“Oh God,” Will choked, his hand frozen over her hair. “Oh my God.”
“What is it, sir?” Briggs asked.
Will blinked away the water threatening to stream from his eyes.
Was he overtired? Had the intensity of the storm and lack of proper sleep caused him to have strange, perverse dreams?
No. God no, he was awake. There was too much color—the dewy flesh of her skin, the light brown of the freckles of her nose, the pink and white of her dress. Beyond the rancid smell of bilge water—originating from the boy, he thought—he could smell her, too. She’d always smelled like fresh sugar, like the sugar cane from the plantation in Antigua where she’d been raised.
Was she a ghost?
Half fearing she’d evaporate like fog beneath his fingers, he clasped both sides of her face and turned it upward, so she would have been staring at him were her eyes open.
“You’re real,” he whispered. Leaning down, he held his cheek over her mouth and nose and felt the soft puff of her breath.
Davis was right—she was alive.
How could this be? She’d been lost at sea eight years ago—on the other side of the Atlantic. Had she been adrift all this time, like some sleeping beauty, waiting for him—her prince—to find her and kiss her awake?
Did he dare hope that this wasn’t some cruel joke of fate?
“Meg,” he breathed. The dewy feel of her skin beneath his fingertips swept through him like the stroke of a rose petal. “Meg? Wake up,” he murmured. “Wake up, love.”
The urge overcame him, and forgetting the men staring at him, at them, he bent forward and pressed his lips to hers.
THE DISH
Where authors give you the inside scoop!
From the desk of Jennifer Haymore
Dear Reader,
When Olivia Donovan, the heroine of SECRETS OF AN ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS (on sale now), entered my office for the first time, she stared at the place (and me) wide-eyed, as if she’d never seen an office—or a romance writer—before.
Bemused, I offered her a chair and asked her why she’d come. I was surprised when she got straight to the point; honestly, from the way she looked, I’d expected her to be far more reluctant.
“I want you to write my story.”
I leaned forward. “Well, just about everyone who comes through my door wants me to write their story. To get me to do it, however, requires… more.”
She carried a reticule looped around her wrist, and at this point she began to riffle around in it. “How much more?” she asked. “I haven’t got much, but whatever I have—”
“Oh, no. I didn’t mean ‘more’ in the sense of payment.”
She frowned. “Well then, it what sense did you mean?”
“Well, I write about love… the development of relationships, the ups and downs, the ultimate happily ever after.”
She gave a wistful sigh. “That’s exactly what I want. But”—she clutched her reticule so hard, her knuckles went white—“I fear I shall never have it.”
I raised my eyebrows at her. “Why not? You’re a lovely young woman. Obviously well bred, and from the looks of that silk and those pearls you’re wearing, you’re not lacking in the dowry department.”
She gave me a wry smile. “I believe there’s more to it than that.”
“Look, I’m pretty familiar with your time period, Miss Donovan. In the late Regency period in England, looks, breeding, and financial status were everything.”
She shook her head. “It’s partially him… well, the man I’m thinking about, the one I’m hoping…” She hesitated, then the words rushed out: “Well, he’s going to be a duke someday.”
I blew that off. “In one of my books, a duke married a housemaid.” (And this lady was no housemaid, that was for sure!) “Honestly, I can’t see why any future duke wouldn’t want to pursue a lady like you. You’d make a lovely duchess.”
She licked her lips, hesitated, then whispered, “There’s where you’re wrong. I fear I’d make a terrible duchess. You see, I’m… ill.”
I looked at her up and down, then down and up. She was a little thin, and pale, but ladies of this era kept themselves pale on purpose, after all. Otherwise, she looked healthy to me.
She stared at me for a moment, blinking back tears, then stood up abruptly. “I think I should go. This is hopeless.”
She wasn’t lying. She really believed she’d never have a happy ending of her own. Poor woman.
“No, please stay, Miss Donovan. Please tell me your story. I promise, if there’s anyone who can give you a happy ending, I can.”
“Really?” she whispered.
I raised three fingers. “Scout’s honor.”
She frowned, clearly having no idea what I was talking about, but she was too polite and gently bred to question me. Slowly, she lowered herself back into her seat, still clutching that little green silk reticule.
I flipped up my laptop and opened a new document. “Tell me everything, Miss Donovan. From the beginning.”
I truly hope you enjoy reading Olivia Donovan’s story! Please come visit me at my website, www.jenniferhaymore.com, where you can share your thoughts about my books, sign up for some fun freebies and contests, and read more about the characters from SECRETS OF AN ACCIDENTAL DUCHESS.
Sincerely,
From the desk of Kristen Callihan
Dear Reader,
I fell in love with classic movies at an early age. While other kids were watching MTV, I was sighing over Cary Grant or laughing at the antics of William Powell and Myrna Loy.
There was a fairytale aspect about these films—from the impeccable clothes and elegant manners to the gorgeous décor—that took me out of my own world and into a place of dreams. Much like a good romance novel, if you think about it.
Watching old Fred Astaire movies had me dreaming of living in New York City in an apartment done up in elegant shades of white. It Happened One Night had me yearning for a road caper with a handsome stranger. I coveted Marilyn Monroe’s pink satin dress in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes… all right, her diamonds too! But hands down, my favorite aspect of classic movies was the dialogue.
Back in the 1930s and 40s, the tight rein of censorship turned scriptwriters into masters of innuendo. Dialogue back then wasn’t merely conversation; it was banter, the double entendre, a back-and-forth duel of words and wit. It was foreplay.
Therefore, it wasn’t any surprise to me that when I started writing my own stories, dialogue would play a key part in my characters’ relationships. Before the touches, there are the words.
In my novel FIRELIGHT, the verbal foreplay between my hero, Lord Benjamin Archer, and my heroine, Miranda Ellis, is particularly important. Archer hides his appearance behind masks, determined not to let Miranda see what lies beneath. In turn, Miranda hides her true nature behind the mask of her beauty. With so much hidden, they must rely on verbal communication to slip past their physical walls.
And so we have a dance of words. Words that say one thing but mean another. Words that test and tease. Words that make the sexual tension between Archer and Miranda burn hotter and hotter, until it can do nothing less than combust.
Hope you enjoy the heat,
From the desk of Hope Ramsay
Dear Reader,
Among the things I love best about small, rural towns are the events they hold. Some of these events commemorate national holidays, others celebrate civic pride. And still others, like festivals and county fairs, seem to be mostly about having a real good time.
You can find small-town events everywhere. Even in the suburban landscape around Washington, DC, small towns maintain their sense of identity through their festivals, fairs, and special days. Alexandria, Virginia, where I currently live, throws an annual birthday party for its hometown hero, George Washington. Imagine parading through the streets in the February cold and snow. Seems strange, but it’s a big annual event. It’s fun. And my kids have fond memories of marching in that parade
as members of their scout troops.
So it should come as no surprise that, when creating the world of Last Chance, I made sure to give it a festival complete with a parade, a barbecue, dancing, games of chance, and carnival rides. What better place to turn the matchmaking church ladies of Last Chance loose? The fact that they set up a kissing booth to raise money for a good cause should come as no surprise to anyone. Of course, I couldn’t let the women have all the fun, so I also gave the local men a demolition derby where they could wreck cars to their hearts’ content.
It was a lot of fun to send a member of the British aristocracy off to attend Last Chance’s Watermelon Festival. Since my hero comes from a small village in the UK where they light bonfires on Samhain, Lord Woolham surprises the locals by taking to my county fair like a duck to water.
His Lordship enjoys his visit to Last Chance so much that he decides to stay. I hope you enjoy your visit too.
From the desk of Cynthia Garner
Dear Reader,
I have been a fan of the paranormal since I was a kid. My teenaged years were spent watching re-runs of Christopher Lee and Peter Cushing in those wonderful Hammer horror films. When Frank Langella played Dracula and later on Gerard Butler… whoa! Tall, dark, and sexy won the day, except… those Draculas were evil. While I don’t mind an evil vampire every now and again (they keep us on our toes, right?), I highly prefer them to be one of the good guys. Or at least a reforming bad guy who’s struggling against his inner big bad.
When I first came up with the concept of an interdimensional rift being the origin of Earth’s creatures of lore, excitement at the wonder and unlimited potential of such a world made me giddy. And it takes a lot to make me giddy. But a lonely, hot-bodied vampire named Tobias was my first indication that my gleefulness wasn’t going to end anytime soon.
Add a feisty heroine who’s part demon, part human, and full-on furious with this yummy vamp, and you have all sorts of fun as each of them fights their feelings for the other, determined to keep their relationship on a professional level while they investigate a string of murders.
Yeah. Like that ever works—in fiction, at least. We want our characters to be heroic, but flawed. And you can’t get much more flawed than when you fall in love and completely complicate your life.
My website has some extras from KISS OF THE VAMPIRE: a deleted scene, a map showing where the bodies were found as well as an X-marks-the-spot where the final battle took place, a page of Nix’s investigative notes, and a brief interview with Tobias Caine.
Look for Dante and Tori’s story in my upcoming Secret of the Wolf.
Thanks for coming along for the ride!
Happy Reading!
[email protected]
Praise for the novels of
JENNIFER HAYMORE
“Jennifer Haymore’s books are sophisticated, deeply sensual, and emotionally complex.”
—Elizabeth Hoyt, New York Times bestselling author
CONFESSIONS OF AN
IMPROPER BRIDE
“With beautifully rendered characters, lush sensuality, and a riveting story line, this well-told tale puts a refreshing spin on both the hidden identity and classic reunion plots and gets Haymore’s new series off to a delightful start.”
—Library Journal
“4½ stars! Top Pick! Haymore carefully crafts an original ‘second chance at love’ romance that showcases her creativity and understanding of what readers want. Her three-dimensional characters and their depth of emotion strengthen an already powerful plot. Those new to Haymore’s work will be enchanted.”
—RT Book Reviews
“5 stars! Now this is a book worthy of its luscious characters with all their secrets and baggage on board… Jennifer Haymore has given us a wonderful Cinderella story that does have more than its share of pain but also has more than its share of passion. A wonderfully paced story that will take you from London to Greta Green and back with a lush amount of sass, finesse, and pizzazz to keep you well satisfied like a cat in front of a bowl of milk. Just delicious!”
—GoodReads.com
“Gripping… engaging… The writing allows the reader to get deeply involved and the emotional struggles of Serena are palpable… I’m looking forward to reading about the other Donovan sisters… Confessions of an Improper Bride is a great start to this series, and I would recommend it to all romance novel fans.”
—TheRomanceReader.com
A HINT OF WICKED
“Full of suspense, mystery, romance, and erotica… I am looking forward to more from this author.”
—Las Vegas Review-Journal
“A clever, provoking, and steamy story from an upcoming author to keep your eye out for!”
—BookPleasures.com
“Haymore is a shining star, and if A Hint of Wicked is any indication of what’s to come, bring me more.”
—FallenAngelReviews.com
“Debut author Haymore crafts a unique plot filled with powerful emotions and complex issues.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A unique, heart-tugging story with sympathetic, larger-than-life characters, intriguing plot twists, and sensual love scenes.”
—Nicole Jordan, New York Times bestselling author
“Complex, stirring, and written with a skillful hand, A Hint of Wicked is an evocative love story that will make a special place for itself in your heart.”
—RomRevToday.com
“A new take on a historical romance… complicated and original… the characters are well crafted… surprisingly satisfying.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“What an extraordinary book this is!… What a future this author has!”
—RomanceReviewsMag.com
“Ms. Haymore’s talent for storytelling shines throughout this book.”
—Eye on Romance
A TOUCH OF SCANDAL
“Jennifer Haymore’s books are sophisticated, deeply sensual, and emotionally complex. With a dead sexy hero, a sweetly practical heroine, and a love story that draws together two people from vastly different backgrounds, A Touch of Scandal is positively captivating!”
—Elizabeth Hoyt, New York Times bestselling author
“Sweep-you-off-your-feet historical romance! Jennifer Haymore sparkles!”
—New York Times bestselling author Liz Carlyle
“Haymore discovers a second fascinating, powerful, and sensual novel that places her high on the must-read lists. She perfectly blends a strong plot that twists like a serpent and has unforgettable characters to create a book readers will remember and reread.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A Touch of Scandal is a wonderfully written historical romance. Ms. Haymore brings intrigue and romance together with strong, complex characters to make this a keeper for any romance reader. Ms. Haymore is an author to watch and I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“A deliciously emotional Cinderella tale of two people from backgrounds worlds apart, A Touch of Scandal addicts the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very last word. Hurdle after hurdle stand in the way of Kate and Garrett’s love, inexorably pulling the reader along, supporting them each step of the way. A Touch of Scandal is a surefire win!”
—FallenAngelreviews.com
“A classic tale… Reading this story, I completely fell in love with the honorable servant girl and her esteemed duke. This is definitely a tale of excitement, hot, sizzling sex, and loads of mystery.”
—FreshFiction.com
“These characters are just fantastic and endearing. I just couldn’t wait to find out what happened on the next page.”
—SingleTitles.com
“4 Stars! Kate and Garrett were wonderful characters who constantly tugged at my heartstrings. I found myself rooting for them the whole way through… If you like historical romances that engage your emotions and contain char
acters you cheer for, this is the book for you.”
—TheRomanceDish.com
A SEASON OF SEDUCTION
“4½ stars! Haymore uses the Christmas season as an enhancing backdrop for a mystery/romance that is both original and fulfilling. Her fresh voice and ability to build sensual tension into lively love stories… makes this tale shine.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Sizzling… an engaging historical tale.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Each time Ms. Haymore writes a book in this series I think there is no way to top the one I just finished. I started this latest one and realize she has done just that and has proven to me how fresh this series can remain.”
—The Reading Reviewer
“Jennifer Haymore strikes a good balance of strength, sensuality, drama, and intrigue in her characters… Becky is an independent, fearless woman except when it comes to opening her heart to another man. And Jack, while strong and passionate, shows great sensitivity under his ‘rogue’ persona.”
—www.FictionVixen.com
ALSO BY JENNIFER HAYMORE
A Hint of Wicked
A Touch of Scandal
A Season of Seduction
Confessions of an Improper Bride
Contents
Front Cover Image
Welcome
Dedication
Acknowledgments
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
Secrets of an Accidental Duchess Page 34