Guess what, lovely readers...

Charming the Rogue hits your e-reader TOMORROW! And in celebration, I thought I'd share the dungeon meet-cute with you. 😋 Enjoy!

***

She swung around, fear stealing her breath, and held her fairy orb high.

A man stood frozen in the doorway of the cell next to hers, his back to her, one foot lifted off the ground, and shoulders hunched forward.

A savior.

She rushed toward him, pain searing her ankle, and grasped at the bars closest to him. “Help me! Who are you? Oh, thank God you’re here.”

He uncurled very slowly, tugging down his sleeves, and setting the toe of his boot on the floor. He turned just as slowly, running his hand through his hair. And as the light fell across his face, her belly flipped. He was gorgeous, as he’d always been. His brown hair was darkened by the shadows, and his pale face was well-shaped. Cheekbones high as a transcendent’s confidence, jawline sharp as an alchemist’s blade, lips full and arrogant. He was healthier than she’d last seen him, shaved and broadened by the apprenticeship she’d heard he’d taken in Stone’s forge. Before he’d lost his title he’d possessed the lean grace of a cat. He retained his grace but had hardened about the edges, as if he’d excised every bit of his softness and replaced it with steel. 

“You.” She shook the bars. She wanted to shake the damned enraging men around her. How many times would she have to utter that single word of horrified recognition? Too many.

Apollo Chester swept her an elegant bow. “That’s right, me. And you’re you, and it’s been lovely seeing you again, but I’m afraid I’ve business elsewhere.” He stepped away from her cell.

“Oh, no you don’t!” She lunged at the bars, striking an arm through them. She caught the inner edge of his waistcoat and yanked him closer. 

He met the metal caging her with a yelp. “Careful, sweetheart, you’ll mess my clean linen.”

She fisted her hand more tightly around the waistcoat. “You helped Stone bring me here.”

“Seems likely, I admit, but I have nothing to do with this villainy.” He pried her fingers open and stepped out of her reach. 

“You’ve come to gloat, then,” she growled.

“About what?” He appeared genuinely curious, head tilting to the side as he smoothed the wrinkles she’d made in his clothing.

“Your teacher’s treatment of me.”

“I barely know who you are, sweetheart. I’m not about to waste a good gloat on you.”

Barely know who you are. The man would not have hesitated to kill her last summer. “You held a knife to my neck. Do you threaten the lives of so many maidens you lose track?”

“Not as many as you’d think.” He leaned a shoulder against the bars of her cell, crossing his ankles as a lock of hair fell over one eye. “Though I do think I place the incident now. You’re Temple Grant’s little sister, yes? God, that was ages ago. Don’t take what happened personally. Why are you looking up?”

She continued staring at the ceiling. “When a devil speaks the Lord’s name, one fears retribution. A good smiting. One hopes at least.”

He barked a laugh. “Funny little chit, aren’t you? That comment earlier about Stone being dim as an un-flamed fairy orb.” He mimicked wiping a tear from his eyes. “Biting. You’re much preferable to my dour cousin.”

A terribly idiotic spark of hope flared in her chest. Diana. He was related to Sybil’s sister-in-law. Sybil grasped the bars, her face inches from his shoulder as she peered up at him. He smelled of forge fire and something spicy. “Will you help me? You helped Temple rescue Diana from the Tower.”

He inspected his fingernails, tugged at his sleeve cuffs. “I didn’t come here to help you. I’m afraid curiosity drove this particular cat. Saw some brutes drag you down here and followed. Hid when Stone showed up.” He nodded at the cell he’d exited.

“Help me escape. Go get the key, and—”

“Why?”

“Why! What do you mean why? Because I have been kidnapped, and it is clear Stone has no plans to release me! He might kill me!”

Chester rubbed his ear with a wince. “Bit loud, aren’t we. You don’t want to sound shrewish.”

She grabbed his waistcoat again and yanked.

“Ack!” His face smooshed between the bars.

“You will help me escape or—”

He wrenched himself out of her hold. “Or what? You have no leverage down here. Especially since you may never leave.”

***

Does he help her? 🤷‍♀️ I mean, he's the "hero" so odds are good, but probably not without a lot of cajoling / threatening.

Don't worry, though, this morally gray man eventually falls HARD and goes full-on wife guy. It's a joy to see.

This is your last chance to get Charming the Rogue at all online retailers--Barnes and Noble, Kobo, google books, etc. Tomorrow morning, it will move into Kindle Unlimited exclusively.

Pre-Order Charming the Rogue

Book Recommendations

Have you checked out Amanda Mariel's Lady and the Spy yet?

What about Shannon Gilmore's My Fake Duchess?

Do you love a boxer hero? I DO! Check out this collection of them in historical romance!

Looking for a new read in Kindle Unlimited? Check out these titles!

If you love second chance romance, you're gonna wanna check out this collection of books!

So, to return to the Cavendish Family, I thought I'd introduce the children! In the Cavendish Family series, the oldest daughters--Ada and Nora--find their happily ever afters, as does a sort of adopted daughter, Gwendolyn.

But there are still four children unmarried!

• Edward Pennington (Sarah's son)
• Henry's twin wards, Thomas and Nicholas
• Henry's youngest daughter, Pansy

Edward is a solid soul, though a bit thoughtless when we meet him in Leave a Widow Wanting More (the book where his mom Sarah marries Henry Cavendish). He shares his mother's love of stories.

The twins are pretty chill, and we don't get much of them in the series.

And Pansy likes to run off and hide. Which is not something to make parents relaxed AT ALL. I don't think she'll lose that quality as she grows up; she'll probably just continue to stress everyone out. 🤣

Happy reading,

Charlie Lane

(these books are in KU)

Read the entire series now!

(These Books are in KU)

Savor these second chances!

(These books are in KU)

Grab the latest in the series, The Lyon Loves Last

Start the Series Now!