Synopsis

Sarafina di Ramonicci sets sail for America as the promised bride in an arranged political marriage.

Taken prisoner at sea, she clashes with her captor and demands freedom, only to discover he is planning her future husband’s demise, with her as a pawn in their deadly feud. The challenge of escape tests her loyalty to family, human decency, and love.

Captain Nye Tarquin is a dangerous man. Left to die on the streets of New Orleans, he swears retribution on the man responsible. When he makes Sarafina part of his plan, he isn’t prepared for the fiery vixen aboard his ship, nor his desire to claim her as his own. When passion overtakes honor, he’s torn between his heart and his need for justice.

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Excerpt

A grin formed on his lips. “She belongs to me now,” he said, his voice was as cool as his expression. “And when Cornell comes for her, I’ll be waiting to return the favor… only I’ll succeed, where he did not.”

Sarafina’s fingers curled around her goblet. “What makes you think he’ll come for her?”

“He has several reasons to take the bait. Cornell will demand satisfaction for his humiliation.”

“His humiliation?” She sat up straighter. “What about hers? Do you understand what people will think when they find out she was held hostage here? If her intended is murdered and she’s left stranded, this will leave her utterly alone. What will become of her, then?”

“She’ll marry someone better than the likes of Cornell, I hope,” he replied dryly.

She slammed her goblet down and flew to her feet. “And who would want her?”

He remained seated. “I’m doing her a great service,” he said calmly, leaning on the arm of his chair. “You have no idea the kind of life she would’ve been subjected to.”

“So, you’re her savior now?”

The captain pushed off his chair, and straightened to his full height. She kept her glare locked with his, but keeping it steady was becoming as difficult as her breathing. “Maybe,” he said.

“That’s an absurd notion,” she replied.

“Is it?” he asked. He stepped towards her, and she stepped back in unison, until the back of her legs hit the chair.

Guest Post

10 Things you might not know about Avery Sterling and Precious Burdens

1.     Avery grew up traveling with the military.

2.     By the time she was twenty-three, she’d moved to nine different destinations, some being Puerto Rico, Cuba, Hawaii, and New York.

3.     It was Avery’s father who first inspired her to write.

4.     One of her most inspiring places to visit is Schoodic Point in Winter Harbor, Maine.

5.     Precious Burdens was initially titled One Breath.

6.     Precious Burdens is Avery’s first published historical romance.

7.     The first idea for Precious Burdens was sparked while listening to U2’s With or Without You.

8.     The original version of Precious Burdens was lost.

9.     After losing the first manuscript, it took Avery over ten years to decide whether she’d rewrite it.

10.  Precious Burdens underwent seven different endings.

About the Author

Avery Sterling’s love for the romance genre began in her teen years when she picked up her first novel. She was captivated by the sweeping scale of emotions brought about by the words. The experience catapulted her towards learning the art of wielding a breathtaking adventure, with a love that felt authentic. Wanting to inspire people with her own thoughts and words, she finished her first novel at sixteen. It was a step towards understanding the essence of what she wished to create.

Most of her youth was spent traveling, searching out the romance and beauty in her everchanging world. From the waves that crashed against the rocky shores of Downeast, Maine, to the warm breezes of the Caribbean, she discovered that love was universal, apparent in its grandest and simplest of forms. Her goal is to write novels an audience can relate to, one that conveys the truth and nature of love… with all that steamy romance.

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