Too Dangerous to Desire
Page 30
Happy Reading!
www.katebrady.net
From the desk of Laurel McKee
Dear Reader,
For as long as I can remember I’ve been a “theater geek”! My parents took me to see a production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream when I was about six, and I loved everything about it—the costumes, the music, the way it felt like an escape from the real world into Shakespeare’s fairy-tale woods. I decided right then that I wanted to be an actress. I put on productions at home (recruiting my little brother and our family dog to be the other performers) and made my parents buy tickets. (Until I got in trouble for using my mom’s antique lace tablecloth for a costume.)
Then I got older, did some community theater, and found out I was lacking one essential element for being an actress—talent! But I’ve never lost my love of going to the theater. There is just something about settling into one of those velvet seats, reading the glossy program, waiting for the curtain to go up and a whole new world to be revealed. I was so happy to “meet” the St. Claire family and have the chance to live in their world for a while, to vicariously be part of the theater all over again.
The Victorian age was a great era for the theater. The enthusiastic patronage of Queen Victoria meant that the theater was becoming more respectable, and actors and actresses were more accepted in society. People like Ellen Terry and Henry Irving at the Lyceum Theater were celebrities and artists, and a new style of theatergoing was taking hold. The audience actually sat and watched the play in silence instead of having supper and gossiping with their friends! Our modern idea of theater was born in this time period.
I loved seeing my own St. Claire family in the very thick of this exciting period, on the cusp between scandal and respectability! But with them, I think they will tend more toward the scandal side of things …
I’m thrilled with how TWO SINFUL SECRETS turned out, and hope that you all enjoy it!
Happy Reading!
www.LaurelMckee.net
Facebook.com
Twitter, @AmandaLaurel1
From the desk of Cara Elliott
Dear Reader,
For those of you who have been asking me about the maddeningly mysterious Cameron Daggett, well, the wait is over! Connor and Gryff—those two other devilishly dashing Lords of Midnight—have been tamed by love, and now, in TOO DANGEROUS TO DESIRE, it’s Cameron’s turn to meet his match. But trust me, it wasn’t easy to find a way to unlock his heart.
The most cynical of the three friends, he had good reason to keep his feelings well guarded, for he had been hurt in the past. Luckily I knew just the right lady to turn the key. (Be advised that opening locks is not as easy as it might seem. Sometimes it takes some very deft and clever manipulations to release all the little levers—as several scenes in the book will show!) But of course, as this is a romance, Cameron finds his happily-ever-after with Sophie Lawrance.
I, however, must confess to shedding a few tears on having my Lords of Midnight trilogy come to an end. All of the characters have become such dear friends, so it’s hard not to feel very sad as they move away from the cozy little neighborhood of my desk to live in far-flung places all around the world. I’ll miss their wonderful company—we had coffee together most every day for so long! However, it’s time to let them go off and have their own future adventures, so I’m looking forward to making new friends who will share my morning jolts of caffeine (along with those afternoon nibbles of chocolate).
And speaking of new friends, I’ve already met a delightfully unconventional trio of sisters with a passion for writing. Olivia, the eldest, pens fiery political essays; Anna, middle sister, writes racy romance novels; and Caro, who is not quite out of the schoolroom, is a budding poet. Of course, proper young Regency ladies of the ton—especially ones who have very small dowries—are not encouraged to have an interest in intellectual pursuits. Indeed, the only thing they are encouraged to pursue is an eligible bachelor. Preferably one with both a title and a fortune. So the headstrong, opinionated Sloane sisters must keep their passions a secret.
Ah, but we all know that secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble …
Alas, I can already report that Olivia has set off sparks with the Earl of Wrexham, a paragon of propriety, who—
Oh, but that would be spoiling all the fun! I’ll let you read all about it for yourself. All I’ll say is that I’m so excited about starting my new series! Please be sure to check out my website www.caraelliott.com for more updates on the Hellions of Half Moon Street!
Also by Cara Elliott
Circle of Sin Series
To Sin with a Scoundrel
To Surrender to a Rogue
To Tempt a Rake
Lords of Midnight Series
Too Tempting to Resist
Too Wicked to Wed
Acclaim for the Lords of Midnight Series
Too Tempting to Resist
“Elliott provides readers with a treat to savor in this fun, sexy, delicious tale. With smart, sassy characters, a charming plot and an erotic bad boy/good girl duo, this fast-paced story will keep readers’ attention.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Nothing is more sensuous than a delicious meal, and Cara Elliott’s food-inspired sex scenes are, quite literally, Too Tempting to Resist…likeable characters, a fast-moving plot, and unique, engaging sex scenes that are deliciously tempting.”
—HeroesandHeartbreakers.com
“Haddan and Eliza’s charming wit and banter will absolutely capture the reader from their first meeting…Haddan is the type of historical hero that women fantasize about…[It] can easily be read as a stand-alone, though most readers will want to rush out and find a copy of the first book to get more of Cara Elliott’s Hellhounds. A real page-turner, readers will not be able to put this book down.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Cara Elliott is the master of writing a breathtaking and romantic book built around an exciting, engrossing story of suspense and intrigue. I believe she is truly one of a kind in bringing all the pieces and characters to a fulfilling conclusion yet always leaving the reader begging for the next book.”
—TheReadingReviewer.com
Too Wicked to Wed
“Elliott packs the first Lords of Midnight Regency romance with plenty of steamy sex and sly innuendo…As Alexa and Connor flee London to escape vengeful criminals, their mutual attraction sizzles beneath delightful banter. Regency fans will especially appreciate the authentic feel of the historical setting.”
—Publishers Weekly
“A surprisingly resourceful heroine and a sinfully sexy hero, a compelling and danger-spiced plot, lushly sensual love scenes, and lively writing work together perfectly to get Elliott’s new Regency-set Lords of Midnight series off to a delightfully entertaining start.”
—Booklist
“The Lords of Midnight, all sexy and dangerous men, are introduced in this series starter. The romance, adventure, and sensuality readers expect from Elliott are here, along with an unforgettable hoyden heroine and an enigmatic hero. She takes them on a marvelous ride from gambling hells to ballrooms, country estates, and London’s underworld.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A very entertaining tale…Well-drawn characters, an interesting plot, and plenty of passion kept the pages turning. Alexa and Connor are worthy opponents and even more worthy partners as they try to unravel the mystery at the Wolf’s Lair. Excellent and well rounded secondary characters, both friend and foe, make for a superb tale.”
—RomRevRoday.com
“Filled with suspense and passion. The mystery is delivered wonderfully and will have you guessing up to the big reveal…hilarious and downright charming…The romance element will have the reader on the edge of their seat…The mental tennis match heightens the all too present romantic chemistry to the point that it seems to jump off the page…If Too Wicked to Wed is an example of what we are to expect, this will be a series loved by many!”
/> —FreshFiction.com
“I really enjoyed Cara Elliott’s writing. She hooked me from the start…kept me glued to the pages…an incredibly sexy and romantic read…I would read more by Cara Elliott based on this novel. I look forward to reading the next installment of The Lords of Midnight series.”
—TheSeasonforRomance.com
Praise for the Circle of Sin Trilogy
To Tempt a Rake
“From the first page of this sequel…Elliott sweeps her readers up in a scintillating and sexy romance.”
—Publishers Weekly
“An engaging cast of characters…Readers who thrive on empowered women, sexy and dangerous men, and their wild adventures will savor Elliott’s latest.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Elliott expertly sifts a generous measure of dangerous intrigue into the plot of her latest impeccably crafted Regency historical, which should prove all too tempting to readers with a craving for deliciously clever, wickedly sexy romances.”
—Booklist
“An exhilarating historical romance…a fast-paced tale…readers will enjoy dancing at this waltz.”
—Midwest Book Review
To Surrender to a Rogue
“4 stars! Elliott’s ability to merge adventure, romance, and an intriguing historical backdrop will captivate her readers and earn their accolades.”
—RT Book Reviews
“With mystery, intrigue, laughter, and hot, steamy passion…what more could any reader want?”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“Another fantastic read from Cara Elliott. Can’t wait until the next book.”
—SingleTitles.com
To Sin with a Scoundrel
“HOT…Charming characters demonstrate her strong storytelling gift.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Has everything a reader could desire: adventure, humor, mystery, romance, and a very naughty rake. I was absorbed from the first page and entertained throughout the story. A warning to readers: If you have anything on your schedule for the day, clear it. You won’t be able to put To Sin with a Scoundrel down once you start reading.”
—SingleTitles.com
“Steamy…intriguing.”
—Publishers Weekly
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Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Prologue
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
A Preview of Too Wicked to Wed
The Dish
Also by Cara Elliott
Acclaim for the Lords of Midnight Series
Newsletter
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Andrea DaRif
Excerpt from Too Wicked to Wed copyright © 2011 by Andrea DaRif
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher is unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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First e-book edition: November 2012
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ISBN 978-1-4555-1791-6