Three
innocent debutantes. One murder. Endless mystery!
Title: The Disappearance of Lady Edith
Series: The Undaunted Debutantes Series (Book One)
Author: Christina McKnight
Genre: Historical Romance, Regency England
Release Date: May 23, 2017
Word Count: 45,000
Synopsis:
One tragic night changed
sensible, proper Lady Edith Pelton’s life: when her best friend fell to her
death, pushed down a flight of stairs by a nefarious lord. Now, Edith
dedicates her time to watching the man she thinks is responsible, while gathering
information to expose other scoundrels posing as gentlemen of honor about
London. When her spying is noticed by a perfect stranger, Edith finds herself
with two mysteries—what happened to her friend, and how to win the heart of
this brilliantly handsome lord.
Triston Neville, Viscount
Torrington, has been tasked with two duties for the upcoming Season: see that
his sisters make the most of their debut, and avoid embroiling himself in
another scandal. What he does not expect is the captivating, fair-haired beauty
that literally falls into his path. When the mysterious Lady Edith suddenly
disappears without a trace, Triston fears his past misdeeds may have returned
to destroy his life once more.
Can Triston piece together the puzzle in time to save Edith and prove that his love is nothing less than honorable?
Pre-order
the next books in The Undaunted Debutantes!
The
Misfortune of Lady Lucianna
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The Misadventures of Lady Ophelia
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from: Amazon | Barnes &
Noble | Kobo | iBooks
Excerpt - The Disappearance of Lady Edith:
“I have seen many
oxen with broader shoulders,”—she smirked, pulling back and leaning to the side
as if to get a glimpse of his backside—“and far more accentuated hindquarters.”
She gulped.
No laughter
remained as he narrowed his eyes on her. “Did you just compare my physique to
that of a farm animal?”
Edith took a step
back—damnation, she would not cower to him. “If you prefer, I can select
another animal. A donkey, perhaps? They are well-known for their obstinacy. Or
better yet, an African lion, I have read they are intimidating creatures.”
“You think me
intimidating?” It was Torrington who took a step back this time, as if her
words had wounded him. “Wait, do not answer that question—I have a far more
important one: why do you keep appearing everywhere I am?”
“It is not I who
keeps appearing,” Edith corrected. “I was minding my own business outside of
Abercorn’s townhouse. You are the one who scared me from the tree. And you were
the one who caught my eye in the ballroom. And I was enjoying an afternoon in
the park when—“ She clamped her mouth shut.
“Enjoying an
afternoon in the park until…you saw me and decided to follow?” he demanded. “I
may very well be as large as an ox, or as stubborn as a donkey, or even as
domineering as a lion, but at least I am not a snake—slithering and sneaking
about, ready to bite and poison when the mood strikes.”
Edith gasped,
covering her mouth with her hand.
“Oh, you find it
belittling to be compared to a bloody animal?” he sneered. “Well, I find it
insulting to be lied to, followed, and scrutinized by a woman I do not know.”
Edith sighed. “I
have not been following you, I swear to it.”
Not a complete lie,
or at least she hadn’t been at Lord Abercorn’s townhouse to spy on Triston—she
allowed herself to think of him by his given name—nor had she attended the ball
with Ophelia and Luci expecting to see him. And the park, well, that was rather
serendipitous. She had decided to keep an eye on him, but she’d never thought
to follow him out of London proper.
Edith glanced to
the window, but the drapes were pulled securely shut. “The day must be growing
late. My parents will surely be wondering where I am when I don’t arrive home
on schedule.”
“I know what you
are up to, Lady Edith Pelton.” His stance widened as he surveyed her from head
to toe.
Interview with Christina
McKnight
What inspired you to write The Disappearance of Lady Edith?
I love
stories with a healthy dose of mystery—especially my historical romances. I
discovered the genre by reading books by Amanda Quick (Scandal, Deception,
Desire, and Reckless), each infused with mystery and suspense as well as
romance. I also adore Robyn Dehart’s Ladies’ Amateur Sleuth Society series
featuring a strong set of heroines. It is the bond of friendship and the
unconditional love of my heroines that drives them to not only discover who
murdered their dear friend—but also find love.
Can you tell us a little bit about the
next books in The Undaunted Debutantes or what you have planned for the future?
The
Misfortune of Lady Lucianna will release June 13, 2017. Lucianna—or Luci, as
her friends call her—is my reckless hellion of the group. She is a spitfire
who, after years of watching emotional abuse in her own household, is
determined to bring down any rakehell who thinks he can prey on young, innocent
debutantes of the ton. Imagine Luci’s surprise when she sets her sights on a
man who is not what he appears…
You know I think we all have a favorite author. Who is your favorite author and why?
Oh, wow.
Narrowing down my many favorite authors to just one is a daunting task, but I’m
up for the challenge. Judith McNaught…easy! Whiney, My Love will always remain
my favorite historical romance. McNaught creates a seamless story brimming with
passion, laughter, and even **gasp** a few tears.
If you could time-travel would you travel to the future or the past? Where would you like to go and why would you like to visit this particular time period?
I time-travel
every day to Regency era England as I write. There is not another period in
time that captures the elegance, sophistication, and grandeur of human
existence, at least in my opinion. One
glimpse of Regency era fashion, decorum, and daily activities cemented my love
for the period—and I’ve been helpless to escape it. There is something about
the mannerisms, the speech patterns and the grandness of everyday London,
England during the 1810s that holds my attention. Think about it, in 1813 a
woman of the ton would never leave
her home in yoga pants and gym shoes. No, by noon a woman had spent hours
preparing to be seen in polite society. Their gown is selected to fit the
activities on their calendar; a ride in the park, a round of social calls, or
an afternoon garden party. Their hair was exquisitely coiffured to meet the
rigid standards of high society. Shoes, stockings, gloves, handbag, hat,
jewelry, face powder, and parasol were selected to match each gown.
And do not
get me started on gentlemen of the period. **Swoon** They lived and breathed
manners, at least in front of a lady. They knew when to offer their arm or
collect a refreshment for a woman. But they were not opposed to a round of
boxing or a fencing match. They never turn down a card game, enjoyed the
occasional carriage race, and were certainly not above challenging another man
to a duel to avenge the honor of a woman they love.
At least
these are the men and women I enjoy creating in my Regency romance novels. And
the time period I escape to each day!
Do you have any little fuzzy friends?
Like a dog or a cat? Or any pets?
Do my kids count? All jokes aside, we have more furry family members than ones of the human variety. With three dogs (Willow, Woody, and Wynni) and four cats (Hobo, Tiger, Countess, and Blitz) we are overrun and outnumbered—and we wouldn’t want it any other way. Working from my home office leaves me few opportunities to socialize during the day. Thankfully, I have my 27 lb Maine Coon, Hobo, who keeps me busy and entertained.
Author Bio:
Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.
Christina McKnight is a book lover turned writer. From a young age, her mother encouraged her to tell her own stories. She’s been writing ever since.
Christina
enjoys a quiet life in Northern California with her family, her wine, and lots
of coffee. Oh, and her books…don’t forget her books! Most days she can be found
writing, reading, or traveling the great state of California.
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