Saturday, June 3, 2017

Excerpt & ARC Giveaway - - Sabrina Jeffries' The Pleasures of Passion


I've been a fan of Sabrina Jeffries books for years and have many of them on my keeper shelves but the stories in her current Sinful Suitors series are among the best I've read from this talented author. Seems others agree with me as book #2 in the series, The Study of Seduction is a finalist for this year's prestigious Romance Writers of America® RITA® Award for Best Historical Romance:Short (read my 5-star review). Fans of this series will recognize Niall, the hero of Jeffries' upcoming The Pleasures of Passion, as the brother who gave up everything to protect his sister, Lady Clarissa, the heroine of The Study of Seduction. I've been eagerly anticipating his story! 


The Pleasures of Passion
By Sabrina Jeffries
Publisher: Pocket Books
Release Date: June 20, 2017


When Niall Lindsey, the Earl of Margrave, is forced to flee after killing a man in a duel, he expects his secret love, Brilliana Trevor, to go with him, or at the very least wait for him. To his shock, she does neither and sends him off with no promise for the future. Seven years and one pardon later, Niall returns to England disillusioned and cynical. And being blackmailed by the government into working with his former love to help catch a counterfeiter connected to her father doesn’t improve his mood any. But as his role as Brilliana’s fake fiancĂ© brings his long-buried feelings to the surface once again, he wonders who is more dangerous—the counterfeiter or the woman rapidly stealing his heart.

Forced to marry another man after Niall was exiled, the now widowed Brilliana wants nothing to do with the reckless rogue who she believes abandoned her to a dreary, loveless life. So having to rely on him to save her father is the last thing she wants, much less trusts him with....But as their scheme strips away the lies and secrets of their shared past, can she let go of the old hurt and put her pride aside? Or will the pleasures of their renewed passion finally enable them both to rediscover love?



The Pleasures of Passion
Excerpt

By the time Niall left the library with Bree, the gentlemen were coming down the hall to join the ladies in the drawing room.
He stared at her, a lump catching in his throat. God, she was beautiful in that forest-green dinner gown, which skimmed her breasts with loving care and left far too much of the rest of her to the imagination. He would love to see what lay beneath the froth of petticoats that women wore these days. He had no doubt she would be a Botticelli indeed.
Well, except for her prudery and her absurd worries that he might be plotting to get her into his bed, that he might have plotted to get her there years ago. That angered him. The fact that she would even believe—
Don’t think about that right now, man. You’re supposed to be happily anticipating announcing your engagement, remember? 
Right. To a woman who looked as if someone had just stolen her joy. How annoying. Years ago she’d refused to marry him, and now that she had her chance to get her hooks in him again, she balked?
That made no sense. And was rather insulting. He’d make any woman a good husband, blast it. Not that he wanted to be one to her, but still, she ought to be running after him like the other females in society.
Unless she’d truly loved Trevor.
The very thought of it was like an itch under his skin that he couldn’t scratch. He hadn’t been able to make her love him enough to leave her family behind for him, but Trevor had succeeded?
Although her point about her mother’s being unable to go abroad had been valid, he supposed. Still, he found it hard to believe that her mother had been her only sticking point. If so, Bree would have waited for him until her mother died. Then she would have sent word.
But she hadn’t even waited a full year before marrying some other fellow. Deuced bastard. If anything showed that she hadn’t truly loved him, that did.
Well, this would be over soon enough.
He halted at the threshold of the drawing room to gaze down into her grim face. “Are you ready for this?”
“No. But waiting won’t make me any more ready.”
“You might want to smile. You’re announcing your impending wedding, but you look like you’re going to your execution.” He forced a teasing note into his voice. “You may not be aware of this, but I am considered eminently eligible.”
That softened her features. “And modest, too.”
“Why should I be modest?” he quipped. “I’m an earl, for God’s sake. We have and deserve everything, don’t you know?” When that actually got a smile from her, he murmured, “It will work out in the end, Bree. I swear.”
“It didn’t work out last time.”
“That’s because we actually planned to marry. It’s much easier to manage imaginary engagements. You can dissolve those at a moment’s notice with little difficulty.”
He was rewarded by her throaty chuckle.
But when he started to enter, she halted and said, “Hold on.” She reached up to straighten his cravat and smooth a lock of his hair. “That’s better. Now we’re ready.”
The wifely gesture made his pulse stutter. Damn her. Every time he thought he had her figured out, she did something so . . . so bloody endearing that he wanted to toss his opinions of her out the window.
Careful, man. She’s not the woman you thought you knew.
He’d simply have to keep reminding himself of that.



Are you reading Sabrina Jeffries' Sinful Suitors series?

Do you have a favorite book or character?

Are you a second chance romance fan? What draws you to this trope?


One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM (Eastern), June 4, 2017 will receive a print ARC of The Pleasures of Passion.  

26 comments:

  1. I love all of Sabrina's books, think I probably have most of them. Even a few she wrote under Debra Martin

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    1. I have a feeling your book collection looks a lot like mine. ;-)

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    2. Greetings from England. Just popped in to say that I do like Sabrina's books. I don't believe that I've read any of her "Sinful Suitors" series, but it does sound exciting.

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  2. I am enjoying this series and am very interested to see how this story of second chances plays out.

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  3. I love all her books, can't wait to read this one! I do like second chances, however I do wonder what the relationship would have been like if fate/life had not gotten in the way.

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  4. I've not read this series but I've enjoyed her stories. I like variety so second chance is fine with me.

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  5. Yes I absolutely loved the first book in the series

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  6. I’ve been enjoying Sabrina’s books for years. My favorite in this series is The Study of Seduction. I’m looking forward to this one. Thanks.

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    1. The Study of Seduction is my favorite too as I'm sure you can probably tell from my review. Of course, I haven't read The Pleasures of Passion yet so, who knows? ;-)

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  7. Janette GryniewiczJune 3, 2017 at 11:54 AM

    Looking forward to this one!

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  8. I always enjoy reading Sabrina's books, but haven't started this series yet. In the Prince's Bed is one of my favorites. I like the inherent hope in second chance books.

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  9. I've read several of Sabrina's series. She never disappoints.

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  10. I've read lots of Sabrina's books (loved the Hellions of Halstead Hall), but haven't started the Sinful Suitors yet. I enjoy the second chance storyline, those cahracters often really appreciate that second chance.

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  11. love second chance romances...gives the characters a better way of finding love and treasuring it

    denise

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  12. I really love this series! I'm not sure which is my fave, probably the first, although, I think Edwin is my fave character from this series so far. I'm not usually huge on second chance romance unless it's people that I already know, like this couple. I can't wait to read Niall and Brilliana's story!

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  13. I'm reading this series and have enjoyed it. I am a fan of second chance at love. Can't wait to read it.

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  14. I haven't started this series yet, I'm currently reading Sabrina's The Duke's Men series. I love second chance romances, rarely in life do people get a do-over with the one who got away. Thanks for sharing the excerpt!

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  15. I haven´t read this new Sabrina Jeffrie´s series yet, but I do enjoy second chance stories. I have especially loved Sabrina´s The School for Heiresses series.

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  16. I have most of the novels in this series but haven't read them yet. I do like second chance romances since most people deserve that 2nd chance at love.

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  17. I love Sabrina Jeffries books. Haven't started this series yet. But I'm looking forward to reading it. Second chances are zone of my favorites as well love to follow their reconnection till they find their HEA.
    Carol L
    Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com

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  18. I love Sabrina's books, but haven't read any of her books in this series yet. I enjoy 2nd chance stories.

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