Holding Out for a Hero

I’ve written many heroes over the years, but Stephen Roth may be unique. How many Regency gentlemen not only fought Napoleon for his country but also served as bodyguard to a royal house? Roth is the last of my Batavarian Imperial Guards to marry, and his story, Never Hire a Hero, is the finale of my Fortune’s Brides series.

A former elite soldier, Stephen Roth was trained to be ruthless as he served as bodyguard for kings and princes. So why would his English patroness, Lady Belfort, and her cat, Fortune, arrange for him to take a position as the tutor to the heir of Alldene Castle and the boy’s siblings? And why does the children’s mother, Lady Alldene, look at him with shining eyes, as if he could be some sort of hero? This was not the sort of challenge he bargained for!

A peer in her own right, Thea, Countess of Alldene, was raised in Alldene Castle and taught how to rule over it. But nothing prepared her for the death of her husband and the villainy of the man he appointed as guardian for her children. If a tutor with a razor-sharp gaze will prevent that man from taking her sons away from her, she’s willing to put up with Roth’s rough-shod ways.

But the castle holds a secret that may prove Thea’s undoing. When danger threatens, she turns to the one man who might be able to keep them all safe. Could a marriage of convenience over Christmas prove that heroes can turn up in the least likely places?

“I fell in love with Never Hire a Hero on the first pages. My heart immediately went out to a family trying to overcome their past and not shirk their responsibilities or let the bullies rule. Thea is a wonderful mother trying to do too much with too little and she needs help. Luckily, she’s found a friend. If you love your sweet romance to have substance, you can’t go wrong with a book by Ms. Scott!” Gina Hott, Hott Book Reviews

Available in paperback and ebook from fine online retailers (and you can order at a bookstore near you), such as

Directly from me 

Smashwords 

Amazon (Affiliate Link)

Barnes and Noble 

Apple Books 

Kobo 

And if you want to learn more about the entire fourteen-book series, see my website.

Beguiling the Bodyguard

Fortune the cat is back with another set of matches to make, this time with the Batavarian Imperial Guards. These four elite soldiers find themselves up to their medals in romance and adventure as they start new lives in Regency England. First up is Finn Huber.

When Finn was released from his duties to his king and crown prince, he never dreamed his first position in England would be bodyguard to a governess whose sweet nature calls to him. He fell for a lady he was guarding years ago, with devastating consequences. He learned the hard way that bodyguards must be vigilant, valiant, and in control, always. Loving who they guard is strictly forbidden.

Governess Abigail Winchester beguiles her charges with warm smiles and gentle words, but her composure is hard won. Someone knows about her connection to a family scandal and is bent on destroying her. How kind of her benefactress, Lady Belfort, to hire Finn to keep her safe as she hides at the lady’s country estate. He is everything a lady might admire, but she cannot give in to her growing feelings for him. Finn’s honor and her past can never be reconciled.

But Lady Belfort and her cat, Fortune, are renowned for making matches—in employment and in romance. With their help, Finn and Abigail must uncover who is threatening her and stop the villain before it’s too late. In the end, will honor or love prevail?

5 Stars! “Well written, engaging, and does not slow down.” The Huntress Reviews

You can find Never Beguile a Bodyguard at fine online retailers and bookstores near you as well as directly from me! My store has ebook versions of all my books published through Edwards and Williams, delivered via Book Funnel. Or try

Smashwords 

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

Apple Books 

Kobo  

An independent bookstore near you (paperback) 

Books-A-Million 

The Book Depository, free shipping worldwide

Never Say Never, to a Marquess

So, this author sets out to write a Regency series about a matchmaking cat…

I can’t believe we are at the final book (for now, at least) in the Fortune’s Brides series. A huge thank you to those who have followed along as Miss Thorn and her beloved cat Fortune attempt to find positions for gentlewomen down on their luck, all of whom somehow end up married!

Never Marry a Marquess is now available for preorder. Shy Ivy Bateman has always felt more comfortable behind the scenes than front and center. She is happiest caring for her family and baking sweet treats. She certainly never expected the wealthy Marquess of Kendall to propose marriage, especially a marriage of convenience. It seems his baby daughter needs a mother, and Ivy cannot deny the attraction of the role, or the attraction she feels for the handsome marquess.

Kendall had asked Miss Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency to find him a particular sort of lady. His heart went to the grave with his first wife. Now, all he cares about is ensuring his frail daughter doesn’t follow it. Installing Ivy Bateman as his next marchioness will not disrupt his life or make him question his love for his dead wife. But as he comes to appreciate Ivy’s sweet nature, he begins to wonder about their future. When an old enemy strikes at Miss Thorn and all her ladies, a grieving lord and a shy lady must work together to save the day. In doing so, they might just discover that love, and a good cinnamon bun, can heal all wounds.

You can preorder the book at fine online retailers and purchase soon in print:

Smashwords  

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

Kobo  

Apple Books 

I’ll share more when the book launches in June. Happy reading!

Interview: Meredith Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency

I am pleased to have with us today Miss Meredith Thorn of the Fortune Employment Agency. The raven-haired, lavender-eyed Miss Thorn recently featured in my Never Doubt a Duke and Never Borrow a Baronet and will shortly be involved in Never Envy an Earl. She and her beloved pet Fortune consented to sit for a brief interview. Welcome, Miss Thorn and Fortune.

Miss T: A pleasure.

Fortune consents to have the top of her head rubbed.

19T: A lady of your breeding generally doesn’t trouble herself with matters of trade. What led you to start the Fortune Employment Agency?

Miss T: I observed that many young women ended up going into service, of a sort—governesses, companions, teachers, and the like. In some cases, they were well treated, becoming cherished members of the family or the institution they served. In others, their lives became nothing short of drudgery, with little hope of change. I determined to change that.

19T: There are other employment agencies. Why is yours special?

Fortune pulls away to regard me as if I have suddenly forgotten something important.

Miss T: The Fortune Employment Agency is special because Fortune and I take great care in matching the situation to a lady’s particular needs. For example, Jane Kimball had lost her husband in battle, and with him any chance of having a family. I introduced her into a household where she had every opportunity to find a family of her own.

19T: Yes, I understand she’s shortly to be married. I received the invitation just the other day. A duke, no less.

Miss T, smiling: Yes, quite.

Fortune seems to be smiling as well.

19T: Why did you name your agency after your cat?

Miss T, turning her smile on the gray cat, who gazes back with copper-colored eyes: I’ve found Fortune to be very wise when it comes to determining the character of a lady and a gentleman.

19T: More skilled than you?

Miss T: Decidedly so. My discernment has failed once or twice, with disastrous results. Fortune’s never fails.

19T: Never?

Fortune turns her back on me.

Miss T: Not that I have found. She picked the Duke of Wey for Jane and Sir Harry Atwood for Patience. And she was quite fond of the Earl of Carrolton.

19T: Oh, who has Fortune matched to the earl?

Miss T: I am not at liberty to say.

19T: Fine. Then let’s talk further about you. You take your duty quite seriously, I see. Did you have a difficult time in service yourself?

Miss T, adjusting the lace at the cuffs of her lavender gown: Something like that.

19T: And has Fortune matched you with a gentleman?

Fortune: Meow!

Miss T: Now, now, none of that. I’m merely considering the matter. He has a long way to go to prove himself to me after how we parted.

19T: Do tell!

Miss T: I really should be going. Perhaps another time.

So, it seems Miss Thorn still has a few secrets she will not share. Never fear, dear reader, we will unearth them.

And so can you, in Never Borrow a Baronet. Here are the links one last time:

Smashwords 

Amazon 

Barnes and Noble 

Kobo 

iTunes 

How Many Brides for Fortune?

Thank you to all those who have bought and reviewed and written me about Never Doubt a Duke and the new Fortune’s Brides series. I cannot tell you how gratified I am by your encouragement. One question keeps coming up: how many brides will Fortune arrange?

For those of you who haven’t read the first book or heard much about it yet, Fortune is a grey cat with a white blaze down her chest and copper-colored eyes. I picture her as a type of British shorthair.

Her owner, Meredith Thorn, runs the Fortune Employment Agency. Meredith has had some misfortunes of her own, and she doesn’t entirely trust her own judgement when it comes to people. But she trusts Fortune to know whether a gentleman is worthwhile pursuing as an employer.

Or a husband.

My current plan is to have Fortune involved with matching every level of title, though not necessarily in the order of precedence: prince, duke, marquess, earl, viscount, baron, baronet, and knight. If everything goes as planned, the first four books will be out this year:

• Never Doubt a Duke, out now
• Never Borrow a Baronet, available for preorder now
• Never Envy an Earl, out in August
• Never Vie for a Viscount, out in November.

Phew! Fortune is going to be one busy kitty.

If you have other questions about the series, please let me know, and I’ll be delighted to answer.