Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

I’m baaack! Sorry for my hiatus from WWW, but two weeks ago I was down in the bed with Covid, and last weekend I was racing to finish the edits on A Countess Never Tells. It was a photo finish, however, it’s been uploaded to Amazon and now I await its release on Tuesday, August 29, 2023 and is still priced at .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. 

The big news is as I revised the book it evolved until’s become much stronger with the help of my editor, Danielle Fine. There have been a few small (haha) plot changes, so take a look at the new blurb and I”m going to skip ahead for the last snippet from this book and leave it at a “good” stopping point. 🙂

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. Nor does her brother forbidding her from seeing him. Unfortunately for him, Kitty has a mind of her own and the willpower to fight for what she wants.

After a brush with death, dedicated rake Lord Ashwood has changed his tune and is ready to marry and secure his line. Unfortunately, his reputation is so bad he’s considered virtually unmarriageable by the ton. Intrigued by Miss Tate’s delicious blend of innocent and siren, he’s willing to make a bona fide offer for her. When he finds Kitty eager for his attentions, Ash’s desire for her burns brighter still.

But a dastardly wager surfaces, and Ash discovers a truly despicable man is determined to ravish Kitty at any cost. Now forbidden to marry her, Ash must find another way to protect the woman he’s come to love before she’s ruined by another man.

If you love romances about charming rakes, like Simon in The Duke and I and Sebastian in Devil in Winter, you’re going to love Ash in A Countess Never Tells.

So, today I’m skipping ahead. Ash has invited Kitty to Vauxhall. Kitty is certain Ash is trying to get her alone on one of the dark walks. Ash, however, has other things in mind. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“What do you think, Miss Tate? Is it everything you dreamed it would be?” Lord Ashwood gave her a sideways glance.

Was that the beginning of his flirtatious ploy? Kitty smiled as seductively as she could. “Oh, yes, my lord, this is everything I’ve dreamed of and more.”

“Then I am pleased I could give you your heart’s desire.”

Well, he hadn’t quite done that yet. “But there is so much more to see. You said last evening you would show me the sights and walks I haven’t seen,” she swayed closer to him, “I’m certain you know all the best attractions in Vauxhall.”

And a little more (well, a lot more) for good measure. . . 

“I do, Miss Tate. Have you visited the Cascade yet?” Lord Ashwood offered his arm.

“That is the artificial waterfall, isn’t it?” Eagerly, she twined her arm through his. “My brother has described it to me, but I have not seen it before.”

“Very well, after supper we shall all walk down to see it.” He turned them to head back the way they had come.

“Don’t you wish to take me there now?” This seemed odd behavior for a rake. It was perhaps their one chance to be alone and he didn’t seem to want to take it.

“We promised to stay within sight of the party. I do not wish to antagonize your brother by doing otherwise.” Lord Ashwood glanced toward the structures just behind the Turkish Tent.

Kitty followed his gaze, and sure enough, John was staring straight at them, his view only a little obstructed by the trees. Well, they very well couldn’t do anything within sight of him. “Can we stroll this way to take us back to the party?” She indicated the way toward the Grand Walk. It was a well-lit walkway, but at least John couldn’t see them. “It’s so very pretty.”

He laughed and started them toward the supper-boxes. “I believe you are trying to tempt me to repent my reformation, Miss Tate.”

Well, she certainly hoped she could because Lord Ashwood was not acting at all as his reputation had indicated. “How would I do that, my lord?” She loosed her arm from his and stared defiantly at him. “Something like this, perhaps?”

Without another thought for what she was doing, Kitty set off at a run to the left of the Turkish Tent, not slowing until she had reached the Grand Walk. Panting and laughing, she turned to find Lord Ashwood at her heels, his face in a monstrous frown.

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

And both the first  and second books of the Captivating Countess series,  A Countess of Convenience and Almost A Countess, are available on Amazon in e-book format for .99, and in print and are on KU. Here’s the link for Book 1 and Book 2.

I’m 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 released on Saturday and is available 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