IS MARRIAGE A BLESSING OR A CURSE?
A man of honor, Alexander Hallworth, Marquess of Pembrooke, will not rest until he exacts revenge on the man who destroyed his family. Just one more piece must fall into place for him to succeed he needs to convince his enemy s fiancee, the tragically beautiful Lady Claire Cavensham, to marry him instead.
Lady Claire s curse has always left her one misstep away from social ruin her past three engagements have gone awry, and now her fourth is headed in the same direction. . .until Alex, a man she barely even knows, shocks the ton and Claire by announcing their engagement. What begins as a sham turns into something deeper, and more passionate, than either Claire or Alex could have imagined. But when their secrets are revealed, will the truth behind their union scandalize them both or is their love strong enough to break the curse and lead them toward their happily ever after?
“Full-bodied romance...with intelligence and heart."—Cathy Maxwell
"Captivating characters and a romance that sizzles."—Eloisa James"Will leave you swooning."—Sabrina Jeffries
The Bad Luck Bride is the first in a new Regency romance series from Janna MacGregor!

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Excerpt
Alex smiled in earnest. “I would never allow you to be humiliated in
front of society. I’m trying to help you.” Somehow, he had to convince her of
that fact, then the idea of marrying him would be much easier to accept.
She blinked rapidly, then turned back to him and, for an instant,
appeared startled to see him there. “That’s very gallant, my lord. Truly, thank
you for the effort. But I must leave.”
This night could not end with her escaping, so he tried another
tactic. “You need to protect your Wrenwood estate and your wealth from lechers
who would feed upon your vulnerability. Not to mention stop that ridiculous
curse.”
“I have two.” She held up two gloved fingers.
“Two? Two what? Curses?” No one at his club had uttered a peep about
another curse.
“Estates. I have two estates, Wrenwood and Lockhart.” She returned
his stare.
Her answer was unexpected, but his business experience had taught
him to show nothing. The report from his private investigator had not mentioned
additional properties. Thoughts were percolating if she chose to disclose this
information.
A razor of lightning split the sky. She flinched and took a step
closer to him, but her reaction had nothing to do with him. It was the storm.
Her gaze darted to the exit of the alcove, then she returned her
attention to him. With a slight shrug of her shoulders, his evening jacket fell
into her hands. She offered it to him. “My lord, good night.” Outside their
hideaway, the voices of a man and a woman floated in the air.
Alex put his hand on her shoulder to prevent her escape. “Will you
give me some assistance? I seem to have lost my valet.” He quirked an eyebrow.
“Besides, if you leave now, whoever is out there will see us.”
She ventured a halfhearted grin and held his jacket in two hands.
With a little persistence, he wrestled his way into the evening coat. Her hands
smoothed the material across his shoulders and back, causing a pleasant
sensation to cascade through him at the slight touch.
Claire took several steps toward the pathway. In a flash, he moved
beside her and grasped her elbow. When he brought her close, something flared
between them as he gazed into her haunted eyes. Whether the desire to keep her
next to him was passion or the need to protect a vulnerable woman made little
difference. He pulled her into the shadows and brought his mouth to her ear.
“Wait until they pass.” The warmth from her skin beckoned.
A flash of lightning lit the gardens and the alcove.
With a gentle hand, he pushed her against the wall and stood to the
side so he blocked her body from view.
A clap of thunder cracked as if the sky were breaking. It rolled
into a loud rumble that refused to die.
“Please.” Her whisper grew ragged as she struggled for breath. In
one fluid motion, she pulled the lapels of his evening coat toward her. She
buried her face against his chest and pressed the rest of her body to his,
almost as if she sought sanctuary inside. “Don’t leave me.” Her voice had
weakened, the sound fragile, as if she’d break into a million pieces.
“I won’t. I promise.” Alex pulled her tight. One hand sank into the
soft satin of her skirts while the other slid around the nape of her neck to
hold her close to his chest. It was the most natural thing in the world to hold
her. Her body fit perfectly against his.
With the slightest movement, she pulled away. Her eyes wildly
searched his. For what, he couldn’t fathom.
He lowered his mouth until his lips were mere inches from tasting
her. Madness had consumed him. All he wanted was to kiss her thoroughly until
she forgot her fear—until she forgot everything but him.
Her breath mingled with his, and the slight moan that escaped her
was intoxicating. Nothing in his entire life felt as right as this moment. He
bent to brush his lips against hers.
“Pembrooke? Have you seen Lady—”
Claire leaned back and released his lapels. Without her warmth, he
experienced a sudden loss of equilibrium. He turned with a snarl to greet the
intruders.
Immediately, Lord Fredrick Honeycutt and his sister, Lady Sophia,
took a step back as their eyes grew round as dinner plates.
The first to recover, Honeycutt announced, “I see you found Lady
Claire.” He bowed his head slightly, then lowered his voice. “The Duke of
Langham is looking for his niece and is directly behind us.”
A
sense of wariness flooded Alex’s mind when Claire’s uncle strolled forward and
came into sharp focus. As he stood, his feet spread shoulder width apart, the
duke’s presence commanded everyone’s attention. His visage held the hint of a
smile, but the two large fists resting by his sides were the real barometer of
his mood. “Claire, are you all right?” The affection in his voice was at odds
with the fury flashing in his eyes.
Copyright © 2017 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press.
Copyright © 2017 by the author and reprinted by permission of St. Martin’s Press.
Author Bio:
Janna MacGregor was born and raised in the bootheel of Missouri. She credits her darling mom for introducing her to the happily-ever-after world of romance novels. Janna writes stories where compelling and powerful heroines meet and fall in love with their equally matched heroes. She is the mother of triplets and lives in Kansas City with her very own dashing rogue, and two smug, but not surprisingly, perfect pugs. She loves to hear from readers. The Bad Luck Bride is her first novel.
Social Links:
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Twitter: @SMPRomance
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Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Pub Date: May, 2, 2017
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