~Snippet Saturday~ Loyalty

Hello again, my lovelies! It’s Saturday and you know what that means. Another snippet from one of my books. ☺ (My apologies for missing last Saturday.)

I’ve chosen “Loyalty” today, the first story in the Forgotten, and other Heartless tales anthology. Enjoy! ♥ 

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(From chapter four, a scene between Michaella and her sister, Leandra, with an appearance by the Duke of Derringer.)

Lady Michaella had changed over the years. Where once she’d had nothing but soft, kind words and ladylike manners, she now exhibited the occasional bout of cynicism and rudeness, her interaction with a certain gentleman topping any other moment.

“I suppose I shall leave you now,” Michaella said after several moments of companionable silence.

“Must you? I haven’t seen you for ages.”

“I have things I must do before my wedding. There is but a fortnight before I become Mrs. Wainwright, you know.”

“You can meet him before you promise to love and obey him, Kaylee,” Leandra gently reminded her. “I think it would be for the best. I take no issue with you asking for an arranged marriage but to marry him sight unseen? Is that wise?”

“Your concern does you credit, Merri, but it is misplaced,” Michaella assured her. “I am content waiting for the vows to see his face.” She set her bonnet on her head and tied the ribbons, then reached for her gloves. “I trust his countenance is pleasing?”

“Oh my, yes,” Leandra breathed, an almost dreamy quality transforming her plump features.

Michaella laughed. “Oh, Merri, my dear, are you smitten with my betrothed? What does your duke think of that?”

“He hates it,” the man in question muttered as he strode purposefully back into the room. Rifling through some papers on his desk, he added, “He would run your betrothed through if the blighter hadn’t agreed to marry you.”

“What have I to do with it?” Michaella couldn’t help asking.

The duke shot her an annoyed look, but refrained from commenting.

“Don’t speak of yourself as though you are not in the room, dear,” Leandra remonstrated. “It is hardly Rhys’ fault that he is so pleasing to look upon and employs pretty manners too.”

“If not his fault, then whose?” Derringer countered.

Leandra moved to her husband’s side and laid a gentle hand on his arm. Smiling, she gazed up at him. “My love, you like Rhys or you would not have approached him about marrying Michaella. Refrain from any more of this false anger.”

He growled but kissed the top of her head. “Next time he calls, you are not to see him. Pleasing countenance indeed. Bloody hell.”

“Language, my love.”

“You’d like to hear more?”

“I will leave you to battle this one without me,” Michaella inserted before the duke could make good on his threat. “Thank you for the tea. I will be sure to call often in the coming weeks.” She took her leave after a parting embrace from her sister and a surprising, affectionate squeeze from the duke. The man was a puzzle.

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I hope you enjoyed this snippet. If you’d like to read the rest of the story, as well as the other two stories in this anthology, check out Forgotten’s page on my website HERE for buying links. If you’d like to get it for 50% off the list price, I recommend grabbing a copy from Smashwords.* Thank you for stopping by!!

*Limited time offer for Smashwords’ Summer/Winter Sale. Coupon good through July 31, 2014.

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Sarah McLachlan ~ Angel 

♥ E-book Sale at Smashwords! ♥

Every year, Smashwords has their July Summer/Winter sale. I've decided to participate this year by enrolling all my titles in the promotion. That means you can get Honor, Betrayal, Deception, Intrigue, Spellbound, Heartless, Redemption, and Forgotten, and other Heartless tales for only $1.50 (USD) each by using coupon code SSW50 in your shopping cart. The 11th Commandment and The Dragon's Birth are FREE using the same code, and My Lady Coward is always FREE. ☺

Thank you so much for all your support, my lovelies! ♥

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪  Sick Puppies ~ Don't Walk Away 

Get Forgotten for...FREE!!! ♥

Funny, right? I’ll forget you for free. Not really, of course, but my newest Regency release Forgotten, and other Heartless tales is FREE for the next few days. Doesn’t matter who you are or where you live. Use the code and download the book. My gift to you in thanx for all the support you’ve given me over the years. Mwah! ♥

Go to Smashwords, add the book to your cart, enter the code NH22K in the space provided in the cart, apply the code, and checkout. Then download the format you prefer. ☺ This offer is only good until June 6, so take advantage soon! 

Thank you for being you! ♥

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There’s a jukebox in my head. It’s currently playing

♫♪ Martina McBride ~ A Broken Wing

Review Copies

If you like "clean" (no graphic sex) Regency romance and are willing to post a review, I'd love to send you a copy of Intrigue, Forgotten, and/or The 11th Commandment, which are all in need of some review love on Amazon, B&N, Apple, Smashwords, and/or Goodreads. This doesn't mean the review must be positive, only honest. 

If you are interested in reviewing one or more of the three I just mentioned and you are able to download books from Smashwords, please comment here with your email address or email me at jaimeygrant [at] yahoo {dot} com with your request. I'm looking for a reasonable turnaround, but I also understand the demands of life. Your review must contain the fact that you received the book as a gift. This appeases the FTC. (I have heard that if you indicate it's a gift specifically from the author, Amazon will delete your review. Not sure what the deal with that is...)

I'll accept review copy requests through May 31. Thank you! ☺ 

Oh, and if you've already read one or more of these, would you consider posting a review? I'd be ever so grateful. ♥ 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing

♫♪ Linkin Park ~ The Messenger 

Another Forgotten Excerpt

I promised another excerpt, this time from Introductions, the final story in my Heartless Regency trilogy, Forgotten, and other Heartless tales. I’ve snipped a portion for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! ♥

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Introductions:

A Heartless Conclusion

England 1824

“Lord and Lady Gabriel St. Clair!”

Michaella’s head whipped up at the majordomo’s stentorian announcement. “Gabe?” slipped from her lips just before those very lips were ruthlessly pressed against another pair of lips.

“My love,” Rhys mused between kisses to her neck and face, “calling out...another man’s name...whilst making love to...your husband...is very bad form.” He renewed his assault on her lips, giving her no opportunity to respond, if a coherent response was something she could even manage at the moment. His hands pulled her close, fingers splayed across her back. “Very...bad...form.”

Summoning an inhuman amount of control, Michaella pulled away, far enough to regard her husband’s smiling countenance. “Seducing one’s wife”—she placed a hand over his mouth as he leaned in to continue said seduction—“in an alcove...in the middle of the day...across from the drawing room...no less...is most improper.”

“Your speech would have been far more effective had you kissed me with each pause, my love,” Rhys mused, allowing her just a touch more distance, though he didn’t actually release her.

She smiled. “Perhaps, but how much of it would you have remembered after?”

He twined his fingers with hers, staring down at the linked appendages. “This is the first moment I’ve had alone with you in days.” He bestowed his most earnest expression on her, adding just a touch of pathetic entreaty.

She scowled at his emotional appeal, or tried to. “Stealing into an alcove is your way to remedy that?” She wanted to ask him why he didn’t simply enter her bedchamber on any of the past few nights. She wanted to ask him why he chose to sleep in his own chamber, for that matter. But good breeding would not allow her to ask such an indelicate question.

Instead, she allowed him to seduce her in a most inappropriate place, where any one of their guests might happen upon them, causing quite the countryside scandal. And as she pondered the possible ramifications, his hand slid down her shoulder, passing ever so lightly over her breast and on down to curl around her corseted ribs. Her breath caught as she vividly remembered the feel of his hands on her skin instead of hampered by several layers of sensible silk and whalebone.

And no guests constantly underfoot.

“Darling, your every waking moment since we left London has been filled with planning and family and servants,” Rhys patiently explained, trailing kisses over her cheeks and neck. Michaella’s heart kicked up a beat, her fingers clenching in the rough cloth of Rhys’ jacket. “I saw a moment and took advantage.”

And what he meant by that was he saw her in the foyer, greeting a newly arrived guest, and spirited her into the curtained alcove. Concerned that something had gone horribly wrong with one of the male guests at this, her very first house party, she’d followed with nothing more than a truncated “Please excuse—” directed at the new arrivals.

She could barely contain her shock when, instead of speaking, her very proper and gentlemanly husband pulled her into his arms and kissed her like a starving man. Too shocked to protest and—admittedly—pleasantly surprised, he’d managed to distract her quite well for several minutes.

Until Huxley’s voice broke through the sensual haze, intoning a name she’d not heard in months, the name of a man she’d not seen in years. How was it possible that he chose to attend her house party?

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If you missed last week’s excerpt of Forgotten, you can find it HERE. An excerpt from Loyalty can be found on my website HERE.

Like what you read? Grab the full book from Amazon (US & UK), B&N, Apple, or Smashwords.

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing

♫♪ P!NK ~ There You Go 

A Forgotten Excerpt

It’s been a while since I’ve posted a random excerpt from one of my books. As Forgotten, and other Heartless tales is my newest release, it makes sense to give that one the spotlight today. :) 

There is already an excerpt from Loyalty, the first story in this trio, on my website. This time, how about an excerpt from Forgotten, the story for which the trilogy is named? Here’s the first page of Forgotten. Enjoy! ♥

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Forgotten

His heart belonged to his past...

Chapter One

France 1824

Hélène tossed the rag onto the bar, her gaze sliding, as always, down the shining expanse to linger on the man standing at the other end. He laughed with a regular patron, white teeth flashing in his sun-darkened face. He didn’t glance her way, but as she watched, his brow furrowed as it always did when he tried to remember something from his past.

Nearly four years ago she’d fished him out of the sea. He remembered nothing of who he was or how he’d come to be there, but ships sank all the time. His accent proclaimed his English roots and his air of superiority hinted at a life amongst the elite. Whether he was nobility or just an upper servant aping his betters was something she couldn’t quite decide.

With no hint of his identity and the face of a fallen angel, Hélène could think of no better name than Gabriel. Recalling the look on his face the first time she’d called him that, she knew she’d hit upon something. Recognition, a bit of horror, and a dash of humor darkened his clear blue eyes until they appeared nearly black in his gaunt features. How she’d managed to land on the very name he could lay claim to, or at least one that triggered a memory, was a mystery to her.

She suspected he’d fought in the war that ended nearly a decade past. His absent arm seemed to prove as much, and the way he watched everything, missing so little, was like that of a well-trained soldier, always watching for the sabre aimed at his back.

Pain lurched in Hélène’s chest, the ache of a person who cannot bring peace to a loved one. Gabriel’s memories were resurfacing but he would not speak of them. And with no desire to really force them from him, she allowed him his secrecy. Her ignorance of his past should have allowed her to be quite happy but she couldn’t stop thinking he might have a family somewhere, waiting, grieving. She would certainly grieve his loss were she to find herself suddenly without him.

Retrieving her rag and stowing it under the bar, she reached for the bucket at her feet and exited through the back door of the tavern.

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And there you have it! I hope you enjoyed that little tidbit of Forgotten. Next week I’ll share a bit of Introductions. If you’re already intrigued enough to add this book to your collection, you can grab the e-book from Amazon (US & UK), B&N, Apple, or Smashwords.

Have a lovely weekend!

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing

♫♪ Hinder ~ Without You 

A Forgotten Party

Forgotten, and other Heartless tales is officially released, as of yesterday! Woo-hoo!! ♥ A new book release is a reason to celebrate so that's what I'm gonna do. And you're all invited! 

It's an online gathering (Facebook), nothing fancy, a few giveaways with prizes. If it's something you'd like to attend, please click on over HERE and "join" the party. It will start on Saturday, March 1, at 10 am eastern time. I will officially close the party at 6 pm. 

Additionally, as a special introductory offer, you can get a e-copy of Forgotten, and other Heartless tales from Amazon (US; UK) or Smashwords for only 99¢ until March 4. (For an excerpt from Loyalty, the first story in this book, you can visit my website HERE.)

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing

♫♪ Lindsey Stirling ~ Shadows  

A Forgotten Blurb

Forgotten, and other Heartless tales is officially submitted to formatting genius Linda Boulanger. It will undergo some painless cosmetic surgery before I release it to you lovely readers. ♥ 

Meanwhile, I should share the official back cover blurb for this treasure, shouldn't I? ☺ 

Loyalty... 
Lady Michaella Harcourt's loyalty is unparalleled. Years after his death, she still pines for her lost love. The desire for a family, however, leads her to the Duke of Derringer with a request: arrange a marriage for her, to a man who won't require her heart.

Forgotten... 
Gabriel has made a life for himself with the Frenchwoman who fished him from the water many years ago. He remembers nothing of his former life, but when bits and pieces begin to fall into place, he seeks answers. Hélène does whatever she can to fulfill his wish, even if it means losing him to the woman who haunts his dreams.

Introductions: A Heartless Conclusion... 
Michaella's house party takes a turn for the intense when Lord and Lady Gabriel St. Clair attend. Old emotions resurface, sending certain guests into a panic. Meanwhile, the Duke of Derringer and his wife must overcome a crisis of their own.

Remember, Intrigue and Heartless are on sale for only 99¢ until Feb 28. Take advantage of the price now! ♥ 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing

♫♪ Linkin Park ~ 1STP KLOSR 

~E-book Sale~ ♥ FREE to 99¢ ♥

Just a few book related updates for you, my lovely readers. ☺

First and foremost, Intrigue received a glowing, beautiful, 4½-star review from InD'tale Magazine. It was completely unexpected, and so thrilling! (I always expect the worst. LOL)

"Writing that shouts "well above average" should never be missed, and Ms. Grant certainly has attained a lofty position with this story!" ~InD'tale Magazine

To celebrate, I've put Intrigue on sale. The price change hasn't fed through to all the stores yet, but at the time of this post, it's reduced at Amazon (US & UK), Apple, B&N, Smashwords, and Kobo. It will soon follow to Sony and Diesel. 

Second, Heartless has been on sale for 99¢ since I revealed the cover for my upcoming release, Forgotten, and other Heartless tales. Seemed appropriate, considering the new book is tied very closely to Heartless. (For example, the heroine of the first story in this anthology is the sister of the heroine in Heartless. Yup, very closely tied together.)

"The richness and emotion of these characters will grab you by the heart and the story will not let you go!" ~InD'tale Magazine 

Get Heartless at Amazon (US & UK), Apple, B&N, Smashwords, Sony, Diesel, and Kobo for only 99¢ until Feb 28.

As another "woo-hoo" announcement, Whispered Beginnings, the Clever Fiction Writers Anthology that boasts one of my exclusive Regency short stories, is now free. Follow the title to read an excerpt of my short story and for buy links.

And as always, My Lady Coward is free, The 11th Commandment is only 99¢ everywhere e-books are sold, and my one and only non-romance/fantasy short story The Dragon's Birth is also 99¢.

*All links open in new tabs or windows, depending on your browser settings. All linked titles go to the corresponding page on my site where you can find blurbs, excerpts, and buy links.  

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing
♫♪ Nashville Cast (Hayden Panettiere) ~ Undermine

Yet Another Cover Reveal and a Heartless Sale

I've been one busy little bee around here and I have another cover reveal for you lovely, lovely readers. 

Have I mentioned there's a new release on the horizon? There is, and it's called Forgotten, and other Heartless tales. This book features three novelettes, all centered around Heartless characters in particular. There are appearances by a few characters from other books, but the main focus is a few supporting characters from Heartless. 

The individual story titles are Loyalty, Forgotten, and Introductions: A Heartless Conclusion. Once I have the back cover blurb for this book, I'll reveal what each story is about. 

And without further ado, here's the official...

COVER REVEAL!!!

As usual, this design was done by An Author's Art ~ Cover Design. And again, that's me. ;) 

As a special bonus, to celebrate the upcoming release of Forgotten, and other Heartless tales, Heartless is on sale for only $0.99 everywhere e-books are sold! (Except B&N, who for some reason are taking their merry time lowering the price.) Here are the links. :)

• Amazon
• Smashwords
• Apple
• Kobo 
• Diesel
• Sony
• B&N (eventually, it will be $0.99 here too)
  

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

There's a jukebox in my head. It's currently playing

♫♪ Papa Roach ~ Take Me