I am thrilled to announce the release of If the Earl Only Knew, a new Regency adventure romance and the first in my new Daring Marriages series.
I LOVE this cover. It is my favorite of any book. Why? Perhaps because this is the first cover to feature just the heroine. And she looks fierce! I love it! That is Lady Kate. She is independent, fiesty, capable of taking care of herself, and has no interest in men, especially not Lord Wynbrook...
Reviewers agree that Lady Kate is a formidable lady and not one to be trifled with:
Once again, Forester earns
top marks for her spunky heroines and their men who need to be taught a thing
or two (usually at the expense of their pride, and by said spunky heroines).
Forester’s gift for humor and creating memorable characters who have survived
wrenching tragedy sparkle like gems in this newest romp through the ton’s
drawing rooms. ~ Romantic Times
Orphaned at a young age, Lady Kate Ashton and
her brother have spent most of their lives on the high seas, seeking to restore
their family fortune through somewhat dubious means. When Kate is thrust into
the treacherous waters of high society, she must rely for help on the one man
she is trying to avoid, the Earl of Wynbrook.
To the annoyingly clever, temptingly handsome,
and altogether troublesome Earl of Wynbrook, society ladies are a dead bore.
Kate, on the other hand, is scandalous, alluring, and altogether fascinating. Yet as they delve deeper into
the secrets of her past, it awakens a danger that threatens to destroy them both.
Forester (The Highlander’s Bride), a champ at crafting
feisty and independent Regency-era women, has outdone herself with Lady
Katherine Ashton... Wynbrook’s dutiful offer to escort Kate quickly advances to
full-on attraction amid Forester’s reliably entertaining signature trinity of
danger, intrigue, and dry wit. ~ Publishers Weekly
See for yourself and enjoy this excerpt from If the Earl Only Knew. Enjoy!
“Nooooooo, no, no.” The Earl of Wynbrook shook his
head. He could not be seen riding through Town in such a contraption. It was
unthinkable.
Lady
Kate raised an eyebrow. “It is hardly as bad as that,” she said, surveying the
broken-down carriage and the poor beast that was pulling it.
“You
are right. It’s worse than that. But I must refrain from saying what I truly
think because I am in the presence of a lady.”
“Don’t
let that stop you.” She was glaring at him now. Somehow it did nothing to
diminish the attraction of her silver eyes.
“I
do not suppose I could convince you to abandon this…this conveyance and take
some other mode of transportation. A hack? A hobbyhorse? A wheelbarrow?” A man
could hope.
“Good
day, Lord Wynbrook.” Though her face registered no emotion, her eyes snapped
with annoyance. Kate placed her books, papers, and ledgers on the front seat
and climbed adroitly into the open carriage.
“Hold
there. I have agreed to squire you about Town and so I shall.” Wynbrook hoisted
himself up beside her on the front carriage seat and attempted to take the
reins from her hands, but she held fast.
“Lord
Wynbrook, there is no need to accompany me. I know you do not want to be here,
and I assure you where I am going you do not wish to go. I will wish you a good
day.”
“I
promised your brother I would assist you and so I fear you must resign yourself
to my presence.” The more she tried to get rid of him, the more determined he
was to stay.
She
turned her steely eyes to him, her glare as sharp as a knife. “I believe in
speaking plainly. I know how much you dislike my family. I confess I overheard
you speaking quite candidly to your brother regarding your feelings about us
the last time we were in London.”
It
took Wynbrook a moment to think back five years to the last time they met. In a
flash, he remembered making some disparaging comments to his brother at the
thought of Lady Kate and her brother joining them for the holidays. Tristan had
been right to call him an arrogant arse. There had been a time when he thought
himself entitled and invincible. How quickly things had changed.
Of
course, that had not been the last interaction he had shared with Lady Kate
before she disappeared from society. Was she going to list their other
encounter as more evidence of his crimes against her? Surely his interaction
with her in the study was far more egregious behavior, if she was in the mood
to list his crimes against her. His eyes lingered on her full lips. He would
never forget their taste.
He
waited for her to continue and was met with a glare for his trouble. Were they
supposed to pretend their rendezvous that night five years ago never happened?
More stony silence.
Apparently
so.
Wynbrook
took a deep breath of the cold, damp December air. He disliked apologizing,
mostly because he hated the thought that his conduct was less than honorable,
but in this case, an expression of regret to Lady Katherine was owed. “Please
allow me to apologize for my conduct when I was young and dunderheaded. I most
humbly ask your forgiveness for that day and anything else that I may have done
or said that might have given you offense.” There, that was a blanket apology
for all his misdeeds, spoken and unspoken.
“If
I offer absolution, will you leave me alone?” she grumbled.
“I
fear nothing can release you from the obvious displeasure of having me drive
you to your errand and then safely back home. I will, however, promise never to
burden you with my presence in the future.”
“As
you wish.” She sighed, accepting defeat by handing over the reins. “Remember, I
warned you.”
With
that grim rejoinder, they were off. “C’mon there,” coaxed Wynbrook, trying to
increase the speed of the old, gray horse to something of a relaxed amble.
“Pickles,”
said Kate.
Wynbrook
turned to Kate in confusion.
“The
horse’s name is Pickles,” she clarified.
Of
course it was. “C’mon there…Pickles.” If he was to be humiliated, it might as
well be done in grand style.
Kate
stared straight ahead, clinging to her books like a shield, her back as
straight as a sword. If she noticed the looks of shock and surprise from the
passing carriages, she gave no indication. She continued to provide him
directions, leading not toward a modiste but toward the poorer part of Town.
Where could she be going?
They
rolled down the London streets, the dense coal-smoke-infused haze swirling
around them. They turned down Farrigdon Street and they pulled up outside of a
tall stone wall. Barred windows were built into the wall from which people
called out, piteously begging for alms.
It
was Fleet Debtors’ Prison. Wynbrook stared at her. What business could the
daughter of an earl possibly have at a prison?
She
shook her head at him. “I did warn you.”
Pick up a copy of If the Earl Only Knew - out today!!
iBooks
Since this is my book birthday I am giving away a free copy of If the Earl Only Knew! To enter the drawing, just comment on this blog. What do you like about strong heroines?
Since this is my book birthday I am giving away a free copy of If the Earl Only Knew! To enter the drawing, just comment on this blog. What do you like about strong heroines?
I like that they are good role models for me. Kate sounds wonderful.
ReplyDeleteAwesome - I think Kate taught me something too!
DeleteAs it should be. I don't care for the simpering heroines. Sounds like a story I would enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMe neither! I hope you will enjoy!
DeleteHappy release day!
ReplyDeleteThanks! :)
Deletemore interesting to read
ReplyDeletebn100candg at hotmail dot com
I can't stand a whiny heroine. I love them to have a backbone and know what they want. To me, it makes to book a better read
ReplyDeleteI seriously dislike when a heroine lets the hero push her around. It may be more historically accurate, but I'm not a fan of it. I prefer an equal relationship!
ReplyDelete