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Jan 13, 20235 min read

Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep by @reginajeffers is a Book Series Starter pick #regency #histfic



Title:

Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep: Book One of the Twins’ Trilogy


Author:

Regina Jeffers


Genre:

romantic suspense; Regency romance; historical fiction; mystery/suspense; trilogy; twins


Book Blurb:


Huntington McLaughlin, the Marquess of Malvern, wakes in a farmhouse, after a head injury, being tended by an ethereal "angel," who claims to be his wife. However, reality is often deceptive, and Angelica Lovelace is far from innocent in Hunt's difficulties. Yet, there is something about the woman that calls to him as no other ever has. When she attends his mother's annual summer house party, their lives are intertwined in a series of mistaken identities, assaults, kidnappings, overlapping relations, and murders, which will either bring them together forever or tear them irretrievably apart. As Hunt attempts to right his world from problems caused by the head injury that has robbed him of parts of his memory, his best friend, the Earl of Remmington, makes it clear that he intends to claim Angelica as his wife. Hunt must decide whether to permit her to align herself with the earldom or claim the only woman who stirs his heart—and if he does the latter, can he still serve the dukedom with a hoydenish American heiress at his side?

Excerpt:


“Ah, Remmington,” Hunt said as he opened the door to his quarters. “You return at last.” The condition of the earl’s clothes indicated he had called on Hunt before freshening his attire to join the rest of the party at the Devil’s Keep..


Remmington smiled in mock amusement and slouched lazily against the doorframe. “Afraid I might run off with your beautiful wife. She is a tempting morsel, McLaughlin.”


Hunt found himself frowning. “Shush. Someone might hear.” He pulled the earl into the room before sticking his head outside to assure himself no one else was about. Closing the door behind him, he said, “I assume if you are here, Mr. Lovelace rushed to his daughter’s side.” Hunt missed the lady more than he would admit to anyone, not even to himself. Since returning to the keep after his accident, he had convinced his troubled mind Miss Lovelace represented the only memories he could legitimately claim as his, and it was not she he desired, but, rather, the freedom to think without questioning his every move.


The earl strolled about the sitting room. “The man is a doting father. Was quite relieved to find his daughter still alive. Much as I imagined your family responded when you appeared on their threshold.”


Remmington paused to pour himself a brandy, one Hunt should have offered, but the earl’s casual control of his environment had distracted Hunt. He honestly hoped he occasionally exuded such erudition.


“I warn you, Malvern, Mr. Lovelace is no fool: He will not take his daughter’s reputation lightly nor will the man surrender simply because you are the future duke.” Remmington sat in one of the padded wing chairs. “In truth, I found Lovelace an admirable companion. He placed me on notice; although he appreciated my protection for his daughter, he would not permit any impropriety.” The earl chuckled. “I began to think the gentleman would demand a proposal from me.” Hunt watched as his friend sipped the brandy. “As it happens, I did not find Lovelace’s insinuations appalling. I could certainly do worse in choosing a wife than Miss Lovelace. The girl is intelligent, as well as strong willed and opinionated.”


Hunt did not like the idea of Angelica Lovelace choosing another, even if the man was Hunt’s best friend. “Most men do not deem intelligence or strong opinions desirable qualities for a wife.”


Remmington’s features hardened. “I am not of the same persuasion as other men, Malvern. I want no biddable girl. I desire a woman of passion. Why do you think I remained a bachelor for so long?”


“You have me at a disadvantage, Remmington,” Hunt growled. “I hold no memories of your personal life beyond what you and Lord Harry shared. For all I know you prefer your women with bad teeth and protruding noses.”


The earl barked a genuine laugh. “Not likely. I prefer my women with golden hair and luscious curves and—”


“Enough!” Hunt flopped into a nearby chair. “Tell me what you came to say. This is difficult enough, as it is.”


Remmington sat his drink aside. “The Lovelaces will arrive at Devil’s Keep tomorrow. You should be prepared for a very private, as well as a very honest, conversation with the lady’s father. Although Miss Lovelace denied any connection beyond the care of your injuries, Mr. Lovelace means to avail himself of all the details of what went on between you and the girl. You may find yourself betrothed before the duchess’s party ends.”


Like his friend, Hunt did not find claiming Miss Lovelace’s affections an appalling idea. “I will answer Mr. Lovelace in earnestness,” Hunt assured, “but I fear I will remain a poor source of information.”


“When do you suppose your memory may return?”


Hunt reached for the knot at the back of his head. His examination indicated only a fraction of a decrease in its size. “I wish I knew. The surgeon held fewer ideas than I. Perhaps tomorrow. Perhaps never.”


The earl’s expression changed to caution. “Did you speak to Sir Alexander and to Etch?”


Hunt lifted an eyebrow in irritation. “I followed your suggestion.”


“And?”


“And the baronet agreed to examine the incident and to review my earlier reports,” Hunt explained.


“Sir Alexander will find nothing at the scene of the carriage accident,” the earl declared as he rose slowly. “I prompted Miss Lovelace to describe the area where she first encountered you. Then I took Draco for a nice stretch of my horse’s legs. I discovered pieces of Lord Mannington’s coach and searched backward to the point where the carriage left the road. The scene spoke the truth of the lady’s terror. Debris was scattered about for more than a hundred yards. Where the coach plunged toward the stream is plain to note.” He paused to gather his hat and gloves. “In my opinion, no evidence existed to contradict the lady’s word of how her sudden appearance frightened your horse.”


“Yet, you still believe Miss Lovelace is mistaken?” Hunt asked in wary tones.


The earl shrugged in resignation. “The Home Office trained me to be skeptical.”


Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):




What makes your featured book a must-read?


Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep is a charming tale of courage and sacrifice, possessing interesting and realistic characters, a complex plot, which will keep the reader guessing until the end, and a sweet romance woven through it all. All three books in this trilogy have been recognized for their excellence in writing and suspense.


Angel Comes to the Devil’s Keep: Book 1 of the Twins’ Trilogy - SOLA’s Eighth Annual Dixie Kane Memorial Awards, 3rd Place, Historical Romance; 2017 finalist in the Daphne du Maurier Award for Excellence in Mystery/Suspense; 2017 finalist Derby Award for Fiction The Earl Claims His Comfort: Book 2 of the Twins’ Trilogy 2016 Hot Prospects Award Finalist, Romantic Suspense Lady Chandler’s Sister: Book 3 of the Twins’ Trilogy Award-Winning Finalist in the Fiction/Romance category 2019 International Book Awards

Giveaway –


Enter to win a $40 Amazon gift card:



Open Internationally. You must have a valid Amazon US or Amazon Canada account to win.


Runs January 10 – January 18, 2023.


Winner will be drawn on January 19, 2023.



Author Biography:


Regina Jeffers, an award-winning author of historical cozy mysteries, Austenesque sequels and retellings, as well as Regency era romances, has worn many hats over her lifetime: daughter, student, military brat, wife, mother, grandmother, teacher, tax preparer, journalist, choreographer, Broadway dancer, theatre director, history buff, grant writer, media literacy consultant, and author. Living outside of Charlotte, NC, Jeffers writes novels that take the ordinary and adds a bit of mayhem, while mastering tension in her own life with a bit of gardening and the exuberance of her “grand joys.”


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