~Snippet Saturday~ Heartless

It’s time for another snippet from one of my books. Which work shall it be today? How about my bestseller, Heartless? It’s been a while since I shared an excerpt from that. ☺

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A conversation between Derringer and Levi, taken from the end of chapter 19....

Derringer’s eyes narrowed. “Secrets with my wife, Vi? I’m surprised at you.”

“Don’t take that tone with me, Hart,” replied his friend indifferently. “I have no secrets with her that I am not about to tell you.”

The duke glared at him. The admission that he did, in fact, have secrets with his Merri made him want to tear Levi’s heart out—even if the man was willing to share them with him.

“I have decided to ask Adam and Bri to visit and I discussed it with your wife. She is willing to allow it.”

“And since Merri is master here, that is all the permission you need,” retorted the duke. “You’ve told me, now you can get out.”

“You are a bloody irritating patient, Hart,” Greville told him with fond contempt. “You need help finding the bas… um, villain responsible for this.” He gestured toward the duke’s bandaged shoulder and ribs. “You do not seem to be progressing well in that.”

“And how the devil can I when my time is spent searching for a cousin who has spent his time evading me and getting married to save a fortune that was mine in the first place? I haven’t exactly had the time to search for someone wanting to kill me. Besides, don’t you think society would rejoice to be rid of me?”

“Self-pity, Hart? Shocking.”

“It is not self-pity, dammit! It is reality. I am not beloved in society, Vi. Everyone knows that. To a man they would love to see me dead. My father was not popular and King George himself hated my grandfather. I wouldn’t be surprised if it was the king that ordered my grandfather’s death. Would you?”

“The walls have ears,” Greville warned.

Derringer snorted. “So let them listen. I care not.”

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I hope you enjoyed that little taste. If you’d like to grab the whole story, you can find the e-book on Amazon (US & UK), B&N, iTunes, Kobo, ‘txtr, and Smashwords, as well as subscription services such as Scribd and Oyster. Thanx for stopping by! 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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

♫♪ Imagine Dragons ~ Hear Me

~Regency Wednesday~ Toby Lay

Another busy week and my brain can't quite keep up. So, here's another Regency slang definition for you. Enjoy! ♥ 

TOBY LAY. 

The highway. High toby man; a highway-man. Low toby man; a footpad. 

*Taken verbatim from the Kindle edition of the 1811 Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue. Get your free copy HERE. 

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥ 

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

♫♪ AWOLNATION ~ Sail

~Snippet Saturday~ Surrender

Hello, my lovelies! How about a snippet from something not yet published? ;)

The following is from Surrender, a short story that will be released with the compiled edition of my serial Regency Death Becomes Her. Enjoy this little taste! ♥ 

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Taken from the rough copy of chapter one...

Chapter One

London, 1812 

Sadie Miller did not take life for granted. As the daughter of a resurrectionist, and having herself been a thief of the dead, she knew just how fleeting life was, and knew without doubt that any given moment could be her last.

Thus it was with prayers trembling on her lips that she screwed up her courage, her strength, and her will, centering all of it to her lower extremities, pushing forth the life she’d carried inside her for the past seven months. Exhausted, she fell back on the bed, panting, chest heaving with the force of her exertions. The room lingered in silence for several moments, then the midwife’s concerned grunt burst through Sadie’s consciousness.

She forced her tired body up onto her elbows, trying to see around her own legs to the women who’d helped her labor. “What? My baby?”

Her eldest sister, Melly, frowned over at her. Leaving the midwife to her task, she approached Sadie’s side. “The child is so small and he does not breathe. He may yet, but—”

Sadie nearly came off the bed in her desperation to reach her child. “No! He will live! Let him live!”

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Watch for the complete (and edited) version to come out in August. Thanx for stopping by!

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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

♫♪ Alicia Keys ~ Caged Bird

~Regency Wednesday~ English Dinner Dress 1824

I think it's time for another gorgeous fashion plate, don't you? How about this pretty little number from 1824? I can't even tell you how much I adore this dress. ♥

DINNER DRESS.

  DRESS of emerald green gros de Naples; corsage plain, and bordered at the top with a satin band of the same colour, and a narrow tucker of tulle: the sleeve is very short and full, and composed of crèpe lisse; the fulness regulated by pryamidal bands of gros de Naples, and finished in a double satin band round the arm. A very novel kind of flounce ornaments the bottom of the skirt, which is cut nearly a quarter of a yard up, and a fulness of crèpe lisse introduced, and formed into a regular row of demi-bells, the lower part kept extended by two satin pipings, and the top of each surmounted with a double satin circlet and a triplet of satin leaves appliquée. Fichu of crèpe lisse, edged with satin piping, and trimmed all round with narrow blond, confined at the shoulders with corded leaves, and arranged in front to form a stomacher, the points coming below the ceinture, which is also edged with satin and blond, and unites behind in a leaf rosette with the corner of the fichu. The hair is separated in front, and a pearl comb confines it on each side from the temple; round the back of the head it is arranged in large regular curls. Ear-rings and necklace of rubies. White kid gloves; white satin shoes; India shawl.

*Clipped from Ackermann's Repository, April 1824, p. 242. Get the Google e-book HERE.

♥Happy reading, writing, and blogging!!♥

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

♫♪ Sixx: A.M. ~ Life is Beautiful 

~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