If you love tales of knights and ladies, of romantic quests, of treachery and conquest all set in Medieval Times, you need to check out this collection of books that spans two genres–Romance and Fantasy and find your next great Medieval read!
Click this link to discover which medieval romance you’ll disappear into next!
My Time Enough to Love complete series is part of this promotion, along with more than a dozen other novels or collections set in the Middle Ages. Why not browse through them today?
Historical Romance Authors–more than 70 of us–have come together to do what we do best: write kick-ass historical romance for one of the best causes currently shaking the world: The War in Ukraine.
These 70 authors have put together an anthology of historical romance, sweet to steam heat, as a charity project to raise awareness and funds for humanitarian aid to the war-torn country of Ukraine. To honor the Ukranians, we have titled our volume Sunflower Season because the national flower of Ukraine is the sunflower, a very hearty flower indeed.
All royalties from this set will go directly to help women, children, and the elderly in Ukraine. Why not help us send the largest amount possible to them by pre-ordering Sunflower Season today? This link connects you to all the platforms selling the anthology, so you easily choose which venue to buy from.
Please consider purchasing this anthology on pre-order. It will release on June 7, 2022 and will only be available for purchase for a short time.
Why not grab all your summer reading in one fell swoop? 🙂
To aid us in promoting this anthology for the people of Ukraine, please share this post and any others you may come upon to help us reach our goal of making a difference to the Ukranian people.
I’m returning to snippets from my House of Pleasure series this week as I try to arrange to return home from London. Quarantining and fighting with American Airlines for a flight I won’t have to mortgage my house to purchase. But enjoy the snippet!
BLURB:
Will a handsome rake be her salvation…or her downfall?
Friendless and destitute, Miss Violet Carlton has no choice but to seek work in London’s most notorious brothel, The House of Pleasure. She steels herself for her ultimate ruin at the hands of her first customer, only to be offered a reprieve in the form of a position as the gentleman’s mistress—in name only. Grateful for his benevolence, Violet agrees to the proposition and enjoys the life of a pampered courtesan—until her dashing rescuer puts her heart in jeopardy. Violet’s growing desire for the gentleman must be squashed when she discovers he belongs to another woman.
Tristan, Lord Trevor enters the House of Pleasure bent on a final night of carousing before donning the legshackle of marriage. To his shock, he recognizes the woman in his bed as a lady of the ton and resolves to save her from life in a brothel. After whisking her away under his protection, Tris endeavors to find her a husband, to secure her future and stem his own intense longing for the beautiful woman. With growing anguish Tris fears he can never make Violet his own for the impediment of his coming marriage pales in comparison to the secret he must hide from her or risk her loathing him for the rest of their lives.
This snippet begins after Tristan, Lord Trevor has rescued Violet Carlton from the House of Pleasure–fortunately before he could ruin her. He’s taking her to his ex-mistress’s house to hide her and figure out what to do with her. Enjoy!
EXCERPT:
So what must he do with Miss Carlton? His plan to move her to his mistress’s house would do for a while, but he couldn’t keep her there indefinitely. If recognized, she’d be assumed to be his latest bit of skirt and her reputation would be just as ruined as if she’d been discovered at Vestry’s establishment.
“Is it very far, Lord Trevor?” Miss Carlton spoke, pulling him out of his reverie.
“Not very, Miss Carlton. We’ll have you there and in bed in no time.”
She jerked her head up, her eyes wide. “What?”
And a little more for good measure…
Tris wanted to cut out his tongue. “I beg your pardon, but you seem fatigued after the trials of tonight. I believe a good long rest will put you to rights.”
She pulled the blanket closer and stared out the window at the inky night.
Tris leaned back in his seat, the creak of the well-oiled leather loud in the now dead silence of the carriage. He would have a word with Madame Vestry as soon as possible. Had bringing him in to debauch Miss Carlton been a master touch in getting revenge on the marquess? Or had she gambled he’d question the girl before he ruined her? The woman had a penchant for playing games, so Duncan had told him. Tris had patronized her house for years—three of his mistresses had come from the House of Pleasure, all well trained in the ways of pleasing a man. He’d certainly never had a complaint with his treatment there. Until tonight.
Only A Mistress Will Do is available in print and e-book format on Amazon, and in e-book format only on Kobo, Apple, and B&N.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
I’m pausing snippets from my House of Pleasure series, because I just put Heart of Desire, the second book in my Handful of Hearts series, on sale for the next two weeks. So I thought you might like to see a snippet of two from this sweet romance. Enjoy!
PS: This installment comes to you from London! My daughter and I are here for the week, so I’m soaking up the British scene for my next books!
BLURB:
Follow your heart to find your desire
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 three years out, however, she’s finally interested in the dashing Lord Finley—only to find out her cousin has set her cap for him too. To make the man jealous, Kate feigns interest in Lord Haversham, only to be shocked to find the handsome lord apparently falling for her. With time running out, should she accept his suit and risk falling in love despite herself?
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 more pounds for her dowry. With nowhere to turn, Marcus agrees, praying he can keep word of the wager from Miss Locke long enough to charm her into marrying him. But can he avoid falling in love himself?
This excerpt comes immediately after last week’s snippet. Enjoy!
EXCERPT:
“Of all the students at Oxford, my brother had to befriend you?”
“He had you for a sister—his luck was due for a change.”
“Well, I wish mine would change, Haversham. If I have to endure you for five more minutes, I will fall down in a dead faint just to get away from you.” Kate wanted to scream in frustration at her brother’s best friend, but the man was right. Any scandalous behavior could end with her compromised and married to Haversham before the month was out. The Season had just begun. She refused to let it end in a single night with the man who’d been the bane of her life for years.
“Luck must be on your side tonight, as the dance has, mercifully, come to an end.” He dropped her hand as though it burned him and offered his arm.
And a little more for good measure…
“Shall I see you to your brother?”
“Lord, yes.” She barely touched his proffered arm. The less contact with him the better. “Nathan must see that I completed the dance with you.” She avoided his eyes. “Ah, there he is, talking to our cousin, Lady Celinda.”
“Do you think she will be slighted if I don’t ask her for the next dance? I am weary of having my toes stepped on, although she may have better dancing form than my last partner.” Lord Haversham didn’t break a smile, but his walnut brown eyes twinkled with merriment.
“I think she’ll be delighted to escape having a conversation with you about your antiquated views on the social graces.” Beyond caring who heard her, Kate allowed her voice to rise above the hubbub of conversation. “And if your poor sister isn’t allowed to waltz before she is married, you should be ashamed of yourself.”
They stopped in front of her brother and cousin, the one trying to contain his laughter, the other glancing about the room with an alarmed expression on her face. Kate could only thank goodness they were not at Almack’s. She might very well lose her voucher. Lord Haversham always knew exactly what to say to goad her into inappropriate behavior.
Heart of Desire is available in e-book format on Amazon, Kobo, Apple, and B&N.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
This month my .99 Deal Days on the journal will spotlight Heart of Desire, book 2 of my Handful of Hearts series. I chose book 2 because it actually begins at Lady Hamilton’s ball in May 1820, the same date all the rest of the novellas begin. (Book 1, Hearts Beneath the Mistletoe is more of a prequel to the series.)
BLURB:
Follow your heart to find your desire
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 three years out, however, she’s finally interested in the dashing Lord Finley—only to find out her cousin has set her cap for him too. To make the man jealous, Kate feigns interest in Lord Haversham, only to be shocked to find the handsome lord apparently falling for her. With time running out, should she accept his suit and risk falling in love despite herself?
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 more pounds for her dowry. With nowhere to turn, Marcus agrees, praying he can keep word of the wager from Miss Locke long enough to charm her into marrying him. But can he avoid falling in love himself?
I’ve always had a soft spot in my heart for anything Irish, and St. Patrick’s Day is one of my favorite holidays because it celebrates everything having to do with Ireland.
So today, in celebration of St. Paddy’s Day, I’m giving away ebooks galore along with swag packs to honor the luck of the Irish. Please comment below telling me what’s your favorite thing about Ireland. Who knows, maybe the luck of the Irish will rub off on you!
Below are some images that are some of the things I love about Ireland, followed by a YouTube link to a rendition of “Danny Boy.”
Slieve League cliffs of County Donegal, Ireland
The Martello Tower from James Joyce’s Ulysses
Sheep in the fields of Connemara
Me kissing the Blarney Stone
Me at St. Kevin’s Bed in Glendalough, 1999
And here’s the rendition of “Danny Boy” by Gentri. Love this song!
For the month of March I’m bringing back snippets from my House of Pleasure series. I’ll post snippets from each of the five novels, with this week’s offering with Only Marriage Will Do. I’m doing this instead of giving snippets from my current WIP because I’m not certain the publisher will allow sharing so far before release (June 29). So until I know for certain it’s ok, I’ll stick with my first series.
BLURB:
Not all happy-ever-afters begin with “I do.”
Two unexpected callers turn Lady Juliet Ferrers’ world upside down. The first claims to be married to her via a proxy marriage, a statement she can scarcely credit—except she was betrothed to him once upon a time. To deter him, Juliet acts boldly when a stranger appears, declaring he is her husband. But when she is finally alone with the handsome visitor, she finds herself hoping she can turn her falsehood about their marriage into truth.
Captain Amiable Dawson seems to have stepped into a fairy land when a beautiful young woman he’s never met introduces him as her husband. The more she explains her situation, the less he is inclined to believe her, yet Amiable is a pushover for a damsel in distress. Against his better judgment, he agrees to accompany her to her family’s estate far to the north. Along the way the passion between them sizzles until a happy-ever-after is all but assured. However, the question of Juliet’s true husband rears its head again, forcing Amiable to wonder if he is married to the lady or not.
When his rival abducts Juliet, Amiable is compelled to choose between the woman he loves or the law of the land that decrees she is not his wife. Desperate to rescue her at any cost, his last resort may be to kill the man who stands in the way of their happiness.
EXCERPT:
After almost an hour of tossing and turning in her wretched bed, Juliet had sent Glynis to the kitchen to see if they had kept hot water over the fire–perhaps a bath would soothe her enough to make sleep possible.
She slipped on her robe and padded to her traveling trunk at the end of the bed, lifted the lid and pulled out the box that held her soaps and perfumes. As she checked the vials, a tentative knock sounded at the door.
“Come in, Glynis.” She uncapped a vial and sniffed the contents–jasmine, so no, not for the bath.
The door opened.
“Are they bringing the tub? I think the lavender oil will help me relax.”
“Very good, my lady.” The deep masculine voice froze her, vial in hand.
And a little more for good measure…
Her head snapped up.
A towering male figure stood shadowed in the doorway.
Dear God, Philippe had found her.
“Or is it Mrs. Dawson perhaps?”
No accent. He was not Philippe. A hired thug sent to kidnap her?
Strength drained away. She dropped the box and whirled around, seeking a way out of the room that suddenly seemed to close in on her.
Bottles crashed and the reek of jasmine filled the room. Juliet shrieked and stumbled back behind the bed. Trapped. Easy prey.
The man raced toward her, calling out something she couldn’t hear for the blood pounding in her ears. The candle he carried blew out. He cursed and reached for her.
“Nooo! Get away. Don’t touch me.” Slapping at his hands, she twisted to avoid him and landed with a thud, flat on her back. Air rushed out of her lungs.
He sped around the end of the bed.
She struggled to scream for Glynis, but produced only a high-pitched squeak.
The man knelt beside her.
Dear Lord, where was her rescuer now?
“Are you all right, Lady Juliet?” The concerned tone and familiar voice of Amiable Dawson answered her prayer instantly.
She slumped against the floor and blessed air raced into her lungs. He had come for her.
Only Marriage Will Do is available on Amazon in print and in e-book format on Amazon, Kobo, Apple, and B&N.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
For the month of March I’m bringing back snippets from my House of Pleasure series. I’ll post snippets from each of the five novels, beginning with Only Scandal Will Do. I’m doing this instead of giving snippets from my current WIP because I’m not certain the publisher will allow sharing so far before release (June 29). So until I know for certain it’s ok, I’ll stick with my first series.
BLURB:
He has the woman of his dreams, but can he find a way to win her heart?
Kidnapped, displayed on the auction block of a notorious brothel, and sold to the highest bidder, Lady Katherine Fitzwilliam is furious and vows to fight her way out. Unfortunately, the rogue who bought her is way too charming and attractive to make that easy. He seduces Kat almost to the point of ruin, but she manages to escape him, although thoughts of him tend to linger long after she’s free.
Duncan, Marquess of Dalbury succumbs to temptation one night and purchases a fiery beauty whose very looks fill him with hot desire. When she insists she’s a lady, he scoffs, but is surprised when she flees before he can claim his pleasure. When he discovers she’s sister to a peer, Duncan is horrified to have compromised her. He offers marriage to scotch the scandal and gain an heir. However, the dazzling charms of the red-haired beauty, coupled with her astonishing skill with a sword, ensnares his heart and soul. If only Katarina didn’t hate him with a fury hotter than three hells…
Can he manage to turn her anger against him into a passion for him? Or will they be doomed to live together, but forever apart?
EXCERPT:
“What on earth do you believe you could do, Lord Dalbury, that could even come close to a remedy for the terror and humiliation you put me through? Do you think now that I have met you, heard your feeble attempts at an apology, and rejected them, the memory of that night will magically disappear?” She fought to control her anger, though she yearned to blast him with it. “What magic potion would you have me take that would erase the memory of you pinning me to the bed? Because if you have such an elixir, then yes, I will gladly take it from you and obliterate you absolutely and irrevocably.”
He stood silent at her words, then said simply, “I have only myself to offer, my lady.”
“You would have me kill you, my lord? In that, too, I agree I would oblige you, but not at the cost of my own life–I understand the English law punishes those who do murder quite severely.”
“No, my lady, I would not have you kill me,” he said, sounding grimly amused, “though indeed that would probably give you most satisfaction. I meant I would have you marry me.”
And a little more for good measure…
His words surprised a laugh out of her. “Marry you?” The laughter grew. “I see, my lord, you think me both a whore and a fool.”
“I think you are neither, Lady Katarina.”
“Then you are the fool to believe I would put such a man as you in control of every aspect of my life.” That he thought she would even entertain the suggestion was insulting.
The pale moonlight shadowed his face, but she could read displeasure there just the same.
“You judge me solely on one act that, I assure you, was grossly out of character for me. You cannot possibly know what kind of husband I would be.”
“And never will, Lord Dalbury. I can swear to you that I would not marry you if I were in Hell and you were my only hope of Heaven.”
He inclined his head toward her, a faint smile touching his lips. “I believe you made a similar claim about dancing with me, Lady Katarina. Yet we have indeed enjoyed a dance together despite your words.” His tone was soft, the sensuous, cajoling one he had used to seduce her that night in the House of Pleasure.
Kat trembled, recalling the incredible sensations of his hands, his mouth on her body.
Damn. He could not do this to her again. Not just with his voice.
“Is there nothing that would entice you to leave your Hell for my Heaven?”
She struggled to answer, opened her lips to deny it, only to find her mouth completely sealed by his.
Only Scandal Will Do is available on Amazon in print and for .99 in e-book format on Amazon, Kobo, Apple, and B&N.
Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
For the final week I’m continuing snippets from The Widow Wore Plaid. It’s the sixth and final book of The Widows’ Club series and I’m truly very excited to share it with you again.
BLURB:
The Battle of Waterloo made them widows, but each has found new happiness. And Jane, Lady John Tarkington, intends to keep her freedom, even if love—and one particular gentleman—are determined to claim her heart . . .
It is a truth rarely acknowledged—at least in public—that a wealthy widow is free to pursue a great many adventures. For two years, Jane has privately enjoyed her independence. Why should she remarry, even when the gentleman proposing is as wonderful as Gareth, Lord Kinellan? She entreats him never to ask her again. But as her Widows’ Club friends—now all joyfully remarried—gather at Castle Kinellan, Jane begins to wonder if stubbornness has led her to make a terrible mistake . . .
Kinellan needs a wife to give him an heir, and he wants that wife to be Jane. They are perfect together in every way, yet she continually refuses him. Just as he is on the point of convincing her, a series of accidents befall Gareth and point to an enemy in their midst. He has promised Jane a passionate future filled with devotion, but can he keep them both alive long enough to secure it?
This scene is later, after Jane and Gareth’s amorous interlude as they are leaving the lodge. Enjoy!
EXCERPT:
Laughing together they approached the horses, who were quietly cropping grass. Kinellan adjusted the girth first on Penelope, then tossed Jane up and handed her the reins. He had just done the same for Hector, tightening the saddle before he slung the carry bag over the cantle when a shot rang out from the woods, kicking up dust right behind the horse’s back hooves. Hector danced sideways, forcing Kinellan out into the yard. The pack slid off the saddle onto the dirt.
Jane’s head shot up, “What was that?”
Kinellan spun around, peering into the trees. “Hello! Who’s–”
A second shot smacked into Kinellan’s shoulder and he staggered backward into the spooked horse.
And a little more for good measure…
“Gareth!” Jane turned Penelope in a tight circle, her attention focus solely on Kinellan, who had managed to move to the other side of the animal, putting that barrier between him and danger. Blood seeped from his shoulder, yet somehow he coolly scanned the woods for the intruder.
“Jane, ride out,” he called to her, not taking his gaze from the forest.” Down the path as quick as you can. Follow the trail back to the castle.”
”No. You’re wounded.” She stilled the dancing Penelope and unhooked her leg from the pommel.
“Stop! Don’t get down from the horse. You won’t be able to remount.”
Uneasily, she slid her leg back onto the saddle and gathered the reins.
Kinellan had moved toward Hector’s head and twitched the bush to release the reins. “I’ll be right behind you.”
As Only Scandal Will Do is my February offering as a .99 Deal Days book, I wanted to continue with another excerpt from the book, to whet your appetite for some steamy romance in the month dedicated to romance. Enjoy!
BLURB:
He has the woman of his dreams, but can he find a way to win her heart?
Kidnapped, displayed on the auction block of a notorious brothel, and sold to the highest bidder, Lady Katherine Fitzwilliam is furious and vows to fight her way out. Unfortunately, the rogue who bought her is way too charming and attractive to make that easy. He seduces Kat almost to the point of ruin, but she manages to escape him, although thoughts of him tend to linger long after she’s free.
Duncan, Marquess of Dalbury succumbs to temptation one night and purchases a fiery beauty whose very looks fill him with hot desire. When she insists she’s a lady, he scoffs, but is surprised when she flees before he can claim his pleasure. When he discovers she’s sister to a peer, Duncan is horrified to have compromised her. He offers marriage to scotch the scandal and gain an heir. However, the dazzling charms of the red-haired beauty, coupled with her astonishing skill with a sword, ensnares his heart and soul. If only Katarina didn’t hate him with a fury hotter than three hells…
Can he manage to turn her anger against him into a passion for him? Or will they be doomed to live together, but forever apart?
EXCERPT:
“I tell you for the third time, I am Lady Katarina Fitzwilliam!” She all but screamed the words at him. As though making them louder would somehow convince him of their truth.
“I see you would prefer to play a different scenario, my lady?” He smirked as he emphasized the last two words. “I, for one, would fancy seduction rather than force.”
She clenched her hands. “But I am a lady, you oaf! Why will you not believe me?”
“Then convince me, Lady Katarina.” His voice dropped to low, sultry tones. Even worse, his mouth softened from the hard lines of the arrogant master to the soft, sensual half-smile of the practiced rake. A shiver ran through her that had nothing to do with fright.
“As…as I told you, my brother is the Earl of Manning.” Somehow more vulnerable now than when the man had declared himself her master, she eyed the door, wondering if they had locked it behind him.
“How delightful!” The low-pitched words rumbled dangerously close to her ear; her throat closed, stealing her breath. “I am very good friends with the earl.”
“You are?” Dumbfounded, she choked on the words.
“I am sure he will be as astonished as I that his sister has been sold to me.” The man’s full lips twitched in restrained amusement. “Although, I confess, the earl never mentioned you to me.” He stepped closer and laid a hand on one of the chair’s wings, stretched a long finger out, and caressed the side of her hand.
“What!” Katarina jerked it away. Her hand tingled alarmingly with the brief contact. “He most certainly does have a sister.” She tossed her head and raised her chin. Why had Jack not told this man he had a sister? Was the rogue even telling her the truth?
“I am sure I would have remembered you, fair lady, had he described your wondrous charms.” That chuckle sounding in his throat again, the man inched closer, trying to sidle around the back of the chair.
Experienced in these kinds of games from years of chasing and being chased by Jack, Katarina continued around the chair, maintaining a constant distance from him. “I am sure I don’t know why Jack never thought to mention me, but the fact remains that I am his sister.” She advanced another cautious step, surveying his tall form, trying to gauge his next move.
“Jack?” The man’s eyes gleamed. “But surely Manning’s given name is William.”
She stopped. “Uncle William? You knew Uncle William?”
“Knew him?”
“He died in August last year.” Hope stole through her. He didn’t know about Uncle William. That was why he didn’t believe her. “My father, Colonel Robert Fitzwilliam, his younger brother, inherited the title. We lived in Virginia all our lives but were planning to remove to London when my father died unexpectedly in October, leaving my brother John the earldom. After several months of settling our affairs and a horrific crossing, we finally arrived in England four weeks ago.”
“Oh, my dear, I am so sorry. How dreadful for you.”
At the soothing words laced with sympathy, she sagged with relief. At last, he believed her.
Only Scandal Will Do is available on Amazon in both ebook and print, and is also available in ebook format at Smashwords, B & N, Kobo, and Apple. )
And here again is the Animoto book trailer I put together (from a previous trailer with an earlier cover) to give you an idea of the story, if you don’t know it already. Enjoy!
