A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far, far away…I wrote a blog post.

Alright…it was only 5 years ago, and I was sitting at my kitchen table, but that doesn’t sound nearly as dramatic. At the time I ran a blog with a writer friend. We would blog about the journey to publication and our lives. But occasionally, just for fun, we would write a scene unrelated to anything we were working on. I wrote a scene about 4 young ladies who snuck away from a house party to see a gypsy fortune teller that was camped on the edge of the estate. The ladies in that scene were Sue Green, Evangeline Green, Isabelle Fairlyn, and Victoria Fairlyn. Little did I know that four books would grow out of that blog post. Sue’s book is already on shelves as Desperately Seeking Suzanna, but I still wanted to write about these other 3 ladies. And then there was the younger sister of the duke from my first book…

Basically I had 4 single ladies in need of some gentlemen.

If I began with the heroines, how did this 4 book series become the Spare Heirs? Let me explain.

The Spare Heirs began with the gentlemen themselves. I’d lived with these ladies for years, and over those years I pieced together the gentlemen who would make up the other half of their romances. I knew there were four individual stories in front of me, that of Ethan, Ash, Fallon, and Kel. I knew how their tales would play out against the ladies in their lives. But what I didn’t know was how these gentlemen fit together.

I was staring at my notes about each character one day when it hit me—none of them were the oldest in their families. If they didn’t inherit, how would these gentlemen have the means to survive in London? They were all members of the Spare Heirs Society, of course! This secret gentlemen’s club would provide for these men, offer them housing at the Spare Heirs headquarters, and bring them together as an unlikely band of brothers. And so the Spare Heirs Society was born. Involved in various schemes and risky endeavors, this group of wild second, third, and fourth sons of titled families flourishes beneath the notice of the ton. Though there are many members, here are the key members who are featured in The Spare Heirs Series.

The Infamous Heir - Ethan Moore – Ethan was disowned by his father, Lord Ormesby, when he was eighteen and turned to his friends for help. Together they founded the Spare Heirs Society. The Spares housed him at their newly acquired headquarters and aided in Ethan’s quest to become a pugilist. But then Ethan moved to the continent where he’s been working as a prize fighter for years. And now he’s returned to town, reckless, and used to taking care of only himself off the strength of his fists and his ability to make a profitable wager.

The Rebel Heir – Ash Claughbane – Ash is a complicated fellow mostly because he introduces himself as Lord Crosby—who he is not—and gathers investors in Crosby Steam Works—which doesn’t exist. He calls himself a purveyor of hope, but those who live in towns he’s left behind call him something far worse—a swindler. In truth he only wants to gain back what his family lost years ago, something he can only acquire with the help of the Spare Heirs. He is the fourth son in a titled family from the Isle of Man, and the newest member to the group.

The Wicked Heir – Fallon St. James – As founder and leader of the Spare Heirs Society, Fallon deals in secrets and favors from the shadows of every ton event. Not much is known about this dark-clad, powerful gentleman who seems to know everything and control all of London. What is known to his friends and associates at the secret club is that he came to own their most unusual headquarters under mysterious circumstances, he looks after the lives of a large network of gentlemen, he never drinks or reveals his plans, and he has an unapologetic fondness for floral patterns.

The Unsuitable Heir – Kelton Brice – Kel always has a story to tell—quite loudly and with large arm motions. He is a tall, broad-shouldered gentleman, a charmer of the ladies, a proponent of wearing bright colors, a man easily spotted at any society event, and resident heavy for the Spare Heirs. After a brief time in the military, this fourth son of the well-respected Lord Dillsworth, returned home to use his skills for the Spare Heirs. His skills include breaking and entering, convincing reluctant individuals of the Spares’ plans, and gathering intelligence without notice.

As you can see, the Spare Heirs Society is a wild band of gentlemen. And they’re taking over London, beginning with The Infamous Heir. I hope you enjoy their stories.

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The Spare Heirs Society Cordially Invites You to Meet Ethan Moore: The Scoundrel

Lady Roselyn Grey’s debut has finally arrived, and of course, she has every flounce and flutter planned. She’ll wear the perfect gowns and marry the perfect gentleman…that is, if the formerly disinherited brother of the man she intends to marry doesn’t ruin everything first.

Ethan Moore is a prize-fighting second son and proud founding member of the Spare Heirs Society—and that’s all he ever should have been. But, in an instant, his brother’s noble title is his, the eyes of the ton are upon him, and the lady he’s loved for years would rather meet him in the boxing ring than the ballroom.

He’s faced worse. With the help of his Spare Heirs brotherhood, Ethan’s certain he can get to the bottom of his brother’s unexpected demise and win the impossible lady who has haunted his dreams for as long as he can remember…

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Elizabeth Michels grew up on a Christmas tree farm in rural South Carolina. After tip-toeing her way through school with her focus on ballet steps and her nose in a book, she met a boy and followed him a thousand miles away from home to Kansas City, Missouri, before settling down in North Carolina.

Elizabeth can be found on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and ElizabethMichels.com.