NEW RELEASE: A RAMSHACKLE START
Tessa Abbott had never known contentment until she came to stay with her distant cousins, the Coopers. But it’s the eve of a wedding, and nothing will ever be the same again. When the bride and groom finally leave, Mrs. Cooper will be taking a holiday, and Tessa will be sent away from the only place she’s ever wanted to be…at home with the man of her dreams.
When Robin Cooper took in Tessa Abbott, he found a kindred, though wary, spirit he soon wished to spend the rest of his life with. But finding opportunities to declare his interest has been impossible with his family demanding almost all of Tessa’s attention. So he’s made a plan for after the wedding. She’s the plan. She just doesn’t know it yet.
* * *
This is a standalone regency romance short romp.
Grab your copy today!
Amazon | Apple Books | Barnes and Noble | Kobo | Google
Add to Goodreads | Add to BookBub
Read an excerpt from A Ramshackle Start…
Tessa wasn’t sure whether to laugh or cry. Anna was married, and such a beautiful bride indeed. Anna’s new husband, William Leven, couldn’t stop grinning, too, which made it clear to all that their affection was equally felt.
“Freddie is one lucky devil,” Mr. George Leven murmured, nodding his head toward the happy couple. As he handed Tessa the glass of punch she’d asked for, his fingers brushed hers, then paused to caress the back of her hand.
Tessa quickly took a step back.
“Possibly,” Robin said as he joined them, standing very close to her side. “Let’s see what he has to say about marriage after living with my sister for a week, shall we?”
Tessa longed to laugh at Robin’s remark. It might ease the sadness building inside her.
Mrs. Cooper had been positively gloating earlier to their neighbors about her impending trip to the sea, heartlessly ignoring how her bright future meant the end of Tessa’s peace. In just a few hours, the life that Tessa loved would be over. There would be no more breakfast trays sent to her room, no more quiet rainy afternoons in Robin’s company. She’d be on her own with old Mrs. Cooper.
“It is a pity there is no music today,” George complained, but then grinned at Anna warmly. “We could have shown everyone how well we dance together.”
“Dancing will have to wait for another occasion,” Robin told him, sounding cross.
As George took hold of her hand, she felt Robin’s touch at her back. Caught in the middle of the two very different men, Anna could barely breathe.
George Leven was loud and brash, competitive over everything. If his brother William bought a new coat, George would have a new one, too, before the end of the week. Once William’s marriage to Anna had been announced, George had begun dropping hints about wanting a wife himself. Unfortunately, he seemed to have singled out Tessa for that role.
“I have to say, I look forward to dancing with Tessa many times in the future,” George promised with a flirtatious twinkle in his eye.
Tessa eased back into Robin’s embrace a little more, alarmed that George would act so familiar without any encouragement on her part. She had never given him permission to use her given name. Only Robin had her permission for that. Tessa had never encouraged George Leven’s attention, but he continued to pursue her just the same.
Robin’s hand left her back, and he stepped around her. “Mr. Leven, perhaps we should have a private word now.”
Happy Reading!
