A Good Rogue is Hard to Find
by Kelly Bowen
Hatchett Book Group – Forever
Publication Date: April 28, 2015
About the Book:
HE THOUGHT HE’D SEEN IT ALL . . .
The rogue’s life has been good to William Somerhall: He has his
fortune, his racehorses, and his freedom. Then he moves in with his
mother. It seems the eccentric Dowager Duchess of Worth has been barely
skirting social disaster-assisted
by one Miss Jenna Hughes, who is far too bright and beautiful to be
wasting her youth as a paid companion. Now home to keep his mother from
ruin, William intends to learn what’s afoot by keeping his friends
close-and the tempting Miss Hughes closer still.
The rogue’s life has been good to William Somerhall: He has his
fortune, his racehorses, and his freedom. Then he moves in with his
mother. It seems the eccentric Dowager Duchess of Worth has been barely
skirting social disaster-assisted
by one Miss Jenna Hughes, who is far too bright and beautiful to be
wasting her youth as a paid companion. Now home to keep his mother from
ruin, William intends to learn what’s afoot by keeping his friends
close-and the tempting Miss Hughes closer still.
. . . UNTIL HE MEETS HER
He’s tall, dark, and damnably intelligent-unfortunately for Jenna.
She and the duchess are in the “redistribution business,” taking from
the rich and giving to the poor, and it’s going great – until he shows
up. But even as William
plots to make an honest woman out of her, Jenna will use all her wiles
to reveal just how bad a rogue he can be . . .
About Kelly Bowen
Kelly Bowen grew up in
Manitoba, Canada. She worked her way through her teenage years as a back
country trail guide and ranch hand and spent a year working on a cattle
station in Australia. She attended the University
of Manitoba and earned a Master of Science degree in veterinary
physiology and endocrinology.
Manitoba, Canada. She worked her way through her teenage years as a back
country trail guide and ranch hand and spent a year working on a cattle
station in Australia. She attended the University
of Manitoba and earned a Master of Science degree in veterinary
physiology and endocrinology.
But it was Kelly’s
infatuation with history and a weakness for a good love story that led
her down the path of historical romance. When she is not writing, she
seizes every opportunity to explore ruins and battlefields.
Currently, Kelly lives in
Winnipeg with her husband and two boys, all of whom are wonderfully
patient with the writing process. Except, that is, when they need a
goalie for street hockey.
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Excerpt
Miss Hughes, as if sensing his
hesitation, moved to his side and casually tucked her arm through his as though
they were out for an informal stroll in his mother’s rose garden. Her fingers rested lightly on the sleeve of
his coat, and her hip pressed against his.
Will closed his eyes briefly, excruciatingly aware of every curve of her
body.
hesitation, moved to his side and casually tucked her arm through his as though
they were out for an informal stroll in his mother’s rose garden. Her fingers rested lightly on the sleeve of
his coat, and her hip pressed against his.
Will closed his eyes briefly, excruciatingly aware of every curve of her
body.
He would have asked her to dance
that night at his ball, had she not disappeared. Just to have her in his arms if only for a
few fleeting moments. Her memory had lodged
in his mind, and since then, more times than he cared to admit, Will had
imagined what this woman would have felt like next to him, her warmth merged
with his. He had imagined repeatedly
what it would have felt like to have stolen a kiss.
that night at his ball, had she not disappeared. Just to have her in his arms if only for a
few fleeting moments. Her memory had lodged
in his mind, and since then, more times than he cared to admit, Will had
imagined what this woman would have felt like next to him, her warmth merged
with his. He had imagined repeatedly
what it would have felt like to have stolen a kiss.
But he hadn’t anticipated the raw
desire that crackled over every nerve ending in his skin and lodged
uncomfortably in his groin. Her
slightest touch made him feel almost feverish with need. Without meaning to, he leaned forward
slightly, inhaling her scent. Soap and
sunshine.
desire that crackled over every nerve ending in his skin and lodged
uncomfortably in his groin. Her
slightest touch made him feel almost feverish with need. Without meaning to, he leaned forward
slightly, inhaling her scent. Soap and
sunshine.
The conundrum that was Joseph
abruptly faded into the realm of unimportant as Miss Hughes pulled Will forward
slightly and he followed, unable to think of anything else to do. Unable to think, period, except to wonder at
his intense and sudden urge to claim those curling lips. He shook his head, trying to regain some
measure of control over his runaway libido.
abruptly faded into the realm of unimportant as Miss Hughes pulled Will forward
slightly and he followed, unable to think of anything else to do. Unable to think, period, except to wonder at
his intense and sudden urge to claim those curling lips. He shook his head, trying to regain some
measure of control over his runaway libido.
“Joseph may
be young,” Miss Hughes was saying, “but I can assure you he is most capable.”
be young,” Miss Hughes was saying, “but I can assure you he is most capable.”
Will tried to listen. But he’d noticed an escaped tendril of hair
had plastered itself to the side of her neck, and he imagined pressing his lips
to the dampness. It would taste salty
and—
had plastered itself to the side of her neck, and he imagined pressing his lips
to the dampness. It would taste salty
and—
“If you’d care for a closer look at
the stock, Paul will be happy to accommodate you once he returns.” Her voice was coming from a distance, but
somehow he couldn’t focus on her words, only her mouth. Why hadn’t he noticed last night that he
would barely have to dip his head to kiss her?
There was a freckle near her upper lip that he needed to explore.
the stock, Paul will be happy to accommodate you once he returns.” Her voice was coming from a distance, but
somehow he couldn’t focus on her words, only her mouth. Why hadn’t he noticed last night that he
would barely have to dip his head to kiss her?
There was a freckle near her upper lip that he needed to explore.
And why hadn’t he noticed the way
her breasts curved enticingly, begging to be worshipped? They weren’t overly large, but they pushed up
invitingly beneath her bodice, and Will had the irrational urge to rip that ugly
gown away from a body it didn’t deserve.
She turned her head, gesturing to something in the distance, and her
hair caressed his chin, a brush of soft silk.
her breasts curved enticingly, begging to be worshipped? They weren’t overly large, but they pushed up
invitingly beneath her bodice, and Will had the irrational urge to rip that ugly
gown away from a body it didn’t deserve.
She turned her head, gesturing to something in the distance, and her
hair caressed his chin, a brush of soft silk.
He’d been hopelessly drawn to Miss
Hughes that night of his ball, and now in her presence, the affliction seemed
to be getting worse. Perhaps because she was a complete departure
from the overdone, overscented, overindulged females he’d been dealing with
since he inherited his bloody title.
Normally, in his presence, women preened and primped. They giggled and fluttered and hung on his
every word. Jenna Hughes did none of
those things. She didn’t tug or adjust
the awful dress she was wearing, turning just so to give him the best view of
her profile or her cleavage. She seemed
oblivious to her appearance, and, even more fascinating, indifferent to what he
thought of her appearance.
Hughes that night of his ball, and now in her presence, the affliction seemed
to be getting worse. Perhaps because she was a complete departure
from the overdone, overscented, overindulged females he’d been dealing with
since he inherited his bloody title.
Normally, in his presence, women preened and primped. They giggled and fluttered and hung on his
every word. Jenna Hughes did none of
those things. She didn’t tug or adjust
the awful dress she was wearing, turning just so to give him the best view of
her profile or her cleavage. She seemed
oblivious to her appearance, and, even more fascinating, indifferent to what he
thought of her appearance.
Perhaps it was that confidence that
Will found so riveting. There was no
pretense with this stunning woman. She
would say what she meant and mean what she said. There would be no coyness, no games. When he took her it would be raw. And physical and—
Will found so riveting. There was no
pretense with this stunning woman. She
would say what she meant and mean what she said. There would be no coyness, no games. When he took her it would be raw. And physical and—
“Are you alright, Your Grace?” They had come to a stop.
Will jerked to attention, realizing
with horror he was still staring at her breasts like a besotted school
boy. Fantasizing about sex he would
never have with a woman he should never touch.
with horror he was still staring at her breasts like a besotted school
boy. Fantasizing about sex he would
never have with a woman he should never touch.