Dial R for Revenge…
Forgiveness is a foreign concept to wealthy investment trader Jonas Deveson. Someone has been stealing from him. He's got a good idea who it is and she's going to pay….
Seeing the harsh lines that bitterness has carved into Jonas's handsome features, Ravenna Ruggiero knows he'll never see the shades of gray in her actions.
Jonas blackmails Ravenna into working as his housekeeper to pay off her debt, but living under the same roof leads to unexpected yet forbidden temptation, and Jonas is no longer sure who is being punished
An Enticing Debt to Pay is a romance about two people drawn and held together not just by revenge but by sizzling attraction and a sense of unfinished business.
It also features Deveson Hall, a crumbling old English manor house in dire need of attention. Romantic Times' 4 star review for the book said 'This is a terrific hate-into-love story, set in a dilapidated old manor that's a character in itself.' Poor Ravenna is blackmailed into becoming housekeeper at the Hall responsible for bringing the interior back from its faded glory - single-handedly. As the Hall is a rambling old place that's been uncared for, Jonas expects she'll give up and admit defeat. But Ravenna is made of stronger stuff.
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| Haddon Hall, copyright Anna Campbell |
As the Hall gradually comes back to life under Ravenna's attentions and those of builders and heritage gardeners, my feuding hero and heroine gradually reach a truce, then an understanding that allows love to blossom. You might even say that the state of the house tells you a good deal about the state of their hearts, as they gradually work towards their happy ending. Or you might just sit back and enjoy the hard work others are putting in to transforming the Hall into a showpiece as well as what will become a family home.
I'm sharing here a couple of photos take by my friend, author Anna Campbell, which show the sort of place I had in mind when I wrote AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY. When I look at these I can imagine Ravenna and Jonas inside, working and fighting and making up.
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| Calke Abbey, copyright Anna Campbell |
As I wrote this book I was soaking up all sorts of renovation shows on television and a few about caring for stately homes. I'm sure a lot of that influenced the book. I have no desire to renovate a stately home myself - I've seen how much work is involved, but I loved the chance to use that as a backdrop for my latest story.
If you had a chance for a dream renovation what would it be? A rambling country house, a fisherman's cottage right on the sea, a mountain retreat, maybe an old castle or an upmarket city apartment?
To celebrate the release of AN ENTICING DEBT TO PAY I'll give away a signed copy to someone (drawn at random) who leaves a comment here. Come back tomorrow to see who the winner is.
Here are a couple of links for you to find the book at the Book Depository (free postage anywhere), Amazon or Barnes and Noble.
