Blurb:
Lady Brittany Sexton
loves her newest book on Africa but she quickly learns keeping it in her
possession is difficult. For her, the problem lies with Lord Samuel Palmer, who
believes ladies should not read inappropriate tomes. Part of Lord Palmer’s
fascination is the cryptic messages found in the margins. What quickly develops
between Lady Brittany and Lord Palmer is even more confusing.
As Christmas draws
nearer and with the book still in her possession, Lord Palmer follows her to
her parents country estate. It’s there
they, along with some friends, slowly make sense of the notes.
During all of this,
Lady Brittany learns a fact about Lord Palmer that disturbs her greatly—why he
desired the book. To clear her mind and think about her answer to Lord Palmer’s
sudden proposal, she goes for a horseback ride, only for disaster to strike.
Once well, she returns
home. Lady Brittany now has to make a life changing decision. Can she… will she
marry Lord Palmer ?
Author:
What does it take to
be a bestselling author? Determination, skill, talent, luck or taking a risk with
a venture into a totally new genre. For me it was a little of some and a lot of
the others.
In 2008 when I got two
books published I thought it was due to skill; little did I know it was more
luck than anything. Over the next three years I wrote, submitted, got rejected.
I then did what I tell everyone who asks; I wrote some more. I didn’t give up.
More on a dare than
anything I tried my hand at a regency, one of the most difficult genres because
of the rules, which I might add I broke almost every one. Within two days of
its release the book was on a best seller list and stayed there for two months.
Turns out it is all of
the aforementioned.
After two failed
marriages, one from divorce while with the other died unexpectedly I decided
upon retirement to move. That opportunity came in September 2012 when I
migrated to Texas.
For me, as a
multipublished author, it was one of the best things I’ve done to date. Now,
every day I can write, creating stories to take my readers to places they can
only dream about.
I’m also a member of
the Published Authors Network (PAN) by the Romance Writers of America (RWA).
Excerpt:
Chapter One
Bundled against the
unseasonably cold wind that wipped up the loose snow around her feet, Lady
Brittany Sexton marched down the street, closing on her destination—her
favourite lending library. Following and trying to keep up her lady’s maid,
Aggie, mumbled to herself.
“Oh, stop with the
complaining,” Brittany called out.
“I wonder why you
insisted on venturing out on such a horrid day?”
“Mr. Winterbottom sent
me a note saying the new book on Africa arrived today. If I want to be the
first I should hurry down as several others enquired on it,” she told her maid
after slowing her forward march so she wouldn’t need to speak so loudly.
“The one written by
that horrid Lord Hersey you heard speak a few years back?”
Brittany nodded as a
gust of wind whipped up, taking her breath away.
As they progressed
down Braxton Street, she kept her head down while drawing her pelisse closer
about her. With the chill, Brittany started to wonder if being the first to
read this tome was worth the effort. Then she remembered the comment from that
horrid Lord Samuel Palmer, the previous evening, at one of several balls her
parents had insisted she attend.
At one point during
that terrible event which had bored her close to tears, as she preferred to be
home reading of far off lands, Lord Palmer had pointedly told several gentleman
within earshot that ladies should be seen and not heard.
“All they can talk
about is the weather or which colours will be fashionable during the spring
season. All we gentlemen need do is look outside to see if it’s raining or the
sun is shining,” Brittany had heard him say to the approval of several other
gentlemen, if she could even call them that for their attitude.
It had taken all her
willpower not to put aside the book she’d secreted with her and tell him he was
full of hot air. She later learned from her bosom bow, Miss Sally Crocker, this
appeared to be his typical attitude toward the current ladies in search of
husbands.
“Lord Palmer will be
lucky if some on-the-shelf lady might consent to marry him considering his
arrogance. Doesn’t he realize we, at least a few of us such as you and I, have
brains? We can and are willing to discuss topics of interest to him,” she had
told her friend.
Brittany was so
focused on the events of last eve, in particular that one pompous gentleman,
she barely heard Aggie call out to her.
“M’ lady, you marched
right past the lending library. Is everything all right?”
She halted and glanced
around, only to feel her face warm from embarrassment at having lost track of
where she was.
“Um, yes. I was
pondering about last night and this gentleman who didn’t think we ladies should
think. Now, let’s collect the book on Africa and peruse what else Mr.
Winterbottom might have of interest,” Brittany said as she turned back and
climbed the brick steps leading to an oak door with glass set in its upper
half.
The gentle tinkling of
the bell over the door brought a smile to her lips as the purveyor glanced
toward her.
“My dear Lady
Brittany, it’s always wonderful when you visit my humble establishment. It’s
also a good thing you were the first to alert me that you wished to read Lord
Hersey’s book, as several gentlemen have expressed an interest in it.”
Somehow that titbit of
news didn’t come as much of a shock, as he was supposed to be the authority on
deepest, darkest Africa. She wondered what the men would say on learning she’d
been able to obtain the copy before any of them. With this book Brittany would
have the most extensive collection on the subject, which pleased her. Now she
would be able to compose a compilation which would make referencing different
areas of Africa easy for future explorers.
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