Cerise DeLand's Blog, page 30

Cerise went to #Paris, then to #Reims where kings were crowned, #travel #WWI

One highlight of my recent trip to Paris was our day trip to Reims.

Taking the rapid train to the north east from Gare de L'est, we walked through the gorgeous old city toward this beautiful cathedral. (Do note this walk is approximately 2-3 miles to the cathedral!)

Undergoing restoration (as so many French churches are these days), this church shows the contrast of light with dark. Reims Cathedral is the post of the cardinal of Reims and next to the church is the cardinal's residence, the Palais de Tao.  (Do be sure to visit that as well as the cathedral for a wonderful exhibit on the crowning of French kings.)

Reims is known also for its near destruction during La Grande Guerre. In 1914 as German troops swept through northern France toward Paris, Reims cathedral was claimed by the German army. In fact, because German troops had few supplies and were unable to keep up by supply train with their own advance, they bedded down in the church. With straw on the floor and cook tents inside the church, they took over the church and the surrounding city and its inhabitants.  When the French army countered their control over the city and people, the Germans hastily retreated. Before they did, they set fire to the church. Here are a few pictures I took of the pictures on display currently inside the church.  Here you can see that the roof was blasted through and sunlight shown inside. After the war, the church was restored. Today, we have this lovely church to visit and recall the coronations of all French kings, except the last one, Charles X, restored Bourbon and brother to ill-fated Louis XVI.

Was Napoleon crowned here? No. He decided, as well he should, that he wished to inaugurate a different type of regime, an empire. Therefore, when he crowned himself in the presence of the pope, he did so in Paris in Notre Dame.





Main Concourse of Gare de L'est

MADE FOR MISCHIEF! You R. It is. Read it now! @reginacarlysle #99cents

Made for MischiefAll she really wanted was one naughty night before returning to her life as a sheltered country spinster! Crawling beneath a bed in London's most notorious brothel was beyond the pale, even for known eccentric Arabella Spencer. Little did she imagine that lust, desire, and yes, love was just within her grasp. When Grayson St. James, Lord Mercer, newly returned from fighting Napoleon, dragged a squirming, dusty bluestocking from beneath his bed, he was...well..aghast! She wanted adventure, did she? She wanted to learn about sex, did she? He was just the man to teach her! As a vow of vengeance and a case of mistaken identity unite Grayson and Arabella in a common goal, the dour Lord Mercer finds himself laughing for the first time in longer than he can recall but will an unknown threat bring them together or tear their world apart?
Excerpt: Glancing toward the town hall entrance, she caught a flash of scarlet, a dark head bent near the rapidly speaking vicar’s wife. Mabel stood next to Berta, mouth agape, as the man turned to bow low over her outstretched hand.Of course, she knew this must be Lord Mercer, come to greet the villagers after his long absence. Narrowing her gaze, lifting the quizzing glass for a better look, she felt the thick, circular lens slip from nerveless fingers and her eyes popped open wide in disbelief. The beat of her heart paused then lurched wildly.No! It couldn’t be! Could it? Her heart thudded within her chest as a ball of dread caused her throat to clog tighter than a miser’s fist.“Are you all right, Miss Arabella?” Abner asked.She couldn’t speak over the knot in her throat. She made a garbled sound and continued to stare in disbelief, barely noting Abner’s possessive touch on her shoulder.All noises dwindled to a mere pinpoint of sound that seemed to come at her as if through a dark tunnel. She thought she might swoon when she was not the swooning sort at all. She would know those broad, broad shoulders anywhere, just as she would recognize that cruel slashing smile.Gripping the china plate in white-knuckled hands, she stared, horrified. Backing up cautiously, struggling against the need to bolt from the room like a frightened rabbit, she halted at the feel of something hard and firm at her back. It was Abner, of course. Dazed, she watched as the dratted man said something to Berta Morrison, who smiled and turned her gaze in Arabella’s direction.Black eyes widened, and then abruptly narrowed, in sudden comprehension, darkening in cruel delight. God help her, the dastardly man from London, the man who’d stolen her every waking thought was here. Tonight!He stood head and shoulders above everyone else so it wasn’t difficult to determine that he was heading her way. She tried to back up another step, as the crowd parted to let him pass.Without missing another beat, the denizens of Upper Biddleton returned to their dancing, their conversations, never knowing that the life of one of their own was about to change drastically.“Toodle ooh, Arabella, dear. Toodle ooh!” Berta warbled in a trilling voice as she marched elbow to elbow with the soldier bearing down on her. Mabel, gasping to keep up, eyes alight with interest, hurried from behind as she struggled to keep pace.Should she not know the name of the man who was about to murder her? The wild thought flashed through her mind as she took note of his blacker than sin eyes and the dangerous glint they contained. Her own Mr.Gray, who was in reality bloody Lord Mercer, would kill her or ruin her and at the moment, she wasn’t quite sure which was worse.“How do you do?” he asked with a short bow.When he lifted his head, she thought she might die. A black brow arched in a mocking manner over his left eye. Memories of him had not done him justice, she thought wildly, as her heart took up a rapid pitter-patter within her chest. What was it about a man in uniform that was so very striking? The red coat of His Majesty’s army was splendid with his dark coloring. Dear, God! She was going to faint dead away.“It is a pleasure to see you… um… at last,” he murmured.Not again. His gaze slid mockingly over her body, and she fought the urge to cover her exposed chest with her gloved hands.Fear threatened to choke her. He looked so angry, so very mean. Obviously, he had not forgiven her for disappearing from his bed. Would he ruin her now? Destroy her spotless reputation with just a word?But, then another thought intruded, more horrifying than the last.This man was sweet Andrew’s brother. The surly, moody half-brother of her late fiancé.Dear heavens! It couldn’t be. It just couldn’t. With a gasp of despair, she released the china plate she clutched and it fell from her numb fingers adding to the sudden silence that had fallen among the tidy group. She was caught now in the web of her own making while they stood there without a clue that the world had suddenly, and quite devastatingly, shrank in size.“Dear heavens.” She gasped as the fragile plate broke neatly into three pieces. “Just look at what I’ve done.”“Never you mind, Arabella,” Berta soothed. “’Tis not important.” She turned a teasing scowl on Lord Mercer. “And you, good sir, must wait for a proper introduction, if you please. Did you leave your manners on the field of battle? Lord Mercer, this is our very dear Miss Spencer who has lived in Upper Biddleton these past eight years. Arabella, dear, this is the prodigal Grayson St. James, Lord Mercer, and as you already know, your very own Andrew’s brother.”Arabella stood gaping, trying for all she was worth to appear calm. “And this,” Berta continued with a twinkle in her eyes, “is my son, Abner, who is a very, very close friend of Arabella’s.”Hell’s bells! Obviously, Berta saw more in her friendship with Abner than just simple courtesy. Another problem to add to the confused morass that was her life.“Mmm, another conquest now that my poor brother dwells in the afterlife?” Though the words were delivered softly, she flinched at the steely glint in Grayson’s eyes.She gasped. “Merciful heavens, no!”But, she might as well not have spoken for the two men were busy exchanging guarded greetings while Berta and Mabel had struck up their own private dialogue. She was for just an instant, very much alone.Casting about for a way out, perhaps a very quick retreat, she ignored the social niceties and discreetly backed away. A press of bodies moved closer, effectively separating her from this nightmare of a man.Oh yes. She knew what he was. He was a debaucher of young ladies and a kidnapper with an evil sense of humor.Step by step, she moved closer to a row of open windows and the safety of a back door. But, just as she stepped past the threshold, she couldn’t resist another peek.
Black eyes bored into hers, and she swore it was like looking into the eyes of a cobra. He was very angry but, as yet, had not seen fit to ruin her reputation. Eager for a respite, she did the only sane thing she could do. She ran. Link: http://www.amazon.com/Made-Mischief-Regina-Carlysle-ebook/dp/B00V2LZP6U/ref=redir_mobile_desktop?ie=UTF8&keywords=regina+carlyle+made+for+mischief&noEncodingTag=1&pi=AC_SX110_SY165_QL70&qid=1427885091&redirectFromSS=1&ref_=mp_s_a_1_fkmr0_1&sr=8-1-fkmr0

Mad for Waterloo Anniversary? #Regency delights with Beaux, Ballrooms and Battles! Out now #99cents!

Amazon Buy link Love Regency romances? Need more? This box set of sweet Regencies by 9 famous authors is for you! Beaux, Ballrooms, and Battles  is a celebration of the bicentenary of the showdown between Wellington’s “Infamous Army” and Napoleon’s Grande Armée. A collection of nine sweet Regency stories of courage, hope, and the miracle of love surviving in uncertain times, brought to you by nine distinguished historical romance authors.Jillian Chantal • Téa Cooper • Susana Ellis • Aileen Fish • Victoria Hinshaw • Heather King • Christa Paige • Sophia Strathmore • David Wilkin

Look for THE INCOMPARABLES, 6 Heroes of Waterloo and the 6 Ladies They Adore by 6 Incomparable Regency Authors, for pre-order June 1 and for sale for only 99 cents June 18.  Cover, links and excerpts to come!!!



Author Susanna Ellis
http://www.susanaellis.com


Who are the 6 Incomparable Authors?

Sabrina York, Dominique Eastwick, Suzi Love, Suzanna Medeiros, Lynne Connolly and me!

Long Awaited Stone Hard SEALs Duet—Now at discounted price! #Giveaway by Sabrina York!

He was handsome and tall. Strong. A hero. His voice rumbled in a seductive, gravelly purr. He was perfect.She’d never felt desire like this. Not for any other man. Ever.
Last summer, Hot Alpha SEALs took the book world by storm, getting rave reviews for this collection of scorching military romances, and earning spots on the New York Times and USA Today bestseller lists.
Ryder’s story was such a hit, readers asked to read Drake’s story as well. Here, now, for the first time, are BOTH adventures!
The duet (a full length novel) will retail for $2.99, but I wanted to offer it at a discounted price of 99¢ during preorder for those of you who have read Ryder’s story and have been waiting so patiently for Drake. This is a great deal as well for your friends who missed the Hot Alpha SEALs Collection and are new to this exciting read.
Enter the Stone Hard SEALs Tiara Giveaway here: http://sabrinayork.com/?p=2348
STONE HARD SEALSA Duet of Steamy SEAL romance by NYT and USA Today Bestselling author Sabrina YorkBook One: RyderA hostage rescue mission turns Ryder “Stone” Maddox’s world on its ear when he comes face-to-face with his greatest fear: A woman he cannot resist. But he has to resist Lily Wilson. He’s vowed never to fall in love. Besides, as the daughter of a senator, she is definitely off-limits. Lily sees things differently. Irresistibly drawn to this hot, hard SEAL, she is determined to prove they belong together…and that her man does not have a heart of stone.  (Originally published in the NYT and USA Today Bestselling Hot Alpha SEALs collection)Book Two: DrakeDrake Ronan is all man—a rock hard SEAL who doesn’t need help from anyone. Doesn’t need anyone. But when he’s shot during a dangerous rescue mission, and has to rely on a beautiful nurse to survive, he realizes he has to rethink his resolution. Suddenly he can’t imagine his life without Brandy in it. It’s a damn shame she has a secret that could ruin everything.
Buy Link:ARE:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stonehardseals-1767628-153.htmlKOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/stone-hard-sealsAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/Stone-Hard-SEALs-Sabrina-York-ebook/dp/B00V7JWF4C/
Read reviews of Ryder’s Story: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22591884-hot-alpha-seals
#MilitaryRomance #SEALHero #AlphaHero

READ AN EXCERPT
“Are you hungry?” He asked because her belly growled loudly enough to attract pirates on the mainland.
“A little.” She licked her lips. “But I’m really thirsty.”
He pulled out the straw of his CamelBak and leaned forward, holding it to her lips. He should have shuttled off all his gear and just handed the damn thing to her because when she leaned in close and he got a whiff of her, he nearly passed out. You would think a woman who had been held prisoner by filthy pirates for nearly a week would smell bad. She did not. She smelled like heaven. There was a light musky odor of sweat—it was hot in the tropics—but it twined with something that was essentially female.
He’d never felt such hunger. It screamed through his soul.
And, on top of that, their faces were close. And she was sucking on the nozzle. And fuck. He was a warrior. A trained weapon. On a mission.
This was no time for a hard on.
But he was hard. Damn hard.
Her lashes flickered as she glanced up at him; she moaned as she swallowed. A shiver walked down his spine. Walked right down his spine and coiled in his balls.
When she sat back with a sigh, he put the nozzle to his lips as well. Not because he was particularly thirsty, but because he wanted a taste of her mouth, while it was still fresh.
What he really wanted was to kiss her. But she was the senator’s daughter and he was a grunt. That wasn’t going to happen. It couldn’t.
“Did…did you say something about food?” Damn lashes. Fluttering again. He had the urge to grab his Gerber and snip them off.
He pulled an MRE from a pocket on his left leg, read the label, and grimaced. He hated the meatloaf. He should have paid more attention when he prepped his gear. He had more in his pack, but this would do for now. “I have this.”
Her nose wrinkled as she studied the silver foil.
Yeah. Wait ’til she got a taste. He ripped open the packet, broke off a piece, and handed it to her. It was messy, because of the gravy, but he didn’t want to unload everything to find an implement. They needed to eat and go.
She took a bite. Her eyes widened. “Yuuum,” she said in an unconvincing tone.
It was all he could do to hold back his laugh.
“What…” She swallowed heavily. “What is this?”
“An MRE.”
“What does that stand for?”
His lips quirked. “Meals Rarely Edible.”
Her brow wrinkled, and then she laughed.
And ah, what a laugh. A melodic trill. Some kind of sound he figured you might hear in heaven.
“Do you eat these often?”
“Not if I can help it.” He shoved a chunk in his mouth and fired it back. “But we have a long way to go today, and these have a lot of calories.”
She froze, a niblette of mystery meat halfway to her mouth. “How-how many calories?”
“About twelve hundred a meal.”
She gaped at him. “Twelve hundred?” She glared at the meatloaf as though it were made of turds. Then again, it might have been. “And you gave it to me? To eat?”
“Yeah. You’ll need it.”
“Why didn’t you warn me?” She smacked him. It was like being batted by a kitten. “Twelve hundred calories is my whole day!”
He grinned. He could burn that much with a good fart. “Perfect. It’s probably all you’ll get. Eat up.”
“For twelve hundred calories, I could have eaten a cheesecake.”
He looked around for the cheesecake.
She shoved her tiny chunk of meatloaf at him. “Here, you eat it.”
He pushed it back. “You eat it. We have a lot of ground to cover today.”
“We do?” She tipped her head to the side. “Where are we going?”
“There’s an island to the south.” He grabbed a stick and sketched out a quick map. “We’re here. At the north end of this island. And the secondary extraction point is here.”
Her throat worked. “How will we get to the other island?”
“Swim.”
She paled. “I-I can’t swim.”
It was probably rude to stare. But really? She couldn’t swim? Who couldn’t swim? “You never wanted to learn?”
“Oh, I wanted to.” She sighed. “My mother was afraid I would drown.”
“Not drowning is kind of the point of swimming.”
“She wanted to keep me safe.” He didn’t miss the exasperation in her tone. “I didn’t get to do a lot of things. Which is probably why— And wouldn’t you know it? The first time?” She gazed at him as though she’d finished a sentence. As though he’d understood a bit of what she’d said.
“Well, don’t worry. We’ll get you home safe. And then everything will be just the way it was before.”
Her sudden frown mystified him.


PREORDER NOW! Arrives April 9th 
ARE:  https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-stonehardseals-1767628-153.html
KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebo...
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a Rafflecopter giveaway
Read reviews of Ryder’s Story: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/22591884-hot-alpha-seals

Sabrina York
Her Royal Hotness, Sabrina York, is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling author of hot, humorous stories for smart and sexy readers. Her titles range from sweet & snarky to scorching romance.  Connect with her on twitter @sabrina_york, on Facebookor on Pintrest. Check out Sabrina’s books and read an excerpt on Amazonor wherever e-books are sold. Visit her webpage at www.sabrinayork.comto check out her books, excerpts and contests. Free Teaser Book: http://sabrinayork.com/home-2/sabrina-yorks-teaser-book/And don’t forget to enter to win the royal tiara!


Bookshelf! http://sabrinayork.com/books/
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Cerise went to #Paris to see where #Napoleon lived, abdicated #Regency #boxset #99cents @TheIncomparables

Old print of 'Abdication of Napoleon, His Departure from Fontainebleau for the Island of Elba'. A representation of Napoleon signing his abdication.Two hundred and one years ago, Napoleon Bonaparte abdicated his imperial throne, after leading France politically and militarily for nearly two decades.

When I visited France recently, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit many of the places where Napoleon lived. Among them was the gorgeous hunting lodge and chateau of French kings, then turned palace, Fontainebleau.

In the suburbs of Paris and accessed easily by train, Fontainebleau offers a dramatic experience in French history. A marvelous example of French Rococco, the hunting lodge became a grander palace under the direction of Francis I. So the mixture of ancien regime decor and architecture is a true delight.


Abdication Room as it is today.Among the rooms is the one in which Napoleon signed his abdication April 13, 1814. Adjacent is his bedroom where the night before, he drank poison. Ill and then purged by an elixir brought by his servants, Napoleon recovered to sign the document. He grumbled that "even poison failed him."

This abdication agreement was between Napoleon and the representatives of Austria, Russia and Prussia and by this treaty, Napoleon was exiled to the island of Elba. After signing in this room, he went to the steps facing the main entrance to the palace and addressed his officers assembled in the courtyard.  These are my pictures of the steps where he stood and the view he would have had of the courtyard and his imperial gates, which still have the two eagles atop.
   And do look for a new box set 99 cent deal June 18, 2015 when I  join 5 other marvelous Regency authors for a release to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo!  What is the title of this not-to-be-missed collection?  THE INCOMPARABLES: 6 HEROES OF WATERLOO and THE 6 LADIES THEY ADORE!
Front steps of Fontainebleau where Napoleon stood
to bid farewell to his troops.


Fontainebleau's full front facade where Napoleon addressed his troops. This is same view Napoleon would have had of courtyard. Do note his Imperial Eagles on gate posts.

Lisabet Sarai's newest D&S Duos, Book 4 out now!

 ExcerptWe make our choices, often blindly. Then we live with the consequences.
It's your fiftieth birthday, I'm half a world away, and married to someone else. I honestly don't know which is the bigger obstacle. No, scratch that. If today's experiment is successful, the distance will mean nothing.
I want to help you celebrate. To give you something special. Romantic and cynic that you are, I want to prove to you my enduring devotion, across time and space. I want to give back to you some of the magic you've shared with me.
I climb out of the taxi at the entrance to an alley too narrow for the compact Toyota to navigate, hand the driver a hundred baht and head toward my destination on foot. I'm somewhere in the maze of venerable lanes of Cholon. I smell star anise and decaying fish. I pass racks of drying laundry and bins of preserved fruit.
The address you emailed me belongs to a surprisingly grand, if somewhat decrepit, building, three stories of balconies and shutters. No sign. When I ring the bell, I am ushered into the waiting room by a powdered and rouged crone wearing too-tight silk and ropes of jade beads. She gestures for me to sit on the velvet banquette and shuffles away. The walls are mirrors, framed by faded brocade draperies. I can't help grinning to myself; clearly, this state-of-the-art Monroe parlor used to be a brothel.
This was my idea, but you did all the research. I know that you're somewhere in the basement of a fancy hotel in San Francisco. Very exclusive, top security. For executives who want the ultimate in “teleconferencing”.
The madame returns with a sheaf of papers. Release forms. Of course it's all illegal anyway, but no one wants to take any chances. There are documented cases of people going astral and never returning. The parlor doesn't want to be stuck with my still breathing but non-sentient body.
Buy LinksAmazon US:  http://www.amazon.com/D-S-Duos-Lisabet-Sarai-ebook/dp/B00VKQDZE6Amazon UK: http://www.amazon.co.uk/D-S-Duos-Lisabet-Sarai-ebook/dp/B00VKQDZE6/Excessica:  http://www.excessica.com/books/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=6&products_id=863Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/d-s-duos-lisabet-sarai/1121675662?ean=2940151406086Kobo: http://www.kobobooks.com/ebook/D-S-Duos-4/book-RAn5dYf8lkCvCVnvzkDQ3A/page1.html
About LisabetBrief BioLISABET SARAI occasionally tackles othergenres, but BDSMwill always beher first love.Every one ofher nine novels includes someelement of powerexchange, while herD/s short stories range frommildly kinky tointensely perverse. Learnmore at http://www.lisabetsarai.com.Links:Website: http://www.lisabetsarai.comBlog: http://lisabetsarai.blogspot.comGoodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/83387.Lisabet_SaraiAmazon: http://www.amazon.com/author/lisabets...
Yahoo group: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lisabets_list

Desiree Holt gives you her first book for Fated Desires Publishing Released today!

Double Down is a Recommended Read from All Romance eBooks !
Lee Sullivan has really got her life together, as the mayor’s publicity chief and the respected Domme, Mistress Star. She doesn’t foresee any bumps in her life until she meets Branch Colby, self-made millionaire and a man who pushed her buttons. She has no idea that he is a full-out Dom who sees women as a challenge and this one more than most. When Branch’s friend Max bets him he cannot get Lee to submit to him, Branch agrees to a high-stakes wager. The problem is he never expected to fall for her or what the consequences would be when she learned the details of the bet. He has to find a way to repair the situation and she has to decide whether giving her heart is worth the risk. 
https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-doubledown-1774221-166.html
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Double-Down-Playing-Odds-Book-ebook/dp/B00S6ROQXQ/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1422713567&sr=8-1&keywords=Double+Down+desiree+holtKobo:  http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/double-down-9 iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/double-down/id957560194?mt=11 B&N http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-down-desiree-holt/1121136753?ean=2940150153875

Cerise went to #Paris #France and toured her favorite places in the city!

In October, the weather in Paris can be the right temperature to walk anywhere, namely in the mid-sixties. But one day, when my husband and I opted to stay in the city and "rest" from our 2-3 mile walking excursions (after getting off trains here and there), we stayed in the city.

We took the Metro to the Cite, and strolled along the Seine.  Here to the left is the first glorious view we saw, the Conciergerie.

Once a medieval palace, this gorgeous abode along the river became a prison during the Terror of the French Revolution. Here, Queen Marie Antoinette spent her last days. You can visit her small cell and see the others where many were crammed into tiny spaces and given only straw on which to sleep. Truly a miserable place then, the building now is a treasure trove which you should put on your list of places to visit.

While I took no picture of the terrific restaurant where we had lunch, I can give you a nice pix of a place along the Champs Elysee where you must go to buy macaroons. Laduree is the original maker of famous, scrumptious cookies and only two blocks from the Arc de Triumph.

Walking along the same boulevard in the other direction, you come upon Les Invalides. built by Louis XIV for his soldiers, this hospital turned museum houses the most wonderful collection of medieval armor and endlessly entertaining halls devoted to World War One and Two.
The entrance to Les Invalides is huge with wings on both sides!
Behind this is the Dome where Napoleon and many other French notables are buried.

Entrance to Medieval Armor exhibit at Les Invalides A Taxi of the Marne!
Among the items I appreciated most is this red taxi, circa 1914. In September 1914, the German Army advanced very rapidly on Paris. The French Army was dispersed elsewhere and when the movement of the Germans was detected, the French rail lines, poor in number and quality, could not transfer troops quickly enough to meet the advance. A call went out from the French command to rally all the taxi cabs in Paris. Thousands lined up outside Les Invalides and with dozens of French soldiers clinging to the sides, off the taxis went to Meaux.

That town today has the most wonderful museum devoted entirely to the commemoration of La Grande Guerre. Accessible by train from Paris, you need to catch a bus for a five minute ride. Well worth your effort to go, you will make friend with the bus driver who will work with your poor French to show you his delight you have made the effort to come!

Behind Les Invalides is the Dome where Napoleon is buried. So his brother and a few other French generals of other wars.

But the most heart-rending is the tomb of General Foch, last commander of the French Army during La Grande Guerre. His casket is carried by a representative of each branch of the French military, each with their heads bowed.  During this conflict, the French suffered terribly as did millions of others. Long regarded as the most tragic conflict, many historians now consider it to have been the most avoidable. Do visit this remarkable memorial to the man who led the French to final victory and peace.

(Return for more travels in the Cite! Part II!)

THE STANHOPE CHALLENGE, 5+ months on #Regency Top 12 list! THANK YOU from Cerise!

Grateful to all of my readers, I thank you for your wonderful support for my box set, THE STANHOPE CHALLENGE for more than 5 months in the TOP 12 on Amazon's Regency lists, and for more than 5 straight weeks #1.

The set of stories about a family of brothers who try to live down the family curse against loving marriages has seen such fabulous success that I am ever so tickled and very appreciative of your support!

So many have loved the set! I get inquiries about doing another one!

Of course, I am hard at work on #3 in my Regency Romps series and #4, too!
BUY LINKS FOR THE STANHOPE CHALLENGE :
Allromance ebooks https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-thestanhopechallengeregencyquartet4regencyromances-1666892-166.htm
Amazon http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00PCJR1MY/ref=rdr_kindle_ext_tmb 
Nook http://www.barnesandnoble.com/s/THE-STANHOPE-CHALLENGE?store=allproducts&keyword=THE+STANHOPE+CHALLENGE

Kobo http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/the-stanhope-challenge

#1 Regency RompAnd on June 18, to commemorate the 200th Anniversary of the Battle of Waterloo, I join with 5 other marvelous authors to bring you THE INCOMPARABLES, 6 Heroes of Waterloo and the 6 Ladies They Adore! A box set of 99 cents up for a limited times, this set has big bold stories by 6 Incomparable Regency Authors including Dominique Eastwick, Sabrina York, Suzanna Medeiros, Lynn Connelly, Suzi Love and me!


#2 Regency Romp #3 Regency Romp!
Coming soon!The set goes up on all sites for pre-order June 1. You will want to have this wonderful set for your collection! And I will post the buy-links as soon as we have them.

THANK YOU!
And keep reading!

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Desiree Holt gives you FINDING JULIA for #99cents Limited time!

Okay, Luke and Julia from FINDING JULIA have been around a bit now and hopefully y'all have meet them and lived their story with them. So here's the deal: Tell me your favorite line from FINDING JULIA. Contest is open for four days. Mr Random Dot Org and I will pick a winner on Friday. So if you haven't read the book, get busy!Be sure to leave me your email addy.And now a little taste for you:Blurb:Sometimes life is not fair. For Julia Patterson meeting Luke Buchanan opened the door to a new life and brought her to life as a woman. In his arms she learns for the first time how real passion and emotion can enrich your life. He claims her body with the pleasure of erotic sex and his heart with unrestricted love. But Fate was laughing at Julia, just as she is about to step over the threshold into a wonderful new life. When her almost-ex-husband Charles is diagnosed with a fatal heart condition her divorce is put on hold along with the rest of her life. Turning her back on Luke and the intense passion and emotion they shared is the most difficult thing she’s ever done. But Julia has a secret, one that Charles has discovered and uses like a club. Thirteen years later when Luke walks back into her life the passion and emotion are just as explosive as ever. Will they finally have their chance at happiness or will her secret destroy it forever?
Excerpt:“Our executive vice president is tied up in a meeting right now,” Howard whispered as the executive staff filed in. “He’s the one who says yea or nay. He’ll join us as soon as he can.”Great. Would he expect her to do it all over again for him?She sighed and began her presentation again.It was well into the afternoon and she was pulling out copies of the proposed budget to distribute when the door to the boardroom opened quietly, and Julia’s stomach dropped to the floor. She felt as if an electric surge slammed into her, plucking at every one of her nerve endings.The man who silently took a seat at the end of the table wasn’t necessarily handsome, but he was one hundred percent male. Liquid brown eyes were framed by the thickest lashes she had ever seen on a man. She noticed the strong jaw and the lines of character etched on an incredibly masculine face. Straight brown hair, a hint of silver reflecting in the lights, was worn just a little long, giving him a slightly rakehell look.The classic dark business suit barely concealed the power he radiated. More than that, he exuded an aura of self, of authority, of comfort in his own skin few men were able to attain. She could think of only three words to describe him. Dark. Edgy. Dangerous. In her entire thirty years, no man had ever affected her the way this man did. Certainly not Charles. She clamped down on her reaction, forbidding herself to let her thoughts wander into forbidden territory. As she’d learned, her judgment where men were concerned left a great deal to be desired.“Let me interrupt a moment.” Manning jumped to his feet. “Julia, meet Lucas Buchanan, our executive vice president. He’s been in another meeting until now.”“I’m pleased you could join us, Mr. Buchanan.” Julia pasted on her professional smile and hoped her voice sounded firmer to the others than it did to her.Lucas Buchanan nodded at her. “Luke, please. Sorry to be late. Please don’t let me interrupt.”She struggled to pick up the threads of what she’d been saying, her brain suddenly addled, and her hands unsteady. It took every ounce of personal discipline to keep focused on her presentation.
AMAZONKOBOALL ROMANCE EBOOKSKENSINGTONBARNES & NOBLE