Weekend Writing Warriors ~ 9/04/16 Heart of Delight: A New Intruder

 August’s “Book of the Month,” is Heart of Delight. It’s Book 3 in my Regency series Handful of Hearts. Here is my gorgeous new cover!

At Lady Hamilton’s ball in May 1820, Lord Halford, Hal to his friends, flirts with his cousin, Lady Celinda Graham, in hopes of gaining a wife as decreed by his father. After she leaves, someone else intrudes on his privacy.

The young lady who stood before him was definitely not Lady Celinda Graham. Medium height, with golden brown hair, a face fresh as cream, and perfectly bowed lips, she would have been exceptional even without the startling glass-green eyes. Dressed in an unremarkable dull brown dress, she could not be one of Lady Hamilton’s guests, although, with her beauty, she certainly should have been.

“Oh, pardonnez-moi, monsieur.” The young woman’s flawless French accent recalled a particular Mademoiselle Cozette from his brief but satisfying sojourn in Brussels several years ago. He shook off the memory. What was this woman doing here?

“Bonsoir, mademoiselle,” he said, rising from the floor to bow. He hoped she would speak again. Her lilting, vibrant voice would haunt his dreams.

 

Blurb:

He’ll do anything to be her heart’s delight—except tell the truth

Gabriella d’Adventure is on a mission. She has come to England as a ladies’ maid in pursuit of the Duke of Rother. When she meets Horace Carpenter, valet to a marquess, she is delighted to enlist his aid in gaining her heart’s desire: a meeting with the duke. However,  her growing feelings for the handsome valet make Gabriella have to fight to continue her plans for the Duke

The eccentric Marquess of Halford, Hal to his friends, is tired of the demands of Society, especially his father’s decree that he marry this Season. When a breathtaking young woman intrudes on his solitude, he is captivated and introduces himself as his valet in hopes of learning more about her. Despite his fear about the true motive behind Gabriella’s quest to meet the Duke of Rother, Hal agrees to help her gain an audience with the him, all the while hoping his deception will won’t ruin his chances of winning her love and hand in marriage.

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

Handful of Hearts series:

Heart of Delight, Book 3, is available for pre-order at Amazon.

Heart of Desire, Book 2, is available at Amazon.

 A Kiss Beneath the Mistletoe, Book 1, is available at Amazon.