Bobby Dazzler

Tales from the Arcadian #1

by Stephanie Patterson

Scandalous behavior has made Caelan Hennesy's family an object of derision in polite society. Caelan, Cal to his friends, needs a bride with impeccable breeding, a modest demeanor and one who is completely scandal-free. At twenty-four, he meets the young woman of his dreams in a Paris museum and is completely captivated by her. Venetia Crawley is an intelligent and singular young beauty, refined enough to silence even the most virulent of society's gossips.

Venetia has been raised to be everything the daughter of a peer should be. She is educated, well-read and has also studied music and ballet. Cal is the prince she's dreamed of finding and she is certain that he will overlook the fact that she is not a highborn member of society, but the lovechild of a duke and his commoner mistress. When her half-truths and lies of omission are suddenly revealed, a disillusioned and bitter Cal walks away, leaving Venetia unprotected and at the mercy of a ruthless enemy.

Nine years later Cal, now the Earl of Bainbridge, discovers that the famously bewitching and dazzling dancer at the Arcadian Theatre is none other than Venetia - still beautiful, still alluring; and leaving her behind is still his biggest regret. Dazzling Nettie Pomeroy claims she wants nothing to do with the man who walked away from her. She closed the door on Cal and on love years ago. However, neither of them can deny the passion they still feel for one another, or the love they still share. As Nettie and Cal try to fight their feelings, an enemy draws closer, determined to bring harm to people Cal cares about. Will he be able to protect the woman he refuses to surrender again, and can Nettie trust Cal enough to open her heart for a second chance at love?

Genres: Romance, Second Chance, Historical Romance, Historical

332 pages, Kindle Edition

First published May 8, 2020

About the author

I began my writing career at age three by designing my own alphabet using symbols to represent words. Thankfully school got me back on track with mainstream communication and I've has been creating stories ever since. Words are magic to me and writing is my first love. I owe my beginnings in the romance field to the kindness of Katherine Falk and the vision of a new, up and coming publishing house she profiled in “Romantic Times Magazine.” My first romance, "Playing For Keeps," was published by Genesis Press under the pen name, Stephanie Salinas for their Tango 2 line. "The Woman in Question," a contemporary romantic thriller, was published under my own name a couple of years later. My current projects include a new historical romance series entitled, "Season of the Furies." The first book in the series, "A Terrible Beauty," was released March 4, 2016. Book 2 is scheduled for release in late Fall of 2016.

I live in northern Oregon in a town long the banks of the Columbia River. St. Helens is an interesting mix of both pioneer and nautical history. It’s a place steeped in tales of mystery and dark deeds like shanghaiing and murder. Our town has appeared on several ghost investigation shows and it was the filming location for Disney’s original “Halloween Town” and the first movie in the “Twilight” franchise. Every year we hold a month long festival commemorating the Disney film.
I’ve been a legal assistant for a criminal defense attorney for more than fifteen years, working all sorts of criminal cases from petty theft to capital murder and murder for hire. When I'm not writing I practice and teach the ancient divination art of cartomancy - a fancy way of saying I read tarot cards. Every Halloween I read cards at a local restaurant noted for its haunted history. As if that isn't weird enough, I'm also a belly dance hobbyist and perform at various festivals around the Pacific Northwest.
As I write this I’m deep into research for my next book in the “Season of the Furies” series.

EMAIL: stephaniepattersonwriter@yahoo.com

You can follow my FaceBook page dedicated to "Season of the Furies" at https://www.facebook.com/seasonofthef...

and my Pinterest Board for "A Terrible Beauty" at

https://www.pinterest.com/galhal2000/...

Reviews

[Merry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed the series the Furies by this author. This book starts off with a bang. I thought the introduction of the main characters slow moving and not enough tie in with the second half of the storyline. The second half of the book really picks up and I enjoyed the new characters. I think the mystery reveal at the end was good but would have liked more lead up to it, have it woven further into the plot.

[Carole Marsh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of best stories I have read in a long time. There were many twists and turns and I had a hard time putting down this book. I I highly recommend this book.

[Lostintime · Rating 4 out of 5]

In a continuation in the Universe of the Furies, we learn the story of Venetia/Nettie and her tale of lost love.

The angst was usually high and well delivered in the “past” setting of the story while when into the “present “ there was also joy and humour.

I loved these two lover who were not bad persons but good ones placed by circumstances in an impossible situation and as usual the author leaves you wondering about a good number of secondary characters.

I am up for another Arcadian tale!

[Giulia Vasquez · Rating 2 out of 5]

Would be nice for the author to stop using the same formula
Actually allow the female characters to feel despair and resentment and anger
And not just magically move on from all the bad things that happened to them

The whole story of still loving cruel and dismissive men
With no groveling or redemption arcs os truly idiotic

[vanessa edwards · Rating 1 out of 5]

Hard to Get Into

I just could not get into this story. Evidently not my cup of tea. I have read other books by this author that I liked.

[Margerm, Pat · Rating 5 out of 5]

I preferred the furies trilogy but this was still trademark Stephanie Patterson