Rue Toulouse
By
Debby Grahl
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publisher: The Writers Coffee Shop
Publishing House
Cover Designer: Niina Cord
Release Date:
January 15, 2015
It’s
Mardi Gras time in New Orleans. Attending a masquerade ball, wealthy fashion
designer Caterine Doucette, dressed as a shimmering ice princess, has her cool
façade shattered when she encounters Bayou-born ex-cop Remi Michaud, disguised
as the darkly handsome pirate Jean Lafitte. Their true identities hidden, the
princess and the pirate come together in an explosion of passion and desire.
But when fantasy turns to cold reality, Caterine panics and disappears into the
night, unaware this man will soon be sent to rescue her from a killer and will
capture her heart.
Orphaned at a young
age, Caterine grew up in the home of her beloved grandmother, Miss Dauphine
Doucette. Despised by her Doucette relatives for the devotion she received from
her grandmère, Caterine suffered years of envy and disdain. The young Caterine
learned quickly how easily the love she had to give could be thrown back in her
face.
After Miss Dauphine
turns over ownership of the century-old fashion house, Ma Chérie, to Caterine,
an attempt is made on her life, for there are those in the Doucette family who
will stop at nothing to possess what they feel is their rightful inheritance.
Not knowing whom to
trust, Caterine goes into hiding. Miss Dauphine, convinced someone in her own
family is behind the attack, hires Remi, now working for a private security
company, to track her down and unmask her would-be assassin.
Learning that the affluent
Caterine Doucette is the beautiful princess he held in his arms at the ball,
Remi is torn between his growing desire for her and painful memories of another
rich socialite’s betrayal. Caterine finds herself falling in love with Remi,
but old embedded pain leaves her afraid to open her heart.
Down in the Big
Easy, Caterine and Remi must learn to trust one another if they are to survive
in a world of family greed and ruthless revenge.
“But isn’t that
what’s fun about a masked ball, not knowing who the mystery person is you’re
talking to? What’s better yet, you can do and say things you’d never consider
doing or saying because they also don’t know who you are. As the saying goes, laissez
les bons temps rouler.”
Elaine coughed,
almost choking on her champagne. “Wait a minute. Back up. Did I just hear you
say, let the good times roll?”
Caterine nodded. “I
can’t get what happened with Jonathan out of my mind, and I’ve decided that
tonight the old Caterine doesn’t exist. Since I’m in disguise, this is the
perfect opportunity to prove to myself that Jonathan and those other men are
wrong.”
Elaine cocked her
head. “Okay, what exactly do you have in mind?”
Caterine grinned.
“If I meet someone who makes my pulse quicken and my toes curl . . .” She
shrugged. “Who knows? Tonight the ice princess may melt away.”
A wide smile spread
across Elaine’s face. “Good for you. If I’m not mistaken, your chance might be
coming this way. Good luck.”
Before Caterine
could respond, Elaine disappeared into the crowd. She turned in the direction
Elaine had been looking and caught her breath. The man dressed entirely in
black coming toward her reminded her of a dangerous outlaw from a past century.
Lean and muscular, he stood close to six foot. He wore a loose, long-sleeved,
V-necked shirt, snug pants, and low boots. As he walked, his body language
exuded confidence, power, and incredible sex appeal.
The closer he got,
the harder her heart pounded. Okay, take a deep breath. You can do this.
He doesn’t know who you are; if you make an idiot out of yourself, it won’t
matter.
“Hello, Princess. I
believe this dance is ours,” he said, his bayou cadence low and sultry.
Bereft of speech,
she could only stare into the thick-lashed, deep blue eyes behind the handsome
stranger’s black bandit mask.
He flashed white
teeth in a sensuous grin. “I’m not mistaken am I, cher? You looked so beautiful
standing there glittering, I assumed you must be a fairy princess.”
She swallowed hard,
hoping her voice was steady. “I’m sorry to disappoint you, monsieur, but
I’m not a fairy princess. I’m known as an ice princess. But who knows, I still
might be able to grant you a wish.”
“No, cher.” He
stepped closer. Gently placing his fingers under her chin, he tilted her head
back to gaze directly into her eyes. “Whoever said you were an ice princess
wasn’t man enough to release your heat. Grant me my wish and I’ll do just
that.”
Debby Grahl lives
on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, with her husband, David, and their cat,
Tigger. Besides writing, she enjoys biking, walking on the beach and a glass of
wine at sunset. Her favorite places to visit are New Orleans, New York City,
Captiva Island in Florida, the Cotswolds of England, and her home state of
Michigan. She is a history buff who also enjoys reading murder mysteries, time
travel, and, of course, romance. Visually impaired since childhood by Retinitis
Pigmentosa (RP), she uses screen-reading software to research and write her books.
Her first published
romance, The Silver Crescent, was released by The Writer’s Coffee Shop in
January, 2014. The Paranormal Romance Guild awarded it 5 stars and First Place
in the 2014 PRG Reviewers Choice awards in General Romance. Her latest book, Rue
Toulouse, a contemporary romance set in New Orleans, came out January, 2015.
Debby belongs to Romance Writers of America, Florida Romance Writers, Hearts
Across History, Georgia Romance Writers, and Lowcountry Romance Writers.
Thank you for hosting!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for featuring Rue Toulouse! Best regards, Debby
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