TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL
(Secrets & Scandals, Book 3)
Author: Darcy Burke
Publisher: Intrepid Reads
Rel Date: July 5, 2012
Pages: 346
Digital Price: $3.99
Print Price: $12.99

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A lady on the brink of disaster

Lady Philippa Latham is determined to avoid scandal at all costs. When her mother’s outrageous behavior threatens their entire family’s reputation, Philippa attempts to curtail her activities. Unwittingly, she follows her  to a party no unmarried Society girl would risk attending. As if that wasn’t bad enough, Philippa is “rescued” by England’s most notorious scoundrel, which sets them both on a path to public and personal ruin…

A scoundrel in need of seduction

Lord Ambrose Sevrin is famous for having ruined his brother’s fiancé and refusing to marry her. Dangerously attractive, he is an intriguing enigma to London’s elite. Only, Philippa thinks she’s met the true Ambrose—a gentleman who would fight to defend her and help her secure a husband before it’s too late. But he can’t fall victim to Philippa’s charms. He won’t tolerate redemption—or love—for his crimes are far worse than anyone can imagine.

One lucky commenter will win a paperback ARC of To Seduce a Scoundrel (US and Canada residents only).

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Ambrose and Philippa are trapped in a closet after Philippa follows Ambrose from a ballroom to speak with him about a note he just gave her…

 

Ambrose listened intently for any sound from the corridor. He held his breath waiting to see if they would be discovered. After all their near misses at Lockwood House to be found here in an indefensibly incriminating position…

Philippa exhaled, and it sounded like a cannon blast. He brought his gloved finger to her mouth and pressed it against her lips. Now her breath sucked in, albeit much more quietly. He tried not to think of the heat of her mouth seeping through his glove or the gust of her breath against his finger. And he fought the urge to slide that finger into her mouth in the faint hope she might suckle it.

Finally, muted voices came from outside the door. He couldn’t hear what they said, but only because his senses were full of Philippa—her lilac-honey scent, the warmth of her body so close to his, the sound of her soft breathing, quickening with each beat of her heart, signaling that her desire—like his—was climbing.

The voices continued, but he was having a hard time concentrating on anything but Philippa’s proximity. Because of the tight space, he stood so close to her that if he just inched forward—and as he thought it, he did it—her breasts would be pressed against him.

He closed his eyes in ecstasy. This was the closest he’d been to a woman in five years. His previous kisses with Philippa notwithstanding.

Instead of retreating as he might have expected, she leaned into him. And then she somehow read his mind—at least partially. She pressed her lips to his finger.

He stifled a groan as he cupped the side of her face and slid his palm down to her collarbone. Her heart beat strong and fast there, and the hot silk of her flesh burned through his glove.

Kissing her was out of the question. It would only lead to God-knew-what, and he couldn’t go there with her. But that didn’t stop him from lowering his head and inhaling the scent of her hair. He brushed his cheek against hers and bit his tongue lest it dart out and trace a path to her ear, down her neck, then lower to the edge of her bodice.

She nudged her cheek against him and breathed a single word, “Ambrose.”

He was a mass of dry, brittle wood, and she was the flame that would burn him to the ground.

Which was what made him step back. Not far, because the closet simply wouldn’t allow it.

He picked up the sound of fading footsteps in the corridor and took that to mean those outside had left. He allowed himself to exhale and so did she, their breath warming the already steamy interior of their confined space.

With each breath he took, reason returned. And anger—at himself, but he’d never been very good at directing it.

“Philippa, you shouldn’t have followed me.” Though he whispered, he injected a firm dose of urgency.

“I’m to just let you abandon me?”

He couldn’t let her get to him. He’d had his fill of lowering his defenses around beautiful, alluring females. Or rather, one beautiful, alluring female. “I’m not abandoning you. You don’t need me to help you find a husband.”

She was quiet, which allowed him to be painfully aware of her proximity again, of the heat emanating from her delicious body. And also of the distance that really stretched between them, regardless of how close they now stood. He could dream of her the rest of his days, but he could never, ever have her.

“You should go,” he said, while the dark recesses of his mind thought of how he could raise her skirts, lift her against the wall, and slide into her.

Her hand found his cheek in the darkness and stroked his jawline. “’Tis a pity things aren’t different. If you weren’t who you are…”

He grabbed her hand and pressed a hard kiss to her gloved palm. “Go. And if I had to pick one of your suitors right now, I’d choose Allred. From what I can discern, his reputation is sterling.”

“Are you giving me permission to kiss him now?”

Jealousy cut through him. “Yes.” He forced the word through the tight muscles of his throat.

The space around him moved, and he felt her lips against the side of his mouth. He held her close a moment and spoke softly against her ear. “But don’t be cruel. Don’t kiss him if you don’t plan to marry him. He’ll spend the rest of his life cursing his loss.”

38 Replies to “Excerpt Thursday: To Seduce a Scoundrel by Darcy Burke”

  1. I really enjoyed this excerpt, you certainly got my blood pumping. I’d love to read Ambrose and Phillipa’s story. 🙂

  2. Wow! It’s hot in here! I loved it; definitely on my to-read pile. Thanks for the sneak peek.

  3. Sounds like a really good book. If I don’t win I’ll be checking it out at B&N website.

  4. Great excerpt. I love finding new-to-me authors and I think I’d really enjoy this story!

  5. Ooh nothing like a “enclosed” space to tingle the nerves! Even if I don’t get a free copy I will buy one! Too good to miss.

  6. “But don’t be cruel. Don’t kiss him if you don’t plan to marry him. He’ll spend the rest of his life cursing his loss.” wow!!

    I’m starting Her Wicked Ways soon and this excerpt almost makes me wanna rush through the series to get to this one. But nawww I’ll savor each one lol

  7. Ambrose looks pretty good on the bookcover, that alone will have me getting this book! The excerpt was a wonderful tease, thanks for the chance to win ‘To Seduce a Scoundrel’, crossing my fingers!! 😉

  8. Interesting excerpt. I’ll have to read more to figure out how Ambrose has maintained his scoundrel reputation if he hasn’t been near a woman in five years. Coma, perhaps?

  9. Ah, that “Yes” killed me! How could he say that! Ok so this excerpt was short but I still got wrapped up in it.

  10. Great excerpt! Would love to read this book. I am so hooked on it right now.

  11. I loved the excerpt, To Seduce a Scoundrel sounds like a fantastic story.

  12. wow! some hot closet that is, really enjoyed & would love to read more. Thanks for the chance.

  13. Wow! TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL sounds really good. Thank you for the great excerpt.

  14. Wow! Stories where the hero always tries to deny himself the Love of his life always makes a great read. Can’t wait for this one!

  15. Wow! I HAVE to read that now that I’ve read the excerpt! *fanning myself*

  16. The excerpt wetted my appetite for reading TO SEDUCE A SCOUNDREL. I can hardly wait to read it now. Thanks for the giveaway!

  17. Sounds like a good read. Been an avid romance reader for years. Definitely will check out.

  18. Great excerpt. I want to read more. I put it on my wishlist. Can’t wait for this book to release.

  19. Well, what do you know? Another new-to-me author to add to my ever growing TBR shelves! The book sounds right up my alley!

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