First Line Fridays 24: A Search for Refuge by Kristi Ann Hunter

That time of the week again! I have not been doing much in the way of actual reading these last couple of weeks, or at least not much fiction. I have just finished my second Julie Klassen audiobook, through the Audible Romance package.  That's The Girl in the Gatehouse and The Silent Governess down. 

The book I am including today is a novella, published only in e-book format (so far), which is a prequel to the upcoming full-length novel A Defense of Honor, which is due out in June. Both books mark the beginning of a new Regency romance series by Kristi Ann Hunter.  A lady who already has the 4-book Regency Hawthorne House series to her name. 

I had to to go Amazon.com to get the novella, because, for some bizarre reason, it's still not available on Amazon.uk, but is available on other ebook platforms, including Google Play books. When the full-length follow up comes in June, I will have to get used to using the American spellings in the title. We Brits spell defense with a c and put a 'u' in honour. Like that.

Margaretta Fortescue desperately needs to disappear from London society, and her only hope is to follow the rumors of another young woman who recently made a life for herself away from the glare of society. Her search leads her to the market town of Marlborough where, in spite of her efforts to avoid attention, she can’t seem to elude local solicitor, Nash Banfield.

All Nash wants is a quiet, sedate life—no risks or surprises. When Margaretta, clearly on the run and unwilling to answer questions, interrupts his solitude, his curiosity and his principles won’t let him leave this determined woman without assistance.

But will the truth of what Margaretta is running from be worth finally opening his heart up to a chance at love?

Isn't that a beautiful cover? The first line reads:

"Marlborough, England, 1804

Margaretta had used the word desperate many times in her life, but she'd never truly known the meaning  until she stood in the open door of a mail coach, clutching an eight-month-old letter and praying that someone in this minuscule market town  would know where the author had gone when she moved on"

 Good, isn't it? Although I am not sure Marlborough is that small. Now it's your turn, and don't forget to click the meme to see what others are reading.