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Come closer my friends. I’ve got a scandal to share.

By

On May 28, 2025

In Teatime Tattler

Dear Readers,
In this report we shall indulge in a bit of time travel with an intriguing report from an American correspondent:

Have you heard? There’s a woman—a girl really, no more than nineteen and born in the backwoods of Wisconsin, haunting the halls of Congress. She carries flowers from her garden and boxes of sweets and wears a winsome smile, but we all know what she’s really doing, twisting those congressmen around her little finger. That prairie upstart dares think that those august men will give a little nobody like her a fortune to make a sculpture of our dear assassinated president Abraham Lincoln.

And that audacious little humbug just might do it. Why Horace Greely says she’s a phenomenon of successful impudence such as no country, but America, ever did or could produce.

She’s already wheedled herself a sculpture studio in the basement of the Capitol. Men who should know better are totally bewitched by that little coquette. Even that curmudgeon, Thadeus Stevens, has taken her under his wing. It’s all that hair of hers. Though I’ve heard that most of it is fake.

But who’s to know? Maybe she shares other charms with them as well. After all, her artwork is nothing special. Why, if she wins that government commission, she’ll prove our dear Mark Twain right. She’ll be the smartest politician of them all, he says, and he’s put her in his new book The Gilded Age, which you really ought to read.

Her name, you ask? Vinnie Ream.

Prairie Cinderella

SHE IS GOING TO BE THE GREATEST SCULPTRESS Of THE GILDED AGE

Spirited Vinnie Ream might have been driven from her prairie home to the political hotbed of Washington City by the outbreak of the Civil War. But despite her plainspoken ways and western twang, she’s a survivor, and nothing will stop her from pursuing her art in a world dominated by men.

UNTIL DISASTER STRIKES

But on the cusp of success, all her dreams come tumbling down. With her family destitute and her sister threatened, she does the unthinkable. Can she claw her way back to the top or will she go down in history as a failure?

A biographical historical novel about the power of family ties, the pursuit of fame, and the pain of unrequited love, based on the life of 19th century American sculptor, Vinnie Ream.

Awarded first place in the 2025 Bookfest for biographical historical fiction. All proceeds donated to the Freedom to Read Foundation.

 

Available from

AMAZON https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DT7K7NXN

APPLE https://books.apple.com/us/book/prairie-cinderella/id6740748987

BARNES&NOBLE https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/prairie-cinderella-joan-koster/1146855813

BOOKSHOP.org  https://bookshop.org/p/books/prairie-cinderella-vinnie-ream-and-the-gilded-age/

KOBO  https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/prairie-cinderella

About the Author

When she is not writing in her studio by the sea, Joan Koster lives in an 1860s farmhouse stacked to the ceiling with books. In a life full of adventures, she has scaled mountains, chased sheep, and been abandoned on an island for longer than she wants to remember.

An ethnographer, educator, and award-winning author who loves mentoring writers, Joan blends her love of history and romance into eye-opening historical novels about women who shouldn’t be forgotten and into romantic thrillers under the pen name, Zara West. She is the author of the award-winning romantic suspense series, The Skin Quartet and the top-selling Write for Success series.

Prairie Cinderella is book 3 in the Forgotten Women series. Book 1 That Dickinson Girl was a 2023 Chanticleer finalist, and book 2 Censored Angel was 2024 First Place winner of the Book Fest in biographical historical fiction.

Joan blogs about women who should be remembered at JoanKoster.com, about everyday life during the Civil War at American Civil War Voice, about romance at Zara West Romance, about writing at Zara West’s Journal and teaches numerous online writing courses.

 

Academia  https://independent.academia.edu/JoanKoster

Amazon author page https://amazon.com/author/joankoster

Bookbub https://www.bookbub.com/profile/joan-bouza-koster

Facebook  https://facebook.com/joankosterauthor/

Goodreads  https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/3989103.Joan_Bouza_Koster

Instagram  https://instagram.com/joankosterauthor

Linkedin   https://www.linkedin.com/in/joankosterauthor/

Newsletter Sign Up  https://www.joankoster.com/tidbits-newsletter-sign-up/

Pinterest https://pinterest.com/joankosterauthor

ResearchGate https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Joan-Koster

Website https://joankoster.com

X  https://twitter.com/womenwewrite

YouTube  https://www.youtube.com/@joankoster2786/featured

 

Whispers of Scandal and Suspense

By

On May 7, 2025

In Teatime Tattler

Dearest readers,

Sharpen your fan edges and pour the tea strong, for last evening’s events at Lady A’s illustrious Mayfair residence have left tongues wagging and reputations teetering!

The occasion, purportedly held in honor of none other than Her Royal Highness, Princess T von H-S, promised a night of elegance and refinement. But where Lady A entertains, drama and readers often overshadow refinement, and she does not disappoint.

The arrival of the honoured guests was enough to set hearts fluttering and monocles dropping. Prince S, with his usual flair for excess, made a royal fuss of his entrance in a gilded coat that blinded every poor soul within ten feet. He was flanked by his dashing brother, Prince A, and the ethereal Princess T, who could induce envy simply by breathing. A trio worthy of every gossip in the room, to be sure.

Now, one might expect Princess T to charm her way across the ballroom floor with every eligible lord and viscount in the Ton. But no, dear readers, our princess had other plans. To the great shock (and likely despair) of many titled mothers and their hopeful progeny, she danced exclusively with a certain Dr. A F. Yes, you heard that correctly, a doctor from Italy, whose sole claim to fame thus far seems to be his deft hand in orthopedics. If his skill in the ballroom is half as precise as his scalpel, I daresay he’ll have a future flock of patients from the Ton on his hands.

As if the sight of a princess monopolizing a mere physician were not enough to keep tongues wagging, pray brace yourselves for the truly scandalous tidbit of the night. There was, of all things, a poisoning at the ball! It was all kept very secret but I shall, dear readers, not rest until I find out who the victim was.

Ah, Lady A. How could one fail to notice that this so-called celebration of Princess T had all the grace of a well-aimed dagger. Our hostess, known for her sharp intellect and even sharper sense of family, was using the occasion to stake her newfound alliances with prominent personages. Not only has she aligned herself with Prince S and Princess T, but also with the mysterious and reputable doctors of Harley Street. One cannot help but wonder if alliances forged in secret will soon cast shadows over the Ton. Her revenge upon society may not yet be written in ink, but readers, the quill is poised.

Still, the night concluded with an announcement of great importance, though its details remain shrouded. Dearest readers, I shall find out. Until then, hold tightly to your secrets—for it seems Mayfair’s glittering exteriors hide venomous hearts aplenty.

Yours Indiscreetly,
An Anonymous Observer

 

To find out more about the events at Lady Ashford’s ball and her alliances to the Doctors on Harley Street, check out Sara Adrien’s series “Miracles on Harley Street” which will soon bring a third book with events intersecting at that event.

 

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D72FXRFK?binding=kindle_edition&ref=dbs_dp_rwt_sb_pc_tkin

 

Sara Adrien

Bestselling author Sara Adrien writes hot and heart-melting Regency romance with a Jewish twist. As a law professor-turned-author, she writes about clandestine identities, whims of fate, and sizzling seduction. If you like unique and intelligent characters, deliciously sexy scenes, and the nostalgia of afternoon tea, then you’ll adore Sara Adrien’s tender tear-jerkers.

For more information and exclusive sneak peeks, new releases, and more, sign up for Sara Adrien’s newsletter at www.SaraAdrien.com

social media links:

Free companion Scrapbook: https://dl.bookfunnel.com/d7hj45yo6p
Substack: AuthorSara.Substack.com
https://www.instagram.com/author_sara_adrien/

https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565938324623

 

 

 

The scent of trouble stirs the air

By

On April 23, 2025

In Teatime Tattler

Dear Reader,

This humble gossip column has it on the highest authority that a certain lady known for her outspoken boldness and unshakable glint of trouble in her eye is dead set on exacting revenge upon a certain earl who has risked his grandfather’s legacy on a hairbrained wager. Yes, the one that involves him to find a wife or else.

What unfolds promises to be an unstoppable gallop on a racetrack that will collide with sharp tongues, sharper secrets, and a reckoning no amount of lace or lies can soften.

So, clutch your pearls, dear reader.

It seems the dear earl in question has found himself tangled not only in the strings of matrimony’s clock but also in the silken web of our bold lady’s schemes. Whispers suggest the lady in question is armed with not only her wit but also a most curious ally. A certain gentleman of questionable repute has been spotted at her side, offering up his infamous talents in orchestrating chaos. Could this be a plot to ensure the earl’s courtship attempts end in a spectacular disaster? Or might their collaboration uncover secrets that even this ink-and-quill columnist dares not yet write?

And as for the race to the altar, one cannot help but notice the parade of hopeful maidens fluttering in the background, like moths drawn to a rather perilous flame. Among them, sharp-eyed observers claim, is one whose grasp on the earl’s attention seems more solid than the others’. But caution, sweet reader, for where one heart might warm, another’s icy precision may strike. Could this gentle miss be as innocent as she seems, or is there more to her charm than meets the eye? Ah, the stage is set, and the players are primed. Rest assured, this gambit will unfold with all the drama and spectacle one might wish for during the Season.

The fallout might just scatter the ton into scandalous pieces, or perhaps, more thunderously, shatter only the hearts of those caught in its wickedly delicious snare.

Are you ready?

And never say, I didn’t warn you.

~~~

Dare To Tempt An Earl This Spring

 

She plans revenge. He wagers his future. But neither bets on love.

Lady Ashley never imagined she’d lose the love of her life because of a heartless wager. And she knows exactly who to blame for her heartbreak. Thomas, the Earl of Linsey, has it all—wealth, prestige, good looks, and his prized thoroughbred horses. Determined to exact her own kind of justice, Ashley hatches a daring scheme to steal the one thing he values most. But as she enters his world, she discovers an infuriatingly charming man with unruly wit and a passion that stirs something deep within her. The closer she gets to stealing his horses, the harder it becomes to shield her heart.

Thomas, the irresistible Earl of Linsey, is a man bound by secrets and a wager that will change his life. If he doesn’t marry before his 25th birthday, he’ll lose more than his dignity to a ruthless rival. But even as time passes, he focuses on preparing his horses for the Royal Ascot. That is, until Ashley saunters into his life. With her sharp tongue and undeniable allure, she’s both the distraction he doesn’t need and the woman who ignites a fire he can’t ignore. Yet Thomas begins to suspect Ashley has ulterior motives, and untangling her secrets may cost him more than his treasured horses.

Their battle of wits sparks undeniable passion, but when deception and betrayal come to light, will Thomas and Ashley risk it all for a love they never saw coming?

Step into a world of glittering ballrooms, fiery attraction, and scandalous secrets in the first book of this steamy Regency romance series by #1 bestselling authors Sara Adrien and Tanya Wilde. Perfect for fans of enemies to lovers, sizzling romance, and the thrill of sweet revenge. Don’t miss this captivating series starter filled with witty banter, dangerous stakes, and a love worth fighting for!

Buy links:

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/Dare-Tempt-Earl-This-Spring-ebook/dp/B0F4GW8238

About the Authors:

Tanya Wilde

Award-Winning and Bestselling author Tanya Wilde developed a passion for reading when she had nothing better to do than lurk in the library during her lunch breaks. Her love affair with pen and paper soon followed after she devoured all of their historical romance books.

When she’s not meddling in the lives of her characters or pondering names for her imaginary big, white greyhound, she’s off on adventures with her partner in crime.

Wilde lives in a town at the foot of the Outeniqua Mountains, South Africa.

You can connect with her (she loves that *wink wink*) at:

Website: http://www.authortanyawilde.com

Website: https://www.authortanyawilde.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tanyawilde/

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@authortanyawilde

Wallflowers and Wenches Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/843373666456177

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/tanya-wilde

 

Sara Adrien

Bestselling author Sara Adrien writes hot, heart-melting regency romance with a Jewish twist. As a law professor-turned-author, she writes about clandestine identities, whims of fate, and sizzling seduction. If you like unique and intelligent characters, deliciously sexy scenes, and the nostalgia of afternoon tea, then you’ll adore Sara Adrien’s tender tear-jerkers. She is the author of the series Infiltrating the Ton, Diamond Dynasty, Check Mates, and Miracles on Harley Street.

 

Instagram: @author_sara_adrien

Substack:  https://authorsara.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSaraAdrien

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22249825.Sara_Adrien

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sara-adrien

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ASara+Adrien

 

A Walking Scandal

By

On April 9, 2025

In Teatime Tattler

Dear Readers,

Writing for the Teatime Tattler is my bread and butter, which means I must report on the latest gossip.

Nevertheless, I am in favor of the truth, or at least a kind-hearted version of it. I loathe malicious gossip which seeks to put the worst construction on everything. I have decided henceforth to always seek the most positive interpretation of the latest on dits.

Which leads me to the thorny problem of Miss L B. I have always wondered why she was a wallflower. She’s quite pretty, and as far as I can tell, not at all shy. Perhaps she put on a discontented air and avoided dancing to discourage her many suitors—or perhaps to save both them and herself from her mother’s machinations. (If you are acquainted with Lady B, I’m sure you’ll understand.)

Why, then, has the grumpy wallflower finally decided to bloom? Not only bloom, but do so in such a way! In the space of two short days, Miss B has set her feet firmly upon the road to ruin.

First, she attended Mrs. H’s salon, a well-known gathering of bluestockings who feel free to discuss whatever they choose, no matter how unladylike the topic. I am in favor of educated women and applaud their attempts to become well informed—as long as their behavior is otherwise impeccable.

Which Miss B’s, sadly, is not. Whom should she choose to escort her but the notorious libertine, S R!

(Oh, very well, in the interest of truth, I admit that R’s aunt, Lady A, accompanied them as chaperone, but she’s so totty-headed as to be well-nigh useless.)

Then, after showing herself to be far too knowledgeable about matters of which a young lady should be ignorant, what must Miss B do but accept an invitation to one of the notorious Lady T’s card parties—and we all know what goes on there!! A single game of piquet might destroy her reputation forever.

If that wasn’t bad enough, I have been creditably informed that R will escort her there as well!

What, I ask you, can Miss B be thinking? Surely she doesn’t hope to catch R in her toils! It would serve him right if he were obliged to marry her—not that one can count on that, given his reputation. I would hate to see her 1) ruined or 2) stuck with R. Rakes are rarely as skilled in the bedchamber as they are purported to be. (Not that I know from personal experience, mind you.)

After thinking it all over, I don’t believe Miss B is pursing R. She has known him since childhood, so he is no exciting stranger to her, merely her brother’s annoying friend. She is an intelligent woman, and I think she is using him for some secret purpose. What in heaven’s name can that purpose be?

I hope and trust that one of the Tattler’s readers will find out and let us know!

The Wallflower Ruse

He suspects her of treason – and she suspects him right back.

Lord Restive wonders why Lucinda Belair grew up to be a grumpy wallflower—and now, because of a message in code, he is forced to suspect her of treason.

Lucinda wishes her childhood friend Restive hadn’t grown up to be a horrid libertine—and now, because of the coded message, she has to suspect him right back.

Soon, they are compelled to work together to save England from an unnamed disaster. But Restive is intolerably rude to Lucinda, and she longs for revenge – to show him she’s intelligent and capable and can handle whatever a patriotic Englishwoman must do. Is this the opportunity for Lucinda the wallflower to bloom at last? Will Restive’s bad reputation forever stand in his way—or might Lucinda’s desire for revenge be replaced by love?

Buy links:

Amazon buy link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DVQG5BP8/

Every vendor buy link: https://books2read.com/u/b60vRx

The Wallflower Ruse is Book #56 in the Revenge of the Wallflowers multi-author series.

About the Author:

Winner of the Holt Medallion, Maggie, Daphne du Maurier, Reviewer’s Choice and Epic awards, Barbara Monajem wrote her first story at eight years old about apple tree gnomes. She published a middle-grade fantasy when her children were young, dabbled in paranormal mysteries, then moved on to Regency romances and mysteries with intrepid heroines and long-suffering heroes (or vice versa).

Barbara loves to cook, especially soups. She used to have two items on her bucket list: to make asparagus pudding (because it was too weird to resist) and succeed at knitting socks. She managed the first (it was dreadful) and doubts she’ll ever accomplish the second. This is not a bid for immortality but merely the dismal truth. She lives near Atlanta, Georgia with an ever-shifting population of relatives, friends, and feline strays.

Find her at:

Website: http://www.BarbaraMonajem.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/barbara.monajem/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/barbaramonajem/

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/barbara-monajem

A Royal Scandal on Harley Street: Secrets, Shadows, and Stolen Glances

By

On April 2, 2025

In Teatime Tattler

Dearest Readers,

I bring you the following most interesting letter from a correspondent: 

Dear Mr. Clemens,

The streets of London are buzzing, and one cannot help but be drawn to the peculiar activity surrounding the esteemed practice on Harley Street (I shall not mention the exact address). While this column exists to inform, amuse, and, dare I say, tease, even my pen trembles at the sumptuous scandal unfolding.

It all began with whispers of a new arrival, a woman shrouded in mystery and appearing at the most respectable hours for reasons unknown. Clad in garments far simpler than her bearing suggests, this “governess” is none other than Princess T of [ahem] well, that would be telling, wouldn’t it? Yes, dear readers, you heard correctly! A runaway royal walking among us common folk. But why, pray tell, is she under the good Doctor A F’s protection?

As you all know, our dear Dr. F has been the subject of many admiring glances across the ton. With his Mediterranean charm, untouchable skill, and the kind of brooding look that one only acquires from keeping secrets, he has won hearts and healed bodies alike. But this? Keeping company with a princess on the run? Could it be that he holds connections to her royal House, ties so strong they tether her to his doorstep? Or perhaps the answer is more passionate than political.

And what of the cherubic little girl who accompanies Princess T? While she is far more interested in spinning hoops than courting scandal, the true question remains. Is she a mere ward under T’s care… or could she be of royal blood? Whispers suggest the princess gave up more than her tiara in her flight from duty. Could this child be her greatest secret yet? How scandalous it would be if a royal heir were hidden among London’s cobblestone streets!

This arrangement raises more questions than answers, yet one thing remains certain: Princess T and Dr. F’s connection is far from ordinary. Simple acts of medical care do not explain the stolen glances between the two at odd hours of the day… and, dare I say, night. For one who has long preserved his spotless reputation, the good doctor seems to be teetering on the edge of propriety. Is he her savior, her confidant, or perhaps something far more thrilling to my quill? Surely the gentle press of his hand as he guides her into his practice is not just medical assistance.

But beware, dear hearts, for shadowed figures have been seen prowling nearby. Villains on the scent of a fugitive royal? Or another twisted piece of this tangled thread? One cannot say, but rest assured, the game afoot is as dangerous as it is delectable.

This column shall remain vigilant, for secrets like these have a way of unraveling. Until then, keep your parasols high, your ears pricked, and your hearts braced. For when forbidden love meets a society teeming with judgment, one must always expect fireworks.

Yours in observation and mischief,
An anonymous friend from across the street.

A Touch of Charm

Her love is forbidden. His secrets are unforgiveable. But their hearts will risk everything… Welcome to Miracles on Harley Street, where love defies society’s rules.

Dr. Andre Fernando has poured his heart and soul into healing others at the renowned 87 Harley Street practice. To his colleagues, he is the handsome Italian doctor with unmatched skill, but only Andre knows the painful secret he keeps—a truth that bars him from claiming the life he truly wants. When a nighttime highwayman attack thrusts Princess Thea into his arms, his carefully constructed world begins to crack. Escorting her to safety is one thing—but falling for the spirited woman desperate to escape her royal chains may cost him all he’s worked for.

An impossible love in a world that won’t allow it.

Princess Thea ran away from an unwanted betrothal and thought she’d escaped. Hoping she’d abandoned a crown for freedom, hiding as a governess, she doesn’t realize that the villains followed her. But when a dangerous encounter lands her in the care of a stunningly selfless—albeit frustratingly loyal—doctor, she falls for his calm strength and piercing kindness. As Andre’s brilliance and his tender kisses set her ablaze, can Thea fight for this impossible love and still escape the chains of her royal station?

He doesn’t just see her title; he sees the woman beneath the disguise—the woman she wants to be.

Their connection is unmistakable, their passion undeniable. But every stolen moment comes at a cost. Secrets threaten to destroy them; danger looms with every heartbeat. Beneath the weight of society’s rules and the pull of duty, their hearts forge a bond that defies reason.

But danger looms over every step they take. As she faces threatening villains and his secret looms, their fragile love comes at high stakes.

Forbidden love. Dangerous secrets. A passion that demands to be free—step into a world of the doctors on Harley Street where intrigue, irresistible attraction, and a circle of doctors bound by loyalty set hearts ablaze with hope.

This is the third book in the Miracles on Harley Street series, perfect for fans of steamy Regency romances featuring forbidden love, swoon-worthy doctors, and secret identities among aristocracy.Read in Kindle Unlimited!

Note: This series is part of Dragonblade Publishing’s Flame line, so this is a scorching-hot read with open-door steam.

Buy Link:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DY2XDBCX

Miracles on Harley Street series
Book 1: A Sight to Behold
Book 2: The Scent of Intuition
Book 3: A Touch of Charm
Book 4: The Sound of Seduction
Book 5: A Taste of Gold
Book 6: Bring Me A Winter Miracle

About the Author

Bestselling author Sara Adrien writes hot, heart-melting regency romance with a Jewish twist. As a law professor-turned-author, she writes about clandestine identities, whims of fate, and sizzling seduction. If you like unique and intelligent characters, deliciously sexy scenes, and the nostalgia of afternoon tea, then you’ll adore Sara Adrien’s tender tear-jerkers. She is the author of the series Infiltrating the Ton, Diamond Dynasty, Check Mates, and Miracles on Harley Street.

Find her at:

Instagram: @author_sara_adrien

Substack:  https://authorsara.substack.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorSaraAdrien

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/22249825.Sara_Adrien

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sara-adrien

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/s?i=digital-text&rh=p_27%3ASara+Adrien

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