy.
May 2nd, 2012 at 11:57 am
I like my heroines the way the author writes them. If they were all the same. . . . can you imagine how boring all the books would be? The heroines are usually written to fit the hero and that is fine with me.
May 2nd, 2012 at 12:29 pm
Good morning ladies
Gosh, I can see why we all are drawn to different people. We look for different things in our heroines. I hope if you read the book, you’ll like Rheda.
Bronwen Evans
May 2nd, 2012 at 12:53 pm
I like intelligent heroines with common sense.
May 2nd, 2012 at 1:44 pm
I agree. Intelligence is key. Nothing beats a smart lady. But the smarts have to be coupled with a hint of vulnerability. We all have insecurities and it’s nice to let those come to the surface too. It makes the heroine more human.
Cheers
Bronwen Evans
May 2nd, 2012 at 2:47 pm
I like my heroines to be independent, smart witted and strong minded. I don’t want them being soppy and having people walking all over them. I also don’t want them to be deemed as ” empty headed and just a pretty face”. I also like my heroine to be intelligent, witty and brave too.
I want to read “Invitation to Scandal” so badly.
May 2nd, 2012 at 2:49 pm
I also should have said that if my heroine sees something that she likes, then I don’t want her letting anything get in her way. I want her to be a “go getter” and go after what she wants.
May 2nd, 2012 at 4:50 pm
Hi Diane
I love a go getter too. None of my heroines would be afraid to go after what they want!
Good luck in the draw.
Cheers
Bronwen
May 2nd, 2012 at 7:38 pm
I don’t really identify with the heroines. I think they should be smart and brave.
May 2nd, 2012 at 9:05 pm
Hi Bron,
Congrats on your new release! The first thing I expect in a heroine or anyone for that matter is trust, because without it there is nothing. I also want honesty, intelligence, and a nice personality. They need to be strong, it’s one thing to be afraid of some things just not everything. I am like Rheda in the way that if I see a problem I try to fix it and it may not always be the right way when I’m done, but I do apply the effort and no one has ever been hurt by my attempt.
May 5th, 2012 at 9:01 am
Hi Bronwen,
I had read the excerpt of your book and i’m really so excited. what’s a great story
i think they must be brave, smart, cheerful and a bit naughty
May 6th, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Hi Bronwen -
After reading all you interviews about Invitation to Scandal I couldn’t wait any longer to download Invitation to Ruin on my Kindle! I kept putting it off but told my husband not to buy me a Mother’s Day gift because I just bought one for myself – your first book! Oh well, better late than never but I had to read it before reading Invitation to Scandal!
I love that Rheda is a risk taker because that’s the person I became after graduating from High School in the 1960′s and that’s the type of heroine I always look for. I grew up in up-state New York and didn’t want to attend the college my parents had chosen for me so I moved to Arizona to work full time and went to college nights at the University of Arizona. Believe me, at the time that was NOT was a well-bred young lady did! I never looked back and feel being independent minded and being a risk taker are the two most important values I learned to be a great wife for 42 years, mother and employee. I wouldn’t change the hardships or “lost” chances of an easy life for one day I have spent taking risks and becoming the person I was meant to be.
I can’t wait to read how Rheda faces the challenges from the risks she is willing to take!
May 9th, 2012 at 5:37 pm
Ingenuity. Fortunately most of the heroines in current stories display this characteristic.
May 16th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
ORA – can you email me at romance at bronwenevans dot com as YOU’VE BEEN DRAWN to win a copy of INVITAION TO SCANDAL.