Thank you for dropping by for another First Kiss Friday excerpt! Today’s guest is the incredible Ruth A. Casie who has an excerpt from her story A Masquerade for the Baron that releases on May 8th. I must admit after reading this, I quickly hit the link and grabbed a copy! What an intriguing scene! We hope you enjoy this first kiss moment. Happy reading, my lovelies!
There are moments that do not announce themselves.
They arrive quietly… somewhere between what was agreed and what is no longer easily denied.
For Leticia and Ash, nothing between them begins simply. Not the engagement. Not the trust. And certainly not this.
Because what stands between them is not just uncertainty…
It is truth. And the risk of seeing it clearly.
***
The world stilled for a single heartbeat, leaving only the whisper of the breeze and the nearness of him. Something in her braced, then broke—the wall she hadn’t realized she’d built.
The kiss, when it came, was gentle and sure, a declaration made in silence. It wasn’t merely the feel of his lips or the warmth of his hand. It was the startling ease of it. As if she’d been waiting for that moment longer than she dared admit.
Her fingers curled against the sleeve of his coat. His hand cupped her cheek. They didn’t rush.
And for that brief space of time, nothing else intruded. Not the questions. Not the doubts. Only the quiet understanding that something had shifted… and could not be undone.
***
Some kisses promise certainty. This one does not.
It changes things… before either of them is ready to name what those things are.
And yet, neither of them steps away. And that is where everything begins.
A Masquerade for the Baron
By Ruth A. Casie
He proposed to the wrong woman… but found she was the one he could never let go.
Lady Leticia Salisbury never intended to capture Lord Ashcombe’s attention, or his mistaken proposal, at Sommer-by-the-Sea’s grand masquerade. Yet a single stolen kiss sets in motion a fragile engagement, a partnership built on secrets, and a choice that could cost her everything.
Gabriel Ashcombe returned from war with scars deeper than any battle could leave. A barony to restore, a regiment of loyal men at his back, and a dangerous secret society to unmask. What he did not expect was Leticia, brave, perceptive, and far too willing to risk herself when shadows close in.
The brooch she inherited from her mother is no simple heirloom. It bears the mark of the Order, a symbol others will kill to possess. When danger closes in, Leticia does not retreat, she draws the threat to herself, forcing the enemy into the open, whatever the cost.
Together, they must navigate whispered betrayals, ruthless enemies, and their own wary hearts. Trust does not come easily, but neither does love.
A Masquerade for the Baron is a sweeping Regency romance filled with intrigue, stolen kisses, sharp banter, and a love forged in danger. Secrets may divide them, but when the truth is revealed, it is not fate that decides their future, it is choice.
Available at Amazon
About the Author:
Ruth A. Casie is a USA Today bestselling author of historical romance filled with adventure, intrigue, and heartfelt emotion, where love is earned and partnership is equal. Her stories feature strong heroines, honorable heroes, and richly layered worlds readers want to return to again and again.
Find Ruth at her social media links here:
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/
- Casie’s Cafe: https://www.facebook.com/groups/963711677128537
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ruthacasie
- Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ruthacasie
- Bluesky: https://bsky.app/profile/ruthacasie.bsky.social
- Website: https://ruthacasie.com/