The Tobacconist's Wife by AnneMarie Brear
Publication Date: November 12, 2020
Lume Books
Paperback & eBook; 244 pages
Genre: Historical Romance/Victorian
From the bestselling author of The Slum Angel.
Having lost her father, Thea Goodson is alone in the world.
It is true she has a husband, but Ernie is a brutal man, more inclined to use his fists to keep Thea in line than to build on their marriage. And besides, Ernie Goodson has secrets – secrets that even his wife cannot share.
But in Victorian Yorkshire, appearances must be kept up, so Thea goes on powdering her bruises and forcing a smile as she toils in Ernie’s home and tobacco shop. There seems to be no other option.
That is, until a handsome and well-bred stranger arrives to set up shop next door…
Can Thea escape her misery and break from the conventions of society? Or will the clutches of her abusive husband confine her forever?
The Tobacconist’s Wife is the latest book from AnneMarie Brear, the highly acclaimed author of bestselling The Slum Angel. Perfect for fans of Catherine Cookson, Dilly Court and Rosie Goodwin.
Available on Amazon
Excerpt
Behind the shops were two yards, one each, fenced and gated. The river ran at the end of the yards and he could see across to the bank on the other side. Boats of all shapes and sizes plied the water as busy as any road.
From somewhere a siren sounded, ending the day’s shift for the workers.
Aware that he was losing the light, Adam tried the latch on the gate, but it was locked. The fence was high, well over seven feet – for he was six feet tall and he couldn’t see over it. He tried the latch again, to no avail.
‘May I help you?’
Adam spun around at the voice and flushed, as though caught breaking into someone’s house. He stared at the woman as she raised her eyebrows at him, her alluring moss green eyes full of inquiry.
‘I apologise. I wasn’t meaning any harm. That is … I was simply trying to see if the gate was open.’
‘Why? The shop and rooms above are empty.’
‘Yes, I understand that.’
‘No one lives here. Are you looking for someone?’
‘No. I wish to inspect the property, and am doing so with an agent, in the morning, at ten o’clock.’ Good heavens, why was he explaining himself like a child?
She relaxed a little, the stiffness leaving her shoulders and she gave him a tiny smile, a mere lift of the corners of her mouth.
‘I’m Thea Goodson, from the tobacconist’s shop next door.’
‘Adam Fitzwilliam.’ Adam held out his hand for her to shake, and after a slight hesitation she did so.
Her eyes, such a deep green he’d never seen the colour of before, stared at him. She wasn’t a classic beauty, the kind men raved over, but there was something in her face, an alertness, that intrigued him. Her abundant chestnut hair was roughly tied at the back of her head, and she wore a neat plain black skirt and a cream blouse with lace cuffs. In his mother’s world of pure silk, diamonds and pearls, she would be considered plain, but in fact, there was nothing plain about Thea Goodson. Those large green eyes would never allow her to be plain.
In the space of a heartbeat, he noted all that about her. His mind and body responded to her in a way he’d not experienced before. It was as if every one of his senses were on high alert. He wanted to say something witty and clever, or do something that would impress her.
Sucking in a breath, he felt disorientated by his own reaction to this woman. His chest tightened as he gazed at her and he wondered if perhaps he was coming down with something.
‘Thea!’ A man’s voice boomed from the other yard. ‘I need help in here!’
The woman flinched and seemed to shrink into herself. The light went from her eyes.
Adam frowned. Was that her father? His hand reached out, but he quickly dropped it. He could think of nothing to make her stay and talk to him.
Amazon UK bestseller and award-winning Australian author, AnneMarie Brear has been a life-long reader and started writing in 1997 when her children were small. She has a love of history, of grand old English houses and a fascination of what might have happened beyond their walls. Her interests include reading, historical research for her novels, watching movies, spending time with family and eating chocolate - not always in that order!
From somewhere a siren sounded, ending the day’s shift for the workers.
Aware that he was losing the light, Adam tried the latch on the gate, but it was locked. The fence was high, well over seven feet – for he was six feet tall and he couldn’t see over it. He tried the latch again, to no avail.
‘May I help you?’
Adam spun around at the voice and flushed, as though caught breaking into someone’s house. He stared at the woman as she raised her eyebrows at him, her alluring moss green eyes full of inquiry.
‘I apologise. I wasn’t meaning any harm. That is … I was simply trying to see if the gate was open.’
‘Why? The shop and rooms above are empty.’
‘Yes, I understand that.’
‘No one lives here. Are you looking for someone?’
‘No. I wish to inspect the property, and am doing so with an agent, in the morning, at ten o’clock.’ Good heavens, why was he explaining himself like a child?
She relaxed a little, the stiffness leaving her shoulders and she gave him a tiny smile, a mere lift of the corners of her mouth.
‘I’m Thea Goodson, from the tobacconist’s shop next door.’
‘Adam Fitzwilliam.’ Adam held out his hand for her to shake, and after a slight hesitation she did so.
Her eyes, such a deep green he’d never seen the colour of before, stared at him. She wasn’t a classic beauty, the kind men raved over, but there was something in her face, an alertness, that intrigued him. Her abundant chestnut hair was roughly tied at the back of her head, and she wore a neat plain black skirt and a cream blouse with lace cuffs. In his mother’s world of pure silk, diamonds and pearls, she would be considered plain, but in fact, there was nothing plain about Thea Goodson. Those large green eyes would never allow her to be plain.
In the space of a heartbeat, he noted all that about her. His mind and body responded to her in a way he’d not experienced before. It was as if every one of his senses were on high alert. He wanted to say something witty and clever, or do something that would impress her.
Sucking in a breath, he felt disorientated by his own reaction to this woman. His chest tightened as he gazed at her and he wondered if perhaps he was coming down with something.
‘Thea!’ A man’s voice boomed from the other yard. ‘I need help in here!’
The woman flinched and seemed to shrink into herself. The light went from her eyes.
Adam frowned. Was that her father? His hand reached out, but he quickly dropped it. He could think of nothing to make her stay and talk to him.
About the Author
For more information please visit AnneMarie Brear's website. You can also connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, Google+, and Goodreads.
Guest Post at Coffee and Ink
Review at Probably at the Library
Friday, November 13
Review at View from the Birdhouse
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals
Saturday, November 14
Excerpt at Passages to the Past
Sunday, November 15
Review & Excerpt at Bookworlder
Monday, November 16
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Tuesday, November 17
Guest Post at Novels Alive
Wednesday, November 18
Review at Novels Alive
Interview at Books & Benches
Thursday, November 19
Review at A Darn Good Read
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on November 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
The Tobacconist's Wife
Blog Tour Schedule
Thursday, November 12Guest Post at Coffee and Ink
Review at Probably at the Library
Friday, November 13
Review at View from the Birdhouse
Review at Chicks, Rogues, and Scandals
Saturday, November 14
Excerpt at Passages to the Past
Sunday, November 15
Review & Excerpt at Bookworlder
Monday, November 16
Review at Historical Fiction with Spirit
Tuesday, November 17
Guest Post at Novels Alive
Wednesday, November 18
Review at Novels Alive
Interview at Books & Benches
Thursday, November 19
Review at A Darn Good Read
Review at Gwendalyn's Books
Giveaway
During the Blog Tour, we are giving away 2 eBooks of The Tobacconist's Wife! To enter, please use the Gleam form below.The giveaway is open to US residents only and ends on November 19th. You must be 18 or older to enter.
The Tobacconist's Wife
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