Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

This week I’m changing gears and posting snippets from my upcoming Georgian novel, A Countess Never Tells, Book 3 of my Captivating Countesses series. The book releases on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 and is currently up on pre-order for .99. 

This book is brings back the characters from A Countess of Convenience, particularly Judith and John (Lord and Lady Haxby), as Kitty Tate, the heroine is John’s younger sister and Judith’s childhood friend and now sister-in-law. 

BLURB:

They say rakes make the best husbands…but do they?

At the age of twenty-four, vivacious Kitty Tate is having the time of her life in her first London season—such a good time in fact, she’s caught the eye of Lord Ashwood, the ton’s most notorious rake. And he’s caught hers.

She’s instantly taken with the handsome lord and finding out he’s a scoundrel doesn’t deter her one bit. Which is why her brother has forbidden her to see him. Unfortunately for him, Kitty has a mind of her own and the willpower to fight for what she wants.

Ash plans to be a dedicated rake until he’s old and gray, but at the moment he’s determined to seduce the delicious Miss Tate despite her brother’s objections. She’s such a blend of innocence and siren he cannot wait to welcome her into his bed. When he finds Kitty eager to be seduced, Ash’s desire burns brighter still.

But a dastardly wager surfaces, and Ash discovers a truly despicable man is determined to beat him to Kitty’s bed. Forbidden to marry her, Ash must now find another way to protect the woman he’s come to love before she’s ruined by another man.

I’ve been at BookLovers Con since Wednesday, having a blast meeting readers, handing out swag, and signing books. Today, at the book signing, I wore my Regency gown that did come in yesterday. Do I look a proper Regency lady? 🙂

Today I’m starting from chapter 1, from the very beginning of the novel. Miss Kitty Tate is at a ball, dancing with a gentleman she’s just met. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“Are you enjoying the ball tonight, Miss Tate?”

Lord Ashbrook wasn’t a sparkling conversationalist perhaps, but Kitty Tate thought him the most handsome gentleman she’d met all Season. Handsome enough that lack of brilliant repartee might be excused. “Yes, my lord. As I love to dance, all balls give me the most enjoyment allowed.”

The young man, whose brilliant blue eyes and fashionably coiffed dark blonde hair thrilled Kitty each time she looked at him, smiled broadly as they took hands and chasséd down the line. “You do look as though you are having a fine time. Your cheeks are very pink.”

“I have danced every dance this evening, my lord. I should think they would be apple red by now.”

And a little more for good measure. . . 

Kitty laughed as they chasséd back, turned in place, then passed to the left.

This was the fourth set at Lady Sutherland’s ball. She’d been hurriedly introduced to Lord Ashbrook—it was Ashbrook, wasn’t it?—because the set had just been making up. She’d not met him before tonight, never even seen him at any other entertainment this Season. With his good looks she’d certainly have remembered if she’d seen him before. “Have you danced much this evening, my lord?”

“This is only my second set I fear, Miss Tate. I’ve not danced at all until this evening, so I’m getting my dancing legs back, so to speak.”

“I don’t recall seeing you at any of the entertainments this Season before tonight, my lord. Have you been in hiding?”

A rather normal evening at a ball, right? Maybe not. You’ll find out more next week!

A Countess Never Tells is now up for pre-order, set to release on August 29th! Here’s the link if you want to grab this “bad boy” for .99!

I’m also part of an anthology for Dragonblade that’s part of their Lyons Den shared world called Night of Lyons. My novella is called The Lyons’ Wager and is the pre-quel to the Welwyn Marriage Wager series. Night of Lyons is available on pre-order on Amazon for .99! 

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There are some fantastic snippets to be read.

Captivating Countesses series