Happy New Year to all! May 2017 prove an awesome year for all the Weekend Writing Warriors!
I am moving on this month, in preparation for my April 2017 release, Only A Mistress Will Do, by sharing snippets from the first book of the House of Pleasure series, Only Scandal Will Do. It’s one of my favorites of my books, and although many of you may remember it, I do want to share that 18th century world of Georgian England with you once more.
I’ll begin at the very beginning this week, with an introduction to the heroine, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam.
“Put her back in the carriage, now!” Her assailant snarled the brusque command, sending a shiver of fear through Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam.
An unseen attacker seized and tossed her into the coach. Gagged, hands pinioned behind her back, ankles bound together, she lay trussed like a Christmas goose in a cramped bundle on the hard plank floor of the dim carriage, her diaphanous Grecian costume in ruins. Schemes for escape flashed through her head in a dizzying whirl.
The horses jerked forward, the uneven cobblestones of London’s streets jouncing her already aching body.
All because she’d been bored.
Doggedly, Katarina tested the bonds securing her hands, strained against the coarse rope then relaxed, seeking play in the cords. None. She muttered a curse and forced her whole body to relax.
BLURB:
He has the woman of his dreams, but what price will he have to pay to win her heart?
Kidnapped and sold at auction in a London brothel, Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam squelches an undeniable attraction to the masked stranger who purchased her, pits her wits against him, and escapes him and the scandal that would ruin her life.
Unable to resist temptation in a London brothel, Duncan Ferrers, Marquess of Dalbury, purchases a fiery beauty. She claims she’s a lady, but how can she be? No lady of his acquaintance in polite society is anything like her. Then he discovers she is who she says, and that this latest romp has compromised her reputation. He knows how that is. One more scandal and he’ll be cast out of London society, but he needs a wife who’ll provide an heir to carry on his illustrious family’s name. He seeks out Katarina, intending only to scotch the scandal, but instead finds his heart ensnared. He’s betting their future he’ll capture her heart, but does he have what it takes to win the wager?
WARNING: A blade-wielding heroine who crosses swords with a master of sensuality.
Books in the House of Pleasure series:
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Beautifully written excerpt. After all the great things that people are saying about the book, I’ll have to take a look.
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Thank you so much, Ed! What a beautiful compliment!
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An even better compliment — I bought the book!
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We often don’t show the greatest judgment when trying to relieve our boredom!
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Well, her judgement hasn’t been called into question as of yet, although it will be shortly!
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Amazing what boredom will get you into. Nice snippet.
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Yes, she had been in mourning, which meant she didn’t get out much at all. And the promise of anything exciting will lead even the most well-behaved astray. And Kat’s not the most well-behaved!
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I definitely remember this one! Oh the trials and tribulations she has to endure 🙂 Happy New Year to you!
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Oh, good! Yes, Kat does have some obstacles to get past, including a masked man in a brothel. 🙂
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I remember this one. 🙂 Tweeted.
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So glad you remember it, Daryl. 🙂
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Wonderful excerpt! Now if only she can get out of this mess! Sounds like Lucy when she was in the middle of something with Ethel!
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LOL! I never thought of that, Melissa! Of course, her situation is a bit more serious than Lucy and Ehtel’s scrapes. She’s on her way to an auction block at a brothel!
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I love this book and the series. Can’t wait to read the next one.
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Thank you, Liza! I’m really looking forward to the release of Mistress!
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I like the fact your heroine didn’t panic, but attempted to find a way to escape. Nobody wants to read about a reactionary heroine, they want a proactive one. Well done.
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Then you will definitely like Kat! She’s proactive about everything! LOL Quite the problem solver.
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What is more risky than being bored? When we do the stupidest things. Great snippet.
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Well, as Kat will tell you at the end of this paragraph, she’s not bored any more! And she really didn’t bring this on. She was accosted as she was going to a masquerade ball, so not her fault, really.
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What a woman! I love her already. Terrific snippet!
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Thank you, Charmaine. Kat is probably my feistiest heroine to date!
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I remember Only Scandal Will Do. That might have been the first book of yours that I read.
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Your review is the #1 positive review on Amazon for Scandal. I’m so glad you remember it!
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