Guest Bloggers

The Merchant’s Dilemma, by Carolyn Hughes @writingcalliope #HistoricalFiction #Medieval #BookReview #Meonbridge #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub #CPBC

BOOK INFORMATION

Book Title: The Merchant’s Dilemma, a Meonbridge Chronicles Companion Novel
Series: The Meonbridge Chronicles
Author: Carolyn Hughes
Publication Date: 20th September 2023
Publisher: Riverdown Books
Page Length: 232
Genre: Historical Fiction

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Winchester. Seven months ago, accused of bringing plague and death from Winchester, Bea Ward was hounded out of Meonbridge by her former friends and neighbours. Finding food and shelter where she could, she struggled to make her way back to Winchester again.

Yet, once she arrived, she wondered why she’d come.

For her former lover – the love of her life – Riccardo Marchaunt, had married a year ago. And she no longer had the strength to go back to her old life on the streets. Frail, destitute and homeless, she was reduced to begging. Then, in January, during a tumultuous and destructive storm, she found herself on Riccardo’s doorstep. She had no plan, beyond hoping he might help her, or at least provide a final resting place for her poor body.

When Bea awakes to find she’s lying in Riccardo’s bed once more, she’s thankful, thrilled, but mystified. But she soon learns that his wife died four months ago, along with their newborn son, and finds too that Riccardo loves her now as much as he ever did, and wants to make her his wife. But can he? And, even if he can, could she ever really be a proper merchant’s wife?

Riccardo could not have been more relieved to find Bea still alive, when he thought he had lost her forever. She had been close to death, but is now recovering her health. He adores her and wants her to be his wife. But how? His father would forbid such an “unfitting” match, on pain of denying him his inheritance. And what would his fellow merchants think of it? And their haughty wives?

Yet Riccardo is determined that Bea will be his wife. He has to find a solution to his dilemma… With the help of his beloved mother, Emilia, and her close friend, Cecily, he hatches a plan to make it happen.

But even the best laid plans sometimes go awry. And the path of love never did run smooth…

The Merchant’s Dilemma is a companion novel to the main series of Meonbridge Chronicles, and continues the story of Bea and Riccardo after the end of the fourth Chronicle, Children’s Fate. It is a little more romantic and light-hearted than the other Chronicles but, if you’ve enjoyed reading about the lives of the characters of Meonbridge, you will almost certainly enjoy reading The Merchant’s Dilemma too!

Excerpt

From Chapter 1

Bea’s eyes flickered open and she peered over the edge of the coverlet. She was warm and comfortable between the mattress and the cover, but her mouth was dry. Tweaking the cover down, she lifted her head up a little and glanced about her, taking in her surroundings.

Moments later, her anxiety was relieved. Her head might still be dizzy, but she knew exactly where she was. That large window overlooked the long garden at the back of the house. The bright hangings on the walls depicted scenes of hunting. The painted chest that stood behind the door held shirts and braies.

Most familiar of all was this great bed, with its deep mattress and heavy curtains, the soft pillows beneath her head and the warm blanket and woven coverlet that topped smooth linen sheets. The bed embraced her, comforting her weary, feeble limbs.

She tried to lift her head a little more, but her vision swam and she fell back again. Yet, in that instant, she’d seen she was not alone: an old woman was sitting on a chair to one side of the window, dozing, a stump of candle on the small table at her side gone out. The sunlight filtering through the shutter was weak, scarcely sufficient for Mistress Collyton’s ancient eyes to be able to see across the room. But she was there, Bea assumed, waiting for her to wake. And, then, she’d surely go to fetch Riccardo.

Bea sighed, so softly Mistress Collyton wouldn’t have heard, even if she’d not been sleeping. Her heart beat a little faster, as she understood that what she’d hoped might happen – almost beyond reason – had. Riccardo had found her, and had taken her in. She was alive, and lying in his bed. The bed she knew so well but hadn’t imagined she’d ever lie in again.

Her heart turned over. Why was she lying in this bed? Where was Riccardo’s wife? Had she agreed to Riccardo bringing her up here, usurping the place reserved for her and her husband?

Nervous and confused now by what she didn’t know, Bea wriggled slightly further down the bed, pulling the sheet and coverlet up over her eyes. She was more comfortable than she’d been for months. She felt safe, but was she truly? Or was Riccardo’s wife downstairs, waiting for her to wake, so she could be turned out of the house once more?

Bea closed her eyes again. The longer she was asleep, the longer it would be before any such dismissal came. Or perhaps it would be better if she never woke? Then she’d never have to face again the life of vagrancy she’d lived since being abandoned by Riccardo and driven out of Meonbridge.

She’d no idea how long she’d been here, though the chamber’s chilly air told her it must still be winter. It was last summer she’d run away from Meonbridge, after the villagers – once her friends and neighbours – had attacked and threatened her, blaming her for bringing the pestilence from Winchester. Fleeing for her life, she’d lived for months out in the open, sleeping in barns, eating what she could find – or steal – eventually finding her way to Winchester. She didn’t know what she expected: to ask Riccardo for help, perhaps, or to return to her old life as a whore? Though, as her health deteriorated, and her body weakened into the frailty of a child’s, neither seemed a possibility.

When the storm hit – in the middle of January she thought it was – she was living on the city streets, finding shelter where she could. She was so thin, exhausted and perpetually cold, she was sure she would soon die. That evening, finding herself close to where Riccardo lived, she decided to throw herself upon his mercy: surely, he’d either help her live, or give her a decent burial? But, when she arrived at his house, he wasn’t there. Incapable of walking any further, she’d collapsed outside his door.

Crumpled on the ground, she’d drifted in and out of awareness, yet thought it wasn’t much longer before Riccardo did return. At least she’d imagined it was him. She’d thought she heard the sound of his voice, breathless with emotion, and the feel of his strong arms about her as he lifted her up and carried her indoors. The last moment she could recall was the touch of his lips upon her hand, before she slipped into unconsciousness.

Buy Links:

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/3RY7Yj
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Merchants-Dilemma-Meonbridge-Chronicles-Companion-ebook/dp/B0CJJKJFT6/
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Merchants-Dilemma-Meonbridge-Chronicles-Companion-ebook/dp/B0CJJKJFT6/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Merchants-Dilemma-Meonbridge-Chronicles-Companion-ebook/dp/B0CJJKJFT6/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Merchants-Dilemma-Meonbridge-Chronicles-Companion-ebook/dp/B0CJJKJFT6/

Review by Adriana Kraft

Having read and enjoyed the Meonbridge Chronicles series, I was delighted to receive a review copy of The Merchant’s Dilemma, a companion piece that follows up on characters introduced in the fourth Chronicle, Children’s Fate. I always appreciate historical fiction that’s well researched and gives a realistic picture of life in the era of its focus.

In her series, Carolyn Hughes has succeeded in highlighting the many consequences of the plague that ravaged England during the reign of Edward III, in the middle 1300s. Across two waves of the pestilence, it is estimated that half the population of England died. Peasant families lost many members – often their chief laborers, their means of earning an income. Noble estates suddenly didn’t have enough workers to bring in the harvest – or to plant the next year’s crops. Parents lost children. Wives lost husbands.

What I hadn’t thought of, though perhaps I should have, is brought to life in The Merchant’s Dilemma. Prostitution may be the world’s “oldest profession,” but in any era, it carries great stigma and is viewed with vast disrespect by most. But what if it wasn’t the woman’s fault? If she had no choice? What if she was forced into selling her body by a ruse, by what looked like an offer to be taught a useful trade, such as embroidery? Is there any route out for such a woman?

Both main characters in this novel are constrained by the strict rules and expectations of the fourteenth century’s social order. A respected merchant can certainly have a mistress on the side – but a former prostitute? And then to marry her? Unthinkable.

Without giving away spoilers, I think readers will be cheering for Bea as she encounters one insurmountable obstacle after another. She’ll need all the help she can get.

A satisfying read. Four Stars.

Author Bio:

Carolyn Hughes has lived much of her life in Hampshire. With a first degree in Classics and English, she started working life as a computer programmer, then a very new profession. But it was technical authoring that later proved her vocation, word-smithing for many different clients, including banks, an international hotel group and medical instruments manufacturers.

Although she wrote creatively on and off for most of her adult life, it was not until her children flew the nest that writing historical fiction took centre stage. But why historical fiction? Serendipity!

Seeking inspiration for what to write for her Creative Writing Masters, she discovered the handwritten draft, begun in her twenties, of a novel, set in 14th century rural England… Intrigued by the period and setting, she realised that, by writing a novel set in the period, she’d be able to both learn more about the medieval past and interpret it, which seemed like a thrilling thing to do. A few days later, the first Meonbridge Chronicle, Fortune’s Wheel, was under way.

Six published books later (with more to come), Carolyn does now think of herself as an Historical Novelist. And she wouldn’t have it any other way…

Carolyn has a Master’s in Creative Writing from Portsmouth University and a PhD from the University of Southampton.

You can connect with Carolyn through her website and social media.

Author Links:

Website: http://www.carolynhughesauthor.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/writingcalliope
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CarolynHughesAuthor/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/carolyn-hughes
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Carolyn-Hughes/e/B01MG5TWH1
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16048212.Carolyn_Hughes

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Guest Bloggers

On Tour: King’s Warrior, by James Gault @ozjimg #HistoricalFiction #AngloSaxon #medieval #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub @cathiedunn

BOOK INFORMATION

Book Title: King’s Warrior
Series: The Owerd Chronicles, Book #3
Author: James Gault
Publication Date: 18 July 2023
Publisher: Independent
Page Length: 294 pages
Genre: Historical fiction

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In 11th Century England, King William has achieved almost total domination of the Englisc and turns his attention to Scotland. Owerd, possibly the last of the Britons to be deemed ‘lord’, faces powerful enemies from all quarters. He seems to hold the king’s favour by a thread, which only serves to encourage others to try and bring him down.

Treachery abounds as he tries to juggle multiple roles and prove himself and his men worthy warriors for the Norman king. But will his lust for a woman finally prove his undoing?

Guest Post:

“King’s Warrior” is the third in a series about Owerd, a decent but unsophisticated 11th century Briton who has struggled out of poverty by dint of courage and good fortune (“wyrd” if you will). The series came about by accident, initially intended as a single volume to bring Charles Kingsley’s classic novel “Hereward the Wake” into a more digestible form for the contemporary reader. That attempt proved impossible – one cannot, I found, tinker with a classic, however challenging its rather antiquated prose. Hence a new character set in the same period of a land beset by inequity, strife and a Norman invasion. In this book Owerd, having already established his credentials as a loyal subject and “Sea Lord” returns to the role he fills best, that of warrior.

I now invite you, dear reader, to contemplate the dilemmas facing a writer when addressing issues of sex and violence, especially in historical fiction. In the time and place when “King’s Warrior” is set, the land was a violent place – riven by invasion, rebellion and near-anarchic conditions where might was right. It is inevitable that any realistic portrayal of the characters in the relevant story includes exposure to and participation in very violent events. Similarly, the men and women of the time had the same desires and passions as they do today. Sex is and was inevitable – it is what keeps the planet populated. A variation from todays’ world, though, is how universally indifferent society then seems to have been to the place of women. Basically, women were ignored, or at best tolerated simply for their necessary reproductive functions.

The two issues, in my view, demand careful balancing act between realism and undue detail. There is far too much blood and gore depicted in daily news to be over-exposed to readers again in what is intended to be a piece of escapist literature. Equally, realism demands that such violence and bloodshed need be depicted. The same applies to depictions of sex. Only the most prudish of readers would happily ignore its omission from a tale of the daily life of the characters being described. My own approach has been to minimise lurid detail unless it is essential to the picture being painted and avoid what I would call gross excess. Equally in sexual encounters, my characters spend much time in their bed-chamber but without the depictions extending anywhere near erotica.

Professional publishers would advise writers to “pick their audience”. That leads me to a question of reading age. The UN defines a “child” as a person under 18 years and I would be quite happy for my 17YO grandson to read “King’s Warrior” (he might learn a few new words). So, is it a children’s book? Well, no! Does one then describe it as “adult”, which in our modern world has connotations verging on the pornographic? Again, no! I would suggest, dear reader, that “King’s Warrior” might fit into that murky description of “PG” (Parental Guidance).

BUY LINKS

This title is available to read on #KindleUnlimited.

Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/4A27gp
Amazon UK:  https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM
Amazon US:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0CC5VH6BM

Author Bio:

James is a semi-retired Naval Captain with an abiding interest in storytelling and history. He has written a few contemporary fiction stories and a history text but lately has concentrated on historical fiction. He lives in a small coastal town in SE Australia – which provides quite a challenge when addressing medieval England with the aid of an old school atlas.

Author Links:

Twitter:   https://twitter.com/@ozjimg
Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/james.gault.9421/
Instagram:  https://www.instagram.com/ozjimg/
Amazon Author Page  https://www.amazon.com/author/jgault

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Guest Bloggers

Book Blast! The Road to Montepulciano, by Garrick Jones @Gazrj01 #GayRomance #Thriller #HistoricalFiction #LGBTQ

BOOK BLAST

Book Title: The Road to Montepulciano

Author: Garrick Jones

Publisher: Moshpit Publications

Cover Artist: Garrick Jones

Release Date: September 19, 2023

Genre: Crime Thriller/Historical Fiction

Themes: Sowing one’s oats; Finding Mr. Right; Acceptance in community

Heat Rating: 5 flames

Length: 140 500 words/ 393 pages (paperback version)

It is a standalone book and does not end on a cliffhanger.

Goodreads

 

Buy Links

Amazon US | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | Smashwords

 

 

Blurb

Two years after finishing his tour of duty in the Occupational Forces in Japan, Damson O’Reilly arrives in Siena, Italy. Sight-unseen at a local auction, he buys an abandoned Tuscan farmhouse in which he aims to write, paint, and start a new life.

The house, passed over at auction, becomes an impulse buy when it’s put up for a final time. He’s prepared for a semi-ruin, happy to turn his hand to renovating the house—however, what he’s totally unprepared for are three dead bodies, one of which he stumbles over when he arrives at La Mensola, the name of his isolated farmhouse on the road between Siena and Montepulciano.

Against the backdrop of a series of grisly murders, The Road to Montepulciano is the story of a young man, still suffering the scars of war, who, despite betrayal of trust and surrounded by a complex web of lies, finds friendship, love and the warmth of community.

 

Excerpt

I was lying in bed listening to Donati potter around in the kitchen for a few minutes, trying to make up my mind whether or not to get out of bed. I checked my watch: half past five. It was still dark outside—it wouldn’t start getting light for another three-quarters of an hour.

He had to know, I thought, reflecting on the whole of last evening. He must have guessed that I was queer, otherwise what had happened wouldn’t have taken place. We’d have washed separately, each waiting in our rooms until the other had finished, then continued to drink, play cards and behave like kids, but with our clothes on … or at least our underwear.

Some people just seemed to know it about me, although I wasn’t aware that I’d ever telegraphed where my preferences lay. A few times during the war I’d found myself on the receiving end of some very not-so-subtle advances quite out of the blue, far more forthright than the almost imperceptible, ever-so-slightly charged evening I’d enjoyed last night. And as for him? Well, I wasn’t sure just yet. There was something though that made me wonder: a frequent holding of eye contact, as if he was trying to discover what I was thinking, always breaking away abruptly with a soft smile on his face.

I’d never been able to recognise who was one of the tribe like some of my bedfellows, although at the same time I’d never been shy to leap at an opportunity when it offered itself up. But I found it hard to initiate things. Usually I’d wait until the other person either made a move or gave me a sign that he was interested in more than passing the time of day.

I’d heard Italian men were basically open to anything—whether that was true or not, I had no idea. Maybe Donati was just a regular man who liked a bit of variety every so often—I’d met a few of those—or maybe he was just like me: lonely and looking for a friend.

Deciding to finally get up, I’d barely thrown back the sheet and sat up, my feet drawn up and knees splayed while I leaned over, searching for my cigarettes—which for some strange reason I’d thrown into my haversack last night—when Renzo walked into the room with a demitasse in each hand. The smell of the coffee made my stomach grumble.

He was naked too. It seemed that clothing was to be an optional extra during my stay … I returned his smile.

Buongiorno, Damson,” he said, handing one of the cups to me, then sat in the middle of the bed, one of his legs at an angle, the knee resting on my foot.

Buongiorno, Renzo. You. Sleep. Good?”

Hai dormito bene?” he corrected my Italian, saying the words slowly, twirling his finger in the air to encourage me to repeat the correct version.

“In English?” Renzo asked after I’d got it right.

“Did you sleep well?”

When he repeated the words, he made a pretty good fist of it, so I held out my hand. The shake happened directly over my crotch, mainly because having finished his coffee he’d stretched out over the bed. It was obvious that my genitals were right in front of his face, but his eyes hadn’t flicked away from my own, despite his Cheshire cat grin. This time I was the first to break eye contact, playfully nudging his shoulder with my foot, then reaching for my cigarettes once more.

We chatted for a while, trying out words with each other while smoking, Renzo idly playing with the hair trail below his navel while we traded vocabulary for items in the room. Then, after we’d given each other a lesson on conjugating the present tense of the verb “to be” in our own languages, I checked my watch. “Is that the time?” I said in English. I jumped out of bed, pulling on my only pair of slacks and grabbing a white American T-shirt from my haversack. It was wrinkled, but there was nothing I could do about it.

“No …?” he asked, making a plucking gesture at his waist with his thumb.

Damn, I’d been so distracted that I’d forgotten. Pulling off my trousers, I rummaged in my backpack again and found a pair of Y-fronts—they were a French brand and fairly new on the market. I usually washed my smalls every night, but there’d been too much going on and it had slipped my mind

Renzo whistled as I pulled them on, watching as I put my hand down inside the front of the waistband and adjusted myself in the pouch before pulling on my trousers once more.

“You. Like?” I asked.

He nodded, so I found another pair, still in its packet, and threw them to him. “Go ahead,” I said, while pulling on my socks, then lacing my canvas shoes.

He undid the packet, swung his legs off the bed, put both feet in the underpants, then, as he stood up, pulled them up, turning to look at his arse in the mirror of the wardrobe. “Che bel culo,” he said, winking over his shoulder at me.

I laughed. That phrase I did understand, and he did have a very nice arse.

 

About the Author

From the outback to the opera.

After a thirty-year career as a professional opera singer, performing as a soloist in opera houses and in concert halls all over the world, I took up a position as lecturer in music in Australia in 1999, at the Central Queensland Conservatorium of Music, which is now part of CQ University.

Brought up in Australia, between the bush and the beaches of the Eastern suburbs, I retired in 2015 and now live in the tropics, writing, gardening, and finally finding time to enjoy life and to re-establish a connection with who I am after a very busy career on the stage and as an academic.

 

 

Author Links

Blog/Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Pinterest | Newsletter Sign-up

 

Hosted by Gay Book Promotions

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On Tour: The King’s Command, by Rosemary Hayes @HayesRosemary #BookReview #HistoricalFiction #Huguenots #LouisXIV #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Book Information 

Book Title: The King’s Command: For God or Country
Author: Rosemary Hayes
Publication Date: July 3rd, 2023
Publisher: Sharpe Books
Page Length: 415
Genre: Historical Fiction

Blurb:

Sixteen-year-old Lidie Brunier has everything; looks, wealth, health and a charming suitor, but there are dark clouds on the horizon. Lidie and her family are committed Huguenots, and Louis XIV has sworn to stamp out this ‘false religion’ and make France a wholly Catholic country. Gradually Lidie’s comfortable life starts to disintegrate as Huguenots are stripped of all rights and the King sends his brutal soldiers into their homes to force them to become Catholics. Others around her break under pressure, but Lidie and her family refuse to convert. With spies everywhere and the ever-present threat of violence, they struggle on. Then a shocking betrayal forces Lidie’s hand and her only option is to try and flee the country, a decision that brings unimaginable hardship, terror and tragedy and changes her life forever.

“One of the very best historical novels I have ever read.” Sandra Robinson, Huguenot Ancestry Expert

Buy Links: 

This title is available to read with #KindleUnlimited.
Universal Link: https://books2read.com/u/bW6zGG
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CB4RH68S
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/Kings-Command-God-Country-ebook/dp/B0CB4RH68S/
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/Kings-Command-God-Country-ebook/dp/B0CB4RH68S/
Amazon CA: https://www.amazon.ca/Kings-Command-God-Country-ebook/dp/B0CB4RH68S/

Review

Do you have French Huguenot ancestors? If so, have any stories come down to you about their experience – what they endured, why they chose the risk of leaving France, how they decided to come to the country where they eventually settled? My answer to the first question is yes, but the scant information that was passed down through family stories and recorded over a century ago turns out to contain many errors. I blogged about my own Huguenot history yesterday and hope you will take a peek at it: https://wp.me/p9O7pv-3sP

In The King’s Command, author Rosemary Hayes has brought us a thoroughly researched and detailed account of life for one Huguenot family in southwestern France. Her story opens in 1680, some five years before King Louis XIV revoked the Edict of Nantes and required all protestants to convert to Catholicism: “One king, one country, one religion.” That the family are her direct ancestors and she has been able to visit the French town where they lived has added greatly to the richness and veracity of her fictionalized account.

I especially appreciated the author’s careful parsing of each step of the transition from respected freely worshipping tradesmen and professionals to a persecuted minority with no rights to property, profession, freedom of religion, or even life itself that took place in France over the decade of the 1680s and beyond.

The persecution and exodus were not a single event, although the crisis peaked in 1685. By opening her novel five years earlier, the author has succeeded in conveying  not only the gradual escalation of attacks and curtailment of rights that preceded the revocation, but also how news traveled, how families learned what was happening to others like them, how they first attempted to protect themselves and their assets, and how they began to consider whether to stay or flee. The peril and travails of her family in their escape is a story shared by thousands, many of whom did not make it.

The novel is well written, engaging, and rich with accurate historical detail. I found it easy to imagine my own ancestors, likely in a different region of France, gradually learning and observing those same changes and weighing their options as the depredations and dangers increased and came closer to home. A highly recommended read.  Adriana Kraft

About Rosemary Hayes:

Rosemary Hayes has written over fifty books for children and young adults. She writes  in different genres, from edgy teenage fiction (The Mark), historical fiction (The Blue Eyed Aborigine and Forgotten Footprints), middle grade fantasy (Loose Connections, The Stonekeeper’s Child and Break Out)  to chapter books for early readers and texts for picture books. Many of her books have won or been shortlisted for awards and several have been translated into different languages.

Rosemary has travelled widely but now lives in South Cambridgeshire. She has a background in publishing, having worked for Cambridge University Press before setting up her own company Anglia Young Books which she ran for some years. She has been a reader for a well-known authors’ advisory service and runs creative writing workshops for both children and adults.

Rosemary has recently turned her hand to adult fiction and her historical novel ‘The King’s Command’ is about the terror and tragedy suffered by the French Huguenots during the reign of Louis XIV.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.rosemaryhayes.co.uk

Twitter: https://twitter.com/HayesRosemary

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Rosemary-Hayes/e/B00NAPAPZC

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/80106.Rosemary_Hayes

Tour Schedule Page:  https://thecoffeepotbookclub.blogspot.com/2023/08/blog-tour-the-kings-command-by-rosemary-hayes.html

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Guest Bloggers

On Tour: The Ghost of Grayson Hall by MK McClintock #HistoricalRomanceMystery #HistoricalMystery #BlogTour #TheCoffeePotBookClub #CPBC @cathiedunn

Book Title and Author Name:

The Ghost of Greyson Hall
British Agents Series, Book #4
MK McClintock

Blurb:

Once a year, an ancient secret walks the corridors of Greyson Hall, a place shrouded in mystery and whispered legend.

When Devon Clayton inherited the stately mansion in England’s wild north from his uncle, he never imagined what secrets lurked within its walls, hidden for centuries. When his friends and brothers join him for the holiday, the British Agents and their families discover that their most unusual case will bring new meaning to Christmas spirit.

They must now unravel a century-old mystery if they are to break the curse and save a love that transcends time.

A long novella set in Northumberland in December 1782 and 1892.

Also Available:

  • Alaina Claiborne
  • Blackwood Crossing
  • Clayton’s Honor

Note: The British Agent series books are written to be read as stand-alone novels. However, they each have cross-over characters, meaning characters from each book will appear in the others. The only reading order is chronological, but each title can still be read as stand-alone.

Excerpt

Prologue

In the year of 1782, among the snow-dusted hills of Northumberland, Lady Grace Canterbury of Greyson Hall disappeared.

Rumors abounded. She ran away with her Highland lover, leaving her husband and son behind. Others speculated on her declining health, claiming she’d gone away to die in solitude when the fever and pain overcame her body and mind. Those who knew her never believed the gossip and resolved through the years that ruffians kidnapped her at the command of her jealous husband.

No one ever learned the truth. Lady Canterbury vanished.

She’d left behind an infant son, who had barely found comfort in his mother’s arms. A fair-haired and handsome boy who resembled his mother in coloring, including the eyes, ice blue and startling cold if it had not been for the spray of thick, black lashes.

Before the birth, Lord Spencer Canterbury had shared with her how he longed for a fair-haired daughter who looked like her mother. However, when their son made his first appearance, she saw her husband’s joy in knowing it was a strong and healthy boy who would one day inherit the title and become master of their vast estate.

How does such a lady vanish without leaving a remnant of evidence?

For more than a century, the truth remained a mystery. Lady Canterbury became a faded memory, a story to entertain and bewilder at celebrations and gatherings. For generations, speculation continued. Descendants of the family attempted to unravel the mystery of the eighteenth-century puzzle, alas to no avail. Few took the matter seriously—after all, it was long before their time—and the image of a graceful beauty with hair as pale as the risen moon and eyes the color of waves on the sea faded into history.

Excerpt from The Ghost of Greyson Hall copyright © MK McClintock

Praise for the British Agent Series:

“Ms. McClintock succeeds in masterfully weaving both genres meticulously together until mystery lovers are sold on romance and romance lovers love the mystery!” —InD’Tale Magazine on Alaina Claiborne

“This book was perfectly-paced with mystery, romance, adventure, and so much more. I am definitely recommending that everyone who loves historical fiction in general read this book. I cannot wait to start reading the next book in this series.”
—Dreams Come True Through Reading on Blackwood Crossing

“MK McClintock has spun an enchanting tale deeply entrenched in the lands of Scotland and England that will leave you riveted to your chair until you turn the last page.” —My Life, One Story at a Time on Blackwood Crossing

Clayton’s Honor by MK McClintock is a clean historical romance that will keep your heart beating and your palms sweating. This is definitely a novel that is going on my ‘read again’ shelf! A really good and smooth read!” —Readers’ Favorite 

Buy Links:

Universal Buy Link: https://books2read.com/u/brBdME

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-ghost-of-greyson-hall-mk-mcclintock/1143812817?ean=2940167043008

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-ghost-of-greyson-hall-british-agent-novels-book-4-by-mk-mcclintock

Author Bio:

MK McClintock is an award-winning author who writes historical romantic fiction about chivalrous men and strong women who appreciate chivalry. Her stories of romance, mystery, and adventure sweep across the American West to the Victorian British Isles with places and times between and beyond.

Her works include the following series: Montana Gallaghers, Crooked Creek, British Agents, Whitcomb Springs, and the stand-alone collection, A Home for Christmas. She is also the co-author of the McKenzie Sisters Mysteries.

MK enjoys a quiet life in the northern Rocky Mountains. Visit her online home at www.mkmcclintock.com, where you can learn more about her books, explore extras, and subscribe to receive news.

Author Links:

Website: www.mkmcclintock.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MKMcClintockBooks
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mkmcclintock/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/mkmcclintock/
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/mk-mcclintock
Mailing List: https://www.mkmcclintock.com/subscribe
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/MK-McClintock/author/B006UV5PPI\

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Out Now! Meet me in Milan, by KD Sherrinford #Mystery #Romance #HistoricalRomance #NewRelease @ExtasyBooks

The deepest secrets are often to be found out in the open
if you only know where to look.

Book Information

Published by: eXtasy Books
Author : K D Sherrinford
100 Pages ~ 29 808 words
ISBN :978-1-4874-3967-5
Publication Date :2023-09-29
Series : Sherlock Holmes and Irene Adler Mysteries #3
Category : Historical Romance, Romantic Suspense and Mystery, Romance

Blurb:

While her husband, Sherlock Holmes, is off playing detective in London, Irene Adler finds herself having to play detective when her friend Renata becomes the prime suspect in the attempted murder of her husband, Luigi Amato. How can she refute the testimony of a credible eyewitness, even though her heart tells her that Renata is innocent? She needs tangible evidence, and she’s willing to do what she must to obtain it.

When Sherlock finally arrives on the scene, Irene seeks his counsel, and he agrees to assist with her investigation. However, their relationship is called into question by Irene’s dear friend Sophia, who is not overly fond of Irene’s husband nor approving of the way in which they conduct their marriage. Will Irene be able to prove her friend Renata’s innocence, or is there a more tangled web of deception at play? And will Sophia’s misgivings regarding her marriage bear unfortunate fruit?

Excerpt

Chapter Eight

Luigi turned his attention to my husband. “It is an honour to meet you, Signor Sapori. I have only heard good things about you. But, of course, I have already had the pleasure of meeting your beautiful, charming wife. That engaging smile could cast a spell over any man”. He sighed. “You are indeed a fortunate man. Love is such a wonderful thing, some say the most incredible thing. Don’t you agree?

Sherlock straightened in his chair. I could see this inference rattled him. “I’m afraid I don’t speak as eloquently as you regarding matters of the heart, Signor Amato, neither would I wish to. But I will say this.” He paused to take a sip from his glass, fixing me with his piercing grey eyes. “My wife is not here to decorate the room, Signor Sapori. She is a strong, independent woman of whom I am inordinately proud. I admire many things about her, of course. Her grace, humility and intelligence are just a few of the things that first attracted me to her But, most of all, the fact that she chose me as her husband. Nene does not walk in my shadow. On the contrary, she ploughs her own furrow. I am a better person for knowing her”.

My heart swelled as I stared at my husband in jaw-dropping, incredulous admiration. It seemed unimaginable; this profound seismic moment, Sherlock’s narrative spoken so articulately and hurtled so trippingly off the tongue and spoken with such conviction, was the last thing I expected to hear. Yet his words meant more to me than I could ever express.

Buy Links

https://www.extasybooks.com/Meet-Me-In-Milan

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CJRRSN8B/

About KD Sherrinford

KD Sherrinford was born and raised in Preston, Lancashire, and now resides on the Fylde Coast with her husband John and their children.

KD had a varied career, working with thoroughbred horses and racing greyhounds. She and her husband won the Blackpool Greyhound Derby in 1987 with Scottie. Then to mix things up, KD joined Countrywide where she was employed for over 20 years and became a Fellow of The National Association of Estate Agents.

Retirement finally gave KD the opportunity to follow her dreams and start work on her first novel. She gained inspiration to write “Song for Someone” from her daughter Katie, after a visit to The Sherlock Holmes Museum on Baker Street in 2019. Writing about Irene Adler had always been a passion; she is such an iconic character. The first two books in this thrilling series, Song for Someone and Christmas at The Saporis are available now at all major outlets. Book 3- The much anticipated “Meet Me in Milan”, has just been released at Extasy Books. KD recently started work on the 4th book in the series, Nicco Sapori’s Abduction, which will be available next year.

KD’s short cosy contemporary mystery “A Bit of a Do” will be published as part of Marla Bradeen’s fabulous anthology Malice, Matrimony, and Murder, to be released on the 13th of November.  The anthology is available to pre-order at Amazon. With twenty-four original stories from Derringer and Agatha finalists, Editors Choice Gold Seal recipients, and CWA members, there is no shortage of talent.

You can catch a recent interview of KD at this link:

Depths and Endless Possibilities

If you enjoy KD’s books, she would love you to post a review.

KD can be found at her author page https://www.facebook.com/KDSherrinford/Author.co.uk

https://www.facebook.com/people/KDSherrinford/100078319333010

https://www.allauthor.com/author/KDSHERRINFORD

https://www.instagram.com/kdsherrinford

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kd-sherrinford

https://twitter.com/KDSherrinford

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/23093327

You can email KD-   [email protected]

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On Tour: The Sight of Heather by Ally Stirling @authorAllyS #HistoricalFiction #WomensFiction #ScottishFolklore #BlogTour #CPBC #TheCoffeePotBookClub

Book Information

Book Title: The Sight of Heather
Author: Ally Stirling
Publication Date: September 15th, 2023
Publisher: Author Ally Stirling
Page Length: 338
Genre: Historical Women’s Fiction / Scottish Folklore

Blurb:

For centuries, the fae folk and spae women of Scotland were feared – and persecuted.

Life in the 1800s countryside, with its unforgiving climate, was both magnificent and harsh – testing cultures, beliefs and the loyalties of crofters.

The first in this series, The Sight of Heather, begins a journey of allegiance, sacrifice, and fortitude in a land of bold, resilient women.

Jessie’s ideal life spirals when she learns she is a first daughter in a biological line of ‘spaes’ endowed with unique gifts of spiritual sight and healing, aided by powerful ancestral stones.

Backed by a vindictive priest intent on charging Jessie with murder and witchcraft, the new owner of the Cruachan Manor plots to rout the spaes and destroy their beloved forest.

Despite grave warnings and family conflict, Jessie determinedly pursues her skills and powers, plunging her family and village into danger.

Resolute in uplifting her fellow women, Jessie consults her stones.

Faced with those who deem her evil, she must choose to relinquish her craft, or sacrifice herself to protect her culture and kin – and Lily, the next first daughter – the future of the spaes.

Excerpt

Charles folded his arms and a smirk crept out from under his moustache. He cocked his head. “Why do people live here if they struggle to make a living?”

The vice returned, squeezing the strength from Angus’s voice. “We’ve lived here for centuries … we have no desire to live anywhere else, this is our home.”

The words floated over Charles’s head, missing his ears by a country mile. “Why would the previous owners be happy with such an unprofitable arrangement?”

The words escaped from Angus’s mouth before he could arrest them. “Because they were Scottish.”

Buy Links:

Universal Link: https://mybook.to/The_Sight_Of_Heather
Amazon UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon US: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Amazon AU: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CFVV28FV
Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1144046886?ean=2940167577664
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/fr/en/ebook/the-sight-of-heather
iBooks: https://books.apple.com/fr/book/the-sight-of-heather/id6465249946

Author Bio:

Ally Stirling is a Fiction writer of Scottish origin, currently living in Cape Town with her Braveheart husband, awesome children, the happiest dog in the world, and her menacing cat (aka ‘Devil Cat’).

An unexpected gift resulting in a prophetic message prompted Ally to give her passion for writing the time it demanded, and in 2018 she joined Cathy Eden’s Working with Words writers group. She credits the love, support, and inspiration of this group of talented women, her ‘writing tribe,’ for encouraging her to put words on paper. She also joined (ROSA,) and while Romance is not her genre, this association has been an invaluable source of knowledge and insight into the indie publishing world.

Allowing her imagination freedom to roam resulted in various short stories, before one in particular rooted itself, evolving into her first full-length novel. This book has now become first in a series, with the second and third ready to follow, four and five in the planning stage. Who knew her characters would be so demanding?

Her love of writing fiction stems from her belief that it transports us to magical places when life gets too real.

Addicted to her friends, coffee, every colour of wine, and any type of chocolate, she describes her clan as the family and friends who have built her castle and keep her sane, without whom she’d be short on humour and drinking games.

Author Links:

Website: https://www.authorallystirling.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authorAllyS
Facebook: https://facebook.com/authorallystirling
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorallystirling
Book Bub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-sight-of-heather-a-journey-of-loyalty-sacrifice-and-fortitude-in-the-face-of-persecution-by-ally-stirling
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/stores/Ally-Stirling/author/B0CG6TJT5T?
Goodreads: https://bit.ly/3P9HmWl

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Release Blitz: A Duke’s Introduction to Courtship by Sophie Barnes @BarnesSophie #Regency #Romance #NewRelease

 

The Gentlemen Authors, Book 2

Historical Romance, Regency Romance

Date Published: September 26, 2023

 

photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

 

Love caught him completely off guard and forced him to question
everything…

When Brody Evans, Duke of Corwin, goes incognito at a printing press, he
doesn’t anticipate meeting Mr. Michaels, a charming young man with
whom he shares an instant connection. Soon he’s questioning everything
he believed to be true of himself, while losing his heart in the process.
Accepting the way he feels is not only hard, it’s also illegal and
downright dangerous. Until he learns the truth and is forced to wonder
whether or not the person he fell for is real, or just an illusion.

Dressed as a boy, Harriet Michaels acquires a job at a printing press so
she can support herself and her younger sister. It seems like a good idea
until she meets Mr. Evans, the new assistant editor. Her attraction toward
him cannot be denied, but it must be concealed if she’s to avoid
detection and the risk of losing her job. The more time she spends with him,
however, the closer she comes to heartache and ruin. For as it turns out,
Mr. Evans is not who he claims to be either.

The Gentlemen Authors Series:

A Duke’s Guide to Romance

The Gentlemen Authors, Book One

A Duke’s Introduction to Courtship

The Gentlemen Authors, Book 2

A Duke’s Lesson in Charm

The Gentlemen Authors, Book 2

Coming October 24, 2023

Available on Amazon

About the Author

USA TODAY bestselling author Sophie Barnes writes historical romance novels in which the characters break away from social expectations in their quest for happiness and love. Having written for Avon, an imprint of Harper Collins, her books have been published internationally in eight languages.
With a fondness for travel, Sophie has lived in six countries, on three continents, and speaks English, Danish, French, Spanish, and Romanian with varying degrees of fluency. Ever the romantic, she married the same man three times—in three different countries and in three different dresses.

When she’s not busy dreaming up her next swoon worthy romance novel, Sophie enjoys spending time with her family, practicing yoga, baking, gardening, watching romantic comedies and, of course, reading.

 

Contact Links

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Goodreads

Twitter

 

Purchase Links

Amazon

B&N

KOBO

Apple Books

Google Play

 

RABT Book Tours & PR

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Pre-Order Blitz: Wild Asses of the Mojave Desert by @LisAnnaLangston #WomensFiction #RABT

[Note from your host – when I saw this brilliant title, I couldn’t resist picking up the blog post to host. I live in the desert and have been to where the actual wild asses (more often referred to as burros) roam and RVers feed them and dodge them if they want to organize any activities. I’m also a fan of women’s fiction and self-discovery journeys. It looks like the perfect package. ~ Adriana]

New Adult – Literary – Contemporary fiction –
Women’s fiction

Date Published:10-20-2023

Publisher: Mapleton Press

 

photo add-to-goodreads-button_zpsc7b3c634.png

 

This novel about friendship, nostalgia, and finding oneself is funny and
tender, moving and poetic, while standing firmly in hope and love. The
characters are thinkers, overthinkers really, who are trying to find their
way by asking the deep questions of life with wide-eyed wonder and talking
through life’s uncertainties. They fearlessly confront the choices they’ve
made, examining their desires and their mistakes. The result is a smart,
engaging novel depicting a young woman’s search for the people and place she
will call home.

A RECOMMENDED read by the US Review

 

Excerpt

The inside of the White Tavern was dark and smelled like stale cigarettes
and grease. A server came over, wearing tight black skinny jeans and an old
Van Halen concert tee.

Dylan turned sideways in the booth to stretch his legs out. “Tell me
about this beer that’s cheaper than gas.”

“Dollar eighty-four,” the server said, which was, in fact,
cheaper than gas.

“Do you have any fries to go with those competitive beer
prices?”

It had been a long time since I’d had my favorite sandwich. Pimiento
cheese. Pickles. Ham. I sunk my teeth into a yummy bite of teenage years and
moaned out loud.

Dylan looked up from his double order of fries and raised an eyebrow.
“Do you and that sandwich need to be alone?”

I ignored his comment. “Was there anything else in that car? Anything
that might indicate a drug deal gone bad?”

“Nope. Just the cooler and the rock.”

“Huh.”

Dylan locked eyes with me. “That rock means something,
Skye.”

The dining area was empty except for us, and one other table near the back
with kitchen staff. Still, Dylan leaned across the table and whispered
urgently, “It’s like that scene in Pulp Fiction with the
briefcase in the diner.”

I furrowed my brow and gagged on a sesame seed. “With Honey
Bunny?”

“And Pumpkin.”

“What?”

Dylan leaned back and shrugged. “The guy’s name was Pumpkin.
Honey Bunny and…”

“I know. I’ve seen it thirteen times. I’m just wondering
why we’re out here in the middle of the desert with you drawing
comparisons of your life to a film that came out when you were seven years
old.”

“You—you, you mock me, Skye, but there’s a
connection.”

“Between a film and that glowing rock?”

“Yes.” He clasped his hands together firmly and laid them on
the table.

“There’s no rock in Pulp Fiction.”

“It’s implied.”

“No, it’s not.”

“Yeah, it is. It’s in the briefcase.”

“We never see what’s in the briefcase.”

Dylan squirmed in an exaggerated way and said, “God, use your
imagination, Skye. It’s a glowing rock.”

“Okay. Say it is a glowing rock. What does that have to do with
us?”

“It’s our time to finally make sense of our lives.”

“That’s what I’ve been doing.”

“No, you haven’t.”

I grabbed the ketchup bottle and whacked the bottom. “How do you
know?”

“Because you’re here. Right back where you started. Look,
don’t get me wrong, I love sitting out in the desert drinking Miller
High Life, listening to the coyotes howl, playing charades in the firelight
with your sister, but I’m glad you’re home.”

“You played charades with my sister?”

“Sure. Isn’t that what you were doing back east? Playing
charades? Sounds like? Feels like? Rhymes with?

“You saying those six years were nothing more than a
game?”

“We were all playing a game. It’s okay to admit the truth, even
if it’s hard.”

His answer was so simple and earnest, I didn’t know whether to kill
him or cry. I looked down at my plate with a strange mixture of surrender
and hunger. “What do you think I was doing on the East
Coast?”

Dylan inhaled and shrugged, “Trying to escape this place and burn
Trevor out of your mind with hot yoga and gluten-free buns.” He
touched my greasy hand and said, “It’s not a judgment. Look, I
don’t know what you were doing out there. You didn’t exactly
call. But you’re here now, and so am I, and I believe this is some
kind of strange gift.”

“If the rock is so important, why haven’t you moved
it?”

“It’s really heavy. I’m going to have to dig it out.
That’s where you come in.”

Dylan was always a crazy trailblazer adjusting his tinfoil hat, but
he’d leveled up the weird while I was gone.

“I have to go to the bathroom.”

If I stood perfectly still in the stall, I could hear the sound of the end
coming. A sharp chapter break pushing forward. Tracks winding into a new
future. One I couldn’t see, because I was still stuck in the backseat
of my past life. I sat on the toilet and thought about escape. The problem
was I’d been escaping my entire life. Running from everything.
Destiny. Relationships. Myself. I looked down at my jeans bunched up around
my knees. I’d already managed to get stuck in a hole, might as well
grab a shovel and dig.

About the Author

Lis Anna-Langston was raised along the winding current of the Mississippi River on a steady diet of dog-eared books. She attended a Creative and
Performing Arts School from middle school until graduation and went on to study Literature at Webster University. Her novels have won the Parents’ Choice Gold, Moonbeam Book Award, Independent Press Award, Benjamin Franklin Book Award and NYC Big Book Awards. A three-time Pushcart award nominee and Finalist in the Brighthorse Book Prize, William Faulkner Fiction Contest, George Garrett Fiction Prize and Thomas Wolfe Fiction Award, her work has been published in The Literary Review, Emerson Review, The Merrimack Review, Emrys Journal, The MacGuffin, Sand Hill Review and dozens of other literary journals.

Hailed as “an author with a genuine flair for originality” by Midwest Book Review and “a loveable, engaging, original voice…” by Publishers Weekly, you can find her in the wilds of South Carolina plucking stories out of thin air.

Contact Links

Website

Twitter @LisAnnaLangston

Goodreads

Instagram

 

Preorder Links

Universal

Amazon

Barnes and Noble

Kobo

iBooks

Smashwords

 

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Tall Dark and Rich ~ Billionaire Romance Anthology #PreOrder

Tall Dark and Rich: A Billionaire Romance Anthology at an Incredible Price!

I hope this finds you in high spirits and eager for an exciting new reading adventure! I love writing billionaire romance novels, and sharing them with new readers, but there is nothing like an anthology to get the blood stirring. Think about it: more hot heroes, more steamy sex, more clever plot twists, more obscenely over-the top luxury.

I think one of the biggest challenge readers have is determining where to spend their limited reading dollars. This is especially true for mystery and romance readers who are particularly voracious. Readers return to the same authors again and again because they don’t want to throw their money away on disappointing novels. To be honest, I have participated in anthologies before, only to be disappointed by many of the participating authors.

Not this time. As a romance reader myself, I find immense joy in sharing stories to make your heart race and your imagination soar. That’s why I am thrilled to be part of Tall Dark and Rich, an upcoming billionaire romance anthology I feel confident will captivate your senses and fulfill your deepest romantic fantasies.

As of this writing, Tall Dark and Rich features thirty billionaire romances from sweet to scorching, novella to full length read, all written by talented authors. One third of the contributing writers are USA Today or NY Times Bestselling authors. One third! These gifted writers have poured their hearts and souls into crafting tales to transport you to a world of wealth, passion, and desire.

My own entry, A Crazy Rich Dilemma, is a full length, steamy contemporary romance about Leah, studying art and drowning in debt. Leah is still reeling from an out-of-character one night stand with Van when she is offered the opportunity of a lifetime. Renowned art collector, and disgustingly rich, Fletcher Donovan makes his own out-of-character move, loaning Leah his mansion for six months. Missing Van and their sizzling chemistry, Leah bonds with Fletcher over their shared love of art, soothing her battered heart by beginning a long-distance correspondence with Fletcher. Can the billionaire do more than lick her wounds?

Here’s an excerpt from my new book, an All’s Crazy in Love adjacent story and my entry for Tall Dark and Rich.

EXCERPT

Stanton approached, saving me from further discussion, and I watched with relief as Constance meandered away without a backward glance. She’d taken my advice and was hunting. God help the man she snared.

“Still trying?” We shook hands, happy to see one another. Stanton’s grasp was powerful.

“Afraid so. I just want to have some fun, you know.”

 “I didn’t see you sneak in.” Stanton surveyed the ballroom, looking past the Christmas trees decked in gold and silver that complemented the traditional styling and made the Drake a classic. “Plenty of fun here tonight.”

 “Yes, there is. In fact, there is a woman I curious about—” I pointed to the back of the woman in the green dress.

 “Leah Rhodes.  She’s staying with my sister while she finishes Art School. Interested?

 “Just curious,” I deflected as convincingly as possible.

 “In fact—” Oh no, Stanton wanted something from me. I needed to escape.

 I didn’t need more. I had her name and a tidbit of information with which to open the conversation. I waved off Stanton, started to make my move. But my host was still talking to me and I never learned how to be rude. Tuning him out but nodding at appropriate times, I watched as my beauty stepped from the room, my stomach plummeting at the idea that she would leave before I had my chance.

 I finally caught wind of what Stanton was saying. This woman needed a place to stay. He was suggesting my house. That was a monumentally bad idea, but—

  I scanned for Leah, hoping she would return. She was a standout, with that body, that sweetness about her mouth, and wonder in her eyes. It was a lethal combination. She was mesmerized in that crowd of jaded, rich bitches, fresh-faced and trying not to gape at the splendor. Or maybe she was trying not to judge the expense.

 It was the uniqueness of her that attracted me, but those curves draped in emerald green held my interest and notched up my temperature more than a few degrees. I felt the zing of electricity burgeoning with promise and sexual tension. I’d sensed it the moment we made eye contact. I couldn’t lose her now.

 “I don’t think it will work,” I told Stanton, understatement of the century. I felt sick simply at the idea. But it was Leah. “Now’s not a good time, and I’m really not good with people in my house. But maybe I could find some other way to assist.”

 Certainly, the woman was a beauty, although not in the traditional sense. Her gown, obviously designer, was barely there, cut low, hugging her as I wished to, offering me a glimpse of cleavage that made my mouth water. All of which was icing on the cake, not the tasty confection that was this woman. I sensed much more to her, a depth I couldn’t explain.

 Stanton continued talking until I wanted to punch him. The man had never been so loquacious. My expression must have signaled my impatience, because he wound down to the end of a speech, advocating hard for Leah. Who was she to him? Finally, Stanton quit yakking.

 “Like I said, I’m not really comfortable with the idea. Don’t get her hopes up, but maybe—maybe I will think about it. Rhodes? Is she related to Melanie Rhodes? She was part of my legal team once or twice, so like I said, maybe I can help some other way.”

 That was enough to placate my host so I said my goodnights, eager to find  Leah before anyone else could corner me or Stanford could gauge my level of interest.  One night with this angel was exactly what I needed to cleanse myself of women like Constance and start Paris with a fresh perspective. Having her my bed tonight. Definitely. Having her live in my house, not a chance.

 I found her resting in a traditional upholstered chair not far from the ballroom entrance, fingering through something on her phone. An urn behind her created the illusion she wore a flower crown. She resembled a goddess of Greek mythology.

 I wasn’t wrong. Leah had no idea who I was. I couldn’t believe my good fortune. For once a woman looked at me without dollar signs in her eyes. Leah was clueless about my family and I wanted to keep it that way as long as possible. I would be gone tomorrow, and she would be none the wiser while  I had the rare opportunity to spend one lovely night with a beautiful woman who wasn’t after a Donovan, and what we could give her. This woman, this goddess, wanted me. I had a chance at an honest relationship, but only if I was dishonest. I appreciated the irony, and didn’t think twice.

 “Van,” I said, extending a hand toward hers, using my college nickname. It slid out of my mouth with ease. Her chin lifted to my face. She was more beautiful up close.

 Her eyes grew wide, obviously surprised to see me but not unhappy about it. I reached for a handshake and wound up engulfing her fingers, clasping them like fragile glass. She shook and not a limp handshake, mind you; more like she was proving a point. I resisted the urge to press a kiss on the inside of her wrist, wanting to leave my mark on her. “You’re Leah, right?”

 She didn’t hide her shock, rubbing a finger along her bottom lip. Was she checking her lipstick or wiping drool? Her expression didn’t make it clear. 

 “I asked Stanton,” I offered by way of explanation. “Dance?”

 I wasn’t wordy, nor elegant, but my movements were swift and smooth, wrapping her in my embrace before she could refuse. I wasn’t willing to risk no and it was obvious her feet were killing her.

 She was already halfway out of  the chair when she nodded yes,  her head barely reaching my nose. Hiding us from prying eyes, I kept us away from the ballroom but close enough to hear the music. She was tiny and soft in my arms and didn’t question my choice of location.

 Leah fingered the fabric of my tux, then rested her hand like a whisper on my shoulder. Maybe I held her a little closer than appropriate, but she smelled sweet and felt breakable.

 “I’m not much of a dancer,” she warned, her voice low and unconsciously seductive.

 “I promise not to step on your toes.” Thanks to my years of dance lessons and decades of experience, I spun her to the edge of the lobby, lights and colors speeding past my view. A strong pine aroma emanated from the ballroom, but her floral scent rose above it as I twirled us around the groupings of lobby chairs.  I bent my head closer to inhale deeper. Whatever the perfume, it was a definite aphrodisiac.

 “How have we managed to miss each other before this? I think I’ve made most of Stanton’s parties.”

 “This is my first. I’m staying with his sister, Huntley.”

 “Visiting from out of town?” I knew the answer but wanted to hear her version. “Where is home?”

 “Oh no,” she clarified, meeting my eyes and holding me spellbound. “I live here, but a few months ago, I broke up with my boyfriend and he got custody of the apartment. It’s been difficult finding a place since then.”

 “Too busy nursing a broken heart?” I held my breath awaiting her response.

She laughed, a soft sound, and I finally got a glimpse of that wide smile in earnest. It transformed girl-next-door Leah into a force majeure. She was magnificent.

 “Hardly. More a question of affordability and proximity. I go to school downtown, and housing near the loop is pricey.”

I breathed a sigh of relief. No attachment preventing me from pursuit. “I wish I could help, but I am living in a hotel room at the moment. Upstairs.” Her blush was a giveaway. We were both thinking of that room, easily reached for a night of— “I leave in the morning, but if you are desperate, I could extend it a few days.”

 “Leaving or the room?”

 “The room.” I felt disappointed, surprisingly so. I was more intrigued than I’d expected.

If you’re intrigued, now is the perfect time to preorder your copy of Tall Dark and Rich to ensure you don’t miss out on this unforgettable reading experience. And the best part? For a limited time, the anthology is priced at only 99¢! That’s dozens of captivating billionaire romances bundled together in one explosive collection, for less than a dollar! It won’t last forever.

To reserve your copy, simply click https://books2read.com/TallDarkRich

You won’t be disappointed.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Madison Michael is the author of more than a dozen romance novels. She loves to create sassy heroines who know who they are and what they want. Add a hero who is every women’s fantasy come true and watch the chemistry sizzle. Proud of her smart romances, Maddy tries to create flawed but loveable characters readers want to know, situate them in wonderful settings and then add a plot that allows them to flourish and fall madly in love. A smattering of mystery, humor, or meddling friends usually helps things along.

Madison lives in Chicago, close to her roots, friends, family and the best pizza anywhere.

She loves cats, cat jokes and cat videos, Hello Kitty, anything with too much sugar, and everything about being an author. She enjoys writing, learning about writing, promoting writing and writing while eating sugar, surrounded by cats.

Discover her Beguiling Bachelor or All’s Crazy in Love series at www.madisonmichael.net/books

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