Meet the Characters ~ A HEART MOST CERTAIN by Melissa Jagears

Oh my goodness, oh my goodness, oh my goodness! Y'all!!!! This book!!

Okay, I'll try to tone down my excitement, but I just finished reading this story and am beyond excited to share my review with you...next week. :D THIS week, you get to meet the characters! Whoop! Whoop! Enjoy!

Lydia King knows what it's like to be in need, so when she joins the Teaville Moral Society, she genuinely hopes to help the town's poor. But with her father's debts increasing by the day and her mother growing sicker by the week, she wonders how long it will be until she ends up in the poor house herself. Her best chance at a financially secure future is to impress the politician courting her, and it certainly doesn't hurt that the moral society's president is her suitor's mother. Her first task as a moral society member—to obtain a donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town—should be easy . . . except he flat-out refuses.

Despite appearances, Nicholas wants to help others but prefers to do it his own way, keeping his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, though Nicholas has a few surprises up his sleeve. Neither foresee the harrowing complications that will arise from working together. When town secrets are brought to light, this unlikely pair must decide where their beliefs—and hearts—truly align.

Answers from A Heart Most Certain’s Nicholas Lowe:

What is your first reaction when you meet a fetching lady?

I let her talk first if at all possible. If she says something that isn’t utterly inane I’ll stick around and listen some more. If she’s a dunderhead, I move on. I haven’t the time for women with fluff for brains.

What happened the last time you spoke to a large group of people?

I often hold meetings with the workers at the many businesses I own. The last time I held a meeting, it was for my employees at the lumberyard. I saw a serious lack of concern for safety and addressed it. People think I’m cold-hearted, but I don’t want a single person’s death or injury on my conscience—I have plenty of regrets weighing me down already.

Any current romantic interests?

Women don’t tend to see me, they see my money. I don’t have time to figure out if there’s one out there who would actually care for me.

What’s your greatest source of frustration?

Right now? I’m about to put the finishing touches on my mansion and I’m not at all sure what to do with it. It’s a bit absurd for a bachelor to own such a beautiful monstrosity. I thought building it would make me feel better about something I’d rather not talk about, but it hasn’t.

What is your worst fear?

That this town will figure out what I’m using the mansion for at the moment.

Answers from A Heart Most Certain’s Lydia King:                                                             

Has anything significant happened in your life in the past two weeks?

The woman I hope will be my future mother-in-law has tasked me with getting a donation from the town’s miser. He’s likely not going to give me a red cent, but I’m going to get something from him if I can. Mrs. Little wants me to fail so she can convince her son that marrying me is a mistake. I’m not from a good enough family in her opinion—and considering who my father is, I sort of agree. But if I’m going to have a financially secure future, I really think Sebastian Little is my best chance. He might not be the husband I’ve dreamed of, but then, at some point, you have to give up fairy tale romances or end up a spinster.

Your most embarrassing moment?

The day the pastor’s wife realized that Momma and I were surviving on one meal a day because of my father’s gambling problem. She brought us lunch every day for several months during a particularly trying time. As grateful as I am for her generosity, that first day when I realized my father’s vices were known to more than just Momma and me, I was ashamed of being my father’s daughter.

Are there any hardheaded people in your life right now? What’s the issue?

Does my father count? He won’t change his ways no matter how much it’s hurting us. Momma is terminally ill according to the doctor and needs medication to help her with pain, but that hasn’t stopped Father from wasting his paycheck at the poker tables in the red light district.

What are your hobbies?

I read whatever I can get my hands on! My former high school English teacher has lent me everything he owns several times over, a few other friends have loaned me books, and I’ve scraped up enough money for a few books of my own, but this town really needs a library!

When’s the last time you had a really good meal? Courtesy of whom?

The last time Sebastian took me to the hotel to eat. That man won’t eat anything deemed ordinary. He ordered us both oyster soup. I couldn’t stand it, but he thought it was salted to perfection.

Melissa is generously offering a PAPERBACK copy of A Heart Most Certain. US entrants only this time, please. Comment with your email address to be entered. If you don't want to wait and find out if you won the giveaway before you start reading, you can buy a copy right now from one of these vendors:

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Melissa Jagears is a Carol Award-winning author, a homeschooling mother to three, and an extreme night owl. She lives with her family in Kansas. You can connect with Melissa on her website, blog, Facebook (author page), Facebook (blog page), Goodreads, and Pinterest.













Comment fodder:
Have you ever thought someone was snobbish or mean, then they turned out to be a good friend?

Have you ever visited or lived in a mansion? What was your favorite thing about the place?

How many times a week/month do you visit your local public library?