Books and Banter: Teaser ~ for The Curse of Winford Manor

The Curse of Winford Manor
by Loc Glin
Genre: Mainstream Romance
Heat Rating: SENSUAL
Word Count: 44,821
Categories: Historical Paranormal Romance (MF), Time Travel, HEA

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BLURB:

Leslie Braddock feels responsible for her husband’s death. She is having trouble reentering the dating scene. Leslie travels back in time where she meets Sir James.

Sir James Winford is a three-time widower. He believes he is cursed and is certain death to any woman he loves. He has vowed never to love again.

Emily, the ghost of Sir James's first wife has unfinished business, and still lingers at Winford Manor. She wants to see her husband happy, and she wants to bring her murderer to justice.

Rose has loved Sir James since childhood. She must live with the unspeakable things she has done trying to make James see her as more than a child. She believes she is close to achieving that goal when Leslie shows up.

Leslie and Sir James share the experience of losing a loved one. Will Leslie be the woman to break the curse? Or will she be just another victim.

TEASER / EXCERPT:

The next morning broke dank, dreary, and wet. Gone was the beautiful late-summer weather of the day before. And for the next three days, the rain made that day seem a dream.

Rose and Margaret kept themselves busy with their embroidery and knitting. Leslie, possessing neither of those skills, found the idle time frustrating. She was used to working. She never thought she would say it, but she missed the TV, she missed the Internet, she missed her phone. When had she become addicted to those things? Would she be able to get back to those things? Did she really want to get back to them? Her life in the future was not especially wonderful. She was lonely most of the time. Funny, she wasn’t lonely here. She felt like she was home here, like she belonged. She would be able to find something to do.

“Margaret, are there any books I could read?”

“There are books aplenty in James’s study. I’m sure he wouldn’t mind if you borrowed one.” Margaret never looked up from her embroidery.

“Thanks,” she said as she left the room.

The study doors were closed, so Leslie knocked lightly. “May I come in?” she asked and waited.

No answer.

She knocked again, and then opened the door slightly. She saw James lost in thought standing by the French doors across the room. He was handsome, and her heart fluttered like a schoolgirl at the thought. She knocked again. “I’m sorry to bother you, but Margaret said I might find a book in here.” She stepped inside the very masculine room. Dark wood panels covered the walls. Books filled the shelves on two of the walls. The heavy drapery, used to help keep the drafts down around the French doors, was pulled back allowing ample light into the room.

“There are books, and you’re welcome to look, but I was wondering…Do you play chess?”

He seemed to be holding his breath waiting for her reply. His expression told her he wanted her to say yes. There was a hint of desperation in his eyes that said he needed her to say yes. “Actually I do. Are you challenging me to a game? Please challenge me to a game. I will go out of my mind if I can’t find something to do soon.”

“Since you put it that way, we simply must play.” The muscles in his face relaxed. The slightest bit of a smile hinted at the corners of his mouth.

“I warn you, I’m good.” Her voice held both challenge and confidence.

“We shall see.” That slight smile now became a grin.

For excerpts and first chapter click here.