Title: Gaming Hell Christmas: Volume 1
Author: Kathy L Wheeler / Amanda McCabe
Genre: Georgian/Regency Historical Romance
Book Blurb:
A Gift for the Duke's Illegitimate Daughter - Kathy L Wheeler
Miss Alexandra Blessing, the Duke of Winsome’s illegitimate daughter longs for anonymity and a home of her own where her younger half-siblings don’t commandeer every moment of her day. Escape is imminent—right after her family’s annual Christmas fete. But Alexandra is missing from the ball, and Theodore Millburn must find her before he loses something important: his chance for love.
The Merry Widow's Christmas Adventure - Amanda McCabe
Annabelle, Lady Ranstruther, after a year of lonely widowhood is ready for new love—and she knows exactly who she wants—her wild friend, the gorgeous William, Lord Deansley. She fears he doesn't want her, until they meet again at the exclusive, discreet gaming hell la Sous Rose, at Christmas.Will it mean a future of love—or the end of all her dreams?
Excerpt from A Gift for the Duke's Illegitimate Daughter:
Alex smiled over at this too attractive man. “Shall we?” she said, shocking herself further with her husky, unrecognizable tone, not to mention her uncharacteristic spontaneity. She dare not chance a look at back at her friends, knowing the concern she would find on the other women’s faces. She just prayed their mouths were not agape.
“Of course, madam.” He whisked her away from her friends before anyone had time to protest the idiocy, or worse, the danger of the situation.
“Mademoiselle,” she murmured.
“Pardon?”
She swallowed the swirl of apprehension and tightened her fingers on his arm. “We haven’t even been introduced,” she said, using the ruse of a French harlot he so readily handed her as he led her up and away from the safety of her friends. And, the wrath of one of the most powerful men in England, her father, the Duke of Winsome, she reminded herself.
They reached the landing and he stopped, turning and forcing her to look at him. He speared her with eyes that reminded her of the churning depths of the Channel in the midst of a vast storm. “My name?” A long pause ensued. “Theodore Millburn, at your service. My friends call me Theo.” His gaze seemed to penetrate her mask, stripping her bare.
Alex shivered, then frowned. “Millburn. The name, it’s familiar. Millburn. Yet, I can’t seem to place it.”
Though minute, his demeanor stiffened. “Enough about me, madam. Who have I the pleasure”—his voice lowered to something seductive and luring, hypnotic—“of having… on my… arm?”
Shocked, entranced, offended—yes. That was it. Offended. Alex snatched her hand away. Or tried as he caught and held it in his large palm.
“Your name, my dear. I feel we are going to be… well acquainted before this night is through.”
She couldn’t seem to break her gaze from his.
“Madam?”
Startled, she blinked. Heavens. She couldn’t very well give him her name. He might know of her— “Giselle.” She gave him her middle name in a breathless huff. Thank you, Mother.
“Giselle.” He spoke as if he were tasting her name, tasting her. It sent ripples over her skin. “Why this just gets better and better.” His voice was in direct contrast to the storms that brewed within the depths of his eyes. “We should go someplace where we may become better acquainted. I understand there are rooms above for… private… conversations.”
Private conversation? Oh, dear.
His touch was uncomfortably warm. Clearly, she couldn’t yank her arm away. Everyone below would witness her complete and utter downfall. Her father at the head of the crowd. She smiled at her captor. It didn’t come easy. She was not the happiest of persons. She was a… stifled… person. “Perhaps we should try our luck at the tables,” she purred instead. She’d never purred in her life.
“Ah, a gambler at heart I see.”
One could wish. She inclined her head and let him lead the way. The touch of his hand through her glove remained overly warm.
“And what shall we gamble for?” he asked colloquially, as if the most ridiculous thing hadn’t come out of her mouth. She was definitely not a risk taker.
“Alex,” someone called from behind. Alex didn’t dare turn, pretending not to hear, and sashayed alongside Millburn, relief filling her with every step that put more distance between her, the duke, and anyone else who might recognize her.
What had he said? She was quickly losing the thread of conversation, and the hold on her composure.
“Your virtue, perhaps?”
The situation grew more perilous by the moment. “Or yours?” she returned sharply, internally shocked at her brazenness.
His laughter erupted. A full-bellied, rusty sound, implying he didn’t laugh any more often than she.
Curiosity trickled over her. What did he look like beneath the mask he wore? What went with the etched jaw that looked as if he clenched his teeth more often than not, and the storm-filled eyes? All she could see were lips that looked soft but not fleshy.
Her own tingled with an anticipation to touch. Her fingers tightened on his arm.
“How delightful you are,” he said in a low husky growl that sent shivers over her body.
She shrugged. “Why should I be the only one to put up high stakes?” she countered, sounding almost flirty to her own ears. What a heady sensation. Her friends would never believe it of her.
“Why, indeed. So, what is it you wish for, my dove?”
Alex jerked upright, the meaning of his endearment hitting her full force.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
What I love most about the holiday season:
The holiday season for me is being forced to come out of the writing cave to see my uncle and aunt and cousins. Things are so hectic in a writer’s world I think normal people might not realize. 😊 My Washington family is soooo bizarro fun, that I tend to forget that throughout the year. So, that is what I love most—seeing my family, playing games (even though that drives my husband crazy because he can hardly get me back in the car to go home). Hmmm. Maybe, I should plan a Christmas in July family get together… Happy holidays, everyone. ❤️ 🎄 💚❄️❤️☃️💚
Why is your featured book a must-read to get you in the holiday mood?
This being the first in a planned series Amanda and I wrote, had me going back to look at some of the reviews on Goodreads, and how much FUN we had writing them. The zoom calls for coordinating. While things weren’t perfect, we had such a great time with them.
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $100 Amazon gift card.
Open internationally.
Runs July 1 – 31, 2024
Drawing will be held on August 1, 2024.
Author Biography:
Kathy L Wheeler writes historical and contemporary romance and has hit the Amazon Best Seller list several times over. In the face of danger, her heroines save themselves, their heroes just need to be there to catch them… after the fact.
Her many passions include the NFL, Musical Theater, travel (for example: she once spent twenty-one days going from Oklahoma City to San Francisco and back through Utah to Colorado. When her husband called to ask if she was coming home anytime soon, she then headed back home), and … karaoke.
Main sources of inspiration? Yes, well, they come mostly from an over-active imagination. She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest with her musically talented husband, Al, and their adorable dog, Angel who lives up to her name—mostly.
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