For my very first My Friend Friday Interview and Giveaway, I’m featuring Linore Rose Burkard and her Regency romance that releases today (woo hoo, Linore!) The Country House Courtship. Hope everyone enjoys getting to know this lovely lady and hearing about her Inspirational Romance for the Jane Austen Soul.

Linore has graciously offered to give away a signed copy of her book, so leave a comment for a chance to win!

About The Country House Courtship

England, 1818: It has been five years since Ariana Forsythe married The Paragon, Mr. Phillip Mornay. Now, Ariana’s sister, Miss Beatrice Forsythe, is seventeen and determined to marry advantageously as well. (Surely Ariana’s society connexions all but guarantee Beatrice’s success-especially if Mr. Mornay is created a baronet by the Prince Regent!

But the Mornay’s have disappeared from high society as they raise a family at their country estate. Can Beatrice persuade them to chaperone her in London? And what about her business with the curate, Mr. O’Brien, whom Beatrice rashly promised to marry years earlier? She is too sophisticated now to settle for a mere clergyman-despite his agreeable countenance and gentle, understanding ways. When Mr. Tristan Barton becomes tenant of the Manor House, Beatrice’s hopes seem to have found their object. But when Ariana falls gravely ill, secrets come to light, motives are revealed, and pretenses that are easy to keep up in the darkness begin to crumble. As hearts are bared and truths uncovered, a country house courtship like no other cannot be far behind!

Fans of Linore’s first books, Before the Season Ends, and The House on Grosvenor Square, will be delighted with final addition to the Regency Inspirational Series, as will all readers of historical romance.

About Linore

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, The House in Grosvenor Square and, The Country House Courtship. Her stories blend Christian faith and romance with well-researched details from the Regency. Readers experience a romantic age, where England from the past comes alive and happy endings are possible for everyone!

What is your latest book?

The Country House Courtshipis the third and final edition of the Regency Series with Harvest House; but each of the three books can stand alone, and Country House is no exception.

What’s your favorite part of the story?

The falling in love of the hero and heroine, of course! I also really enjoyed having some of the characters from earlier books being themselves in humorous ways in this new story. You get to see people you already care about (if you read the other books) reacting to new situations and events and I think that’s always fun.

What was the hardest part to write?

I had to research a great deal about the workings of the 19th century Anglican Church, and about livings, and how it all worked. Mr. O’Brien begins as a curate and ends up in way of becoming a vicar, and I had to make sure I was having him move up the ranks correctly. Surprisingly enough, it wasn’t easy to nail down the exact procedures for how this happened, but I did find some really good books in the end, which helped me get it right.

What do you hope your readers will get out of the story?

In all my regencies, I hope to have a combination of elements which will delight and challenge readers. I intentionally include humor, romance, omniscient point-of-view (for many scenes, but not all); and I try to offer a glimpse of the gospel at its simplest; How child-like faith can be saving faith. I like readers to feel that they are on vacation in another time and place, to get lost in the story, and to soak up the historical atmosphere, just as I do when I’m writing it.

Is there a theme to this book?

If I were to put my finger on a theme, it would be that the desires we think we must meet, are not always the ones our heart most needs. Beatrice (the heroine) begins the book with a goal based on what she thinks she can have, and wants to have, in a husband. In life. But by the end of the book, she finds out that not every glittering thing is gold, as they say; and that when you fall in love with the right person, all the reasons in the world that seemed to stand between you and that person don’t matter a fig anymore. Love is greater than reason, than logic, than anything, really. I don’t mean that a woman shouldn’t use her mind when choosing a man to get serious with—not at all. But that just because he doesn’t have everything she thinks she needs doesn’t mean their love won’t work. A man who is eligible—single, good, a man of faith, of sound mind, and good intentions—whether his vocation appeals to you or not, he may be the one God has for you.

What are you reading right now—and what do you want to read next?

I got a Kindle for my 25th wedding anniversary from my husband just recently, so I’m reading “Hugh Wynne: Free Quaker” on it. I came across the book by accident, saw that it had a copyright date of 1899 and immediately downloaded it. And it’s great! (It was also free. I’ve found that the reading I like best— by 19th century authors—is often free, since the copyright has expired. ) Anyway, after I’m done with this, I’ll be reading The Glassblower, a new release by fellow author Laurie Alice Eakes, which I”ll do a review on.

What’s one of the oddest or most interesting things someone has ever said about you?

Very likely the oddest or most interesting thing said was something I never heard! (Not meant for my ears) But I think a profound thing a college friend of mine said was that I’m a free spirit. It’s sort of a cliché but in my case it was profound because she was exactly right, and I hadn’t realized it yet. I’ve discovered that to be free in the Lord is a completely different animal than “freedom” in the broad sense, and God has had to remind me more than once of all the many ways I’m not “free.” But it is in precisely these areas that I find my deepest happiness, and meaning for life.

Is there any one thing or reference you keep handy when writing? Anything you kept around for this particular book?

I think each book has its own “must-have” desk companion. For The House in Grosvenor Square, I practically memorized portions of The 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue; and for Country House, I had to keep a book about the 19th Century Church of England within reach.

If someone were to give you $5,000 to spend on anything you wanted, what would you buy? (No saving allowed!)

A trip to London.

What writing goal have you set for yourself that would be the hardest (or unlikeliest) but most rewarding to achieve?

To write a screenplay that would be a big hit with romantic comedy fans, and still be true and honoring to God.

What are you writing right now?

The book that could be that romantic comedy hit! (Only God knows.)

Thanks, Linore, for joining us! She has a fabulous website set up with Regency tidbits and some truly gorgeous pictures, and a lovely blog you should check out too.

To purchase an autographed copy of The Country House Courtship, you can buy from Linore here. Or from Amazon or ChristianBook for regular copies.

Contest will end on 1/7/10