Sherry Ewing's Blog, page 7

Preorder Knight of Havoc!

I’m so excited to let you know that Knight of Havoc: Knights of the Anarchy (Book Three) is now live and available for preorder for only 99 pennies! You’ve met Reynard Norwood before in books one and two and now it’s his turn to find his happily ever after.

Thanks for making Knight of Darkness and Knight of Chaos Amazon bestsellers, my dearest Readers! I hope when Knight of Havoc releases on August 23rd that you enjoy this friends to lovers medieval romance between Reynard and Elysande!

Knight of Havoc: The Knights of the Anarchy (Book Three)
Releases August 23, 2024

One lone knight. One strongminded maiden. When duty wars with love at first sight, which will win?

Long ago, Reynard Norwood loved deeply, but the lady died, and he vowed never to love again. On a mission for the Empress Matilda, he finds a lady worthy of love. She is barely surviving. How can he leave her? But how can he break his vow to the dead? Torn between loyalty to a ghost and following his heart, he must still make certain that the living lady is safe and secure.

The life of Lady Elysande Thorburn of Blackmore has been in turmoil since King Stephen and his men laid siege to her home. With few resources, she must care for an ailing grandfather and meet her responsibilities to those loyal to the household. Her options for survival are running out. One of Empress Matilda’s knights arrives at her weakest moment. He’s determined she must leave with him, but she’s just as determined to stay.

Nothing about their relationship is simple, least of all the attraction each has for the other. As havoc and conflicting demands surround them, is love even possible?

Preorder now for $0.99 or Read for Free in Kindle Unlimited

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First Kiss Friday with Jude Knight

It’s always a pleasure when I can host my dear friend Jude Knight on my First Kiss Friday Blog. Today, Jude has an excerpt from her upcoming release Inviting the Wild that will hit your eReaders on July 26th. Take it away Jude and happy reading, my lovelies!

This excerpt is from Inviting the Wild. My hero and heroine are walking in the park. Ruadh has been telling himself that he is not courting the lady. 

Excerpt:

“Look,” she said, as she accepted the seat he had cleared for her. “Ducklings!” An adult led a dozen or more little balls of fluff across the water. Rose was counting them out loud and laughing as they swapped places and veered off in different directions, all chirping loudly.

“They will not stay still for me to count them!” she chuckled.

“Eleven?” he suggested, then joined her laughter when two more babies came squeaking from the reeds and merged with the fast-moving duckling ballet around the mother.

Ruadh had been telling himself that he barely knew Rose; that his fascination with her would fade with closer acquaintance. But every meeting so far had him wanting her more. She was kind, intelligent, competent, loyal to her family. He enjoyed being with her. He was used to summing people up on short acquaintance—the skill had stood him in good stead as an officer in the army, particularly as the commander of troops charged with keeping the peace in a hostile land. With Rose, he had passion and the beginnings of friendship.

“Look, Ruadh, this one is coming to see us!” she exclaimed, pointing to a duckling who was attempting to scramble out of the pond just in front of them. “I wish I had something to feed to them.”

“The mother is not too happy about the venturer’s direction,” Ruadh observed as the duck’s quacks took on a more urgent tone. His voice was none too steady as he reacted to her use of his personal name. He wanted to hear it again, preferably when they were in bed, her hair spread across his pillow, her voice a husky moan.

The duck didn’t want her child too far away, and that raised another objection to a match between himself and Lady Rose. Rose was an Englishwoman and a southerner. Ruadh’s future lay in Scotland, far away from everyone and everything she knew. Ruadh’s own mother was English, and she had long missed her family. 

In Mama’s case, though, she was estranged from her family. Had that not been the case, she could have seen them. Perhaps not often, given the distance, but from time to time. Today, Galloway was not as many days travel from London as it had been a generation ago. Rose’s family could visit, and Ruadh could afford to journey south for a month or so every couple of years, should it come to that. 

Rose shook her skirt at the adventurous duckling. “Do as your mother says, until you are a little older,” she advised. It tumbled back into the water with a startled, outraged peep and set a straight course for the duck, who sailed off to the other side of the pond, her little flock paddling around her, though several chose to ferry onboard her back. Ruadh’s heart did an unusual skip at the sound of her laughter and the sight of her smile.

Even if he did find her attractive, as well as acceptable as his wife, the difference in their ages also worried him. He had at least fifteen years on her, and those fifteen years had been spent at war and in the shadow of war. 

On the other hand, while she was young,  she appeared to have a good head on her shoulders. The question was, could she cope with his moods, with his sorrow, and the dark energy that gripped him from time to time? He would have to be honest with her before she decided whether to allow him to court her. She would at least know what she was choosing.

So that was it, then. He’d chosen to court her, and it hadn’t been a difficult decision at all. He opened his mouth to make a start, but at that moment she turned her head his way, her face alight with laughter, her eyes sparkling. He found himself bridging the gap between them, leaning to meet her and to kiss her. He forced himself to stop, his lips almost touching hers.

“Yes?” he asked. “Or no?” 

“Yes,” she breathed. It was little more than a whisper, but it was enough. His mouth covered hers, his lips gentle, though the strain on his self-control had his whole body quivering, like an eager horse constrained at the starting line, waiting for the signal.

Her untutored response helped. She was at first passive, then began to return the pressure and movement of his lips. When she parted her own lips, he had his first taste of her. A taste wasn’t enough. His eager body wanted him to take more, to delve deep, to clasp her to him and shape her body with his hands, to turn this gentle exploration into an imitation of the act for which his body yearned. Perhaps, in this unexpected haven, even the real thing. 

He ignored it, touching her only with his mouth, leaving her free to break their connection if she wished.

She moaned and pressed closer. He began to reach for her but called his hands back under his command. He must end this. Someone could come upon them at any time. He drew away, and at first, she followed, but then she allowed him the distance and sat back, looking adorably flustered.

No time like the present. He had not achieved his rank by dithering about an action once he had decided. “Rose, I have some things I need to tell you before I ask your consent to seek Stancroft’s permission to our marriage.”

Inviting the Wild

Ruahd Douglas doesn’t want to go home. Years on the battlefields for the glory of the king have made him more beast than man and he won’t inflict his wounded mind and soul on his family. So, he wanders the streets of London, performing penance by rescuing those in need.

Rosalind Ransome is a misfit in London’s ballrooms, but in visiting the sick of all classes, she has found work she loves and the chance to make a difference. When she is attacked in the streets, she is rescued by the vigilante they call the Wolf.

Rose is drawn to Ruadh when he seeks her family’s help to free his ailing grandfather from a treacherous wife and servants. But is he the loving grandson? Or the wolf who patrols the streets at night? 

Even as Rose discovers he is both, Ruadh realizes that he must find a way to tame his anger if he hopes to win the maid.

But when Rose is in danger, Ruadh is glad he can still call on the wild.

A Twist Upon a Regency Tale
Lady Beast’s Bridegroom (inspired by Beauty and the Beast)
One Perfect Dance (inspired by Cinderella)
Snowy and the Seven Doves (inspired by Snow White and the Seven Doves)
Perchance to Dream (inspired by Sleeping Beauty)
Weave Me a Rope (inspired by Rapunzel)
The Sincerest Flattery (inspired by The Goose Girl)
Inviting the Wild (inspired by Little Red Riding Hood)
Hold Me Fast (inspired by The Ballad of Tam Lin)
The Trials of Alaric (inspired by The Princess and the Pea)

Buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D8BYJ8ST Meet Jude

Jude always wanted to be a novelist. She started in her teens, but life kept getting in the way. Years passed, and with them dozens of unfinished manuscripts. The fear grew. What if she tried, failed, and lost the dream forever? The years since 2014 have brought 17 novels, 16 novella, 6 volumes of short stories, a number of awards, and hundreds of positive reviews. The dream is alive.

Website and blog: http://judeknightauthor.com/

Subscribe to newsletter: http://judeknightauthor.com/newsletter/

Jude’s bookstore: https://judeknight.selz.com/

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/JudeKnightBooks

Pinterest: https://nz.pinterest.com/jknight1033/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jude-knight

First Kiss Friday with The Lyon and His Promise

There’s nothing like a release week and watching a new book’s rating soar! Today is First Kiss Friday for my blog and I’m featuring myself and my new book The Lyon and His Promise! Although Gyles and Josephine did share a brief kiss, this one is a little more to my liking. Happy reading and enjoy, my lovelies, and thanks to everyone who has begun to get reviews up for my new book baby! You’re the best.

Excerpt:

Once Gyles had procured two glasses of wine, they stood in the vestibule with others who milled around talking. “Are you enjoying the performance?” he asked while her eyes sparkled in delight as if in answer to his question.

“Gyles… It’s been so long since I’ve been to the theater. It’s wonderful,” she exclaimed in excitement and hearing his given name pass her lips caused his heart to flip inside his chest. “Are you enjoying the play as much as I am?”

He chuckled thinking the play was average but maybe he was just used to attending these sorts of things and had become jaded in his opinion of them. “I am happy that you are happy with the play, my dear. If I am to be honest, I have been enjoying observing you watching the play more than the performance itself.”

She lowered her eyes while a serine smile graced her lips. “I’m not sure how to respond to such a statement, my lord. That you’re watching me so intently is a bit embarrassing,” she murmured.

“That I find you more entertaining than the play is a compliment, Josephine,” Gyles replied softly. He took a sip of his wine noticing a becoming blush rush across her cheeks and all he could think about was taking her in his arms.

“You are too kind, my lord.” She finished her wine licking her lips afterwards and this was almost his undoing. Those soft brown eyes rose to meet his own and that just about snapped his control. The house lights began to flicker announcing that the play was about to resume. People began to return to their seats.

Gyles finished his wine and handed their glasses to a passing servant. Placing her hand in the crook of his arm, he scanned the area finding a curtained alcove so they could have a moment of privacy and be hidden from view.

Josephine automatically turned in his arms. A promise lit her face and he swore his heart melted for this lady at the sight. He didn’t hesitate as he lowered his head pressing his lips to hers. He allowed her to take the lead for he didn’t want to rush her and when she stepped closer he pulled her into his arms and deepened their kiss.

A low moan of pleasure escaped her and his tongue began to dance with hers. She tasted like the wine they had been drinking and he wished they were in a more private setting. But perhaps that made their little excursion all the more exciting… a taste of adventure he had been waiting to explore with this particular lady.

He remembered himself before she realized just how aroused he had become with such a simple kiss. When he stepped back, her look of disappointment was surely matched by his own dismay that they couldn’t continue their exploration of one another.

A gentleman’s lifetime regret. A widow’s tarnished reputation. Can they repair the past to create a bright future together?

Gyles Hawley, Marquis of Wickes has spent years regretting that he promised a good friend not to woo the man’s sister. Not that it shows. Between his duties to his father and the estate as heir to a duchy, he lives the life of a gentleman-about-town. Inside, though, he still yearns for a girl he could never forget.

Mrs. Josephine Bouchard understands that she must live with her bad choices. Foolishly running away with a man who only desired her money, was only the first. After she became a widow, she continued to make decisions that cost her any possibility of a return to Society. Then a chance glimpse of Gyles makes her wonder if maybe she could find a way.

When Mrs. Dove-Lyon arranges a meeting between Gyles and Josephine, the past and present collide. Only once they resolve their own mixed emotions, can they combat all that Society will try to do to stop them being together by changing what people believe about Josephine’s past.

A ruined widow and a duke’s heir must find a way, for love has once more entered their hearts.

Buy or Read for #FREE in Kindle Unlimited

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Happy Release Day ~ The Lyon and His Promise!

Any day I can write on my blog that I’m releasing a new book baby into the world is a very good day. In fact this is my 27th published book that includes two still sitting in box sets with the Bluestocking Belles. Yes… it’s a very happy day.

It’s my fondest wish that you’ll have one heck of a book hangover come the morning after binging The Lyon and His Promise. This friends to lovers with a brother’s best friend trope will offer you several twists and turns before Gyles and Josephine find their happily ever after.

Happy reading and enjoy my next contribution to the Lyon’s Den Connected World, my lovelies and thank you for all your support!

A gentleman’s lifetime regret. A widow’s tarnished reputation. Can they repair the past to create a bright future together?

Purchase a copy or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited!

Learn more right here on my website at https://sherryewing.com/regency-books/the-lyon-and-his-promise/

It’s Time to Stuff Your eReader!

It’s that time of the year to Stuff Your eReader with 1,000 FREE eBooks including my story To Claim A Lyon’s Heart. Hop on over to https://www.romancebookworms.com and grab them all but hurry. This is a one day sale! Happy reading and enjoy, my lovelies!

First Kiss Friday with Ruth A. Casie

Welcome back to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today I have my dear friend Ruth A. Casie returning with an excerpt from her novel The Lady and Her Quill. We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading, my lovelies, and take it away Ruth!

Setting the Stage:

Justin had never set foot in Sommer-by-the-Sea before, but with Alicia as his guide, he felt like he was rediscovering his own heartbeat. As they meandered through the cobblestone streets, Alicia spun tales of the village’s past, each story a thread weaving the rich tapestry of the town’s history. After all, she was a renowned storyteller. There had been a kiss on the hand—oh, so chivalrous—and laughter.

Alicia brought him to the caves along the shoreline. The one they stood before was more than just a hollow in the cliffs; it was the legendary setting of ‘Margaret’s Miracle,’ a tale that had the villagers swearing by the power of love and secret tunnels.

Legend has it that a Scotsman with a heart the size of Loch Ness, whisked his bonnie lass from the clutches of a dreary dungeon by navigating the tunnels in this very cave. They say love finds a way, but in this case, it came through the tunnel

Alicia confides that as a young girl, she came here often even though her parents forbade her to enter the caves. Hiding from her sister, she fell asleep, and the tide came in. Her sister came to her aid, but only barely. Justin gives his account of tunnels and his war experience.

Are you trying to figure out where the kiss is? Read on…

Excerpt:

She turned to the sloping side of the cave. “Beatrice and I were playing on the beach. It was my turn to hide from her. She hid behind the large rocks on the beach. I came in here. If Beatrice did venture in, she would never go deep into the cave. I thought I was so clever.”

He didn’t have a good feeling about this.

“I went as far back as I dared, to the edge of the blackness.”

A chill brushed across his shoulders. He breathed deeply to quell his building unease.

“There was a boulder high on the slope. It was the perfect place to hide. The water would never come up that high.”

He let out a low groan imagining what happened.

“I sat behind the boulder and waited. I heard Beatrice calling my name walking all over the beach. As I thought, she didn’t come inside the cave and I didn’t answer when she came to the entrance. If she found me I knew she would tell Father where I hid. Eventually she went away.”

“And you came out of your hiding place,” he said.

“Not right away. I laid my head against the boulder, and waited a little longer. I listened to the rhythmic waves. It was hypnotic.”

“You fell asleep?” he asked in a wave of panic. He tamped his fear down when he realized Lady Alicia was reliving hers.

“I woke when the water soaked my feet and skirts. In a panic I made my way down the slope. When I reached the cave floor the water was up to my knees and rushing in. I had to waded in waist deep water to get to the entrance escape. Wave after wave broke on the shore. The boulders on the beach were under water. Without seeing them, I had no way to navigate to the cliff path. But I couldn’t stay where I was.” She looked up at him her breath coming in spurts, her chest heaving. “I had no choice. I set out as best I could, trying to remember where the boulders were. Each wave forced me closer to the cliff wall. Several knocked me down and tugged me away toward the sea. All I could do was get up and try again until finally, I found the path.”

As cool as it was, beads of sweat were on her forehead. Her eyes darted around wildly, looking for an escape route.

“Drenched and exhausted. I stood at the top of the cliff my legs shaking. Father found me on my way home. I tried to make nothing of my condition. I told him I was caught by a wave. He looked so concerned. I couldn’t tell him the truth and hated myself for it.

“As we made our way home. I told him I was laying on the large flat rocks on the beach and didn’t realize the tide was coming in. He scolded me good and proper. That was the first time I ever heard Father curse. You’re bloody lucky you didn’t get yourself killed. Before we reached home, I told him everything, especially how afraid I was. I think he was more afraid than I.”

“Did that stop you from going into the caves?” he asked.

She was quiet and let out a sigh.

“I’ve been to the beach often, but this is the first time I’ve been inside the cave since the incident.”

Neither of them said a word. For several moments all they heard was the crash of the waves outside the cave.

“My mother called me rambunctious,” he said. “My father called me a growing boy. I stole cakes from the kitchen, swam in the lake with my friends, and played a warrior who conquered haystacks. I was the youngest in the group, but the biggest and also the target. While I could fight, I didn’t.”

“I wish I had known you when you were a boy. Imagine the adventures we would have had.”

For a moment he was surrounded by an air of innocence tempered with strength and confidence. It was an idyllic time when he was a boy. What did he know of intrigue and war? It was a game. You pretended to kill your best friend and when it was all over, you both walked down the lane laughing ready to do it all over again the next day.

He glanced at her and smiled. She wouldn’t play the lady in distress, no not Lady Alicia. Not a squire either. She would be a warrior, a Scottish warrior woman standing beside him and not expect any special consideration. He indeed could imagine the adventures they would have had.

“You never fought?” she asked, her tone suggested she didn’t believe it.

“Finn, one of the boys kept goading me. It was one insult after another. My father had warned me that I would be picked on because of my size and taught me I was a Highland warrior’s son and had nothing to prove.”

“You withstood his abuse. I am sure that was not easy.”

“Everyone has their breaking point. I found mine when he pushed me into the well. Finn and his friends thought it was funny. At times I still hear his laugh echoing in the well as he closed the lid and left.” He gave a nervous chuckle.

“How awful. He came back and got you out, sent down a rope, or sent someone to help you.”

Justin’s eyes had a faraway look. He was back in the well.

“How I screamed, but no one came. I spent the night in the dark on a narrow ledge cold and alone. The following morning my older cousin Matthew came to draw water for the horses. He fished me out without saying a word. I was cold through and through. He wrapped me in a blanket. On the way home, I told him everything. He stood with me and told my father what had been happening. My father went into a rage.”

“What did he do?”

“We were at the mill several days later. Father was inside with the miller. Matthew stood at the door talking to the miller’s daughter. I waited in the yard not too far away when Finn and his friends arrived. He started with his name calling. I ignored him. Matthew got my attention. I’ll never forget his words. “Finish the little bastard so we can go home.” That’s the version I can tell in your company.”

“Did you?” She laughed.

“The first punch had him on his back. I lifted him and threw him into the horse trough. I turned to his friends and asked who was next. They ran down the lane.

“Father, Matthew and I went home singing. But the incident had a lasting effect. I’m still not fond of closed spaces, but when I went to war, I came face-to-face with my fear. I had no choice but to overcome it. On one campaign in Spain, I had to navigate a small cave, smaller than this one. Two of my men were held captive and I had to rescue them. There are still times when I am apprehensive.”

“I can’t imagine anything preventing you from taking action. How did you overcome your fear?” she asked.

“My men are loyal to me and I to them. I didn’t have a choice. I put one foot in front of the other. My men had no doubt I would come for them or die trying. It was never a question. They would do the same for me. I would not allow the terror stabbing my heart or the icy panic to take control.”

“I was right. Your loyalty and determination were stronger than your fear. It is commendable. Not everyone holds their values so dear.”

He gazed at her in a new light. The woman was insightful, her thoughts deep and heartfelt.

“You are brave. At first I found it too difficult to return to the beach, yet I was unhappy. I went to the cliff and stared at the rocks and sand but wasn’t able to go down the path. My father gave me a solution.”

She showed him her pendant with the tiger eye gem. “I rub the jewel. He called it a worry stone.”

She let out a slight chuckle.

“The stone is a simple device that helps me quiet my mind and look at the true nature of a situation. The stone helps me calm my fears so I can move forward. In this case, return to the beach, walk in the surf, but examining my feelings about the cave was a different matter.”

They stood in the cave quiet for several moments.

“I find it strange. I wanted you to see this place.” She looked at him. “I had no doubt nothing would happen to me if you were with me.”

She put her hand on his arm.

Surprised by the innocent gesture, he gave her a smile in return.

“Bringing you here seemed so right.”

He lifted her hand to his lips and kissed it lightly.

She gasped but made no attempt to pull away from him.

He leaned down close, close enough for his cheeks to be bathed in her warm breath. He drove on and gently kissed her mouth.

Alicia didn’t resist. Her lips were softer than he had imagined, and sweeter. His heart pounded and a fire he hadn’t felt in a long time burned through him.

“I will not say I am sorry,” he whispered in her hair.

“You have no reason to apologize.” She nestled closer to him. “Neither of us do.”

She showed no signs of moving but rather nestled content in his arms. The stolen minutes were precious to him, but he wouldn’t compromise her.

“We had best return to your sister. She’ll begin to worry.”

“I know you’re right. It would be best.”

He released her from his arms, took her hand, and led her out of the cave.

“I’m glad you brought me here,” he said before they reached her sister. “But you must not return. Not alone.”

* * *

Alicia had been kissed before, by the baker’s son. She was thirteen and thought herself an adult. At the time she didn’t understand all the emotion and mystery associated with a kiss. To her, it was much like an old aunt kissing her, except the baker’s boy kissed her lips.

But the captain, the tenderness of his caress made her heart skitter. His deep voice was melodious and made her wonder how he would sound singing. The taste of his lips lingered and warmed her. The realization struck her that she wouldn’t have stopped him if he wanted more and if he didn’t pursue it, she would have.

No, she did not regret his kiss. Nor did she want her soothing stone to quiet her feelings. Banish these feelings? Not at all, she’d rather prolong them as long as possible.

His firm grasp and the warmth of his hand kept her emotions high. Before he released her hand, he gave her a small intimate squeeze and her heart thundered.

The Lady and Her Quill
By Ruth A. Casie

Her mind kept telling her to stop loving him, but her heart couldn’t let him go.

Renowned author Lady Alicia Hartley has lost her muse after a bad review that her heroines outshine her heroes. She blames it all on the author JC Melrose, who is mentioned in her review. A chance encounter with a handsome, witty Captain Caulfield has her heart racing and her muse seemingly back. Is the captain her savior?

The recently retired Captain Justin Caulfield is facing his own demons. He meets and falls in love with Lady Alicia. She has no idea he is the author JC Melrose. He never meant to keep his identity a secret, but she interrupts or changes the subject every time he attempts to tell her. He knows she has feelings for him, but what will happen when she finds out who he is? 

“It’s very easy to get involved with our characters feelings in this historical romance.  Both are right and wrong, and when they realize that the excitement and adventure really starts.” ~ Petula, Goodreads 

Buy Link: Amazon

About the Author:

RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. Within the pages, you’ll discover ‘edge-of-your-seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama, and heart-melting emotions featuring strong women and the men who deserve them. She currently has four historical series: The Druid Knight, The Stelton Legacy, and The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea, and sheparticipates in The Connected World of The Pirates of Britannia as well as The Lyon’s Den Connected World. 

Ruth lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms, and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at a major international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. Grab your favorite cup of tea, or an ale if you prefer, and join her heroes and heroines as they race across the pages to find their happily ever after.  Ruth hopes her stories are your next favorite adventures!

Social Media Links:

Website: https://ruthacasie.com/

Ruth’s Newsletter Signup:  http://ruthacasie.com/contact.html#newsletter       

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

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/

Twitter:  https://twitter.com/RuthACasie

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-a-casie

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/ruthacasie   

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie

YouTube:  https://www.youtube.com/@Ruth-A-Casie

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Threads: https://www.threads.net/@ruthacasie

FREEBIE and Preorder Alert!

Everyone loves a freebie, right?

Dragonblade Publishing has made To Claim A Lyon’s Heart  FREE from today through June 12th. I’ll be in Katheryn LeVeque’s book club Facebook group for a whole week where I’ll be talking about my books and then lead a discussion on my Lyon’s Den novel on Friday, June  14th at 3:30 p.m. PDT. You can join the group here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/kathrynlevequebookclub

To Claim A Lyon’s Heart can be purchased or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited. Get all the links on my website at: https://sherryewing.com/regency-books/to-claim-a-lyons-heart/

Can’t get enough of the Lyon’s Den? Then hold onto your teacups, lovely readers, because you’re in for one heck of a ride. I’ve got your next book boyfriend waiting for you at the end of the month!

The Lyon and His Promise: The Lyon’s Den Connected World
By Sherry Ewing
Releases June 26th
Preorder for $0.99

A gentleman’s lifetime regret. A widow’s tarnished reputation. Can they repair the past to create a bright future together?

Gyles Hawley, Marquis of Wickes has spent years regretting that he promised a good friend not to woo the man’s sister. Not that it shows. Between his duties to his father and the estate as heir to a duchy, he lives the life of a gentleman-about-town. Inside, though, he still yearns for a girl he could never forget.

Mrs. Josephine Bouchard understands that she must live with her bad choices. Foolishly running away with a man who only desired her money, was only the first. After she became a widow, she continued to make decisions that cost her any possibility of a return to Society. Then a chance glimpse of Gyles makes her wonder if maybe she could find a way.

When Mrs. Dove-Lyon arranges a meeting between Gyles and Josephine, the past and present collide. Only once they resolve their own mixed emotions, can they combat all that Society will try to do to stop them being together by changing what people believe about Josephine’s past.

A ruined widow and a duke’s heir must find a way, for love has once more entered their hearts.

Preorder for 99c or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited. Learn more on my website at: https://sherryewing.com/regency-books/the-lyon-and-his-promise/

First Kiss Friday with Jude Knight

Happy Friday and welcome to another First Kiss Friday excerpt with the talented Jude Knight. She has a brand new release and an excerpt from The Sincerest Flattery. We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading and take it away, Jude!

This excerpt is from The Sincerest Flattery. My hero and heroine have decided to accept the arranged marriage their parents have made for them, and Percy has been telling Lia that there will be some advantages.

Excerpt:

“We shall have to be careful not to upset His Grace,” Percy said. “He is quite reasonable in what he expects, though, and he will not interfere in our lives. He told me that, if I am old enough to be wed, I am old enough to know how to go on. I think the same applies to you, Lia. Do you not agree?”

It sounded too good to be true. She had seen marriage as the end of the freedoms of her Season, but perhaps the reverse would be true. Yes, I am still cross about being given no choice, but I would be a fool to cut off my nose to spite my face.

“I wonder if my parents would be open to bribing me, as well,” Lia said. 

“We could try,” Percy suggested. “Lia, may I kiss you?”

Lia thought her heart might stop. Certainly, she stopped breathing. He was waiting for her answer, his eyes fixed on her lips. She licked them and his eyes darkened. “You want to kiss me?” she managed to stammer.

“Since I met you in the sheep field,” he replied.

Those tingles were rioting. Lia found herself nodding.

“Yes?” Percy asked.

She nodded again. “Yes.”

It felt nothing like what she had imagined. He moved closer, cupped her elbow and drew her to her feet, then put his palms gently on both sides of her face. Then he lowered his face and brushed her lips with his, setting off the strongest tingles so far. 

He wasn’t finished, though. His mouth settled over hers, and a flight of butterflies took up residence in her stomach. His lips kept moving. Her own began to move in imitation, and then, when she opened her mouth a little, the tip of his tongue swept into the gap.

Her senses reeled and her body melted against him. For a moment, he clutched her in place, his hand against her behind. Then he withdrew his tongue, then his mouth, then his strong hard body, cupping her elbows again to support her until her knees could hold her up.

“We had better stop.” Percy said, and she took heart at the fact that his voice was not quite steady. “The door is open, and if a servant or, Heaven forbid, your governess comes upon us, we will not be given the opportunity to steal any more of those.” His eyes gleamed. “And I very much want to.”

He was right. Lia cast a glance at the door and forced her mind to focus. What had they been talking about? Ah, yes. “What else will we need, Percy? I have heard a lot about the Season, and I have been taught to manage a country house, but I know nothing about living in Town.”

The Sincerest Flattery

Can an arranged marriage become a love match? Or will lies and misunderstandings tear Percy and Lia apart?

When Percival Lord Thornstead heads to the far north of England to meet the bride his father has arranged for him to marry, bad weather, the ague and a crooked valet disrupt his travel plans. Turned away at the door of the manor, he takes a job minding sheep to stay close.

Lady Aurelia Byrne sneaks away from the house dressed as a kitchen maid. She is angry at being told she must marry someone she has never met. She’d rather marry the shepherd she meets in the fields than the London fop her father has chosen for her.

Percy guesses who Lia is and is charmed. Lia discovers who Percy is and falls in love. If not for Lia’s overbearing mother all would be perfect.

Then Percy’s father intervenes to carry Lia off to London to make her debut with Percy’s sister. She is having the time of her life when her mother makes public accusations that call her reputation into question. A hasty marriage restores her to favor. Deep in the throes of love, the young couple are blissfully happy, and have fashionable London at their feet.

Until a former mistress of Percy’s comes seeking a boon that takes him away from Lia’s side, and old rumors about Lia’s mother are revived, causing Lia to be shunned by the highest sticklers.

Their marriage will be tested to breaking point.

A Twist Upon a Regency Tale
Lady Beast’s Bridegroom (inspired by Beauty and the Beast)
One Perfect Dance (inspired by Cinderella)
Snowy and the Seven Doves (inspired by Snow White and the Seven Doves)
Perchance to Dream (inspired by Sleeping Beauty)
Weave Me a Rope (inspired by Rapunzel)
The Sincerest Flattery (inspired by The Goose Girl)
Inviting the Wild (inspired by Little Red Riding Hood)
Hold Me Fast (inspired by The Ballad of Tam Lin)
The Trials of Alaric (inspired by The Princess and the Pea)

Buy link : Amazon Meet Jude

Jude always wanted to be a novelist. She started in her teens, but life kept getting in the way. Years passed, and with them dozens of unfinished manuscripts. The fear grew. What if she tried, failed, and lost the dream forever? The years since 2014 have brought 17 novels, 16 novella, 6 volumes of short stories, a number of awards, and hundreds of positive reviews. The dream is alive.

Website and blog: http://judeknightauthor.com/

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First Kiss Friday with Hearts Across Time ~ on sale for 99c

Hello, lovely Readers, and welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. I’m going to cheat a little today and instead of giving you a first kiss scene, I’m sharing an excerpt of one of my all time favorite scenes I’ve ever written. Hearts Across Time is a special edition box set of For All of Ever and Only For You giving you the complete love story of Katherine Wakefield and Riorden de Deveraux (first seen in my debut novel If My Heart Could See You.

In this scene, Katherine and Riorden are having their first conversation but there’s a twist… they’re both ghosts. Happy reading and enjoy!

Excerpt:

He placed his hand upon the latch to his chamber to open the door, but halted. He knew with every fiber of his being she was inside. He could feel her presence, as if she were waiting for his arrival. He opened the door, closing it behind him, and went to the hearth to rekindle the embers into a low flame. He exhaled slowly, more to get his thoughts together than to appear as if he could not handle a situation such as this. Truly, what was there really to be afraid of?

He turned and looked towards his bed. She stood there, touching one of the posts admiringly, just as he had seen her the first time but days ago. He had the pleasure of idly watching her, since it appeared she as yet did not know he was here. In truth, to his way of thinking, he had never seen a woman as lovely as she. Her beauty did not come from an outside appearance that may have appealed to him with other women in his past. Nay…hers came from the depths of her soul and from being good at heart.

His contemplation of her only intensified whilst she closed her eyes and leaned her head back. It appeared as if she was looking towards the heavens and the guardian angels above to at last come and claim her soul. He did not want to admit it, even unto himself, but he did not wish for her to leave as yet to join God, for with her nearness, he felt a soothing comfort fill him as never afore.

Riorden reached for a nearby pitcher of wine and poured some into a chalice. His nervousness must have shown, for he almost tipped over the now filled cup. It rattled upon the table and at last drew Katherine’s attention towards him. Her face transformed to one of pure radiance, and he felt he could stare into her glorious eyes for a lifetime, if the chance were given to them.

Riorden took a long drink of his wine before giving her a small bow. “Glad tidings to you this day, mademoiselle.”

Katherine nodded her head. “And may I wish you the same, Sir Knight.”

He watched her standing there, seeming to drink in the sheer sight of him, as he continued to take several deep sips from his chalice.

“You know, if you continue downing that in such a manner, you’re going to have a nasty hangover in the morning.”

He frowned at her strange words and took a deep breath. “I know not what you speak of, my lady,” he declared, watching her every move.

She rolled her eyes and gave him an impish grin that surprised him. Apparently, she must have realized her words confused him, for she touched her finger to her forehead and tapped it. “You’ll have a bad headache.”

“Your speech is passing strange,” Riorden commented. He put the cup back down on the table and placed his hands behind his back. Neither of them made any further comments whilst an awkward silence persisted between them. They only stared one unto the other. She, at last, came closer to stand before him. He found that, for the life of him, he could not move away. Instead, he stood his ground, wondering what she would do next.

“You look so very real today,” she declared softly.

“As do you, Lady Katherine,” he said, giving her a small grin.

The smile she gave him in return was most serene. Even her eyes lit up at the reference to her name as it passed his lips. She reached up to touch him. Neither of them should have been surprised when her hand went right through him. She stepped back sadly and put her hands inside some odd fabric sewn into her hose.

Seeing her sorrow, he took a hesitant step towards her. Holding his hand palm up to her, he watched in fascination as she removed the white glove she had been wearing. She seemed uncertain, ’til she at last gave in to the impulse. Ever so slowly, she placed her hand but inches from his own. A tingling occurred in his palm, and from her expression, she must have felt it too, since she wrenched her hand back and rubbed her fingers together.

“What I would give to feel your heartbeat next to mine.” She gasped when the words left his mouth, before he realized he had said them aloud. Once suggested, the words hovered in the room, as if to give them some semblance of hope, even as both realized ’twas obvious they could never be together. ’Twas too late to recant his hastily spoken words, but he would have done so, if only to lessen the hurt flashing momentarily in her eyes.

“I would cross time itself, if it were possible, just to find you, Riorden de Deveraux.”

“You know my name,” he drawled the obvious.

“Yes.”

“Who are you?” he asked solemnly.

Her face lit up again whilst she gazed upon his face. “I’m someone who loves you.”

He kept his features expressionless. “I guessed as much, my lady, and yet you know nothing of me.”

“That’s true, and yet I’ve dreamed of you my entire life, enough to know you pretty well, I’m guessing.”

He was taken aback. “How is this possible?”

“I feel we are connected somehow,” Katherine began hesitantly. “I think perhaps our souls were meant to be together, but the centuries of time between us are keeping us apart.”

“Centuries? Surely, you jest, mademoiselle,” Riorden said with a raised brow of disbelief.

“I would never joke…err…jest about something as important as this. The fact we see each other as spirits speaks for itself, don’t you think?” Katherine asked quietly.

“Are you attempting to tell me you are from the future?” he questioned aghast.

Katherine smiled slightly. “Yes, I suppose I am, from your perspective.”

“Impossible,” Riorden said gruffly.

She shrugged her shoulders. “Apparently, it’s not as impossible as we may think, given we’re both having a conversation with a ghost.”

Hearts Across Time: The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time (Books 1 & 2)
By Sherry Ewing
On Sale for 99c through May 20th

Sometimes all you need is to just believe…

For All of Ever: Katherine Wakefield has dreamed and written of her knight in shining armor all her life until she and her three closest friends take a vacation to England. Yet, how could they have known they’d find themselves thrown back more than eight hundred years into the past? Riorden de Deveraux travels to Bamburgh answering the summons of King Henry. But nothing prepares him for the beautiful vision of a strangely clad ghost who first appears in his chamber. Centuries are keeping them apart until Time gives them a chance at finding love. Will the past of one consume what their future may hold, or will Time take the decision from them and hurdle Katherine forward to where she truly belongs?

Only For You: Katherine de Deveraux has it all but settling into her duties at Warkworth Castle is not easy & downright dangerous to her well-being. Consumed with memories of his father, Riorden must deal with his sire’s widow. Yet how could he know how far Marguerite will go to have the life she feels they were meant to live? Torn apart, Time becomes their true enemy while Marguerite continues her ploy to keep Riorden at her side. With all hope lost, will Katherine & Riorden find a way to save their marriage?

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Will you vote for Knight of Darkness?

Lovely Readers… I need your help! My book Knight of Darkness: The Knights of the Anarchy (Book One) is nominated for the Raven Award with Uncaged Book Reviews. I’m very honored that my book is among so many other wonderful reads in the Historical, Non-Regency category.

But I need your vote in order to win. Luckily you can vote daily until voting closes on Sunday, May 19th. I would be humbly grateful if you would vote for Knight of Darkness.

You can vote every day at this link: https://uncagedbooks.com/raven-awards-voting/

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your support.