Read An E-Book Week Featuring Lady Elinor's Escape

Read An E-Book Week is an annual March event that I'm happy to participate in. I started reading e-books way back in 1999, when the computer was the only option. Those early e-books were in PDF or HTML format, and there were no bookmarks. I used to keep a post-it glued to my laptop where I could not what page I'd stopped on. Since then I've graduated to dedicated e-book readers, like the RCA Gemstar and the Amazon Kindle. Now I do most of my reading on an iPad 1 and I still love it.

Smashwords is having their annual promotion where many e-books are deeply discounted or offered for free, including my sweet Regency romance, Lady Elinor's Escape.

Blurb:

Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him.

There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin’s life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a ‘rescuer’ of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party.

I'm offering free copies of Lady Elinor's Escape through Smashwords weeklong promotion. Don't forget to use the RW100 Coupon Code.

In addition, Lady Elinor's Escape is still on sale at Amazon and Barnes & Noble for 99 cents through March 8.

Linda

Lady Elinor's Escape - Linda's Book Featured in the Eggcerpt Exchange

Once again, I'm participating in Tina Gayle's annual Eggcerpt Exchange, starting on March 5.

For more details, go to http://www.tinagayle.blogspot.com/2014/02/40-days-of-continuous-promotion-for.html

Lady Elinor's Escape, part of the Eggcerpt Exchange fun.
Genre: Sweet Regency Romance

Blurb:

Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him.

There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin’s life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a ‘rescuer’ of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party.

Now the Eggcerpt:

“Excuse me, madam, but I could not help overhearing you say that you must leave for London immediately. Allow me to introduce myself. Stephen Chaplin, Esquire, at your service.”

Elinor turned to face the gentleman who had suddenly appeared. She stared at him through a haze of black, taking advantage of her veil to get a closer look at this tall, dark-haired, seemingly well bred gentleman. He was above average height, with finely chiseled features, and while he could not, strictly speaking, be deemed handsome, there was something in the intense scrutiny of his light brown eyes that drew her to him. By the cut of his bottle green Superfine coat, which emphasized his broad shoulders, but was not so tight as to hamper movement, and his casually tied neckcloth, she surmised he was no society dandy.

“How do you do?” she said politely, extending one black-gloved hand.

“Fine, thank you.”

As he took her hand and bowed over it, Elinor savored the warmth of his touch for a moment. It had been a long time since someone had touched her out of kindness. Suddenly realizing she was clutching his hand, she withdrew hers. He studied her, his gaze seeming to penetrate the veil, and she could only stand like the veriest lump under his scrutiny.

“I beg your pardon, madam, but what did you say your name was?”

“Eli—” Elinor broke off and feigned a cough, panic bubbling up inside. Her name. Dear heavens, she needed a new name. If she told him who she was, he would never agree to take her to Mimi. She stared down at the gentleman’s yellow nankeen trousers and shiny brown boots. “Brown,” she stammered. “Ellie Brown.”

“Mrs. Brown, may I offer my assistance? I’m heading for London myself and would be pleased to convey you as far as Chippenham, where you may pick up another stage coach.”

Relief flooded through her at his offer, but could she trust him? No proper young lady rides in a closed carriage with a gentleman who is not related to her. The words of her governess rang in her ears. “I do not think—”

“Of course, you are cautious,” he interrupted smoothly. “Any genteel lady would hesitate to trust a strange gentleman.”

"But I am not a lady,” she blurted. If Aunt Sarah learned that a ‘lady’ had been here, she would know where to look for her. “I am merely a seamstress.”

"Really,” he drawled, doubt evident in his tone.

“Yes, I have a position awaiting me in London.” She was surprised, and a bit uncomfortable, at how easily the lies flowed from her lips, but they were necessary.

Lady Elinor's Escape is available at:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00CHSNEII
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/lady-elinors-escape/id645217449
ARe: https://www.allromanceebooks.com/product-ladyelinor039sescape-1169382-160.html
B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/lady-elinors-escape-linda-mclaughlin/1100559263
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/lady-elinor-s-escape
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312406

Online Contacts:
Website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com
Blog: http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaMcLaughlinAuthor
Twitter @LyndiLamont: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Thanks for letting me share.

Linda

Read Tuesday

We have Black Friday and Cyber Monday, plus there's Read Tuesday, the day for buying and gifting books at amazing sale prices. Thousands of books will be on sale on Read Tuesday.

This is a great opportunity for readers to stock up on books from their favorite participating authors and publishers. You'll find more information at the Read Tuesday website, or you can join the conversation at Facebook or @ReadTuesday on Twitter.

Share the gift of reading.

Discounted books also make great gifts for the holidays. It’s easy to gift e-books, returns are not a problem with most retailers, the gift is delivered instantly (but you can schedule when to have it delivered), and there are no shipping and handling charges.

This is my first year to participate in Read Tuesday, and I have two discounted books available for you to choose from.

Lady Elinor's Escape
by Linda McLaughlin
Sweet Regency Romance

When a runaway heiress masquerades as a seamstress, she complicates the life of a tortured barrister who specializes in rescuing females in distress. Can he save her from a disaster of her own making or will the past repeat itself?

Amazon and Nook price: $0.99
Smashwords price $0.99 (Use Coupon Code: DB46R)

Note: Lady Elinor's Escape will be on sale through the end of the year!

Worth The Risk
by Lyn O'Farrell
(the writing team of Anne Farrell and Linda McLaughlin)
Contemporary Romantic Comedy

Children's librarian Amanda Lloyd values privacy above all else. Three years ago her wedding ended in disaster when her groom was arrested at the altar and the story of the 'Embezzler's Bride' appeared in the supermarket tabloids. The experience has left her determined to avoid being caught in the public eye again. Until she meets a sexy single dad with a scandalous past.

Ex-racer Mitch Delaney is a public figure whose life has been plastered across the tabloids more than once. But he believes that anything worth doing is worth a risk, and he wants Amanda in his life. When they draw the attention of the tabloids, his custody of his son is threatened. Amanda has waited twenty-eight years for the right man. But will happiness come at too high a price?

Amazon and Nook price: $1.99
Smashwords price: $1.97 (use Coupon Code: EU36T)

And don't forget the Romance Super Bundle. Ten full-length romance novels for one low price! Available at Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble, Kobo, iTunes and Smashwords.


Happy Reading!

Linda McLaughlin aka Lyn O'Farrell

Sneak Peek Sunday July 14

It's Sneak Peek Sunday again, this time with a six-paragraph snippet from my sweet Regency romance, Lady Elinor's Escape, showing Elinor's first meeting with Stephen Chaplin.

In this scene, Lady Elinor has run away from her abusive aunt and made it as far as the nearest coaching inn where she just missed the coach to London. Aware of her plight and suspecting she is in trouble, Stephen approaches to offer his assistance.

Elinor turned to face the gentleman who had suddenly appeared. She stared at him through a haze of black, taking advantage of her veil to get a closer look at this tall, dark-haired, seemingly well bred gentleman. He was above average height, with finely chiseled features, and while he could not, strictly speaking, be deemed handsome, there was something in the intense scrutiny of his light brown eyes that drew her to him. By the cut of his bottle green Superfine coat, which emphasized his broad shoulders but was not so tight as to hamper movement, and his casually tied neckcloth, she surmised he was no society dandy.

“How do you do?” she said politely, extending one black-gloved hand.

“Fine, thank you.”

As he took her hand and bowed over it, Elinor savored the warmth of his touch for a moment. It had been a long time since someone had touched her out of kindness. Suddenly realizing she was clutching his hand, she withdrew hers. He studied her, his gaze seeming to penetrate the veil, and she could only stand like the veriest lump under his scrutiny.

“I beg your pardon, madam, but what did you say your name was?”

“Eli—” Elinor broke off and feigned a cough, panic bubbling up inside. Her name. Dear heavens, she needed a new name. If she told him who she was, he would never agree to take her to Mimi. She stared down at the gentleman’s yellow nankeen trousers and shiny brown boots. “Brown,” she stammered. “Ellie Brown.”

Lady Elinor's Escape is on sale for 50% off at Smashwords for the month of July during their Summer/Winter Promotion. Use coupon code SSW50. Rogue's Hostage and Worth The Risk, by Lyn O'Farrell, are also 50% off this month.

Lady Elinor's Escape is also available from Amazon, All Romance eBooks, BN/Nook, iTunes, and Kobo.

And as always, click here to read this week's fabulous Sneak Peek Sunday snippets.

Happy reading!

Linda

July News

Hope everyone had a good weekend. This week July events are getting into swing!

Author Cynthia Woolf interviewed me today for her blog. Drop by and leave a comment for a chance to win a $5 gift card!

http://cynthiawoolf.com/blog/an-interview-with-linda-mclaughlin/

Have you heard about Smashwords.com's July Summer/Winter Promotion?

I'm participating, along with lots of other authors. Three of my books are discounted by 50% and one short story is free! Coupon codes are good through July 31.

Lady Elinor's Escape, sweet Regency romance, by Linda McLaughlin is 50% off at Smashwords. Use coupon code SSW50. https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/312406 

Rogue's Hostage, sensual historical romance, by Linda McLaughlin on sale at smashwords 50% off w/ coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/291719

Worth The Risk, sensual contemporary romance, by Lyn O'Farrell on sale at Smashwords for 50% off with coupon code SSW50! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/236077

And my short story: How To Woo… A Reluctant Bride, Victorian-era short story, by Lyndi Lamont is FREE at Smashwords w/ coupon code  SW100! https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/264222

Then look around at the Smashwords site to see what other good deals you can find. The ebooks are always available in multiple formats, so it doesn't matter which reader you use. 

Happy reading!

Linda McLaughlin / Lyndi Lamont /Lyn O'Farrell

Hump Day Reads

Lady Elinor's Escape is featured today at Julie Kenner's Hump Day Reads!


My thanks to Julie and her assistant Rachael for the consideration.

Linda

#SPeekSunday

A month ago, I introduced Lady Elinor Ashworth, heroine of Lady Elinor's Escape, in a Sneak Peek Sunday post. Today's snippet introduces Stephen over breakfast at a country inn, after reuniting the proprietors with their runaway daughter Nancy.

Lady Elinor's Escape
Sweet Regency Romance
by Linda McLaughlin

Nancy fisted her hands on her hips. “Now that isn’t enough breakfast for the long trip to London. I’ll bring ye some of our fine Wiltshire bacon, too.”

Stephen laughed. Ever since he’d arrived, one Wainwright or another had been pressing food and drink on him. “Very well, Nancy. Toast and bacon.”

She turned and walked away, weaving between the crowded tables. She seemed like a different girl than the half-starved waif his housekeeper had taken in two months ago. He frowned, remembering her tale of being lured to London by a smooth-talking stranger only to be abandoned as soon as she had conceived. What kind of cad deserted a woman in a delicate condition? The only thing worse was a man who used his fists on a female, like that blackguard Northam.

Stephen closed his mind to that line of thought. Deborah had been gone for six years now, and if not forgotten, at least the pain of her death had faded. At her funeral Stephen had vowed never again to walk away from a woman in need, which was how he found himself at an inn in Wiltshire during the Season.

When Nancy returned with his breakfast, he applied himself to the large slab of bacon and toast dripping with butter, and then washed it all down with strong black coffee.

Rescuing damsels in distress was hungry work.

Lady Elinor's Escape is available at Amazon, All Romance eBooks, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, Smashwords.

Click here to read more Sneak Peeks.

Linda

Book Lovers Buffet Extended

GOOD NEWS: Due to popular demand, the Book Lovers’ Buffet “Bouquet of Books” sale has been extended through Sunday, May 5. More than 175 e-books, all reduced in price to just 99 cents. Save in categories such as Young Adult, Contemporary, Paranormal, Suspense, Erotic Romance, and more, including my historical romance Rogue's Hostage! I'm loading up my ereader, how about you?

My Lady Elinor's Escape mini-blog tour finishes up today with a First Sight Saturday post at Jill Hughey's blog.

Lady Elinor's Escape is now available at Amazon,  All Romance eBooks, Barnes and Noble and Smashwords. Coming soon to other retailers.

Don't forget, the new release giveaway continues through May 5. I'm giving away a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice: Amazon, BN, Starbucks, etc. Winner will be notified on May 6. There are several ways to enter.

1) Leave a comment here. If you are commenting anonymously, please leave an email address so I can find you if you win!

2) Friend me at Goodreads or Shelfari. (I will friend you back)

3) Join my YahooGroups announcement list.

Linda

Blog Week Craziness #FoFblog

To celebrate the reissue of my Regency romance, Lady Elinor's Escape, I'm doing a mini-blog tour along with two other promotional events this week. Stop by when you can. There's a chance to enter to win a prize at every stop.

Mon. April 29: The Romance Studio blog (excerpt)
and Why I Love the Regency Era at Leanne Tyler's blog


Sat. May 4: First Sight Saturday at Jill Hughey's blog

For the blog tour I'm giving away a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice: Amazon, BN, Starbucks, etc. Winner will be notified on May 6. There are several ways to enter.

1) Leave a comment here. If you are commenting anonymously, please leave an email address so I can find you if you win!

2) Friend me at Goodreads or Shelfari. (I will friend you back)

3) Join my YahooGroups announcement list.

More announcements coming on Wednesday!

Linda

Meet Lady Elinor #SPeekSunday

Before I get into this Sunday's Sneak Peek, I want to announce that the cover of Lady Elinor's Escape, designed by the very talented Lacey Savage, made the finals in the April 2013 Indie eBook Cover Awards! This month's Guest Judge Scarlett Rugers, a professional book cover designer, from Melbourne Australia, had this to say about the cover:

A historical regency romance with absolutely gorgeous golden colours – the placement of elements and colour scheme are well-balanced and harmonious.

Glad I'm not the only one who thinks the cover is absolutely stunning!

The book is a traditional Regency romance. Here's the blurb:

Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him. 

There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin’s life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a ‘rescuer’ of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party.

(For those not familiar with the genre, Newgate was the name of a prison in London.) Now for our Sneak Peek at the first six paragraphs of Chapter One:

She might as well be in Newgate.

Lady Elinor Ashworth stared out the window of her bedchamber at acres of farmland sprouting new growth. Spring green brightened the vista, taunting her with the promise of freedom. After three long, lonely months trapped in this cottage, her spirit cried out for something more, something she could not name.

She glanced at the sketchbook in her lap. She had intended to draw the pastoral scene outside her window, but her hand had sketched a young lady forlornly staring through the panes of a window. A truer self-portrait had never been drawn.

Until the last few months, she had been allowed to wander alone through the Wiltshire countryside, but no longer. Not since Aunt Sarah came out of her melancholy and turned into a raving madwoman.

All her life Elinor had dreamed of adventure, so what she was planning to do should not daunt her in the slightest. She had read about people braving the ocean in small boats, exploring the jungles of Africa, searching for ancient artifacts in Egypt.

In contrast, stealing out of her aunt’s house in the dark, walking to the nearest coaching inn and traveling by herself to London hardly qualified as an adventure. The merest of escapades, in fact. Or so she assured herself to calm the butterflies suddenly dancing in her stomach. Still, what other choice did she have?

Lady Elinor's Escape is now available at Amazon,  All Romance eBooks and Barnes and Noble. Coming soon to other retailers.

To celebrate the reissue of Lady Elinor's Escape, I'm giving away a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice: Amazon, BN, Starbucks, etc. Winner will be notified on May 6. There are several ways to enter.

1) Leave a comment here. If you are commenting anonymously, please leave an email address so I can find you if you win!

2) Friend me at Goodreads or Shelfari. (I will friend you back)

3) Join my YahooGroups announcement list.

Click here to read more Sneak Peeks.

Linda

My Tortured Hero: Updated

This was supposed to be my portion of the Tortured Hero Blog Hop, which unfortunately had to be cancelled. However, that's no reason for me not to talk about the hero of my newest release.

There's something about a tortured hero that appeals to a woman's tender nature. She can't help but wonder what made him the way he is and what she can do to ease his pain. But he never makes it easy for her, does he?

We all know how to recognize a tortured hero when we see one, right? He's the bad boy who thumbs his nose at authority and hides his pain under a  don't-give-a-crap attitude. Or the brooding loner or drifter who shuns society to nurse his wounds.

Or maybe not. He could also be a charmer who hides his inner angst with a flirtatious manner or a polite smile.

Stephen Chaplin, the hero of Lady Elinor's Escape, falls into the latter category. A respectable barrister with ties to the ton, on the surface he seems like a well-adjusted Regency gentleman. A paragon of virtue, in fact. But inside, he's torn up by guilt over the death of his first love Deborah at the hands of her abusive husband. He's also unable to forgive her brother, his former friend, Marcus Knightley, for not helping them to elope. Stephen's distrust of Marc complicates matters considerably when Lady Elinor is reported missing.

Stephen has tried to make up for his failures by helping other women in distress, which is why he's unable to resist the heroine when she rushes into a rural inn, desperate to catch a coach to London. But Stephen is not the only one hiding secrets, and trust doesn't come easily to a woman like Lady Elinor.

Lady Elinor's Escape
by Linda McLaughlin
Sweet Regency Romance 

Lady Elinor Ashworth always longed for adventure, but when she runs away from her abusive aunt, she finds more than she bargained for. Elinor fears her aunt who is irrational and dangerous, threatening Elinor and anyone she associates with. When she encounters an inquisitive gentleman, she accepts his help, but fearing for his safety, hides her identity by pretending to be a seamstress. She resists his every attempt to draw her out, all the while fighting her attraction to him.

There are too many women in barrister Stephen Chaplin's life, but he has never been able to turn his back on a damsel in distress. The younger son of a baronet is a rescuer of troubled females, an unusual vocation fueled guilt over his failure to save the woman he loved from her brutal husband. He cannot help falling in love with his secretive seamstress, but to his dismay, the truth of her background reveals Stephen as the ineligible party.

Lady Elinor's Escape is now available at Amazon, All Romance eBooks, and Barnes and Noble. Coming soon to other retailers.

What draws you to the tortured variety of hero?

To celebrate the reissue of Lady Elinor's Escape, I'm giving away a $10.00 gift certificate of the winner's choice: Amazon, BN, Starbucks, etc. Winner will be notified on May 6. There are several ways to enter.

1) Leave a comment here. If you are commenting anonymously, please leave an email address so I can find you if you win!

2) Friend me at Goodreads

3) Join my YahooGroups announcement list.

Linda McLaughlin

Website: http://www.lindamclaughlin.com/

Blog: http://flightsafancy.blogspot.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LyndiLamont

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/lindamclaughlin

Book Trailers

Today has been hectic as I get ready to leave tomorrow for EPICon2008 in Portland, Oregon. This is one of my favorite conferences, so I'm looking forward to it. On Saturday, I'll be presenting a workshop with Adrianna Dane called Author as Producer: How To Create Your Own Video Book Trailers on a Budget.

Aside from the seven video trailers I've created, my main claim to fame in speaking on this topic is the fact that my video for Marooned has been viewed over 174,000 times at YouTube. If only that would translate into more book sales. Ah, well.

My latest creation is a trailer for my Regency romance, Lady Elinor's Escape. I've embedded it below for your enjoyment. I hope to keep up my Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday blogging schedule this week, but it will be harder than usual since I'll be away from home. I'm taking the laptop with me, though, so we'll see. I'll try to take lots of pictures in Portland. I understand the flowers are starting to bloom there.

Feel free to comment on my trailer or on book trailers in general. Do you watch them? Have you ever bought a book after viewing one? Or is it just free entertainment? (Nothing wrong with that.) I'd really like to know.

Linda