The Notorious Coale Brothers - two new Sarah Mallory books

I am very excited because I have just received the covers for my two forthcoming  books  - linked because the heroes are identical twins!  The first to be published is Beneath the Major's Scars, which comes out in December, following in January by Behind the Rake's Wicked Wager.

Although the heroes, the notorious Coale brothers, are twins, their stories are very different. Dominic, the younger twin, was a soldier fighting in the Peninsula until he was horrifically wounded and sent back to England to recover.  He turns into a recluse and buys himself a secluded house on Exmoor where he plans to live a solitary existence, until of course, he meets Zelah, a young lady who sees past the rough and damaged exterior to the man beneath. This is a real Beauty and the Beast story, set in a remote and beautiful part of Britain.

Jasper's story couldn't be more different and instead of an isolated house the story takes place amid  the elegance of Regency Bath.  As Viscount Markham, Jasper has always been pursued by ambitious young ladies and their match-making mothers. He has his pick of society's beauties, but none has ever captured his heart. Then he visits Bath and he meets his match in Susannah Prentess, a young lady who has no intention of falling for the wicked rake's charms.  This story was such fun to write, with Susannah leading our hero on a merry dance before they finally realise that they were made for one another. 

These are the two cover pictures and I think they give a flavour of the different stories within – what do you think?

Sarah Mallory/

Melinda Hammond