Blurb
Mary
Taylor abandoned her silk gowns and sparkling jewels when she quit
her position as one of London’s highly prized courtesans. She’s
determined to earn her living with a paintbrush rather than between
the sheets. Starting fresh in a new country, she masquerades as a
widow running a tearoom in Halifax while perfecting her art. But when
she’s hired to finish the portrait of a handsome judge, she risks
everything by surrendering to her lustful craving.
Finton
Morash, youngest judge on the Queen’s bench, believes people are
either good or bad. The dowdy widow painting his portrait is surely
one of the former. After discovering the sensual beauty hiding
beneath shapeless gowns, he wonders at her other secrets.
When
whispers circulate about Mary’s nefarious past, she must find the
courage to face the consequences. And Finton must decide whether love
is worth the risk.
Pre-order Buy links:
Excerpt:
Mary glanced around before leaning closer still. "You are the
most exciting thing to happen here in quite some time."
"Am I indeed? Exciting?"
She silently cursed her fair skin, surely bright pink. One would
think that after earning her living by flirting, teasing, and more,
she would be comfortable with such talk. This man wasn’t paying for
the privilege of her company, though, and there lay the difference.
She stared at the painting as if she'd never seen it before. "Back
to important matters. Please don't feel—"
"I want to purchase this painting. It will brighten a corner of
my library. Every time I weary of opinions and laws I'll look at this
and imagine myself at ease surrounded by the beauty of nature."
He carefully lifted the small canvas from the wall. "I see
you've signed it with only your surname. Why is that?"
"I believe it will be easier to make my way in the artistic
world if I keep my sex hidden. Women are often judged to be idly
pursuing a hobby and are seldom taken seriously."
"Hm...Would you mind signing your full name on the back? That
way my heirs will know they have one of the first by a famous
artist."
She chuckled. "Where is the honesty you hold so dear?"
Though his expression remained unchanged she detected a twinkle in
his eye. Unbidden came the wish that she was indeed a respectable
widow, able to pursue a friendship with this exciting man without
fear of discovery.
Enough. Her "if only's" would soon fill her largest tea
urn. She had much to be grateful for. She'd come to Halifax to start
anew. If that meant leaving behind physical desire then so be it. Celibacy was a small price to pay for a life free of shame.
A bit
about our Focus Author:
Luanna Stewart has been creating
adventures for her imaginary friends since childhood. As soon as she
discovered her grandmother's stash of romance novels, all plots had
to lead to a happily-ever-after.
Luanna
writes full time, concentrating on sexy romantic suspense, steamy
paranormal romance, and spicy historical romance.
Born and raised in Nova Scotia,
Luanna has recently returned to the land of her birth with her dear
husband and two spoiled cats. When she's not torturing her heroes and
heroines, she’s in her kitchen baking something delicious.
Social
Media Links:
Website:
http://www.luannastewart.com/
BookBub:
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/luanna-stewart
Twitter:
https://twitter.com/Luanna_Stewart
Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.com/luannastewart/
Amazon
Author Page: www.amazon.com/author/luanna_stewart
Hiya Kat! Thanks heaps for inviting me for a visit today!
ReplyDeleteWhooHoo - can't wait to read this book - already preordered. I loved the first two books and have been waiting for this heroine's story since I read the others.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much, Deb! Writing this heroine was a ton of fun - and also quite a challenge given her past.
DeleteThis book looks as delicious as your baking. Preordered!
ReplyDeleteLOL Thanks you, Susan. You won't be surprised to hear there's a bit of baking in this book.
DeleteSounds like a winner, Luanna! Best of luck.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Barbara!
DeleteThis sounds so good, Lu! I snuck over to Amazon to have a peek at your cover and it's gorgeous! I hope this book goes out and gathers all kinds of new readers for you.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Nina! From your lips to the readers click fingers, hehe.
DeleteEnjoyed the blurb and excerpt, Luanna! Wishing you all the best!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Mary!
DeleteSounds great. Best of luck!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Jennifer!!
DeleteSounds like fun! I love stories about artists--and if they're steamy stories, so much the better!
ReplyDeleteThank you, Rhonda. I can guarantee there is steaminess in this story, LOL.
DeleteWhat an interesting premise!
ReplyDeleteGood luck and god's blessings
PamT
Thank you, Pam. I certainly had a lot of fun dealing with that particular premise.
ReplyDeleteNothing better than a good redemption story!
ReplyDeleteI hope I did it justice, Alina. Oops, no pun intended, hehe. Thanks for dropping by.
DeleteYour book is already on order...am SO anxious to see how Mary adjusts to life in the garrison town of Halifax. I hope her tea room flourishes and has a lovely view of the magnificent harbour~Good luck. Villa
ReplyDeleteThank you for dropping by, Villa! Her tearoom does have a harbour view, though she's usually too busy either with her customers or baking sweets to enjoy it.
ReplyDelete