Lady in Deed
by Ann Montclair
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
As an update, I am almost done with several books that I have promised reviews. Look for me to be mostly caught up this weekend with book tours awaiting my review. Just hold tight, and I promise they are the way. When one gets behind, it is so hard to catch up! I look forward to the day when I can post reviews WITH my book tours again rather than after! Thank you for your patience.
BLURB:
Lady
Mary Rutherford believed she would live her entire life as a nun. But when King Henry VIII’s reformist movement
makes practicing religion a dangerous proposition,
Mary is forced to begin a new life with a family she doesn't know. Worse, she must become lady
of the manor, a role for which she feels sorely unprepared.
After
a decade of service to his king, Lord Trenton Stanley returns home to find his estate in ruins, his fortune
depleted, and his doddering father
drooling over Mary—a woman Trent
fears has been installed to replace his
mother. Trent
strives to rebuild his life, but his desire for Mary becomes a serious
distraction he can’t seem to ignore.
Though
Mary is anxious to prove she’s a worthy lady, she’s tempted by the rakish Trent into deeds most
unladylike…
Excerpt
He
wanted to reach out and touch her soft yellow hair, move it from her proud
shoulders, and hold her closely. Her outrage evoked a strange tenderness in Trent , but also
bitterness. Who was this chit, and why did she act like he’d done her harm?
They rode in his coach with his driver, and she was, what, a guest, a ward? An
unwelcome one if she kept glaring with those icy eyes. Trent couldn’t help it. He actually found her
unbelievably attractive, even if her gaze promised no reward.
“And
you are my ward? How so? Do tell, my ‘lady.’” He exaggerated the last to
reinforce he doubted her assertion. His lifted brow named her a liar. The woman
drew a deep and ragged breath, and pounded on the coach top to indicate to
James this journey had come to a most unfavourable end.
As
the carriage slowed to stop, she flung the door wide, and escaped like a
songbird from its cage in one swift movement. The snow had subsided, but the
accumulated flakes softened her landing. Her little satin slippers proved no
match for the slushy stuff, and her whole body shifted and sagged onto the
frozen earth. Trent
bounded to her side and hoisted her rigid body into the coach.
James
began to clamber down. “What has happened? What have I done?”
“James,
on to Stanley Hall. This woman claims it is our mutual destination.”
“She
is correct, my lord, and her name is the Lady Mary Rutherford.”
“Roll
on!”
“D--n
this to hell!” His temper exploded.
Mary
flinched and then looked at him with utter disbelief. “Do not speak so. God
bless you, my lord.”
Her
words sounded more curse than blessing.
“Lady…Mary,
is it?”
“Yes,”
she hissed. “I am your cousin come to be your ward. Not by choice, I was
recently turned out of a nunnery — ”
Lady
Mary continued stiffly as if Trent
hadn’t spoken. “I assure you my leave was due to the state of the kingdom and
not any wrongdoing on my part.” She shook her head as if scolding a naughty
schoolboy, and she caught her lower lip between her teeth, staring at him with
frank puzzlement. He was struck by the innocent yet sensual gesture.
“Do
go on with your winsome tale.”
Mary
turned her back, and before he could elicit more information or explain his
honest error, the coach stopped again. They’d arrived at his family’s estate.
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
Ann Montclair writes
contemporary and historical fiction and is an English professor at a small,
rural community college. She was born in Los
Angeles , California ,
where her parents and grown daughter now reside. Ann currently lives in the Finger
Lakes region of New York
with her husband, son, and a pile of dogs and cats. She enjoys listening to
live music, hiking, cycling, cooking, and gardening. She hates dieting but
spends a lot of time ruminating on the topic. Her biggest wish is that each of
her readers will be inspired to believe in and find their own
happily-ever-after, no matter their fears and insecurities. Her motto is Love
triumphs! Ann has three published contemporary romance novels: The
Billionaire’s Bauble (Soul Mate Publishing 2011), One Wet Summer (Musa
Publishing 2012), and Good Things Come in Tall Packages (Musa Publishing 2012).
Lady in Deed (Musa Publishing 2012) is her first historical romance. Lady is
the Law, another Tudor historical romance, is forthcoming 2013.
Contacts and Buy Links:
Web site:
http://www.annmontclair.com
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/AnnMontclair
Good Things Come in Tall
Packages
One Wet Summer
The Billionaire’s Bauble
Ann...This is your first historical romance. Did that change your process any? What was the biggest difference for you?
ReplyDeletecatherinelee100 at gmail dot com
This story sounds quite interesting. I love regency romances.
ReplyDeleteHi Ann!
ReplyDeleteHope your tour is going well and that readers have a chance to read this wonderful story!
Best of luck with this book and can't wait for the next one!
I wonder if its hard to switch genres? Maybe you get stuck in a rut and need something new? Thanks for posting!
ReplyDeleteandralynn7@gmail.com