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Love Between Times by Beth Ford

Love Between Times
Beth Ford
Publication date: November 27th 2024
Genres: Adult, Romance, Time-Travel

When Ashley’s conventional 21st century life falls apart, she returns to England to write the book she shelved years ago, determined to take control of her life.

Meanwhile, in 1377 Wiltshire, Thomas fights his family’s desire that he become a priest and plots to chase his dream of knighthood instead. While Ashley and Thomas search for answers, Thomas suddenly appears in the modern day.

Unable to communicate, his first encounter with Ashley ends with the police demanding his immigration papers. All Thomas wants is to return to the world he understands, but he and Ashley are drawn together again and again. How will they find the answers Thomas needs before the authorities close in without losing each other forever?

Goodreads / Amazon

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EXCERPT:

Neither of them said a word. They stood in shock, each assessing the other.

Ashley stared at the young man’s strange clothes. He wore a long, blue shirt over—were those tights?—and oddly shapeless leather boots. Everything he wore appeared homemade. The leather crossbody bag he wore was the only thing he had of decent quality.

She lifted her gaze to his face. His eyes immediately captivated her. They were the most gorgeous shade of blue she had ever seen. His face wasn’t bad either. His hair was thick and a bit long. Even beneath the beard she could tell he had a strong jawline and fine cheekbones. He appeared her age or a bit younger.

Snapping back to herself, she took a few steps backward to put some distance between them. “Sorry,” she said nervously.

The man cocked his head at her like a curious cat trying to figure out what the game was.

“Are you all right?” she finally asked.

He said something that she couldn’t interpret. It was her turn to look confused.

“Are you going to Salisbury?” she asked, since he was headed in the opposite direction she was. Then tried again, “Salisbury?”

“Sarisbury,” he said firmly, correcting her. The middle sound held more of a “r” shape in his mouth instead of an “l.” She couldn’t tell where he was from. The words he had said to her sounded like nothing she had heard before.

But they were getting somewhere. She pointed down the hill toward the city. “Sarisbury,” she said, mimicking him.

He nodded, satisfied. His gaze tracked in the direction she pointed. When his eyes lit on the city, he took a few inadvertent steps back and stumbled over a tree root. Once he was steady on his feet again, he glanced wildly along the horizon. Her eyes darted between him and the view, trying to guess what had surprised him so. Between them and the city, a stretch of highway trailed along the horizon. Nothing particularly remarkable about that. But the man turned pale and crossed himself. When that didn’t improve things in his mind, he pulled a necklace out from under his tunic—she had decided that was the best word for what he was wearing. The necklace was a simple leather cord holding a wooden cross. He rubbed the cross fervently and his lips formed a prayer she couldn’t interpret.

“Are you okay?” she asked again.

He glared at her before he turned and dashed back into the forest.

Ashley hesitated, then followed after him. Despite the fact that running into the woods after a potentially crazy man sounded like a setup for a horror movie, she had to make sure he was okay. She couldn’t just leave him here.

He didn’t go very far. A dozen or so feet farther into the woods, he knelt in front of a low, flat rock. Was he praying?

He stayed in that position for several minutes. Ashley hung back, debating what to do. All thoughts of her feud with Sadie blew away, and she focused on this new confrontation. Did he need help? He certainly seemed lost and scared. She would almost think he was a hermit living secluded in the woods, if they weren’t so close to town and the highway. She considered his clothes. Was there a medieval reenactment happening nearby, maybe at Old Sarum where she had been headed? His outfit appeared of that time period. Had she interrupted some event? But no, the small copse was silent except for them and the distant sound of cars passing along the road.

She still hadn’t decided what to do when his eyes opened again. He looked around. When he saw her his face fell, but he didn’t appear so scared this time. He set his jaw in determination, stood, and approached her.

He said something to her. She almost understood a few words. There was something in the middle that sounded like “thu”—was he saying “you” maybe? When she showed no recognition, he said something again. It sounded different this time. The accent on a few words reminded her of French, but she didn’t speak that language except for a few important phrases she had picked up through pop culture such as Voulez-vous couche avec moi? That probably wouldn’t be the best sentence to introduce herself with. She captured a smile before it appeared on her lips.

It would be mortifying if it turned out she just didn’t understand his accent. When she’d lived in England before, she had always found it nearly impossible to understand anyone from Sunderland. Maybe he was from there. “Sunderland?” she asked. He still looked confused. So much for that theory.

He watched her as if he expected her to provide him with some clue or direction.

“Do you need to go to Salisbury?”

“Sarisbury,” he said. This was still the only word they agreed on.

She sighed. If he was a psycho murderer, it was probably best to get out of the countryside and back into the city where she could get help. She inclined her head toward Salisbury. He nodded and followed her down the hill.

Author Bio:

Beth Ford is a historical fiction author living in the beautiful Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. She is the author of the novels In the Times of Spirits and Love Between Times as well as the Cassie Woods, Reporter novella series. Her upcoming novel After the Spirits Come: A Continuation of Dickens’s A Christmas Carol will be released February 11, 2025. Her work has also appeared in a variety of literary journals.

Website / Goodreads / X

 

GIVEAWAY!
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Release day for Au Revoir, My Duke by Amanda Mariel

Au Revoir, My Duke
by Amanda Mariel
Revenge of the Wallflowers #39

Amidst the enchanting snowfall and twinkling candlelight of Regency England’s holiday season, a tale of redemption and reawakened hearts unfolds in Au Revoir, My Duke.

Lady Charlotte Ashbourne stands on the precipice of ruin, her family’s fortune ruthlessly stolen by the enigmatic and brooding Duke of Ravenscroft, Grant Tilbury. Driven by desperation, Charlotte is determined to reclaim her family’s honor and fortune from the man who ruined them.

Grant Tilbury, a notorious rogue, revels in a life of vice and leisure with no intentions of settling down. However, when he crosses paths with the spirited and beautiful Lady Charlotte, he finds himself intrigued. Unable to resist the challenge, he makes her an indecent proposal. Seeing an opportunity for revenge, Charlotte devises a daring plan: accept his indecent proposal, make him fall in love with her, bring him to his knees, and then shatter his heart as he did her family’s.

As Christmas magic weaves its spell, the boundaries between pretense and reality begin to blur. Charlotte finds herself unexpectedly drawn to Grant, discovering hidden depths and vulnerabilities in him that she never anticipated. Grant, too, is captivated by Charlotte’s fiery spirit and unyielding determination, finding himself entangled in emotions he thought he’d forever forsaken.

With secrets unveiled and their game of hearts taking an unexpected turn, the holiday festivities become a backdrop for a passionate battle of wills. Will Charlotte’s quest for vengeance be overtaken by an undeniable love? Can the rogue Duke find redemption in the embrace of the woman who sought to destroy him? As their hearts intertwine and the true spirit of the season works its magic, the fate of their love hangs in the balance. Will Charlotte bid adieu to the Duke forever, or will love triumph in the most unexpected of ways?

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More titles released in November

Excerpt from TEACUPS AND TEMPTATIONS by Kate Ellington with giveaway

TEACUPS AND TEMPTATIONS

Kate Ellington

GENRE:  Historical Romance

BLURB:

Molly Merriwether readily accepts an invitation to Waverly Hall, eager for adventure and amusement with her best friend. She never expected to be left unchaperoned with three intriguing young gentlemen for weeks.

Roger Bailey, recuperating in more ways than one, avoids Molly until her kindness and humor tempt him to deepen their acquaintance.

Molly lands in one unlikely escapade after the next with Roger and soon considers him a friend—perhaps more—but the barriers he puts up make it impossible to truly know him. Has she only imagined those tender looks in his eyes?

For a chance at love, Molly will need to bare her innermost self and trust someone more deeply than she’s ever dreamed possible.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGQMN6GX/

Excerpt 

Molly finished her tea and turned to Caroline. “Perhaps we should take some time to discuss our options. Alone.”

“Yes, I think we’d better,” Caroline said, setting her cup down.

Benedict rose. “We’ll step out so you can talk.”

Fred settled deeper into his chair as if hoping not to be noticed, but after a sharp look from Benedict stood and followed him out of the room. Mr. Bailey took Penny by the collar and left, closing the door behind him.

As soon as it clicked shut, Molly replenished their teacups. “Would you ever have dreamed we’d find ourselves in such a pickle?”

“Absolutely not. I imagine this means we need to leave.” Caroline sighed a sigh that sounded like it had been waiting years to get out.

Molly lifted one shoulder. “I don’t know…we’re already here and, as Fred said, it isn’t as though we’re alone in the house.”

“I’ve the feeling Fred would say anything to get us to stay. He seems the type of man to enjoy bending the rules.”

“I have the same feeling.” After glancing at the door, Molly whispered, “What do you think of Benedict?”

Caroline shifted on the sofa so she was facing Molly. “It’s too soon to say.”

“Do you think we should move to the inn?” Molly held her breath as she awaited Caroline’s answer.

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DGQMN6GX/

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Kate grew up in a woodsy New England town where summer days at the lake seemed to last forever. She read her first historical romance at age eleven when a teacher challenged her to find a book in the library written by an author she’d never heard of. Thus began a life-long love of love stories.

After graduating from college she settled in the Pacific Northwest, where she currently resides with her family.

Kate wrote her first romance when she was sixteen, then set her pen down for years until another story floated into her head out of the clear blue sky. She jotted it down, just for fun, but soon it took on a life of its own.

Website: http://www.kateellington.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kateellingtonwrites

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kateellingtonauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/29720924.Kate_Ellington

 

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LOVING LIZZIE FINN by Tamara Hughes with gift card giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. The author will be awarding a $20 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Lizzie Finn grew up in a brothel, and she’s reminded of that fact every day. She dreams of finding a job and becoming independent. Only then can she be free of her aunt’s disdain. First, she must find an employer who won’t turn her away because of her past.

Byron Greeley is determined to save his family’s business after Lizzie’s uncle falsifies the amount Byron owes on a loan from the bank. Determined to find proof of Teague’s perfidy, Byron slips into the banker’s house and rummages through the study only to be discovered by Lizzie, a red-haired beauty who utterly captivates him.

Byron offers Lizzie a job in exchange for information about her uncle, and because she believes her uncle is innocent, she agrees. When Teague discovers Lizzie and Byron’s growing affection, he threatens to destroy Byron and his family, insisting Byron is exploiting her. Is Teague’s warning well-founded? Are Byron’s feelings for Lizzie true, or is Byron using her for his own gain?

Read an Excerpt

A spring in her step, Emma placed the rose gown on the bed and returned to the wardrobe. “I saw the most handsome man last night.”

Lizzie’s pulse leaped. “You did?” Had Emma seen the drunken stranger in Uncle’s study? The handsome intruder had occupied Lizzie’s thoughts all night long.

“Of course I did. He is a sight for sore eyes.” Emma returned with the green skirt and carefully lowed it over Lizzie’s head. “Dark eyes, almost black in color, with a gaze so intense he nearly stole my breath.”

Yes. Exactly. As much as she’d tried, she couldn’t get the memory of those eyes out of her head.

Emma secured the skirt and grabbed the bodice. “And his hair, the same as his eyes, black as night.”

Slipping her arms into the sleeves, Lizzie disagreed, “I would hardly call it black, more a dark brown, the color of chestnuts. Which suits him quite well.” With strong, bold features, and a lean frame … She smiled a little when she thought of him. A handsome devil to be sure.

Emma came around to face Lizzie and began to button the gown’s front. “No. I’m quite sure Felix has darker hair than that.”

“Felix?” Had that been his name?

“Yes, our new footman.”

Footman? Lizzie’s cheeks flamed, and her smile dissipated. The man she’d met last night was no footman. He’d spoken of running his family’s business. How embarrassing to be caught admiring a complete stranger. What was wrong with her?

About the Author:

A small-town girl with a big imagination, Tamara Hughes had no idea what to do with her life. After graduating from college, she moved to a big city, started a family and a job, and still struggled to find that creative outlet she craved. An avid reader of romance, she gave writing a try and became hooked on the power of exploring characters, envisioning adventures, and creating worlds. She enjoys stories with interesting twists and heroines who have the grit to surmount any obstacle, all without losing the ability to laugh. To learn more, stop by her website: www.tamarahughes.com.

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/tamarahughesauth
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tamara-hughes
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tamara.hughes2/
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7738043.Tamara_Hughes
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/tamarahughes

Buy link for Loving Lizzie Finn: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DFMQ4X1H

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Wallflower Games by Dawn Brower

Wallflower Games: Lady Be Vengeful
by Dawn Brower
Revenge of the Wallflowers #38

Miss Emma Collins hates being a wallflower and never understood how she’d been relegated to the unnoticeable ranks of the ton. Her family was wealthy, she was reasonably attractive, and, she thought, a catch for any worthy gentleman. She decides that if the ton doesn’t want her, then they don’t deserve her. She would have her fun, and they could all be damned. What better time to do it than at Christmas? If they wished to play games with her life, then they would find themselves at the receiving end of her own. Some gifts are only meant to be experienced after all… She convinces her brother, and his new wife to have a house party and she adds some guests to the list that will be her priority over the two weeks.

Blake Spencer, Marquess of Ardmore, decides to attend a Christmastide house party out of sheer boredom. A friend persuades him that it might prove a good diversion. He is uncertain, until he realizes that a seemingly insignificant wallflower harbors Machiavellian plans that make it all worthwhile. Her games intrigue him, and before he realizes it, she has ensnared him in a trap he never anticipated.

Some games are well worth playing, particularly when, in the end, love is the true victor.

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Katie Walsh by Colleen L. Donnelly with gift card giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Enter to win a $15 Amazon/BN gift card. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

Katie Walsh expects to write a love story someday. The hero resembles her father, and the heroine the deceased mother she never knew but imagines from the longing on her father’s face.

Katie doesn’t expect her father to be murdered, or his will to leave their farm to Guy Knowles, the man she hoped to marry, and order her to another state. Betrayed by the men she trusted, what should have become a love like no other withers and dies.

Until Ted Howard, who doesn’t fit the hole Guy left in her heart. Instead, he fits himself into what she needs—someone who will stay, protect her, and break his own heart for her if needed.

Read an Excerpt

“I don’t know who hit him. The car never slowed or stopped. They’re looking for it. And the driver.”

But they wouldn’t find either. Mr. Alexandar’s angst told me as much. Whoever did this didn’t plan simply to kill my father, they also planned to escape. The same way my father planned for this moment and afterward. I stared at the envelope that held Papa’s will I couldn’t believe he had.

“I’m sorry.” Clifton Alexandar truly was sorry. He didn’t like the task of verbally removing Papa from my life. He probably didn’t realize he had taken my mother as well. The one person I longed to know but never did. Papa, my sole source of information about the woman he loved, was suddenly gone.

Mr. Alexandar stared through the screen while I suffered a vast implosion of my soul. No Papa. No more tidbits about my mother. I became an orphan in a moment. A seventeen-year-old girl with a house, this farm…and Guy. He had never asked for my hand, but he would. Especially now.

About the Author:

Colleen L Donnelly was born and raised in the US Midwest but ventured to other parts of the country as an adult to experience life from other perspectives. Besides writing, she spends time outdoors, antique hunting, reading, or watching a good movie. Even though she retired from a career in laboratory science, she is never bored and always busy at something.

Social Media Links:

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/colleen-l-donnelly
Website: http://www.colleenldonnelly.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColleenLDonnelly
Goodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/colleenldonnelly
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/colleenldonnelly/
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Twitter: https://x.com/ColleenLDonnell/

Buy Link: https://amzn.to/3YQIFP2

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Snowbound With the Scoundrel by Courtney McCaskill release day

Snowbound With the Scoundrel
by Courtney McCaskill
Revenge of the Wallflowers

First, he jilted her. Then, he humiliated her…

The Weatherby Wallflowers received their unfortunate nickname when Rupert Dupree, the second son of the Earl of Rottenbury, jilted Clarissa, then decamped for the Continent. When a gossip sheet published Rupert’s letter forcefully rejecting their proposed union, all four Weatherby sisters became laughingstocks. Clarissa hadn’t much been looking forward to marrying a stranger, but she has hated ‘Rotten Rupert’ ever since.

But you can’t keep a Weatherby Wallflower down…

Now the consummate wallflower, Clarissa finds her true purpose: gathering information for the Home Office. It’s the one advantage of blending into the wallpaper—nobody even notices that Clarissa is in the room, much less that she is surreptitiously listening to everyone’s secrets.

Snowbound with the Scoundrel…

Clarissa’s contact at the Home Office gives her the most important assignment of her career: to infiltrate the Countess of Helmsley’s Christmas house party and protect a prominent Member of Parliament who has been subject to repeated assassination attempts. Nothing will stop Clarissa from reaching this house party, not even the snowstorm gathering over the Yorkshire moors. She manages to book passage on the last carriage leaving York.

But that’s when Clarissa’s luck runs out. Because it turns out there’s one other passenger crazy enough to brave the moors in a blizzard.

And it happens to be Rupert Dupree…

Snowbound with the Scoundrel is a steamy, comedic Regency Romance. It is Book 37 in the multi-author series Revenge of the Wallflowers and also Book 2 in The Weatherby Wallflowers Quartet. Look for Eleanor Weatherby’s story, A Wallflower Never Surrenders, and for Kate and Pippa’s stories, which are coming in 2025!

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More titles releasing in November

The Scoundrel Had It Coming by Amy Quinton

 

The Scoundrel Had It Coming
by Amy Quinton
Revenge of the Wallflowers

He was known by many names: Spyder, Viscount Sharpe, the Puppet Master…Villian. Officially, he was Lord Rhodri Owain Perce Bewlyn Glyndŵr and though he rarely acknowledged it, the Duke of Powys. But to me, he was first and foremost: a scoundrel. One who thrived on knowledge for knowledge meant power; a truth he’d built a ludicrously successful life upon.

Lucky for me, he’d overlooked the greatest source of knowledge across the ballrooms of Mayfair: the Wallflower, and I, Lady Imogen Beatrix Smythe, vowed the oversight would be his undoing for the scoundrel definitely had it coming, and I meant to collect…

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More titles coming in October

Never Besmirch a Wallflower by Alyssa Drake – Release Day and Guest review

Never Besmirch a Wallflower
by Alyssa Drake
Revenge of the Wallflowers book 36

Never back a wallflower into a corner.

Shunted aside, Eveline watched her younger sisters find love and marry. Disheartened by her situation, she relocates, inventing a new persona and snagging the attention of Levi Overton, Duke of Lennox, whose amorous pursuit leaves her head spinning. However, Eveline’s past followed her to Wiltshire…and it wants revenge.

With the truth of her identity hovering on the tongue of a woman who lost three suitors to Eveline’s sisters, Eveline struggles to maintain her silence while the lady unleashes a barrage of rumors designed to destroy Eveline’s reputation.

Faced with revealing her past or fading into the shadows as a permanent spinster, Eveline must determine if she’s courageous enough to allow Levi to love her true self. That is, if he forgives her for lying…

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Guest Review by Reads2Love – Nicole:

5 Stars: This was a thrilling ride! Eveline learns the hard way that you can’t run from your problems. She’s rented a house away from her jilted fiancée, but when his sister finds her hiding spot, the intrigue of wondering if she’ll rat out Eveline keeps you on the edge of your seat. Levi is a hero to love. He’s determined not to lose a bet his friends have on if they will all find love. But the chemistry with Eveline is undeniable. You just hope that when he discovers that she’s been using a false identity, he will forgive her so they can give in to the sparks that have been flying from the moment they met. Eveline may have made herself a wallflower in hopes of staying hidden, but she’s a great character that you want to see thrive. The surrounding cast of characters also helps build a world to fall into. I don’t think I’ve read this author before, but I would happily continue. The story was engaging and interesting and a perfect addition to the Revenge of the Wallflowers’ world.

 

Release Day! A Wallflower’s Wassail Punch by Aubrey Wynne

A Wallflower’s Wassail Punch
by Aubrey Wynne
Revenge of the Wallflowers Book 35
Once Upon A Widow

Lady Annette Page is twenty-four and ready to climb onto the shelf. Her first Season was a disaster after a duke’s son pinched her by the punchbowl, and she walloped him in the nose. And broke it. After five years, she has yet to live down the scandal. Her father hopes to remarry, but his betrothed will not agree until Lady Annette is gone. With an enormous dowry offered for her hand, the earl hosts a house party at Christmastide. The men arrive, hoping to claim her fortune, while the ladies continue to dredge up the past.

Lord Weston has been a widow for twenty years. Now that his daughter is betrothed, he is ready to consider taking another wife. Invited to a house party by an old friend, he arrives to find the earl’s daughter is the guest of honor, and the week of revelry is a ploy to marry her off. Weston is surprised the other gentlemen view her as a quiet, awkward female. The viscount, seeing a striking, intelligent woman with a dry wit only he seems to appreciate, comes to her rescue.

When the two become allies, their partnership soon goes beyond friendship. But will Lady Annette’s age and the viscount’s interfering daughter keep them from a happy ending under the mistletoe?

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Excerpt

It had been years since he’d been here. A strapping lad of eighteen? The large entrance hall held the same large mirror, tapestry, and portraits on the wall. There was a drawing room on the right, and past that began the large circular staircase that led to a balcony. As he gazed up, he saw a woman with deep-brown hair and brilliant emerald eyes watching him.

His heart thumped a little harder when their eyes met, and she smiled. Lovely. No, more than lovely. She was stunning, and his heart thumped again. A rusty, odd feeling in his chest. Attraction? Possibly. Nerves because he’d been thinking of taking another wife?

“Hello,” she said in a rich, honied tone, interrupting his thoughts. “You must be here for the party.”

“Yes, this is Lord Weston,” informed the butler just as the door opened again and footmen came in carrying a trunk and a traveling bag. He turned back to Andrew. “This is Lady Annette.”

That sounded familiar. Annette, Annette—

An invisible pitcher of icy water doused him, and he blinked. Demmit, she was Beecham’s daughter? He needed to get hold of himself, then, because he was no lecherous old man. But she was deuced lovely.

“Which room, Mr. Gibbs?”

“The green room, my lady.”

“I’ll show him the way.” With a smile, she beckoned him to join her.

Without hesitation, he took the stairs and bowed when he stood before her. A day dress of light-rose muslin clung to her curves and showed off her ivory skin. He deliberately avoided her neckline as she held out a hand. A bare hand. His lips brushed the top. Yet a vaguely familiar heat sizzled through him.

He straightened, and she smiled again. A brilliance of white filled the shadowy hall. Her eyes sparkled, making him smile in return. Now that he was closer, he noted the tiny creases around those green orbs and realized she wasn’t quite as young as he’d assumed. Perhaps she was even married already.

“You have your father’s eyes,” he said, attempting a sane conversation.

“So I’ve been told.” She glanced over her shoulder, leading him farther down the hall. They climbed another flight of stairs, stopping at the second room on the right with a green door and a tiny brass knocker. “Here we are.” Lady Annette turned the knob and stepped aside.

The green room was true to its name. Wool carpet the color of a dark forest covered most of the floor with matching drapes on the tall windows, opened to let in the dim winter light. Several landscapes showing off the Beecham estate hung on the oak paneling. To the left, a small fireplace was flanked by a side table with a pitcher and bowl and a dark walnut wardrobe. On the marble mantel was a miniature grandfather’s clock, its delicate weights and pendulum intricately carved with a design he couldn’t discern from the doorway. The four-poster canopied bed took up the right side of the room. A counterpane and canopy with the same lighter, brighter green and gold print that matched the two wingback chairs before the hearth.

“It’s one of the more masculine rooms, so we thought you’d feel more at home here.”

Andrew moved past her into the room, feeling the plush carpet beneath his boots. The scent of jasmine tickled his nose and made him think of warmer weather. Lady Annette lingered at the door. He could feel her eyes studying him as he walked to the windows and pulled back a sheer curtain. He knew the path below. It led to the stable.

“I haven’t been here since I graduated from university,” he mumbled, turning away from the window.

“Then your last visit was fairly recent?” she asked with a grin.

He chuckled. “If you are appealing to my vanity, you have succeeded.”

“Good. Let’s see how your memory holds up. Do you remember where the library is?”

Impertinent, adorable chit. “I believe I do. First floor, end of the hall.” He smirked. “Not bad for an old man.”

She snorted. He laughed. “I don’t believe you are old. Nothing about you shows the wear of years like I’ve seen on other men. Either you are exaggerating your age, or you’ve never had a care in the world.”

Andrew shook his head. “You are wrong on both counts, my dear, though such observations make me feel years younger.”

“Hmm,” she mused over her shoulder, turning to leave. “Challenge accepted.”

His mind buzzed as he breathed in the lingering scent of jasmine, wondering what challenge he had just issued. Watch your step, old boy. She’s a temptation that could lead to trouble.

Shop the series: https://books.bookfunnel.com/revenge_of_the_wallflowers/7x4ng9tv7t

More titles released in October: