Hello Dear Readers!

You find me frazzled today. I meant to dedicate several hours of the morning to writing. Unfortunately, research can be like a highwayman who wants time instead of a jewels and blunt.

But hopefully he's the swoon-worthy-secretly-a-softy kind of highwayman?

Anyway, the question that stole my writing hours was this--if the heir to a title dies before his father, does his younger brother (now the heir) take on the courtesy title that used to belong to his now deceased brother? The answer to this question should have been simple. I went to all my usually resources. But found only a tangle of thorns made even more tangled by my tendency to overthink word meanings and sentence structure and how those impact the actual meaning of any sentence. Most sources said ONLY THE HEIR was given a courtesy title, but never mentioned what happened if that heir died. Wikipedia (never a source I take seriously) said that only the "living heir" was given a courtesy title.

And that single word--living--is why I kept digging.

Sigh.

So, I found an old copy of Debrett's on Google books. Jane Austen's Sir Walter Elliot, of Kellynch-hall, in Somersetshire, would have been proud.

Y'all... Debrett's is no easy read. Phew. Hours I scrolled, reading entries, finding glimmers of hope then falling into the abysmal depths of darkness once more. I needed only one entry in which the eldest son died BEFORE inheriting to see how the second son is referred to after that.

And finally I found it. First male offspring, George, lord Rosehill, who was unfortunately lost in the Blenheim man of war and the second male offspring, William-Hopetoun... lord Rosehill. Wanna see?

Soooooo, there's always the possibility I'm reading this entirely wrong! If you have info I need and don't have, insight I covet, as always, please do share!

Ready for some book recs?

Let's start off with a great deal! The Brazen Belles Anthology is only .99c for the rest of June! Then after that... it's gone! Nothing but a memory of 8 great books by 8 different authors. So grab your copy while it's a steal.

While we're on the topic of amazing anthologies for few pennies, Wolf has a special Christmas anthology on pre-order right now! All your favorite Wolf authors are included--Tracy Sumner, Bree Wolf, Meredith Bond, Sydney Jane Baily, Fenna Edgewood, Jennifer Monroe. And me, too! Also only .99c. I'll be including a novella from the Debutante Dares series featuring Lady Pippa Hampton (Tabitha's younger sister) and the hunk she met in Scotland.

Why not try Sophie Barnes' The Roguish Baron? I love the hints of red in this cover!

Looking for sizzling summer romance? This promo has you covered!

Need a lighthearted beach read? Look no further than this promo!

I hope you are all less entangled with thorns research questions than I am!

Happy reading!

Charlie Lane