Sir Paxton paused, eyeing John. He knew that stare, had seen it countless times in the four years he’d served the king’s brother. It made even Paxton edgy. John sat, leaned back in an ornately carved wooden chair, his fingers tented before his lips. For a moment he did not speak, he did not blink, and—Paxton could swear—he did not breathe.

The silence drew out until John murmured, “Pity you were so careless as to be injured. Such an inconvenience. Still, report tomorrow. I have a different commission for you.”

Whether or not he wanted to, Paxton would be there. Time for my reward, Johnny. Oh— so sorry my royal arsehole, ‘ Prince’ John.

Time for a promise to be fulfilled.    

From: For This Knight Only by Barbara Bettis

Blurb: He’ll do anything for land, even marry her; she’ll do anything for her people, except marry him.  If only either had a choice.  It’s a marriage only love can save.

Sir Roark will do anything to gain land, even beguile an unwilling lady into marriage. He knows she’s much better off with a man to take control of her besieged castle, to say nothing of her desirable person. But it isn’t long before he discovers that, although her eyes sparkle like sunlight on sea waves, her stubbornness alone could have defeated Saladin.

Lady Alyss is determined to hold her family’s castle, protect her people, and preserve her freedom— until her brother’s dying wish binds her to a stranger. Still, she’ll allow no rugged, over-confident, appealing knight to usurp her authority, even if she must wed him. Especially since he thinks a lady’s duties begin and end with directing servants. Alyss has a few surprises for her new all-too-tempting lord.

But when a common enemy threatens everything, Roark and Alyss face a startling revelation. Without love, neither land nor freedom matters.

Buy Link:  https://amzn.to/2Xlzynj

To brush up on last week’s installment, visit me on Cathy MacRae’s blog and comment to be entering in a drawing for a free ebook. :  https://www.cathymacraeauthor.com/bits-n-bobs-author-blog

Follow along on Ashley York’s blog next week and comment to be entering in a drawing for a free ebook-https://www.ashleyyorkauthor.com

And find this week’s snippet from Rue Allyn here. Where she too offers a chance at her giveaway to all who comment.