Deal Sharing Aunt: Lady in Deed by Ann Montclair review and giveaway!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Lady in Deed by Ann Montclair review and giveaway!

Lady in Deed

by Ann Montclair

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BLURB:
Piety or passion… What’s a lady to do?
Lady Mary Rutherford believed she would live her entire life as a nun. But when King Henry VIII’s reformist movement makes practicing religion a dangerous proposition, Mary is forced to begin a new life with a family she doesn't know. Worse, she must become lady of the manor, a role for which she feels sorely unprepared.
After a decade of service to his king, Lord Trenton Stanley returns home to find his estate in ruins, his fortune depleted, and his doddering father drooling over Mary—a woman Trent fears has been installed to replace his mother. Trent strives to rebuild his life, but his desire for Mary becomes a serious distraction he can’t seem to ignore.
Though Mary is anxious to prove she’s a worthy lady, she’s tempted by the rakish Trent into deeds most unladylike…
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EXCERPT:
Mary turned her back, and before he could elicit more information or explain his honest error, the coach stopped again. They’d arrived at his family’s estate.
Stanley Hall loomed large and a bit disorderly. Curriers jogged to fetch the horses, while chickens and geese mingled with the horses’ hooves, and a fat pig trundled through the square. A bevy of servants met the coach and a gaggling of great proportions ensued as the assembly attempted to greet the lord and lady.
Mary tried not to gawk at the most beautiful manor she’d ever seen. The facade was hundreds of years old and built to withstand war. But now, in these times when moats were unnecessary, the manor had been transformed by immense formal gardens and glass-windowed interior apartments — a home refashioned for comfort, not defence.
Lord Stanley flung wide the coach door and stepped out. He proffered his hand to Mary, but she disdained it, exited the coach, and swept past him and the crowd to ascend the steps of the front entrance.
She stopped when Lord Stanley called. “Lady Mary?”
She turned to look at him, and all the kind, expectant faces turned her way.
“I will expect you to dine with me this evening.”
Mary turned away before anyone could witness the heated flush of embarrassment rising in her cheeks. She walked with clipped steps into the yawning entrance of Stanley Hall. Lady Mary’s heart pounded rapidly, loudly. Lord Stanley demanded her company at dinner. She heard his voice in her ears
and felt it in her mouth. He had savagely whispered words she must forget. “Sweet woman, I need to taste every inch of you.”
“Lady Mary, right this way, my dear. Do you have any luggage?” The maid’s broad brow wrinkled with concern.
“I have nothing.” No mother, no father, no friend, and no idea about my whereabouts.
She looked about the manor, eyes agape, and tried to cover her anxiety with a shaky smile. She absorbed the stately surrounds and straightened her posture to offset her unkempt appearance.
The maid smiled and spoke earnestly. “Lady Mary, you might just be the medicine to heal this wounded place.”
Mary stepped back, surprised at the strange statement. Was the woman daft?
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My Review: I really Like Historical romance, they are what I normally read. However they all seem to flow into one. That is not true for this book. The heroine is the one who does not want to marry. She believes that she should be a nun. When she is forced to leave the church, she only has one place to go. To her ward. She becomes the head of the household and brings back some life to her wards family. She fully intends on being a nun, so when she meets her wards son, she is attracted to him, but knows nothing will come of it. He also has a fiance.

When temptation proves too strong for Mary she must make a decision. Get married, or be ruined. She chooses to be ruined. Can her love overcome everything she thought she was? Will Lord Stanley be able to convince her of true love? What happens to Lord Stanley's fiance? what does Mary's ward think, especially when he is Lord Stanley's father?

Ann (the author) will be awarding a $30.00 Amazon GC to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. So please comment on this post. Also the more you comment, the more your chances of winning! So please follow the tour here:

http://goddessfishpromotions.blogspot.com/2012/12/virtual-book-tour-lady-in-deed-by-ann.html

AUTHOR Bio and Links:

Ann Montclair writes contemporary and historical fiction and is an English professor at a small, rural community college. She was born in Los Angeles, California, where her parents and grown daughter now reside. Ann currently lives in the Finger Lakes region of New York with her husband, son, and a pile of dogs and cats. She enjoys listening to live music, hiking, cycling, cooking, and gardening. She hates dieting but spends a lot of time ruminating on the topic. Her biggest wish is that each of her readers will be inspired to believe in and find their own happily-ever-after, no matter their fears and insecurities. Her motto is Love triumphs! Ann has three published contemporary romance novels: The Billionaire’s Bauble (Soul Mate Publishing 2011), One Wet Summer (Musa Publishing 2012), and Good Things Come in Tall Packages (Musa Publishing 2012). Lady in Deed (Musa Publishing 2012) is her first historical romance. Lady is the Law, another Tudor historical romance, is forthcoming 2013.

Contacts and Buy Links:

Web site: http://www.annmontclair.com