Hopeless Romantic

REVENGE WILL BE HIS DOWNFALL…

The Marquess of Wesley is out for blood. For a year, Lord Wesley has tried to undo the devastation his father left to Penndrake, their ancestral home, only to discover the man gambled it away right before his death. Now Wesley is being blackmailed by the new owner into marrying a woman he’s never met in order to get it back. But his intentions are less than honorable…

At one and twenty, Miss Kate Holden intends to become a governess, having sworn off all men years ago. However, her plans are halted when she receives a daunting letter from her cousin about a Lord Wesley. Ignorant of the name, and the devilish marquess that wears it all too well, she nearly ends up compromised. Refusing to fall prey to Wesley’s skillful seduction, Kate decides to turn things around on the rake. But the high-stakes game between them soon leads to her losing the last thing she expected…her heart.

About the Book

A Mistress for Penndrake
by Tammy L. Bailey

Series
n/a; standalone

Genre
Adult
Historical Romance

Publisher
Entangled Amara

Publication Date
May 28, 2018

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EXCERPT

“So, to what do I owe the honor of your divine company, Miss Holden?”

She quirked a neat eyebrow and opened her rose petal lips, a motion he watched with sober interest. Everything about her stirred a subtle, yet alarming attraction. All of this forced him to keep reminding himself the woman existed only as a means to an end, nothing more.

“My lord, I’ve come…” She hesitated, he believed, to gather enough courage to go through with her reason.

“You’ve come,” he repeated in an overly husky voice, trying to fluster her further.

She puffed out her cheeks and tempered a few silent words. He wanted to chuckle. He refrained, instead, by hiding his mirth behind a tight fist.

“You think my discomfort is amusing, do you not?” she asked, seeing right through him. If she expected an answer, she didn’t wait to hear it, her body set in motion at a hurried pace in his direction. “Edward told me—”

Wesley shot out of his relaxed stance and met her halfway. He towered over her, trying to intimidate her. To his dismay, she didn’t cower, she didn’t even flinch.

“Yes,” he said, bending down low enough to see a hint of amber reflected in her distrusting eyes. “Go on. I’d love to hear more about your dear cousin, Miss Holden.”

As he waited for her response, the light from the open window shifted, bathing his guest in the brilliant radiance of the late-day sun. She remained silent, her hands flying to the pocket of her dress, as if to protect whatever lay inside. Beyond any doubt, Wesley believed she knew something. She would not be here, would not have come swathed in mystery and risking her own reputation, if this did not involve Edward’s guidance in some way.

The curiosity of what she held compelled him to keep her at Penndrake until he found out what Edward Garrett wanted her to know. Out of patience, he eased away from her.

“Miss Holden, may I suggest we take a walk in the gardens? The day is almost gone, but there is enough light to see us through, allowing us to discuss this further without interruption.”

Again, she opened her curved lip but said nothing. Suspicion sprang from her demeanor, her gaze darting

around the room as if searching for the closest exit. Instead of fleeing, however, she motioned with a surrendering nod, stepping forward until the coat of arms over the fireplace caught her attention.

He studied her as she examined the Wesley motto, her lips moving mutely as she read the three words embedded at the bottom of the shield. Shameful heat rose from deep inside him, and he lifted a rare prayer to the heavens for her not to know the meaning of those powerful words. Maybes he was too poor to have been schooled like her giddy cousins.

Even so, he studied her curious face until she turned to him, her eyes void of any awareness or comprehension. Breathing a sigh of relief, he held his arm out for her to take. She paused, a timid and uncertain hand coming up to rest on his sleeve.

Outside, the day had faded into dusk and dazzled the sight, impressing upon it a majestic beauty of pearl-pink altostratus clouds. Behind them tumbled a blanket of slate-gray vapors, an ominous forewarning of twilight.

The much cooler breeze tugged at the tails of his heavy jacket. He slowed his pace and continued to escort her down a flight of stone steps onto a spacious unblemished lawn. They walked for several hundred yards in silence, him admiring her wondrous interest. On their way to the garden, they passed the stocked fish pond and the honeysuckle-laden labyrinth.

Toward the east, he halted at a stone fountain, centered in the thickest part of the coppice. Large shadows turned the evening darker, the chilly autumn wind transforming Miss Holden’s dewy skin to a nice pink. With his arm outstretched, he persuaded her to a wrought iron bench on the opposite side of where they stood.

“Please have a seat with me.”

He pointed, and she accepted his invitation, much too carelessly, he thought.

She sat down first, her behind resting on the farthest edge of one side. Not to frighten her, he followed suit, allowing enough space to fit her three female cousins between them.

After a quiet moment, he pronounced, “I believe you don’t think too highly of me, Miss Holden, and I would like to persuade you otherwise.”

She drew back and gawked at him with wide sage-like eyes. A wisp of her hair tumbled down into her thick lashes.

Unhindered, she blew it away with a quickly exhaled breath.

Her refinement, or lack thereof, surprised him. Most women—no—all women of her lower station practiced the art of how to appeal to a man and his interests, enough so to attract an amiable and sensible husband. Perhaps, however, Miss Kathryn Holden had no reason to draw the attention of the opposite sex, especially since she had another companion in mind. He tried to convince himself it didn’t matter either way.

Her experience might play to his advantage.

Still, he sought the truth on the matter, just because his thoughts weren’t able to let it go. “Forgive me if I seem too impertinent—”

She scoffed. “You’ve just now thought of apologizing for something you’re about to say? How extraordinary.”

He chuckled and shook his head. “Sarcasm does not become you, madam.”

“Neither does naivety.”

Blitz Wide Giveaway

To celebrate the book blitz for A MISTRESS FOR PENNDRAKE by Tammy L. Bailey, we’re we’re giving away a $25 Amazon gift card and an ebook copy of her book Mine, Forever & Always!

GIVEAWAY TERMS & CONDITIONS:  Open internationally. Two winners will be chosen, one to receive a $25 Amazon gift card and one to receive an ebook copy of Mine, Forever & Always by Tammy L. Bailey. This giveaway is administered by Pure Textuality PR on behalf of Tammy L. Bailey.  Giveaway ends 9/12/2018 @ 11:59pm EST. Tammy L. Bailey will send the prizes directly. Limit one entry per reader and mailing address. Duplicates will be deleted.  CLICK HERE TO ENTER!

AUTHOR Q & A

Does writing energize or exhaust you? I think it does both. When I have an idea, I feel energetic to write it. However, I have a full-time job, so staying up until 2 am and then having to get up a few hours later can be exhausting.

What is your writing Kryptonite? Time. Between work, family, math homework, and not burning dinner, I don’t have a lot of time to write. I see other authors publish one or two sometimes, three books a year. I would love to do that someday.

Did you ever consider writing under a pseudonym? No, although I’ve been told it’s better to have a pen name when writing two or more genres. I just don’t think I could keep up with having several different names. I’m REALLY bad at remembering people’s names; I’m afraid I’d forget who I was eventually.

Do you think someone could be a writer if they don’t feel emotions strongly? I think anyone could be a great writer. I believe one has to have a free imagination (no limitations). One also needs to feel positive about what they’re writing. When you doubt yourself, the readers feel it, too.   

What’s your favorite under-appreciated novel? One of my favorite novels or short stories is Le Silence de la Mer, The Silence of the Sea by “Vercors”. It’s a very short novel about the French Resistance during World War II. The movie adaptation with the French actor, Thomas Jouannet, is also one of my favorite foreign films of all times.

As a writer, what would you choose as your mascot/avatar/spirit animal? A chickadee. According to Native America teachings, they are kind, helpful and like to bring happiness and joy. It is my ultimate goal to bring joy and happiness to my readers through my writing.

How many unpublished and half-finished books do you have? I have four and a half unpublished/unfinished books. I turned one of them into a writing contest where Debbie Macomber was one of the judges. She wrote and said she liked my writing and believed I’d become a published author someday. It took a while, but every time I wanted to give up, I went back and read what she wrote.

What does literary success look like to you? Simply, being able to write full time, bringing joy to my readers, and being admired by my peers.

How long were you a part-time writer before you became a full-time one? I’m still a part-time writer. My ultimate goal is to retire and write full time, near a mountain stream, with a tall cup of coffee next to my computer.

How many hours a day do you write? I only have about 1 to 2 hours a day to write during the weekday. I have to split my weekends between writing and marketing.  

What did you edit out of this book?” I had to edit out a sword fight scene. It might have been a little too dramatic for a historical romance. Honestly, I was a little sad to see it go, though.  

If you didn’t write, what would you do for work? Currently, my full-time job is as a nursing secretary for a local community college. If I didn’t write, and I could choose a dream job, I think it would be working in a quaint bookstore with a vintage coffee shop attached.

Do you read your book reviews? How do you deal with bad or good ones? I do. Most of my reviews are very positive, and I enjoy reading how a reader loved my writing or my characters. I feel it was worth it to spend all night writing, knowing I had to go into work the next day…with very little sleep.

Regarding negative reviews, they can be hard to read, but as long as they are constructive and respectful, I’ll take something positive away. Unfortunately, some reviews have no takeaway and can be almost cruel.  For this reason, I will never post a negative review of another author’s book. Call it an Author Code. I respect my peers too much and understand the sacrifices we’ve made along the way.

Do you Google yourself? I don’t, but my husband and sons will ask Alexa, “Who is Tammy L. Bailey?” I think that’s pretty cool.

Does your family support your career as a writer? Absolutely. I couldn’t imagine a more supportive family.

How long on average does it take you to write a book? About six months to a year. Between my schedule and being a perfectionist, this is my goal.  

About Tammy L. Bailey

A LEO wife, mother, and military veteran, TAMMY L. BAILEY began writing when the shows and movies she watched didn’t end the way she wanted them to end. Whether it’s historical or contemporary, for her, there must always be a happy ending.

When she’s not writing, she’s spending time with her husband and two boys near Cleveland, Ohio. Without their sacrifice and understanding, she believes she would have never been able to pursue her passion of writing or her accomplishment of becoming a published author. Keep in touch by signing up for her newsletter at tammylbailey.com.

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