Today we are celebrating the release of The Lady and the Barrister by USA Today Bestselling Author Ruth A. Casie. This is the first novel in the Return to the Ladies of Sommer By the Sea. Come check out an excerpt of this historical Regency romance and enter the giveaway before grabbing your copy!

The Lady and the Barrister

Return to the Ladies of Sommer By the Sea #1

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Two men vie for Lady Anna, but who will she choose? The smooth politician or the down-to-earth barrister turned duke?

Lady Anna Ravencroft shines brightly as a much-admired organizer and hostess. In her mind it is the one thing at which she succeeds. Inwardly she is shy, retiring… a wallflower. With two failed seasons that ended in disaster she has accepted marriage might not be in her future.

Lord Fraser Castleton, a London barrister is shocked when he inherits a title and estate from his mother’s great aunt and becomes the 8th Duke of Willbury. He returns to Sommer-by-the-Sea to take up permanent residence. He crosses paths with his longtime friend, Lady Anna. He confides that he is the target of every mother with an unmarried daughter. She commiserates with him. Every eligible gentleman sees the Ravencroft purse rather than her. Together they decide to find a mate for each other. Anna presents him with a list of several eligible women. Castleton is receptive, but not enthusiastic. He gives her the same reaction with the subsequent two lists. Will she realize he has already found his match?

Reginald Younge, who doesn’t always play by the rules, wants to be the next Member of Parliament for his borough. His political backer will support him if Younge can finance the campaign himself. He suggests Younge find a wealthy wife to support his political plans. Marrying a Ravencroft would all but guarantee not only his backer’s continued support but provide the steady stream of money needed to claim his place amongst the gentry. He calls on Lady Anna for assistance with a campaign event and has an ulterior motive.

Return to the Ladies of Sommer By the Sea

  1. The Lady and the Barrister – 99 cents & in Kindle Unlimited
  2. The Lady and the Earl – pre-order now Releases June 1, 2023
  3. The Lady and the Rogue- Release date: August 9, 2023

I previously read and enjoyed all three books in the Ladies of Sommer by the Sea series and wanted me more. I was thrilled when I found out that we would get three more books in Return to Ladies of Sommer by the Sea. You do not need to have to read the previous trilogy to enjoy this book, but if you enjoy this one as much as I did, then I recommend you go back and read them. In The Lady and Barrister, we finally get Lady Anna’s story. Anna grew up at the family’s summer house in Sommer by the Sea and has great memories of her friendship with Lord Fraser Castleton. After fighting in the Napoleonic wars and seeing his brother killed, he returned to London for his law practice and he and Anna lost touch. When his great aunt, The Duchess of Wilbury dies, he finds out that he is now the Duke and returns to the home and holdings to put things in order before returning to London. Anna Ravencroft has had two seasons and is quite happy being a single, independent woman. She doesn’t want to marry anyone because of her family’s money or someone who will have the expectations of a simpering wife who gives up being an independent woman. Both her and Fraser are happy with their lifestyles, but decide they will help find someone for the other to marry that will fit their needs, in the meantime, they will pretend to be courting. Enter, Anna’s cousin, Reginald Younge, who is running for parliament. Their families are estranged, but when his father asks Anna to help him plan a reception to meet voters, she agrees, thinking this might help bring the families back together. Reginald is after more than Anna’s help. What will Anna do? Will she fall for Reggie’s charms or is she going to give in to her feelings for Castleton?

This is a fun Victorian Romance with great characters. I loved being back in Sommer by the Sea and meeting up with some of the characters I met in previous stories. I found it unusual that the staff in their homes were more like friends than employees, but knowing that they have been with them since birth and were almost the only other people living there, it made sense. I also loved both of the housekeepers and the roles they played in getting Anna and Fraser together. Their growing romance was wonderful. I loved their banter, joking and reminiscences of their youth. Reggie is the character you love to hate. He tries so hard to hide his real self, but it kept poking through and I wanted to slap him on more than one occasion. There is also the whole backstory of the election and the political climate that was on the verge of changing to stop the rich getting richer and provide enough a living for the workers, as well as people abandoning farms to work in the new industries in the cities. Throw in a ne’er to well, a new Duke, a beautiful and caring heiress and a wonderful setting and you are in for a fun story with some danger, adventure and romance. I am already anticipating my next visit to Sommer by the Sea.

Excerpt

“Lady Anna. Lord Castleton. Welcome to the Tea Room.” Tanya took off her apron and set off a small cloud of flour as she put the pinnie down on the counter.

Anna glanced around the dining room. An older couple sat at the only other occupied table.

Castleton helped her into her chair as Tanya made her way to the front of the tearoom. He turned to her with his irresistibly devastating grin.

Anna busied herself by removing her gloves and putting them into her reticule, then placing it on her lap all to avoid his gaze. When she could no longer stall, she raised her head and found him sitting across from her and still staring.

What should she say? It was as if she didn’t know this man when they had been friends most of their lives. Well, she certainly didn’t know him as a military man, a barrister, a duke, and especially not as someone courting her. All she knew was the boy with whom she grew up and in a moment of panic, she wanted to leave.

“I didn’t intend to embarrass you. I can’t help the way I look at you.” His elbow was on the table with his chin in his hand. “One glance and I find myself smiling.”

He removed his hand and struck a more proper attitude, opened his serviette, and draped it on his lap.

Was he playing his part? She glanced at the couple at the other table and concluded he was courting her for their sake. Perhaps she could play the game as well.

“You flatter me, Fraser,” she gracefully placed her hand to her throat. “Or should I say you flatter yourself if you think I’m embarrassed.” She sat up straighter and looked down her nose following propriety. For two Seasons she observed and learned as girls struck that position.

“Oh?” He dared to struggle to hide his chuckle.

“Ginger biscuits, really, Fraser. I would have thought you’d had your fill as a boy and moved on to other more tempting morsels.”

He leaned closer toward her. His eyes were even more passionate than they had been moments before. He took her hand and her breath caught.

“Oh, but I am moved by a more temping… morsel. Much more tempting. Would you like me to elaborate?” With that he raised her hand to his lips.

Copyright © 2023 Timeless Scribes Publishing LLC

About the Author: RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author of historical swashbuckling action-adventures and contemporary romance with enough action to keep you turning pages. Her stories feature strong women and the men who deserve them, endearing flaws and all. She lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at an international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now-writing romance. She hopes her stories become your favorite adventures.

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Giveaway

Click on the Rafflecopter icon to enter to win a $25.00 Amazon eCard. Giveaway ends April 19, 2023. May the odds be forever in your favor.