Today, I've got the super-talented and prolific Allison West here to share an excerpt from the second book in her Victorian Chronicles series "Little Brides."
Before we get to the story, I asked her a question and I'd like to share her response with you today.
What makes a good story?
Characters with a solid backstory, a believable world –whether it’s
historical, fantasy, science fiction or contemporary it has to be based on
enough truth to seem real, a strong story arc, and a romance that is
believable. I enjoy reading romances that aren’t just throw the characters
together and let them make out. Obstacles and flawed characters are more
genuine and real, they’re like us.
I agree. Being able to engage a reader's suspense of disbelief is so important, no matter what genre you write.
Excerpt:
Francis had paid an unexpected visit to Clara’s
parents’ home, wishing to speak with them about hiring a nanny for Clara.
Though, in truth, he did not desire to use such words around her
family. He wanted the chance to marry the young lady and worried that if he
confessed of his desires, that they might not offer the young lady to him.
Instead he would refer to the position as a maid, because it was quite common
for wealthy families to have maids to help the girls with their chores and
getting ready for proper events.
He had not intended on visiting with Clara after the
examination. In fact, he had planned on her discovering that he was the
physician when they were to wed. It would have been quite a surprise, even for
him, a man who despised surprises, but he thought it was in Clara’s
best interest.
“What are you doing here?” Clara asked, staring at him
harshly. She stepped closer, examining him from head to toe. “Are you really a
physician or was what you did some sick joke?” Clara folded her arms across her
chest.
He was confident that she was angry with him and for
valid reason, he hadn’t been forthcoming in who he was. Francis also hadn’t
thought that if he was honest she would have been accepting of what he wanted
to do, ensure that she was a virtuous bride.
“I am a doctor,” Francis said. “You visited my home
and the cottages for the sick and dying.” He quite often had at least one
family hauled up in one of the buildings until they passed away. It made caring
for them much easier when they were within a few days or weeks of their
last dying breath.
“You lied to me!” Clara shouted as she stomped across
the floor, coming to approach him.
He wasn’t sure whether she had it in her to hit him or
only scream at him. Either way he was prepared for whatever anger she
unleashed. Francis did not deny that it was probably warranted. It wasn’t that
he intended to betray her, only keep her from second guessing the decision of
their marriage.
“I did what was in your best interest,” Francis said.
“I intended to marry you and have no reason not to.” He hoped that she would
not give him a reason to turn her away. She was beautiful, strikingly so with
her honey blonde hair and hazel eyes that twinkled in the candelabra
lighting.
Clara huffed with anger, her teeth clenched tight and
her hands balled into fists. “You violated me!”
“Excuse me?” George asked, interrupting the tiff
between his daughter and Francis. “Would someone please clarify what exactly is
going on here?”
Blurb:
Eager young Clara is
looking forward to her arranged marriage. She has been waiting all her life for
the day when she will meet her husband. Her father has spent many months
searching for the man worthy of his daughter’s hand.
Clara learns that her future husband,
Francis, requires the young woman to undergo a medical examination to ensure
that she has remained pure and that she is as intact as her reputation. Clara
has never felt more disgraced as she is forced to bare all of herself to the
doctor, where she undergoes far more than she ever anticipated. Silently, she
swears to herself that she will move past the humiliation and never speak of
what happened with the physician.
When Francis pays a visit to Clara’s
father to propose additional terms to the marriage, wanting to bring along one
of her maids so he will have a nanny in the house for Clara, the young
bride-to-be is shocked to realize that he was the man giving her an
examination. Was he really a doctor, or was he playing the part to ruin her
reputation?
Little
Brides is the second book in the Victorian Chronicles. It can be read as a
stand-alone story but it does follow the first book in the series: A Proper
Punishment.
A Proper
Punishment
Victorian
Chronicles Book One
By Allison
West
She’s stolen gold… will
she steal his heart? Lena Mae has been turning down the advances of men and
potential suitors for marriage. She has not met a man worthy of her attention
or her hand. Looking for adventure and learning of the route between England
and Paris where gold is hauled and transported, Lena is determined to steal
enough gold bars to live alone and never need to consider the advances of
another man.
William Mason is
responsible for guarding the train and the gold bars buried inside the safes.
He has always been a man of the law. When he discovers that the safe
transporting the gold has been broken in to and there are thieves on the train,
he enlists the help of the young Lena Mae, who has caught his attention.
Traveling alone with a story to tell, she appears to be the most honest person
and the one least likely to be involved, given her dainty size.
His assumptions are
wrong. Learning of her betrayal, he must decide how to enforce his rule and
whether she should be disciplined – or arrested and handed over to the
authorities for her crimes.
DISCLAIMER: This book
contains elements of age-play, power exchange, discipline, anal play, and
graphic sexual content. If any of these offend you, please do not purchase.
Available for $2.99
Little Brides:
Blushing Books: http://blushingbooks.com/index.php?l=product_detail&p=4338
A Proper Punishment:
About the Author:
Allison West is a #1 International
Best-Selling Author in Erotica, BDSM, Romantic Erotica, Sci-Fi, Victorian, and
Historical Erotica. She also writes young adult novels under the name Ruth
Silver.
Allison West has been inventing worlds
and writing stories for years. Her favorite novels are those that leave a
lasting impression, long after the final page is read. She loves writing
naughty novels with characters that you can connect with. You can find more
about Allison on Facebook and Twitter.
Want to be part of her Advanced Reader
Program and discover information about upcoming titles, giveaways, access to
ARC’s and gain behind the scenes access? Join the Victorian Vixens Facebook group.
Visit her website here:
Don’t miss
these exciting titles by Allison West and Blushing Books!
Visit the other participants joining in the
Hi Kathryn and Allison, enjoyed reading this and love your answer Allison. Love the sound of this and enjoyed the excerpt, she is definitely feisty! Thank you both for sharing :)
ReplyDeleteKathryn, for some reason your last few posts have only just appeared in my dashboard now.
Hugs
Roz