I’ve been both dreading and anticipating December 1st this year. Dreading, because I am just finishing a book that my editor is expecting tomorrow, and I got a late start on it. Anticipating the date, because Brazen is out today!

The hero in Brazen appeared in my last book, Seducing the Governess. He is Captain Gavin Briggs, the man who was promised a fortune if he tracked down and found the two long lost granddaughters of the Duke of Windermere. The year is 1817, and Briggs is a former marksman and assassin in the British army. All he wants to do is find the granddaughters, collect his money, and settle down on a small estate he’s already picked out. He wants peace. He wants quiet. He wants to forget the ugliness of war.

But then he tracks down Lady Christina Fairhaven, the second of Windermere’s granddaughters, whose husband died in the arms of his mistress the year before. It was an appalling situation for everyone – especially Christina. But she cannot dwell on her late husband’s peccadilloes – not when she’s being blackmailed for outrageous sums of money. A nasty, deviant character has already demanded one payment to keep some horrible secret about Christina’s supposedly deceased brother, and now he wants more. Christina wants to believe her brother is alive, even though all evidence points to the contrary. She intends to confront the blackmailer on her own and demand that he tell her what he knows.

Enter Gavin Briggs. Christina recognizes he is a man with some savvy of the world and she coerces him into helping her deal with the blackmailer. Gavin knows you cannot deal with this sort of criminal, but what choice does he have? He can either toss Lady Christina over his shoulder and drag her back to Windermere against her will… or he can help her.

Here’s what Romance Reviews Today says: BRAZEN is a mix of romance and adventure with an added dash of humor. About three quarters of the way into the story the suspense is tremendous. The characterization is excellent as well. Gavin served in the war with distinction, but not without some misgivings as to whether his ordered actions were truly honorable. He’s also more soft-hearted and worthy than he believes himself to be. Christina discovers she thrives on independence after the disaster of her short marriage. Watch her grow in confidence!

To read an excerpt of this book, visit my website.

For a little sneak peak at what happened to Christina’s brother on the night he disappeared - Brash is a short story that gives some clues. It’s available for electronic download only.

Tell me what your favorite hero-heroine scenario is. Marriage of convenience? Strangers stuck together on a common quest? They meet again after a long separation? Something else?

I’ll pick two names from today’s comments and send each one a copy of Seducing the Governess.