New Books from Bethany House Publishers

*Elizabeth Thatcher's highly anticipated return to her beloved Coal Valley after a long summer with her family back east is filled with surprises . . . and not all of them good ones, in her estimation. Maybe the worst one of all relates to her treasured students. Can she adapt and learn to cope with this enormous change?

Her Mountie, Jarrick Thornton, hasn't yet proposed, but she already knows what her answer will be. His duties take him away from the valley much too often, in her view, but the two of them, with patience and understanding--and one significant misunderstanding--are learning to know each other better.

The dark cloud looming on the horizon in Beth's mind, though, is filled with questions about where their future might take them. As a member of the RCMP, Jarrick is stationed wherever his superiors send him . . . but what about her teaching position in Coal Valley?

Beth attempts to do her best with each obstacle she faces, but does she rightly assess each situation as it surfaces? Good intentions don't always lead to good results. . . .

*Lydia King knows what it's like to be in need, so she joins the Teaville Moral Society hoping to help the town's poor. But with her father's debts increasing by the day and her mother growing sicker by the week, she wonders how long it will be until she ends up in the poorhouse herself. Her best chance at a financially secure future is to impress the politician courting her, and it certainly doesn't hurt that his mother is the moral society's president. Lydia's first task as a moral society member--to obtain a donation from Nicholas Lowe, the wealthiest man in town--seems easy . . . until the man flat-out refuses.

Despite appearances, Nicholas wants to help others but prefers to do it his own way, keeping his charity private. When Lydia proves persistent, they agree to a bargain, though Nicholas has a few surprises up his sleeve. Neither foresees the harrowing complications that will arise from working together, and when town secrets are brought to light, this unlikely pair must decide where their beliefs--and hearts--truly align.

*For decades, Perla Phillips has hidden the truth of a decision that still fills her with guilt. But now, seeing her granddaughter, Ella, struggle in a similar way, she's prepared to finally open the past to her family, no matter the consequences. But when the opportunity is snatched from her in a most unexpected manner, will she have waited too long?

Spanning generations, this moving family drama weaves together the interlocking stories of two women as they navigate relationships, family, faith, and the choices that will shape their lives. Heartwarming and nostalgic, the story explores the courage to share the wounds of the past and celebrates the legacy a family passes from one generation to the next. 

*Ainslee McKay's world is upended when her twin sister secretly elopes and leaves Ainslee alone to move to Weston, West Virginia, to fulfill their obligation at the McKay family's new tile works. While her brother, Ewan, agrees to travel with her and help her learn the ropes, she still intends to sell this business she no longer wants if a buyer can be found.

When the talented Levi Judson arrives to show Ainslee his designs for new tiles, she's impressed at his skill and passion for the business but feels she must keep her true plans for the business a secret from him. And though Levi hopes for a long, successful career at McKay Tile Works, he's hiding his true reason for coming to Weston. Can the growing feelings between them survive if the truth comes to light--or is a future together as untenable as the future of the tile works itself?


 *Each synopsis is from the back cover of each novel.  

Jane Eyre: Money Matters & Flirting

CBN Europe Devotional

Check out my new devotional, Life is a Gift, that was published today on CBN Europe's website.  

Here is the article:

This month has been a reflective one for me–do you ever have those months?  When you pause and take a moment to stop and listen to the world around you, and consider your life and what the Lord may have brought you through, you should focus on being still while remembering each trial and joy.  That is where my thoughts lie this month.

Throughout my young life, there have been numerous occasions when I have asked for help.  Getting help from those around me was imperative, but the help I needed most could only come from the One who would faithfully assist me when no one else could.  I’m sure you have already guessed that I am talking about the Lord.  

As the days go by I recall so many events that took place long ago, and I am left in awe and wonder at the greatness of our God.  Relying on Him is the only way I have been able to get through any of it.  He is my strength–daily and forever.  When I think back over my life, and consider what it could have been–I am so happy to know that the Lord was and is in control.  He knew the steps before I even walked them.  All things do happen in His perfect timing and are usually the moments that do not make sense to us.  Trust is key in these times.

These last few years have been filled with so many special moments and memories for me–going to college, studying abroad in Oxford, England, traveling to Virginia for graduate school, bowling with friends, celebrating birthdays, being in my best friend’s wedding, encouraging others while being encouraged, visiting and taking part in the lives of my friends and family–so many moments that are too easily taken for granted.  Never take these precious snapshots in life for granted my friend.

Life is a gift.  Every day is a gift.  Embrace it!  Love it!  Hold on to each and every moment while remembering where you came from and what you have been through.  Live the life that God has called you to live–use the talents you have been given.  Don’t waste moments by worrying about the past and wishing you had done things differently–be different now!

My life has changed so much in recent years that there is not enough space here for me to elaborate upon it.  I want you to know that we serve an awesome God, and that He is bigger than anything we may ever face.  I never thought I would get through many of the trials I have endured, but God knew.  And that is all the comfort I will ever need.  God bless each and every one of you this month!

by: Heather Snyder, M.A. 

 

Thank you so much for your support!  Happy reading!  

Bad Day for a Bombshell Cover Reveal

About The Book 

Genre: Adult, Fiction, Historical, Mystery
Publisher: Whodunit Press
Publication date: Fall, 2016

December 5th, 1941.  Sometime Houston socialite, Tracy Truworth, is always on the lookout for something suspicious, especially after growing up with her nose in the latest Katie McClue mystery novel, a series featuring a twenty-something female detective and her constant feats of derring do.  And for Tracy, escaping reality through reading couldn’t come at a better time, since her own life isn’t exactly going along like she’d hoped, considering her overbearing mother insists that Tracy marry Michael — a lawyer likely to be a U.S. Senator someday — in a wedding rivaling royalty.  Yet everything changes for Tracy when she spots a bleach-blonde bombshell on the train home from Dallas after a shopping trip to Neiman Marcus.  Because something certainly seems amiss with the blonde, given the way she covertly tries to snare men into her lair, and considering she ceases all flirtations when a Humphrey Bogart lookalike suddenly appears . . . complete with a mysterious package wrapped up in newspaper and twine.

But days later, Japan bombs Pearl Harbor and a few days after that, Germany declares war against the U.S.  Rightly so, President Roosevelt returns the favor.  And soon Tracy finds herself caught up in the War, just like the rest of the nation.  But it’s her curiosity that leads her on a collision course with a killer, and she arrives at the bombshell’s apartment only moments after the blonde is murdered.  Though Tracy is accused of the crime at first, she soon finds herself working as an Apprentice P.I., under the tutelage of a real private investigator.  Soon, they’re hot on the trail of the bombshell’s murderer.  From singing at the hottest nightclub around, the Polynesian Room, to a car chase in her 1940 Packard, Tracy’s investigation takes her far from her blue-blood upbringing.  It isn’t long before she finds the War is hitting a lot closer to home than she ever imagined . . . And danger isn’t much farther than her doorstep . . .

About The Author 

Cindy Vincent, M.A. Ed., is the award-winning author of the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Capers, a mystery series for kids and cat-lovers that features the adventures of two black cat detectives.  And yes, as she is often asked, Cindy used her own black cats, Buckley and Bogey, as the inspiration for the series, since they seem to run surveillance on her house each and every night.  Cindy is also the creator of the Mysteries by Vincent murder mystery party games and the Daisy Diamond Detective Series games for girls, along with the Daisy Diamond Detective novels, which are a spin-off from the games.  She lives in Houston, TX with her husband and an assortment of fantastic felines.  Cindy is a self-professed “Christmas-a-holic,” and usually starts planning and preparing in March for her ever-expanding, “extreme” Christmas lights display every year . . . She is also looking forward to the release of the first book in her new Tracy Truworth, Apprentice P.I., 1940s Homefront Mystery series,  which is due out in the Fall of 2016.  

Find her online at: www.cindyvincent.net

Author Interview 

1. What do you have in store for this novel?  Will it be a stand alone?  Will it be in a series?

Bad Day for a Bombshell is the first in my new series, the Tracy Truworth, Apprentice P.I., 1940s Homefront Mysteries.  It is a historical cozy mystery novel, with equal emphasis on both history and mystery.  (And a smidgeon of romance added in.)  Yet even though WWII is certainly a serious subject, this book is written with a bit of levity in spots, in keeping it true to the cozy mystery genre.  As with my other mystery series, the Buckley and Bogey Cat Detective Capers, these books will be stand alone.
 

---

2. What is the hardest part about being a writer?  The easiest?

Ha!  For me, the hardest part about being a writer lies in trying to coordinate my creative, writing life, with what is probably considered a normal/regular nine-to-five, sunup-to-sundown kind of world.  Because, when I’m burning rubber on the keyboard and deep into whatever book I happen to be working on, I lose all track of the hours and any sort of schedule.  Were it not for the others in my household who want to eat on time and need to be in bed at a certain time, I would probably grab a snack here and there, and a nap or a few hours of sleep, and then just keep on going.  Because creativity doesn’t seem to work according to any timetables.  Inspiration has a bad habit of waking a person up at night, and the right scenes and the right characters often come into a person’s head just as everyone else wants to go to bed.  It’s wonderful and annoying all at the same time.  But let’s face it, if a writer wants to have a marriage, and a family, and friends, well, there has to be some compromise between the “regular” world and the creative world.

As for the easiest part of being a writer, I would say that it’s simply the joy of writing in and of itself.  There’s just nothing quite like the opportunity to create something out of absolutely nothing.  It’s such a privilege to be able to invent an entire world, along with characters, and then create their storyline, too.  As Einstein once said, “Knowledge is limited.  Imagination encircles the world.”

3. How do you break out of a “writer’s block” shell?

Years ago, when I worked as a magazine editor, and then later, when I wrote murder mystery party games for my own company, I learned that meeting a deadline was important to one’s continued employment . . . meaning, if you don’t meet your deadline, you probably won’t be working anymore.  So I knew I couldn’t afford to have writer’s block.

That’s when I called on my Psychology background and took a look at something called Pavlov’s Dog and Classical Conditioning.  For those you who ever took Psychology 101, you probably remember that a Nobel-Prize winning guy named Ivan Pavlov taught his dog to salivate by merely ringing a bell.  But first he taught the dog to associate food (which made him salivate) with the sound of a bell ringing.  So I thought, why couldn’t the same or similar principle be used when it came to writing?  I decided to give it a try.  I started by playing classical music every time I was really in the zone with my writing and my fingers were flying on the keyboard.  In fact, I played the same song during these times.  Then, whenever I was feeling a bit sluggish in my creative processes, I tried the technique in reverse.  I played the music, which I now associated with excellent writing moments.  For me, the trick worked and I was able to write like I normally would.  I had learned to associate that particular music with writing.

4. Who are some of your favorite authors?

Oh, my goodness . . . how much time do you have?  I have so many “favorite authors” that I wouldn’t have time to list them all here . . . probably like most writers.  But if I had to pin it down, well, of course, the name Agatha Christie immediately springs to mind.  I love her inventiveness, and her ability to surprise readers with that all-important twist at the end of the mystery.  She must have been the Queen of the unexpected ending!  But my absolute, all-time favorite author is Dorothy Cannell.  She had me hooked at her very first book, The Thin Woman, and then onto The Widow’s Club and How to Murder the Man of Your Dreams.  Her work has such fabulous tongue-in-cheek humor, and I’m always laughing when I’m reading along.  She also creates characters that are fantastically well developed, so much so that I feel like I know them.  In fact, if I’m having a bad day, I pull one of her books from my shelf and read away.  It’s like visiting a favorite old friend, and it always cheers me up.

5. What kind of research did you do for this novel?  What did your writing process look like?

Like they say, when it comes to writing a historical novel, the research is half the fun.  And as a fan of WWII history, I’ve amassed an amazing collection of books, papers, and other downloads that pertain to WWII and the 1940s in general.  (In fact, I hope I don’t have any visitors for a while, since all this stuff is taking up a big chunk of my guest room at the moment.  Ha!)  Then, before writing this book, I dove in and devoured nearly all these books.  But I also visited the fantastic National WWII Museum in New Orleans, as well as watched tons of old movies and documentary videos.  I attended old car shows, so I could see exactly what kind of car my character might drive.  And, so that I could “walk a mile in her shoes,” so to speak, I actually wore dresses nearly every day for a month (since women rarely wore pants back in the 1940s) as I went to work in my home office to write this book.  That was a learning experience in itself, since, well, a girl operates a little differently with a dress on.  And now, oddly enough, I actually found that I prefer to wear a dress or a skirt, since frankly, they’re pretty comfortable!

6. What inspired the idea for Bad Day for a Bombshell?

Quite frankly, this book was inevitable.  I’ve long been a fan of the old mysteries, those that were actually written in the 1930s and 40s.  Top that off with a love of vintage clothing (I’ve been a collector for a couple of decades), and a love of swing dance and big band music . . . and well, I just knew that someday I’d write a 1940s/WWII mystery novel.  I’m surprised that it took me this long to get to it, but I had too many other projects going before this one.  (So many books to write, so little time . . .)  As for the specifics of the plotline, amazingly, I started out with one plotline, but the more I got into the story itself and the more I got to know my characters, well, the more I realized my first plotline just wasn’t the right one for this book.  Not only that, but the first time I wrote my lead character, Tracy Truworth, I gave her the profession of being a newspaper reporter, kind of a Brenda Starr-type character.  Yet the more I developed my heroine, the more I saw that she needed a different occupation to suit her personality.  So I gave her the goal of being a Private Investigator instead, with her starting out as an Apprentice P.I.  So I veered off the original plan and let the story go in a completely different direction.  I have to say, I’m very glad I did.  It’s a much better fit, especially for a mystery series.

 

An Elegant Facade - My Review

Kristi Ann Hunter's novel An Elegant Façade is set during the early 1800's within the borders of beautiful England.  Most activity takes place in London, but the characters also travel to other parts of the United Kingdom--including Glasgow, Scotland.  This text focuses on the Regency era way of life, which includes all the rules and regulations pertaining to society and a young women making her debut. 

Lady Georgina has one purpose in life, and that is to find a husband who will not only grant her station and wealth but also protection.  However, she holds a particular secret that only seems to grow worse through the years, and she wonders if she can keep this part of her life hidden any longer.  Her family does not even know the burden she has been carrying for so long, but Lady Georgina continues to sacrifice herself, because she knows it is what society deems for her to do.  Yet, there will come a time where certain questions will be raised, and Lady Georgina must decide what path she will choose.  Will she take the road she always saw herself living, or will life present an opportunity she never wanted?

Colin McCrae is from Scotland, yet he finds himself living and conducting business in London.  This is not necessarily by choice, but mostly because ties in his family have ceased to exist.  Colin and his father are no longer getting along because of poor choices made regarding the family business; therefore, Colin chooses to make a new life for himself in a different area of the country.  London seems like the perfect spot, since so many men need sound business advice while operating their trade in a major city.  Colin already has a few friends there, but surprisingly he suddenly becomes very close with the Hawthorne family.  Of course, he does not realize how much this one family will turn his life upside down. 

This is a wonderful book I wanted to continue to read, because I never wanted the story to end.  The characters are so beautifully written and constructed, which allowed me to discover how much more I wanted to know about their journeys beyond the pages of this book.  These feelings are the perfect ingredients to proclaim the evidence of a brilliant story.  I love reading novels from this time period, and Lady Georgina did not disappoint when it came to representing her era.  Her thoughts and actions mimicked the way a proper lady must perform in front of a gentleman during her time period perfectly.  Her cunning wit and charm she used to communicate with others was interesting to witness--especially when her thoughts began to slowly change as she transformed with each turn of the page.  For the men of this era, it was intriguing to consider the thoughts of certain men in order to understand what they truly thought of their own society--while also discovering the expectations that many men steadfastly held to regarding the women they wanted to marry. 

If you love the Regency era and all its historical adventures, I highly recommend reading this book. 

This review is my honest opinion. Thanks to Bethany House Publishers for my copy. 

About The Book

*Lady Georgina Hawthorne has always known she must marry well.  After years of tirelessly planning every detail of her debut season, she is poised to be a smashing success and have her choice of eligible gentleman. 

With money and powerful business connections but no title, Colin McCrae is invited everywhere but accepted nowhere.  He intends to marry someday, but when he does it will not be to a shallow woman like Lady Georgina, whose only concerns appear to be status and appearance. 

But beneath her flawless exterior, Georgina's social aspirations stem from a shameful secret she is desperately trying to keep hidden--and that Colin is too close to discovering.  Drawn to each other despite their mutual intent to avoid association, is the realization of their dreams worth the sacrifices they'll be forced to make? 

*Synopsis is from the back cover of the novel.

About The Author 

 

Kristi Ann Hunter graduated from Georgia Tech with a degree in Computer Science but always knew she wanted to write. Her debut novel, A Noble Masquerade, is a RITA double finalist.  She lives with her husband and three children in Georgia. Find her online at:  www.kristiannhunter.com

You Make Me Brave by Amanda Cook and Bethel Music

Excerpt from The Beautiful Pretender

Since I enjoyed this book so much, I thought I would include an excerpt from The Beautiful Pretender by Melanie Dickerson for today's post.  Happy reading!  

“Last but not least,” Magdalen said with a slight twist of her lips. “See that girl sitting at the margrave’s right side? That’s Fronicka. Her father is the Duke of Geitbart.” Magdalen leaned over to whisper in Avelina’s ear, “She is determined to marry the margrave and she’s given every other girl here notice that if they try to flirt with him, they will find something horrible in their bed the next night.”

Avelina leaned forward to get a better look at Fronicka. She was smiling at the margrave, looking quite demure and sweet. “Perhaps she was in jest.”

Magdalen raised her brows. “Perhaps.”

The other ladies sitting around the table were also smiling at Lord Thornbeck. All Avelina had to do was stay out of the way and let the other ladies flirt with him.

However, if Fronicka managed to marry Lord Thornbeck, it would mean certain destruction for the Earl of Plimmwald. The margrave would likely help his wife’s father, Geitbart, take over Plimmwald rather than stopping him and defending Plimmwald. The earl would be killed or imprisoned. All the people of Plimmwald, including her father and siblings, would be at Geitbart’s mercy.

She whispered under her breath, “God, be merciful and do not let the margrave choose her.”

As Avelina and Magdalen ate, Magdalen spoke of her younger sisters and brother with warmth and affection. “I wish they could have come with me, but the invitation was only for myself.” She talked about her mother and siblings a bit more, then spoke of how poor the villagers of Mallin were. “The copper mines have been Mallin’s main source of wealth. But about ten years ago the copper suddenly ran out. My father died soon after.” She sighed. “Our land does not grow much food, as the soil is very rocky. It would be good for raising sheep and other livestock, but the people don’t have money for buying livestock. It is why my mother wants to marry me to a wealthy nobleman, hoping he will help our people.”

Avelina nodded. “Plimmwald is not very wealthy either. Most of our people are farmers or woodcutters . . . peasants.” That was what Lady Dorothea called all the people of Plimmwald.

“My father always emphasized to me that as the noble family of Mallin, we were ultimately responsible for our people. I feel guilty sometimes living in a house made of stone, with silk dresses and plenty of food, when so many in our villages are going hungry.”

Avelina knew that guilty feeling too, but it was because she often slept and ate at Plimmwald Castle, while her little sister and brother had to fend for themselves in their little dirt-floor, wattle-and-daub hovel they shared with their father, who was dependent on the neighbors to help him get from his chair to his bed.

“But what can we do to help them?” Avelina wondered aloud.

“There is only one thing a woman might do, and that is to marry someone wealthy—and generous.”

Avelina started tapping her chin, then stopped herself as she realized it did not look very regal or ladylike. “Will any other ladies be joining us?”

“We are all here, the ten of us.”

“My maidservant said the margrave would want to ask me some questions. Did he already talk with you?”

Magdalen nodded, her mouth full of pheasant.

“What did he ask you? Will I be too frightened to even be able to speak?” She asked the latter question more to herself than to Magdalen.

“It was not frightening, although I do think the margrave himself is a little gruff and frightening. His questions were not what I might have expected, but they were respectful and nothing was difficult to answer. Do not worry. You will answer him well.”

“It hardly matters. I do not wish to marry the margrave in any case,” she confided.

“Do you not?”

Avelina shook her head.

“Is there someone else you wish to marry?”

“No, not at all.” She should not have said that. How would she explain? “As you said, he is a little frightening, that severe look on his face, as if he is always angry. I should like to marry someone with more of a gentle, romantic expression, a man of poetry and learning.” That was true, at least, however unlikely it was.

“How do you know Lord Thornbeck is not a man of poetry and learning?”

“He used to be a knight.” Avelina shrugged, trying to think what Dorothea might say. “Most knights I know are rough and like to fight.”

Magdalen smiled. “I might feel the same, except I know my mother is hoping the margrave will choose me. It would solve so many problems for my people and ensure them the protection they need.”

Avelina decided immediately: If the margrave seemed to be a good person, she would try to turn his attention toward Magdalen and convince him to choose her. Magdalen was a deserving person, and it would make her happy to be able to help her people. And anyone he married who was not Fronicka would benefit Avelina. Yes, the margrave should marry Magdalen.

As soon as the midday meal was over, the beautiful blonde wife of the margrave’s chancellor approached Avelina.

“Lord Thornbeck is ready to speak with you now, Lady Dorothea.”

Avelina nodded. Somehow, after deciding to champion Magdalen, she felt much less afraid of the margrave. She had a plan.

~ ~ ~

Reinhart hated formality and pretense. People should say what they wanted instead of hiding behind hypocrisy. He had allowed Jorgen and his wife to teach him a few of the niceties that others of the aristocracy would expect of him. But the woman he married must realize that he could not abide insincerity, and he would always be forthright himself.

He might as well get these questions over with. At least she was the last one. “Lady Dorothea, in your opinion, what is a lady’s most important task?”

The lady, quite pretty, with brown hair and blue eyes, looked as though she might faint as the blood drained from her face.

“Lady Dorothea? Are you well?”

She nodded, visibly swallowing.

She did not have to say anything brilliant. He came up with the questions as a way to discover a bit about them, to get an idea about their temperaments and character, since he was not so interested in his wife having strong opinions. A simple maiden who was not too opinionated would suit him.

But he was not so sure this one could even speak.

~ ~ ~

Avelina’s breath traitorously left her. She tried to think what she might be expected to say. She did not want to impress the margrave, but she didn’t want him to suspect that she knew nothing at all about being a lady either. She should say whatever Lady Dorothea would have said. But Lady Dorothea probably would have said something about looking beautiful so as to bring her husband the most praise, and Avelina could not bring herself to say that.

“Lady Dorothea?” The margrave was looking at her as if he was afraid she had gone deaf. The chancellor’s fair wife who had led her into the room was also staring at her, along with her young, handsome husband, who sat with his quill pen poised to write.

With so many thoughts swirling in her head, she was too confused to think of anything other than the truth. “In my opinion, a lady should take care of her people, first and foremost. They are dependent upon her and upon their lord for their well-being, and therefore a lady should consider them in everything she does and every decision she makes.” Something the real Lady Dorothea had utterly failed to do.

She studied Lord Thornbeck’s expression, but he was unreadable. Frau Hartman, however, widened her eyes and glanced at her husband, who was too busy writing to return her gaze. Was her answer surprising? She must be more careful.

The margrave folded his arms across his chest as he sat behind his desk. His cane leaned against it in easy reach. “And how does a lady take care of her people? Can you give an example?”

She closed her eyes for a moment, balancing on the edge of the deep hole that she had just dug for herself. She might as well tell the truth. She had never been good at lies.

“A lady takes care of her people by making sure they have what they need—food, clothing, and shelter—to the best of her ability. She should discover what her people need and keep the lord of the land informed of these needs. One such lady is Lady Magdalen, whom I was speaking with during the midday meal. Her people are having difficulty since their mines were exhausted of their copper supply, and she is very concerned for them. She is willing to do whatever is necessary to help them. That is a perfect example.”

Thank You, God, for helping me think of that! She only hoped she had not put him off by making it obvious that Magdalen’s region needed the margrave’s wealth to help it survive. Frau Hartman had raised her brows. Avelina went on.

“Furthermore, a margrave’s wife should have lots of ideas—and should share those ideas with her husband and other prominent men of the region. She should tell the margrave how to solve the problems of the region and not just share what those problems are. Do you not agree, Lord Thornbeck?”

He fixed her with such an intense scowl that she could hardly breathe. How could he look severe and frightening and yet overwhelmingly handsome at the same time? His brown eyes, masculine forehead and jawline, broad shoulders, and well-formed mouth all combined to make him the most handsome man she had ever seen. She quickly looked away from him, her cheeks burning, embarrassed that she found the man so attractive. She hoped he could not read her thoughts.

“You are saying a lady should tell her husband what the region’s problems are and how to solve them?”

Had she gone too far? God in heaven, I am only a maidservant! What am I saying? “Um . . . I . . . that is . . . perhaps. I mean, yes, my lord.” Could she be any more blundering and unpolished? He quirked one brow at her.

At least she didn’t have to worry that she was impressing him too much.