Between the Devil and Ian Eversea
April 2014
Avon/HarperCollins

NINTH book in the Pennyroyal Green series!

She might look like an angel...

The moment orphaned American heiress Titania “Tansy” Danforth arrives on English shores she cuts a swath through Sussex, enslaving hearts and stealing beaux. She knows she's destined for a spectacular titled marriage—but the only man who fascinates her couldn't be more infamous...or less interested.

...but it takes a devil to know one...

A hardened veteran of war, inveterate rogue Ian Eversea keeps women enthralled, his heart guarded and his options open: why should he succumb to the shackles of marriage when devastating good looks and Eversea charm make seduction so easy?

...and Heaven has never been hotter.

When Ian is forced to call her on her game, he never dreams the unmasked Tansy—vulnerable, brave, achingly sensual—will tempt him beyond endurance. And fight as he will, this notorious bachelor who stood down enemies on a battlefield might finally surrender his heart...and be brought to his knees by love.

Watch this space for preorder info!

And be sure to check out the other books in the Pennyroyal Green series (in order):

1) The Perils of Pleasure
2) Like No Other Lover
3) Since the Surrender
4) I Kissed an Earl
5) What I Did for a Duke
6) How the Marquess Was Won
7) A Notorious Countess Confesses
8) It Happened One Midnight
9) Between the Devil and Ian Eversea

 

 

This snippet is part of a conversation between Ian Eversea and Miss Tansy Danforth, which takes place about the middle of the book, when Ian discovers Miss Danforth leaning a little too far out over the edge of her balcony in the middle of the night...


****

"Forever," she drawled disdainfully, softly. "I hate the word 'forever.'. It's hard to really imagine the concept isn't it? And then you know. When someone is gone forever, you finally understand what it means."

"I don't much care for the word, either. Especially with regards to matrimony, and staying in one place, and the like."

She laughed at that and turned around, and …

She might as well have aimed a weapon at him.

Her night rail would have been demure, if it didn't drape the gorgeous lines of her so lovingly, so nearly tauntingly. The bands of muscles across his stomach tensed in an effort to withstand the impact of seeing itthe sightthe sight. Her hair was plaited in a large, messy, golden rope slung over her shoulder and pouring down the front of her.

And an absurdly large, girlish bow closed the neckline.

He couldn't help but smile at that.

"Why are you grinning?" She sounded irritable.

"You look like a gift, tied up with a bow."

"Like the gifts you give to your mistresses?"

"Like the what?"

"Shhhh! Lower your voice!" She was clearly delighted, stifling a laugh. She'd achieved precisely the effect she'd wanted.

"I haven't 'mistresses,' for God's sake. There aren't a host of them. And I certainly don't buy them gifts."

"All those experienced women wearing experienced expressions. What do you call them?"

"There aren't 'all those' … It's not as though I … You make it sound as though I've a harem."

The woman was maddening. It was like jousting with a weathervane. And what in God's name had she heard about him?

Clearly, enough that was close enough to the truth. Or perhaps she was an excellent guesser?

"Poor women, who never get gifts," she mourned wickedly.

"Tansy … " he warned.

"It might be interesting to be part of a harem," she said wistfully, softly.
"Never knowing whether one might get a visit from the maharajah … the anticipation … it would be … "

He held his breath, waiting on absurd tenterhooks for what she thought it might be.

" … delicious,." she finally said thoughtfullythoughtfully.

Oh, God. Oh God Oh God. She was going to be the death of him.

He couldn't speak for a time. They were teetering on a precipice here more dangerous than her balcony arabeasque of a moment ago.

"What if … " His voice was hoarse. He cleared his throat. "What if the maharajah never comes?" His voice was hoarse.

"With all those wives? I'm certain he comes often."

He stared at her. Had she really said that? Did she know what it meant?
He gave a short astonished laugh.

"Shhhhh!" she said again.

"You would hate being part of harem, Tansy. All those other women competing for a bit of attention. Just imagine."

"But it wouldn't be lonely."

The words startled him into momentary speechlessness. And he remembered what Mrs. deWitt had said.

How was it that he hadn't realized before that she might be lonely? She was so effervescent; she could attract company the way a bloom attracted bees.
But he supposed it wasn't the same as belonging to someone. Or to somewhere.

But she was alone. He felt utterly chagrined that he was only now realizing it. He'd been quite an ass, in many ways.

Then again, she wasn't entirely without fault in the matter. Captivating all the men in the town was one way to ensure that the women wouldn't thrill to your company.

"And I would be the favorite wife in no time," she hastened to add, before he could think about it any longer.

"If the maharajah didn't kill you first. I hear they use scimitars when their wives irritate them." He drew a finger across his throat.

She laughed at that. The throaty, delighted sound landed on his heightened, roused senses like fingernails gently dragged down his back.

And that's when he knew: he'd waited too long. He'd somehow missed the moment when he could have, and really should have, made a sensible retreat. The night rail, the night, the girl, the lavender, the laugh-he was now in thrall to his senses. Everything served to titillate them. He was theirs to command. And anything that happened next was a foregone conclusion.

And something would happen. Oh, something would.

{end of excerpt!}

 

You can preorder now if the spirit moves you! Here are a couple of links to get you started.

~Amazon
~Barnes & Noble

 

 

 

Praise for Julie Anne Long's work:


"You will LOVE the Pennyroyal Green series."
—Julia Quinn, #1 NYT Bestselling Author

"Julie Anne Long reinvents the historical romance for modern readers, delivering intense, passionate characters and high adventure. Her writing glows."
—Amanda Quick, NYT Bestselling Author

"A fresh voice that stands out in a chorus of Regency historicals, Julie Anne Long entrances with deftly woven humor, strong and believable characters, and a genuinely rich and emotional resolutions. Delicious and delightful!"
—Karen Hawkins, NYT Bestselling Author

 

~Amazon
~Barnes & Noble

So what's this Pennyroyal Green series about?

The Pennyroyal Green series takes us through the lives, passions, adventures and misadventures of the denizens of Pennyroyal Green, Sussex, England, a town anchored by the wealthy Eversea and Redmond families —whose relations are civil on the surface, but seethe beneath with ancient secrets and grudges and —naturally — attractions. :) We'll follow these folks wherever their passions take them —whether it's London, the gallows, a ballroom, a bedroom, the high seas, or the Sussex downs. I have major plans for these people. :) The stories are loosely connected and characters recur, but not in every book. A number of Pennyroyal Green characters will get their own stories—not just Everseas and Redmonds—and each story can be read independently of each other. Collect 'em all! LOL. The first book in the series is The Perils of Pleasure. You can find alittle background on the legend of the town and the origins of the feud between the Everseas and Redmonds in the prologue of POP, too. :)

Here's a quick Pennyroyal Green series "cast of characters." When characters are featured prominently in a specific book, I'll link to the book or make a note of it. This list will grow over time, may even sprout more branches and family names, and I'll expound a little more on each character in this space as we get to know each of them a little better throughout the series.

The Everseas		The Redmonds
Jacob Eversea—Patriarch		Isaiah Redmond—Patriarch
Isolde Eversea—Matriarch		Fanchette Redmond—Matriarch
Marcus Eversea—oldest son (POP)		Lyon Redmond—oldest son
Colin Eversea (Madeleine Greenway)		Miles Redmond (Cynthia Brightly)
Ian Eversea		Violet Redmond (and Captain Flint, The Earl of Ardmay)
Chase Eversea		Jonathon Redmond
Olivia Eversea		Lisbeth Redmond (cousin)
Genevieve Eversea		Roland Tarbell (cousin and deceased; see POP)
Other Pennyroyal Green Denizens:
Ned Hawthorne—owner and proprietor of the Pig & Thistle, ancient pub		Louisa Porter
Polly Hawthorne—Ned Hawthorne's daughter
Martin Culpepper
Frances Cooke
Miss Marietta Endicott— headmistress of Miss Endicott's Academy for Young Women (referred to as the School for Recalcitrant girls by the townspeople)
Other Series Characters
Mr. McBride, apothecary we first meet him in To Love a Thief, which isn't a Pennyroyal Green book)
Mr. Croker, scalliwag
Eleanor, Countess Malmsey
Harry the Footman
Dr. William August
Horace Peele (and Snap the dog)
Madame Marceau, Modiste (we first net her in TO LOVE A THIEF, which isn't a Pennyroyal Green book; she also had a cameo in THE SECRET TO SEDUCTION)
Pennyroyal Green Series Places
The Pig & Thistle, pub		The Mercury Club (in London)
Miss Marietta Endicott's Academy for Girls (The School for Recalcitrant Girls)		The Velvet Glove (in London)
The Church
The Gypsy encampment