This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. Alix Nichols will be awarding a digital box set of her bestselling series The Darcy Brothers to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
EXCERPT TWO:For sixteen years, they’ve hated each other...
and craved each other.
Widowed and betrayed, Eva Castellane will do anything to protect her daughter’s inheritance.
Standing in her way?
Alex Castellane—her late husband’s steely, magnetic half brother.
The man poised to take it all.
Her worst enemy.
Her forbidden temptation.
Stuck together in the family castle, their legal fight spirals into war…
until a common threat forces a reluctant alliance.
Desire blurs the lines.
Chemistry sizzles.
Rules get broken.
But as the verdict nears, one slip could unravel Eva’s explosive secret…
A Duchess with a Secret stands alone within the Montevor Royals Saga. It is a spicy contemporary enemies-to-lovers romance with forced proximity, family secrets, and a hard-won HEA.
Alex
The air outside the basement at Mount Evor Secret Service feels colder than it did inside. It isn’t exactly chilly; just crisp enough to bite, which I welcome wholeheartedly. It clears my head.
“I’m going to walk to the hotel,” Eva says. “I need air.”
“I was about to say the same.”
She shoots me a look. “Please don’t. I don’t want to start thinking we have things in common.”
“What about the duchy?” I taunt.
“Of all the things we don’t have in common,” she quips, “the duchy is the one we don’t have in common the most.”
I smile despite myself. The pretty shell has some humor.
“May I walk beside you?” I ask.
“If you must,” she says after a beat. “But don’t think I’m warming to you.”
“Understood.”
We fall into step, heading toward the hotel located in the city’s historic center. She keeps her arms folded tight across her chest like a shield.
“I want you to know I will fight you with everything I’ve got. Dirty. No-holds-barred,” she warns. “My lawyer, Pauline, is very good at her job.”
I glance over. “So, this is your idea of small talk?”
“If you’d prefer silence…”
“No, this is delightful.”
We keep walking. Pombrio glows in the late-September dusk. The limestone facades catch the last golden rays and appear to be lit from within. Lined with old trees starting to turn, cobbled streets stretch ahead, winding gently. Cafés hum with end-of-day energy, clinking glasses, and low laughter. A faint whiff of woodsmoke rides the breeze.
I’d enjoy this stroll more if Eva weren’t so close. Her presence is magnetic and annoying in equal measures. Her perfume doesn’t help. It has none of the sugary sweetness most ladies favor. Instead, it’s seductive in a sharp, provocative way that’s so much her.
GUEST POST:
World-building can be the most important element of your book. What media outlets, role-models, and real-life inspirations did you draw from while writing this book?
World-building is one of my favorite parts of writing, especially when the setting feels so real that it almost becomes a character in its own right. In the Montevor Royals series, and particularly in A Duchess with a Secret, the fictional principality of Mount Evor and one of its grand castles, Fort Vauclairt, play a huge role in the story. Here’s where I drew my inspiration from while creating this world.
Real-life travels and European castles
A lot of the atmosphere and visual details came from my own trips to the Alps. The principality of Mount Evor is tucked between France, Italy, and Switzerland, so I spent time exploring both the French and Swiss sides of the border. The dramatic mountain landscapes, misty valleys, and imposing castles left a lasting impression. Fort Vauclairt itself was heavily inspired by real historic castles I’ve visited, especially Chillon Castle in Switzerland and the Château de Neuchâtel in France. I wanted the castle to feel ancient, lived-in, and almost alive — with its echoing corridors, hidden passages, and that constant sense of history pressing in on the characters.
This is my favorite table at the neighborhood café where I've done some of my best work.
Medieval legends and fairy tales
The deeper lore of the world, particularly the mysterious nine keys that appear throughout the series, draws heavily from medieval European legends. I was fascinated by the story of Melusine, the mermaid fairy (sometimes called the Serpent Goddess) who is said to have founded the royal house of Lusignan. You might even recognise her from the Starbucks logo! Blending this old fairy-tale tradition with the political intrigue of a modern European principality allowed me to create a rich, layered history that feels both magical and grounded.
History books and real European micro-states
I also spent time reading about the history of small European principalities and the complex relationships between neighbouring countries. The idea of a tiny sovereign state with its own ancient rules, royal family, chivalric orders and delicate political balance (especially with bigger neighbours like France) gave me the foundation for Mount Evor’s current predicament. I even wrote a detailed (though not entirely complete) history of the realm, starting all the way back in 986 with its founder, the brigand-turned-prince Isidore Pox-Face. These real-world echoes helped make the fictional politics and traditions feel authentic.
This is by Danish painter Viggo Johansen, has been translated as Silent Night in English. I don’t mention Johansen’s painting in the book, but a scene toward the end draws heavily on it.
Role models in storytelling
When it comes to authors who inspired my approach to world-building, I’ve always admired writers who make their settings feel lived-in and essential to the story — whether it’s the intricate social worlds of Jane Austen or the deeply atmospheric historical settings in many classic romances. I wanted Mount Evor to feel just as vivid and important as the characters themselves.
Creating this world has been such a joy, and I love how the principality shapes every major choice my heroes make. If you enjoy stories where the setting feels rich and alive, I hope you’ll enjoy stepping into Mount Evor with them.
AUTHOR BIO & LINKS:
Alix Nichols is a caffeine addict, a longtime fan of Mr. Darcy. She pens sexy romantic comedies and romantasy. Her books have been described as "pure pleasure" (Kirkus Reviews) that “keep fans of romance hanging off the edge of their seat” (Romantic Times).
At the age of six, she released her first book. It featured highly creative spelling on a dozen pages stitched together and bound in velvet paper.
Decades later, she lives in France and still writes. Her spelling has improved (somewhat), she has become a Kindle Scout winner, Chanticleer First Place winner, USA Today bestseller, Book Riot's Top 100 Must-Read International Romance author, and Amazon All-Star for being one of the 100 most-read authors in Kindle Unlimited.
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