Medieval Monday ~ Return of the Raven by Judith Sterling

Good Morning! Welcome to the Spring 2021 Medieval Monday blog hop! The hop is our usual format: the first week on my blog I posted an excerpt from my book, then afterwards, I’ll post another Medieval Monday author’s excerpt and they will post mine, plus a link where you can find excerpts from all the authors via Medieval Romance Lovers.

Our theme for the Spring is First Kiss and throughout I’ll be sharing an excerpt from my medieval romance Betrayal, book 2 of Time Enough to Love. In this book, Alyse, the heroine, has just received the news that her betrothed lord, Sir Geoffrey Longford, has married another. As Alyse and Geoffrey had already been intimate, she is in rather a predicament. Follow my snippets of Betrayal at my guest’s blog site.

Today is our final Medieval Monday post for our Spring session! Enjoy!

Week 14’s excerpt is from Judith Sterling’s medieval romance

Return of the Raven

 

 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon https://amzn.com/B08RYD2GW8

Amazon UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/Return-Raven-Novels-Ravenwood-Book-ebook/dp/B08RYD2GW8

Barnes & Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/return-of-the-raven-judith-sterling/1138556276

Apple https://books.apple.com/us/book/return-of-the-raven/id1547199256

BLURB:

True love is eternal.

Margaret, Lady Ravenwood, is trapped in a loveless marriage and firmly entrenched in the medieval world. Along comes Griffin Nightshade, a historian from the future whose soul resonates with hers. He persuades her to return with him to the 1950s, but heeding her heart means courting danger from a curse that could spell her doom.

Haunted by his parents’ sudden deaths, Griffin knows all too well the pain born of love lost. He guards his emotions, but Margaret delves deep and goes straight to the soul. She’s hard to resist…and harder to set free.

The heart’s desire and history’s demands don’t always agree. Yet true love is eternal.

EXCERPT FOR WEEK #14:

“Maybe the pond showed you what could happen, not what will.”

She took a step toward him. “Do you truly believe that?”

No, but I’ve got to. Somehow. “ʼTis better than the alternative.”

“Then hold onto your belief…for both of us.”

“I’ll try.” His heart seemed lodged in his throat.

“I wish…” She sighed and shook her head. “I’m going to bed now. Good night, Griff.”

“Good night, Meg.”

She walked away and out the door, leaving him to contemplate the empty room. Her absence diminished the long gallery. Like the ruined castles devoid of life, it was nothing but a hollow shell.

See last week’s snippet on Anastasia Abboud’s blog: https://www.anastasiaabboud.com/grainsofsand

Follow the excerpt from the very beginning, starting with the first snippet on Judith Sterling’s blog: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

Follow  Jenna’s snippet on Judith Sterling’s blog today.

For more Medieval Monday snippets, click here.

Time Enough to Love Series

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 05/08/21 ~ Almost a Countess ~ A Breath of Air

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

This week I’m moving along to my current WIP,  Almost a Countess , book 2 of my new series, Captivating Countesses.

BLURB:

Exiled to a lonely estate in north Yorkshire, Dora Harper finds life satisfying, if appallingly routine—until an escaped Scottish prisoner begs for her help. Despite her misgivings, Dora takes him in, feeds and clothes him, and is amazed at his transformation into a very handsome, virile gentleman, who claims he is an earl. No matter who he really is, his very presence in her house could ruin her reputation for good. Trouble is, Dora might not mind that at all.

Phineas “Finn” MacDonald, the Earl of Aberfoyle, is on the run from a troop of soldiers bent on hauling him to London to be transported for a criminal act. Dora’s miraculous appearance is a godsend for him, in more ways than one. The pretty young English woman is kind, compassionate, and willing to help him in his attempt to seek justice and evade the troop that is quickly closing in on him.

With their close proximity over several days, Finn’s desire to escape wanes, even as thoughts of Dora fill his mind. So when Dora suggests she pose as his wife to throw the soldiers off Finn’s trail, Finn wonders if he can persuade her to make the ruse a reality—before the army finds him and banishes him from Britain forever.

EXCERPT:

When they reached the grassy verge at the edge of the field that marked the farthest point of Mr. Hawkins’s tenancy, Dora pulled Gretchen down to a jog, then to a walk. She was as winded as the animal she rode. Unaware she’d been panting the whole time since leaving the farmhouse, Dora gulped in huge lungfuls of air. “Good girl, Gretchen.” She leaned down to pat the horse’s sweaty neck. “I think it’s best if we head for that stand of trees just ahead and let us both catch their breaths in the shade.”

The short walk calmed Dora a measure. She’d no business allowing Mr. Hawkins to alarm her so badly. Should she happen upon the soldiers riding about searching for the prisoner they would likely question her to see if she’d seen the man and since she hadn’t, they’d allow her to continue on her way. Surely there would be an officer with the troop who would make certain his men acted honorably toward her.

And a little more for good measure…

She should have asked Mr. Hawkins if there had been a captain or lieutenant among the soldiers. A trickle of dread made its way down her spine. A young woman was never supposed to ride without escort of some sort. At the very least a groom, although what Alfred alone could do against a group of five men didn’t bear thinking about.

Almost a Countess  is available for the pre-order price of $2.99 on Amazon, Smashwords,  B & N, Kobo, and Applebooks.

Just released, A Solitary Ride is the first chapter of Almost a Countess, book two of Captivating Countesses. It’s free on Smashwords and .99 on Amazon.

But don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Captivating Countesses series

by Jenna Jaxon

Medieval Monday ~ To Follow My Heart: The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time (Book 3) by Sherry Ewing

Good Morning! Welcome to the Spring 2021 Medieval Monday blog hop! The hop is our usual format: the first week on my blog I posted an excerpt from my book, then afterwards, I’ll post another Medieval Monday author’s excerpt and they will post mine, plus a link where you can find excerpts from all the authors via Medieval Romance Lovers.

Our theme for the Spring is First Kiss and throughout I’ll be sharing an excerpt from my medieval romance Betrayal, book 2 of Time Enough to Love. In this book, Alyse, the heroine, has just received the news that her betrothed lord, Sir Geoffrey Longford, has married another. As Alyse and Geoffrey had already been intimate, she is in rather a predicament. Follow my snippets of Betrayal at my guest’s blog site.

Week 13’s excerpt is from Sherry Ewing’s medieval romance

To Follow My Heart

The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time (Book 3)

 

 

BUY LINKS:

Amazon US | Barnes & Noble | Apple Books | Kobo

BLURB:

Love is a leap. Sometimes you need to jump…

After a gut wrenching break up with her fiancé, Jenna Sinclair heads to the coast to do a little soul searching. To say everything is subject to change is putting it mildly. Her world is not only turned upside down, but pretty much torn asunder when she is pulled through a time gate on the beach beneath the Cliff House and transported more than eight hundred years into the past.

Fletcher Monroe, captain of the garrison knights at Berwyck Castle, has wasted too much time pining for a woman who will never be his. When he finally decides to move on with his life and focus on his duties, he is suddenly confronted with a woman who magically appears at his feet. This could either be the best thing that has ever happened to him or another cursed event in a string of many.  He soon finds he is wildly attracted to her, but she’s scared to death of him – not a very encouraging beginning.

From the shores of California to twelfth century England and back again, Jenna and Fletcher must find a way to reconcile their two different worlds before Time forever tears them apart.

 

EXCERPT FOR WEEK #13:

“Keep within the castle walls, Jenna. I will return as soon as I am able.”

“Just come back to me,” she whispered. There was a catch in her voice, and Fletcher could only ponder how close she was to shedding a river of tears that would surely be his downfall.

“I will. Of that, you can be sure, my lady,” He gave her one last glance. “Wait for me…”

See last week’s snippet on Judith Sterling’s blog: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

Follow along next week and find Sherry’s snippet on Bambi Lynn’s blog: www.bambilynnblog.wordpress.com

Follow  Jenna’s snippet on Sherry Ewing‘s blog today.

For more Medieval Monday snippets, click here.

Time Enough to Love Series

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 05/02/21 ~ A Countess of Convenience ~ Incredibly Soft and Warm

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Due to popular demand, I decided to post one more snippet from A Countess of Convenience, book 1 of my new series, Captivating Countesses, so you can see what happens next.

BLURB:

Following a tragic accident, an unconscious Judith Harper is returned to her childhood home to die. Miraculously, she awakens but to a horribly changed world in which she finds her husband dead and her world upended.

Judith must regain her strength, not only to reclaim her life but also to right a terrible wrong–a feat which may require her to marry again, and quickly. But not only is Judith not ready for another husband, a marriage before her year of mourning is up will ruin her in London society. 

Still, if she hopes to have her life back, she may have to risk the scandal and make a marriage of convenience…but to whom?

John, Lord Haxby has loved Judith since childhood, and because of that he stood aside while she married another eight years ago. Now she is free of her odious husband, he hopes he can persuade her that he is the only man who can make her truly happy. However, he discovers Judith is more than interested in Lord Farringdon, the man who saved her life. Can he stand aside once more and watch the love of his life make a grave mistake, or will he step up and show the woman he loves he is not a convenient solution to her problem, but the perfect one?

I’ve  continued on from last week’s snippet. Judith and John are traveling to London, using two of the housemaids as chaperones for Judith. Earlier in this scene, Judith asked John a very leading question, but they left it without an answer. Now, after she’s gone to bed, Judith is feeling guilty that she teased John. So she’s gone out to his room, in just her night gown, to talk to him.  As she’s knocking, someone comes into the corridor. John whisks her into his room. Judith confesses she teased him because she had dreamed of kissing him. This snippet continues immediately from last week’s and yes, includes the kiss. 🙂 We are in John’s POV.

This will be my last excerpt from A Countess of Convenience. Next week I’ll go on to my soon to be released novel Almost a Countess, book 2 of Captivating Countesses.

EXCERPT:

Gently, as though she were a delicate bird, John pulled her over to sit on his lap. She rested naturally against his chest, head on his shoulder, as though she belonged there. But her heart beat so fast she trembled all over. He eased her upright then turned her head until her mouth was perfectly aligned with his.

His better judgment engaged in a sharp debate with his excitement and desire. He wanted to sink his mouth onto her perfect lips and ravage her as he’d dreamed of doing for years. However, if he wanted a chance of more than a kiss—if he wanted a chance at a lifetime with her—he should woo her with this one, not overwhelm her.

Slowly, he touched his lips to hers, incredibly soft and warm.

And a little more for good measure…

She tensed in his arms then relaxed, a measure of trust given.

Sliding his hand to the nape of her neck, he pulled her closer, pressed her lips with increasing urgency despite his intention to go slow. To his surprise, she grasped his head and the world exploded as she thrust her tongue into his mouth, deepening the kiss beyond his wildest dreams. While reveling in her passionate exploration, John could not contain himself and slid his tongue into her mouth, groaning at the soft sweetness he encountered there. Perhaps he was dreaming all of this.

Judith twisted on his lap to get closer, encouraging his stiffening member. It sprang up so erect she must feel it as it sought her heat. Would have gained it had there not been layers of clothing to bar the way. The ache in his groin intensified as she began to plunge her tongue in and out of his mouth, as though urging him onward. And onward he would go.

A Countess of Convenience  is still available for the pre-release price of $2.99 on Amazon, B & N, Kobo, and Applebooks. However, it will revert to the full price, $4.99 tomorrow.

Just released yesterday, A Solitary Ride is the first chapter of Almost a Countess, book two of Captivating Countesses. It’s free on Smashwords and .99 on Amazon.

And of course, Almost a Countess is available for pre-order for only $2.99 on Amazon, Smashwords, B & N, Apple, and Kobo.

 

But don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Captivating Countesses series

by Jenna Jaxon

 

 

 

Medieval Monday ~ Knight of Runes by Ruth A. Casie

Good Morning! Welcome to the Spring 2021 Medieval Monday blog hop! The hop is our usual format: the first week on my blog I posted an excerpt from my book, then afterwards, I’ll post another Medieval Monday author’s excerpt and they will post mine, plus a link where you can find excerpts from all the authors via Medieval Romance Lovers.

Our theme for the Spring is First Kiss and throughout I’ll be sharing an excerpt from my medieval romance Betrayal, book 2 of Time Enough to Love. In this book, Alyse, the heroine, has just received the news that her betrothed lord, Sir Geoffrey Longford, has married another. As Alyse and Geoffrey had already been intimate, she is in rather a predicament. Follow my snippets of Betrayal at my guest’s blog site.

Week 11’s excerpt is from Ruth A. Casie’s medieval romance

Knight of Runes

 

BUY LINK:

Amazon: https://amzn.to/2C73zRV

BLURB:

He is her key to return to the 21^st century.
She is the only one who can save him.

England

May, 1605

When Lord Arik, a druid knight, finds Rebeka Tyler wandering his lands without protection, he swears to keep her safe. But Rebeka can take care of herself. When Arik sees her clash with a group of attackers using a strange fighting style, he’s intrigued.

Rebeka is no ordinary seventeenth-century woman—she’s travelled back from the year 2011, and she desperately wants to return to her own time. She poses as a scholar sent by the king to find out what’s killing Arik’s land. But as she works to decode the ancient runes that are the key to solving this mystery and sending her home, she finds herself drawn to the charismatic and powerful Arik.

As Arik and Rebeka fall in love, someone in Arik’s household schemes to keep them apart, and a dark druid with a grudge prepares his revenge. Soon Rebeka will have to decide whether to return to the future or trust Arik with the secret of her time travel and her heart.

“Ruth A. Casie, weaves an exciting and beautifully told legendary tale that is both rich and engaging.  It is full of, ‘on the edge of your seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama and a forever-after romance. Ms. Casie’s sparkling new novel, KNIGHT OF RUNES is a winner!” ~ Romance Junkies

EXCERPT FOR WEEK #11:

He took a seat in the lone chair on the porch and gently pulled her into his lap. Tenderly, he drew her closer and seared her with another kiss, this one long and deep. Her lips parted for him and let the tip of his tongue advance, a small victory. He deepened the kiss, and her arms around him tightened.

* * *

Follow along next week (May 3) for excerpt #13 here https://bambilynnblog.wordpress.com

Please leave a comment below. Miss last week and a chance to comment? Check it out here: https://judithmarshallauthor.com/blog/

Follow  Jenna’s snippet on Ruth A. Casie’s blog today.

For more Medieval Monday snippets, click here.

Time Enough to Love Series

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 04/25/21 ~ A Countess of Convenience ~ “I Wanted You Intimately”

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

This week I’m continuing with A Countess of Convenience, book 1 of my new series, Captivating Countesses, which released at the end of March!

BLURB:

Following a tragic accident, an unconscious Judith Harper is returned to her childhood home to die. Miraculously, she awakens but to a horribly changed world in which she finds her husband dead and her world upended.

Judith must regain her strength, not only to reclaim her life but also to right a terrible wrong–a feat which may require her to marry again, and quickly. But not only is Judith not ready for another husband, a marriage before her year of mourning is up will ruin her in London society. 

Still, if she hopes to have her life back, she may have to risk the scandal and make a marriage of convenience…but to whom?

John, Lord Haxby has loved Judith since childhood, and because of that he stood aside while she married another eight years ago. Now she is free of her odious husband, he hopes he can persuade her that he is the only man who can make her truly happy. However, he discovers Judith is more than interested in Lord Farringdon, the man who saved her life. Can he stand aside once more and watch the love of his life make a grave mistake, or will he step up and show the woman he loves he is not a convenient solution to her problem, but the perfect one?

I’ve  continued on from last week’s snippet. Judith and John are traveling to London, using two of the housemaids as chaperones for Judith. Earlier in this scene, Judith asked John a very leading question, but they left it without an answer. Now, after she’s gone to bed, Judith is feeling guilty that she teased John. So she’s gone out to his room, in just her night gown, to talk to him.  As she’s knocking, someone comes into the corridor. John whisks her into his room. Judith confesses she teased him because she had dreamed of kissing him. This snippet continues immediately from last week’s. We are in John’s POV.

This will be my last excerpt from A Countess of Convenience. Next week I’ll go on to my soon to be released novel Almost a Countess, book 2 of Captivating Countesses.

EXCERPT:

“Oh, no, John,” she grasped his hand, the light contact inciting a riot in his senses, “it was lovely, truly.”

“And you wanted it to happen in real life, so you thought to tease me into it?” The ever-devious Judith.

She continued to stare at her lap, her cheeks still pink. “It wasn’t fair to say something like that to you. I didn’t think about it until I’d already said it. It was only later that I realized I might have…given you the wrong idea.”

“And what idea would that have been, my dear?”

Judith finally met his eyes. “That…that I wanted you…intimately.”

And a little more for good measure…

“And you do not.” John held his breath.

“I…” Her mouth trembled. “I…don’t know. After dreaming of the kiss, I wondered what it would really be like.”

There was the opening if he dared take it. “Would you like to find out?”

Eyes so wide they became huge rings of white with deep blue centers, she whispered, “Yes.”

A Countess of Convenience  is still available for the pre-release price of $2.99 on Amazon, B & N, Kobo, and Applebooks.

A Return to Life is available on Amazon for FREE  and on Smashwords , B & N, Apple, and Kobo for free as well. This is the first chapter of A Countess of Convenience.

But don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Captivating Countesses series

by Jenna Jaxon

 

Cover Reveal: Almost a Countess

Happy Cover Reveal Day!

I am very happy to present to you the real cover for book 2 of my new Captivating Countesses series, Almost a Countess!

Isn’t it gorgeous? Danielle Fine knocked it out of the park on the first try this time! Thank you, Dani!

BLURB: 

Exiled to a lonely estate in north Yorkshire, Dora Harper finds life satisfying, if appallingly routine—until an escaped Scottish prisoner begs for her help. Despite her misgivings, Dora takes him in, feeds and clothes him, and is amazed at his transformation into a very handsome, virile gentleman, who claims he is an earl. No matter who he really is, his very presence in her house could ruin her reputation for good. Trouble is, Dora might not mind that at all.

Phineas “Finn” MacDonald, the Earl of Aberfoyle, is on the run from a troop of soldiers bent on hauling him to London to be transported for a minor infraction. Dora’s miraculous appearance is a godsend for him, in more ways than one. The pretty young English woman is kind, compassionate, and willing to help him in his attempt to seek justice and evade the troop that is quickly closing in on him.

With their close proximity over several days, Finn’s desire to escape wanes, even as thoughts of Dora fill his mind. So when Dora suggests she pose as his wife to throw the soldiers off Finn’s trail, Finn wonders if he can persuade her to make the ruse a reality—before the army finds him and banishes him from Britain forever.

EXCERPT:

A quarter hour’s canter brought them to the inn, a hub of industry just as Mrs. Pierce’s shop in Potterne had been at her home in Wiltshire. Moments later Mrs. Jameson’s thirteen year-old son had helped her off the horse and was leading Gretchen to the watering trough at the side of the inn. “Thank you, Tom. I won’t be long.” Only long enough to secure a cup of something cool and one of Mrs. Jameson’s superior small cakes.

The innkeeper’s wife did not disappoint, and Dora was soon ensconced in the place of honor nearest the large front window, a mug of small ale and two of the heavenly cakes on a plate in front of her. “Much obliged, Mrs. Jameson.” Dora drank thirstily, then bit into the first cake. The currants gave it an extra sweetness that made Dora want to eat it slowly to savor the taste, while simultaneously wanting to gobble down the sugary treat. “I am never disappointed when I come here.”

“Ye’re lucky today lass.” The good woman plied the surrounding tables with a soapy rag. “Those’re me last two until tomorrow. A group of soldiers come through an hour or so ago like a plague of locusts and ate every scrap I had.” She nodded to Dora’s plate where the final cake remained. “Savin’ the two I held back.” She sent Dora a smile. “I knows you likes to come by of a Tuesday, Miss Harper, and that you likes my cakes particular.”

“Indeed I do, Mrs. Jameson.” Dora broke off a bite of the remaining cake and popped it into her mouth. If that was the case, and there were no more to be had, she intended to savor this cake. “What were soldiers doing here?”

“They asked me if I’d seen any ragged-looking men come by in the last day or two. Said they were looking for a man who’d escaped them several days ago. Takin’ him to London they were, when he gave ‘em the slip.” Mrs. Jameson nodded and grinned. “Good fer ‘im, I say. The army can be a cruel and vicious thing, mark my words, Miss Harper. I’m sure you’ve not seen the wrongful things they’re capable of, but I have. You don’t want no trouble with them, miss.”

“I certainly don’t, Mrs. Jameson.” She’d never had any communication with soldiers or the army in general. She’d always thought it a decent profession for a gentleman to enter, but she understood that all the regiments were not made up solely of gentlemen. Still, if they were searching for a prisoner, she’d pray they found him and swiftly. Such desperate men could be dangerous, especially to a woman virtually alone as she was.

Almost a Countess is available for pre-order for $2.99 on Amazon and Smashwords and shortly will be available also on B & N, Kobo, and Apple. Almost a Countess will release on July 28, 2021.

Medieval Monday ~ The Highlander’s Pirate Bride by Cathy and DD MacRae

Good Morning! Welcome to the Spring 2021 Medieval Monday blog hop! The hop is our usual format: the first week on my blog I posted an excerpt from my book, then afterwards, I’ll post another Medieval Monday author’s excerpt and they will post mine, plus a link where you can find excerpts from all the authors via Medieval Romance Lovers.

Our theme for the Spring is First Kiss and throughout I’ll be sharing an excerpt from my medieval romance Betrayal, book 2 of Time Enough to Love. In this book, Alyse, the heroine, has just received the news that her betrothed lord, Sir Geoffrey Longford, has married another. As Alyse and Geoffrey had already been intimate, she is in rather a predicament. Follow my snippets of Betrayal at my guest’s blog site.

Week 11’s excerpt is from Cathy and DD MacRae’s medieval romance

The Highlander’s Pirate Bride

 

BUY LINK:

https://www.amzn.com/dp/B08WFJFT8D 

BLURB:

Will the theft of the wrong ship land her in a hangman’s noose? Or a Highlander’s arms?

As the pirate The Black MacNeill, Rona MacNeill has stolen more than one English ship to keep her clan from starving. With Yule only days away, will the theft of the wrong ship land her in a hangman’s noose? Or the arms of a Highlander?

Rona MacNeill has done everything she can to help her small, impoverished clan—except marry for money. Her luck seems to lie in stealing ships, not attracting suitors. Only days before Yule, she seeks one last ship with stores to keep her people fed over the long, harsh winter. Too bad her luck has run out.

Pedr MacLean is happy to be the younger (by three minutes) son of Baron MacLean. His days are filled with running the family’s shipping business and sailing the world. His heart belongs to the sea—or so he thinks, until one of his ships is stolen, and the woman responsible turns his world upside down.

Drawn to Rona’s strength and love of the sea, Pedr will agree to her father’s demand—information on the whereabouts of his ship in exchange for his daughter’s hand in marriage. Will Rona find herself caught between a marriage of convenience and a hangman’s noose? Or will she discover something far more compelling?

The Highlander’s Pirate Bride is the swash-buckling seventh addition to the Hardy Heroines series. If you like pirates, rags-to-riches, and swoon-worthy Highlanders, you’ll love Cathy & DD MacRae’s newest high-seas romance.

EXCERPT FOR WEEK #11:

“Yer sympathies, aye.” He pressed his lips to her hair, the corner of her eye, the ridge of her cheek. “Yer heart, my fair pirate, belongs to me.”

Follow  Jenna’s snippet on Cathy MacRae’s blog today.

For more Medieval Monday snippets, click here.

Time Enough to Love Series

Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 04/18/21 ~ A Countess of Convenience ~ “I Shouldn’t Have Flirted”

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

This week I’m continuing with A Countess of Convenience, book 1 of my new series, Captivating Countesses, which released at the end of March!

BLURB:

Following a tragic accident, an unconscious Judith Harper is returned to her childhood home to die. Miraculously, she awakens but to a horribly changed world in which she finds her husband dead and her world upended.

Judith must regain her strength, not only to reclaim her life but also to right a terrible wrong–a feat which may require her to marry again, and quickly. But not only is Judith not ready for another husband, a marriage before her year of mourning is up will ruin her in London society. 

Still, if she hopes to have her life back, she may have to risk the scandal and make a marriage of convenience…but to whom?

John, Lord Haxby has loved Judith since childhood, and because of that he stood aside while she married another eight years ago. Now she is free of her odious husband, he hopes he can persuade her that he is the only man who can make her truly happy. However, he discovers Judith is more than interested in Lord Farringdon, the man who saved her life. Can he stand aside once more and watch the love of his life make a grave mistake, or will he step up and show the woman he loves he is not a convenient solution to her problem, but the perfect one?

I’ve  continued on from last week’s snippet. Judith and John are traveling to London, using two of the housemaids as chaperones for Judith. Earlier in this scene, Judith asked John a very leading question, but they left it without an answer. Now, after she’s gone to bed, Judith is feeling guilty that she teased John. So she’s gone out to his room, in just her night gown, to talk to him.  As she’s knocking, someone comes into the corridor. John whisks her into his room. I’ve skipped a couple of paragraphs. We are in John’s POV.

EXCERPT:

“But I shouldn’t have flirted like that, John,” she said, staring directly into his eyes. “We have already discussed the…possible necessity of our marrying. In asking that, I may have given you an erroneous idea about my…feelings for you.” Abruptly, she dropped her gaze.

Of course, he’d assumed she’d meant an amorous tryst but had known the offer had come from her nervousness or a need for some kind of physical contact. But since she’d brought the subject up… “Then why did you ask, Judith?”

Her tiny gasp filled him with his usual protective instincts, and it was on the tip of his tongue to tell her not to worry, it was all forgotten. Yet something held him back, some part of him that wanted desperately to hear her answer.

“Because I wanted to know what it would be like to kiss you.”

And a little more for good measure…

Flummoxed for a second time, John stared at her, his jaw all but dropped. “What would make you want to know that?”

Her cheeks pinkened, and she gripped her hands tightly in her lap. “When you woke me earlier, before dinner, I was dreaming.” After a furtive glance at him, her gaze darted away again. “I was dreaming you awakened me, and I kissed you.”

“I see.” At least he hoped he did. When he’d come upon her asleep before dinner, she’d been moaning deep in her throat. If he hadn’t awakened her, would she have dreamt of other intimacies with him? Encouraged by her admission and what it might foreshadow for the future, John sat in the chair opposite her, weighing his words. “It wasn’t an unpleasant experience, then, kissing me in the dream?”

A Countess of Convenience  is still available for the pre-release price of $2.99 on Amazon, B & N, Kobo, and Applebooks.

A Return to Life is available on Amazon for FREE  and on Smashwords , B & N, Apple, and Kobo for free as well. This is the first chapter of A Countess of Convenience.

But don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.

Captivating Countesses series

by Jenna Jaxon

Release Day Giveaway Winner

So sorry it’s taken me this long to announce the winner, but I’ve been under the weather the past couple of days. But now I’m ready to announce that the $20.00 Amazon Gift Card goes to

MEGHAN EDWARDS

 

Congratulations to you, Meghan. I’ll be contacting you later today with your prize.

Thank you to all those who came by to help me celebrate the release of A Countess of Convenience! I should be having another release in May so stay tuned to the blog for the date and name of the release.