A
Lover of Men
Julia
Talbot
Genre: Historical menage romance
MMF, MFM, MM
Publisher: All Romance eBooks
Date of Publication: May 1, 2016
ISBN: 978-1-943576-814
Word Count: 23k
Cover Artist: Erin Dameron Hill
Book Description:
A former soldier, a spy, and a
spinster…three people, three lovers.
For spinster Lelia August, first
came the small fortune then came the hoard of unscrupulous characters wanting a
piece of it—or more specifically, a piece of her.
She decides to find a suitable
man to marry, someone who won't want her to submit to the marriage bed. She
settles on ex-soldier Phineas Moore, who has a reputation as a lover of men.
Phineas is intrigued by Lelia’s
offer and thinks a marriage of convenience might just work for them. But when
someone tries to kill his future wife, Phineas vows to protect her and find
who’s responsible. He hires the irresistible spy Rafe Gaudi to investigate, and
soon realizes he's outsmarted himself. Can Rafe and Phineas figure out who's
plotting against the woman they’ve come to love, and can they even hope to
dream of a future where the three can become one?
Excerpt:
“I have a
business matter to discuss with you, Sir Phineas.” Lelia August studied the man
who sat across from her, his large body stuffed into the tiny black lacquer
chair stationed across from her desk. Somehow he should have appeared quite as
ridiculous as all of the recent suitors who had wiggled their way into her
library intent upon sweeping her, and her fortune, off her feet.
Contrarily,
Phineas Moore appeared perfectly at ease, masculine, even somewhat predatory.
His hair, black as a rook, was cut ruthlessly short, and his neckcloth was
simple and unfashionable.
Had Lelia not
done her research she would have thought him the simple country baronet he
appeared. Instead, she knew his unfashionable appearance hid a complex man with
a soldier’s mind and a surprising reputation among his peers.
“I confess I am
curious, Miss August. That is why I find myself here, answering your summons.”
His green eyes gleamed when he smiled slightly, lines around his eyes and mouth
crinkling.
“I am glad you
have that to satisfy. Makes you far more interesting. Tell me, what have you
been able to discover about me in the last six hours?” She had sent her
invitation to him at eight, which meant he would have received it around nine.
He had arrived at five until three. She approved of his promptness.
“That you are a
spinster. That your father was the third son of an Earl. That your uncle passed
away leaving the title to a cousin who has a great fondness for you, and he’s settled
upon you a stipend of some considerable wealth. In a trust, so it cannot be
siphoned off by his miserable, whoring, gaming brother.” His expression never
changed during the telling, but he did study her closely.
Gracious, she
was outclassed here. Lelia curled her hands together, keeping them from
fluttering like nervous birds. No sense giving away her sudden nerves.
“That’s quite a
lot,” she said. “If you know all that about me, then you know that since I have
come into said fortune I have been deluged with suitors.” All shapes, sizes,
and classes of men had been calling, so much so that she’d taken the knocker
from the door of the modest townhouse her cousin had also settled upon her. He
liked her company, he said, and preferred she stayed in Town. Dear Eustace.
Still, some of the men had been rather more forceful in their attentions than
she felt necessary.
“Indeed.” Sir
Phineas tilted his head. “I imagine your cousin hopes settling a fortune on you
will erase your spinster status.”
“Hmm.” She wasn’t
sure at all that had been Eustace’s intention. However, now he saw her
difficulty, he had turned his eye toward that idea, if only to give her relief.
Having just gained her independence from reliance on men, Lelia had no desire
to go back. “Hence my proposal to you.”
“I am on pins
and needles,” Phineas murmured.
“Yes. Well.” She
squeezed her hands together so hard her knuckles turned white. “I realize we do
not know one another, but you must realize, I have viewed my situation from
every angle and I believe this is the best possible solution to my dilemma.”
“I see.” Phineas
sat back, the chair creaking alarmingly. “By all means, enlighten me, Miss
August.”
“I want you to
marry me.” The nausea left her as soon as she said it. Better to have it right
out in the open.
The chair
cracked, the two pieces of it falling away to either side while Sir Phineas
crashed to the floor. His well-polished boots kicked the air for a moment
before he sprang to his feet. “I beg your pardon?”
“I said, I wish
to propose marriage. To you.”
Shock overtook
his expression, and Phineas placed his hands on her desk, leaning into her
space. This close she could smell the deep scent of tobacco and freshly pressed
linen. “Why?”
About
the Author:
Julia Talbot lives in the great
Southwest, where there is hot and cold running rodeo, cowboys, and everything
from meat and potatoes to the best Tex-Mex. A full time author, Julia has been
published by Samhain Publishing, Dreamspinner Press, All Romance eBooks and
Changeling Press. She believes in stories that leave a mark, and that everyone
deserves a happy ending, so she writes about love without limits, where boys
love boys, girls love girls, and boys and girls get together to get wild,
especially when her crazy paranormal characters are involved. Find Julia at
@juliatalbot on Twitter.
For more information on other
books by Julia, please visit her official website: www.JuliaTalbot.com
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