WeWriWa #28 No Ordinary Lady

Hey people. I’m sharing excerpts for my upcoming release, No Ordinary Lady, as part of the WeWriWa blog hop. I’m almost done with revisions. If you are a regular reader of my work, you might remember the character Scarsdale from previous Distinguished Rogues books. He’s a bit of a scoundrel when it comes to women, however, he might have turned over a new leaf. At the end of Yours Until Dawn he claimed he was going home. However, Scarsdale has never gone directly anywhere in his life. He’s dragging his feet as usual and upsetting his valet. Enjoy!

WeWriWa #28 Excerpt…

“Turn in here,” Daniel Dawkin, Lord Scarsdale, called to his coachman as they reached a familiar crossroad.
“We could still go on,” his valet, Sunday Paul, murmured, looking hopefully toward the long, empty road ahead. “There’s plenty of daylight left.”
“No. We spend the night here,” Daniel said firmly.
“But home is only two hours away,” Sunday argued.
“Your ma will still be there tomorrow,” Daniel promised, patting the fellow’s knee. Daniel’s valet was more friend than servant and he was eager to reach home and his doting mother. Sunday was bouncing in his seat with impatience.
Daniel was less eager, although this journey home had been entirely his idea. “Cheer up. It’s just one more night.”

And a little more of the scene…

“You keep saying that every time we stop. Lady Scarsdale will be none too pleased by these delays of yours,” Sunday warned.
“Well my mother wouldn’t have known I was even coming home if you hadn’t written to warn them to expect us,” Daniel shot back. “I told you I’d take care of the matter of informing them.”
“By writing the night before we arrive?”
“My mother didn’t need weeks to prepare her litany of complaints for my arrival,” Daniel replied, his humor for Sunday’s grumbles evaporating. “I’m sure she has made an even longer list since I saw her last year in London now.”
“It’s been five years since you’ve been home to the estate. Maybe she’ll be happy to see you finally return,” Sunday suggested with a hopeful expression, because he must know that would be impossible for Daniel’s mama.

***

Thanks so much for reading my excerpt. Next week I’ll continue with more of this upcoming release but don’t forget to visit the other authors taking part in WeWriWa, click the image below.

WeWriwa #28


WeWriWa #28
No Ordinary Lady
Distinguished Rogues #20

She’s nothing but a common thief…and her next target is the Earl of Scarsdale’s heart.

Orphaned as a child and left in her uncle’s care, Marian Trill has known only a life of crime. Criss-crossing the countryside, she aids her uncle and his small troupe of thieves in conning well-to-do travelers…until one handsome mark catches her eye. Marian has no business betraying her only family for this gentleman’s safety…just as she has no business following Danny all the way to his country estate to return a valuable ring he left behind.

Daniel, Earl of Scarsdale, is returning home after years of avoiding the inevitable—marrying his neighbor’s daughter. He’d hoped to wed for love, but having failed at that venture, it’s time he took his duties seriously, even if it means settling for a woman more to his mother’s liking than his own. He didn’t count on the beguiling thief he met on the road following him home—nor on his scheming granny inviting her to stay as her companion.

No Ordinary Lady is a steamy regency romance novel.

Learn more here

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Happy 2024

Happy 2024

Welcome to the New Year and Happy 2024! I am ridiculously optimistic about 2024. Should be a wonderful year full of new adventures, happy milestones and lots of conversation. I’ve really kept to myself a bit too much during the pandemic.

There’s lots in store for my readers this year and I want to remind you of the books I’ve written and announced to release this year. The first is No Ordinary Lady, followed by Miss Kimble Bites Back.

March – No Ordinary Lady

Lord Scarsdale is finally ready to do his duty and make a match of boring respectability. Returning home to woo a neighbor’s daughter should pose no great difficulty for a man of his worldly experience. It’s a match long expected by her family and of course his mother will be delighted. But on the way home, Scarsdale encounters a fiery beauty whose passionate advances cannot be turned aside. Indulging in one last fling wasn’t his intention, but his motto has always been never say never. Besides, how much trouble could one more lover possibly cause him?

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My second announced release is Miss Kimble Bites Back. This story is a Distinguished Rogues romance but also part of a year long publishing project – The Wallflowers Revenge.

September – Miss Kimble Bites Back

Gabby Kimble knew just who she wanted at the start of her first season. So why is she spending so much time defending an allegedly wicked duke instead? The closer she gets to Sebastien Spence, the more she finds a complex man…who’s not at all what society would have her believe.

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Work In Progress

I’m taking a short break at the moment, but when I’m back at my desk I’ll be continuing work on the next Scandalous Brides series romance novel.

Again, Happy 2024

Happy Christmas

Happy Christmas!!

It’s Christmas Day in Australia! Yay! Time to make some new memories to carry me through the coming years. I’ll be sharing lunch with my family, visiting my mum later in the day, and most of all…not doing any work. (Wish me luck cause that isn’t easy for me.) It’s been a long year, hasn’t it? But satisfying. We’re still here.*grins* And not going anywhere…not while I’ve got so many ideas for new stories anyway.

During this year, I published a new series – The Scandalous Brides and introduced you to Amity, Stratford and Jasper Sweet…and their true loves. You also met Nash and Algernon Sweet and their stories are coming in 2024. Release dates yet to be decided.

Anyway, enough about books etc. I want to wish you, my readers and author friends, a Happy Christmas and a wonderful holiday to come…full of yummy treats and many joyous moments to remember in the years to come!

All the best!

Heather

Merry Christmas graphice

To learn about my upcoming releases for 2024 please visit my coming soon page

 

Happy ChristmasYou can also follow me on Facebook

Playing Catch Up

It’s been a while since my last post here. I’ve ben super busy writing a new book and then I did my usual collapse after sending it off. A week of rest, not working very much, is always necessary for my brain after an intense writing period. It was nice to see some more of the world, tidy up my office and a few loose ends.

But now I’m thinking again and planning ahead, too. Here’s where I’m at right now:

  • I released a new short story Unforgettable (Naughty and Nice, book 10) in October
  • I finished No Ordinary Lady for edit and have received revisions back. There are a few things to strengthen, a loose end to tie off, but its certain I will be able to complete this new Distinguished Rogue’s romance before Christmas arrives. The book releases in March 2024
  • Miss Kimble Bites Back comes out next September. I haven’t started the edit for it yet, but I will after No Ordinary Lady’s edit is complete, or perhaps I’ll work on it at the same since they are connected characters.
  • I have no certain plan for which book I write next, though. Distinguished Rogues, Scandalous Brides or Saints and Sinners. There’s about four regency bucks clamoring for my attention from each series right now, plus a giant alien dragon shifter dropped by my daydreaming the other day (and that’s so new I don’t know whether to ignore him or not)
  • I was a guest blogger at the Australian Romance Readers Association Blog last week. Quick reminder that I will be attending the 2024 ARRA Book Signing in Sydney next March and hope to see you there. You can find details and links under the Events on this website.

I want to thank everyone who’s purchased directly from me from my new Shopify store (heatherboydbooks.com) in the last few months. It is fantastic to see readers find the best book deal I can offer. There’s been a couple of hiccups and confusion (on my part) but the expansion of www.heather-boyd.com to include a store continues and it’s going as well as I hoped.

This new website will continue to grow beyond what I could every hope offer with my old website. The best prices, bulk buy offers and exclusive content will always be here. Make sure to bookmark my site and join my mailing list.

Well, that’s it from me today. Hope you drop by again so I can save you $$ on your next romance .

Heather

Saturday Puzzle – Wally Time

Saturday Puzzle – Wally Time

How about a little Jigsaw Puzzle of my dog Wally to brighten the start of your weekend…Enjoy!

If the puzzle does not appear, click this link to play instead.

Saturday Puzzle - Wally Time

Desperately Seeking Seduction is Live!

It’s so exciting to see Desperately Seeking Seduction live on retailer sites today! This one feels like its been a long time coming. My 55th book baby is as precious to me as all he others that came before it too. Winston was such a fun character to write and of course Stratford just had to be so difficult for her. The book is done for me but I still like to imagine the adventures this pair will have in the future. The pair will be back to play a small part in later books in the series, too. I hope you enjoy.

Desperately Seeking Seduction is live! eBook cover image

Born female, but living the whole of her life as a male, Dane Winston has stumbled into the employ of Lord Stratford, youngest brother of the Duke of Ravenswood. As his valet, she can barely keep the chatty lord on schedule…nor can she keep his hands off her person, once he discovers her true gender. The only thing more surprising than his attention is how much Winston enjoys it. But their dalliance must be short-lived. As she navigates a house party where certain guests are keen to cause trouble for the duke, she discovers trouble of her own in the form of jealous servants…and someone from her past she hoped never to meet again.

Lord Stratford Sweet has returned home to find his deceased father has left the duchy in dire financial straits. As he scrambles to help his eldest brother, the new duke, hide the extent of their insolvency from a houseful of guests, he certainly needs no further distractions. But he finds one in the form of his new valet, a man who looks too young, too soft…too good in a pair of breeches. When Stratford discovers her secret, keeping Win in his employ could cause a scandal the likes of which the estate can scarcely afford. But the more he learns about Win, and the uncanny connection they share, it may be a scandal he’s willing to endure…forever.

Desperately Seeking Seduction is book 2 in the Scandalous Brides series and is a steamy regency romance novel. It is available in ebook and paperback. Scroll down to find the format and retailer of your choice and an excerpt. Hope you enjoy!


Digital Edition

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APPLE BOOKS US | APPLE BOOKS UK | APPLE BOOKS CA | APPLE BOOKS AU

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SMASHWORDS

Paperback Edition

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BARNES & NOBLE | BOOKS A MILLION | POWELL’S

WATERSTONES (UK)  | BOOKTOPIA (AU)

You can add your review for Desperately Seeking Seduction on the retailer sites above and at Goodreads and on Bookbub.


Begin reading now …

Lord Stratford Sweet smirked. “It’s big, isn’t it?”

His companion turned obediently to look. “I’ve seen bigger.”

“I’d like to know where,” Stratford muttered, and then sat back with a grunt.

“It is impressive,” Mr. Dane Winston offered with an indifferent shrug.

Stratford pursed his lips in annoyance at the faint praise for so grand a view. “Ravensworth Palace is one of the largest homes in all of England. You could get lost in there on the first day.”

“I’ll do my best not to,” Winston murmured, a faint twist of condescension hovering on the fellow’s lips. “But if I do, I will ask for directions, or perhaps a map.”

Stratford had been forced to hire a replacement for his usual valet, Cuthbert, who’d been injured at the first inn they’d stopped at on his journey home. Cuthbert couldn’t have carried out his duties with a broken wing and banged up head from his tumble down the staircase, and Stratford couldn’t function without a valet to clean up after him. That way led to chaos and tardiness his brother the duke would tease him about. Although this fellow was young, Dane Winston had been eager to escape the inn where he’d been slaving away underpaid, for a better position and wages. Even if it was only to be a temporary position.
Winston was hard to figure out and harder to impress.

Stratford had taken him on despite only having the innkeepers word he was a sensible and dedicated worker and would give him no trouble. But as a traveling companion, he left a lot to be desired.

Winston’s indifference to the things that mattered had begun to irk the longer they were trapped inside the slow-moving carriage. Stratford talked a lot, but Winston seemed to prefer their journey be conducted in near silence. It had already been an hour since their last real conversation. Stratford was about ready to toss Winston out to ride on the back of the carriage with the grooms. However, given the man’s small stature, there was an obvious risk he’d lose the valet at any rough spot along the road.
He regarded Winston with a critical eye, yet again wondering if he’d made a mistake plucking him out for the plum role.

Stratford was the younger brother of the new Duke of Ravenswood, after all. But given that Winston had performed all the duties expected of a valet exceptionally well—save for conversation—he had little choice but to keep him until Cuthbert recovered and appeared at Ravenswood Palace. If only Winston had a more outgoing personality, Stratford would be entirely satisfied with his new employee.

He sighed and set his preoccupation for getting a rise out of his new employee aside until later. Coming home would be interesting. It was the first time he’d ever looked forward to it, that he could ever remember.

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