Ruth Ann Nordin's Blog, page 77

Sunday Story Sample: The Earl’s Scandalous Wife (Why Perry Wishes I Would Delete Christopher From the Book)

Today, I thought I’d give an example of why Perry wishes Christopher wasn’t in The Earl’s Scandalous Wife.

Two days later, Perry was sorting through his ledger to balance his account when a knock came from his library door.  Surprised that Paula felt the need to knock, he looked up.  But instead of Paula, Christopher stood in the doorway, a question in his eyes.

“What is it?” Perry asked when he didn’t say anything.  In all the time he’d known him, he never knew Christopher to be shy about saying what was on his mind.  And in this case, he almost felt like his cousin was playing a game with him.

“I know you left London with a delightful young lady, but I don’t see her anywhere.  Did she run off before you could marry her?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then where is she?”

“Not that it’s any of your concern, but she’s taking a bath in her bedchamber.” Why he was telling Christopher this, he didn’t know.

His cousin breathed a sigh of relief and walked further into the room, not bothering to wait for the invitation before he sat down and plopped his feet up on the desk.  “That’s good.  I tell you, it wasn’t easy to find a lady willing to marry you.  Agatha’s been at me nonstop about finding you a wife ever since Sophie ran off with another gentleman.”

Fighting back the urge to grimace, Perry turned his attention back to the ledger.  “Sophie wouldn’t have been happy with me.  We would never have made a good match.”

“Precisely!  I told Agatha that, but she was upset with her sister for days. You’re better off with someone who doesn’t crave constant excitement.”

“Oh?” While he knew Christopher considered him boring, he wished he wouldn’t point it out whenever possible.

“I meant the bad type of excitement.”

“I wasn’t aware that excitement could be bad.”

“Of course, it can be.  Some gentlemen actually die in bed during lovemaking.  Did you know that was possible?  I didn’t until Ethan told me about Lord—”

“I’ve heard enough.  Your point is well noted.  Excitement isn’t always a good thing.”

“Fortunately, all has worked out and you’re married.  You did marry her, didn’t you?”

“Yes, I did.  What kind of gentleman do you take me for?  I wouldn’t run off with her and sully her reputation by not marrying her.”

“Well, I suppose one could argue that she sullied your reputation since she was the one who kissed you.”

With a sigh, he set his quill aside.  “Did you come by to mock me?”

“No, I came by to make sure you’re married.  Agatha fretted the whole time you were gone.  Believe me, it’s not easy to talk a lady into doing anything interesting in bed when they’re worried about something.”

“Does everything have to be so…personal…with you?”

Christopher shrugged and clasped his hands over his stomach.  “I happen to find such talk entertaining.”

“Apparently.  In the future, I’ll thank you to confine such talk when you’re with your friends.”

Perry shook his head and shut his ledger, deciding he’d continue sorting through his finances at a later time.  While he knew Christopher purposely said things to unnerve him, he couldn’t figure out how to ignore them.  If he could, then he suspected Christopher would stop.  After all, how much fun was it to try to bother someone who didn’t respond the way one hoped?

The sound of footsteps directed their attention to the doorway and Perry smiled when Paula walked by.  She got lovelier each time he saw her.  He called out to her, and she turned to enter the room.

“My cousin wanted to congratulate us on our wedding,” Perry called out, motioning to Christopher who at least had the sense to straighten in his seat.

“Yes,” he said and shot her a grateful smile.  “Thanks to you, Perry finally has a wife.  You’ll never know what a relief it is that someone made an honest gentleman of him.”

Questions with Perry Ambrose (aka Lord Clement)

Before I go into this post, I want to give a quick shout out to Cheryl R. for her help over the past week.  :-)

Also, I tried to gift a copy of Bride by Arrangement to Sarah S. and kept getting a reply back from Yahoo telling me the email didn’t go through.  Sarah, if you’re reading this, please leave a comment beneath this post so I can figure out a way to get in touch with you.  :-)

***

Tonight, I thought I’d do a fun post.  I found a list of questions authors can use when thinking of how to develop a plot.  I thought it’d be fun to use some of these with my characters.

Tonight, I’m going to start with Perry from The Earl’s Scandalous Wife.  It’s still in the editing process but should be out later this month.

Ruth: We’ll start with the most pressing question of all…  Perry, what is it you want most?

Perry: I’d love it if Christopher left me alone in this book.  Can you delete his parts in it while you’re still editing it?

Ruth: I meant, what did you want most during the actual story.

Perry: That is what I wanted while you were writing the story.

Ruth: Hmm…

Perry: Hmm what?

Ruth: I thought you would have said you wanted to get married.

Perry: But that’s a given since this is a romance and I’m finally the hero.

Ruth: Since you are the hero, I’d like true love would be what you want most.

Perry: I do want true love.  I just don’t want Christopher to be a part of the journey that gets me there.

Christopher: Well, you wouldn’t take my advice and create a scandal.

Perry: Who invited you here?

Christopher: No one.  Unlike you, I don’t stand on formalities.  Sometimes you have to go out and make life happen instead of sitting back and letting life just happen to you.  I mean, look at you.  You spent three Regency novels moaning on and on about how much you want to get married but you don’t.  If I didn’t do something in The Earl’s Scandalous Wife, someone else would be the hero.

Perry: That’s not true.

Ruth: Christopher, I brought Perry in to ask the questions to.  I can ask you questions in another post.  At that time, you can congratulate yourself on ensuring that Perry gets married in this book.

Perry Ambrose (aka Lord Clement)

Christopher: You didn’t have to come bail me out of trouble.

Perry: If I hadn’t, you might not be here today.  You’d be surprised how many death threats you received over the years.  Running interference for you was a full time job.  But that’s besides the point, what other questions do you have for me, Ruth?

Ruth: When you think of The Earl’s Scandalous Wife, what do you consider to be “your bleakest moment”?

Perry: That one is easy.  It’s when Christopher gave me that so-called gift.

Christopher: First of all, that wasn’t a gift for you.  It was for Paula.  Second, if there’s anyone who needs that kind of book, it’s you.  We all know you’re clueless when it comes to the bedchamber.  Quite frankly, I don’t even know what you’re supposed to do with…it.

Perry: It?

Christopher: Well, this is a PG-rated blog.  I’m not really sure I can get away with saying the actual word.

Perry: Christopher, it seems to be your life’s mission to annoy me.  Ruth, do you really have to wonder why I want him removed from the book?  He’s like a constant thorn in my side.  I have done everything I can think of so he turns out to be a respectable gentleman, and no matter what I do, he refuses to act appropriately.

Christopher: Being “appropriate” is boring.

Perry: Well, I’d rather be boring than annoying.

Christopher Robinson

Christopher: All I can say is thank goodness you end up with a lady who isn’t stuffy and uptight.  If she didn’t have a scandalous side to her, there’d be no hope for you.

Perry: Sometimes I feel sorry for myself.

Christopher: I would too if I were you.

Perry: I feel sorry for myself because I have you constantly saying and doing things to get under my skin.  You intentionally try to bother me.

Christopher: If you weren’t so funny, I wouldn’t do it.  Your problem is that you take everything too seriously.

Ruth: Perry, if you feel that Christopher is doing this, then you need to act like whatever he says doesn’t bother you.  That’s how you resolve that conflict in your story.

Perry: I’ve tried.  But it’s not so easy when I found out he told everyone at White’s that he caught one of the maids leaving my bedchamber very early in the morning.

Christopher: No one believed me.   They did, however, believe you were faking the limp.  We had a good bet going on that one.

Perry: Just the fact that you even say stuff like that is why I don’t want you in my book.  I honestly don’t know how Agatha can stand to be in the same townhouse as you.

Christopher: It’s because I read that book.  You should, too, unless you want Paula to ditch you in favor of a lover.

Perry: I can’t take this anymore.  I’m done with this post.  *leaves*

Ruth: You know, Christopher, you don’t have to be so hard on him.  He did take care of you after your parents died.

Christopher:  All I’m trying to get him to do is have some fun with life.  The poor man needs help.  If I didn’t intervene in this book, he would be going to London at the age of 60 without a wife and no heir.  Instead of making me the bad guy, he should be thanking me.  And you should too.  If it weren’t for me, there would be no book.  When everyone reads it, they’ll know what I mean.  I expect lots of emails thanking me for finally making Perry happy.

Ruth: I think that you’ll be waiting a long time for those emails to come in, just like you’re still waiting to hear that you’re a better hero than Dave Larson.

Christopher: I am better.  I think you’ve deleted those so I never see them when they come in.

Ruth: Nope.  Not a single one has come in.  Not a single one.  Dave is still the most popular hero of all time.  Maybe if you gave Perry a break, someone would actually like you.

Christopher:  No, I don’t think so.  I’m fun and lovable as I am.  Nice try, Ruth, but I’m going to make sure Perry gets a wife, no matter what it takes.  People will read the book and realize the course I chose was the best one.

Ruth: We’ll see.

***

Photo credits:

Perry: © Serrnovik | Dreamstime.com

Christopher: © Vanessa Van Rensburg | Dreamstime.com

Bride by Arrangement: Some Excerpts and a Chance to Get a Free Copy in Exchange for an Honest Review

Well, I’m back from Christmas vacation.  I decided to take a break with my kids since they were off school for two weeks plus today (school was canceled due to a cold snap coming through).  Now that they’re ready to head back, I figure I should, too.  :)

The Anthology Janet Syas Nitsick and I Published with Parchment & Plume, LLC

I don’t know how many reading this post have already gotten Bride by Arrangement, but I’d like to try something I haven’t done yet on this blog.  In exchange for an honest review, I’ll give you a free copy of the ebook.  If you have already bought it and are willing to leave an honest review, I’ll gift you another ebook I’ve written.

Below, I’ll give two excerpts from the two novellas in this anthology.  The first one is from my novella “The Purchased Bride” and the second is from Janet Syas Nitsick’s novella “She Came By Train.”

From “The Purchased Bride” which is about a mail-order bride whose brother sold her to a man she’s never met:

            Ada turned her attention to him.  “I’m here to be Pete Kelly’s wife, right?  He doesn’t have another wife or illegitimate children or engages in anything wrong, does he?”

“No,” the preacher said.  “Pete lives by himself on a farm.  He’s tender and kind.  He’s a good man.”

Jimmy placed her trunk in the wagon then came over to them.  “The situation with Pete is a delicate matter.”

Her stomach tensed and her grip tightened on her purse.  “What is his situation?” she forced out.

From “She Came By Train” which is about a woman who must choose between two men who are vying for her hand:

            For the first time, he realized what a smart woman he brought here. Not just in her intellect, but she also was levelheaded and charming. What a combination! A surge of warmth filled him. “Have a seat, if you don’t mind. I forgot to open my mail.”

“Go ahead.” She settled in a seat in front of his desk.

He picked up a letter opener, slit the envelopes open, glimpsing at each one before he stopped at the last one. He examined the return address then opened it and read the letter. His jaw clenched. Raising his head to Opal, he said in a low voice, “Reverend Stone should arrive tomorrow.”

Her face blushed and she wiggled in her seat. “Oh, that’s wonderful.”

His stomach twisted in resentment. He could not understand his reaction. Stuffing the letter back in its envelope, he returned it to his desk and glanced up at her. “We’d better get going.”

*****

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I have to end the offer to give out a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  I apologize for the inconvenience.

Tifferz and Her Sisterz Spectacular Winter Giveaway Announcement

I’m just one of the authors who is participating in the Tifferz and Her Sisterz Spectacular Winter Giveaway.

Below are the authors and publishers who are participating in the giveaway:

Catherine Bybee

Jewel Adams

Gemma Halliday

Astraea Press

Susan Hatler

Ruth Ann Nordin

Rose Gordon

Cheree Alsop

Veronica Blade

Html code is not my strong point, so I’m just going to link to Tifferz and Her Sisterz blog where you can find all the information about this giveaway and enter for the books/eBooks that sound most interesting to you.

Winners will be chosen and emailed on December 31st.

Click here to go to Tifferz and Her Sisterz Spectacular Winter Giveaway Page!

Bride by Arrangement is Now Available!

I’ll send out an email to those of you on my new release list tomorrow when things settle down around here.  Believe it or not, it takes me at least a half hour to make up that email and I spent the day Christmas shopping with Janet Syas Nitsick.  (We’re really good friends and do a lot of stuff together, which is why it made perfect sense for us to do the anthology together.)  Writing this post will take five minutes so I’m doing this tonight.

Bride by Arrangement is now available!  If you’re interested in checking it out, here are the links:

The Anthology Janet Syas Nitsick and I Are Working On

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Smashwords

Ada Wilcox Wants to Swap Places with Opal Preston in Bride by Arrangement

The anthology Janet and I are working on.

Ada Wilcox is one of the heroines in the Bride by Arrangement anthology.  I wrote her story in “The Purchased Bride” novella.  Janet Syas Nitsick wrote Opal Preston’s story in “She Came By Train.” Both of these novellas are in Bride by Arrangement.

Ada Wilcox as she reads her role in Bride by Arrangement

Today, Ada wanted to come in to talk to me, so I thought I’d bring her on this blog (because it’s always more fun when the characters express their grievances in public).

Ada: I have every right to be upset.

Ruth: I didn’t say you didn’t.  I just don’t understand why you want to swap places with Opal when you have a perfectly good plot in my story.

Ada: My plot sucks.

Ruth: You’re a mail-order bride.  You’re going to get married.  Opal isn’t.

Ada: You’re right.  She isn’t.  She’s going to be a governess.  That’s much better than being sold by my idiot brother to some man I never met.  I mean, what kind of man has to purchase a bride?  What could possibly be wrong with him?  There are so many horrible things that can happen.  Give the role to Opal instead.

Ruth: Opal isn’t my character.  She belongs to Janet.

Ada: Great.  Then send me Janet’s email and I’ll ask her to let me be in Opal’s place.

Ruth: But I don’t have a role for Opal in my story.  I only have a role for you.

Ada: My role sucks.

Ruth: No, it doesn’t.  I don’t give sucky roles to my characters.  Besides, Opal’s going to have her problems to deal with.  It’s not all sunshine and fluffy clouds for her either.

Ada: Oh right.  Her big ordeal is that she has to choose between two men who are vying for her affection.  I can see how awful that is.  *rolls eyes*  I don’t know why you couldn’t have been as awesome as Janet and given me that kind of plot instead.

Ruth: Because it’s no fun to read the same story.

Ada: It wouldn’t be the same story.

Ruth: But it would be the same plot in the same anthology.  And really, you should be happy.  Do you even know how many people love mail-order bride stories?

Ada: But those mail-order brides agreed to be one.  My brother arranged everything behind my back, took me to a train station, and told me I was going to get married.

Ada’s brother who swears he’s not as bad as she makes him sound

Sam: Oh, Ada, it wasn’t as bad as you say.

Ada: I know.  It was worse.  No one can understand how awful it is to find out you’re brother sold you to a complete stranger.

Sam: I realize it looks bad, especially with the way you reacted to it.

Ada: How else am I supposed to react?

Sam: A couple of tears is fine but crying nonstop and telling me I’m ruining your future…

Ada: You are ruining my future.  Marriage is a lifelong commitment.  You’ve bound me to someone I know nothing about.

Sam: I’m giving you your best chance.

Ada: I don’t believe that’s up to you.

Sam: It was back in 1876.  What kind of life do you think you’d have otherwise?  You have no men coming around to court you–

Ada: Thank you so much for saying that in front of the entire world.  Now everyone’s going to think I’m a loser.

Sam: No one is going to think that you’re a loser.  If anything, they’re going to think I’m a jerk because of the way I was portrayed.  I mean, is anyone going to emphasize the fact that I’m the only one left to try to put food on the table and keep the rent paid for our brothers and sister who are too young to work?  No. They’re only going to see me through your point of view and as we can see, that’s not a very pleasant one.

Ada: You’re no hero, Sam.  You didn’t ask me if I wanted to be a mail-order bride.  You just told me I was going to be one.  And not only that, but you sold me.  You gave me up for some money.  I have every right to be angry with you.

Sam: It wasn’t the way you make it sound, and sadly, I don’t think anyone who reads the story will truly understand the situation as it really was.  If anyone should be upset, it’s me.

[image error]

Opal who is the heroine in “She Came By Train”

Opal: And here I thought having a snake slither over my feet and a boy put a frog in my pocket were going to be rough.  After hearing all this, I need to send my author, Janet, a bouquet of flowers for being so nice to me.

Ada: You know, now that I think about it, being a mail-order bride isn’t so bad.  It can be romantic even.  We should trade places.  I don’t mind unruly kids or creepy crawlies.

Opal: Nice try, Ada, but I’m perfectly happy with my story.  It’ll all work out.  You just have to trust that Ruth knows what she’s doing.

Ruth: Thank you, Opal.

Opal: Even if she doesn’t know how to put her characters in historically authentic clothing.

Ruth: Hey!

Opal: Got to go.  The kids need their lessons.  Historically authentic, of course. *leaves before Ruth can reply*

***

Photo Credits:

Ada: © Alanpoulson | Dreamstime.com

Sam: ID 31290998 © Racorn | Dreamstime.com

Opal: ID 18978921 © Konradbak | Dreamstime.com

Sunday Story Sample: She Came by Train (a novella by Janet Syas Nitsick in Bride by Arrangement)

Today I thought I’d share a glimpse of the novella Janet Syas Nitsick wrote called “She Came by Train”.  This is the second story in Bride by Arrangement that will be available next month.  I wrote the first story in Bride by Arrangement called “The Purchased Bride”.

A quick description of She Came by Train:

She came by train to a desolate land.  With mixed feelings, Opal Preston steps onto the platform to meet her employer, Alexander Boyer.  She accepts his hand and climbs into his wagon to begin her role as the governess to his two children.  As she executes her duties, she wonders how she’ll cope without the finery she left behind.

Soon two men are vying for her affections.  Alex can’t imagine his life without her and looks for a way to convince her to stay in Nebraska.  But a preacher from Virginia is also smitten with her and offers to take her back home.  She came by train, but only her heart can determine if she’ll return the same way.

The Anthology Janet Syas Nitsick and I Are Working On

April 1876

Charles City, Virginia

The train chugged toward the station. Smoke bellowed from the engine’s stack. Standing outside underneath the roof of the brick-and-mortar depot, Opal gulped as she watched it approach. She rubbed her hands on her white and green, ruffled skirt.

Her father turned to her. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

“Papa, this is for the best. You know that. Your business is suffering and Winifred is old enough to take care of the boys.” She shifted her head away to dab at a trickling tear with her fingertip.

“But, it’s so far.”

She faced him and forced a smile. “Yes,” she replied, her voice soft. “It’s going to be rough. But not having me here will help you, and I’ll be safe.”

“His credentials are impeccable according to the telegraph messages.”

The train pulled into the station, its wheels squeaking as it made its stop.

She swallowed the lump in her throat. Her hands shook. She tightened her grip on her drawstring purse. Puffs of the engine’s smoke blew into her eyes. She reached into her purse, pulled out a lace handkerchief and wiped her eyes before replacing the cloth.

“Your train departs in about 15 minutes. Let’s get your trunk loaded.” He waved his hand and motioned to one of the baggage handlers to come over. A gray-headed man raced to them. “Would you put this on the train for us? The baggage tag is on it, and my daughter has the matching one.”

Opal clasped the drawstrings and pulled the purse open to grasp the brass metal inside.

Pa laughed. “You’re always checking and rechecking things. That’s why I’m surprised you’re willing to take on this adventure.”

Her skirt brushed against her ankles, and she rocked back and forth. “It is amazing, isn’t it? But this leaves you with one less mouth to feed, and it’s time I found my way.” She paused. “I-I can’t stay with you forever and no man has asked to court.”

Her father took her arm. “That’s not true. There’s plenty interested in a pretty girl like you. You’re just picky.”

Opal sighed. “Yes, I guess I am. I want a man’s man not some wimpy old-plantation owner who never worked a day in his life.”

“You, amaze me, Opal. You really do. I never thought you had that much mischief in your soul.”

“No, Pa, it’s not that. It’s just I want to see if there’s something else out there, and this

position will give me that.” She adjusted her feather hat.

“All aboard!” the conductor shouted from a distance.

Pa stroked her hand before he tightened his grip. “You write. If things don’t work out you come back to us, Winifred and the boys wanted to see you off.” His voice broke.

“I know but it’s better this way. We said our good-byes last night.”

He led her to the train and searched for the conductor. He spied him speeding to the car. They were the first ones in line.

The conductor smiled.

For a moment, Pa rubbed his hands on his pants. “My daughter here is taking this train to Lincoln, Nebraska.” He caressed her arm as he spoke. “Keep her safe. She has no escort to watch over her. She is taking a governess position and only Alexander Boyer is allowed to meet her when she reaches her destination.”

Nate is Appalled that His Good Friend Perry Has Been Caught in a Scandal (an discussion involving three characters in The Earl’s Scandalous Wife)

After reading the sample from The Earl’s Scandalous Wife, Nate (aka Lord Roderick) was so upset he wrote me this letter:

Lord Roderick who has no sense of humor

To the author who  thinks getting her heroes trapped in marriage is funny,

Perry has been my friend since childhood.  He’s made it a point to lead a very honorable life free of any scandalous activity.  He’s had to bear with that irresponsible ward Christopher for years, and he’s done so with the patience of a saint.  And now you force him out on the veranda and make him an unsuspecting victim of a money-grubbing…  Well, you know what word I mean.  The point is, you have damaged his reputation.  I insist you go back and rewrite this book at once.

Perry: No, I don’t want Ruth to rewrite the book.

Nate: Have you lost all common sense?  This is the very thing you worried Christopher would do.

Perry: But this isn’t Christopher’s book.  It’s mine.

Nate: Are you saying you approve of this?  She’s made a fool of you.  You didn’t get to pick your wife.

Perry: You didn’t either.

Nate: Which is the point of me calling Ruth “the author who  thinks getting her heroes trapped in marriage is funny.” It’s not funny.  Not one bit.  In fact, it’s insulting.

Perry: I wouldn’t call it insulting.

Nate: Then what would you call it?

Perry: *shrugs* I think it’s flattering.

Nate: Flattering?

Perry:  Indeed.  Paula is a very beautiful lady and she chose me to create a scandal with.

Nate: *grimaces* I’ll never understand you.

Christopher Robinson who will do anything to get Agatha to stop bugging him about finding Perry a wife

Christopher: Which is why you didn’t have a hand in the scandal.

Nate: Perry has better things to do than get caught up in a scandal.

Perry: No, I don’t.

Christopher: See?  If it weren’t for me, he’d still be looking for a wife.

Perry: I wouldn’t go that far.

Christopher: You didn’t get anywhere for the past five Seasons.  Had you been a lady, we would have confined you to eternal spinsterhood.  This way, we finally got the matter resolved and you can go on without blaming that blasted cane of yours for not finding a wife.

Perry: A lot of ladies are put off by the cane.

Christopher: Oh, they are not.  It’s all in your mind.  You use that cane as a crutch to explain why no one wants to marry you.

Nate: *snorts* And I suppose you’re so brilliant, you know why that is.

Christopher: He’s boring.

Perry: Pardon me?

Christopher: No need to apologize.  You can’t help it.  It’s in your blood.  But don’t worry.  Paula will be good for you.  In fact, she’s perfect.  She’s willing to marry you.  That makes her ideal for you.

Nate: But why does she want to marry him?

Christopher: Does it matter?

Nate: Of course, it matters.  Intent is everything.

Perry: It is possible that she could find me interesting.

Christopher: Considering she only spoke to you for two minutes before she kissed  you and sealed the marriage, I’d say she might have found you interesting.  Any longer than that, we’d all know that wasn’t the case.

Nate: Something else is up.  I don’t trust any of it.

[image error]

Perry who has been dubbed “The Earl who can’t find a wife”

Perry: Whatever it is, I’m sure she has a good reason.

Nate: You’re so trusting, Perry.  This is exactly why Christopher got away with as much mayhem as he did while he was your ward.

Christopher: Well, I turned out just fine.

Nate: Because of me.

Christopher: In spite of you.  I feel sorry for your wife, Lord Ironfist.  To think of what she endures being married to you.

Perry: Enough, you two.  All you ever do is bellyache when you’re around each other.  It’s bound to drive someone crazy.  I think the whole point is that I actually don’t mind be subjected to a scandal because it has nothing to do with bailing Christopher out of trouble.

Nate: Seriously?

Perry: Yes.  Seriously.  Unlike you, I don’t mind it when an attractive lady kisses me.

Nate: Claire didn’t kiss me.  She fell on top of me.  The whole thing looked like it was something it was never supposed to be.

Perry: And some people still don’t believe that.

Christopher: I do.  Claire never would have picked him if she’d been given an actual choice.  He followed her onto the veranda and harassed her.  The poor lady was at her wits end when she tripped in an effort to get away from him.

Nate: How I wish Ruth would have killed you off with some freak horse riding incident.

Perry: Give it a rest, both of you.  I swear, when you two are in the same room, no one gets a moment of peace.  And what you two think is irrelevant.  I’m going to marry Paula and that suits me just fine.  Unlike Nate, I’m not going to hold a ridiculous grudge and make her miserable while I accuse her of ruining my life.  Unlike Christopher, I’m not going to blackmail her into doing anything she doesn’t want to do.  I’m going to do things the right way.  *walks away*

Christopher: If he so willingly accepts it, I wonder what the actual plot of the book is going to be.

Nate: I guess we’ll have to read it to find out.

Christopher: I get more pages in the book than you do.

Nate: So?

Christopher: The author likes me better.

Nate: Or maybe you’re a pain in the hind end and keep inserting yourself into filler scenes that don’t advance the plot.

Christopher: You wish.  All of the scenes with me make the book way better.

*post comes to a close as the two continue to argue*

***

Photo credits:

Nate © Aleksandar Todorovic

Perry © Aleksandar Todorovic

Christopher © Serrnovik | Dreamstime.com

Sunday Story Sample: The Earl’s Scandalous Wife

A little background to this scene:  Paula Leighton (our heroine) is waiting on the veranda for Perry to come out (and our lovable character Christopher Robinson is helping her create a scandal that will force Perry into marriage)…

A minute later, Mister Robinson opened the door and gestured for Lord Clement to step outside.  “I told you no one is out there,” Mister Robinson said.  “I will go inside and my wife and I will find Miss Leighton.  Then we can all talk.”

Lord Clement hesitated on the threshold of the doorway.  “I don’t know.  Maybe we should all come out here together.”

“What’s the need?  As you can see, no one is out there.”

He tapped the golden tip of his cane and sighed.  “I suppose you’re right.  What’s the worst that came happen?”

“Miss Leighton won’t show up,” Mister Robinson replied, chuckling at his joke.

“I’m not amused.”

He cleared his throat.  “Of course not.  Nothing amuses you.” As Lord Clement stepped onto the veranda, he added, “If anyone needs a lady who doesn’t take life so seriously, it’s you.  It’s the only way you’ll learn how to enjoy life.”

“I enjoy life just fine.”

“Playing chess and discussing politics aren’t enjoyable.”

“That depends on who you ask.”

Rolling his eyes, Mister Robinson shut the door, leaving Lord Clement alone.  Paula gripped the column and watched as Lord Clement settled onto a bench just mere feet from her.  If she was going to do this, it was best to do it now.

Lord Clement jerked and turned toward her as she stepped forward.  “Miss Leighton?  I didn’t see you out here.” He rose to his feet.  “We must get back inside before someone sees us.”

Her heartbeat picked up as she closed the gap between them.  “No one knows we’re out here.” In a bold move, she took his cane, slipped her arm around his, and urged him to sit.  From the position she chose, she had a clear view of the door but he didn’t.  Good.  With a smile, she set his cane on the other side of her so it wasn’t in his reach and clasped her hands around his.  “Your cousin, Mister Robinson, was telling me that you’re a very kind gentleman.”

“Oh, well, that was nice of him.” He made a move to grab his cane but she shifted to block him, and in doing so her breast brushed against his hand.  Pulling back from her as if he’d just touched fire, his face grew bright red.  “I-I’m sorry.  I didn’t,” he motioned to her breast, “mean to…you know.”

“I know,” she quickly assured him, surprised he should be so flustered.  Weren’t gentlemen supposed to try to touch a lady’s breast?  “It was an accident.  I understand.” Still holding onto his arm, she continued, “I wanted to get a chance to talk to you.  Without any interruptions.  I thought I might learn more about you that way.”

He cleared his throat and scooted away from her, but she quickly scooted along with him.  He let out an uneasy laugh.  “We can talk at Hyde Park.  While we would need a chaperone, we could ride horses further ahead.  That way we’d have a private conversation while not risking anything scandalous, like we are now.”

Before he could turn his head to the door, she cupped the side of his face in her hand and turned it back in her direction.  “You worry too much.”

“My cousin will be out here any minute.”

“But he told me he’ll be at least five minutes.  That leaves us a little time to talk.”

“I’m really not comfortable—”

“Like I said, you worry too much.  Now, tell me all about yourself.”

He stopped struggling to get away from her for a moment and stared at her.  “What?”

“What do you like to do?  What are your favorite things?” When he didn’t answer her, she asked, “What’s your favorite color?”

“My favorite color?”

“I’m partial to purple myself.  Now, tell me, what color do you like most?”

“Um, red, I suppose.”

“You suppose?”

“I also like blue a lot.”

“What a wonderful combination,” she said, snuggling closer to him as she gathered the courage to kiss him.  “Red is passionate and exciting while blue is loyal and friendly.  I bet you’re a loyal friend who has a passionate and exciting streak hidden beneath the surface.  Am I right?”

“I never thought about it before.”

“I bet it’s true about you.” She took a deep breath.  “I think we could be well matched.”

“You can’t tell that by learning what colors I like.”

She noticed that while he protested, he had stopped trying to get away from her.  Either he’d given up and was hoping she’d release him or he realized he wanted to be close to her.  She hoped he wanted to be close to her.  There was something unbelievably sweet and charming about him.

She glanced at the door and saw it open.  Mister Robinson stuck his head out and gave her a nod.  Taking that as her cue, she leaned forward and kissed Lord Clement.

I’d Love Some Input

Quick update:

My novella “The Purchased Bride” which is going to be part of the anthology Janet Syas Nitsick are writing called Bride by Arrangement is with the publisher.  I’ll let you all know when it is available.

The Earl’s Scandalous Wife’s first draft is done.  It is currently with a beta reader who has an eye for additional scenes that would make a book better than it is.  So before I do any edits, I’m letting her read through it.  If she finds something I can add, I’ll include it.  Then I’ll go into the edits with my editing team.  I expect this book to be out next month some time.

Other Current Works In Progress

Boaz’s Wager is over halfway done.  If I can keep up the pace I’m at, I figure I will finish the first draft next month (maybe around mid-month) and have it released around the first of March.  I’m around chapter five for The Earl’s Secret Bargain.  I am tentatively scheduled to finish it in mid-March which puts me at a May release.   Marriage Can Kill is technically at 29,000 words (about halfway done), but I am slowly going through what I have so far and revising it.  This book is a romantic suspense, and since I have no idea how well it’ll be received, it’s low on the “must do” list.

Two books I have decided to replace Wagon Trail Bride and His Convenient Wife.  I’d love some help giving them titles.

1.  A Regency

One book is a Regency and will feature the best friend of the hero in The Earl’s Secret Bargain.  The basic plot is that the heroine is promised to another but the hero kidnaps her so he can marry her instead.  The heroine is glad when he does this.  The conflict is going to come from somewhere else, and I won’t know what it is until I’m writing it.

My ideas for the titles are below:

The Earl Stakes His Claim

The Earl’s Kidnapped Bride

2. A mail-order bride book set in the Black Hills area of South Dakota (which back then was the Dakota territory)

The main plot is a young woman (Sadie) takes on another woman’s (Hazel’s) identity to marry a man she’s never met.  Sadie is basically in a bad situation and, by chance, meets up with Hazel who is heading for Rapid City as a mail-order bride.  Hazel ends up dying (not sure how yet) and upon her death bed, tells Sadie to marry the man who’s waiting for her.  So it’s not like Sadie is a villain.  She does, however, have a past she never wants anyone to discover so she tells the man that she’s Hazel.  Something is going to come as a result of this lie, but until I write the book, I won’t know what it is.

My title ideas for this book are below:

Mail Order Bride by Deception

The Mail Order Bride’s Secret

*I want “Mail Order Bride” somewhere in the title so people know it’s a mail-order bride romance.

Any thoughts on the titles?  I’d love to hear them.  :-)