“Secret Affairs” by Suzan Lauder, excerpt + giveaway

Hello!! I am sorry I am so disconnected, I have not forgotten my giveaway, I have just to remember to finish the post and share it with you. However, today I have super good news for you!!!

The third book of Cecilia’s Mismatches is here!!!! Suzan Lauder has finally released Secret Affairs and I cannot wait to share it with you! and when I have time, read it, although I have not read Book 2 yet as I barely read these days. Enough of me and more of Cecilia and Suzan!

Do you remember who Cecilia is? I hope so, but if not or you are new at MVAW, here you have a quick reminder:

Who is Cecilia? She’s Lady Hoxley, a recently married young lady whose husband is old enough to be her father. Theirs is a love match. She loves his money and title, and he loves her youth and vivacity. Cecilia is so gratified with her own match that she is determined to match her friends with worthy gentlemen—but what happens when all her grand schemes seem to go awry?

Does she ring a bell? Well, I will share the blurb of Book 3 Secret Affairs and see what you think!

Miss Alexandra Hales is much too clever, and more comfortable with her role as the steward for her sister and brother-by-marriage than as a lady enjoying the London Season. Lexie has no need for a husband. After all, what gentleman would accept her as she is? But when Cecilia, Lady Hoxley, pairs her with long-time friend and neighbour Lord Catlin at her sister Cassandra Charington’s summer house party, she finds herself obligated to consider him as a potential husband. At the same time, the enigmatic and disreputable Lord Remington has insulted her not once, but twice! He is a disagreeable man indeed!

When she and Lord Remington happen upon each other in the garden one evening, an argument ensues, which is to be expected, but all changes when the rake kisses her. What a kiss! Yet what about Cecilia’s plans to match her with the likeable yet brotherly Lord Catlin? She has told all and sundry about the match, but can she love him?

For the first time, a quandary lies before her too complex for her reasoning. What is Lexie to do?

Book Three of the Cecilia’s Mismatches series is a stand-alone novel.

What do you think? Alexandra has a lot to think of and… did anybody see them ?

Let me to (re)introduce you to this lovely author who has so much to offer us with her novels, all of them!

A lover of Jane Austen, Regency period research and costuming, yoga, fitness, home renovation, design, sustainability, and independent travel, cat mom Suzan Lauder keeps busy even when she’s not writing novels based on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, all of which are published by Meryton Press.

She and Mr. Suze and their rescue tabby split their time between a loft condo overlooking the Salish Sea and a 150-year-old Spanish colonial casita in Mexico. Suzan’s lively prose can be found on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder; on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest as @SuzanLauder; and on her Meryton Press blog, road trips with the redhead www.suzanlauder.merytonpress.com. Her Amazon author page is https://www.amazon.com/author/suzanlauder. 

Prior to publishing An Accomplished Woman of the Cecilia’s Mismatches series, Lauder had four novels, a novella, and a novelette published by Meryton Press and has short stories in two Austenesque anthologies. All are popular, most earning four-plus star ratings on Amazon and Goodreads. Accolades include Amazon bestseller for Letter from Ramsgate and The Barrister’s Bride, a Finalist for Sexy Scribbles for an excerpt from Alias Thomas Bennet, and several of her books were placed on top ten of the year lists by influential bloggers.

She even finds time to bake muffins!

Contact info:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Pinterest 

Amazon Author Page

Meryton Press Blog, road trips with the redhead 

What about checking and buying this book or the previous two books? Why not?

Book 1 – An Accomplished Woman – Amazon Buy Link

Book 2 – The Reluctant Chaperon – Amazon Buy Link

Book 3 – Secret Affairs – Amazon Buy Link

Let Suzan get you into Secret Affairs, enjoy!

Hey, Ana! I’m so happy to be on your blog again!

Secret Affairs is largely about a couple and her denial of their attraction while he is wanting to move forward—yet they have issues to overcome along the way, including his past as a supposed rake. This scene is taken from about a third of the way through the book, when Lexie and Lord Remington are just starting to become fairly fascinated with kissing, but are uncertain as to their relationship. New love—sigh!

~

Excerpt from Secret Affairs Chapter 8

As she made for the door, she paused next to the footman. “Tell my sister that Lord Remington is wanted in the hall for an urgent message, but pray, keep it confidential,” she said in a low tone. He nodded and made haste in her sister’s direction while Lexie bent her steps towards the hall.

Upon hearing from the footman, Cassie put down her cards and excused herself. When her eyes landed on Lexie, they lit up just as Lexie would have presumed—she planned to replace Lord Remington with Lexie. Lexie shook her head and waved her hands in a tight way so as not to attract too much attention, but Cassie hurried over before she was able to quit the room.

Her sister sighed. “I have to replace a player, and I do not know what to do, other than to take Miss Verity off the pianoforte. Those three standing have claimed no interest in participation tonight. Are you certain you cannot play at cards? I know you detest whist and are not good at keeping up, but we need you.”

“Marcus stepped onto the veranda a few minutes ago. Perhaps I can find him for you.”

Lexie did not have to look for Marcus. Before she had a chance to move towards the large glazed doors, he entered the drawing room. With alacrity, she explained the circumstances to him, and he expressed his inclination to assist with Cassie’s problem of filling her whist tables. Meanwhile, Cassie had dispatched Lord Remington to his appointment. Lexie rushed back to where Lord Remington stood in the hall in discussion with the butler. Oh, no! She was late.

“Are you certain there is no message here for me? No note?”

“No, sir. Not all evening.”

Although she had not left anything with the butler as intended, she could put the situation to rights. “Excuse me, but I have a confidential message for Lord Remington.” She pulled him aside. “You are to meet your friend in the regular place on the property to discuss private business. Come alone. Do not tell anyone else.” She lowered her tone so Kirk could not hear. “The night is cool so your friend wants to procure a shawl and will meet you in a few minutes.” She spun on her heel and took the stairs at a quick pace, but not before noting one eyebrow and one side of Lord Remington’s mouth lifted. Kirk was of no concern. He was long in the tooth; by now he would be accustomed to such situations.

When she found him in their corner of the garden, he had adopted a relaxed posture, one leg crossed over the other while he leaned against a statue. “You made quick time.”

“I found the inducement to be worthwhile. You have made it obvious you were as interested in this encounter as was I.” She hesitated. Should she lean in to kiss him, grasp him in her arms, or wait until he gathered her up in his embrace? Her insides fluttered as she inclined towards him without touching, hoping the temptation would prove too much for him. But he stayed as he was, arms crossed.

“Private business consultations are always of interest to me. Of what did you wish to speak?”

Thankfully, the cover of night would disguise her likely blush. Lexie had been forward to invite him out for kisses. What kind of lady did such a thing? Only a wanton, and she had never thought of herself in that way. As fortune had it, he appeared to be acting as a gentleman about the situation and taking her at her word—that she wanted to talk. Their banter had provoked her in an encouraging way every other time they had the opportunity, so why not tonight? All she required was to rouse him into arguing with her. On the other hand, the talk would be at the loss of his caresses. Was a disagreement her ultimate goal? As it was, he was so close, and his lips were so full, so inviting. She licked her own, the motion and moisture affecting the unusual sense of yearning in her lower abdomen. His eyes followed the movement. He was not indifferent to her. How could she coax a kiss from him while having an animated discussion at the same time?

~

Thanks so much, Ana, for hosting me for this short excerpt. If any of the readers found this scene intriguing, I hope they leave a comment. Besides, a comment earns a chance at winning an e-book of Secret Affairs!

What do you think? Lexie is quite direct or at least she thinks she is? I really want to know that happened before and, of course, what is going to happen next!

Moreover, Suzan has already introduce the giveaway, just a bit more information about it below.

Meryton Press will be giving away one eBook for one person who comments on this blog post. Did you find the excerpt intriguing? What are your thoughts about it?

The giveaway is international. The winner will have to share with me their email address and I will pass it to Meryton Press to send you the ebook. You have until the 27th of May 2024 at 23:59 CET. Good luck!!