Please welcome another talented author friend of mine, Samantha Holt. She writes wonderful historical romances that will captivate you from the very beginning. Her new release, When A Rogue Loves A Woman, debuts next week. Enjoy this preview and be sure and enter the Rafflecopter give-a-way at the end of this post.
When a Rogue Loves a Woman
Rogues of
Redmere book 2
Notorious
rogue, Lord Nathaniel Kingsley always tended to leap without thinking. Becoming
a smuggler, adopting a sheep, getting engaged to Miss Patience Grey….
Patience
has no need for a fiancé, or a husband. For once in her life, she wants to
prove she’s just as good as a man and she does not need Nathaniel Kingsley
getting in her way. With her brother injured, it is up to her to continue her
family’s work…and that means tracking down a French spy and ensuring said spy
will turn.
Unfortunately,
no one believes she can do it alone. Which is where Nathaniel comes in.
Nate
is happy to be of service. Why pass up the opportunity to repay an old friend,
especially with a little intrigue along the way? Find the spy, play escort to
Patience, return home to continue smuggling. Easy.
Or
at least it would be if the stubborn Patience would let him do his job. The
breeches-wearing woman is determined to do it all alone and, he has to admit,
there’s something quite distracting about a woman in men’s clothes.
Can
he keep his attention from her long enough to complete their mission and
persuade Patience to let him do his job and protect her? A job he’s beginning
to find he’s enjoying a lot more than he thought he would…
Available
from Amazon and all other vendors for 99c for release week.
Excerpt
“There
would have been many a heartbroken lass had you really been engaged,” Drake
said. His grin grew wicked. “I was looking forward to offering my comfort and
condolences.”
Nate
shook his head and ignored his friend’s jest. Instead he turned his attention
to the ale in his hand. It would be his last for a while. He’d need a clear
head for what was to come, especially if he was to keep that minx under
control. If her own mother could not make her wear a dress, what chance did he
have?
Either
way, he was looking forward to the challenge. Smuggling was all well and good but
they had only gone out once in the past month and all had been quiet. No
excitement to be had. He was rather looking forward to the chance to indulge in
some espionage and adventure.
Of
course, Jacob Grey was aware of their illicit activities. Being a government
agent had meant they had helped him before. He was one of the few residents of
Penshallow who quite understood who was behind all the smuggling that took
place in their small fishing village. Most thought Knight the face of it—the
big, brooding, scarred hulk of a man opposite who spoke only when absolutely
necessary.
At
present, Knight’s attention was on something near the bar. Nate flicked a
glance over but could see nothing of interest. Only the usual overly drunk
patrons gathered while Louisa, the innkeeper, worked her hardest to keep up
with demand.
Other
patrons littered the room, gathered around small tables. Some had cards in
their hands while all had drinks. The Ship Inn was not the most savory of
places but it was out of the way and the food was good. Not to mention Louisa
was uncannily good at ensuring the customs men never came near the place. She
had saved their skin many times and they repaid her help generously, ensuring
she had a good supply of excellent French wine.
“You
were a damned fool, signing up for this,” Nate’s brother said, thrusting a
finger at him.
“What
was I to do? You were off enjoying yourself with Hannah. Far too much it
seems.” His brother’s gaze darkened and Nate immediately ceased any idea of
talking of Red’s fiancée. Hannah was currently installed in lodgings in the
village while they awaited the license for their marriage and to finalize all
the details. His brother was, unbelievably, utterly in the love with the woman.
It was not such much the woman he had fallen for that surprised Nate but that
his brother had the ability to fall so heavily for her. Red had always been too
busy to think of love or even marriage.
Drake
leaned in. The captain fixed Red with a slight smile on his lips. “Face it,
Red. While you were distracted by petticoats, Nate held down the fort. I don’t
blame him for offering to help, after all, are we not in this to help the
crown?”
“Since
when are you so noble?” Red demanded.
“Since
I have a pocket full of coin,” Drake said smugly. “Things have been going
uncommonly well of late. I don’t see why Nate cannot help Jacob Grey and be
back in time for our next outing.”
“Uncommonly
well?” Nate’s brother lifted a brow. “After Knight’s illness and the storm that
near tore your ship in half, you were complaining of curses. Now you think
things are going uncommonly well?”
Knight
glowered. The giant of a man sat with his arms folded, a great scowl etched
upon his face that in some lights looked as though it could be made of granite.
Were it not for being friends with him, Nate would give him a wide berth. The
man looked like trouble and, potentially, he was. No one really knew anything
about him apart from the fact he was useful muscle and a damned hard worker.
Though Nate suspected there was something more under that silent exterior. What
that was, however, he was not sure.
“It
was not an illness,” Knight protested.
Drake
laughed. “You vomited on my boots, Knight. What would you call it?”
Knight
fell back into silent mode and glowered some more.
About
the Author
Samantha
is a full-time author who lives in England with her twins girls and a dachshund
called Duke. When not writing, she loves to explore stately homes and castles
around the country.
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