From USA Today bestselling author,
Gina Danna, comes a historical romance full of deceit, betrayal and passion
that ignite the flames of love between two lovers on opposite sides of a war.
Giveaway:
1 winner will receive a $25 Amazon
Giftcard & 3 winners will receive an ecopy of choice from Gina’s backlist
a Rafflecopter giveaway
About The Wicked North:
Bound by
duty and honor to wear the Union blue, a Southern-born West Point officer
fights his own desires and the need to protect the woman he abandoned, he
disobeys his orders to find her, as the Army of the Potomac marches toward her
family’s home near Richmond.
She has
the guts and willpower to protect her home from the hated Yankee aggressors,
but when that traitor to the South appears at her door, she’s torn between
wanting to shoot him and to be held in his arms again. Can she forgive him for
their past indiscretion or does she turn him in to be executed, a traitor to
both sides?
In the
summer of 1862, her family’s plantation becomes the personal battle ground
between them as deceit, betrayal and passion ignite the flames of love and hate
that burn brighter than the roar of the guns and rivers of blood surrounding
them.
Exclusive Excerpt:
Rose Hill Plantation, Silvers’ residence.
Parlor game of the 19th century called “Kissing the Corners” – a
kissing game where a gentleman was stationed in each corner of the room and the
ladies went to get a kiss. It was a ‘forfeit’ to redeem for losing in an
earlier game. Emma, our heroine, finds herself faced with kissing Jack, the man
she so wanted to kiss but this was her first time kissing. Would he kiss her or
not?
Next was Jack. She walked to his
corner, gazing into his glowing emerald eyes.
“Emma,”
he whispered.
She
heard voices behind her. The others had already finished. She was the last.
Turning her head slightly, she looked for Caroline. She caught a glimpse of her
sister in her buttercup yellow dress, talking to Abigail, Charles and the
twins.
“I’m
right here, Emma,” Jack said, drawing her attention back to him.
He
was too handsome. She wanted to both kiss him and avoid him. A tingle in her
belly spread up to her nipples.
When
Jack smiled his devilish smile, Emma felt as though she would turn into a
puddle at his feet. Her mouth went dry as she stood there, frozen.
“Why
didn’t you ever write to me?”
The
question rattled her, bringing her back to her senses. “I sent you a letter,
but I never received one from you.”
He
quietly chuckled. “I sent you a letter, hoping you’d respond.”
“I
never received any correspondence from you,” she said.
“Hmm, I never
got yours either.” His low drawl reached inside, soothing her. “But,” he
continued, “I believe you owe me a kiss.”
She
opened her mouth, but not a sound came out.
***
Jack
stood still. She fidgeted. The silk dress clung to her breasts and her narrow
waist. Her cage crinoline maintained a respectable space between them,
regardless of how much he wanted her closer. He put his hands at the waist of
her skirt and felt her tremble. She bit her lower lip. Oh, how he wanted to
soothe that lip.
With
a gentle tug, he pulled her closer. The motion unbalanced her, and her hands
sought his arms. When she still didn’t lean up to kiss him, he brought her even
closer, his eyes fixed on her lower lip as her teeth released it.
He
wouldn’t meet her halfway. This could be the only time he’d have the advantage,
and he didn’t want to waste it. Because Emma’s feet were slightly lifted from
the floor, she gripped his arms tightly.
He
brought her to him. As he kissed Emma, his tongue traced her lower lip before
his mouth enveloped hers. He wanted her to open her mouth, and he prodded the
crease between her lips, coaxing her with his tongue. She parted her lips but
pulled her head back as his tongue invaded her mouth.
She
tasted like strawberries and wine. It was an intriguing taste and he wanted
more. She felt soft and warm against him. He knew he was pushing the limits of
the game and propriety, but when he glimpsed her eyelashes feathered on her
cheek, he almost growled. Abruptly, Jack released Emma and set her on the floor,
his hands remaining at her waist. He could feel her shiver as she looked into
his face, her eyes wide open. He smiled.
Within
a second, she raced away from him as fast as she could in a ladylike manner.
Jack smirked. She had enjoyed his kiss. With his head cocked to the side, he
walked to the sideboard and poured himself a brandy.
***
When
Emma had stepped away from Jack, she did everything within her power to control
her nerves. Her lips felt swollen. His hands had left an impression on her
waist—an impression that wasn’t his to make. Her next and last corner was
Billy’s. He grinned at her as she tried to maintain a steady gait, but the
memory of Jack’s kiss tingled down her spine, making her feel hot and cold
simultaneously. Stop it! She gave her
head a small shake and stopped, inhaling a large breath before returning
Billy’s smile.
But she wanted to kiss Jack.
No, what he did
was take advantage of the situation. How vulgar of him! Why did she crave more?
“Is something
wrong, Emma?”
Conflicting
thoughts clouded her mind, and she didn’t realize she was already in front of
Billy. Politely dismissing his concern, she said, “No, no, nothing is wrong.”
Billy’s
head lowered slightly for her. “Kiss me, or pay a higher price forfeit.”
Emma
was curious about what the higher price might be, but, after Jack’s advances,
she ignored it. Composing herself, she met Billy’s lips part way.
He
didn’t play with her lips nor press to enter her mouth. In a very gentlemanly
manner, he gave her a quick kiss and bowed away. No fire came from his lips as
it had from Jack’s. If anything, she was gravely disappointed that Billy hadn’t
tried to kiss her like Jack had. She should have been glad, but she wasn’t.
Like
a good girl, she placed her hand on his sleeve and let him escort her back to
the others. Caroline enticed them all to start charades. Jack was with them, a
devilish grin on his face that Emma had the sudden urge to slap. When his
glance fell her way, excitement raced through her veins, and she had the
strangest sensation her nipples were tightening. Tamping down the fury of
emotions Jack caused, she spent the rest of the evening at Billy’s and
Caroline’s side and away from Jack.
About Gina Danna:
A USA Today Bestselling author,
Gina Danna was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and has spent the better part of
her life reading. History has always been her love and she spent numerous hours
devouring historical romance stories, always dreaming of writing one of her
own. After years of writing historical academic papers to achieve her
undergraduate and graduate degrees in History, and then for museum programs and
exhibits, she found the time to write her own historical romantic fiction
novels.
Now residing in Texas, under the supervision of her three dogs, she writes amid
a library of research books, with her only true break away is to spend time
with her other lifelong dream - her Arabian horse - with him, her muse can
play.
1 comments:
Thank you for having me!
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