Ah, the summer house party, where ladies and gentlemen flirt
to their heart’s content over games on the lawn and walks in the garden. Where
the moonlight inspires sweet kisses. Where alliances are announced and matches
are made. Where a young lady’s mistaken cry can banish a handsome rake to
Jamaica.
Wait, what?
Welcome to Summer House Party, a new anthology of
traditional Regency romance novellas by bestselling authors well known in the
genre. I’m delighted to be part of this set from Mirror Press, which also
features stories by the incomparable Donna Hatch and the beloved Sarah M. Eden.
Here’s what you’ll find.
“The Paupers’ House Party” by Sarah M. Eden--It’s a rare
event that Edward Downy and his brother are invited to a house party by a
member of the ton. But when they arrive, Edward quickly realizes this house
party is different than any other. All invited guests are quite destitute,
fallen members of Society barely hanging onto their homes. The hosts of the
house party, the Warricks, then make a stunning announcement—they intend to
gift all their properties to one fortunate guest. As the guests race to impress
the Warricks, Edward finds a fast friend in Agatha Holmwood, who shares his
same aversion to the horrible expectations. But their growing fondness for each
other only makes the game more painful.
“A Perfect Match” by Donna Hatch--Genevieve attends a summer
house party hosted by her best friend who can't wait to introduce her to a
gentleman she wants to marry, Christian Amesbury. After meeting him, Genevieve
determines Christian is perfect . . . for her. Torn between loyalty to her best
friend and the yearnings of her heart, Genevieve must first escape the
attention of a powerful lord who's obsessed with her and who tries to rob her
of any hope for a happily ever after.
“An Engagement of Convenience” by Regina Scott--Kitty
Chapworth is nearly a spinster, and an orphan living on the charity of her
uncle, with nothing to recommend her for the marriage mart. Her primary purpose
is relegated to acting chaperone for her cousins until she can see them
successfully married. Kitty remains focused on her duty even though she knows
her future is bleak. When Quentin Adair returns from a long ten years working
in Jamaica and proposes a wild charade to Kitty, she agrees, although the plan
might reawaken her old feelings for Quentin. Can a reformed rake convince the
perfect chaperone to overlook propriety for love?
Kitty is a bit of a spitfire. Here’s a taste of her with her
cousin Lucy after Quentin proposes his “engagement of convenience.”
Lucy was welcoming the latest arrivals, an older couple with
two giggling debutantes who immediately eyed Quentin as he passed. Kitty wanted
to shout “Engaged!”
Which was only slightly better than “Mine!”
The book launches today on Amazon.
