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Saturday, December 22, 2012

Saving a Lady...with Lorraine Heath and Giveaway

Saving a Lady on Christmas Eve - Lorraine Heath

New York Times bestselling author Lorraine Heath always dreamed of being a writer. After graduating from the University of Texas, she wrote training manuals, press releases for a publicist, articles, and computer code, but something was always missing. In 1990, she read a romance novel and became not only hooked on the genre, but quickly realized what her writing lacked: rebels, scoundrels, and rogues. She's been writing about them ever since.

Places to find Lorraine:


When I was first given my theme, Saving a Lady on Christmas Eve, I thought how well it fit with my Christmas e-novella, DECK THE HALLS WITH LOVE, which is the story of a lady who needs to be rescued from marrying the wrong man. As I pondered an unrelated scene for my theme, I thought of rain-swept moors, a lady running from something, a lady in danger, but then Lady Penelope Persimmon nudged my shoulder. She was a lady in dire need of being rescued from obscurity. These characters don’t appear in any of my other stories.

A Christmas Waltz
by Lorraine Heath

It had been three years since Lady Penelope Persimmon had been relegated to obscurity. She should be accustomed to the inattentiveness of the male species by now. She should have accepted that love would forever be denied her. But as she sat in her chair at the edge of the dance floor while the strains of a waltz echoed through the room, she closed her eyes and remembered the last time she’d been swept over a gleaming parquet floor. . .

Of all her dance partners on this Christmas Eve, Randolph Fitzweather, the Earl of Garland, was by far the handsomest. His warm sapphire eyes held her green ones as he guided her expertly around the other couples. His black hair framed a face of sharp edges and strong lines. He smelled of bergamot and orange. His large hands held her steady, his movements those of a man sure of himself and his place in Society. He had danced with her often during the Season. He strolled with her through the parks. He’d ridden with her along Rotten Row. She had dreamed that soon he would approach her father and she would spend the remainder of her life in his arms.

She opened her eyes to find him standing there as though she had conjured him with her thoughts. So tall that she had to crane her neck back to meet his gaze.

“I thought mayhap you’d fallen asleep,” he said.

She smiled softly. “Dreaming, but not asleep. I didn’t know you’d returned from your travels.”

Three years ago, on the day following the night she had her last dance with him, he’d gone on a tour of the world. She envied him his freedom to do as he pleased, to move about with such ease.

“I missed England . . . and other things.”

In his eyes, she read that she was included in the other things. Her heart felt a pang of remorse, of loss.

“Why aren’t you dancing?” he asked.

Her smile turned sad, melancholy. “You know why.”

“It’s true then, what I’ve heard.”

She released a bitter laugh. “I don’t sit in a chair with wheels on it because I find it so terribly fashionable.”

“I heard it was a riding accident.”

She nodded. “Silly thing, really. I urged my horse over a hedgerow that she must have leapt over a thousand times. Only this time, she stumbled.”

She still experienced the rush of the air on her face, the smoothness of flying through the air, then the unexpected jaggedness and the tumble—

The ground knocking the breath out of her, the crack echoing around her, the pain radiating through her chest, the absence of sensation below her waist.

“You should have sent word,” he said.

“There’s nothing you could have done. I was beyond rescuing.”

He studied her, quietly, intensely, as was his way. “How bad is it, Penny?”

“I’ll never walk again, Gar.”

The sadness in his eyes almost made her weep. She could hardly stand it. He had always been there for her, but there was nothing he could do for her now.

“So,” she began, in order to lighten the mood. “Tell me of your travels.”

“They were lonely, far lonelier than I expected.”

“But you must have seen wonderful things.”

“None as wonderful as you. I missed you, Pen. I often thought of our last dance. I think I fell in love with you that night.”

“Don’t be ridiculous.”

“I’m rather sure of it as a matter of fact. I want to dance with you again.”

Tears welled in her eyes. “I can’t dance, Gar. Do you not understand? I can’t even tap my foot in time to the music.”

He moved in closer. Impossible as it seemed, she could feel his warmth through his clothing. She remembered the heat that seeped from him into her during their last dance.

He trailed a finger over her collarbone, and she closed her eyes at the marvelous sensation. It had been so very long since anyone had touched her.

“Can you feel that?” he asked.

Opening her eyes, she discovered he was kneeling beside her. “Of course I can.”

He cradled her cheek. His hand was rough. She almost reminded him that he should be wearing gloves, but she loved the feel of his bared palm. “That?”

She nodded. “Gar—”

“This?” he whispered softly and pressed his lips to hers.

It was lovely, so very lovely. He tasted dark and rich as he swept his tongue through her mouth. His moan was accompanied by her sigh. She entangled her fingers in his hair. Bittersweet. It was so bittersweet.

He drew back. “Dance with me, Pen.”

“Are you mad?”

“Madly in love—with you. I always have been.”

He lifted her into his arms and carried her toward the dance area. She wound her arms around his neck.

“Gar, what are you doing?”

“Giving you one more waltz, only this time when it ends rather than head to parts unknown, I intend to ask you to marry me, so be prepared with your answer.”

Burying her head in the nook of his shoulder, she relished his smooth movements as he swept her over the dance floor. He was saving her from obscurity. He was giving her everything she ever dreamed of.

“Yes,” she whispered near his ear, tightening her hold on him. “Yes.”


Christmas is a time for miracles…and second chances at love.

In her dazzling first Season, Lady Meredith Hargreaves gave her heart to Alistair Wakefield, the Marquess of Chetwyn, only to have it shattered when he proposed to another. And now that he’s free to pursue her? It matters little, because she’s on her way to the altar, heartbreak be damned.

Chetwyn once set aside his own dreams in favor of duty and honor. But as Christmas approaches, he is determined to put his own desires first and get Lady Meredith back into his arms where she belonged all along.

First he steals a dance; then he steals a kiss. But when they find themselves alone in an abandoned castle during a snow storm, passion reignited consumes them both. And Chetwyn will have one last chance to steal back Meredith’s heart, once and for all.

Purchase: | Amazon | Kindle | Barnes & Noble |

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Want to win some goodies from Lorraine? Check out whats up for grabs.


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**Don't forget to head over to Not Another Romance Blog to check out author, Nicola Cornick's story.


Good Luck and Happy Holidays =)
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45 comments :

  1. I started the Lost Lords series a while ago but I haven't had the chance to get the second book. Lorraine is still a new to me author but if her other books are as good as She Tempts the Duke, I suspect I'll be a fan soon enough.

    Adria

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  2. You are a new to me author. I started out reading historicals when I was a lot younger. How did you get started writing in the historic genre? Is Lord of Temptation the first book in the series? The covers are really cool.
    luvfuzzzeeefaces at yahoo dot com

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  3. i haven't discovered this series yet is it preferable to read them in order or they work as stand alone too?

    thank you a lot for offering a contest open to international too

    happy holidays

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  4. Lovely story. Deck the Halls is waiting on my TBR ASAP list. Can't wait to read Chetwyn's story :)

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  6. i haven't discovered this series yet is it preferable to read them in order or they work as stand alone too?

    thank you a lot for offering a contest open to international too

    happy holidays

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  7. I absolutely love your books! I just finished reading Deck the Halls last night. I was glad that Chetwyn got his HEA. I am looking forward to Rafe's story. I have a feeling it is going to be an emotional book.

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  9. I loved that exerpt of the waltz, so sweet. Thanks for the chance, I can't wait to read more

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  10. Thank you for the excerpt, I enjoyed reading it. I love historical romance.

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  11. What a heartwarming story. I'm sighing here. I'm looking forward to reading more of your novels. I love to hear how an author started out doing something totally different in life then fell in love with romance novels and started writing them. That's fabulous. Congratulations on finding your real niche.

    Merry Christmas!

    Connie Fischer
    conniecape@aol.com

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  12. Beautiful book cover. Sounds like a very interesting read.

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  13. Thanks for that great short.
    The Lost Lords of Pembrook series sounds fantastic. Can't wait to read it.

    e.balinski(at)att(dot)net

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  14. The Christmas Waltz was wonderful. Thanks for sharing it.Have always enjoyed the books you've written. Happy Holidays.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  15. Thank you for such a beautiful heart-touching short story Lorraine, it was so sweet and romantic it brought tears to my eyes....Gar is such a sweetheart, would love to read a full story with them. Have a Very Merry Christmas, and I look forward to reading more of your books.

    joylynne66(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  16. I love Christmas romances so I will definitely be reading Deck the Halls with Love.

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  17. That was beautiful~ And very romantic! You should add them into your next novel, with clips of this story and of course they'll be cameos.

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  18. I love your books! Looks like another great book!

    BrittanyG@gmail.com

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  19. Thank you all for your lovely comments. It was fun--and challenging--to just write a scene. Have enjoyed reading the other contributions. I hope you all have a lovely holiday.

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  20. Hi, Lorraine! I enjoyed Pen's and Gar's short story. Thanks for the giveaway! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

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  21. Sweet scene. Loved your Scoundrels of St. James series.

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  22. I loved reading The Christmas Waltz and I look forward to reading the Lost Lords of Pembroke series.

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  23. So happy Lady Penelope Persimmon was rescued from obscurity

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  24. Great excerpt I want to read this book!

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  25. Thanks for sharing such a sweet story!

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  26. I just love these nice Christmas stories, I get all fuzzy and warm. Thanks for sharing a lovely story.

    Armenia
    armiefox at yahoo dot com

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  27. i love ur book lorraine...
    thx u for the giveaway :)

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  28. How wonderfully sweet! I'm so looking forward to reading more of your work! Thank you, and Merry Christmas!
    smoofrog @gmail dot com

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  29. I first read Waking Up with the Duke--what a romantic story. Then I realized it was the third book in a series so I quickly read the first two; WUWD is still my favorite and I look forward to reading her other books and series.

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  30. Interesting character names.

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  31. I really want to read 'Deck the Halls with Love' but I thinks it's only digital - I hope it gets printed or I get an eReader.

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  32. Sounds really good!! Thanks for the chance to win and happy holidays!

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  33. Margart Murray-EvansDecember 24, 2012 at 3:21 PM

    WHAT A ROMANTIC WALTZ! Always know when I buy one of your books it will be a one night read. HAVE A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY!

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  34. I am so behind on my historical romances...this series looks like one I would really enjoy and would make me want to get lost in!

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  35. Hi Lorraine! I have several of your books and I love them! I can't wait to read your next one. Merry Christmas!

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  36. would LOVE to win & read
    PICK ME!!
    Happy Holidays

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  37. I have really enjoyed your books through the years. Thanks for the interview.
    Happy Holidays,
    lorih824@yahoo.com

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  38. Very romantic s.s. thank you for sharing that with us.
    Lorimeehan1@aol.com

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  39. I read Deck the Halls of Love, it was so beautiful <3

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  40. Loved this story...thanks for sharing! I've just starting to read your series and am loving it! have a fabulous 2013!
    ivegotmail8889(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  41. I've read 1 of Lorraine's books "Pleasures of a Notorious Gentleman" which I really liked & would love the chance to read this 1 too.

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  42. The Lost Lords are definitely on my must buy list! :)

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