Welcome, friends!
I'm thrilled to share some exciting news with you today.
As many of you know, I work as an author assistant. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is helping authors whose work I already admire as a reader. Harper St. George is a perfect example of this. I've had the privilege of working with her for several years now and I had already been a huge fan of her books.
Her latest series, The Doves of New York, is set in the Gilded Age and delivers all the drama, romance, and steaminess you could desire.š„
Today, I'm delighted to reveal the cover of Harper's upcoming release.
If that cover isnāt enough to convince you to read this book, here is the blurb.
American heiress Eliza Dove was resigned to a polite marriage of convenience... until she spent one wicked night with the Duke.
All hopeless romantic Eliza Dove asked for was one night of adventure. One glorious evening of freedom to explore the dark corners of London with a mysterious stranger before a lifetime trapped in a quiet, respectable marriage of convenience. Except now she wants more. Now she wants him.
Simon Cavell is no gentleman. Known only as āthe Duke,ā Whitechapelās prize boxer is one fight away from achieving his goal: to safeguard his late sisterās only treasure and leave the streets for good. He cannot allow some pretty young heiress to spill his secrets, no matter how tempting she might be. In return for her silence, Simon will give Eliza a taste of the darknessā¦and hope he doesnāt lose his heart in the process.
But one night together could never be enough. And now Eliza has a new planāan even more scandalous bargain that will either land the heiress her duke or ruin them both.
Seriously! How stunning is this cover?!
I asked Harper if she would share an insider historical tidbit with us. She always has the best historical research deep dives to share.
From Harperā¦
Eliza learns very early in the book (chapter two, so Iām not giving anything away) that the aristocrat she is supposed to marry has been visiting ācoffee housesā on his tour of the Continent. While legitimate coffee houses did exist, it was also a code word for a brothel. This probably goes back to the fact that occasionally a coffee house would do a fair brothel business on the side. It was open in the very early morning hours to coincide with the opening of markets when workers would be looking for a caffeine fix. But this might also be the same time that young men were wandering home after a night out. Operating a coffee house would be a way to serve both sets of clientele.
One of the most famous of these was Tom Kingās Coffee House in Covent Garden back in the 18th century. It was run by husband and wife, Tom and Moll King. Their coffee house was notorious for aiding and abetting the prostitution in the area. While the couple were brought up on charges of running a brothel, they escaped prosecution due to lack of evidence. There were no rooms or beds in their establishment where the actual prostitution might take place, so they couldnāt be convicted. Instead, their establishment served as a meeting place for prostitutes and their clients. Once an agreement was reached, the prostitute and client would then relocate to another location to finish the transaction. Tom and Moll would collect a fee.
Thanks, Harper!
And now when you read the book you will be thinking of Tom and Moll.š
If you havenāt started this series yet, grab a copy of The Stranger I Wed, book one in the series. This one is aš„romance in the best way.
Hereās the blurb -
New to wealth and to London high society, American heiress Cora Dove discovers that with the right man, marriage might not be such an inconvenience after all. . . .
Cora Dove and her sistersā questionable legitimacy has been the lifelong subject of New Yorkās gossipmongers and a continual stain on their fatherās reputation. So when the girls each receive a generous, guilt-induced dowry from their dying grandmother, the sly Mr. Hathaway vows to release their funds only if Cora and her sisters can procure suitable husbandsāfar from New York. For Cora, England is a fresh start. She has no delusions of love, but a husband who will respect her independence? Thatās an earl worth fighting for.
Enter: Leopold Brendon, Earl of Devonworth, a no-nonsense member of Parliament whose plan to pass a Public Health bill that would provide clean water to the working class requires the backing of a wealthy wife. He just never expected to crave Coraās touch or yearn to hear her thoughts on his campaignāor to discover that his seemingly perfect bride protects so many secrets...
But secrets have a way of bubbling to the surface, and Devonworth has a few of his own. With their pasts laid bare and Coraās budding passion for womenās rights taking a dangerous turn, theyāll learn the true cost of losing their heart to a strangerāand that love is worth any price.
If I could say anything to convince you to read Harperās books, itās that her character have emotional connection that will leave you wanting moreā¦ in the best way. No rushed, over angsty romances happening here.
And, donāt tell anyone, but Leopold is on my list of best book boyfriendās.
Life is hard; love is hard; reading these romance books is oh, so easy. ā¤ļø
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