Out now!

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the portrait, by cassandra austen

Available as an ebook at Amazon.com and available in print at Amazon and also at bookstores everywhere!

And here's the blurb!

Lady Catherine, banished to the countryside as a useless girl with a lame leg, got her revenge by playing a dangerous game. And now it will ruin her.
When the old earl dies, his only child feels no sorrow. The earldom will now revert to the crown and Lady Catherine will continue to live life exactly as she pleases. But when she learns that she is the heir to a secret family title, everything changes. Marriage had once seemed unnecessary and out of the question; now it is the only thing she wants. The two men in her life both need her influence and wealth. Whom shall she choose? The kind but secretive Captain Avebury? Or the notorious Sir Lyle, the handsome smuggler? Both men deal very differently with honor. And when Catherine's secret self-destructs, which man can be trusted to save her?
The Portrait is about a strong woman, foolish decisions, trust, and the definition of honor. Fans of Jane Austen's independent women will recognize in Catherine a voice which will not be silenced.

Here's the Amazon link: The Portrait, by Cassandra Austen

Some of you may be scratching your heads, wondering why I chose to publish my first novel under a pseudonym. You may also be wondering how I square my multicultural identity and interests with something as staid and predictable as romance set in 1800s England. The truth is, I see no real difference between Jane Austen, being caught between cultures, and myself, growing up in Honolulu and caught between cultures. In fact, the stiff, structured environment of Jane Austen resonated with me greatly as a kid. It seemed that she had so many things she wanted to say, but the only way she could venture to say them was elliptically, through fiction. I understood that at a gut level. I think that's why I've always loved historical novels.
I hope you give The Portrait a look! I loved writing this book, and the only reason I used a pseudonym was to make sure I didn't confuse the die-hard romance fan with my other varied interests. Cassandra Austen is more of a book line or an imprint, versus a pen name.
Amazon and Goodreads reviews are most welcome!