Left on a Doorstep: The DuPree Dynasty – Book One by Beatrice H. Crew
England, 1896. On the cusp of her twenty-first birthday ball, Victoria Montgomery, daughter of a well-to-do family, learns that she has more in common with the young unwed mothers she helps in her London charity than she wanted to believe when she learns she had been left as a baby on her parents’ doorstep. Now a ruthless baby seller is stalking her to take revenge.
But when a handsome stranger named Allistair attends Victoria’s ball to compel her to his family’s island estate to be reunited with her ill birth father, Victoria soon discovers she has a history of people trying to kill her. Even her grandmother once attempted to throw her into the sea.
Victoria develops feelings for Allistair, a man she must trust to have her best interests, as he helps unravel the plot against her as well as the lace on her evening dress.
The next planned party is a masquerade ball — if Victoria can survive the event and remove the mask of her past.
Description
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By the time Beatrice was eighteen, she practically lived at her local library. Her favorite genres were Romantic Suspense, Mystery, and Thrillers — particularly those set in England. After graduating from high school, she wrote pages and pages of a story that she was sure would soon be published and make her rich. Then life took her in a different direction, and her writing shifted from fiction to business books, where she won three national awards through the American Advertising Federation. Beatrice came across her manuscript last year, and the story called to her, saying NOW is the time. Trying to read her teenage pencil scratches on old notebook pages wasn’t easy, but the story, Left on a Doorstep, was still in her.
Beatrice also writes poetry, usually as a subject comes to her. As a positive person, most of the poems are uplifting and come from a place of compassion and deep emotion.
Beatrice lives with her husband of 31 years, Milan Sergent, who is a multi-award-winning author.
What inspired you to write your book?
My inspiration was my love of books. If it is a great book, I will stay up really late at night reading it. I really l love historical romance books with a great mystery intertwined.
Here is a short sample from the book:
John and Rebecca DuPree were grateful they had a few minutes to enjoy the October winter weather, which was unusually mild for England’s eastern coastline. As they walked along the edge of the water, the crunch of sand under their feet, the gentle crash of waves against the shoreline, and the call of seagulls were the only sounds filling the air.
Idle chatter wasn’t necessary. Their joy of being together was so great they did not need to speak. Having this time alone refreshed their souls. Sleepless nights with a teething baby had taken a toll on their nerves.
“Darling, I simply adore Victoria so much, but I appreciate getting a break,” Rebecca spoke quietly, before standing on tiptoes to kiss his cheek. “She is growing so fast.”
“Sweetheart, I know it’s exhausting with her teething, but soon she’ll be back on her normal schedule,” John assured her.
“What was that sound?” Rebecca’s eyes frantically searched the beach.
“I didn’t hear anything. What do you think it was?” John glanced around cautiously, trying to spot any danger. As he turned back to Rebecca, she crumpled to her knees in the wet sand and almost toppled over. One hand clutched her heart while the other pointed to the tall cliffs ahead. Not a word escaped from her gaping mouth.
Suddenly, the wind brought the faint sound of a baby’s cry to his ears. With a racing pulse, John swiveled to see what Rebecca was pointing at.
He thought his heart would stop.
Oh, God! Not again, John’s mind screamed.
Could he reach them in time?
Leaving his wife, Rebecca, behind on the beach, he ran full speed toward the obscured pathway he knew was ahead. The gravel trail would lead him behind where his mother stood at the edge of the highest point on the island. She faced the side of the sea without a beach and where the waves raged in a fury. A strong wind blew her hair and skirts around her wildly. Twice John almost lost his footing as he ascended the rocky cliffside but was able to quickly recover.
He reached the top and blinked, hoping to clear his vision and confirm what he saw was not real. Instead, hearing his baby girl’s cries proved what he saw was happening.
His mother held a squirming Victoria high over her head; she was preparing to fling the baby into the sea.
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