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Aug 20, 20205 min read

How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride by @LyndiLamont is a Binge-Worthy Festival pick #historicalromance



Title: How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride (Novella)

Author: Lyndi Lamont

Genre: Spicy Victorian Romance

Book Blurb:

A marriage of convenience, nothing more...until darkly handsome Evan Channing and demure Lydia Blatchford meet. The rules are simple for an arrangement such as theirs. There should be no misunderstanding, no illusions of anything more. But the rules are about to change...

Lydia wants the kind of love and romance she reads about in books. Fortunately, she hasn't specified which book, and Evan has a copy of Richard Burton's new translation of the Kama Sutra, with its ancient wisdom on love and courtship. He sets out to win his high-born bride, blending seductive heat with exotic lessons in love-making.

Lydia is prepared to tolerate this man she’s been sold to, but his scorching kisses send her pulses racing. Can an arranged marriage lead to love?

Excerpt:

All through dinner, she was aware of his presence at her side. His quick smile, pleasant manners, his long, long fingers that occasionally brushed her hand. Then there was his deep voice murmuring in her ear during the meal. It mattered not what he said, the very sound of his voice sent alternate waves of heat and cold through her. She was barely been able to eat a bite, though she’d drained her wineglass more than once before the champagne toast was served. She drank that as well.

Now, feeling a bit woolly-headed, she walked out onto the balcony for some fresh air where a slight breeze cooled her heated face. The men were still having their port in the dining room while her mother and Phoebe sat and visited with Mrs. Channing. Lydia knew she should go back inside and converse with her future mother-in-law.

Lydia was eager to learn more about Evan’s childhood. She knew his father had died when he was a babe in arms, murdered during the Sepoy Uprising, and that Mrs. Channing’s Indian in-laws had protected her and the infant Evan from a similar fate. She must have loved her husband greatly, for she had never remarried.

It was a tale worthy of one of her favorite romance novels, but she wasn’t in the mood to be sociable. Thank heavens it was a small gathering, just her immediate family, Evan, his mother and his uncle Frederick. She’d never have been able to deal with a crowd tonight.

When the men entered the room, her gaze flew to Evan. He looked around the room, frowning, until he spotted her standing by the open door. A smile creased his face as he headed straight for her. She clutched the doorjamb as her heart started pounding.

"There you are," he said, stopping in front of her. "I feared you’d left."

"I just needed some fresh air," she explained.

"Are you well?" he asked, taking her hand solicitously. Heat radiated from him, shooting up her arm.

"I’m fine, just a bit warm."

"I am, too," he said, guiding her to the railing looking over the small garden at the back of the house. The scent of roses and honeysuckle wafted up.

"Since our engagement is official, I’ll send the announcement to the Times tomorrow, and then speak to the vicar about having the banns read. Shall we set a date now?"

She stiffened, staring straight ahead. Official. The word pounded in her head. Once the announcement was published, there would be no backing out. She closed her eyes, not knowing what to say.

"Lydia?"

Gently, he grasped her chin and turned her head toward his.

When she looked up, his expression was concerned.

"What’s wrong, my dear?"

Everything. But she could not say so. In truth, she was afraid of the weeks to come. Of what this marriage would mean.

How it would change her life.

He moved his hand to her shoulder. "Are you apprehensive?"

She managed a jerky nod.

"So am I," he whispered.

She stared at him in astonishment. "Truly?"

"Truly. This is a big step for both of us. I realize we don’t know each other very well. If you’d like a long engagement–"

"No. Waiting will just make things worse."

He quirked a dark brow. "How so?"

Taking a step back, she spread her hands. "It will just give me more time to dread–"

She broke off at the injured look on his face. "Forgive me, but surely you understand this marriage was never my preference."

He turned away from her and ran a hand through his hair. "Yes, I know, but I hoped you had become resigned to it."

"I have. At least I have tried to be," she said, the words tumbling out of her mouth. "That’s why I think it best just to plunge ahead. Once the banns have been read thrice, we can wed almost immediately."

He turned back, a frown still marring his forehead. "Will that give your mother enough time to plan?"

She shrugged. "All I need is a new gown."

"But won’t society think it odd we married in such haste?"

She looked him in the eye. "Let me make one thing clear. I do not give a fig for what society thinks. If you supposed you were marrying a social butterfly, let me banish that notion right now."

He smiled at her. "Harry said you were sensible, but this surprises me. I’m happy to agree to a short engagement." He stepped closer, towering over her. "The sooner I can make you mine, the better."

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What’s the first binge-worthy book you read and why was it a must-read?

One of my favorite historical novels is The Far Pavilions by M. M. Kaye. I was fascinated by the glimpse into Indian history and culture, and the culture clash between the British and the people of India and Afghanistan. The book is huge – 694 pages! – but I read it twice.

What makes your featured book a binge-worthy read?

I love that one reader commented that the conflict in my novella is real. Lydia doesn’t just have to adjust to an arranged marriage. She also has to deal with her own prejudices toward people of Indian descent. But the more Evan introduces her to Indian culture, from the food to how to wear a sari, the more she finds him intriguing. His use of the Kama Sutra to woo her adds some exotic lessons in lovemaking.

Giveaway:

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $50 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $25 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $15 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Enter to win a $10 Amazon (US) or Barnes and Noble Gift Card

Open internationally.

Runs August 1 – 31.

Drawing will be held on September 1.


Author Biography:

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of author Linda McLaughlin, who writes historical and Regency Romance. Since becoming Lyndi, she has discovered that writing sexy romance is a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of a book.

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