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Release day of book six 'Betrayed & Blessed - The Viscount's Shrewd Wife' is fast approaching (September 12), and I thought I'd share a few early glimpses with you. I've gone through the novel and collected some of my favorite little quotes. So, sit back and enjoy!

The first quote is from the night of the masked ball when Beth and Tristan meet for the first time.

As his eyes slid over her face, noting the way her gaze held his without flinching, without even once dropping to the floor, Tristan smiled. “You’re brave,” he whispered, suddenly entranced by the idea of reading her. “You don’t cower or hide. You meet whatever comes with a raised chin.”

A touch of red came to her cheeks, but she held his gaze. “I try,” she whispered, and yet, there was no bashfulness in her tone, and Tristan realised that she knew who she was. Could he say the same thing about himself?

The second one is still from the same night when Tristan follows Beth out of the ballroom.

Swallowing, she met his eyes, and the left corner of her mouth twitched before she said, “I must have gotten lost for I believed this was the library.”

A wide grin came to Tristan’s face. “You lie!” he accused, then laughed, shaking his head.

Returning his smile, she rolled her eyes−at herself or at him−he could not say. “It happens on occasion,” she finally admitted. “Would you hold it against me?”

Tristan’s eyes narrowed slightly as he contemplated her question. “I must admit I hadn’t pegged you for a liar, not after what you’ve told me.”

“Was it truly a lie though?” she asked then, a daring gleam coming to her blue eyes.

Now, this one is one of my absolute favorites. It is from the morning after their wedding night.

Slowly, he lifted his eyes to hers. Then his mouth opened…and closed…and opened again. “I’m afraid I must insi−”

“Nonsense,” Beth interrupted, noticing her husband’s subtle−and rather uncomfortable−glances toward the footmen who stood nearby. “I very much enjoy my stay here in London, and besides, a wife belongs by her husband’s side.” A mischievous idea came to mind, and Beth acted on it without delay. “Especially after the previous night, I am most unwilling to be parted from you.”

With eyes going wide, her husband turned rather red in the face before he set down his cup and rose from his chair. “If you’ll excuse me, my lady, but I have…rather urgent business to attend to.” Then he fled the room as though the devil was behind him, Beth thought, which was a rather fitting comparison as she immediately set off in pursuit, a devilish smile on her face.

Marriage proved to be quite an amusing institution!

The following quote is from a night of open words shared between them.

“What?” Shaking his head in confusion, he tried to kiss her again.

And again, she drew away, amusement crinkling her lips. “Say my name,” she whispered once more, holding his gaze. “Tristan.”

For a long moment, he could only stand and stare at her as the echo of his name on her lips reached his heart. Yes, she was right. It did feel wonderful. He had never noticed it before.

“Maybe you should rest,” she said then, her arms releasing their hold on him, and stepped back toward the door. “I suppose sleep will do you good.”

Shaking off his trance, Tristan blinked as his heart screamed at him to act.

Before she had taken more than a single step, he once more caught her by the arm and pulled her back against him. Wrapping her in a tight embrace lest she try to escape again, he met her eyes. “Damn you, Beth. Don’t you dare walk away.”

Here, another glimpse of Tristan's guardian angel, Derek, who will get the chance to tell his own story in book seven.

In that moment, with the knife flying toward him, Tristan’s heart stopped and all he could think of was Beth.

Then a large force collided with him, knocking him off his feet and onto the ground, adding more scrapes and bruises to his body. Groaning, Tristan held his shoulder, his breath ragged as he gritted his teeth against the pain.

“Your instincts are non-existent, are they?” Derek observed, a hint of disapproval as well as incredulity in his voice as he held out his hand to Tristan. “When a knife comes toward your head, you duck.” Pulling Tristan to his feet, Derek shook his head. “No wonder people are trying to kill you. You’re making it far too easy on them.”

The last quote is taken toward the end of the book when Henrietta and Connor finally arrive in London.

A moment later, Beth received her answer when her slender, new sister-in-law pulled a gleaming dagger from her boot. A wave of awe washed over Beth at the sight, and she marvelled at the ease with which Henrietta moved the weapon in her hand.

“Then we shall approach from three sides,” her sister-in-law concluded, nodding at her husband as he drew his sword. She swallowed then, and for a long moment, their gazes remained locked as though each drew strength from the other which they could not do without. Then Henrietta nodded her head in vehemence and turned toward the clearing, determination shining in her clear eyes. “I shall kill my uncle if need be,” she growled, then glanced back at the others. “We shall protect my brother at all costs.”

Now, it's your turn. If you feel up to the challenge, find and share your own favorite quotes of the first five novels with me as well as your fellow readers. What made you shake with anger? Tremble with fear? Laugh with joy? Cry with happiness or even sadness? What were the words that stayed with you? Which lines made you connect with our heroines and heroes?

This post will remain open until release day, September 12, after which I will send out 25 Love's Second Chance Series bookmarks to 25 lucky winners, who will be chosen randomly! So dig deep and post as many quotes as you like. This is not first come, first serve!