Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

This week I’m continuing to post 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 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.

Today I’m continuing on with chapter one of the novel. Miss Kitty Tate is at a ball and after dancing with a very handsome gentleman she’s just met, he goes off to his next partner. This week I’m skipping ahead towards the end of the chapter. Kitty is talking to a friend of hers, Lady Phoebe, about the gentleman with whom she just danced. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“Or I could encourage Lord Ashbrook when I dance with him after supper. He is quite handsome and most entertaining.”

“Lord Ashbrook?” Phoebe’s attention was suddenly fully on Kitty. “I didn’t think he was able to attend this evening. Mama told me he’d been called away to his home. His father has been in failing health and they didn’t think he’d be long for this world.”

Kitty frowned. “Perhaps I got the name wrong after all. We were a bit rushed, although I’m sure Lord Aldbury said ‘Ashbrook’ when he made the introduction.”

And a little more for good measure. . . 

“Can you point him out?” Perhaps his father has made a recovery.” Phoebe scanned the ballroom as did Kitty.

“He said he was promised to Maria Fitzhugh for the supper dance.” Kitty’s gaze darted around the crowded room until at last she spied Lord Ashbrook standing in a corner with Maria, his back mostly turned toward her, still his hair and his stance made her certain it was him.

“Do you see him?” Phoebe was frantically searching the sea of guests.

“There, Phoebe.” She pointed with her fan toward the far corner. “The gentleman in the corner in the grey silk suit. His back is to us, but I’m certain that’s him. Talking to Maria.”

Phoebe peered at the couple, then shook her head. “I don’t think so, my dear. Ashbrook has darker hair and is not so tall.”

“Truly?” Kitty stared at the gentleman, sure that was the man with whom she’d danced.

Then he laughed and turned and yes, that was him.

“There, Phoebe. He’s turned toward us.”

Her friend peered at the gentleman, then jerked her face toward Kitty, astonishment in every line. “My dear, that is not Lord Ashbrook at all.”

Kitty scowled. “Then who on earth is it?”

“He is Lord Ashwood, the most notorious rake in the ton.”

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!

And the first book of the Captivating Countess series,  A Countess of Convenience, is available on Amazon in e-book for .99, and in print and is on KU. Here’s the link for those options.

I’m now also part of two anthologies for Dragonblade–one 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! 

The other one is an historical cookbook of recipies dating back over the centuries complied from the kitchens of Dragonblade authors and their ancestors. It’s called  Dragonblade’s Historical Cookbook, currently on pre-order for .99. It releases October 23, 2023 (just in time for Thanksgiving cookery!). My grandmother’s cornbread dressing I make every Thanksgiving is in there.

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

Captivating Countesses series