#NewRelease #CharacterInterview: “Warrior’s Grace” by Kate Hill

Today in the hotseat we have Max, from Kate Hill’s latest historical romance, Warrior’s Grace. Thanks for visiting, Max. Let’s get started…

What’s your name, and who are you in your world?

My name is Maxwell Barnes, Max for short. I am a businessman and divide my time between my London import shop and my family’s shipping business on the coast.

Wow. That’s a lot of work for one person. Give us a visual. What do you look like?

I’m slightly over six feet tall with a lean build, black hair, and blue eyes. I’ve been told I’m quite attractive, and I won’t pretend to be humble. I enjoy being appreciated!

Humility is attractive, but so is self-assurance. Though I am partial to the latter. What time period and location does your story take place?

The current year is 1871, and at the moment I’m in London with my newly adopted children, Sam and Jane. They’ve been through so much in their young lives, and I’m quite proud of them, but from now on, I want to give them the sort of life children deserve to feel happy and secure.

Aww, those poor kids. What skill do you have that you’re proud of? Why?

I’m rather a good fighter and I’ll tell you something that you must keep secret, especially from my children and their beautiful governess, Grace. I regularly engage in underground boxing matches. Not only does it keep my skills sharp so that I can protect what’s mine, but I love the excitement of stepping into the ring.

Ooh, I’m intrigued! What did you think the first time you saw Grace?

Quite possibly, it’s love at first sight. She’s a magnificent woman—so much more than I ever expected from a governess. Yes, I hired her for the children and it took great effort on my part to finally get her to agree to courtship. I have to be careful with Grace. She’s leery of a romantic relationship with me, and I can’t say I blame her. I am completely sincere about my feelings for her, but some men in my position would try to take advantage of a beautiful woman in their employ. To me, that behavior is contemptible.

Grace is certainly right to be leery. I’m happy you’re persuaded her to take a chance on you. What is your family like?

I love my family and I’m completely devoted to them. When my siblings and I were children, our parents died. My eldest brother, Jonah, went to work at a young age to support us and keep our family together. I can’t tell you how much I love and admire him for what he’s done for us. My sister, Faith, is very much my partner in crime, so to speak. Jonah could be very strict, and that didn’t always blend well with my mischievous nature. Faith has always accepted me exactly how I am. I repaid her kindness by smuggling to her the spicy books she so loves. Now she’s a published author herself. And I mustn’t forget my brother Robert. I love him dearly, but I can’t go into detail about him. Suffice it to say, he has always struggled in ways the rest of us can’t imagine.

Your siblings sound fascinating. If you had a free day with no responsibilities and could have fun, what would you do?

Now that I have children, I make time for days like that. Recently, during a snow storm, Grace, the children, and I had an indoor picnic. It was Sam’s idea, and we all had a lovely time.

What is people’s first impression of you?

Most people either find me amusing or annoying. Like I said, I tend to be mischievous, and I like having a sense of humor. I’ve also been told, and I agree, that I often use humor to conceal my true emotions. When I first met my sister-in-law Mercy, I know I annoyed her, but we’ve since become good friends.

Are you book-smart, self-taught, or widely-experienced?

I’d say it’s a combination of all three. Coming from a rough part of the city, my siblings and I learned many things by trial and error. Due to hard work and the confidence to start his own business, my brother Jonah was able to send me off to a posh boarding school where I excelled academically.

I don’t want to talk about school, though, because I had some horrible experiences there and it caused a rift between me and Jonah. I thought he sent me there to get rid of me, but he thought he was providing for my future. It’s a long, complicated story. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful because a boy like me would never have gone to such a school if not for Jonah’s dedication to our family, but I digress.

Where were we? Ah. Experience. My brothers and I have traveled the world with our shipping company. So, yes, I’m widely-experienced, as well.

It’s good to be well rounded. What is your biggest fear?

My greatest fear is that my children suffer the same experiences that I endured whilst away at school. That’s why I hired Grace to educate and care for them while I’m away at work. Before hiring Grace, others tried to persuade me to send the children off to school, but I refuse to do that, at least until they’re a bit older and know that no matter what, they can always come to me with their problems.

What other character from your book do you think your author should write a book about? Care to tell us why?

I definitely think my sister Faith would love her story to be told, especially now that she’s engaged to our neighbor Geoffrey, also a good friend of mine. Our brother Robert has a rather sad but fascinating story, as well. It’s one I believe should be told.

I hope they get their stories, too. Thanks again for visiting!

**Warrior’s Grace**
**(The Barnes Family 2)**
by Kate Hill
Format(s): Ebook
Heat Level: Some Sensuality
Pairing(s): M/F
Genre/Themes: Historical Romance, Victorian Romance, Suspense, Slow Burn
Length: Novel
Ebook cover art created at Canva.com

Blurb:

When wealthy businessman Max Barnes takes in two orphans to rear as his own, he has no idea that the governess he hires to care for them will change his life.

Grace Martin has spent years protecting her country. Now she’s ready for a quiet, normal life as governess to a pair of young orphans. What she doesn’t count on is the children’s charming father stealing her heart and a vengeful assassin from her past targeting her through Max and his children.

Max and Grace must reveal their darkest secrets or risk losing everything.

Note: This book contains references to sexual abuse, child abuse, and mental health issues in a historical setting. It also has some sensual scenes and some violence.

Tagline: In Victorian England, a wealthy businessman and a governess with a dangerous past must reveal their darkest secrets or risk losing everything.

Purchase Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Warriors-Grace-Barnes-Family-Book-ebook/dp/B0DP8DLWXR

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/warriors-grace-kate-hill/1146615769

UBL: https://books2read.com/u/4EvvXO

Excerpt

“All right.” Max smacked his hands together. “Hide and seek it is.”

Sam looked a bit worried. “Who’s it?”

“I will be,” Jane said. “Shall I count to one hundred?”

“I can’t count that high,” Sam said.

“It doesn’t matter, fool. I’m counting. Not you.”

“Jane, we don’t call others names.”

“Sorry, Miss Martin.”

“Close your eyes and start counting,” Max ordered.

Sam dashed out of the room, practically falling over his own feet.

“Slow down, Sam, or you’ll break your neck before the game even starts,” Max called.

He and Grace swept out of the library and split up. Max glanced over his shoulder at Grace who lifted her skirts and hurried off.

“Twenty-one. Twenty-two. Twenty-three.” Jane’s voice carried from the library.

Max turned and jogged after Grace. He glanced in the parlor just as she ducked behind the folds of the long, green velvet drapes.

Grinning, he strode into the room and joined her, their bodies pressed close behind the curtain.

“What are you doing?” Grace demanded.

“Hiding.”

“Find your own place, sir. This one is already taken.”

“But there’s room for two.” He slid an arm around her and covered her mouth with a kiss.

Grace chuckled softly and melted against him.

“How will we explain this to Jane when she finds us?” Grace whispered against his lips.

“I hadn’t thought of that. One more kiss and I’ll do the gentlemanly thing and leave.”

“Mr. Barnes!”

“Last night I was Max. Can I have another kiss or not?”

Author Bio:

Kate Hill is a vegetarian New Englander who loves writing romantic fantasies. When she’s not working on her books, Kate enjoys reading, working out, watching horror movies, and researching vampires and Viking history. She runs the Compelling Beasts Blog that is dedicated to antagonists, antiheroes, and paranormal creatures. Kate also writes as Saloni Quinby.

Visit her online at https://www.kate-hill.com. Join her newsletter at https://kate-hill.com/index.php/newsletter.