Finally the time is here. I know a lot of you have been waiting awhile for this because of the emails I have received over the years. I apologize that the publisher I chose originally didn’t live up to either of our expectations.

I will be reissuing The Lord and the Scorpion in my Lulu storefront: http://stores.lulu.com/store.php?fAcctID=1228193 offered in E-book and Paperback. I suppose those have who have been peddling my book on Amazon for 70.00 missed the opportunity to be more reasonable in their sales price because of my reissuing of the book. I couldn’t believe it when I saw the price on the paperback copy because the publisher no longer sold the paperback copy.

The Lord and the Scorpion was my first novel. I’m proud to say it was the first Interracial Elizabethan Romance that I know of with a Black female lead character in a romantic setting. It got great reviews in which I was very proud of considering. Thanks to all my readers for their continued support in my dream of getting the interracial love them out to the world, I believe the more we see it and read it, the more we believe it and it will feel more natural, than unnatural no matter what race or nationality the interracial pairing may be.
Happy reading!

“Shiree McCarver has got this reviewer’s attention with The Lord and the Scorpion. Ms. McCarver has done an awesome job of telling this story of romance, suspense, and lots of mystery for the reader to enjoy. The Lord and the Scorpion has everything a reader is looking for and so much more. Ms. McCarver hooks you from the beginning with love at first sight and keeps you hooked to the very end with the mystery of the Knights of Darkness. The Lord and the Scorpion is a fabulous historical romance with a lot of spice to turn up the heat. Sauda is one powerful heroine that will keep you on your toes and Ethan is one alpha hero that everyone can fall in love with. I truly enjoyed reading The Lord and the Scorpion and I cannot wait to get Ms. McCarver’s next book.”

“THE LORD AND THE SCORPION is an awesome tale and readers will find themselves hooked until the last page. Sauda is a courageous and strong woman who does what is necessary. Ethan has had to deal with much in his past, but finding Sauda is a stroke of luck for him. Together this couple is hotter than hot and the sparks fly at every interaction. Shiree McCarver is a new talent who is proving that she has what it takes to create intriguing and clever plots that readers won’t soon forget. I look forward to seeing what her next book brings.”

THE LORD AND THE SCORPION

In a time when their love is forbidden, two people will join together and find a passion unlike any other.
Ethan Clare wants the woman from the second he runs into her. He can’t explain the strong attraction he feels for the Blackamoor woman, but knows that he must see her again. When she saves the Queen’s life, Ethan finds the perfect opportunity to get to know who this remarkable woman is. Of course she hides secrets that he longs to uncover. When he is asked to help find out the assassin who tried to kill the queen he eagerly agrees knowing he will be working with Sauda. In a time where their love is forbidden, can they find a way to be together?
Sauda Mauri is a trained assassin. She has been a slave and an assassin for many years and now she has a chance at a new life as a free woman if she can complete her final mission. Originally running from her Japanese master she is traveling under the guise as Lady Francis’s nursemaid so she can get her assignments from the head of the Queen’s Secret Service. She does not need any complications and Lord Ethan Clare is more than determined to be just that. She will not let her emotions get the better of her; she has a job to do.
When she gets hurt protecting the Queen, she awakens to find him at her bedside. She knows she is in trouble by the look in his eyes and is happy to be putting distance between them until she learns Ethan has been asked to help her uncover who the culprits are behind the attempt on the Queen’s life. Their union changes the destiny of many and attracts the attention of a madman who his determined to get the Blackamoor woman out of their lives forever.

Excerpt:
Ethan mumbled his frustrations and after a few strange looks he realized his mumblings were aloud and clamped his mouth shut before they carted him away to Bedlam.
He continued his search through the assembly catching the eyes of many winsome ladies; however none was the one he was looking for. He was about to give up his search when he heard a soft curse and a light shove against him. He released an agitated sigh and gland down at the bowed head of the woman rubbing at the side of her satin clad feet.
“Oh! Pray excuse me. I…” His words trailed off as she looked up at him and he found himself staring at HER.
Ethan felt immediately drawn to the stunned, yet open admiration he saw in her dark eyes before she had the chance to mask her initial reaction Afore God, I hath not imagined her beauty. His fingers tingled at the tips as his mind meandered over the smoothness of her earthy colored skin. He wondered what it would feel like to run his fingers along the lines of her exotic features tracing the broadness of her nose and the wicked fullness of her wide mouth. Would her reception of his hands on her person be as warm, smooth and inviting as she looked?
He took full advantage of his close vantage point and savored her still figure openly. A part of him was hesitant in fear that the moment would once again be fleeting.
She was dressed not harshly bejeweled or overly painted as the other women of the court. Her garb; a softly concocted attire, was simply cut like none he’d seen before.
Gentle silken folds of what seemed to be yards of red silk with small white embroidered flowers leading into a small train, made up the skirt. Ethan could see why he accidentally stepped on the train of what she wore. This manner of walking gown wasn’t the normal wide skirts shaped by yards of petticoats that assured a man keep his distance. It made him wonder what she wore beneath such a form-fitting garment.
His accessing eyes roamed back to the halo of long dark brown wavy frizzed hair glistened like polished wood flowing from a center part and tied loosely with a thin matching red satin ribbon.
This woman was too bold in her stare. She was not submissive like most slaves or servants. Ethan sensed no shyness or nor any intimidation that he usual received from those indentured. His rank in life usually called for servants look away or at the ground in his presence. He imagined the drudgery of a commoners’ life or being a Moor and living in a foreign land caused the servants to fear those that held their livelihood in their hands.
Still, he felt no fear coming from this woman even though assuredly she belonged to someone to be here amongst the nobles. The unknown woman had a certain poise and quiet strength about her that intrigued him. Her dark face was just an intro to the magnificence of her as a fairer sex. Her body was rounded yet firmly shape, her arms defined.
There were curves everywhere from the gentle shape of her high cheekbones, to the fullness of her lips and coquettish smile. He believed the one thing that attracted him most was her mysterious sable-brown eyes surrounded by sooty curled lashes.
“I thought I would never find you again.” He was the first to break the lingering silence between them.
“I was not missing.” She smiled. “Nor do I know why you would be searching for me milord unless you wish to purchase me a new gown.”
He found her throaty voice and soft laugh delectable.
Ethan smiled. “If a new gown is what you need that can be managed. Give me your name and the wherefore to find you and I will make the necessary arrangements.”
He caught her staring at his mouth. Most other women would not do so upon first meeting a man that wasn’t a member of her family. Then again, she was not like any woman he had met before.
Ethan saw Lady Frances nearby distractedly chatting with a friend of hers. He would owe Lucian a brandy and an apology; he had been correct.
“I was not serious milord.” She returned her gaze to his eyes. “If you would get your booted feet off my gown, I am sure it can be salvaged.”
“Pardon me?”
She looked down and he followed her gaze.
“Pray forgive me,” he stepped aside releasing the trail of her gown from beneath his dusty booted feet. His face reddened at the imprint and rent he saw upon the silken material. “I beg you allow me to at the very least mend the gown,” he insisted. “If you will bid me your name I will assure a seamstress finds you--”
“It is not that serious, milord. I…” She backed up as two people pushed their way between them.
Ethan gritted his teeth; his annoyance increased when more people pushed their way through, he found this was an impossible situation.
“Prithee can we mayhap walk the grounds to speak more freely?” He asked once they came together again.
“It is not possible.” She shook her head at him. “I am here because I have duties to fulfill milord, not to be your social distraction.”
“If you are Sir Walsingham’s daughter’s guardian, I assure you he will not protest if you and the child are in my care until I see you safely to your rooms.”
“It will be best if we did not speak again.” She stated allowing more to pass through. He noticed the gap was growing between them, but still she remained close enough that when someone accidentally knocked into her, his hand darted out to grab her forearm to steady her.
Immediately she withdrew from his hold with a mumbled apology.
“Please.” His smile broadened. He wasn’t smitten by his own appeal to women but he often used it to his will if the need arises and this time the need was arising.
Ethan felt breathless as an undeniable magnetism swarmed between them and his heart hammered foolishly in his broad chest as the blood coursed through her veins like an awakened river to his lax groin.
He could see from the emotions across her face she was wavering.
“Please, come with me.” His hand reached out to touch the warmth of her face when suddenly trumpets sounded overhead and people forged forward. The growing breach between them unexpectedly spread and all Ethan caught in his reaching fingers was the crimson ribbon from her hair releasing the obsidian tresses to the caresses of the warm breeze.
His frustrations knew no bounds as once again, he lost sight of her and he still didn’t know her name. He brought the ribbon to his nose and sniffed in deeply the essence of her scent before pushing it inside the laced opening of his shirt and held it securely against his heart.

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