Tag Archives: THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA

THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA – BOOK TOUR

The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Tour Graphic
THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA
R.C. Matthews
The Secrets of Chateau Swansea
Genre: Gothic Romance
Publication Date: October 1, 2018
A grisly murder leaves a haunted estate without an heir, and a powerful medium scrambles to find answers from beyond the grave.
Determined to escape the nightmarish memories of her childhood, heiress and psychic Maribeth Sommerset pursues the adventurous life of a psychic investigator, beginning with a murder and the spirits who hover behind at the haunted Chateau Swansea
Meanwhile, devoted steward of the chateau Arthur Dunn plays a dangerous game of deception to shield his employer’s good name, landing himself at the top of Maribeth’s suspect list.
Amid scandalous secrets and destructive lies, will Maribeth uncover the secrets of Chateau Swansea before the killer strikes again?
Don’t miss out on this thrilling Victorian gothic romance!
Purchase Links

Excerpt – The Orange Blossom Room

Arthur had assigned her to a child’s bedroom? Strolling farther inside, she picked up a book from the bedside table. Flipping to the first page, she read a few lines aloud. “The Owl and the Pussycat went to sea in a beautiful pea-green boat. They took some honey, and plenty of money, wrapped up in a five-pound note.”

Peals of laughter rang in her ears and warmth spread throughout her body. She closed her eyes, savoring the sense of happiness reverberating through her. The young girl who owned this book had cherished every word.

Hello, little girl, are you here? Come speak with me. We can be friends, if you like.

“A silly story, if ever there was one,” Arthur said, disturbing the quiet moment.

Maribeth grinned as she stroked her hand over the colorful illustration. “This was one of my favorites as a child, especially when a brooding pirate read it to me. Before meeting Eveline, my guardian—”

The steward’s brow shot up and she snapped her mouth shut, tossing the book onto the bed. She shouldn’t share such stories with a stranger. Better she get on with her purpose for being here. She turned her attention to unbuttoning her coat.

“Go on,” he said. “You had a fascinating childhood. I would love to hear more.”

Arthur leaned his shoulder against the wall, folding his arms over his chest while scrutinizing her. Why did he study her so intently with that enigmatic turn of his lips? Men never watched her every move with interest or engaged her in more than small talk. Her fingers trembled, and she looked away. Speaking about her childhood was out of the question.

“I’m told the daughter of Madame Brown favored that book as well,” he finally said.

“The child who slept here?” she asked.

The gleam in his eyes was inscrutable. “No one else has stayed overnight in this room since the child disappeared many years ago.”

Her chest tightened, and she swallowed past the bile rising in her throat. Something terrible had happened to the girl, every fiber of Maribeth’s being confirmed the truth of the matter.

“I thought perhaps…” The steward pressed his lips together as if thinking better of voicing his thoughts aloud, but the cat was out of the bag.

“You thought my sleeping in this room might nettle the ghost of her mother into seeking me out?”

He rubbed his jaw with a small measure of contrition reflected in his eyes. “Rather coldhearted of me, I suppose. Would you prefer accommodations in the servants’ quarters?”

“Certainly not.” As her gaze swept through the bedroom, a tingling foreboding grew in her belly. “Your intuition was spot on.”

“Does anything scare you, Maribeth?”

He sauntered behind her and peeled the coat off her shoulders. His left hand brushed hers as he tugged on one of the fitted sleeves. She held her breath, attuned in every way to his presence; his heady scent, the sound of his soft breathing, his body heat radiating on her back. She wanted…

She truly could not say. Her experiences with men outside her family circle were limited. But she had witnessed Edith with her husband in unguarded moments when they thought no one was looking. Did she wish Arthur would press his lips on her nape or steal a kiss?

Maybe.

“I have nothing to fear from the ghost of Madame Brown,” she said, turning to gaze up at him. But his nearness and the way he purred her name in that seductive baritone was more than a little unsettling. Ghosts rarely gave cause to be feared. But a handsome man who consumed her with every look…

He folded her coat and placed it on the end of the bed.

“I’ll settle in here later,” she said, clearing her throat. “What was the little girl’s name?”

“Ah, ah, ah.” He shook his head. “I’m afraid you must discover that on your own.”

Her eyes narrowed. “A test of my skills? I could simply inquire with Mrs. Hawkins.”

“But you won’t. I sense your pride doesn’t permit you to travel the easy route.” He smirked.

Bastard. Of course his observation was dead on. She dearly loved a challenge.

Book Tour Schedule

Follow the book tour from October 1 – 14, 2018.
Visit each tour stop daily and discover more features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and more!
To check the latest tour schedule, visit the The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Book Page at Book Unleashed.

About R.C. Matthews

R.C. Matthews

R.C. Matthews is the author of contemporary and historical romances featuring bold, sassy heroines and magnetic alpha heroes. Warning! The chemistry between her characters is off the charts hot, so read at your own risk. She resides in the Midwest and is surrounded by men: her husband and three sons. During her free time you’ll find her watching The Walking Dead, reading a fabulous book or hanging out with her family.
Official website: https://www.rcmatthews.com
Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

WIN FREE EBOOK BY R.C. MATTHEWS
The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Giveaway Graphic
Winner’s Prize:
Devil’s Core by R.C. Matthews (eBook) – The first book in a related series in which we first meet the heroine of The Secrets of Chateau Swansea when she is a little girl.
Contest runs from October 1 – 14, 2018.

In partnership with
Book Unleashed Logo

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THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA – Blitz

The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Tour Graphic
THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA
R.C. Matthews
The Secrets of Chateau Swansea
Genre: Gothic Romance
Publication Date: October 1, 2018
A grisly murder leaves a haunted estate without an heir, and a powerful medium scrambles to find answers from beyond the grave.
Determined to escape the nightmarish memories of her childhood, heiress and psychic Maribeth Sommerset pursues the adventurous life of a psychic investigator, beginning with a murder and the spirits who hover behind at the haunted Chateau Swansea
Meanwhile, devoted steward of the chateau Arthur Dunn plays a dangerous game of deception to shield his employer’s good name, landing himself at the top of Maribeth’s suspect list.
Amid scandalous secrets and destructive lies, will Maribeth uncover the secrets of Chateau Swansea before the killer strikes again?
Don’t miss out on this thrilling Victorian gothic romance!
Purchase Links

Book Excerpt

The Meet Cute
“Is that a dead body?” Edith suddenly whispered. “God in Heaven…”
Maribeth pounded her fist on the roof of the hired hack. “Stop the coach!” She grasped the handle to the door.
“What are you doing?” her friend shrieked, tugging on Maribeth’s sleeve. “We must leave at once. You heard the gentleman. The chateau is closed to visitors.”
But not investigators. This might be the luckiest evening of her existence. She had less than a month to prove to her guardian that she could support herself in her chosen path in life. A bit of rain and a bad-tempered servant wouldn’t hold her back.
“Wait here,” Maribeth said, jumping from the moving coach. “I’ll only be a moment.”
She lifted her skirt and trudged through the knee-length grass toward the men gathered near the pond. Goodness, but her dress was a nuisance. Before she managed five steps, someone caught her arm from behind and yanked her to a halt.
“Where do you think you’re headed?” The surly man from the road glared at her, his steely blue eyes boring into hers. He was so close she could make out the silver whiskers interspersed in his black sideburns.
“I beg your pardon,” she said, yanking free of his hold. “I’m here to offer my services. Where might I find the master of the house?”
“That’s enough, Webber,” another man said from behind. “I’ll handle this matter.”
Maribeth whirled around, coming face to face with none other than Mr. Dunn. What business did he have here? Not that she cared one whit about him, except that he owed her a favor. Webber’s footsteps receded behind her, and the odious man resumed barking orders for the coaches to evacuate the premises.
“I apologize if Webber alarmed you,” Mr. Dunn said, folding his arms at the base of his lower back. “The butler is distraught at present. What can I do for you, Miss…?”
“Maribeth Sommerset,” she said with a lift of her chin. “And you are Mr. Dunn. You stole my hired hack earlier at the Inn at Oxwich. Don’t even try to deny it. The bellman confirmed the truth. That wasn’t well done of you!”
His eyebrows lifted, and a spark of amusement ignited in his lovely brown eyes. “I beg to differ, madam. Hired hacks are, by definition, ‘for hire.’ The driver accepted my generous offer to pay a premium fare.”
Cheeky fellow. Men shouldn’t steal coaches from ladies. His mama would be appalled by his behavior.
“Even so,” she said, tugging on her gloves, “I’m sure the bellman informed you that the hack was ordered by me and my dear friend. You should be ashamed of yourself.”
He coughed into his hand and glanced away, but not before she saw the undeniable curve of his lips. Running off with a lady’s carriage wasn’t amusing. After months of planning this trip, she’d almost missed her opportunity to tour Chateau Swansea on his account.
“Excuse me,” he said, meeting her gaze once again. “I do apologize for any inconvenience. I’m the steward of Chateau Swansea and had urgent business to attend here.”
Steward. Well, that changed everything. He was the right-hand man of the master of the estate. Bloody hell. Had she offended him with her quick temper? She dug inside her handbag and plucked out one of her trade cards.
“Apology accepted,” she said with a smile. There was no reason to quibble over a silly coach. She thrust the card into his hand. “As I said, I’m Miss Maribeth Sommerset. Private psychic investigator, at your service.” She gestured to the group of men near the pond. “I communicate with the dead. I’m staying at the Inn at Oxwich through Saturday should you need my assistance. My rates are reasonable and negotiable.”

Book Tour Schedule

Follow the book tour from October 1 – 14, 2018.
Visit each tour stop daily and discover more features, excerpts, reviews, interviews, fun facts and more!
To check the latest tour schedule, visit the The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Book Page at Book Unleashed.

About R.C. Matthews

R.C. Matthews

R.C. Matthews is the author of contemporary and historical romances featuring bold, sassy heroines and magnetic alpha heroes. Warning! The chemistry between her characters is off the charts hot, so read at your own risk. She resides in the Midwest and is surrounded by men: her husband and three sons. During her free time you’ll find her watching The Walking Dead, reading a fabulous book or hanging out with her family.
Official website: https://www.rcmatthews.com
Social Media Links: Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads

Giveaway

WIN FREE EBOOK BY R.C. MATTHEWS
The Secrets of Chateau Swansea Giveaway Graphic
Winner’s Prize:
Devil’s Core by R.C. Matthews (eBook) – The first book in a related series in which we first meet the heroine of The Secrets of Chateau Swansea when she is a little girl.
Contest runs from October 1 – 14, 2018.

In partnership with
Book Unleashed Logo

Comments Off on THE SECRETS OF CHATEAU SWANSEA – Blitz

Filed under BOOKS