Today I’m on Marie Higgins and Liza O’Connor’s Blogs

Please come visit me on Marie Higgins’s blog and Liza O’Connor’s Blog. Marie is interviewing me and Liza is interviewing the book. Read new excerpts. I’m also giving away another copy of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh on both blogs!!

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

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The Blog Tour Continues

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

Today The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh is being spotlighted at Jenna Jaxon Romance.

There is a new excerpt, and I’ll be giving away a copy of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh to one commenter. Please come by and visit.

Ella

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Sunday News and Winners!!

We’ve got a lot going today.

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

Let’s begin with the winners of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh from this week’s blog tour, and the winner of one of Blythe Gifford’s books.

Congratulations to:

Collette Cameron’s Blog ~ Irene Menge

Anna Small’s Books ~ RegencyResearcher

Jakki Leatherby’s Reviews ~ Maria

Susana’s Parlour ~ Linda

Blythe Gifford’s Book – Sheri Fredricks

Please contact me with your email address.

Here is a wonderful review of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh on Goodreads.

A lovely review of The Seduction of Lady Phoebe is on Liza O’Connor’s blog. I brought tears to my eyes.

I was supposed to have been on Adventures in Authorland yesterday, but due to technical problems it has not gone up yet. Please stop by later today  for another chance to win a copy of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh.

The blog tour continues tomorrow. I will be giving away a copy of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh at each stop.

June 17^th Jenna Jaxon’s Journal

June 18^th  Liza O’Connor’s Blog Liza is interviewing the book.

June 20 Jennifer Lowery’s Romance Recipes

June 25^th League of Rogues Blogspot

June 26^th Rakes, Rogues and Romance

June 27^th Georgie Lee’s Blog

Last but not least June 28^th Kadee McDonald’s Books

A couple of weeks ago I told you I’d post the pictures from the beach picnic I went on, then I got distracted. Here they are.

A couple who did not want me to take their photos has built this little camp.

And I found a ruin of an 18^th century plantation.

Whew! What a week. I hope to see you on my blog tour.

Have a relaxing Sunday and a wonderful week.

Ella

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Guest Author Blythe Gifford

Historical Author Blythe Gifford

Please help me welcome award-winning, multi-published, historical author Blythe Gifford. Blythe is here to promote her latest release Taken by the Border Rebel, Book three of the Brunson Clan Trilogy.

To celebrate, Blythe is giving away a copy of your choice of her Brunson Clan Trilogy:  Return of the Border Warrior, Captive of the Border Lord, or Taken by the Border Rebel to one lucky commenter. All you have to do is leave your email address (disguised please i.e. ella at ella quinn author dot com). Winners will be announced here on Sunday.

Ella:  Blythe I’m so happy to have you visit. Tell us a little about yourself.

Blythe:  I write angsty historical romance set in unusual times and places for the Harlequin Historical line.  Typically, my stories include real historical characters and events as part of the story.

Ella:  Your webpage says “On the Borders of Historical Romance.”  I assume that the setting for The Brunson Clan trilogy.

Blythe: The trilogy is set on the Scottish Borders, yes, but that phrase means more to me than setting.  The term “borders” refers to two other characteristics of my work.  First, the time periods I chose tend to be outside the current mainstream of historical romance, which is squarely focused on Regency England.  And second, my work tends to be close to the edge where historical romance meets historical fiction, so it refers to that border as well.

Ella:  What draws you to the “unusual” time periods?

Blythe:  I think the stories that call you are part and parcel of your voice and that your best work will be in that “vein of gold.”  I’m drawn to dramatic and turbulent times of change and I love to find a moment in history that has been overlooked.  The Brunson Clan trilogy, for example, is set in Scotland in what my editor calls the “early Tudor” era.  The sixteen year old King James has just seized the throne in his own right after having been virtually held captive by his step-father.  My trilogy spotlights how all this affect one family of two sons and a daughter.

Ella:  Did you plan all three books before you started writing?

Blythe:  (She laughs.)  I barely planned one!  This was my first time tackling a trilogy and I got some good advice from Courtney Milan.  “Leave as much open as you can,” she told me.  The series is actually tightly tied together in the overall arc of the conflict with the king, but the individual love stories developed as I wrote.  The Muse did “gift” me some structure, however.  In Return of the Border Warrior, the youngest son must return home to find himself.  In Captive of the Border Lord, the daughter must leave home to find herself.  And in Taken by the Border Warrior, the oldest son must stay at home to reconcile his own conflict and that of the family.

Ella: I love Courtney. She has been a great help to me as well. When did your muse first move in with you, and how did you decide to write historical romance?

Blythe:  Oh, she doesn’t live here.  She just visits from time to time!  I did start writing very early, but it wasn’t until a corporate layoff that I started seriously pursuing a fiction writing career.  Advised to “write what you love to read,” I started a romance set in the fourteenth century, featuring a (literal) royal bastard.

Ella: That exact piece of advice is what set me free to write. Before I’d been told, “write what you know.” You’ve been published by Harlequin for a while now. Tell us about your publishing journey.

Blythe:  It took me ten years to become an “overnight success.”  Six of those years were spent in an attempt to make my first manuscript perfect.  (Rookie mistake!  Don’t do that!)  After it had been universally rejected, I wrote my next book without thinking (too much) about an editor looking over my shoulder.  That second book, which took me two years, became a Golden Heart finalist manuscript and sold to Harlequin.  I’ve now had a total of eight books with them.  The first five were set in the fourteenth century and four of them featured a character born on the wrong side of the royal blanket.

Ella: I can’t tell you how many authors I’ve met who have spent way too much time on their first book.  Taken by the Border Rebel is the third book in a trilogy.  What’s next?

Blythe: I’m back in the fourteenth century England, working on two books centering on the royal weddings of King Edward III’s children.  I also have a self-publishing project in the works that I hope to release this fall.

Ella:  Thank you so much for joining me here, Blythe.

Blythe: You’re welcome, Ella.

Ella: Ok, here is what you have all been waiting for, the blurb and excerpt of Taken by the Border Rebel.

Taken by the Border Rebel

FROM THE BACK COVER: 

TORMENTED BY HER INNOCENCE

As leader of his clan, Black Rob Brunson has earned every dark syllable of his name. But, having taken hostage his enemy’s daughter in a fierce act of rebellion, he is tormented by feelings of guilt and torn apart with the growing need to protect her—and seduce her!

Stella Storwick feels Rob’s disdain from the first. Then slowly she starts to see behind his eyes to a man in turmoil. Something he has no words for, something that can only be captured in a heart-wrenching kiss…. 

In the excerpt below, from Chapter One, Black Rob Brunson has been out inspecting his land, looking for signs that the family’s blood enemies, the Storwicks, may be planning a raid, and pauses at midday in the hills overlooking his valley.

Something shifted. The wind. A scent. A sound. He stiffened, alert, and turned his head.

Above him and to his left, sat a woman, silent and stiff, eyes fixed on him warily as if he were a Storwick.

He fashed himself for not looking carefully before leaving his horse. What if he’d been surprised by the enemy?

Neither spoke, looking.

Dark hair tumbled across her shoulders, but he would not call her beautiful. At least, not from this angle. Eyes and lips fought for control of her face. Her nose was too strong. Her chin too sharp. She looked vaguely familiar, but he had seen every far-flung Brunson at one time or another. Still, he could not summon which branch of the family was hers.

“You’re far from home,” he began, still trying to place her. The Tait cousin lived nearest, but he had no daughters.

She drew herself up into a crouch, like a wary animal ready to run. “Nay so far.”

He raised and lowered his shoulders, sorry he had frightened her. He motioned his head uphill, toward the border. “Storwicks are no more than five miles away.”

Not taking her eyes from his, she stood slowly and took a step back, as if nearness to the enemy had just occurred to her. The blush on her cheek paled. “Have I crossed the border then?”

“Nay.” He rose to his feet, uncomfortable that she stood while he stretched on the grass. What was the strangeness in her accent? “It’s just over there.”

Her eyes widened. She turned to look over her shoulder. Then ran.

That was when he recognized her.

Stella Storwick didn’t look back, praying for her feet to run faster.

But the Brunson kept coming, strong as a charging ram, trampling the grass behind her. Then he was in front of her, cutting off her escape as if she were no more than an unruly ewe.

She dodged. Left. Right. Thinking she could confuse him.

He was a broad man. She could be quicker. More steps, her skirt and the grass holding her back. If she crossed the border, she would be safe…

But next she knew, he grabbed her arm, whirled her around, and both of them tumbled to ground. She on her back, pressed to earth, he straddling her legs.

She lifted a clawed hand to scratch his eyes, but he caught her wrists and held her arms tight against the dirt without effort. Even when she shut her eyes against him, he surrounded her, warm and smelling of leather.

“You’re Storwick.” He did not ask a question.

She opened her eyes. His were brown. And murderous.

“And you’re Brunson.” Close now, she knew him, the man she had seen near half a year ago at Truce Day. Fool she was, not to have recognized him immediately.

Not just a Brunson. The Brunson.

A flash of heat crackled through her body. Hatred, no doubt.

He was one of the Black Brunsons. Broad of shoulder and brow, dark of hair and eye. Yes, he had the brown eyes that marked all his cursed clan.

“You’ll not take me.” She braced herself, stiff armed and legged, as if that would stop him. “I won’t let you.”

He froze, then turned to spit in the dirt in contempt. “Brunsons don’t treat women so.” Disgust now, in his eyes. “It’s your kind who do that.”

One villainous kin of hers who had done that.

She knew the truth of the whispers about him, though the man had never dared touch her.

No one dared that.

“That’s not what I’ve heard.” A lie, but one she hoped would keep him off guard. She tugged against his hold. An iron manacle would have given way more easily.

He released her hands with a look that warned her to keep them quiet. “You’ve heard wrong.”

She pushed herself up on her elbows. “Then let me go if you don’t mean to take me.”

He sat back on his heels and crossed his arms, his very silence ominous.

She held her breath to stop her speech. He had not guessed which Storwick she was. Or that she had come to the hills to spy on his precious tower.

“How far behind are the others?” He stood, pulling her to her feet, keeping his hand on her wrist while he gazed toward the English side of the border.

“No others.” Foolish admission. She had told no one her plan when she left this morning. Perhaps that had been unwise.

He turned back, sweeping her with a glance head to toe. One that said she might be daft, but he wasn’t. “You wander the hills alone with no horse?”

She shrugged to hide the shaking. “Sun doesn’t often come like this. I wandered too far.” And had hoped to wander farther. A horse would draw attention. “Let me go. I’m of no use to you.”

“Oh, you’re of use to me. You’re going to serve as a hostage for the good behavior of the rest of your people. If they ride to rescue Hobbes Storwick, you’ll be the one to pay.”

She blanched. Thank God. At least her father was alive.

They had not even been sure of that.

Buy links:

Amazon   B&N   Harlequin  Kobo

Blythe Gifford has been known for medieval romances featuring characters born on the wrong side of the royal blanket. Now, she’s written a Harlequin Historical trilogy set on the turbulent Scottish Borders of the early Tudor era.  The Chicago Tribune has called her work “the perfect balance between history and romance.”  Visit her at her website   Facebook   Pinterest   or on Twitter 

Author photo by Jennifer Girard.  Cover Art Copyright © 2013 by Harlequin Enterprises Limited.  Permission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A. Cover art used by arrangement with Harlequin Enterprises Limited. All rights reserved. ® and ™ are trademarks owned by Harlequin Enterprises Limited or its affiliated companies, used under license.

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5 Star Review by Susana Ellis!!

Not only did Susana post a review for The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, she also had Lady P con invite Lord Rutherford, the hero in The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, to tea. Come see what happens when he accepts the invitation. Come by Susana’s Parlour and see how he does keeping his business to himself. Post a comment for a chance to win a copy of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh.

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

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I’m Visiting Anna Small Blog Today

If you’re following me, and I do hope you are, I’m on Anna Small Blog today. I’ll be giving away another copy of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh.

I look forward to seeing you there!

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

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Sunday News and Winners!

Good morning everyone. Today we start off with book winners.

Sandy Kenny won Amara Royce’s book Never too Late. <cough> this one was extremely late being announced, but…

bn100 has won Ann Cleeland’s book, Tainted Angel.

Ladies you will be contacted by the author.

I’m being plagued with technical difficulties this morning. First McAfee blocked my email program. I finally got that up. Now my computer can’t see my iPhone so I can download the  pictures I’d planned for today.

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

As many of you already know, The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, Book #2 in The Marriage Game is now available for pre-order. The release date is November 7^th.

Here is the cover. What do you think?

I’ve sent the book out to three reviews, but if you are a reviewer and would like to review The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, please contact me.

I will be all over the place doing a mini-blog tour and giving away copies of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh. Here are this coming week’s places and dates:

Monday I’ll visit Collette Cameron on her Blue Rose Blog

Tuesday Anna Small has graciously invited me to join her at Anna Small Books.

On Wednesday I’m back over at Jackki Leatherby’s Leather Bound Reviews

Friday Lord Rutherford, the hero of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh is being grilled, er, invited for tea at Susana Ellis’s Parlor

Here is my publisher’s blurb followed by a short excerpt. Check out this wonderful cover quote. I can’t thank Sally MacKenzie enough!

“Let yourself be seduced by this sexy mix of spies, smugglers, and happily ever afters.” —Sally MacKenzie

Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife…

Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is Miss Anna Marsh…

Available at:

Amazon US * Amazon Canada *Amazon UK * Barns & Nobel * Kensington * iTunes

Excerpt:

Anna met his gaze coolly. “Lord Rutherford, pray, what brings you here?”

“Oh, Anna dear,” her mother said. “Lord Rutherford has very kindly offered to help by escorting you to Charteries for Lady Phoebe’s wedding.”

Anna raised a brow and stared at Sebastian for a moment before turning to address her mother. Lady Marsh reminded Anna of a wraith. Her mother’s dark brown hair was still unmarked by silver. She always dressed in flowing gowns and draped gauzy shawls around her shoulders, giving the impression she would blow away if one breathed hard enough. Mama desperately wanted Anna married and could not understand how it was she’d reached the age of one and twenty still single.

As objecting to Sebastian’s escort would do her no good, Anna kept the smile on her face. “Yes, Mama, very kind of him.” She glanced at him and thought she saw the remnants of a smug look on his face. “How do you think of these ideas?” she asked sweetly.

His lips twitched slightly. “I really couldn’t tell you, Miss Marsh. It just popped into my head. We are both attending the wedding after all.”

It did not auger well for him that he had used her mother to get his way. “Yes, we do have that in common.”

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Blurbs, Excerpts and Contest

The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh

Yesterday The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, the 2d book in the Marriage Game went on pre-order. To celebrate, I’m asking you to post your blurbs or a short excerpt of your book or WIP. If you have them, please post your buy links as well.

Contest: The book is already on Amazon US and Kensington, but I’ll give a copy of The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh to anyone who is the first to post a buy link from anywhere else. Just post the link in your comment.

Here is my publisher’s blurb for The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, releasing on November 7^th, 2013

“Let yourself be seduced by this sexy mix of spies, smugglers, and happily ever afters.” —Sally MacKenzie

For Ella Quinn’s bachelors, courtship is all about gamesmanship, until the right woman shows them how much they have to learn…

Since she was a young girl, Anna Marsh has dreamed of Sebastian, Baron Rutherford asking for her hand in marriage. But that was in another life when her brother Harry was alive, before she vowed to secretly continue the work he valiantly died for. Now as Sebastian finally courts Anna, she must thwart his advances. Were he to discover her secret, he would never deem her a suitable wife…

Sebastian has always known Anna would become his wife someday. He expects few obstacles, but when she dissuades him at every turn he soon realizes there is much more to this intriguing woman. Somehow he must prove to her that they are meant to be together. But first he must unravel the seductive mystery that is Miss Anna Marsh…

Buy links:

Amazon US

Kensington

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Sunday News and Winners!

First of all, congratulations to Louisa Cornell who won a copy of Collette Cameron’s Highlander’s Hope.

I just received the results from Regina Jeffer’s give away. Congratulations, ladies.

Nancy Wolfe won the autographed print copy. 

Nancy Qualls and Linda won eBook copies of A Touch of Mercy.

The winners are posted on Austen Authors today.

The week started with a bang. I received the production schedule for The Secret Life of Miss Anna Marsh, book #2 in The Marriage Game, Which releases in November, but goes on pre-order this month. As soon as I receive the cover, I’ll send it out in a newsletter as well as the details for the first contest and my blog stops to promote the pre-order. Here is the teaser that will be at the beginning of the book.

CAUGHT IN A KISS

            Anna’s heart beat faster as his lips reached her throat.  When he kissed her, she thought nothing could be better; then his tongue moved against hers, and she thought she’d swoon.  She tried to put her arms around him, but they were trapped under his body.  It was as if he were possessing her.  Thank God he didn’t know who she was.

“Anna, tell me what you’re doing here,” Rutherford whispered into her ear.

“How did you know it was me?  I thought you were just kissing . . . ”

He started at her in disbelief.  “You thought I’d just kiss any woman?  What the hell do you take me for?”

She struggled to sit up, but his body weighed her down.  “I haven’t even given you leave to kiss me, and you’re doing even more!”

“Harumph.” He bent his head to kiss her again.  “And I plan to continue.”

“Sebastian!” She wiggled to get out from under him.

“Anna. Be still.  I’ll let you up when you tell me what you’re doing here.  Until then . . . ”

Immediately after sending in my dedication and acknowledgements, I received the copy-edits. So the rest of the week was spent working on those, judging contest entries, and posting reviews for books I’ve read. Then my critique partners started to get busy and I’ve been critiquing as well, but also receiving critiques for the book #5.

Fortunately, the week wasn’t all work. I received a wonderful review on The Seduction of Lady Phoebe from Romance Reader Girl. If you missed it, you can read it here.

I won a signed copy of Tessa Dare’s latest release Any Duchess Will Do.

Found the shoes for my Regency gown. Let me know what you think.

Lace Shoes

Friday Night Races

And I got to be on race committee for the Friday night races at the St. Thomas Yacht Club. I actually got to be the timer and call the race. Which is a big deal, at least for me.

Friday Night Races

Baby Scorpion

Oh, and this morning, I found a baby scorpion in my bath room. No, I did not take this picture. The scorpion was gone before I though about it.I downloaded.

I’m off now to a picnic at a new to me beach. I post pictures next Sunday. Tell how your week went.

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Debut, Regency Author Collette Cameron

Regency Author Collette Cameron

Please help me welcome debut, Regency author, the lovely Collette Cameron. Collette is here today promoting her novel Highlander’s Hope. If you haven’t read it, I highly encourage to do so. Collette will also be giving away a copy of her book to one lucky commenter. To be eligible, you must leave your email address in with your comment.

Collette: Thank you so much for having me here today, Ella.

Ella: You’ve been hither and yon promoting your book. What does it feel like to finally have it released?

Collette: It’s surreal; a wonderful kind of terrifying. It’s one thing to write a book and have it accepted to be published; it’s another to have it ‘out there’.

Ella: What do you like best and least about being a debut author?

Collette: Everything is so new. Learning about the publishing industry, author platforms and branding, marketing and promotion. That’s my least favorite part; the marketing and promoting. On the other hand, I’ve met (in the realm of social media and otherwise) many incredibly generous and supportive people.

Ella: Tell us what the inspiration was to write Highlander’s Hope?

Collette: I had toyed with the idea of writing a book for years, but never seriously considered writing a romance novel. I didn’t think I could. All that dialogue, conflict, and point of view stuff.

A single scene, the Banbury Inn scene where Ewan finds Yvette asleep in his chamber, was the impetuous for Highlander’s Hope. The idea just came to me one day, and I played around with it in mind to see if I could develop a story line around it. I did, but boy was there a lot of back story I had to eventually cut.

Ella: What drew you to Regencies and the Highlands in particular?

Collette: A girlfriend handed me a Barbara Cartland novel when I was thirteen years-old. I read it and fell in love with Regency. Back then, that was quite daring.  I love all historicals but Georgian, Regency, and Victorian are my favorites. The Regency era was a time of such transition; clothing, culture, politics . . . even morals were in flux.

When I didn’t have my nose buried in a Regency, a good Scot’s Highlander  was usually in my hand. I decided to take two of my favorite genres and combine them into something a bit out of the ordinary. 

Ella: What comes next or have you decided once was enough?

Collette: Oh, Ella, you know how it is when the writing bug bites you. Once is never enough!

Ella: How very true!

Collette: Highlander’s Hope is the first book in my Blue Rose Trilogy. The second book, The Viscount’s Vow is due to release from Soul Mate Publishing next fall. It features Vangie and Ian from Highlander’s Hope.  I’m hard at work on the third book, The Earl’s Enticement.  That’s Adaira and Roark’s story.

Then I have a stand alone that insists on getting written.  After that, I’ve a six-book sage based on Ewan’s other siblings and cousins.  Then of course I have to tell Isaiah and Josiah’s stories. Oh, and Harcourt’s and Yancy’s too.

That’s why I love a large cast of characters; so many stories to write about secondary characters.

Ella: Is there any advice you’d give someone starting their path to publication?

Collette: Get involved in writing groups. I belong to several. Also, attend workshops and conferences on the craft of writing. Join social media groups which offer mentoring and classes.

Critique partners are a must, as are beta readers. Oh, and make sure you read, read, read . . . not only about writing but books in the genre you write.

Finally, find some small thing that makes your books just the tiniest bit unique; something that readers will be able to identify as your trademark.

Ella: Without further to do, here is the blurb and an excerpt from Highlander’s Hope. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

Highlander’s Hope

She was the heiress determined to never marry.

Shipping heiress Yvette Stapleton is wary of fortune hunting men and their false declarations of love. She’d rather become a spinster than imprisoned in the bonds of marriage. At first, she doesn’t recognize the dangerously handsome man who rescues her from assailants on London’s docks, but her reaction to Lord Sethwick’s passionate kisses soon have her reconsidering her cynical views on matrimony.

 Blurb

He was the nobleman who vowed to make her his own. 

Not a day has gone by that Ewan McTavish, Lord Sethwick and Laird of Craiglocky, hasn’t dreamed of the sensual beauty he danced with two years ago; he’s determined to win her heart. On a mission to stop a War Office traitor, he unwittingly draws Yvette into deadly international intrigue. To protect her, he exploits Scottish Canon law to declare her his lawful wife—without benefit of a ceremony. Yvette is furious upon discovering the irregular marriage is legally binding, though she never said, “I do.”

Amidst murder and betrayal, Ewan attempts to win Yvette’s forgiveness. But is it too late? Has his manipulation cost him her love?

Excerpt:

Perversely, Yvette argued, “Oh, my lord? How else will I travel to Craiglocky?” Blast it, she swore inwardly when her hoarse voice cracked.

Ewan sat beside her. “Evvy, stop calling me my lord.”

“Your lordship, unless I sprout wings and fly, my only recourse is horseback.” Feeling truly rebellious, she stretched and peeked over her shoulders. Pointing to one she said, “No wings, milord. ‘Tis plain I shall have to mount a horse.”

Clearly annoyed, Ewan raked a hand through his hair. “Those below believe us wed. A Scot’s wife doesn’t call her husband ‘my lord’.”

Arching her brow, Yvette dared, “Who gave them reason to believe we were wed, my lord?”

Ewan looked at her hard. “These people must believe us wed, else you’re in grave danger.”

Yvette reached for the cup, then took a grateful swallow of the sweet water. The icy coolness soothed her irritated throat and emboldened her. “So you say, Lord Sethwick. Perhaps it was only a ploy to publicly ruin me, so I’d have to marry you. I overheard Lord Ramsbury at the inn.”

She lowered her voice in imitation of the earl. “‘A wealthy wife is always an asset. I’d say, you’ve done quite well for yourself, old chap.’”

Ewan stiffened. The line of his mouth flattened and his eyes darkened.

Merciful God, did she truly say that? It must be her illness speaking.

He removed the cup from her shaking hand and set it on the bedside table. She could not tear her gaze off his eyes. They were bottomless pools reflecting to the depths of his soul. And he was angry, in fact livid with her. His moon-shaped scar ticked rhythmically.

She’d gone too far. “Ewan—”

“Yvette, remember what happened the last time you didn’t use my given name? I’ve counted no less than five,” he held up as many fingers, “times you’ve intentionally defied me.”

She couldn’t swallow past the constriction in her throat. She’d done it up brown now. Holding her hand before her to ward him off, she shook her head.

In a movement so swift, she didn’t even have time to gasp, he lay atop her torso, pinning her with his weight. His gaze pierced hers before he lowered his head. She felt a soft, fluttering touch and a slight sting on her sore lip as his mouth brushed hers.

Highlander’s Hope is available at Amazon

Author Bio:

In February 2011, Collette decided to sit down and write a Regency suspense romance with a few Highlander’s thrown in to spice things up a bit. She wrote Highlander’s Hope, the first book in her Blue Rose Trilogy. She has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master’s in Teaching. She’s been married for 30 years, has 3 amazing adult children, and 5 dachshunds. Her puppy, Ayva, sits on her lap while she writes. Ayva also nibbles at and lies on the keyboard. Collette loves a good joke, flowers, the beach, trivia, birds, shabby chic, and Cadbury Chocolate. You’ll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels. Her motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, or too many flowers. She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.

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