I write sweet and steamy rom-coms with tear-jerker happy-ever-afters.
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where i play the role of romance author, reader, and geek

The Ice Around My Heart: How Not to be Seduced by Dukes 2

2/1/2014

38 Comments

 
But first - Happy Chinese New Year! I was extremely busy in the past few days because of that particular holiday, which is pretty important to us Chinese peeps. :) We went to the temple again and thankfully the master there didn't list my sign (Year of the Dog) as being unlucky this year. 

Okay, back to business.

As you know, my two solo boxed sets are now out and thanks to YOU guys, both are doing quite well! :) Actually, they're doing a lot better than I've hoped for, with Eternally Seduced in Amazon's Top 800 and To Love a Shifter in Amazon's Top 500. Not bad! :)

One thing that did NOT make it to the boxed set was the excerpt I prepared for the second half of Rathe and Mary's story. You didn't really think How Not to be Seduced by Dukes was the end of it, did you? :)
Picture
Mary Ashton is the mistress of Rathe Wellesley, the Duke of Flanders and England’s #1 Heartthrob. As winter approaches, they leave behind the tragedies they’ve overcome together and set for Rathe’s homeland, where they are instantly swept into the dazzling world of Europe’s high society.

However, what was supposed to be a secret romantic holiday explodes into a dirty scandal when the Ton, London’s centuries-old clique of aristocrats, challenge their still-fragile feelings for each other.

He is thirty-four years old, a man in his prime and with a wealth of experience behind him. She is eighteen years old, a girl who has just blossomed into womanhood and whose innocence cannot be completely concealed.

Is he really too old for her…and is she really too young for him? And if everyone say it’s so, should that be enough for them to turn their backs on each other?

“What are you doing here?” His voice was colder than what she had been used to in the past few weeks, reminding her that he had not always been just Rathe, the man she loved and the man who loved her back.

Rathe was also a Wellesley, the present Duke of Flanders, a descendant of Wellington, the Iron Duke himself.

He came to his feet in one lithe graceful motion, and just seeing him move so beautifully was enough to have her heart beating madly. Since she had fallen in love with him, he only had to look at her and she felt like she was flying.

But now when their gazes met, she realized that the feelings were no longer mutual.

Somewhere along the way, something had changed.

“Are you not going to answer me?”

She flinched at the cutting edge of his British accent, a duke reprimanding a servant. That was how it sounded to her, but Mary willed herself not to lose her rarely roused temper. He loved her. He loved her. He had told her so. He would not be acting like this if something wasn’t badly wrong.

She said haltingly, “I just wanted to surprise you.”

The words in itself were a surprise, Rathe sucking in his breath at hearing them. An unbidden image came to him, of him surprising her by teaching her to waltz on a snow-covered ground and of her, surprising him with a poem she wrote and read for him alone.

It felt like those things had happened an eternity ago, like they happened to another couple or at least in a world where they were not judged.

He said harshly, “It’s not a good time.”

She stumbled back at his words, the stricken look on her face making him feel like he had stabbed her in the heart.

“What’s wrong?” Mary whispered. “Tell me, please.”

“Nothing is wrong except you being too hard-headed and acting like a child.”

She flinched again, knowing that the barb had been deliberate. She was perhaps acting like a child, acting like her age, but it was also as if he was driving her to it. “Rathe, we need to talk about this.”

He was silent.

“Rathe, please.”

The pain in her voice reached him and he shuddered, the blackness lifting from his shoulders for a second – long enough for him to tell her hoarsely, “Just go back to our home, Mary.”

“It’s not home when you’re no longer there.”

“I will visit you---”

“When?” She didn’t want to cry but it was impossible and she ended up sniffing her tears back, just like the dreaded child she mustn’t be.

The hurt on her face was too much. He never wanted to hurt her. She was his bloody life. But things had become so complicated he was no longer sure if their love was worth it. So many lives were now being ruined simply because they loved.

He said wearily, “Mary---”

His tone terrified her and she shook her head jerkily, retreating from his office.

“Mary---”

“I’ll come back some other time,” she babbled. “I won’t bother you again like this.”

He took a step back and she cried out.

Rathe stilled, his face white. “Mary---”

She looked at him, unshed tears shining in her eyes. “Please just don’t keep pushing me away, Rathe,” she whispered brokenly before swiftly turning around and walking away.

And he was letting her.

She started to cry.

He had let her walk away a long time ago, and she had to accept that.

38 Comments
Sylvie
2/1/2014 07:53:59 am

Happy New Year to you and wish the best for you which means the best for your readers too in the coming year...hehe

I love your books and can't wait for them to come out. Thank you for writing such incredible books with so much humor and well thought out story lines. They are awesome stress relievers and they make me want to read and read and read.

Keep up the good work.

You keep us very happy!!!

Reply
Marian
2/10/2014 01:27:42 am

Hi Sylvie! Thank you so much for the really nice words - it honestly makes me want to strive harder, write better and get more books out faster. :) I hope I'll be able to keep helping relieve you of stress with my stories! :D

Reply
Chavvahn
2/11/2014 03:38:28 pm

Omg just read your box set! So good. When will this book be out? I would love to finish the story of Mary and Rathe.

Reply
Marian
2/18/2014 12:26:40 am

Hi Chavvahn! Super happy to know that you enjoyed the set! :) This one should - hopefully - be out second half of March! :)

Reply
Dewi
2/11/2014 04:44:32 pm

OMG!!! when will this be out?!
i can't wait to read the continuation of Rathe and Mary's story.

Reply
Marian
2/18/2014 12:27:19 am

Hi Dewi! It should be out second half of March hopefully! :)

Reply
amber
2/12/2014 06:53:58 am

This was a AWESOME Series!!!!!! can't wait to read more of her books

Reply
Marian
2/18/2014 12:40:05 am

Yay! Happy to hear that, Amber. :) Dukes 2 should be out second half of March hopefully. :)

Reply
jessica
2/15/2014 03:16:47 am

Release date?

Reply
Marian
2/18/2014 12:40:38 am

Hi Jessica! Hopefully it's going to be out second half of March! :)

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Tammy
2/20/2014 10:35:22 am

Love this story can't wait for book 2 , how many books will be in the series ? Will Rathe have any competition for Mary besides the professor would love to see that , maybe Saffi's ex Prince Jeremy. Oh and would love to see a picture of what Mary looks like since we have a picture of what Rathe looks like.

Reply
Marian
3/12/2014 02:20:40 pm

Hi Tammy! Just two books for Rathe and Mary. And we'll see about competition - I like surprising readers. =D And got it about sharing a photo of Mary - I'll start browsing! =D

Reply
Jessi
3/15/2014 02:35:22 pm

Just wondering about release date for the apple store IBooks? Noticed that you already released the recent Greek billionaire series book but it's not on the books in the apple store. So would love to find out about that too....I'm addicted to your work! All of it!

Reply
Marian
4/20/2014 02:11:00 am

Hi Jess! Sorry for the late reply! The fourth book is out in Apple already. Hope you got to read it! :)

Reply
Jessi
4/23/2014 01:42:36 am

No worries, I understand that you are really busy. I have read it, I have actually read all of your books that are out on Apple. I can't wait for the 5th one, I thought it was going to come out this month? Nor can I wait for the rest of the Pusketeers (Duke) books, or Derek and Jaike, or really anything you put out! I really think I'm addicted to your books! Maybe there should be a Marian's Books AA Club.

Jessi
4/23/2014 01:43:00 am

No worries, I understand that you are really busy. I have read it, I have actually read all of your books that are out on Apple. I can't wait for the 5th one, I thought it was going to come out this month? Nor can I wait for the rest of the Pusketeers (Duke) books, or Derek and Jaike, or really anything you put out! I really think I'm addicted to your books!

Jessi
4/23/2014 01:43:52 am

No worries, I understand that you are really busy. I have read it, I have actually read all of your books that are out on Apple. I can't wait for the 5th one, I thought it was going to come out this month? Nor can I wait for the rest of the Pusketeers (Duke) books, or Derek and Jaike, or really anything you put out!

Sweta
3/25/2014 01:06:54 pm

When will book 2 in the Rathe and Mary story be out? Been waiting for it since I read the box set in January!!!

Reply
Marian
4/20/2014 02:12:13 am

Hi Sweta! I'm planning to have it out in June. Hope you can still wait for it! 😊

Reply
Sweta
8/3/2014 08:30:01 pm

Is there any update on when this book will be out?

hopebrown
4/1/2014 08:11:27 pm

Just this little excerpt have me tearing up. Until June Huh........Sigh!!

Reply
Marian
4/20/2014 02:13:01 am

Hi Hope! Glad you like the excerpt - hope you can wait for it till June! 😊

Reply
emgee
4/11/2014 11:07:16 pm

Yeeeessss! Can't wait for this. Just read their story from eternally seduces boxed set and it has left me wanting for more. Waaaahhh. Let June come sooner. And more power to you, Ms. Marian. Thanks for replying to my tweets. :-)

Reply
Marian
4/20/2014 02:15:47 am

Hi again Emgee! Sorry for the late reply! Happy that you enjoyed this excerpt. :) and of course I'll always reply - I love talking to you guys!

Reply
Huerta
5/29/2014 08:19:23 am

When in June is this novel coming out.

Reply
liz
6/3/2014 02:15:33 pm

I just read your books for the first time ( The Pussketeers box set ) and I cant put them down, it made me laugh and made me cry. It is a well written story. I am looking forward to book 2 of Rathe and Mary, hope it will e soon.

Reply
Huerta
6/12/2014 05:38:17 am

I’ve been a longtime fan of yours Marian Tee, but I believe that I’ve had enough. You currently have 4 incomplete series out there, and are always posting release dates that never happen. I could understand if you were busy working on finishing these series, but it seems that you just keep on throwing out more new books, that are unrelated, but also are part of a new series you are starting. A lot of authors have series novels, and I don’t mind buying them. But most authors finish one series before starting another, or publish release dates, and stick to them.

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chavvahn
7/15/2014 11:43:16 am

Is the second boom out yet?

Reply
Amber link
8/13/2014 03:55:02 am

I need this like nowwww…. lol but I also need Jaike and Derek's story now too. Soooo… I can wait.

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Leticia
8/14/2014 12:45:13 am

Hi Marian! I absolutely love your books. I've read almost all of them. When will the second book to Rathe and Mary's story come out??? I've been waiting since I read the first book and that was in January....Please hurry!!!

Reply
Marian
8/14/2014 10:31:22 pm

Hiya Leticia! Here's the order of release of my books (no exact release date but at least you know when it's likely to come out this year)---
1. Click
2. Meant to be Yours
3. Greek 6
4. Wolf Games and Wolf Kisses
5. The Ice Around My Heart
6. Brimstone 2

I usually put out one book a month but sometimes I can manage 2. :) not counted here btw are stories I have to write on demand for multi-author bundles. I adjust my sked accordingly when that happens. I hope this helps! So sorry for the wait!

Reply
Marian
8/14/2014 10:32:41 pm

Hi Amber! You'll be delighted to know the second half of Derek and Jaike's book is my next priority right after Click. The Ice Around My Heart is one of my top priorities too since it's one of the most requested. Hope you can wait for them! :)

Reply
maeve tee
8/14/2014 10:33:37 pm

No release date just yet but it's #5 in my release schedule. :) sorry for the wait!

Reply
Adara
11/24/2014 01:48:33 am

Hi Is there a release date for Ice Around My Heart yet? thanks

Reply
cris link
1/7/2015 05:15:46 pm

mare-release pa ba ito?

Reply
rally
1/27/2015 03:26:23 am

When will this be out? Because there is so much wrong information out. I mean why write down release dates at all, it only confuses everyone. I don't mind waiting but i do mind being mislead.

Reply
Huerta
1/27/2015 01:36:27 pm

Rally, sorry to disappoint but this is Marian Tee's personality. The following statements are all in her word. "It will be released in August. It will be released gauranteed in 2014. For sure release date of January 27." And then she blames the publishers! "Oh sorry the publisher did this and said that." I know a lot of awesome authors out there that keep their word. Kresley Cole immortals after dark series and Pepper Winters Q series and so many more...

Reply
cat
1/28/2015 06:51:09 am

Seriously, Ms. Tee. Why bother settinh up all of those release dates if you have no plan on sticking with it? In the future, i suggest you stop giving people false hope and just write it as "TBA" or whatever.

Reply



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