Verity, A Regency Romance, is a tale of desperate love, dark intrigue, ship wreckers, smugglers and the enigmatic Lord Draken Hazelmere. Verity Beresford, darling of Regency London, is forced by Lord Draken Hazelmere to travel to the Devonshire coast to nurse an invalid uncle. Along the way, she begins to fall in love with Draken. However, strange, evil events occur upon her arrival. Smugglers seem to be about. Someone tries to murder her uncle. Then a horrible ship wrecking occurs. Is Draken, now her new husband, the culprit? If so, he will hang for his crimes. Can Verity save him? A slightly sensual Regency Romance.
Verity, A Regency Romance, a tale of desperate love, dark intrigue, ship wreckers, smugglers and the enigmatic Lord Draken Hazelmere.
Verity Beresford, darling of Regency London, is forced by Lord Draken Hazelmere to travel to the Devonshire coast to nurse an invalid uncle. Along the way, she begins to fall in love with Draken. However, strange, evil events occur upon her arrival. Smugglers seem to be about. Someone tries to murder her uncle. She sees a strange fire burning one stormy night on the clifftops. And all during this, she is falling in love with Draken, but he acts so strange at times, so severe, so distant. Still, she agrees to marry him.
Then a horrible ship wrecking occurs. Is Draken the culprit? Is her uncle involved? It would seem so. And if so, both he and Draken will hang for their crimes. Can Verity save them? To do so, she must find answers and quickly. Verity A slightly sensual Regency Romance.
Excerpt
Lord Hazelmere strode toward the sideboard. She watched him as he made his way across the room, relieved he now had his back to her. This way, Verity could study him more closely, without being caught staring again. His lithe movements reminded her of those of some caged animal.
The image of a panther sprung to her mind. Verity had seen one at a travelling show once, on display in Vauxhall Gardens. The black animal had paced back and forth in its iron cage, sinuous, muscled and all the time relentless in its motions. A crowd of onlookers had jeered at the creature from the safety beyond the bars of the animal’s prison.
This was how this man struck her. He seemed as relentless as that panther. However, she couldn’t imagine anyone daring to be so foolish as to jeer at him. Verity doubted if even bars would protect them under such circumstances. There was a dangerous quality about him, she decided. Verity could feel its presence like an aura about him.
She watched from her seat as he reached for an empty snifter. Then and without hesitation, he chose the bottle containing the brandy from amongst the large number of alcoholic beverages lining the top of the oak cabinet. Lord Hazelmere pulled the glass stopper, took a brief sniff of the decanter’s contents. As if deciding it passed judgment, he splashed a liberal amount of the tawny-coloured liquid into the glass.
He carried his drink back with him and then collapsed onto the chair. Slouching there, he sprawled his long legs out in front of him, muddy booted feet almost touching hers in a most intimate way. Lord Hazelmere cradled the drink in his lap. He again focused his attention upon her. Indigo eyes glittered by candlelight. He said nothing, just continued to regard her with a steadfast gaze, his eyes boring into her own.
Verity, made uncomfortable by this provocative stare, glanced away. She pretended to pick at some imaginary piece of lint from the quilt she clutched so tight to her person.
“Now, Lord Hazelmere,” she said at last, when the silence seemed in danger of stretching on forever. She managed to speak without directly looking at him. “Your news of my Uncle Ezekiel, please may I have it? Is he…is he…” She couldn’t bring herself to say the dreaded word.
“He is alive, Miss Beresford, never fear on that score, but he is in a bad way. That is why I have come, at his personal request. He is in dire need of you, wishes you to travel to Moorescombe and attend to him there as soon as possible.
Professional Reviews
Verity
Review by: Jana Stevens on Oct. 29, 2010 : Five Stars
R.R. Shelsky's, Verity, is a wonderful Regency Romance, but also serves as a good Historical Romance, as well. Shelsky has a talent for doing research, apparently, because this novel is lovingly painted in with those little details that make it all seem so real. From an out-of-date Spencer jacket, Verity is forced to use, to a jolting trip by coach to Devon, it all seems so real. Even the food, as described certainly seems appropriate to the period.
Verity is an intriguing book, with real characters who leap out at you, a plot that will most certainly hold your attention, and dialogue that seems just perfect for the period. This is a true Regency, folks, with a touch of sensuality. I loved Verity. You will, too.
If you lean to romances with a real plot, characters who will command your attention, and a heroine who is strong-willed and independent, despite the times (perhaps because of them), you'll enjoy Verity by R. R. Shelsky. B
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