Talk About My Favorite Authors: Linore Rose Burkard

Like I promised when Linore Rose Burkard guest blogged here on the blog I've finally finished reading her debut novel Before the Season Ends. Now for my review of my first Christian and Inspirational romance novel that I found out about through Jessica Coulter Smith's blog one day. I really loved the cover of her novel along with the title but when I read the blurb of her book it really hooked me so I went to her website. I found this little trailer she had of her novel and after I finished watching it I knew I had to get in touch with Linore so I can review her novel as well as have her here on my blog as a guest. Even though Linore's novel is considered a christian romance and I've never really read any christian based novels I still wanted to read it. I'm always telling everyone that I love reading new types of genres except non-fiction which I really don't like reading so I'm going to read this novel even though I've never read a Jane Austen book either. The novel starts in England in the year 1813 and the romantic woes at home send Ariana Forsythe to her wealthy Aunt Bentley’s townhouse in fashionable Mayfair, London. Ariana and her family are very religious so Ariana felt that it was her destiny to marry a man of God. Even though the man of God she wants to marry is almost 30 years older than her and isn't the man her mother wants her to marry at all.

She's been sent to London for her own good and under her aunt’s calculating eye, Ariana is thrust into the high society she doesn't understand fully and a worse intrigue than that which prompted her flight from home has happened. Then a scandalous rumor involving her with London’s current darling rogue, the handsome, Mr. Phillip Mornay, is launched on society in a malicious act of meanness by a Lady of society that changes Ariana’s life forever. Her faith, her future, and her heart are all at stake as she strives to clear her name and resist Phillip Mornay, the man who does not share her faith as deeply as her. Will Ariana’s beliefs survive? I think it will though she will definitely be suffering a bit because of what she is feeling for Phillip. And what about her heart? She has developed deep feelings for Phillip since she met him and that is conflicting with her religious belief that she can only love and marry a man as deeply religious as her.

For her belief is the part of her which most threatens to betray the truths she has always believed in and when she finds herself backed against a wall, betrothed to the supposedly wrong man, how will it ever turn out right? That is a question that had me wondering as I was reading this novel which at first I felt started out kind of slow but really picked up for me after chapter two. From the country village of Chesterton, where Ariana was born and raised, to the ballroom of the Prince Regent’s London palace, where she begins to fall in love with Phillip Mornay. Before the Season Ends will take you to Regency England where you’ll find a world so elegant and comfortable, you’ll want to stay for a long, long time. I'm not that religious so I really could relate more to Phillip's character than Ariana because his family is Christian but he's not the deep faith religious like Ariana.

Though I can't particularly relate to Ariana's character much I really loved her in this novel and I can understand a bit her dilemma with trying to do what felt right and would be the right thing for her to do. Phillip is a wonderful character that I think really is good for Ariana because they are complete opposites but find a way to make their romantic relationship work. There were some secondary characters in this novel that I also enjoyed very much reading about such as Ariana's aunt and her aunt's gentleman friend who really spiced things up. After finishing this novel I will say that though I'm not sure I will start reading more Christian romance but I will be reading more of Linore Rose Burkard's Christian romance. I'm very much looking forward to the sequel to Before the Season Ends that is called The House in Grosvenor Square, which comes out in April 2009. I can't wait for April to get here so I can read more about Ariana and Phillip's love lives after the wonderful ending of the first novel. I give this book 4 Open Books:

Here is the description of the book from the back cover and picture:

BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS $ 12.99 (Book 1)(340 Pages)

England, 1813. Romantic woes at home send Ariana Forsythe to her wealthy Aunt Bentley’s townhouse in fashionable Mayfair, London. Under her aunt’s calculating eye, Ariana is thrust into high society and a worse intrigue than that which prompted her flight from home. A scandalous rumor involving her with London’s current darling rogue, the taciturn, the handsome, Mr. Phillip Mornay, is launched on society in a malicious act of meanness that changes Ariana’s life forever. Her faith, her future, and her heart are all at stake as she strives to clear her name and resist the man who does not share her faith. Will Ariana’s beliefs survive? And what about her heart? For it is the part of her which most threatens to betray the truths she has always believed in. When she finds herself backed against a wall, betrothed to the wrong man, how will it ever turn out right? From the country village of Chesterton to the ballroom of the Prince Regent’s London palace, Before the Season Ends will take you to Regency England where you’ll find a world so elegant and comfortable, you’ll want to stay for a long, long time.

Today I have a special Guest Blogger named Linore Rose Burkard. I found her and her debute novel Before the Season Ends through a friends blog and I'm glad I did because I'm going to be reviewing her novel sometime soon. I really loved the cover of her novel along with the title but when I read the blurb of her book it really hooked me so I went to her website. I found this little trailer she had of her novel and after I finished watching it I knew I had to get in touch with Linore so I can review her novel as well as have her here on my blog as a guest. Even though Linore's novel is considered a christian romance novel and I've never really read any christian based novels I still wanted to read it. I'm always telling everyone that I love reading new types of genres except non-fiction which I really don't like reading so I'm going to read this novel even though I've never read a Jane Austen book either. Here is a mini bio that I got from her website:

MINI BIO Linore

Rose Burkard creates Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul. Her characters take you back in time to experience life and love during the Regency England era (circa 1800-1830). Ms. Burkard's novels include Before the Seasons Ends and The House in Grosvenor Square (coming April, 2009). Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency period. Experience a romantic age, where timeless lessons still apply to modern life. And, enjoy a romance that reminds you happy endings are possible for everyone.

Now here is a Q&A that she had on her website for bloggers that I really enjoyed reading and thought to include it here in my post for everyone to read and enjoy:

Q&A with Linore Q: Linore, what drew you to writing Regency Romance novels? A: Georgette Heyer and Jane Austen books gave me a love for the period, and there weren't any Christian regencies to be found. I wanted to change that. Q: Where did you find your inspiration for Ariana and Phillip? A: I'm not sure. I think they're both amalgamations of people I've read about and known. Q: What do you think we could learn today from how society operated in the Regency period? A: England in the 1800s is a world away from the 21st century. Times have changed, but people haven't. Men and women of the time were concerned with their appearances, their finances, their futures, finding the right spouse, and so on, just as we are, today. How they went about pursuing these ends is where all the difference lies, however, and this is precisely where the interest and adventure opens up for writers. Bringing to life the means and methods of everyday life and timeless concerns from the regency. It is fun and enlightening as a glimpse into the past, but readers can also identify with the basic human need to be genuinely loved for oneself, no matter the setting or time period, and to be certain of one's convictions concerning life, eternity, and faith. Having said that, it is good to remind modern readers that valuing one's purity can be mainstream, as it was then; or that the struggle to find a true love and a sense that one's life has value, has always been a human issue. Q: What do you hope readers will take away from your books? A: I hope my readers will feel as though they've been transported to the Regency for a good, satisfying visit; While they're visiting, they'll be reminded that God is involved in their life, and that happy endings are possible for everyone. Q: Any Regency romance is going to be compared to Jane Austen's novels ~ how are your books similar / different? A: I don't think most regencies are written with this comparison in mind at all. However, other people say my book is "Austen-like." That is a huge compliment, and one I would love to live up to.

The sequel, The House in Grosvenor Square, is releasing in 2009. Q: Do you have more Regency novels planned? A: My editor and I are tossing around ideas right now. I do have a few more regencies in mind. Q: What are you working on at the moment? A sneak peek, please. A: I'm exploring whether to do a third book in the Regency Series, which at present is comprised of Before the Season Ends, and The House in Grosvenor Square. Book three would begin about five years later (about 1818) and follow the lives of a number of people who were introduced in the first two books. I would also probably introduce one new couple. Q: Do you ever bang your head against the wall from the dreaded writer's block? If so, how do you overcome it? A: I do something else. If I can't write a scene for a book, I can always write an article. I can update my blog. I can't really force a scene when it isn't coming; I find that getting busy and doing something else is the best thing I can do for the book and for me (rather than beat myself up). One thing about having an online presence today is that there is never a shortage of tasks to be done, including a great many writing tasks. Since I write historical (regency) romance, there are always tons of subjects I can research and write about, putting them into articles for my e-zine, or out there on the web. Q: Novelists sometimes dig themselves into a hole over implausible plots, flat characters, or a host of other problems. What's the most difficult part of writing for you (or was when you first started on your novel journey)? A: I think for me the biggest challenge was to believe that I could write a novel in small increments. As a mom of five, four of whom are still home year-round (one is in college), having frequent interruptions is a fact of life. Writing takes a concentration so deep so that when I first started doing scenes, I would find myself getting woozy after standing up. I was shocked at the level of exertion it took to use my brain that hard, I guess! *laughs* It happens less now—I guess I've grown accustomed to it. And I've learned to appreciate those small blocks of time. Ten minutes in a waiting room can yield a part of a scene I couldn't get done at home. Every little bit counts. I don't despise small beginnings. There are times when I'm in a deep level of involvement with a story or a character, and then getting interrupted can break the mood; but I'm getting better all the time at picking up where I left off, no matter how deeply I've got to dive to get back into the character or situation. For people like me with busy households, this is a must-have ability. I believe it can be the difference between making that deadline or not. Q: How did (or do) you climb out (overcome it)? A: If I do get stuck at some point in the plot, I let it simmer in my mind. I also exercise—for some reason, when I am physically active, my brain gets going in a way that doesn't always happen when I'm sitting with my laptop before me. Swimming and doing the treadmill (walking) almost always result in wonderful new ideas I just can 't wait to get on paper. Sometimes, I've even had to stop walking and run to the pc just to get the idea down so I don't forget. By the way, I always pray for the right idea, too. There is no better writer than God. The second "nifty" way to solve a plot (or other) problem in a book is to let it sit awhile without reading it. When you come back to it after a long enough interval (as long as you can give it) solutions just present themselves. I find the same thing happens to me with crossword puzzles—if I'm stuck, I put it down and when I come back to it—even an hour later—the word is there. So the key is, give yourself permission to take a break. Q: Some authors report writing 5-10 thousand words a day. Do scenes flow freely from your veins, or do you have to tweeze each word out? A: In general, I write more than I need and later have to cut back. I don't use a word count, but I may set a goal of one chapter a day or two chapters for a busy week. Other times, I don't think in terms of chapters at all, just events. I may break an event down into four scenes, say, and so my goal for that day will be to get the whole event on paper. In other words, finish the four scenes. Life changes so rapidly with the children, that for me, a hard and fast writing goal just wouldn't work. And, I focus on results, not time spent. Instead of, "Now I'll write for three hours," I say, "Now I'll have this or that happen to a character, or, 'I'll show a different side to this person." When I have accomplished that goal, no matter how long it took, I feel satisfied, and only then. Now here is more about the actual novel Before the Season Ends which is part of a trilogy that Linore is writing and it's called the Regency Series. I look forward to reading and reviewing this novel and I'm also looking forward to the sequel The House in Grosvenor Square that is coming in April 2009. Here is the description of the novel from Linore's website:

BEFORE THE SEASON ENDS $ 12.99 (Book 1)

England 1813: Linore Rose Burkard's debut novel whisks readers into the Regency with the intriguing story of Miss Ariana Forsythe, a young woman caught between love for a man who doesn't

share her faith and her resolution to marry only a fellow believer in Christ. Trouble at home sends Ariana to her aunt's townhouse in the fashionable Mayfair district of London. There, she soon finds herself neck-deep in high society and at odds with Mr. Phillip Mornay, London's current darling rogue. Then, a scandal changes Ariana forever. Her heart, her faith, and her future are all at stake in an unexpected adventure that gains even the Prince Regent's attention. Will Ariana's faith survive this test? What about her heart? For it's Ariana's heart that most threatens to betray the truths she has always believed in. When she finds herself backed against a wall, betrothed to the wrong man, how can it ever turn out right? Jane Austen fans and readers of historical romance will love Before the Season Ends.

Excerpt PDF from "Before the Season Ends" You can either Buy from the author (autographed copy), Buy from ChristianBook.com, from Amazon.com or from Barnes & Noble.com.

Also here is the video trailer that I enjoyed watching so much for you all to enjoy watching as well:

Get Free Resources from Linore! Linore offers all kinds of interesting articles and resources for English Regency fans, such as a behind-the-scenes look at "The Regency Debutante", "Lizzie Bennet's wardrobe," and "The Rise of the Silhoutte." Note: If I get 10 readers to comment to this post Linore will be giving away one of her books for free to one lucky winner.