If you receive The Season newsletter, you know that I’m counting down to Beverly Jenkin’s MIDNIGHT, which will release October 26th.
I met Beverly at the RWA Conference in Dallas in 2007. I was unpublished and frantically running around getting free signed books to add to my already hefty collection. Well, she could not have been more genuinely sweet to me, and I never forgot her kindness. So I’m ultra pleased to be able to feed you monthly excerpts as we countdown to MIDNIGHT.
Oh, and I have to tip my hat to Avon’s art department. Didn’t they do a fantastic job with Beverly’s cover? Seriously, this is singularly the most spectacular one I’ve seen on her historicals.
~*~*~
In a time of peril, she fears nothing—except the forbidden passions of her heart.
In Boston, revolution is in the wind—yet none would ever suspect Faith Kingston of treason. But under cover of darkness, the beautiful daughter of a Tory tavern owner becomes the notorious spy “Lady Midnight,” passing valuable secrets to the rebels. Dedicated to fighting British tyranny, she’ll let nothing distract her—until a dark, mesmerizing stranger enters her life.
A reckless, worldly adventurer, Nicholas Grey has returned to troubled Massachusetts seeking revenge for the death of his rebel father. He suspects a local innkeeper, but it’s the man’s breathtaking, ebony skinned daughter who has truly captured his interest. Nicholas burns for the sensuous, secretive lady—and Faith cannot mask her own blazing desires. But when destiny unites their causes, the passion that draws Midnight into Nicholas’s arms is as dangerous as it is glorious—and it could spell disaster for them both.
~*~*~
Excerpt
Boston
December 1774
PROLOGUE
Primus Grey waited in the dark behind his print shop for his contact to arrive. Although she’d passed him secret information about the British before, he was the only member of the Sons of Liberty to know her true identity. To the others she was known only as Lady Midnight, the code name he’d bestowed upon her in honor of the time she usually appeared. Quiet as a shadow and silent as the moonlight, she never tarried longer than the time it took to pass along whatever news she had to relay, and then she was gone. More than once, he’d been asked by the Sons to trail her in an attempt to learn who she might be, but in truth, he preferred they not know. In the world of spies, the less they knew about her, the less likely she could be betrayed.
A bit past midnight, she arrived. “Good evening, Mr. Grey.”
“M’lady. What news have you?”
“Your name has come to the attention of General Gage. You should leave Boston immediately if you do not wish to hang for treason. I’m so sorry.”
He froze.
“Godspeed, Mr. Grey.”
Filled with alarm, he watched her fade into the darkness before hurrying back inside to gather what personal belongings he could, but it was too late. A pounding on the door made him look up.
A voice shouted, “Primus Grey!” The knocking grew louder.
Fighting to keep his voice even, he called out., “Who’s there?”
“Representatives of the King.”
He drew in a deep breath and walked over to open the door.
There were six of them, all wearing the red coats of the British army. It was a cold night and he could see the steam from their breaths in the dim light of the torch above his door. The sharp tips of their bayonets glittered ominously in the moonlight. “What do you want with me?”
“You are under arrest.”
“And the charge?”
“Treason for aiding the rebels against the King.”
His chin rose. “Let me lock my shop.”
They allowed him to do so, and once it was done, they surrounded him. Word of their mission must have spread because a crowd of angry citizens began to gather. Primus couldn’t tell how many strong they were, but by the lights of the torches lining the shops and homes on the narrow winding street, they appeared sizeable. Calls and curses began to rain down on the soldiers. Snowballs flew at their heads. The citizens of Boston had grown weary of the presence of the King’s four thousand troops who’d been stationed in and around the city for the sole purpose of putting down the growing rebellion.
“Let him go!”a male voice rang out.
“Bloody lobster backs!”cried out another.
Rrocks and snowballs flew, some hitting the soldiers who quickly responded by taking up a defensive position around their prisoner. More people began to arrive, adding their voices and rocks to the fray. The officer in charge raised his weapon and sent out a warning shot. The people moved back. British soldiers had fired on a similar crowd back in March 1770, and when the smoke cleared, men lay dead, including Crispus Attucks, a mariner of mixed African and Nantucket blood. In the five years since, the incident had become known as the Boston Massacre, and stood as of one the most grievous marks against the policies of the hated King George III and his equally despised Parliament.
Apparently no one wanted to die that night. The crowd continued to hurl curses, snowballs and chunks of ice, but the soldiers were allowed to leave with their prisoner.
Sounds good, right? It certainly left me intrigued and wanting to know what happens to Mr. Primus Grey. How about you, does it leave you wanting to read more? Comment to enter to win a copy of Lisa Kleypas’s Love In the Afternoon. Gosh, is that wrong? I should really have had an Avon book to giveaway. 😉
YES, I want to read more! This books sounds really good. The cover is gorgeous!
It sure does leave me wanting to read more! Love the cover! Will be adding this book to my to read list.
Omg I love Beverly Jenkins and I can’t believe she is getting ready to have a new book out and I also love Lisa Kleypas I just recently purchased her book before this one called, “Married by Morning” which I thought was just great so I’m looking forward to the next one.
I’ve never read Beverly Jenkins but the excerpt sounds good, so I guess I’ll be adding another author to my buy list! The cover is beautiful too. And of course, what historical romance reader doesn’t like Lisa Kleypas? Love the Hathawys…can’t wait for LITA!
I never read anything by Beverly Jenkin…but i’m always willing to try new authors!:)
Oh my goodness – the blurb/premise of the book and excerpt! As there are so few I always “forget” how much I love historical romances set in America. There are more than westerns!
Ohhhhh! Definitely sounds good! I love the time period and the cover is gorgeous!
Of course I want to read more ! To be honest, I wanted to read it just by looking at its cover. I’m a sucker for nice covers and I do realise they’re quite instrumental in my wanting / or not wanting to read a book.
This book has the kind of cover that just make me want to grab it and read it 😉
I definitely would have picked this book up and now that I read an excerpt I definitely would like to read it!
Yes. Great hook.
yes I would love to read more
Sounds fabulous and that cover is beautiful! (And I just got home from buying Love in the Afternoon. lol) 🙂
Oh I want to read more! This is just not enough! Love the cover! This is going to be a fabulous read!
Yes, it definitly leaves me wanting to read more.
Like the cover and I like reading Beverly’s books, especially Sexy/Dangerous. This one sounds good too.
I really would like to read more of this. It sounds fairly intriguing.
Yep, I want to read more. Thanks for the excerpt, gorgeous lush cover, too!
Made me want to read more. Sounds great. 🙂
That’s a great premise and the cover is lovely.
Yes, I’d love to read more. And I love Lisa Kleypas, so the giveaway is awesome.
OH, yes, I do want to read more; I couldn’t believe the excerpt ended so soon! LOL
Yes, I want to read more!
“Apparently no one wanted to die that night. The crowd continued to hurl curses, snowballs and chunks of ice, but the soldiers were allowed to leave with their prisoner.”
You sure left us hanging here Bev! Of course we want to know what happens! This looks like a fantastic book, and it does have quite a beautiful cover! I will definitely be on the lookout for this book!
Great excerpt! Of course, I want more! 🙂
Oooh, I love the amount of history in the excerpt. Might have to look further into this! 😉
That’s a really unusual cover. I really like it that they are both in white – so striking, and the pose seems so tender.
What an intriguing beginning! I’m dying to read more (the whole thing really) and can’t wait for the next tidbit. The cover is gorgeous too!
Thanks for posting.
Good excerpt. Many forget there was a free black and mixed race presence in the Northern Colonies. Many don’t realize that Crispus Attucks was not white. (Actually, I always heard he was black. This is the first time I have read that he was mixed race.)
Bring on more excerpts! Sounds like a good book.
Look for an Avon book for the next giveaway. The one you have chosen this time is a good one.
More….Oh, Please More!!! That is great!!!
Intriguing excerpt, and striking cover.
A lovely covr. I’ve never read Beveley Jenkins but this excerpt has me wanting to read this book. As always Beverley, thanks for the great giveaway. Love Lisa’s books.
Carol L.
Lucky4750@aol.com
Forgive me, two spelling mistakes means I need more sleep. 🙂
Carol L.
OMG! I love BJ. She is an awesome writer and one of my favorites. I love the way she captures the essence of the time frame and she is so well researched about what AA were going through. The books feel authentic. Bev, I’m so excited that you are doing a countdown.
I couldn’t read the excerpt because then I know I would be too impatient to wait for the book and thus make myself miserable. So I will gaze upon the stunning cover and anticipate with relish. I love the idea of an AA historical in a period other than 19th century – variety is a very, very good thing. The American Revolution (and entire colonial era) has always been a big favorite for me, and I’ve always had a good experience with the author before, so this is an autobuy, no doubt about it.
Wow this seems like an amazing story. I would LOVE to read more and more and did I say more?
I’ve just begun reading Ms. Jenkins’s “Captured” and am enjoying it immensely. Have to add “Midnight” to my TBB list 🙂 Love romances set in the 18th century. And that cover is beautiful 🙂
I would love to read Beverly Jenkins’ book. I’ve never read anything by her before, but I love the time period. I write this time period, and it’s a hard, hard sell. Everyone buy this book and convince the publishers we historical fans want to read about places other than Regency England (well, we want to read about that, too, but a steady diet gets dull after awhile).
Love the excerpt! And the cover is gorgeous!
The cover is great and the story looks like a good one.
Oh this is good. I love the gothicy-mystery feel within, that we going to solve this within the book. Reminds me too of a highwayman who ends up being a highway-woman! So those themes so intrigue me! Sounds fab!
cathiecaffey @gmail.com