Deceit and Seduction
Title: Deceit and SeductionGenre: Historical Romance
Secrets, Lies, and a Passion That Defies the Odds
In a world of wealth, betrayal, and revenge, love is the most dangerous game of all.
A Plan for Revenge, A Love Unexpected
Anna Kendrick has spent years plotting the perfect revenge. Adopting a stolen name, she journeys from the rugged Colorado territory to the opulent streets of 19th-century New York City with one goal: destroy Samuel Brenner, the aristocrat who killed her father and walked away unscathed. Through cunning manipulation, Anna marries into the Brenner family, determined to dismantle everything Samuel holds dear. But the heart has its own plans, and Anna soon finds herself drawn to her new husband, Nicholas Brenner—Samuel's son.
Nicholas Brenner has little interest in love. Haunted by his first wife’s betrayal, Nicholas views his marriage to Anna as little more than an arrangement to produce heirs. Yet from the moment Anna enters his life, she disrupts his carefully controlled world. Her beauty, sharp wit, and secrets ignite his curiosity—and his desire. But Nicholas soon realizes that his bride has brought more than passion into his life. Lies, blackmail, and murder follow Anna’s arrival, forcing Nicholas to confront his family’s dark past and his own growing feelings for the woman who may destroy him.
Why Deceit and Seduction Will Captivate You
- Gripping Historical Drama: A richly detailed setting in 19th-century New York brings opulence and intrigue to life.
- Complex, Relatable Characters: Anna’s thirst for revenge clashes with her growing love, creating a heroine both bold and vulnerable.
- Twists and Turns: Lies, betrayal, and dark secrets make this a page-turning story you won’t forget.
- Steamy, Slow-Burn Romance: Nicholas and Anna’s forbidden love ignites in a tale of passion and redemption.
For Fans of Historical Romance and Intrigue
If you enjoy the gripping drama of Lisa Kleypas, the emotional depth of Mary Balogh, or the thrilling tension of Sarah MacLean, Deceit and Seduction is a must-read.
Love and Revenge Clash in Gilded Age New York Can Anna and Nicholas overcome the lies and betrayals that threaten to tear them apart? Or will their love become the ultimate casualty of her vengeance?
Order Deceit and Seduction today and immerse yourself in a historical romance full of intrigue, passion, and heart-stopping twists!
Excerpt
Prologue
Colorado Territory, September 1895
“She hasn’t shed one tear. Not a single one.”
Carolyn dabbed at her eyes with the white handkerchief clutched in her hands as her sister’s wooden casket was lowered into the ground. “It just isn’t normal.”
“Keep your voice down.” Reynold barely moved his lips as he spoke to his wife. “People mourn in different ways.”
“Yes, but Catherine was her mother.”
“And you know as well as I they stopped speaking to one another.” He leaned in closer. “She may not be weeping a storm or throwing herself on the casket, but it doesn’t mean she isn’t grieving.”
Carolyn replied to that with a “humph” and shook her head, not convinced in the least. Reynold resisted the urge to groan and instead gazed toward the fresh grave where Catherine Douglas’s body would lie forever. He wasn’t an emotional man, but just the thought of her being gone forever was enough to bring tears to his eyes. It was hard to even fathom that a woman so beautiful, so charming, so...
His thoughts were jarred when he felt Carolyn nudge his arm. He saw her head was bowed, and only then did he hear the minister giving his final prayer. He removed his hat and bowed in respect, but not before noticing his niece’s head was still raised. He refused to let Carolyn’s words affect him, but he couldn’t deny there was some truth in them. His niece had lost her mother, and as quiet as he kept it, it also worried him that she had yet to show any emotion, neither anger nor grief. He’d even begun hoping she’d at least let out a laugh—as long as he knew she felt something. Even now, her eyes, the same golden shade as Catherine’s had once been, were staring straight ahead, devoid of all feeling.
***
The minister may as well have been speaking Latin, because I hadn’t heard a single word of his eulogy. Instead, I chose to focus on his chapped lips reading the chosen scripture. As the movement mesmerized me, my mind began to drift to other things, mostly thoughts about that house again. Strange, how the easterner who built it never bothered to visit his home in the woods. Neither I, nor anyone else in town had ever met the man, but it was obvious he was much too wealthy to appreciate the secluded paradise he owned. I would like to visit the house after the funeral but doubted it was possible. With one glance at the sky, I saw that dark clouds had begun to loom over the distant mountains, and a potent scent of dampness hung in the air.
Uncle Reynold was staring at me again, eyes full of sympathy. I looked away immediately, not wanting to see his sadness or pity, especially since I wasn’t feeling either emotion myself. Not only my uncle, but others were also looking my way and then hastily lowering their eyes when I noticed them. They all must have thought I was so heartless. Catherine had been dead for three days now, and I could not bring myself to cry. During quiet moments like these, I began to wonder if maybe there was something wrong with me. Then I would remember her betrayal, and those guilty feelings disappeared.
A single raindrop kissed my nose and turned warm at the touch of my skin. Several more light drops fell, sprinkling my hair, until all at once, the heavens opened up. I looked to the minister, who was now concluding his prayer, and then to the plot of earth where the casket had been lowered and fought a bitter laugh. Catherine’s body was now in place to lie beside her husband for all eternity, and I had to appreciate the irony. My mother was being forced to do in death what she couldn’t do in life.
Once the funeral ended, a long line of condolences began to form from friends and family—whom I vaguely remembered—of my parents. The only definite familiar faces were those of my mother’s sister, Carolyn, her husband, Uncle Reynold—and Richard Henley.
I could barely contain my anger each time I looked in Richard’s direction. What the hell was he doing here? I wanted to scream at him to go away and never show his charming face again. Instead, I kept silent, even let him kiss my hand, and thanked God I’d had the foresight to wear gloves.
“Be sure to send word if there is anything I can do for you,” he said.
That melodic voice used to make me dance on air, but now, I inwardly cringed and pasted a smile on my lips until he finally left my sight.
“Come along, sweetheart,” Carolyn said. “Let me fix you a nice supper to help you feel better.”
“You go ahead,” I replied, my eyes on the men now throwing dirt into the plot. “I’ll meet you at the house shortly.”
Carolyn hesitated before leaving my side, but she finally squeezed my hand and moved on. Then Reynold stood in front of me, wearing a solemn expression.
“Don’t you stay in the rain too long,” he said, kissed me lightly on the forehead and followed his wife to their carriage.
When only my carriage remained, I turned away from the grave and walked slowly about the cemetery. I didn’t pay any notice as my booted heels dug into the wet soil or flinch when puddles of mud seeped through to my stockinged feet. I stopped, lifted my head to the sky let the cold water run over my hair and across my face. With the childish thrill satisfied, I continued walking, leaving my parents’ graves behind. I wouldn’t get to visit the easterner’s house today, but no matter. I had more pressing errands, and now that Catherine was gone, I could attend to them. Too bad Uncle Reynold, Aunt Catherine, and the rest of the family had left. I was finally showing some feeling since the news of my mother’s death.
I had an enemy out there, and revenge was making me smile.