The Seaside Strategy (Hilton Head Island Romance) by Elana Johnson

We’re so excited to be sharing the final book in Elana Johnson’s HILTON HEAD ISLAND ROMANCE trilogy–The Seaside Strategy is coming August 16th!

Delectable by Emily Robertson Release Blitz

 

Title: Delectable
Author: Emily Robertson
Genre: New Adult Romance
Cover Designer: Indie Sage
Publication Date: April 28^th, 2022
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Jace Callahan had to be going through a midlife crisis. Sure he was about twelve years too soon, but it seemed to be the only explanation for the state of matters. Fresh out of a divorce, the only bit of advice his folks gave him had been to stick it out. Not listening had led him to his best friend’s restaurant and the pity job Travis found for him to do. Now Jace was parenting solo on the weekends in a place he wasn’t even fond of just to get away from all the drama.

Beth Rollins wasn’t your typical twenty-four-year-old. Growing up with super conservative parents made her naïve, and when they disowned her for not thinking the same, her life changed real fast. Things weren’t flowers and sunshine all the time, but after landing a dream job, Beth thought perhaps things were finally going her way. Running into Jace reminded her she wasn’t allowed to have nice things.

When Jace and Beth’s worlds are thrown together again, only one of them remember their past connection. Having already shed her former self, Beth is in no hurry to remind Jace of their history. Perhaps he’ll see her for the woman she is and not the girl they all made fun of in high school. What’s the worst that could go wrong anyway? It’s not like guys like him stuck around long term with girls like her.

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USA Today Bestselling author Emily Robertson’s creativity started early in life on stage. Now instead of theatre, she spends her time creating worlds on the page for others to enjoy. As an avid reader, she enjoys reading New Adult and Contemporary Romance as much as she does writing them. When her dog isn’t keeping her company in her office, she might be anywhere. She’s recently learned all about baseball when her son took up the sport, playing mom taxi for one of the many activities that’s going on, or binging on some reality TV show she can’t get enough of.

 

If you want to stay up to date with everything going on, make sure to check out her webpage or sign up for her newsletter.

 

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Faded (Starbound #2) by Greg Wilkey & K.L. Bone Release Blitz

Title: Faded (Starbound Book 2)
Author: K.L. Bone & Greg Wilkey
Genre: Urban Fantasy, Fantasy Romance
Cover Designer: Indigo Chick Designs
Editor: Skyla Dawn Cameron
Publication Date: April 28^th, 2022
Hosted by: Lady Amber's PR

Stars dim, darkness rises, starlight shines anew.

***

Heartbroken after the events of Fallen, Rosalind returns to Oxford, unaware of the dangers which stalk her. Cloaked in shadows, secrets hidden in her unrelenting dreams hint at a perilous destiny to come.

Haunted by the same nightmares—and determined to reclaim Rosalind’s heart—Zeke embarks on his own journey to England. But the journey is rampant with danger as those who serve the fallen are determined to keep them apart at any cost. And Zeke is not the only one vying for Rosalind’s hand.

Meanwhile, Ursula continues to unfold her sinister plot, one which may see darkness conquer all.

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K.L. Bone is a USA Today bestselling author of dark fantasy and paranormal romance. Her works include the bestselling Black Rose Guard dark fantasy series. The bestselling Flames of Kalleen paranormal romance series. The Rise of the Temple Gods fantasy series. And a stand-alone science fiction novel, The Indoctrination and numerous novellas.

Bone has a Master’s degree in modern literary cultures and is working toward her PhD in creative writing. She wrote her first short story at the age of fifteen and grew up with an equally great love of both classical literature and speculative fiction. Bone has spent the last few years as a bit of a world traveler, living in California, London, and most recently, Belfast. When not immersed in words, of her own creation or studies, you’ll find her traveling to mythical sites that have inspired storytellers for generations.

 

Author Links:

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Greg Wilkey is an author and professional public school educator. He is the creator and writer of two series of supernatural thrillers for young adults: The Life and Undeath of Mortimer Drake vampire novels and The Neither Nor series starring his young hero, Edgar Flax.

Wilkey developed a love of stories and adventure at an early age and has always loved to read and write. He graduated from college with a degree in foreign language education and began a career in teaching world languages. He spent 15 years as a classroom teacher of Spanish until moving into school administration. He is currently an elementary school principal. It's a job he absolutely loves. Kids and teachers are his favorite people!

Wilkey lives and works in lovely Chattanooga where he’s the proud pet parent of two wonderfully spoiled felines, Mona and Mina.

 

Author Links:

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Review of The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robyn Bielman

The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman is out now! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today! But first, check out my review of this awesome contemporary romance.

Title: The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy

Author: Robin Bielman

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy:

Kennedy Martin is shocked when her ex calls days before his wedding, expressing serious second thoughts. Doesn’t he see his fiancée's actually the glaze to his doughnut? Now she’s got no choice but to crash his wedding and convince the man he’s with the right woman.   

Instead, she crashes into the absolute last man she ever wanted to see: Maverick Owens, her old college nemesis. Maverick is still as awful, infuriating, and just The Worst as ever—even if he looks way too sexy in his cowboy hat. And of course he’s convinced she’s actually at the seaside ranch to ruin the wedding.   

Now the only way to get some face time with the groom and save this marriage is to participate in all sorts of pre-wedding events…with Maverick. Stuck on a canoe, making small-talk at cocktail hour, and even a hoedown with her worst enemy? This just might be the longest week of her life…

Read an excerpt here.

**My thoughts**

It's an absolutely formulaic story, and yet this one is so well written that you almost don't even realize it.

Kennedy and Maverick were absolute rivals back in college. They essentially hated each other and then blissfully didn't run into each other again for years. And then when Kennedy comes racing to a ranch to help out a friend at his destination wedding, they run into each other again. Maverick's family owns the ranch.

The whole cover story that Kennedy and her best friend Andrew use to explain why they are at the ranch for the wedding is flimsy at best. I don't see how anyone fell for it or didn't question them more along the way.

But our focus is on Kennedy and Maverick and how they go from enemies to lovers. 

You know that when people proclaim to hate each other but are constantly competing that there is a passion there that easily translates into something else.

But what I appreciated with this pairing was that even though it was only a week together, it still had that feeling of a slow burn and laying a foundation of friendship prior to wanting to rip off each other's clothes. We got to know them as they got to know each other again and it just felt real.

You've also gotta love Maverick's family and the small town where he lives. I can use a lot more stories coming from here, especially with Maverick's single siblings. I want to get to know Kennedy's sister Ava better. And who knows who else could come to town? (And maybe a happy ending for Andrew as well?)

Another heartwarming book from Robyn Bielman.

I received a requested review copy via Inkslinger. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

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About Robin Bielman:

USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes both sweet and sexy contemporary romances with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Xoxo  

Connect with Robin:

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Read an excerpt from The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman

The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy by Robin Bielman is coming out in one week! Check it out and be sure to grab your copy today! My review is coming soon!

Title: The Wedding Crasher and the Cowboy

Author: Robin Bielman

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Release Blitz: October 26th

Review of Written for You by Robin Bielman

Written For You by Robin Bielman is out now! Check it out and be sure to order your copy today from your favorite retailer! But first, check out my book review of this sweet friends-to-lovers contemporary romance. 

Title: Written for You

Author: Robin Bielman

Genre: Contemporary Romance

About Written for You:

Cam Radcliffe is on a deadline to write his next blockbuster action film, but all he can think about lately is writing romance. The inspiration? His best friend, Reese.   

They’ve known each other for years, but suddenly working in the same office has given him a whole new appreciation of her. Reese is driving him wild in the best possible way, and Cam only hopes it isn’t obvious. If she knew, he’s certain their friendship would reach The End.   

So, of course, Reese figures it out. But the awkward, negative response he expected is nothing like the reality—like they’re living their own romcom.   

A romcom that’s giving him the worst case of writer’s block at the absolute worst time in his career. Especially when the secret Reese has been forced to keep comes out…and threatens to ruin everything.

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**My thoughts**

Reese and Cam have essentially been best friends their entire lives. It happened naturally, as their adoptive mothers are best friends. But they also just have this unique bond holding them together, different from the one Reese has with Cam’s adoptive brothers.

It can be difficult to realize that your best friend is the one you’re meant to be with. And it takes almost 20 years for the two of them to realize that they have a thing for each other. The timing had to be just right and Reese seems to finally be ready to settle down in life.

They really push each other, and this is best demonstrated when they decide to have a sort of write-off of screenplays. Only Reese is also hiding a secret about those screenplays.

I greatly enjoyed their banter and how they support each other in friendship. I completely understand their concerns in pursuing something more because of that strong family history and bond. I don’t like that Reese is keeping a major secret from Cam, but I understand her motivation.

The part where all of that comes to a head felt a little off to me. There’s something in the way it is all initially handled and those initial reactions that felt a little out of sync or disproportionate to the way the secret was revealed. It’s hard to describe without spoilers.

But other than what felt to me like a slight hiccup in the storytelling, I greatly enjoyed reading this book. It was perfect for sitting on the deck during these waning days of summer. I hope there are more books to come, perhaps featuring Cam’s brothers, so we can see them find happiness and also be able to check in on these two.

Thanks to the author and Inkslinger for my requested review copy. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

   

About the Author:

 

USA Today bestselling author Robin Bielman lives in Southern California with her awesome family and her very cute dog, Harry. She writes both sweet and sexy contemporary romances with one goal in mind: to leave you with a smile on your face. When not attached to her laptop, she loves to read, go to the beach, and frequent coffee shops with friends. She also dreams of traveling to faraway places and loves to connect with readers. Keep in touch on social! Xoxo   

Connect with the Author:

Website | Instagram | Twitter | Facebook | Newsletter | BookBub | Amazon

Review of Our Bridal Shop by Danielle Blair

Welcome to the review tour for Our Bridal Shop by Danielle Blair. I loved this unique women's fiction story of love, renewal, and acceptance. Please read on for my full thoughts and an excerpt. Then check out what other people had to say as you follow the tour. You can leave comments and questions for the author along the way and enter the giveaway.

Our Bridal Shop

Every family has its secrets, and the March family is no exception.

For the March sisters, Match Made in Devon, the bridal shop opened and run by their parents, was a real-world representation of what true love was all about. But for eldest sister Alexandra that kind of perfection has always seemed unreachable.

Alex has spent over fifteen years in Boston, building up an impenetrable shell of confidence and taking control over her own destiny. If there’s anything missing from her life, it isn’t important anyway. But with her mother’s unexpected death Alex is forced to leave her life in the big city behind and return to her hometown of Devon…and a past she’s been running from for years.

As the March sisters try to salvage the bridal shop their parents loved, Alex is forced to confront her painful past and the real reason she left Devon so many years ago…including childhood sweetheart Jonah Dufort.

Read an excerpt:

Alex’s entire body went cold; a naked, exposed kind of cold, though she was firmly planted in Clement Grant’s stylized version of purgatory, her feet stretching roots into his patterned rug. Big Auntie’s photo blurred. At the window, Daddy turned away.

“She wanted you three to become acquainted,” Grant offered lamely, to fill the room with something, anything.

Blood vessels at Alex’s eardrum magnified her pulse. She pressed the heels of her palms to her forehead to counter the pressure building behind her skull.

“After she was gone.” Perfect.

“I believe the letters should explain.”

Explain how a man could leave his wife, his two young daughters on an iron balcony in mid-November, and bed another woman?

Alex looked at the window. Elias March was gone.

She stood, stormed the window, to breathe where he had lingered, to understand. White stars veiled her vision—flakes beyond the panes of glass or a by-product of the heaviness between her ears—she couldn’t be sure. Alex wanted to yank at bulky book bindings, send them tumbling off the shelves onto Clement Grant and the letters and this perfect woman who seemed an absolute glacier in the face of news that threatened to bury Alex. As fast as the temptation took hold and the vision stretched to its satisfying but imperfect conclusion, the pain in Alex’s head subsided. The first rule of solving the unsolvable was to have a plan. All pieces showing. Know what you have.

Alex turned to the woman. “Where are you from?”

“Georgia. Saint Simmons Island.”

“Who is your mother?”

Freesia looked at Grant. “Do I have to answer?”

Grant stood, hands spread as if to catch himself, the situation, from tumbling headlong into something messy.

“Alex, the letter…” Charlotte’s turn at dialing back everything.

“Screw the letter, Charlotte. I want to hear it from her.”

Freesia gathered up her bag, fit it cross-ways along her long torso, and aimed for the door. Even in exit, she moved scripted, magnificent.

“Alex! What’s gotten into you?”

“Tell her, Miss Day. Tell her because she doesn’t get it. Grief clouds her some days so much she can’t see what’s in front of her.” Alex was shouting now, her words punctuated by the open office door kicking back against the wall, the tearing of paper as Charlotte ripped into her envelope. “Tell her this out de way circumstance. How Daddy drove his truck away and forgot us all.”

Freesia stopped in the next room, a waiting room filled with gurgling fountains and liquid jazz designed to make people feel better about their lives falling apart in the eyes of the law. She turned in profile. Her chin trembled.

“Tell her…” Alex pleaded, her voice quieter now.

Charlotte looked up from her letter. Soundlessly, she navigated chairs pushed back in chaos, Alex’s flawed stance. Charlotte’s sensible shoes squeaked damp against the waiting room tile. Alex’s baby sister, ill-prepared for what the world outside Devon brought her, pulled Freesia Day into the warmest of summer-like embraces, her letter from Daddy loose and forgotten in her hand.

“You’re our sister.”

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**My thoughts**

Welcome to Devon, home of Match Made in Devon, the bridal shop that defines the lives of the March sisters. Now it belongs to them, as both of their parents are gone. Their inheritance brings about some major family secrets, major life decisions, and takes them on a journey that they never saw coming.

For Alex, it is the hardest in a lot of ways. She demands perfection in her life. She wants order in the chaos. Unfortunately, life doesn't work that way. She is thrown curve ball after curve ball, rocking her to her core, as she tries to come to terms with secrets she is just discovering, as well as those that she has tried to keep buried as she relies on her Bullet Journal to keep herself organized and on track in life, being a super power of sorts in the corporate world in Boston. Those curve balls are even harder to deal with after you lose both of your parents. I really related to that aspect of this character, being in the midst of having life throw curve balls in my direction within this first year after becoming an adult orphan.

The bulk of the story is told from Alex's point of view. A couple of chapters are looked at from Charlotte's point of view and then from Freesia's point of view. Charlotte is the sister who grew up with Alex. She is the one who stayed in Devon and lived the traditional life, marrying young and having a family right away and helping their mom with the store. She wants to hold onto the store, because it is a piece of her. But she, too, is trying to figure out a few things in life.

And then we have Freesia popping in here and there. She is the new sister, the one who is trying to find herself now that she knows the full truth about herself. She's trying to fit into a new town and a new way of life as she tries to get to know her newfound family. She is charismatic and a bit of a free spirit, making her different from her sisters. But that quest for truth definitely makes her one of them.

As I said, we focus the most on Alex's journey in this book. Her career is falling apart. Her marriage has already been on the rocks for quite some time. Coming home has opened up some old wounds, as she is thrust in the path of Jonah, the one man she ever truly loved. She doesn't deal well with emotions and blocks on her perceived perfect path. And that is the journey that she must take. She must learn the truth about her parents and her family and find a way to forgive them for their reality. She has to learn how to forgive herself to move on from her past in Devon. She has to learn to let go of perfection, to take life as it comes and try to deal with it in real terms. And she does come a long way, but you know she still has a ways to go. I really understood Alex and feel like I was able to take something from her journey to cogitate on in my own life.

Charlotte and Freesia definitely have stories to tell. This book is just an introduction to them, to give us a sense of their personal struggles and who they are. I have a feeling that we will get their stories relatively soon and I look forward to going on their journeys with them. More life lessons are there to be learned and experienced. I think a lot of women should be able to relate to different aspects of these women's lives.

I also liked the more unique setting and story in this book. While I love my magical bridal shops and contemporary romance stories that help you to escape reality, I also really enjoyed the more realistic feel of this one. Yes, there is still an element of escape as you enter the lives of these other women. And then there is the intrigue of the mementos left behind in the upstairs that tell the stories of the brides who have gone before. It was just classic small town charm and I really wanted to find this town and see this store for myself. I love quirky places and quirky people.

And a final shout-out has to go to Jonah's daughter, whom he calls Ibby. The child is extremely precocious and wise for her young age. She is able to teach adults as much as they can teach her. I would have loved to have had her in my class while I was teaching and would even enjoy her company otherwise. I feel like in about 10 to 15 years (as far as the story setting goes), she will also have a great story to tell.

So yes, I really enjoyed reading this book and recommend it. 

I also did get a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review, which in no way swayed my opinions.

About Danielle Blair

Danielle Blair escaped the slog of her former accounting job to instead pursue writing women’s fiction. She pens empowering stories about women, for women, that focus on a woman’s unique journey to find her place in the modern world.

But this wasn’t always the case. Following a messy divorce, Danielle took to reading and writing to help sort out the whirlwind of emotions she was dealing with. What started as a coping mechanism turned into a passion and in 2017 she transitioned to writing full time. Along the winding journey to authorship she also met and married her current husband, who is the love of her life.

She writes her books with the help of her two sisters—Jennifer helps to plot out the stories, while Linda is the beady eye behind the editing of them. Since setting up the tire swing in their back yard together as kids, they’ve always worked better as a team—so why not write a book together?

She is the mother of two handsome adult sons, and three dogs that act like children (but she loves them anyway). When not lost writing her next book, Danielle can be found outside digging in the dirt, trying to coax her husband to just try yoga once, and cooking meals that may or may not end up burned every once and a while.

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Danielle-Blair-1794550060852703/

Danielle Blair will be awarding a $10 Amazon or Barnes and Noble GC to a randomly drawn winner via rafflecopter during the tour.

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Stolen Obsession (Annalisse Series Book 1) by Marlene M. Bell with Giveaway

Welcome to the book tour for Stolen Obsession, the first book in the romantic suspense Annalisse series by Marlene M. Bell. Check out the book trailer and an excerpt before you download your copy on Amazon. Also be sure to enter the $50 Amazon gift card giveaway at the end! 

Stolen Obsession

PEOPLE DIE, BUT LEGENDS LIVE ON.

Manhattan antiquities appraiser Annalisse Drury dreams of a quiet life on the family farm among the sheep she loves, when her best friend is murdered. The police assume robbery is the motive because her friend’s expensive bracelet is missing. But the 500-year-old artifact is rumored to carry an ancient curse, one that unleashes evil upon any who dare wear the jewelry created for the Persian royal family—and Annalisse believes her friend is the latest victim.

Weeks later, Annalisse sees a necklace matching the stolen bracelet at a gallery opening. Convinced the necklace is part of the deadly collection, Annalisse begs the gallery’s owner to destroy the piece, but her pleas are ignored— despite the unnatural death that occurs during the opening. With two victims linked to the jewelry, Annalisse is certain she must act.

Desperate to keep the gallery owner safe, Annalisse reluctantly enlists the owner’s son to help—even though she’s afraid he’ll break her heart. Wealthy and devastatingly handsome, with a string of bereft women in his wake, Greek playboy Alec Zavos dismisses Annalisse’s concerns—until his parents are ripped from the Zavos family yacht during their ocean voyage near Crete.

Annalisse and Alec race across two oceans to save his mother, feared dead or kidnapped. As time lapses, the killer switches mode and closes in on the man who’s meant for Annalisse with the lifestyle she wants most.

But when it’s her turn as the hunted, will she choose to save Alec and his mother, or sacrifice everything to save herself?

Read an excerpt:

Annalisse set her purse down into the flipped over cushions on the couch, repositioned them, and stepped through what used to be neat stacks, years of gallery research. A groan passed her lips when she walked to the desk marred with new scratches, bereft of her monitor and tower hard drive. She looked around the room for her laptop; it, too, was missing.

Cursing under her breath, she saw her prized possession, a two-foot bronze statue of a shepherdess with a pair of sheep grazing near her feet, lying on its side next to a toppled plant stand. An expensive work of art from Florence she’d had no business buying, but she couldn’t resist. When Generosa had called from Italy describing it, Annalisse had to have it. Everyone who knew her well understood her love for sheep. Even if she’d declined Generosa’s offer to bring it back for her, she’d felt certain the bronze would end up in her hands eventually.

Alec waited by the stairs and whispered, “Your bedroom up there?” He pointed upstairs.

She nodded, lifted the mahogany stand upright and, with both hands, replaced the hefty bronze to its rightful place next to the desk.

“Stay downstairs. You’ll be safer. I won’t be long, and I’ll look for your cat.” Alec hit the first step.  

“Be careful.”

Whoever destroyed her home had acted with malice. They had her personal data and internet search history, where she shopped online, email correspondence as well as business contacts. A privacy breach she couldn’t afford. Compiling a list of possible suspects in her head, she felt so violated, even more so than by what had happened with Peter. Names and faces blurred together. With fingertips pressed at her temples, she willed the jackhammers in her head to stop.

Raising her arms, as if a make-believe thief told her to, she said, “I give up. I may as well set a match to this place, for all the good it’s going to do me now.”

Alec uttered a sentence upstairs she couldn’t make out.

“Alec, did you find Boris?”

The sound of shuffling filtered downstairs then a thump.

“Alec, what fell?” She looked up at an empty landing.

The unnatural silence pricked the hairs straight out on her neck. “Answer me.”

A mechanical voice broke the silence. “Don’t move.”

She stopped breathing and froze, afraid to look up, but then looked anyway.

A figure in a brownish ski mask and desert camouflage occupied the top of the staircase. Holding Alec. He—or she— held him at gunpoint. One arm cradled Alec’s waist and a black pistol so close to Alec’s right ear, his curls hid part of the barrel.

She’d expected Alec’s expression to be as wild as hers must have been, but he appeared strangely calm.

“I’m all right, Annalisse.”

“Shut up.” The voice was distorted with some kind of voice altering mechanism. Deep tones, similar to a bumblebee in distress.

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About Marlene M. Bell

Marlene M Bell is an acclaimed artist and photographer as well as a writer. Her sheep landscapes grace the covers of publications such as, Sheep!, The Shepherd, Ranch & Rural Living and Sheep Industry News. Ewephoric, her mail order venture, began in 1985 out of a desire for realistic sheep stationery. A color catalog of non-fiction books and sheep-related gifts may be requested at www.marlenembell.com or www.texassheep.com.

Marlene and her husband, Gregg reside on a wooded ranch in East Texas with their 50 head of Horned Dorset sheep, a lovable Maremma guard dog named, Tia, and 3 spoiled cats who rule the household.

Author Links

Author Website

Stolen Obsession Book Page From Website

TWITTER: @ewephoric

FACEBOOK: fb.me/marlenembell

Giveaway

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The Halford Trilogy by Lara Blunte

Blurb:

1758

At seventeen, Miss Georgiana Blake knows that John Crawford is the only man she will ever love -- and that she will marry him when he comes back from war.

What Georgiana cannot imagine is that her marriage will become so important for her family, or that she will have to forsake the man she adores.

A man whose virtue is not forgiveness.

Read an excerpt:

Georgiana was as full of expectation as dread at John’s return. She had yearned to see him for two long years before she married Hugh, a yearning that had been felt minute by minute, and which had never dulled or spent itself until she had become the Countess of Halford. 

Then it had still been there, but like the horrible phantom pain of a missing limb, with the memory of its amputation always fresh in her mind. She could no longer sit like a girl, reading John’s letters again and again, Kissing the lock of his hair, weeping over the circle he had drawn to ask her to marry him, to wait for him. She could no longer smile and tingle all over remembering his kisses, how his lips had felt, his hair in her hands, how his eyes had looked at her and promised all sorts of passionate delights. She could not run to her father to be comforted when a letter said that he was in the middle of war, or wait by the gate for another letter to come. 

She had given her life away, and now she belonged to another man, and would do so until one of them died.

Read another excerpt here.

Available on Amazon

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Blurb:

Willful, vain and intelligent, Lady Catherine Lytton believes she is in full control of her destiny when she inherits a large fortune from her uncle.

The return of a distant kinsman, Adrian Stowe, the Earl of Halford, is a welcome relief from the monotony of the English countryside.

Adrian is handsome, enigmatic and, some say, mad. But then, what man would escape the grisly murder of mother, father and brother unscathed? He is also the last of his line, and yet seems to have no interest in his title or his wealth -- and no inclination to find a wife.

In fact, he doesn't seem to do anything that is expected of him; yet, in her pride, Catherine hardly thinks that the Earl will inspire an uncontrollable passion in her. Above all, she cannot imagine that it will be unrequited.

As she follows him to Constantinople, trying to unveil the mystery that surrounds him, she will learn the meaning of love, even as she seems about to lose everything that is precious.

Read excerpt 1 here.

Read excerpt 2 here.

Available on Amazon

About the author:

I have always liked history, which was my minor at Georgetown University, and I decided to write books set at different times, providing information of what I know about each period.

As I travel a lot for my job, I always enjoy adding the sights and sounds of places where I have lived or been, even if the places that draw me might be considered "exotic": Istanbul, Kampala, Phnom Penh, Cuernavaca.

Apart from writing, I am a voracious reader, and I love film and television as well.

In my novels, I like to create multi-dimensional characters with flaws that lead them to difficult situations, from which they will emerge changed. The course of true love never did run smooth, so I believe that a certain darkness in tales of passion is always a good addition. I also like to add a dose of humor.

The romances I have loved are by authors such as Jane Austen, the Bröntes, Leo Tolstoy Thomas Hardy and George Eliot, among others -- though I don't presume to write as well as they did.

I try to stay true to different eras, while not alienating the reader by being too inflexible with the language and situations.