The Captain’s Lady

Get swept away in this marriage of convenience historical romance.

The Captain’s Lady

ROBECCA AUSTIN

978-1-9990032-3-4 Paperback|$12.99

978-1-9990032-4-1 Ebook


Lady Isabella Pennington’s life is mired in scandal, but not of her own making. 

As London’s gentry bask in her heartache, she devises a plan to avoid another disastrous engagement. But those plans go awry as she struggles to forget the rogue Captain Nicholas years after the passionate afternoon they spent together.

Her intention to adhere to societal demands is admirable but short-lived when Nicholas shocks everyone by asking for her hand in marriage. What unfolds leaves Lady Isabella torn between societal expectations and her long-held desire.

Captain Nicholas is far from an aristocrat yet is held in high regard in some circles. With his attention focused on Lady Isabella, it’s all she can do to resist the handsome devil. Will a marriage of convenience be a means to a much-coveted end, or will it lead to another humiliating failure for Lady Isabella?

Excerpt from The Captain’s Lady

“Are you drowning, Lady Isabella?” His Scottish accent was a bath in hot springs. His thumb brushed the tip of her nose. Lingered. Her nostrils flared and the scent of him invaded her senses. His hands snaked around her waist, guiding her closer.

“You,” Isabella whispered.

“Aye, me.” He kissed her cheek. “Is your nose still covered in freckles, lass?”

“No!”

“Liar.” He brushed the tip of her nose with his. “Did he kiss you?” His lids lowered to watch her mouth. “I’ll be damned if I kiss you after him.”

“No.” She shivered, the sensation curling her toes in anticipation. “Emsley didn’t kiss me.” The man holding her in strong arms was something old, from her past, something forgotten. Isabella relaxed, molding against the captain. Oh, but she needed this, to feel like a woman again, alive and desired. His tongue brushed against her lips, not once but twice, tracing the outline of her mouth—a delightful distraction from her recent episode.

“Let me in, lass.”

His warm breath fanned her face. She had dreamed of this, years ago, when she was young and thought the world not full of danger but adventure. His gaze moved from her mouth, wet from the tantalizing brushes of his tongue, to her eyes. In the darkness of the night, his eyes were black fire. Hot. Wicked.

“What a bonnie reward for my second rescue.”

“You’ve botched your count, sir.”

“A new tally is in order, then.”

“Brilliant.”

He smiled. His lips descended in slow torture, groaning his approval when his tongue brushed hers. All rational thoughts scattered. He explored her mouth. Heat pooled. Fanned out. The shudder that shook her was not from anger, but fear and desire.

The sea, that’s what he was. Raging waves that didn’t settle in the wee hours of dawn.

Sustaining your writing during stressful times—three:

Using small steps

I started posting about this topic a few weeks ago because I was frustrated by my lack of progress. As you can tell, these posts are becoming a regular thing.

If you haven’t read the other post you can find them here:

I don’t mind sharing my journey though, because this process does a few things:

  • Commitment—This is especially true if you don’t have consistent cheerleaders or a writing community. I can’t tell you how invaluable having people who offer support are. These people genuinely want us to succeed.
  • New words—Once a week as I write this update on accomplishing small steps, I’m also being creative and adding new words.
  • Accountability—By sharing my outcome, I’ve committed to seeing the process to its completion because, as an added incentive, I have to report my progress. This means continuing to writing. That alone is motivating.

As mentioned in a previous post, I came across Stick With It, while browsing the internet for ways to consistently see my goals to completion. You should note that I do get tasks done—generally…sometimes, but never in a timely manner. Meeting deadlines is necessary (in my opinion) to sustaining a long healthy writing career. If you write for a living or want to write full time (like me) then we are entrepreneurs and our business is writing and publishing.

My Progress: Week 2

Small steps: Can be accomplished now.

Write daily (no matter the word count). Completed one blog post, added one new chapter to book 2.

Short term goals: Can be accomplished in one week.

Work on marketing twice per week. Working on second cover.

The cover I completed last week. Book one took one year to write and book two was on the same path. That’s why I’m trying this process.

Long term goals: one month

Finish book 2.

Dream: three months or more

Publish 1 story a month starting May – October

Publish 6 titles in six months 

What I’m reading: A Scientifically Proven Process for Changing Your Life by Sean D. Young.

Feel good story: On this day in history or Instead of selling lemonade, boy sets up drive by joke stand