Liliana’s Letter by @AlinaKField #EggcerptExchange

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Alina K. Field is our #EggcerptExchange author today with an excerpt from her latest Regency romance, Liliana’s Letter, including an interview with her heroine.

Liliana's Letter coverBlurb:

The Matchmaker

Lord Grigsby wants nothing more than to retreat to his study, but a promise to his long-dead sister has forced him back into society to broker the marriage of his nephew to the heiress whose money can save the young man’s earldom. If only the young lady’s starchy hired companion would move out of the way.

The Matchbreaker

Hired to launch an heiress’s society debut, seemingly straitlaced spinster Liliana Ashford’s future as a professional chaperone depends on the girl’s successful marriage. But Liliana had her own close encounter with a scoundrel years ago, and she won’t let her charge be forced into marriage to the same kind of rogue, no matter how hard the man’s widowed uncle tries to woo Liliana around to the match.

Secrets and a Scandalous Murder

A shadow from Liliana’s past appears bearing an unfortunate letter she wrote long ago, and then the earl is murdered, evoking the scandal of the season. While she scrambles to make a respectable match for her charge before her own past can be exposed, Grigsby sets about finding his nephew’s killer—and Liliana’s secrets.

Buy links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1VBXAld
Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/liliana-s-letter
iBooks: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lilianas-letter/id1046400564?mt=11
Nook: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lilianas-letter-alina-k-field/1122799716

Excerpt:

“You clearly don’t approve of the match. Do you intend to openly oppose it?”

Her head whipped around, and she glared. “It’s not for me to approve or disapprove. Katie—Miss Mercer—will decide.”

Passion flashed in her eyes, sending an answering spark through him. She was magnificent, though so very mistaken. “Really? Then her father is more liberal than I expected.”

She looked him over more closely. “What do you know of this matter?”

I might ask you the same question. Her tone had been stiff, like the crystallized dome covering bubbling lava. He fixed her with his sternest glare, not entirely surprised at her cheek.

His glower didn’t impress her. She lifted her shoulders higher. Stood a little taller, proud, lovely, and filled with indignation.

Quite righteous indignation. He gave into an unmanly sigh, truly weary of his responsibility for Thomas. “I know a good deal, Miss Ashford. I have been negotiating for these nuptials. The arrangement is my doing as much as Mr. Mercer’s. Much more than it is my nephew’s. He is probably the least culpable, except for his abominable behavior.”

She clenched her hands tightly. “I see.”

“Thomas’s mother was my older sister. I made a promise to her that I would look after him.” Her gaze softened, and she bit her lip in a way that made him want to taste the part that she was nipping.

And where had that thought come from?

“And your nephew needs money and an heir.”

He nodded. As a woman of the ton, of course she would understand how marriage worked. Marriage wasn’t about love, or the bride’s approval, or a plump lower lip that begged to be kissed.

“He needs money most of all. He has a younger brother in the army who would make a far more dutiful earl.”

He covered his mouth with his hand. The words had rolled out, shocking him. He rarely spoke this frankly with any woman.

Very well, he never spoke this frankly with any woman.

She released a soft breath. “And there is the matter of the ore.”

His mouth gaped and he quickly closed it. Mr. Mercer had shared that information? Well. “That part of the county is rich with newly discovered veins of iron.”

That information brought her up straighter. She looked away, gazing intently at a thick, dark spot of foliage, making him want to pry into that sharp mind.

“I see,” she said. “I believe we should go back in now.”

Not yet. He tucked her hand over his arm but did not move.

Alina’s Interview with Liliana Ashford, heroine of Liliana’s Letter:

I understand that you are employed. How did that come about?

Sadly, I was forced by circumstances to take employment as a companion to a wealthy young woman coming out into society. My job was to help her make a very good marriage.

What schooling did you have?

Like most of the girls of my class, I did not attend school. From time to time I had a governess or tutor, and I found solace, and much education, in books.

What is your birthdate?

Must a lady as old as I am and still unmarried share her date of birth? No, I think not.

What is your worst fear or nightmare?

For the longest time, my worst fear has been to live as a genteel pauper with no family or friends.

What would you do if you won the lottery?

Yes, we do have lotteries, but ladies do not generally participate. Still, if I could dream and find myself with a pot of money, I would establish a charity to help the young girls from the London rookeries into a better life.

Author Bio:

Alina K FieldAward winning author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but she found her true passion in reading and writing romance. Though her roots are in the Midwest, after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California and hasn’t looked back. She shares a midcentury home with her husband and a blue-eyed cat who conned his way in for dinner one day and decided the food was too good to leave.

She is the author of the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner in the novella category, Rosalyn’s Ring, a Regency novella; and the novel-length sequel, a 2015 RONE Award finalist, Bella’s Band, both Soul Mate Publishing releases.

Visit her online at:
Website: http://alinakfield.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlinaKField
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_Field

Meet Bull Rider Ace Harris of Tempered Joy by @psthib #EggcerptExchange

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Meet Bull Rider Ace Harris of Tempered Joy by author Pamela S. Thibodeaux in today’s #EggcerptExchange.

Tempered Joy coverPam’s Interview of Ace Harris:

How did you get your nickname, Ace?
My full name is Adam Craig Harris the Fourth which was shortened to AC then evolved into Ace. No wonder right? LOL!

Tell us about your job.
I am a bull rider and belong to the National Intercollegiate Rodeo Association but I’m going to college to be a veterinarian. My mother was a vet and I want to follow in her footsteps. Besides as heir to a ranch, those skills will always come in handy.

Where were you born?
The Cowboy Capital of the World–Bandera, Texas.

Do you have a favorite pet?
I doubt you’d call bulls pet sbut I think they are one of God’s most noble creatures and it’s a challenge yet an honor when I can master one even if it’s only for eight seconds.

Are you wealthy, poor, or somewhere in between?
As heir to the Rockin’ H, one of the largest cattle ranches in Texas, possibly the country, I’m considered rich but more than money defines my wealth. I am super-rich in family, friends and loved ones.

Tempered Joy blurb:

All around rodeo cowboy and heir to the Rockin’ H Ranch, Ace Harris is determined not to fall in love. He’s only loved one woman in his life, his mother, and no one can even come close to filling her boots.

Lexie Morgan thinks rodeo cowboys have rocks for brains and a death wish for a soul. A broken childhood and the death of her father and best friend leave her doubting and questioning God (despite her years of religious upbringing) and afraid of love.

Can two young people who clash from the onset learn to trust in the healing power of God and find love and happiness amidst tragedy and grief?

Excerpt:

Ace clapped his hands together and blew on his fingertips for warmth. “One more time,” he implored his father. “One more time, then we’ll call it quits.”

Craig nodded. “Okay Ace. That old bull is getting tired, so is this one.”

Ace grinned. “Old my foot, you love it and you know it. Makes you think of your younger days.”

Craig grunted. “My younger days were not spent chasing bulls.”

Ace laughed. “No? Chasing what then?”

“Never you mind,” his father replied with a grin while the ranch hands penned the bull in the chute.

Ace was gearing up for the last rodeo of the year before his final shot at the National High-School Championships. He’d been on top since before his freshman year and determined to stay there. When other boys practiced on mechanical bulls, he used real ones, because nothing compared to the feel of fifteen hundred pounds of muscle and madness beneath him. One could never predict what the bull was going to do. All he could do was prepare for the worst and hang on for all his worth.

Eight seconds was all he needed and eight seconds was his goal. Eight seconds that seemed like an eternity. He picked the biggest and meanest bulls on the ranch. When he stayed on, he picked another one, until he, the bulls, or his father gave out. Then he got up the next morning to repeat the process. High school, then college championships, and after that, the pros. He still hadn’t convinced his mother that he could do it, that he wanted it. Just for a while. He loved her and understood her fears, and often used his whole being to tease her out of them. But professional bull riding was his dream. He knew it would have to be a short dream. His life was ranching. As heir to the Rockin’ H, he understood what was expected of him. He understood the importance of it, and appreciated it. But this was something he wanted to do just for himself.

As a child he’d been the butt of many “shrimp” jokes. Born premature he’d always been smaller than other boys his age. Petted and coddled by his mother and older sister, and overprotected at every turn by his whole family, had not made matters any easier.

Time had given him height. Years of weight training and bull riding added breadth, width, and strength to his lean frame, and gave him a sense of self-respect and equality with his peers. He didn’t think of it as egotism or pride, he loved the sport. He loved the animals. In his opinion bulls were one of God’s most noble creatures and he enjoyed conquering something so majestic even if only for eight seconds.

Purchase Links:

Kindle http://amzn.to/1uto0eH
Amazon Print: http://amzn.to/1xwIx12
Nook http://bit.ly/11zMuVx
B&N Print: http://bit.ly/1vpUpoG
Smashwords http://bit.ly/14KH0bX

Author bio:Pamela S Thibodeaux

Award-winning author, Pamela S. Thibodeaux is the Co-Founder and a lifetime member of Bayou Writers Group in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Multi-published in romantic fiction as well as creative non-fiction, her writing has been tagged as, “Inspirational with an Edge!” ™ and reviewed as “steamier and grittier than the typical Christian novel without decreasing the message.”

Links:

Website address: http://www.pamelathibodeaux.com
Blog: http://pamswildroseblog.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/pamelasthibodeaux
Twitter: http://twitter.com/psthib @psthib
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pamelasthibodea/