TEMPT ME by Julie Cooper Blog Tour ~ Deleted Scene & Giveaway!

 Hello, my friends! I have a treat for you today! I have a deleted scene from Julie Cooper's new book, Tempt Me! This book looks fantastic! I'm going to have to put it on my October reading list! Yummy! 

Plus, there is a blog wide giveaway going on! Details at the bottom of the page.

TEMPT ME

by Julie Cooper

"He raged inwardly at fate’s gift of the one female he could never, ever have..." 

IT IS A TRUTH UNIVERSALLY ACKNOWLEDGED that a single vampyre must be in want of a wife. Someone biddable, her memories easily expunged to allow for strange, inexplicable deeds and baffling circumstances. A tractable creature, of average intelligence, willing to attend to the business of producing heirs and keep out of all else. A girl easily moulded, incurious, indifferent, and demanding nothing beyond access to his fortune. 

FITZWILLIAM DARCY knows exactly who he needs. He can fix on the hour, the spot, the look, and the words which laid the foundation for an obsession he rejected. But ten years later, at an assembly in an obscure village in Hertfordshire, he finds himself in the middle once more. 

His needs are unalterable. But can he resist the one woman he truly wants?

 

Delete Scene

To her surprise, however, Caroline approached her. “Mrs Darcy, let me persuade you take a turn about the room. I assure you it is very refreshing after sitting so long in one attitude.” 

Though distrustful of the woman’s motives, Elizabeth felt she had no choice but to join her. Fitzwilliam eyed them curiously, but Lydia began begging him to hold a ball at Pemberley to celebrate the wedding, with Kitty taking Dutch courage from her sister. Mrs Bennet added a third voice, and he began to look distinctly beleaguered. With an effort, she pulled her attention away from their embarrassing conduct to the repellent woman by her side. Caroline tucked Elizabeth’s arm in hers and it was all she could do not to tug it away...or break it. 

“My, it is excessively warm in here. Shall we stroll in the gallery?” Caroline asked. 

Elizabeth nodded, walking with her up the stairs and into the long corridor lined with portraits and landscapes, idly wondering if she had allowed herself to be thus directed so that she might have the privacy required to rip the smirk off Caroline’s face. The next moment, she was appalled at the direction of her thoughts, forcefully reminding herself of the need for control. She used the beauty surrounding her in paint and portrait to distract herself from her aversion to Caroline’s presence and new, unlovely instincts far too near the surface. 

“How do you find your new life? I must admit to a certain envy in your accomplishments,” Caroline said coyly. 

“I am adjusting,” Elizabeth answered noncommittally, using the excuse of examining a bronze to pull away from Caroline’s grip.

“Adjusting? I should say so! The riches of immortality at your feet, a handsome and powerful husband by your side? One would say you have everything a woman could ever want.” 

“Yes,” Elizabeth replied in quick agreement.

“Except,” Caroline added, “for a child.”

Elizabeth stiffened in surprise and anger. Do not kill her, do not kill her, do not kill her. She will be Jane’s sister. Killing her would be impolite. “You are very bold, Miss Bingley,” she managed.

“I am very practical, Mrs Darcy. What might sound offensive to you, in your inexperience, is only pragmatism in the world in which I have been raised. How do you think dynasties continue, when offspring are not possible? Mr Darcy will need a mortal womb to bear his child. I have one. I approach you, with all due respect, to offer mine.”

“How very...magnanimous of you,” Elizabeth murmured, imagining her blood spilling across 

the carpeted floor.

“Magnanimity has nothing to do with it, of course,” Caroline replied. “I would expect to gain 

materially in return for the child. And an opportunity to be Turned afterwards.”

Though her own thoughts were admittedly the furthest thing from benign, Elizabeth blinked at the inherent coldness of the offer. As though a baby and motherhood were coin, to be traded. She found her voice at last. “I imagine I would murder any woman who bedded my husband,” she said, in as emotionless a tone as she could manage. “Her death would be neither neat nor quick, I promise. I find I am far from...predictable these days.” 

For the first time Caroline truly looked at Elizabeth, and for once her smile wavered; she backed up an involuntary step. “There would be no reason for... resentment,” she quickly assured. “I have no love for your husband, nor he for me. This is purely an exchange of commodities. Your line will need an heir in order to maintain its strength. I can give it, with no expectations beyond those I’ve named. A practical alliance, and a very common one.” 

“Be that as it may, your plan has a flaw,” Elizabeth said reasonably calmly, considering the evisceration she contemplated. “Perhaps you were not aware. Mr Darcy is bonded to me. He can have no other woman.” 

“Charles mentioned that Mr Darcy had bonded,” Caroline replied, her smirk back in place. “But I have an idea.”

* * *

About the Author

Julie Cooper, a California native, lives with her Mr Darcy

(without the arrogance or the Pemberley) of nearly forty years, two dogs (one intelligent, one goofball), and Kevin the Cat (smarter than all of them.)  They have four children and three grandchildren, all of whom are brilliant and adorable, with the pictures to prove it. She works as an executive at a gift basket company and her tombstone will read, "Have your Christmas gifts delivered at least four days before the 25th."  Her hobbies are reading, giving other people good advice, and wondering why no one follows it.

You can connect with Julie Cooper on Facebook and Instagram.

* * *

Buy: Amazon

Add to Goodreads

FTC Disclaimer: Link to Amazon. I am an Amazon Associate. Should you purchase a copy of the book through the link provided, I will receive a small commission. Thanks! 

* * * GIVEAWAY * * *

Quills & Quartos Publishing is giving away 5 e-copies of Tempt Me to 5 readers who comment on any of the posts on this blog tour! Winners will be picked after the tour is over.

Many thanks to Quills & Quartos Publishing for inviting me on this tour! 

Oh!! A deleted scene with a cliffhanger! No fair! Lol!

Friends, what did you think?! Let me know in the comments. I'd love to hear from you.