I'm delighted to be one of the stops on the blog tour for Captain Rockford's Reckoning by Susan Lodge. Today I will be sharing a guest post and also a great extract but first of all let's take a look at the description for the book...
Genre:
historical romance /suspense
Release
Date: 4.4.2018
Publisher:
Crooked Cat Books
Esmie Elstone is thrown into panic when she hears
of Captain Rockford’s return. But she is determined that the days of him
interfering with her life are over. Destroying her chances of a happy future
during his last visit had resulted in her being foisted on her aunt for a third
pointless season in London.
To alleviate the boredom of society life, Esmie
helps run a discreet betting enterprise under the guise of a sewing club.
But there are some things you just shouldn’t wager on, and Esmie’s integrity is
soon put to a dangerous test.
Richard Rockford had known Esmie almost all her
life. As neighbours, her father, Admiral Elstone, had depended on Richard to
keep an eye on his daughter when he was away at sea – a responsibility he had
always taken on willingly. But her cruel and thoughtless actions, from the day
he had left four years earlier, had shaken him. Now, he was back, and he wanted
answers.
But when Esmie tumbles into a treacherous
conspiracy, can he really turn his back on her?
BUY LINKS
“Lady Danby, good evening.”
Esmie jerked
bolt upright as Rockford’s unmistakably smooth voice floated down. He was
standing in front of her aunt. How on earth did he get there without her
knowledge? Had he climbed through a window, or lowered himself from a
chandelier? He certainly had not entered through the main double doors.
Dash it, the man had never been straightforward.
“Ah, Captain
Rockford, I see you are back from your travels,” her aunt replied, squinting at
him through her pince-nez, with only slightly hidden delight. He had
always been a favourite of hers, but especially since he had been elevated in
society and wealth by his uncle’s death.
“Indeed, Lady
Danby. I hope you are well. You are looking radiant tonight. The shade of your
turban is especially becoming.”
Her aunt beamed,
and her hand went up to pat her elaborate head-piece.
Oh no. Esmie froze.
He had been in her presence for seconds and already causing her misdemeanour
with the giant feather to be revealed. But her aunt’s hand was deftly collected
in Rockford’s as he bent down, raised it to his lips, and kissed her glove.
Esmie thought she detected a malignant smirk on his lips. She lowered her eyes
to study the highly-polished buckles of his shoes. The underhanded fiend must
have been secretly observing her for several minutes.
“And, Miss
Elstone. It has been far too long.”
Reluctantly,
she levelled her gaze. Stormy green eyes devoured her whilst his face remained
set in a mask of polite indifference. He gave her a short bow, but thankfully
made no move to take her hand or compliment on her appearance. His eyes
were an even darker shade than she remembered, and Esmie was sure the look of
disgust that he had left her with still lurked behind that deadpan expression.
Lady Danby, however, continued to prattle amiably to him, not at all aware of
the invisible wall of ice that lurked between them.
“I wonder, Lady
Danby, if I might engage Miss Elstone in a dance.”
Dance. Esmie tried
to swallow the lump of terror in her throat. “Actually, I am feeling quite
unwell at the moment, and was about to retire.”
“Nonsense!
Esmie, what sort of welcome home is that for the Captain? Of course, she will
dance with you, Rockford. I am sure she has spaces on her card.”
Esmie gritted
her teeth. Here we go again: poor Rockford; jolly good Rockford; thank
heavens for Rockford. Surely he must appear to sprout a halo and wings to her
peers.
She handed him
her card as if it was the executioner’s axe, and watched him enter his name
against the supper dance. “I will count the minutes,” he said softly, to reach
only her ears, before he returned the card and walked away.
She watched him
head towards the sugar-coated Julia Grant. Well, she was welcome to him; in
fact, maybe he would become so infatuated with her beauty that he would
completely forget the terrifying appointment now documented and hanging on
Esmie’s wrist. Unease stirred in her belly.
He had not
forgotten or forgiven.
The writer’s journey.
A game of Snakes and Ladders - by Susan Lodge
Every frayed and
finger worn writer has that point in their career when they feel they have
cracked it. Mine was some years ago,
when an envelope plopped onto the door mat with the news my short story was to
be published - and this is the good bit - they were going to pay me for my work. So, now
I was a proper author. This was the first rung up, on my game of snakes and
ladders.
The feeling of
euphoria at my new status was soon to disappear down the first snake, as no
further stories were purchased in the following months. So, the planned luxury
life of a bestselling author had to be shelved. But, I had been published, in a
national magazine, so I figured I possessed some talent for storytelling. I persevered with my first novel and sent it
out to publishers. After a flurry of rejections, my manuscript was accepted by
a US publisher. With a euphoric whoop, I
shot up the next ladder in double quick time.
This milestone was followed by a slight snake slide as I was
introduced to the world of edits, and the realisation my novel was fraught with
‘virgin novelist’ blunders.
My first edits were brutal. What do they mean ‘get rid of that
chapter?’ That was my best bit! But I soon
found that as my book underwent it’s severe but sophisticated haircut, a far
superior product emerged. A slow but steady climb up the ladders followed, with
another published book and a further historical novel undergoing edits.
Then I land on that really vicious snake, the one that takes
you all way back to the bottom of the board!
In 2015 my publisher wound up. I had my rights for my books returned, but
effectively I was back to square one. But
not quite - I had amassed a great deal of useful knowledge about publishing
novels.
I could easily have quit at this stage and gone back to
writing just for enjoyment. Something that has a lot going for it. But I dusted
myself down and started again, sending out my bio, letter and first
chapters.
Within a few months I gained a lovely new publisher and my
books were back on the shelves, and I was back in the game.
Other snake and ladder moments have since occurred. Most
notably in the form of reviews. After a
lovely bunch of glowing reviews, I was confronted with my first bad one. A real stinger. Surely that was not my book they were trashing. Had they really read it? Like a virtual
mugging I was left angry, hurt and wanting revenge. But of course, you must
take bad reviews on the chin, and move on.
Snake and ladder moments are part of an author’s life. And, all
mine faded, when a perfect stranger confronted me with the words, “I love your
books – when is the next one due out? “
Peacock feathers sprouted, and I smiled a lot. Then skipped up
the last ladder with my next manuscript over my shoulder.
Let the new game
begin!
Susan Lodge was brought up with five brothers in the West of England and spent her formative years climbing trees and watching westerns. Leaving home, she headed for London and embarked on a career in the Civils Service, gaining a science degree along the way.
Over the years she has worked in several historic cities, where the streets still resonate with the Georgian period, providing a wealth of inspiration for her stories. Her romantic novels are often set against the backdrop of Nelson’s navy, and she always manages to inject a fair dose of humour into the plot.
Susan’s always wanted to be an astronaut but would now settle for a flight into space. She loves tinkering on her piano, perfecting her swing dance routines and discovering new destinations for her characters.
Married, with two children Susan now lives in Hampshire. You can find more of Susan and all her books by vising her website at http://susanlodge.com/
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Thanks for participating in my blog tour Rae.
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