Vanessa Kelly's second book in her historical romance series, The Renegade Royals, release tomorrow - 4/1! I loved the first book in this series and am looking forward to CONFESSIONS OF A ROYAL BRIDEGROOM. In the meantime though, we have an excerpt to share with you. Enjoy!
Confessions of a Royal Bridegroomby Vanessa Kelly
Genre: Regency-set historical romance
Tone: witty, sexy, emotional
Heat Level: hot
Elements/Tags: historical romance, royalty, Regency era
Publisher: Kensington Zebra
Publishing Date: April 1, 2014
Series: The Renegade Royals, #2
Format: digital and print
Words: 115, 000
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ONLY ONE WOMAN IS WORTHY OF HIS SECRETS...
Some men are born into scandal. Others pursue it with a passion. Griffin Steele, secret son of the Duke of Cumberland, is guilty on both counts. Yet somehow London’s most notorious scoundrel has been saddled with an abandoned baby boy—and with the unflappable, intriguing spinster summoned to nurse him…
Justine Brightmore may be a viscount’s niece, but she’s also a spy’s daughter, determined to safeguard the infant when his suspected royal parentage makes him a target. Yet how to protect herself from the rakish Griffin? Marriage might shield her reputation, but it can only imperil her heart, especially with a groom intent on delicious seduction…
EXCERPT:
Justine descended the stairs and paused outside the drawing room, checking her cap one last time. Then, taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped into the room.
Steele and Dominic glanced up from their discussion and rose as one from their armchairs by the fire. Justine’s godfather, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a penetrating gaze, commanded respect just by his very presence. A man like Steele, some inches shorter and lean rather than bulky, should have faded in his company.
But the opposite was true. Steele came to his feet with a lithe, masculine grace that spoke of quietly controlled power. That sense of power, combined with his darkly ruthless gaze, would signal to even the most careless or insouciant observer that she ignored Griffin Steele at her peril. Since Justine was neither careless nor insouciant, she would never ignore him, but would do her best to keep him at a healthy distance.
“Ah, Justine, how nice to see you,” Dominic said with a warm smile. “How are you faring with your new charge?” He cast a meaningful glance in Steele’s direction. “I trust everyone is treating you well.”
She bobbed a slight curtsy before sitting down on the elegant Etruscan daybed across from their chairs. The two men resumed their seats, Steele lounging in his with a languid sprawl of long, muscular legs. Justine’s gaze unconsciously lingered on those legs just a few seconds before she jerked herself back to attention.
“Yes,” she assured him. “Mr. Steele and his staff have seen to all of my needs. I have no complaints.” She hesitated, than gave a slight grimace. “Well, I must admit to feeling rather cooped up. I’m not used to being housebound for any stretch of time, though I do understand the need for it.”
Steele narrowed his eyes on her. “A good thing, too. You wouldn’t want anyone to see you wearing that ugly thing on your head.”
Justine blinked at his rude response. Now that she thought about it, on the occasions she’d run into him, he’d sometimes inspected her with a perplexed, almost disapproving stare.
“You dislike caps, Mr. Steele? Do they, perhaps, strike you as inappropriate attire for your household?” she asked, hoping to embarrass him.
“I dislike ugly ones,” he replied. “Especially on young women who have no business wearing them. It makes you look like an ape leader.”
She bit back the impulse to snap. “Since I am an ape leader, I have every business wearing one. Not that it’s any of your business,” she finished, giving in to temptation.
“My dear, you are nothing of the sort,” Dominic interjected. “Come to think of it, I don’t remember you wearing a cap the last time I saw you. I must say I agree with Griffin on this. You’re much too young to be wearing so dowdy a fashion.”
Justine felt her face flush, which she knew from experience clashed abominably with her hair.
“I hardly think you asked to see me to critique my wardrobe, Uncle Dominic—”
“Thank God for that,” murmured Steele.
Justine ignored the desire to pull of the offending cap and whack her host across his arrogant nose with it. “What did you wish to see me about, Uncle Dominic?”
Her godparent leaned over and patted her hands. Only then did Justine realize she was clenching them in her lap.
“I do wish to discuss a few things with you,” he replied. “But first tell me how you and the baby go on.”
Justine smiled. “I must admit that he’s a complete love. He’s a sweet boy, and gives me very little trouble.”
“Really? Is that why he’s been keeping us awake at night with his caterwauling?” Steele asked.
“I’m not sure how you would even know that, since it’s almost morning by the time you come upstairs,” Justine retorted. “I’m quite sure the baby doesn’t keep you awake at all.”
His dark brows lifted with amusement. “And how do you know what time I come to bed, Miss Brightmore? Have you been keeping track of my movements? I confess I’m intrigued by your curiosity.”
Justine gasped at his outrageous implication, but before she could respond, Steele cut a sardonic glance in Dominic’s direction. “I suppose you have her spying on me, don’t you? You never could keep your nose out of my business.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dominic said before returning his attention to Justine. “Is the baby proving difficult, my dear? Do you need more help? I will look about for a nurse who can be trusted, if that’s the case.”
“No, it’s fine,” Justine said, unaccountably annoyed. She rarely lost her temper and never with her godparent, but Steele had a knack for putting her on edge. She hated to think what she’d be like if she had to spend any appreciable amount of time with him.
Justine descended the stairs and paused outside the drawing room, checking her cap one last time. Then, taking a deep breath, she opened the door and stepped into the room.
Steele and Dominic glanced up from their discussion and rose as one from their armchairs by the fire. Justine’s godfather, a tall, broad-shouldered man with a penetrating gaze, commanded respect just by his very presence. A man like Steele, some inches shorter and lean rather than bulky, should have faded in his company.
But the opposite was true. Steele came to his feet with a lithe, masculine grace that spoke of quietly controlled power. That sense of power, combined with his darkly ruthless gaze, would signal to even the most careless or insouciant observer that she ignored Griffin Steele at her peril. Since Justine was neither careless nor insouciant, she would never ignore him, but would do her best to keep him at a healthy distance.
“Ah, Justine, how nice to see you,” Dominic said with a warm smile. “How are you faring with your new charge?” He cast a meaningful glance in Steele’s direction. “I trust everyone is treating you well.”
She bobbed a slight curtsy before sitting down on the elegant Etruscan daybed across from their chairs. The two men resumed their seats, Steele lounging in his with a languid sprawl of long, muscular legs. Justine’s gaze unconsciously lingered on those legs just a few seconds before she jerked herself back to attention.
“Yes,” she assured him. “Mr. Steele and his staff have seen to all of my needs. I have no complaints.” She hesitated, than gave a slight grimace. “Well, I must admit to feeling rather cooped up. I’m not used to being housebound for any stretch of time, though I do understand the need for it.”
Steele narrowed his eyes on her. “A good thing, too. You wouldn’t want anyone to see you wearing that ugly thing on your head.”
Justine blinked at his rude response. Now that she thought about it, on the occasions she’d run into him, he’d sometimes inspected her with a perplexed, almost disapproving stare.
“You dislike caps, Mr. Steele? Do they, perhaps, strike you as inappropriate attire for your household?” she asked, hoping to embarrass him.
“I dislike ugly ones,” he replied. “Especially on young women who have no business wearing them. It makes you look like an ape leader.”
She bit back the impulse to snap. “Since I am an ape leader, I have every business wearing one. Not that it’s any of your business,” she finished, giving in to temptation.
“My dear, you are nothing of the sort,” Dominic interjected. “Come to think of it, I don’t remember you wearing a cap the last time I saw you. I must say I agree with Griffin on this. You’re much too young to be wearing so dowdy a fashion.”
Justine felt her face flush, which she knew from experience clashed abominably with her hair.
“I hardly think you asked to see me to critique my wardrobe, Uncle Dominic—”
“Thank God for that,” murmured Steele.
Justine ignored the desire to pull of the offending cap and whack her host across his arrogant nose with it. “What did you wish to see me about, Uncle Dominic?”
Her godparent leaned over and patted her hands. Only then did Justine realize she was clenching them in her lap.
“I do wish to discuss a few things with you,” he replied. “But first tell me how you and the baby go on.”
Justine smiled. “I must admit that he’s a complete love. He’s a sweet boy, and gives me very little trouble.”
“Really? Is that why he’s been keeping us awake at night with his caterwauling?” Steele asked.
“I’m not sure how you would even know that, since it’s almost morning by the time you come upstairs,” Justine retorted. “I’m quite sure the baby doesn’t keep you awake at all.”
His dark brows lifted with amusement. “And how do you know what time I come to bed, Miss Brightmore? Have you been keeping track of my movements? I confess I’m intrigued by your curiosity.”
Justine gasped at his outrageous implication, but before she could respond, Steele cut a sardonic glance in Dominic’s direction. “I suppose you have her spying on me, don’t you? You never could keep your nose out of my business.”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” Dominic said before returning his attention to Justine. “Is the baby proving difficult, my dear? Do you need more help? I will look about for a nurse who can be trusted, if that’s the case.”
“No, it’s fine,” Justine said, unaccountably annoyed. She rarely lost her temper and never with her godparent, but Steele had a knack for putting her on edge. She hated to think what she’d be like if she had to spend any appreciable amount of time with him.
Meet Author Vanessa Kelly:
Vanessa Kelly is a nationally bestselling author who was named by Booklist, the review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the "New Stars of Historical Romance." Her sensual, Regency-set historical romances have been nominated for awards in a number of contests, and her second book, Sex and The Single Earl, won the prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Secrets for Seducing a Royal Bodyguard, the first book in her new Renegade Royals Series, received a starred review from Publishers Weekly. Vanessa also writes USA Today Bestselling contemporary romance with her husband, under the pen name of V.K. Sykes.
website: http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com
blog: http: //www.vanessakellyauthor.com/vanessa-blog/
facebook: https://www.facebook.com/vanessakellyauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VanessaKellyAut
goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/2728107.Vanessa_Kelly
Tumblr: http://itsvanessakelly.tumblr.com/
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/vanessakellyaut/
Jaunty Quills: http://jauntyquills.com/
One print of SECRETS FOR SEDUCING A ROYAL BODYGUARD, book one of The Renegade Royals series per the total number of stops. (US/Ca only) Please see Terms & Conditions on the Rafflecopter widget.
Vanessa is also hosting a giveaway on her website for a chance to win one of three gift baskets stuffed with books, cookies and candy, and other fun gifts.
Link to contest on Vanessa’s website: http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com/contest/
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Stops:
http://events.litconnect.com/confessions-of-a-royal-bridegroom-by-vanessa-kelly/
Additional Event:
Facebook Celebration: April 1st; 7:30pm - 9:30pm EST
https://www.facebook.com/events/678674662170825
This excerpt brought me a small laugh. I guess all of the heroes hates it when the heroine wears a cap...an ugly one that doesn't match them. Tomorrow and it is release! I'm beyond happy
ReplyDeletebook sounds great cant wait til tomorrow to read
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sandy! I'm pretty happy about it, too!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jodi!
ReplyDeleteHi Vanessa! *waving*
ReplyDeleteWoW!!
One more day and I get my copy of your new release! Yippee!!
Thank you for another great excerpt from your new book, love it! I can't wait to read all the "back & forth" comments between Justine and Griffin.
I do enjoy friendly and snarky bantering between a couple.
Congrats again on your new book! :-)
Thanks so much for stopping by, Daliila! I'm excited for tomorrow!
ReplyDeleteOnly one more day! Feels like I've been waiting forever.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Kezia! I'll be happy when tomorrow arrives.
ReplyDeleteCan't wait to read it!
ReplyDeleteI love the story line on this one! Can't wait to read it! Love the Jon Paul cover art, too!
ReplyDeleteFun excerpt that left me eager to read the rest of the book.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the giveaway opportunity.
What's wrong with odd, quirky hats,right? Funny excerpt ;) thanks for the giveaway opportunity
ReplyDelete*Snort* Loved the excerpt - as usual! Poor girl no one likes her cap.
ReplyDeleteI can't wait to get my copy!
"ape leader'? a cap equates to being an ape leader? I need to read this book to find out about this. :)
ReplyDeleteJustine and Griffin are going to be quite a pair, I think.
I'm really enjoying this blog tour. The more I hear about Confessions of a Royal Bridegroom, the more I' dying to read it. :D
ReplyDeleteLoved the first book. Looking forward to reading this one.
ReplyDeleteI absolutely love the covers of these books! The first one was great so I'm looking forward to reading this one :)
ReplyDelete