And a final new excerpt for Friday! Taking a page from a friend’s post called Friday Flames, this excerpt is a bit hotter than the rest!  Enjoy!

ONLY MARRIAGE WILL DO

Not every happy-ever-after begins at “I do.”

When the hero of her dreams rescues Lady Juliet Ferrers from the man claiming to be her husband, she is sure she has found her one true love. But is she free to marry him? Not to be deterred, Juliet arranges for her hero, Captain Amiable Dawson, to escort her to her family estate, hoping that along the way she can win his love.

Amiable is charmed by the sweet, beautiful woman he rescued, and although he has grave reservations about her marital status, he allows himself to be swept up into Juliet’s romantic spell and the promise of a happy-ever-after.

The spell breaks when legal questions arise and Juliet faces the horror of not knowing if she is married to her knight in shining armor or the cruel viscount who is determined to have her at any price.

At this point in the story, Amiable has rebuffed Juliet’s flirtation him, leaving her despondent and him repentant.  So he’s come to her room to make amends and finds himself  “bowing to the inevitable.”

Excerpt:

As he lifted his mouth toward hers, a tingle of anticipation skittered across her lips. Had, in fact, started to generate a fire of their own from within. Then his lips took hers, all the warmth and desire she had hoped for there, in that first touch.

Slowly, patiently, he caressed her mouth. He drew her closer, in body and soul, until she lay in his arms, cradled like a baby. Warm and safe, even though in the arms of a virtual stranger. He didn’t feel like a stranger, but familiar, like coming home after a long absence.

He left her and whispered, “Better now?” Then he resumed the kiss before she could even nod.

Deepening the kiss, he slid his tongue into the depths of her mouth. She tasted the wine from dinner and an underlying sweetness that had nothing to do with spirits but rather with his essence. Heat rose all over her body, seeping into her from every point where they touched. She stretched in his lap, slipped her arms around his neck, and drew him closer to her. Savored every single moment of indescribable pleasure. And wanted more.

She ran her fingers up into the silky, disheveled hair at his nape and pressed him to her, greedy for the feel of him. Her lips rubbed against his, slow and sensuous. With her tongue she chased his, now shy, now bold, until she unexpectedly plunged it into his mouth, eliciting a startled groan from him.

He clutched her to him then broke away to again whisper in her ear. “My love.”

“Amiable” was all she could manage before she pulled him back to her.

“No, my dear. Wait.” He sat her up and slid her off his lap but kept her close, his arm around her, her head nestled on his shoulder.

“Amiable.” She reached across him, inadvertently brushing her hand over his abdomen.

“Juliet.” He grabbed it and placed it on his chest. “I warn you, love, I am no saint.”

She pulled herself up until she stared into the smoldering blue eyes. “Then be a sinner, my dear.”

Amiable groaned and grabbed her head, crushed her lips against his again with a ferocity that stole her breath.

He wanted her, every bit as much as she wanted him. So be it. With a sigh of bliss, she abandoned herself to him.

Only Marriage Will Do is available for pre-order

on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To celebrate the cover reveal, all week-long I’ll be posting different snippets from Only Marriage Will Do, and each day I’ll be offering a copy of Only Scandal Will Do, the first book in the series, to a commenter on this blog who tells me that they want a copy and who signs up for my newsletter.  Winners will be announced on next week’s Jenna’s 411 (April 15).

Thanks so much for coming to my cover reveal! Please spread the word about my gorgeous cover. Tweets and Facebook shares are greatly appreciated!

As promised, another new excerpt for today!

ONLY MARRIAGE WILL DO

Not every happy-ever-after begins at “I do.”

When the hero of her dreams rescues Lady Juliet Ferrers from the man claiming to be her husband, she is sure she has found her one true love. But is she free to marry him? Not to be deterred, Juliet arranges for her hero, Captain Amiable Dawson, to escort her to her family estate, hoping that along the way she can win his love.

Amiable is charmed by the sweet, beautiful woman he rescued, and although he has grave reservations about her marital status, he allows himself to be swept up into Juliet’s romantic spell and the promise of a happy-ever-after.

The spell breaks when legal questions arise and Juliet faces the horror of not knowing if she is married to her knight in shining armor or the cruel viscount who is determined to have her at any price.

At his point in the story, Amiable has rebuffed Juliet’s flirtation him, leaving her despondent and him repentant.

Excerpt:

At the touch of his fingers on her cheek, Juliet lost her battle with the tears. She had sworn not to shed a single one over him, but now they flooded her face as the ache in her chest reached a terrible crescendo.

“Juliet, my dear.”

As the first sob tore from her throat, he scooped her up, bore her over to the parlor’s sofa, and settled her in his lap. “Juliet, do not cry, my love. You break my heart.”

He pressed her head to his chest, heedless of the torrent that soaked into his jacket.

She could not stop, however. The misery at what she intended to do overwhelmed her. She must send him away, she must.

Her cries intensified, banishment from Amiable a sentence too terrible to contemplate. The pain cut so deep for a brief moment she wished to die just to escape it. Finally, she managed to stem the tide to a trickle. Soul-wrenching grief gave way to bleak despair. She lay exhausted on his broad chest, too tired now to even move her head.

“My dear,” he spoke quietly into her ear. “What has happened to make you so unhappy?”

She struggled up, trying to catch her breath. She risked a glance at him and wished she hadn’t. Tears threatened again. “I…I c-came to tell you I no longer r-require your services as escort, Captain Dawson.” There. She had said it. “You may return to London on the morrow, sir.”

“I see.” He held her steady with one hand while the other pushed back a stray wisp of hair straggling from her coiffure. “That would be a most prudent move.” He captured another escaping strand and stroked it into place behind her ear, then wiped her tears away with his thumb.

Could he not see her misery? Would he add to it with his kindness? Such attentions made it almost impossible to continue with her resolve.

“However, I do not think I will go, my lady, if it is all the same to you.”

She fought to keep her composure. “I, however, no longer require your escort, sir. I will journey on alone.”

Amiable smiled patiently but shook his head. “I fear not, my dear.”

“I will.” She tried to pull away from his grasp but he held her still.

“Most definitely not.” He wrapped his hand around the back of her head, urging her face closer to his.

“Wh—what are you doing, Captain Dawson?” His blue eyes were her whole world.

“Bowing to the inevitable, my love.” Then his mouth met hers.

Only Marriage Will Do is available for pre-order

on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To celebrate the cover reveal, all week-long I’ll be posting different snippets from Only Marriage Will Do, and each day I’ll be offering a copy of Only Scandal Will Do, the first book in the series, to a commenter on this blog who tells me that they want a copy and who signs up for my newsletter.  Winners will be announced on next week’s Jenna’s 411 (April 15).

Thanks so much for coming to my cover reveal! Please spread the word about my gorgeous cover. Tweets and Facebook shares are greatly appreciated!

As promised, a new excerpt for today!

ONLY MARRIAGE WILL DO

Not every happy-ever-after begins at “I do.”

When the hero of her dreams rescues Lady Juliet Ferrers from the man claiming to be her husband, she is sure she has found her one true love. But is she free to marry him? Not to be deterred, Juliet arranges for her hero, Captain Amiable Dawson, to escort her to her family estate, hoping that along the way she can win his love.

Amiable is charmed by the sweet, beautiful woman he rescued, and although he has grave reservations about her marital status, he allows himself to be swept up into Juliet’s romantic spell and the promise of a happy-ever-after.

The spell breaks when legal questions arise and Juliet faces the horror of not knowing if she is married to her knight in shining armor or the cruel viscount who is determined to have her at any price.

Excerpt: (Continued from yesterday)

London July 2, 1761

Amiable froze. This woman had married Katarina’s brother? If so, he certainly had an obligation to protect her. But where the devil was Jack? He bowed to the man and said simply, “My lord.”

“Philippe and I were betrothed for a short time last year, my dear. Before the scandal put an end to it.” Trembling, she stared St. Cyr down.

“That was none of my doing, Juliet. My father broke the betrothal, not I.” He spoke English with a cultured French accent and gave an impassioned plea that wavered by the end.

“Then I must write a letter of gratitude to the Count de Mallain.” Juliet rubbed her wrist, glanced at St. Cyr, and drew closer to Amiable’s side. The afternoon sun glinted off a tear in the gold trim of her rose gown. “He saved me from making a dire mistake.”

“Juliet, how can you say such things?” St. Cyr grasped his walking stick and twisted the knob. “We are meant to be together, chérie. I thought of nothing but you the whole long year we have been apart.”

“That is hardly your concern now, my lord. The lady is my wife and however much you may regret losing her, I must ask you to refrain from such statements of affection lest it become a matter of honor.” He itched to lay his hand to his sword again but did not wish for the situation to escalate. Yet.

“Oh, but it is my concern, my lord.” The Frenchman stalked toward them, one deliberate step after another. “I have the prior claim to dear Juliet. In fact, I must insist you remove your hands from my wife immediately.”

“Your wife?” Amiable scowled at the Frenchman, although his resolve slipped. Had he stuck his nose into a proper quarrel between husband and wife? Would he never learn to control his impetuous nature? Certainly not if it concerned a woman in distress, it seemed. He pushed Juliet behind him.

“You must stop saying that, Philippe. I am not your wife.” Tears glistened, and she blinked them back.

He admired courage in a woman. She might not be his Katarina, but she deserved his protection nonetheless.

“Why would you claim such a thing, man?” he demanded. “Juliet and I were married properly, with the banns read and in a church.” He prayed she had given the man no particulars before he had arrived.

“Our ceremony was no less proper. The magistrate performed it before witnesses.”

“Why have you not spoken to me of this, my dear?” Give the woman her head. He’d become quite interested himself in what had transpired.

“I never married him, Jack. You must believe me.” She sank her fingers into his arm in a death grip as her eyes sent a desperate plea for his confidence in her. “I never spoke my vows to him.”

“You did not need to, ma petite, as you well know. Jeanette spoke them for you,” St. Cyr snapped, his voice loud in the small room.

Lord, give me strength… “Who is Jeanette? If she spoke the vows, then you are married to her, my lord. Not Lady Manning.”

St. Cyr sneered. “The Marquess of Dalbury sent Jeanette Valois to France as proxy so his sister and I could marry despite the circumstances. When my father broke the betrothal, I acted against his wishes and went through with the ceremony with Jeanette standing in for Juliet.” St. Cyr leered at her. “So you see, I am your true husband as I have the prior claim. Even though secret, the marriage is valid. You belong to me.” He reached for Juliet’s hand.

Only Marriage Will Do is available for pre-order

on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To celebrate the cover reveal, all week-long I’ll be posting different snippets from Only Marriage Will Do, and each day I’ll be offering a copy of Only Scandal Will Do, the first book in the series, to a commenter on this blog who tells me that they want a copy and who signs up for my newsletter.  Winners will be announced on next week’s Jenna’s 411 (April 15).

Thanks so much for coming to my cover reveal! Please spread the word about my gorgeous cover. Tweets and Facebook shares are greatly appreciated!

At long last, I am very, VERY happy to reveal the cover for my next Georgian romance

ONLY MARRIAGE WILL DO

Not every happy-ever-after begins at “I do.”

When the hero of her dreams rescues Lady Juliet Ferrers from the man claiming to be her husband, she is sure she has found her one true love. But is she free to marry him? Not to be deterred, Juliet arranges for her hero, Captain Amiable Dawson, to escort her to her family estate, hoping that along the way she can win his love.

Amiable is charmed by the sweet, beautiful woman he rescued, and although he has grave reservations about her marital status, he allows himself to be swept up into Juliet’s romantic spell and the promise of a happy-ever-after.

The spell breaks when legal questions arise and Juliet faces the horror of not knowing if she is married to her knight in shining armor or the cruel viscount who is determined to have her at any price.

Excerpt:

London July 2, 1761

The brass lion-head knocker under Amiable Dawson’s hand sent a sharp rap through the dark walnut door of Dunham House for the second time. The hot July sun hadn’t done his temper any good as he waited on the marble stoop for entrance to the Marquess of Dalbury’s townhouse. He’d been in a foul mood ever since the news of his beloved Katarina’s marriage to the marquess had reached him. Blast it to hell, he was supposed to have married the girl. At least he could make sure she was well and well taken care of by this man she had married.

At last a short, dark-haired maid opened the door. She took one look at him, gasped, and stepped back into the house. Her eyes widened and she glanced to her right, wringing her hands. “Who may I say—”

A man shouted from within. “No, I do not believe you.”

“It is true, I tell you!” A woman’s voice, raised and sharp with terror, sent a chill through Amiable.

Katarina. What in God’s name?

He barged past the stunned girl and strode down the hall toward the commotion. He burst through the doorway, expecting to defend the woman he loved, only to stop dead at the sight of a man lunging across a sofa and grasping a woman by the wrist. Amiable had half drawn his sword before he realized the woman was not Katarina, but a complete stranger. He dropped it back into its scabbard. This was none of his affair.

The young man, foppishly dressed in a robin’s egg blue satin coat dripping too many layers of frothy lace at throat and wrists looked at Amiable, a snarl on his lips.

Taking advantage of the distraction, the woman wrenched her arm from the man’s grip. “Praise God. Here he is.” She staggered as she righted herself. “Now you will have to believe me, Philippe.”

The fop scrambled back off the sofa and groped for a black lacquer walking stick that lay on the floor. Lips pressed together, he glowered at the woman. “That remains to be seen, ma chere. In any case, I have shown you the papers. They speak for themselves.”

The woman ran from behind the sofa to Amiable’s side, grazed a kiss over his cheek and whispered, “For God’s sake, help me. I am alone here and he is trying to take me away. Please, agree with whatever I say.”

Smiling into her pleading face, he grasped her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze to signal his acquiescence. “Whatever is the matter, my dear?” Hell if he knew. But he could play his part, even with little information. Let the lady lead and he’d follow as well as he could.

The woman smiled then took a deep breath. “My dear, may I present Viscount St. Cyr?” She nodded toward the fop. “Philippe, this is my husband, the Earl of Manning.”

Only Marriage Will Do is available for pre-order

on Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

To celebrate the cover reveal, all week-long I’ll be posting different snippets from Only Marriage Will Do, and each day I’ll be offering a copy of Only Scandal Will Do, the first book in the series, to a commenter on this blog who tells me that they want a copy and who signs up for my newsletter.  Winners will be announced on next week’s Jenna’s 411 (April 15).

Thanks so much for coming to my cover reveal! Please spread the word about my gorgeous cover. Tweets and Facebook shares are greatly appreciated!