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Laura Kate Plantation Series Book II: Honored Daughters
Manufacturer: Gerrie Ferris
ISBN: 978-1-936000-18-0
Length:
Novel
Category:
Suspense
Rating:
Sweet
Photography/Artwork:
Jenifer Ranieri
Release Date:
October 2009
Price: $5.99
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While Jack Rhodes is in London, Laura Kate O'Connell is tussling with a life-changing decision. Jack has asked her to marry him. Love him as she does, marriage and babies has never been in her life plan.
A law enforcement agent asks Laura Kate to find out who killed his niece, one of several students at Honored Daughters who have died mysteriously. Jack can't know she's involved, or he'd be on the next plane home. To complicate the situation, a former soldier-turned-militia-organizer, Pearse Macaula, falls for and stalks her. He's dangerous, but did he murder the Honored Daughters girls? She must trust him to find out, while brushing off his advances. This is a man who always gets his way. Will he try to kill her if he can't have her? It's a chance she has to take.
EXCERPT
The phone rang. Although she was standing on the landing near the second-floor telephone, anticipating the call, she let Brewster answer it in the hall below. It was a duty he loved to hate. The modern intrusion was an anathema to him as it had been for her aunt, but Laura Kate liked her telephones at hand. So far, historic gentility kept her from outfitting the rooms in the 18th century mansion like a hotel.
Brewster had, as usual, exchanged pleasantries with Jack. She suspected that Brewster was secretly worried that one day Jack would replace him as head of the household, but that wasn't going to happen. Brewster would always be in charge of the big house. Jack owned a fine old mansion in Savannah with a bevy of servants, too. If they married ¿ No, when ¿ they married they'd be flying across the state from Roston to Savannah, sharing their homes and their lives. It was a wonderful prospect. It's a no-going-back prospect.
Brewster's deliberate steps ascended the stairs to alert her that Jack was indeed on the telephone. Hundreds of butterflies chose that time to invade her abdomen. So much going on, so much to decide, so much to tell. Oh no, no telling.
"What's up, my love," Jack asked. Her heart beat faster as she saw him in her mind: perfectly barbered black hair going silver, provocative dark eyes crinkling when he laughed -- which he did often -- his lips twisting pleasurably with every word out of his mouth.
She steadied herself. "Jack."
"Are you all right?" he asked.
"Oh yes, it's just¿ it's wonderful to hear your voice."
"It's wonderful to hear yours, too. I only wish I was hearing it while you're standing next to me."
Jack had begged her to go to England with him, but she demurred, looking forward to time away from him to collect her thoughts. Their love affair had been a torrid whirlwind for four months -- from the moment they'd met. It was a delicious time, full of lovemaking and happiness. But along with the passion he gave, he wanted a promise.
"It won't be long, you'll be home. I can't wait."
"Me neither. How are things settling in now you're back from Wyoming?"
Sighing, she said, "Back to the same ol', same ol'."
"If you'd come with me, we could be spending the afternoon at Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum."
"Been there."
"Or the Victoria and Albert Museum."
"Done that."
"And later having tea with the Queen."
"Uh..."
"It's true."
"Are you serious?"
"As a crumpet."
"Damn, why didn't you tell me? Is it too late?"
"I'll send the Concorde."
"I'll alert the Roston Airfield to get the commuters off the runways."
"The commuter off the runway."
Laughing, she said, "Alas, the Concorde's grounded forever and I haven't a thing to wear."
"That's even better. We won't go anywhere. I love you."
Feeling his love coming through the line in unremitting and shimmering waves, she said, "Oh Jack, I love you, too."
"I'm here another ten days. Come over."
"Ah, I can't."
"I detect there's a reason, maybe devious?"
"Nothing devious. The girls. School."
"Brewster and Louisa would be more than happy to wish you bon voyage and see to the girls."
"He doesn't like their doing kata."
"So for ten days they can roll up the karate mat and take ballet."
"Jack ¿ I simply can't."
"You won't."
"I can't."
"Well," he said, "have you given thought to my -- ah -- invitation?" He was asking if she'd made up her mind to marry him yet.
She evaded the question. "You mean to that awful cotillion you want to take me to on May Day?"
"You witch," he laughed. "Why can't I get a straight answer from you? I love you. I can't think straight. You've got me babbling."
"The renowned Jackson Rhodes babbling?" she kidded. "The Orator of Georgia babbling?"
"Ask anyone here. They think I've gone nuts."
She was on the edge of a great chasm, longing to leap in, and longing to leap over. "I miss you," she said.
"I can't think how I'm going to get through these coming days without you, but if you won't change your mind and fly to me, I guess I'll have to muddle through, as the English say."
"Darling, you are sublime."
"Sublime, eh? I love it when you talk high brow. Now, it's about time for me to get ready to do my personal best for the queen's dog and pony show."
"You'll wow the purse right off her arm."
He laughed. "Kisses to the girls."
"I love you."
"I adore you."
When she cradled the receiver, things around her shifted as if the room's kaleidoscope had been turned half a degree. Weak-kneed, she folded herself into the nearest chair. It took a few moments to unscramble her nerves and get her breathing calmed, then she thought of the day ahead -- of what she was planning and what she hadn't told Jack.
She'd deceived him.
No!
Yes.
The urge to call him back swept through her. Tell him that you're involved in a murder case. No. He'd be on the next plane home. Getting to her feet, she thought, well, he didn't specifically ask what I was going to do today, did he?
"Ferris has a distinctive voice, giving Honored Daughters a continuous, rather evocative aura. She creates a time, a place, and a series of characters that seem utterly original, yet also familiar and appealing. There are some seriously suspenseful moments, as well as more tender times; and the mystery is a real mystery, both intriguing and heart-wrenching from the start."
Snapdragon - Long and Short Reviews
Rating = 4 Books
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