The Vicar's Frozen Heart By Karyn Gerrard
Book #2 The Hornsby Brothers
approx 55,000 words
Historical/Victorian
Heat Level: Sensual
Historical/Victorian
Heat Level: Sensual
Kensington Publishing/Lyrical Press
Release Date: March 1, 2016
NOTE: This is not an inspirational romance.
His heart begins to heal…
He gave her shelter from the storm, nursed her back to health, just as any good man might do for a damsel in distress. But Tremain Colson is more than just a small town vicar performing a gallant duty. He’s an ex-soldier whose spirit has been ravaged by war, a nobleman hiding his aristocratic heritage. Yet despite his secrets, he cannot help but feel drawn to the fallen beauty and soon asks her to stay and care for the orphan in his charge…
And hers is lost…
Disgrace sent Eliza Winston out into the world, a governess in ruin. But once she finds herself in Tremain’s home—and in his bed—she realizes her handsome rescuer is the one in need of healing. No sooner does Eliza thaw the vicar’s heart than she realizes her own is in danger. For Tremain is not only the man she dreams of marrying, but a blueblood whose noble birth makes him an impossible match…
EXCERPT: Eliza’s entire body throbbed with pain. The fall from the carriage no doubt did damage as she’d rolled down a slight embankment, landing in a ditch. That much she did remember. Groaning, she tried to lift her arms. No luck.
The door swung open and banged against the wall, startling her. A tiny
squeak escaped her chapped lips. A tall, imposing man, leaning heavily on a
cane crossed the threshold. Dressed entirely in black, he hobbled closer to the
bed. All at once she was struck by his austere face. Deep frown lines were
etched on either side of his mouth which was turned down in a fierce scowl. Here
stood a man the furthest thing from a kind, older grandfather, more like a man
of thirty-odd years. He would be considered handsome, she supposed, with his
thick, raven-black hair and sculpted cheekbones, but the chilled expression he
gave evoked no warmth at all and his silver-gray eyes held the shade of chips
of ice from a frozen lake. Rather frightening and much like a stern schoolmaster
or unforgiving, sober priest, both of which Eliza had enough of in her life.
“You’re awake then?” The words were clipped and precise.
“Tha...thank you, sir,” she croaked. “Your name?”
The cane thumped heavily on the floor as he made his way to stand at her
bedside. “Tremain Colson.”
A deep voice, but it held no warmth at all. Well, she was thankful he
found her and took her in, but had the distinct feeling she’d be out on her
backside as soon as she became mobile. “My trunk?”
“I recovered it about an hour ago. I found you at half past four this
morning. It is now three in the afternoon.”
Goodness. She’d slept near around the clock. With great effort, she
managed to lift the blankets and peer under them. I’m only wearing my shift. Did this iceberg of a man strip off her
clothes and lay his hands on her? “My clothes?”
“I hung them by the fire in the parlor. May I have your name?”
Right.
“Eliza...Eliza Winston. Where am I?”
“The village of Hawksgreen. Where were you heading?”
His standing over her should be ominous for he had quite the presence. Yet
the fright she experienced initially dissipated even though he continued to act
in a grave, unfriendly manner. What a dark, brooding man.
“Dover...I think.”
“Are you in pain?”
Yes, you daft man, I was tossed from a moving carriage. She no longer wished to converse. Instead she gave
him a brisk nod.
“Very well, I will make you a cup of willow bark tea.” He turned on his
heel and hobbled out. Eliza admired the view. Well-proportioned with broad
shoulders, at least it appeared as such considering he wore wool trousers and a
matching coat. The clothes fit him well, the coat hugging a slim waist. He wore
no cravat, but the shirt was buttoned up to his neck. Wonder how Mr. Colson
injured his leg? He’d grimace in pain as he turned to leave. Even with his
disability he brought her and her trunk into his home? Perhaps he also
experienced discomfort this day.
Where on God’s Earth was Hawksgreen? She’d never heard of it. A shiver
of apprehension ran down her spine. She needed time to construct a sound plan
for her future, a plan all the harder to make since she’d been robbed. Not a
farthing to her name and she possessed nothing of value to sell. Eliza doubted
this man would be empathetic to her plight. Perhaps he had a long-suffering,
kindly wife who would take pity on her. Nevertheless, if she must exaggerate
her injuries to gain more time, she would.
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Check out: BOLD SEDUCTION (The Hornsby Brothers #1)
BOLD SEDUCTION
The Hornsby Brothers #1
Karyn Gerrard
Release Sept 1st, 2015
Lyrical Press
No offer is more daring…
BOLD SEDUCTION
An Intriguing Proposition
Passion. Seduction. Pleasure. These are the qualities of any courtesan worth her salt. As owner of The Starling Club, London’s most notorious house of ill-repute, Madame Philomena McGrattan has seen it all, heard it all, done it all. There is little that surprises her anymore, and even less that excites her. So when she is presented a chance at an irresistible seduction, she can’t help but rise to the challenge.
A Dangerous Game
Studiousness. Practicality. Discipline. Such are the attributes of a good scholar, and such are the principles Lord Spencer Hornsby has built his life around. Alone in the Welsh countryside, with only his wolfhounds for company, Spencer has thrown himself into his work. There is little time for the pleasures of society, not even to think of the joys of the fairer sex. But when an unexpected guest arrives at his isolated hunting lodge, Spencer cannot help but be baffled by the presence of this dangerously beautiful woman. And when he discovers the reason for her arrival, and the pleasures she promises, he cannot help but find himself irresistibly intrigued . . .
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