Monday, September 29, 2014

Guest Blog: Breaking Ties by Jo Grafford

Breaking Ties
Lost Colony Series
Book One
Jo Grafford


Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Astraea Press
Date of Publication: October 16, 2013
Number of pages: 404
Cover Artist: Mande Matthews

Book Description:

Intelligent and well ahead of her times, ROSE PAYNE'S world is shattered after a secret betrothal to the duke’s son costs her job as a clerk in his father's household. Without a letter of recommendation, she becomes an easy target for recruiters to the Colonies. Desperate for work, she signs up for a risky overseas venture and sails for the New World, vowing never again fall for a wealthy gentleman.

Returning from a diplomatic tour in London, CHIEF MANTEO is bewitched by the elusive, fiery-haired ship clerk and determined to overcome her distrust. He contrives a daring plan to win her heart – a plan he prays will protect her from a chilling conspiracy involving murder, blood money, and a betrayal of their fledgling colony so terrifying it can only be revealed in BREAKING TIES.

Special Note: BREAKING TIES is the never-before-told rest of the story of the Lost Colony.

Trailer

Amazon  | BN  | Smashwords  | Kobo  | Astraea Press  | iTunes 



Excerpt: 
     "You want my help." 'Twas an accusation.
     "Aye."
     His eyes darkened. "I save your life. I give gifts. I offer marriage." He closed the remaining distance between us, his eyes burning into mine.
     I stumbled back. 
     "You give nothing in return," he snarled. "You only ask for more." 
     "I would had I something to offer," I whispered. "But I have nothing. I am nothing." 
     "Then what use are you to me?" He wheeled away.
     I sagged against the door, eyes stinging. I blinked rapidly and pressed a hand to my stomach. Nausea rolled at the thought of informing the others of my failure. 
     Manteo circled the cabin like a hawk stalking its prey. 'Twas a fine room with ornately carved shelves lining one wall. Bunks were built into the next wall. A generous desk jutted from the third, overflowing with maps and navigational devices. I recognized the compass and hourglass but could not identify the other instruments. I jerked in surprise when Manteo swooped down upon me. 
     "I know our location." His arms shot out and slapped the wall on either side of me, hemming me to the door. "I could swim ashore from here." 
     "Then why do ye stay if ye can leave and save yourself?" 
     "Governor White gave his word to deliver me home." 
     "We are going to starve, Manteo. 'Tis only a matter of days now." 
     "Nay. You alone starve. The others eat." 
     "I have no appetite." 
     "You act as one already dead." 
     I straightened my back. "I accept what I cannot change." 
     "And I change what I cannot accept." He shifted his weight to the wall, one arm propped over my head. He drew his fingertips down the side of my face in a feather-light caress. 
     I closed my eyes against the rush of unbearable sweetness. He made me long for things forbidden. "'Tis within your power to help us. I am begging you." 
     "Very well." 
     My eyes flew open. "Ye will do this for us." 
     "For you." His voice was silken, his features as hard as granite. 
     I smiled tremulously. "I thank thee, Manteo. Chief Manteo, that is." The new title felt strange on my lips. I beheld him with a mixture of awe and pride. 
     "I have yet to name my price." 
     I stared, confused. 
     He grunted in disgust. "You refuse me as both husband and lover, so you are left with the hiring of my services." 
     I worried my lower lip between my teeth. At least he was willing to negotiate. His eyes flashed with lust as he followed my movements. 
     "I will entreat the Dares for payment." 
     "Nay. You are the one in my debt." 
     I raised and dropped my hands helplessly. 
     "You serve this company, no? You can serve my people, too." 
     "Ye would hire me as clerk?" Hope leaped in my chest at the possibilities. I would not have to part from him so soon. 
     "My people have no clerks." His eyes narrowed. "We have slaves." 
     My breath hitched. "Ye wish to punish me, humiliate me?" 
     "Nay, I only wish to marry you." 
     I briefly closed my eyes against the pain. He already knew the reason for my refusal. 
     "Rose." 
     "Say no more. I will do it. 'Twill be punishment enough to see you so often and—“ I clamped my lips. 
     Exultation flickered briefly across his face. "You would give up your freedom to save your friends?" 
     "Without question." 
     "Swear it," he said grimly. 
     "I swear it." 
     His eyes flared with emotion. He bent slowly 'til his breath stirred my lips. My eyelids fluttered closed. Heaven help me, for I had no will left to resist him. 
     "Now you will eat," Manteo commanded hoarsely. He stepped back, surveying me from head to feet. 
     "Eat?" 
     "I have no slaves so thin and weak. Go. Collect your rations." He turned from me and bent to pore over a map on the table. 
     I reached for the door handle, disbelieving at the curt dismissal. 
     "And send for Anthony. I have need of him." 

     I glared at his back. Faith, should I press my face to the floor as well? "Aye, master." I bit the words out and fled.


Trail of Crosses
Lost Colony Series
Book Two
Jo Grafford



Genre: historical romance
Publisher: Astraea Press
Date of publication: September 9, 2014
Number of pages: 392
Cover Artist: Mande Matthews

Book Description:

Jane Mannering can shoot a rifle and handle a knife as well as any Englishman. However, she is no match for the red-painted warriors who ambush her section of a Colonial caravan the moment she and her comrades reach the shores of Virginia.

Jane plots their escape during a forced march inland, leaving a trail of maltese crosses carved on the trees – their pre-agreed upon signal of distress. All the while, she fumes over what interest their captors could possibly have in a twenty-three-year-old spinster and a rugged band of brick masons, sawyers, and farmers.
When the ruthless Chief Wanchese intercepts them at the crossroads of the Great Trading Path, Jane is shaken to discover their greatest enemy plans to keep her for himself. It’s a pity he’s the only man on two continents who’s ever stirred her heart. Alas, she has an entire colony to save, and capturing his attentions is not part of their escape plan.

Special Note: The Lost Colony Series is the never-before-told rest of the story of the Lost Colony on Roanoke Island.


Amazon |  BN  | Smashwords  | iTunes  | Kobo


Excerpt:

PREFACE
July 26, 1587 - Roanoke Island
If it had not been for the barking of the dogs and chattering of the lads who scampered at my side, I might have heard the shot - the low vibration of the string as the thin, wooden shaft released, the faint whistle of the arrow as it sliced an invisible yet deadly path through the air, the scattering of wildlife as the forest itself braced before the world's most fearsome predator. Instead, I merely felt the gentle lifting of my late father's top hat as the arrowhead sank into the aged leather and pinned it to the heart of the oak behind me.
The men assigned to guard me fired their muskets wildly into the perimeter of trees. My ears rang with their gunfire and frenzied oaths. Then the slow burn of anger took over.
I pivoted to yank the arrow, top hat and all, from the trunk. Separating the two, I jammed the damaged hat back on my head and tapped the lone arrow against my gloved hand. The miss was deliberate, meant as a taunt. Had the shadowy creature intended to kill me, I would already be dead.
I glared over my shoulder as the gunfire ceased. He remained out there, I was certain. Watching. This was a reminder that he is the hunter. I am the hunted.

MRP would like to extend a very warm welcome to our Guest Blogger Jo Grafford, author of the Lost Colony Series.

Five Super Cool Little-Known Facts About the Lost Colony Series

Romance readers: Welcome to the Lost Colony book tour! I’m excited to share some insider secrets about the Lost Colony historical romance series. Here goes:

1.      LOST COLONY BABIES: The two babies born in book one REALLY WERE born to the Lost Colonists shortly after they landed on Roanoke Island in 1587. The first was the famous Virginia Dare, child of Eleanor and Ananias Dare (daughter and son-in-law to Governor John White). The second is simply listed as Baby Harvye. Back in those times, babies were not always named right away. Ladies, can you imagine boarding a ship to travel for seven weeks while pregnant? Keep in mind, this was no modern day cruise ship. The entire boat probably wasn’t more than 100 feet long!
2.      LOST COLONY TEENAGERS: Two of the teenage boys on the Lost Colony trans-Atlantic journey – Tom Smart and Will Wythers – were not accompanied by adult family members. However, their last names match the surnames of two soldiers who sailed to Roanoke on the previous venture a year earlier. I think there is a good chance they were sailing to the New World to be reunited with their fathers. Awesome, huh? What do you think?
3.      LOST COLONY EX-CONS: James Hynde and William Clement – two key secondary characters in TRAIL OF CROSSES – were ex-convicts. They were arrested and imprisoned for stealing back in London. Were they framed? They were Separatists from the Church of England as were most of the Lost Colonists, which put them on Archbishop’s most wanted list for interrogation. Interesting how they were released from the tower in time to board ship whereas the lead pastor of the Lost Colonists was not allowed to sail. Instead, he died in prison.
4.      LOST COLONY DOG: There really was a big mastiff listed as making this long journey. I couldn’t find a name for him in any of the sailing journals or manifests, so I named him Valentine.
5.      LOST COLONY LOVERS: I kept all the couples listed on the ship manifest as couples in my Lost Colony Series, but I added a few as well. With six single ladies on the ship, I simply couldn’t resist. I’m a romance writer, after all. So…we may never know for sure if Rose truly swooned over Manteo, or Jane over Wanchese, or Agnes over Lord Anthony Cage, or Emme Merrimoth over Mark Bennett, and Margo Lawrence over Lord Christopher Cooper…but you know they probably did. Right?

Before you leave, don’t forget to enter my Lost Colony drawing for a chance to win a limited edition Lost Colony t-shirt, a signed paperback copy of BREAKING TIES (book one in the Lost Colony Series), a signed Lost Colony bookmark, and two packs of six free eBooks. Happy reading and best wishes on winning! –Jo

Thank you so much for joining us today, Jo. We really enjoyed the visit. Good luck and great sales with The Lost Colony Series! 


About the Author:

Jo is a mega reader of all genres and loves to indulge in marathon showings of Big Bang Theory, NCIS, and Castle. Her favorite books are rich in Colonial and Elizabethan history, romance, strong women, alpha males, Native Americans, and creatures from the paranormal - an occasional dragon, vampire, or time traveler.

From St. Louis, Missouri, Jo moves a lot with her soldier husband. She has lived in the Midwest, the deep South, and now resides in Bavaria. Jo holds an M.B.A. and has served as a banker, college finance instructor, and high school business teacher. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, From the Heart Romance Writers RWA Chapter, and the Writers Group of  Ansbach/Katterbach/Illesheim.


Author Links:
Website | FB | Twitter | Goodreads | Google+ | Blog | Amazon Author Page | Pinterest


Tour Giveaway:
2 dropcard gift cards with six free eBooks on each card (including Breaking Ties)
1 grand prize – a reader’s tote bag with a Lost Colony t-shirt, signed paperback of Breaking Ties, and signed bookmark
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Book Spotlight: Hollownton Homicide by Gretchen S. B.

Hollownton Homicide
Anthony Hollownton
Book 1
Gretchen S. B.


Genre: Urban Fantasy / Mystery
Number of pages: 258
Cover Artist: Talina Perkins



Book Description:
Homicide detective Anthony Hollownton thought he had seen it all until he and his partner, Rick Nelson, are called to a murder scene unlike any Tony has come across. There are no witnesses and none of the neighbors heard a thing.

Once Tony starts to investigate the facts of the case become stranger and stranger.
As the body count rises Tony is drawn into a world he did not know existed.
Starting with a visit from a dead woman from his past.
He must decide whether the paranormal truly exists or if these killing are some kind of delusional gang war.

Excerpt:

Anthony swung up in bed. What had woken him? Had his alarm gone off? There was a ringing noise. He turned to his left and made a grab for the phone next to his bed.
“Anthony Hollownton.”
That was as polite as they were getting for the middle of the night. If they had a problem with that they could deal with it. He looked at his alarm clock, five am. That meant barely more than two hours of sleep. Why would someone call him at five am?
There was a pause on the other end.
“Hello.” He repeated. He felt himself freeze.
He could hear talking on the other end. He silently pleaded that it wasn’t the same woman from earlier. He was just frustrated enough to trace the call and chew her out. He heard a male voice come on to the other end and Anthony exhaled, forcing his muscles to relax one by one. He had to get sleep; he was jumping to ridiculous conclusions.
“Hey Tony, sorry to call so early man, but I gotta ask you a question.” It was his partner. The tone in the man’s voice sounded serious but genuinely upset about saying whatever it was he was about to say.
Tony felt himself tense again, what if something was wrong with Amanda or the baby?     “What is it Rick?” Tony tried to sound neutral.
When he heard his partner sigh he relaxed again feeling more tired than before.
“Look man, I don’t believe it but Amanda asked me to so I’m doing it.”
Tony screamed in his head. He wanted to get back to sleep. “Get to the point Nelson. I want to go back to bed.”
The use of the last name was usually reserved for when they were working. It showed Rick he meant business and told him to get to the point.
“As you know the land line is on Amanda’s side of the bed and she has picked up three phone calls since we went to bed she says it was a woman who laughs and hangs up. After the third time Amanda called *69 and the number is yours, your land line anyway. I wasn't sure at first since you don't really use it. But when I double checked in my cell, the numbers matched. I told her it was crazy, since you never have women over. I told her that outside of her and other cops you don’t even know any women, no offence, but she’s making me call anyway to make sure.”
Tony’s jaw dropped. Now he was wide-awake. He must have been silent too long because his partner’s voice came on with a worried tone.
“Hey Tony, you still there?”
Tony flicked on his bedroom light and scanned the room, empty. “Yeah man, I’m here, just shocked. I don’t have anyone here and I’ve been asleep. You know it could be some prank caller who knows how to reroute numbers or something.”
Tony debated telling his partner about the call at work but quickly dismissed it. With a wife and a four-month-old daughter Rick had enough on his plate.
“Yeah, I figured as much. I was just calling to make sure. Sorry for waking you up man. I hope you can get back to sleep.” 
Tony nodded. So did he. “Yeah, good night Rick.”
He heard his partner say something to his wife. “Good night Tony, See you tomorrow, I mean today.”
As he hung up the phone Tony looked about his room. There was nothing out of the ordinary. Against the wall at the foot of his bed was his 42' TV. To the left of the bed was the closet, which was still open from when he put away his work clothes, no one was in there. To the right of the TV was the door out into the rest of the apartment, still closed. Everything on the nightstand was still where he left it. Turning, he looked at the window above the bed, still locked. He turned back reaching into the top drawer of his nightstand and pulled out his gun and got out of bed. If there was anyone in his apartment he was going to find them.

About the Author:


Gretchen happily lives in Seattle, Washington where she spends her time creating new characters and situations to put them in. She also enjoys cheering on her local sports teams, even though it sometimes seems they are allergic to winning (Except the Super Bowl!).

She graduated from Central Washington University with a BA in History and a BA in Philosophy. She loves that Washington provides a large range of activities, from Shakespeare in the park to rodeos. At the end of her adventures she unwinds by curling up on the couch, knitting while catching up TV shows via Netflix.


Author Links:
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads


Giveaway:
2 ebook copies Hollownton Homicide by Gretchen S. B.via Smashwords coupon

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Book Spotlight: Declaration by Rayna Noire

Declaration
Pagan Eyes
Book Three
Rayna Noire


Genre: YA Paranormal
Publisher: Sleeping Dragon Press
Date of Publication: August 2014
Number of pages: 241
Cover Artist: Dawne Dominique

Book Description:

Ethan finds himself trapped between the world he knows and the world that could be. A sadistic bully, an unsympathetic principal, and an unreachable love interest make high school difficult for Ethan. He feels like he’s living a lie, trying to blend in at school in an effort to keep his head attached to his body.

The support his Wiccan family provides is negated by fear of not being the son his father wants. An impromptu trip into the future saves him from an enraged bully while instilling doubts about where he really belongs. Somehow, he has to find a way to survive in his own world tossing aside his mask and doubts.

 Trailer

Amazon


About the Author:

Rayna Noire is an author and a historian. The desire to uncover the truth behind the original fear of witches led her to the surprising discovery that people believed in magick in some form up to 150 years ago. A world that believed the impossible could happen and often did must have been amazing. With this in mind, Ms. Noire taps into this dimension, shapes it into stories about Pagan families who really aren't that different from most people. They do go on the occasional time travel adventures and magick happens.

Author Links:
Website Twitter  | Facebook | Amazon Author Page 


Tour giveaway:
$50 Amazon Card
1 Pagan Eyes Series set (Three signed paperbacks of books 1-3)
1 Declaration Paperback
2 ecopies

Monday, September 15, 2014

Author Interview: The English Brothers by Katy Regnery

Breaking Up with Barrett
The English Brothers
Book 1
Katy Regnery


Genre: Short contemporary romance
Date of Publication: 7/21/14
Number of pages: 171
Cover Artist: Kim Killion, Hot Damn Designs

Book Description:

Breaking Up with Barrett is the first of five books about the Philadelphia-based, wildly-handsome English brothers who are all on the look-out for love.

(Except Alex. He's a womanizing manwhore. And maybe Stratton, because he's wicked hot, but super awkward around girls.)

Barrett English, aka "the Shark," is the fair-haired, first-born of the English brothers, and the CEO of the oldest, most prestigious investment banking firm in Philadelphia. He rules the boardroom with an iron fist, refusing to take no for an answer and always getting his way.

Emily Edwards, a first-year doctoral student at the University of Pennsylvania, grew up in the gatehouse on the outskirts of Barrett's childhood estate. The daughter of his family's gardener and housekeeper, she was always looking through the window of privilege, but forced to remember her place at the very periphery of the kingdom.

When business partners suggest that a fiancee might soften Barrett's image over business dinners, he approaches Emily for the "job" of fiancee. And while love wasn't necessarily on Barrett's radar, he begins to realize that Emily always has been. But will his take-no-prisoners boardroom tactics work on the heart of the woman he loves?

Amazon US | Amazon UK | iBooks | Smashwords 


Excerpt:
Barrett English.
Emily’s heart kicked into a gallop as she looked down at the caller ID on her buzzing phone. Trying to steady her suddenly shallow breathing, she closed her eyes for a brief second before pushing back from the coffee shop table where the rest of her study group continued to discuss early-American industrialization.
“Be right back,” she whispered to her roommate, Valeria, and ducked out the backdoor of the café into an empty alley.
“Hello?”
“Mr. English for Miss Edwards?”
“Okay.”
A moment later his smooth, polished baritone voice came on the line. “Good afternoon, Emily. Thank you for picking up.”
“I was at study group,” she said, leaning against a brick wall and cringing at the way she made it sound like his call wasn’t welcome.
“I’m sorry to interrupt you.”
“N-no. It’s fine,” she answered quickly, wiping her sweaty hands on her jeans as she sandwiched the phone between her shoulder and ear. Damn it, she wished she could be cooler, but her mind always went blank the moment she heard the low rumble of his voice.
 “I’ll be brief,” he said. “Tomorrow night. The Union League Club. Seven o’clock.”
Emily sighed. She had plans tomorrow night with a sensitive, easy-going, doctoral psych student named Chad who’d asked her out more than once. She’d repeatedly turned him down, but Val had insisted that after four months spent at Barrett English’s beck and call, Emily needed to go out with someone with whom she actually had a chance.
“Emily?” he prompted.
“How late?”
“Three hours minimum. Possibly four.”
Pushing her hand through her straight blonde hair, she knew it would be smart to decline Barrett’s request and go out with psych cutie as planned. The arrangement she had with Barrett—while beneficial to her bank account—wasn’t doing her social life any favors. Nor her heart, which didn’t seem to comprehend that Barrett only called her because she was his employee. Still, she couldn’t bring herself to say no to him.
“Engagement ring?” she asked.
“Per usual.”
“The Chanel or the Givenchy?”
“As you wish.”
“Hair band or chignon?”
“You always look presentable, Emily. I leave the details to you. Smith will pick you up at six forty-five. Are we done?”
“Yes,” she answered and the line immediately went dead.
“Goodbye,” Emily said wistfully in the quiet of the alley, disappointment making her grimace. She fisted the phone in her hand until the case pinched her skin and shook her from her trance. “See you tomorrow! You’re welcome! By the way, I love you, you jerk!”
Her yell caused a flurry of commotion overhead as a flock of pigeons departed in a hurry for safer, quieter lodgings, one of them pausing just long enough to crap on Emily’s shoulder with a big, fat plop.
Fantastic. The perfect metaphor for my life.
She stared at the goopy greyish-white spot in surrender before taking a deep, restorative breath, tucking her phone into her jeans and heading back inside to clean her shirt and rejoin her study group.
An hour later, she trudged home beside Valeria, who started scolding her as soon as Emily shared her last-minute plans for tomorrow night.
“So you’ll have to reschedule with Chad? Geez, Em, I don’t understand why you keep saying yes to Barrett!” said Valeria, turning up her collar. “Why not just say no?”
“He has a way about him.” Emily sighed. “I always consider saying no, but I somehow end up saying yes.”
Though they’d never been close or intimate, Emily had known Barrett her entire life—well, not really known him, because they were from very different parts of Haverford Park, but he’d been a peripheral part of her life since birth. The economic nature of the call she’d just shared with him was textbook Barrett: businesslike, methodical and goal-oriented. Emily somehow knew he wasn’t trying to offend her—he was merely taking care of their mutual business as efficiently as possible. It just hurt that he employed efficiency over warmth since it verified what she had suspected for months: Barrett had little to no personal interest in Emily, despite her growing feelings for him.
Valeria continued in the no-nonsense tone she used when student teaching. “Here’s a solution: say no next time. ‘No, Barrett, I refuse to play the part of fake fiancée for you. Take a hike.’ Three words, Em—TAKE. A. HIKE.” Valeria held up three fingers one by one, then tucked them back into the pocket of her pea coat. “Darn, it’s cold.”
“It’s October in Philadelphia.” Emily pointed out.
“Don’t change the subject.”
“Okay, Val. I’ll say no next time. Here goes. ‘No thanks, Barrett. You don’t make me do anything disgusting. You barely say a word to me. I get to dress up in gorgeous clothes I could never afford, have an expensive glass of wine, and enjoy a scrumptious dinner with people who go out of their way to be polite to me. And yes, I’m flat broke and so is my roommate, but no thanks, I don’t want your one-hundred an hour to play your fake fiancée. Keep it.’ How does that sound?”
“Not so smart.”

“I rest my case,” said Emily, though the case was far from closed in her heart and mind, which feuded in a tightly locked conundrum. Lately, her heart murmured that she should walk away from Barrett before her feelings for him grew any stronger, while her head insisted she couldn’t possibly turn her back on the income he offered. 



Falling for Fitz
The English Brothers
Book 2
Katy Regnery


Genre: Short contemporary romance
Date of Publication: 7/27/14
Number of pages: 165
Cover Artist: Kim Killion, Hot Damn Designs

Book Description:

Falling for Fitz is the second of five books about the Philadelphia-based, wildly-handsome English brothers who are absolutely not on the look-out for love.

(Except Barrett, who fell in love when he was eight-years-old. And Fitz, who met the girl of his dreams at nineteen. And maybe even Weston, who just doesn't know it yet.)

Fitz English and Daisy Edwards fell in love during one magical summer when they were teenagers. When something tragic happens at the end of the summer, Daisy tells Fitz she never wants to see him again. Despite his feelings for her, he respects her wishes and for almost a decade Fitz and Daisy go their separate ways.

Nine years later, when Daisy moves home to Philadelphia, they meet again, and both are shocked to discover that the feelings they had that summer are just as deep and real today. There's a little snag, however. It seems that Daisy is engaged to someone else, and she's come home to get married.

Can Fitz get Daisy to fall for him all over again before it's too late? Only if Daisy can learn to trust the man who shattered her heart once upon a time.


Amazon  | Amazon UK | Smashwords  | iBooks | Kobo


Excerpt:
Fitzpatrick English walked into the ballroom at the Hotel DuPont in Wilmington, Delaware, stood in the doorway and sighed. Unlike Barrett, Alex, and Weston, three of his four brothers, who all enjoyed a night out with the best of Main Line society, Fitz wasn’t a huge fan of these sorts of gatherings. All things equal, he’d just as soon be at home watching college football in sweats and drinking a cold beer, but Barrett had insisted he attend.
 “Hello, second-born.”
An arm was suddenly laced through his, and he looked down to find his mother, Eleanora Watters English, beaming at him.
“Evening, Mom.”
“It’s lovely you showed up. I know these things aren’t your favorite.”
Fitz sighed. “Barrett has a way…”
“Barrett had always had a way. However, I will say that the last two months have been void of his usual intensity over business, swapped for his intensity over Emily Edwards. It’s been a refreshing change to see him madly in love with something other than a deal.”
As Eleanora led them through the crowd toward the table Barrett had purchased for them at the Twenty-Third Annual Kindred Hospital Harvest Ball Fundraiser, Fitz caught sight of his older brother. Barrett always looked like James Bond in a tux, to the manor born, while Fitz always felt a bit like an imposter. He knew all the rules of polite society, of course, but it all felt a little stale after so many years of compliance. He longed for something to shake him up as Emily Edwards had shaken up Barrett. Looking ahead, he caught sight of his older brother who had his arm wrapped around Emily’s waist, talking to another couple who had their backs to Fitz. Occasionally Barrett would look down and smile at Emily, and Fitz almost blushed at the intensity in his brother’s gaze. Fitz could barely remember feeling that way about someone. It had only been for such a short time, so long ago, sometimes it felt more like a dream than a brief, caustically significant, part of his life.
“Usual cast of characters tonight?”
“Not exactly. The English have been invaded… by the Edwards,” she said, forced humor thick in her manicured voice. “Emily invited her parents to join us.”
Fitz looked over the heads of a few guests to see Susannah and Felix Edwards sitting at the table. Emily’s father Felix, the head gardener of the family estate, was in an animated conversation with Fitz’s father, Tom, while Emily’s mother, Susannah, spoke tête-à-tête with Weston, who was probably untangling some crisis of the heart with their beloved housekeeper.
“I assume nine and ten are Alex and whomever he brought with him tonight?”
“No, dearest.” Eleanora stopped them a few feet from the table, and turned to look at Fitz, her eyes careful, but searching. “I did say an invasion by the Edwards. Felix and Susannah are practically family these days. They wouldn’t exactly constitute an invasion.”
Fitz stared at his mother’s face, not understanding her meaning. “But there are no other Edwards… Felix, Susannah, and Emily, that’s all—”
Suddenly he jerked his head around to look at the couple Barrett and Emily were talking to. From behind, the woman had long, straight blond hair, just like Emily’s, that ended in the center of her bare back. He narrowed his eyes, squinting, as he made out the light brown birthmark that looked like a heart, right in the center of her lower back, right over the midnight blue silk that covered her perfect ass. He had a sudden, blinding flashback to staring at that birthmark over tiny, bright yellow bikini bottoms, and his heart kicked into a gallop.
“Daisy Edwards,” he murmured, exhaling the contents of his lungs.
As though she heard him or sensed him, Daisy turned her neck, catching sight of him as her chin rested on her shoulder. His heart slammed behind his ribs as she blinked in surprise, and her eyes widened. Their eyes stayed locked on each other, spellbound and greedy, until Emily said something to Daisy, and she turned back quickly to face her cousin. The ten or twelve feet apart from her was suddenly unbearable and as though Fitz was made of iron and she was a magnet, he felt pulled to her in an uncompromising way, compelled to move closer to the force of nature that was Daisy Edwards.
His mother’s arm, still linked with his, stopped him.
“It was a million years ago, Fitz.”
It didn’t feel like a million years ago. Nine years slipped away and suddenly it felt like yesterday.
“It was for the best,” insisted Eleanora.
It didn’t feel like it had been for the best. Not at the time and not now and not every time he thought of her between then and now.
“I thought she was in Oregon,” he said tightly.
“She was. She’s moved back east. Her mother’s passed and her father’s all she has left.”
“She’s moved to Philly? Did you know?”
“No,” replied his mother. “I didn’t even know she was coming tonight. Emily invited her at the last minute when Stratton refused to come.”
His breath caught as Daisy gathered her hair in her hands and twirled it once, then settled it over one shoulder, baring her neck to him. The graceful line made his mouth water, made his fingers twitch, made a hundred buried memories fight for his attention.
“Listen to me, Fitz,” said his mother, leaning closer to his ear. “There’s something else you need to know.”
Fitz tore his eyes from Daisy and looked at his mother, commanded by the seriousness of her tone. “You may not have noticed, but she isn’t alone.”
He whipped his head around and for the first time he noticed that the man standing beside her was holding her hand, with his fingers laced possessively through Daisy’s. His mother’s voice was close to his ear and delivered the words he somehow knew were coming, though it didn’t lessen the impact of the blow.

“She’s come home for another reason, dearest. Daisy’s getting married.”



Anyone but Alex
The English Brothers
Book 3
Katy Regnery


Genre: Short contemporary romance
Date of Publication: TBD
Number of pages: 210
Cover Artist: Kim Killion, Hot Damn Designs

Book Description:
Anyone but Alex is the third of five books about the Philadelphia-based, wildly-handsome English brothers who are all on the look-out for love.

(Sort of. Barrett and Fitz are officially off the market, Alex has sampled every piece of available ass from Rittenhouse Square to the Liberty Bell, Stratton can’t see to see what’s right in front of him, and don't even get me started on the youngest English brother, Weston...)

Alex English, the well-known man whore of the country club set, has always preferred to play the field, eschewing a chance with Miss Right for a satisfying quickie with Miss Right-Now. But after seeing his two older brothers take the plunge, something has been aching inside of Alex, and no amount of casual sex is filling the void in his heart.

Jessica Winslow, whose older brothers are best friends with the English brothers, has returned home from a fifteen-year stay in England, only to find herself face-to-face with her childhood crush, Alex English, on her first night home. She’s heard all the rumors, but Jessie remembers the older boy who was so kind to her as a child, and can’t help reaching out to Alex in friendship.

Between disapproving brothers, scheming exes, and the biggest business deal of English & Sons’ illustrious history, Alex and Jessie’s budding romance is going to be put to the test. The question is…will it be strong enough to be their happily-ever-after?

Excerpt:

Alex pressed the elevator call button, then turned to look at the opulent lobby as he waited.
Gold-gilded mirrors made the space look even larger and grander as objects multiplied into eternity. Objects like an ornate lamp sconce, a silk brocaded loveseat, or the delectable curve of a woman’s bare back in a black satin evening gown. Delighted by such an appealing distraction, Alex turned around slowly, his eyes sweeping past the sconce and loveseat to the woman on the far side of the room. She was tall and thin, and the very simple, sleek lines of her dress showed every curve: of her waist, her hips, her tight, round ass. The low V of the draped back cut-out stopped at the base of her spine, and he followed the line back up to her neck, which was swan-like: long and elegant. Her jet-black hair, the same color as the dress, was long enough to be worn over one shoulder, the thick, shiny strands waving uniformly, void of any decoration.
From behind, she was a goddess, and as the elevator rang to announce its arrival, Alex ignored it, staring at the back of the stunning creature who held a black coat over one arm, looking out the plate glass window onto the rain-soaked sidewalk, as though waiting for someone to find her.
“Alex? Alex English?”
Alex whipped his head to the voice coming out of the elevator and was surprised to see his good friend, Cameron Winslow, step toward him wearing a tux and a cheerful smile.
“Hell, I thought that was you!”
“Cam. Good to see you.” Alex cleared his throat, darting a quick look at the woman by the window, who hadn’t turned around, before looking back at his old friend. “What are you doing here?”
Cam reached out his hand and took Alex’s in a hearty shake. “Didn’t you know? I moved here. I bought a condo upstairs.”
“I had no idea.”
Cam grinned, nodding. “Closer to work. Closer to fun, eh, Professor?”
“It’s a great neighborhood,” said Alex, holding back a cringe at his college nickname. “I’m just around the corner.”
“The old make-out pad, eh?”
“You know me,” said Alex, by rote, knowing the words were expected.
“Yes, I do, and I thank God I wasn’t born a woman.”
“Not that I’d bang your ugly mug if you were.”
“I don’t know how you do it.”
Lately, I don’t. Not like I used to.
He forced a well-known Alex English smirk. “I love the ladies, Cam. Have to keep them happy.”
Cam chuckled. “Hey, did you get my message about squash the Thursday after next?”
“After Thanksgiving? No. Are we still on?”
“As long as you’re up for an ass-whipping. Chris wants to play too, so I suggested doubles. Can you get Fitz or Stratton on board?”
“I’ll work on it.”
“Great.” Cam looked around the lobby for a moment, then, after catching sight of the girl in black by the window, returned his glance to Alex. The change in his face was unmistakable, shifting from congenial to wary on a dime. “Well, I guess I better be going.”
Alex raised an eyebrow flicking his chin toward the goddess. “Is she with you?”
Cam’s eyes narrowed just a touch. “In a manner of speaking.”
“What manner might that be?”
“It’s not like that,” said Cam sharply, and Alex heard the warning in his friend’s voice. Cam’s lips tightened to a straight line as he looked at the girl and then back at Alex. “You don’t recognize her?”
Alex shrugged. “Should I?”
“No,” grunted Cam, looking increasingly annoyed. “It doesn’t matter. Hands off. She’s not for you.”
“Protective, aren’t we, Winslow? Why not let the lady decide?”
“No, Alex. Not this lady,” said Cam in warning, which surprised Alex, because if she was Cam’s girlfriend, Cam should have just said that, but he hadn’t.
“What makes this one so special?” asked Alex.
Cam’s eyes were icy as he stared at Alex, never dropping his friend’s eyes as he called, “Jessica!” in the girl’s direction.
Alex looked away from Cam to watch the goddess turn around slowly. If Alex had been rendered almost speechless by the perfection of her back, the wind was knocked out of him as he caught sight of her face.
Her black hair curled down over her shoulder in soft waves, but she pushed it back as she stepped toward Cameron. Her skin was so light and flawless that her bowed, red-painted lips drew his eyes like a beacon, and when she smiled, his heart stopped beating for just a second, as if stunned or disbelieving. He raised his gaze to her eyes and found himself captivated by a green so clear and impossible, it made her eyes sparkle like emeralds behind long, dark lashes. She gazed with warmth at Cameron Winslow, the lucky bastard, as she moved gracefully across the marble floor. Out of respect for his friend’s claim on her, Alex was careful not to drop his eyes hungrily to her body, but peripherally, he could see her breasts, high and full, pushed against the thick satin of her dress. The deep V-plunge in the neckline meant the valley between her breasts was on full, luscious display, and his fingers twitched with longing by his sides, the word touch, touch, touch circling around his head like a magic spell.
His mouth watered as she came closer, bringing with her the scent of tea rose. She cocked her head to the side and her eyes widened in recognition as she looked at Alex. Something pinged in his memory, but his mind was at sixes and sevens, blown away by her beauty, unable to process that yes, she did look a little familiar to him.
Stopping next to Cameron, she grinned back at Alex merrily.
“Jessica,” said Cam tightly, “I don’t know if you’ll remember--”
“Alex English,” she said in a lightly accented voice. “Of course.”
No doubt noting the blank expression on his face, she laughed softly. “But I am fairly certain he doesn’t remember me.”
“I … I’m so sorry I don’t--”
Alex’s brain had ceased working the moment she’d turned around, but he was suddenly struck again by the brilliance of her eyes, and flicking a quick glance to Cameron, he realized the color was almost the same. Oh, my God. She’s—You’re—
“By George, I think he’s got it!”
“Jessica,” murmured Alex. “Jessie? Jessie Winslow?”
“The very same,” she answered, chuckling again.
“The last time I saw you, you were seven-years-old…”
“Nine.”
Fourteen years ago.
Without thinking, he dropped his eyes from her face to the creamy skin of her neck, following the graceful line of her throat to her breasts, still lower, down to her waist—
“Alex,” warned Cam with genuine menace, making Alex’s neck snap back up. “If you don’t stop checking out my little sister, God help me, it’ll be the last thing you ever do.”


MRP would like to extend a very warm welcome to Katy Regnery, author of The English Brothers series. Katy, to begin, if you were to be left alone on an island, what three books would you take with you?
I think it’s all about giving yourself as many stories as possible, so…
Welcome to the Monkey House, Kurt Vonnegut
One Writing, Stephen King
The Bible

What are your most and least favorite movie genres?
My favorite movie genre, hands down, is period pieces based on 18th and 19th century chick-lit fiction…film adaptations of books by Jane Austen, Emily Bronte, Charlotte Bronte, Elizabeth Gaskell, Edith Wharton, etc. A runner-up would be dystopian movies with strong love stories like “Warm Bodies,” “Divergent,” or “The Hunger Games.” I loved all of those movies, too.

If you could choose any man for your next book cover, who would he be?
My last English Brothers novel is entitled Wild about Weston, and physically, I describe Weston as an Alex Pettyfer look alike, so…

When you are on a deadline, what aspect of your ‘regular’ life suffers most?
Housework. My house gets cluttered, laundry is piled high to the ceiling, and the fridge is empty. It all gets fixed tout suite once the deadline is met, though!

When reading for pleasure, do you prefer a physical or electronic book?
I LOVE my Kindle. I have only read one paper book since 2013, and that’s because my Kindle was charging and I found a paperback in the vacation house we were renting.

From the first stroke of a pen (or laptop), how long did it take you get published?
I started writing my debut novel, By Proxy, in September 2012. It was contracted in March 2013 and released in September 2013…so, exactly a year. But since then, I have published an additional eleven novels and novellas.

Did you ever feel like calling it quits?
Hmm. I don’t think so. I know I got frustrated many times during my debut year, but I never considered quitting. Once I commit, I really, really commit. J

Thank you so much for joining us today, Katy. We really enjoyed the visit. Good luck and great sales with your series.

About the Author:
Katy Regnery, Amazon bestselling author, has always loved telling a good story and credits her mother with making funny, heartwarming tales come alive throughout her childhood. A lifelong devotee of all romance writing, from Edwardian to present-day, it was just a matter of time before Katy tried her hand at writing a love story of her own.

As it turned out, one love story turned into a series of six Heart of Montana romances, following the love lives of the Yellowstone-based Lindstrom siblings. When Katy’s fans asked her to turn up the heat, she wrote the New Adult/Adult Contemporary hybrid romance, Playing for Love at Deep Haven, which offered steamier romance to her readers. Katy is also proud to offer The Vixen and the Vet, a standalone romance that benefitted Operation Mend, an organization that helps heal the returning wounded of our armed services. The English Brothers is Katy’s second series and first indie series.

Katy lives in the relative wilds of northern Fairfield County, Connecticut, where her writing room looks out at the woods, and her husband, two young children, and two dogs create just enough cheerful chaos to remind her that the very best love stories of all are the messy and unexpected ones.


Author Links:
Website | Twitter | Facebook | Goodreads | AmazonAuthor


Tour giveaway:
10 copies of Breaking Up with Barrett.