Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

And it’s Release Week for 10 Things I Hate About the Earl! So excited for this book to release. Please come by here Tuesday for the Release Party with giveaways!

10 Things I Hate About the Earl

BLURB:

Between love and hate there is a pencil-thin line to walk…

Miss Katherine Locke is irked to start her third Season dancing with the disagreeable Lord Haversham, her brother’s friend and her own arch enemy. After a particularly odious run-in with the earl, Kate declares she hates everything about the man. When her brother challenges her to come up with even ten things she doesn’t like about Haversham, a gleeful Kate is itching to put quill to paper to point out everything she finds wrong with the man. Unexpectedly, she finds the task harder than she thought because she keeps remembering things she secretly likes about the gentleman instead. Frustrated, Kate shoves the list in a drawer, determined to stop thinking about Haversham. But can she?

Marcus, Lord Haversham, is in a tight pinch. His estates are failing and, worse, he’s just lost three thousand pounds to his best friend, Lord Ainsley. Ainsley’s solution: have Marcus marry his shrewish sister, and he’ll cancel his gambling debt plus give him ten thousand pounds for her dowry. With nowhere else to turn, Marcus agrees, praying he can keep word of the wager from Miss Locke long enough to charm her into marrying him.

When Marcus discovers Kate’s list however, he can’t keep himself from trying to show her how wrong she is about him. But in the process, will he be able to avoid falling in love with the stubborn woman?

I’m very excited to see what you think of my newest book in The Matchmaker’s Ball series. Meet Miss Katherine Locke–a young lady going into her third Season with few options for matrimony because of her shrewish nature. Her brother has a notion that she should marry his best friend. I’ve skipped ahead just a bit to where Ainsley makes a rather shocking suggestion.

EXCERPT:

She really should’ve known better than to wager with her brother–his ability to assume a completely expressionless face when playing cards or placing bets had become extremely annoying. “No one could lose with good grace if they had to waltz with Lord Haversham for even five minutes. It is quite impossible to fathom. Even you, dear brother, would not take it well.”

“How fortunate then that I shall never be required to stand up with Haversham.” Nathan laughed, and Kate clenched her hands. Just because her brother fancied himself a great wit did not make it true.

“Well, mark my words, I will never undertake a wager again if the forfeit involves Lord Haversham.” Just saying the name was like biting into an unripe persimmon—it turned her mouth inside out.

Nathan watched her, rubbing his fingers over his watch fob and said, “You are in your third Season, Kate, you could do worse than Haversham, you know.”

And a little bit more…

“Worse than…” She stared at her brother, expecting devil’s horns to sprout from his dark, curly head. “How could anyone be worse than Marcus, Earl of Haversham?”

“You sound as though the man’s a scoundrel or a cad. He’s a good man, Kate, though he has have fallen on hard times at present. His father’s death affected him very deeply.” Nathan stared at her, frowning. 

“I am sorry for his loss, but that doesn’t excuse—”

“He hadn’t expected to take on the mantle of responsibility for some years to come.” Her brother jumped to his friend’s defense. “By the time he got himself in hand, the estates had begun a downward slide. His uncle’s helping him take the reins of the family investments, so that should be all right. But Haversham himself is a good man. He’d make a good husband.”

“Do you seriously want me to marry him?” Kate’s jaw dropped in stupefaction then she grimaced and swallowed convulsively. “My mouth doesn’t even want to say the words.” That lemonade would’ve been welcome right about now. “I wouldn’t marry him if he were…were…” She cast about for something dire enough to drive her point home but was stymied. “There is no instance where I would consent to marry him.”

Her brother peered at her, amusement teasing a smile to his lips once more. “The lady doth protest too much, methinks.”

“Think what you will, as long as you get that notion out of your head.” Kate sniffed. “What gives you the idea Haversham has any interest in me anyway?” Dear God, had he actually spoken to Nathan about her? Offered for her in some fit of devilment? The idea made chills run down her arms, despite the warmth of the room. “He hasn’t said anything about me, has he?”

Nate bit back a laugh and steered her to an unoccupied corner. “No fear of that. He’d likely be as horrified as you at the notion. I seem to be the only one who thinks it a good match.”

“Thank goodness.” Relief swept through her as she eyed her brother askance. “You should be sent to Bedlam, dear brother, for even entertaining such an idea.”

10 Things I Hate About The Earl is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your e-copy here!!

It’s almost time!!! Release Day is this Tuesday,  September 17, 2024! Come by my blog for the celebration party and the chance to win the book and a $20 gift card!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There are some great stories out there!