Dear Reader,

Well, we made it through January. Up here in Maine it was snowy and bitterly cold—a real winter.

And I'm done.

Sigh, but nature has other ideas. Of course Punxsatawny Phil saw his shadow. However, February has some redeeming qualities! My birthday, for one thing (2/19). Then there's Valentine's Day and Presidents' Week. And it's short. (Not a leap year this year.)

To cheer things up a bit as we churn through winter, I have a birthday present for you. 🎁

Just for a few days (until midnight, 2/6) The Soprano's Daring Duke will be free on Kindle!

This is book 2 in the Double-Dilemma Romance series, and it has a special place in my heart. Many of you know that I have a PhD in music history. Several of my historical novels were inspired by the research I did for that degree.

I thought I wouldn't have any reason to apply anything I learned in my previous guise as an academic—or as an opera company executive—in the world of Regency romance, but I had an idea for a heroine who has a voice that is simply too big for a drawing room. Feisty Olivia Fontenoy refuses to do the debutante thing and sing for polite company.

Instead she snags an opportunity to appear on a real stage—masked—to see what her voice is truly capable of.

This leads to all sorts of complications and mistakes, and ends by getting her into big trouble and ruining what she thought she'd be fixing.

If you haven't read this one yet, now's your chance to grab it free!​

January also brought us the first four episodes of Bridgerton season four.

I confess, I'm a Bridgerton addict.

Of course, it gets so many things wrong about the Regency. It's a completely fanciful world that never existed in history. But the characters are wonderful and the stories engaging. And honestly, I love the opportunity for complete escapism.

Season four—well, I'm withholding judgment until the end. The writers seem to have decided to throw verisimilitude to the wind—which I'll be able to forgive if the story ends up really drawing me in. Since it's essentially a retelling of the Cinderella story, perhaps that fairytale reference is enough to excuse the excesses.

Episode One got off to a slow start—a little too much exposition, IMO. But things picked up after that. I really like the new heroine, and Benedict has always been one of my favorites. I am hoping Eloise will have a more significant role to play going forward.

No spoilers here. I'd be interested to hear your take if you've watched, however!

Early reviews for The Teacher's Noble Heart are coming in!

I have to confess, I'm relieved that advance readers appear to be liking this fifth book in the series. Because it doesn't take place among the ton and includes a gritty setting (the Delabole slate quarry), I wasn't quite sure how it would land. (Oh, by the way, this is the final cover!)

So far, here's what some of them are saying:

Phew! Of course, there will no doubt be conflicting opinions as time goes on. It's what happens, and the risk authors take when they put their work in front of the general public.

​It's available for preorder, if you want it delivered to your Kindle on launch day, March 10!

That's all for now! Back to the grind.

I hope your February is off to a good start. 😊

Susanne