Coffee with SAVED BY THE MAID Author Lindsay Downs

Good morning, dear readers! This week on Coffee with Colette, fellow Secret Cravings Publishing author Lindsay Downs returns to tell you about his newest Regency Romance, Saved by the Maid!  Lindsay visited with us last summer to introduce Spy Catcher, so I know his latest release will jump to the top of my TBR list.  Check out this excerpt, and I bet you'll agree!

~Colette

About Saved by the Maid

The last thing Dawne Wyatt ever expected or thought would happen, she’d fall in love. To make matters worse it’s with Lady Sophia Stephens’s older brother. Torn between her heart’s desires and the dictates of society she tries to make sense of it all. When logic doesn’t work she turns to Lady Stephens for help.

Guilty until proven innocent Lord Edward James Walker turns to Dawne to help prove another man in the one Bow Street should be hunting. Now he has two problems, the authorities and winning over the love of his life while keeping his. For the first he has assistance from his sister while the second it ends up two ladies against one gentleman.

Who will win? The authorities, Edward or Dawne.

Available now from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, & the Secret Cravings Publishing Store.

 

Excerpt from Saved by the Maid

The sound of Edward splitting the logs filtered into the house as she went to check on the rising dough. Pleased with its progress, she opened the top half of the rear door and was surprised at how warm the day had become.

Suspecting he might be developing a thirst for his exertion she retrieved several lemons from the cold room. Cutting them in half she squeezed the juice into a small bowl then added a little cool water from the hand pump. Pouring the juice into a heavy glass she started for the back portal when an idea struck her.

Taking a plate down, she set several shortbreads on it then placed the glass in its center.

“There, that’s better. Give him a little sustenance so he can continue. Heaven forbid he think I’m taking him for granted,” she mumbled, crossing the back lawn to the shed.

The sound of a curse startled her as she approached the building. Rushing forward she stepped in and almost dropped the plate at the sight before her.

Immediately, Dawne felt her face heat while she knew her eyes widened, taking in the naked back of Edward. From earlier times she knew it was well-muscled but now she could see how well for herself. Tiny rivulets of sweat mixed with dirt streaked down his back before disappearing under his trousers.

This was the first time she’d ever gazed on the undressed, even partially, figure of a man and she was so glad it was him. What did surprise her was the feeling of dampness between her thighs while her stomach fluttered in excitement on seeing him in such a state.

Frozen in awe, Dawne stood and stared as he raised the axe over his head, as the muscles bunched and tightened before swing the blade down, cutting the log in half lengthwise.

As the pieces fell she gasped in surprise at his strength. With her free hand she covered her mouth but was too late as she watched him turn to face her.

“I…I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to stare,” she stammered out as she could feel her face heat even more at being found out.

“Think nothing of it my dear. I apologize if my state of undress offends you but with the day warming I had no choice but to shed my shirt.”

Mouth agape she watched as he gathered up his top and shrugged it on. This action gave her the briefest of moments to examine his chest more closely. What she found amazing, contrary to what she’d read in her romance books, his torso was smooth, not matted in hair like she’d thought.

She wanted to tell him not only was she not upset at his current condition but there wasn’t a need to dress. The sight of his sweat-glistened torso she found strangely exciting to the point where her dampness seemingly increased. Her fingertips tingled, wanting to touch him as she’d never done before. It took all her willpower, which was rapidly deteriorating, to not tell him not to redress. Instead, she cast her eyes down for fear her expression would give her emotions away.

“There, now you can look as I’ve covered myself. Again, if I’ve somehow embarrassed you, for that I’m truly sorry.”

Afraid her emotions would betray her, Dawne focused on the pieces of wood at her feet as she passed him the plate.

“I made this for you. I thought you might need something cool to quench your thirst.” Once she felt it lifted from her hand, she turned and ran back to the house.

Once inside she went to the sink and splashed water on her face, to no avail. Not only could she not get his beautiful chest from her mind but every time she thought about it her face heated again. Now, all she could do was pray the man wouldn’t come near her until, by some miracle, she was able to restore what little dignity she had left.

The sound of footsteps on the wooden floor turned her concentration to the back door and Edward, his head hung in shame.

About the Author

 

What does it take to be a bestselling author? Determination, skill, talent, luck or taking a risk with a venture into a totally new genre. For me it was a little of some and a lot of the others.

In 2008 when I got two books published I thought it was due to skill; little did I know it was more luck than anything. Over the next three years I wrote, submitted, got rejected. I then did what I tell everyone who asks; I wrote some more. I didn’t give up.

More on a dare than anything I tried my hand at a regency, one of the most difficult genres because of the rules, which I might add I broke almost every one. Within two days of its release the book was on a best seller list and stayed there for two months.

Turns out it is all of the aforementioned.

After two failed marriages, one from divorce while with the other died unexpectedly, I decided upon retirement to move. That opportunity came in September 2012 when I migrated to Texas.

For me, as a multipublished author, it was one of the best things I’ve done to date. Now, every day I can write, creating stories to take my readers to places they can only dream about.

I’m also a member of the Published Authors Network (PAN) by the Romance Writers of America (RWA).

Where you can find me:

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/lindsay.downs.7
Twitter- @ldowns2966
LinkedIn- http://www.linkedin.com/home
Goodreads- http://www.goodreads.com/user/show/3210224-lindsay
A Jessica Sales blog- http://ajessicasalesnovel.wordpress.com/
Murders and Mysteries blog- http://murdersandmysteries.wordpress.com/
Secret Cravings Publishing Author Page- http://store.secretcravingspublishing.com/index.php?main_page=products_all&filter_author=175