Title: My Dear Mr. Ridley (Diamonds of London #1)
Author: Sandra Sookoo
Genre: romance, historical romance, Regency romance, romantic suspense
Book Blurb:
Sometimes, the road to romance is littered with intrigue, harrowing danger, and wild shock.
The year is 1818 and Theodosia Netherton—Lady Ballantyne—is wintering in the sunny climes of Italy in an effort to protect her health as well as to visit her brother. Widowed for three years, she has no interest in a new romance, but when a horrific emergency leads her to the doorstep of a handsome, former Bow Street Runner with wide shoulders and a mysterious scar, she might just change her mind.
Mr. Hudson Ridley is in Rome for the warmth and relative obscurity. Retired at the age of eight and thirty, the last thing he wants is to become embroiled in a kidnapping plot that involves an attractive widow and her missing son. Yet he was the best in the retrieval business in his prime, and she did have hauntingly unforgettable eyes as well as a smile that could make a man do wicked, stupid things.
In the quest to hunt the people who nabbed the boy and heir to a viscounty, Theodosia and Hudson dance about mutual desire until passion gets the better of them one star-lit evening amidst some of the country’s finest ruins. But tracking the criminals turns deadly when shots are fired at them. Time is running out to rescue the young heir, keep a valuable jewel safe, and somehow discover if love is the ultimate reward despite the risk.
Can two fearful hearts feel less broken together? Find out in My Dear Mr. Ridley, the first book in the exciting new Diamonds of London series.
Excerpt:
“Perhaps I can host your dinner parties and other events in the future if all goes well tonight.” It was more than she’d given him since she’d arrived, but it was time to shake off the old sadness and find something new.
“I would like that above all things.”
“Unless, of course, you might wish to marry.” She nudged him in the ribs with an elbow.
“Not until you do the same.”
“Cheeky.” But she laughed, and it felt good to do so. “Making a late start of it today?”
“A bit. I was up rather late last night with a difficult meeting, but eventually a compromise was reached.” He pulled his pocket watch out. “Now, I’m afraid I have another meeting that is just as important in a quarter of an hour. No time for tea it seems.”
“Then I will see you at dinner.”
“Absolutely. There are a few gentlemen I would like to introduce you to. All very fine men,” he added when she raised an eyebrow. “Upstanding members of society, and all quite fitting for a lady of your station. Fear not.” He trained his gray-blue eyes on her, so much like hers. “If fortune is with us, this year will bring us both a renewal of blessings. We are both due for some of those.”
“We are.” She patted his shoulder before he turned away. “I hope you have a productive meeting. I sometimes think you work too hard and keep too long of hours.”
“Thank you, and you aren’t wrong, but being an ambassador requires this from time to time.”
Once her brother departed, Doris came back into the room. “There is a bit of heat rising this afternoon, my lady. Would you care for some lemonade?”
“That sounds lovely. It’s almost time for tea regardless, so I shall call Jacob inside, so please bring the lemonade and tea things to the balcony off the morning room. I always adore the views from there. After that, I want to perhaps visit the Trevi fountain with him. He needs to start on his history in any event.”
“Of course, my lady. I’ll order the refreshments and have them sent there for you.”
“Thank you, Doris. It will be lovely to have some down time this afternoon before the anxiety of the evening is upon me.”
The maid tsked. “You will be the star of the night, just as you were in your youth.”
“I don’t know about that.” But Theodosia smiled, nonetheless as she made her way to the morning room. It was one of her most favorite rooms in the villa and featured much of the same views as her bedchamber.
The light, airy space, done in pleasing shades of peach and moss green always made her feel at home and at peace. It was here she did most of her correspondence, and if she were to truly become her brother’s hostess, where she would meet with the staff and plan upcoming events. A tiny niggle of excitement buzzed at the base of her spine, for she had dearly missed being a vital part of someone’s life. Perhaps she might find purpose again over and above being a mother.
She tidied the room, stacked a few periodicals and fashion magazines on one of the low tables to make room for the tea service. Not long afterward, a footman brought in a silver tea tray, including two tall cut crystal glasses of lemonade. After thanking the man, Theodosia took a glass in each hand and then moved to the balcony off that room. There was a dear little table and two chairs—all made from white-painted wrought iron—where she planned to take tea. She glanced into the courtyard just as a rush of boys came swarming back into the space with the ever-present ball.
“Jacob? Please join me upstairs. It’s time for tea.”
There was no answer in her son’s sweet voice.
With a frown, Theodosia leaned a bit over the wrought iron railing of the balcony in order to see better, but there was no trace of him. “Jacob?” Cold fear twisted up her spine. Oh, God. Had it finally happened? Had her crime from years ago been found out at last? “Jacob! Where are you?”
One of the other boys, a dark-haired Italian lad, looked up at her with a hand shading his eyes. “He is not here, lady.” He shrugged with all the elegance Italians inherently had. “He is gone now.”
“Gone?” Panic filled her chest. The glasses of lemonade slipped from her suddenly lax fingers to shatter against the stonework at her feet. The cool liquid splashed over her ankles and toes, for she wore Roman-style sandals. “Gone where?”
“I do not know? He just… go.” Then the boy returned to the knot of others, and they continued to play with their ball.
“Jacob!” The urge to retch climbed her throat, for old fears were coming home to roost even though she and her husband had been so terribly careful. Perhaps that wasn’t it at all, but instead her son had wandered off. “Jacob!” Yet there was no sign of the boy, and she knew deep in her heart this was the beginning of the end. Slowly, Theodosia sank to her knees as the strength left her body. “Jacob!”
Her screams came back to her in mocking echoes then she covered her face in her hands and let tears have at her.
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An unlikely couple right from the beginning. She needs him to find her son, and he needs her to pull him out of the past. Plus, there’s a cat!
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Author Biography:
Sandra Sookoo is a USA Today bestselling author who firmly believes every person deserves acceptance and a happy ending. That is why her characters are not in the usual style and oftentimes struggle with things out of the norm. She’s written for publication since 2008. Most days you can find her creating scandal and mischief in the Regency-era, serendipity and happenstance in the Victorian era, or historical romantic suspense complete with mystery and intrigue. Reading is a lot like eating chocolates—you can’t just have one book. Give her the chance with one book and you’ll be hooked.
When she’s not wearing out computer keyboards or mice, Sandra spends time with her real-life Prince Charming in Central Indiana where she also runs a gourmet cookie business and makes moments count with the man because the key to life is laughter. Inspired to storytelling by Walt Disney since the age of ten, when her soul gets bogged down and her imagination flags, a trip to Walt Disney World is in order. Nothing fills the well and fuels her dreams more than the land of eternal happy endings, hope and love stories.
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