HIS WICKED HEART
(Secrets & Scandals, Book 2)
Author: Darcy Burke
Publisher: Intrepid Reads
Rel Date: June 4, 2012
ISBN: 978-0985455811
Pages: 346
Digital Price: $3.99
Print Price: $12.99
It’s hard to be respectable, when you’d rather be wicked…
Jasper Sinclair, Earl of Saxton, made a bargain with his devil of a father to marry in one month’s time. But instead of shackling himself to an acceptable debutante, he indulges his baser needs. He joins a fighting club and pursues a delectable woman who may not be what she seems. Soon he finds himself battling addictions that threaten his already wicked heart.
Orphaned seamstress Olivia West wants the chance to lead an honest, respectable life, but the arrogant Earl of Saxton launches a daunting campaign to make her his mistress. Destitute and desperate, she agrees to one night with the dangerous lord, hatching a scheme to take his money and keep her virtue. However, Jasper uncovers her deception and vows to claim what he’s owed—not his money, her.
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EXCERPT
This needs a little set up. Jasper is certain Olivia is lying about her background, and he’s determined to learn the truth to protect his Aunt Louisa, who has taken Olivia in. They were enjoying a nice stroll through Jasper’s father’s gallery until their conversation turned personal…
Olivia shot him a dark look. “There is no farce. There is only you looking for nefarious intent where there is none.”
He snaked his hand around her upper arm and pulled her toward him. “You had plenty of ‘nefarious intent’ when we met. It seems logical you would continue in that vein. Women like you don’t wake up with a conscience.”
Her eyes were full of storms now. “You were angry when I made an assumption about the kind of man you are, so don’t do it to me. You’ve no idea what sort of woman I am.” She gave her arm a shake, and he let her go.
He moved forward, and she pivoted back until she came into contact with the wall between the paintings. “I know you’re an actress,” he said smoothly, “capable of weaving all manner of deception.”
Her lips curved up in a humorless smile. “Misassumption number one. I’m not really an actress. I was only on the stage for a fortnight.”
“And why is it you haven’t shared that with Louisa if you’ve nothing to hide? I grant she’d be disappointed, but mostly because you withheld the truth. You should consider telling her. Like me, Louisa prizes honesty.”
She arched a brow. “Perhaps I will.”
He admired her just then, even if he didn’t believe her. “An excellent notion. I’m sure your reasons for working at the Haymarket are sound. How did that come to pass anyway?”
She stood taller and thrust her chin at him. “I came from Devon several months ago and took a position at the theatre as a seamstress. I only filled in onstage for an actress who left temporarily to care for a sick relative. It was then I had the misfortune of encountering—and being bedeviled—by you.”
Bedeviled? He’d show her bedeviled. He closed the gap between them until they nearly touched. “And when is it exactly that you came from Devon?”
She tipped her head back, but didn’t shrink from him. An auburn curl loosened and grazed her ivory cheek. “March.”
He took in the graceful sweep of her neck, partially covered from his hungry gaze by the starched collar of her shirt beneath the deep sage green of her riding habit. His lust threatened to destroy any semblance of propriety, which, alone as they were in the gallery, was nonexistent. “So you really are from Devon.”
“Yes.” Her voice deepened, stirring his desire further.
He tucked the stray lock of hair behind her ear. “And your parents died last year. Were they ill?”
Her breathing hitched as his fingers skimmed the outer shell, and he felt a surge of triumph. “A coaching accident.”
“You said you didn’t own any horses.”
The flash of disquiet in her eyes confirmed the lie. She drew back, and his body regretted that his mind had pursued this course instead of kissing her senseless. “They’d borrowed someone else’s carriage.” A plausible excuse, but he still didn’t believe her.
So disappointing—both her dishonesty and his unquenched lust. “Ah, and therein lies the tragedy.”
She turned, quickly, before she showed him any emotion.
Liar.
Darcy is giving away a copy of His Wicked Heart to one lucky commenter. And—bonus!—if you comment here AND sign up for Darcy’s newsletter on her website by June 15, you’ll be entered to win a copy of Her Wicked Ways, book one of the Secrets and Scandals series, featuring Jasper’s sister, Miranda!
Oh this sounds good. I can’t wait to start this new series.
Awesome! Looking forward to reading this series.
Sounds great. I like the cover. I signed up for Darcy’s newsletter.
I just put this book on my TBR list on Goodreads a couple of days ago. So yes I would like to win this book! lol Thanks for the giveaway!
Jasper sounds like a real bad boy. He also sounds like he needs to grow up a bit. My guess is that the heroine will teach him a thing or two.
Wow Darcy Burke has been on my list to read ever since I heard of Her Wicked Ways. I need to speed up on the tbr pile because from these excerpts I’m missing out. Heading over to sign up for Darcy’s newsletter 🙂
Sounds good. Darcy is a new author for me. I’m going to her site now. Man, I love Historical romance!
Oh, she is a new author for me but I enjoyed the excerpt and it sounds like something I would really enjoy!
Thanks for the excerpt and giveaway.
I am always looking for new authors to read and this book sounds like the ones I enjoy. Thanks for the giveaway
Darcy is a new author for me. I loved the excerpt from HIS WICKED HEART with Jasper and Olivia. Am heading over to her site to sign up for her newsletter now.
Sounds really good.
Hi everybody! Thanks so much for stopping by and for signing up to receive my newsletter. I hope you all enjoy Her Wicked Ways and His Wicked Heart. Stay tuned for the third book in the Secrets and Scandals series, To Seduce a Scoundrel, due in July!
Oh, I hope she turns his world upside-down. Thanks for the excerpt!
Book sounds great! I also signed up for Darcy’s newsletter. Thanks!
I’m reading Her Wicked Ways (and loving it) right now!
I enjoyed the excerpt. The book sounds good. I also signed up for the newsletter.
The plot sounds intriguing.
A nice excerpt to pick =) Thanks for sharing it!
This is one to add to my list. Great excerpt
Loved the excerpt, now I have to go check out Her Wicked Ways too.
Darcy is a new author to me but the story looks like a good one.
This books sounds really good!!
I look forward to reading this book. Sounds like reading fun.
Sounds interesting. Thank you for the excerpt. Always like stories with questions about motive and the stories being told by the characters. Women in that time period were subject to the whims of fate more often than not. They could control a bit about their fate, but not anywhere nearly as much as the men could. I am interested in finding out the rest of Olivia and Jasper’s story.
Best of luck with the release.
Also signed up for Darcy’s newsletter.