by Jane Graves
From the desk of Jane Graves
Dear Reader,
In HEARTSTRINGS AND DIAMOND RINGS (on sale now), Alison Carter has been stuck in the dating world for years, and she’s getting a little disillusioned. In personal ads, she’s discovered that “athletic” means the guy has a highly developed right bicep from opening and closing the refrigerator door; and that a man is “tall, dark, and handsome” only in a room full of ugly albino dwarves. But what about those other descriptions in personal ads? What do they really mean?
“Aspiring actor”: Uses Aussie accent to pick up chicks
“Educated”: Watches Jeopardy!
“Emotionally sound”: Or so his latest psychiatrist says
“Enjoys fine dining”: Goes inside instead of using the drive-through
“Friendship first”: As long as “friendship” includes sex
“Good listener”: Has nothing intelligent to say
“Likes to cuddle”: Mommy issues
“Looking for soulmate”: Or just someone to have sex with
“Loyal”: Stalker
“Old fashioned”: Wants you barefoot and pregnant
“Passionate”: About beer, football, and Hooters waitresses
“Romantic”: Isn’t nearly as ugly by candlelight
“Spiritual”: Drives by a church on his way to happy hour
“Stable”: Heavily medicated
“Young at heart”: And one foot in the grave
“Witty”: Quotes dialogue from Animal House
Alison finally decides enough is enough. She’s going to hire a matchmaker, who will find out the truth about a man before she goes out with him. What she doesn’t expect to find is a matchmaking man—one who really is tall, dark, and handsome! And suddenly Mr. Right just might be right under her nose…
I hope you’ll enjoy HEARTSTRINGS AND DIAMOND RINGS!
Happy reading!
www.janegraves.com
From the desk of Eileen Dreyer
Dear Reader,
I love to write the love story of two people who have known each other a long time. I love it even more when they’re now enemies. First of all, I don’t have to spend time introducing them to each other. They already have a history and common experiences. They speak in a kind of shorthand that sets them apart from the people around them. Emotions are already more complex. And then I get to mix in the added spice that comes from two people who spit and claw each time they see each other. Well, if you’ve read the first two books in my Drake’s Rakes series, you know that Lady Kate Seaton and Major Sir Harry Lidge are definitely spitting and clawing. In ALWAYS A TEMPTRESS, we finally find out why. And we get to see if they will ever resolve their differences and finally admit that they still passionately love each other.
Happy reading!
www.eileendreyer.com
From the desk of Amanda Scott
Dear Reader,
St. Andrews University, alma mater of Prince William and Princess Kate, was Scotland’s first university, and it figures significantly in HIGHLAND HERO, the second book in my Scottish Knights trilogy, as well as in its predecessor, HIGHLAND MASTER (Forever, February 2011). The heroes of all three books in the trilogy met as students of Walter Traill, Bishop of St. Andrews, in the late fourteenth century. All three are skilled warriors and knights of the realm.
Sir Ivor Mackintosh of HIGHLAND HERO—besides being handsome, daring, and a man of legendary temper—is Scotland’s finest archer, just as Fin Cameron of HIGHLAND MASTER is one of the country’s finest swordsmen. Both men are also survivors of the Great Clan Battle of Perth, in which the Mackintoshes of Clan Chattan fought champions of Clan Cameron. In other words, these two heroes fought on opposing sides of that great trial by combat.
Nevertheless, thanks to Bishop Traill, they are closer than most brothers.
Because Traill’s students came from noble families all over Scotland, any number of whom might be feuding or actively engaged in clan warfare, the peace-loving Traill insisted that his students keep their identities secret and use simple names within the St. Andrews community. They were on their honor to not probe into each other’s antecedents, so they knew little if anything about their friends’ backgrounds while studying academics and knightly skills together. Despite that constraint, Traill also taught them the value of trust and close friendships.
The St. Andrews Brotherhood in my Scottish Knights series is fictional but plausible, in that the historic Bishop Traill strongly supported King Robert III and Queen Annabella Drummond while the King’s younger brother, the Duke of Albany, was actively trying to seize control of the country. Traill also provided protection at St. Andrews for the King’s younger son, James (later James I of Scotland), conveyed him there in secrecy, and wielded sufficient power to curb Albany when necessary.
We don’t know how Traill and the King arranged for the prince, age seven in 1402, to travel across Scotland from the west coast to St. Andrews Castle. But that sort of mystery stimulates any author’s gray cells.
So, in HIGHLAND HERO, when the villainous Albany makes clear his determination to rule Scotland no matter what, Traill sends for Sir Ivor to transport young Jamie to St. Andrews. Sir Ivor’s able if sometimes trying assistant in this endeavor is the Queen’s niece, Lady Marsaili Drummond-Cargill, who has reasons of her own to elude Albany’s clutches but does not approve of temperamental men or men who assume she will do their bidding without at least some discussion.
Traill’s successor, Bishop Henry Wardlaw (also in HIGHLAND HERO), founded William’s and Kate’s university in 1410, expanding on Traill’s long tradition of education, believing as Traill had that education was one of the Church’s primary duties. Besides being Scotland’s first university, St. Andrews was also the first university in Scotland to admit women (1892)—and it admitted them on exactly the same terms as men. Lady Marsaili would have approved of that!
Suas Alba!
www.amandascottauthor.com
SUIT UP FOR
BLACK TIES AND LULLABIES
“Graves’s words flow on the page with ease and the pages turn effortlessly. Featuring characters that are unique yet very easy to relate to, Black Ties and Lullabies is simply a very well-written story.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Filled with humor, wit, and sizzle…This book starts out fast, the author’s descriptions draw you in completely…[keeps] you turning the page to see what will happen next!”
—GoodReads.com
“Jane Graves definitely tugs on the heartstrings with this book…a believable romance.”
—ARomanceReview.com
BELIEVE IN HAPPILY EVER AFTER IN
TALL TALES AND WEDDING VEILS
“I can’t recommend Tall Tales highly enough…funny and touching with wonderful characters and great love scenes.”
—LikesBooks.com
“Opposites do attract in this fast-paced, diverting romantic comedy with more than its share of lively fun.”
—Library Journal
“A fresh throwback contemporary romance between two likeable characters.”
—Midwest Book Review
“4½ Stars! A breath of pure romance, this book is a real charmer. You will laugh, cringe, and cheer…I sure did.”
—RT Book Reviews
“This romance novel is cute and fun. Tall Tales and Wedding Veils pulls the romantic’s heartstrings.”
—JandysBooks.com
“A blast right from the start. If you like your romances filled with humor, heart, and a healthy dose of sexual heat, don’t miss Tall Tales and Wedding Veils.”
—RomRevToday.com
“You can’t help but root for these two mismatched people and hope they discover what a great couple they could be.”
—FreshFiction.com
“A romantic comedy romp, this book has fun, endearing characters…Graves writes fun, sassy, and sharp characters that may be opposites, but definitely attract!”
—Parkersburg News a
nd Sentinel
BUCKLE UP FOR SEXY FUN WITH
HOT WHEELS AND HIGH HEELS
“A delightful, funny read with a unique twist as a former trophy wife discovers herself, and true love, in the most unexpected place. A total winner!”
—Susan Mallery, New York Times bestselling author
“Jane Graves is a pro at blending romance and comedy…Hot Wheels and High Heels is a delightful story packed with heated romantic tension, colorful characters, and a fast-paced story line that keeps the reader hooked.”
—RoundtableReviews.com
“Sassy and smart!”
—Susan Andersen, New York Times bestselling author
“Absolutely hilarious! Jane Graves has done an outstanding job with this book.”
—RomanceReaderatHeart.com
“An interesting and fun novel with plenty of fascinating characters, this story starts fast and doesn’t lose momentum.”
—RT Book Reviews
“Hot Wheels and High Heels draws you in, then blasts off! Fasten your seat belt for a fun, rollicking ride!”
—Stephanie Bond, author of the Body Movers series
“[Jane] Graves writes with charming wit. Her characters make you smile and the situations her heroine, Darcy, faces will make you howl with laughter…an entertaining and delightful read.”
—ArmchairInterviews.com
“Funny as can be and I had a blast reading it…it’s on my short list of best romances for 2007…a delight in any season.”
—LikesBooks.com
“This book is…a woman’s self-discovery while she learns what’s really important in the world. The author does a fantastic job at her characterization of Darcy…hilarious…The last page of this book was turned with a true sense of contentment.”
—ARomanceReview.com
“Fans will enjoy the antics of the high-heeled Darcy as she sasses her way into the heart of stark loner John who, though he knows she is not his style, loves her spunk; so will readers.”
—Midwest Book Review
Also by Jane Graves
Hot Wheels and High Heels
Tall Tales and Wedding Veils
Black Ties and Lullabies
Contents
Title Page
Dedication
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
A Preview of Black Ties and Lullabies
The Dish
Praise
Also by Jane Graves
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2011 Jane Graves
Excerpt from Black Ties and Lullabies copyright © 2011 by Jane Graves
All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, or stored in a database or retrieval system, without the prior written permission of the publisher.
Forever
Hachette Book Group
237 Park Avenue
New York, NY 10017
www.HachetteBookGroup.com
www.twitter.com/foreverromance
First eBook Edition: October 2011
Forever is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.
The Forever name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.
The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.
ISBN: 978-1-609-41941-7
