BORN TO BLUSH

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Born to Blush 

by
Fran Connor 

Genre: Historical Romantic Adventure 

When she finds honest and paid employment far away from the Victorian Workhouse where she grew up, Mary leaves with hope and sadness in her heart. 

Her future looks secure; that is the hope but she must leave behind a childhood friend, the son of a wealthy local family with whom she managed to cross the social divide; that is the sadness. 

Not all employers in 1850s England are bad and young Mary works her way up the servants' ladder to become lady's maid to a kind aristocrat. She grows into an attractive young woman which does not go unnoticed by her employer's lascivious husband. 

When her Ladyship unexpectedly dies, the husband makes unwelcome advances towards Mary. 

Her defiance of his carnal desires sets in motion a series of adventures and catastrophes. 

This thrilling romantic adventure follows the plucky Mary on her journey into the depths of Dickensian England where she encounters a myriad of odd characters some of whom mean her harm while others strive to help her. 

When someone from her past reappears, her joy is tinged with fear. Much has happened to her since last they met. To cross the social divide as adults is far more difficult than in childhood and romance instead of friendship complicates it even further. 

Mary has a secret. Should it be discovered it will have her transported as a felon to Australia. 

If you love your historical romantic fiction to have a gutsy heroine, this is the novel for you. 

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Fran Connor, Author

Fran Connor now lives in SW France with his wife Viv after serving thirty three years in a UK police force retiring with the rank of Chief Inspector. He doesn’t do cop stories. He says he’s seen enough of the real thing. He enjoyed his time in the police during which he met many odd characters some of whom creep into his novels in very different circumstances. 

Without wandering into the political minefield of today’s policing issues, he’s saddened by the current events. 

He’s the author of nine novels and nine novellas published in his name and a host of others that he has ghostwritten. 

Although he doesn’t restrict himself to a particular genre, the two he likes to work on most are Historical Romance with a large dose of Adventure and Contemporary Thrillers. Most but not all of his protagonists are female. Women in his opinion make more interesting characters as they are more complex and often need to think their way out of jeopardy rather than bash their way out. 

He does do ‘steamy’ in some novels but not violence against women. It’s anathema to him after his service. If a woman is in a tight corner she gets out of it before anything serious happens to her. 

Born to Blush falls in the Historical Romance genre. 

When not writing, Fran keeps himself fit by walking Molly, a Griffon Nivernais dog who is the real boss of the house, tending his large garden and keeping his old farmhouse from falling down. Set in the French countryside surrounded by vineyards, orchards and ancient hilltop villages he finds it inspires his stories. 

If you enjoy Born to Blush you may like two of his other Historical Romance novels “Passarinho and the Highlander” and “Honourable Lies”. 

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PASSARINHO AND THE HIGHLANDER

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Passarinho and the Highlander 

Adventures in Love and War 

by
Fran Connor 

Genre: Historical Romantic Adventure

A privileged young woman in 1730s Boston sets out on an adventure to rescue her father from a debtor’s prison in Jamaica. A dashing Scottish soldier offers to help her in return for her help in exposing a traitor.

Shipwreck, spies, murder, war and a rival for the Highlander’s affections combine to thwart her mission.

She finds the darker side of life in the Caribbean is a far cry from her sheltered upbringing. To survive and succeed in her rescue she must adapt and, on the way, she discovers a secret about herself that could have disastrous consequences for her future.

She could see the ship better now as it cut through the surf towards her. Had they seen her? Pain shot through her legs as she lifted herself onto her knees. To stand up, she knew, would capsize her makeshift life raft. She did not care if they were pirates or if they were French, Spanish or British. All she wanted as she knelt looking at the ship was a drink of water to slake her desperate thirst.

Susannah may have grown up in a sheltered environment back in Boston, but she was no foolish or naive girl. A semi-naked woman appearing before men who may have been at sea for months may invite disaster. But water… she needed water.

Now the ship was close enough for her to see the people onboard, though she could not tell their nationality. A man stood on the poop deck with a telescope that she hoped was looking at her. She pulled up her chemise to try to cover her breasts.

An awful feeling swept through her body when she saw the ship turn away from her, and then elation.
They lowered a boat over the side, furled the sails and dropped anchor. Susannah looked up at the sky. “Thank you!”

Her eyes searched the boat party for an officer or gentleman as it approached. That was more of a hope than a likelihood as she checked them out. Her mind flitted through available options and found none.

Without a doubt the vision that the nearest sailor beheld must have been the strangest he’d ever seen. Had he read Robinson Crusoe published twenty years before? His tarred pigtail and scarred face did not suggest to Susannah a reader.

The boat pulled alongside Susannah’s raft. Still on her knees with one hand trying to hold up her chemise, she looked at the sailors. “Hello, could you help me? I’ve had rather a difficult problem. I would appreciate passage to civilisation.”

The men in the boat roared with laughter.

One of them seemed to have a slight resemblance to an English gentleman from the way he held himself. His clothes, though well-worn, did have signs of quality, and he wore a tartan sash.
“Glory be! And of whom do I have the pleasure?” said the man in a cultured Scottish accent, much to Susannah’s relief.

“Miss Susannah Fitzpatrick of the Boston Fitzpatricks, sir. I am a survivor of the Diana shipwreck.”

“Well, Miss Fitzpatrick, I do believe you will have a fascinating story to tell. It must wait until we are aboard. We cannot anchor off for long for reasons that will become clear to you. I am Donald Murray of the Auchterarder Murrays, Miss Fitzpatrick, at your service.” He gave a slight bow while still sitting down in the prow of the boat and then offered his hand to help her aboard.

Donald Murray, in Susannah’s brief assessment, was a man in his late twenties. Under his sunburn, red beard and long, unkempt hair that matched the colour of his beard, he may even have been handsome. His bearing, which she first mistook as that of an English gentleman, was that of a proud Highlander.

Buy or download now through Kindle Unlimited and enjoy this gripping Romantic Adventure with a flawed heroine. 

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Fran Connor, Author

I live in SW France for the lifestyle after a career in a UK Police Force. I have six published novels, three more in the pipeline and six plays that have been produced on stage. My screenplays portfolio contains seven feature length scripts with one about to go into production. 

I write mainly Historical Fiction but I do other genres too. I don't do cop stories, I had enough of the real thing. 

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HONOURABLE LIES

Honourable Lies

by
Fran Connor

Genre:
Historical Romance

Victorian England with its hypocritical mores, a poor orphan girl elevated to High Society where she learns how to be a 'Lady', a handsome and wealthy love interest and a dastardly baddie combine to make this Romantic Thriller a page turner that you won't put down. The road up from the gutter is long; the way back may be quicker unless Victoria can outwit her Nemesis and overcome her jealousy.

HONOURABLE LIES Excerpt:

Humphreys stood at the main door on the top step. A carriage pulled by two horses halted on the drive.

Bonnie slipped by Humphreys and made her way to the bottom step. The carriage door opened and Victoria saw a tall young man with a shock of unruly black hair climb out and embrace Bonnie. He was indeed as handsome, perhaps more so than advertised.

The young man reached into the carriage and helped a young lady down the step. Penelope, said Victoria to herself. Next came an older woman. This must be Lady de Mornay. Richard held her hand as she descended from the carriage.

Bonnie hugged Penelope and Lady de Mornay. Richard and the three women climbed the steps.

A black riding boot with a brown top stepped down, followed by the rest of the man. Victoria gasped. She recognised him at once. She could see the ivory Chinaman’s head hanging from his watch chain. He stood on the gravel and then came up the steps behind his family.

He walked with a limp. A limp from when I stabbed him. Will he recognise me? She turned towards the house.

‘Do come in,’ said Bonnie, with her arms around the shoulders of Richard and Penelope.

‘And you can get out of the habit of inviting us into our own house,’ said Lord de Mornay.

Richard shot around, his face flushed and angry. ‘My house, not yours.’

Lord de Mornay huffed and puffed. Richard turned back to walk in with the two ladies.

Victoria looked at Humphreys. He seemed to be smiling as his eyes met those of Lady de Mornay, who quickly averted her gaze.

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Fran Connor 

is British and lives in SW France with his wonderful wife Viv, their dog Molly and chickens.

 

He claims he's living in that area for the lifestyle and weather which he says helps an author's creative juices. It may just be an excuse to drink wine and lounge in the sun. He writes novels, nine published so far with two more coming out soon. In addition to novels, he also writes screenplays.

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