Spotlight: Shadow Guardian by Jennie Lynn Roberts

Publication date: February 8th 2022
Genres: Adult, Paranormal, Romance

Synopsis:

Not all shadows are what they seem…

Kay swore an oath to use her Shadows to guard the light—an oath she takes very seriously. So, when a dark Shadow arises to terrorize London, she steps up and fights back. The last thing she expects is to find herself being patched up by a sexy paramedic who has no idea what kind of power he could control… or for her Shadows to recognize him as their perfect match. 

Ethan doesn’t trust easily—not in matters of love, and certainly not in… whatever supernatural secrets Kay’s mixed up in. But the more time they spend together, the more he realizes he needs her with an intensity he’s never known before. Accepting her crazy, Shadow-filled world will be difficult. Opening his heart to her… he’s afraid that might be a step too far.

But the dark Shadows are growing. Their enemy is powerful—and closer than anyone realizes. Can Kayleigh and Ethan claim their happily ever after? Or will the darkness claim them first?

Shadow Guardian, the first book on the Blood Shadows Trilogy, is an adult paranormal romance for readers who love fated mates, fast-paced adventure and plenty of spice. Each book in the trilogy follows a different couple and has its own guaranteed HEA. The story concludes in book three.  

Excerpt

Kay picked her words carefully. “If you’ve never been in a Circle, how did you learn to Heal like that?” Having to figure out his abilities alone must have been extraordinarily difficult. He was obviously powerful, and extremely controlled.

Ethan shook his head defensively. “I’m a paramedic; that’s what we do.” 

No. There was far more to it than that. Far more to him.

She wanted to know him, know his story. And it wasn’t just because she’d never heard of someone being missed like that before; it was Ethan himself. Something about him called to her and made the Shadows around her flicker uncertainly, almost as if they were reaching out toward him. She wished she could lean over and drown in his warm, clean scent. 

Kay stifled a snort at her own dramatics. Clearly, the adrenaline crash was messing with her emotions. This wasn’t like her at all. 

She was a Guardian, and it was her duty to help him. That was it. Nothing at all to do with the way his arm muscles flexed as he worked and how desperately she wanted to run her fingers along his tanned skin. Nothing to do with his aura of confidence and self-assurance, or his kindness, or the way his brown eyes focused on hers. Nothing. At. All. 

She cleared her throat and looked away. 

Ethan stood up, frowning, and started packing up. “I’ll just go and get that police officer for you; they’ll want a statement, I imagine.”

Kay’s Shadows fluttered somewhere deep in her chest, and before she’d thought about it, she found herself reaching out to take his hand; to stop him before he could turn away. 

Her whole body was instantly filled with warmth and awareness. Like the first step into a hot shower after being outside on a cold winter’s day. The jolt as water hits skin, one minute freezing, the next burning with heat. Or the moment after opening her eyes into bright sunshine after sleeping on the beach, everything too bright and disorienting. 

She pulled her hand back in surprise, flexing her fingers slightly as they tingled. Ethan looked just as stunned as she felt, his hand held out slightly away from his body. “What happened?” he asked roughly.

“I don’t know.” She genuinely didn’t. She’d heard of an instant, undeniable connection between two Shadow Weavers, but was this what it felt like? She had no idea.

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About the Author

Jennie Lynn Roberts believes that every strong, kickass heroine should have control of her own story, a swoony hero to support her at every turn, and a guaranteed happily ever after. Because that doesn’t always happen in real life, she began creating her own worlds that work just the way they should. And she hasn’t looked back since.

Jennie would rather be writing than doing anything else—except for spending time with her gorgeous family, of course. But when she isn’t building vibrant new worlds, she can be found nattering with friends, baking up a storm, or strolling in the woods around her home in England.

If you want to talk books, romance, movies, reluctant heroes, or just about anything else with Jennie, feel free to contact her atwww.jennielynnroberts.com. But be prepared to settle in for a long chat if you bring up shifters, vampires, Star Wars, or The Princess Bride….

Connect:
https://jennielynnroberts.com/
https://www.facebook.com/Jennie.Lynn.Roberts.Romance/
https://www.instagram.com/jennielynnroberts_author/
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https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20984183.Jennie_Lynn_Roberts

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Spotlight: The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird

Publication Date: February 8, 2022

Publisher: MIRA

Months after she disappeared, a high school senior is found floating in the town’s harbor, alive but unconscious. Where has Emily been, and how did she get into the water? In Kristen Bird’s “gripping” (Publishers Weekly) debut The Night She Went Missing, three friends-to-frenemies mothers in a close-knit, wealthy Texas community decide to investigate after the police hit a dead end. While each woman has secrets to protect, they’ll all be forced to look at their own children – or each other’s – to uncover the truth.

With the relentless pacing and complex female characters of Big Little Lies and an expertly crafted small town setting, The Night She Went Missing introduces Kristen Bird as a new force in the world of domestic suspense. Her novel goes well beyond that, exploring complex questions about mothers and daughters, loss, and the line between taking chances and living dangerously. 

Excerpt

EMILY

They find me faceup in the murky water of the harbor on the day of my funeral. Or memorial service. Whatever. It’s not like there’s much difference. Dead is dead.

Except I’m not. I. Am. Not. Dead. I would pinch myself if I could move.

“Can you hear me? Hey, what’s your name? Can you open your eyes?”

My eyes are as dense and heavy as basalt. Basalt: rich in iron and magnesium, Mr. Schwartz penned on the board during our volcanic rock unit in eighth grade. I fight to come out of the emptiness that has held me for the past…the past what? Hours? Days? Weeks?

I attempt to whisper my name even though my eyelids remain anchored. Emily. That’s right. Emily. I can’t remember the last time I voiced those three syllables.

“Pull her up.” 

Hands yank at me, jerking me from the arms of the water. Two hands wander up my body—over my feet, my legs, the arch of my hips, my arms, onto my neck, stopping at my forehead. This touch is not like the familiar plying of the boy I love, so fiery that it almost stings. This touch is necessary, cold, perfunctory. Perfunctory, Mrs. Abbot, my sophomore English teacher had pronounced for us students as we learned the word for the first time. P-E-R-F-U— 

The voice cuts in. “Tell them we have a girl, a teenager. No broken bones as far as I can tell but looks like she’s been out here for hours. Unconscious, but breathing on her own.” His voice muff les as he turns his head. “I think she might be Emily.” 

Suddenly, a brilliant choir of tenors and baritones and basses burst forth. “The Emily?” 

Emily. Yes, that’s me. What a comforting thing to hear one’s name spoken by those who can point the way home. I breathe in gratitude and descend into the lightness of sleep before a hand touches my cheek again. 

“You awake, Emily?” 

The swooshing of the waves calls to me, a reminder that the song of the deep is steady despite all the new sounds: The bustle of work boots, the hum of the boat waiting to churn to life and set out across the open sea. 

“Your mama’s been looking for you, Ms. Emily. You gave us all a fright. You hear me?” The man seems to sense that I can hear his words while my body remains frozen despite the warmth of the water and the sun overhead. “You’re gonna be okay, sweetheart. Yes, ma’am, you’re gonna make it just fine. Got a daughter about your age, and I woulda been worried sick if my girl had gone missing for weeks on end. Your mama sure is gonna be happy.”

A nasally voice now. “Where you think she’s been all this time? Turned into a mermaid?” The boy chuckles. 

“Hush, Beau.” 

The man’s hand touches my forehead, his fingers sandpapery with callouses. “Now, sweetheart, if you can open your eyes for a sec, I can introduce you properly to the crew. We’re getting you help as fast as we can, but you can go ahead and open them eyes before all the medics arrive. They’d be good and relieved to see you looking around.” 

I try. Oh, how I want to f licker them open, but my head aches and oblivion pulls harder. The siren call of the void is too tempting to resist.

Excerpted from The Night She Went Missing by Kristen Bird, Copyright © 2022 by Kristen Bird. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Paperback | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Kristen Bird lives outside of Houston, Texas with her husband and three daughters. She earned her bachelor’s degree in music and mass media before completing a master’s in literature. She teaches high school English and writes with a cup of coffee in hand. In her free time, she likes to visit parks with her three daughters, watch quirky films with her husband and attempt to keep pace with her rescue lab-mixes. THE NIGHT SHE WENT MISSING is her debut novel.

Connect:

Author Website

Twitter: @kbirdwrites 

Facebook: @kristen.bird.writes 

Instagram: @kristenbirdwrites 

Goodreads

Spotlight: The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull

Publication Date: February 8, 2022

Publisher: MIRA Books

This sweeping new novel from the internationally bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis takes readers behind palace walls to see the end of Imperial Russia through the eyes of Olga Romanov, the first daughter of the last Tsar.

Grand Duchess Olga Romanov comes of age amid a shifting tide for the great dynasties of Europe. But even as unrest simmers in the capital, Olga is content to live within the confines of the sheltered life her parents have built for and her three sisters: hiding from the world on account of their mother’s ill health, their brother Alexei’s secret affliction, and rising controversy over Father Grigori Rasputin, the priest on whom the Tsarina has come to rely. Olga’s only escape from the seclusion of Alexander Palace comes from her aunt, who takes pity on her and her sister Tatiana, inviting them to grand tea parties amid the shadow court of Saint Petersburg. Finally, she glimpses a world beyond her mother’s Victorian sensibilities—a world of opulent ballrooms, scandalous flirtation, and whispered conversation.

But as war approaches, the palaces of Russia are transformed. Olga and her sisters trade their gowns for nursing habits, assisting in surgeries and tending to the wounded bodies and minds of Russia’s military officers. As troubling rumors about her parents trickle in from the Front, Olga dares to hope that a budding romance might survive whatever the future may hold. But when tensions run high and supplies run low, the controversy over Rasputin grows into fiery protest, and calls for revolution threaten to end 300 years of Romanov rule.

Excerpt

1

March 1917 

Tsarskoe Selo

Shots rang out across the twilit grounds of Alexander Park. Sit-ting on the window ledge in her father’s study, Olga turned her head toward the sound. She’d heard gunfire in the days and weeks since the riots had broken out in Petrograd, though they’d never sounded so close, so final. Incongruously, she thought not of advancing troops, but of her brother Alexei and his cap-gun, firing at imagined enemies in the grounds where, at this very moment, true monsters stalked between the trees.

Across the room, shrouded in the darkness that had cloaked the palace since the electricity lines were cut days before, Olga’s mother pulled a shawl across her shoulders. Candlelight sent dark flames up the cavernous bookshelves that lined the walls, illuminating her weary face.

“Abdicated?” she whispered.

Panic gripped her by the throat, and Olga turned to face the window once more. In the deepening gloom, she fancied she could see the orange glow of bonfires. “I don’t understand. In favor of Alexei?” She glanced at Mamma: Alexei’s chronic poor health had always made him seem older than his age, but at twelve, he was still very much a child, and far too young to take on the heavy burden of ruling.

Standing in front of the tsarina, Major General Resin, the commander who’d taken charge of the garrison of troops that protected Olga’s family, cleared his throat. “No, Your Majesty. It’s more complicated than that. We’re still receiving information from the front, but it seems His Imperial Highness was most insistent on the matter. He offered the crown to his brother, Grand Duke Mikhail, but the grand duke refused it. The Duma has formed a provisional government to determine what will happen next, but as I said, we will learn more once His Majesty returns.”

Olga turned her attention back to Mamma, shutting out the continued rattle of gunfire—no closer to the palace walls, but no further away, either. Having spent the last several weeks nursing her siblings through a fierce bout of German measles, Olga had not had the time nor the energy to keep abreast of political developments, but she’d heard enough to know that unrest had been boiling in the capital. Protests in the coal plants; riots in bread lines. Rolling blackouts, hitting tenements and palaces alike; rallies and calls for change, growing ever louder as the war against the Central Powers continued to leech provisions from households and businesses.

But abdication?

From within the white folds of the Red Cross veil she’d worn since the start of the war, Mamma’s face fell, her pale eyes darting around the room. “I don’t understand,” she said. “I simply don’t understand.”

She reached out a thin hand, waving her fingers insistently; recognizing the movement, Olga stepped forward and took it, searching for a logical route through her own confusion. She could hear a buzzing in her head: an insistent roar, the sound of surf crashing against the hull of a ship. With Papa’s abdication, the situation had become everything she’d feared, the sickening finality in the word itself enough to keep it from passing her lips: revolution.

She squeezed Mamma’s hand, watching as Resin’s fingers tightened on the flat brim of his cap. “Where is Papa?”

“He’s coming here, Grand Duchess,” replied Resin, “but in the opinion of the Provisional Government, the palace is not the safest place—not for His Imperial Majesty, and not for you, either. I’m afraid they can no longer guarantee your welfare.”

Mamma looked up sharply. “We have three hundred loyal Cossacks at the gate—the finest soldiers this country has ever produced,” she said, sounding for a moment like her old, fierce self. “They’re loyal to my husband. I fail to see the danger.”

Resin shifted his weight from one foot to the other. “With all due respect, Your Majesty, Minister Rodzianko disagrees. The barracks in Tsarskoe Selo have begun to riot; they’re singing the ‘Marseillaise’ as we speak.”

Mamma paled. Olga recalled visiting the garrison less than a year earlier, trotting on horseback past 40,000 troops all sworn to protect the tsar and his family. How could 40,000 minds be so easily turned?

“And what of my children?” Mamma persisted. “Tatiana can hardly walk. Maria and Anastasia are delirious, and the tsarevich is in a very delicate state—”

“With all due respect, Your Majesty.” Resin met Mamma’s gaze directly. “When the house is in flames, one carries out the children.”

The room fell silent. Despite her attempt at composure, Olga began to shake, a thin, uncontrollable trembling, which, given the darkness of the study, she hoped Resin couldn’t see.

Mamma gripped Olga’s fingers in a silent plea to keep calm. Though her poor health would make it appear otherwise, Mam-ma’s Victorian upbringing had given her a stiff upper lip which Olga and her sisters lacked. She’d been instrumental in running the government since Papa went to command the front, overseeing the distribution of relief aid to soldiers’ families, orchestrating shipments of food and provisions, reining in the government ministers whose political agendas risked the country’s success at the front. Despite what people said about her—despite her Ger-man roots—Mamma had led Russia through the worst of the war years, relying on her faith in God and in Papa to make the decisions others would not.

How had things gone so wrong?

Mamma stood. “We will stay,” she said finally, lifting her chin. “I won’t leave the palace without my husband.”

Excerpted from The Last Grand Duchess by Bryn Turnbull, Copyright © 2022 by Bryn Turnbull. Published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Hardcover | Paperback | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Bryn Turnbull is the bestselling author of The Woman Before Wallis. Equipped with a master's of letters in creative writing from the University of St. Andrews, a master's of professional communication from Ryerson University and a bachelor's degree in English literature from McGill University, Bryn focuses on finding stories of women lost within the cracks of the historical record. She lives in Toronto.

Connect:

Author Website

Instagram: @brynturnbullwrites

Twitter: @brynturnbull

Facebook: @brynturnbullwrites  

Goodreads

Cover Reveal: The Holiday Plan by Emma Lynden

Publication date: January 10th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

Synopsis:

From one of the freshest new voices in clean and wholesome romantic fiction, The Holiday Plan is the perfect escape for fans of Courtney Walsh, Annie Rains, and Debbie Mason.

Native New Yorker and author Verona Scott is battling heartbreak, both personally and professionally. Coming off a disastrous split with her ex, she’s struggling for inspiration to write her next book. And she’s lost without her favorite Aunt Theoni’s wisdom and guidance. 

Hoping for a fresh start and to avoid the holiday completely, she’s planned a Valentine’s detox: a luxurious trip alone to the historic Courtington Castle hotel, near the adorably quaint town of Camelot Creek, tucked into a picturesque valley in the Adirondacks. 

But escaping the heart-shaped balloons and red roses isn’t as easy as she thought. 

This won’t be the restful retreat she’d imagined. Instead, she’s just walked into one of the biggest matchmaking events of the year. Not to mention, the incredibly attractive single dad and dating coach Troy Turner is heading the whole thing up, and he’s on a mission to include Verona in the festivities. 

Troy is in the midst of a professional crisis of his own. After a bit of unfounded bad press, the very last thing he needs is a guest to cast doubt in the minds of his attendees. 

Will Troy change Verona’s mind about the most romantic day of the year? Just when sparks begin to fly, an unexpected visitor checks into the castle, stirring up the past. No matter what, for Verona, Valentine’s Day is the day where everything changes.

A heartwarming, sweet romance that will whisk you away to a magical winter wonderland, and have you reaching for the hot cocoa and box of chocolates long after the holidays. 

Excerpt

This wasn’t how twenty-nine was supposed to feel.

Verona Scott had made a solemn pact on her birthday that the last year of her twenties was going to be one of her best. All the pieces had seemed to be in place. She’d been in the process of writing what she was sure would be another best-selling book—the one that would make up for the lackluster sales and reviews of her most recent titles. And she’d felt certain this would be the year that Alex proposed and she’d start planning her wedding. She’d written down all her hopes and goals, had the timing arranged to a tee.

But, apparently, the universe had missed the memo. Barely six months into her thirtieth year, the second part of the dreamscape she’d spun had unraveled.

Verona buried the box of bridal inspiration, which she’d accidentally stumbled upon when hunting for her favorite sweater, deep inside the bottom drawer of her desk, sealing it away out of sight. She’d been so ready to begin that next chapter with Alex. To settle down and start a family… But what she’d hoped were wedding bells chiming in the not-too-distant future had turned out to be an alarm siren tripped by her boyfriend in his rush out the door.

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Paperback

About the Author

Debut author of heartwarming, romantic fiction, head over heels for happily-ever-afters.

Connect:

https://authoremmalynden.com/

https://twitter.com/authoremlynden

https://www.instagram.com/authoremmalynden/

https://www.facebook.com/AuthorEmmaLynden

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Spotlight: With Love Duet by Alexa Randolph

Publication date: February 1st 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Sports

Synopsis:

Book 1 - With Love, Ella

New York’s power couple Daniel Collins and Ella Chambers, have been best friends since they were young. He is the Quarterback for the New York Giants, and she is one of the most sought-after New York Party Planners.

It is summertime in the Hamptons, which means Ella is in full swing planning events while Daniel prepares to get back to another season. They are busier than ever and more in love than ever.

He finally decided it is time to pop the question. Just after she says yes, she finds out news that has changed her world upside down.

Will they make it down the aisle?

Is the Hamptons drama too much for their relationship?

There are always people trying to take them down. Will they succeed?

Find out in the first book of the With Love, Series.

Book 2- With Love, Daniel

Daniel Collins, New York Giants Quarterback, just won the biggest game of his life, the Superbowl. He should be out celebrating with his loved ones, but instead, he has never felt so lost and alone.

He starts going down a dark path of destruction but cannot seem to find a way out. Then, one night he has a chance encounter with a stranger who is going through troubles of their own.

Daniel is in the process of losing everything, including his starting position on the team. His family and friends do not know what to do or how to help him.

Will he lose everything he holds near and dear to his heart?

Or will he finally see the light and get his life back on track?

Read on to find out how the With Love Series concludes.

Excerpt

Ella walked into the bathroom to see Marissa checking herself out in the mirror. Marissa looked 

up to see Ella and rolled her eyes. 

"Marissa," Ella said while fixing her make-up.

"Ella," Marissa said while walking toward the door with a suspicious smirk. 

The two girls hated each other. Most people weren't big fans of Marissa, but especially Ella. 

Marissa was always jealous of Ella, and Ella didn't like how Marissa treated her and her friends. 

She just had no use for toxic people in her life. They used to be somewhat friends back in 

elementary and middle school, but everything changed in high school. Marissa became a 

cheerleader. She had always had a thing for Daniel, and she told him at a party during the 

beginning of high school, but he told her he wasn't interested. So she had blamed Ella and had 

her fellow cheerleaders torment Ella. But, of course, no one blamed Ella for hating Marissa. The party was in full swing, and everyone was having a great time. Ella finally decided to relax 

and let whatever was supposed to happen, happen. 

"Hey babe, you ready for a drink?" Daniel asked. 

“Yes, a drink sounds great right about now." 

They made their way to the bar. 

"Hey Ella, hey Daniel. Party is going great. What can I get you both to drink?" Tommy, one of 

the bartenders, asked. 

"Hey, big T can I have a Miller Lite and a Riesling for the superstar over here?" asked Daniel, 

pointing at Ella. 

"You're doing a great job, T, and I'm not a superstar. I'm just doing my job. As long as everyone 

is happy, or most people are happy, I'm happy." 

"Daniel is right Ella, you are a superstar, and I will have your drinks up in a minute." 

Daniel and Ella were waiting for their drinks when Marissa came up to them. They both 

inwardly groaned, not wanting to deal with her and her drama that always seemed to follow. 

"Hello Ella, Hello Daniel," Marissa said in her fake high-pitched voice. 

"Hello, Marissa. Enjoying the evening?" Daniel asked. 

"Yeah, it's been fine. So Daniel, are you excited for the upcoming season?" 

"Yes, it will be great to get back into the routine. I have a good feeling about it." 

"That's great. Well, I can't wait to come watch practice in a few weeks. I know you will do 

amazing." 

"Practices are closed for family only, but you can always buy season tickets to watch the team," 

Ella explained, trying to be as sugary sweet as possible but getting annoyed. 

"Oh, I know, my cousin is the second-string quarterback and was able to get me into practice. So 

it'll be great." Marissa said while putting her arm around Daniel. 

"Oh well, that's nice. Daniel, I love this song. Let's go dance," Ella said, holding his hand. 

"Sounds great, babe." 

"Bye, Marissa," they said, walking away with their drinks in hand. 

Marissa just stood there glaring at Ella. What did she have that Marissa didn't? Ella and Daniel had been dancing for hours with their friends and family, having a great time. 

Ella had to go to the bathroom, so she dragged Julia, Daniel's sister, with her to the bathroom. 

Marissa and her friend saw them go in, so they decided to follow. She couldn't let Ella get away 

with humiliating her in front of Daniel.

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About the Author

I am a graduate of Michigan State University with a BA in Communications. I love to read, write, travel, binge watch Netflix for days, make up stories about random people I see for days and drink lots of coffee.

Connect:

https://www.alexarandolph.com/

https://www.facebook.com/withlovealexadesigns

https://www.instagram.com/alexarandolphauthor/

https://twitter.com/arandolphauthor

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/17492205.Alexa_Randolph

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Spotlight: The Wager of a Lady by Kathleen Ayers

Leo believes in playing the odds and is rarely surprised until he meets Georgina, the rebellious young bride of Lord Masterson. A game of cards quickly turns into an unforgettable night that leaves Georgina compromised in both heart and body. Fans of steamy historical and secret baby romances will devour The Wager of a Lady by Kathleen Ayers, the next book in the Beautiful Barringtons Series.

A notorious bastard of a duke.

Leo Murphy believes in playing the odds, as long as the house wins. As the owner of Elysium, London’s most exclusive gambling hell, Leo’s existence depends on predicting his opponent’s next move. Rarely is he surprised. Until he meets the young bride of Lord Masterson losing at cards.

Georgina is beautiful, intelligent, possessed of a razor-sharp wit and a rebellious nature. 

She is completely unexpected. 

Leo is so struck by Georgina he doesn’t know whether to bed her or befriend her. He decides to do both.

A rebellious young American.

Wed to the scandalous and elderly Lord Masterson, Georgina detests London. Mocked for her accent and her family’s pedigree, she wants nothing more than to return to New York. When the wickedly attractive Leo Murphy offers to teach her how to play cards, she assumes he merely wishes to admire her bosom. She’s half in love with him before the evening ends.

A wager that ruins them both.

One unforgettable night with Leo leaves Georgina compromised in both heart and body. Now she’s keeping secrets from everyone, especially from Leo. 

Will he forgive her? Or let Georgina go forever?

Excerpt 

Copyright 2022 @Kathleen Ayers

 “Do you mind?” Leo pulled a cheroot out of his pocket without waiting for a response.

He flicked his wrist, lighting the end. The fragrant smoke spiraled up into the air above their heads, disappearing into the night. They sat in companionable silence for some time, with only the sound of the fountain.

“May I?” she said, holding out her hand for the cheroot.

He gave her an odd look but handed it over, the brush of his fingers against hers sending a tingle down her arm.

Georgina hadn’t indulged in a cheroot since coming to London and before, she’d only done so to shock whatever gentleman had produced it from his pocket. Ben, ever complicit in her bad behavior, had taught her one day when she was fifteen. Maybe sixteen. It became a small bit of rebellion to steal cheroots from her father’s study.

She took a short puff, blowing out a series of perfect smoke rings.

A sound came from Leo, sifting beneath her skirts like a wisp of the cheroot smoke, winding its way up her silken clad legs, identical to the sound he’d made when his head had been between her thighs.

“Quite a trick.” Taking the cheroot from her, he drew in the smoke then leaned over and caught his mouth against hers, blowing the smoke gently between her lips before breaking away.

Georgina immediately formed her mouth into an ‘O’ and blew another perfect ring of smoke into the night air. She turned with a wiggle of her brows to find his gaze fixed on her. “I have many talents.”

Tossing the cheroot, he ground it beneath his heel and reached for her before Georgina had a chance to move away. Fingers wrapping around the back of her neck, Leo pulled her close, mouth slanting against hers with exquisite tenderness.

“I still remember,” he whispered against her lips, “the first time I saw you. Powder blue silk, your dangerously low neckline edged in Belgian lace. I kept waiting for a nipple to pop out.”

“I wasn’t sure you even noticed I had a bosom.”

“I noticed everything about you. The way the silk of your gown rustled when you moved. The sound of your accent flattening every lovely word you spoke. Your scent, like something wild growing in the forest.”

“I told you.” Heat wafted off his body. “It is only soap.”

“I couldn’t take my eyes from you. I still can’t.” Leo leaned back, eyes shining with something that looked very much like anguish before he jerked his head away.

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Paperback

About Kathleen Ayers 

Kathleen Ayers is the bestselling author of Regency and Victorian romance with strong, witty damaged heroes who can’t help falling for intelligent, sassy heroines. An avid reader, Kathleen fell in love with historical romance as a teenager after picking up a copy of Sweet Savage Love. She reads everything, from romance to thrillers, Stephen King and fantasy. When her nose isn’t stuck in a book, Kathleen tries to garden (with mixed results), works on perfecting her charcuterie board skills and enjoys a good wine tasting.

A Texas transplant, Kathleen shares a backyard swimming pool with her husband, son and two very spoiled dogs. 

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