Wilhelmina Corbet has dreamed of Blake since she was twelve. But the thought of marrying the handsome earl terrifies her. She comes to his estate, Hawkeswood, determined to measure up to his expectations for a wife. But after time spent with him in London, Mina begins to wonder if the rake is the man she wants to marry.
Can they find happiness when a handsome heir to a dukedom, unruly pets, and a young chimney sweep are thrown into the mix?
Refreshed edition.
Amazon
Amazon UK
Amazon AU
Smashwords
Barnes & Noble
Kobo
Ibooks
Excerpt:
Another
of my refreshed backlist books is released for pre-order in a week: HOW
TO TAME A RAKE. A romance with a touch of comedy and suspense:
Due to the codicil in his father’s will, Blake Dangerfield, Earl of Hawkeswood, must marry the woman chosen for him, or lose part of his inheritance. Did his father hate him that much? Wilhelmina Corbet is a hoyden, not long out of the schoolroom, who hails from a farm in Northumberland. The last time Blake saw her she wore braids and climbed a tree to rescue a kitten.
Wilhelmina Corbet has dreamed of Blake since she was twelve. But the thought of marrying the handsome earl terrifies her. She comes to his estate, Hawkeswood, determined to measure up to his expectations for a wife. But after time spent with him in London, Mina begins to wonder if the rake is the man she wants to marry.
Can they find happiness when a handsome heir to a dukedom, unruly pets, and a young chimney sweep are thrown into the mix?
Here's an excerpt: The groom rushed over to Blake and engaged him in conversation. When Blake spied Mina atop Thundercloud, he looked much like a thundercloud himself. He gestured for her to return to the mounting yard with a sharp motion of his arm.
She meekly obeyed.
“You are not riding that stallion, Wilhelmina! He was a misjudged purchase of my father’s. He’s the very devil.”
“As you see, Cou ... Blake, I am riding him.”
“Come here.”
She rode up to him, and Blake unceremoniously pulled her down from the horse. “Take him back to his stall, Tarrow,” he said, tossing the reins to the groom.
More breathless from the touch of Blake’s hands at her waist than at the confrontation, Mina studied his handsome face, hating to see the world-weary expression in his eyes. She was just a nuisance to him, and he wished her gone. “I assure you I can handle him. He was a perfect angel.”
“An angel one minute and a devil the next.”
Mina folded her arms. “I would have thought you could ride him.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I can.”
“But you’re a bit wary of him,” she said politely.
Blake frowned. “I’m not a bit afraid of him. I prefer Ebony Fire—he’s a far superior horse.”
“Oh, I understand.” She gazed up at the sky. “One is entitled to have a favorite.”
“Thank you,” he said in an ironic tone.
“Not at all, I quite understand.” Mina tapped her riding crop on her gloved hand.
He eyed her suspiciously. “No need to repeat it.”
“But I do, honestly.”
“Why, you wicked girl.” A brief smile lifted his lips. “I believe you’re toad-eating me.” He called to the groom. “Bring Thundercloud back, Tarrow, and put a saddle on him. I’ll ride him.”
“Oh, if you’re sure?” Mina said. “He really does need exercise.”
“And shall you be glad if he throws me over a hedge?”
“Oh no,” Mina said hurriedly. “I shan’t like that at all. But you can ride him, can’t you? I wouldn’t—”
“Enough!” Blake said. “We shan’t travel down that road again.” He looked around. “Where’s that horse I picked out for the lady to ride?” he bellowed at the hapless groom.
Mina shook her head. “I’m not riding that ... that sleepy pony.”
Blake gave a grudging laugh. “Sleepy pony, is it?” He walked along, studying his stable of fine horses. He stopped in front of a solidly built grey of about fourteen hands. “What about Silver Shadow?”
She came and rested her arms on the box and the sturdy horse nudged her hand looking for apples. “Very well,” she said. But she intended to ride Thundercloud one day. She was confident of her ability and would fight to prove her worth to this man.
Due to the codicil in his father’s will, Blake Dangerfield, Earl of Hawkeswood, must marry the woman chosen for him, or lose part of his inheritance. Did his father hate him that much? Wilhelmina Corbet is a hoyden, not long out of the schoolroom, who hails from a farm in Northumberland. The last time Blake saw her she wore braids and climbed a tree to rescue a kitten.
Wilhelmina Corbet has dreamed of Blake since she was twelve. But the thought of marrying the handsome earl terrifies her. She comes to his estate, Hawkeswood, determined to measure up to his expectations for a wife. But after time spent with him in London, Mina begins to wonder if the rake is the man she wants to marry.
Can they find happiness when a handsome heir to a dukedom, unruly pets, and a young chimney sweep are thrown into the mix?
Here's an excerpt: The groom rushed over to Blake and engaged him in conversation. When Blake spied Mina atop Thundercloud, he looked much like a thundercloud himself. He gestured for her to return to the mounting yard with a sharp motion of his arm.
She meekly obeyed.
“You are not riding that stallion, Wilhelmina! He was a misjudged purchase of my father’s. He’s the very devil.”
“As you see, Cou ... Blake, I am riding him.”
“Come here.”
She rode up to him, and Blake unceremoniously pulled her down from the horse. “Take him back to his stall, Tarrow,” he said, tossing the reins to the groom.
More breathless from the touch of Blake’s hands at her waist than at the confrontation, Mina studied his handsome face, hating to see the world-weary expression in his eyes. She was just a nuisance to him, and he wished her gone. “I assure you I can handle him. He was a perfect angel.”
“An angel one minute and a devil the next.”
Mina folded her arms. “I would have thought you could ride him.”
He raised an eyebrow. “I can.”
“But you’re a bit wary of him,” she said politely.
Blake frowned. “I’m not a bit afraid of him. I prefer Ebony Fire—he’s a far superior horse.”
“Oh, I understand.” She gazed up at the sky. “One is entitled to have a favorite.”
“Thank you,” he said in an ironic tone.
“Not at all, I quite understand.” Mina tapped her riding crop on her gloved hand.
He eyed her suspiciously. “No need to repeat it.”
“But I do, honestly.”
“Why, you wicked girl.” A brief smile lifted his lips. “I believe you’re toad-eating me.” He called to the groom. “Bring Thundercloud back, Tarrow, and put a saddle on him. I’ll ride him.”
“Oh, if you’re sure?” Mina said. “He really does need exercise.”
“And shall you be glad if he throws me over a hedge?”
“Oh no,” Mina said hurriedly. “I shan’t like that at all. But you can ride him, can’t you? I wouldn’t—”
“Enough!” Blake said. “We shan’t travel down that road again.” He looked around. “Where’s that horse I picked out for the lady to ride?” he bellowed at the hapless groom.
Mina shook her head. “I’m not riding that ... that sleepy pony.”
Blake gave a grudging laugh. “Sleepy pony, is it?” He walked along, studying his stable of fine horses. He stopped in front of a solidly built grey of about fourteen hands. “What about Silver Shadow?”
She came and rested her arms on the box and the sturdy horse nudged her hand looking for apples. “Very well,” she said. But she intended to ride Thundercloud one day. She was confident of her ability and would fight to prove her worth to this man.
No comments:
Post a Comment