Aloha to Darlene Marshall and THE PIRATE'S SECRET BABY - Book Review

Ahoy, thar mateys.  I have a special book review for you ...

The captain of the Prodigal Son has a deserved reputation as the deadliest (and best dressed) pirate in the Caribbean, but Robert St. Armand’s totally at sea when it comes to “Marauding Mattie,” the daughter he never knew he had. How in the world can he deal with the littlest pirate, one who prefers knife-throwing to arithmetic lessons, and who’d rather be keelhauled than eat her beets? He needs help!

Lydia Burke is living a safe, respectable life, separated from England by an entire ocean. It’s exactly what she needs and she’s not going to risk her boring, but secure, position as a governess to consort with pirates, especially one who’s too pretty for his own good or her peace of mind.

No self-respecting governess would be willing to come aboard the notorious Prodigal Son, but Robert didn’t fight his way to the top by letting small obstacles like scruples stop him. If he can’t hire Lydia Burke, he’ll steal her and take her to England with them, certain he can charm her into his bed along the way as an added bonus on the voyage.

It will be a true voyage of discovery for the pirate and the governess, as one learns to navigate the rocky shoals of parenthood while the other tries to keep deadly secrets hidden, and both will find that while it’s a child who initially brings them together, the growing passion between them offers the greatest temptation.

Indonesia's historic Tall Ship in Pearl Harbor

Will Turner: This is either madness... or brilliance.

Jack Sparrow: It's remarkable how often those two traits coincide. 

PIRATES OF THE CARIBBEAN, a 17th century tale, came to life on the big screen by Disney Studios, reigniting the public’s fascination with pirates. Then again, romance readers have always been fascinated with pirates. 

Darlene Marshall brings the 18th century raiders to life in her new release, THE PIRATE’S SECRET BABY. The hero, Captain Robert St. Armand, shares some traits with Jack Sparrow – notorious, sexy, and droll. Unlike Jack, Robert is honorable. In the span of several hours, he learns that he fathered a child; the mother has passed away; and he accepts his 7 year old daughter, Mathilde, on board his ship. The bearer of the news is an English nanny, Lydia Burke, who is offended by Robert’s repugnant manners but appreciative of his fine form. Still, she has completed her mission to reunite father with daughter and proceeds to her next position on St. Martin. No amount of gold offered by Robert to continue as Mathilde’s nanny could entice Lydia to sail with Robert to England.   She fears England more than Robert.

Marshall opens THE PIRATE’S SECRET BABY with authentic but salty details of Robert's less-than-savory shore leave. Yet she delivered the delicate balance of witty dialogue and sexual tension to lure me away with this fated pair. The secondary characters also entertain on this Trans Atlantic cruise. In fact, Mathilde transforms into Mattie the Marauder in between her deportment lessons. THE PIRATE’S SECRET BABY is a humorous adventure of Regency pirates on the high seas!

Recommended read for fans of Regency romance, pirate heroes, and lighthearted repartee. I received an eARC from the author for an honest review.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

To learn more about Darlene and her books, check out her website at darlenemarshall.com.

The Indonesian crew have some fun ....

Forever Romance's Passionate, Enticing, and Reckless Blog Tour with Cara Elliott, Lily Dalton, and Vicky Dreiling

We have the triple delight in Regency Romance!  Cara, Lily, and Vicky share their top five ...

Cara Elliott's Passionate, Enticing, Reckless Top 5 List

What's something you're passionate about: Literacy, especially for kids

Name one of Hollywood's most Enticing hunks: Matthew Macfadyen

What's one reckless activity you've always wanted to try? Heli-skiing in the Rockies

Share a fun fact about your book: Caro, the drama queen, was the hardest of the sisters to write—I think I went through at least six dozen Lindt Dark Chocolate with Sea Salt bars bribing the Muse to make her behave.

Share a fun fact about you: I took up fencing for several months in college but decided I didn’t like getting poked with a sharp object and turned to squash, a sport in which you get to whack a little rubber ball against a wooden wall.

Lily Dalton's Passionate, Enticing, Reckless Top 5 List

What's something you're passionate about: Dishes. My “granny” had lots and lots of dishes, and not one matching set! It made her happy to eat on a different pretty plate every day and put them out for visitors. I think I must have inherited my love of dishes from her. My cabinets are crammed with all sorts, new and old. It’s an obsession my husband doesn’t understand.

Name one of Hollywood's most Enticing hunks: Hugh Jackman (Best Physique)

What's one reckless activity you've always wanted to try? I’d love to parasail over a bright azure sea.

Share a fun fact about your book: There’s a dangerous, wrong-part-of-town bawdy house!

Share a fun fact about you: I used to be a really great slalom water skier. I might still be…

Vicky Dreiling's Passionate, Enticing, Reckless Top 5 List

What's something you're passionate about: Downton Abbey – My Facebook readers and I are in mourning until the next season!

Name one of Hollywood's most Enticing hunks: Henry Cavill—role model for Colin/WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS (3/25)

What's one reckless activity you've always wanted to try? Ride in a hot air balloon (Did I mention I’m afraid of heights?)

Share a fun fact about your book: There is a pug named Hercules in the book. William and Mary introduced the pug to England in 1688.

Share a fun fact about you: I taught aerobics for ten years.

Passionately Yours

PASSIONATELY YOURS by Cara Elliott (March 4, 2014; Forever E-Book; $7.99)

The youngest of the Hellions of High Street, Caro Sloane has watched her two sisters have exhilarating encounters with dashing heroes, and now she is longing for some excitement of her own. After all, how can she write truly passionate poetry until she has experienced a Grand Adventure? But that seems unlikely to happen as she'll be spending the next few weeks in the quiet spa town of Bath, where nothing grand or adventurous ever happens . . . until she and her new friend Isobel are nearly abducted while walking on a quiet country road-only to be rescued by Alec McClellan, the moody and mysterious Scottish lord she met at Dunbar Castle.

Alec has come to England to deal with a treacherous betrayal and fears that his half-sister Isobel is in peril from an old enemy. Does he dare share his secrets with Caro? The bold and brave beauty leaves him no choice, and together they are quickly caught up in a swirl of dangerous intrigue . . . where fiery desire between them may ignite into the greatest danger of all.

Cara Elliott started writing Westerns at age five but moved on to Regency romance after reading Pride and Prejudice. (Clearly she has a thing for Men in Boots!) A graduate of Yale University, she lives and works in New York City.

Social Media Links:
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Buy Links:
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Never Entice an Earl

NEVER ENTICE AN EARL by Lily Dalton (April 29, 2014; Forever Mass Market; $8.00)

Lady Daphne Bevington would do anything for her maid Kate-including masquerading as Kate and sneaking around the wrong side of London to settle the poor girl's debt. Yet her innocent ruse takes a scandalous turn when "Kate" runs into a handsome gentleman on a secret quest of his own. A moment of passion could cost Daphne her reputation, but how can she ignore the stranger's searing kiss?

An Arrangement Most Wicked

Lord Cormack Northmore is determined to find the immoral peer who ruined his sister. So when he learns that the irresistible woman he knows as "Kate" is the Season's most sought-after debutante, Cormack plans to use her connections to help him set a trap. Now, the closer Cormack gets to uncovering the villain who haunts the ton's ballrooms, the more he realizes that the lovely lady is in danger herself. Will he abandon his quest for revenge-or risk losing his one chance at love?

Lily Dalton grew up as an Army brat, moving from place to place. Her first stop after relocating was always the local library, where she could hang out with familiar friends: Books! Lily has an English degree from Texas A & M University and after graduation worked as a legal assistant in the fields of accident reconstruction and litigation. She now lives in Houston, Texas, with her family. When she isn't at work on her next manuscript, she spends her time trying out new recipes, cheering on her favorite Texas football teams and collecting old dishes, vintage linens and other fine "junque" from thrift stores and flea markets.

Social Media Links:
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Buy Links:
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What a Reckless Rogue Needs

WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS by Vicky Dreiling (March 25, 2014; Forever Mass Market; $8.00)

WILL THE ROGUE'S PERFECT PLAN . . . Colin Brockhurst, Earl of Ravenshire, has no desire to wed, this season or any other. So when his father demands he give up his wild ways and take a wife, Colin refuses. But his father raises the stakes and threatens to sell the ancestral home if Colin doesn't comply. Now Colin has no choice but to find a wife. Unfortunately, the only woman he wants is the one whose heart he broke years ago.

LEAD TO THE PERFECT SEDUCTION?

Regardless of the ton's whispers, Lady Angeline Brenham won't settle for anything less than true love. After rejecting more than her share of suitable suitors, spinsterhood looms before her-until the devilishly handsome Colin reappears in her life with a proposition. Angeline vows to keep her feet on the ground and her heart in check. That is, until one searing kiss melts her resolve and reignites a burning desire for more . . .

Vicky Dreiling is a confirmed historical romance junkie and Anglophile. Frequent business trips to the United Kingdom allowed her to indulge her passion for all things Regency England. Bath, Stonehenge, and Spencer House are among her favorite places. She is, however, truly sorry for accidentally setting off a security alarm in Windsor Castle. That unfortunate incident led her British colleagues to nickname her Trouble.

When she's not writing, Vicky enjoys reading, films, concerts, and, most of all, long lunches with friends. A native Texan, she holds degrees in English literature and marketing.

Social Media Links:
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Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Buy Links:
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Wow!  And it gets better ... Forever Romance is giving away an ecopy of PASSIONATELY YOURS, a print copy of NEVER ENTICE AN EARL, and a print copy of WHAT A RECKLESS ROGUE NEEDS.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Share something passionate, enticing, and/or reckless about you!  

2.  This giveaway is open to readers in the US.  

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 15, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 16.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore  

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

I am passionate about the beach ....

Aloha to Jessica Scott and IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU

Jessica Scott is a busy woman - soldier, wife, mother, and author.   But not too busy to stop by this morning to promote her new romance from Forever Yours,  IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU:

Common Misconceptions About Military Heroes & Heroines
1. We're not all special forces.
2. Combat changes people, it doesn't necessarily irreversibly traumatize them for life.
3. Some people really just love deploying.
4. Your mother wears combat boots is not an insult :)

IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU by Jessica Scott (March 4, 2014; Forever E-Book; $2.99)

She plays by the rules . . . 

Captain Ben Teague is many things: a tough soldier, a loyal friend, and a bona fide smart-ass. He doesn't have much tolerance for BS, which is why he's mad as hell when a trusted colleague and mentor is brought up on charges that can't possibly be true. He's even more frustrated with by-the-book lawyer Major Olivia Hale. But there's something simmering beneath her icy reserve-and Ben just can't resist turning up the heat . . .

. . . and he's determined to break them

The only thing riskier than mixing business with pleasure is enjoying it . . . and Olivia can't resist locking horns-and lips-with Ben. He's got more compassion in his little finger than any commander she's ever met, a fact that makes him a better leader than he realizes. But when the case that brought them together awakens demons from Olivia's past, she will have to choose between following orders-or her heart . . .

About Jessica Scott:

USA Today bestselling author Jessica Scott is a career army officer; mother of two daughters, three cats and three dogs; wife to a career NCO and wrangler of all things stuffed and fluffy. She is a terrible cook and even worse housekeeper, but she's a pretty good shot with her assigned weapon and someone liked some of the stuff she wrote. Somehow, her children are pretty well-adjusted and her husband still loves her, despite burned water and a messy house.

She's written for the New York Times At War Blog, PBS Point of View: Regarding War Blog, and Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America. She deployed to Iraq in 2009 as part of Operation Iraqi Freedom/New Dawn and has served as a company commander at Fort Hood, Texas.

She's pursuing a PhD in Sociology in her spare time and most recently, she's been featured as one ofEsquire Magazine's Americans of the Year for 2012.

Social Media Links:
Website
Facebook
Twitter
Goodreads

Buy Links:
Amazon
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a Rafflecopter giveaway

Forever Yours offers an excerpt from IT'S ALWAYS BEEN YOU ...

“You don’t like being in command, do you, Ben?” she whispered. The air was thick between them, heavy with unsaid things.

He shook his head. “It’s too much responsibility for other people’s problems. I’m not qualified to judge someone else’s screw ups,” he said.

He shifted so he could face her, his body angled toward hers. A shadow partially concealed his face, casting it in hard lines and a dozen shades of grey.

“You’re not supposed to be perfect to be a leader,” she whispered. Her voice cracked, hung on the tension in her neck from sitting a little too close.

Silence filled the space between them. Heavy and warm and crackling with latent energy.

He licked his bottom lip, his gaze locked with hers. “I don’t want to be either,” he said. His voice was a husky whisper filled with need.

Her breath caught in her throat. A hesitant movement. A breath closer. This was monumentally stupid. Infinitely so.

And yet she parted her lips, her entire body trembling in anticipation of the faintest touch of his. He was there, just there. A breath separated them. Nothing more.

It was a hesitant kiss. A light, teasing brush of his top lip against hers. Her breath mingled with his, threading between them and urging her closer. She met his eyes, waiting. Wanting. Needing more of this deeply sensual man who made her feel so many writhing, hungry things.

It was forever before either of them moved. Her breath was locked in her throat. Then she felt it. His palm slid over her cheek, his fingers rough on her skin. Warmth penetrated her, wound its way over the surface to slide beneath her skin and stroke something long dormant to life.

Need. It was need that made her lean toward him. Need that made her part her lips and trace his mouth with her tongue. Need that made her nip his bottom lip and thread her fingers in the short hair on the back of his neck.

Need that made her gasp in pleasure as his tongue slid against hers, twining in that sensuous dance that brought her blood to life. Heat pounded between her thighs, an aching, pulsing want that scorched her like nothing she’d ever felt.

She gave herself over to the sensation, to the pleasure of his touch. Knowing it was a mistake and far past caring as her breath finally released, mixing with the heated strokes of his tongue.

She eased back after a moment, before she did something monumentally stupid, like crawling into his lap in broad daylight.

“We really should talk about those legal packets,” she said against his mouth.

His smile was unexpected. “Wow, you are hell on a man’s ego,” he said.

The laugh caught her off guard and she rested her forehead against his as she struggled to regain her composure. Something opened against her heart, something unexpected and warm.

Something complicated.

For a brief moment, it was tempting to throw caution to the curb, to nuzzle his mouth with hers, to absorb his taste and warmth.

And then reality kicked in.

“We really should head back. We’ve got that meeting in two hours,” she said.

He smiled. “Always responsible and focused.”

He brushed his thumb over her lip as he said it. This was something nice.

Unexpected.

It was going to be an interesting legal briefing, that was for damn sure.

Weekly Winners

We have winners at SOS Aloha!

Maggie Mae Gallagher's ANOINTED
- Debby wins an ecopy from Maggie

Mary Behre's SPIRITED

- Annwitch wins a copy from Mary

Kimberly Kincaid's TURN UP THE HEAT

- Elizabeth H. wins a print copy from me

Winners, please claim your prize by sending your mailing address to sos.aloha@yahoo.com.

Giveaways still open through Saturday, March 15:

Máire Claremont and THE DARK AFFAIR (link)
Kate McKinley and A NIGHT WITH A BRIDE (link)
Jane Ashford and THE BRIDE INSISTS (link)

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Celebrate Little Victories - the Oscars, Shrove Tuesday, and Lady Jane's Salon/Silver Spring

Aloha!   It's been some time since we celebrated little victories ... so let's get to it!

Last Saturday, I enjoyed several laps around Fort Meade's Burba Lake (link) with my buddy.   We watched the Canadian geese swim through the melting ice and lily pads.       

On Sunday, I watched the Oscars while I chatted with another buddy in California ... she knows more about movies, celebrities, and dresses.   I thought the winners' speeches were heartfelt.

My son's scout troop hosted a Pancake Dinner on Shrove Tuesday for their sponsoring church.   Yum, yum!

I registered for Lori Foster's Reader Author Get Together (link) - I am sharing a room with Rue Allyn (link).   I also connected with Elizabeth Langston - we'll be roomies at the RWA Annual Conference (link).   

Saturday night, I am attending Lady Jane's Salon/Silver Spring (link) with Anne Barton, Robin Covington, Carlene Flores, Kimberly Kincaid, and Tracey Livesay.    

Do you have any little victories to celebrate?

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Jane Ashford and THE BRIDE INSISTS

Earlier this week, Cornwall celebrated St. Piran's Day.   St. Piran is the patron saint of Cornwall and the tin miners who make a living in this remote corner of England.   Oh, Cornwall!  It is a treasure in Southwest England ... and the setting for Jane Ashford's newest release, THE BRIDE INSISTS.  Jane joins me for a cozy chat ....

Kim:  From your bio, you have traveled widely in Britain and Europe - can you share a memorable sight, smell and sound from your travels.

Jane:  Walking in the west of Ireland, we stumbled on a path that led to an ancient circle of mossy stones. Trees bent over them, with bushes behind. The place felt hushed and secret. The sight, and the silence, were profound and felt like such a gift. 

A wonderful scent I recall came floating across a park in Oxford, England, near one of the colleges. It was rainy (‘cause, England), and the damp air intensified the flowery smell. I think it was lemon verbena, but I’m not sure. I do know it was lovely.

Kim:  Also from your bio, you discovered Georgette Heyer in Junior High School. If you could cast yourself as a "background character" from a Georgette Heyer novel, tell us about the character and which novel!

Jane:  I love this question. Hmmm, so many to pick from. I think I’ll choose Kitty’s companion Miss Fishguard from Cotillion. She’s amusingly dotty, but she also uses her wits and finds a future for herself when things look bleak.

Kim:  How do you create the names for your characters, especially those with titles? 

Jane: Okay, I should have a clever system. But as far as I am aware, I just pull them out of the air.

Kim:  Tell us about THE BRIDE INSISTS - what inspired it?

Jane:  It was that Regency phrase we’ve all probably read, “the marriage mart.” I got curious. What if I took it sort of literally? What if a woman set out to “buy” a husband? What would her circumstance be? And how would that go? The story developed out of those questions.

THE BRIDE INSISTS BY JANE ASHFORD – IN STORES MARCH 2014

She Thinks She's Bought a Compliant Husband

Although Clare Greenough has inherited an unexpected fortune, her money is in the hands of a trustee until she marries—everyone knows a woman is incapable of managing funds. What she needs is an easygoing husband, right away...

They're Both in for a Shock

She makes a deal with impetuous young James Boleigh, seventh baron Trehearth: they will marry, Clare will get control of her money, and Jamie will get the funds he desperately needs to restore his lands. To stave off ruin, Jamie agrees, believing Clare will soon become a proper, submissive wife. But to expect a serene, passionless marriage was only their first mistake...
Praise for The Bride Insists

“Perfectly delightful Regency romance... Remarkably executed.” —Publishers Weekly

“Ashford captures the reader’s interest with her keen knowledge of the era and her deft writing…a charming plot and just the right amount of sensuality.” —RT Book Reviews, 4 Stars

“…a marvelously engaging marriage of convenience tale, and Ashford's richly nuanced, realistically complex characters and impeccably crafted historical setting are bound to resonate with fans of Mary Balogh.” – Booklist

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Jane Ashford discovered Georgette Heyer in junior high school and was captivated by the glittering world and witty language of Regency England. That delight was part of what led her to study English literature and travel widely in Britain and Europe. She has written historical and contemporary romances, and her books have been published in Sweden, Italy, England, Denmark, France, Russia, Latvia, the Czech Republic, and Spain, as well as the U.S. Jane has been nominated for a Career Achievement Award by RT Book Reviews. Born in Ohio, she now lives in LA. For more information, please visit janeashford.com.

To purchase The Bride Insists:

Amazon
Barnes and Noble
Books-a-Million
Chapters/Indigo

IndieBound
iBooks
Sourcebooks

I posted my five star reivew of THE BRIDE INSISTS on Goodreads (link).  Sourcebooks is giving away a print copy of THE BRIDE INSISTS to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about Cornwall - what do you know about it?

2.  This giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 15, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 16.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Restormel Castle,
former stronghold of the Duke of Cornwall

Aloha to Kate McKinley and A NIGHT WITH A BRIDE (By Invitation Only No. 3)

On this day in 1814, Emperor Napoleon I of France won the Battle of Craonne.   Meanwhile, back in England, other battles are waged among the pages of Kate McKinley's By Invitation Only series.   She is celebrating the release of Book 3, A NIGHT WITH A BRIDE.   Kate joins me for a cozy chat ...

Random Facts About Kate…

Favorite Book: There are several, of course. Anything by Anne Stuart or Joanne Lindsey to start. But my all-time favorite is Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I’m a sucker for dark, tortured heroes. They get me every time.

Favorite Fictional Character: Who else? Mr. Darcy. *Swoon*

Favorite Films: The Anne of Green Gables series, and Pride and Prejudice (the A&E version. I’m an A&E version purist, if there is such a thing).

Kim:  We are nosy at SOS Aloha. What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of where you live?

Kate:  I live in southern California and I love the beach—the sound of the crashing waves and the smell of cool salty air is heavenly.

Kim:  I cut my teeth on Johanna Lindsey novels, too. After I learned we were moving to Hawaii four years ago, I thought I would track her down on Maui. Fate intervened and she moved back to the mainland. If you had a chance to track her down, what would you ask her? 

Kate:  Oh, wow! After I stopped gushing about her books, I would pepper her with writing questions. I live, think and breathe writing everyday and I’m sure she’s just a wealth of knowledge. I’d love to pick her brain.

Kim:  If you could cast yourself as an "extra" in the A&E version of PRIDE AND PREJUDICE, tell us about that character.

Kate:  Hrm, that’s a great question! I would cast myself as Elizabeth’s best friend, who subtly slips in and steals Mr. Darcy away while Elizabeth is still swooning over Wickham! lol

Kim:  What inspired A NIGHT WITH THE BRIDE?

Kate:  I don’t know that any one particular thing inspired it. I love bold and adventurous heroines, so the idea of Gabriella accepting a dare to kiss the duke is what came to me first. Everything seemed to fall into place after that!

Kate McKinley writes Regency and Fantasy Romance. When she's not staring at her screen, dreaming up delicious heroes, she's a wife, mother and part-time assistant.

Social Media Links:
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A DUCHESS IN THE DARK 

(Forever Yours E-Novella; $0.99)

Miss Daphne Hayward is on the hunt for a safe, honorable husband and she has set her sights on the perfect target. She plans a full-scale seduction that will bring him to his knees, and have him begging for her hand in marriage. But when she mistakenly slips into another man's bed, the passions that quickly ignite threaten to send her well-laid plans up in smoke.

Ashton Fitzgerald, Duke of Claymore has never been for want of a willing woman in his bed and his rakish ways have become legend in boudoirs and dark corners all across London. But not even Ashton can account for the powerful desire that surges through him when a mysterious woman pays him a clandestine midnight visit. As dawn breaks, his goddess flees before he can learn her identity. Now Ashton will stop at nothing to unmask the identity of the woman who bewitched him body and soul and make her his . . . Forever.

Buy Links:
Amazon
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iTunes

A COUNTESS BY CHANCE 

(Forever Yours E-Novella; $0.99)

A gambler's daughter, Sophia Weatherby knows her way around a deck of cards. So when her family estate becomes threatened, she has no choice but to use her skills at the gaming tables to save herself from ruin. A lavish house party affords her the perfect opportunity-until the newly minted Earl of Huntington arrives. Adam Greyson has never forgotten the day Sophia rejected his proposal. Now to even the score, he challenges her to a shocking wager-his two thousand pounds against the one valuable commodity she has left: her virtue.

Buy Links:
Amazon
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A NIGHT WITH THE BRIDE 

(Forever Yours E-Novella; $0.99)

While at a lavish house party, Gabriella Weatherfield confidently bets her friends that she can convince the "unseducable" Duke of Somerset to kiss her. But Gabriella's innocent wager turns wicked when faced with the duke's intense blue eyes and talented hands. Nicholas Montgomery usually strives to stay away from society, yet there's no denying Gabriella's wild beauty or the way she makes him want to lose control for once. Will the fire between them burn out when Gabriella uncovers the inner demons haunting Nicholas?

Buy Links:
Amazon
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iTunes

Edmund Blair Leighton's SIGNING THE REGISTER
in Regency England

Mahalo, Kate, for being my guest!  Forever Yours is giving away a bound copy of all three novellas.   To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about an invitation ... have you received a fancy initiation to a special event?   

2.  Forever Yours' giveaway is open to readers in the US and Canada.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, March 15, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, March 16.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Forever Yours offers excerpts from the series ...

A DUCHESS IN THE DARK

The memory of their first meeting was still vivid in his mind, and it swirled to life more often than he cared to admit. He could still remember the emerald gown she’d worn to James’s wedding, the delicate, slightly breathless look about her when James had introduced them. She was beautiful, with wide blue eyes and fiery red curls, and a smile that had stricken him silent. If she were any other woman, he’d have pursued her relentlessly, but her innocence and her connection as James’s sister-in-law had placed her far beyond his reach.

Until now.

“You can’t possibly mean that.” She scrunched her face in disbelief. “Now let me go before someone catches us.”

“The door is locked. We are quite safe. Unless you wish for someone to happen upon us.” He flashed her a wicked smile.

“Of course not!” Shock looked rather fetching on her. Cheeks flushed, eyes brightened, she was a prime article indeed. Marrying her might not be quite the trial he’d feared. In fact, he rather liked the idea her filling the role as Duchess of Claymore. More than that, he liked the idea of claiming her in every way imaginable.

“Then I’d advise you to lower your voice. The whole house is liable to hear you.”

She pressed her lips together and glared.

“Now,” he said, “where were we?”

He’d had enough women to know what desire looked like and Daphne had it written all over her pretty face—she was just too afraid to admit it. The way she trembled, the way her gaze licked him from head to toe, the way her breath hitched when he drew in close. Oh yes, she was hungry for him indeed.

“I don’t believe you are unaffected by me.” He had her pressed against the bed, so she scrambled atop the mattress and faced him on her knees. “Perhaps I shall prove just how affected you are.”

“Completely unnecessary, Ashton, I assure you,” she said. “I’m perfectly willing to admit you have a certain…appeal, but it’s Edward I intend to…” Her words trailed off as he reached out and brushed a silky tendril of hair off her shoulder, exposing the mark on her neck again. His mark.

“Do you want me to leave? Say the word and I’ll go.”

Boldly, her gaze raked down his bare chest, down to his straining erection. He needed to be inside her, filling her, taking her to the very edge of ecstasy. She licked her lips and shook her head, just a slight movement, but it was all he needed. Triumph shot through him. She wanted him; she was just too frightened to admit it.

“What do you need, Daphne? Tell me.” He needed to ease her into this, seduce her with his words, his tongue, and then perhaps she’d be willing to admit the truth.

Their eyes met and held, before her gaze suddenly flicked away. “I don’t know.”

He advanced, pushing her back against the pillows. Her lips were red, plump, ripe for his kiss. He itched to tear at the fabric of her nightgown and push into her tight, welcoming heat. To bury himself inside her so deeply he’d be a part of her forever.

“Let me show you.”

A COUNTESS BY CHANCE

“Why on earth would you consent to such an outing when you clearly have no talent for riding? You would have done better to stay home.”

She stiffened, indignant. “I ride exceptionally well, thank you kindly.”

He smiled, flashing that damnable dimple in the side of his cheek. “I think we both know you can ride only marginally well. I wouldn’t even venture to call your

skills on a horse sufficient. Certainly not well enough to be traipsing through muddy fields alone.”

Her cheeks heated. How dare he! The truth of his statement was of little consequence. Her pride flared, and before she could think better of it, she said, “My skills can hardly be measured while riding such an impossible creature. This horse is unnaturally ornery. I venture to say that even you, my lord, couldn’t command her.”

“You are wrong about that, Miss Dewhurst. I can be quite persuasive when the mood strikes.” His hot gaze raked down her body, briefly stopping at her breasts, then meandering down to the V between her thighs. His lips twisted into a delicious, knowing smile. “Or don’t you remember?”

Heat surged through her like a cresting wave. Of course she remembered. One didn’t easily forget passion so potent, so unyieldingly intense.

Swallowing, she glanced away. “You seem quite sure of yourself.”

He shrugged. “I’m capable enough.”

She licked her lips. “In that case, how about a little friendly wager?”

Her father, a retired gambler, had taught his only child a great many things. First among them, strike quickly when you have the advantage. Huntington would be fortunate to get Chocolate to move, let alone run.

His lips twisted into that arrogant smirk that had never failed to annoy her. “That all depends on the prize, Miss Dewhurst.”

“Two hundred pounds says you cannot outrun me with this horse.”

With his sleek gelding, she was sure to win. And two hundred pounds would be enough to pay for her father’s medicine, and a little extra besides. She smiled sweetly.

He leaned in, his big, imposing body impossibly close. “Two thousand.”

Her breath caught. She had no hope of paying him two hundred pounds if she lost, let alone two thousand. “You know I don’t have two thousand pounds.”

It was no secret. While she and her father struggled to conceal the true desperation

of their situation, all of England knew the money—everything—was gone. Only the family estate remained, derelict and neglected, but untouched by creditors.

Boldly, he reached out and traced her lips with the tip of his finger, a barely there touch that sent shivers of awareness skipping down her spine. She should push him away. It was the proper thing to do. Instead, her eyelids fluttered closed as she absorbed his touch. It took every drop of self-control not to reach out and pull him into a deep, delicious kiss. She still remembered the feel of his lips against hers, the fierce, unrelenting need that followed in the wake of his touch.

“As it happens, you do have something I want.” His voice was low, seductive, and it reminded her of the warm afternoons they’d spent together, talking, laughing, kissing…

His hand fell away and she opened her eyes, blinking. That she had something he wanted seemed impossible. She was destitute, on the brink of ruin. She had nothing.

He leaned in closer, his warm breath brushing over her cheek, and whispered in her ear. “Two thousand pounds if you win.”

She swallowed. “And if I lose?”

“I get you.”

A NIGHT WITH THE BRIDE

“There is rumor that you are looking for a wife. Is that true?”

His gaze turned wicked. “Indeed, I am. Are you volunteering, Miss Weatherfield?”

Oh! Is that what he thought—that she had designs to become his wife? “No, no,” she said quickly. “No.” She shook her head. “I am most certainly not volunteering. No.”

He lifted a brow. “You follow me out onto the terrace, alone, your gown enticingly tight, and ask me if I am in the market for a wife.”

She glanced down at her gown and frowned. It was perhaps a little tight, but not improperly so. She looked up at him. “I am not in want of a husband, I can assure you—”

“Then what is it you want?”

She stepped forward, her gaze fixed on his mouth, mesmerized by the perfection of his lips. “A kiss.” The words slipped out, a whisper, and she blinked.

Oh, dear God, she’d said that out loud. She hadn’t meant to blurt it out so abruptly.

“Young women don’t make such admissions, and certainly not to men they’ve just met.” He laughed and the rich, heady sound made her heart flutter wildly. “Miss Weatherfield, you are playing a dangerous game.”

She swallowed. “You’re a duke of the realm and trustworthy, by all accounts.” Rumored to be mad as well, but it seemed unwise to mention that just now. “Surely I have nothing to fear from you.”

Again, not entirely true, but she was perfectly safe on a terrace, outside a house

that was filled to the brim with people. No harm would come to her, she was sure of it.

“You seem so certain, yet you know nothing of my character.” With every word, he inched closer. She took a step back, then another, until she was pressed up against the granite banister with nowhere to go. “Do you?”

She swallowed. He was so close she could smell the mint leaf on his breath, feel the intense heat of his body. “I have nothing to fear from you,” she repeated, infusing her tone with confidence she didn’t feel.

Something dark flickered in his eyes, and she felt a moment of apprehension. His gaze was intent, predatory, and her body hummed with anticipation.

He brushed a gloved finger down her bare arm, causing tingles to spread in its wake. “Don’t you?”

Yes, perhaps she did. This man was quite dangerous, in all the most tantalizing ways. Those intense blue eyes, that smooth, enigmatic charm, did things to her—wicked, delicious things.

With one step closer, he pressed against her intimately, his lower half pinning her to the banister. He stretched an arm out on either side of her, caging her in. He was all warmth and decadence, all powerful male virility.

In that moment, she realized what had been missing with all those other gentlemen—why she’d never felt compelled to accept their proposals. It was this. Unlike the other men, Somerset made her feel vibrant, unrestrained. He made her feel alive.

“If you want a kiss, Miss Weatherfield, you’ll have to earn it.”