Nicole Zoltack's Blog, page 8

12 Days of Giveaways - Jason Zandri

Today's guest is Jason Zandri.
As part of my involvement in the Twelve Giveaways of Christmas Blog Tour I am doing a couple of things -a Rafflecopter giveaway and I am going to offer one part of the "10 Painfully Obvious Truths Everyone Forgets Too Soon" posting (Credits: by Marc Chernoff, marcandangel) and my own thoughts on it. Today's is:1.  The average human life is relatively short.We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know.  It’s like walking up a flight of stairs with a distracted mind, and misjudging the final step.  You expected there to be one more stair than there is, and so you find yourself off balance for a moment, before your mind shifts back to the present moment and how the world really is.LIVE your life TODAY!  Don’t ignore death, but don’t be afraid of it either.  Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action.  Death is not the greatest loss in life.  The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive.  Be bold.  Be courageous.  Be scared to death, and then take the next step anyway.A number of things come to mind when I read this, but I suppose it's the simple thought of "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow."Yes, you want to make sure to take the time to save for a house, a vacation, retirement, and so forth, but no one ever lay on their deathbed saying "damn, I really wish I could have put in 100 more hours at work."Take the vacation.Go for a walk.Buy an ice cream cone for yourself.Step outside on a sunny day; soak in the rays.Step outside into the rainstorm; let the water wash over you.Grab an extra hour of sleep.Call a loved one and just BS on the phone.Go over and see them.Buy a bag of dog food and bring it to the animal shelter.Clear out the canned goods that are about to expire at home and donate them to a food pantry for the less fortunate. Sing or dance like nobody is watching / listening.If there are people around, do it anyway.Play with your kids / grandkids.If they are older, take them to lunch (or that ice cream cone).Forgive someone for their trespass; you do not have to forget what occurred, but perhaps it's time to let part of it go.Ask for forgiveness for a trespass of your own; if you are not forgiven by them, at least forgive yourself.I will close my thoughts by looping back on what I said prior - "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow."You want to do whatever you can that is timely and practical as far as working and savings so that you can have the best chance to have the same kind of life in your final years as you experienced your working adult life.With that I emphasize two additional 'moderation' thoughts:Do something 'small' tomorrow for yourself, in case it does in fact end up being your last day.You are never going to see an armored car follow a hearse; find a balance in what you are putting off for 'down the road' and what you could do, streamlined, next weekend.

12 Days of Giveaway - Britany Mills

Hi, everyone! Britany Mills is going to take over my blog today to kick off our event. Take it away, Britney!

 I am so excited to be part of this fun book giveaway for Christmas! There are a bunch of fun authors participating and so many chances to get a great book!
    
 I'm giving away a few copies of my book, #ShareChristmas, that I finished a few weeks ago. I love Christmas stories, the short ones that make you want to cry because of the goodness of people. The reason I wanted to write a bunch of short Christmas stories is because there are so many different family situations that you might come across during the holiday season and I think by showing what people are going through, we can all be a little bit more sympathetic.
   
 There are ten stories that are all fiction but based on things that have happened in my life or in other's life that I have witnessed and so hopefully you can connect with a few of them. This is a great book to add to your Christmas collection and even has a bunch of fun activities to do with your kids to keep the real meaning of Christmas in your home during this great holiday! 
 Plus, I'm also giving away a few more editing opportunities! Make sure to enter now! 
  a Rafflecopter giveaway 
Make sure to check out all of the other great giveaways happening and I hope this is a great holiday for you and your family!

Welcome to the Second Stop of the Belles Holiday Wassailing Tour

A warm and merry welcome to you! The Baron and Baroness Welles their daughters Jean and her husband and Eliza and her betrothed Stephen of  JOY TO THE WORLD  could not be happier to invite you into their humble abode. Things had been a little unnerving when Stephen, the Duke of Wyndale, had showed up late to his wedding with Eliza, a wedding which has now been postponed. Hopefully there will be no further complications with their next wedding.

To win a signed, print copy of The Test of Time with swag, comment below with your favorite holiday cookie and the answer to be found at the previous stop on the tour, Jude Knight's blog.
What is the title of Jude Knight's contribution to Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem?



Eliza, Stephen, Jean, and Lord and Lady Welles are characters in Joy to the World , in Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem
Eliza BerkeleyEliza Berkeley enjoys going for walks and playing on her pianoforte. As the second daughter of a baron, she never expects a duke to look her way. When one does, and proposes, she immediately accepts, never suspecting that she might be taken by a reprobate …


Stephen HuntingtonStephen Huntington, Duke of Wyndale, enjoys drinking, gaming, and wenching. He loves the ladies, and they love him. Settling down is not in his future… until he learns that he is to be wed on the morrow to a woman he has never met.






Stephen made his way to Eliza's side. She shyly glanced his way. He was clapping mightily.
"Lovely singing," he exclaimed. "Perhaps you could play on the pianoforte, Miss Berkeley?"
"Perhaps." She flushed under the heat of his gaze. "But first, would everyonel care to have wassail?"


Traditional Wassail
http://nourishedkitchen.com/traditional-wassail-recipe/Recipe by: Jenny McGruther
This traditional wassail recipe features hard cider, sugar-roasted apples, brandy and sweet spices. It is a simple, old-fashioned recipe.
Ingredients·       4 small apples·       1 cup unrefined cane sugar·       1 medium orange·       13 whole cloves·       2 quarts hard apple cider·       1/2 cup brandy·       1 tbsp powdered ginger·       1 tsp grated nutmeg·       6 allspice berries·       2 cinnamon sticks·       6 large eggs, (separated)·       toast, (optional, to serve with)
Instructions·       Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.·       Scoop out the core of the apples without fully penetrating the apple – a melon baller works well. Fill each apple with about a tablespoon of unrefined cane sugar. Place the apples in the baking sheet. Stud an orange with thirteen cloves and place it in the baking sheet. Bake the apples and orange together for forty minutes.·       While the apples and orange bake, pour apple cider and brandy into a heavy-bottomed stock pot and warm over moderately low heat. Whisk in powdered ginger and grated nutmeg. Do not bring the wassail to a boil.·       Cut a small square of the butter muslin and place allspice and cinnamon into the square; tie with 100% cotton cooking twine and float this sachet of spices in the wassail as it warms.·       Beat egg yolks until light in color and set aside. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold egg yolks into whites, then temper the eggs by slowly pouring one-half cup wassail into the eggs. Remove the spice sachet from the wassail and pour in the tempered eggs. Transfer to a punch bowl. Float baked apples and oranges in the wassail and serve by the mug, topping each much with a small slice of toast if desired.
Excerpt from Joy to the World
It had been years since Stephen last touched a pianoforte’s keys. To his trained ears, his lack of practice was evident, so evident he almost stopped playing. Only the intent eyes of the lady beside him forced him to push through it. Eventually, his fingers cooperated, and he tempted the instrument to play something resembling music. 

When he finished, Eliza said, “That was...” 

“Not as good as yours.” He grimaced. Failure was not something he was accustomed to, and why he had offered to play in the first place, he did not know. 

She did not disagree with him. His frown only deepened, but then, he smiled. Eliza did not feel the need to agree with his every word... Was that for good or for ill? 

“Who taught you to play?” Her fingers hovered above the keys. “I have not seen a male pianoforte player before.”

“My mother.”

“Ah.” She nodded as if that explained much.

“She always wished for a daughter, but I was her only child.”

Again, that same nod.

He fidgeted, suddenly uncomfortable. “Did you play for him?”

Eliza paused and tilted her head, considering. “No. There was no time for it.”


Ah, something he had over the impostor. This greatly pleased him, which, in turn, worried him.


Eliza's father clapped his hand. "Please, join us for some food and drink. I insist."

His wife nodded. "But of course. I do hope you enjoy lobster."

Stephen smiled widely. "Lobster is a great favorite of mine."

"Good." Lady Welles turned to you. "Yours as well, I pray."




Lobster au GratinAs served at the Christmas dinner of the Duke of Buckingham in 1808, with the expatriate French king, Louis XVIIIRecipe from: A Complete System of Cookery, 4th Ed., by John Simpson, Cook to the late Marquis of Buckingham.
Cut up a lobster, take the fish out, cut it in small pieces, and put it into a stewpan with a little sauce tourney, pepper and salt, and a little anchovy essence. Mix it all together, split the tail and body shell; put the lobster in, and cover it over with bread crumbs; drop clarified butter over the lobster, and put it in the oven to brown: if for meagre, use cream.



"Eliza, will you be a dear and fetch some elder wine for our guest?" her mother asked.

Eliza glanced at Stephen. "Will you help me?"

"Of course."

As Eliza walked past her sister, Jean gave her a wise smile. "He looks favorably upon you."

Eliza blushed and hurried to catch up to her betrothed. No one but herself and Stephen knew that the man she had been about to marry had not actually been the Duke of Wyndale. This Stephen was the true duke. And he had stepped into the impostor's shoes and agreed to marry her, if she wished, to save her name and her family from scandal.

Lately, though, she could not help but wonder what it would be like to marry him for him and not for the sake of her family... Although what Stephen would think of that, she surely did not know.


Elder Wine https://janeaustensworld.wordpress.com/category/regency-drink/Recipe from: A New System of Domestic Cookery: Founded up Principles of Economy; and Adapted to the Use of Private Families, by Mrs. Maria Eliza Ketelby Rundell
To every quart of berries put two quarts of water, boil half an hour, run the liquor, and break the fruit through a hair sieve; then to every quart of juice put three quarters of a pound of Lisbon sugar, coarse but not the very coarsest. Boil the whole a quarter of an hour with some Jamaica peppers, gingers, and a few cloves. Pour it into a tub, and when of a proper warmth, into the barrel, with toast and yeast to work, which there is more difficulty to make it do than most other liquors. When it ceases to hiss, put a quart of brandy to eight gallons, and stop up. Bottle in the spring or at Christmas. The liquor must be in a warm place to make it work.
With thanks to Jane Austen’s World (Please see link for an in-depth discussion of the recipe)


In this collection of novellas, the Bluestocking Belles bring you seven runaway Regency brides resisting and romancing their holiday heroes under the mistletoe. Whether scampering away or dashing toward their destinies, avoiding a rogue or chasing after a scoundrel, these ladies and their gentlemen leave miles of mayhem behind them on the slippery road to a happy-ever-after. 
***All proceeds benefit the Malala Fund.*** 
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Eliza waved with her family as they saw you off with directions to the next stop. "Do take care and Merry Christmas!" she called.


Make sure you visit all of the Belles' holiday wassailing stops, with a different Regency era Christmas carol, dinner selection, and beverage, and wassail recipes at every stop that you can make in the modern kitchen.4 Dec: Jude Knight: The First Course, Regency White Soup7 Dec: Nicole Zoltack: The Second Course, Lobster au Gratin9 Dec: Amy Rose Bennett: The Third Course, A Stuffed Christmas Turkey11 Dec: Susana Ellis: The Fourth Course, A Yorkshire Pie14 Dec: Vanessa Riley: The Fifth Course, English Bread16 Dec: Caroline Warfield: The Sixth Course, Jerusalem Artichoke a la Crème18 Dec: Sherry Ewing: The Seventh Course, Mince Pies21 Dec: Mariana Gabrielle: The Eighth Course, Christmas PuddingDigital Christmas Card by EKDuncan using digital Christmas ornaments of Regency ladies                  

New Adult Scavenger Hunt with Melissa West and Giveaways!

Welcome to New Adult Scavenger Hunt! This bi-annual event was inspired as a way to give readers a chance to gain access to exclusive bonus material from their favorite authors…and a chance to win some awesome prizes! At this hunt, you not only get access to exclusive content from each author, you also get a clue for the hunt. Add up the clues, and you can enter for our prize–one lucky winner will receive one book from each author on the hunt in my team! But play fast: this contest (and all the exclusive bonus material) will only be online for 72 hours!Go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page to find out all about the hunt. There are TWO contests going on simultaneously, and you can enter one or all! I am a part of the TEAM GREEN–but there is also a blue team for a chance to win a whole different set of books! If you’d like to find out more about the hunt, see links to all the authors participating, and see the full list of prizes up for grabs, go to the New Adult Scavenger Hunt page.***THE SCAVENGER HUNT***Directions: Below, you’ll notice that I’ve listed my lucky book number. Collect the lucky book numbers of all the authors on Team Blue, and then add them up (don’t worry, you can use a calculator!).Entry Form: Once you’ve added up all the numbers, make sure you fill out the form here to officially qualify for the grand prize. Only entries that have the correct number will qualify.Rules: Open internationally, anyone below the age of 18 should have a parent or guardian’s permission to enter. To be eligible for the grand prize, you must submit the completed entry form by April 26th, at noon Eastern Time. Entries sent without the correct number or without contact information will not be considered.LET THE HUNT BEGIN!NO KISSING ALLOWED By Melissa West
Deleted Scene
I rushed out of the bar and into the continuous noise that was New York City. Even at midnight, the streets were crowded with honking cars, the sidewalk overrun with people going out, going home, going about their lives. I found myself jealous of them. All I wanted was one last night, but I wasn’t that girl. The kind that hooked up with random guys just to do it. I blamed Trent, my college boyfriend, who I found, not so secretly, screwing his female roommate. I should have known. But now I found myself desperate to prove that I still had it. That I was attractive and sexy. That guys would want to be with me without seeking out someone else. In short, it had bruised my ego and now I was fighting to nurse it back to health.
I lifted my left leg to tighten the buckle on my heel, just as someone rushed past me, knocking me off balance. I reached out for the first thing I could find and my hands wrapped around a hard surface. I glanced up to see what wall I had nearly face planted against and straight into the chocolate brown eyes of a man that could be Chris Hemsworth’s twin. If he opened his mouth and spout out an Australian accent, I was going to faint. His dirty blond hair laid across his forehead in a way that said it knew it was perfect and didn't need ick and stick to make it that way. I reached out to touch the pretty hair and he jerked back, his face painted with humor. "Are you all right? You seem a little..."
Okay, clearly the buzz I thought was wearing off was still very much in place. I closed my eyes. God. I just tried to touch some stranger's hair. I realized I still had my hands on his biceps, which were so impeccably toned I had to wonder if he was flexing. No one had arms this hard. No one except Chris Hemsworth, but he wasn't real. Well, I guess he was real, but not real-real.
Thor Guy bent down so he was on my eye level, his mouth curved up at one corner. "Hello?"
I stepped away from him, suddenly embarrassed and tired and wishing I had listened to Mom's speech about responsibility and all that because I wouldn't be on the street, stroking the arm of some stranger, who kept looking at me like I was a lost puppy. Or a street act. I couldn't be sure.
"Uh, yeah. I'm fine. Thanks." I spun on my heels and went in the opposite direction—even though my apartment was only a few blocks away and I was now going the wrong way. I had to get out of there with the little bit of dignity I had left.
"Wait," the man called. I didn't stop. He reached out for my arm.
"Yes?” I said, turning to look at him. I noticed for the first time that he was wearing a suit. Black with clean lines. Expensive. His white button down was unbuttoned at the top and his red tie had been loosened at the collar. I wondered if he, like me, had just left a bar. It was late. I couldn't imagine he was coming from work.
He shook his head, a grin on his face. “I’ve had a long day, and by the looks of it, so have you. 
There’s another bar just down there.” He pointed past me. “Since this one doesn’t seem to be a favorite. Would you like to get a drink?”
I drew a breath. “I shouldn’t.”
“Just one.”
I fought the urge to smooth down my hair, and that was when I caught sight of Random Bar Guy through the bar’s glass door. He was looking around, carrying something in his hand. Shit. My jacket. In my effort to flee, I must have left it behind.
I eyed the Michael Kors jacket, torn between the three-hundred dollars I’d spent on it and my self-respect. This was why Lauren said I needed therapy for my fashion addiction. If I’d only spent fifty bucks on it, I would walk away without a second glance. Damn it. My heart clenched at the sight of the camel-toned leather. It was so soft, so pretty, fit so perfectly. I sighed heavily.
“Do you know him?” Thor asked, his gaze following mine.
I bit the inside of my cheek, fighting the urge to cry. I loved that jacket. I let my eyes drift back up to his, resolved that I would have to say goodbye to it. So long, beautiful jacket, our time together was fun. “No,” I said with a smile. “I thought he was someone I knew, but I was wrong. So, about that drink.”
His grin widened and he placed a firm hand on my back, directing me toward the bar.
We settled into the far right corner of the bar, him ordering a scotch neat, me a vodka tonic. Losing the jacket had sobered me up fast and I needed a quick fix to heal the hole in my heart. I scolded myself for wearing it at all, but the early fall air in the city had proved to be chilly at night and the Southern girl in me couldn’t survive the chill without a jacket.
I remembered my mother’s face when I told her I’d decided on NYU for college. She looked as though I told her I was going to school in Africa. She hoped I would choose Alabama or Tennessee or any one of the other acceptable Southern universities, which meant a school with a solid football program, because to my family, college was not college without football. But I knew what I wanted to do with my life and I couldn’t do it in the South. I had always loved the idea of advertising and marketing, so when someone from Sanderson-Lowe, the top advertising agency in the country, came to our career day at school, I sat, eyes wide, listening to every word she said. I knew there was no other career for me. I researched the top agencies in the country, and sure enough, all of them were in New York. I remembered applying to NYU and thinking that even though my grades were amazing and my college fund was more than enough to cover the tuition, I would never get in, never get to go. 
But then I received my acceptance packet and everything felt right in my world. Four years and two internships later, and I was there, in New York, the day before my first day as Assistant Account Manager at Sanderson-Lowe. I could almost squeal. Of course, I would be poor. I would be less than poor. But I would be doing what I loved and that was enough. For now.
“I’m Aidan, by the way,” Thor said, bringing me back to the moment.
“Cameron.” I bit my lip to keep from smiling. He was the sort of man you wanted to smile at just to guarantee you kept his attention. “So what do you do, Mr. Aidan?”
He leaned in closer, his eyes on mine. “Let’s not do that. The small talk. It's a waste of time and a bore. I don't care what you do. And you don't care what I do. But you can keep calling me mister if you'd like." His mouth turned up at the corner. “I like that.”
I dropped my gaze and peered up at him through my lashes. This guy had ignited heat in my stomach without even touching me. "Okay." I lifted my hand to flag the waiter. "Another vodka tonic for me."
“Aidan's eyes swept down to the low neckline of my dress. "Same," he said without looking at the waiter. “I thought you were only having the one.”
“I changed my mind.” I moved in closer, our faces inches apart. A gust of wind could have us kissing. 

"So, if no small talk, then what do you want to do?”
Our drinks came and he turned his back, his eyes never leaving mine. "I have a few ideas."
I smiled, and within minutes we were inside a cab, his lips warm against my cheek, my neck, my ear. 
For a moment, I felt guilty that I barely knew him. What would my mother think? But then his mouth found mine and all thought was gone. I surrendered to him, letting go one last time before responsibility and adulthood took control of my life.
About NO KISSING ALLOWED: No kissing. No touching. And definitely no falling in love...
Armed with her besties, an embarrassing number of shots, and her list of 10 Wild Things To Do Before Adulthood, recent grad Cameron Lawson is partying it up before she starts her dream job at New York's biggest ad agency. Her last task? Hook up with a random guy. And while it's so not her style, the super-sexy guy sitting next to her is definitely game. No names. No details.At least, that was the plan.
On her first day of work, Cameron discovers her hook-up is none other than Aidan Truitt-her new boss's boss. Talk about failing the "no fraternizing with coworkers" policy on an epic level. Especially when Aidan makes it clear their one night was only the beginning. Falling for him could cost her everything, but sometimes the only way to get what you want is by breaking a few rules...
Buy Links: AmazonBarnes & NobleiBooksKobo
About Melissa West: Melissa West writes heartfelt Southern romance and teen sci-fi romance, all with lots of kissing. Because who doesn't like kissing? She lives outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband and two daughters and spends most of her time writing, reading, or fueling her coffee addiction.
Connect with Melissa at www.melissawestauthor.com or on Twitter @MB_West.
Social media links:
Website: www.melissawestauthor.comFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/MelissaWestA...Twitter: @MB_WestInstagram: melissawestauthorPinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/melissabwest/

 Awesome!! I’m adding to my TBR, now. How about you? And don’t forget to enter the contest for a chance to win a ton of signed books by me, Melissa West, and more!
To enter, you need to know that my lucky book number is 9 .
Add up all the favorite numbers of the authors on Team Blue and you’ll have the secret code to enter for the grand prize!
***BEFORE YOU CONTINUE THE HUNT***Comment below and sign up for my newsletter and you'll be entered to win a surprise!!! I also have two contests going on right now on my FB fan page:Guess My Due Date Prize: Winner's Choice of one of my eBooksandSomething Wicked Halloween Blog Hop! Prize: Print Copy of Black Hellebore!***CONTINUE THE HUNT***To keep going on your quest for the hunt, you need to check out the next author, Ann M. Noser!!GOOD LUCK!!

Encounter at White’s: a cross-post with Susana Ellis

Another special post featuring characters from the Bluestocking Belles’ holiday box set,  Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem . Stephen Huntington, the Duke of Wyndale from my story  Joy to the World  has just learned about a vicious rumor concerning himself and starts to ask around to see if there might be any truth to it from Oliver Stanton, heir to Stanton's Bank of Susana Ellis' The Ultimate Escape.
Stephen Huntington, Duke of WyngateStephen Huntington, Duke of Wyngate could not get out of the card room fast enough. Normally he always enjoyed his time at White's, but not today. His friends had to be jesting, surely. There was no way the rumor they had sprouted had any truth to it.
He very nearly collided with Oliver Stanton, heir to Stanton's Bank. “Pardon me,” Stephen said, straightening his coat and trying not to feel so ill at ease.
“No need,” said Stanton easily. “Wasn't watching where I was going. Join me in a drink, Your Grace?”
Stephen blinked and stumbled back a step. Really he should go and see if there wasn’t any means to learn the truth, but one drink could not hurt any. Besides, Stanton was a good and decent man. “Why yes, I would appreciate that, Stanton.”
The two men strolled to the drawing room and claimed two leather chairs near the fire.
“A cognac for me,” Stanton told the waiter. “Wyngate?”
“Cognac sounds perfect.” Stephen rubbed his forehead. A headache was starting to plague him. Oliver Stanton, heir to Stanton's Bank
“Right away, gentlemen.” The waiter bowed and disappeared into the back rooms.
Stephen glanced around to ensure no one was close enough to overhear them and cleared his throat. “I-I have a strange question for you, Stanton, if I may.”
Stanton nodded, his face impassive. Stephen knew he could trust the man to keep his confidence. After all, when one worked with money, they tended to learn of other’s secrets.

“Have we crossed paths, recently? Since the Hansens' ball last week, I mean?”
Stanton's eyes narrowed. “Why no, I don't believe so. Why do you ask?”
Stephen tugged at his collar. “Ah… well, that's good. That's good,” he repeated. “You see… I have heard rumors that there is a man impersonating me throughout the country. I can scarcely believe it! But I cannot ignore such a thing, lest it be true and the wretch is up to serious mischief.”
Stanton's eyes widened. “Impersonating you? But how is that possible? You are widely known in London, Your Grace.”
Stephen plucked a glass of brandy from the waiter's tray and took a long sip. The banker did likewise.
“I do not know. I guess the reprobate must resemble me. Sound like me as well.” Stephen took another swallow and set down his glas. “No one has come to the bank asking about my money recently? That could certainly be a factor.”
“Money is always a factor,” Stanton said dryly. “But no, I can assure you that your accounts are safe. I would have been notified had someone come to withdraw funds unexpectedly.” He set his own glass on the table. “How did the news come to you of this extraordinary situation?”
“My friends.” He gestured behind him toward the card room. “They can be rather prone to jokes and mischief, but somehow I doubt they would jest about something as serious as this.” He shrugged. “No need to concern yourself further. I am certain the matter will be resolved shortly. Now tell me, Stanton. I see that Lady Julia has recovered from her illness. Will your nuptials be rescheduled soon?”
To Stephen’s shock, Stanton winced. He had thought the two might be quite compatible given their long friendship and despite their differences in class.
“I do not mean to pry.” Stephen drank the last of cognac. “I was hoping one of us was happy.”
“Soon,” Stanton said. “These things take time to arrange, you know. The ladies expect such things. And I wouldn't want my bride to be deprived of the wedding of her dreams simply because she was taken ill the night before the first one was to take place.” He grinned. “What about you, Wyngate? Any interest in setting up your own nursery any time soon?”
Stephen actually found it in him to laugh. “Oh no. Not I. I am not the least bit interested in marriage. And even if I were, with an imposter running about, I will be far too busy to woo and win the heart of any lady.”
Stanton chuckled. “A wealthy duke could have has choice of any young lady in the ton. With or without the wooing. But you must certainly investigate this matter of an imposter. Particularly if he resembles you to the extent that he could ruin your reputation. Do let me know if I can be of any assistance to you, Your Grace.”
“Thank you. You have always been a loyal and good friend.” Stephen could wait no longer, so he stood. “I would appreciate it if you could keep this matter to yourself. Unless you should happen to see another me…” He shook his head.
“Of course, your Grace.”
“I should be off to try to track this rogue down. Do take care.” Stephen turned and called for his horse.
Stanton rose and offered his hand. “Good luck, Your Grace.”
“You as well.” Stephen shook his hand and gave him a tight smile. “Shall I expect another wedding invitation any time soon?”
“Of course, Your Grace.”

“Splendid.”

With that, Stephen started in earnest his journey to learn just who this impostor was and where he might find him and bring him to justice. Little did he know what a strange course his life was about to embark on.
Click here to find  Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem , wherein you can discover if Oliver and Julia can try and work things out and if Stephen does indeed find the impostor.
And please join us for our Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem Launch Party on November 1.

Will the Real Duke of Wyndale Please Stand Up?

Today’s post is special. It’s a letter between two characters from the Bluestocking Belles’ holiday box set,  Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem . Stephen Huntington, the Duke of Wyndale from my story Joy to the World has written a letter to William Landrum, Earl of Chadbourn, of Caroline Warfield’s A Dangerous Nativity . See Caroline’s blog to read her hero’s response.
William Landrum, Earl of ChadbournTo The Esteemed William Landrum, Earl of Chadbourn,While we are as yet unacquainted, desperation drives me to contact you personally. I do hope this letter finds you in better spirits than those in which I currently find myself. As strange as this is to believe, I believe that there might be a person of obviously unscrupulous character impersonating me the length of England.
Of course, I most ardently wish to track this man down and bring him to justice. Unfortunately, I have only rumors to go on, and before I chase them down, I would prefer to find which, if any, may be accurate. The most promising lead points to Suffolk. The Marquess of Glenaire told me you were in the area and might have information. If you have any knowledge concerning my presence in your vicinity—which, I assure you, is not actually me—I would be most appreciative to be notified.
Do forgive me for taking so long to express my sincere sympathy on the death of your brother-in-law. I knew Emery Wheatly rather well. Somewhat well, I should say. We, ah, met at a house party, and our paths crossed a few times thereafter. He… Well, I am sorry he passed. My condolences are yours.
If it is not too deep an imposition on your mourning, I would greatly welcome a swift response. The sooner I can locate the reprobate, the better.
Stephen Huntington, Duke of WyndaleYours respectfully,Stephen HuntingtonDuke of Wyndale
How will the earl respond?  See “Two Dukes and an Earl,” on Caroline’s blog to find out. Does the duke find his imposter? Click here to find Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem , wherein lies the answer.
And please join us for our Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem Launch Party on November 1.

One Stop For Writers: An Online Library Unlike Any Other

Every once in a while, something comes along that changes things for the better. And in the world of writers, this is especially welcoming, because we all know just how much sweat, courage and persistence it takes to write a book and then release it into the world. Today I'm pointing you toward a new website which I hope will help writers brainstorm stronger characters, craft deeper, more compelling plots, and teach us how to be more effective with our description so we draw readers in. One Stop For Writers is a collaboration between Becca Puglisi and Angela Ackerman, authors of The Emotion Thesaurus, and Lee Powell, creator of Scrivener for Windows. This powerhouse online library is filled with one-of-a-kind descriptive thesaurus collections, tools, tutorials and much more, all geared to provide the resources you need to strengthen your prose and write more efficiently.
Want to check One Stop For Writers out? Hop on over to Writers Helping Writers for their Launch Week festivities (October 7-14th)! If you know Angela, Lee and Becca already, you probably can guess there will be some great prizes, and probably a bit of paying-it-forward too.

YA Scavenger Hunt - Pink Team!

Hi everyone! So glad you stopped by for the scavenger hunt. Today, I'm hosting Rachel Shane. She has an amazing story for you all that I hope you'll check out.


Book blurb:Sibling rivalry goes too far... 
Sixteen-year-old Kasey Fishbein has a lot to repent for. She single-handedly abandoned the dance team right before Nationals, ruined her best friend’s love life, alienated the guy she loves, and permanently injured her older sister’s hip, effectively destroying Lara’s prominent dance career in one fell swoop. Guilt keeps eating away at Kasey but no one will listen to her apologies. So she does the next best thing: she starts a blog to confess her sins. 
But the only way to truly earn forgiveness from those she wronged isn’t to offer them an explanation. It’s to fix everything she broke. She may not be able to help her sister dance again, but there has to be another way to get her back on her feet. Literally. Right?
BIO:Rachel Shane is the author of YA books ALICE IN WONDERLAND HIGH and KASEY SCREWS UP THE WORLD plus the New Adult Romance series that begins with PREMATURE EVACUATION. She's been a computer animator, an e-book creator for a NYC publisher, and now she works as a Project Manager for a software company where she enjoys telling people what to do. She lives in NJ with her husband, young daughter, and a basement full of books.
LINKS:Website: www.rachelshane.comAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B013F4ER6UTwitter: @rachshane
And now for the exclusive content a deleted scene!
DELETED SCENE:            Since the cruise had freestyle dining, we’d made reservations to sit with Finn’s parents at dinner. Arriving first, Lara and I carefully planned the seating arrangements, leaving empty chairs between us so we could each sit next to our boy.            My breath caught in my throat. Finn led his family, decked out in a suit, his hair gelled back spiffier than during the day.            "You look very pretty tonight," he whispered in my ear as he took his seat.            My cheeks grew hot. "Thanks. You too. I mean, you look handsome."            "Thanks." He laughed, and then turned to Hayden. “So are you two joining us in the teen disco tonight? We're going all out! Getting crazy." Finn pretended to dance for a moment, reinforcing the fact that he had pretty good rhythm, despite what he had said the first night.            "No, you two can go to the daycare center without us.” Hayden grabbed a piece of bread from the table. "The eighteen-and-over club’s having a wet t-shirt contest tonight. Wanna come? Oh wait, you can't. Natch."            "Asshat."            "Dork."            After dinner, the parents made their way to their show. I loved how we all had our own things to do. The parents were entertained and kept out of the way. When the show ended, they retired to their rooms or had coffee at the midnight buffet. Lara and Hayden thought they were so cool drinking and dancing in the raging club. But Finn and I had the best deal of all. We didn't have a specific place we needed to be. We were free; we could do what we wanted. I didn't care if we sat on the deck talking or if we walked in hallways giggling. Or kissing. It was the most fun I'd had in my entire life. And it was all because of him.            Outside the dining hall, Finn asked, “Do you want to change first, or should we go like this?"            "Oh, we're going like this. You look hot in your suit."            He looked down at his outfit. "Yeah, you're right."            We walked to the open-air deck and sat on bar stools overlooking the calypso band. We killed the hour before the club opened sipping sodas and listening to the music.            "I hope you don't think I'm dancing with you or anything,” he said. “I'm looking to score some chicks tonight." Even though I was positive he was joking, he kept a stoic expression on his face.            "That's good. I won't feel guilty when I meet my other boyfriend tonight."            "Excellent. So I'll see you there then?" He hopped off his stool. "Don't try and talk to me at the disco. It'll mess up my game."            "Don't worry. I'll be surrounded by all my adoring fans." I stepped down, careful not to mess up my dress.            He angled his elbow toward me. "Shall we?"            I secured my arm in his, and we walked for a few steps like that before his hand slid down my bare arm and found its home in my palm. He led me down the hallway to our secret lair. I felt like we were going on an underground mission, both of us spies for the CIA.


Wasn't that awesome?
I don't know about you, but I love to have giveaways, so I'm going to give away not 1, not 2, but 6 prizes! Might be swag, might be books, who knows? All you have to do to enter is comment on my blog. That's it. Can be about anything - books, your plans for the weekend, your favorite TV show, anything!

KELSEY KETCHKAI MCCARTHYMELISSA GIORGIORACHEL SHANESABINA KHANVICKI LEIGHLISA T. CRESSWELLB. KRISTIN MCMICHAELHILARY THOMPSONNICOLE ZOLTACKCAROLINE T. PATTICHASE NIGHTJESSICA L. BROOKSDENISE JADENDEIDRE MAPSTONEGILLIAN BRONTE ADAMSJENNIFER TRESSENJ.T. STOLLKATE KARYUS QUINNL.A.STARKEY
To continue on with the hop, head on over to Lisa T. Cresswell. Have fun!

Christmas in July - Fantasy 99cent Sale

A bunch of fantasy authors, including me, have gotten together and put a book on sale until Friday for only 99 cents. Here are all the books and where you can find them. I hope you find a few you'll snatch up! Two are actually free books, the rest just 99 cents!
Heart of Magic - Michele Bardsley
A Fantasy Romance Collection
WIZARD'S MATE Handsome and desperate wizard True Karn becomes human during the "wizard's moon"--the only two nights of the month he can look for his mate. The rest of the time, he must live in his monstrous, cursed form. When he rescues a pretty lady from the lascivious attention of two guardsmen, he realizes that she's the woman who will break his curse.
Plain and reliable Alissa Rogers works in a house of ill repute--as an accountant. When she gains the attention of Mreben's most infamous wizard, she's both flattered and unnerved. But while the wizard seeks her favor, a female rival seeks Alissa's destruction.
To save a wizard and his mate, it will take the greatest magic possible--the spark of true love.
WIZARD'S HEART Young and handsome wizard Honor Karn gave his heart to the wrong woman—and paid a terrible price. Now, he is a forgotten statue in the dark lands of the Barrens, only allowed to take human form once a month during the wizard's moon. In the hundredth year of his curse, Honor must find a courageous woman who will fight for him and for love or he will die. But it turns out his true mate is worlds away...
Plain and dutiful Melanie Trident is grateful to have a job, food, shelter, and a caring sister, the only family she has left. She doesn't trust easily, and dating ... well, she'd rather skip the heartache. Besides, she'd madly in love with her book boyfriend, the gorgeous doomed wizard of Mreben.
Then she finds herself falling into a magical dream, no, make that crazed delusion. Because she finds herself in the arms of Honor Karn. He tells her she's the real heroine of his story, the one who can save him. Now, Melanie has to decide if she wants to risk everything--including her sanity--to bring love to a wizard's heart.
FROST AND FLAKE Bonus Short Story!
If you like snowy nights, hot guys, and sexy times...
When Lilly Tremont wrecks her car in an Oklahoma snowstorm, two gorgeous "rescuers" show her unexpected ways to stay warm. She thinks she's dreaming, but is she?
Amazon     Barnes and Noble    iBooks     Kobo

Reconstructed - Tasha Black
Some heroes aren't born...they're built.
Westley Worthington has it all. Piles of money, good looks, a head for business, and a seemingly limitless supply of women who want to please him. And that's just the way he likes it. Until a brush with death causes him to rethink his priorities, and consider someone besides himself for the first time in his privileged life.
Cordelia Cross has never had it easy. Her duty to her family has her working as an assistant to a man she hates just to pay her sister's medical bills. When her arrogant boss alienates his last true friend, she finds herself promoted from schedule-managing coffee grabber, to the newest member of West’s inner circle.
Tempers, and passions, ignite as the two start spending time together, until a shocking accident puts their newfound attraction on ice. When West is faced with the toughest trial of his life, Cordelia helps him realize that he has all the tools he needs to be a force for justice.
Together, they must turn West into the hero no one ever thought he could be.
Amazon     Barnes and Noble     iBooks     Kobo      Google Play

Assassin’s Soul - Beth Caudill
A novella of 33,000 words or 120 pages
Caitlyn Sinclair hides her magical need for souls behind her job as an assassin in the Miscreants Guild—the home of spies, thieves and assassins. She is a SoulEater, a mage who uses the aural energy of other people to fuel her spells. She has no choice but to take those lives, because without the infusion of life-force she will die. She's made a home for herself in the city of Ellemarlene, until the day she executes her Guild Master and is cast out. Her only chance at survival is to join the Mage Guild and embrace her magical nature. To become a terrible weapon, someone with the power to wipeout entire towns.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble    iBooks

The McDougal Pack Alpha - Crystal Dawn
Mandi finds herself waking from a drug induced sleep, in the arms of the handsome McDougal Pack's alpha. But Mandi is a human, with no desire to be anything else. Just because the legendary white wolf blood might run through her veins, doesn’t give the werewolf council any say over her life. She may not be able to pick her relatives, but she can certainly choose the man she marries. Can’t she?
Mac doesn’t think the mate the council chose for him is going to work out for him at all. But when he meets her, he begins to wonder if she might not be the one he’s been looking for all along. She wants to fight him and the attraction that flares between them. He has a surprise for her. He’s a fighter and he’s enlisted an unexpected ally from her family. The white wolf herself is on his side and he doesn’t intend to stop until he wins.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     Smashwords     Kobo

Snow the Vampire Slayer - Rebekah R. Ganiere
Lady Snow Gwyn is tired of playing “mother” to her seven Vampire Slaying brothers. For the past two years, she’s yearned to be out there fighting at their side as they hunt for bloodsuckers in the black of night. Snow is as good a fighter as any man, but she wasn’t called to be a Slayer. A mere formality in her book.
Prince Sageren, Son of Lothar has spent the last fifty years in exile, awaiting the day when he can finally avenge his family and take back his throne. Barely existing, he’s forced to face his inner demons and the monster he once was, compelling him to vow to never drink from humans again. A simple enough task–until he crosses paths with a human who makes his fangs ache to drain her.
When Snow runs into Prince Sage on a late night trip to the woods, she’s torn between the urge to kill him and the desire to succumb to the feeling he stirs within her. And when Snow’s life is threatened by the same evil that murdered his family, Prince Sage must enlist the aid of Snow’s brothers to not only help him save her life, but to also regain his rightful place as King of the Vampires.
If Sage can keep the Slayers from killing him first.
Amazon     Barnes and Noble     iBooks

Insight - Jamie Magee
Two souls made of one, divided by time, and reunited within their dreams. Worlds stand between them now, but fate is their guiding light, one glance bound them, one touch empowered them. Now, they have no choice but to finish the war they started lifetimes before...or they will lose it all.
*****
Willow Haywood has always been trapped between the worlds of the Light and the Dark. Her waking hours are plagued by her ability to feel the emotions of those around her. No matter how inward she draws, she cannot shut out the feelings of others. Sometimes she will see images - echoes of other people and places - that she can enter to influence the emotions of people she has never met.
By night, Willow experiences her only escape from this terrible insight - entering into the world of dreams. Most of these dreams are shared in blissful silence with a stunning blue-eyed boy. But every new moon she lives through something much darker: a horrific nightmare shared by another mysterious boy who is always shrouded by shadows.
One night, this shadowy figure invades her dreams outside of his appointed time. In this new nightmare, Willow is marked; a mark which follows her into the waking world and sets her on a momentous path through light and darkness, through fragmented myth and half-truths, through past lives and disturbing family secrets, all in the face of the ever-dominant Zodiac. What she finds will endanger the lives of those closest to her and will force her to make a decision that will change her world forever.
Free
Amazon    iBooks

Assassin’s Heart - Isabella Norse
Lillie is an assassin. It’s not exactly the life she would have chosen, but she has made the best of it. Until now. Disguised as a servant at the palace, she waits for an opportunity to kill the heir to the throne. Her conscience tells her that killing an innocent man is wrong, but failure to do so will mean her death.
Nef, a handsome stable hand, is intrigued by the young red-haired maid that has charmed the animals in his care. He longs to know her better, but harbors secrets of his own - secrets that could rock the very foundations of the kingdom.
With their lives forfeit, Lillie and Nef must work together to find a way to save themselves, their love, and two thrones from destruction at the hands of an evil overlord.

Amazon

Inherited Thorns - Sammie Sidelinger
In the first installment of The Empathetic Enchantments Series, you will find out what kind of shape shifter lies dormant within the Randall families heritage—one never before written about in this light.
When trouble arises and laws must be implemented amongst the most powerful warlocks, an enforcer is sent in. Bad boy Acer Randall fears nothing—that is, except two things. The centuries-old family curse that transforms him into a bizarre freak of nature and the foreign emotions that stirs within himself by a seductive enchantress, Haven. Her pull, like that of a siren, cannot be ignored; yet for self-preservation he must stay away. Haven promised, on her coven's behalf, to end Acer's life, but can she bring herself to do what must be done when her feelings for him are so unbridled?
How is it that Acer, one of the most in-tune empaths on earth, is unable to read Haven's emotions? Has she clued into Acer's truth and cast a spell from which he cannot break free?

Amazon US     Amazon UK     Amazon CA     Barnes and Noble

Valkyrie's Vengeance - Melissa Snark
A thirty-year alliance that aligned wolves and hunters has shattered.
Victoria Storm leads a few surviving members of her pack in a desperate flight. As the only surviving child of their leaders, the she-wolf inherited the role of Alpha. The violent deaths of her parents and the man she loved left her devastated, and the lives of her followers depend on her decisions. Simple survival often conflicts with the demands of preserving her Norse heritage, so she must struggle to balance her duties as Freya’s priestess and Odin’s Valkyrie. When innocent children are abducted, she must set aside her differences and work with her worst enemy to rescue them.

Free
Amazon     Barnes and Noble     iBooks     Kobo     ARe     Google Play

Hunger Moon - Melissa Snark
Victoria Storm faces seemingly insurmountable odds to keep her dwindling pack of werewolves alive and together. She fights hunters- including the brother and father of her deceased lover-and the pack takes another devastating loss. When they seek sanctuary in a small town near Lake Tahoe, high in the secluded Sierra Nevada Mountains, Victoria discovers they are infringing on the territory of a vastly more powerful Alpha wolf. To save her pack, she uses her feminine wiles to seduce the Alpha. Nothing comes easily for Victoria. Her plans are complicated by the Alpha’s erratic son, a ghostly wife, and a vengeful witch. Not even her status as a Valkyrie or the favor of the Goddess Freya can change the course of destiny for Victoria or her packmates.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble      iBooks     Kobo     ARe     Google Play


Bloodlust - Nicole Zoltack
In a world torn by prejudice and hatred, six races struggled for supremacy.
Barbarian-Princess Ivy is unwilling to allow her father to provoke the other races into war and forms an unlikely alliance with Lukor the goliath to save her people from utter destruction. Unbeknownst to her, Lukor blames the barbarians for murdering his sister and plans on sabotaging her goal.
Almost despite each other, they grow to respect each other on their journey to decode secret messages from the trolls. But nothing Ivy can do will prevent the war as her father is blinded by Bloodlust and incites it himself. Not even killing him and becoming Barbaroness can stop the tide. And when Bloodlust claims Ivy, forcing her to kill everyone in her path, she must make a choice to destroy even Lukor, who she may have started to fall for and him in return.

Amazon     Barnes and Noble     iBooks     Kobo

Top 10 Reasons Jude Knight, Author of A Baron for Becky, Reads (and Writes) Historical Romance

Top 10 reasons I read (and write) historical romanceI read to learn1.     “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” (George Santayana)
Through the lens of history, we can more clearly see our own times. The Regency and Georgian eras fascinate me. There was a growing disparity between rich and poor, privatisation of public good properties, wars and rumours of wars, rapid technological changes with unpredictable outcomes. Sound familiar?

Although I write to entertain, I also write to inform, and in doing so to hold up a mirror to our own times.

2.     “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.” (L.P. Hartley)The similarities are challenging; the differences are fascinating.
I continually trip over things in my reading and my research for writing that astound, horrify, or delight me. Did you know that between a quarter and a half of all women in the early 19th century had ‘Mary’ as one of their first names? That an estimated one in five women in London made income from the sex trade? That the man who invented one of the world’s earliest self-propelled wheelchairs did so after demonstrating another invention: the world’s first roller skates?

I love to read about history, and now I’m not wasting time, I’m doing research.
3.     “I like reading novels because it provides insight into human behaviour.” (Claire Danes)We learn about people by meeting them; by watching them. In historical novels, the people we meet face different challenges to our own, have been moulded by a different culture, must react to a different context.

But they are still people. I want to read about people who are real to me while I’m in the book, and stay with me when I close it.
I know I’ve captured a character when my readers discuss their motives and their beliefs. It’s enormously thrilling when someone explains to me why one of my characters thought, felt, or did something, and I have an ‘Aha’ moment because the thought is new to me but they’re right.I read to be entertained4.     “These boys in books are better.” (Carrie Hope Fletcher)
Knights, Dukes, Earls, handsome rogues and pirates; what’s not to like? Let’s face it; gorgeous men in cravats and knit pantaloons are hot. And hot men who are considerate and respectful are even hotter.

Fletcher’s song points out that real life men can’t live up to the standard set in Twilight, Deadly Instruments, and the like. And any girl who stays single till she finds someone as good as her book boyfriend is in for a long wait.


5.     “I read for pleasure and that is the moment I learn the most.”(Margaret Atwood)
Reading taught me that the kind are rewarded, that perseverance will win in the end, that love is worth striving for. That you can start a fire with spectacles and that sharks can’t swim backwards. That lying on a frozen over pond spreads your weight so you are less likely to break through.

Ideas; concepts; principles; facts. I’ve learned all of those from reading. I read for pleasure. And I write books that I hope others will read for pleasure; books with strong determined heroines, loving heroes, compelling story lines, and convincing challenges.I read to escape, to take a micro-holiday6.     “I have never known any distress that an hour’s reading did not relieve.” (Charles de Montesquieu)
I lived more than 50 years with an undiagnosed condition that gave me chronic tiredness and constant pain. In that time, I raised four children, two with serious health conditions, and fostered two others. We entered adolescent hell with one of them and didn’t emerge for ten years. Reading allowed me the break I needed.

When people say that historical romance (or science fiction, or fantasy, or mystery novels) are escapism, I agree. Any book that captures your imagination allows you to escape whatever distress you may be in. The best books strengthen and inform you, sending you back into reality better able to deal with your challenges. But even the most flagrant chewing gum for the mind gives you time to recharge. 

7.     “You can travel the world and never leave your chair when you read a book.” (Sherry K. Plummer)
And not just the world! I want to go somewhen else for my book holiday. Travel, so we are told, broadens the mind. In historical romances, I am able to travel to another time. In the hands of a good writer, I experience the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the stories, and all without the risk of plague, pressganging, or death by tooth infection. 

8.     “Reading is a discount ticket to everywhere.” (Elizabeth Hardwick)
I dream of a life of leisure, with nothing to do but flirt with rakes and dance at balls. I’d undoubtedly hate it in practice. I like being busy and useful. But I can have that in a book, and then walk away, back to my real life.

9.     “There’s no real ending. It’s just the place where you stop the story.” (Frank Herbert)
I like happy endings. Some other writers like tragic endings, or even no ending at all. In my view, happy endings are better. Every writer has to choose where to start and where to stop the story, so why not choose the bit that feels good?

The romance novel’s ‘happily ever after’ is not about perfect resolution of all problems; it’s about convincing the reader that the protagonists will support each other through whatever problems arise. 


I read to learn to write better10.   “I believe that writing is derivative. I think good writing comes from good reading.” (Charles Kuralt)
Reading good books gives us the sound of good language. It teaches us how plots work, how to show character rather than telling it, how to make choices that show the theme of the book, how to use words to create atmosphere, how to write dialogue that sizzles.

I believe I need to do two things to be a good writer. Read a lot. Write a lot. That’s all.
GenreRegency romance, historical romanceHeat ratingR for implied sexual content, 2 out of 5 flamesGiveawayFree copy of A Baron for Becky to random commenterTaglineShe was a fallen woman when she met them. How can they help her fall on her feet?
Book BlurbBecky is the envy of the courtesans of the demi-monde - the indulged mistress of the wealthy and charismatic Marquis of Aldridge. But she dreams of a normal life; one in which her daughter can have a future that does not depend on beauty, sex, and the whims of a man.
Finding herself with child, she hesitates to tell Aldridge. Will he cast her off, send her away, or keep her and condemn another child to this uncertain shadow world?
The devil-may-care face Hugh shows to the world hides a desperate sorrow; a sorrow he tries to drown with drink and riotous living. His years at war haunt him, but even more, he doesn't want to think about the illness that robbed him of the ability to father a son. When he dies, his barony will die with him. His title will fall into abeyance, and his estate will be scooped up by the Crown.
When Aldridge surprises them both with a daring proposition, they do not expect love to be part of the bargain.
Author bioJude Knight writes strong determined heroines, heroes who can appreciate a clever capable woman, villains you’ll love to loathe, and all with a leavening of humor.
Jude Knight is the pen name of Judy Knighton. After a career in commercial writing, editing, and publishing, Jude is returning to her first love, fiction. Her novella, Candle’s Christmas Chair, was released in December 2014, and is in the top ten on several Amazon bestseller lists in the US and UK. Her first novel Farewell to Kindness, was released on 1 April, and is first in a series: The Golden Redepennings.
LinksLinks are built into site names. If your blog picks up links automatically, you can delete the urls. Buy links Amazon Amazon UK Amazon Aus Smashwords Barnes & Noble iBooks Kobo 
Jude’s social media Visit Jude’s WebsiteLike Jude on Facebook Follow Jude on Twitter Subscribe to Jude’s newsletterSubscribe to Jude’s blogFollow Jude on Goodreads
Jude’s Other Books (on Amazon) Candle’s Christmas Chair (free novella)        Farewell to Kindness (Book One, the Golden Redepennings)