I am delighted to share an extract today for the book birthday blitz ~ thanks to Rachel’s Random Resources for organizing.
Genre: Historical Romance (medieval)
Publication Date: 26th October 2023
Publisher: Mills and Boon
Standalone Novel in the Brothers and Rivals series
In the below extract, Ruaidhri has returned to Ireland after a period of eight years. Heâs been greeted by his lost love, Sorcha. Neither of them truly understands what happened to separate them all those years ago and now they are on opposing sides of a battle.
Extract from Her Warriorâs Surprise Return
âAre you going to stab me, Sorcha?â Her name felt strange on his tongue. It had been many years since heâd uttered it and even longer since he had said it to her.
âYes.â But the blade didnât move and he took a moment to study her. Sheâd changed. Not surprisingly as it had been years since heâd last seen her. Her dark blonde hair was still unruly, still trying to escape from the haphazard binding sheâd no doubt attempted in a hurry. Sheâd gained muscle, losing the girlish innocence that had radiated from her and acquiring a hard ferocity that didnât distract from her attractiveness at all. That he still noticed the way she looked was irritating and did nothing to improve his mood.
âWhy isnât Dunlang here with you to form a bigger welcoming party?â Mentioning her husband, the man she had married as soon as Ruaidhri was no longer around, was the best way to remind himself that she would never be his, not even if they could erase all that had happened.
âDunlang is dead,â she said bluntly, no hint of emotion in her dark eyes.
âOh.â For a beat the world shifted. Everything heâd thought about for yearsâDunlang and Sorcha laughing together, their children playing around their feetâall of it gone in a moment, leaving Ruaidhri reeling, as if heâd had too many ales and wasnât sure which way was up or down. He shook his head to clear his thoughts; this new reality was insignificant.
Dunlangâs death changed nothing. Sorcha was still the woman who had taken Ruaidhriâs heart and obliterated it. He would not allow any such vulnerability to happen again. Once this meeting was over, he would never allow himself to think of her in that way again. It was obvious that she hated him and, if the blade to his chest was anything to go by, wanted him dead. Although her hatred was unjust considering it was not his family that had destroyed her and it was not he who had married someone else.
Book blurb:
Itâs been years since Ruaidhri abandoned Sorcha, and sheâs no longer the woman she once was. Now leader of the Suibhne clan, she must unite her people against invading forces. When rumours of Ruaidhriâs return to Ireland prove true, sheâs unsettled at seeing him again. He offers to help her, but his past betrayal still burnsâeven if desire is as strong as ever. Should Sorcha trust her headâŠor her heart?
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Author Bio â Ella Matthews writes sweeping historical novels with a dash of danger, steamy scenes and full of romantic heart. She writes for Mills & Boon / Harlequin but is also planning some self-published novels, so watch this space for those.
She writes in beautiful South Wales, where you canât go for a walk without tripping over the remains of a castle. She lives with her husband, whoâs very technical and whoâs set up her website but still doesnât seem to know how to use a washing machine, her two children and an exceptionally timid rescue guinea pig. When sheâs not writing, sheâs working with teenagers on their literacy skills (sheâs discovered thereâs nothing a thirteen year old loves more than discussing commas!). She loves to hear from her readers, so please get in touch â ella@ella-matthews.com
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