Meet an enigmatic man in

Susan May Warren’s

historical romance

Duchess

Summerside

The Story

The golden age of Hollywood is in the business of creating stars. Rosie Worth, now starlet Roxy Price, has found everything she’s wanted in the glamour of the silver screen. With adoring fans and a studio-mogul husband, she’s finally silenced the voices–and grief–of the past. Her future shines bright…until the fated Black Friday when it all comes crashing down. When Roxy loses everything, she finds herself disgraced and penniless. Her only hope is to join forces with Belgian duke Rolfe Van Horne, a longtime film investor. But Rolfe is not who he seems, and he has other plans for Roxy and her movies–plans to support a growing unrest in Europe, plans that could break her heart and endanger her life.

When her country needs her, will she have the courage to surrender her glittering world and her one true love?

Enjoy meeting Rafe

Brief physical description

Rafe (Rolfe) Horne is a multi-layered man – in one moment, he is dashing in a tuxedo:

He looked about thirty. He wore a tuxedo but had taken off his jacket, turning up the sleeves, opening the collar, as if to be done with the nonsense of formality. Still, he had a regal bearing about him, and when his eyes caught hers, something shifted inside her, a sense that she might know him.

He leaned over and braced his arms on the balcony. The wind reaped his smell, sent it back to her, a mix of exotic cologne and cigar smoke. He wore enough of five-o’clock shadow to temper the look of aristocracy, but she pegged him as one of her mother’s set, New York Society.

He had blue eyes, so blue they contained a magic. Enough to steal the words from her mouth.

And in the next, he’s casual and rugged as a World War one flying ace:

She turned and shaded her eyes at the voice and found it in a man dressed in khakis, a short-sleeved shirt. A bomber jacket hung over his shoulder from his hooked finger. He wore an aviator cap and sunglasses.

She nearly didn’t recognize Rafe Horne. Not until he smiled.

But most of all, Rafe is a man who knows what he wants:

“I am wondering if you would do me a favor….”

Anything. She nodded, her gaze on his blue eyes. Dark whiskers had begun to shade his face, and she wanted to run her hand down the scruff of his chin. “I must go to Vienna for a New Year’s ball.” He touched his hand to her face. “Please, will you accompany me?”

Vienna, to a ball? “Of course.”

Resembles…

Clive Owen. Yum.

Strengths and weaknesses

Rafe is a very very patient man. He’s calm, a thinker, sacrificial and loyal. He’s also noble – which leads to his belief that he has to take care of everyone instead of letting others (like Rosie) take care of him. He is willing to do anything for the people he loves – but not willing to let them risk their lives for him.

Quirk (if any)

He keeps secrets. Too many of them. And yet, when he is pushed (and only Rosie knows how to do this), he can be an arrogant jerk.

Your inspiration for the character

Since it is a Hollywood book, I thought of Rhett Butler 🙂

Background to the story

The golden age of Hollywood is in the business of creating stars, and Rosie Worth – now starlet Roxy Price – has found everything she hopes for in the glittering world of the silver screen. With adoring fans and a studio-mogul husband, she’s finally silenced the voices – and grief- of the past. Her future shines bright until that fated black Friday when it all come crashing in. Her husband, Dashielle Parks loses everything, and when he takes his life, he leaves behind a bankrupt studio, a mistress and an illegitimate child. Roxy suddenly finds herself disgraced and penniless in a world of glamour. Her only hope is to get her inherited studio back in the red, even if she has to join forces with wealthy investor Rolfe Van Horne, Belgian Duke and long time movie investor. But Rolfe is not who he seems and has other plans for Roxy and her movies, plans that include supporting a growing unrest in Europe. Plans that will break her heart and just might get her killed. Worse, when her country needs her, will she have the courage to surrender her glittering world…and the true love she’s always thirsted for? An epic 1930’s tale of glamour and riches and the true cost of both.

Thanks Susie May!

Relz Reviewz Extras
Character spotlight on Lilly
Character spotlight on Jinx Worth
Reviews of Baroness, Heiress, Nightingale & Sons of Thunder
Visit Susie’s website and blog
Buy Susie’s books at Amazon or Koorong