**EXCLUSIVE** Brazen Cover Reveal

I am honoured to get to reveal the cover for Katherine Longshore's newest novel, Brazen, today. The new cover scheme that began with Tarnish is a much better fit for the series, and I think this one is just as pretty!

Here is a little about the book before I reveal the cover...

Anne Boleyn’s younger cousin Mary Howard has always lived in the shadow of her powerful family. But when she’s married off to Henry FitzRoy, King Henry VIII’s illegitimate son, she and “Fitz” join a tight clique of bright young things who test the boundaries of court’s strict rules with their games, dares, and dalliances. The more Mary gets to know Fitz, the harder she falls for him- but to consummate their marriage would mean breaking the law. Soon, Mary and her friends find themselves at the center of the king’s case against Queen Anne. And Mary is forced to choose between betraying her beloved cousin and losing her beloved Fitz.

I also get to share an excerpt as well! It's a rather fun one....

The door flies open and the glaze of candlelight inside the crowded bedchamber blinds me.

“Like a startled deer!” a voice shouts.

“Like a lamb to slaughter,” says another.

“Be gentle with her, FitzRoy.” I recognize Wyatt’s voice.

Madge pushes me into the chamber. “Go make him love you.”

Even completely dressed, I feel naked beneath their stares. My skirts are huge. The pink brocade bodice binds me so tightly I can feel the pounding of my heart against it.

The men bow. All of them.

A giant tester bed piled with damask and fur dominates the room. Gorgeous and barren.

Fitz is pummeled forward from the crowd. He, too, is still dressed, but they’ve removed his boots and stockings, his bare feet vulnerable on the wooden floor.

“Enter and enjoy!” George Boleyn calls, and bows to the howl of laughter that follows.

His wife, Jane, brings a stool and places it at my feet. When she straightens, she whispers in my ear.

“Tonight is just for show,” she tells me. “You have time to fall in love.”

I think of how she told the queen that love tastes of strawberries and try to smile before taking her hand to climb into the bed, Fitz beside me.

We don’t touch.

The priest flicks his holy water and bows his head. He mutters his Latin and gives us his blessing.

Then comes the moment when everyone should leave the room. When we should be left alone to do what married couples do. Fitz starts to climb back out of the bed.

“Give her a kiss, Your Grace!” Wyatt says. Ever the tempter and purveyor of young love.

Fitz turns to me, eyebrows raised in question. Not a challenge—a request for permission.

I nod. Just a tiny bit. Thinking of the suggestions the men made that I never heard. Thinking of his body so close to mine, both of us burdened with layers of velvet and damask and heavy gold braid. Both of us watched so closely—our audience half hoping to see us fall into each other’s arms, while half afraid that we will.

And I am excruciatingly aware of my lips. Are they too dry? I daren’t lick them. What do I do with my nose? How do I turn my head?

My husband leans into me, the mattress tipping us toward each other like the concave mouth of a vault. Our shoulders touch and we both startle back, laughing nervously. The crowd roars.

Fitz leans forward again and raises his left hand to my face, partially sheltering us from the gaze of the spectators. I close my eyes.

“You’re beautiful.”

My eyes fly open. He smiles and leans ever so slightly closer. His words taste like bridecake and hippocras fruit and cinnamon and sweet wine.

I wonder if his mouth tastes of the same.

I am dying to find out if Fitz and Mary get that kiss! I am already counting down the days until I have this in my hands, and one of you lucky people will have the chance to be one of the first to read it in the giveaway below!

Now for the pretty......

Pretty right? Anyone else think it sort of looks like chocolate?! Let me know in the comments what you think and be sure to enter the giveaway. It's international, and there are TWO prizes up for grabs! Huge thank you to Katherine for the prizes, and allowing me to reveal this today. You can visit her website for more about any of her book.

The two prizes up for grabs are

PRIZE # 1 - An ARC of Brazen! Be one of the first to get your hand on it.
PRIZE # 2 - Signed copies of Gilt, and Tarnish. Get caught up before Brazen is released.

The two prizes are on the same rafflecopter. I've included a few pre-fabricated tweets and a Facebook post too. Please use whichever one you like to spread the word about Katherine's cover reveal for your Rafflecopter entry. You, of course, can also make up your own if you prefer.

TWEETS

Duty. Loss. Rebellion. Go see the cover of @KALongshore's BRAZEN and enter for a chance to win! http://bit.ly/H9styf @PenguinTeen #yalit

Exclusive excerpt and cover reveal for @KALongshore's BRAZEN on @kathycoe's blog! Plus a chance to win! http://bit.ly/H9styf @PenguinTeen

Want to be one of the first to read @KALongshore's BRAZEN? Cover reveal and a chance to win! http://bit.ly/H9styf @PenguinTeen

FACEBOOK POST

See the gorgeous cover of BRAZEN, the final book in Katherine Longshore's Tudor series, and read an exclusive excerpt on A Glass of Wine! http://glass-of-wine.blogspot.com/2013/10/exclusive-brazen-cover-reveal.html Plus, you can enter for a chance to win signed books or an ARC!

a Rafflecopter giveaway