On SALE for .99: WEDDING VENTURE by USA Today Best-Selling author Regina Duke

SALE for .99 March 23 - 29 ONLY

Book blurb:
Jason Darby needs a wife or he'll lose the family billions. Vicky Winn has pawned everything she owns and is still broke. Their marriage contract should solve all their problems. Neither counted on falling in love.

Buy link:
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/The-Wedding-Venture-Colorado-Billionaires-ebook/dp/B00FC09IP6/ref=twoen-20

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-wedding-venture-regina-duke/1116964095

Reviewers Comments:

"The characters are endearing and the story is charming."

"Ms. Duke I'm anxiously waiting for your next book. In my humble opinion each story leaves me wanting more. Thank you again for a wonderful adventure. I absolutely would recommend this book and all of Ms. Dukes books if you love romance sprinkled with humor and adventure."

"I really enjoyed this book - I couldn't put it down."

#Review: RELIC TECH (Crax War Chronicles) by Terry W Ervin II

5 of 5 stars

4th Class Security Specialist Krakista Keesay is in trouble. He's been gravely injured in an alien invasion, but he's on trial for treason for destroying a CGIG installation. His medical diagnosis is not good. He has only days to live, but he is determined to clear his name and does the only thing he can. He agrees to submit to the Cranaltar IV, an invasive procedure to retrieve his memories and it will either prove his innocence or leave him brain dead.

This is an ambition military SF story featuring a complicated and engaging main character in Kra. Kra is smart, inventive and carries a bit of a chip on his shoulder. He gets into more scraps than anyone else no matter what ship he's on and yet he's someone you want to root for and be on your side. I thoroughly enjoyed how the author used today's weapons (shotgun and a .357 considered relics in the story) along with futuristic weapons. This is a fully developed story, both the plot and a number of characters (aliens and humans alike), and kept my attention throughout the book. There are many twist and turns in this story and it will keep you on your toes until the very last page. Highly recommend this excellent SF story. I've read Mr. Ervin's other 2 novels and he's an author that should be on everyone's radar.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Buy link: http://www.amazon.com/Relic-Tech-Crax-War-Chronicles-ebook/dp

/B00GFFJOSS/ref=twoen-20

 

#Review: LOVER, DIVINE by A. Star

5 of 5 stars

LOVER, DIVINE is the story of Siobhan Law, a virtuoso violin player and first chair in her college orchestra. Music is her life and she has no rival, that is, until Liam Argyros walks into her life and wrestles first chair from her grasp. She is devastated and despises Liam for his talent, but she cannot  reveal to the conductor why Liam blew everyone away with his music. Siobhan's family is more than ordinary humans. They are agents on Earth for the Greek gods of Olympus and Liam is the God of Music.

I have not read any of the other "Oracle of Delphi" books written under Diantha Jones, but that did not take away any of the enjoyment I had reading this book. Once I got used to the Irish lingo, I was immediately pulled into this story. It was engaging and totally engrossing especially Siobhan's character. She's argumentative, stubborn, yet vulnerable and loving. I loved reading about her attempts to avoid Liam, but how can one hide from a god? Liam has a mission and he will not deterred until it is completed. A. Star/Diantha Jones spins an enchanting story of patience, love and learning to accept things that cannot be changed. This was a quick read and I would definitely recommend it to an adult audience who love all things concerning prophecy and the Greek Gods. 

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.


Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18629261-lover-divine?ac=1

ON SALE FOR .99 March 17-22, 2014
Purchase:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Lover-Divine-Mythos-Gods-Lovers-ebook/dp/B00IN5MIWC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1394468923&sr=8-1&keywords=Lover%2C+Divine+A.+Star

--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lover-divine-a-star/1118736292?ean=2940148196419

AUTHOR BIO:

A. Star is a fan of dirty passion. She likes to read it, and she damn sure likes to write it. Her first adult romance/fantasy novella is called Invasion, an alien romance about sacrifice. Lover, Divine is the first release from the Mythos: Gods and Lovers series. Future releases under A. Star include, King, Desired (Mythos: Gods and Lovers #2), the Love & Steampunk series, the Purr, Inc. stories, and more.

Author Links:

http://www.diantha-jones.com/

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6896192.A_Star

https://www.facebook.com/dianthajones

https://twitter.com/DianthaJones

Giveaway:

Tour wide giveaway

Open INTL:

--3x Signed copy + swag

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Excerpt & Giveaway: COLD DAY IN HELL by Jerrie Alexander

Synopsis: 

Ex-Army Ranger Tyrell Castillo's first mission for Lost and Found, Inc. goes awry when his contact is kidnapped, and he's left scrambling for weapons and explosives. He'll have to blow up a drug cartel's compound, rescue the woman, and keep her safe while they cross the sweltering hot Colombian jungle.

Driven by the need for revenge, Ana Maria Vega Cisneros doesn't want to be rescued. She wants revenge. She'll risk her life to ensure the drug lord who killed her family suffers the same fate.

The cartel leaves a trail of blood on their hunt for Ty and Ana. When Ty receives the order to kill the drug lord with extreme prejudice, he and Ana will face the enemy head on. Can Ty protect the woman who's hell bent on vengeance? The woman he's grown to love?

Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Cold-Hell-Lost-Found-Inc-ebook/dp/B00FJ3JVW6/ref=twoen-20

BN: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/cold-day-in-hell-jerrie-alexander/1117032032?ean=9781492811527

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

A student of creative writing in her youth, Jerrie set aside her passion when life presented her with a John Wayne husband, and two wonderful children.  A career in logistics offered her the opportunity to travel to many beautiful locations in America, and she revisits them in her romantic suspense novels. 

But the characters went with her, talked to her, and insisted she share their dark, sexy stories with others.  She writes alpha males and kick-ass women who weave their way through death and fear to emerge stronger because of, and on occasion in spite of, their love for each other.  She likes to torture people, make them suffer, and if they’re strong enough, they live happily ever after.

The author of THE GREEN-EYED DOLL, THE LAST EXECUTION, SOMONE TO WATCH OVER ME, and HELL OR HIGH WATER, book 1 in the Lost and Found, Inc. Jerrie lives in Texas, loves sunshine, children’s laughter, sugar (human and granulated), and researching for her heroes and heroines.

Social media links:

http://www.jerriealexander.com - website

http://www.jerriealexander.com/category/blog/

http://www.twitter.com/jerriealexander

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jerrie-Alexander/121521571355959

http://www.goodreads.com/jerriealexander

http://pinterest.com/jerriealexander/

Excerpt:

He didn't have time to reason with her. And from what he'd seen so far, sweet-talking her was out. "I'm going to remove my hand. If you fight me, I'll tie and gag you. Got it?"

This time he got a full nod. The expression behind her eyes made him doubt her honesty.

"I don't have time to argue, so you'll have to trust that I'm the contact you were supposed to meet in Bogota." Cautiously, he lifted two fingers from her lips and waited to see if she complied.

"I know who you are," she hissed. "And you've ruined everything."

"Me? I think you've cornered the market on screw-ups." He quickly assessed her condition. Other than the bruise, she appeared to be unharmed. Long dark hair fell around her shoulders. She wore jeans and a T-shirt. All she needed was shoes, preferably a good pair of boots.

Damn, she was a little thing. Beautiful, bruised, and pissed. Protecting her as they crossed the sweltering jungle wasn't going to be easy. This woman was going to make the next few days a living hell.

Follow the tour: http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/mbb-cold-day-in-hell-by-jerrie-alexander.html

a Rafflecopter giveaway
 

 

#Excerpt & #Giveawy: IMPOSSIBLY FOREVER by Shane Morgan

Impossibly Forever teaser:

 

Moya stayed in the room the rest of the evening. I knew she was upset after seeing Samantha’s text, so I wanted to assure her again that it meant nothing.

I knocked twice on the door then let myself in when she didn’t respond. She sat down on the loveseat by the window, appearing deep in thought as she picked at her jeans. I sat down next to her.

“Moya, there’s really nothing to be jealous about.”

Slowly, I placed my hand at her back. “Come on, babe don’t let that ruin our weekend.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m fine.”

“Really?”

She rose to her feet, walking over to the window. “Yes. Really.”

I got up as well. “You should talk to me when you’re upset, and don’t walk away like you did earlier.”

Her expression relaxed as I took her hand. Turning slightly to meet my gaze, she said, “I’m not used to…being like this. I don’t like it. It makes me feel…”

“Vulnerable,” I finished for her. “I understand, babe.”

She faced me fully, her chocolate brown eyes craving for me. “I hate that another girl loved you that much, before me.” She laughed at herself. “It makes me seem possessive, but I want to love you more…so much more than she did.”

“That’s intense,” I teased.

Scoffing, Moya rolled her eyes and spun away from me, staring out the window again. I edged closer and cloaked my arms around her. “I like how passionate you are, because I’m the same. I want to be your first and your last. I want every part of you, Moya.”

Seconds later, I was peering into her mesmerizing eyes again. My heart started to race just as her breathing strengthened. There was something rising between us. Heat circulated in the air, making it difficult to control my thoughts.

Unexpectedly, Moya pushed into my chest, biting on my bottom lip as she kissed me hard.

We continued for a while, burning up in desire, until Moya yanked on my shirt and guided me over to the bed.

Book & Author Details:

Impossibly Forever: The Complete Impossibly Duology
Includes: Impossibly Love & Impossibly True

by Shane Morgan
Publication date: February 24th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

Discover the love story of Moya and Branden; from the very first kiss, to the moment where forever begins.

Includes the first and final book:

 

Impossibly Love:
All Moya Douglas wants to do is study hard, maintain her scholarship, and make her mother proud while attending college. She doesn't have time for a boyfriend or going on dates arranged by her best friend. Moya doesn't believe in love. And she has no intention of ever finding it.

Branden McCarthy is determined to change her views.
A selfless romantic who's had his heart broken in the past, Branden is fascinated with Moya's personality and hopes to develop something real with her—a connection so strong it'll open her heart. But just when things start to work between the two, Branden’s secret threatens to get in the way.

Will Moya finally do the impossible and give love a chance with Branden, or will fear keep them apart?

 

Impossibly True: 

Moya is finally listening to her heart.
She’s ready for love and willing to bask in all the joy it brings, but still, she insists on taking things slow. After all, her relationship with Branden isn't the only one that needs a chance.

With his health scare behind him, Branden wants nothing more than to get his life back on track—play hockey again, catch up on school, and get things moving with his girlfriend.

In the middle of strengthening their relationship and sorting out their individual lives, trouble begins to brew, testing the depth of their feelings for each other.

Can Branden and Moya once again overcome their trials and prove that their love is indeed true, or will past ghosts and new temptations drive them apart forever?

Goodreads:  https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20892525-impossibly-forever?ac=1

Purchase:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00IMFX5CA

--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/impossibly-forever-shane-morgan/1118760168?ean=9780615977997

AUTHOR BIO

SHANE MORGAN is the Amazon Bestselling author of Impossibly Love, and Unresisting. A book fanatic at heart, Shane currently lives in Narragansett, RI. where she spends her days blogging and writing young adult and new adult fiction.

Visit her online:

shanemorganwrites.com | facebook.com/authorshanemorgan | goodreads.com/shanemorgan | twitter.com/itchingforbooks | www.itchingforbooks.com

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway

Prize - open INTL

-$15 Amazon Gift Card

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

 

#Excerpt: CAIDEN by Krystal Shannon

BLURB:

Caiden MacLaughlin has lost love once in his life already. He is leery of putting himself out there again, but when he sees the beautiful Lina Mathews his heart does a double take. She seems like a breath of fresh air, but secrets and trouble are following this girl like a bad habit. Will he take a chance and listen to his heart? Or will he cut himself off from another chance at love?

Lina Mathews is running scared. She left her home to avoid a man who’s determined to make her life a living hell. When she meets Caiden MacLaughlin, everything changes. Will he be her knight in shining armor, or will her troubles drive him away like everyone else? Can she find safety in his arms before it’s too late?

Buy links:

Amazon | Amazon UK | Amazon AU | B&N

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Paranormal Romance author, Krystal Shannan, lives in Texas and is married to the love-of-her-life. They have a spunky young daughter who believes in fairies. Krystal professes to loving shoes, but avoids wearing them at all costs. She teaches in the public schools and writes as much as she can in her free time. If any more spare time can be squeezed from her day, she enjoys reading romance in all genres, but especially paranormal. If it has a 'Happily Ever After', she's on board!

She is an active member in her local RWA chapter DARA.

Receive a free book for subscribing to my NEWSLETTER!

www.krystalshannan.com

www.theromancetroupe.com

Facebook Friend & Fan | Newsletter | Blog

Twitter | GoodReads | Amazon

Excerpt:

His arms encircled her waist and lifted her from the ground. They were moving, but his mouth on her neck distracted her. She didn’t care where they were going as long as he was coming with her.

A door clicking shut made her eyes open. She peered around the semi-dark room. A small lamp from the bathroom en suite threw off just enough light to see the giant king-sized bed in the center of the room.

She shuddered in pleasure. His mouth moved to the center of her neck as he let her feet touch the floor again. She clung to his arms. He ran his tongue along the hollow of her neck and she moaned.

The clothes had to go.

He must’ve had the same idea because his hands were on her waist pulling at the hem of her shirt. She raised her arms and he yanked it over her head, tossing it away. His hands were immediately on her bra and with a quick snap he’d freed her breasts from their lacy prison. He latched onto one of her breasts, sucking the nipple to a hardened peak. She gasped, stiffening in his arms. If he wasn’t careful, she’d come right now before they even made it to the bed. Before she’d gotten one stitch of clothing off of him.

Tremors ricocheted through her body and her panties were soaked. She fumbled with his pants, but couldn’t get her hazy brain to focus enough to get the button undone. His mouth moved to the other breast and her knees nearly buckled under her. He slid his hands onto to her ass and squeezed before unhooking her jeans and pulling them down. His tongue trailed down her stomach and stopped just above the waistband of her black lace panties.

“You smell sweet, sugar. I can’t wait for a taste.”

Krystal will be awarding a necklace pendant depicting the cover of Caiden to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

 

Follow the tour and comment; the more you comment, the better your chances of winning. The tour dates can be found here: 

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/02/virtual-book-blast-tour-caiden-by.html

 

Q&A with Renee Novelle: THE BOYFRIEND LIST

  Where are you from originally?
Originally I was born in the tiny little town of Ashland, Kentucky. But we moved pretty quickly, and I grew up almost all of my life in Gainesville, Florida (Go Gators!). Living in a city that kind of revolves around the college there, and is comprised of mostly college students gave me some great material for my upcoming New Adult stories.

Tell us your latest news?
I’m so, so excited to have just released my first New Adult romance! I had so much fun writing this book, and I really hope that readers will be able to connect with the characters. I had originally planned it as a single title, but I’ve received so many requests asking for more of Reagan and Ian that I’ve decided to turn it into a trilogy! I’m really excited to explore the next step in their journey together.

Where do you get your ideas?

It depends on what genre I’m writing in. Sometimes they come from real life events and experiences. Other times they’re inspired by pieces of a news story I’ve heard or something in the community. But lately my muse likes to drop them into my head at 3am while I’m trying to sleep.

What is your writing process?

I generally tend to think of the title first (I work backwards like that), and then form the general concept of the story around that. I sit on this for weeks, months, even years in some instances until I feel like I know the story and characters well enough to plot the whole thing out. After writing a detailed outline, I start the first draft and edit as I go. Then I give it one or two more edits before passing it on to my proof readers/beta readers. I tend to write quickly, so once I have an outline and commit to writing a story, I usually have it done in 2-3 months.

Are any of your characters based on real-life friends or acquaintances?

I think I pull aspects of personalities from my real-life friends, but there isn’t a character that is completely someone I know. I based a lot of Ian’s characteristics, the way he loves and his attentiveness to those he cares about, around the person I’m in love with. They’re very much alike in that regard. And I’ve had friends like Petra in the past who are so outgoing and confident in every situation.

Do you ever incorporate yourself into your characters?

Absolutely! I think as a writer it’s hard not to. You want the characters to be relatable and feel real, so I’m constantly giving them my own insecurities and strengths, and relying on my own experiences to portray a particular moment. But even more than that, I often find that my characters are enjoying my favourite type of coffee or tea, or that the color nail polish that I’m wearing as I write a scene is the color they’re wearing as well.

Tell us about your cover. Did you design it yourself and if you did where did you get the inspiration?

I designed the overall concept and feel of the cover, but I worked very closely with a professional graphic artist to bring it all together. I understand my limitations, and I think it’s very beneficial to utilize professionals whenever possible. And I enjoy the collaboration of working with someone else, bouncing ideas off each other and watching the process of the image coming to life.

Coffee or Tea?

Coffee!!! I live for caffeine. But a nice cup of tea helps me unwind after a long day of writing.

What do you do outside of writing?

I also still write as a freelance journalist for magazines. But when I’m NOT writing, I enjoy the beach, going to concerts or musicals, trying a new restaurant, or exploring a new city. Since I spend so much time at my desk, I really enjoy activities that will get me outside and active.

Book & Author Details:

The Boyfriend List by R.S. Novelle
Publication date: February 10th 2014
Genres: New Adult, Romance

Synopsis:

The Boyfriend List follows twenty-year-old Reagan in her quest for the perfect relationship after a somewhat tragic spring break breakup leaves her disillusioned about love… again.

Reagan had always prided herself on making levelheaded, practical, analytical decisions about everything. Everything, that is, except where guys are concerned. Which was proven to her, once again, when her “boyfriend” opts to take another girl on their oh-so-romantic trip to his lake house. In order to prevent future heartbreak, she creates a checklist of all the qualities she wants in a man, and vows not to give her heart away again until she can determine if they fit every last criteria.

After scouring campus with her two best friends in her tricky journey, her detective work returns a pile of unworthy rejects, and it seems as though her choices are narrowed down to only two options: the hot stranger who’s inspired her new project, and her best guy friend Ian, who she’s always kept at bay due to his perceived playboy reputation.

Reagan gets more than she bargained for with her new set of rules, however, and is surprised to find that love, and the perfect boyfriend, may have been within reach the entire time. But will Ian’s reputation ruin his chances to prove his worth? And can Reagan let go of her insecurities long enough to even give him a chance?

The Boyfriend List is a light, New Adult romance about friendship, trust, and learning to let go in order to embrace what real love can offer.

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/20639389-the-boyfriend-list?ac=1

Purchase:

--Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Boyfriend-List-Book-ebook/dp/B00I8N3NO6/ref=tmm_kin_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&sr=8-2&qid=1394815402

--B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-boyfriend-list-renee-novelle/1118356382?ean=9781495346866

--Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/401976

AUTHOR BIO:

Renee’ Novelle is Preceded by a long line of published family members, including Pulitzer Prize nominated author and Poet Laureate of Kentucky Jesse Stuart.

As a child, Novelle was already gaining recognition for several of her works, and in her formative years, she continued this trend by earning local awards for her short stories and poems.

Inspired to cultivate her talent, Novelle pursued freelance journalism and has found placement of 75 of her pieces in both online and print publications since 2008. Additionally, she has written multiple screenplays, and contributed her savvy, effective writing style to many non-profit and for profit organizations. She launched several blogs over the years, which garnered international attention.

In 2013, Novelle returned to her first love – fiction. She writes psychological and paranormal thrillers, as well as contemporary fiction and new adult fiction. For a complete schedule of upcoming releases, please visit www.RSNovelle.com

Though she received her Bachelor’s of Science in Communication, Summa Cum Laude, she considers herself a constant student of the written word. She’s an avid reader, an enthusiastic quote poster, and rarely takes “no” as a final answer. She has an unhealthy obsession for theater, dance, music and art, and strongly believes that wine is simultaneously the beginning of, and resolution to, all of life’s problems. She believes in following dreams, and that in the end, you always end up where you're meant to be.

Author links:

http://www.rsnovelle.com/ReneeNovelle/Home.html

https://www.facebook.com/ReneeNovelle

https://twitter.com/rs_novelle

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7249191.R_S_Novelle

GIVEAWAY

Blitz-wide giveaway

Prizes

-5 eBooks copies of The Boyfriend List (INT)

-One signed paperback of The Boyfriend List (US only)

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

#Excerpt: MAID OF MILAN by Beverly Eikli

BOOK BLURB:

After three years of marriage, Adelaide has fallen in love with the handsome, honourable husband who nurtured her through her darkest hours.

Now Adelaide’s former lover, the passionate poet from whose arms she was torn by her family during their illicit liaison in Milan six years previously has returned, a celebrity due to the success of his book The Maid of Milan.

High society is as desperate to discover the identity of his ‘muse’ as Adelaide is to protect her newfound love and her husband’s political career.

 Buy links:

Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Maid-Milan-Beverley-Eikli/dp/1781891281/ref=twoen-20

 Preorder The Maid of Milan at The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Maid-Milan-Beverley-Eikli/9781781891285

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Beverley Eikli is the author of eight historical romances. In 2012 she won UK Women's Fiction publisher Choc-Lit's Search for An Australia Star competition with her suspenseful, Napoleonic espionage Romance The Reluctant Bride, which has just been shortlisted by Australian Romance Readers for Favourite Historical in 2013.

In 2011 she was nominated for an ARRA award for her Regency romance A Little Deception, and in 2012 for her racy Regency Romp, Rake’s Honour, written under her Beverley Oakley pseudonym.

Eikli wrote her first romance when she was seventeen. However, drowning the heroine on the last page was, she discovered, not in the spirit of the genre so her romance-writing career ground to a halt and she became a journalist.

After throwing in her job on South Australia's metropolitan daily The Advertiser to manage a luxury safari lodge in the Okavango Delta, in Botswana, she discovered a new world of romance and adventure in a thatched cottage in the middle of a mopane forest with the handsome Norwegian bush pilot she met around a camp fire.

Twenty years later, after exploring the world in the back of Cessna 404s and CASA 212s as an airborne geophysical survey operator during low-level sorties over the French Guyanese jungle and Greenland's ice cap, Eikli is back in Australia teaching in the Department of Professional Writing & Editing at Victoria University, as well as teaching Short Courses for the Centre of Adult Education and Macedon Ranges Further Education.

Website: http://www.beverleyeikli.com/

Blog: http://beverleyeikli.blogspot.com.au/

Twitter: http://beverleyoakley/

Facebook:  https://www.facebook.com/beverley.eikli

Beverly will award a $20 Amazon book voucher and a digital copy of The Reluctant Bride to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.

Follow the tour:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2014/01/virtual-super-book-blast-tour-maid-of.html

 

Excerpt:

‘Addy—?’

Tossing aside the bed covers, Adelaide shifted to make room for him, snuggling against his chest when he yielded slightly, nevertheless terrified of his reaction. She was blatantly seducing – no, trying to seduce – her husband for the first time in her life and she had no idea whether he’d be horrified or delighted. She just knew she had to convey to him her receptiveness for taking intimacy to a higher level.

So far so good. He was breathing more rapidly, she noticed, as he carefully removed his boots. She willed him to hurry. She was on fire. She closed her eyes in anticipation, her mind whirling with all the possibilities of what she might say, but the words with which she’d intended to

unburden her heart were lost in the passion of his kiss. Scorching. It shocked her, as did the speed with which he moved now as he caged her body with his, his hands roaming over her as he trailed hot kisses along her jawline, down her neck, across her décolletage. Adelaide arched with impatience, resisting the urge to be the one to unbutton his trousers.

‘God, Addy, I love you,’ he muttered as he gripped the hem of her shift to raise it, nuzzling her neck. ‘I’ve never loved any woman as I love you. Are you sure you want—?’

Her reassurance that she’d never wanted anything so much was truncated by a sharp rap on the door and her mother’s nasal whine on the other side.

 ‘Addy? I’ve brought you something to help you sleep. Can I come in?’

Horrified, she and Tristan bolted upright as the door knob turned.

‘Wait, mother!’ Addy pulled the covers up to her chin as Tristan leapt to the floor, straightening his cravat and pulling on his boots with lightning speed.

‘Why, Tristan …?’ Mrs Henley’s cloying smile didn’t fool Adelaide. ‘I didn’t know you were here. I’m so sorry to interrupt.’

Adelaide felt like seizing the mug her mother carried with such false solicitude and hurling it at the wall. Instead, she hurled herself back down onto her bed with a sob as her husband bowed before leaving the room.