Guest Author: Alyssa Alexander and The Lady and Mr. Jones

My guest author this month is another accomplished member of my local RWA chapter. Alyssa Alexander amazes us all with her energy – in a little less than four years, she’s written and published four books in a thrilling historical romantic suspense series, all while holding down a full-time job, caring for her family, and serving in various offices for our group. Currently, she keeps our chapter’s financial records straight, AND she organizes our monthly writing challenge, fondly known as MiWriMo (a nod to NaNoWriMo).

I read book one of Alyssa’s Spy in the Ton series when it first came out, and when book four was released a few weeks ago I immediately bought it and started reading. With holiday activities and final exams to grade, I’ve only managed to read about a quarter of the book, but I can tell you I’m eager to find out how the two main characters will overcome the villain and manage to find a happily-ever-after. As soon as I read the blurb, I invited Alyssa to come and tell us about The Lady and Mr. Jones. Here she is!

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Thank you so much for inviting me to visit! I’m thrilled to be here, and just as excited to chat about my November release, THE LADY & MR. JONES.

There were times I thought the book would never come together. I wrote myself into a corner because my hero and heroine were worlds apart, even though they were both born in London in Regency England.

Jones was born in the rookeries and Cat is—well. The lady. Jones, an elite spy, is so very honorable, almost to his detriment. He believes he is not good enough for Cat, who is heiress to one of the largest fortunes in England and can trace her lineage back five hundred years.

The problem I wrote for myself is there was no way to bring them together at the end of the book. Jones, as a spy without a drop of blue blood, would never be accepted by society. Cat could not abandon the land and people she was responsible for. There was no middle ground for them to meet on without the two of them being shunned. A critique partner suggested they elope somewhere where their differences wouldn’t be so great. I tried that—and nearly let that be the ending. But it didn’t sit well, for me for the characters.

I’m a firm believer that you can’t run away from the truth. Nor can you run away from life, no matter how uncomfortable it might be. I believe in meeting fate head on. You might be afraid of the future, you might be risking pride or vanity (or sanity!) and you might fail spectacularly. But I don’t believe in running.

Neither do Jones and Cat.

I won’t spoil the ending by telling you how they made their choice, but they do meet life head on and with their eyes open.

If you pick up a copy of The Lady & Mr. Jones, do let me know if you think they made the right choice!

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Alyssa can be found at her website as well as on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, Pinterest, and Instagram.

The Lady and Mr. Jones is available at Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and Kobo.

About Alyssa:
Alyssa Alexander is an award-winning author who survives the cold Michigan winters by penning romance novels that always include a bit of adventure. Her books have been translated into multiple languages, received Top Picks from RT, Starred Reviews, and were nominated for RT Best First Historical and the Best First Book RITA®. She has been called a “talented newcomer” and “a rising star you won’t want to miss.”