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May I Tempt You with a Biscuit?

“Duchess For The Weekend” has been out in the world for a little while now, and I promise I shan’t keep you long, I merely wish to make your reading a touch sweeter.

Now then…

I have no idea how far you’ve got in the story, so I shall tread carefully to avoid spoilers.

You’ll remember Effie’s cousin, Lady Maribel (yes, the beautiful one Effie is meant to be introducing to the Duke… grumble), who is off in Italy as the story opens.

She does return before the end, though. And when she visits Effie, she brings a tin of lemon biscuits with her. So, should you fancy the book and the biscuits together, I thought I’d share the recipe.

You’ll find both a traditional version and a vegan one below.

Lady Maribel’s Lemon Biscuits

Ingredients

  • 300 g plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 120 g unsalted butter, softened
  • 170 g caster sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • Finely grated zest of 2 unwaxed lemons
  • 60 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the icing

  • 125 g icing sugar
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 175°C fan. Line two baking trays with baking parchment.
  2. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl.
  3. In a large bowl, beat the butter and sugar until pale and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, one at a time.
  4. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla extract.
  5. Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  6. Place tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking trays, leaving about 5 cm between each biscuit.
  7. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. Leave to cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  8. Mix the icing sugar and lemon juice until smooth, then drizzle over the cooled biscuits.

Vegan Lady Maribel’s Lemon Biscuits

Ingredients

  • 320 g plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon salt
  • 115 g vegan butter, softened
  • 200 g caster sugar
  • 2 tablespoons ground flaxseed mixed with 6 tablespoons water
  • Finely grated zest of 2 unwaxed lemons
  • 60 ml freshly squeezed lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

For the icing

  • 125 g icing sugar
  • 2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

Method

  1. Preheat the oven to 175°C fan. Line two baking trays with baking parchment.
  2. Mix the ground flaxseed with the water and leave to stand for about 5 minutes until it forms a gel.
  3. Whisk together the flour, baking powder and salt.
  4. Beat the vegan butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add the flaxseed mixture and mix well.
  5. Stir in the lemon zest, lemon juice and vanilla extract.
  6. Gradually add the dry ingredients, mixing until just combined.
  7. Place tablespoon-sized balls of dough onto the prepared baking trays, leaving about 5 cm between each biscuit.
  8. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until the edges are lightly golden. Leave to cool on the trays for 5 minutes before transferring to a wire rack.
  9. Mix the icing sugar and lemon juice until smooth, then drizzle over the cooled biscuits.

Enjoy every crumb!

Emmi “The Cookie Monster” West

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A Peek Behind “Duchess For The Weekend”

Dear Readers,

People often ask me where the idea for a book comes from.

With “Duchess For The Weekend,” it all began with one very simple question.

What if the man you love never notices you?

For Effie, the answer is drastic: stop waiting to be noticed. She has spent far too long overlooked by the gentleman she has loved for years, and so she devises a daring plan. She will lure Sir Charles into the library (under a respectable pretext) and kiss him. She is staking everything on a single kiss in the hope that he will finally, finally see the remarkable woman standing before him.

Unfortunately, it isn’t Sir Charles who walks through the library door.

It’s his cousin.

The dark, infuriating Duke of Silverthorn.

Rather than exposing her disastrous scheme, he presents one of his own.

It is considerably more absurd…

As for Effie herself, I adored her from the very beginning, and I still do. She is one of the kindest, warmest characters I have ever written, and I honestly believe she may be my favourite heroine of them all. I grew so fond of her that, once or twice while writing, I caught myself wondering, What would Effie do?

My editor confessed in one of her emails that she had become more than a little “Effie-obsessed,” which was an enormous relief. It meant I had not merely imagined Effie’s charm or talked myself into believing she was as lovable as I hoped.

The Duke, however, is quite another matter.

I was immediately taken with his appearance. In my imagination, he bears a striking resemblance to a certain actor. (And, I suppose, just a tiny resemblance to my husband, although I suspect all my heroes do.)

But I didn’t truly fall in love with the Duke until much later.

There were moments when he exasperated me beyond words. Moments when I longed to shake some sense into him. And, admittedly, one or two moments when I was tempted to tear his shirt off. (Fortunately, Effie was more than happy to do that on my behalf.)

In the end, he won my heart because beneath all that gruffness is a man who is capable of laughing at himself. To me, that is one of the most attractive qualities a man can possess. He is fiercely protective, wonderfully steadfast, and possessed of remarkable patience, which is just as well, considering Effie has a tendency to test every last ounce of it.

“Duchess For The Weekend” is a Regency romantic comedy filled with sworn enemies, deliciously slow-burn attraction, and enough romantic tension to keep both the characters and, I hope, the readers on their toes.

Incidentally, after I told my husband about several scenes from the book, he remarked that he detected a certain resemblance between the heroine and her creator.

Something about me being “cheeky”.

“And what was her name again?” he asked. “Effie? I think you meant Emmi.”

Imagine that.

Me?

Cheeky?

Certainly not.

Merely hopelessly romantic.

Warmest wishes,

Emmi “Effie” West

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“Duchess For The Weekend” is out

It is here!

“Duchess For The Weekend” has officially been released.

Have you already met Effie and the Duke of Silverthorn?

No?

Then allow me to tell you why I fell hopelessly in love with these two.

To win the attention of the gentleman she has adored for years (and to save herself from financial ruin), Miss Euphemia Gordon devises a daring plan.

She will lure Sir Charles into the library, kiss him, and leave him with little choice but to make an honourable offer.

It is an excellent plan.

Unfortunately, the gentleman who steps into the romantically candlelit library is not Sir Charles.

It is his cousin. The dark, arrogant, thoroughly infuriating Duke of Silverthorn.

Rather than exposing her disastrous scheme, the Duke makes her an unexpected offer.

There is, however, a catch. Several catches, in fact.

His most outrageous condition?
Effie must accompany him to the countryside for an entire weekend and pretend to be his fiancée, fulfilling what may well be his elderly aunt’s dearest wish.

One reluctant “yes” later, she finds herself wrapped in a breathtaking gown, travelling in his magnificent carriage towards the secluded country estate.
After all, no one will ever find out. Certainly not Sir Charles.
The aunt is delighted.
The Duke proves alarmingly convincing in the role of devoted fiancé, and begins acting like a man in love, making it increasingly difficult to remember it is all merely pretence.

Especially once Sir Charles finally begins to notice Effie…
…and the wrong gentleman becomes impossible to forget.

“Duchess For The Weekend” is available on Amazon.

Enjoy reading!

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Allow me to introduce… the Duke

If I can say of Effie, the optimistic heroine of my new book “Duchess For The Weekend,” that she has become very dear to me over the past few months, then of the Duke of Silverthorn I can only say this:

It was love at second sight.

The first time I met him, I found him utterly impossible. Oh, certainly, he is devastatingly handsome. Tall, broad-shouldered, with a powerful chest concealed beneath an impeccably white shirt. His face is equally unfair. Dark brown eyes. A strong, elegant nose. High cheekbones. And a dimple in his chin. (I regret to inform you that I have never developed any resistance to a dimpled chin.)

But appearances are not everything.
In fact, the Duke does his very best to ensure one notices his personality first.
Because the moment the Duke opens his mouth, one immediately forgets about the dimple.

The Duke is in no hurry to marry.

He is, however, exceedingly particular about the lady who will one day become his Duchess. She must be beautiful, well-bred, and, above all, never, ever impertinent.

This places Effie firmly at the bottom of his list of prospective brides.

Not that it matters.

Miss Gordon’s affections are directed elsewhere, namely towards his cousin, Sir Charles.

(A fortunate circumstance for everyone involved.)

The difficulty begins when these two sworn enemies strike a bargain: The Duke agrees to help Effie win Sir Charles’s heart, though not without demanding a number of favours in return.

His most outrageous condition?

Effie must accompany him to his aunt’s secluded country estate for an entire weekend and pretend to be his fiancée, allowing the old lady to believe her dearest wish has finally come true.

It is only one weekend.

In a remote corner of Kent.

No one need ever know.

With her back against the wall, Effie has little choice but to agree. Only to watch the cold, thoroughly disagreeable Duke transform into the most attentive fiancé she could ever have imagined…
“Duchess For The Weekend” will be released on 28 July 2026.

Until then,
Warmest wishes,
Emmi “Hopelessly Smitten with Her Own Duke” West

P.S. Because “Duchess For The Weekend” is almost here, I shall leave you with three more clues about the actor who inspired the Duke:

  1. He has portrayed the world’s most famous consulting detective more than once. (And yes, a brand-new case has just arrived this summer.)
  2. For three seasons, he played another taciturn, rather gruff hero, one who wielded a silver sword, grappled with extraordinary powers, and endured the company of a bard he would happily have left behind.
  3. And finally, he was, quite simply, magnificent in a certain comic-book adaptation.
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Duchess For The Weekend is coming soon

Today, I should like to introduce you to someone who has become very dear to me. Allow me to present the heroine of my new book: Miss Euphemia Gordon, better known as Effie.

Effie has exactly one chance to save her future. It involves luring the gentleman she has loved for years into the library… and kissing him.

Not, of course, because she intends to trap Sir Charles into offering for her by appealing to his honour.

Heavens, no.

She merely wishes to give fate a gentle nudge.

Naturally, fate has plans of its own.

Because the gentleman who enters the library at the stroke of midnight, where Effie waits with her eyes closed and her lips poised for a kiss, is not Charles.

It is the arrogant, brooding Duke of Silverthorn. 

Charles’s cousin. 

And the one man she dislikes more than any other.

Can you imagine Effie’s horror?

She is expecting the kindest gentleman in her acquaintance, the man who has occupied her heart for years, a gentleman who bears an alarming resemblance to a Greek sun god.

Instead, when she opens her eyes, she finds herself staring at the dark, glowering, thoroughly disagreeable Duke.

And as though that were not enough to terrify a lady who has thoughtfully arranged dim, romantic lighting for the occasion, His Grace manages to make it worse. 

Rather than exposing her spectacularly disastrous scheme, the Duke presents her with an outrageous proposition…

That is the beginning of my new book, “Duchess For The Weekend.”

What awaits you?

  • a spinster who risks everything for a midnight kiss
  • the wrong man stepping out of the shadows
  • a collection of scandalous books that falls into the wrong hands
  • Aunt Octavia (a force of nature whom no email could ever adequately describe)
  • a troublesome hat and an orange gown (some fates are surely worse than death)
  • a journey to Dymchurch, Kent, during which Effie and the Duke discover there is only one bed available giggle

The book will be released on 28 July 2026.

You are probably wondering whether I have neglected to mention the most important person of all: the grumpy, brooding hero. I have not. But if you wish to make the acquaintance of the Duke of Silverthorn in all his dark and thoroughly intimidating splendour, you must wait for my next post, in which I shall properly introduce His Grace. 

The cover reveal will follow shortly thereafter!

Warmest wishes,

Emmi “The Cruel” West

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I have no words. (Okay, I have a few.)

You put a wallflower in the Top 1000

Dear readers,

My new book, “Duchess Out of Nowhere,” made it into the Amazon Top 1000 and reached #1 in Victorian Historical Romance on Amazon.

I keep refreshing the page because I can hardly believe my eyes, but it still says the same thing. I’ve already sent the screenshot to my husband and my best friend. I won’t even pretend I played it cool and didn’t do a full-on happy dance!

As surreal as this feels, success like this never happens alone. Without you, without your reviews, none of this would have been possible.

Thank you. From the bottom of my ridiculous, romance-obsessed heart!

With love and disbelief,
Emmi

P.S. If you haven’t met Henrietta and her Nightmare Duke yet: Duchess Out Of Nowhere. She would be delighted to meet you. He’d pretend not to care, but he absolutely would.

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Duchess Out Of Nowhere has arrived

Dear reader,

“Duchess Out Of Nowhere” is live!

I am so proud, happy, and relieved that everything went smoothly with the release, and you can read the book if you haven’t already.

Usually at this point, I tell you what the book is about.

Today, that’s particularly difficult for me because I just want to talk to you about the Duke of Blackburrow. About why he’s the Duke I unconditionally love, and most of all, I want to discuss the ending with you. I want to know if you liked it, if you swooned as much as I did, and what you think about it overall. I want to tell you how much courage it took me to write the ending the way it is and why it had to be that way.

Unfortunately, as obvious reasons, that’s not possible right now, or it would be a major spoiler.

sigh

So, what’s “Duchess Out Of Nowhere” about?

Henrietta Bellinger receives an invitation to her friend’s wedding. She travels to the deepest moors of Yorkshire, to the estate of the man she despises deeply. Unfortunately, she won’t be able to avoid him entirely because Richard Montgomery, the Duke of Blackburrow, is the older brother of the groom.

But when Henrietta arrives, there’s no sign of the bridal couple. All she finds is the wedding gown, lonely and abandoned on the bed.

Henrietta can’t resist. Before she knows it, she’s slipped into the precious gown… and is caught red-handed.

By the Nightmare Duke himself.

It’s not just embarrassing.

It’s a catastrophe of epic proportions.

But it gets worse. The Duke finds himself in an uncomfortable situation. Blackburrow Hall is full of high-born guests, and if there’s one thing he can’t stand, it’s a stain on the family honour.

Without further ado, the sinister Duke demands that Henrietta walk to the altar with him, in place of the runaway couple…

Guess how long it takes before London’s coldest Duke has a wife.

And how much longer before he regrets underestimating her.

In “Duchess Out Of Nowhere,” you get a Regency romantic comedy with everything you could want: two strong characters engaging in fiery verbal battles, lots of wit, the dark charm of a grumpy Duke, and of course, plenty of romance and a good dose of passion.

And now, please, everyone read the book so you can tell me how you find the ENDING. maniacal giggling

“Duchess Out Of Nowhere” is available on Amazon.

Best wishes,
Emmi West

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Just 3 days to go: Duchess Out Of Nowhere

Dear reader,

In three days, my new book, “Duchess Out Of Nowhere,” will be released.

This Tuesday, Miss Henrietta Bellinger takes centre stage. Or rather, she enters her friend’s bedchamber and finds a wedding gown lying lonely and abandoned on the bed.

The bride has fled. The groom has vanished.

It seems a pity to leave such silk and lace unattended.

One cannot be expected to ignore it entirely, of course.

And perhaps to try it on.

For a moment. A very small moment.

So she slips into silk and lace and turns toward the mirror for one indulgent look.

A mistake.

He stands in the doorway, watching.

The Nightmare Duke.

Also known as the Duke of Blackburrow.

The very man Henrietta despises has just found in her the perfect solution to a scandal.

There will be a wedding.

And he will make the wallflower his Duchess.

No one is more surprised than Henrietta herself when she accepts his grumpy, matter-of-fact, and decidedly unromantic proposal (which scarcely qualifies as a proposal at all).

But a ruined lady with neither fortune nor prospects cannot afford to be particular.

And when, half an hour later, she is the Duchess of Blackburrow, she has only one thing left to make clear to her gloomy new husband.

She cannot have children.

Which is rather unfortunate, since the duke seems determined to try every single night.

Is it really only three days until the book is released? I think I need to distract myself so I don’t get too nervous. I’d better continue writing the next story right away. It’s about a certain lady who enlists the help of a grumpy duke to… but I’ll tell you another time. giggle

Duchess Out Of Nowhere is available on Amazon.

Don’t wait too long. The special launch price is ending soon.

With love,
Emmi West

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Cover Reveal: Duchess Out Of Nowhere

My new book tells the story of the penniless Miss Henrietta Ballinger. She has travelled deep into the Yorkshire moors to attend the wedding of her dear friend. 

Yet upon her arrival, there is no sign of the bride anywhere.

When Henrietta enters the bedchamber of her eloped friend, she discovers something left behind.

A bridal gown, abandoned on the bed.

What would you have done in her place? Would you, too, have given in to temptation and slipped into that beautiful dress?

Unfortunately, she’s discovered by the last man she ever wished to see her in it. 

The Duke of Blackburrow, a man she thoroughly detests.

To him, the solution is obvious. 

A scandal must be avoided. A wedding must take place. And if the original bride has fled, then Henrietta will do very nicely indeed.

No one is more shocked than Henrietta herself when she accepts his gruff, practical, and decidedly unromantic proposal (if it can even be called that). But as a ruined young woman without fortune, she has little choice. Less than half an hour later, she is the Duchess of Blackburrow and married to a man who is as grim as he is determined.

There’s only one thing she must make very clear to her dark and irritable husband: She cannot give him children, not now, not ever, even if he insists on visiting her bedchamber every night. Yes, every single night…

Is it truly still three months until publication? April 28 feels an age away. I fear I must distract myself, or my impatience may get the better of me. giggle

You can preorder “Duchess Out Of Nowhere” now at a special pre-release price on Amazon.

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Holiday baking, anyone? 🍪 (my favorite recipe)

Dear readers,

Here at home everything still smells of vanilla, sugar, and marzipan. But now the moment has come when we can all take a breath. We can hang up the apron, put our feet up, and eat the cookies (if there are any left). I love the time between Christmas and New Year’s Eve almost more than Christmas itself.

The house is quiet, and so are the streets. It’s just the right time to take some time for yourself.

Trude loves my Christmas Grinch slippers and thinks they’re toys.

Santa Claus makes sure I don’t eat too many cookies at once.

Here’s my recipe for “Nussecken,” my family’s beloved German hazelnut triangles. The name simply means nut corners.

300 g flour plus a little extra for rolling
300 g sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla sugar
2 eggs
300 g butter
200 g ground hazelnuts
100 g chopped hazelnuts, or the other way around, depending on how crunchy you want them
1 jar of jam, traditionally apricot or peach, though orange is also incredible
200 g couverture chocolate, dark or milk

  1. Knead the flour with 150 g sugar, the eggs, vanilla sugar, and 200 g butter until the dough is smooth. Shape it into a ball, flatten it slightly, cover it, and chill for 30 minutes.
  2. Melt the remaining butter, 100 g, with the remaining sugar, 150 g, in a pot on the stove. Stir well, then add both the ground and chopped hazelnuts. The mixture should be smooth but firm and should not fall off the spoon. Let it cool a bit.
  3. Preheat the oven to 175 degrees or 160 degrees fan.
  4. Roll out the dough on a floured surface, or directly on the baking paper, into a rectangle about 30 by 30 centimeters.
  5. Warm the jam briefly on the stove until spreadable, then spread it over the dough.
  6. Spread the nut mixture on top.
  7. Bake for about 30 minutes.
  8. Let the baked sheet cool slightly, then cut it into strips, then squares, then into triangles. Let everything cool completely.
  9. Once the cookies are cold, melt the chocolate over a water bath, making sure the water does not boil, and dip the corners or one side of each triangle. Let them cool again.

Stored in a tin, they keep for about four weeks.

I always make a double batch because they are the family favorite and disappear faster than you can blink.