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Grace Elliot

Book Feature – Verity’s Lie by Grace Elliot

By Barb Drozdowich Leave a Comment

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today we are welcoming Grace Elliot to the blog! She is here to share some information about her latest book, Verity’s Lie. If this book sounds like something that you are interested in reading, find some buy links below and pick up a copy.

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Verity's LieVerity’s Lie by Grace Elliot

Charles Huntley, Lord Ryevale, infamous rogue…and government agent.

In unsettled times, with England at war with France, Ryevale is assigned to covertly protect a politician’s daughter, Miss Verity Verrinder. To keep Verity under his watchful eye, Ryevale plots a campaign of seduction that no woman can resist– except it seems, Miss Verrinder. In order to gain her trust Ryevale enters Verity’s world of charity meetings and bookshops…where the unexpected happens and he falls in love with his charge.

When Lord Ryevale turns his bone-melting charms on her, Verity questions his lordship’s motivation. But with her controlling father abroad, Verity wishes to explore London and reluctantly accepts Ryevale’s companionship. As the compelling attraction between them strengthens, Verity is shattered to learn her instincts are correct after all – and Ryevale is not what he seems. If Lord Ryevale can lie, then so can she…but with disastrous consequences.

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Excerpt:

Verity closed the library door and wilted.  With toe-curling embarrassment she recalled her prudish disapproval and cringed afresh.  Why couldn’t she have appeared worldly and calm, instead of behaving like a stuttering, prissy schoolgirl.  And why Lord Ryevale, of all people?  If she hadn’t been distracted by plans to confront her father, then she wouldn’t have been caught so off guard.  Verity took comfort in that it was unlikely their paths would cross again.

Clutching Cicero against her chest like a shield, Verity composed her thoughts before facing her father, then made for the garden.  The root of her discomfort lay in noticing Lord Ryevale earlier that evening.  When he arrived, the atmosphere had changed tangibly; women became more vivacious and men bristled defensively.  He moved with the self-assurance of a pack leader and, when he passed close by, a wicked smile quirked across his intriguing lips—and Verity didn’t usually notice mouths.  But more alarming still were his eyes—nut brown and intense—and when he had glanced in her direction, she felt as if he could read her mind.  Shaken, she wondered if she had inherited her mother’s weakness for the opposite sex, a sobering thought that worried her.

From his wide chest and broad shoulders, to the square jaw and strong cheekbones, Ryevale filled her mind; so when she had received her father’s note to fetch his copy of Cicero, she had welcomed the excuse to leave the ball and calm her wits.  That was, until she opened the library door to find the man she was running from in a compromising position with another man’s wife.

After three laps of the garden, her cheeks had cooled and her mind felt more ordered.

Tonight she would seize the moment; before her father left on business, she would appeal for more freedom.  Her speech planned out, she was ready to face him.

Verity hurried along the corridor, pausing outside the study door to straighten her hair. This was it: now or never.  She knocked and, at a gruff acknowledgment from the other side, entered.

Between the gloomy room and being a little nearsighted, it took Verity a moment to assimilate three men were present: her father, the prime minister and a figure in the shadows.

“Father.  Lord Liverpool.”  She squinted, trying to identify their guest.  As Ryevale stepped forward, her pulse hit a crescendo.  Alarm fluttered in her breast, threatening her ability to breathe.  “My lord.”  How her voice held steady, she had no idea.

“Good evening.”

He stood at ease, which irritated her.  Why did her wits scatter like pigeons before a cat when he smiled in that bone-melting way?  Annoyed at herself, she answered his smile with a glare before turning to her father.  “Your book, Father.”

“Ah, Verity.  Thank you.”

Her father took a cursory glance at the spine then set the Cicero aside.

Verity longed to escape, to be able to breathe and to release the tension swelling in her chest.

“If that’s all, I won’t intrude further.”  She felt Ryevale’s gaze, hot against her skin, and some unnamed sensation coiled and tightened inside.

“Ah, Verity, let me introduce my guest.”

“We’ve already met,” she replied tartly.

 Verity’s Lie is available at:

Amazon.com   *   Amazon.uk

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Author bio and links

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and author of historical romance by night. Grace lives near London and is passionate about history, romance and cats! She is housekeeping staff to five cats, two sons, one husband and a bearded dragon (not necessarily listed in order of importance). “Verity’s Lie” is Grace’s fourth novel.

Subscribe to Grace’s quarterly newsletter here:  http://bit.ly/V7T6Jd

Grace can be found:

Blog   *   Website   *   Twitter   *   Amazon Author Page   *   Facebook

 

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Book Feature – Hope’s Betrayal by Grace Elliot

By Barb Drozdowich Leave a Comment

Welcome to Sugarbeat’s Books – The Home of the Romance Novel!

Today we are celebrating the release of Grace Elliot’s book Hope’s Betrayal.  Sit back and enjoy the information.  I hope that if this sounds like a book that you might be interested in, use the buy links at the bottom of the post and pick up a copy.

sugarbeat's books romance books romance novel reviews historical contemporary eroticaOne wild, winter’s night two worlds collide.

Known for his ruthless efficiency, Captain George Huntley is sent to stamp out smuggling on the south coast of England. On a night raid, the Captain captures a lanky lad, but finds his troubles are just beginning when the lad turns out to be a lass, Hope Tyler.

With Hope as bait, the Captain sets a trap to catch the rest of the gang. But in a battle of wills, with his reputation at stake, George Huntley starts to respect feisty, independent Hope. Challenged by her sea-green eyes and stubborn loyalty Huntley now faces a new threat – his growing attraction to a sworn enemy. And a love where either Hope betrays her own kind, or Captain Huntley is court-marshalled, is not an easy destiny to follow.

 

Available from:  Amazon US     *     Amazon UK     *     Smashwords

 

Excerpt:

Injured on a smuggling run, Hope wakes to face the naval officer who captured her.

 

Hope kept her eyes closed as she became conscious of a man’s heavy tread pacing the room. She waited until he was at the window and opened her eyelids a fraction. With the light behind him she saw an athletic man with wide shoulders, tall enough to have to stoop under the sloping eaves. Her stomach felt hollow with foreboding, for without doubt, this was the same man who’d pursued her over the dunes.

He must have sensed a change in her breathing, for suddenly he turned. He stared, with piercing blue eyes that penetrated her soul. Dressed in a naval uniform, the jacket cuffs ringed with gold braid, the man exuded authority. He continued to stare, his face unreadable; wilful, she decided, and yet uncommonly handsome. She blushed and reached for the covers, pulling them up to her chin.

“So, enough pretending. You are awake at last.” His voice, deep and melodic, brooked no argument.

“Please, sir, where am I?”

“Under house arrest.” He growled, obviously no friend. And yet, she touched her bandaged head, someone had taken care of her.

“You are in pain?” His consideration was surprising.

“Not so much now.”

The answer pleased him. “Good, then you have some explaining to do.”

“Please, sir, who are you?”

The man threw her a sideways glance and started to pace.

“Captain Huntley, RN. And you are?”

She decided against lying, her name alone couldn’t incriminate her family.

“Hope Tyler.”

“Well Miss Tyler, have you the slightest idea how much trouble you’re in?”

“Yes.”

The Captain stared at the ceiling. “A man died because of your felony. A Revenue man. He leaves a wife and three children.”

“I’m so sorry.” She whispered in distress.

“His fellow officers are baying for blood.”

Hope trembled, things were worse than she imagined.

“Someone must hang for his death.”

Her throat closed over.

“Be it you…or the man who pulled the trigger….my men don’t care.” Captain Huntley stepped closer, his presence dominating the room. She couldn’t breathe, he seemed made of granite, his eyes like flints, sparking with anger. “But I’m different.” His expression softened imperceptibly. “I like to think of myself as a fair man.”

Hope nodded, to encourage him.

“Any fool can see you are just a bit-player, a lackey. The men I want are the leaders, those who finance the contraband and organise the landings. Tell me who they are, and I shall intercede on your behalf with the authorities.”

“What if I don’t know their names?”

His wide mouth twitched downward. “Then I cannot help you.”

She would have shaken her head had it not been too painful. “The men you speak of aren’t stupid. They will know I am taken, and know if I betray them. If I do… they will come for my family.”

“Then put them behind bars.”

“It’s too risky. This way, it’s only me.”

He tried to hide it, but he looked surprised. She saw him drinking in the logic of her words and a shadow darkened his face. Clasping his hands behind his back, he turned to stare through the window.

“Tell me,” he said benignly, “what does it feel like to be abandoned? Because that’s what the smugglers did. Sailed away without a backward glance and left you to your fate.”

 

*****

Grace Elliot leads a double life as a veterinarian by day and an author of historical romance by night. Grace is an avid reader and believes intelligent people need to read romance – as an antidote to the modern world. She works in a companion animal practice near London and is housekeeping staff to five demanding felines.

“Hope’s Betrayal” is Grace’s third historical romance novel – to find out more please visit: https://www.amazon.com/author/graceelliot

Blog: “Fall in Love With History” http://graceelliot-author.blogspot.com

Twitter: @Grace_Elliot

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