First Kiss Friday with C.H. Admirand & a Giveaway!
Welcome back to my First Kiss Friday blog. Please help me welcome back my friend C.H. Admirand who will not only share a first kiss scene with you today from her upcoming release Bargaining With the Lady of Merewood, but she’s also offering a giveaway. More about that later. So sit back, grab a cup of tea and enjoy her first kiss scene. Happy reading and good luck on the giveaway, my lovelies!
The Ladies of the Keep must decide to place their trust in an unlikely ally–or lose everything they hold dear!
Widowed Viking Lady Eyreka barters with William the Conqueror offering marriage to one of his knights in order to save her husband’s birthright.
Lady Eyreka bargains with the king to save her Saxon husband’s keep and her sons’ birthright. When she learns that the king plans to gift it to one of his Norman warriors, widower, Augustin de Chauret, she offers marriage and the continued stewardship of the profitable keep, if her eldest son, Garrick, remains on as seneschal.
Excerpt:
“Come, lady wife, ’tis past time for you to retire.”
Eyreka’s heart fluttered at the thought of spending the night in the same chamber as her husband. She had not thought far enough ahead to discuss their sleeping arrangements once they reached Merewood. She was no newly married maid, unaware of what transpired between man and wife—but he was not Addison—he was Augustin, her husband in name only. It would not do to forget their bargain, no matter how her traitorous body reacted to his voice or his solicitous touch.
“I am tired,” she whispered, as they reached her chamber.
“Leave us.”
The young servant waiting in their chamber hesitated. “But milady—”
“I will see to my wife.”
The maidservant made a hasty retreat.
Her gaze darted from the closing door to her husband’s impassive face. He seemed too relaxed to her, belying the banked embers flaring to life in his dark gray eyes. She was trapped by her unwanted reaction to the man she had pledged her life to. But she had no intention of sealing that pledge. At least not yet.
“My every need?” she asked, before she was able to stop herself.
“All that is in my power to fulfill.” His gray eyes betrayed his desire-laced frustration.
“Do you go back on your word, husband?”
“Why do you ask?”
“You sent my maid away,” she replied, “and I will require assistance in undressing.”
“I am here to serve.” Augustin set her down on the edge of the bed.
Eyreka could not help but notice that the hunger was gone, buried once again beneath the icy gray of his gaze. She knew he had himself back under control by the way he stood, stiffly at attention.
Greatly relieved, she nodded. “My thanks.” She turned her back to him, ignoring the nagging question hammering in the back of her mind. Why did she trust him?
He bent down and untied the belted girdle she wore. As he peeled the first layer of clothing from her, the air between them crackled with tension.
When he reached for her chainse, she stayed his hands. “I think I will sleep in this tonight.” Her voice sounded breathless, and she chastised herself for not being able to resist the powerful form of her new husband. She sought his gaze, hoping to see whether or not he too was unsettled by their closeness, or if she alone suffered.
The heat in his gaze scorched her. Pinpricks of awareness heightened her reaction to him. He drew her into his embrace and paused a heartbeat before brushing his lips across hers—gently, softly, coaxing her to kiss him back.
When she leaned into him, he braced a hand to the small of her back and kissed her with a devastating intensity that awakened the passions she had buried alongside her husband—Addison—by the breath of Odin. How could she forget the love of her life? Her ardor cooled instantly, and she pushed away from Augustin.
His bewilderment was replaced by irritation. Before she could speak, an invisible wall was erected between them. His reaction unnerved her and was as if he were two men: the hot-blooded man, and the icy cold warrior.
“I leave you to your sleep.” Turning on his heel, he strode to the door, anger punctuating his footsteps.
Eyreka wished she knew what he was thinking. Before he had turned away, she’d caught a glimpse of his eyes. They had been the same color as the mid-winter ice that formed on the pond near the south meadow. Unable to trust herself to speak, she nodded. When he slammed the door shut, she knew the approachable man was gone, replaced by the formidable warrior.
Alone, she lay back against the cool linens and closed her eyes. She was a mature woman with grown sons. She would not be controlled by the passion she felt for the fierce Norman knight who stalked from her chamber moments ago. A faint memory of a Viking prophecy swirled through her exhausted brain as a wisp of lavender greeted her, relaxing her as she drifted off to sleep. She dreamt of ice storms and a warrior carved of stone.
Bargaining With the Lady of Merewood (The Ladies of the Keep, Book 2)By C.H. Admirand
Preorder for $0.99
Release Date: October 12, 2024
Widowed Viking beauty Lady Eyreka learns that the king plans to gift Merewood Keep to one of his Norman warriors…
Merewood Keep is just beginning to earn revenues with Garrick as its overlord. When the king decides to gift the keep to one of his favored knights, Garrick’s mother is devastated until she hears rumors that the Norman is widowed.
Lady Eyreka seeks an audience with the king without her sons’ knowledge. She offers marriage, and the continued stewardship of the profitable keep if Garrick remains on as seneschal. She never intends to fall in love again.
Norman Warrior Augustin de Chauret cannot refuse the king…
De Chauret has no desire to marry or live in England. But cannot refuse his liege lord. They marry and Lady Eyreka retains her family’s holding, but she must convince her sons and the keeps’ people to accept de Chauret.
De Chauret knew he would battle to win his wife’s loyalty and that of her keeps’ people. He never expected to have to battle to convince his men or his young daughter to accept his wife.
Though the Saxons were defeated in the Uprisings, small militant groups remain, striking out at the new Norman lord by capturing his daughter and wife.
Norman and Saxon must work together to rescue them. De Chauret will move Heaven and earth to save his daughter and the woman he has fallen in love with.
In this novel enjoy Medieval Romance, Older Hero & Heroine, Hardheaded Heroes, Feisty Heroines, Second Chances, Marriage of Convenience, Viking vs Norman and Saxon, 11th Century.
The Ladies of the KeepBook 1 – Liberating the Lady of Loughmoe
Book 2 – Bargaining with the Lady of Merewood
Book 3 – Rescuing the Lady of Sedgeworth
NOTE: This story was previously published under the title The Saxon Bride. It now has newly added content for you to enjoy.
Buy links:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D9723L1B
https://www.amazon.com/Bargaining-Lady-Merewood-Ladies-Keep/dp/196553922X
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0D9723L1B
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bargaining-Lady-Merewood-Ladies-Keep/dp/196553922X
https://www.amazon.com.au/dp/B0D9723L1B
https://www.amazon.com.au/Bargaining-Lady-Merewood-C-H-Admirand/dp/196553922X
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0D9723L1B
https://www.amazon.ca/Bargaining-Lady-Merewood-C-Admirand/dp/196553922X
About the Author:
If we have not met yet, I’m delighted to meet you. Here’s a little bit about me…
I have been writing romance novels for almost half my life, well at least for the last 30 years. I’m a diehard romantic and have to confess the broad shoulders and wicked glint in the brilliant green eyes of a stranger had my breath snagging in my breast, my heart beating madly, and my future flashing before my eyes. At the age of seventeen, I’d met the man I knew I was going to spend the rest of my life with.
I write Historical & Contemporary Romance featuring characters that I know so well: hardheaded heroes and feisty heroines! They rarely listen to me and in fact, I think they enjoy messing with my plans for them. Over the years I have learned to listen to them. I have always used family names in my books and love adding bits and pieces of my ancestors and ancestry in them, too! Visit my website to learn more about my books.
C.H.’s Social Media Links:
Website:
https://www.chadmirand.com
Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/stores/C.-H.-Admirand/author/B001JPBUMC
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/c-h-admirand
Facebook Author Page:
https://www.facebook.com/CHAdmirandAuthor
GoodReads:
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/212657.C_H_Admirand
Dragonblade Publishing:
https://www.dragonbladepublishing.com/team/c-h-admirand/
Instagram:
https://www.instagram.com/c.h.admirand/
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCRSXBeqEY52VV3mHdtg5fXw
To be in the running for C.H.’s giveaway of an e-book of the winner’s choice from her website at https://www.chadmirand.com, tell us what you love about the Fall Season. She’ll generate a comment as the winner by Monday. Good luck!
