Known as The Marble Duke amongst the Ton, Garret Weston, the Duke of
Kendal sets himself apart from his peers. Nothing will hinder his guilt-driven
attempt to become a perfect duke. Nothing that is, save the alluring and
imaginative betrothed he’d thought dead. His intended
believes-of all things-that she is a Vicar’s daughter. The “perfect” duke needs a
“perfect” duchess, but how was he to discern her suitability? Employing her as a
governess to his niece seemed like an ideal solution. But whose “suitability” is
being tested? His betrothed refuses to see he is beyond redemption. And most
grievous of all, she stirs his blood, making him forget what’s
important.
Cara believes fairy
tales really can come true, until she meets the unrelenting and arrogant Duke of
Kendal. He looks like a Prince, but acts like a Beast. Why must he challenge her
at every turn? Her greatest peril is her attraction to the vulnerable, seductive
man behind the title. A match between them would be impossible. But can she show
him, without losing her heart, that “perfect” is in the eye of the beholder?
********* EXCERPT *********
Garret’s voice stopped
Cara before she reached the door. “What of the cut on my
chest?”
She turned back,
fighting to sound normal. “It didn’t look that bad.”
He picked up the
cloth, soaped it, then stalked toward her. Everything about him belied fluid
grace as he handed her the fabric, a challenge in his gaze.
With as much
indifference as she could muster, she dabbed at the cut on his
chest.
“Harder,” he breathed,
his dark velvet voice sending shivers down her spine. “You’ll not hurt
me.”
She cleansed the cut,
admiring the feel of the hard muscle beneath the cloth. Her fingertips extended
beyond the material to caress his moisture-slicked skin. She stepped closer,
until his chest was the only thing in her vision.
The rag dropped
between them. Of their own volition her fingers spread, pressing her hands flat
against the hard contours of his body. She began an exploration, noting the fine
dusting of curling golden hair that tickled her palms as she moved them
upward.
The smell of the
ointment clung to him, but it couldn’t block his alluring scent, a mixture of
brandy, wood, and spiciness. She inhaled deeply, savoring the heady combination
as she ran one fingertip around his nipple, marveling at the pebbling on the
outside edge.
Part of her brain
acknowledged she shouldn’t be doing this, but she couldn’t seem to
stop.
“Once Upon a Time” are four of Dawn’s favorite words. Her love
of story became a love of romance when she read Georgette
Heyer’s, Devil’s Cub. It inspired her to write stories with strong characters
that discover love is never easy, but always worthwhile. Dawn’s written several
award-winning novels set in Georgian England – an era filled with rules and
intrigue. Her characters often defy “Society” as they pursue love, run away,
pursue, run away – well, you get the idea.
Then again, she might
write romance in order to do the research. What other profession encourages you
to sit in the audience at Harlequin’s Male Model search, and take notes, or just
sigh?
Dawn lives in a Victorian home in Upstate New York with her
husband and very independent cats. When she’s not writing, she’s singing,
gardening, learning to play the harp or wood carving. If you’d like to learn
more about Dawn and her novels, go to her website at www.dawn-ireland.com
******** GIVEAWAY ********
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chosen commenter will receive a $20 Amazon gift card.
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6 comments:
Thank you for hosting today.
Sounds like a good read.
Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com
Hi,
Thank you for hosting me today! Ingeborg, I'm glad you liked the snippet and I hope you enjoy Garret and Cara's story.
Dawn
Thanks for the chance to win. I love these blog hops since I meet so many new-to-me authors.
kareninnc at gmail dot com
Great excerpt. Another new author to put on the TBR Pile.
divavixenqueen(at)gmail(dot)comi
Book sounds interesting
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
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