Stealing Minerva

by Louisa Cornell

Colonel Sebastian Brightworth has a reputation for seduction. He seduces money into his hands and never lets it go. He seduces women into his bed and never lets them stay. Seducing his best friend’s latest betrothed into jilting him days before the wedding seems an easy task. Especially with a thousand-pound purse in the offing. That is, until Sebastian discovers his friend is engaged to the one woman in England he cannot possibly seduce. Again.After seven years in a less than perfect marriage and two years as the Perfect Widow, Minerva Faircloth is engaged to the most eligible earl in England. Their amiable marriage will keep her son safe from his uncle’s cruel plans and her heart safe from disappointment. Everything goes according to plan, until her betrothed’s closest friend arrives. Sebastian Brightworth stole her heart nine years ago. What thievery is he up to now? And how will she ever survive it?

336 pages, Paperback

Published March 13, 2024

About the author

Louisa Cornell read her first historical romance novel, Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice, at the age of nine. This inspired her to spend the next three years of her young life writing the most horrible historical romance novel ever written. Fortunately it has yet to see the light of day. As Louisa spent those three years living in a little English village in Suffolk (Thanks to her father's Air Force career.) it is no surprise she developed a lifelong love of all things British, especially British history and Regency-set romance novels. (And Earl Grey tea!)

During those same three years, Louisa's vocal talent was discovered. Her study of music began at the London College of Music and continued once she returned to the States. After four music degrees and a year of study at the Mozarteum in Salzburg, Austria, Louisa was fortunate enough to embark on a singing career in opera houses in Germany, Austria, and most of Eastern Europe.

Now retired from an active career in opera, Louisa has returned to her first love – writing Regency-set historical romance. She has completed four books to date and A PERFECTLY DREADFUL CHRISTMAS is her publication debut.

Two time Golden Heart finalist, three time Daphne du Maurier winner, and three time Royal Ascot winner, Louisa is a member of RWA, SMRWA and the Beau Monde Chapter of RWA. She lives in LA (Lower Alabama) with a Chihuahua so grouchy he has been banned from six veterinary clinics, several perfectly amiable small dogs, and a cat who terminates vermin with extreme prejudice.

You can learn more about Louisa and her future publication plans at : www.louisacornell.com and https://www.facebook.com/RegencyWrite....

Reviews

[Anna Allen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an ARC of this book. It's a good, enjoyable romance, with light comedy. That said [and the real reason I'm leaving this review rather than just a rating], there was a moment in this book that had me literally [no pun intended] laughing out loud for several pages. I could not stop. Humor is difficult to pull off in print, and this funny moment was the best laugh I've had since reading The Miller's Tale. For that alone, this book is worth it. Plus you get the rest of it, too.

[Gillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lovely tale of second chance love.

Sebastian has been “commissioned” by his friend into helping rid him of his fiancée (apparently he has succeeded in getting rid of several previous such ladies).

However, when Sebastian arrives he discovers that the lady in question is Minerva - the woman Sebastian once loved but abandoned at the altar.

We discover that Sebastian has had a desperately sad past and feels it impossible to allow any one close enough to love.

I would love to have more stories involving the other characters.

[Candy Moore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Her dialogue is the best

I love the characters, and her plots are interesting and entertaining. However, it's the dialogue that I love the best. Reading one of her books is like reading a transcript of a conversation between real friends, rather than the stilted or unrealistic dialogue of some novels I've read.