How far will a duke go to insure his line? Will he wed an Irish rebel with a treasonous secret?
Jeremy Wyles believes himself sterile. He's also a sadist and fears no lady would agree to marry him. When a woman shows up on his doorstep, pregnant and claiming to be his wife, he'll do whatever is necessary to ensure his dukedom has an heir. A loveless marriage in name only seems the perfect solution, but his disobedient duchess stirs his desire for discipline...and something more.
Irish rebel Kathleen "Katy" Brennan only seeks recompense from the husband whose cousin married her by proxy and left her with child. The bargain he offers is tempting. He'll claim her baby as his own, and she can become the grand lady she's always imagined. There's just one condition she's not sure she can live with. The delicious-looking duke refuses to touch her...ever.
Can Jeremy put aside the wicked urges that rule his life, or will Katy's rebellious spirit destroy his tenuous control?
Note: A Matter of Manners contains explicit BDSM and sex. If this offends you, please don’t buy it.
Excerpt:
He’d messed up again.
She didn’t want to leave.
She wanted to talk. About being his wife.
He swallowed, the ember of hope dying. Outside, a rumble of thunder rolled.
“What did you want?” Maybe it wasn’t what he feared.
“I want to be your wife. I want to lie with you.”
Her hand soothed over his arm, caressing the raw area where she’d ripped the skin.
“I can’t, Katy.” Jeremy squeezed his eyes shut, cheek sliding along the top of her head.
“Why? Tell me why.”
“I can’t.”
She drew a deep breath and pushed away from him. Her gaze locked on his face, her lips hard with determination. “You can’t tell me, or you can’t lie with me?” A note of anger crept into her voice. Another crack of thunder rocked the house.
He wasn’t prepared for this. He should have been but wasn’t. “I won’t. I won’t tell you, and I won’t lie with you.” His jaw set. It wasn’t up for discussion.
He was certain her eyes flashed with lightning as she slipped from his lap. She stomped toward the door, turning as the heavy slab swung open.
“You’re a coward, Jeremy Wyles. I told you I’d do anything you wanted.” Her eyes fastened on his crotch, brows dropping, lips pinched. “I told you my secrets,trusted you with the fate of my family. But you can’t even tell me why you won’t love me. So, it doesn’t matter if I leave or not. You’ll always be alone. And so will I.”
Buy Links:
Amazon link https://www.amazon.com/dp/B081K3WYGR
Barnes and Noble https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-matter-of-manners-terry-graham/1134929874?ean=2940163160600
Author Bio:
Born in a tiny town in upstate NY, Terry Graham never wanted to go out and play. Her first memory of kindergarten consists of sitting before the bookcase vowing she’d read every colorful story on its shelves by the end of the year. When she complained she was bored, her mom handed her a book or sent her to the library. First she read Nancy Drew and the Hardy boys, but at about age ten, Mom handed her a Barbara Cartland and Terry was hooked on romance. Thanks to her liberal minded aunt, she soon graduated to Victoria Holt, Kathleen Woodweiss and Rosemary Rodgers. Somehow, her favorites always involved women in jeopardy – kidnapped, forced into marriage, rescued by men whose intentions weren’t always honorable. Scottish heroes and Vikings made her heart race, and when she picked up a Julie Garwood novel she wouldn’t come out of her room until she finished it.
Terry never dreamt of writing such wonderful stories, though. At thirteen she’d decided to become a chemist, to insure she never had to struggle for money the way her parents did, and spent her high school and college years accomplishing that. It was in college that she started writing – poetry and love letters to her first true love, David. David was the one who planted the seed in her brain, telling her she should write. The romance didn’t last, but David is one of her best friends to this day, and the idea of writing germinated. After marrying and having a child, Terry picked up a book one day and threw it down in disgust declaring “I can write better than that!”
That proclamation began a twenty plus year journey to where she is today. On January 27th, 2020 she proved to herself and others that one can accomplish one’s dreams. Only her readers know for sure if it was better than the book she threw down. If even one of her novels lights a spark similar to the ones Kathleen, Rosemary, and Julie lit in her she will consider all the hard work worthwhile.
To follow her or learn more she can be found at @TGrahamWriter on Twitter, https://www.facebook.com/TGrahamWriter on Facebook or at https://terrygrahamromance.com
No comments:
Post a Comment