The Captain's Coincidence #MarchMadnessSale

The Captain's Coincidence
#MarchMadnessSale
$2.99 thru March 31

Decorated war hero, Captain Richard Gaines has given up his commission in the Royal Navy. He stalks the docks seeking relief from the nightmares of Trafalgar. One night, he happens upon a woman who captures his attention, and his heart. In a series of random coincidences, Richard is compelled toward Mrs. Wood, just as circumstantial evidence suggests that Mr. Wood may be a seditionist.

Returning to England after a decade away, Amanda Wood is on a mission to save herself and her daughter from the prison of her marriage. Meeting the Captain seems heaven sent when he reveals an acquaintance with her only friend and brings an invitation for a visit – and a chance to escape. Her joy is short-lived when her husband insists on going with her.

The situation takes a grievous turn when Amanda’s husband kidnaps their daughter. Richard must save her, but to do that he must engage the enemy at sea. And it appears Amanda’s husband may be a nefarious pirate. With limited armaments and a damaged vessel, Richard knows he has only one chance to rescue the little girl.

When the battle is over, to the victor, go the spoils. Yet, Richard must overcome his tormented past, in order to begin a future with the woman he loves. However, Amanda holds a secret that could destroy that very same future.

The Captain's Coincidence is the Third Book in the Reluctant Grooms Series.  However, this was the first one I finished in the original trilogy. (I published this fourth even though it's technically third.)

I love the story of Richard and Amanda. You can't choose who you love, whether they're married or not. It's fate, kismet, whatever you want to call it, but sometimes when two people meet, it's like BAM! Soulmate!

Now, I could empathize with Amanda's situation in 1810, and a man like Richard doesn't come around everyday to rescue damsels in distress. But, Amanda was married to a man she had come to despise. A man who might be a spy! But how could she escape?

I did a lot of research for this book. A LOT. A boat load, but I think it was totally worth it in the end. I had a couple of male friends read it, and they said the battle scenes were wicked cool. They didn't know I had it in me.

Captain Viscount Richard Gaines

Captain Viscount Richard Gaines was a hero at Trafalgar, in sick bay with Lord Nelson when he died. Richard finds he can no longer command, and is placed as Captain of the Marine Police for the docks in Wapping. However, Robert Carlton, the new Duke of Cantin needs Richard's help and will pay him handsomely. Even though Richard is fighting the fear of sailing that plagues him, he agrees to captain Robert's vessel, if only to drive away the memory of the woman who pierced the cold armor of his heart.

Amanda Wood

Serendipity takes a hand and tosses the star-crossed lovers together and apart, with enough twists and turns for a roller-coaster thrill ride. Richard will do anything to keep Amanda and her daughter safe. Amanda cannot leave her husband.

High seas battles between pirates and His Majesty's Royal Navy, intrigue, espionage, and spies from America, kidnapping...as Providence brings Richard and Amanda together one last time, can they finally put away the past and look toward the future? Or will Amanda's last secret keep them apart forever?

Barthomelew Wood,
Amanda's husband

Westerly Manor, Tiverton

Admiral Rupert Gaines,
Admiral of the White,
Admiral of the Fleet

Lady Bunny Churchill Gaines,
Lady Olivia's cousin

Two very important people in the story
even though they have very minor roles.








And this is the story of THE CAPTAIN'S COINCIDENCE
On Sale thru March 31.
$2.99

 Amazon

Smashwords

#MarchMadnessSale

Anne Gallagher (c) 2019

The Lady's Fate #MarchMadnessSale

The Lady's Fate
#MarchMadnessSale
$2.99 thru March 31

Lady Violet Flowers has only one Season to find a husband. Raised in the Queen’s household, Violet is elevated in rank, yet with no dowry, she will likely bring her mother disgrace, unable to find a good match, if any.

The widowed Marquess of Haverlane needs the perfect nanny for his beloved daughter, Jane. Fortunately for Haverlane, when the plump, but very pretty Lady Violet rescues Jane from almost drowning, the solution to his problem stands before him. After negotiating with her mother, Violet is ensconced at his country estate with Jane, and Haverlane and Violet communicate through correspondence, leading to an amiable affection.

Though unwilling to think of Violet as more than a nanny, a surprising Christmas kiss compels each to see the other in a new light. However, Parliamentary demands keep them a safe distance from temptation.

As the Season begins, an old flame emerges from Haverlane’s past and attempts to rekindle that fire. Bereft, Violet accepts an offer for her hand. By the time Haverlane comes to his senses, he must do what Violet has dreaded most – bring scandal to her mother’s house to try to win her back.

The Lady's Fate is the second book in the Reluctant Grooms series. Hands down it is my favorite book in all the series. I fell in love with Ellis Smith the first moment I began to write him down. And Violet as well.

Ellis Smith,
Earl of Easterly,
Marquess of Haverlane

Ellis lost his wife Anne several years earlier. He has been trying to raise his daughter, Jane, by himself, but now that she's out of nappies, he needs more than a wet-nurse. With the coaching of his mother, he finds a girl who seems capable enough to watch a four-year-old child.

Lady Violet Flowers

Violet Flowers has a termagant for a mother and father who was lost at sea during a botany expidition. Violet and her four sisters have been living under the Queen's household ever since. With no prospects or dowries, the girls depend on the kindness of strangers. Before Haverlane can even decide on the matter, Violet is dispatched to handle the care of Jane.

Haverlane Hall

Over the course of many months, Violet and Haverlane share correspondence about Jane. His visit at Christmas leads Haverlane down a dark road, when he kisses Violet. Thinking only of his late wife, Haverlane flees to London, leaving Violet in turmoil.

Jane Smith,
daughter of Haverlane

However, when Violet catches the fever, which raged through the village, Haverlane races to her side, only to find her ill and despondent. He nurses her back to health, before he leaves her again to return to London.

Lady Georgianna 

Whilst in the country recovering, Violet hears about the match between Lady Georgianna Baxter and Haverlane and her heart breaks into a thousand little pieces. When she hears vicious rumors about she and Haverlane, Violet is disowned by her mother, and left to the vultures in Society. Lady Olivia takes her in and with a wave of her magic wand, the rumors disappear, she is engaged to be married (albeit to the wrong man) and her name has regained good-standing.

Duke of Chesnick,
Haverlane's father

When the Duke of Chesnick makes a formal announcement about Haverlane's engagement to Lady Georgianna, Ellis makes his own announcement, much to her dismay.  But now, Haverlane must find Violet before she marries to save her name.

As I said, my favorite book out of the entire series.
(WHEN ALL HOPE IS LOST is #2.)





Some minor characters.

Mrs. Jeffers,
housekeeper at
Fairlane

Manning,
Haverlane's butler

Duchess of Chesnick,
Haverlane's mother

Lady Flowers,
Violet's mother

Camelia Flowers

And this is the story of THE LADY'S MASQUERADE.
On sale now thru March 31.
$2.99

Amazon

Smashwords

#MarchMadnessSale

Anne Gallagher (c) 2019

The Lady's Masquerade #MarchMadnessSale

The Lady's Masquerade
#MarchMadnessSale
$2.99 thru March 31

Someone is trying to kill Lady Penelope Leighton’s father, and now the fiend has turned his sights on her. Frightened, she flees London masquerading as a traveling companion for her elderly aunt.

When William Smith, the Earl of Westerly, arrives in London to a hero’s welcome he does not want, he takes the stewardship at his cousin’s manor in Wakefield-by-the-Sea to escape. He is more than surprised when he meets the mysterious Miss Penny Higgins residing there with a persnickety duchess.

Miss Higgins’ unfathomable beauty and stunning intellect are in direct contrast to her dowdy clothes and recurring stutter. William discerns the ladies are in trouble, it’s obvious they are in hiding, and William means to find out why, but no one is talking.

Before either of them realizes it, they’ve lost their hearts – Penny to a man who she thinks is a steward, and William to a woman destined for a duke.

After Penny’s true identity and reason for hiding are revealed to William, he immediately engages his friends in a campaign to help catch the blackguard who threatens her. However, upon their return to London, a confounding chain of events leads them right into the villain’s trap. Can William save her before it’s too late?

The Lady's Masquerade is the first book in The Reluctant Grooms Series. This story came to me in a dream. I thought about it for a long time before I decided to tackle the actual process of writing it down. However, when I did start, I wrote with pen and paper. I still have all the notes somewhere.

I like the two characters, Penny and Will, but as I was writing their story, I was simultaneously also writing the next three stories in the series. As a matter of fact, for those of you who did not know, I actually published this novel third in the line. Originally, I was only supposed to have three novels and four accompanying-novellas for the whole series. But then I kept writing and well, you can see what happened next.

I have these pictures on my Pinterest board, but they've been written over so many times you can't see what my thoughts were. I've found it invaluable to have pictures of my characters and their settings as part of my writing process. I should have done this sort of blog post years ago.

Lady Olivia Leighton,
Duchess of Caymore

Lady Penelope Leighton,
Daughter of the Duke of Olmstead

Penny is the great-niece to Lady Olivia. Penny's father was nephew to the Duke of Caymore.

Lady Olivia is a busy-body of the first water in Society, in Parliament, and within her own family.



When someone tries to assassinate Penny's father, Olivia takes matters into her own hands and brings Penny on a life and death adventure. The both find love, albeit in different ways. Lies abound, intrigue and political posturing within Parliament and the Monarchy immerse us within the British aristocracy in 1809.

Lt. Colonel William Smith,
Earl of Westerly

William is the hero, a dedicated war veteran who comes home to a very different, yet exactly-the-same-as-he-left-it, London. His parents are expecting him to take on the responsibilities of a wife and children, but William wants nothing more than to fix up the estate his grandfather left him and be alone with his horses.

Robert Carlton, Viscount Hadley,
Duke of Cantin

When his cousin Robert needs a favor, William is not keen on
the idea, but it would give him the opportunity to manage a small estate so he would be better prepared to take care of his new holdings. What William doesn't figure on is the colorful Lady Olivia in disguise, seemingly embroiled in a kidnapping scheme. He doesn't prepare to fall in love with the mysterious woman named Miss Higgins. He knows she is not who she claims to be, but Lady Olivia is not telling, and Miss Higgins cannot.

William and Robert, along with other friends, devise a scheme to bring the perpetrator of the death threats against Penny's father to justice. However, when Penny is kidnapped, William must make a daring life or death decision. Unfortunately, it's Penny's life.

I won't tell you the end, only to say yes, it's a Happily Ever After. However, it does set up some interesting questions for the rest of the series. Lady Olivia plays an integral role.

Honoria Leighton,
Duchess of Olmstead

Charles Leighton,
Duke of Olmstead

John Quiggins

Their Grace, the Duke and Duchess of Olmstead.


John Quiggins, butler at Wakefield Manor. Until Lady Olivia has him posted to Caymore House.

Wakefield Manor

Trilling

And this is the story of THE LADY'S MASQUERADE.
Book One in The Reluctant Grooms Series.

On Sale now thru March 31. $2.99

Amazon
Smashwords

#MarchMadnessSale

Anne Gallagher (c) 2019

#MarchMadnessSale

Just wanted to let you all know that I'm having a #MarchMadnessSale -- The novels in The Reluctant Grooms Series, and the novels from The Ladies of Dunbury series are on sale now until March 31.

On sale at

Smashwords   https://www.smashwords.com/profile/view/AnneGallagher


Amazon  https://www.amazon.com/Anne-Gallagher/e/B005S5TCL0/


Smashwords will have the epub version compatible with Kobo, itunes and Apple products, Nook, and other ereading devices.

I hope you take advantage of the sale if you haven't read all the books in the series yet.

Anne Gallagher (c) 2019