My
favorite romantic getaway is Prescott, Arizona. I love checking into a vintage
hotel like the St. Michael’s or the Hassayampaand sipping a drink at the same
saloon frequented by Wyatt Earp.
Blurb
for Bella’s Band:
Bullets, blades, and incendiary bombs—Major Steven Beauverde, the
latest Earl of Hackwell, belongs in that
world, and is determined to get back to it. His brother’s murder has forced
Steven into a new and completely unwanted role, and worse, he has no idea how
to salvage his family’s depleted estate. A rumor that his brother had a son by
a woman who may be a) the murderer, and b) his brother’s secret wife, sets
Steven on a mission to find her, the boy, and—Steven ardently hopes—the proof
of a marriage that will set him free.
Confirmed spinster Annabelle Harris is a country heiress with a
penchant for taking in orphans and helping the downtrodden. Her philanthropy
hides her desperate search for her disgraced sister, the mistress to the Earl
of Hackwell. When the Earl is murdered, her sister thrusts her child into
Annabelle’s care and disappears. Now, with suspicion pointing at the sister,
Annabelle has begun a new quest, to find the woman, and clear her name.
When their paths converge, the reluctant Earl
and the independent spinster find themselves rethinking their goals, and
battling the real murderer together.
Excerpt
She felt his eyes fixed on her. He drew her
head closer and she could smell his woodsy clean scent, so intensely male. The
carriage passed by a street lamp and into a dark stretch, and she could no
longer discern the outline of his face.
Her heart tingled and her breath came in short
little huffs of anticipated pleasure.
“Annabelle,” he whispered. “What do they call
you? Anna? Belle?”
She tensed remembering her chat with Lady
Rosalyn.
“It is
Belle. How very appropriate.” He kissed her hand.
“Bella,” she whispered. “And not appropriate
at all. How did you learn my name?”
“Bella.” He breathed her name in a
brandy-laced murmur. “The maid at the Harley Street house gave me your last
name. And by the way, she worships you.”
Dear Trish. Annabelle pushed at the seat and
squirmed, with no success. He still held her fast.
“I’ve found that servants know everything and
talk prodigiously.” He dropped a kiss on her nose.
Annabelle bit back a disagreement and stilled.
In a properly run household, gossip was squashed. The poor man had never lived
in a properly run household.
His lips hovered over her and she waited. He’d
kissed her nose. Perhaps he’d been aiming for her mouth and missed. She wanted
one more kiss. She would be safe. In a carriage on a public street, he wouldn’t
attempt to take more.
***
Steven held himself an inch away from her
lips. Her nose had been cold, but heat radiated between them, holding them in a
warm cocoon. She smelled of plain soap and faint lavender. There was nothing
cloying about Miss Harris. He’d breached a line of defense with the use of the
pet name. Bella. She wanted him to
kiss her.
Not yet. Not yet. She was lovely, and
innocent, and perfect. He was known for his quick thinking under duress, and
he’d made up his mind. He would do this honorably. He was not his brother. It
would not be a seduction.
“Bella, you are right that we should dispense
with the dance. You are right that we should speak to the point, and so I will.
I think you and I, we should wed.”
“What?”
She jumped a full inch from the seat before settling back.
Purchase Link:Amazon
Author Bio
Alina K. Field hails from the Midwest, but now lives in sunny Southern
California. She is the author of the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best novella winner Rosalyn’s Ring, and the novel-length
sequel, a 2015 RONE Award finalist, Bella’s
Band. Her most recent release is Liliana’s
Letter, a Regency novella and 2016 National Readers’ Choice Award finalist.
She loves blogging about nerdy historical research and
connecting up with readers on social media.
Author Links
Sounds like a wonderful read. I have a weakness for a Regency romance done well. :)
ReplyDeleteIsn't it a nice period for authors of romance? I'm sure Alina's book is a great story.
DeleteAmazing! Love the blurb and excerpt. All the best, Alina. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you for checking the post and for your support for my guest, Mary!
DeleteThank you Mae and Mary for stopping by and commenting, and thank you Carmen for hosting me! The Regency period is one of my favorites--so many opportunities for conflict and heroism!
ReplyDeleteI totally agree with you regarding the Regency period.
DeleteYou are welcome and whenever you need a place to promo your work, just let me know. best of luck with your work, Alina!
Thank you Mae and Mary for stopping by and commenting, and thank you Carmen for hosting me! The Regency period is one of my favorites--so many opportunities for conflict and heroism!
ReplyDeleteI love vintage hotels, too, as Alina. Breathtaking cover and the story sounds bountiful. Best of luck to the author!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Flossie, for stopping by! It's a lovely cover, indeed and I'm sure the story is the same.
DeleteThank you for stopping by and commenting, Flossie!
ReplyDelete