Uncaged welcomes Alexa Aston
Welcome to Uncaged! Your newest book, Training the Duke released on October 12 and is part of a series called Suddenly a Duke. Can you tell us more about the series and this book?
AA: Suddenly a Duke is an 8-book Regency romance series. I love a fish out of water story, and so my 8 heroes gain their unexpected dukedoms and have to adjust to their new lives as a duke. These dukes find themselves attracted to interesting females Polite Society does not believe worthy of holding the title of duchess. The heroines I this series are not typical ladies of the ton. One is a portrait painter. Another composes music. Two are designers—of hats and furniture. One is even a famed Bow Street runner! Fortunately, these dukes choose to forge their own paths with these remarkable women and find that trusting their heart is always the right choice.
Training the Duke’s unusual heroine, Lady Finola Honeyfield, is a dog trainer, specializing in training English springer spaniels. Army officer Cyrus Cressley’s head wound has left him alive but blind in one eye, so he is unsuited to lead soldiers into battle. He returns to his childhood home to heal and find a purpose in life—and Finola’s adorable pups bring the two of them together. Of course, both Cy and Finola hold close a few secrets, and things become even more complicated when he suddenly becomes the Duke of Margate. Cy must convince Finola they are meant to be together.
What are you working on now that you can tell us about?
AA: I have two different series in the works for 2024.
My Regency historical romance series, The Strongs of Shadowcrest is my first family series I’ve written since my popular St. Clairs. It will tell the love stories of the Strong family, including eldest brother James; his four half-sisters; the girls’ mother; and his two cousins. This series will release between February & October.
My small-town contemporary romance series is set deep in the heart of the Texas Hill Country, where people come seeking new opportunities and a chance to reinvent themselves—and maybe even find love. Lost Creek is a 5-book series, and a new romance will drop each month from May to October.
Read more of this interview in the issue below
USA Today and Amazon Top 100 bestselling author Alexa Aston’s historical romances use history as a backdrop to place her characters in extraordinary circumstances, where their intense desire for one another grows into the treasured gift of love. Her contemporary romances are light and flirty and sometimes contain a bit of suspense.
She is the author of 16 historical and contemporary romance series, including Suddenly a Duke, Second Sons of London, Dukes Done Wrong, Sugar Springs, and Hollywood Name Game.
A native Texan, Alexa lives with her husband in a Dallas suburb, where she eats her fair share of dark chocolate and plots stories while she walks every morning. She enjoys a great Netflix binge, reading, and travel, and she has the two most adorable grandkids on the planet.
alexaaston.com
Training the Duke
Alexa Aston
Historical Regency
An army officer who has returned to his childhood home . . .
An earl’s daughter forced to earn her own living . . .
Two damaged souls who find friendship . . . and love . . .
Lieutenant-General Cyrus Cressley’s head wound leaves him blind in one eye and unsuited to lead men into battle. Selling his commission, Cy returns to Melrose to find his father long dead and his distant brother, who is in poor health, the new Duke of Margate. Cy is given use of the hunting lodge on the estate, where he seeks to find his purpose in life after being forced from the military.
Lady Finola Honeyfield’s come-out was ruined when a cruel trick was played upon her, leaving her to trust no one but her dogs. She retreats to the country and becomes one of England’s premier trainers of English springer spaniels, having found a way to earn her keep, even as she is lost in loneliness.
Thanks to her Honeyfield spaniels, Finola has a chance meeting with Cy. Soon, a friendship springs up between them, with Cy even helping Finola train her current litter of pups. But these two keep secrets from one another and when Cy suddenly finds himself the Duke of Margate, Finola washes her hands of him.
Can Cy convince Finola they are meant to be together and forge a path as the Duke and Duchess of Margate—or will her mistrust of gentlemen of the ton keep them apart forever?
Excerpt
“My commitment to you is unbreakable, Finola,” Cy said, holding her hand as she perched on the bed where he lay. “I may not bring a wealth of worldly goods into our marriage, but know that my love is the biggest gift I can offer you.”
He kissed her tenderly.
“Will you allow us to live at Belldale?” she asked quietly, and he saw the worry in her eyes.
“It has been your home for many years. I would not take you from it or your dogs. The sale of my commission will bring in some income for us to live on, but you will need to continue training and selling your Honeyfield spaniels.”
“We,” she emphasized. “We will train them together. Perhaps we should rename them Cressley spaniels.”
The thought left a sour taste within him. Cy wanted no association with his brother or father touching his relationship with Finola.
“No, they are to remain Honeyfield spaniels. That is what they are known as. It will be your lasting legacy, and I am more than happy to continue to help you in this work.”
She touched his cheek, stroking her fingers against it. “Bertie will be happy about this turn of events.”
Cy chuckled. “He will, indeed. And speaking of Bertie, where is the lad?”
“I sent him to Belldale to work with the dogs today so I could stay with you since your headache was so debilitating.”
He kissed her hand. “Thank you for being with me during the worst of it. I am much better now. Dr. Sheffley said the headaches, like my eyesight, are results of the bullet entering my head and the swelling and stress that resulted from that. I hope if my sight returns that the headaches might end.”
Finola rose from the bed, saying, “Dr. Addams will return tomorrow morning to check on you.”
“What of Stoneham? And Pollux? When do you plan on delivering the pup to the duke?”
“His Grace knows I wanted you and Bertie to accompany me. He said he would send his carriage again the day after tomorrow, hoping you would be fully recovered by then.”
Cy took her hand, bringing it to his lips for a tender kiss. “When will you wed me?”
“I suppose in three weeks’ time. It will take that long to call the banns.”
“There are other ways to speed things up,” he told her.
Read the rest of the excerpt below
