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Thursday, August 22, 2019

New Release - The Forgotten Debutante (Cotillion Ball Saga Book 9) by Becky Lower

At fifteen, Saffron Fitzpatrick despairs of ever getting to attend a Cotillion Ball and dance the night away, but excitement still manages to find her! A chance meeting with a Union soldier in the barn leads to Saffron helping him escape—but not before they share a spontaneous, tender first kiss. 

Ezekiel Boone has lost everything. His four older brothers were killed at Chancellorsville, and he must get home and break the awful news to his family. Though farming is not in his blood, he owes it to his father to help with the place his family has claimed as their own. But how can he ever forget Saffron Fitzpatrick? 

When Saffron and Zeke find themselves working together in Washington, D.C., three years later, their powerful former attraction ignites, full force. Saffron’s older brother, Halwyn, is coordinating the massive reburial project of Union soldiers, and she has been hired to work in his office. Zeke has invaluable information–information that no one could know if they hadn’t actually been on the battlefield. 

Though the war is over, a happy future together may still elude Zeke and Saffron…especially if Saffron’s older, protective brother and the U.S. Army have anything to say about it! Will Zeke hang for desertion? Will Saffron be able to prove his innocence?

Don’t miss the exciting conclusion to the Cotillion Ball Saga!

EXCERPT


New York City
July 15, 1863
     Releasing a shallow breath, Saffron Fitzpatrick glided down the stairs on slippered feet, avoiding the creaky spots with unerring accuracy from years of practice. She surveyed the hallway and let out the rest of the air from her lungs. All the servants were still in the basement, preparing the noonday meal. If she hurried, she could escape the house undetected. She ran to the back door, her curls bouncing around her head, and let herself out into the yard.
     Heart pounding, she stood, back up against the door, and listened. No frantic footsteps from inside the house meant her break to freedom had gone unnoticed so far.
     After two days of being housebound due to the draft riots, Saffron had tired of heeding her father’s warnings to stay indoors. Even though his motives were sound and he was only trying to protect her from the roaming mobs, she would surely perish from boredom if she spent one more moment inside. Although her intent to breathe some fresh air was dashed because the city was foul with smoke from the fires being set around town, she still cherished the freedom of being outdoors. Her skin erupted in goose bumps at her boldness. She cringed back against the door as the distant shouts came closer.

     

10 comments:

  1. Congratulations on your release, Becky! I love the Cotillion Ball series, and all the characters you came up with and all the predicaments they got themselves into and out of. Every one of these stories was so much fun to read, and I feel like I actually knew these people you created! Wonderful reading!

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    1. As you know, Cheryl, I loved writing this series and uncovering bits of history of our country that I knew little about beforehand. A friend of mine toured the new African American museum in DC recently and was surprised to see Downing's Restaurant had a mention. She thought I'd made it all up. That's what I love about writing American history.

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  2. I love reading excerpts from books and one just knows when a woman disobeys her father, trouble is sure to follow. Congratulations on the release of your book. I love the title and cover.

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    1. Thank you, Elizabeth, for your comments on the cover and title. I liked the title as soon as I thought of it, and the story line is about a period of history most people forgot about or didn't know about, so it's truly fitting.

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  3. Becky, as you know I've loved all your Cotillion Ball Series and as Cheryl said in the email,she always thinks the last one she'd read was her favorite, but when she reads the next that was the best. And Bingo, it's my thoughts exactly. Because having read this one, I now love them all equally. It's been a terrific series and wish it would continue forever. Wishing you much success with this one. Lovew the cover. I'll look forward to your next new release.

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    1. Thank you, Beverly. I've given some thought to continuing the series, much like Julia Quinn has done with her Bridgerton series. Maybe soon, we'll have the next generation show up...

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  4. I love the character interview, Becky -- my heroine, Anna Harrison, is being interviewed on someone else's blog next week, and it was so much fun to write!

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    1. I never thought I'd enjoy writing the character interview, but Saffron was such a lighthearted character, she made it fun for me. Good luck with your interview next week.

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  5. Congratulations on your new book, Becky. I love the theme of forbidden love and this looks excellent.

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    1. Thanks, C.A. Even with the topic of recovering bodies of the Union soldiers, love found a way to blossom, which makes it all worthwhile.

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