June 10th, 2026
Home | Log in!
Welcome to FreshFiction

Are you a reader
or an author?

Help us personalize your experience. Choose your role below.
You can always change this later using the switcher button.

or

You can switch anytime using the floating button.

Limited Time Fresh Fiction Access

Exclusive Marketing Opportunities for Authors

Curious about how Fresh Access helps authors gain more visibility and connect with active readers?

Discover premium promotional opportunities, enhanced exposure, and author-focused services designed to help your books stand out.

Read More →
On Top Shelf
Fresh Pick
SCORE

Love, Danger, Homecomings & Heart β€” Your June Reading Escape Starts Here

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fresh Pick of the Day

 


Avon
October 2005
Featuring: Katherine Fleming; Dominic Mallory
384 pages
ISBN: 0060798599
EAN: 9780060798598
Paperback
Add to Wish List

Amazon

Barnes & Noble

Books-A-Million

Indie BookShop

Ripped Bodice

"FOUR STARS - Petersen makes her Avon debut with a love story... that will appeal to Lisa Kleypas and Julia Quinn fans. Not only does her story sizzle, the strong characters and equally appealing, fast-paced plot will keep you hooked as well. Be on the lookout for more from this exciting new voice." Romantic Times Bookclub

"This debut novel belongs on everyone's must read list!" Rakehell

"Scandalous is engaging, enjoyable and highly recommended." The Romance Reader

"Jenna Petersen is a welcomed addition to the Regency world..." The Romance Readers Connection

"Jenna Petersen shines..." Fallen Angel Reviews

"Scandalous is one of the best new romances of this year, and Jenna Petersen is one of the best new authors...If you want a love story that is going to draw you in and hold you captive, this is it. Five shields" The Mystic Castle Society Reviews

Katherine Fleming has lived her life without even a hint of
indiscretion. So she is devastated to discover the nobleman
she's engaged to has a secret he's kept from her: a wife!
Suddenly Katherine's enmeshed in a scandal that has the ton
buzzing -- and forced to accept a most unconventional
proposal from the notorious seducer Dominic Mallory, her
faithless fiancΓ©'s brother… and precisely the sort of rake
she has sworn to avoid!

Charming and dangerously sensual, Dominic has desired the
stunning beauty from the first moment he spied her. Now,
with Katherine's reputation in tatters, it's the ideal
opportunity to bed her -- though it will take wedding vows
to do so. But can a rogue be reformed by the unleashed
passion of a normally reserved lady? And can a marriage
made for all the wrong reasons flame into the love match of
the season?

Excerpt

The man was so stubborn. Bullheaded. Even so, she felt a
nagging need to comfort him. Sadness was buried in his
stormy eyes, no matter how both of them pretended it
wasn’t. It only seemed to deepen the longer they stayed at
Lansing Square. Whether or not he admitted it, the house he
wanted so desperately to get rid of meant something to him.
And whatever β€œbusiness” he had there had something to do
with his strange searching.

What could he be looking for?

She found herself bundling a second ball of packed snow
into her fist. She took aim at a tree branch a fair
distance away and let loose, pretending it was her
husband’s head as a target. It hit squarely and she
couldn’t help but smile.

β€œYou’ve a good arm. Perhaps you’d like to practice on a
better enemy.”

Katherine spun around with a start to find Dominic crossing
the lawn toward her with arms outstretched as if offering
his broad, muscular chest as a mark. She blushed. She’d
been caught. Thank goodness he couldn’t read her thoughts.

β€œYou want me to throw a snowball at you?” she asked with a
giggle she couldn’t suppress.

He gave her that half-grin that melted her every time. β€œThe
birds are easy marks, my lady. And anyone could have hit
that tree branch. I am simply offering you a challenge.”

Yes, he certainly did that. A challenge to her resolve.

He stooped and scooped up a handful of wet snow. With
flourish, he rubbed a target on the breast of his dark
woolen greatcoat, then stood back. β€œThere, now I’ve made it
even easier for you.”

She couldn’t hold back another burst of laughter. β€œJust
remember you asked for this.”

She wound up and was pleased when she hit him squarely in
the middle of the chest, despite his last-minute sidestep.

He smiled. β€œDecent.”

β€œDecent? I hit you full on!” she said in mock outrage
before she balled up another snowball and threw again.

But he was just as quick and she found herself dodging as
much as throwing. His aim was as good as hers and more of
his missiles hit her than missed. As she straightened up
for one last throw, she was pleased to see his coat was
dotted with white marks. At the exact moment she let loose,
he stood up and the snowball connected squarely with his
face.

She squealed in delight as he sputtered and wiped snow away
from his eyes. Eyes that came up to meet hers with
playfully murderous intent.

β€œOh, you liked that, did you?” he asked as he dug into his
pocket for a hopelessly damp handkerchief.

β€œI-I’m s-so sorry,” she managed between giggles.

β€œHmmm. It doesn’t sound like it.” He grinned. β€œBut you will
be.”

With that, he dove toward her. She let out a small scream
as she scurried away. Laughing, she ran across the snow
with him hard on her heels. Just when she thought she would
escape, he jumped. They both went down on the soft snow in
a heap of red coat and laughter.

β€œNow you’re going to get it,” Dominic chuckled as he
shifted his weight to pin her laughing, struggling
form. β€œNow you’re mine.”

Something in his voice shifted and Katherine stopped
fidgeting to look up into stormy gray eyes. Eyes that
pulled her in bit by bit until laughter was forgotten,
snowball fights were forgotten, everything was forgotten
except how much she wanted him.





© 2003-2026 off-the-edge.net  all rights reserved Privacy Policy