Hi friends! I’m so excited to welcome back the lovely Suzan Lauder to Austenesque Reviews today! Suzan – an Austenesque author we know very well for her popular works such as Alias Thomas Bennet, A Most Handsome Gentleman, and The Barrister’s Bride to name a few – has just published her first Regency Romance! 🙌🏼  I’m so excited for this! I love mixing in some Regency romances with my Austenesque! If you are devoted fan of Suzan Lauder, then you are probably like me – eager to pick up anything she writes!

Suzan is here to share an excerpt from her new Regency Romance – An Accomplished Woman – we hope you enjoy! 🤗

Thanks for having me on Austenesque Reviews, Meredith! This excerpt is near to the end of the book, where Audra has been asked by Lady Brenleigh to come to the Tremaine house because her brother is not himself, and perhaps she can cheer him. Audra has presumed she is speaking of Lord Garner, to whom she has been matched by her friend Cecilia, Lady Hoxley, but has not seen either Tremaine brother for a month or so. Audra agrees and arrives along with her sisters, Lady Reddener (Cassie) and Miss Hales (Lexie). The scene is during the call.

~ Excerpt from An Accomplished Woman ~

Lord Garner lay there, engrossed by a loose thread on his plaid waistcoat. Between his amiable responses to conversation with Cassie and Lexie, who were seated nearest him, he would return to twisting the thread and comparing it to his multi-coloured garment. His distraction caused Audra to fidget herself. Even if she would have wanted to feel sorry for him, the emotion was difficult; he did not seem to be in such a bad way as his sister described him. When the conversation seemed to die, Audra always brought up a pleasant topic of mutual enjoyment to pull him away from his task.

“Do you recall our day painting on Beechen Cliff, Lord Garner? Ah, what beautiful scenery we beheld!”

The feat was accomplished, and Lord Garner gazed at her, stroking his stomach and smiling with a dreamy expression upon his face. “Ah, ’tis so, Miss Hales. I could not conjure up a better place had I used the entirety of my imagination. My painting is hanging in my rooms right now.”

Audra grinned. “As mine is in my own chamber, so a reminder of Bath’s surroundings is one of the first things I see when I wake each morning.”

“How lovely,” said Her Grace, “and we were all there together.”

At that moment, the butler poked his head inside the sitting room door and quietly requested the company of Her Grace and Lord Vernon.

“Pray, excuse us, Miss Audra. We shall not be long,” said Her Grace as the two prepared to go. Just before she was at the door, she paused. “Lady Reddener and the elder Miss Hales?” She gestured for them to follow.

Was this her cue to go with them? She began to rise.

“No!” Lord Vernon spoke up, raising his hand. “You must stay.” He modulated his voice better for the latter while his eyes pleaded with her.

Taking a few moments to regain her seat, Audra glanced at Lord Garner and gave him a shaky half-smile. She then stared across the room at nothing as the parlour door closed behind the two.

Why was she left alone with Lord Garner? Was this for a marriage proposal? Let it be a mistake. She could not marry Lord Garner, not in a million years. He was looking at that damned thread again. What a buffoon!

“Well, here we are,” said Lord Garner.

She could not help herself. “Oh, Lord Garner, I am sorry.” She twisted her fingers together. “I had tried to like you because Cecilia saw us as a match, but we are ill-suited.”

“You must not say anything more. I cannot think. I am sick.” Lord Garner rose unsteadily on his feet and began to walk to the cabinet. “I need some salts. Do you have salts?”

Audra had never used the contents of her vinaigrette, but she leapt up to offer it. He took a deep inhalation. His eyes went wide, and they watered until they teared.

“I say, that is some awful stuff!”

He shambled back to the sofa and flopped down on it, fully reclined this time. “I was at a rout. It was a veritable crush. I have not had such a good time since…well, since the last rout.”

“I thought you were avoiding town these last months, and had megrims.”

“Oh, no, that is Everett. He is more serious than usual. You used to be able to count on a little humour from him, a wry grin, a subtle bit of wit, but since his return, he is depressed and distracted. I believe it is your absence, Miss Hales.”

Ooh! Everett is missing Miss Hales?! I wonder how she will react to this…It seems like Cecilia’s plans are going a bit awry. Maybe she possesses comparable talent to Emma Woodhouse when it comes to matchmaking! 🤔 I cannot wait to find out!

Congrats on your new traditional Regency Romance series, Suzan! 

~ Book Description ~

Audra Hales is a lady of many perfect accomplishments—at least she believes so. It is no wonder: she has mirrored her great friend Cecilia, the newly minted Lady Hoxley, so how could her talents not be worthy of the highest praise? A self-described matchmaker, Cecilia has brought Audra to Bath—where balls and excursions abound—with the intention of matching her with the gregarious Lord Garner Tremaine. Though he seems an affable and talented gentleman, his brother, the marquess, is quite the opposite.

As head of his family, Everett Tremaine, the Marquess of Vernon acts on behalf of his father, the duke, who remains secluded from Lady Hoxley’s guests. With his obligations, Everett has no time for foolish temptations such as Miss Hales…so why does he constantly find her thrown into his path?

Meanwhile, Audra has conjured all sorts of wild imaginings concerning the frustrating marquess, and every time she encounters him, he leaves her breathless rather than answering her questions! After all, what is ailing the mysterious duke? Could the marquess be a villain masquerading as the savior of his family? And most importantly: should she marry Lord Garner, the safe suitor, or follow her heart?

Book One of the Cecilia’s Mismatches series is a stand-alone novel.

Cecilia’s Mismatches Series 

Who is Cecilia? She’s Lady Hoxley, a recently married young lady whose husband is
old enough to be her father. Theirs is a love match. She loves his money and title, and
he loves her youth and vivacity. Cecilia is so gratified with her own match that she is
determined to match her friends with worthy gentlemen—but what happens when all her
grand schemes seem to go awry?

~ Connect with Suzan ~

Website    ❧    Facebook   ❧   Twitter   ❧   Instagram   ❧   Pinterest

~ About Suzan ~

A lover of Jane Austen, Regency period research and costuming, yoga, fitness, home renovation, design, sustainability, and independent travel, cat mom Suzan Lauder keeps busy even when she’s not writing novels based on Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, all of which are published by Meryton Press.

She and Mr. Suze and their rescue tabby split their time between a loft condo overlooking the Salish Sea and a 150-year-old Spanish colonial casita in Mexico. Suzan’s lively prose can be found on her Facebook author page, www.facebook.com/SuzanLauder; on Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest as @SuzanLauder; and on her Meryton Press blog, road trips with the redhead www.suzanlauder.merytonpress.com.

~~~

GIVEAWAY TIME!!!

Meryton Press is generously giving away 2️⃣ ebook copies of An Accomplished Woman in conjunction with Suzan’s visit today!  

To enter this giveaway leave a comment, a question, or some love for Suzan!

• This giveaway is open worldwide.  Thank you, Meryton Press!
• This giveaway ends May 4th!

Thank you to Janet Taylor, Meryton Press, and Suzan Lauder for making this visit possible!