Hi, everyone. I’m just popping into your inbox to let you know about a Kobo book promotion that includes four of my books!
That’s two books for Annilee Nelson (my other pen name):
Don’t Tell Mom I Have a Girlfriend
Don’t Tell My Heart It Can Heal
And two books for Leenie:
Henry: To Prove Himself Worthy
The Choices Series
Please note that this sale runs from May 22 to June 1, and is only available in the US, UK, CA, AU, and NZ.
Please also note that this is a coupon sale. Therefore YOU MUST enter the code MAY30 in the appropriate place on the check out page.
If you’d like to go to the promotion landing page on Kobo and scroll through all the options, you can do that at this link: kobo.com/en/p/may-ebooks-30-off
If you’d rather not have to scroll to find my books, you can find each in just four clicks. Starting at this link: bit.ly/KoboPromo
And that’s it. That is what I have for you today. Have a lovely weekend, and may it include a few moments to read.
<3 Leenie
___
Oh, wait! Don’t forget that these other books are on currently on sale everywhere:
Last month, I was hoping that snow was a thing of the past for us here in Nova Scotia. It seems to be gone and has been replaced with a good amount of rain. 🙂 But then, it’s spring.
The garden centres are setting up and opening/getting ready to open. Neighbours are out doing yard work or have bags of mulch laid out in their garden for easy distribution. Our lawn still lies ignored (maybe this weekend I’ll go pick up branches that have fallen off trees over the winter). The trees are ready to burst into full leaf mode. Right now they’re covered with buds. And my hostas are starting to poke up through the ground.
My husband has some seedlings waiting to go into containers once things get a bit warmer. He’s starting a container garden this year. I’m leaving it to him because I’m much better at killing plants than keeping them alive. (Except my hostas – they thrive very well while being ignored.) Hopefully, his thumbs are greener than mine. LOL
Spring is definitely in the air (and puddles) at my house. It’s one of my favourite seasons.
Despite the excitement of spring, things are ticking away as normal here. I’m still adjusting to doing more Uber Eats hours and refining how to balance that with writing and other life things. I’m still trying to catch up on things I’ve fallen behind on and, for the most part, failing to make as much progress as I hoped to have made. (But then, I always think I can do more than is reasonable. Just ask my husband. 😉 )
But… I have managed to write another portion of Harriet and the Colonel’s story so there is that to look forward to at the end of this newsletter. So, let’s get on with all the book news things.
AUDIOBOOK NEWS
This week, I gave the Dash of Darcy and Companions collection a la carte prices at ElevenReader. That was the last already uploaded series of books I need to do that for. So one thing has been crossed off the project list! WooHoo!
Now, I can focus my attention there on getting new books added. Currently, I have 49 titles listed with ElevenReader.
Frosted Windowpanes is now available at several stores and library catalogues as well as on Spotify. The introductory price is 50% off what the regular price will be after May 31.
On YouTube, I have begun to share Discovering Mr. Darcyby the chapter as I work my way through getting that book ready to release as a full audiobook.
BOOK NEWS
Book Promotions:
As you can see, my Willow Hall series is on special this month.
This series begins with a prequel to Pride and Prejudice (in book one) before jumping ahead in the P&P timeline to the summer after Darcy’s Hunsford proposal to take events in a new direction (in book two).
Book three, So Very Unexpected, is the $0.99 book of the month.
Fleeing the potential of a forced marriage, Lydia Bennet escapes into the night. Lost in the woods, she finds refuge in a cottage—and its heir, Marcus Dobney. Discover an unexpected Lydia in a variation where love is the most astonishing discovery of all.
Earlier this week, I submitted Lydia’s story for a promotion spot in a paid promotions newsletter, and I needed a short (270 characters or less) blurb about the book. The above is what I came up with.
If you haven’t read this book yet, the bulk of the story is about Lydia finding refuge in Marcus. How he and others see her is not how her family has always seen her. Here, in Derbyshire, these strangers get a glimpse of the real Lydia that has always hidden behind her often brash and silly facade. I’m not saying she’s not still silly at times and prone to brashness. I’m just saying there’s more to her than meets the eye.
I hope, if you haven’t given this story a try yet, that you’ll consider doing so, but please be aware that in this story, we see the other Bennets through Lydia’s eyes, and she is JEALOUS of Lizzy – particularly Lizzy’s relationship with their father. So if you struggle to abide someone thinking of Lizzy as less than a paragon, gird your loins if you chose to read this story. 😀
Book one, And Then Love, is the free read at Patreon for May, and it and Lydia’s story are the two downloads available to my paid subscribers.
If you’re a subscription reader, Patreon is just one of the subscription places where you can read my books. In addition to Patreon, my books, including the full Willow Hall series, are included in the Kobo Plus and Everand subscription programs.
In case you missed my email/post last week, I created two Willow Hall online jigsaw puzzles to add to my collection of Bookish Fun items. I see that they’ve been played a few times and that someone has even beat my time on one of them. 🙂
We’re continuing to set things up with our story this month. Hopefully, this section will help you settle into what could possibly be happening in this story.
Please remember that there are sections where previous chapters from all the Harriet and the Colonel stories can be read on whichever platform you subscribe to.
On my blog, look for Harriet and the Colonel in the menu options.
On Substack, look for the Harriet and the Colonel section on the home page.
On Patreon, look for On the Way to a Wedding in the collections tab.
Chapter 1 (Part 2)
“How so?” Edmund asked with no little amount of interest. Indeed, at the moment, her brother looked to be as interested as Harriet felt. It was quite the change from his normal feigned look of nonchalance in the face of something of interest. Perhaps the country was beginning to bore him just as it was her.
“As you know, we have not caught the traitor we seek, and Wickham believes he can succeed where we have failed. He has told me in confidence that he has information that could be helpful, but he is unwilling to reveal what he knows without some guarantee of protection.” Samuels leaned back in his chair. “For how many months have we circled around and around with what we know? We have visited places and spoken to people but with little progress.” He blew out a breath and shook his head. “I have begun to think we may be doing more harm than good.”
“Are you concerned that your activity may drive the person we seek into deeper hiding,” Harriet said.
Samuels nodded. “We have been careful, but it is anyone’s guess whether the care we have taken is enough or not.”
“It should be,” Edmund said.
“But there is a chance that it is not – especially recently,” Samuels said. “Wickham has been with us on several occasions, and he is not unknown in many of the places we have visited.”
One of Harriet’s eyebrows arched of its own accord at that. Samuels had every reason to be concerned if that were the case for it begged the question of if they were truly searching for some unknown agent, or if they were leading the villain around and around on some merry chase that would never end. Simply because he was the one helping create the chase.
“How do we know that Wickham is not the traitor?” she asked.
Both her brother and Samuels turned to her in surprise.
“He did help procure some of the maids who ended up carrying information across the channel, did he not?” she added.
“He did,” her brother agreed, “And I suppose we do not know that he is not the traitor.” He shook his head. “But it is unlikely since he was not disposed of when he was first captured.”
Harriet pressed her lips together. She was not as convinced by that fact as her brother sounded to be.
“That is a good sign,” Samuels said as he held Harriet’s gaze as if he knew she was questioning exactly what she was questioning. “But not conclusive.”
Perhaps he did know what she had been thinking.
“Wickham is not a stupid fellow,” he continued, “but I do not think he has the skill to be the person for whom we are looking.”
“Then, why is he just now offering information?” There was something not right with this situation. Harriet could not put her finger on what it was, but there was small battalion of butterflies dancing in her stomach. And that was a sure sign that something was off.
A smile curled Samuels lips, and his eyes danced as if where chuckling to himself. “He claims that he pieced the information together after our last card game at a particular tavern. It was something he had suspected for a while, but he did not want to say anything until he could have more than a feeling on which to base his conclusions.” Samuels shrugged. “I know he is a questionable informant, but he is the one we have been saddled with.”
“What does the colonel say –?”
“I came to you first.” Samuels answered before Edmund could finish his question. “He will be back in London in three days. You will not be unless your plans change.”
Edmund’s eyebrows rose. “Will you be back in London soon?”
“If we follow the lead Wickham has, it appears we will be. But then, we knew that, eventually, we might end up there or further south. The paths we have traversed up here all seem to point to town – just as we expected them to do.”
“Then, you do not think that whomever we are looking for is in the country for the summer?” Harriet asked.
Samuels shook his head. “Not any longer.”
“He is not at his estate?” Edmund asked.
“Who is not at his estate?” Harriet asked.
Her brother laughed. “Do you mean to tell me that there is something about this case that you have not yet deduced?”
Harriet’s head tipped as a thought struck her. “You were canvassing Derbyshire because Wickham is from there. There was no other reason for it. That is the piece of information that directed you north this summer.”
Samuels inclined his head indicating that her reasoning was correct. “Very few know that. In fact, Wickham has no idea that we are attempting to follow all his connections.”
“Which is why he is known everywhere you go! And that makes it more difficult to keep secrets.”
“And it is why the colonel could not be included in our activities,” Samuels added. “We could not have him and Wickham seen together.”
Harriet chuckled. “That would be like lighting a beacon on a hill.”
“Indeed,” Edmund muttered before standing and pacing to the window and back. “If he is not in the country, then, there has to be a reason for him to be in town.”
“Who?” Harriet asked again.
Edmund only shook his head. “It is best if you do not know just yet.”
Harriet pressed her lips together once again. This time to keep an indignant retort to herself.
“We cannot ruin a man’s reputation without sufficient proof,” her brother added. “Therefore, the fewer who know his name…” He let the rest of the thought explain itself in Harriet’s mind.
Tarnishing the name of an innocent man had to be considered carefully. Harriet could not fault her brother for taking care with that. A reputation that was damaged – whether with cause or not – was a very hard thing to restore.
“I will meet the colonel on the road, so that he will know he is needed at Lillesley house,” Edmund said. “I know the inns he stops at along the way from Matlock to town.”
“How soon are we leaving?” Harriet asked as she rose from her chair.
“We are not leaving,” her brother said with some force. “I am leaving. You will not leave any earlier than planned. It is not unusual for a gentleman to go to town while the ladies stay in the country, but if we all up sticks and leave before expected, it would be noticed.”
Harriet sighed. He was right. And she hated that he was. It was enough to make her scowl and shake her head.
“If things can be arranged with our sister’s husband,” Edmund added in a gentler tone, “then, you may return to town a week early to see to some wedding preparations – at least, that will be the story.”
Thank you so much for being my readers! Have a lovely weekend!
(There’s a new part of this story dropping Saturday in the Broadsheet, so it’s time to give last month’s part it’s own post so it can be found more easily.)
“Life is very dull in the country,” Harriet Philips complained to her sister, three-weeks after she had been allowed to help her brother and his men find a missing maid.
Samantha laughed. “Perhaps it is not as exciting here where there are no criminals to outsmart, but the air in the country is so much better than in town during the summer.” She rested a hand on her ever-growing abdomen. “And I am allowed to put my feet up without a pair of stockings in sight.” She wiggled her toes where her feet rested on a tufted footstool.
“I am quite certain that you could do that in town as well,” Harriet grumbled. “However, I will allow that the air in the country is better.” She rose and walked to the open window that faced south – the exact direction in which they would need to travel to return to town in two-week’s time or so.
“I am very glad that you were able to come to Papa’s estate for a time. Your being here does make things a trifle less dull.” She shot a mischievous smile over her shoulder at her sister. “But you truly can do so little now that you have decided to be a mother.”
Samantha clucked her tongue. “Just you wait, Miss Everything Should Be an Adventure, your time of feeling quite miserable and motherly are not so far off.”
“Is it truly dreadful?”
“Currently, yes because it is just so hot – or I am, at least,” her sister replied.
There was a breeze blowing through the window, but it was a warm summer day. Not overly hot, but undoubtedly warm.
“I declare this child is going to be just like his or her father.” Samantha continued. “Julian is always warm – even in the depths of winter. I am certain that is what is making me overly warm. I am carrying a human furnace.”
Harriet chuckled at that. “Do you wish to go for a walk in the grass? Or perhaps we could procure a large basin of water and sit in the shade with our feet in it?” She held up a finger to keep her sister from answering as she leaned forward to better see the rider who was approaching.
“What is it?” Samantha whispered as she placed her feet on the ground and pushed up from her chair.
“A rider.”
“Is it the Colonel returned from his visit to Hertfordshire?” Samantha crossed to the window to peer out it with her sister.
Harriet shook her head. “He will be returning from there to town.” And that was likely why she was finding it difficult to entertain herself for this past week. She missed Richard – more than she missed any sort of adventure.
“Perhaps it is a letter,” her sister offered.
“It could be that.” It was a hopeful thought that one of them might have something of interest to read and perhaps a bit of news to share with the other. “I think…” she leaned a bit further forward. “I think that is Samuels.”
“Who is Samuels?” Samantha asked.
“He frequents the little library at Lillesley house.” That was where her brother greeted all of the men who worked with him on covert assignments. She tipped her head. “But why is he alone. I thought he was supposed to be watching that Wickham fellow.”
“The horrible kidnapper?” Samantha whispered. There were things her sister was not supposed to know – but did. Who Wickham was and what he had done was one of those things.
But in truth, it was for Samantha’s safety that Harriet had shared a few details of what had happened in London before they had left. Edmund might carry around secrets that posed dangerous to his sisters, but Harriet would not. This was Samantha after all. The woman was capable of keeping a few names and details to herself.
“Yes.” Harriet moved toward the door to the sitting room. “We will require some refreshment for ourselves and our guest,” she said to the butler. “And please see that my brother is made aware that his presence is required in the drawing room. His office is far too stuffy at this time of day.”
“Why am I needed in the drawing room?” the very brother of whom she spoke said from the grand staircase.
“Did you not hear that we are to have a guest? And I am afraid there is no little library here.”
He frowned at her. “A guest?”
She nodded. “Do come down here so that we can speak more privately.” She could see him sigh. It was not a dramatic lifting and lowering of his shoulders, but they had risen and fallen.
“You do know that I am still the master of this house and my professional domain, do you not?” he grumbled when he had reached her.
“Of course, I do, but I am not about to make Samuels sit in your stuffy study when he has had to ride in the sun for who knows how long to get here.”
“Samuels is here?” Edmund hurried across the room to the window where Samantha was still standing.
Harriet allowed him to verify her words without saying anything. It was an impressive feat, if she did say so herself.
“We cannot speak freely here,” Edmund said with a tip of his head at Samantha.
“I can keep a secret,” Samantha said. “But if you prefer, I can take myself to my room. Truly, I would not mind at all, since I am not required to remain dressed there.” She wiggled the neckline of her gown as if trying to cool herself with it. “Yes,” she said very decidedly. “That is just what I need. I will go to my room and have a rest with a cool cloth and a tray of my very own refreshments.”
She gave her brother’s cheek a kiss and left the room.
“Mr. Wickham is not with him,” Harriet said as they stood watching Samuels dismount his horse.
“I noticed that. I am not blind, nor have I forgotten that he was assigned to Samuels.” He turned toward the door to the drawing room and waited for it to open. “I am sure Samuels will explain himself.”
“Good day, Lord Lillesley, Miss Philips,” Samuels said with a bow upon entering the room.
“Please, make yourself comfortable. We will have some refreshments soon.” Harriet took herself back to the chair she had abandoned out of boredom not so very long ago. “Edmund.” She motioned to the chair Samantha had been sitting in.
“I am rather dusty,” Samuels said.
“Well, that is a problem, but not one without a solution.” Harriet rose, retrieved a blanket from a sideboard, and handed it to the man. “This will be easier to clean than the chair.”
“Why do you have blankets in that cupboard?” Edmund asked.
“Because there is no little library,” Harriet replied. “And your study is stuffy at times.” She turned back to Samuels who was arranging the blanket on the chair before taking a seat. “Your companion did not join you?”
“You mean Wickham?” he asked in surprise.
“Yes.”
Samuels chuckled. “I was not about to bring him here. You and your brother might not mind it, but the colonel would be livid. But do not fear, I did not leave him unattended. However…” He was now seated, and leaned forward before speaking in a lower voice. “He is the reason I am here.”
Several hours later, as the sun was just beginning to rise above the horizon, Richard settled once more into a chair in the small library at Lillesley House. The culprits had been rounded up and would soon be dealt with. The great house had been just as imposing as Richard had imagined it would be, and he now knew exactly who was at the helm of their organization.
“Thank you.” Lillesley broke the silence in the room. Richard settled further back into his chair. Lillesley was not speaking to him. This was for his sister.
“Me?” Harriet asked.
Lillesley nodded. “For finding that note and for being willing to put yourself in harm’s way for all of us.” He leaned his head back on his chair. It was a clear sign that he was bone weary. A yawn overtook him as if it had heard Richard’s thoughts.
And then, the blasted thing made its way around the room, causing both Harriet and him to yawn as well.
“I have misjudged you,” her brother continued. “I mean I always knew you were bright and fearless, but you are my sister.” He held up a hand. “No, I did not misjudge you because you are a girl.” He rolled his head so that he could give her a glare and a smirk because he had refuted her protest before she could make it.
Richard chuckled silently at Harriet’s huff in reply to his expression and words.
“You are my sister. My youngest sister. And I did not know how reconcile that fact with the responsibilities that were thrust upon me when Andrew’s role as oldest brother and heir fell to me. I knew how to play with you when we were young. I knew how to tease and torment you. I knew how to watch out for you to a degree, but I had never been so solely responsible for you as I was once Andrew died.”
Another yawn worked through him and then, the rest of them. “I could not bear the thought of losing yet another person I loved. Especially since she was now my responsibility. The business in which I find myself is dangerous. Richard’s life is no less fraught with risk. How could I willingly place you in a situation where harm could come to you from no fault of your own?”
He chuckled. “That is rather ridiculous to think about after recent events. Harm would not know better how to contain you than I did. You have always danced with peril to some extent. Sneaking here and there. Listening to what you were not meant to hear. Spying on your brothers and their friends. You would drive a normal man to distraction with your antics. I am glad you made me see reason about where your future happiness lies.”
He sat up straight and leaned toward her. “However, in the future, if you need me to see reason, plant yourself in my study until I have listened. Do NOT find some intrigue to pursue to prove your point.”
Harriet nodded. “I will.” She breathed and looked as if she was going to add more, but his upheld hand forestalled her.
He shared a look with Richard. Apparently, they were going to broach what they had been told now. It was likely for the best. This way Harriet would have time to consider it before they next met.
“You are part of our inner circle now,” Lillesley said. “It has been decreed by my superior.”
Indeed, the man had been rightly impressed by her quick mind and willingness to insert herself into the situation to help save a maid.
“That does not mean,” Lillesley continued, “that you will be given all the details about everything, nor does it mean that you will be given missions. It means, you may help in whatever capacity that both Richard and I deem acceptable.”
“We will not put you on the shelf and refuse to let you help,” Richard inserted. “You are just too precious to risk – even as much as we did tonight.” He took her hand in his. He knew she hated that he and her brother wanted to cosset her in safety.
“It was necessary,” Harriet protested.
“You are not wrong,” Richard agreed, which earned him a smile. “And you were allowed to assist because you were needed – even though I hated to see you there.” Allowing her to take part in their mission had been as hard for him as he now knew it had been for Darcy to allow Elizabeth and Georgiana to confront Wickham at Oxford Cottage. It had been hard, but it had made sense and had been necessary.
“But that is how we move forward. We use your strengths from a safe location and only move you into more precarious places when it is absolutely necessary.” His hold on her hand tightened. Every life ever entrusted to his care or command had been important to him, but hers? Well, that was a weight of responsibility that felt nearly too great to carry. “This arrangement will, of course, need to be revisited when we have children.”
Her brother cleared his throat and rose from his chair. “I am going to bed. We can begin all the preparations for your wedding once we have all slept. I will trust you to not be too long in seeking your own repose, Fitzwilliam.” There was an edge to the words that made it sound more like a command than a suggestion.
Richard gave him a bow of his head in acceptance of the directive. “I will see that your sister is on her way to her room in five minutes and that I am on my way to my home in six.” He had also stood and pulled Harriet to her feet with him since he was still holding her hand.
“In that case, allow me to wish you a good day instead of good night as that part of the day is swiftly fading – much like I am.” And with that he took his leave of them.
“My dearest Harriet,” Richard said as he drew her into his arms and held her against him. “You are my heart for I do believe mine would cease to beat without you.” He claimed her lips with his and attempted to drink his fill of her while pouring all the love he held for her into his kiss.
Breaking their kiss, he began to hum a tune that was familiar to her. It was the piano piece he had been playing a year ago in the music room at her sister’s soiree.
She rested her head against his chest as they swayed to the song he hummed. This was peace and tranquility. This was home. Here. With his lady in his arms.
She lifted her head and looked up at him as the melody came to an end. He kissed her once more.
And then, after he had seen her reach the top of the stairs, he stepped out into a city of shopkeepers and servants, of grand houses and tenements, that was just coming to life as he made his way home to find his repose.
We are going to Derbyshire for my series highlight this month because that’s where my Willow Hall romance series is set.
It begins in book one, And Then Love, with a Pride and Prejudice prequel that sets the stage for what’s going to happen when we get to books 2-4.
Book 2, The Tenant’s Guest, begins the summer after Darcy’s proposal at Hunsford, but before the Gardiners arrive in Derbyshire for a visit.
From there, we follow the new story line that changes how Darcy and Elizabeth end up together. We also get to see Lydia’s story play out differently as well as Jane and Bingley’s.
It is a series that is filled with the unexpected.
To highlight this series with something fun, I’ve made a couple of online jigsaw puzzles from a couple of graphics that were in my files. If you click on the graphic below, you will be taken to the puzzle for that picture.
And then below that is a link to a FREEBIE.
This weekend – and only this weekend – The Tenant’s Guest (book 2) is FREE ON SMASHWORDS. This is a public coupon deal, so you don’t have to remember a coupon code. It will be automatically applied. And anyone can find the book for free. The coupon deal is only good until Monday, May 4.
The rest of the month, The Tenant’s Guest will be reduced in price as listed at the bottom of this post/email.
So…
Here are the jigsaw puzzle pictures. Click each to be taken to that picture’s puzzle.
