It was a foggy First Friday when Haines author Lenore “Nori” Nash, who writes under the pen name Lenora Bell, debuted her latest book in the Wallflowers vs. Rogues romantic novel series.
Piano music filtered into the streets as locals, decorated with mittens and scarves, gathered between the bookshelves. Amy Kane, owner of the Bookstore, hosted the event.
“It was really warm and wonderful,” Kane said. “It felt like being in the Nash living room, having everyone gathered around the piano and singing. It was a nice little cozy Haines evening.”
Duke Most Wicked follows Viola, a penniless piano teacher publishing compositions under her father’s name. Viola works for the “sinfully attractive” and equally reckless Duke, teaching piano lessons to his younger sisters. Viola’s character, described by Nash as “sunny and steadfast” was inspired by Nash’s mother Nancy, a piano teacher herself.
“My mom raised me on stories of female composers whose works were attributed to men,” Nash said. “I always thought that was an interesting concept, that a female composer in the 1800s that wanted their work to be heard was strongly encouraged to publish under a male pseudonym.”
After gambling away his fortune, the Duke desperately searches for a wealthy heiress to support him and his sisters. What he doesn’t know is that true love may be right under his nose, with someone completely unsuitable for him.
“He is broke; he’s gambled away all his money; and he has five sisters to support,” Nash said. “Viola is penniless as well. How can they be together when he needs to marry an heiress?”
Viola, fighting her feelings for the Duke, must take charge of her own destiny.
“Throughout the whole book series, Viola has been the best friend, the shoulder to cry on,” Nash said. “For this book I had a lot of fun with her coming into her power and becoming the main character in her own life.”
Nash’s release was welcomed enthusiastically by the Haines community.
“It really warms my heart to have a bookstore like Amy Kane’s in this small, isolated community,” Nash said. “It’s a warm, welcoming haven for bibliophiles that she has created on Main street.”
Bell is the author of nine romance novels, her latest published in September 2022. Duke Most Wicked can be purchased at the Bookstore on Main Street or on Amazon.