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By: Jianne Carlo | Other books by Jianne Carlo
Categories: Erotic Romance, Erotica Fiction, Historical
Word Count: 25,739
Heat Level: SCORCHING
Published By: Etopia Press
Can the Peacemaker tame a warrior bride?
When Njal the Peacemaker meets his bride-to-be, she’s dressed in breeches, flaunting a crossbow, and covered in boar’s blood. What he needs is a woman skilled with words, a woman with exquisite manners, a cunning woman capable of maneuvering the political intrigue of a king’s court. Not this rough country lass whose skill with a crossbow rivals his.
Bettina has no desire to wed a peacemaker. She needs a Viking warrior who’ll strike fear into the hearts of her enemies, a man of strength who can thwart her step-uncle’s theft of her castle’s treasures. But Nyal the Peacemaker wields words, not weapons—until their wedding night proves he’s also a man of passion. Neither can resist the heat of their coupling, but can a man who values peace be enough for a warrior bride?
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The Peacemaker
Available in:
Adobe Acrobat, Microsoft Reader, HTML, Mobipocket, EPUB, Mobipocket
Price: $3.99
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Excerpt
“From whence came this cyrtel?” Bettina tugged at the low neckline of her dress to no avail. “You should have let me bind my breasts. They are overly large.” No matter how she arranged and rearranged her bosom, it refused to flatten. Indeed, the twin mounds seemed to have grown threefold since she last wore female garb.
“Trust me, dearest. There is no such thing as overly large or too plump breasts.” Mama fluffed the black lace lining the neckline and Bettina couldn’t hold back a giggle.
“That tickled.”
“’Tis a pity you were covered in boar’s blood the first time Lord Njal met you.”
Bettina shot a crooked half-smirk at Mama’s reflection in the looking glass. For some reason, the memory of her future husband’s horrified scowl when he discovered her identity pleased her.
“Boar’s blood, wearing the smith’s ratty breeches and stained tunic. Not to mention the muck from the pigsty on my boots.”
“Lord Njal will not recognize you this eve. You will have him and every man in the great hall salivating.”
“I do not recognize me.” Bettina wished she had Mama’s blue eyes and corn-silk hair, but she took after Papa and had his blue-black locks and dark eyes. “’Tis all for naught. Lord Njal cares only for his beloved treaty. I promise you he will not cast his eyes my way twice.” She fanned her face. “Pray open the shutters, Petalia, and let in some cool air.”
“You look beautiful, my lady.” Petalia climbed on the footstool to open the windows. “Like a princess.”
“The scarlet hue suits you, daughter.”
Mama settled a silver gyrdel at her waist.
Bettina toyed with the delicate metal links of the belt, fingering the carved dove clasp, and settled the hanging lengths so one hung lower than the other. She liked not symmetry and instead relished the wildness of disarray, preferring the beauty in the twists and knots of an ancient oak’s trunk to that of flowers carefully arranged in a pewter vase.
“’Tis exquisite.” Bettina rubbed a thumb over the rounded, clasped hands ending the chain girdle. “I have never seen this piece afore.”
“’Twas your father’s morning gift.”
“Mama, ’tis yours—”
“And my gift to you.” Mama squeezed her shoulder. “I wish you naught but joy in this union. Try to please Lord Njal this eve. Serve him from your trencher, laugh when he is witty, speak softly, and try not to flinch when he touches you. I have told you the all of it. ’Tis not easy to predict if a man will treat you gently or not. You cannot refuse him. And once the vows are said this eve, you are his.”
“Mama, you have told me that over and over.” She grasped her mother’s cold hands and rubbed them between hers. “I know you fear for me. I will not disgrace our name. I will not fight him. I will lie still and let him mount me.” It could not hurt more than being gored by a bull or an arrow in the shoulder.
“’Tis time. Forsooth, I would have this eve and this duty done with.” Bettina squared her shoulders and held her head high. “I am ready.”
There had been no time to do much to decorate the hall, but the cook’s son Luca, and all the keep’s children, had gathered pine and holly berries and made garlands for the high table. The innkeeper’s wife from three villages south had brought two barrels of ale. The boar she had caught the day before would feed the small crowd.
Bettina paused at the top of the staircase and stifled a groan when she spied a dozen neighbors gathered at tables on either side of the dais. She swept a glance around the wide hall, and the knitted muscles in her neck relaxed somewhat when she saw all appeared to be in order. Fresh rushes perfumed the chamber, blue and yellow plumes skipped low o’er the charred logs in the main hearth, and above the murmur of male and female voices she heard the melodious tune of the smith’s flute.
She must not let her mind wander this eve. Tonight she would bind her betrothed to her people.
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The Dragon Slayer - Viking Warriors 2
Jianne Carlo - Word Count: 20,938
(Published by: Etopia Press)
To save her sister, can Catriona slay the Dragon Slayer?
Ruard, the Viking warrior known as The Dragon Slayer, has no great hopes for the wife he’s to take as the lord of Dunnsmuir Castle, so long MORE...
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0 Ratings
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As Shaylee faces the world on her own will she be able to do it and still hold on to her magic?
Without Gorm, Shaylee is lost and alone in a coastal city where her dryad magic is weak and her frien MORE...
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(Published by: The Wild Rose Press)
When Serena Adams collided with a gorgeous young stranger on a crowded subway, nothing could have prepared her for the hottest ride of her life…
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4.5
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[Siren Classic: Erotic Contemporary Romance, Consensual BDSM, Public Exhibition]
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A sexy island paradise, a strong dominant lover… what more could a frigid girl want?
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4.4
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(Published by: Xcite Books Ltd)
An erotic short story by bestselling author Sommer Marsden.
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4.1
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4.3
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Always the bridesmaid, that’s what everyone says about dependable Jenna Smith. With her cousin’s wedding coming up and no boyfrie MORE...
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The Bear and the Bride - Viking Warriors 1
Jianne Carlo - Word Count: 15,892
(Published by: Etopia Press)
Jarl Torsten glimpses Ainslin of Durham, a recent widow with two sons, and immediately covets her for his wife. He outmaneuvers his rival, Ainslin’s neighbor Earl Sigrid, and receives the king’s b MORE...
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1.4
5 Ratings
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Amy is a waitress in a cocktail bar. Her life is going nowhere until the night the
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4.3
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The Christmas Season is always manic in A&E, but it’s nothing senior nurse Jo Micheals isn’t used to. Recently escaped from an abusive relationship with a violent ex, she’s looking forwards to a MORE...
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[Siren Classic: Erotic Historical Romance, Regency]
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Rogue werewolves… a mate who doesn’t like him… Trey Williams isn’t having a good day…
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