I’m pleased to welcome Gracie Malling to my blog for the first time. Today we’re looking at her book, Claimed by the Captain.
Blurb: When Captain Thomas Edwards returns home after twenty years at sea to take ownership of the White Hart Inn following the death of his father, he has not even reached the edge of the village before he comes across a miscreant stealing apples from a local farmer’s orchard. Upon discovering that the thief is a young woman named Ellen who has been employed in his father’s inn for years, he considers it his responsibility to bare her bottom and spank her soundly.
In addition to working as a servant at the White Hart, Ellen has become known for her skill as an herbalist, and the last thing she needs is a stern sea captain getting in the way of her curing the ailments of her fellow villagers with a potion or tonic when the need arises. But despite her shock at being punished in such a shameful manner for nothing more than stealing a few apples, to Ellen’s surprise the painful chastisement leaves her aching for Thomas to take her in his arms and make her his.
Despite his willingness to spank her bare bottom whenever he feels it necessary, Ellen finds herself falling deeper in love with Thomas with every passing day. But when plague strikes the village and a witch finder is summoned, Thomas forbids Ellen from using her herbs to aid her friends and neighbors. As the situation grows more desperate, will she disobey him and put her skills to use even if it means risking her life, and can he keep her safe if she does?
Disclaimer: Claimed by the Captain is intended for mature readers. 18 and over only! Scenes include spanking adult women and explicitly sexual situations. If such content may offend, please do not buy this book.
Buy links: Amazon │ Barnes and Noble │ Kobo
Excerpt:
Ellen was not a fool; she knew when she was caught. “Sir, if you heard it all, why are you asking me these questions?” she asked with an impatient sigh.
“To see if you would be honest with me,” he replied, his voice heavy with disapproval. “But now I see you are a liar as well as a witch.”
Ellen wrenched her arm out of his grip. “How dare you!”
“Do you deny it?”
“Aye, sir,” she replied angrily. “I merely help others as nanny did before me.”
“With charms and poultices and spells? Do you not see the very great danger you put yourself in by indulging in these practices?”
Ellen planted her fists on her hips. “Nanny said—
“Your grandmother should have known better than to teach you such tricks,” said the master, taking a step closer. “She has made a target of you.”
“You will not speak of nanny that way!”
“Take care, girl,” warned the master, “or I shall put you over my knee.”
Ellen felt heat rush to her face and the muscles in her stomach clenched painfully. It was all so sudden; her body reacting to his words, against her will.
She swallowed. “I have not stolen anything, sir.”
“Not tonight,” he said. “But you have been disrespectful and argumentative. As I told you yesterday, it is my responsibility to protect you as it is your duty to obey me. I would be failing in that responsibility if I allowed you to continue with this reckless behaviour.”
The brief flare of fear (or was it excitement?) was extinguished in a rush of outrage. Ellen drew herself up to her full height. “It is not for you to tell me what I may and may not do! Sir,” she added with venom, attempting once more to return to the inn.
But the master was quicker and she found her way blocked again.
“Have you already forgotten your promise to obey me, Ellen?” he demanded, his voice quieter now but still intense. “Were the tears and remorse yesterday a lie as well?”
More about Gracie Malling:
Gracie Malling lives in the UK and has been writing BDSM erotica since she was 21. An all round nice person on the outside and a bit of a bad girl in secret, Gracie loves reading and writing stories about spanking: her favourite kink.
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Q & A with Gracie Malling:
Are you like any of your heroines?
If I had to choose, I’d say I was probably most like Jo (from Troublemaker). A bit cheeky, occasionally sulky, and completely in love with being spanked!
What do you like to do when you’re not writing?
I love going for long walks with our awesome dog, watching all the films and reading all the books, having millions of cuddles with the people I love, pursuing increasingly ridiculous hobbies (including Scottish Country Dancing and pirate re-enactment), practising yoga, playing the piano and going out for cocktails with my friends.
If you were attending a Halloween party, what would your costume be and why?
I quite like the idea of getting together with a bunch of friends and dressing in those red dresses and white hats from The Handmaid’s Tale… non-traditional, I guess, but definitely terrifying!
What mythical creature would you want to be?
I would definitely be a fairy. I mean, they can fly, they get to be naughty all the time, and they only ever really eat cake – what’s not to love?!
What item, that you don't have already, would you most like to own?
I would love to have one of those cute old-fashioned campervans so that I could go on loads of adventures!
What's your favorite love story? (movie or book)
I really enjoy quirky romantic films where the characters have issues and/or don’t really ‘fit’ in society but then find someone who matches them perfectly and loves them for who they are. ‘Silver Linings Playbook’ and ‘Secretary’ are two of my favourites.