Historical Romance: Allied Hearts by D. Taylor + excerpt

Allied Hearts
by D. Taylor
02/11/2025
Genre: Historical Romance
ASIN: B0DWQTVJD6
Number of pages: 388
Word Count: 131000
In the heart of 1870s Texas, one defiant love stands against all odds—two souls bound by devotion, forging an unbreakable union of allied hearts.

Leah Johnson has spent her life standing beside Adam Davenport, the one constant in a world that rarely made space for her. As his closest friend, she has always buried her love for him deep, knowing there was no future for them—not in a town where their kind of love could never be. But when Emma McClain, a wealthy widow with charm and undeniable beauty, begins to carve a place in Adam's life, Leah struggles to ignore the jealousy clawing at her heart. The lines of their friendship blur, and for the first time, she wonders if walking away would hurt less than watching him choose someone else.

Adam Davenport has always relied on Leah—her presence steady, her loyalty unquestioned. She's been his fiercest defender, his sharpest adversary, and the one person who has ever truly known him. But when David Laurent, an ambitious, well-respected man, sets his sights on making Leah his wife, Adam is forced to confront a truth he's long refused to face. The idea of losing her twists something deep inside him, yet even if he did claim her, the dangers that follow would be insurmountable.

In a town where a man's reputation is everything and a woman like Leah is never meant to belong at his side, Adam and Leah find themselves entangled in a love that threatens to ruin them both. With tensions rising, old enemies stirring, and the Sheriff and his right-hand man, Casey Braddock, eager to see them fall, they must decide—fight for a future no one will grant them, or let the world tear them apart before they ever truly have a chance.

Amazon

Excerpt:
By the time they reached the stables, the rain had turned into a deluge, soaking them to the bone. Adam swung the door shut behind them, breathless, the wet strands of his hair plastered to his forehead. Water streamed from his clothes, his shirt clinging tightly to his chest and arms.
Leah leaned against the wall, trying to catch her breath, her laughter breaking through the steady drum of rain on the roof. “You’d think between the two of us, we’d know when a storm’s coming by now.” she teased, her voice light despite the tension still thrumming between them.
Adam didn’t respond at first. His hands moved to his soaked shirt, and in one fluid motion, he pulled it over his head, tossing it across a beam to dry. Leah’s laughter faltered, her breath catching as she took in the sight of him—bronzed skin glistening from the rain, every line of his muscled chest and arms a testament to years of hard, honest labor. She could see the curve of his collarbone, the way his skin stretched over the strong lines of his shoulders and felt her pulse race.
Leah couldn’t tear her eyes away, her breath catching in her throat as she tried to focus on wringing out her dress. But the sight of him, standing there with the storm raging outside, felt like more than she could bear. There was something unspoken between them now, something that had lingered far too long in the shadows.
“We look a sight,” she said, trying to inject a note of humor, but her heart was racing, not from the run, but from the nearness of him.
His green eyes fell on her form, tracing every line and curve. The way her dress clung to her, molded against her shape, made his pulse quicken, a fire sparking low in his belly. Every inch of her felt like a temptation—her damp curls framing her face, her skin flushed from the run, her eyes bright with the thrill of the storm. The air was thick, charged with everything he’d held back for so long, every glance he’d forced himself to look away from, every touch he’d denied.
He took a deep, shuddering breath, his jaw clenching as he tore his gaze away. The war between what he wanted and what he believed was right had never felt so brutal.
Leah looked up then, catching him staring, her lips parting slightly, her gaze softening as she held his. The vulnerability in her eyes made his heart clench, and he felt his resolve waver. The space between them felt charged, heavy with all the things he could never say aloud. The heat of her gaze, the gentle slope of her shoulders, the way her body moved as she wrung the water from her hair—all of it burned into him, branding him with a need he could scarcely contain.

About the Author:
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D. Taylor is an author fueled by a dream to share her stories with the world, capturing the essence of human experience through her narratives. With a love for travel, she aspires to visit each state and as many countries as possible, drawing inspiration from the diverse cultures and landscapes she encounters. At home in Northern California, D. Taylor cherishes her role as a devoted mother and wife, finding joy in the daily adventures with her family. Her passions for cooking and reading not only nourish her body and mind but also infuse her writing with authenticity and depth. As she revises her previous work and crafts new stories, D. Taylor continues to embrace the journey of storytelling, aiming to connect with readers around the globe.

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In 1879 Texas, Leah and Adam battle jealousies, rivalries, and a hidden longing that defies society's rules. Their #FriendsToLovers journey is a #SlowBurn #BWWM #WesternRomance brimming with forbidden passion. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DWQTVJD6
#BWInterracial #ForbiddenDesire #LoveHasNoColor
#HistoricalRomance #RomanceReaders #InterracialRomance
#BlackWomenWhiteMen #FriendsToLovers #MulticulturalRomance #StrongHeroine #MulticulturalLove #LoveSeesNoBoundaries
#RomanceWriters #BWfiction #WritersOfColor #DiverseLoveStories
#RomanceBooks #InterracialCouple #DiverseRomance
#SlowBurnRomance #SlowBurnLove #FriendsToLoversTrope

Excerpt: Fanning Fireflies (Limerent Series Book Three) by LS Delorme

Fanning Fireflies (Limerent Series Book Three)
by LS Delorme
April 19, 2024
Genre: Romantic Historical Paranormal Mystery
Publisher: Limerent Publishing
ISBN:979-8-9874880-4-1
ASIN: B0CYCQ6XCF
Number of pages: 230
Word Count: 97000
Cover Artist: Brittany Wilson
In 1944 Harrisville, Veronica’s dangerous love ignites a flame that reveals dark secrets, awakens ghosts and threatens to destroy all she loves.

There is something rotten in Harrisville.

It’s 1944 and Veronica works tirelessly just so she can afford to eat. Maybe one day she will save enough to own the home her family is living in, but for now, she doesn’t have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn’t have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can’t stop staring at her. She definitely doesn’t have time to think about Lazlo, the handsome black soldier that she processed at the draft office, but she can’t seem to stop herself. As her ability to ignore Lazlo evaporates, so does her self-imposed ignorance about her hometown. There is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn’t have been a surprise. After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco with the roaches.

It’s 1944 and Veronica works tirelessly just so she can afford to eat. She doesn’t have time for fanciful thoughts, or much else. She doesn’t have time for the fire whispering to her, the ghosts trying to talk to her and the son of her boss, who can’t stop staring at her. She definitely doesn’t have time for love, even less for dangerous love. You see there is, and always has been, something rotten in Harrisville. It shouldn’t have been a surprise.

After all, Veronica works in the cigarette factory, where corpses hide in the tobacco.

Amazon

Excerpt:
Veronica froze.

Lazlo began walking the very same path she had walked minutes earlier, although he looked much more graceful than she must have looked. His gate was long and easy. His eyes were down, staring at the track as he walked. Veronica sat as still as she could, terrified that he might see her, equally terrified that he wouldn’t.
As he came to the spot where she was sitting, he didn’t look up. He walked right past her, as if he hadn’t seen her. Veronica felt a stab in her heart. Before she could stop herself, she called out.

“Aren’t you Lazlo Fox?”

He turned quickly.

“That’s me,” he said, and a grin lit up his face.

Now that he was here, Veronica realized that she hadn’t planned what she would say if she saw him. For a second, she considered saying that the draft office needed more information about him, but she realized that was both stupid and an obvious lie.

“I have an extra biscuit, if you’re hungry,” was what she managed to squeak out.”

She had hoped to be able to speak with him for a just a moment. She knew that it would be dangerous for him to even be seen with her, but as he walked toward her, she held the biscuit out for him. She knew that he would have to climb up to her to get it, and despite the danger, this is what she wanted.

Instead of scrambling up the broken concrete, as she had done, he gracefully jumped from one to the next, balancing on the ball of one foot as he landed on each one. In less than a minute he was standing on the rock next to her. She expected him to take the biscuit and leave, but she wanted him to stay… how badly she wanted him to stay.

Lazlo smiled and took the proffered biscuit bag gently from her, but his eyes were on her face, not on the bag. For a moment, he paused, and then he sat down next to her. He wasn’t so close that she might accidentally touch him but his feet dangling over the edge of the rock next to hers felt weirdly intimate. He opened the bag and pulled out the biscuit. Veronica looked down at her biscuit and took a tiny bite, pretending to be engrossed in eating but her heart was racing so hard, she almost choked on the bread.

“Lazlo, that’s an unusual name, is it a family name or something?” she asked.

Lazlo turned and smiled at her. She was suddenly afraid that she had said something wrong or stupid, although she couldn’t for the life of her think what it was.

Lazlo’s eyes suddenly got wide.

“Well, my mama named me that cause she’s a witch,” he said quickly, and then winced and shook his head.

“That sounded awful,” he said quickly. “I’m not talking bad about my mama. She’s actually a witch, so she thinks like attracts like. And if she gives me a rich-sounding name that will draw money to me.”

Lazlo then laughed and shook his head.
“I can’t believe I just told you that,” he said. “I never told anyone that before. Probably because—”

Then he stopped.

Veronica’s heart felt like it had grown to take up the whole of her chest. She was frightened of what Lazlo would see if she looked at him, so she took another bite of her biscuit. When she did look up, he was looking at her with eyes that were hopeful and wary in equal measure.

“It sounds like your mother really cares about you,” was what she finally said. And that was all.

Looking at Lazlo’s guarded yet hopeful eyes, Veronica desperately wanted to tell him that none of this stuff mattered. She wanted to say that they could be friends, or even more. Inside, her crazy heart said that they could just run away together. She longed to say this out loud, but she knew it wasn’t true. Neither of them could outrun their class or caste. Lazlo was a colored man.

She was the poor white daughter of a single mother. If he was an untouchable, she was barely one step above that. Her brain told her that, even if her heart argued otherwise”

About the Author:
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Lexy is the Author of the Limerent novel universe. The first two books in this universe were Caio and Bright Midnights. They are two of the three foundation books of the Limerent Series, and as such can be read in any order.

Bright Midnights was picked as an Editor’s Choice by Booklife and received a Golden Wizard award in the UK in the category of YA.

Lexy has also been a travel writer and author of The Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Hong Kong and An Expat Mom’s Unofficial Guide to Disneyland Paris. She is an ex rock musician, ex science grad, recovering attorney and now an expat writer. Her love of writing stems from an eclectic life. As a navy brat, she grew up in various states across the U.S. until her father retired to North Carolina when she was a teenager.

As an adult, she has continued this tumbleweed life, having since lived in 3 countries, 9 US States, and 21 cities around the world. But, through all this change, her love of writing has been the one constant. Writing the Limerent Series allows her to use her unusual past to help create new worlds.

Lexy now lives in Paris with her husband and two very cool sons.

“Writing fiction gives you a place where you can put all the attractions that you probably shouldn’t feel, all the thoughts you are afraid of saying out loud, and all the rage that you can’t vent because you would kill people. While we live, these moments stay with us, but when we die, they die too. When you put pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, you put these things out there in the world where they can be read by others. This means that they have a life outside of you and outside of your own head, and that’s something that is really compelling to me. I like the idea that these amazing moments that I’ve had in life don’t disappear when I disappear.” - LS Delorme

“For me, writing is like therapy…just cheaper. As most writers are not really individuals but a collection of individuals trying to find a way to live together in one brain, fiction allows them to make a home for all these people who live rent free inside their heads. It’s also place that you can capture unique moments in life that impact you or that make you feel deeply.” - LS Delorme

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In 1944 Harrisville, Veronica’s dangerous love ignites a flame that reveals dark secrets, awakens ghosts and threatens to destroy all she loves.
Fanning Fireflies by LS Delorme
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Historical Romance Author Rachel L. Demeter: 7 Tips to Beat Writer’s Block + giveaway

7 Tips to Beat Writer’s Block
By Rachel L. Demeter 

 

With Red Kingdom’s recent release, I’ve found myself overwhelmed and stumbling into that scary domain of writer’s block.

Storytelling is a magical art, where words have the power to transport readers to distant lands, evoke deep emotions, and ignite the fires of imagination. But even the most seasoned writers sometimes find themselves in need of a spark to ignite their creative engines.

Inspiration lives all around us.

Here are a few ways I personally beat writer's block.

1. Explore Nature's Tapestry:
Nature, with its breathtaking beauty and captivating mysteries, has been a timeless muse for writers. A leisurely stroll through a forest, the crashing waves of the ocean, or the delicate petals of a flower can stir your imagination. Observe the intricate details of the natural world—the play of light, the symphony of sounds—and let them inspire scenes, settings, and even the essence of your characters.

2. Dive into History's Depths:
Being an author of historical romance, this is one of my favorite places to unearth inspiration. History is a treasure trove of fascinating stories, both big and small. From the grandeur of ancient civilizations to the poignant tales of individuals, history is brimming with moments of triumph, tragedy, and transformation. Look into historical events, and immerse yourself in different time periods. Let history's secrets spark your own unique twists and perspectives, breathing life into your stories.

The research behind Red Kingdom transported me to the medieval era, where contrasts were everywhere: brutality and religion, life and death, poverty and gluttony, chivalry and treachery.

3. Engage with People and Conversations:
Human interactions are a wellspring of inspiration. Engage in conversations, listen to others' experiences, and observe the way people express themselves. Whether it's a heartfelt conversation with a friend or snippets of dialogue overheard in a coffee shop, these exchanges can provide insights into the depth of emotions, conflicts, and motivations that drive your characters' journeys.

Remember: every person you meet is the protagonist in his or her own story.

4. Harness the Power of Dreams:
Dreams are the canvas on which your mind paints the most vivid and surreal landscapes. Dreams can offer a wealth of imaginative idea and help you push the boundaries of reality. Keep a dream journal by your bedside to capture fleeting visions that might later weave themselves into the fabric of your stories. Dreams provide an avenue for exploring the unexplored, making them a limitless source of inspiration.

Fun fact: I dreamt the first scene of The Frost of Springtime, and that's where the story came from!

5. Find Magic in the Mundane:
Never underestimate the potential for storytelling in everyday life. The simple act of people-watching, observing the quirks of daily routines, and experiencing the small moments that often go unnoticed can lead to profound narratives. Mundane settings and situations can be transformed into extraordinary tales when seen through the lens of creativity.

6. Read Newspapers, Human-Interest Stories and News Headlines:
The news is a cove of events, trends, and human stories that can fuel your creative fire. News headlines can serve as springboards for exploring unique angles, imagining what-if scenarios, or addressing pressing societal issues within your narratives. The world's happenings offer a plethora of ideas, emotions, and conflicts to infuse into your stories.

7. Art and Other Creative Mediums:
Music, films, books (of course), and other creative mediums can fuel your storytelling imagination. A painting might inspire a scene's atmosphere, a melody might evoke a character's emotions, or a film's plot might serve as a springboard for your own story's development. Let yourself be moved by various forms of art to infuse fresh energy into your narratives.

Fun fact: I have a go-to YouTube playlist called "Creative Inspiration," which houses all my favorite TV and film scenes! I also often reread my favorite book scenes when I’m feeling a lack of motivation.

Red Kingdom: A Dark Little Red Riding Hood Retelling (Fairy Tale Retellings Book 2)
(Stand alone)
by Rachel L. Demeter
04-10-2024
Genre: Historical Romance (Medieval)

Little Red Riding Hood reimagined with a dark and realistic twist.

Princess Blanchette’s world shatters when the Black Wolf tears apart her castle and everything she holds dear. All she clings to is the vow she made to her grandmother on her deathbed.

Hailed as the people’s champion, Sir Rowan Dietrich liberates the capital in a quest for vengeance. He takes Winslowe Castle with an army at his back and his wolf, Smoke, at his side.

United by a shared cause and powerful attraction, Rowan and Blanchette embark on a journey of self-discovery and redemption—a path filled with loss, transformation, and ultimately, the healing power of love.

Can Norland’s resplendent princess, with her captivating beauty and spirit, tame the fabled Black Wolf?

Inspired by the fairy tale Little Red Riding Hood, Red Kingdom is a passionate historical romance about the enduring quest for love and the longing for a world at harmony.

*Red Kingdom is a standalone installment in a series of reimagined classic fairy tales. Due to adult content and themes, it is not intended for readers under the age of 18.

What you can expect from Red Kingdom...
Dark, Medieval Setting
Enemies to Lovers
Slow Burn
Broken Alpha Hero
Strong Heroine
Wolf Companion
He Falls First
Redemption
Warring Kingdoms

Read FREE on Kindle Unlimited
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Blanchette spots the Black Wolf during the siege
Death at her feet. Death in her home. Death in the air.

Death screamed in every corner of her mind.

Then she saw him.

Rowan Dietrich, the fabled Black Wolf of Norland, strode through her castle like a waking nightmare. His armor was crudely made, black as the surrounding night, the helm’s dark metal twisted into the shape of a wolf’s snarling head. But the most striking thing about him was his height. He towered above the other fighters and battled with a chilling methodicalness. How he moved and fought frightened Blanchette the greatest.

He looked collected. Even mildly amused. As if this were nothing more than a game. Blood soaked his sword as the blade whirled, whipped, slashed, and claimed lives in a macabre dance of death. And that wolf clung to his heels, its muzzle wet with blood, snarling and leaping at any man who dared come close to its master.

Monster. Demons.

The Black Wolf of Norland had always had a mist of legend around him. She remembered the stories her mother and governess had often whispered after the feasts and in the dark of the night.

“To me,” the Black Wolf called to a soldier a few yards away, his deep voice effortlessly carrying above the tumult. He didn’t need to yell, not even over the mayhem. The force of his tone was enough.

One of her father’s guards raised his blade, but too slowly. Rowan Dietrich’s longsword cut his head off, then came flashing back in a terrible two-handed slash that took another soldier in the leg.

With quivering anger, she realized that this man—this wolf, this beast—was the reason the sky was falling on her family. She clutched the dagger, wishing she could stand a chance against him. How good and right it would feel to plunge the blade deep into his heart and avenge what would likely be the end of her family’s dynasty.

Of course, she’d never survive him or his demon wolf. And if she was ever to avenge her family, if she was to keep her promise, survival meant everything.

About the Author:
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I live in Sunny California with my dashing husband, who inspires my romance novels every day!

Writing has always been an integral part of my identity. Before I physically learned how to write, I'd narrate stories to my mom, and she'd record them for me.

I graduated from Chapman’s film school, where I often received the feedback on my scripts, “Your stories and characters are great, but this reads like a novel!” That’s when I realized my true calling.

In my free time, I frequent reptile expos, lift double my body’s weight, and indulge in dinosaur trivia.

I'm passionate about writing stories that explore what it means to be human and to be loved. My books focus on hope, courage, and redemption in the face of adversity.

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Historical PNR Author Wendy LaCapra: Crafting a Series Based on the Gods + giveaway

Crafting a Series Based on the Gods

My new release, Her Duke at Midnight, can be read as a stand-alone, although it is also the third and final book in my Mythic Dukes Trilogy.

Why Mythic Dukes? Well, several years ago I was at a writer’s conference and a presenter was giving a class on how the mythic qualities of Greek Gods are woven into romantic heros. The class ended with this warning: never attempt to put the main 3 Greek Gods (Zeus, Poseidon, and Hades) into one book, because, the presenter said, it would be way too much.

Sometimes, when I hear a stricture, the onery part of me lifts its curious head and I take said stricture as a challenge. Dare I put 3 heroes, each with the aspects of one Greek God, into a series? Later during that same conference, I heard grumblings about there being too many dukes in Historical Romance. The onery part of me lifted its head again. Dare I make all my mythic heros dukes?

Crafting a trilogy that embodies those two combined challenges took far longer than I expected. However, I’m happy to say all three are now available: Her Duke at Daybreak (Hades), His Duchess at Eventide (Poseidon), and Her Duke at Midnight (Zeus).

Each of the books are as different as their protagonists, but the series has a running theme of found family, the closing of ranks in a crisis, and overcoming past trauma. Ashby, Cheverley, and Hurtheven formed an alliance during their school days and cemented it with a secret society. They are honor bound to stand by one another. For this, I drew on my husband’s deep and lasting bond with a group of male friends who found one another as teens. Over the years, I’ve seen how that bond has strengthened and challenged each of the friends. I truly admire their unbreakable connection and hope I’ve been able to bring that energy to this series.

The final book, Her Duke at Midnight, features the Zeus character, who leapt onto the page in the first book, full of bluster and arrogance, subtle humor and absolute self-assurance. His book was by far the hardest to write—and it surprised me in so many ways. I knew he was committed to his friends and their children. I knew he had suffered a terrible loss in early childhood. But he was so self-confident, so powerful and principled, I didn’t know how I was going to get him to open that wound so it could heal.

The other friends are heavily featured in his book—because who but the people who know and love you best can help you through a dark night of the soul? And who but a woman with an equally strong will and an unshakable commitment to guiding her own course could possibly make him want to be whole?

When I finally reached his ultimate crisis, I literally wept...and three early readers have told me they wept as well. I’m glad I took on the challenge of writing this series. I hope readers will be moved and delighted watching friendship and love triumph over every challenge.
 

A governess and her secret take an invincible duke by storm…

Her Duke at Midnight (Mythic Dukes Book 3)
by Wendy LaCapra
Genre: Historical Paranormal Regency Romance
A governess and her secret take an invincible duke by storm...

The Duke of Hurtheven will stop at nothing to protect those he loves. So, when a mysterious new governess captures his godchild’s affection, he vows to uncover her secrets. Instead, she sets him aflame.

Miss Hera Bythesea accepted a governess position to secure the character reference she needs to reclaim her secret child. But she did not count on Hurtheven—curious, relentless, and temptation in human form.

In Hera's world, Hurtheven faces a challenge his power and wealth cannot solve. But for the love of unwed mother and child, he’ll undertake any Herculean Labor.

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His Duchess at Eventide (Mythic Dukes Book 2)

What Readers Are Saying:

Romance and adventure that will keep you up at night!

-Eva Devon

...stunning in its emotional intensity and, for me, her best writing yet. The journey of these characters shattered my heart, filled me with hope, and kept me reading late into the night, finally releasing me with the reassurance that some bonds, though stretched beyond imagination, cannot be broken, that evil foes can be vanquished, that love wins.

-PJ on the Romance Dish

His Duchess at Eventide is a tale that is all things fabulous, mythical and epic. …I know Chev, Penelope and their romance will have a firm place on my ebook keeper shelf and in my memory.

-Gayle on Lady Celeste Reads Romance

Stunning, Emotional, Heartbreaking and full of hope , this has to be one of my all time favourite books.

-Maggie, Amazon Reviewer

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Her Duke at Daybreak (Mythic Dukes Book 1)

2018 Romance Writers of America® RITA® Contest Finalist

A devilish duke & a proper widow agree to three nights, but will explosive passion cost more than they have bargained?

What Readers Are Saying:

"Great characters. Great sex. Great story." -Author Abigail Sharp

"Ms LaCapra has loaded this book with drama, a bit of angst (but notanoverdose), a sprinkle of humor and sizzle. I was glued to this bookfrom start to finish, it's just that good." -Deb Diem, Goodreads

"Her Duke at Daybreak is a steamy romance but it is so much more. It is the joining of two lost souls." -Kelly Tyree, Goodreads

"This is my first experience of Wendy's books , it won't be the last. Her characters are wonderful and her writing is riveting." -Maggie Whitworth, Goodreads

"This was a Happily Ever After that almost didn't happen so that makes it all the more enjoyable when it finally comes." -Diane, Goodreads

** Get it FREE for a limited time!! ** 

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About the Author
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Historical Romance author Wendy LaCapra writes award-winning books reviewers describe as ‘heart-pounding, entrancing’, ‘lusciously romantic and sparkling with wit.’ As a teen, Wendy discovered spine-tingling gothics in her local public library, inspiring her to craft her own seductive tales full of secrets and scandal. She lives with her husband in a quirky, historic building in NYC and loves a girls’ night in. For new release, sale alerts and other news, sign up at http://bit.ly/GetWendyNews

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Execrpt: Plucked by the Orc (Regency Monster Romances, #1) Jenna Larkin + giveaway

Plucked by the Orc (Regency Monster Romances, #1)
Jenna Larkin
February 5th 2024
Genres: Adult, Historical, Romance
Carnival Row meets My Fair Lady with a steamy sensibility. Welcome to the first Regency Monster Romance, in which the Lords of the Hidden Realm have a place in Society but never in the hearts of London’s fine human ladies.

Until Now.

Scratching by as a flower girl, Iris Gabbert speaks first and asks questions later. All the better to survive the rough and tumble East End streets. So if an odd-looking bloke knocks over a basket brimming with a girl’s means of making a living, what else is she to do but give him a tongue lashing he won’t soon forget? Even if it was an accident. Even if his lordship dresses like a right dandy. Even if he is more alluring than any gent who has passed her way before.

Broad of shoulder and abrupt in manner, the infamous Lord Barrington presents a proposition that promises all the honey with none of the bee’s busy work. And no one ever accused Iris Gabbert of passing on an opportunity. Especially not if it brings her one step closer to her dream of buying a shop. For the small price of improving her manners and donning gorgeous gowns, no less.

Duncan Higgins, Second Duke of Barrington, prides himself on his astute observations of human behavior. All the better to mask the pain of never truly belonging in their sphere. Rejected by the woman he’d hoped to woo, Duncan has withdrawn from Society to focus on his anthropological magnum opus: The Curious Customs of the Human Ton. But when his mischievous younger brother Albion presents him with a dare, Duncan quickly embraces the challenge.

To win the wager, Duncan must transform a humble flower girl into a lady “worthy” of acceptance in Society. His work is cut out for him. The girl he intends to slip into their ranks is uncouth. She refuses to soften her voice. Her favorite bonnet sits crooked on her head, and the rest of her wardrobe is appalling. Yet when Iris Gabbert emerges from her first bath at his elegant Mayfair townhouse, the power of Duncan’s desire ignites.

With sufficient income from his family’s mines to indulge her every whim, Duncan draws Iris into his private and luxurious world. Duncan intends to fulfill her every desire. Every last one. But as a newly refined Iris makes her debut, she catches the eye of the Season’s most eligible human bachelor, triggering Duncan’s deepest fears of rejection. Faced with jealousies, misunderstandings, and a treacherous social landscape, can true love—and lust—prevail? 

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EXCERPT:
Duncan Higgins, the Second Duke of Barrington, tucked his muslin cravat tighter underneath his Parisian greatcoat. The evening performance of How You Like It had been crowded with patrons eager to see the new gas lighting at the Theatre-Royal. It was difficult to tolerate the stares his massive form and green-tinged skin attracted, but he could ensure his attire reflected the latest demands of the season.

Better to be respected, or even feared, than to find himself an object of scorn.

His father had stepped foot in London eighteen years prior, the first orc to do so. But Duncan’s height, the horns curling back on his head, and his unusual coloring—unusual on the streets of this city, at least—still drew stares. As in all things connected to the frivolous ton, no one stated anything outright. Rather, he was subject to the averted glances of children seeing one of his kind for the first time. Or the pursed lips of a mother with a daughter of marriageable age looking to catch a gentleman’s eye. A gentleman of wealth, manners, and title.

A human gentleman. They were not eager for their daughters to marry Duncan Higgins, even if he were five and twenty and met their other requirements. He’d learned that lesson well enough.

So be it. Duncan would remain at a distance, observing and taking notes on human society as a scientist would a colony of lemurs or some such.

His younger brother, Albion, would have deemed that too harsh. Albion and their mother came to London from the Hidden Realm two years after Duncan accompanied Father here. He didn’t understand what it had been like for Duncan in those early days. When grown women had screamed at the sight of orcs, no matter how fine their English clothes, and boys hurled rocks at their backs.

As he stepped out to the street this evening, an assortment of dandies packed the space outside the venerable theater, waiting on the carriages that would propel them to the next stop on their nightly rounds about the city. Despite the chill in the air, they left their greatcoats open, the better to showcase ruffled shirts, cravats folded crisply on the cross, and fitted trousers.

Albion often laughed at Duncan’s propensity for tracking human fashion, whilst Duncan argued that all manner of human customs were of interest. The apparel chosen for a particular season spoke to the values and aspirations of the ton. When living as an outsider, one could never know too much about a culture.

And Duncan was an outsider who literally stood out in a crowd. He ducked under the arches outside the theater’s foyer, side-stepping a matron with two daughters prancing before her. The ladies wore stunning multi-colored sapphires—pink, orange, amber, in every shade and gradient—sparkling on pendants hanging from the short pearl necklaces that were all the rage this season.

The rare gemstones originated in his land and were the source of his family’s wealth. Nevertheless, when the mother caught him glancing at her daughters’ jewels, she called them closer to her. Their finery was for the benefit of the human dandies. Not Duncan Higgins. Even if he could have made either of them a duchess.

At one time, such a snub would have caused Duncan great shame. Now, however, these women meant no more to him than the portraits he might examine at a public exhibition in one of the city’s galleries. He tipped his bespoke hat in their direction and continued, wanting only to locate a hackney coach so he might return to his townhouse in a timely manner.

Despite the indulgence of taking in a performance this evening, he wished to abide by his customary schedule, drafting three pages over a glass of port prior to retiring for the night. Duncan aspired to publish a book in the Hidden Realm so the orcs who came to London in the future were better prepared than he had been.

Considering additional comments for his section on the shenanigans of human mothers, Duncan neglected to mind his feet. Distracted, he stumbled over one of the humans milling in front of the theater, tipping a woven basket filled with flowers over in the process. The blossoms hit the sodden ground in a colorful spray of wilting clumps—pansies, snowdrops, and clematis. He nearly tumbled down beside them.

“Bloody hell,” he muttered, reaching for his handkerchief, twice the size of those used by other gentlemen, to wipe away the mud that had spattered his new coat. And just as the French styles were once again making their way across the Channel. Thanks to that scoundrel Napoleon Bonaparte, London had been deprived of Parisian fashions for several years.

“Hey there, ‘ya big lug!” a female voice called, rising above the din of the humans still bustling out of the theater. “Watch where you’re putting them huge green feet of yours, kitten.”

Duncan had been called many names in his life, but “kitten” had never before counted among their number. It took him a moment to realize the young woman was addressing him.

She clicked her tongue between her teeth as she attempted to reclaim the flowers. “A girl’s tryin’ to make a living here, you know.”

Her voice held the distinctive tinge of the East End, an accent he sometimes heard from shopkeepers. This woman’s outlandish appearance matched the Cockney drawl. Her walking dress and pelisse, both of which might have been a startling bronze hue when in fashion five years ago, clung to her slender figure in an indecent manner. A flamboyant blue-purple iris, its petals shaped like the fleur-de-lis of the old French royal family, with a jagged shot of golden color in the center, topped her bonnet.

To make matters even more ridiculous, he found himself staring at this woman, whose delicate form and features were at odds with the boldest feminine voice he’d had the pleasure of hearing since he left the Hidden Realm. In Duncan’s homeland, women were not given to the performative modesty of the ton. What was that phrase he’d heard a human gentleman use to describe a beguiling young lady who had only recently arrived in London from the country? A diamond in the rough. At the time, the expression had confused him, but now he thought he understood what it meant.

About the Author:
Jenna Larkin writes historical romance and fiction under different pen names. She is now ready to enter the world of monster romance with an alternate Regency era featuring the brash and powerful Lords of the Hidden Realm. Jenna lives in California with a spoiled tabby cat named Jonesy. When not reading or writing, she enjoys planning cosplay for the next San Diego Comic-Con, experimenting with vegetarian recipes (to mixed results), and obsessing over House Targaryen.

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