Welcome to Teaser Tuesday, the tantalising blog series where I share snippets from works-in-progress, up-coming releases and published novels. Unless I invite good writing buddies to fill in for me, as is the case today.
Historical romance author Anna Campbell is a regular on the blog with good reason—she’s lovely, likes a good a natter over a glass of fizz, and writes fabulous romances! If you haven’t picked up any of the books in Anna’s Dashing Widows series you’re missing out. They’re huge fun. But I have to say her newest release Stranded with the Scottish Earl sounds even more fun. There’s something about men in kilts…
Here’s Anna to tell you more about it. Make sure you read to the end. There could be a GIVEAWAY!
Hi Cathryn! Or should I say Och aye the noo, lassie?
Thank you for having me as your guest today. I’m so excited to be back here on your wonderful blog to talk about my latest release which, as you’ve probably guessed, has a Scottish flavour.
Haggis, bagpipes, hunky Highlanders, what’s not to like? Well, maybe the haggis…
Stranded with the Scottish Earl: A Regency Novella is out 30th June (it’s up for pre-order now). As you can tell with a title like that, it’s a complex political thriller. Nah, I’m having you on. It’s a fun romance featuring a Scotsman and a feisty English lassie who, you guessed it, get stranded together in a flood in Hampshire.
When roguish Scotsman Ewan Macrae, Earl of Lyle, turns up on Charlotte Warren’s doorstep in the middle of a flood, he’s the last person she wants to see. Her father has decided Lyle will make her a wonderful husband, but resolutely independent Charlotte is having none of it. Until the weather traps them alone together in the house. Baby, it might be cold outside, but it’s sure heating up indoors!
The teaser takes place just after a passionate first kiss in Lyle’s borrowed bedroom.
“I don’t understand what happened,” Charlotte said dully.
“It’s quite simple.” Lyle pushed up until he sat beside her, leaning against the bedhead. “I wanted to kiss you the moment I saw you.”
Astonishment flared in her caramel eyes. And dangerous pleasure. He fought the urge to draw her back into his arms. He’d managed to stop once. Nothing on God’s green earth would restrain him if he succumbed to temptation a second time.
“But why did I let you?”
“Perhaps because we’re trapped here,” he said, knowing that the attraction went much deeper than mere propinquity.
“It must be more than that.” She studied him with a troubled expression. “I’ve never acted this way before.”
“I generally don’t leap on virtuous young women either,” he responded, stung.
“You seemed to know what you were doing.” It sounded like an accusation.
Lyle knew she picked a quarrel as a distraction. But he refused to oblige. He was experienced enough to know that a loss of temper would lead to a different loss of control. He stared into the fire and answered in a mild tone. “Does that mean you liked it?”
“I don’t have much to compare it to,” she muttered.
Shocked, he turned back to her. Shocked, and disgusted with himself. He’d jumped on her like a starving man snatched at a cheese sandwich. “You make me feel like a beast.” He paused as he pondered just what she’d said. “Much or nothing?”
She frowned at him. “What?”
“You said you didn’t have much to compare my kisses to.”
She blushed. “You have no right to ask that.”
“I had no right to kiss you either. Yet I did.” His gaze sharpened. “Who’s been trifling with your favors? And where do I need to go to kill him?”
She didn’t smile at his absurdity. Nor was he convinced he was joking. “I’ve been kissed before,” she admitted ungraciously. “It was…nice.”
A grunt of laughter escaped as he sagged with relief. “I don’t need to kill him after all. Heaven help your swains if that’s the best they can do.”
Miss Warren regarded him with displeasure. Thank God. He preferred her snap and fire to seeing her crushed with mortification.
“Your kisses weren’t nice.”
“I should hope not.”
“And I do wish you’d put a shirt on,” she said crossly, shifting to the edge of the bed but still—interesting again—without making any move to leave.
Feeling absurdly optimistic for a laddie who had been stopped in his wicked tracks, he rolled to his side of the bed and stood. The temptation of having her near tested what small restraint he retained.
Want a longer excerpt? You’ll find it on Anna’s website.
Stranded with the Scottish Earl is only 99 cents on Amazon.com. Talk about a bargain, so secure your copy today! You can also purchase from Smashwords and Barnes and Noble.
And now for an even more exciting bit. Yes, folks, we have a…
GIVEAWAY!
Anna says: I’ve got a Kindle download of Stranded with the Scottish Earl for someone who comments today. No geographical restrictions.
Do you like Highlander romances? Who’s your favourite Scottish hero?
Good luck in the draw!
And good luck from me too.
Please note: Giveaway closes midnight Friday AEST, 1st July 2016. Open internationally.
Remember, Stranded with the Scottish Earl is only 99 cents on Amazon. That’s a whole lot of kilted romance for less than a dollar, so pre-order your copy now.
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