THE EARL'S CINDERELLA COUNTESS

April 10, 2024

THE EARL'S CINDERELLA COUNTESS

Amanda McCabe

GENRE: Historical Romance

Enjoy this friends-to-lovers romance set in Regency Bath

The one match

She doesn’t want to make…

The Earl of Fleetwood was Eleanor St. Aubin’s first love, but being a mere vicar’s daughter held her back from admitting her feelings. Now she's a successful matchmaker, and the prospect of finding Frederick the wealthy wife he needs to settle his inherited debts is a nightmare come true! But returning from war, Frederick’s facing nightmares of his own. Eleanor feels compelled to help him, but could she ever be his Cinderella countess?

Enjoy an Excerpt:

He suddenly took her gloved hand in his, holding it very tightly. She curved her fingers around his, holding onto him as if he was the only thing that kept her from flying away.

“See?” he said, staring down intently at their joined hands. “Warm and real, not an icy queen at all. You always had such a kindness about you, like a fireside on a winter’s day. A place to curl up and stay, to be safe.” He pressed her hand close against his chest, and she could feel the beat of his heart through linen and wool, as if it moved through her whole self and became a part of her.

“And so are you, Fred, though I know you never give yourself such credit. You are—are such a wonderful friend, so…” So wonderful. She’d always thought that, and now she found it had not changed.

“I can only be that way with you, Ella,” he whispered. “Once, I…”

Eleanor stared up at him, entranced, flooded with a bittersweet longing she’d never known before. She dared give in to those feelings, and leaned closer to him, resting her forehead against his shoulder. It was so warm, that heat surrounding her, blanketing her against the world. He smelled of lemon soap and clean linen, of sunshine and Fred. And, for that moment, she didn’t feel alone at all.

“What could bring us back to that, Fred?” she said.

About the Author:

Amanda wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...)

She's never since used algebra, but her books (over 100 so far!) have been nominated for many awards, including the RITA Award, the Romantic Times BOOKReviews Reviewers' Choice Award, the Booksellers Best, the National Readers Choice Award, and the Holt Medallion. She lives in Santa Fe with two rescue dogs, a wonderful husband, and a very and far too many books and royal memorabilia collections.

When not writing or reading, she loves taking dance classes, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook.

Q&A With the Author:

What was your inspiration for writing this book?
Hello, and thanks so much for hosting me here today! I had two inspirations, one might seem a bit odd since it was a non-fiction book set in World War II! Called The Marriage Bureau, it was about two women who started a matchmaking business in the 1940s. I was fascinated by how they figured out how to make sure two people would be perfect for each other, as well as finding a bit of joy and hope in such a difficult time. (I also always liked Emma Woodhouse, but wanted matchmakers who were a bit smarter about it than she was, lol!). The other was my love of Bath. It’s an incredibly beautiful town, so filled with history and atmosphere on every street. So I thought I would combine the two in my new “Matchmakers in Bath” series, where two sisters and their friend all find loves of their own—while setting up couples in a Regency match.com….

What did you enjoy most about writing this book?
The research was so much fun! (I am a history junkie, so that’s always fun). I also had a laugh coming up with some, er, unusual clients for our heroines to make matches for, they were rather difficult cases…

Do you have any other books you are working on that you can tell us about?
I just finished book 2 in “The Matchmakers in Bath” series, about Mary St. Aubin! It will be out in November (“Their Convenient Christmas Betrothal”). I’ve also just started working on a mystery set in the 1950s, which feels a bit like whiplash moving ahead 150 years, but so much fun

Can you tell us about what you have planned for the future?
Oooh, so many things! I have notebooks full of ideas, and they still keep popping up all the time. I’ll be doing one more “Matchmakers in Bath” book, plus a Gilded Age romance. I’d love to visit 18th century Versailles in a story, too, but for now Ella and Mary need to make more matches!!!!

Anything more you would like to say to your readers and fans?
Stay tuned for what might come next! And thank you sooo much for loving books and reading, other readers have been my best friends my whole life. I always think this is the best “perk” of writing, meeting kindred spirits. (And if you have any book recommendations, send them my way!)