* * * * *
Sniffing, Bert realized that Jennie must be making breakfast. It smelled
like bacon and eggs. It had been weeks since he’d had bacon as Amanda couldn’t
stand to cook it. She said the greasy smell made her nauseous.
He was surprised to see his very pregnant wife sitting at the table
while Jennie fried bacon. Giving her a peck on the cheek, he said, “I thought
you couldn’t stand the smell of bacon.”
“Apparently, that’s only when I’m cooking it. Eating it is a whole other
ball game!”
Pulling the bacon package from the freezer, Jennie smiled, “Uncle Bert,
I’m assuming you’d like a bit of bacon too? And a couple of eggs, maybe? Over
easy, right?”
“Yes, I’d love bacon and eggs since this woman of mine has been
mistreating me. It’s been weeks since I’ve had a home-cooked breakfast.”
“If you’re going to accuse me, I’m going to be guilty!” Amanda picked up
the item closest to her and heaved it at her husband. The trio erupted in
laughter as a placemat flew across the kitchen, smacking Bert on the side of
his head.
Taking the plate Jennie had filled for Amanda, he presented it to her
with a bow. “For you, milady.” Grabbing his own plate, he sat next to his wife
and, after taking a bite of the bacon, asked his niece, “Are you spending the
day in town or heading back to New Haven?”
“Sorry to disappoint, but I’ve got to go home. I’m supposed to go on a
shopping trip with Lizzy and a friend today. Lizzy’s boyfriend is taking her to
a concert, and she wants him to fit in with the crowd, so we’re going to buy
him a…uh…costume.”
With a perplexed look, Bert parroted, “Costume?”
“Yes, he’s a wealthy businessman that Lizzy claims always looks like he
stepped from the pages of a magazine. Lizzy and Gia, the guy’s sister, got him
to agree to wear whatever they choose for him. Big mistake if you ask me.”
Jennie laughed aloud. “I can’t wait to see what we find!”
Bert and Amanda looked at each other in astonishment, and Bert started
peppering Jennie with questions. “Lizzy is in a serious relationship? I thought
she’d given up men after Jack. How long has this been going on? Is he good
enough for her?”
Laughing, Jennie broke in, “Uncle Bert, I haven’t met him yet, so I just
don’t know. I’ve been busy with finals, medical boards, and community service.
What I do know is that his sister, Gia, is very nice. She’s one of Lizzy’s
vocal students. Lizzy met him at the benefit opera a few months ago, and he
seems to be quite attentive to her. His name is Lliam, Lliam Dafydd.”
Amanda dropped her fork. “Lliam Dafydd V?! Gia must be Georgette Dafydd.
Oh, lord, Jennie, do you know who she’s dating?”
The puzzled expression on Jennie’s face caused Bert and Amanda to break
out in laughter. Bert got up and dug through a stack of old magazines in the
corner. “One of your aunt’s guilty pleasures since I knocked her up is reading
the gossip rags.” He flipped through one of the magazines until he found the
cover story: “Twenty Most Eligible Bachelors in the USA.” “Look at bachelor
number two. Could that be the guy?”
“I don’t know. I’ve only seen him once, and…uh…I didn’t get a good look
at him. Can I keep this?”
“Sure, sweetie.”
Amanda sighed as the little one gave her a sharp kick in the kidneys.
“Oh! Bert, your child is awake.” Turning back to Jennie, she inquired, “How
about you? Do you have a boyfriend?”
Blushing, Jennie laughed. “No, no one in particular.” She looked at her
watch and jumped up from her seat. “If I’m going to catch the train, I’ve got
to run.” Kissing her aunt and uncle, she promised to return and spend some time
with them soon.
* * * * *
Disguise of every sort creates difficulties for recent Yale grads Elizabeth and Jennie Blackwell, who are eager to begin the next chapter of their lives.
Elizabeth hopes her remarkable voice and academic training will help crown her the new darling of the Met. But will her burgeoning romance with world-renowned philanthropist Lliam Dafydd benefit her career or derail it before it begins?
Elizabeth’s minutes-older twin, Jennie, plans to translate her impressive résumé into a successful medical research program, but her demanding academic pursuits leave little time for romance.
Feeling trapped by her girl-next-door image, Jennie adopts a daring alter ego who behaves as she never would. As “Ariel De Mer,” Jennie becomes captivated by mysterious photographer, Chance Bly.
Handsome and suave, he smoothly awakens her desires, while Ariel’s sexiness and sassiness mesmerize her smitten lover.
But Jennie’s innocent charade has a powerful impact on the lives of those she loves, and she is not the only one playing games.
Author Bio:
Michaela Robertson has dabbled in writing since her teenage years. In college, she initially majored in music until deciding she'd rather eat than enrich the world with her talent. A few years later, with a still-damp business degree in hand, Michaela entered the world of statistics. As the author of many dry technical documents, her artistic side was hidden from the world. Only her husband and daughter were aware of the musical talent hidden beneath the surface.
In the late 1990's, she began traveling extensively for her job, and being away from home and family created something she was previously unfamiliar with—spare time. Bowling, mixed-doubles darts, and touring temporarily filled the void. A chance encounter in 2004 with the 1995 Pride and Prejudice mini-series starring Colin Firth and Jennifer Ehle led Michaela down a new path. Having read Fan Fiction in other genres, she went on a quest for Austen Fan Fiction and discovered a world rich in stories and history.
Music continues to be Michaela’s muse and has inspired her writing. Now a widow, she lives on a couple of acres on the edge of the world in the Pacific Northwest with the current love of her life, a border collie.
Links:
Giveaway time!
Would you like to win a paperback copy of this book? If so, please leave a comment on this post by the end of the day on Tuesday 20 October 2015. The giveaway is open to international entrants. Please leave a way for me to contact you to ensure that you can claim your prize (twitter handle, email address, or if we're Goodreads friends just mention that).
Many thanks to Meryton Press for the giveaway :)
Since this is a blog tour that means there will be other stops where you can find out more about the book. If you'd like to have a look at the other stops, here they are:
06 Oct: Excerpt & Giveaway at Fly High
07 Oct: Guest Post & Giveaway at Romance Novels Giveaways
08 Oct: Excerpt & Giveaway at So Little Time…
10 Oct: Guest Post & Giveaway at My Love for Jane Austen
11 Oct: Guest Post & Giveaway at Liz’s Reading Life
13 Oct: Excerpt & Giveaway at Babblings of a Bookworm
15 Oct: Character Interview at Leatherbound Reviews
16 Oct: Excerpt & Giveaway at Best Sellers and Best Stellars
17 Oct: Excerpt & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged
17 Oct: Excerpt & Giveaway at More Agreeably Engaged
My goodness, I wonder what Lizzy and Gia are going to come up with for Lliam to wear? And what is Jennie going to think when she finds out who he truly is? Does Lizzy even know? I'm looking forward to finding out when I eventually read all of this.
ReplyDelete'A costume' sounds ominous, doesn't it! Brave man :)
DeleteThat's a dangerous thing to say for a man! Now I want to know what Lizzy and Gia are going to get for him!
ReplyDeletearjanne.boneschanscher (at) gmail (dot) com
Hi Ceri, I won on another stop of the blog tour, so don't include me in the giveaway!
DeleteHe is either very trusting, or he's up for a laugh! Congratulations on winning the book :)
DeleteThis is so great!! Maybe some leather is in order??
ReplyDeletetgruy at netscape dot net
Sounds good, tgruy! Thanks for commenting.
DeleteReally can't wait to read! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHi Christina, thanks for dropping by.
DeleteI had read of this book on another blog and went to order it but it was not yet released. I did find it today so it is on my TBR pile of books. Sounds very interesting and I, too, am waiting to see just what "costume" they come up with.
ReplyDeleteMe too, Sheila, I have a mental image, will have to wait and see if I'm along the right lines!
DeleteHi Ceri. Please would you take my name out of the hat? I've just heard that I've won a copy of this book on another blog.
ReplyDeleteWill do, thanks for letting me know, and congratulations on your win :)
DeleteWonderful excerpt. I am intrigued. Thank you for the giveaway.
ReplyDeleteHi Becky, thanks for dropping by and good luck in the giveaway.
Delete