Category: May I introduce

#NewRelease “Between Goodbye and Hello” by #IrisBlobel ~ #SmallTownRomance #preorder #coastalromance

Welcome to ALINTA BAY
I’m happy to share with you the third book in the Alinta series,
which is set at the Great Ocean Road in Australia.
If you love small town romance, be sure to get your copy today!

About BETWEEN GOODBYE AND HELLO

Can two seemingly incompatible people who judge each other on past events be able to find some common ground?

Harrison Hendrix believes in second chances, but when it comes to Melody, he has every reason to doubt it’s possible. He’s conflicted when he sees her back in town and tries his best to see the change in her that other friends mention. Even more so when spending a night with her after being set up for a dinner date.

Life hasn’t been kind to Melody Foster, and she returns to Alinta Bay for a new beginning. Hit by tragedy again, she’s determined to live life to the fullest and with no regrets. She creates a bucket list … on which #8 the very difficult, yet extremely sexy Harrison has been included. Why does it seem he’s always around when she’s in trouble?

Maybe it’s time to take a risk and leave the past where it belongs, but will trusting their instinct be the right choice for them?

Add BETWEEN GOODBYE AND HELLO to your Goodreads TBR !

Pre-order
BETWEEN GOODBYE AND HELLO today!
Amazon

About Book Two

TELL IT TO MY HEART

Confronted with the choice to care for his friend’s family on the other side of the world or to return to Alinta Bay to be with his own newfound family, how will Noah choose?

Following the death of his grandmother, Noah Fielding returns to Alinta Bay and the first thing — or person — he finds is the next-door neighbour in his nan’s bathroom — naked no less. Still jetlagged, he doesn’t hit it off with Molly at first. Yet, over the next few weeks, as his past uncovers itself bit by bit, she becomes is anchor, his friend, and his lover.

Molly Reid had the world at her feet, happily married with a young son … until a tragic car accident took everything away from her. With her heart broken, she moves to Alinta Bay to escape the memories of the past. Her peaceful existence, however, is interrupted after a heavy storm floods her house and she temporarily moves into her recently deceased neighbour’s house next door.

When Noah’s friend and partner goes missing during a routine flight, Noah returns to Alaska to help, but will he come back for Molly?

Add TELL IT TO MY HEART to your Goodreads TBR !

Get your copy of TELL IT TO MY HEART today!
Amazon

Book One in the Series

DEFYING RULES

Sometimes one has to break rules in order to find happiness…

Widower Logan Hendrix is puzzled by the recent series of small crimes against his son’s new teacher. It’s a mystery to him, and he offers her his help. There’s an instant attraction, and Logan wants to take their parent/teacher relationship to a more personal level.

It doesn’t take Addison Ryker long to fall in love with Alinta Bay, the small town she’s moved to for her new teaching position at the local primary school. Her newfound haven is threatened, however, when her house is broken into and she is relying on the unbelievably stubborn but very sexy Logan for help. Although captivated by him, Addison worries her career could be compromised, because there are rules about dating a parent.

Add DEFYING RULES to your Goodreads TBR !

Get your copy of DEFYING RULES today!
Amazon

Where to find Iris:
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bQ68rL
Website http://www.irisblobel.com/
Blog http://www.irisblobel.com/blog
Twitter https://twitter.com/_iris_b
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Iris-Blobel/e/B00FNFP3LI/

#FreeBook “Keto Gluten-Free Diet Bread Recipes” by Vanessa Reese #healthy #diet #keto #ketodiet

Want to enjoy fragrant smelling bread without the usual sense of guilt?

Unlike others, this cookbook is specially designed for busy moms or those on the go by giving you low-carb bread recipes that will only take you a maximum of 8-minutes to prepare.

Inside, you’ll discover:

· 2 pizza base recipes
· 3 biscuits & cookies recipes
· 25 bread recipes
· And much much more

In addition, you’ll also receive a list of 4 low-carb flour that you can easily substitute into the recipes given you a different taste, texture and smell…creating even more variety for yourself.

Would you like to learn more?

Click the Bookcover or here to get started.

About the Author

Vanessa Reese loves playing in the kitchen growing up. As it draws her away to a place of her own where she gets to create and play. Baking is her all-time favourite for chillaxing!

Friends have always asked her to compile and share her recipes. And now she has decided to start putting them into easy to read playbook.

#BlogTour “Keep Forever” by @AlexaKingaard ~ @XpressoTours

Keep Forever
Alexa Kingaard
Published by: Acorn Publishing
Publication date: March 28th 2020
Genres: Historical Romance, Women’s Fiction

“Unlike some war stories that focus on intense, harsh and graphic depictions of post-combat trauma, this tale unfolds gently, like an Edna Ferber novel, spread across many decades, detailing the impact this soldier’s illness has on an entire family, including children and grandchildren. KEEP FOREVER is a wonderful, emotionally satisfying read that I highly recommend. ”
GARY SEIGEL, author of “Haskell Himself”

Paul O’Brien’s idyllic childhood in Southern California comes to a halt when his mother dies in the summer before his senior year of high school and a very different persona of his father emerges – isolating himself inside the house, turning to alcohol for comfort, and barely noticing his only child. Simultaneously, the war in Vietnam is sending shock waves around the world and young men from one coast to the other are being called upon to serve. Paul enlists in the Marines before receiving his draft notice.

Elizabeth Sutton is eager to gain some independence from her father’s old fashioned notions and looking forward to her first year in high school. At fifteen years old, tragedy strikes with the loss of both parents in an auto accident, turning her childhood into one of responsibility and worry overnight. The four siblings are scattered when her nine-year-old twin sisters are sent to live with their Aunt and Uncle on Nantucket Island, and Elizabeth is left behind in Boston with their grandmother. Her older brother, Sam, enlists in the Marines, eager to join the conflict a world away as opposed to dealing with the one unfolding at home.

A bond develops between Paul and Sam in Vietnam, and both are injured in a bloody battle that costs Sam his right hand and sets the stage for a lifetime of nightmares and sleepless nights for Paul. Matched by similar tragedies at a young age, Elizabeth and Paul’s first introduction by Sam upon their return from Vietnam is the beginning of friendship and love that survives five decades.

After marrying, welcoming their first child, and inheriting a small beach house, the couple adapts to their new surroundings, but distant memories of Vietnam continue to haunt Paul. In an era when veterans refuse to speak of their pain and the government denies that thousands of soldiers are coming home irreparably damaged, he is left to deal with the challenge of caring for his loved ones amidst his his erratic flashback episodes and moods. As their lives unravel from the lingering effects of PTSD, Elizabeth learns to accept the burden that Paul brought home, and together they make their own memories to keep forever.

Inspired By  A True Story

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo

Author Bio:

ALEXA KINGAARD was born in San Diego, CA and has lived most of her life in the area. She currently resides in Carlsbad and is the mother of a son and daughter who continue to be her biggest fans and cheerleaders.

Her debut novel, KEEP FOREVER, was inspired by her late ex-husband who batted the residual effects of the Vietnam War for decades after his return. The burden he brought home is shared by combat veterans of all conflicts, and her fictional account highlights the collateral damage encountered by family members and loved ones living with PTSD in their midst.

Her second novel, MY NAME IS ROSE, departs from her personal experiences and focuses on the collective memories of her generation. She loves writing about nostalgia and the human condition, the common denominator of our lives.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Twitter / Instagram

GIVEAWAY!
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#BlogTour “Sheridan Hendley Mystery Books” by Christa Nardi – @SDSXXTours @ChristaN7777

A Sheridan Hendley Mystery Book 1
by Christa Nardi
Genre: Cozy Mystery
Sometimes you need to be careful what you wish for.
Pretty much settled into her new home in Appomattox with Brett and his daughter, Sheridan longs for something to keep her busy. That is, until Maddie and her new friend are framed for theft and murder. Not quite the distraction she had hoped for, but she’ll turn over every rock to prove their innocence. In the process, she learns about the powerful Buchanan family and the history of the local community. Will the truth come out before the person calling the shots takes Sheridan and Maddie out of the picture?
A Sheridan Hendley Mystery Book 2
An abandoned house, an abundance of dogs. And a dead body or two.
Sheridan Hendley’s volunteer position at Pets and Paws takes a new turn when more than twenty malnourished dogs are found at a rundown house on the outskirts of town. When the body of an elderly woman is found amidst mountains of clutter in the house, a search of the property leads to startling revelations. And another body. While Herman Stoneham’s death is deemed natural causes, his wife’s is not. Where did all the dogs come from and who’s responsible for Justine’s untimely death? Are the two connected? With dogs and murder at stake, Sheridan can’t help but get involved in the investigation.
A Sheridan Hendley Mystery Book 3

A touch of nostalgia, a murder, and good friends.
When a former colleague is implicated in his neighbor’s demise, Sheridan Hendley returns to Cold Creek to prove his innocence. Annoying as Max can be, she can’t imagine the quirky professor is capable of murder. Unfortunately, not everyone shares her opinion. Of course, it doesn’t help that Max threatened his neighbor in a public place soon before the man was murdered. Or that the victim’s drug shipments had a habit of turning up on Max’s doorstep.
Christa Nardi is an accomplished author of cozy mysteries. Christa’s background is in higher education and psychology, much as her protagonist, Sheridan Hendley in the Cold Creek mystery series. She has always loved mysteries – reading them, writing them, and solving them. Christa is a member of Sisters in Crime.
$15 Amazon
Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!

#ExcerptReveal “ALL BECAUSE OF YOU” by Theresa Paolo – @InkSlingerPR @TheresaMarieP

Today we have the excerpt reveal for
ALL BECAUSE OF YOU by Theresa Paolo!
Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today!

All Because of You
by Theresa Paolo
 Contemporary Romance
Release Date: May 13th

About All Because of You:

Sometimes you have to lose everything to find your happy ending.

Olivia Green had the picture-perfect life. Dating one of the most successful businessmen in New York City, living in a penthouse over Manhattan and a budding career, until one dreadful night when it was all ripped out from under her. If only she’d gone home like she was supposed to, she wouldn’t have known her future fiancé was a two-timing jerk. Now with no choice she is leaving the city to move back in with her parents in the small town of Morgan’s Bay.

Shane McConnell believed he had no family other than his mother, but on her death bed, she revealed the father who died before he was born, came from a large wealthy family. With nothing to lose he sets out to the east end of Long Island to spend a summer with his newly discovered family. What he doesn’t expect is the secrets and lies dating back to long before his father’s death. Nor could he predict the beautiful hot mess he met on the train would find a way into his closed off heart.

Both struggling with the realities of their new lives they unintentionally lean on each other. As their attraction builds and their undeniable chemistry explodes into passion, Shane holds onto his own secret that threatens his chance at love.

Pre-Order Your Copy

❤️Amazon: https://amzn.to/2FYlfxD
❤️Amazon UK: https://amzn.to/30vTQMP
❤️Amazon CA: https://amzn.to/2udfjOt
❤️Amazon AU: https://amzn.to/2sEPK8U
❤️Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/30sYkEa
❤️Kobo: http://bit.ly/3apI8bt
❤️iBooks: https://apple.co/38YjnB0
❤️GooglePlay: Coming Soon
❤️Smashwords: http://bit.ly/2x2WuPu

Exclusive Excerpt:

“Kissing me out in the open on Main Street? Do you know what that means?”

He stepped closer, heat coming off him in delicious waves that surrounded her in a fiery blanket of desire. “What does it mean?” His voice dipped to a sultry whisper that had her desperate to throw her inhibitions to the curb.

“Next thing you know, the whole town is planning our relationship down to the wedding day and how many kids we’ll have. Probably twins. A boy and a girl.”

“Kids?”

Olivia snickered at the squeak in his voice. “Don’t worry. You won’t impregnate me by kissing me.”

“But the town will think you’re carrying twins.”

“You’re learning.” She tapped his chest, and an electric current jolted through her veins. Shane wrapped his hand around her wrist and yanked her into the alley between Pie in the Sky and Book Nook. He backed her into the wall, strong male consuming her. His arms caged her in, and she arched toward him, desperate for his touch.

In one fell swoop, he captured her lips, and lava exploded in her chest and dispersed in heated waves. His mouth moved against hers with a carnal lust so passionate and demanding, she lost sight of everything else. All she could focus on was the hard press of Shane’s lips and the hard bulge in his pants meeting the apex of her thighs.

A moan escaped her throat as his hands cupped her face and tilted her head. His tongue swiped lovingly at the crease between her lips, and she parted, welcoming the slick feel. It was a sensual dance of tongue and teeth, licking and nipping, giving and taking. He tasted of sweet coconut and confidence, kissing her with a potency she would never forget.

The way he kissed her, ravenous and precise, it was as if he’d been doing it for years. She melted in to his lips, letting him take control, and not because she felt he needed to dominate, but because she wanted him to.

His body pressed into her, her back melding to the cool brick wall. It was fire and ice, heaven and hell, and she didn’t want it to end. She grabbed his t-shirt, holding him close, absorbing every sensation flooding her body.

He kissed a trail from the corner of her mouth down her neck and back. The stubble on his face left tracks of passion. She didn’t care. Tonight, when she was in her bed, all she would be thinking about was this kiss.

A giggle broke the cloud that surrounded them. “Don’t mind me. Continue just as you were.” Olivia didn’t need to turn to know whose voice that was—Jean Kelly, owner of Book Nook.

Olivia dropped her head to Shane’s shoulder, embarrassed heat prickling her neck and cheeks. Shane held her, and Olivia felt his arm raise in a wave.

“Have a good day, you love birds,” Jean said, and Olivia covered her face with her hands.

“Is she gone?” Olivia asked a few seconds later.

“She’s gone.” Shane’s warm breath caressed her ear. “So… what do you want to name our twins?”

About Theresa Paolo:

Theresa Paolo lives on Long Island, NY with her fiancé and their fish. She is the author of NA and Adult contemporary romances. Her debut novel (NEVER) AGAIN, released in Fall 2013 with Berkley (Penguin) and the companion novel (ONCE) AGAIN released Summer 2014. Mad About Matt, the first book in her new Red Maple Falls series, released March 2017.

She loves to write heartfelt romances with a dash of fun and a side of spice. When she’s not writing, she’s reading, brewery hopping, daydreaming, wasting time on Pinterest, trying to get 10k steps on her FitBit or can be found chatting away on Twitter and Facebook. She also writes YA romance under Tessa Marie and has no idea how to smile for a picture.

Connect with Theresa:

Facebook | Facebook Reader Group | Bookbub | Twitter | Instagram | Pinterest | Books And Main | Goodreads | Website

Enter Theresa’s Giveaway:

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#BookBlitz “The Run Around” by Bernadette Franklin @XPressoTours

The Run Around
Bernadette Franklin
Publication date: April 28th 2020
Genres: Adult, Comedy, Contemporary, Romance

Arranging a wedding for her brother and a five-time thoroughbride tests Hope’s skills and patience. She’d believed the vows would be the most dangerous part of the ceremony, but a baseball to the head during the photography session proves her wrong and lands her in the sights of her brother’s best friend, Fredrick.

He wants her to plan his wedding.

She wants to be his bride.

Diving into the treacherous world of wedding planning, Hope keeps her word and arranges the vows for the one man she believes she could love. He doesn’t know how much she cherishes him and his friendship.

What she doesn’t know lands her in the heart of a royal mess.

Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play

—

EXCERPT:

A sensible woman would’ve been delighted to be her future sister-in-law’s maid of honor, as it implied cordial relationships or some sort of bullshit like that. I knew better.

I made an excellent scapegoat.

As the wedding party’s weakest link, everyone expected me to trip on my dress, maybe break an ankle along with my neck, or spill the entire wine fountain onto the floor. My brother claimed he loved me, but I believed he’d been the one to spread the rumor I was the world’s clumsiest woman.

When I secured my revenge, it would be sweet.

But first, I needed to survive my brother’s wedding without being responsible for a single hiccup. Playing to my brother’s misconceptions, I’d spent months tripping over nothing on purpose so I could transform myself into the image of traditional beauty and grace.

I’d even lost twenty pounds so my dress would fit.

The wedding would be a disaster, but I would emerge from the chaos smelling like roses, red wine, and garlic bread. Honestly, I doubted the wedding would make it to the reception.

Some weddings had bridezillas. We had a thoroughbride, and if she got it into her head to run, I wished my brother the best of luck catching her before she fled from the church. My proposal to have the wedding on a yacht, where my brother’s thoroughbride couldn’t escape, hadn’t earned me points with anyone.

The bride hated the ocean.

My brother was smart enough to catch onto my implication.

It wasn’t my fault Amy wasn’t exactly the most reliable woman in the world when it came to marriage. Once was a fluke. Twice was a trend. Five incidents of running from the wedding was evidence the thoroughbride would strike again, and my dear old brother would be saddled with the fifty thousand dollar bill, as he refused to believe Amy would run out on him.

Oh, no. Amy would never run out on him.

Author Bio:

Bernadette Franklin is a figment of imagination owned and operated by two cats, a few plants, and a human.

Website / Goodreads / Facebook / Instagram / Amazon / Newsletter

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#NewRelease “Tell it to my Heart” by Iris Blobel @_iris_b

Welcome to ALINTA BAY
I’m happy to share with you the second book in the Alinta series,
which is set at the Great Ocean Road in Australia.
If you love small town romance, be sure to get your copy today!

About Book Two

TELL IT TO MY HEART

Confronted with the choice to care for his friend’s family on the other side of the world or to return to Alinta Bay to be with his own newfound family, how will Noah choose?

Following the death of his grandmother, Noah Fielding returns to Alinta Bay and the first thing — or person — he finds is the next-door neighbour in his nan’s bathroom — naked no less. Still jetlagged, he doesn’t hit it off with Molly at first. Yet, over the next few weeks, as his past uncovers itself bit by bit, she becomes is anchor, his friend, and his lover.

Molly Reid had the world at her feet, happily married with a young son … until a tragic car accident took everything away from her. With her heart broken, she moves to Alinta Bay to escape the memories of the past. Her peaceful existence, however, is interrupted after a heavy storm floods her house and she temporarily moves into her recently deceased neighbour’s house next door.

When Noah’s friend and partner goes missing during a routine flight, Noah returns to Alaska to help, but will he come back for Molly?

Add TELL IT TO MY HEART to your Goodreads TBR !

Get your copy of TELL IT TO MY HEART today!
Amazon

Book One in the Series

DEFYING RULES

Sometimes one has to break rules in order to find happiness…

Widower Logan Hendrix is puzzled by the recent series of small crimes against his son’s new teacher. It’s a mystery to him, and he offers her his help. There’s an instant attraction, and Logan wants to take their parent/teacher relationship to a more personal level.

It doesn’t take Addison Ryker long to fall in love with Alinta Bay, the small town she’s moved to for her new teaching position at the local primary school. Her newfound haven is threatened, however, when her house is broken into and she is relying on the unbelievably stubborn but very sexy Logan for help. Although captivated by him, Addison worries her career could be compromised, because there are rules about dating a parent.

Add DEFYING RULES to your Goodreads TBR !

Get your copy of DEFYING RULES today!
Amazon

Where to find Iris:
Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bQ68rL
Website http://www.irisblobel.com/
Blog http://www.irisblobel.com/blog
Twitter https://twitter.com/_iris_b
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/IrisBlobel
Goodreads https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4067254.Iris_Blobel
Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Iris-Blobel/e/B00FNFP3LI/

#CoverReveal “Between Goodbye and Hello” by #IrisBlobel ~ #SmallTownRomance #preorder #coastalromance

Welcome to ALINTA BAY
I’m excited to share the cover for the third book in this series, which is set at the Great Ocean Road in Australia.
If you love small town romance, be sure to pre-order your copy today!

About BETWEEN GOODBYE AND HELLO

Can two seemingly incompatible people who judge each other on past events be able to find some common ground?

Harrison Hendrix believes in second chances, but when it comes to Melody, he has every reason to doubt it’s possible. He’s conflicted when he sees her back in town and tries his best to see the change in her that other friends mention. Even more so when spending a night with her after being set up for a dinner date.

Life hasn’t been kind to Melody Foster, and she returns to Alinta Bay for a new beginning. Hit by tragedy again, she’s determined to live life to the fullest and with no regrets. She creates a bucket list … on which #8 the very difficult, yet extremely sexy Harrison has been included. Why does it seem he’s always around when she’s in trouble?

Maybe it’s time to take a risk and leave the past where it belongs, but will trusting their instinct be the right choice for them?

Add BETWEEN GOODBYE AND HELLO to your Goodreads TBR !

Pre-order
BETWEEN GOODBYE AND HELLO today!
Amazon

#Blogtour “THROWBACK” by @ZeiaJameson – @InkSlingerPR

Today we have the anniversary blog tour for Zeia Jameson
and her contemporary romance,
THROWBACK!
Check it out and be sure to pick up your copy today!

Title: Throwback
Author: Zeia Jameson
Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Throwback:

First comes love, then comes marriage.
Then comes…disaster.

In Livy’s mind, prince charmings, happily ever afters and true love only exist in her world of books.
Jeremy believes otherwise, and he’s determined to prove he can be all of that for Livy.

All it takes is a little hope to embark on forever… until the unexpected turns their solid foundation into suffocating quicksand. And just like that, everything begins to crumble.

Spiraling out of control, Jeremy and Livy grow further apart with every day that passes.

But a glimpse of what once was reminds them that the fate of their future lies solely in their hands.

When life-altering love becomes earth-shattering heartache, only the past can mend it.
If it isn’t too late

Order Your Copy Today:

Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes & Nobles | Kobo | Goodreads

About Zeia Jameson:

Zeia Jameson’s passion for writing compels her to get into the zone and type until her fingers go numb. When not submerged within her own stories, she enjoys curling up in her large reading chair, snuggling underneath a blanket, and feeding her addictions of coffee and reading. She is fond of humor and laughter and believes these are elements that keep the world sane and spinning.
Zeia lives in Georgia with her husband and daughter, where they spend most of their time exploring recipes, bingeing on Netflix, and traveling as much as possible.

Connect with Zeia:

Reader Group, the Fierce Romantics | Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | Book+Main | BookBub | Amazon | Goodreads

Enter the Giveaway:

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#NewRelease “A trick of Mirrors” by Meredith Bond – @MerryBond

The 1807 Season of the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society Series is now available! 

   Set in Regency London, eight women gather every Wednesday to play cards and repair relationships. With each game, someone’s got to lose. It’s up to that person to share their deepest secret with others–a secret that all have sworn never to share. Secret children born out of wedlock, terrifying fears, embarrassing truths are all shared amongst the women, but these ladies will do everything they can to help each other and those they love. Join the ladies of the Wagering Whist Society and experience first loves, second-chance romances, and romance where it’s never expected. Each book can be read as a stand-alone novel.

   About me: Meredith Bond’s books straddle that beautiful line between historical romance and fantasy. An award-winning author, she writes fun traditional Regency romances, medieval Arthurian romances, and Regency romances with a touch of magic. Known for her characters “who slip readily into one’s heart,” Meredith loves to take her readers on a journey they won’t soon forget.  

A Trick of Mirrors: 

Can the Ladies of the Wagering Whist Society help sort out a love quadrangle?

 Bee Kendrick secretly accompanies her mirror twin sister Bel to London for her debut, she had only planned on doing so to keep her flighty sister safe. Bel, however, insists that Bee take her place at times but neither ever anticipated the consequences. Two men have decided that Miss Kendrick is the right woman for him. What they don’t realize is that they’re both right. It will take a little sleight of hand by the ladies of the Wagering Whist Society to untangle this trick of mirrors.

  Link: books2read.com/u/4AzO5d

  A Bid for Romance: Can the Ladies of the Wagering Whist Society help a duke’s sister find love where she would least expect it?
 Lady Margaret refuses to believe she is as beautiful and charming as people say. With a deadline to marry, she knows she needs to rely on her friends’ help in putting herself forward, and now she’s even seeking out the support of her chaperone’s footman. 

Tall, blond, and broad-shouldered, James Douglass, Marquess of Rossburke, has the looks of the perfect footman. This unexpected career path is, unfortunately, the only way the impoverished Scottish nobleman can find to support his passion for painting.

To make sure that love is well served, the Ladies of the Wagering Whist Society have to concoct their most devious plan to convince the footman to show his true hand.

     Link: books2read.com/u/mKDNjB

   An Affair of Hearts: Can the Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society turn back the clock to restore the reputation of a lady maligned?

The lovely, kind Elizabeth, the Countess St. Vincent, is determined to re-enter Regency society now that she is widowed. Despite the years that have passed since her fiasco of a debut, one man still remembers and resurrects old rumors. With her reputation destroyed, so are her hopes. Can a newfound friend be the key to burying the past before the season ends?

Charles Aldridge is a watchmaker and businessman fighting to protect a centuries-old industry threatened with extinction. But he is distracted from his quest when he is dragged into the troubles of the beguiling Lady St. Vincent. Every chivalrous bone in his body insists he do all he can to help her. Yet, following his heart may mean jeopardizing his life’s mission.

The Ladies’ Wagering Whist Society will have to play a clever hand to settle this Affair of Hearts… before time runs out. 

Link: https://books2read.com/u/3LDlye

Excerpt

Even though she was a little warm after the dance, Bel was exceedingly pleased to see who her aunt was speaking with when she was returned to her side. Somehow, she had managed to catch the attention of Lady St. Vincent and her very handsome friend.

“Ah, here is my niece,” Lady Blakemore said as she approached. “Lord Conway, may I present Miss Kendrick?”

Bel curtsied as her aunt explained, “Lord Conway is Lady St. Vincent’s brother just returned from Italy.”

Bel curtsied. “It is an honor, my lord.” She looked up at him. “Italy sounds awfully exciting. How long were you traveling there?”

“I wasn’t traveling. I have been living in Venice for the past six years,” he said.

“Oh, how fascinating!” Bel received an odd look from her aunt. “I may not like history, but I do enjoy reading about foreign places,” she explained to Lady Blakemore and Lady St. Vincent.

“I feel as though I’ve missed something,” Lord Conway said, looking confused.

“What you’re missing is your invitation to the young lady to dance,” his sister informed him with a laugh.

At the unhappy expression on the man’s face, Bel immediately felt bad for him. She hated being brow-beaten into doing things she didn’t want to do by her sister too. “You need not feel compelled—”

“Don’t be ridiculous, Conway loves to dance, and I saw you dancing in the last set. You looked like you were enjoying yourself immensely,” Lady St. Vincent said.

Lord Conway put a brave smile on and bowed. “Miss Kendrick, I would be grateful if you would dance with me.”

Bel curtsied and smiled warmly up at him. “Thank you, my lord, I would love to.” She placed her hand in his and allowed him to lead her toward the assembling dancers. “So that you can get your sister off your back,” she added quietly as they walked away.

An involuntary laugh tried to escape his lips, but he suppressed it well enough. His twitching lips told another story.

Happily, he wasn’t as enthusiastic as her previous partner, which gave her the opportunity to say a word or two whenever the dance brought them together. “You wouldn’t know who wrote this music, would you?” Bel asked. “It’s not by Mozart.”  She had no idea whether Lord Conway knew the first thing about music, but it was worth asking.

The gentleman paused his movements and nearly had the lady next to him spin right past when he was supposed to have grabbed her hand. “No, it’s not Mozart. I believe it’s the new contredanse from Beethoven. Did my sister tell you I was a musician?”

“No! Are you?” Bel asked, suddenly even more fascinated by this incredible man.

“Well, I sing. My piano playing is just passable,” he answered when he had a chance.

“Ah, then we complement each other, my lord. I play the pianoforte, but my singing is painful to anyone within earshot.”

He laughed and spun away.

“I think you must be right that this is Beethoven, though,” Bel said, curtsying as the dance ended. “It’s not a piece I recognize, and I do try to keep up with newly released music as best I can.”

“We can ask the musicians if you like,” he offered.

“Oh yes, of course! What a splendid idea,” she said, smiling up at him. He was so handsome! He offered her his arm, and they moved through the crowd to the front of the room where a set of stairs led up to the musicians’ loft.