by
KRISTI ANN HUNTER
Genre: Regency Romance
Publisher: Bethany House
Date of Publication: September 5, 2017
Number of Pages: 384
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Griffith, Duke of Riverton, likes order, logic, and control, so he naturally applies this rational approach to his search for a bride. While he's certain Miss Frederica St. Claire is the perfect wife for him, she is strangely elusive, and he can't seem to stop running into her stunningly beautiful cousin, Miss Isabella Breckenridge.
Isabella should be enjoying her society debut, but with her family in difficult circumstances, she has no choice but to agree to a bargain that puts her at odds with all her romantic hopes—as well as her conscience. And the more she comes to know Griffith, the more she regrets the unpleasant obligation that prevents her from any dream of a future with him.
As all Griffith's and Isabella's long-held expectations are shaken to the core, can they set aside their pride and fear long enough to claim a happily-ever-after?
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Praise for An Inconvenient Beauty:
“With the latest superbly written installment in her Hawthorne House series, RITA award-winning Hunter once again proves she has the key to inspirational-romance and traditional-Regency readers' hearts as she gifts them with another gracefully executed love story that delivers all of the richly nuanced characters, impeccably researched historical plotting, and sweet romance they could ever crave.”
—Booklist
“The final book in the Hawthorne House series brings Hunter's saga to a sigh-worthy conclusion. These family members have become like real people, and although readers will celebrate that the characters have found love, it is bittersweet to say goodbye. The plot moves briskly, yet the romance never feels forced. The period details are, as always, charming, and entrench the reader in the culture and traditions of the era.”—RT Book Reviews
“Hunter's final installment in the Hawthorne House series will delight those already invested in the series as well as any reader who enjoys stories set in Regency-era England. . . . As the London Season plays out, secrets are revealed, past loves return, and hearts align—despite a fair amount of underhanded conniving--to create a fitting finale to the series and a lovely addition to the Regency genre.”—Publishers Weekly starred review
Excerpt from
An Inconvenient Beauty
By Kristi Ann Hunter
A sharp cry rose from his left, and several young men stepped quickly aside as the beautiful woman he’d noticed before pushed them out of the way. She stood frozen at the edge of her group of anxious swains, mouth open and eyes wide as she took in the fallen Miss St. Claire now resting in Griffith’s arms. Up close she was even more stunning than she’d been from across the room. Possibly the most stunning creature God had ever made.
If Helen of Troy had looked anything like this woman, the Trojan War suddenly made a lot more sense.
The difficulty Griffith had tearing his gaze away from her was a bit disconcerting, given the fact that his potential wife lay unconscious in his arms. He straightened, then tightened his hold on Miss St. Claire’s body, fingers digging into the gauzy orange overlay and creasing the white silk of her gown beneath. She needed air and space to breathe, neither of which she was going to get in a ballroom full of people who had broken free of their surprise and started pressing in to find out what exactly had gone wrong.
“Freddie!” The alluring young lady hurried forward and placed a long-fingered hand on each pale cheek of the woman in his arms. That she could even do so startled him into realizing that she was tall as well as beautiful. With her coiffure mere inches from his face, he noticed that her hair had depths of another color catching the candlelight, moving it from simple blond to a unique shade of gold. Was it a trick of the lighting? Would it look more blond or red when it was down?
The thought slammed through Griffith’s body with the force of a running plow mule. He did not want to see this young woman’s hair down, did not even want to consider being curious. Those were the sort of mind-numbing thoughts that drove men to pick unsuitable brides.
“She needs to get out of here.” He yanked on the reins of his mind and brought it in to focus on the issue at hand. This fainting incident made him a little concerned in his choice of Miss St. Claire, but he would reserve final judgment until they’d had a few more encounters. If she fainted at every one of them, he’d have to avoid her for the sake of her own health if nothing else.
“Through here. There’s a small parlor where Lady Yensworth’s maid repaired my gown earlier.” A hint of red touched the young lady’s cheeks and she ducked her head as she realized she’s been discussing a wardrobe issue with him. She even blushed prettily, with none of the splotchiness that so often occurred on other ladies’ faces. The young woman opened the door and held it as Griffith ducked his head and swept through, careful to angle Miss St. Claire so she didn’t bump the frame. The hall was lit up with candles, drawing a silent sigh of relief from Griffith. If the hall was lit, it meant people would be passing through. He couldn’t afford to mar his reputation by being alone with a set of unmarried women at the very moment he’d decided to enact his plan to procure a wife.
A maid was just exiting the room the other lady was leading Griffith to.
As Griffith laid his burden on the settee in the small room, the beautiful girl who had led him there held a rushed, whispered conversation with the departing maid.
“She’s going to bring water and a blanket and some smelling salts, if she can find them.”
Griffith knelt by the settee and watched the woman cross the room, her entire regard focused on the insensate Miss St. Claire. Where his should be as well.
“Freddie? Freddie, are you all right?”
The woman, whose name Griffith should probably learn since he was practically alone with her and she appeared to be an intimate acquaintance of his potential bride, knelt next to the settee and started yanking at her glove. How many suitors had she turned her back on to be in here now? It was one thing to show concern in a room full of people, but now her audience was limited to him.
“I am the Duke of Riverton.” He almost winced at the harsh and clumsy sentence. Introducing himself was not something he did very often. The rules of society said that mutual acquaintances should make the introductions, but in truth most of London already knew who he was, making the introductions a moot point.
The girl glanced up at him. Her smooth, creamy skin and light hair were set off by blue-green eyes rimmed with a darker, near black color. A straight, thin nose perched between her eyes and over a set of delicate pale pick lips. She was, in short, perfection. The sheer purity of her face and complexion spoke of her youth and inexperience, something Griffith didn’t want to deal with. He’d already raised two sisters after the untimely death of his father. He did not want to have to raise his wife too.
The fact that he was drawn to her despite all the reasons he shouldn’t be was rather irritating.
“Miss Breckenridge. I am Fred . . . er, Miss St. Claire’s cousin.”
CLICK TO PURCHASE:
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ONE WINNER: FULL PRINT SET OF THE HAWTHORNE HOUSE SERIES
THREE WINNERS: PRINT COPY OF AN INCONVENIENT BEAUTY
September 25-October 4, 2017
(U.S. Only)
CHECK OUT THE OTHER GREAT BLOGS ON THE TOUR:
25-Sep
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Video Interview
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26-Sep
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Excerpt 1
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27-Sep
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Review
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28-Sep
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Playlist
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29-Sep
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Review
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30-Sep
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Guest Post
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1-Oct
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Excerpt 2
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2-Oct
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Review
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3-Oct
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Promo
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4-Oct
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Review
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Oh I really enjoy a variety of the historicals. I really do not have a favorite time period. They are all so interesting...I learn to much from them!
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