Nina Mason, author

Today, I'm featuring A KISS FOR MISS KINGSLEY, a new Regency short story by best-selling author Collette Cameron.

Here's the blurb:

Olivia Kingsley didn’t expect to fall in love and receive a secret marriage proposal two weeks into her first Season. However, one dance with Allen Wimpleton, heir to a viscountcy, and her fate is sealed. Or so she thinks until her eccentric and ailing father, unaware of Allen’s proposal, announces he’s moving the family to the Caribbean for a year. ... In two days.

Allen begs Olivia to elope to Scotland, knowing her father will refuse his offer of marriage after such a brief acquaintance with Olivia. Having recently lost her mother, and fearing for her father’s health, she refuses, pleading with Allen to wait for her until she returns to England. Angry at her hesitancy, and unaware of her father’s ill health, Allen demands she choose—him or her father.

Heartbroken at his callousness, but thankful he’s revealed his true nature before she married him, Olivia turns her back on their love. The year becomes three, enough time for her broken heart to heal, and after her father dies, Olivia returns to England. Coming face to face with Allen, she realizes she never purged him from her heart and once again the flames of love ignite, but is it too late? Does Olivia have any hope of winning Allen’s heart once more, or has he found another?

Here's an excerpt:

“This is a monumental mistake.” Fingering the ruby pendant hanging at her neck, Olivia Kingsley peeked out the window as the conveyance rounded the corner onto Berkeley Square. Carriage upon carriage, like great shiny beetles, lined up beside an ostentatious manor.

Guests in their evening finery swarmed before the grand entrance and on the stairs as they waited their turn to enter Viscount and Viscountess Wimpleton’s home.

Trepidation dried her mouth and tightened her chest. Yes, attending the ball was a featherbrained solicitation for disaster. No good could come of it.

God’s toenails, what was I thinking, agreeing to Auntie Muriel’s addlepated scheme?

Olivia flattened against the sky-blue squab in the corner of her aunt’s coach and vehemently shook her head. “I cannot do it.” A curl came loose, plopping onto Olivia’s forehead.

Bother.

She shoved the annoying tendril beneath a pin, having no doubt the tresses would work their way free before evening’s end. Patting the circlet of rubies adorning her hair, she assured herself the band remained secure.

Her pulse beat an erratic staccato, and she searched for a plausible excuse for refusing to attend the ball after all. “I ... We,” she wiggled her gloved fingers at her brother, Bradford, lounging on the opposite seat, appearing as contented as their fat cat, Socrates, after lapping a saucer of cream, “were not invited.”

Terribly gauche, that. Showing up at a haut ton function, no invitation in hand.

“Nonsense, darling. It’s perfectly acceptable for you to accompany me.” Aunt Muriel, the Duchess of Daventry, patted Olivia’s knee with her plump hand. “Lady Wimpleton is one of my dearest friends. Why, we had our come-out together, and I’m positive had she known that you and Bradford had recently returned to England, she would have extended an invitation herself.”

Not if she knew the volatile way her son and I parted company, she wouldn’t have.

Here's Collette’s Bio:

Award winning, Amazon best-selling author historical author, Collette Cameron, has a BS in Liberal Studies and a Master's in Teaching. Author of the Castle Brides Series and Highland Heather Romancing a Scot Series, Collette writes Regency and Scottish romances and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and five dachshunds. Mother to three and a self-proclaimed Cadbury Chocolate chocoholic, Collette loves a good joke, inspirational quotes, flowers, trivia, and all things shabby chic. You'll always find dogs, birds, quirky—sometimes naughty—humor, and a dash of inspiration in her novels.

Her motto for life? You can’t have too much chocolate, too many hugs, or too many flowers.

She’s thinking about adding shoes to that list.

Here are Collette's stalker links:

Website: http://collettecameron.com
Facebook: http://facebook.com/collettecameronauthor
Tsu: https://www.tsu.co/collettecameron
Blue Rose Romance Blog: http://blueroseromance.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/collette_author
Amazon Author Page http://www.amazon.com/Collette-Cameron/e/B00CWLYXL2
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7047979.Collette_Cameron
Newsletter: http://tinyurl.com/regencyrose

She’s also on Pinterest, Google+ and LinkedIn, Embracing Romance Blog, Romance Writers Weekly Blog, and Romancing the Era’s Blog too!

Here are the buy links:

Amazon
Itunes
Kobo
Google Books