Tag Archives: #FirstKiss Friday

First Kiss Friday with Pamela Gibson

04 Friday Sep 2020

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I’d like to welcome back to my First Kiss Friday blog my dear friend Pamela Gibson. Pamela will be sharing a first kiss scene from her latest release Scandal’s Promise. Isn’t the cover just lovely? Happy reading and enjoy!

Excerpt:

After a few minutes, he swept her near the open terrace door, barely cracked because of the cold. A few couples had bravely escaped the stuffy ballroom. He led her outside into the darkness and took up the dance position again.

“What are you doing?”

“Do you not like dancing in the dark on a cold night?”

Drawing her closer, he danced her into the far corner, out of the light from the windows. Stopping, he lowered his head and whispered in her ear. “Emily, I need to kiss you.”

Her breath caught as he gave her time to push him away. When she didn’t, he pulled her into his arms and pressed her against his warm body. She closed her eyes, wanting to feel every inch of him against her, to somehow ease the longing tightening her breasts and pulsing between her thighs.

Drew, how could you have left me for her.

His mouth closed over hers, sending tingles of pleasure to her core. When he deepened the kiss, she sighed and let delicious heat swamp her senses. His tongue slipped in as he lowered his hands and pressed her bottom against a hard ridge. She touched him, tasted him, her body begging for more. He broke the kiss and nuzzled her neck. “God, you feel so good and you taste even better. But this is not the place or the time, is it?”

“No.”

A laugh she knew all too well trilled from somewhere nearby. Had Lydia followed them out? Mortified, she stepped back and took his arm. “I believe it is too chilly to be dancing out of doors, my lord.”

“Indeed. It is also too public.”

They strolled back toward the ballroom and entered together, aware tongues would wag once again as those who remembered their old scandal shared it with others who didn’t know their story.

She’d taken a dangerous step into the past, but it was not an irrevocable one. She would only briefly have to put up with those who would scorn her as a pathetic spinster, tied to one man, a man who had betrayed her with another woman.

Papa was on the mend. Aunt Lily was satisfied he would recover. Their return to the country was already planned.

Out of sight, out of mind?

Never.

Scandal’s Promise
By Pamela Gibson

Haunted by questions and her own insecurities, Lady Emily Sinclair longs to discover why her betrothed abandoned her and married another. Seven years have passed, but the pain of his betrayal still lingers, buried beneath layers of humiliation and mistrust. When he returns after the Napoleonic Wars, she vows to avoid him. If only her foolish heart felt the same.

Broken and addicted to his medication, widower Andrew Quimby, Lord Cardmore, rattles around his ancient manor, oblivious to his deteriorating health and state of mind. When he learns the woman he was forced to abandon remains unmarried, he vows to try to win her back, even if it means returning to a society he despises.

But Andrew soon discovers he has a secret enemy. Threatening notes appear and sinister accidents put those in his inner circle in danger. Can he overcome his demons in time to keep them safe or will everyone and everything he loves disappear forever.

Buy Link for Scandal’s Promise: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08F2LVR5B/

 

About the author:

Author of eight books on California history and fifteen romance novels, Pamela Gibson is a former City Manager who now lives in the Nevada desert. She has a bachelor’s degree in history and a master’s degree in public administration, but her passion is and always has been writing.

Having spent three years messing about in boats, a hobby that included a five-thousand-mile trip in a 32-foot Nordic Tug, she now spends most of her time indoors happily reading, writing, cooking and keeping up with the antics of Ralph, her Siamese rescue cat.

If you want to learn more about her activities go to https://www.pamelagibsonwrites.com and sign up for her quarterly newsletter. Or stalk her in these places:

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First Kiss Friday with Julie Johnstone

28 Friday Aug 2020

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Thanks for joining me this week for another First Kiss Friday. Today’s guest is Julie Johnstone who is a new author to me. Julie has a first kiss scene from Lady Guinevere and the Rogue with a Brogue. Isn’t the cover gorgeous? Happy reading and enjoy, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

“Lord Charolton, release me!” she yelped, but instead, his lips crushed over hers.

The shock of the unwanted contact stilled her for one breath, but before she could react, he broke the contact. She staggered backward with a gasp as Asher jerked Lord Charolton away from her and then sent his fist into the man’s nose. It connected with a crunch, and Lord Charolton howled, doubling over.

Asher turned toward her, his face a mask of cold, hard fury. “Are ye unharmed?”

Was she? Her heart beat so hard it hurt her ears. She brought trembling fingertips to her bruised, throbbing lips. This was the second time in her life a man had kissed her without asking permission, but at least Kilgore’s kiss, though unwanted, had been gentle.

Asher’s gaze softened to one of concern as he looked between her and the still doubled over Lord Charolton. “Guin?” he said in little more than a whisper. “Are ye all right?”

“You mustn’t call me Guin,” she replied, her voice trembling as terribly as her hands were. She wrapped her arms around her waist and took a deep, shuddering breath. “I’m unharmed. Ash—Your Grace”—she caught herself barely in time—“I fear someone may be coming.”

“Ye have nothing to fear, my lady,” he replied before taking Lord Charolton by his collar to yank the man upright. “I redirected the two gossiping ladies headed in this direction before I arrived here.”

The relief that filled her at his words was dampened by her roiling stomach. She never had been one for the sight of blood.

“You have broken my nose,” Lord Charolton whined to Asher as if on cue with her thoughts of his predicament.

“I’ll break a great deal more than that if ye do not leave this ball immediately. And,” Asher continued, his face and tone growing threatening, “if ye ever even look Lady Guinevere’s way again, I’ll see ye over the barrel of my pistol. Do ye understand me?”

Lord Charolton, a rather peacock of a man, turned green but managed to nod. As he started for the library door, Guinevere said, “And if you ever try to ruin another lady again, the duke will also meet you with his pistol.”

Asher looked at her in surprise, and she shrugged helplessly. She could have sworn he smiled faintly, but he turned his attention to Lord Charolton once more as the man, in his haste to quit the room, knocked into the same table that had trapped her. A few grunts later, Lord Charolton was gone.

Asher, before she even realized what he intended, stepped to the library door and clicked the lock into place.

Her pulse quickened. She wasn’t afraid of him, but she had been nearly accosted moments earlier, and her nerves, which he naturally jumbled up anyway, were tight as knots. When he turned to her, aching concern showed on his face, and to her utter horror, unexpected tears filled her eyes.

“What’s this?” He closed the distance between them and brought his fingers to her cheeks to wipe away her tears.

His touch was so gentle, so tender that she forgot their past for a moment and blurted how she truly felt. “I do not care to feel so helpless,” she admitted, then bit her lip before she blabbed any more of her secrets, such as the fact that Asher’s kisses were the only ones she’d ever received that she had actually wanted. Not that wanting his kisses had done her a farthing of good, but at least she’d been a willing participant.

“I imagine ye don’t.” His thumb stroked the slope of her cheekbone so deliciously that her belly clenched and gooseflesh rose on her arms. Did he realize he was fondling her cheek?

She should tell him to stop, except it felt so wonderful, and hadn’t she imagined just this very thing too many times to recall?

“I can help ye feel better,” he said, his voice sliding over her like velvet.

Had he swayed closer? He must have. She was suddenly awash in heat. His warm breath fanned her face, making her inhale greedily and sigh. He smelled of leather, grass, and oak—so divine that her thoughts felt slippery, save for one. “How can you help me feel better?”

A slow, utterly seductive smile tugged the corners of his lips upward. “Kiss me.”

She smiled. Good heavens! She should not be smiling—or rather, it felt like she was smirking. She should push him away, remind him how improper he was being, and storm out of the room. Except she had lain awake so many nights wondering if she’d imagined how wonderful his kisses had been. His kisses had tormented her. She was quite sure the made-up memory of how perfect they were was the main reason she could not seem to gather any interest for another man. Perhaps if she kissed him now, she could finally set him out of her mind.

Guinevere’s lips started to tingle in expectation, and her heart beat at a dizzying, knee-weakening rate. She had to set her hands to his muscular shoulders so as not to drop into an embarrassing puddle of desire.

“Is that an invitation?” he asked, sounding every bit as devilish as he looked. If ever a man could lead a woman to be improper, it was him.

She couldn’t speak, her thoughts spun so quickly, but her fingers curled in silent entreaty, and the sensation in her lips moved slowly down to the pit of her stomach. She was going to expire if he didn’t kiss her.

“I need ye to show me ye wish me to kiss ye, Guin.” His voice sounded tight, as if he were just barely restraining himself. The thought that she could possibly unhinge this man filled her with a wild sort of exaltation.

“Do not be a blind fool,” she whispered, her heart jolting at the shock of her hoydenish behavior.

Something intense flared in his eyes as his hands cupped her face and his lips descended to meet hers. Whatever indifference to him she had managed to persuade herself she possessed shattered with the heat and the hunger of his strong lips on hers. He demanded a response with the slide of his tongue along the crease of her mouth, and she opened willingly, eagerly moving to her tiptoes with a desperate desire to get closer to him.

He groaned, moving one hand from her cheek to circle his arm around her back, and suddenly, she was no longer standing but pressed hard against his chest, her feet just above the ground. His mouth ravished hers, and his kiss overwhelmed her senses. His heart pounded through his clothing, and hers seemed to burst through the very chambers of her own heart. A million delicious sensations swirled through her as she returned his drugging kiss with reckless abandon. His mouth did not become softer as he kissed her; it was as if he could not get enough, which was exactly how she felt. She delved her hands into his thick hair, allowing her nails to graze his scalp, and he released a guttural sound.

Propriety was gone. The past was gone. Her anger was gone. In this moment, it was just here and now, simply Guinevere and Asher.

A knocking at the door hurtled her back to reality as hard as if she’d been dropped from the clouds to the earth. She released her breath in a whoosh as Asher broke the kiss—and all contact—and stared down at her, looking every bit as shocked as she felt.

“Guinevere, are you in there?” came Lilias’s frantic voice.

Guinevere swallowed with difficulty. Her heart felt as if it were lodged in her throat. What had she done? What had she allowed him to do? Why did her senses disappear every time this man was near?

“Guinevere?” The door rattled.

Asher opened his mouth as if to answer Lilias, and Guinevere quickly pressed a finger to his lips, her shock at her scandalous, dangerous behavior loosening its grip on her just enough so she could speak.

“I’m here,” she said, clearing her throat, which sounded entirely too husky, entirely too much like she had just been kissed senseless.

“Whatever have you been doing?” her best friend asked.

Asher’s warm brown eyes danced with wicked amusement, the unrepentant rogue! Heat flamed her cheeks and crawled its way down her neck to her chest. Egads, she wished she had a fan.

Before she could gather herself to answer, Lilias spoke again in a rush of words. “Your mother is beside herself looking for you!”

Guinevere rolled her eyes. It was most unfortunate that her mother had noted her absence from the ballroom. Usually she did not pay Guinevere much heed once they’d arrived at whatever affair they were attending, since it was Mama’s companion Miss Prichard’s job to chaperone her and her sisters, but Miss Prichard was home ill.

“I was beset with a megrim,” Guinevere said, sounding unconvincing to her own ears.

Another prick of guilt pinched her, but this one was for lying to Lilias. She never withheld secrets from her best friend, but how could she admit that she’d allowed the man who had callously thrown her over once before to take liberties again. And in a library in the middle of a ball no less! It was the very behavior ruinous scandals were made of.

“Did the megrim attack you before or after you rescued Lady Constantine?”

Asher arched his eyebrows in raffish perfection. Why did he have to be so devastatingly handsome and make her act so untoward?

“After,” she responded, giving her throat, which was still too husky, another good clearing.

“Guinnie, I think you are getting a cold.”

Lilias was such a true friend, and Guinevere felt horrid about lying. She bit her lip as Asher pushed her hand away from his lips and grinned at her, making her belly flutter.

Blast him, blast him.

“Possibly,” she squeaked. “Did you see Lady Constantine?”

“Yes, but not Lord Charolton. How did you stop his plan for Lady Constantine?”

Asher wiggled his eyebrows at her while making a pretend pistol with his fingers. The man was beyond the pale. Didn’t he comprehend that their behavior of moments before had put them a hairsbreadth from ruination?

“You know I can be very persuasive when I try,” Guinevere said.

Lilias snorted at that. “Where is he?”

“I assume he departed as I suggested.”

“Excellent. By the by, I have not seen the odious Carrington.”

Oh, dear heavens!

Guinevere cringed. Lilias was calling Asher odious as a loyal friend would, but her timing for a strong show of allegiance was most unfortunate.

All the lightheartedness disappeared from Asher’s face, and his gaze narrowed upon her. What did he expect, that he could publicly stomp on her heart five years ago and she would praise his nonexistent virtues?

“Perhaps he left, as well,” Lilias continued, unaware that the man in question was listening to her every word. Guinevere wanted to expire on the spot. “Oh, and I forgot to mention that Kilgore approached me and asked, none too subtlety, after your whereabouts. He seemed most concerned that you keep your promise to dance the last set with him.”

Asher’s stare turned positively brutal and unfriendly. She did not fool herself that if he was jealous, it was no more than him wanting her attention because she was giving it to Kilgore.

“Should you not depart and tell my mother I’ll be straight to the ballroom?” Guinevere asked weakly.

“Of course, of course,” Lilias replied, “but I think you should consider Kilgore if he is truly pursuing you this time.”

“Lilias!” Guinevere hissed, aghast.

“Fine, fine. I’ll go soothe your mother, but the subject of you and Kilgore is not finished. He may be a rogue, but I have always said—” Guinevere squeezed her eyes shut, praying Lilias would not finish the sentence “—reformed rogues make the best husbands.”

Guinevere opened her eyes with a sigh to find Asher staring at her as if she had leprosy. Lilias’s departing footsteps echoed against the hardwoods for one moment before uncomfortable silence descended. She didn’t know what to say, but it occurred to her that she did have a question.

Lady Guinevere and the Rogue with a Brogue
Scottish Scoundrels: Ensnared Hearts Book 1
By Julie Johnstone

Five years ago he humiliated her. Five years ago she betrayed him. And when fate forces them together once more, they’ll discover what burns hotter- vengeance or desire.

USA Today Bestselling author Julie Johnstone has a new release today, and it’s full of sizzle, sass, and suspense! Grab a fan before you start reading!

Buy Link:
Amazon: https://amzn.to/31VwvqK

About the Author:

Julie Johnstone is a USA Today and #1 Amazon bestselling author. Scottish historical romance, Regency historical romance, and historical time travel romance featuring highlanders, aristocrats, and modern-day bad billionaire bad boys are her love, and she enjoys creating both with a hefty dose of twists, plenty of heartstring tugs, and a guaranteed happily ever after.

Her books have been dubbed “fabulously entertaining and engaging,” making readers cry, laugh, and swoon. Johnstone lives in Alabama with her very own lowlander husband, her two children – the heir and the spare, her snobby cat, and her perpetually happy dog.

In her spare time she enjoys way too much coffee balanced by hot yoga, reading, and traveling.

From the bestselling author of the Highlander Vows: Entangled Hearts series comes a new, richly drawn Scottish historical romance saga! The Renegade Scots series sweeps you into medieval Scotland and England and transports you into dangerous deceptions and daring feats with swoon-worthy heroes and fiery romances!

http://www.juliejohnstoneauthor.com
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First Kiss Friday with Cerise DeLand

21 Friday Aug 2020

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It’s another First Kiss Friday and my guest today is the lovely Cerise DeLand. Cerise has an excerpt from her novel Miss Harvey’s Horribly Loveable Fiancé. Happy reading, my lovelies, and enjoy!

Excerpt:

By their fourth meeting—another ball—Northington had been introduced to Esme by a mutual friend. As he took her hand to lead her in a quadrille, he revealed that he’d come only because he’d learned she would attend.

“I’m complimented,” she said, as a challenge to cover her admission of delight.

“Good. Shall I ask you to call me by my given name?”

“You could.”

“Giles. Will you use it?”

“When it’s suitable.”

“You are careful.” He grinned. “I like that about you.”

“Evidently not careful enough. When we met, you found me alone in a most unsuitable place.”

“As you found me.”

She could not help the appeal of his charming mouth. “Did she find you?”

“He did.”

She rolled her eyes at him.

“You should believe me.”

Time to admit the truth. “I want to.”

He inhaled, frustration ripe on his brow. “Let me talk to you in the hall.”

“Why?”

“Esme—I hope I may address you that way. The hall, behind the marble statue of our host, affords more privacy than here.”

Hope of being naughty with him made her tingle. “My lord, why would we need privacy?”

“Because Esme, I’d like to kiss you.”

She licked her lips.

“I see that idea appeals to you.”

“Are you always so bold with women?”

“Only you.”

Caution was a practice she rarely employed. With him, she should apply it. “I think we’ll wait.”

“Not long, Esme. Not too damn long,” he whispered as he devoted himself to perfection in the rest of the dance.

That evening, she’d learned from her friends that in the past two years, he’d had two lovers, both wealthy widows. Now he was free of both.

So when he returned to sit beside her, he murmured, “Esme, darling, look at me.”

She’d given in. With such endearments, who could deny him?

His hazel eyes faceted into shades of desire. “I want to become friends.”

“We are.”

“More than friends, Esme.”

She shook her head. She mustn’t lose it. “You’re a marquess.”

“True.”

“Not considered appropriate for me, a viscount’s daughter.” Furthermore, his father was an old roué. That man, it was said aloud and in gossip sheets, wanted a glorious match for his only son. Specifically, ‘glorious’ translated into rich as Midas. That criteria she fit.

“Will you count me out of your life because of my status?” He joked, appearing amused as well as seriously dismayed.

“You’re twenty-nine,” she said in accusation.

“I am. You are six years younger. Is there a problem?”

“You’ve waited rather a long time to—” Well, why not say the obvious? “A long time to look for a bride.”

“I’ve had other occupations.”

She harrumphed. Yes, she knew two of them, too. “Aren’t you getting long in the tooth?”

He chuckled, looked about and leaned closer. “Do you think me so doddering that I might be incapable of begetting—?”

“No!” She burned with the power of her blush. “No. I do not.”

He laughed whole-heartedly. “I am in want of a wife. And I have looked for one for many years.”

“With any results?”

“None. Until lately.”

So by their fifth meeting (at Lady Elsworth’s tea), they were jovial friends who appeared to one and all to sit and discuss the cartoonist Rowlandson’s ability to portray the ironies of the Royals.

“May I call on you, Miss Harvey?” he had asked her when those in the room finally left them alone in their cozy corner.

“Why?” she’d been bold enough to inquire.

“I find I need your company.”

She stared at him and dared not believe it. The way he made her breath hitch just by gazing at her told her that if he pressed his magnificent mouth to hers, if he touched her arm or (please, God) her breast or (yesss) her quivering thigh, she could dissolve into little puddles of goo. And that was no way to maintain one’s reputation, especially if one liked to ride out at dawn or drink three glasses of champagne without comment or censure.

“Have dull friends, do you, sir?” She challenged him. Had to.

“Too many.”

“What of the lady you met in the small salon at Lady Wimple’s?” She had to know from his lips if he was engaged in a new affair with anyone. She wouldn’t stand for him having mistresses. She couldn’t bear the competition. She was no Diamond, no Incomparable. But she had her assets. Good hair. A straight nose. Abundant breasts. So she’d brook no competition. Never. If he wished to marry her, he had to be hers, all hers…or not at all.

“Esme, listen to me.” In that crowded drawing room with dozens of the ton chatting on and noting every eye that drifted to every heaving bosom, he put a hand to hers and held it tightly. “That was no lady.”

Oh, how she wished to believe him.

“May I call?” he asked once more, his face full of earnest hope.

“Yes.” She wanted him, as she’d wanted no other. “Tomorrow.”

And so he had.

For three days in succession.

By the fourth day, her Mama (reading the air, Esme supposed) left them alone on some flimsy excuse.

He moved to Esme’s side on the settee and took her hands. Into both palms, he’d placed hot little kisses. Her nipples had beaded. Her belly had swelled. And her head had swum as he threaded his fingers into her coiffure and placed his firm lips on her own. And oh, he felt like heaven.

“Darling, I want to marry you,” he whispered. His mouth traveled her cheek and he bit her earlobe.

She sank her fingers into his thick soft curls and kissed him back with an ardor that (afterward) frankly shocked her.

“That’s yes,” he stated with finality. “I know it is.” He stood up so fast she thought he’d been shot. He left her there, aching to have his hands on her everywhere. But to his credit, he went in search of a footman and asked for her father. Straight away, he asked Papa who gave his immediate approval.

And then, quick as you please, Northington had disappeared.

The man who had rushed her into courtship, who had teased and bantered and lured her to fantasies of lying abed with him naked, had simply vanished.

Then two weeks ago, he had reappeared at Courtland Hall with a special license in hand. He apologized for his absence, but gave no explanations. Then he had promptly taken her out into her mother’s parterre and had kissed her senseless.

“May second, I want us to wed, darling.”

Not a question. A statement.

And she—twenty-three and aglow from head to heart to breasts to quivering belly—was  in lust with him. She marveled, for she was no twit. No foolish woman whose daydreams ruled her life. No. She’d entertained numerous swains over the years. After all, she was a wealthy catch. She’d refused six gentlemen in marriage. She hadn’t found any of those fellows—titled, well-healed and accomplished in their own rights— interesting or even vaguely exciting.

But this man, this Northington, mesmerized her.

Truth be bald and bold, she pulsed to feel him wholly devoted to her. And soon, all things to her, dear and vital, tender and lusty, sacred and nakedly profane.

That, she concluded, or she was going to run off with him without benefit of marriage and allow him all sorts of liberties.

But that was two weeks ago.

And this morning as she looked out upon the rolling meadow, rosy in the rays of a rising sun, she questioned if her unmaidenly ardor to have him was enough to bind him to her for the next thirty or forty years.

Or did she need much more?

Miss Harvey’s Horribly Loveable Fiancé
Four Weddings and a Frolic, Book 3
By Cerise DeLand

Theirs was to be The Wedding of the Season!
Until the bride ran away and…
The groom chased after her.
Then she tried to shoot him…
And thankfully aimed poorly.
How can this escapade end, if she’s marrying him for his titles?
And he’s marrying her for her money?
Yet their affair appears to be the Romance of the Year?

Amazon: KU $0.99 August 10-Sept. 2 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08FF5LFQV

About the Author:

Cerise DeLand loves to cook, hates to dust, lives to travel, read and write! She pens #1 Bestselling Regencies known for their spice, historical accuracy and their eloquence! With awards on her shelves for more than 60 romances, she’s also written for Pocket, St. Martin’s and Kensington. She likes wine at 5 p.m. and tries desperately to persuade herbs and veggies to grow in her south Texas garden!

Find Cerise:

Cerise DeLand’s Website:  http://www.cerisedeland.com

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Cerise DeLand’s Delicious Newsletter!  http://www.cerisedeland.com

 

First Kiss Friday with Alina K. Field

14 Friday Aug 2020

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It’s another First Kiss Friday and today I’d like to welcome Alina K. Field to my blog. Alina is sharing the first kiss scene from her novel The Duke She Despised. Happy reading and enjoy, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

The way she was chewing her lip, he knew Mrs. Marlowe was hiding something.

“And how did Mr. Marlowe know the duke?” he asked.

She clucked her tongue. “He didn’t. He’d merely heard in the course of his work about…about the duke’s difficult demeanor.”

Andrew MacDonal had been the topic of conversation among the clergy. How odd. This was a woman with secrets.

Her gaze shifted away and then back, and the spark of defiance there stirred an urge to laugh.

Marlowe was the widow of a man of the cloth, not much used to prevaricating. The vicar’s widow was being wicked. She was lying.

A sheen of moisture appeared on her cheeks and her lips pressed together, suppressing a tremble.

She was delicious. He took a step closer and watched her eyes widen.

“Sir.”

He left her plenty of room to retreat. She held her position.

A potent mix of curiosity, amusement, and desire brewed in him. “Your husband, the gossiping vicar, what, pray tell, caused his demise?”

“He suffered an apoplexy.”

“An apoplexy? He was elderly?”

She huffed. “He was…he had just turned one and sixty. Really, Mr. Andrews, this is—”

“None of my business? You don’t think the duke will want to know that his housekeeper’s late husband spread slander about him?”

She gasped. “That is not—”

“He values loyalty.”

“Loyalty?” She scoffed. “Hmm. And he shall have mine. Am I not trying to see to his comforts? Is it disloyalty for a servant to want to know what irritates her master and what pleases him?”

*****

His head dipped closer and her pulse jumped as strong hands curved around her forearms.

A choking breath brought a woodsy male scent sparking shivers all the way to the soles of her half boots. Ack. He’d startled her into clumsy lies.

And she should not have mentioned that notion of pleasing. Their gazes locked.

His mouth parted. He blinked, his eyes catching the gleam of the lamp.

“Are you…are you quite all right, Mr. Andrews?”

When he drew closer, her heart took off in a wild gallop. Might he…would he…

His lips touched hers, briefly, sweetly, and then he lifted his head away, still watching her.

Warmth unfurled in her, misting her eyes. The few kisses she’d shared with her long-ago suitor had never been so gentle or caring. His look of wonder, of frank admiration heated her as much as the kiss had.

She went up on her toes, freeing her hands to thread through the wild hair at his nape, and when he hooked a hand at her waist and slanted his mouth over hers, she parted her lips for a wholehearted kiss. Desire burst inside her like the pent-up waters of a damn breaking, and the moments stretched on and on.

When he moved her head to his shoulder, his heart pounded in time with her own.

That had been a real kiss.

“I suppose that was quite improper.” The whispered breath tickled her ear. “You must think me a villain.”

He stepped back, his hands sliding along her arms as he released her.

Heat flooded her cheeks, and she blinked away tears. The kiss had been astonishing, and far too brief.

The Duke She Despised
By Alina K. Field

The new Duke of Kinmarty has lost everyone who mattered and gained naught but a title, and debt, and an old pile of a castle. When a fetching new housekeeper appears on his doorstep frantic to ready the place for the Yuletide, he seizes the chance for a respite from grieving and pretends to be the new duke’s estate factor.

With her cousin’s children due to arrive from India, a vicar’s widow hides her identity and takes a position as housekeeper to their dreadful uncle, the man who years ago sabotaged her own chance for happiness. Overwhelmed by a castle understaffed and in disarray, she forges a bond with the new duke’s charming but not very competent factor, not knowing that he’s hiding something as well.

When allies become lovers, each senses the truth may rip them apart. Can their love survive when she discovers he’s the duke she despised?

Universal Book Link: https://books2read.com/u/38Z7YV

Author Bio:

Award-winning and USA Today bestselling author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but she prefers the much happier world of romance fiction. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She is the author of several Regency romances, including the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner, Rosalyn’s Ring. She is hard at work on her next series of historical romances, but loves to hear from readers!

Author Links: 

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Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alina-K.-Field/e/B00DZHWOKY

 

First Kiss Friday with Mary Morgan

07 Friday Aug 2020

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It’s another First Kiss Friday and it’s always a pleasure to have the fabulous Mary Morgan on my blog! Today Mary has an excerpt from her upcoming release Magnar. We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading and enjoy, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

Her face softened as she moved slowly toward Magnar. “Therefore this marriage is in name only for Erik’s protection, aye?”

Annoyed with the direction of his thoughts, he looked away. How Magnar longed to tell the lie on the tip of his tongue. The word ached to be released. He turned and stared into her jeweled eyes in an attempt to offer her any hope of what she wanted to hear.

When she placed a hand on his arm, she whispered, “Tell me honestly, Magnar.”

He swallowed and removed her hand from his arm. Placing it securely over his heart, he stated, “Our marriage will be binding in all ways, Elspeth—in name and body. You may worship your God and I shall do so with mine, but ken this, you will be mine completely.”

The battle of emotions splayed across her face. She stepped closer and pulled her hand free from his. “Then you understand this, Magnar MacAlpin, you can have my body on my terms. The time of my choosing. I am tired of having men telling me what to do. Will you accept my terms?”

By the hounds! Her words sparked his lust further. Magnar concluded he did not want a simpering wife by his side. For the first time, he yearned to have one challenging him—in mind and body.

Grasping her around the waist, he ignored her gasp and cupped her chin. Her eyes widened as he slowly lowered his head. “Agreed.” He breathed the word against her cheek.

When he drew back, Magnar was the one perplexed. Lust shimmered back at him from those emerald eyes. Her full lips parted, and he required no invitation.

Instantly, he took fiery possession of her mouth, devouring its softness. The kiss shattered his senses and tossed him into a stormy sea of pleasure. Her lips were warm and moist, and when she moaned, Magnar thrust his tongue into the velvet warmth of her mouth. Unable to be gentle, his kiss became demanding—burning with need. Especially when Elspeth wrapped her arms around his neck, urging him onward.

Skimming his hand upward from her waist, he found her breast and squeezed the taut pebble through her gown. The roar of desire to strip the material from her body and feast on her honeyed rose-scented skin sent him spiraling. She whimpered as he trailed a path with his tongue from the soft spot below her ear to along her neck. He pressed his lips to her throat and felt the wild beat of her pulse.

“Magnar, Magnar.”

His lips recaptured hers, more demanding this time. The tempest of desire swirled around them.

Finally, a small whisper in the back of his mind clawed at him to stop this madness, or he’d strip her gown from her body and take her maidenhood here on the ground.

Withdrawing from her luscious mouth, he stared at her. Her gaze—both hungry and confused—tore him apart. Never had a woman stirred such a passion so violently in him. Her lips were already swollen from his kisses.

Her chest rose and fell with each breath she took. “Remember our deal, Magnar.” Turning quickly, she darted away through the trees.

In that quiet moment as the air cooled around him, Magnar had left out one declaration to share with Elspeth—the wolf within him. And the beast gnashed his teeth.

The thought soured inside his gut.

“You will never come to my bed willingly, Elspeth.”

MAGNAR,
The Wolves of Clan Sutherland, Book 1
By Mary Morgan
Release date: August 26, 2020

The wolf surrenders to no one, but will the man relinquish his heart?

Known as the Barbarian, Magnar MacAlpin is a fierce ruler for those under his command. As leader of the Wolves of Clan Sutherland, his loyalty and obedience lies with Scotland. However, the king’s last demand is not something Magnar will tolerate.

After Elspeth Gunn’s brother the Chieftain of Castle Steinn is murdered, she flees with her nephew, and finds safety amongst a band of men who are rumored to be part wolf. When the king forces her to wed a heathen Northman, she fears losing her heart and soul not only to the man, but the beast as well.

In order to restore peace to a shattered clan, Magnar and Elspeth travel a treacherous path that challenges their beliefs. When evil seeks to destroy ancient traditions, will Magnar be compelled to restrain his wolf or allow him free to protect those he loves?

Preorder Sale! Purchase your copy before the release date at a discounted price!

Buy Links: 
Amazon:https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08DCDYT4S/

 Author Bio

Award-winning Celtic paranormal and fantasy romance author, Mary Morgan resides in Northern California with her own knight in shining armor. However, during her travels to Scotland, England, and Ireland, she left a part of her soul in one of these countries and vows to return. 
Mary’s passion for books started at an early age along with an overactive imagination. Inspired by her love for history and ancient Celtic mythology, her tales are filled with powerful warriors, brave women, magic, and romance. It wasn’t until the closure of Borders Books where Mary worked that she found her true calling by writing romance. Now, the worlds she created in her mind are coming to life within her stories.

If you enjoy history, tortured heroes, and a wee bit of magic, then time-travel within the pages of her books.

Connect with Mary at these places:

WEBSITE/BLOG:  https://www.marymorganauthor.com/

AMAZON AUTHOR PAGE:  http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Morgan/e/B00KPE3NWI/

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First Kiss Friday with Rue Allyn

31 Friday Jul 2020

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Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today’s guest is my friend Rue Allyn who has an excerpt from One Moment’s Pleasure. Enjoy this first kiss scene!

Excerpt:

All sense fled before Edith’s fury. At the same time she wanted to hit him and kiss him.

Kiss him? Where had that thought come from? Massively uncomfortable, hot, nerves itching, overwrought with confused emotions, and uncaring of the consequences, she had to show him who was in charge. She marched up to him, stood toe to toe then stretched toward his frown and pressed her mouth to his.

The softness of his lips shocked her. Who would believe such a hard expression could feel so good? She inhaled. The scents of mint, leather, and the faint odor of chocolate swirled in her head, anger drowned in a flood of desire. After a moment, his mouth responded, moving ever so slightly back and forth across her own. This was even better. Tiny lightning bolts struck her skin. The itching hadn’t stopped, in fact the tingling sensation increased. It felt wonderful, and Edith wanted more.

She wrapped her arms around his neck and let her body fall against his until they were pressed together from shoulder to knee. A thousand new sensations overwhelmed her, and she tried to get closer. His arms tightened around her in a most gratifying manner.

Inwardly Edith crowed, and the knot of tension in her belly loosened. She’d kissed him, and he’d returned her kiss. She’d shown him that she was in charge. Her desires would take precedence.

One Moment’s Pleasure
Wildfire Love Book 1
By Rue Allyn

Love will build a future on the ashes of the past.

One Moment’s Pleasure will become a lifetime’s passion when spinster, Edith Alden, embarks on a search for her missing sister. Pretending to be a rich bored woman looking for an interlude with an anonymous male Edith enters the San Francisco bordello where her sister was last seen. She escapes the bordello almost too easily, but she can’t escape the passion ignited by a stranger’s kiss.

Born and raised in the brothels of the California gold rush, Dutch Trahern worked for years to erase a childhood spent committing petty crimes and worse in order to survive. That past comes back to haunt him in the form of a woman he rescues from prostitution. Now his hard won respectability is threatened by an irresistible desire for a woman he shouldn’t want.

Universal Buy Link:  https://books2read.com/u/mKDW5v

Author Bio:

Award winning author, Rue Allyn, learned story telling at her grandfather’s knee. (Well it was really more like on his knee—I was two.) She’s been weaving her own tales ever since. She has worked as an instructor, mother, sailor, clerk, sales associate, and painter, along with a variety of other types of employment. She has lived and traveled in places all over the globe from Keflavik Iceland (I did not care much for the long nights of winter.) and Fairbanks Alaska to Panama City and the streets of London England to a large number of places in between. Now that her two sons have left the nest, Rue and her husband of more than four decades (Try living with the same person for more than forty years—that’s a true adventure.) have retired and moved south.  When not writing, enjoying the nearby beach or working jigsaw puzzles, Rue travels the world and surfs the internet in search of background material and inspiration for her next heart melting romance. She loves to hear from readers, and you may contact her at Rue@RueAllyn.com.  She can’t wait to hear from you.

Social Media Links:

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First Kiss Friday with Sherry Ewing & a Giveaway!

24 Friday Jul 2020

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It’s First Kiss Friday but how about some Christmas in July? Who knew that was a thing? Well… apparently lots of authors because you’ll see a lot of us promoting our Christmas stories. So let’s take a look at the first kiss scene from my novella One Last Kiss: The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time (Book Five). I really do enjoy writing my time travel adventures. Read down to the end to be in the running for an eBook of this medieval/time travel story! Happy reading and enjoy, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

“Your name is Thomas,” she stated the obvious and finally took a seat opposite him, but she perched on the edge of her chair, at the ready to take flight if the need arose.

Thomas leaned back, attempting to appear calm when he was anything but composed. “Aye, I am Thomas Kincaid, lately of Berwyck, and you are one of those future women who continues to plague this place.”

“How do you know that?” she questioned, afore reaching for the jug of wine and pouring a cup. She offered him the chalice, and when their hands briefly touched, tingling sensations ran up his arm.

“We have met afore in my dreams. I will assume the same holds true for you since you knew my name as well.”

“Yes… I have dreamed of you, too,” she whispered, afore standing to pace the length of the room. “How is this even possible?”

Thomas shrugged, but he watched her every move, expecting her to disappear from view. “One does not tend to question such a gift, or so I have heard from the others who came afore you.”

She cocked her head to one side as though reliving some memory. “A gift or a curse?” she whispered, afore she crossed her arms and placed her hands beneath her underarms as though hugging herself.

“I would prefer to think on it as a gift and certainly nary a curse that you are here with us.”

“I am a long way from home, Thomas,” she murmured, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Perchance ’tis a Christmas blessing you appear to us for the holiday,” he mused aloud. He leaned his arms upon the chair, his hands forming a steeple whilst inspecting her further. “Will you be missed? In your own time, that is?”

She shook her head, and Thomas was thoroughly captivated as her blonde hair swayed to and fro. “No. Well, that isn’t necessarily true, I suppose. I have a few friends who might wonder where I am, but I have no family that I can claim.”

He nodded, feeling her plight. “I, too, am without my family, although I had hoped such circumstances might change in my future. Berwyck has been my home now for many a year. The MacLaren clan took me in when my father disowned me.”

Jade stopped her pacing. “Oh, Thomas, I’m so sorry. How horrible that must have been for you.”

Thomas let out a low curse. “I am not certain why I even shared such a private matter with you, my lady.”

“You don’t have to call me that.”

“Call you what?” he asked, pondering where he had erred.

“My lady. You don’t have to call me that.”

Thomas’s mouth dropped open. Was she mayhap of yeoman stock or a woman of ill repute? He frowned for he had never thought of her as such when he dreamed of her. “Of course, I do. You are a lady, are you not?”

She laughed, and the pleasant sound rang through the room like a fresh breath of springtime. “Well, I am a woman, Thomas, but I certainly don’t have a title or anything. I’m just me… Jade… from America.”

A-mer-i-ca, he silently mouthed the words of her origins. “You are a long way from home, for I have not heard of such a place.”

“So, I have been told. Out of place and time it appears,” she whispered so softly, he almost missed her words.

Silence descended upon the room with only the crackling fire to break the mood that had come upon them. He stood and went to her.

He was pleasantly surprised when she watched him as carefully as he observed her. “You are not afraid of me?”

A small smile lit her face. “No, of course not, unless you think I should be.”

“Nay, I do not,” he answered honestly before giving her a short bow. “Mayhap, we should start again. I am Sir Thomas, ever at your service, my lady.”

“And I’m Jade. A pleasure to finally meet you, Sir Thomas.” A short giggle escaped her afore she held out her hand for him to take.

“I am certain the pleasure is mine,” he murmured. Bending to brush a kiss across her knuckles, his eyes widened when he became distracted by a strange glow coming from her opposite hand. ’Twas then that he recognized she wore his ring!

Suddenly, her left arm swept around his neck with alarming speed. The force brought their bodies together, and he could feel for himself when Jade attempted to catch her breath. “Thomas! I swear I didn’t do that on purpose.”

“Aye, I know,” he muttered as his eyes widened in surprise when a power bigger than either of them could have imagined began to bring their lips closer together.

“Thomas…” she said in a breathy whisper.

“Jade…” he returned as their breaths mingled on a heartbeat afore they surrendered to their first real kiss.

***

Jade was unsure what madness had overcome her to be kissing a man she barely knew, but, in many ways, she felt as though Thomas had always been a part of her. Crazy as it may seem to even have such thoughts, she gave in to the invisible energy surrounding and pulling them together.

The moment their lips touched, everything changed. Where before she felt as though she were being forced into something she didn’t want, now, it was as if this was where she was always meant to be. With Thomas… in his arms… kissing him with all the love she could muster up for another human being.

Their kiss ended just as quickly as it had started. Their breaths ragged, they could only stare into each other eyes. Thomas reached down to caress her cheek, and a sense of wonderment filled her, knowing she had truly crossed time. He gave her a half smile as though he had heard her thoughts before he leaned down to taste what she now freely offered. It was as though they were now in control of their destiny.

Thomas deepened their kiss, and she heard his moan of pleasure even as she held back one of her own. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been kissed before, but there was a reason she had remained single for so long and not married right out of high school like so many had done. No man had ever stepped into her life that seemed to be the other half of herself or just the piece of her that had been missing. She had sworn to herself she would never settle, but with Thomas, she had an instant connection she knew she would never find again in any other man. In an instant, the universe tilted as though they became as one, almost as though Zoe’s words pulled them together from across the centuries.

As though she watched the scene in a movie theater, his arm wrapped around her waist, and he held her even tighter, bending her over. He made her swoon as no other man had ever done before. Her hand reached up and took ahold of his hair. Gosh, she never wanted to let him go. Emptiness surrounded her when he abruptly tore his lips from hers and pushed away from her. The cooler air of the room coming into contact with her flushed skin caused her to shiver.

One Last Kiss: The Knights of Berwyck,
A Quest Through Time (Book Five)
By Sherry Ewing

Sometimes it takes a miracle to find your heart’s desire…

Scotland, 1182: Banished from his homeland, Thomas of Clan Kincaid lives among distant relatives, reluctantly accepting he may never return home… Until an encounter with the castle’s healer tells him of a woman traveling across time—for him.

Dare he believe the impossible?

Present Day, Michigan: Jade Calloway is used to being alone, and as Christmas approaches, she’s skeptical when told she’ll embark on an extraordinary journey. How could a trip to San Francisco be anything but ordinary? But when a ring magically appears, and she sees a ghostly man in her dreams…

Dare she believe in the possible?

Thrust back in time, Jade encounters Thomas—her fantasy ghost. Talk about extraordinary. But as time works against them, they must learn to trust in miracles.

Can they accept impossible love before time interferes?

Buy Links:

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Amazon AU  |  Amazon BR  |  Amazon CA |  Amazon DE  |  Amazon ES  |  Amazon FR  | Amazon IN  |  Amazon IT  |  Amazon JP  |  Amazon MX  |  Amazon NL  |  Amazon UK

Author Bio:

I picked up my first historical romance when I was a teenager and have been hooked ever since. A bestselling author, I write historical and time travel romances to awaken the soul one heart at a time. When not writing, I can be found in the San Francisco area at my day job as an Information Technology Specialist.

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Website & Books: www.SherryEwing.com
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Giveaway!

Since today we’re celebrating Christmas in July, tell me one of your favorite Christmas or holiday traditions. I’ll leave this giveaway open through the weekend before generating a random comment as the winner of an eBook of One Last Kiss! Good luck and thanks for stopping by my blog!

First Kiss Friday with Lana Williams & a Giveaway!

17 Friday Jul 2020

Posted by in 2020, First Kiss Friday

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Welcome to another First Kiss Friday! My guest today is Lana Williams who is offering an eBook of her novel A Rogue No More to one lucky commenter. Isn’t this cover just beautiful and this excerpt is going to make you rush out to get yourself a copy! Be sure to read all the way to the end and comment to be in the running for Lana’s giveaway. Happy reading, my lovelies, and enjoy!

First Kiss Scene:

Annabelle looked beautiful this evening in her lilac gown. A white ribbon with tiny pearls was wound amidst her brown curls, softening her appearance. Thomas was as fascinated by her feminine beauty as he was by her ability to write clever, gritty mysteries. The woman was a conundrum, and damn if he didn’t like puzzles. That was one of the reasons he’d enjoyed her book so much.

“And?” Her lips were parted ever so slightly as she listened to him, her head tilted to the side. If he didn’t know better, he’d think she was trying to entice him into kissing her.

Need coursed through him at the thought, eliminating all others. His hand lifted as if of its own accord to touch the softness of her cheek. Had the kiss they’d shared all those months ago been as titillating as he remembered? He had to know.

“And I would like to kiss you,” he whispered in the darkness, desperately hoping she’d agree. “May I?”

Her eyes widened as if surprised he’d asked. “Yes.”

Before he could remind himself why this was a bad idea, he kissed her. Her lips were firm beneath his, and she responded with cautious enthusiasm as if she, too, were curious to see if what they’d experienced before had been an anomaly.

He deepened the kiss, using his tongue to encourage her to allow him entrance. Her mouth tasted sweet and held a hint of champagne. Their tongues swirled while they explored what pleased the other. Passion quickly rose to blot out all else. He placed his hands on her waist and drew her against him, enjoying the feel of her curves and appreciating how well she fit against him.

Before he could decide whether he was delighted or dismayed to realize the kiss was everything he’d remembered and more, she eased back.

“Mr. Raybourne.” Her breathlessness nearly made him grin. He liked the idea that she was as unnerved by the kiss as he was.

“Thomas, please.” He dearly wanted to hear his given name on her lips. He realized just how attracted he was to her when she ran a finger along his cheek where he knew his dimple appeared.

“Thomas.” She said his name slowly as if becoming accustomed to it. That only made him want to kiss her again.

“Annabelle.” He’d thought her name so often that it came naturally to him, rolling off his tongue with ease. “I should very much like to kiss you again.”

She hesitated rather than immediately saying no, much to his delight, her gaze fixed on his cravat. “I wonder if that would be wise.”

He leaned close, his lips a breath away from hers, and her dark gaze darted up to meet his. The desire that rose inside him as he looked into those eyes took him aback. Yet not even the hounds of hell could’ve pulled him away. “I think it would.”

The small gasp that escaped her convinced him she felt it too—this elemental attraction that refused to be ignored.

A Rogue No More
By Lana Williams

Thomas Raybourne is tasked by his eldest brother to set aside his roguish ways and make a profitable endeavor out of the publishing company their father, the Earl of Carlington, started prior to his death. Bleary-eyed and reluctant, he takes on the assignment, surprised to realize the company’s bestseller is a gritty mystery written by A. Golden. Now he need only convince the author to write a second bestseller so he can turn around the company and help replenish his family’s finances. But discovering the talented author’s true identity upends his world.

Annabelle Gold has carefully guarded the fact that she writes under the name of A. Golden, but when her editor doesn’t return her inquiries about publishing a second book, she is forced to visit Artemis Press. She’s stunned to discover Thomas behind the desk—the very man who tempted her to steal a kiss on a dark terrace months ago. Despite that unsettling moment, she intends to focus on her career, not marriage.

The pair strike a deal to publish Annabelle’s second book, but soon discover a murderer is copying scenes from her first book. Now, they must identify the killer before he strikes again. Thomas knows he’s out of his league, both with Annabelle and the investigation, but he finds an unexpected ally in her and can’t resist exploring the passion he finds in her arms. Her belief in him makes him think he might be more than the worthless bounder his father always called him. Annabelle wonders if Thomas is more than a rogue as his courage and cleverness—not to mention his kisses—make her reconsider her plans for the future.

Not only are their hearts in danger, but their very lives. Can they stop the killer before he strikes again with one of them as the next victim?

Buy Link:  https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0895HVNX3 (Read for free in Kindle Unlimited)

Author Bio:

Lana Williams is a USA Today Bestselling and Amazon All-Star Author who writes historical romance filled with mystery, adventure, and sometimes a pinch of paranormal to stir things up. Filled with a love of books, Lana put pen to paper and decided happy endings were a must in her stories.

Her latest series is The Rogue Chronicles, set in the Regency era, where rogues meet their match in the most delightful way. The Seven Curses of London series, set in Victorian London, is about men and women who attempt to battle the ills of London, and the love they find that truly gives them something worth fighting for.

Find out more about her other nearly thirty books set in the Regency, Victorian, and Medieval eras at her website.

Social Media Links:

Website https://lanawilliams.net/
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/LanaWilliamsBooks
Instagram https://www.instagram.com/authorlanawilliams/
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Giveaway:

For a chance to win an ebook copy of A ROGUE NO MORE, comment with your favorite summer beverage! Lana will leave this giveaway open through the weekend before selecting a winner. Good luck!

First Kiss Friday with Rue Allyn

26 Friday Jun 2020

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Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today’s guest is my dear friend Rue Allyn who has an excerpt from her upcoming novel One Day’s Loving. It’s available for pre-order now.I love this cover, don’t you? Happy reading my lovelies and enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“You do not love me, sir. What you offer is a marriage of convenience. Although what convenience such an alliance may be to you, I cannot imagine.”

His expression hardened, his jaw growing tighter by the moment.

Mae gathered her courage and continued. If she was going to reveal her feelings, she would show them all. “Grandfather did not encourage participation in the social scene. Therefore I have no social standing that can bring you any advantage. You cannot possibly want to marry a penniless woman, and I will not believe you so callous that you would propose marriage as a means to have a child simply to allow yourself access to the Alden fortune. A fortune that, I remind you, you already control as executor. Marriage to me can do nothing for any ambitions you have.”

The ice left his eyes. “You say a great deal of what I will not gain by wedding you, but nothing of what you will lose.”

Her lips trembled, and her hands fisted in her skirt. She would not expose herself further and risk derision for her fears. Instead, she fell back on pride. “As long as the Alden estate remains unsettled, my sisters and I will be objects of pity, whether we wish it or not.”

“I do not pity you, Mae. I despise your situation, and I am greatly concerned for your safety.”  He grasped her shoulders, turning her to face him.

She wished she could mistake his meaning. “Once the terms of Grandfather’s will become public, I am well aware I may be the object of undesirable and unwanted attentions from men of all sorts.”

“His will places you in danger of another abduction and worse. You need a protector.”

“You believe that protector should be you.”

“It would be one advantage of our marriage. You would also have a confidante, someone with whom to share your troubles. You might even discover unexpected pleasures.”

“Being under the legal protection of a man has brought me more sorrow than pleasure.”

“Not all men are like your grandfather. Marriage to me would be very different from his guardianship. Allow me to demonstrate.”

“How?”

He drew her close and bent his head. His eyes filled her vision, and he laid his lips over hers.

She inhaled a silent gasp of surprise. Then heat and surging pleasure overwhelmed her senses. She should not want this. She should resist. If she yielded, she would have no place to hide. Her feelings would be exposed. Did she have the courage to step from the shadows? She wasn’t in any danger now—or was she?

His lips played on hers. The kiss lingered sweet with yearning. Something—desire?—rippled through her as his arms enfolded her and his mouth coaxed hers open. Yet she still held herself back from the fascinating changes his touch wrought in her body.

Despite a burning rush of sensation, she could not throw caution to the flames. Nonetheless, she returned the kiss, desperate to know if he offered safe harbor or only deeper darkness. She wanted to cast aside fears to indulge in one bittersweet instant of madness, one day of loving when pleasure and delight held the world and worry at bay. She did not dare. She nearly wept, certain she would never again have the chance.

When James lifted his head and released her, Mae felt dazed, disoriented. Fire leapt in his hazel gaze. A tender smile tilted his mouth—that talented, hazardous mouth.

She wanted to reach for him, but she’d already risked too much. Safer to retreat, rebuild the defenses where she could hide from the emotions he stirred.

***

“Well?” His question dropped into the silence.

A becoming blush colored her face. She stepped back, looking everywhere except at him. He wished that blasted will to Hades.

She lifted her hands to cover her cheeks and cleared her throat. “I have given you my answer and do not feel obliged to explain. Once that onerous will is in the past, I may see things differently. If you still feel so inclined, you may restate your offer then.”

His mouth twitched. He was sorry to have embarrassed her, but he could not regret the kiss. “What if I don’t want to wait?”

Though strained, her voice was steady, but her hands trembled. She made a valiant attempt to maintain outward calm.

“While our acquaintance is short, you have never shown yourself to be an impatient man. A single kiss will not convince me that you have developed a sudden and demanding passion for me. Be practical, sir. Our marriage would serve neither of us well.”

One Day’s Loving
By Rue Allyn
Pre-order Now
Release Date: August 17, 2020

Persephone Mae Alden is the invisible Alden sister, quiet, industrious, generous, kind-hearted, loyal and reliable.  The words used to describe Mae remind her of a well-trained dog.  She’s not happy about it, but what can she do?  She likes her quiet life and would be seriously upset if she had to defy convention like Edith or act on instinct like Kiera. But everything changes when necessity forces her to bravery and she must choose between love and family.

A horrifying bequest convinces Boston attorney James W. Collins V that Mae Alden needs a husband, and she’s just the type of wife he wants. The two of them will be a perfect match. Refusing his offer makes no sense, so why won’t the woman accept?

Buy link: https://books2read.com/u/mqr0R2

About the Author:

About Rue Allyn:  Author of historical and contemporary romances, I fell in love with happily ever after the day I heard my first story. (Yes, I was a precocious little brat who read at the age of two, but I could hear much earlier than that.) I studied literature for far too many years before discovering that writing stories was much more fun than writing about them. Heck, as an author, I get to read the story before anyone else. I am happily married to my sweetheart of many, many years. Insatiably curious, an avid reader and traveler I love to hear from readers about your favorite books and real-life adventures. Crazy Cat stories are especially welcome. You can send me your words of wisdom . . . Don’t shake your head at me; all words are wise in one context or another. You can trust me on this; I’m an author. As I was saying, you can send your words of wisdom, humor, and friendship to me at Rue@RueAllyn.com. Can’t wait to hear from you

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Website — https://RueAllyn.com

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Amazon — https://www.amazon.com/Rue-Allyn/e/B00AUBF3NI/

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First Kiss Friday with Eliza Knight & a Giveaway!

12 Friday Jun 2020

Posted by in 2020, First Kiss Friday

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Welcome to my blog and another First Kiss Friday! Today’s guest is Eliza Knight who is offering a giveaway along with an opportunity for a free short story. Be sure to leave her a comment to be in the running. Find out more below. In the meantime, happy reading and enjoy this First Kiss Scene from The Rebel Wears Plaid.

Excerpt from Chapter 12 – First REAL Kiss:

Toran leaned closer, their shoulders brushing and hazy predawn light filtering through the roofless castle. She stared into his eyes, allowing herself just the tiniest moment to sink into their depths and dream. The more time they spent together, the more she wanted to. There was something intoxicating about him. A sweet she wanted to devour.

Before she could decipher what was happening, his lips brushed ever so gently across hers. Jenny gasped, mesmerized at the soft warmth and the jolt of awareness that spiraled through her. Just when she had the wherewithal to press her lips back, his mouth left hers much too quickly.

“I’m sorry, lass,” he whispered, eyes on hers. “I shouldna have done that without asking.”

She flicked her gaze from his eyes to his lips. And threw caution to the wind. “Dinna be sorry.”

“I’ve been wanting to do that for far too long.”

“And I’ve been wanting ye to.” She shouldn’t. She could feel herself getting caught up in the whirlwind of things she’d forbidden herself. Clan and country first. But resisting Toran had been a test she seemed doomed to fail.

He leaned in again, and she tipped her face up, meeting him halfway as his lips connected to hers. He took her hand in his and pressed it over his heart, the thump of it beating beneath her trembling fingertips.

“Ye feel that?” he asked. “’Tis what ye do to me every time we cross paths.”

“Ye’ve a way with words. Do ye speak to all the lasses like that?” she teased, smiling and wishing he’d kiss her some more.

“Nay.”

He couldn’t know how much that single denial made her want to swoon. She let her eyes close, reliving the soft kisses, his words, and breathing him in. He smelled of adventure—horses, leather, the outdoors, a subtle spice, and a faint hint of sweat.

“Will ye let me kiss ye some more?” he asked.

This was the chance she had to deny him, to tell him again that her life’s goal was to see the prince returned to his rightful throne—and nothing else. Changing her purpose on the flap of a crow’s wings was to be untrue to herself.

And yet denying him, letting him go, seemed also to be a betrayal to herself.

How could she have both?

It was impossible.

But right now, in this ruined castle, in the dark, with their enemies at bay and no warring or planning to be done, when she should be sleeping, she could allow him to kiss her some more. To indulge in a moment she might remember when things turned bleak.

“Aye,” she said, her mouth forming the affirmation before her mind had fully comprehended or determined what she wanted.

Toran’s hand slid over her cheek and tucked behind her head, tugging her closer as his lips pressed firmly to hers. The soft, tentative kiss they’d shared a moment before was replaced by this heady melding of lips.

Jenny sighed, her hand pressed to his heart, curling her fingers in his shirt, wanting to hold on forever. Their mouths moved to better fit, his breath on her cheek, her heart pounding in her chest.

When she thought their kiss could not grow any more intense, he licked her.

Well, not a lick exactly. More like a swipe of his tongue. A flick over her lips that had her gasping. He did it again, running the hot, velvet heat of his tongue over her lower lip and then the top, curling inside her mouth before darting away. It was fascinating and intoxicating, and it sent shivers racing all over her body.

She tugged harder against his shirt, pressing her body against his, and then he was dipping his tongue inside, touching the tip to hers, and she was emboldened to do the same thing.

A hot flash of desire sparked as the tip of her tongue tentatively touched his. Shivers ran rampant over her flesh. How was it possible that kissing him could get better and better?

Her heart was pounding, her body trembling, and heat licked at places she didn’t even know could feel…let alone feel so good.

At the same time, she was very aware of where they were and the other men not too far away. Toran’s hand slid from her face, his fingertips brushing over her neck to her collarbone, his palm flattening just above her breasts. She clamped her mouth closed to stifle both her gasp and her enthusiastic surrender.

Toran stilled, feeling her body stiffen. He was pulling away then, and she wished she could pull him back, wished she could tell him to continue kissing her. But the truth was she should have been the one to pull back, to put a stop to the madness.

The Rebel Wears Plaid
by Eliza Knight

These heroines risk their lives to protect Jacobite soldiers. Hiding them, healing their wounds, and aiding in their escape from enemy forces, puts these fiery ladies in harm’s way, but their loyalty wins out over fear every time.

Toran Fraser is hell-bent on taking down the Jacobites. On a late-night mission, he’s intercepted by a woman known only as “Mistress J” who’s determined to put Prince Charlie back on the throne of Scotland. Toran can’t resist her appeal—especially with her pistol pointed at his heart—and suddenly finds himself joining the rebellion…

By day, highborn Jenny Mackintosh runs her estate in the Highlands. By night, she raises coin, delivers weapons, and recruits soldiers for the Jacobite rebellion. When she encounters a handsome Highlander who is clearly on the run, she is more than a little intrigued. She isn’t expecting to become the target of his sworn enemy…

Buy Links:

Amazon: http://bit.ly/RebelWearsPlaid

B&N: http://bit.ly/EKRebel

Apple: http://bit.ly/EKRebelWearsPlaid

Audible: http://bit.ly/ListentoRebel

Kobo: https://bit.ly/KoboRebel

Reading Links:

GoodReads: http://bit.ly/ReadRebel

BookBub: http://bit.ly/ShareRebel

BIO:

Eliza Knight is a USA Today bestselling author of many historical adventures. Escape to Scotland for irresistible heroes, courageous heroines and daring escapades. Join Eliza (sometimes as E.) on riveting journeys that cross landscapes around the world. While not reading, writing or researching for her latest book, she chases after her three children. In her spare time (if there is such a thing…) she likes daydreaming, wine-tasting, traveling, hiking, staring at the stars, watching movies, shopping and visiting with family and friends. She lives atop a small mountain with her own knight in shining armor, three princesses and two very naughty puppies.

SM Links:

Website: www.elizaknight.com

History Undressed Blog: www.historyundressed.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/elizaknightfiction

Twitter: @ElizaKnight

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/eliza-knight

Goodreads: goodreads.com/elizaknight

History Books and Wine Podcast: http://historybooksandwine.buzzsprout.com

Giveaway: One signed print copy of THE REBEL WEARS PLAID to one US winner.
Also — For anyone who pre-orders THE REBEL WEARS PLAID, fill out this form to get your free copy of PRETTY IN PLAID! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScXJudg-b9woINnZeBm1KtlrvR1zDYNZV0SZ14iZ0wMT_GF7Q/viewform