Title: Intentions of the Earl
Author : Rose Gordon
Genre: Regency Romance
Format: (print, ebook, or both) E-Book only, for now, possible paperback in June/July
Links to buy:
Barnes & Noble- http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Intentions-of-the-Earl/Rose-Gordon/e/2940012222824/?itm=1&USRI=intentions+of+the+earl
Smashwords-http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/42114
Tell us the story behind the story. What inspired you to write this novel?
I decided to write this novel because I was tired of reading the same fortune hunter theme. Impoverished lord pursues wealthy heiress to gain her money and falls in love. I wanted something different, unique. Something that bent the rules a bit, and when I couldn’t find it, I wrote it.
Instead of him gaining his fortune by marrying a well, he agrees to a deal that has him trying to woo her enough to trust him to make a scandal, never realizing that with each step of his scheme, he lost a little more of his heart.
Tell us about the book cover. Does it represent your book? How did you choose the artwork?
The book cover is of a man’s hand untying the laces of the lady’s dress or corset, presumably about to reveal his intentions, which represents this book to a T. The hero’s underlying intentions during the book is bring scandal on a young lady by ruining her reputation. What better way to do this than removing her dress?
Before picking this one, however, I poured over pictures for about two days. I wanted something with a man’s hands on a woman’s back. But all the pictures I kept finding were of a man’s hand with a wedding ring (which wouldn’t do) or he was gently escorting her. When I saw this one, I knew I had to have it. The vibrant red, the masculine hands, the ties… This picture had it all.
Synopsis: A new twist on the fortune hunter plot puts an impoverished earl in a position to ruin an innocent girl's reputation in order gain his future or face a life of poverty if he follows his heart down the aisle.
When the impoverished Andrew Black, Earl of Townson, hits rock bottom he makes an agreement that will end his eight year poverty streak once and for all. In order to gain his fortune he must do but one simple thing: ruin an innocent girl’s reputation enough to make her flee to America.
Brooke Banks isn’t interested in marriage, or so she thinks. She came to London to have a good time, and that’s exactly what she’s doing. Widely known for her tendency to flout the rules, she suspects nothing when a handsome stranger appears on her doorstep.
Thirteen days, a handful of kisses and one scandalous situation later, Andrew and Brooke will have to choose to stick to their original plans, or decide if a life together is worth the risk.
When the impoverished Andrew Black, Earl of Townson, hits rock bottom he makes an agreement that will end his eight year poverty streak once and for all. In order to gain his fortune he must do but one simple thing: ruin an innocent girl’s reputation enough to make her flee to America.
Brooke Banks isn’t interested in marriage, or so she thinks. She came to London to have a good time, and that’s exactly what she’s doing. Widely known for her tendency to flout the rules, she suspects nothing when a handsome stranger appears on her doorstep.
Thirteen days, a handful of kisses and one scandalous situation later, Andrew and Brooke will have to choose to stick to their original plans, or decide if a life together is worth the risk.
Excerpt from Chapter 9
“If it would be agreeable with your chaperone, I would like to show you the sword room,” Andrew said then waited for Mama to give her approval.
“Go on,” Mama urged. “Madison and I will be over here looking at these beautiful golden goblets. They are absolutely stunning, don’t you agree, Madison?”
Andrew led Brooke down the hall, around a corner, and into a room that had absolutely no swords in it. Instead, the room was completely empty except a statue in the back corner of the room.
“I thought we were going to look at swords,” Brooke said, walking around the room looking for a sword. Why would he bring her to a virtually empty room?
“I thought maybe we could have a little privacy. That is, unless you truly were interested in seeing some ancient swords,” Andrew replied, walking to go stand beside Brooke who was now over in front of the statue.
“No, this statue is far more interesting than any old sword ever could be, that’s for sure,” she managed, looking at the statue in complete awe.
The statue was of a man holding a spear. Other than the spear, there was nothing else sculpted, just a very muscular man standing naked holding a spear.
Brooke had never seen a naked man in real life or a drawing before. This was the closest she had come, and being as innocent as she was about a man’s form, this was fascinating to her. She marveled at how different this man’s body was than hers, even if he were made of stone. She was thin and had slender arms and legs, but this sculpture had thick arms and legs that were bulging muscles. His chest and stomach were flat, with bumps of rippled muscles. She noticed that the man had hair under his arms, a little on his chest and quite a bit surrounding a part she’d never seen before that rested between his thighs. For Brooke, the statue held a higher level of appeal than swords ever could.
She heard Andrew chuckle when he reached her side and saw what she was looking at, but it didn’t stop her looking. She couldn’t take her eyes off the statue. She looked the statue over up and down, down and up, twice before breaking her line of vision. Then she turned and saw Andrew’s piercing eye. He had been watching her! She thought he was looking at the statue, not her. She tried to keep a straight face and not show any signs of being embarrassed, she’d sworn to herself he that he wasn’t going to get the better of her today, and she was going to make sure of it.
“See something of interest?” he asked. His voice was hoarse, and his eyes were a shade darker than usual.
“Yes, this statue is quite extraordinary,” Brooke answered as evenly as she could.
Andrew leaned closer to read the plaque next to the statue. “Hmm, I don’t recognize this piece, or the sculptor.”
“Well, sir, do you make a point to memorize all the naked statues in the world?” Brooke teased.
Andrew smiled at her. “No, only the ones of women.”
Brooke gave him a playful swat on the arm. “You’re incorrigible,” she said with mock reproof.
Andrew didn’t answer to that charge, probably because it was true and he knew it as well as she did. Instead, he moved a few inches closer to Brooke, closing the gap between them. He reached out and cupped her chin, tipping her face up toward his. “You’re really beautiful, did you know?”
Brooke’s lips parted and her eyes went wide. She had never been called beautiful before, attractive—yes, but not beautiful. “Thank you, everyone always calls Madison beautiful, never me,” she said before she realized she had revealed too much. A part of her that was vulnerable.
Andrew leaned a little closer, so close Brooke could feel his warm breath on her face. “To me, you are far more beautiful than Madison.” Then he lowered his head and very lightly brushed his lips across hers.
Brooke almost melted on the spot. His kind words had softened her resolve, but his tender kiss was almost her undoing. “You have quite an unmatched skill, my lord,” Brooke said weakly.
Rather than responding to her words with words of his own, Andrew moved closer and kissed her again. This time his kiss was not a quick brush of the lips, it was a full on assault of lips. He started his kiss gently and just when her lips were used to having his on them, he became more aggressive. Her body relaxed and her lips started to respond to his. He moved his hands around to rest on her back and draw her closer while his lips continued to mesh with hers.
Brooke’s hands moved on their own accord up to his neck, and she dug into the soft black curls that rested against his collar. Her fingers twisted his hair as she felt his lips pressed harder to hers, moving on top and in between hers. Her body was giving up its fight to stay standing, and she would have sunk to the floor if he had not been holding onto her. She leaned against his chest and his hands tightened their grip to hold her in place.
Andrew pulled back and looked down at her. “How do you feel about my skills now?” he asked with a ragged breath, his eyes even darker than they were a few minutes before.
Even with the blood thundering in her ears she understood his question; yet she couldn’t form a coherent response, she nodded instead. She knew she was flushed from the kiss and her body felt absolutely boneless in his arms, almost like she had completely surrendered to him.
Andrew smiled and ran the pad of one of his thumbs across her swollen lips. “You are truly beautiful. I don’t care what anyone else says; to me, you are more beautiful than your sisters.”
Her heart fluttered at his words; he truly thought she was beautiful. “We should probably return to Mama and Madison before they come looking for us,” Brooke forced herself to say before stepping backward and out of his embrace. She wished she could stay in this moment forever, but that wasn’t possible, and it really would not do to be found in this position. It could mean they might be forced to marry, which she didn’t want to happen, did she?
“You’re right,” Andrew murmured, offering her his arm.
They barely walked three steps down the hall before nearly colliding with Mama and Madison. “How were the swords?” Mama inquired, acting truly interested in ancient weapons.
“They were not so interesting,” Brooke said dismissively, hoping Mama wouldn’t insist on going into the room they’d just left. “I’d like to go look at some of those paintings that were mentioned in my book.”
“Paintings are down this hall over here,” Andrew said, pointing to a hall on the left leading to where a number of portraits of former kings and queens were located.
Where can readers find out more about you and your work?
This was the first book I published, which happens to be the first in a series of three. The other two, Liberty for Paul and To Win His Wayward Wife, to be released in March and April, respectively. I plan to publish another series this fall. You can find out more about me and my books at http://www.rosegorodonromance.com I also have a blog http://rosesromanceramblings.wordpress.com and I’m on facebook http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Rose-Gordon-historical-romance-author/178033968907233