The Reluctant Duke (A Seabrook Family Saga) (29 page)

THE
LADY AND THE EARL

A
Seabrook Family Saga Book II

Available
now

Excerpt
Copyright @ 2013 Christine Donovan

http://www.amazon.com/Lady-Earl-Seabrook-Family-ebook/dp/B00D5I3KE2/ref=pd_rhf_se_p_t_2_TCZE

Lady Amelia Seabrook spends her
days at her brother’s country estate, far removed from London Society. Ever
since the tragic death of her betrothed, Captain Rycroft, she can’t bare the
London Social Scene. Most days she can be found sitting on the banks of a small
stream daydreaming about happier times with her captain. One day a stranger
appears and spoils everything, or does he?

Living in self-imposed exile the
past twelve years, William Spencer, the Earl of Bridgeton loves the solitude of
the countryside. Some days it bothers him to read the daily papers from London
and still see his name being mentioned. After twelve years one would think the
gossip mongers would have someone else to gossip about. Someone else to blame
for the murders he did not commit.

Coming
soon

THE LADY MUST CHOOSE

Excerpt Copyright @
2013 Christine Donovan

Book Three in the
Seabrook Family Saga

England 1818

The sound of
water lapping the side of the boat, along with the constant swaying, had Lady
Isabella Seabrook wishing she could forget the events of the day. But really,
how could she, when she sat on the floor of the Marquess of Newbury’s boat in
soaking wet clothing. She was not the only other person the boat owner saved
from the filthy Thames. Her river-companion sat close beside her.

“Mr. Spencer,
kindly remove your arms from around my waist,” Bella forced through chattering
teeth.

“Forgive me. I
didn’t want to let you go. Afraid I would lose you,” Mr. Spencer said through
his teeth, which chattered along with hers. Mr. Spencer was cousin to the Earl
of Bridgeton, whom Bella’s sister, Amelia, recently married.

“I am not
yours
to lose.”

“I gentleman can dream, can he not?”

Coming soon

BLACKJACK

Excerpt Copyright
@2013 Christine Donovan

The first book in a
new Contemporary Series

Groping the
wall blindly, hoping to steady his rubbery legs, Cole Jackson swore as he
realized he was totally wasted. The hotel hallway seemed to sway violently like
a ship caught in a serious gale.

“Shit,” he
yelled as he collapsed to one knee then slowly raised himself up and continued
shuffling toward the room he shared with his wife, Lindsey.

From a distant
haze, voices pummeled through the buzz surrounding his brain. Faces blurred,
and flashed in and out and around the black spots plaguing his eyesight.

One person
asked, “How’d the show go tonight, Mr. Jackson?” 

“Great, just
great,” Cole thought he replied. The words formed in his brain, he just

wasn’t sure
they managed to leave his mouth.

Another man
remarked, “Do you need any assistance?” 

“Hell no,” Cole
muttered aloud this time as he tripped along mumbling to himself. Why did
everyone assume he needed assistance just because he had a damn good buzz on? 
It was his life, wasn’t it?  And if he chose to blur it with alcohol it was his
business and nobody else’s.  

Cole slid the
stupid plastic key card in the door for the third time. “Damn, damn, damn,” he
pounded the door with his fist. “I need sleep. All I want to do is crawl into
bed. Come on, fourth time’s the charm.” 

As he turned
the knob, he prayed Lindsey slept
alone.
He’d stayed away as long as he
could without passing out in the hotel bar.
Not like he’d never done that
before
.

“What the
hell,” he swore as he shoved the door open banging it into something. Once
inside and the door shut, he looked down, blinked several times, forcing his
eyes to focus, and saw Lindsey lying on the floor. A deep red stain encompassed
her chest and a potent metallic smell floored his senses. Cole swayed and tried
to steady himself as the blackness began to descend, swallowing him up
.
 The
last thing he remembered, as he collapsed next to Lindsey, was his hand landing
in something warm, wet and sticky.