Release Date: August 5, 2014
Genre: Historical Romance
Publisher: Avon
Finding
Miss McFarland
Finding
Miss McFarland
Wallflower
Weddings Book Three
Delaney McFarland is on the hunt for a husband—preferably one who needs her embarrassingly large dowry more than a dutiful wife. After the unspeakable incident at her debut, Delaney knows marrying for love is off the table, but a marriage of convenience—one that leaves her free to live the life she chooses—is the next best thing, never mind what that arrogant, devilishly handsome Mr. Croft thinks. Delaney plans to marry for money … or not at all.
Ever since the fiery redhead burst into his life—in a most memorable way—Griffin Croft hasn't been able to get Miss McFarland out of his mind. Now, with the maddening woman determined to hand over her fortune to a rake, Griffin knows he must step in. He must help her. He must not kiss her. But when Griffin's noble intentions flee in a moment of unexpected passion, his true course becomes clear: tame Delaney's wild heart and save her from a fate worse than death … a life without love.
Finding Miss McFarland
“Mr. Croft,” her father said, not bothering to conceal the satisfied grin he wore. “It is my pleasure to introduce you to my eldest daughter, Gillian Delaney McFarland.”
This was the first time her father had used her full name during an introduction. Normally, he preferred not to be reminded that such a creature was named after him. Yet at the moment, she didn’t bother to question it. She was too distracted by the man across from her.
Griffin Croft stood an inch taller than her father, with waves of dark hair brushed back from his forehead. In this light, she couldn’t tell if his hair was black or brown, or if his eyes were brown or blue; all she knew was that when their gazes met, she felt a strange crackling sensation beneath her palms. It felt the way she imagined a fire consumed bits of tinder—hot, bright, and skittering over the surface, igniting kindling with dozens of tiny flames.
And like a flame, her gaze became greedy, consuming every nuance of his face, from his elegantly sloped nose to his wide mouth, and from the deep cleft in his chin to the square jaw and the barest shadow of stubble she saw above a clumsily tied cravat.
“Miss McFarland.”
She didn’t hear him at first. There was an odd ringing in her ears. But by looking at his mouth—and a very pleasant one, it was—she could see that he’d spoken.
Miss McFarland . . . and with those words, his lips pressed together twice. Like a kiss. The idea made her dizzy.
“Mr. Croft.”
A wave of heat assailed her. Then, too soon, another terrible grip seized her stomach. Her vision blurred for an instant, and when she looked down, she saw that he held out his gloved hand, as if to steady her.
Her father’s hand went to her back. “Perhaps it would be best to postpone—”
He never had a chance to finish.
And she never had the chance to turn around and take hold of the railing. Instead, her body betrayed her most cruelly and cast up her accounts all over Griffin Croft’s shoes.
“Mr. Croft,” her father said, not bothering to conceal the satisfied grin he wore. “It is my pleasure to introduce you to my eldest daughter, Gillian Delaney McFarland.”
This was the first time her father had used her full name during an introduction. Normally, he preferred not to be reminded that such a creature was named after him. Yet at the moment, she didn’t bother to question it. She was too distracted by the man across from her.
Griffin Croft stood an inch taller than her father, with waves of dark hair brushed back from his forehead. In this light, she couldn’t tell if his hair was black or brown, or if his eyes were brown or blue; all she knew was that when their gazes met, she felt a strange crackling sensation beneath her palms. It felt the way she imagined a fire consumed bits of tinder—hot, bright, and skittering over the surface, igniting kindling with dozens of tiny flames.
And like a flame, her gaze became greedy, consuming every nuance of his face, from his elegantly sloped nose to his wide mouth, and from the deep cleft in his chin to the square jaw and the barest shadow of stubble she saw above a clumsily tied cravat.
“Miss McFarland.”
She didn’t hear him at first. There was an odd ringing in her ears. But by looking at his mouth—and a very pleasant one, it was—she could see that he’d spoken.
Miss McFarland . . . and with those words, his lips pressed together twice. Like a kiss. The idea made her dizzy.
“Mr. Croft.”
A wave of heat assailed her. Then, too soon, another terrible grip seized her stomach. Her vision blurred for an instant, and when she looked down, she saw that he held out his gloved hand, as if to steady her.
Her father’s hand went to her back. “Perhaps it would be best to postpone—”
He never had a chance to finish.
And she never had the chance to turn around and take hold of the railing. Instead, her body betrayed her most cruelly and cast up her accounts all over Griffin Croft’s shoes.
This was the first time her father had used her full name during an introduction. Normally, he preferred not to be reminded that such a creature was named after him. Yet at the moment, she didn’t bother to question it. She was too distracted by the man across from her.
Griffin Croft stood an inch taller than her father, with waves of dark hair brushed back from his forehead. In this light, she couldn’t tell if his hair was black or brown, or if his eyes were brown or blue; all she knew was that when their gazes met, she felt a strange crackling sensation beneath her palms. It felt the way she imagined a fire consumed bits of tinder—hot, bright, and skittering over the surface, igniting kindling with dozens of tiny flames.
And like a flame, her gaze became greedy, consuming every nuance of his face, from his elegantly sloped nose to his wide mouth, and from the deep cleft in his chin to the square jaw and the barest shadow of stubble she saw above a clumsily tied cravat.
“Miss McFarland.”
She didn’t hear him at first. There was an odd ringing in her ears. But by looking at his mouth—and a very pleasant one, it was—she could see that he’d spoken.
Miss McFarland . . . and with those words, his lips pressed together twice. Like a kiss. The idea made her dizzy.
“Mr. Croft.”
A wave of heat assailed her. Then, too soon, another terrible grip seized her stomach. Her vision blurred for an instant, and when she looked down, she saw that he held out his gloved hand, as if to steady her.
Her father’s hand went to her back. “Perhaps it would be best to postpone—”
He never had a chance to finish.
And she never had the chance to turn around and take hold of the railing. Instead, her body betrayed her most cruelly and cast up her accounts all over Griffin Croft’s shoes.
Author Bio
I fell in
love with fairy tales and the romance behind happily ever after at a very young
age. Like a lot of you, I tweaked the fables bit by bit in my imagination until
they suited me perfectly. By the time I was eleven, a teacher encouraged me to
start writing.
Throughout
the years that followed, my teachers remained my most fervent supporters,
giving me the tools I needed to continue my journey as a writer.
My husband
and I have two teenage boys, who are heroes in their own right. For now, we
live in a small Midwestern town near Lake Michigan…until a time in the future
when a new adventure calls us to other shores.
I am currently working
on my next novel, but I always enjoy hearing from my readers. Feel free to
email me at vivienne@vivlorret.net
I'm currently reading this book and I'm loving it so far. Delaney is a very interesting heroine!
ReplyDeleteThank you for hosting today!
ReplyDeletethanks for such a fun post and congrast to Vivienne on the series!!! I haven't read any of these books, so no favs yet ;) Thanks for sharing
ReplyDeletei dont have a favorite i like them all denise smith
ReplyDeleteI liked Merribeth.
ReplyDeleteNo particular favorite.
ReplyDeleteNo, I don't have a favorite wallflower romance that I can recall, however I do like the wallflower trope in romances. It is exciting to see a wallflower bloom under the attentions of a gentleman and surprise everyone with her wit and/or beauty and her landing a husband. :-) jdh2690@gmail.com
ReplyDeleteThank you for this giveaway!!
ReplyDelete