Title: An
Untimely Romance
Author: J
& L Wells
Genre: New
Adult, Time Travel Romance
Synopsis:
Heather Richardson is a seventeen-year-old British girl whose life quickly
becomes an emotional roller coaster when she meets Ruben Brown, a controlling
twenty-four-year-old man who works for her father at Freesdon Manor. As much as
Heather wants to love Ruben, the cracks in their relationship begin to show as
her eighteenth birthday draws nigh.
In a surprising turn of
events Heather is confronted by Frank, an intriguing man from a past that dates
back to the nineteenth century. His untimely presence changes everything.
When she’s thrown back in time
by an unrelenting force, Heather realizes that her life is not what it appears
to be. Her future has already been written, and it seems she cannot escape her
fate, a fate determined by a love lost long ago. In her struggle to find
herself, Heather must chose her destiny amidst a dangerous love triangle,
vengeful lovers, and passions controlled by the hands of time.
Author Bio:
About J & L
Wells: J & L Wells is a UK based mother daughter team, consisting of Laura
and her mother Judith. Together, they write compelling fiction and are
currently working on book 2 of the Untimely Romance series.
Author Links
Buy Links (If Available)
Excerpt:
Chapter One Ye Olde
England
“Oh, Mr Boswel,” Anna sighed awkwardly,
biting her bottom lip as he gazed seductively into her eyes. She placed her
small-gloved hand into his and he smiled, but no words passed between them. The
heady concerto played by the musicians faded into insignificance, the guests and
all their formalities forgotten in the moment. He led her into an open hallway
towards the larger of two grand staircases. She could hardly breathe. His
dark-brown eyes were hypnotic and with every gaze they burned into hers. His jet-black
hair fell in soft waves around his shoulders, while small curls drifted onto
his forehead, which he had a habit of flicking back to reveal his face. And oh,
what a face, with his chiselled jawline, high cheekbones and overly full lips,
perfect traits complemented by a rich olive skin tone and pretty, near perfect
complexion.
Anna had waited so long for this
moment. She felt her legs trembling beneath her, hoping upon hope that they wouldn’t
give way. Upon reaching the first floor, guilt descended upon her. She knew
what she was about to embark on was wrong and that she’d be judged, but on
second glance down the stairs, across the hall and through the arched doorway,
she saw that those in attendance at the masquerade ball danced on and drank
merrily, oblivious to their departure.
She wasn’t allowed to linger for long,
as Mr Boswel’s firm grip pulled her slightly off balance and she stumbled wearily.
Aware that the hour was late, her gaze wandered briefly before coming to rest
on the ornate grandfather clock in its regal attire, situated equidistantly
between the two staircases, both hands sitting comfortably on the number one.
Mr Boswel’s eyes held a warm
reassurance as he led her across the landing towards a large oak door. “After
you, madam,” he gestured, opening the door.
“Thank y’ sir,” she uttered nervously.
Why
me? Anna thought to herself as her conscience juggled
with reality, still questioning why he had given her the time of day. With his
good looks and his status, he really could have anybody he desired. On close
inspection, Anna knew she was anything but beautiful; even as a child, her mother
referred to her as plain. It wasn’t that she had a bad face, just not an overly
pretty one; her eyes perhaps too small, their colour quite insignificant – somewhere
between light blue and grey – and strawberry-blonde hair scraped back rather
severely in a bun. There wasn’t anything dynamic about her features either;
even her nose had a slight tilt to the left – a flaw nobody else would have
picked up on.
Then the door closed behind them and
they were alone at last, away from unwanted roving eyes. It was a moment she’d longed
for, for what seemed like an eternity.
She found herself in a large
bedchamber, a four-poster bed made from a deep rich wood taking centre stage,
its precise carvings inlaid with gold leaf in large spirals. Warm red silk
drapes, not quite scarlet, perhaps a shade or two deeper complemented the bed.
The room exuded wealth, with its deep-mahogany furnishings, high walls and
numerous gilt edged portraits.
Anna felt lost in her new
surroundings.
“Well, Anna…”
She jumped, and her eyes were drawn
once again towards the handsome Mr Boswel, who had already removed his shoes and
was now reclined on the bed, propped up by two thick cotton bolsters. His long
taupe waistcoat was draped untidily over a padded-back chair, and she watched
tentatively as he started unbuttoning his linen shirt to reveal a toned
physique.
“Join me,” he murmured, his voice soft
and inviting.
Her heart was beating so heavily in her
chest as she made her way over to the bed that she was sure he’d be able to
hear. She was even tempted to hold her breath. He leaned his body forward
towards hers as she sat nervously on the edge of the bed. She knew he was going
to take her, and although she felt way out of her depth, she wanted him so very
badly. He smelt so fine, his broad chest brushing against her arm; she could feel
the soft hairs between his nipples, and then their hardness.
She was burning inside as he ran his
fingers longingly over her body. She felt his breath, then his lips, tenderly
at first as they began caressing the nape of her neck, and then with an urgency,
a hunger, the tenderness turned to lust. Their lips met for the first time and
he pulled her body roughly onto his, quickly loosening the bodice of her gown
and starting to untie the lacings of her corset…
~•••~
“Anna,” he whispered, a husky lilt to
his voice.
“Mr Boswel…” were the only words to
leave her lips as they lay lost in the moment, wrapped in each other’s arms.
“Stay here with me tonight.”
“Sir, I’ll be tellin’ y’, I’m
betrothed to another,” Anna replied, shedding tears of guilt while darting
around the room, recovering her garments.
Mr Boswel sighed. “An unfortunate
predicament in which you find yourself, my dear,” he said, lifting himself
slightly and leaning the weight of his body on his elbows, looking at her
earnestly while she dressed.
“Mr Boswel, yer reputation precedes
ye.”
“Perhaps, Anna, but they are just
empty conquests.”
“All but one, sir.” Anna paused,
awaiting his response, but the words she longed for were not forthcoming.
“This I cannot deny, but I would be
grateful if you were not to mention her name. She is now but a ghost from my past.”
“I must take yer leave, sir. I’ll be
missed.” Fear grew in her voice. “Mr Boswel, I ain’t gonna live a life with ye
as me guilty secret.”
“Well, Anna, that’s all I have
to offer you. At this present time you must be patient… I…”
Anna interrupted him before he could
continue. “Please, sir, I beg of ye, say no more. I think it best I bid ye
farewell.”
With that, she walked out of the room
and out of his life, sure that he was watching until she closed the door.
In 2010, Venessa Kimball was struck by an idea, A story that needed telling. Having always been passionate about the written word, Venessa embarked on writing what would become her Young Adult/Adult cross-over debut novel; Piercing the Fold: Book 1, a mature young adult/ adult crossover, paranormal, science fiction series. July 2, 2012, Venessa Kimball independently published the first book in the Piercing the Fold series. Book 2, Surfacing the Rim, released as a self-published novel on March 14, 2013. In August of 2013, Venessa joined the independent publishing house, Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly. The Piercing the Fold series has been re-published with them. Piercing the Fold: Book 1 was published on September 3, 2013 Surfacing the Rim: Book 2 re-published on September 24, 2013 and Ascending the Veil: Book 3 published for the first time November 2013. The fourth book in the series, Transcending the Legacy: Book 4, will release May 2014 with Crushing Hearts and Black Butterfly Publishing House. As for the future, Venessa is already filling her Work-In-Progress folder with numerous projects. Two of her future projects are Adult contemporary fiction and Adult Paranormal/ Sci-Fi. They both will reflect her diversity as a writer in other genres. When Venessa is not writing, she is keeping active with her husband and three children, chauffeuring said children to extracurricular activities, catching a movie with her hubby or kids, and staying up way too late reading.
