Virginia Heath has just written ‘the end’ on her 31st book. I am in awe – I’m a huge fan of her racy Regency Romcoms. If you want to read her latest, you’re in luck, as it’s out this month and I have a few copies to give away. I caught up with her to hear all about it…
Your latest book, Only An Heiress Will Do, is out this month. I was lucky enough to read an early copy – and devoured it in one sitting! For those yet to read it, can you share a little of what it’s about?
It’s a marriage of convenience story involving two characters who both don’t really believe that they deserve love. Adam, the hero, has just returned from Waterloo but learns that he now has to marry an heiress fast to save his family from ruin. My wealthy but thoroughly ruined heroine, Gwen, wants a baby and intends to get rid of the husband that she has paid for as soon as he has done his ‘duty’.
It’s part of a new Harlequin/M&B Historical series – A Season to Wed. What was your inspiration/how did you all come up with the idea for this series?
The Season to Wed series follows four brothers-in-arms who have just returned to civilian life after the battle of Waterloo. They all joined the army together at the tender age of just 21 and now, six years later, they all feel out of step with society since their return and are trying to find their feet again. The whole series will take place during their first Season back, where, quite by chance, they all happen to meet their soul mates too! My book is the first of the quartet, followed in quick succession by Sarah Rodi, Ella Matthews and Lucy Morris.
Why will readers fall for your hero? And what’s to love about your heroine?
Adam is a noble soul who always want to do his best by people. He’s also both clever and charming. However, he carries a lot of survivor’s guilt after the war and cannot understand how he managed to go through six years of war without a scratch when so many of his comrades died. Gwen is a successful woman in a man’s world. She runs a thriving furniture business single-handed since her father left it all to her but that comes at a cost. She doesn’t really have any friends and after a disastrous but very public elopement to Gretna Green in her youth, she’s also considered a fallen woman by the Ton who have all turned their backs on her. But for all her ambition and feistiness, she has a very soft core.
What can readers expect from a Virginia Heath romance?
Hopefully, a witty, pacy, character-driven love story that will have readers swooning and laughing.
Why do you love the Regency era so much?
I’ve had a lifelong love affair with Mr Darcy and seeing as I haven’t yet found a way to turn fiction into fact, go back in time and make him mine, writing stories about heroes who wear tight breeches and boots and have to suppress all their churning, passionate emotions is the next best thing!
And what’s the best place you’d recommend going for Regency thrills?
I live just half an hour from London, so I can always be found wandering around Mayfair and the city in search of inspiration.
What Regency character from a book/film are you most like and why?
Well obviously, with my penchant for writing, my unrequited love for Mr Darcy and curvy figure, I am the living embodiment of Penelope Featherington from Romancing Mr Bridgerton! I would much prefer to be Miss Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice, though, because she ends up with the man of my dreams lol.
What’s your Friday night and Saturday day perfection?
Socialising at home with great friends or family, delicious food and good wine.
What other books should we look out for from you this year?
I’ve actually just written the end on book 31! The third in my Miss Prentice’s Protégées series for my other publishers St Martin’s Press and Headline Eternal here in the UK. It won’t come out until Summer 2026 but the second book in that series, Look Before You Leap, comes out this June. It’s a grumpy sunshine Regency Romcom with a tomboy governess heroine who always manages to get herself into trouble riding horses hell for leather and a broken-hearted Viscount who has withdrawn from the world.
Hopes for the months ahead?
A bit of a rest and then I’m back at the grindstone writing a contemporary romcom and writing final Regency Romcom in the Miss Prentice quartet.
Only An Heiress Will Do is out on 27th February. If you’d like to be in with a chance of getting your hands on a copy, please email me by 14th February at sarahrodiedits@gmail.com and I’ll pick two names out of the hat.
Photo credit: Kate Hipkiss Visuals