Angelina's Secret
The Jeweled Dagger Series Book 1
by Diane Merril Wigginton
Genre: Historical Romance
Would you keep a secret to save someone you barely know?
Angelina Stewart is a beautiful, bold, independent woman hiding a terrible secret. After returning home from a sea voyage, she is touted as a hero for saving her family’s ship and crew from a band of ruthless pirates, but Angelina feels like such a fraud.
At the same time, her psychic abilities are becoming more pronounced as she attempts to unravel the mystery of London’s gruesome murders before she becomes the killer's next victim.
>>>Captain Jude Deveraux is leading a double life
He and his band of French privateers steal, rob and plunder unsuspecting ships that have the misfortune of wandering into their domain. Awarded a title by the King of France for bravery during battle, The Duke of Bayonne, A.K.A. Pirate Captain, Jude Deveraux, takes what he wants from the world as he and his best friend, Honore live each day as if it were their last.
That is until the day Jude discovers that the only thing he truly wants is to capture the untamed heart of fiery tempered, Lady Stewart for his own.
>>>Angelina's Secret is the unforgettable introduction to the "Jeweled Dagger" series
Isabella's Heart
The Jeweled Dagger Series Book 2
Haunted by a disturbing dream, she must face evils beyond her imagination
It is 1783 England and Isabella Deveraux is an independent, fearless young woman who has hardened her heart to everyone that mattered to her, until the night she experiences a disturbing dream about her twin brother, Charlie, on the eve of their 19th birthday. Charlie and his school mates have been abducted by the devil incarnate and she is resolved to do what ever it takes to save him, even if that means reconciling with her estranged family and placing her faith and life in the hands of an intimidating Irish mercenary Captain.
>>>A mercenary who will do just about anything, for the right price
Captain Aiden Townsend is more than willing to save the lives of three privileged schoolboys, for the right price. Jaded by his own devastating loss, Aiden has worked hard to keep his distance from the female persuasion until he is introduced to Lady Isabella Deveraux. As he sails his ship from England to Dublin, with the beautiful Lady Deveraux aboard, he formulates a plan to help her. But if his plan is to work, he must break through the walls that surround her heart while tearing down a few of his own.
Olivia's Promise
The Jeweled Dagger Series Book 3
How far would you go to save your best friend from a fate worse than death?
Olivia Townsend is willing to do whatever it takes to save Lilly from just such a fate.
The year is 1804 and Lady Olivia Sophia Allen Townsend has just turned 20 years old. She is beautiful, well-educated and considered by some in polite society to be far too eccentric for her own good. When Olivia was younger, she was very open about her gift. She is not only able to see spirits, but she can talk to them as well. Being shunned by her peers has caused Olivia to turn her back on those who need her the most - spirits caught between two worlds. That is until her best friend Lilly Collins comes to her in the middle of the night and asks for her help. Lilly can’t remember what happened to her and finds herself in need of Olivia’s unique gifts.
>>>Across the sea
Olivia’s younger sister, Coco, is also gifted with a unique set of skills - she can touch someone and know things about them that they would sometimes prefer to keep hidden. Together, the sisters set off on a sea voyage, from Ireland to America, intent on solving the mystery of Lilly’s untimely death.
>>>Southern elites, heirs to an empire
Brody and Quinton Beaumont are fine-looking, eligible, southern gentlemen, and heirs to a successful cotton empire. They also happen to be twins, hiding a deep dark secret. Their mother, Annabelle Beaumont, died eight years earlier on the night of their annual birthday winter ball, yet she continues to rule over their plantation home with an iron fist.
Olivia, who has never been drawn to any man, feels an undeniable connection to Brody Beaumont, but first, she must figure out if she can trust him, and if he or his twin brother Quinton had anything to do with Lilly’s death.
Lara's Story
by by Diane Merril Wigginton
Genre: Historical Romance
SHATTERED BY HEARTBREAK
“When a heart breaks, it does not break evenly, cleaving in half exactly down the middle.”
Surrounded by her large, boisterous family in 1840s Ireland, Lara Flannigan has never known anything but love and belonging—until the day tragedy strikes, leaving her abandoned and forced into indentured servitude.
REMADE IN A NEW WORLD.
Just when all hope seems lost, Lara is discovered by a childless American couple, visiting Ireland to aid in the famine-relief effort. With barely a chance to look back, she’s swept away to a bustling new continent—and a dizzying new reality. One of petticoats, opulent townhouses, and the cold reaches of Philadelphia high society. Desperate for a future, Lara works tirelessly to fit into her new life... while still haunted by a past that won’t let her go. Set in a fascinating historical period, Lara’s Story is a gripping young adult novel that explores the strength of the human spirit and the power of forgiveness to heal a broken heart.
Angelina’s Secret Book Excerpts
#1
I
was blessed to have twin brothers, Charlie and Jonathan, who had come into this
world five years earlier and were as close as two brothers born of the same
womb could be. They did everything together and were normal, rambunctious, five-year-old
boys unaware of matters and circumstances beyond their little world.
Mother was a beautiful woman in her own right, and in a time
when women were revered for their beauty and little else, my mother was a
phenomenon. She was a smart, intelligent woman prone to show her witty nature.
But Mother had a secret, a sixth sense about things that happened or were about
to happen, and she was never wrong.
She told me once that certain gifts ran in our family and
that I should always trust my instincts. At the time I was too young to
understand what she was trying to say to me. It wasn’t until many years later
her words to me made sense.
But I seem to be getting ahead of myself in the telling of my
story. Something happened shortly after my birth that changed our family
dynamics forever. Some say that a tragedy changes things for the worse, ripping
the very foundation of a family. But I attest to you that tragedy only makes
the strong things stronger and can bind a family together forever—eternally,
linking everyone concerned like stitches of a tapestry tightly woven together
for the betterment of all concerned. And so I tell you my tale of tragedy and
adventure that leads to a great love so intricately woven through time that the
bonds will never be broken.
As I looked about the room, I spotted Mary Wheatly, the bane
of my existence. We went to school together. I thought her mean-spirited then
and even more so now.
Her father, George, and mother, Prudence, owned two dress
shops in the high-rent districts of London along with a millinery factory and
two millinery shops: one for men’s hat needs, the other for fashionably
well-paying ladies. They’d made their money by catering to the wealthy.
Mary was pleasant enough to look at, with her stylish blond
curls fashioned high upon her head, and powdered. Personally, I prefer natural
hair without all the goopy grease to make the powder stick. But then again,
most people refuse to bathe, opting instead to douse themselves in perfumes,
finding this a satisfactory option to washing. That’s when fans and scented
hankies come in handy.
As I was saying, Mary was pleasant enough to look at if it
wasn’t for her ghastly smile, and voice. Her voice was like two alley cats
fighting it out in the middle of the night. It was so unexpected that it grated
on the ears. Bad teeth and grating voice aside, my biggest objection of her was
her attitude toward the so-called unwashed masses. Those Mary had deemed
unworthy of her compassion and of little consequence to society.
The one person I do love beyond all else in this world is
Sarah Burgess, my best friend. We grew up together as neighbors in London. Her
father, Lord Burgess, was a member of the House of Lords at Parliament. He made
his money the old-fashioned way. He married it.
Sarah was presently seated right next to Mary Wheatly,
attempting to look interested in something the old girl was saying. Sarah’s
delicate blue eyes caught mine from across the room as she pleaded with me to
save her.
Feigning as if I were going to leave her in her present
circumstance, I broke out the fan and began to fan myself until I noticed the
daggers reflected in her eyes shooting my way.
Deciding Sarah had endured enough torture for one afternoon,
I smiled and nodded to her, giving our well-practiced signal that help was on
the way. I took a turn around the pastry table, picking out a lovely dish with
the most scrumptious-looking piece of confectionery delight. With barely a
misstep, I picked up the plate, fork, and napkin in one fell swoop and continued
on my journey. I was on a mission of mercy and would not be diverted.
“Good day to you, Mary, have you tasted the scrumptious lemon
cake yet? It is simply the best I have ever tried. Could I borrow Lady Burgess
for a moment? I am in dire need of her opinion on something very important.
Thank you so much.” Ambushing Mary quickly, and before she had the opportunity
to gather her wits about her, I deposited the plate in her hand without even
waiting for an answer, while pulling Sarah from the settee with my other hand.
“Of course, a piece of lemon cake would be lovely, thank you,
Lady Stewart,” Mary replied, with a rather puzzled look on her face.
“Please excuse us,” I sweetly offered as I turned my back to
her.
Before our captain and crew could fully react to defend
themselves, the ship had been boarded and taken over by the band of pirates.
While everyone was distracted, Jamie had pushed me behind him
and was backing up toward a long boat turned over on deck. He pushed me down
and said, “Don’t come out for anything.” Then he stepped away.
A scream caught in my
throat as panic and fear combined to keep me frozen. I couldn’t breathe, and my
brain went numb. I could barely comprehend what was happening. I wanted to run
after Uncle Jamie and pull him under the boat with me.
Then out of the chaos and noise, there came a hush on the
deck. I wanted to sneak a look, but sheer panic kept me frozen to the spot.
“We are privateers, and we are seizing the contents of this
ship. If you cooperate, no one will be hurt. We don’t wish to make anyone’s
wife a widow today, so follow orders, and everyone will make it out alive,” the
man said in perfect English with a hint of a foreign accent.
“Is everyone accounted
for? We wouldn’t want anyone to miss out on all the fun now, would we, boys?”
The man asked boldly as he walked about my family’s ship. “Come on now, speak
up. You there, in the fancy clothes
with
your fancy boots, step forward,” he ordered. “What is your name?” the leader
said, pointing to Uncle Jamie.
“James Stewart, my good man, what can I do for you today?”
Jamie said, stepping forward, trying to sound jovial and upbeat for someone
whose ship had just been boarded by pirates.
“Are there any others who might be hiding about this ship? Be
quick about it, man, or it will cost you your life,” he said with an undertone
of threat laced in his words.
The sound of his boots hitting the boards of the deck grated
on my raw nerves as he passed several times by the overturned boat I was hiding
under. My pulse quickened even more, and I was like a trapped rabbit with
nowhere to run.
As Jamie stammered for an answer, the boat I was hiding under
was suddenly gone. I looked up to see a hulk of a man lifting the small craft
with one hand and reaching down to take hold of my arm with the other. He
yanked me upright and to my feet as I screamed in surprise. Dropping the boat
and pulling me against him, he pinned my one arm behind my back. I feared my
legs would give out as I started to see stars. Everything moved in slow motion,
including my brain.
Standing, I took several deep breaths to calm my racing heart
and clear my head. I mustered the will to be strong and face this beast dressed
as a man. Turning my face upward, I squared my shoulders and willed myself not
to flinch or look away. With my best defiant stare, I put my free hand against
his chest and gave a little rebellious shove against his chest.
“Good, sir, if you would please unhand me, I would greatly
appreciate it,” I said as my voice shook only slightly, trying not to give away
my total disdain for him.
Releasing my trapped arm and stepping back a bit, he gave me
a polite bow and said in a mocking voice, “Forgive me, my lady, if I did
offend.”
He wore well-made black boots that hugged his calves and came
just above his knees. His breaches were tan in color and formed around his
muscular thighs. His crisp white shirt, which hung open at the neck, was belted
at his waist.
My eyes made their way with effort to his bearded face, for
he was taller than most. Our eyes connected, and I felt a slight moment of
trepidation as the hair on the nape of my neck stood on end. I was staring into
the bluest eyes I had ever seen. They were the color of sapphires as they
burned a hole straight through me.
His hair was completely covered by a red scarf, but I could
tell it was black and very long, and he wore another scarf across his face.
We stood there for a moment assessing each other without a
word. It was as if time had momentarily stopped. “Throw him overboard,” he
said, pointing his finger at Jamie while still holding my gaze.
“No. Stop! I beg you don’t hurt him,” I screamed as panic
rose in my throat.
“So you wish to save your lover,” he said with sarcasm
dripping from his lips.
I suddenly began to laugh. I don’t know why I did it, but I
did. Maybe it was stress getting the better of me. Maybe my circumstance was
too bizarre. I was trapped on a ship in the middle of the ocean by a man who
had held me so tightly I could smell the soap he used to bathe with that day.
The thought of a pirate taking a bath before raiding a ship was, well, funny to
me. Then he subtly raised an eyebrow as he grabbed me again and gave me a
little shake. Maybe he thought I had suddenly lost my faculties and gone stark
raving mad.
Copper-colored hair spilled loose from its constraint and
tumbled down my shoulders and back as I suddenly came to my senses. After all,
I was surrounded by pirates.
Uncle Jamie stepped forward. “Stop that and unhand her,” he
demanded, trying to pull me free from the pirate, for which he was rewarded
with a kick to the back of the knees dropping him down on all fours. Then
another pirate knocked him out with a punch to the face.
I screamed, pulling my arm from his grasp and ran toward
Uncle Jamie. Two more pirates impeded my progress. With angry tears in my eyes,
I turned back to the leader. My blood boiling now, I did not care what happened
to me, but I would protect my family at all cost.
“He is my uncle, and this is our family’s ship. It carries
nothing more exciting than some textiles we make in our factory,” I said.
My anger barely contained as I spat the words at him, pulling
my arms free from the two men and making my way back to where he stood. “I
hardly think you will get rich off of the haul you take from us today, but you
are welcome to it,” I finished saying, as I now stood toe to toe with him,
defiance reflected in my eyes.
I turned on my heels and headed in the opposite direction
passing our table. I just kept going. I needed some air, which was funny
because the enormous dance floor was outdoors.
The gardens were alight with thousands of lanterns, and I
needed distance. I headed toward the topiaries at the other end of the royal
gardens and as far away from Jude as I could get. Anger mingled with
humiliation fueled my escape. I could hear Jude behind me, but I didn’t slow
down. Breathing hard at this point because I was nearly running and my tight
corset restricted my ability to breathe deeply, I didn’t even know exactly what
it was that I was running from. I just knew I needed space.
When he grabbed my arm, I came to a sudden stop as I gasped
for air. Jude grasped my shoulders, shaking me like a rag doll. My wig toppled
to the ground and pins flew as copper strands tumbled down, spilling over my
shoulders.
“Why didn’t you stop? Didn’t you hear me calling after you?
What is wrong?” Jude’s anger was mixed with frustration as he tried to make
sense of his own feelings.
“Help me, please. I cannot breathe,” My words came out in
short gasps for air before I went limp. Spinning me around while holding me
against his left arm, he proceeded to unlace the top portion of my gown.
Reaching into the pocket of my gown, he retrieved the dagger and cut the top
laces of my corset. The air flooded into my lungs in one giant gasp as my knees
gave out. Placing the dagger between his teeth, he picked me up in his arms,
like one would a hurt child, and carried me toward a bench void of light. It
was probably extinguished by the bench’s previous occupants.
Shadows playing across his face made him look ruthless and
savage. I had to blink twice for I thought my eyes deceived me. Gently placing
me on the bench he kneeled down. Retrieving the sheath from my pocket, he
placed it on the end of the dagger and put it back into my pocket.
“You can really never tell when these things will come in
handy.” He patted the dagger that lay in my pocket against my leg. “Good thing
you took your brother’s advice.”
“How did you know I had it on me?” Astonishment showing on my
face.
“I felt it when we were dancing,” he answered offhandedly.
“Is it often you hold a woman so closely while dancing that
you know exactly what she carries in her dress pocket?” I asked slightly
scandalized by his admission.
“You can lose the disapproving tone, if you please. It isn’t
often that I have the need to hold a woman so closely. They usually press in on
me,” he added, feeling rather full of himself.
“Hah . . . you have rather a high opinion of yourself.” I
found his attitude grating on my nerves. Abruptly standing to leave, I took
three steps before remembering my dress was undone
“I heard no protests from you while we were dancing.”
Whirling around, I fixed him with an angry scowl. “I couldn’t
protest since your arm was cutting off my circulation, you pompous toad.” I
turned around presenting my back to him and indicating my need by pointing to
my dress where it gaped open. “Assistance, please.”
“Toads don’t have thumbs.” Playing the fool, he held his
hands up as if all his digits were stuck together.
I turned on him with hands on my hips. “You have some nerve,
Jude Deveraux, or would Judas be a more appropriate name for you?”
I angrily said through clenched teeth so mad that I would swear steam
escaped from my ears.
“You have so many moods it is difficult to pick just which
one is my favorite.” His arm snaked out ensnaring me tightly against his taut
form. Tipping my head back with his free hand under my chin his kiss was tender
and passionate at the same time. He tasted of red wine and sensuality and
something so familiar.
Then it hit me. Those gloriously full lips had kissed me
before. Opening my eyes and pulling back as my hands furiously worked to untie
his cravat and open his shirt.
“Slow down, my pet, I enjoy enthusiasm but there are limits
to even my self-control,” Jude said in his thick French accent which I
discovered came out when he was amorous.
Reaching my hands beneath the collar of his crisp white linen
shirt, I worked one hand over his chest as my other hand sought out his left
shoulder. Every scar just as I had remembered them, but the left shoulder would
be the tell.
“Ah hah! It was you all along, I knew it! And you tried to
tell me I was mistaken.” I pushed hard against his chest to free myself from
our entanglement. I paced back and forth in front of him, as I proceeded to
berate his good name and parentage in the process. I turned to face him
squarely now with hands on hips and eyes shooting daggers at him.
“You lied to me. You tried to make me think that I had lost
my mind because I said that the pirate captain and Jude Deveraux, the Duke of
Bayonne, was one in the same. And yet here you are, and much to my surprise you
are the very same! Care to explain yourself, Monsieur Deveraux?” My breathing
labored heavily, so filled with anger I struggled to catch my breath.
“Ma belle Ange, you truly are an angel,” Jude purred the
words. “You now know my secret and the question that lies between us is what will
you do with that knowledge?” He stood silently in front of me for a moment,
then dropped to one knee. “My life is now in your hands, ma amour.”
My anger suddenly dissipating like water on a roof of a hot
summer day. The very thought of never being with him or touching him again
weighed heavy on my heart. My breathing came in short bursts now for a
different reason.
“No! Don’t you start with your French and your sincere eyes.
How could you?” A small scream mixed with a growl of frustration omitted from my
throat as I clenched and unclenched my hands by my side, trying desperately to
think.
Walking over to him, I placed my hands on his face, tilting
it up to mine. “I have not breathed deeply since the day you left me on the
deck of that ship, and sailed away.” Tears springing to my eyes as one single
tear escaped making a trail down my cheek. “I believed I would never see you
again and my heart broke that day,” I confessed, while tears spilled from my
eyes as I spoke what was truly in my heart. “Then like a dream you came
strolling up one day, unconstrained, giving me a shock only to deny the truth.
My imprisoned heart cannot take any more lies. I implore you take my heart or
lock it away forever, never to be used again.” And with that, Jude wrapped one
arm around my waist as he gently caressed my face.
“You truly are a remarkable woman.”
Our lips touched gently at first, as I reached up, releasing
his hair from its tie and threading my fingers through it pulling him even
closer still. My desire was igniting deep inside of me as a moan escaped from
Jude’s throat. Lifting me in his arms, he began to look around as I rained
kisses on his neck and face.
I could tell we were moving but in what direction I did not
care.
What inspired you to write this book?
Answer:
When I sat down to write, Angelina’s Secret, I wanted to write a grand love
story that incorporated adventure and suspense into the story line. Then when
the idea formed for the second book, Isabella’s Heart, I just wanted to carry
that same line of thinking in the plot. And you can’t have a series without
writing at least three books, so I wrote Olivia’s Promise. After writing the
three books I felt very accomplished and went on to write, Lara’s Story, about
an Irish Immigrant who came to America during the Great Famine. It’s rich in
culture, visualization and emotion.
What can we expect from you in the future?
Answer:
I’ve just finished a Modern Romance and I am working on a Suspense/Thriller.
The Modern Romance is complete and edited and I am currently getting ready to
shop it around to agents.
Can you tell us a little bit about the characters in the
Jeweled Dagger Series?
Answer:
Book 1 of The Jeweled Dagger Series are of course Angelina, who is stubborn,
loyal, smart, witty and strong willed, and determined that she will never be
possessed by any man because they are a bunch useless men, her father, brother
and uncle are the exceptions to this rule of thumb.
Captain
Jude Deveraux is a pirate and part of the French gentry. He’s strong,
determined and usually gets what he wants, that is until Angelina comes along.
He is smitten from the start and pursues her to England where he was educated
so he knows how to blend in.
How did you come up with the concept and characters for
the book?
Answer:
It came to me in a dream. When I would get stuck, A.K.A. writers block, I would
take a hot bath or go to bed and ponder the problem as I fell asleep and the
answer would come to me. I don’t do outlines because I want to be as surprised
by the twists and turns as my readers are.
Where did you come up with the names in the story?
Answer:
It was about the secrets that Angelina was forced to keep, to protect the one
man she found herself in love with and couldn’t live without, A.K.A,
“Angelina’s Secret.”
What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
Answer:
How it made me feel to get the words out there, and how freeing it felt to open
up my heart and express my feelings and emotions so freely on the page.
Who designed your book covers?
Answer:
I found a company called, IzzardInk and they helped me put it all together.
Are your characters based off real people or did they all
come entirely from your imagination?
Answer:
They are completely from my imaginations.
Do your characters seem to hijack the story or do you
feel like you have the reigns of the story? Convince us why you feel your book
is a must read.
Answer:
Each book is unique in the sense that I birthed the idea and the storylines. I
like to describe, The Jeweled Dagger Series as Pirates of the Caribbean clashes
with Downton Abby, while Lara’s Story is a roller coaster ride of emotions from
start to end. Each book is meticulously fashioned to give you the most bang for
your buck.
If your book had a candle, what scent would it be?
Answer:
Sandalwood and Lavender, fresh, intoxicatingly sexy and makes you feel good but
leaves you wanting more.
I was born in Riverside, California in 1963. My family and I moved to San Diego when I was 7 and I never looked back. I had a very rich life growing up with my brother, David, and best friend Gigi. I married my husband, David in 1998 and we lived in Encinitas, California for a couple of years before moving to Herald, California in 2001. We have a blended family of 6 kids and truly enjoyed the rural life on a 5 1/2 acre ranch, 45 minutes south of Sacramento. I love writing and creating stories that are different from and intriguing. I like to give my readers a little something extra and unexpected. I have always wanted to be a published author, but the timing never seemed right. Raising a family and working fulltime always took precedence. Shortly after I turned 50 I decided that if I continued to put off my dreams, the time would never be right. So, with an idea in my head, I sat down and began writing. I wanted there to be no regrets in my life. What resulted was a historical romance, filled with adventure, suspense, and an underlying epic love story weaved in for good measure and "Angelina's Secret" was born. I loved everything about the process of writing and there are currently three books in "The Jeweled Dagger Series." I am very excited about the future and thrilled to be writing fulltime now since I retired from my "9 to 5," job at the end of April 2017. My husband retired shortly after me and our youngest was a sophomore in college so we decided that it was time that we had an adventure of our own. We made the move to Kalispell, Montana and the adventures just seem to happen every day. We go for hikes in our own backyard or take off for Glacier National Forest on a whim. We currently have seven grandkids, with another one due this August 2018. Being "Grandma and Grandpa" is the icing on the cake for us. I count my blessings every day because I know how lucky I am. Life is good and now I can devote my days to doing what I really love, and that is writing and creating more stories.
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