Thank you
very much for having me visit you and your blog to introduce my newest regency
cozy mystery series, Rogues and Rakehells Mystery. The first book in the
series, La Contessa and The Marquis is currently available for preorder with
its release set for Monday, Jan 19, 2015.
As I’m not
sure where you, the readers of this post, live in the world I’ve included all
the Amazon buy link for your convenience.
Blurb-
When Bianca
Maria Ledford Goretti, La Contessa de Massa, flees back to her homeland and the
safety of her godmother, The Duchess of Gorham, little does she realize who’s
arms she lands in.
Lord Rainer
Cross, Marquis of Hathaway, is a well-known and dangerous rakehell within the ton. Little does he suspect his
godmother has set him up to halt his skirt chasing days.
Over time the
reason for Bianca’s return comes to light which has Rainer deeply concerned.
Not sure who he can trust Rainer turns to has several of his more interesting
staff. He has them use their talents to ferret out the truth.
Everything
get more complicated when they learn a friend might not be who he claims to be.
Not sure who to trust, except Rainer and the duchess, Bianca learns several
startling facts which could protect her from harm.
Once
everything is revealed the duchess steps in with a surprise, something neither
could have ever seen coming.
Excerpt-
Rainer
Cross, Marquis of Hathaway, settled his shoulder against a pillar where he’d
ensconced himself so he could overlook the ballroom. A warning glare to several
want to be rakes was all that was needed to send them scurrying back to their
mommas.
With
a renewed resolve, to search down one particular individual, his piercing blue
eyes studied the throng of ladies. Some too old but searching for a lover, even
if for a brief tryst. Others on the hunt for a husband of which he had no
interest, at least with them, as he already had his sights set on one person in
particular.
Granted,
he’d not seen her, except from a distance, but if the reports were to be
believed she was, without a doubt the most beautiful lady, the truest diamond,
to ever grace the ton.
Then,
as if Venus rising from the ocean, she appeared at the top of the grand
ballroom vestibule. He could feel the air rush from his lungs, something he’d
never experienced before, as he fixed his gaze on her.
Seeing
her in the flesh, as it were, he knew all the whispers circulating about had
been true. Without a doubt she was the most beautifully, enchanting and
mysterious woman he ever set his eyes upon.
He
was pleased to see she was conversing animatedly with an elderly, heavily
bejewelled woman. From where he was standing and the angle of the matron,
Rainer wasn’t able to see her face.
“As
long as she’s not my godmother, then I most assuredly will gain an introduction
to the Contessa,” he mumbled to himself.
Due
to the loud voices, so everyone could be heard over the musicians, he didn’t
hear their presentation. His only concern was the woman accompanying the contessa as he already knew her name-
Bianca Maria Ledford Goretti, La Contessa
de Massa. Levering himself off the pillar he started toward them, still
unable to see who her chaperone was when a friend, another fellow rake, stopped
him.
“Rain,
I do hope you’re not going after that delicate morsel, as I’ve it on excellent
authority she’s eaten up and spit out several lords,” Tony, or more precisely
Anthony Fuller, Earl of Wyatt, his friend from their days at Eton then
university, informed him.
“My
dear friend if she does, then I’ll die a happy man for la Contessa is a gem whom I wish to possess.”
“Ah,
and that’s the rub. After she dismisses you she’ll then tread over your heart
leaving nothing but a shell of a man. Trust me on this for I’m sure you’ve
heard the rumour her first husband died mysteriously.”
“Tony,
the only lady I fear is my godmother. If you’ll excuse me I’m going to attempt
an introduction,” Rainer told him. With a pat on Tony’s shoulder he stepped
around his friend and started for the divan where both ladies had settled.
As
he made his way forward he wasn’t surprised to see both women had already
collected a small group of young ladies around them. What he found amusing were
several swains on the outskirts, all trying to be noticed by either lady.
Upon
seeing a frontal assault was out of the question Rainer selected to attack from
the rear. Stepping into an adjourning, but linked, alcove he easily approached
them and came to a halt within feet of his object.
“Damn.
I thought she wasn’t in town,” he mumbled on spying his nemesis, best known as
his godmother, The Duchess of Gorham.
La
Contessa and the Marqis is available at Amazon in the US, UK,
Canada, Australia, Germany, France, Brazil, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain, and India.
Bio-
I’ve been an
avid readers ever since I was old enough to hold a red leather bound first
edition copy of Sir Walter Scott’s The
Lady of the Lake in my lap.
So it only
seemed natural at some point in my life I take up pen and paper to start
writing. Over time my skills slightly improved which I attribute to my English
teachers.
My
breakthrough came about in the mid 1970’s when I read a historical romance
written by Sergeanne Golon, Angelique.
This French husband and wife team opened my eyes to the real world of fiction.
Stories about romance, beautiful damsels, handsome heroes and plots which kept
me hooked. Of course, being a man, I had to keep my reading hidden from others
as that wasn’t appropriate reading for men.
With this newfound
appreciation of the written word I took up other books and devoured them as a
starving person would a plate of food. I then attempted to write again. I still
wasn’t satisfied so I put it aside for years as other events entered my life.
Finally, in
the early years of the new millennium I tried again to write and once again met
with limited success. At least now I was able to get past the first page or
two. Then, in 2006 a life changing event brought me back to my love, I took a
job as a security officer. This allowed me plenty of time to read different genres.
My favourite
was regency. As I pored through everyone I could get my hands on I knew this
could be something I wanted to attempt.
Since 2012
when my debut regency romantic suspense released I was hooked and have, except
for a few contemporaries, focused on this genre.
Since 2012
I’ve lived in central Texas. I’m also a member of Romance Writers of America
and their local chapter.
You can find Lindsay on Facebook at his Author
Page and his Regency
Romance Page, and on
