Welcome to Maggi's Blog!

USA TODAY bestselling author and winner of the RONE Award. Maggi's books are International bestsellers of Regency and Victorian Historical Romance. She also writes contemporary romantic suspense and young adult stories. Learn more about her at her website: https://www.maggiandersenauthor.com

Monday, February 10, 2014

Taming a Gentleman Spy is released in print today! Answer the question to win a prize!

Still a chance to enter and win the books!  As bad weather in the US has prevented my print books from being delivered, I'm extending the contest!

Hi everyone, I have a contest today. One winner will receive both a print copy of Taming a Gentleman Spy - The Spies of Mayfair and an e-book copy of the first in the series, A Baron in Her Bed. (Or choose another of my books WEBSITE)
More print copies are on offer at Goodreads Giveaways.

Amazon
BARNES & NOBLE 
KOBO 
KNOX ROBINSON PUBLISHING (40% OFF E-BOOKS FOR A LIMITED TIME)

John Haldane, Earl of Strathairn, is on an urgent mission to find the killer of his fellow spy. Has the treasonous Frenchman, Count Forney, returned to England to wreak havoc? Or has someone new landed on English shores to stir up rebellion in the Midlands? After visiting the young widow of one of his agents, Strathairn strengthens his resolve. A spy should never marry. And most certainly not to Lady Sibella Winborne, with her romantic ideas of love and marriage. Unable to give Sibella up entirely, he has kept her close as a friend. And then, weak fool that he is, he kissed her... Lady Sibella Winborne has refused several offers of marriage since her first Season years ago -- when she first set eyes on the handsome Earl of Strathairn. Sibella's many siblings always rush to her aid to discourage an ardent suitor, but not this time. Her elder brother, Chaloner, Marquess of Brandreth, has approved Lord Coombe's suit. Sibella yearns to set up her own household. She is known to be the sensible member of the family. But she doesn't feel at all sensible about Lord Strathairn. If only she could forget that kiss...

Review:
"It is a beautiful historical romance of the lives of the rich and famous during the Regency period. It's sweet, charming and filled with schemes and plots." Nicole Laverdure

In this excerpt, Sibella and two of her siblings, her sister, Maria and brother Edward, try to help her decide her future.


“I subjected Lord Coombe to the usual close inspection,” Maria said, winding a piece of pine-green velvet ribbon around her finger, “as I do all of your beaus.”
          “He’s hardly a beau. But what did you make of him?”
          “I don’t know,” Maria said thoughtfully. “He’s polite and well-mannered of course, but he gives very little of himself away.”
          “Dark brown eyes are so inscrutable, aren’t they?”
          “You didn’t warm to him then.”
          Sibella shrugged. “I neither disliked him nor felt a strong attraction to him.”
          “Well we know why that is, do we not?”
          The name Strathairn hovered unsaid between them.
          As Maria rummaged in her jewelry box, Sibella was tempted to tell her about the kiss. They shared everything, and it felt disloyal not to, but for some reason she wanted to hold the heady, sensory details of John’s kiss in the moonlight close for a while, not wishing the experience pulled apart in the cold light of day.
          When Edward returned to the house, Sibella waylaid him in the front hall. “I’ll thank you not to help mother find me a husband,” she said in a waspish tone.
          For once Edward didn’t laugh. He grabbed her hand and pulled her down the corridor and into the library.
          She spun as he shut the door behind him. “What is it?”
          “You need to forget Strathairn.”
          “I …”
          He held up a finger. “There’s a very good reason for it.”
          “I know. He doesn’t wish to marry. At least me, anyway,” she said ruefully.
          “A spy cannot marry. That is, a spy with any integrity who doesn’t wish to place those he loves in danger.”
          “A spy?” Sibella’s chest tightened. “Are you sure you’re not embellishing, Edward?” It did make sense now that she thought of it.
          “I did not want to tell you. I trust you’ll be discreet. And for heaven’s sake, don’t tell Maria! She’s the worst at keeping secrets.” Edward folded his arms and leaned against the door. “He works for the military.”
          So that was why such mystery surrounded him! “But what if a woman was prepared to marry him anyway and face those risks with him?”
          “And subject yourself to a life of fear and heartbreak? You don’t know what you’re saying. Forget him, Sib, please.” He shook a finger at her. “Strathairn appears on the surface of things to be an earl with a passion for breeding horses. But he also inhabits another dark, dangerous world, which is beyond your dreams. He resists drawing you into that world and exposing you to possible danger. If you wage a war of seduction, his resolve may well crumble. I’ve seen how he looks at you. Leave the man alone. There are other more suitable men in the world.”
          He leaned forward and brushed a kiss onto her cheek. “Do you understand?”
          She nodded mutely as she fought to grasp the truth, the certainty that she and Strathairn would never marry.
          Edward opened the door to find a footman standing in the corridor trying not to look intrigued.

Question: Strathairn is a spy, but what does he do in his spare time?
 


17 comments:

Lindsay said...

Oh this sounds like a really great read. I love regency period spy stories.
When not spying for the Crown he breeds horses.

Cassandra Samuels said...

I love your books Maggi. I do believe that Strathairn likes to breed horses when he is not trying to track down Forney and kiss Sib.

karen said...

breed horses

Bonnie said...

He breeds horses.

Bonnie said...

HE breeds horses.

Unknown said...

I'd have to say, breeds horses. :)

Unknown said...

Breeds horses.

Joanna Lloyd said...

At the risk of sounding like I copied everyone else...I didn't really :-)...I'd say Strathairn breeds horses. Am so looking forward to reading this series, Maggi and congratulations on print coming out!

Aarti V Raman said...

Breeds Horses, he breeds horses. I want A Baron In her Bed before I can get to Taming! Congratulations on the print edition :)

Linda said...

He breeds horses

Jeanne M said...

Hi Maggie!

I just finished reading A Taming of a Gentleman Spy last week and loved it! Anyone who has already read and loved the first book in the series A Baron In Her Bed, won't be disappointed because it was wonderful!

The one book that you wrote that I haven't read yet is Gerald and Harriett's story, An Improper Lover and I'd love to win a copy!

Maggi Andersen said...

From Bonnie

bhometchko@hotmail.com
Answer to question: Strathairn breeds horses in his spare time.

Susanne Bellamy said...

An earl with a passion for breeding horses. I love Regency spies stories! Thanks for the chance to win two of them!

Susanne Bellamy said...

Strathairn is an earl who breeds horses as a cover for his spy activities.
I love Regency spy stories. Thanks for running this competition!

Maggi Andersen said...

Thanks everyone for taking part in my contest. I'm extending it because the bad weather in the US has prevented my print books from being delivered.

Maggi Andersen said...

And thank you for all your lovely comments!

AG123 said...

He breeds horses.