Confessions of an Improper Bride, page 30
After I’d offered her a chair and a stiff drink (which she eyed warily—as if she’s never seen a martini before!), I asked her why she had come.
“I have a problem,” she said.
I tried not to chuckle. It was obvious from the permanent look of panic in her eyes that she had a very big problem indeed. “Okay,” I said, “what’s the problem?”
“Well—” She swallowed hard. “I’m going to get married.”
I raised a brow. “Usually that’s reason for celebration.”
“Not for me.” Her voice was dour.
I took a deep breath. “Look, Miss Donovan. I’m a romance writer. I write about love, blissful marriages, and happy endings. Maybe you’ve come to the wrong place.” I rose from my chair and gestured toward the door. “Thanks for stopping by. Feel free to take the martini.”
Her eyes flared wide with alarm. “No! Please… let me explain.”
I hesitated, staring down at her. She seemed so… desperate. I guess I have a bleeding heart after all. Sighing, I resumed my seat. “Go ahead.”
“I do respect and admire my future husband. Greatly. He’s a wonderful man.”
“Uh-huh.”
“But, you see, he—” She winced, swallowed, and took a deep breath. “Well, he thinks I’m someone else.”
I frowned. “You mean, you told him you were someone you’re not?”
“Well, it’s not that simple. You see, he fell in love with my sister.”
“O… kay.”
Her eyes went glassy. “But, you see, my sister died. Only he doesn’t know that. He thinks I’m my sister!”
“He can’t tell that you’re not her?”
“I don’t know…” Her voice was brimming with despair. “You see, we’re identical twins, so on the outside we’re alike, but we are such different people…”
Oh, man. This chick was in big trouble. “And you want to fashion a happy ending out of this, how?” I asked.
“But I haven’t told you the whole problem,” she said.
I thought she’d given me a pretty darned enormous problem already. Still, I waved my hand for her to elaborate.
“Jonathan,” she said simply.
“Jonathan?”
“The Earl of Stratford. He’s a friend of my fiancé and the best man,” she explained. She looked away. “And also, he’s the only man I’ve ever—”
“That’s okay,” I said quickly, raising my hand, “I get it.”
She released a relieved breath as I studied her. I really, really wanted to help her. She needed help, that was for sure. But how to forge a happy ending out of such a mess?
“Look,” I said, flipping up my laptop and opening a new document, “you need to tell me everything, okay? From the beginning.”
And that was how it began. By the time Miss Donovan finished telling me her story, I was so hooked, I had to go into my writing cave and write the entire, wild tale. The hardest part was getting to that happy ending, but it was so happy and so romantic that it was worth every drop of blood and sweat that it took to get there.
I truly hope you enjoy reading Serena Donovan’s story! Please come visit me at my website, www.jenniferhaymore.com, where you can share your thoughts about my books, sign up for some fun freebies, and read more about the characters from CONFESSIONS OF AN IMPROPER BRIDE.
Sincerely,
From the desk of Sue-Ellen Welfonder
Dear Reader,
Does a landscape of savage grandeur make your heart beat faster? Do jagged peaks, cold-glittering boulders, and cauldrons of boiling mist speak to your soul? Are you exhilarated by the rush of chill wind, the power of ancient places made of stone and legend?
I love such places.
TEMPTATION OF A HIGHLAND SCOUNDREL, second book in my Highland Warriors trilogy, has a truly grand setting. Nought is my favorite corner of the Glen of Many Legends, home to the series’ three warring clans. These proud Highlanders prove “where you live is who you are.”
Kendrew Mackintosh and Isobel Cameron love wild places as much as I do. Kendrew boasts that he’s hewn of Nought’s soaring granite peaks and that he was weaned on cold wind and blowing mist. He’s proud of his Norse heritage. Isobel shares his appreciation for Viking culture, rough terrain, and long, dark nights. She stirs his passion, igniting desires that brand them both.
But Isobel is a lady.
And Kendrew has sworn not to touch a woman of gentle birth. Isobel is also the sister of a bitter foe.
They’re a perfect match despite the barriers separating them: centuries of clan feuds, hostility, and rivalries. Bad blood isn’t easily forgotten in the Highlands and grudges last forever. Kendrew refuses to acknowledge his attraction to Isobel. She won’t ignore the passion between them. As only a woman in love can, she employs all her seductive wiles to win his heart.
The temptation of Kendrew Mackintosh begins deep in his rugged Nought territory. In the shadows of mysterious cairns known as dreagan stones and on the night of his clan’s raucous Midsummer Eve revels, Isobel pitches a battle Kendrew can only lose. Yet surrender will bring greater rewards than he’s ever claimed.
Kendrew does open his heart to Isobel, but they soon find themselves caught in a dangerous maelstrom that threatens their love and could cost their lives. The entire glen is at peril and a brutal foe will stop at nothing to crush the brave men of the Glen of Many Legends.
Turning Kendrew loose on his enemy—a worthy villain—gave me many enjoyable writing hours. He’s a fierce fighter and a sight to behold when riled. But beneath his ferocity is a great-hearted man who lives by honor.
Writing Isobel was an equal joy. Like me, she feels most alive in wild, windswept places. I know Nought approved of her.
Places do have feelings.
Highlanders know that. In wild places, the pulse beat of the land is strong. I can’t imagine a better setting for Kendrew and Isobel.
I hope you’ll enjoy watching Isobel prove to Kendrew that the hardest warrior can’t win against a woman wielding the most powerful weapon of all: a heart that loves.
With all good wishes,
www.welfonder.com
From the desk of Sophie Gunn
Dear Reader,
Some small-town romances feature knitting clubs, some cookie clubs, and some quilting clubs. But my new series has something else entirely.
Welcome to Galton, New York, home of the Enemy Club.
The Enemy Club is made up of four women who had been the worst of enemies back in high school. They were the class brainiac, the bad girl, the princess, and the outcast. Now, all grown up, they’ve managed to become the best of friends. But they’re friends with a difference. They’ve promised to tell one another the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth so help them Gracie (the baker of the pies at the Last Chance Diner). Because they see things from their very (very!) different points of view, this causes all sorts of conflicts and a nuanced story, where no one has a lock on the what’s right or wrong.
In Sweet Kiss of Summer, Nina Stokes is the woman with the problem, and she’s going to need everyone’s help to solve it. Her brother lost his life in the war. On his deathbed, he asked a nurse to write Nina a letter, instructing her to give his house back in Galton to his war buddy, Mick Rivers.
Or did he?
How can Nina know if the letter is real or a con? And even if it’s real, where has Mick been for the past two years, during which Nina tried everything to contact him to no avail? How long should she be expected to keep up the house in this limbo, waiting for a man who obviously takes her brother’s last wish lightly?
So when a beautiful man claiming to be Mick roars up Nina’s driveway one summer afternoon in a flashy red car, demanding the house that he feels is rightfully his, every member of the Enemy Club thinks that she knows best what Nina should do. Naturally, none of them agree. The themes of friendship, duty, and honor run deep in Galton, and in Sweet Kiss of Summer, they are all tested. To whom do we owe our first duty: our family, our friends, our country—or ourselves?
What I loved most about writing Sweet Kiss of Summer was that there was no easy solution for anyone. As I wrote, I had no idea what Nina would do about her dilemma. Mick struggled with an even thornier problem, as his secrets were bigger than anyone in the Enemy Club could imagine. I could understand everyone’s point of view. There is just so much to consider when you’re not only out for yourself, but for your country, your community, your family, and ultimately, something even bigger.
I hope you’ll enjoy reading about these characters as much as I’ve enjoyed writing about them. Come visit me at SophieGunn.com to learn more about the small town of Galton and the Enemy Club, to see pictures of my kitties, and to keep in touch. I’d love to hear from you!
www.sophiegunn.com
ALSO BY JENNIFER HAYMORE
A Hint of Wicked
A Touch of Scandal
A Season of Seduction
PRAISE FOR THE NOVELS OF
JENNIFER HAYMORE
“Jennifer Haymore’s books are sophisticated, deeply sensual, and emotionally complex.”
—ELIZABETH HOYT, New York Times bestselling author
A HINT OF WICKED
“Full of suspense, mystery, romance, and erotica… I am looking forward to more from this author.”
—Las Vegas Review-Journal
“A clever, provoking, and steamy story from an up-and-coming author to keep your eye out for!”
—BookPleasures.com
“Haymore is a shining star, and if A Hint of Wicked is any indication of what’s to come, bring me more.”
—FallenAngelReviews.com
“Debut author Haymore crafts a unique plot filled with powerful emotions and complex issues.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A unique, heart-tugging story with sympathetic, larger-than-life characters, intriguing plot twists, and sensual love scenes.”
—NICOLE JORDAN, New York Times bestselling author
“Complex, stirring, and written with a skillful hand, A Hint of Wicked is an evocative love story that will make a special place for itself in your heart.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Jennifer Haymore is an up-and-coming new writer who displays a skillful touch in her erotic tale of a woman torn between two lovers.”
—SHIRLEE BUSBEE, New York Times bestselling author of Seduction Becomes Her
“Recommended for readers who enjoy steamy Regency-era romance… there’s a surprising lightness and tenderness to the love story.”
—Historical Novels Review
“A story of life and death, revenge and true love… filled with passion, intrigue, and suspense… I look forward to reading much more historical romance from Jennifer Haymore.”
—ArmchairInterviews.com
“Sweet and satisfying… refreshingly honest… a gripping read.”
—LikesBooks.com
“A new take on a historical romance… complicated and original… the characters are well crafted… surprisingly satisfying.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“The characters in this book are easy to love… I can’t wait to read the next book!”
—TheBookGirl.net
“What an extraordinary book this is!… What a future this author has!”
—RomanceReviewsMag.com
“Ms. Haymore’s talent for storytelling shines throughout this book.”
—Eye on Romance
A TOUCH OF SCANDAL
“Jennifer Haymore’s books are sophisticated, deeply sensual, and emotionally complex. With a dead sexy hero, a sweetly practical heroine, and a love story that draws together two people from vastly different backgrounds, A Touch of Scandal is positively captivating!”
—ELIZABETH HOYT, New York Times bestselling author
“Sweep-you-off-your-feet historical romance! Jennifer Haymore sparkles!”
—LIZ CARLYLE, New York Times bestselling author
“Haymore discovers a second fascinating, powerful, and sensual novel that places her high on the must-read lists. She perfectly blends a strong plot that twists like a serpent and has unforgettable characters to create a book readers will remember and re-read.”
—RT Book Reviews
“A Touch of Scandal is a wonderfully written historical romance. Ms. Haymore brings intrigue and romance together with strong complex characters to make this a keeper for any romance reader. Ms. Haymore is an author to watch and I’m looking forward to the next installment of this series.”
—TheRomanceReadersConnection.com
“A deliciously emotional Cinderella tale of two people from backgrounds worlds apart, A Touch of Scandal addicts the reader from the first page and doesn’t let go until the very last word. Hurdle after hurdle stand in the way of Kate and Garrett’s love, inexorably pulling the reader along, supporting them each step of the way. A Touch of Scandal is a surefire win!”
—FallenAngelreviews.com
“A classic tale… Reading this story, I completely fell in love with the honorable servant girl and her esteemed duke. This is definitely a tale of excitement, hot, sizzling sex, and loads of mystery.”
—FreshFiction.com
“These characters are just fantastic and endearing. I just couldn’t wait to find out what happened on the next page.”
—SingleTitles.com
“4 Stars! Kate and Garrett were wonderful characters who constantly tugged at my heartstrings. I found myself rooting for them the whole way through… If you like historical romances that engage your emotions and contain characters you cheer for, this is the book for you.”
—TheRomanceDish.com
A SEASON OF SEDUCTION
“4½ stars! Haymore uses the Christmas season as an enhancing backdrop for a mystery/romance that is both original and fulfilling. Her fresh voice and ability to build sensual tension into lively love stories… makes this tale shine.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Sizzling… an engaging historical tale.”
—RomRevToday.com
“Each time Ms. Haymore writes a book in this series I think there is no way to top the one I just finished. I started this latest one and realized she has done just that and has proven to me how fresh this series can remain.”
—The Reading Reviewer
“Jennifer Haymore strikes a good balance of strength, sensuality, drama, and intrigue in her characters… Becky is an independent, fearless woman except when it comes to opening her heart to another man. And Jack, while strong and passionate, shows great sensitivity under his ‘rogue’ persona.”
—www.FictionVixen.com
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 by Jennifer Haymore
Excerpt from Secrets of an Accidental Duchess copyright © 2011 by Jennifer Haymore
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
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First eBook Edition: August 2011
ISBN: 978-0-446-58548-4
Jennifer Haymore, Confessions of an Improper Bride
