Penny Estelle's Blog, page 4

Mrs. Claus and the Viking Ship by Laura Strickland

[image error] Christmas Is In The Air


Historical Romance (Holiday)Scottish chief’s daughter, Tinnie MacAieth, can think of only one way to ransom her clan’s folk, defeated by the fierce Viking, Claus – agree to his demand that she become his bride.  She hopes her faith and love for her people will allow her to endure a lonely, loveless future in the cold north. Claus has claimed Tinnie for his wife, but the prize he truly wants is her heart.  Determined to win it, he offers her many gifts, but not until he undertakes a dangerous winter voyage for her sake does he dare hope she sees what’s in his heart.  And on one magical Christmas Eve, while delivering toys to her clan’s children by sleigh, he begins to believe she may grant him the one gift he desires …

Excerpt: 
The old man led him into what must be the main hall and paused.  Here at least a fire burned on the central hearth, giving some warmth and radiance.  The rest of the place, though, offered little in the way comfort. He had heard the Sutherland Chiefs lived well, yet now he saw nothing to make him believe it.  Disappointment gripped his heart.  Two seasons spent sweating and fighting for this?But ah, these Chiefs were canny – MacAieth may have hidden everything of worth before receiving him.
 “Where is Chief MacAieth?” he asked.
“I am his widow.”
“Ah.” Surprise lifted Claus’ eyebrows “Then, Missus, I would speak with your sons.”
“My sons are both dead.”  Her voice did tremble then.  “You see all that is left of the Chief’s house.”She gestured to the second woman and Claus turned his eyes thence accordingly.  He lost all his breath, precisely as if he had received a hard blow to the gut.
Here, surely, lay clan Aieth’s treasure.  She must be daughter to the Chief’s wife – there existed enough resemblance.  Yet her beauty lit the poor room even as the fire failed to do.  Brown-haired like her mother, her flowing tresses carried a kiss of warmth like oak leaves in fall.  Her face, a perfect oval, appeared serene – skin white as snow, lips tinged berry red.  But Claus saw nothing of serenity in her eyes.  Deep, dusky blue, they held all the wild fury of a storm on a distant sea, a thing Claus knew full well.
His heart stuttered in his chest and suddenly all his well-marshaled demands flew out of his head.  A conquering marauder, he nevertheless suddenly wanted to throw himself at this woman’s feet.
Yet in her beautiful eyes he saw only hate.

Author web site: http://www.laurastricklandbooks.com
BUY LINKS FOR MRS. CLAUS AND THE VIKING SHIP:Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00OQEYEGM/ref=s9_simh_gw_p351_d1_i2?pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_s=desktop-1&pf_rd_r=1TS6REEB51X6D5ENX4GT&pf_rd_t=36701&pf_rd_p=1970559082&pf_rd_i=desktopThe Wild Rose Press: http://www.wildrosepublishing.com/maincatalog_v151/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=242_176_138&products_id=5930Barnes and Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/mrs-claus-and-the-viking-ship-laura-strickland/1120790356?ean=2940150586574KOBO: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/mrs-claus-and-the-viking-ship

Author bio:Multi-published author Laura Strickland delights in time traveling to the past and searching out settings for her books, be they Historical Romance, Steampunk or something in between. Born and raised in Western New York, she’s pursued lifelong interests in lore, legend, magic and music, all reflected in her writing. Though she’s made pilgrimages to both Newfoundland and Scotland in the company of her daughter, she’s usually happiest at home not far from Lake Ontario with her husband and her "fur" child, a rescue dog.

Love's in the Cards by Becky Lower

Christmas Is In the Air




Penny Beedle’s outlook on Christmas, as her favorite holiday, was destroyed by a messy breakup years earlier and a botched wedding last year—both on Christmas Eve. But since she and her sister now own a greeting card store, and the holidays are their crazy selling season, she has to put on a happy face.
Del Madison has loved Penny since kindergarten. Commissioned by a big greeting card company for a line of Christmas and Valentine’s cards, he has to emerge from behind his alter ego and unveil himself to the public. He chooses Penny Beedle’s shop for the big reveal. If he plays his cards right, he just might gain Penny as part of his life.
Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Cards-Lobster-Becky-Lower-ebook/dp/B01M4J150Z/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1476533911&sr=8-4&keywords=becky+lower
Author Bio: Amazon best-selling author Becky Lower has traveled the country looking for great settings for her novels. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love, amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it on a covered wagon headed west or in present day small town America.  Historical and contemporary romances are her specialty. Becky is a PAN member of RWA and is a member of the Historic and Contemporary RWA chapters. She has a degree in English and Journalism from Bowling Green State University, and lives in an eclectic college town in Ohio with her puppy-mill rescue dog, Mary. She loves to hear from her readers at beckylowerauthor@gmail.com. Visit her website at www.beckylowerauthor.com

STORIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS.......Vicki Batman - The Littlest Angel

The Littlest Angel, a romantic comedy short story, by Vicki Batman, published in the Season of Promises holiday anthology
Two people. One prized ornament for the tree. Can a twosome get past their differences and discover the true meaning of Christmas?
Lauren MacDonald has always coveted her mother’s ornament, The Littlest Angel. When her mother gave it to another, Lauren unearths a replacement only to have it snatched from her hands.
Architect Smith Hancock’s grandmother has a little angel which is missing. Locating another would make her holiday the best ever. Only a feisty girl is claiming it for herself. 
 Excerpt:
When I was a small child, my family’s next-door neighbor gave my mother an angel fashioned from a craft kit. The body was formed from a Styrofoam egg-shape. The hands and feet were smaller versions, cut in half. Her head was round. The limbs were attached to the body with furry, fleshy pink pipe cleaners. A round red sequin made her mouth. An even tinier one was pinned on for her nose. And silver lashes were glued in place for her eyes. White pincurls covered her head and silver wings were attached to her back.         For many, many years, I coveted this angel. When my mom switched to another tree-topper, I’d begged for the first, but she’d said no. I was disappointed, but thought, perhaps Mom’s sentiments, a letting go of her friend who’d passed two years prior, made her reluctant to give me the doll. I got that.         However, one day, I discovered she had given it to my sister instead of me. Saddened, my heart cracked in two, and when I asked Mom why, she said she’d forgotten I wanted the ornament and apologized.         I knew the angel didn’t mean as much to my sibling as she did to me. For a while, I resented my mother and my sister.        Such is life. And thus began my quest.        I’d always hoped I’d find a replacement and searched the dusty aisles of the automobile building where the market was held the first weekend of every month. I dug through many a ripped carton or dirty bag and never saw anything close...until today.         Discreetly, I moved off to the side and watched the woman to see what she would do, all the while thinking please put her back and walk away. Please. She fiddled with the wing and fingered her limbs. From the happy expression on her face, she seemed more than interested.        I clasped my hands to my heart and repeated you don’t really want it, hoping my mental vibes would reach the customer and she’d return the ornament to the box.To my amazement and delight, she did put the doll back, toed the box under the table, and strolled to the next booth. With utter happiness tap-dancing inside me, I lengthened my spine and continued to play the patience game a shopper adopted for this kind of venue—show your poker face unless you were willing to pay full price.         But my heart ruled over my logic. As soon as she cleared out, I stepped faster. No way would anyone else in the entire universe be buying my angel. Not this time.
Buy and social links:Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.htmlFacebook: http://bit.ly/293iZIzTwitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top/Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com/ 
Find Season of Promises anthology at:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Promise-Merry-Holly-ebook/dp/B01LQUP9AS/ 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-promises-holiday-box-set-marian-lanouette/1124742472?ean=2940153535586&quickview=true


Kobo:https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/season-of-promises-holiday-box-set 

Facebook:
Bio: Award-winning and Amazon best-selling author, Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to the True magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two romantic comedy mysteries to The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocoaholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

It's Everybody Reads YA Sunday - A Float Down the Canal!

A Float Down the Canal

A sweet story of puppy love where the underdog finally wins!!!

Twelve-year old Pam Simpson gets dumped on when her mother is called into work. She must cancel her plans for the mall to baby-sit her younger brother and his friend and take them to the public pool.  To make matters worse her cousin, Candy, is also coming over for the day.  She doesn’t even like Candy!
Much to Candy’s dismay, transportation to the pool is on inner tubes, floating down the canal.  One thing leads to another and it is Pam who, once again, must save the day.
When things couldn’t seem worse, the day takes a drastic turn for the better and it is Candy, and the float down the canal, that makes this the best day of Pam’s life!

ExcerptIt was July 24, and at 10:30 in the morning in Phoenix, AZ, a record was being broken as one of the hottest days of 1967.  The temperature outside had nothing on Pam Simpson’s temper as she fought with her mom on the phone.  “Are you serious?  I have already had to give up my...but you said...fine.  Yes Mother,” Pam said, teeth clenched.  Just because her mom was called into work, she had to cancel her plans with her friends. She was supposed to be going to the mall.  Tommy Thompson was supposed to be going to the mall! Now she had to watch her ten-year-old brother and his friend.
“Another thing,” her mother continued, “Aunt Sherri is dropping Candy off to spend the day with you guys.”
            “What?” Pam exploded.  She must have misunderstood her mom.  “You know we don’t even like each other!”
            “Pam, don’t be like that.  Candy likes you very much. It’s you that has an attitude about her.  She doesn’t have many friends and I thought you could all go to the pool.”
            “Yes, thank goodness Pam is around to help entertain,” she thought as she hung up the phone.  She actually wanted to put the phone through the wall.  She was having a real pity party for herself.  The worst part was she never fought with her mom.  She was her best friend.  What a lousy day!
            Candy!  What kind of name was that anyway? Both girls were twelve years old.  Pam had thin brown hair, that didn’t have an ounce of curl, and it hung limp and lifeless just below her chin. She was also, what some might call thick, or chunky.  Her nickname at school was Champ, given to her because she was the softball throw champion of the district.
Then there was Candy.  She had thick, blonde, bouncy curls that hung down the middle of her back.  She was slender, and though most of Pam’s friends were wearing bras, Candy actually needed to wear one!  Plus her “helpless” act always made Pam want to throw up.
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CUQEZYE
I write stories for the young and for the young at heart.  More about my stores and myself can be found at the following links.  Stop by anytime.  I love visitors!
http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBYwww.pennystales.comwww.pennyestelle.blogspot.comhttps://twitter.com/Pennystaleshttp://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estellehttp://www.facebook.com/pennystales
https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82

A Carol Plays by Kari Trumbo and four others in this Christmas Anthology

Christmas Is In the Air



It’s a Christmas sugarplum celebration! Christmas in Cutter’s Creek means a Christmas social; sugarplum contest, dancing, a dash of mayhem and a heaping helping of romance.
 

 First off is Kit Morgan’s Recipe for Christmas. This novella is set in 1866 and is the very first Cutter’s Creek Christmas social, and so much mischief happens, it’s a wonder they had another!   Lucius Judrow from Love is Blind has a brother and he’s on his way to Cutter’s Creek. Come see who Eldon meets in this hilarious and sweet romance!

The next is Vivi Holt’s Seasons of Love. It takes place in 1872. The social has changed just a bit. You’d think they’d learned with all the trouble, but no, the social is more fun than trouble. Margaret is a lonely school teacher from the East looking for a little love and adventure. She finds just that and a whole lot more in this sweet Christmas romance!
Third Christmas novella is just a few years later and the social has changed yet again, to a cider competition! The contestants get a little rowdy and words are said that might ruin Christmas! Felicity will need special help to solve this mess. Find out more in Annie Boone’s Christmas Spirit.
The fourth and final Christmas novella takes place in 1892 and rumors of Christmas social’s past dominate the festivities. Carol needs to find a husband and the new doctor in town provides a great opportunity. A snowball fight leads to romance in Kari Trumbo’s A Carol Plays.


Recipe for Christmas  ǀ  Season of Love  ǀ  Christmas Spirit  ǀ  A Carol PlaysFind the Cutter’s Creek author’s on Facebook!






A Carol Plays  by  Kari Trumbo
His back was so broad and his movements so sure. She scooped a handful of thick heavy snow into her hand, forming it into a ball. As he grabbed for his mitts she launched her snowball at his wide back, hitting him between the shoulder blades. She turned and rushed on her way.

A snow clod landed at her feet exploding between her shoes. She danced away from the flying bits and turned, grinning at him. “You missed!” She laughed then shrieked as another ball hit her in the shoulder.
 
The snow was deep enough she didn’t have to lean far for another scoop of snow. She formed it in her hands calculating her next toss.
 
Dr. Gentry held up his hands. “White flag!” He smiled.
 
She lobbed it at his stomach. “I didn’t see a flag with all this snow.”
 
He slid to the side avoiding the snow bomb. His intense eyes took her in as he walked slowly for her, forgetting the shovel. He stopped right in front of her. The passion in his gaze stopped her and she backed a step away. He gazed down into her eyes then down to her lips. She gasped and glanced away.
 
“We should get you to the chapel.” His voice rumbled between them and he touched her elbow.
Her heart tripped over itself as she backed another step from him. “I’m sure I can get there.” She turned and his grip grew tighter. She couldn’t leave, but part of her didn’t want to. Part of her wished they weren’t standing out in the street in front of everyone.
 
“I know you can get there, but let me be the gentleman I’m expected to be and take you there.”

Mary Marvella and her THREE Christmas Tales!

Christmas Is In the Air
Bio Matt's Christmas Angel A short story in THE ANTHOLOGY A STONE MOUNTAIN CHRISTMAS https://www.amazon.com/Stone-Mountain-Christmas-Melba-Moon-ebook/dp/B00PL5L4SQ and a single short story  https://www.amazon.com/Matts-Christmas-Angel-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B018DZJQ2G     Heartwarming Romance 
Best friends fall in love while doing their Christmas good deeds. They've been doing their own version of the 12 days of Christmas since they were kids. Now they are adults and she's his Christmas Angel.  
 TEASER:


Sleep captured Gwen in its gentle arms and eased her into her fondest memory. She was three years old and playing in her sandbox, the one mama said had been hers once upon a time. A child she’d never seen walked up to her sandbox and stood, staring at her. “You Gwen?” The boy's face puckered up in a frown. Gwen nodded slowly. “Uh huh. Who are you?” The boy looked bigger than she was and real skinny. His glasses made him look like an owl. He carried a pail and a shovel. He had light, short hair. “Matthew Henry Simmons,” he said. He must be serious about the long name, because he wasn’t smiling. “This is my sandbox. Wanna play?” “Sure.” He still didn’t smile.  Gwen grinned when she thought about his red plastic bucket and shovel. She remembered the gentleness of five-year old Matt. He had been her playmate ever since. That Christmas he had told her about the Twelve Days of Christmas song he’d learned in kindergarten. He’d also taught her to count to one hundred.

The Christmas Promise  https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Promise-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B0189DK03G/
The Christmas Promise is a short story about a woman whose husband was abusive. She and her college-aged kids must face their first Christmas together since she charged their father with assault and had him arrested. What will Christmas have in store for them?   


Christmas's Best Bet, Humble Pie   https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Best-Bet-Humble-novella-ebook/dp/B006LUJ8F6
When Brock, a wealthy lawyer in Atlanta, Georgia, loses a bet with his partners, he must take up the challenge to get a job in a Waffle House and work there after office hours in their law firm for a month. 
He has never worked so hard or learned so much about people. During that month he learns humility and caring and paying it forward
This novella has loads of southern flavor.

https://www.amazon.com/Matts-Christmas-Angel-Short-Story-ebook/dp/B018DZJQ2G/ref=sr_1_2?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1479781369&sr=1-2&keywords=Matt%27s+Christmas+Angel
BIO.I’m a story-holic.  Yep, I have loved to read since the first grade. I has been a storyteller for as long as I can remember.  The stories I made up for the other children and the details I  created the details for their “play like” or “let’s pretend” games. Sometimes the details were so real they scared me I taught language arts for 15 years, perfect for my BA in English.  My M.Ed in Counseling served me well during my years as a school counselor and as a teacher later.Now I tutor, teach writers, and edit. My inner English teacher loves the editing part. My daughter doesn’t read my books (something about TMI.) I have a 43 year old daughter and I live north of Atlanta, Georgia.  I have published 6 novels, three, novellas and seven short stories.   MARY MARVELLAhttps://goodreads.com/author/show/4909455.Mary_Marvella
https://www.facebook.com/ARomanceCaper
 www.MaryMarvella.com
https://www.facebook.com/mmbarfield
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Mary-Marvella- Author/121044561311561
http://pinkfuzzyslippersauthors.wordpress.com
Follow Mary Marvella on Twitter @mmarvellab
http://www.GildedDragonflyBooks.com
 http://www.amazon.com/Mary-Marvella/e/B008E1SJ32/ 

A Regency Yuletide by Becky Lower

Christmas Is In the Air





After a disappointing season in London, Sophie Davenport returns home without a marriage proposal. No sooner does she settle back into her country life than she learns her uncle has arranged for her to marry the local vicar’s son, a respectable and utterly forgettable man. He’s returning home immediately after the Christmas holiday and they will wed. She sets about making this last Christmas with just she and her mother memorable. 
Jeremy Wyatt hatches a plan to help his friend Thomas and his love, Emma, escape to Gretna Green and marry before her father comes after them. What he’s really doing is avoiding heading to his parents’ home, where he is the son who is always making the wrong choices. But their carriage becomes hopelessly mired in the mud from the incessant rains so Jeremy sets off to find shelter for them at the first house he comes to.
Sophie welcomes the wet and weary travelers, and her mother agrees to house them temporarily until they can free the carriage. Sophie forms a bond not only with Emma, but with Jeremy. However despite the sparks they ignite in each other, they have to maintain their separate paths.   But love and mistletoe have a way of upsetting even the best-laid plans. 
 Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/Regency-Yuletide-Becky-Lower-ebook/dp/B01LY2MN0S/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1475537572&sr=8-4&keywords=becky+lower

Author Bio: Amazon best-selling author Becky Lower has traveled the country looking for great settings for her novels. She loves to write about two people finding each other and falling in love, amid the backdrop of a great setting, be it on a covered wagon headed west or in present day small town America.  Historical and contemporary romances are her specialty. Becky is a PAN member of RWA and is a member of the Historic and Contemporary RWA chapters. She has a degree in English and Journalism from Bowling Green State University, and lives in an eclectic college town in Ohio with her puppy-mill rescue dog, Mary. She loves to hear from her readers at beckylowerauthor@gmail.com. Visit her website at www.beckylowerauthor.com

Christmas Kiss From The Sheriff by Kathryn Albright

Christmas Is In the Air



A Christmas to Remember! 
Clear Springs’ new schoolteacher, Gemma Starling, feels as if she’s been given a fresh start. So long as no one discovers her dark secret—she once shot a man in self-defense! 
Sheriff Craig Parker has forsworn love, but delightful Miss Starling intrigues him. And when events at the school turn dangerous, Craig won’t let her face it alone. Gemma might just be the one woman he could ever love, but will the secret she’s hiding tear them apart or bring them together by Christmas?


Excerpt ~ Christmas Kiss from the Sheriff
“I’m new to the community by most counts, miss, but I gather that you’ve been here even less time than I have.” The sheriff studied her pert nose which she had notched up stubbornly in the air. “You don’t strike me as someone who grew up in the country. Can you tell me which way we are headed? North or west?”She was quiet.“This isn’t like a city where there are names for roads and easy-to-remember storefronts. It’s easy to get lost in these hills. One boulder starts to look like another. One tree the same thing. I can’t have you walking…or riding…all over the mountain. You’ll be lost within half an hour.”“You can’t have me walking…” she echoed, a trace of sarcasm in her voice.Guess she didn’t care much for his interference. It couldn’t be helped. He wasn’t about to let her wander the mountains on her own. He walked another half a block with her in silence, hoping she was absorbing the truth of the matter.Her steps finally slowed and then came to a stop. “What do you propose?” she asked, facing him.“To go with you.”“I don’t think…” She shook her head doubtfully. “That’s really not necessary.”“Not. Necessary. Hmm. Then tell me which way you are facing now.”She sucked in a breath and let it out slowly. “I can’t.”“Well, until you can, you need an escort. I’m offering.”She frowned. “Sheriff…I doubt the etiquette of the situation allows for you to accompany me.”So that’s what was bothering her. “It doesn’t allow for a woman to go alone either. Sometimes out here you have to be practical.”She started walking toward Mrs. Birdwell’s again “Do all the other women here know their directions?”“If they were raised in the country they do.”“Day or night?”“While the sun is up for the most part. There are a few who know the stars too.” He couldn’t imagine growing up without that knowledge. His father had impressed it on him by the time he was ten. “Just where are you from anyway?”“Obviously not here,” she grumbled.“So…?” He prompted.She eyed him with a speculative look. The light through the saloon window danced in her eyes. “Guess.”He hadn’t expected that. He raised his brows. A challenge. “Big city. North, I think.”She smiled slightly.“Your clothes are fancier than most. Your shoes wouldn’t last more’n a day on a hike.”“My shoes?” She stopped and looked down at her feet. “When did you check my…? Humph.”“San Francisco? No…” he answered himself. Not with the way she said certain words. “Back East somewhere.”“I have a feeling not knowing the answer will trouble you immensely,” she said smugly.“It may take me awhile, but I don’t back down from a challenge.”They turned down the side road that led out of town. Widow Birdwell’s boardinghouse was the last house on the road. The light from her parlor blinked dimly through the rustling pines.“May I ask you something, Sheriff? You’re a man…I mean that you understand boys a tad better than I would. Why would two boys old enough to know better, get into a fight? They should be setting an example for the younger children—not fighting.”“I take it you don’t have brothers.”“No. And I’ll admit that I was so intent on stopping the fisticuffs before more bloodshed occurred that I didn’t think to get the real reason for the fight out of them.”He slanted a glance at her. “The best time to wrangle an answer out of them is while they are still fighting mad. Things tend to spill out from the gut.”She sighed. “Then I’ve lost my chance.”“Sounds like you did okay. You stopped the fight. No one died.”She stepped up on Mrs. Birdwell’s stoop. “An interesting way to put it.”He reached for the door handle. “Just out of curiosity… How did you make those boys stop fighting? Hard to believe they’d stop just because you told them to.”Her lips twitched and then those dimples appeared again as her smile grew. “I threw a bucket of cold, dirty water over them.” She stepped inside. The parlor lantern lent a yellow glow to the right side of her face. “Good night, Sheriff.”He tipped his hat even though she was already closing the door in his face. “Night, Miss Starling.”The woman might have no idea about staying safe on the mountain but that smile of hers could sure pack a wallop.

Text Copyright © 2016 by Kathryn AlbrightCover Art Copyright 2016 by Harlequin Enterprises LimitedPermission to reproduce text granted by Harlequin Books S.A.All rights reserved.



Kathryn Albright writes sweet western historical romance. Her stories celebrate courage and hope with a dash of adventure. Kathryn’s stories have beenfinalists in the distinguished RWA Golden Heart®, the HOLT Medallion and the Colorado Award of Excellence, as well as several other industry awards. An enthusiast of country living, she resides with her family in the Midwest. http://www.KathrynAlbright.comAMAZON:   https://amzn.com/B01FD3A152HARLEQUIN:  http://bit.ly/2e6sc3yBARNES & NOBLE:  http://bit.ly/2dVVvaR KOBO:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/christmas-kiss-from-the-sheriff

Under The Mistletoe by Sherry Ewing

Christmas Is In the Air



  A new suitor seeks her hand. An old flame holds her heart. Which one will she meet under the kissing bough?When Margaret Templeton is requested to act as hostess at Captain Sander Morledge’s Christmas party and possibly agree to marry him, she did not think she would see the man who once held her heart. Frederick Maddock, Viscount Beacham had never forgotten the young woman he had fallen in love with, and his feelings are evident when he sees her at a holiday gathering. In a swirl of Christmas miracles and joyous celebration, will the two finally put down their differences and once again fall in love?
A bit of a teaser:  With Digby gone, Margaret took a seat by the fire, and Frederick sat opposite her. An awkward silence fell between them, broken only by the crackling and popping of the wood within the hearth. Conversation had never been stilted between them, but Margaret was clearly nervous because she kept peeking over her shoulder as if she were being watched. Frederick was unsure what he should say to calm her nerves.
“You have no need to fear me, Margaret,” Frederick whispered softly now that they were alone.
“I do not fear you, Freddy.”
He was pleased to hear his name as it passed her lips. “Then what is troubling you so?”
The eyes raised to his were filled with worry. “Why are you here?”
He watched her fidget with the fabric of her gown. “You know why. I was invited,” Frederick answered.
A sound escaped her, but it was hardly ladylike. “You could easily have made your excuses and refused.”
“I wanted to make sure you were safe,” he replied.
“How could I not be safe? Captain Morledge is practically my betrothed.”
Frederick ran his hand across his eyes. “I do not trust him. There are rumors—”
The laugh she gave was meant to be merry, but sounded forced. “Frederick, please tell me you have not taken to believing in town gossip. I would have thought you, above all people, were above such nonsense.”
He frowned. “Nonsense or not, I needed to see for myself that you are not in danger, even if I must watch over you myself.”
“It is hardly necessary.” Margaret’s attention once more flew to the entryway.
He reached over to take her hand.
She wrenched back with a silent and pleading look, and the briefest shake of her head. Leaning slightly forward, she confided, “Please do not, for it will not be wise. The servants watch my every move, and even now, it is reckless of me to be here alone with you.”
“You see! There is cause for concern. Why will you not let me help you?”
“Please, Freddy. This is my one chance to find some happiness. Do not ruin it for me.”
“We have discussed this before, Margaret. You know my offer still stands. I would wed you on the morrow if you would have me.”
“Shush, you fool. You know I cannot.”
“Yet you would enter into a marriage with a man you do not love.”
A heavy sigh left her lips. “I can learn to love him.”
“Now who is the fool?” he grumbled irritably.

Buy Links:
Amazon US: http://amzn.to/1YdKQmWBarnes & Noble: http://bit.ly/29nRrfBiBooks: http://apple.co/1qsGsGaKobo: http://bit.ly/1Vuiy8A
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Bio:
Sherry Ewing picked up her first historical romance when she was a teenager and has been hooked ever since. A bestselling author, she writes historical & time travel romances to awaken the soul one heart at a time. Always wanting to write a novel but busy raising her children, she finally took the plunge in 2008 and wrote her first Regency. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, the Beau Monde & the Bluestocking Belles. Sherry is currently working on her next novel and when not writing, she can be found in the San Francisco area at her day job as an Information Technology Specialist. You can learn more about Sherry and her published work at the following social media links:
Website & Books: http://www.SherryEwing.comBluestocking Belles: http://BluestockingBelles.netHearts Through Time: http://heartsthroughtime.comAmazon: http://amzn.to/1TrWtoyBookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/sherry-ewingFacebook: https://www.Facebook.com/SherryEwingAuthorGoodreads: http://www.Goodreads.com/author/show/8382315.Sherry_EwingPinterest: http://www.Pinterest.com/SherryLEwingTwitter: https://www.Twitter.com/Sherry_Ewing
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Everybody Reads YA Sunday - Riches To Rags

Dylan Jones, seventh grader at Langdon Middle School lives the good life. His family has money. He gets most everything he wants. 
Even so, everybody likes Dylan because he is a happy go lucky kid.  Miss Wickware, his seventh grade history teacher, tells the class they will be studying the United States in the late 1800s for the next few weeks. Everybody will be expected to present an oral report on a subject that is drawn from a box. Dylan draws The Orphan Train.
A penniless Dylan finds himself at the train station in New York in 1875 and he is as scared and unsure as the children getting ready to ride the Orphan Train.
How will Dylan make it when money is nowhere to be found?


Excerpt“Daddy, we don’t want to go with them. We want to stay with you.” His lips were quivering and his eyes filled with tears.

The man stood. “I done told you, since your mama died I can’t care for you. Now, you will do what I tell you.” He turned to walk away but the boy grabbed his arm.

“Daddy…” The man shoved the little boy, making him fall, landing hard on the cement. Both boy and baby were now crying and Dylan noticed not one person stopped to help.

“Hey,” Dylan yelled, “maybe you need to man up and go talk to the lady yourself. It takes a really brave man to push a little boy around.” Dylan’s face was purple with anger.

“This ain’t none of your concern, kid,” the man yelled over his shoulder as he practically ran through the door, escaping his kids screams.

“You can’t leave them here, you gutless wonder!” Dylan yelled, but their father was long gone. “People can’t just throw their kids away,” he muttered, picking up the screaming baby, afraid she would get stepped on.

“It happens all the time.”

Dylan turned to see a boy, a few years older than himself, leaning against the wall. He was dressed in dirty long pants and a shirt that seemed to have more holes than material.


Riches to Rags is Book Five of the Wickware Sagas.  There are four more stories of students in Miss Wickware’s history class that find themselves transported back in time to meet the object of their school reports.

Billy Cooper's Awesome Nightmare Ride of a LifetimeFlash to the PastBumped Back In TimeCheck them all out at…http://museituppublishing.com/bookstore/index.php/our-authors/55-our-authors/authors-e/146-author-19http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XB
The Wickware Sagas also comes in a printed version with all five stories!



  http://www.amazon.com/The-Wickware-Sagas-Penny-Estelle/dp/1499179502