Deceptive Hearts
by Cynthia Owens
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BLURB:
…Like the Wild Geese of Old Ireland, five boys grew to manhood despite hunger, war, and the mean streets of New York…
He survived war, and returned to devastation
A hero of the Irish Brigade, Shane MacDermott returned home to New York to find his family decimated and his world shattered.
She risks her life to save the people she loves
Lydia Daniels will risk anything to protect the women she shelters beneath the roof of her elegant Gramercy Park mansion—even if she has to trust the one man who can destroy her.
Shane and Lydia both hide secrets that could destroy them – and put their lives in jeopardy. Can their love overcome their carefully guarded deceptive hearts?
Tag line from front cover: He’d vowed to protect those he loved – but can he protect the woman who came to mean everything to him?
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Excerpt:
Something wasn’t right.
Shane strode through the dark, damp autumn night, memories of the woman he’d seen near Nan Daly’s room still niggling at him. Her story about bringing food to one of the neighbors didn’t ring true.
Hugh had once told him, “If something feels wrong, lad, sure there must be a reason for it. Listen to your instincts.”
Shane’s instincts screamed out that something wasn’t right.
A picture of the woman floated before him. She was the loveliest thing he’d ever seen, with her honey-blonde hair piled carefully atop her head, her mysterious gray eyes shrouded by that little wisp of a veil on the pretty hat she wore. Had he caught a whiff of roses emanating from her delicate peaches-and-cream skin? Her hands, long-fingered, elegant hands, a lady’s hands, had been encased in white lace gloves that would feed a family hereabouts for a month. And her gown… Shane knew nothing about fashion, but that silk and lace confection must have cost someone a pretty penny.
And the figure that gown concealed was enough to send a man’s wits astray.
But an angel of mercy? Shane doubted it. She’d seemed too jumpy, too eager to get away from him. Why? True, he’d been wearing his uniform, but a woman like that had to be wealthy and well-connected. Sure, she’d have nothing to fear from the law.
He shook his head, dismissing the woman from his mind, and turned to race up the steps to his flat.
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AUTHOR Bio and Links:
I believe I was destined to be interested in history. One of my distant ancestors, Thomas Aubert, reportedly sailed up the St. Lawrence River to discover Canada some 26 years before Jacques Cartier’s 1534 voyage. Another relative was a 17thCentury “King’s Girl,” one of a group of young unmarried girls sent to New France (now the province of Quebec) as brides for the habitants (settlers) there.
My passion for reading made me long to write books like the ones I enjoyed, and I tried penning sequels to my favorite Nancy Drew mysteries. Later, fancying myself a female version of Andrew Lloyd Weber, I drafted a musical set in Paris during WWII.
A former journalist and lifelong Celtophile, I enjoyed a previous career as a reporter/editor for a small chain of community newspapers before returning to my first love, romantic fiction. My stories usually include an Irish setting, hero or heroine, and sometimes all three. My novels, In Sunshine or in Shadow and Coming Home, set in post-Famine Ireland, are available from Highland Press. Playing For Keeps, the third book in the Claddagh series, is now available from Highland Press.
I am a member of the Romance Writers of America, Hearts Through History Romance Writers, and Celtic Hearts Romance Writers. A lifelong resident of Montreal, Canada, I still live there with my own Celtic hero and our two school-aged children.
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorCynthiaOwens
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Cynwrites1
Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/deceptive-hearts-cynthia-owens/1115689930?ean=9780985069094
Chapters:
Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/327924
The Book Depository: http://www.bookdepository.com/Deceptive-Hearts-Cynthia-Owens/9780985069094
Books-A-Million: http://www.booksamillion.com/p/Deceptive-Hearts/Cynthia-Owens/9780985069094?id=5724438480992
Lagniappe (Guest post)
By Cynthia Owens
Lagniappe (n): a small gift given to a customer by a merchant at the time of purchase; something given or obtained gratuitously or by way of good measure. ~ Webster’s Ninth New Collegiate Dictionary
I don’t remember where or when I first came across this unique New Orleans term, but when I discovered what it meant, I filed it away for future reference. I liked the idea of receiving a small gift-with-purchase, and with Deceptive Hearts, the first book of The Wild Geese Series, I’m offering a small lagniappe to my readers.
My hero Shane MacDermott’s favorite dessert is apple pie, and his heroine, Lydia Daniels, is a wonderful baker. In fact, she has a way of blending cinnamon and cloves with apple slices and sugar that’s absolutely irresistible to everyone who lives with her.
And, although I didn’t realize it until I wrote the scene, making apple pies can be an incredibly sensual experience, as Shane discovered when he came upon Lydia preparing pies for dinner one night. The desire positively sparked between them in Lydia’s kitchen, and I was more convinced than ever that they were a couple who were “meant to be.”
It was after I wrote that scene that I decided to offer a lagniappe to go with Deceptive Hearts: my mother-in-law’s apple pie recipe. It’s a family favorite, and one I bake frequently. And just to stay on my mother-in-law’s good side, I asked permission to use the recipe beforehand!
Then, when I wrote Keeper of the Light, the upcoming sequel to Deceptive Hearts, I decided to offer another lagniappe, this time, my own recipe for strawberry jam, as strawberries feature prominently in the book. I plan to offer similar recipes in all the other Wild Geese books as well, all of which will feature in some way in each story.
How about you? Do you enjoy those “extras” in your books? If it’s a recipe, do you try it out yourself? What are some other extras you like to see in books?
Cynthia will be awarding a Grand Prize of a wooden trinket box with the Trinity Knot applique on the lid – US/Canada only, and a handmade ribbon bookmark to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour. A second prize of a Reader’s Choice of The Claddagh Series books (In Sunshine or In Shadow, Coming Home, or Playing For Keeps), and a handmade ribbon bookmark will be awarded to another randomly drawn commenter.
Comment here and be sure to follow the entire tour (and comment) for more giveaway entries.
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21 Comments
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I’ve chosen the winners of my giveaways! Reader’s choice of any book in the Claddagh Series and a handmade ribbon bookmark goes to Andra Lyn!
The beautiful wooden trinket box with the Trinity Knot applique on the lid pictured here and a handmade ribbon bookmark goes to Shelley S.
Congratulations to you both, and thank you to everyone who visited me during this awesome tour!
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Author
Congratulations to Andra and Shelley!!
Ruth recently posted…Weekend Blog Love BlogLovin Blog Hop! (and a giveaway, too) (Ends 8/5) WW
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Nice excerpt
bn100candg at hotmail dot com
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What a great giveaway! Thanks
hense1kk (at) cmich (dot) edu
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Kate, best of luck in the giveaway!
bn100, glad you enjoyed the excerpt.
Thanks for visiting, ladies! 🙂
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Love the tour Cynthia!! The excerpt is a perfect teaser…well written and a real page turner:) Was Hugh’s advice to Shane correct…hmm… BTW never have had cloves with pie – perhaps I will try the next time I make one. Thank-you Ruth.
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Hi Julie, I hope you enjoy my lagniappe. Have a grand time in New Orleans, it’s a place I’d love to visit some day!
JC, the cloves give it a wonderful tang. Glad my excerpt has intrigued you. 😉 Thanks for stopping by today!
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Yes, indeed, I do indeed love those little extras in books! I also enjoy a poem that suits the story, or a a few historical notes about the book that the author either couldn’t fit in or was inspired by to write the story. (such as your blog post yesterday)
Speaking of lagniappe and New Orleans, I’m headed there tomorrow with hubby for a conference he’s attending.
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Ruth, thanks so much for having me as your guest on My Devotional Thoughts. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting your readers here today.
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My pleasure, Cynthia. I love having authors stop by and visit!
Ruth recently posted…Summer Giveaway Hop (Ends 8/7) WW
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GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR BOOK AND THE TOUR! WOULD LOVE TO WIN THE BOX. THANKS FOR THE GIVEAWAY! calicolady60@hotmail.com
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Thank you, Shelley, and best of luck! 🙂
Cynthia Owens recently posted…Virtual Book Tour, Day 3
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Fantastic blurb and excerpt. I tweeted.
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Thanks, Ella, glad you enjoyed it!
Cynthia Owens recently posted…Virtual Book Tour, Day 3
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Excellent guest post! So did you have a favorite character to write?
andralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
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Hi Andra, glad you enjoyed my post. Yes, I did have a favorite character. It’s Cathal Donnelly, my rebel/storyteller and hero of Book II of the Wild Geese Series, “Keeper of the Light,” which will be released soon from Highland Press. But then, I think all my characters are my favorites while I’m writing them! 😉 Thanks for stopping by!
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I love the little extras in books. I recently tried a cupcake recipe I found in a book I read. I’m looking forward to trying the apple pie recipe, I love apple pie.
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Rita, I love them too, which is one of the reasons why I decided to add the recipes. I hope you do try Lydia’s apple pie, because I can almost guarantee you’ll like it! Thanks for visiting me here at My Devotional Thoughts! 🙂
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Ruth, thanks so much for hosting me today at My Devotional Thoughts! I look forward to “meeting” your readers here!
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Thank you for hosting
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Hi Ruth, thanks so much for hosting me today. I look forward to meeting some of your readers here today!
Cynthia Owens recently posted…Virtual Book Tour – Day 2
