Thank you for joining me on this spectacular day! Today marks my first ever print debut with Meet the Earl at Midnight, a Georgian romance.
I'm thrilled to partner with Sourcebooks on the launch of this new series, Midnight Meetings. Yet, the birth of this first book gives me no end of amusement. You could call this the "accidental series."
Want to know the story?
I LOVE historical romance (yes, my passion for the genre deserves all caps). I'm a history nerd to the core, and one of my uber-loves is the Viking Age. I'd written a Viking romance and was in the process of developing another Viking series when I found myself craving something different.
Don't get me wrong, I love those Dark Ages heroes, but I needed a break from the Norse hammers in my head.
And who walked in? A mystery man.
Tall and cloaked from head to heel in leather, Lord Edward wore a tricorn hat pulled low and his collar flipped high.
I was in love. The other surprise? My mystery man lived and breathed in 1768 England, another era of time that fascinates me.
I should mention when I sat down to write Meet the Earl at Midnight there was a rare phenomenon in southern California - rain. Shocking, I know. Suddenly, this story became "...a dark and stormy night..." kind of tale with a surprising hero and heroine.
That's how I met Lord Edward and Lydia, the woman who'd turn his life upside down. Lydia became just as much fun to write as Edward. The opening line belongs to her:
If a woman's old enough to wear a corset, she's old enough to know midnight meetings spell trouble.
I hope you'll join me in celebrating Meet the Earl at Midnight, book 1 of Midnight Meetings ...my accidental series.
An Excerpt:
Lord Greenwich studied
her with a different potency in his dark eyes. Lydia lowered her lashes,
aware of how men’s minds worked. She needed to regroup and gather her
wits, but the Earl must have sensed her wariness, or so she guessed when he extended
a gloved hand.
“Please. This need not
be unpleasant.” His voice lulled her. “I promise I won’t bite.”
“Meaning sometimes you
do,” she snipped.
A muffle of low,
masculine laughter floated from his collar. “Only on a full moon.”
His quip surprised her
much like a clue revealed. Still, this midnight meeting defied reason,
best she use caution. When she didn’t move, his hand dropped to his side.
His lordship’s presence grew bigger in the tiny room, though he stood a safe,
respectable distance.
“Very well then. Why
not take off your cloak?” he coaxed.
“How like a man,” she
said, eyeing him from the safety of her hood. “Get a woman naked,
first. Solve a problem, second.”
That earned her another
low masculine chuckle.
“Now, now,” he chided.
“I’m not asking you to undress, only that you remove your
cloak. As you informed all, you are wet and soggy.” Lord Greenwich motioned
to the blazing hearth. “You could stand here and warm yourself…dry your
damp skirts.”
How did he manage to be
commanding and reasonable at the same time? With a sigh, she pushed back
her faded red hood and stepped closer. The welcome fire warmed her ankles
nicely.
“I am, if anything, ever
accommodating. ”
Her sharpness missed its
mark. Instead, her target tipped his head with great interest, almost
fascination, when her face came to view. Topaz brown eyes inspected every
exposed inch of her visage, searching her with blunt curiosity. A
spark as hot and fast as flint striking stone shot through her. Flummoxed,
Lydia squared her shoulders and tried for business-like composure.
“I’m sure something can
be done to rectify this debt.”
“Your
cloak.”
“My cloak?” she
repeated, running her palms over damp wool.
“Remove it.”
__________________________
Where to find Lydia and Lord Edward's story?
Feel Free to join me these places
Goodreads Website Google+
If you like Facebook parties, you're invited to join the book launch party here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/303050836518399/
4:30 - 8:30 PST - May 6th
If you like Facebook parties, you're invited to join the book launch party here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/303050836518399/
4:30 - 8:30 PST - May 6th
Congrats on your new release, it sounds delightful! I do not use FB but hope you have a wonderful release party.
ReplyDeleteThanks for taking the time to stop by the blog today. Have a great day-
DeleteGina
Great excerpt! Congrats on the new release!
ReplyDeleteHi Cheryl,
DeleteI appreciate that...big day with the first print release. And Happy Spring to you (it feels like spring/summer is now here).
~Gina
Lovely trailer. I adored the excerpt too. Oh, how I love Tuesdays and all these releases!
ReplyDeleteThanks Shana. So many great books out these days...including you newest pirate romance. Congratulations to you!
DeleteGina
Love the excerpt! Can't wait to read this one. Congrats!
ReplyDeleteHi Terri,
DeleteI'm glad you liked the excerpt. The whole book was a blast to write and there's nothing like an interesting man leading the way in story. Thanks for stopping by the blog today-
Gina
Congratulations, Gina, and happy release day!
ReplyDeleteHi Theresa,
DeleteThanks so much. This is huge for me with my first print release. I welcome your feedback. Can't wait to dive into Caroline and Michael's story (they're already here). Having a smile over the fact that we must both enjoy smart, reclusive men. ;-)
Have a great day and here's to lots of readers enjoying your naughty countess.Gina
Congrats! Georgian is such a fun period.
ReplyDeleteHi Jane,
DeleteThanks! Something about the 1760s-late 1780s fascinates me (England and the colonies).
Gina
Mine downloaded today, can't wait to start reading! Congrats
ReplyDeleteI can't wait for my copy to arrive in the mail! I just love looking at the cover.
ReplyDelete