It’s all about the hero

It’s just two short weeks until the release of Miss Merton’s Last Hope and I thought it was time to shine a light on my hero Walter George. Walter has been a constant presence in the Miss Mayhem series. Brother to Imogen (of Miss George’s Second Chance) and a best friend to all the men. The ladies trust him but don’t gush over him. And he’s not been altogether happy with one particular neighbour of late.

Miss Merton's Last Hope Digital book cover

Valentine rubbed his hands together briskly. “All I need next is to see my sister happily married.”
Walter nodded, as he was expected to do when the subject of marrying sisters off came up in conversation. His own sister had married a neighbor and friend so he had plenty of experience in this field.
He considered the lady under discussion. She was lovely in her own way, tall, perfect complexion, a beauty, but she wasn’t the least bit approachable. “A tricky proposition, in your case. How many proposals has she turned down?”
“Oh, eleven, I think it is.”
Walter grunted, surprised by the number. He’d only heard of a handful of local beaus who had been turned down. “That many?”
“Be a friend and don’t spread that about. I’m still hoping for one more who might be acceptable before we get to unlucky number thirteen.”
Walter shook his head, unable to fathom why Miss Melanie Merton was so damn particular about choosing a husband. He was acquainted with a few of her former suitors and they were all quite decent sorts and intelligent enough to please even her father. None had possessed a great fortune or a title. “Maybe number twelve will suit.”

Hint: Number 12 suitor has NO chance! LOL

To find out what happens next you’ll need to order your copy of the book.

Amazon – http://amzn.to/1IOjQrk
Apple – http://bit.ly/MMLHiBooks
Kobo – http://bit.ly/MMLHKobo
Nook – http://bit.ly/MMLHNook

Blurb and Cover for Reason to Wed

It’s time to reveal the blurb and cover for Reason to Wed, the next Distinguished Rogues story.

Richard Hill, the Earl of Windermere, might desperately require a wife and heir, but thoughts of duty fly from his mind when he rescues Esme, Lady Heathcote, from the embarrassment of a failed affair. They usually never agree about anything. He’s never even kissed the vexing widow. But when the opportunity arises to whisk her away for a no-strings-attached rendezvous, Richard can’t imagine a better way to spend a moonlit evening.

Esme has never lacked for admirers, but having Lord Windermere’s company goes a long way to ease the pain of losing her suddenly betrothed lover. And when Windermere suggests an affair, Esme is intrigued by the blazing-hot connection even while knowing their relationship has no future beyond his house party.

But as with any temptation, it’s a bargain they’ll soon regret.

And the cover for Reason to Wed…

Cover for Reason to Wed

 

Reason to Wed is listed for preorder at Amazon, iBooks, Kobo and Barnes and Noble now. Other vendors and the print edition coming shortly. You can find more information on the book page.

Reason to Wed releases December 8, 2015.

Are you ready to meet Miss Merton?

It’s three weeks now till everyone gets to meet Miss Merton and the reviews for the advance reader copies have been fabulous so far. Thanks to Heather, Deb, Sissy and Crystal for sharing your thoughts of the ARC copy of the book on Goodreads. You’re the best! 😀

Cover Art

Meet Miss Merton's Last Hope - Digital book cover

Melanie was first imagined more than three years ago and at that time I did not have an clear vision for her. I only had my imagination. When it came time to do the cover I scoured stock art sites looking for just the right features. Dark hair, pale skin (she shuns sunlight). Appropriate clothing for her was a must. Stock photo sites have a lot of images but what they wear is not always regency era appropriate. I got very lucky when I visited NovelExpression.com and found my model (pictured left). She is Melanie and as an added bonus, my preferred model for Walter is lurking in the background of this shot. Add the right setting and voila! The cover for Miss Merton’s Last Hope is born. 😀

~ Meet Miss Merton ~

Melanie Merton hated her life. She hated the clothes she wore. The house she lived in that was no longer hers to manage. The smiles she had to bestow upon her brother’s friends while overlooking their scowls. Even without the responsibilities she’d always enjoyed, and the hours on her own, she never had a moment’s peace. She just wanted a quiet morning, and that never seemed to happen lately unless she confined herself to her bedchamber.
Today, she was entertaining Mr. Linus Radley until his sister, Julia, her new sister-in-law, came down that morning. The forms of proper behavior that had been drilled into her head since she was a young girl made it impossible for her to say what was really on her mind, even when she wanted to. She was too polite to ask Mr. Radley to go away until a more reasonable hour of the day, and had ordered tea and cake to fill the endless minutes until Julia relieved her of this duty.
“It looks to be a lovely day for a stroll,” Mr. Radley said suddenly. “Might I entice you to venture out with me to look upon the sea? With your maid, of course.”
Melanie sighed with what she hoped sounded like regret and not irritation. She would not go out walking with Linus Radley, with or without a suitable chaperone. She had seen enough of him in the past weeks not to want anything more to do with him than she absolutely had to. He was a bully. “Unfortunately, I am otherwise engaged today.”
“Oh?”
Dear God, the man wants particulars.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Miss Merton. More to come next week. 😀

Coming soon: Miss Merton’s Last Hope

Not long now till Miss Merton hits book shelves and ereaders. I’m so excited about this book which wraps up the Miss Mayhem Series at long last. I couldn’t be prouder of my heroine.

Miss Merton: First impressions can be so very misleading.

I had written the Melanie Merton character from book one of the Miss Mayhem series. She was an adversary, a woman everyone paid attention to but perhaps not always for the right reasons. I wanted her not to be liked from the outset and I’m pretty sure I achieved that with the first two books in the series.

Redeeming Melanie after all I’d made her say and do to others during the first two books however was a huge and thorny challenge for me to unravel. And fun. When book 2 in the series ended she was to be sent away by her brother Valentine. Her return during Miss Radley’s Third Dare cleared the air a bit but never truly explained her behavior. Melanie had secrets and no one to share them with. After all I’d made her do who could like such a woman? Who could forget the way she’d made people feel about themselves and about her? She had flaws that would take an observant man to see through. Enter Walter George, the man who’d been waiting in the wings since book 1.

Miss Merton's Last Hope Digital book cover
Miss Merton’s Last Hope
Book Four

Over the years, Melanie Merton has used every trick and ruse to repel overeager gentlemen callers without ever revealing the real reason she won’t say yes to an offer of marriage. When neighbor Walter George jumps to her defense against slurs cast by suitor number twelve, he also pries into her past—uncovering the circumstances around a tragic loss in her childhood and her aversion to being touched by anyone. But even protective Walter must be kept at a distance for his own good, because despite a growing attraction between them, Melanie must deny him too.

Unlike other men his age in Brighton, Walter George hadn’t considered Melanie Merton for a wife because he was convinced he’d never have a chance to impress his haughty neighbor. But that was before he understood her better, before he uncovered why she kept friends and suitors alike at bay. The right husband could restore the woman he sees into some semblance of the fun-loving child of his memory, but would Walter stand a chance or become just another unlucky suitor?

Pre-order now in digital and print format

Amazon | Apple | Kobo | Nook

RSS
Follow by Email
Instagram
Pinterest
Pinterest
fb-share-icon
Copy link