Title: When the Rogue Fell (Diamonds of London #5)
Author: Sandra Sookoo
Genre: Historical romance, Regency romance
Book Blurb:
Love can heal all wounds... if the demons of the past stay buried.
The Honorable Hugh Ridgeway is the third son of an earl, but he’s made a complete wreck of his life and hasn’t cared about his reputation despite having a nearly grown daughter to care for. After never aspiring to be anything other than a wastrel, a case of ennui strikes, but when he meets a woman who refuses to fall for his charm and good looks, he might need to change his approach—on everything. At the very least, perhaps she’ll have some advice.
A former Diamond of the First Water, Miss Felicity Hixton has been disappointed by life in seemingly every way, so she’s hidden behind a wall of prickles. No more will she offer her heart to a man, for she’s done being hurt. Yet when a conversation with Mr. Ridgeway regarding launching his daughter into society becomes what the beau monde considers a compromising situation with one of London’s most notorious rogues, she is shoved into a complicated coil.
When exasperated parents demand an engagement, the pair has no choice but to spend February days in forced proximity. Finding common ground with her heart locked away behind thorns and a less than a respectable life on Hugh’s part seems an impossible task, but if one of them takes the first step toward understanding and chance, new avenues will open. Only then can the obstacles in their path lead to a love neither of them expected…
… and when a rogue falls, it might be the most wonderful antidote to long winter nights.
Excerpt:
An awkward silence brewed between them. “Well, I hope you have good fortune with your daughter.” When she took a step backward, something small and brown skittered over the toe of her slipper. “Eek! What was that?”
Mr. Ridgeway glanced downward and grimaced. “Nothing but a mouse.”
“Ack!” With another squeal, she dashed toward him in an effort to put distance between her and the rodent. “I don’t like vermin. Detest them!”
He snorted, and there was a trace of mischief in his eyes. “Then don’t look down. It’s quite near your hem.”
“What?” Felicity squealed. “Where?” No matter where she glanced, there was no sign of the mouse. “You must find it! I will faint dead away if it touches me!”
“It won’t…” His eyes rounded. “Oh, buggar, it’s in the process of running up your gown.”
“Aah!” A screech left her throat. “Get it off!” In her haste to dislodge the mouse, she must have spooked it, for it scampered upward only to dive inside her bodice and nestle itself between her breasts. Of course it would, for her full bosom had always been the bane of her existence. It was the first thing men noticed about her. “Oh, dear lord, it’s in my bodice.” She gave into a full body shiver then wrapped a hand into Mr. Ridgeway’s lapel. “Help me!”
“What the devil do you wish for me to do? I am not a mouse expert.” He peered at her as if she’d grown a second head.
“Mr. Ridgeway, please!”
“But I—”
“Ooh, ooh, its little feet are on me.” The feeling of the mouse moving about inside her stays between them and her shift had her worst fears being realized. Heat swamped her person, and it was even more vital that she hold onto Mr. Ridgeway as she went a bit lightheaded. “I’m going to faint.”
“Damn and blast,” he muttered beneath his breath, but he snaked an arm about her waist, no doubt to steady her and keep her upright. “Hold still and pardon the trespass.” Briefly, he met her gaze, then dropped it to her chest and he plunged his hand into her bodice.
“Hurry!” Felicity squirmed because the mouse was well and truly stuck inside her stays, but having Mr. Ridgeway’s hand within her bodice was quite an interesting experience.
“I can’t get a grip on it,” he said from around what sounded like clenched teeth as he fumbled about inside her clothing.
“Ugh.” She shivered. “Oh, get the mouse.”
“Stop moving.”
A gasp escaped her when his fingers brushed over one of her nipples. Had that been an accident? Awareness rippled over her skin and her gaze flew to his face, but he was focused on chasing the mouse. There was no way to tell if he’d deliberately caressed her, but when she tried to put distance between them, the fingers at her hip tightened and he reeled her a bit closer.
“Stay still. I almost had my hand about it, but then you moved.” Annoyance threaded through his voice.
“Right.” Her mouth went dry, for at such close proximity she discerned the beginnings of an evening shadow clinging to his cheeks and sharp jaw as well as a glimpse of a few glimmers of gray at his temples. The delicate skin at the corners of his eyes had fine lines, as if he were used to either grinning or laughing on a regular basis.
As a rake, perhaps? Yet he’d mentioned he was a father. Such a mystery.
The mouse chose that moment to respond. She moaned in fear and disgust, for its whiskers kept gliding over her skin. “Oh, dear heavens!” Truly, knowing the rodent was touching her skin was more than she could bear. Any moment she would give into a faint. “Hurry, Mr. Ridgeway!” She clutched at her bodice, which pressed his hand—and the mouse—closer.
“What the devil is happening in here?” The bellow came from the parlor door, which had remained opened, directly followed by a feminine cry of dismay.
“Oh, Felicity, what is that man doing to you? What are you allowing him to do?” It was difficult to separate the disappointment from the speculation in her mother’s tone.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
B&N: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/when-the-rogue-fell-sandra-sookoo/1144047131?ean=2940167495913
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/when-the-rogue-fell-diamonds-of-london-book-5-by-sandra-sookoo
What makes your featured book a must-read?
It’s all about family and acceptance. The forced proximity begins with a misunderstanding about a mouse, but as time goes on a prickles recede, love comes striding in.
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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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