I love sharing new authors with my readers. Today I'm putting Effie Kammenou in the hot seat and questioning her about her life and book.Hello, Effie Kammenou, and thank you for visiting today. Tell us a little about yourself. It’s nice to speak with you, Melissa. I’m a first generation Greek-American who lives on Long Island with my husband and two daughters. When I’m not writing, or posting recipes on my food blog, cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com, you can find me cooking for my family and friends. My debut novel, Evanthia’s Gift, is a women’s fiction multigenerational love story and family saga, influenced by my Greek heritage, and the many real life accounts that have been passed down to me. I continue to pick my father’s brain for stories of his family’s life in Lesvos, Greece, and their journey to America. My recent interview with him was published in a nationally circulated magazine. As an avid cook and baker, a skill I learned from watching my Athenian mother, I incorporated traditional Greek family recipes throughout the book. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Theater Arts from Hofstra University, and I’ve worked in the optical field for over 30 years. Thanks! It sounds like you have an interesting life. Now on to some personal questions. If you could go back in time to when you were seven years old, what wisdom or advice would you pass on to yourself? Seven? That’s a tough question. I had a perfect life at seven years old. I was in second grade, I had a baby sister, and a stay-at-home mom who couldn’t have been more loving and attentive. When I was nine, we moved from Queens and into a house on Long Island. Life seemed to change at that point. It took me a while to acclimate, plus my grandfather in Greece died shortly after the move. It was a horrible time for my mother. I think the advice I could have given to my nine-year-old self was that I needed to comprehend what my mother was going through and be more helpful with my sisters. For what are you grateful? I am grateful for my family more than anything. We are all very close. My children and my two sister’s children were raised more as siblings than cousins. It should never be taken for granted that we live in a time and place where we can take care of ourselves properly—blessed with innovative medical care and as well as favorable living circumstances. I am grateful for every moment I am granted on this earth. If a zombie virus took over the world, how many days do you think you could last before you were infected? And what would you do to postpone the inevitable? You ask some very interesting questions, Melissa. I think I would be one of the longest survivors. I have strong anti-bodies and I would take sanitary measures to protect myself as much as possible. What might shorten my survival would be my desire to help those who are ill. I couldn’t let people die without trying to help them. If there was no chance to make it through, I don’t think I would do too much to prevent being infected. I wouldn’t want to live if everyone I loved is gone. But if there was even an ounce of hope, I would do what I could to stay uninfected, while still helping others. Maybe one of the haz-mat suits? What television sitcom is most like your family? Why? Well, we always joke in my house that Raymond, from Everyone loves Raymond, is a little like my Raymond. For a smart man he does things that we just don’t understand. We always say he’s an enigma. I don’t have a family like Raymond’s, though. My family is more like My Big Fat Greek Wedding in some ways. What’s your favorite thing to do to relax? I come home from work, kick of my high heels and cook. Cooking relaxes me. Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author. Did you always want to be an author? No, not that I was aware of. Although an old childhood friend and I wrote a play once. As long as I can remember, I wanted to be an actor. It’s what I majored in in school—theatre. But I did have bits of my book’s story in my head for a long time and thought I might write it one day. What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? With my theater background, I studied all the classic playwrights from ancient Greece to modern day, but Shakespeare still holds my heart. As for fiction, I love the classics there as well. Jane Austen and John Steinbeck are two of my favorite authors. I also enjoy lighter women’s fiction and romances. Nora Roberts, Jude Deveraux, Sophie Kinsilla, Adriana Trigiani, and Sylvia Day are among the novelists I read most often. But the one that has captured my attention the most is Sylvain Reynard who wrote the Gabriel series. His use of language is breathtaking, and he keeps me intrigued with his knowledge of literature, religion, art, history, and culture. Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing? I usually sit by my computer with a glass of ice water or a steaming cup of tea with lemon and sugar. When I was writing certain sections of the book, I kept my mother’s picture by the monitor. How did you decide to write a Young Adult story? Do you feel passionate about that age? Evanthia’s Gift is not a young adult book. The storyline includes a young adult plot at certain points in the book, but I would ask parents to decide for themslves if the book is appropriate for a teen under seventeen. With what I’ve seen on the television being promoted as teen shows, I’m sure the book is fine for that age group, but I would still leave it to the discretion of the parent. What have you learned the most from being in the writing business? How much there is to learn! From all the steps to creating a finished project to the promotion needed to get your book noticed, it’s been quite a learning curve. Tell us about your latest release: In the year 1956, Anastacia Fotopoulos finds herself pregnant and betrayed, fleeing from a bad marriage. With the love and support of her dear friends Stavros and Soula Papadakis, Ana is able to face the challenges of single motherhood. Left with emotional wounds, she resists her growing affection for Alexandros Giannakos, an old acquaintance. But his persistence and unconditional love for Ana and her child is eventually rewarded and his love is returned. In a misguided, but well-intentioned effort to protect the ones they love, both Ana and Alex keep secrets - ones that could threaten the delicate balance of their family. The story continues in the 1970’s as Dean and Demi Papadakis, and Sophia Giannakos attempt to negotiate between two cultures. Now Greek-American teenagers, Sophia and Dean, who have shared a special connection since childhood, become lovers. Sophia is shattered when Dean rebels against the pressure his father places on him to uphold his Greek heritage and hides his feelings for her. When he pulls away from his family, culture and ultimately his love for her, Sophia is left with no choice but to find a life different from the one she’d hoped for. EVANTHIA’S GIFT is a multigenerational love story spanning fifty years and crossing two continents, chronicling the lives that unify two families. Praise for EVANTHIA’S GIFT: Magnificent 5 Stars Exceptional, outstanding and award worthy were the first words that popped into my mind after I finished reading this book. A surface description of this story could be easily stated by saying; it’s a 50 year generational Greek family saga that’s filled with multiple love stories, devastating betrayals and heart breaking secrets. That depiction alone would be enough for anyone to be drawn to this book. But the essence of “Evanthia’s Gift” is held within each character created in this masterpiece; that is the true heart and soul of this book. I could feel the struggles within each to come to terms with their past mistakes, recognizing their self-worth, all the while staying steadfast to their beliefs and for some, finding inner peace. I started reading this book late one evening with the intent of reading a few chapters and then going to bed. I found myself incapable of putting the book down… several hours later I was wiping away the tears to get through the last chapter. This superbly written emotional story comes full circle in the end, which reminds us all just how precious love and family really is. --Stephanie Lasley, from The Kindle Book Review For More Information
Book Excerpt: The air was unusually chilled for early November in NYC, but despite the dropping temperature, sweat trickled down the back of Anastacia’s neck. Unable to wish away the nausea that was taking hold of her and too ill to sit through her last class, she’d left the NYU campus, hopping on an uptown subway to return home for the day. She’d been lightheaded and queasy the past few days, but nothing as violent as what she was currently feeling. Waiting at the crosswalk, the aroma of garlic and cheese permeating from a nearby café antagonized the volcano that was about to erupt in her belly, and she prayed she would get home without incident. At last, Anastacia ducked into her apartment building, closing her eyes, and offering a silent thank you to the heavens for the safety and comfort of her home. Once inside her foyer, she removed her coat, hung it in the closet and glimpsed herself in the mirror hanging over the Bombay Chest. Pale skin and sunken eyes replaced her usual olive complexion and healthy glow. I just need to sleep off whatever this is. Her husband, Jimmy, was not expected home from work for several hours, and she hoped to be feeling better by then. Suddenly, the sound of voices startled her. She walked through the living room, following the noise. She almost forgot the motion sickness that forced her home earlier than usual as the guttural sound of rhythmic moans grew louder, interrupted only by a woman’s shrill laughter. Anastacia forced her legs to follow the cacophony and found herself at the doorway of her bedroom. She stood there frozen. Seeing, but not believing. Tears sprang to her eyes and dripped down her cheeks, and she began to shake uncontrollably. Anastacia attempted to speak, but bile rose to her throat, rendering her incapable of uttering a word. Then, a cry that seemed to escape from her very soul, revealed her presence. In that second, they knew she’d witnessed their betrayal. Anastacia was taken aback by the look of pure satisfaction that flashed across the naked woman’s face. A face that held not even a hint of guilt or remorse. Her husband’s face told a different story. Shock, fear, maybe regret. For getting caught. It couldn’t have been more than a few seconds, but so many thoughts bombarded her mind that it was as though she were moving in slow motion. But then, the impact of it all slammed into her, and she ran. Jimmy jumped up, wrapping himself in a bed sheet. “Ana! Wait!” He pushed the woman off him. “Get off me! Move! Get out of here.” Barely making it to the bathroom, Anastacia leaned over the toilet, expelling the contents of her stomach. “Ana,” Jimmy pleaded, coming up beside her. “Get away from me.” She wiped her mouth with a towel, straightened up and gathered all her strength to push past him. Jimmy blocked the doorway. “Ana mou, I’m sorry. Please. Let me explain. Sagapo. I love-” “Don’t touch me or ever say that to me. You’re disgusting. You both are.” She ducked under his arm, but he grabbed her wrist. His touch seared her to the bone and she pulled away. She was shamed, shaken—broken, but there was no way she was going to let him see it. “I said don’t touch me. Never come near me again.” “It’s not what it looks like. She… it was all her. I never meant to… Ana, please.” “It looked like it was both of you. Now let me pass,” she spat. He lifted his hands in surrender and stepped aside as she pushed her way past him through the narrow bathroom doorway. In the hallway, the woman stood, watching, gloating. Although she and Anastacia both had dark brown hair and similar Mediterranean features, she lacked the poise and grace that Anastacia exuded. “Get out of my home,” Ana ordered her. “I never want to see you again.” Anastacia stormed out her front door, slamming it behind her. Doubling over, she thought she might heave again, but she drew in a deep breath and continued down the hall to Soula’s apartment. She frantically knocked on the door. When she opened it, Soula took one look at her best friend and she hugged her. “Ana mou, what is it? Between gasps and cries, Anastacia relayed the entire humiliating scene, as well as Jimmy’s despicable attempt to explain the unforgivable. “What do I do now?” “We go upstairs and talk to your uncle,” Soula said. “He will know how to handle this.” “How can I tell him? What will my parents say? How could I be so stupid? What will Uncle Tasso think?” “Of you? Nothing different than before. Of them? They will get what they deserve. Come. We will go together. I will tell your uncle if you cannot.” ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How did you decide on your story plot? The plot came naturally. I had a basic idea in my head for a long time and I kept developing it. It was my mother’s death three years ago that had me deveolping a character and storyline based on her. I combined what I had already plotted with this new story to create a family saga. How did you choose your characters names and location for your story? Since the characters are mostly Greek, I used Greek names. Some I simply liked the sound of and some were names of people in my family. For example, my paternal grandfather was Alexandros. Not only do I love the name, but I honored my grandfather by creating a loveable character using his name. As for the locations, I chose NYC and Long Island because that is where I grew up. I wanted a connection to what I was writing. Other than Athens, the locales in Greece were not places my family was from. I decided to use other islands and cities because the book is fictional. Someday, I may write the true story of my family. Do you have a favorite scene? Why? I couldn’t possibly narrow it down to one scene, but I do have favorites. If I told you which ones, though, I would give away spoilers. I can say I am partial to the ones that are emotionally driven. Do you have a character that you identify with? Who and why? I believe when you write characters, each one has bits of the author in them. Naturally, I identify with Sophia and Demi because they live in my timeline and grew up where I grew up. But there are habits, moods and emotions in almost every character that I can claim as my own. Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you… Facebook https://www.facebook.com/EffieKammenou?ref=bookmarks Twitter https://twitter.com/EffieKammenou Goodreads page https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/26069535-evanthia-s-gift Food blog https://cheffieskitchen.wordpress.com Fan contact e-mail effiekammenou@gmail.com Is there anything else that you want to share… feel free!! Yes! I love hearing from readers. I’ve made many social media friends through messages on facebook, goodreads and my food blog. It’s great to be able to connect this way. Thank you, Melissa. Thank you Effie!! I love interviews! Today I get to share with you a new to me author...Laura Trentham. Isn't her cover so sexy??Hello Laura and thank you for visiting today. Tell us a little about yourself. I was born and raised in a small town in Northwest Tennessee. Although, I loved English and reading in high school, I majored in Chemical Engineering (in order to avoid becoming a starving artist!) and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years. I write sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. The first two books of my Falcon Football series were named Top Picks by RT Book Reviews magazine. When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, I’m shuttling my kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry in my room that is almost as large as the TBR pile of books on my nightstand. Thanks! I also write small town romances that sizzle. Small towns are so cute. It sounds like you have an interesting life. Now on to some personal questions. If you could go back in time to when you were seven years old, what wisdom or advice would you pass on to yourself? Stay away from tequila! Lol. Or maybe I’d tell my seven-year-old self not to stay in relationships that were unhealthy. If only I’d known that love is about timing, I think I would have been less stressed in my twenties. Then, my seven-year-old self would probably yell for my mom and tell her to get weirdo “future” me away from her since all seven year old girls know that boys have cooties. For what are you grateful? I’m grateful that my husband has a great job that allows me to pursue my passion of writing! Hopefully, I’ll be able to support him sometime down the road. If a zombie virus took over the world, how many days do you think you could last before you were infected? And what would you do to postpone the inevitable? What timing…I just binge-watched the first five episodes of the Walking Dead! Based on that show, I wouldn’t make it day. In fact, I cut my finger while dicing carrots a couple of years ago and nearly passed out at the sight of my own blood. I wouldn’t trying to postpone the inevitable and would probably end things quick. What television sitcom is most like your family? Why? I hate to admit it, but probably the Hecks from The Middle. Sometimes I feel like I’m hanging on by a thread. And, let’s not even discuss the state of my house… I would much rather write than clean, much to my husband’s dismay. What’s your favorite thing to do to relax? Uh, read, of course! Lol. Before I became a writer, I was a super-reader and could easily finish a book a day. I also like to watch college football (Go VOLS), but I wouldn’t call it relaxing… Let’s find out a little bit about you as an author. Did you always want to be an author? I always had a book with me. I had no shame about carrying one around with me even through high school. I had fantasies of being an author and even tried to write a book in college (a terrible young adult fantasy). I gave up after about twenty pages. It seemed such an impossible dream. I didn’t get serious until four years ago after both my kids started school and I had some extra time on my hands. I sat down with an idea and wrote a book in six weeks. After much revision/rewrites, it turned into An Indecent Invitation (Spies and Lovers, Book 1). What authors had an impact on you growing up and as an adult? Growing up, I read just about everything. Madeline L’Engle. Victoria Holt. Mary Stewart. Anne McCaffrey. In middle school, I discovered my mom’s Harlequin stash under her bed and devoured them. By high school, I’d moved on to the big historical romances. Do you have any “must haves” with you while you’re writing? COFFEE. Yes, that deserved to be all-caps. How did you decide to write a Historical Romance? From the first time I discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss and Julie Garwood and Judith McNaught, I fell in love with the genre. There was no question when I started writing, it would be a Regency romance. What have you learned the most from being in the writing business? This is a *tough* business! It’s difficult enough to get published; it’s even more difficult to stay published. Rejection is something you have to get used to. But, it’s also the most fulfilling thing I’ve ever done. I can’t describe the feeling of opening a box filled with your books! Tell us about your latest release: (blurb, excerpt, cover) Love soothes the deepest of scars. Spies and Lovers, Book 2 Minerva Bellingham is at her wits’ end. Her younger brother, Simon, will have them penniless and on the streets if his extravagant gambling habit isn’t curtailed. An enormous debt to Lord Rafe Drummond is the final indignity. Signing over her dowry is their only choice. Until Lord Drummond suggests something much more scandalous. She can keep her dowry—in exchange for the Bellinghams working three months as a housemaid and stable boy. Scarred from his service to the Crown, Rafe recognizes the young Simon Bellingham has the makings of a good duke. Minerva is a different story. Her pure, delicate beauty only underscores Rafe’s tarnished, bleak soul. Yet he delights in cracking Minerva’s icy reserve to reveal a fiery, stubborn woman. And Minerva discovers the gruff master of Wintermarsh has the heart of a poet. But before they can find a future safe in each other’s arms, a menace from Simon’s licentious past slithers back into their lives, forcing Rafe to plan the most important rescue mission of his life. Warning: Contains a paragon of the beau monde who gets the hang of polishing silver, and a master of the house who’d like her to make his bed—preferably with him in it. Also passion unleashed with the mere touch of a finger. Readers are encouraged to swoon. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ EXCERPT: Minerva dragged herself up the Drummond front steps as if on the way to the gallows to deliver her final words. In a dream-like state, she watched her disembodied hand pull the bell cord. In a blink, the butler announced her into Lord Drummond’s study. The rustle of her blue silk skirts as she stepped inside offered the only sound of greeting. The warm, civilized, book-filled room surprised her. The master of the study, on the other hand, shot ice into her veins from his large armchair. Polished boots with dirt and grass embedded in the tread were propped on the desk. Even in a slouch, tension radiated from his body. She forced herself to stay rooted while he examined her from head to toe. Her trembles would betray her sickening nerves, and she refused to give him the satisfaction. She needed every ounce of courage she could muster—even if it was all for show—but with each passing moment, his insolent study raised her anxiety another notch. Rafe Drummond was a fearsome sight. While some might think the lined scar that ran from his brow into his beard imparted that impression, for her, it was his eyes. The swirled blue and gray coronas reminded her of a dangerous ocean, ready to pulverize dissenters. Sleek, expressive brows overset his stormy eyes. A black ribbon tied back wavy, dark brown hair, much too long for current fashion. Although, she suspected he didn’t cow to society’s expectations in any way. An escaped piece brushed a sharp cheekbone. A crook marred a blade of a nose, and his mouth, the corners pulled down in displeasure, looked hard, unyielding. Undisguisable by the beard, his chin jutted prominently, lending him a stubborn, overly aggressive look. Muscular and huge in every direction, he exuded a masculine virility that ton dandies played at. She’d always felt…well, feminine around him. For a woman used to bossing men hither and yon, his strength was strangely appealing. His comportment, however, was abominable. A welcome indignation rose at his blatant, seated perusal, steadying her quivering knees and fluttery hands. Finally, so slowly it had to be deliberate, his boots thudded to the floor. He rose and gestured her to the armchair across from the desk. She fussily arranged her skirts, not sure how to begin the interview. Once reseated, he swung his boots back on the desk and trailed his forefinger down his scar. The man was a foreign language. Was he angry? Surprised? Pleased to see her? Probably not the latter. She stifled an inappropriate, nervous giggle. “I expected your brother, my lady. Is he behind your skirts, perhaps?” His voice was rife with sarcasm. Fisting her hands so tightly fingernails bit through her thin, lace gloves to score her palm, she forced an even voice. “I am acting on the duke’s behalf. I understand he was involved in a high-stakes game last night whilst in his cups, and you fleeced him of a large sum of money.” “Fleeced him, did I? Believe me, I tried to convince him to stop playing, but the young whelp refused. And, let me tell you, he would have lost even sober. He’s a horrendous player.” He weaved a surprising amount of lazy amusement in his insult. Off balance, she smoothed her hair. “What’s done is done, I suppose. I’m here to discuss repayment.” “Interesting. What are you proposing?” He arched his legs gracefully to the floor and leaned over the desk. Lacing his fingers, he pinned her with steely eyes. The sudden intensity startled her. Weren’t his lashes unusually long for a man? “Well…I…” Heat suffused her body, making her wish for a fan. “Did you bring a bank note?” Both his eyebrows rose while his gaze coasted over her face. “I…that is…no.” Jabbing a finger to emphasize her negative response, she grabbed at the frayed threads of her rehearsed offer with profound relief. “I hoped you would accept half the money now, and we would repay the rest over the course of three years.” “Are you telling me you don’t have the available funds? Is the duke in the dun with others?” His eyebrows arched higher. For pity’s sake, what if Simon had vowels all over town? The grim possibility had her patting the prickly, hot skin of her forehead. “I don’t think so.” “If he isn’t yet, he soon will be.” The prediction was delivered somberly. All she could do was stay the course. “The money is tied up in investments. If I withdraw now, I’ll take an enormous loss. Given time, I’ll be able to pay you with the dividends.” “I’ll take a loss, I’ll pay. You’re doing the duke a disservice if you constantly clean up his messes. If I agree, will your brother turn a new leaf? If I were a betting man—” his lips quirked, “—my guess is he could be in the same predicament tonight, but to someone not willing to be as generous. Tell me, why didn’t he come this morning?” He pressed steepled fingers to his mouth. Her gaze drifted to his large hands—rough, callused, capable hands. They reflected a man well acquainted with hard work. A few thin white scars ran over the tanned backs dotted with dark hair. Her stomach spun as if she were falling off a cliff, and her mind blanked once again. He cleared his throat. The rumble tossed her back in the moment. “I-I manage the estates and investments. Simon’s still young and doesn’t know where our money has been allocated.” “He’s twenty, isn’t he? You can’t be much older than that. Two and twenty, perhaps?” His brow furrowed. She nodded reluctantly. “How long have you been handling the estate business?” “I started learning the ins and outs when I was sixteen and took it over entirely at nineteen with the help of my man of affairs.” Minerva worried her bottom lip with her teeth, knowing the path his thoughts tread was a dangerous one for her. His cold eyes sparked with a heat that sucked the moisture from her mouth and forced her tongue out to run over her lips. “My point is your brother is quite old enough to take on a responsibility you have handled since you were nineteen. In fact, you should have handed over the reins already.” His voice had dropped and roughened. “It’s quite unseemly for a lady to be involved in business.” His words pierced her cloud of befuddlement and released a torrent of resentment. “Not seemly? Are women too emotional or are our brains too small? Please tell me you don’t believe the drivel some of these scientists purport?” Her voice was unsteady. “If I had handed things to Simon, we’d be on the streets and penniless.” “You’ve coddled and controlled him to the point of uselessness. Do you enjoy having your brother under your thumb?” The corner of his mouth drew back as if he took delight in the provocation. Anger twisted her gut. She rose, placed her fists on his desk and leaned forward. He mimicked her stance until they were face-to-face across the desk. “I hate constantly worrying about my brother. I’ve done my best to guide him. For you to suggest this debacle is my fault is unmerited. You would rather see me ruined than help. Don’t deny it. You’re heartless and…and…an arse.” The word hung between them. Had she really cursed at him? She was so close she could see his pupils dilate, darkening his eyes. “And you are a haughty, conceited shrew.” Irony, not horror, laced his voice. She gasped, even though her insult had been more shocking. “I have an alternate proposal. Either you pay me all the money today, or you and your brother come to Wintermarsh and pay off his debt by working for me.” His mouth clamped shut in a frown. Is this what he’d been planning since luring Simon into the high-stakes game? To what end? It was utterly beyond the pale. Her throat closed to the size of a reed. “I assure you, Lord Drummond, I am a lady and not some…some…Covent Garden strumpet. I have an unbesmirched reputation.” Still face-to-face with her over the desk, he dominated her, and her thoughts scattered like dropped marbles. “Never fear, I don’t require your services in that manner.” His eyes warmed from ice to molten steel in an instant. He leaned even closer to whisper a few inches from her ear, “I only invite willing women to my bed and have no need to pay them.” His breath skittered across her neck like the brush of gentle fingertips. Gentlemen didn’t speak of such things to ladies. It was disrespectful, despicable. She tried to summon the proper horror. Instead, she angled toward him and took a deep breath. Heady warmth and an intoxicating smell assailed her. Soap, leather and a scent that belonged entirely to him. It wafted over her, smothering her outrage. An irrational urge to bury her nose in the nape of his neck right where an escaped lock of hair curled over his open shirt had her creeping forward. No collar, no cravat impeded her body’s single-minded goal. She jerked herself upright in the same instant he sprawled back into his chair. “What sort of work are you proposing then, my lord?” Smoothing the wrinkles out of her dress, she focused on an ornate dagger acting as a paperweight. “Housework for you and outdoor work for your brother. I’ll teach Simon about the day-to-day requirements of running an estate. He’ll be kept busy with no time for trouble.” Minerva wandered to a set of shelves that ran along the wall of his study, putting much-needed space between them and buying herself time. Obviously, his aim was her humiliation. She didn’t savor submitting herself to his control. But there was the no small matter of her dowry. If she paid him today, it would all be gone. Every quid. She would be left to find an inferior husband or left to rely on her intemperate brother for the rest of her life. In truth, left with nothing. If she paid Lord Drummond and released her brother from responsibility, Simon might be back out tonight drinking, gambling, ruining them. This impetuous, ill-advised bargain would force him out of London and fill his days with hard work. Her choices ranged from bad to devastating. “Why would you want me here as well if not to humiliate me?” “Would you allow your brother to come and put himself under my care with no oversight from you?” he asked in an amused voice. Her dismay must have been apparent, because he didn’t wait for a reply. “Learning some humility wouldn’t be amiss, Lady Minerva. If you want to watch over Simon, you must work as well. That’s my bargain.” She propped her hands on her hips, her usually impeccable manners deserting her once again. “Humility? Me? That’s a kettle-and-pot situation if ever I heard one. You’re the most arrogant—” “Yes, yes, heartless and a complete arse. You’ve made your opinion clear. But if I were indebted to you, you’d seize your pound of flesh and probably negotiate for more.” She rubbed her temple and cast about for any other option. None presented itself. “How long would the arrangement last? There are certain functions I’m obliged to attend, and Drake needs to be made aware of everything that must be handled in my absence.” “The beau monde will head out of town in a few weeks. Let’s say the two of you plan to arrive at Wintermarsh the second week of September and work for me at least…three months. Your debt would be paid by Christmastime.” He twirled the dagger in his hands, his gaze on the ceiling. Three months. A pittance compared to a lifetime indentured in a loveless marriage. “If I agree to this, I would need everything in writing. In three months, you’ll tear up the voucher and sign a paper absolving the debt. There can be no physical mistreatment of either of us. You wouldn’t be able to extend our time without due cause, and you can’t discuss our arrangement. Is that understood?” “Do you want me to involve my solicitor or is a gentleman’s agreement written and signed by the two of us sufficient?” He sounded amused by her demands. “No third parties. I can’t allow a word to get around London. I would be ruined. What about your servants? Will they gossip?” “If they did, who would believe them? It’s rather far-fetched to think a duke and his sister would be working at a country estate. You’re Lily’s friend. It’s not implausible I would invite you to stay at Wintermarsh.” With a flick of his wrist, the knife’s tip embedded in the wooden top of the desk. Minerva’s couldn’t look away from the vibrating handle. His ease and familiarity with the weapon planted another seed of worry and doubt. What kind of man was Lord Drummond? “I’ll send a contract for your perusal. You can revise and amend to your heart’s content. We both need to think the situation over at some length, don’t you agree?” he asked. “I do finally agree with you on something, my lord.” Relief and fear warred internally while she walked to the door. Finally, playing the gentleman, he rose to see her out. “I shall wait for your proposal, Lord Drummond. I…I mean your terms.” Yet another blush bloomed across her face. Proposal indeed. Quirking an eyebrow, he hummed in amusement, his lips curling. The smile, if it even qualified as such, held her immobile. The flash of humor in his blue-grey eyes was a wash of refreshing water, cooling the tension and anxiety of the interview. The study door closed gently in her face. The dignified white-haired butler saw her out, and she glanced back at the imposing, black front door. Had she made a bargain with the devil? ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ How did you decide on your story plot? I don’t preplot my books, so there are times when I’m as surprised as the reader as to where my story is going! How did you choose your characters names and location for your story? Sometimes names come to me automatically, but I also have a phone book (for last names) and a baby name book (for first names). Sometimes when I’m driving, I’ll see a street name or name of a business and jot it down. I’ve also used several of my friend’s names as secondary characters just for fun :) Let our readers know how they can get a hold of you… www.LauraTrentham.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorLauraTrentham Twitter: https://twitter.com/LauraTrentham Newsletter: http://eepurl.com/bwbOkD And, sign up for my newsletter to learn about upcoming releases: http://eepurl.com/bwbOkD NEXT STOP: @Barbara_Devlin An award-winning author, Laura Trentham was born and raised in a small town in Tennessee. Although, she loved English and reading in high school, she was convinced an English degree equated to starvation. She chose the next most logical major—Chemical Engineering—and worked in a hard hat and steel toed boots for several years. She writes sexy, small town contemporaries and smoking hot Regency historicals. The first two books of her Falcon Football series were named Top Picks by RT Book Reviews magazine. When not lost in a cozy Southern town or Regency England, she's shuttling kids to soccer, helping with homework, and avoiding the Mt. Everest-sized pile of laundry that is almost as large as the to-be-read pile of books on her nightstand. Her latest book is the Regency historical romance, A Brazen Bargain. For More Information |
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