Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !
This week I’m continuing my current WIP, Almost a Countess , book 2 of my new series, Captivating Countesses.
BLURB:
Exiled to a lonely estate in north Yorkshire, Dora Harper finds life satisfying, if appallingly routine—until an escaped Scottish prisoner begs for her help. Despite her misgivings, Dora takes him in, feeds and clothes him, and is amazed at his transformation into a very handsome, virile gentleman, who claims he is an earl. No matter who he really is, his very presence in her house could ruin her reputation for good. Trouble is, Dora might not mind that at all.
Phineas “Finn” MacDonald, the Earl of Aberfoyle, is on the run from a troop of soldiers bent on hauling him to London to be transported for a criminal act. Dora’s miraculous appearance is a godsend for him, in more ways than one. The pretty young English woman is kind, compassionate, and willing to help him in his attempt to seek justice and evade the troop that is quickly closing in on him.
With their close proximity over several days, Finn’s desire to escape wanes, even as thoughts of Dora fill his mind. So when Dora suggests she pose as his wife to throw the soldiers off Finn’s trail, Finn wonders if he can persuade her to make the ruse a reality—before the army finds him and banishes him from Britain forever.
We’re starting this week where we left off last week. Dora is out riding and has been told British soldiers are roaming the countryside searching for an escaped prisoner. Dora is reflecting on her folly of riding out alone. Dora has just come upon a man lying hidden in the creek bed. He asks for her help and then collapses into the stream.
EXCERPT:
The man was heavy as the big rocks that lay around him and her first grip slid free. Frantic, she put both hands under his shoulder and grunted as she tried again. This time her force was so great that he flipped neatly over, his head hitting the mud at the bottom of the stream. Her balance now off, Dora tilted backwards, lost her footing completely and sat down hard in the swiftly flowing water.
Exasperated, she regarded the still figure, clad in a dirty linen shirt, bright red kilt, and black boots. The kilt declared him Scottish without a doubt and common sense said he was also the escaped prisoner. She was in a peck of trouble, no matter what she did, but she jolly well couldn’t let the man drown in her stream. Not when she could easily pull him out–even when he’d already been so much trouble.
Cold water had seeped through all the layers of her riding habit, making her shiver. With some effort, she got to her feet, mentally cursing the unconscious man who slumbered on, oblivious to her wet misery.
And a little more for good measure…
Not only was her backside frigid and damp but her favorite riding habit was undoubtedly ruined as well.
She hauled herself over to the stranger, peering at him to make sure he was still breathing, before grabbing his shoulders again and dragging him out of the water. A surprisingly handsome man, although she supposed a prisoner or thief or whatever he’d been arrested for could be as handsome as a gentleman in a ballroom.
His dripping wet hair was likely a dark auburn when dry, a bit long and shaggy but not unpleasing to the eye. His nose was straight, his chin pointed, his stubbled jaw, though slack now, looked as though it could be quite firm if he wished. His physique was magnificent—through the tears in his shirt she could see his muscles were firm. Indeed, as she was clasping his shoulders at the moment she could attest to their sinewy strength. His legs, on display beneath his kilt, were also well-muscled. By her assessment, he was much more attractive than most of the gentlemen she’d danced with in London last fall.
The most perplexing thing, however, was his apparent youth. Despite the dirt and grime he looked no more than twenty, little older than herself. What could he have done to cause his arrest?
Almost a Countess is available for the pre-order price of $2.99 on Amazon, Smashwords, B & N, Kobo, and Applebooks.
Also released, A Solitary Ride is the first chapter of Almost a Countess, book two of Captivating Countesses. It’s free on Smashwords and .99 on Amazon.
But don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
Captivating Countesses series
by Jenna Jaxon
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
I love the descriptions!
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She is one determined lady. I like that.
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That she is, Diane. And getting more so as time goes on!
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He is fortunate to have her there to help him.
Your book is included in this week’s Roost Recommendations, featuring a link to this post, a buy link, and a blurb. I share the Roost Recommendations posts on Twitter with readers looking for their next read.
https://ornerybookemporium.blogspot.com/2021/05/roost-recommendations-26-may-2021.html
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Thank you so much for including me in Roost Recommendations! I’ll go check it out immediately!
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The dynamics between these two should be interesting, seeing that she’ll start out with most of the power.
Sorry for taking so long to stop by!
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Not a problem, Ed! Glad you could make it! Yes, Dora began as a very timid woman in Only A Mistress Will Do, but she’s matured and is becoming one of my strong-minded heroines!
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Historic romance. I’m already a fan. She is one determined lady. I’m not sure I’d have had the strength to pull him free and the poor guy would’ve drowned in the stream.
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Hi, Elizabeth! I bet you’d have been heroic as well! Thanks so much for coming by!
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The riding habit is a nice detail. Apparently he’s a very imposing figure.
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Thank you, Elaine! And he is!
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She certainly taking a good look at him. Is he worth ruining her best riding habit?
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That you’ll find out in a week or two, Aurora. 🙂
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Sounds like she’s slightly smitten with him while she still knows very little about him. I’m very curious to know what happens next!
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Thank you, Jessica! She know a good looking guy when she sees one–even under duress!
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I admired her determination. She has good eye to know an extremely good-looking man when she sees one. It is going to be interesting how to explain her “wet” appearance without raising scandalous speculations.
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Thank you, Karen! It helps that her parents are not in residence. 🙂
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Enjoyed the snippet. I like her determination as well as her ability to take in fine details even under stress! I feel her pain about the riding habit being ruined…
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Thank you, Veronica! Yes, I hated ruining that habit for her. 🙂
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Uuuuh, I have to wait until the end of July for this story? Just read the first chapter. Looking forward to the rest. 🙂
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Thank you so much, Teresa! Yes, it’s going to take a little bit to get it ready for publication, but that’s only two months away! LOL So glad you liked the first chapter!
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Love her concern about her favourite riding outfit is now ruined.
Tweeted.
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You know we ladies have to be concerned about our outfits! LOL Thank you, Daryl!
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Weeeeeell, I’m liking what I see as apparently is she! Nicely made, indeed! And a Scot!
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Thank you, Nancy! Yes, I love Scotsmen and am having lots of fun with this guy–as is Dora!
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