Hello Everyone!
Thank you so much to Bonnie for inviting me on to Coffee, Books & a Blog – I’m thrilled to be here today and really look forward to introducing you to my novels.
My name is Ellie Gray and I am a contemporary romance author, with an emphasis on sensual, heartwarming stories where the focus is on the developing romance between the hero and heroine, and the struggle to overcome real situations and issues that we all face in everyday life. Setting also plays an important part in my novels. With Beauty and the Recluse, the beautiful but neglected old mansion, with its derelict orangery, was a key element of the book and almost a character in itself.
One of my favourite reviews suggested that this was a beautifully written story about love, loss and friendship and I was really happy to hear that my novel comes across as so much more than a pure romance novel.
In Beauty and the Recluse, Kiya has recently lost her father and is still grieving when she takes up the housekeeping job in St. John’s mansion. St. John himself has become a bitter and scarred recluse, believing himself to be a monster. The story follows their journey of discovery, with a few ups and downs along the way.
The excerpt below describes Kiya’s first meeting with her employee, almost a week after taking up her new job.
Beauty and the Recluse – excerpt:
Singing softly to herself, Kiya was halfway into the room before she realised that she was not alone. From the corner of her eye, she saw St. John O’Neill spin around in surprise and she gave a startled cry, the vase slipping through her fingers to smash on the floor by her feet.
He was a very tall man, easily 6ft. 5ins, broad-shouldered and muscular. His thick black hair, although clean, was long and unkempt, and his beard did not quite hide the vivid scar that ran from high on his right cheek down to his mouth. Incredibly bright blue eyes bore into her and, despite the scar and his rough, dishevelled appearance, Kiya was breathlessly aware that he was an incredibly attractive man.
He continued to stare at her, radiating an aura of menace, and Kiya gave an unconscious shiver.
‘Seen enough?’ he asked coldly.
Blushing furiously, aware that she had been staring, Kiya quickly bent to pick up the pieces of shattered vase.
‘Leave it.’ His words were clipped.
‘I’m sorry, I didn’t realise what time it was. I’ll just clear…’ she babbled, nervously.
‘Dammit, I said leave it.’
Her hand jerked at his unexpected ferocity and she gave a yelp of pain as the sharp edge of the broken vase sliced her palm. She stood quickly, lifting her hand to check the severity of the cut, and felt a wave of nausea wash over her at the surprisingly profuse amount of blood pouring from the wound. She heard St. John mutter an explicit curse and looked up to see him striding quickly towards her, his expression furious.
‘No!’ She held out her uninjured hand as if to fend him off, backing away in fright.
Surprise flickered briefly over his features before he caught her outstretched hand and pulled her towards the sink, where he thrust her hand under the cold water tap and turned it on. The pain increased as water poured over the deep wound and, with a moan of pain, Kiya tried to pull her hand free but St. John’s grip merely tightened.
‘Leave it there,’ he ordered. ‘Don’t move until I get back.’
He disappeared into the utility room leading off the kitchen, and Kiya resisted the urge to take her hand from the running water. She laid her head on her outstretched arm and closed her eyes, dancing from one foot to the other in pain and distress. At the touch of a hand on her shoulder, she looked up to find St. John regarding her with concern, holding a first-aid box.
‘I know it hurts but you’ll have to let me take a quick look at it.’ His voice was surprisingly gentle.
Picking up a clean towel, he gestured for her to show him her hand and, as she turned off the tap, he quickly pressed the towel against the wound. When he lifted it again, blood immediately oozed from the cut and he reapplied the pressure.
‘I think you need stitches. The local hospital should–’ he began.
‘No!’ She cut him off in panic, having inherited her father’s fear of hospitals. ‘I won’t go; you can’t make me.’
‘Okay, okay,’ he soothed, although his gaze narrowed on her thoughtfully. ‘It’s all right. I’ll see what I’ve got here.’
She clutched her injured hand to her as St. John searched through the first-aid box. He found a packet of steri-strips and deftly applied them to the wound before adding a sterile dressing. He worked quickly and gently, but Kiya was unable to prevent tears of pain welling in her eyes.
‘Okay, all done,’ he said, when he was satisfied that the dressing was secure. He looked up quickly to find Kiya regarding him curiously and he dropped her hand abruptly, his face darkening. His earlier gentleness vanished and Kiya shivered under his icy glare, backing away towards the door.
‘I’m sorry to have been such a nuisance,’ she said quickly. ‘I… er… I’ll leave you to it.’
She turned and fled from the kitchen, seeking the sanctuary of her room where she lay on the bed, cradling her throbbing hand. So that was St. John O’Neill. She blew out a long breath and closed her eyes; not the best of introductions, she had to admit. He was obviously as bad-tempered and unfriendly as his note had suggested. And yet, she couldn’t stop herself from wondering about how those incredibly blue eyes could shine with concern one moment and regard her with such dislike the next.
***
I hope you enjoyed this little excerpt. If you would like to find out more about Kiya and St. John, you can order a copy here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B019IUUK4I
I always love hearing from readers and you can contact me using the links below:
Website: https://elliegrayauthor.wordpress.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elliegrayauthor/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/elliegray58
Pinterest: https://uk.pinterest.com/elliegray71/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elliegray58/
Tirgearr Publishing: http://www.tirgearrpublishing.com/authors/Gray_Ellie/index.htm
It’s been an absolute pleasure to join you on Coffee Time Romance’s blog today and I hope to see you all again soon.
Ellie x
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
A contemporary romance author, Ellie lives in the beautiful East Riding of Yorkshire with her partner, David, and two children, Joe and Abbie.
Her debut novel, Beauty and the Recluse, was published in February 2016 and her second novel, Love on the Nile, was recently released last month, both published by Tirgearr Publishing.
Ellie is a proud member of the Romantic Novelist Association and, inbetween working full-time in public services and studying for an MSc in Public Management, Ellie is currently working on her third novel.
A few random pieces of information about Ellie:
• Favourite TV shows – The Walking Dead, The X-Files, Nashville, Dr. Who, the Great British Bake-off.
• Favourite Music – I’m an 80’s girl!, country, sixties, Elvis, classical (when I’m writing)
• Favourite Food – Indian, tapas, crisps
• Favourite Drink – black coffee (copious amounts when I’m writing) sauvignon blanc, when I’m not!
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