Miss Darcy's Triangle by Sharon Lathan (and a giveaway)

Imagine this: You are young, attractive, rich, upper class, and on a grand tour through Europe before settling in Paris for a time of endless entertainments. Beauty and amusements surround yet your heart yearns for music. Of all that Paris has to offer, the lure of opera and creating melodies enraptures your mind and soul more than anything else.

While there you encounter two men.

The first is a viscount and heir to an earldom. He has a fabulous sense of humor, loves to laugh and tease, and is a brilliant composer. He can play any instrument, although the piano is his favorite as it is yours. Instantly a bond of friendship is formed, serving as a muse in collaborating while composing. Oh, and as a bonus he is young, has tousled curly blonde hair, is charming and witty, grey-eyed, and possesses a mischievous grin. Think of a young Simon Baker.

The second man is a wealthy baron who is in Paris as a master of the violin at the Conservatoire de Musica. Georgiana’s first impression is best to give a brief description:
“He was only of medium height, but brawny and possessing a face to rival the gods as personified on canvas or in marble. Nothing she had viewed in Italy eclipsed the figure standing before her. He was flesh and blood. His perfectly chiseled attractiveness was magnified by lushly curled coal-black hair, dynamic ebony eyes, bronzed skin, and a full mouth lifted in a vibrant smile. He possessed an energy within that was rawly male and charismatic, piercing her as a lightning bolt even from several feet away.” Oh my! Are you feeling warm? The man pictured here is close to my envisioned baron.

Both of these men pursue you. Both intrigue you and stir your heart. Both are worthy gentlemen with every qualification for the perfect husband. What a dilemma! What should you do?

I know. Some of you do not see the problem here. “I would take them both,” you say. “Why not have the cake and eat it too?” If this story was a contemporary erotica I could have lots of fun with this triangle and would probably agree with you!

Alas, it is the Regency Era so the limitations are firmly in place. You must remain proper and you must choose.

Miss Darcy Falls in Love presents this situation for Georgiana Darcy. She faces the reality of having affection for two decent but very different men. She must learn to understand her heart and know which man is her soulmate. But what if she does answer the call of her heart and it is the one she believes does not love her in return?

Excerpt--

Georgiana nodded, once again staring intently into his eyes. Sebastian was still leaning over the piano surface and returned the frank stare. “So the baron was not your first instructor in the violin?”

“I was an incompetent before the baron got his hands upon me. He tried his best, but I fear it was useless.” The reminder of Lord Caxton was not a welcome one under the current circumstances, making Sebastian’s smile wan.

“How long have you known him?”

Sebastian straightened, managing to somehow keep his expression impassive. “Only for a few years. We met at Oxford.”
“Were you personal friends with many of your teachers?”

“No. Lord Caxton and I were never intimates either. He is quite a bit older than I am, and teachers did not generally socialize with the students. But we both have a penchant for cards and moderate gaming, often meeting at the university gaming halls. I am not a huge gambler, Miss Darcy. I pray you do not get that impression.”

She did not seem perturbed, nodding calmly and bringing the conversation back to Caxton, much to Sebastian’s annoyance. “And Lord Caxton? Is he what you would consider a huge gambler?”

“No, I cannot say he ever was,” he answered truthfully. “He is wise in that regard. For both of us, it was a casual pastime, the spirits and cigars as appealing as the game.”

“Yes, I can imagine. Or rather I know that is what gentlemen claim. It is a mysterious amusement, ladies only allowed to spin conjectures as to what truly takes place behind the closed polished wood doors.”

“I would reveal the truth, Miss Darcy, even to the point of facing being blackballed as a traitor to my sex, but trust me, it is not nearly as exciting as your wild fantasies. Best to leave the mystery intact. I will tell you that I win my games most of the time.”

“Then I am surprised the baron invited you! Perhaps he does not mind losing money?”

“I think he sees it as a challenge to supplant me,” Sebastian replied, wondering if she sensed the double meaning.

“Well, good luck tonight then. May the best man prevail.”

“Indeed. Let us hope the battle fairly fought with the outcome as fate designs,” he stressed, not referring to a game of cards.

Synopsis of Miss Darcy Falls in Love--

Noble young ladies were expected to play an instrument, but Georgiana Darcy is an accomplished musician who hungers to pursue her talents. She embarks upon a tour of Europe, ending in Paris where two very different men will ignite her heart in entirely different ways and begin a bitter rivalry to win her. But only one holds the key to her happiness.

Set in post-Napoleonic Empire France, Miss Darcy Falls in Love is a riveting love story that enters a world of passion where gentlemen know exactly how to please and a young woman learns to direct her destiny and understand her heart.

Sharon’s Bio--

Sharon Lathan is the best-selling author of The Darcy Saga sequel series to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice. Her previously published novels are: Mr. and Mrs. Fitzwilliam Darcy: Two Shall Become One, Loving Mr. Darcy, My Dearest Mr. Darcy, In the Arms of Mr. Darcy, A Darcy Christmas, and The Trouble With Mr. Darcy. Miss Darcy Falls in Love is Georgiana’s tale of love and adventure while in France. Complete with a happy ending. In addition to her writing, Sharon works as a Registered Nurse in a Neonatal ICU. She resides with her family in Hanford, California in the sunny San Joaquin Valley. Visit Sharon on her website: www.sharonlathan.net and on Austen Authors, her group blog with 25 novelist of Austen literature: www.austenauthors.com

Sharon is offering 1 print copy of Miss Darcy Falls in Love to one lucky commenter.  Just leave your name and email address on this post no later than 7:00pm on Saturday, November 12 to enter to win.  (US & Canada only)