For some reason, early in the morning between 5-6am (right before I’m due to wake up), I get my best moments of clarity.  This morning an idea for Brad’s story finally came to me.  After writing The Rake’s Vow, I wanted to do a story on her brother because I really like him.  (His story was going to be Book 5 in this series.)  This morning, I realized that Brad would be best paired up with Ava Baynes.

So the complete set of books in the Marriage by Bargain Series will be this:

I’m halfway through Taming The Viscountess right now, and I have just started If It Takes A Scandal.  I hope to have both out in the June-September timeframe.

So what does this have to do with Ava or Brad?

I’m also working on the Marriage by Fate Series.

Ava is Opal’s friend, and Opal is Lord Steinbeck’s sister.  Lord Steinbeck (aka. Warren) was the hero in The Earl’s Wallflower Bride.  If you read that book, you’ll remember that Warren’s sister was at the country estate and pretended she was crazy because her mother was cruel to her.

Opal has the first book in the Marriage by Fate Series, which is The Reclusive Earl.

Other books are coming in this series soon.

I haven’t figured out the other titles of books in this series yet, but I know Brad and Ava will be the couple in book 2.  (Miss Tumilson, who I introduce in The Reclusive Earl, is a spinster who will end up getting married, and I think I have the right hero in mind for her, but I need to think on it a while before I’m sure.  I’m not sure if there will be a book 4 or not.)

I introduce Ava in this book, and she has a bubbly and fun personality.  I think she would be the best match for Brad.  Brad has a minor OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) and is particular about certain things.  That is why he is best paired up with her.  She’s opposite him enough to help balance him out.  The characters that are different usually end up being the best balance.  I was originally going to pair Brad up with one of the members from Lady Eloise’s elite group, but none of them matched up with him.  This morning, I had an “ah-ha” moment.  I realized Ava would be perfect for him.  An uptight hero needs a heroine who isn’t going to feed into that tendency.

I already know how I’m going to pair Brad and Ava up, and it’s going to involve some mischief from Brad and Loretta’s brother (Stephen).  I go into what a troublemaker Stephen is in The Rake’s Vow and Taming The Viscount.  I honestly don’t know if I can ever do a book for Stephen.  He doesn’t seem like the kind of character who can change, but I will get a better view of him when I write Brad’s book.  So we shall see.