Sherry Ewing's Blog, page 4

Happy Release Day ~ Caroline Warfield!

Today I’m giving an extra shout out to Caroline Warfield as she celebrates her new release Snowed by the Wallflower. We just know you’re going to love this new book by Caroline. Read on to learn more and enjoy, my lovelies, and congratulations Caroline on your latest book baby. May your sales soar!

Snowed by the WallFlower
By Caroline Warfield
Available now!

Belinda Westcott doesn’t want to injure the Earl of Ridgemont. She merely wants to humiliate him. After all, one good prank deserves a payback. How could she anticipate that it would go so terribly wrong, or that he would turn out to be nothing like she expected?

Skilled in both chemistry and cooking, Belinda happily hides in her aunt’s kitchen rather than risk embarrassment at the ongoing house party. The unexpected appearance of the earl and a skating party present the perfect opportunity to embarrass him in front of some snooty society miss. Unfortunately, his partner is Belinda’s own cousin, and even worse, the cousin drinks the hot chocolate—laced with emitics—meant for the earl.

As plain Major John Conlyn, John had sunk into a morose of dissipation when first released from the army. Neither his actions nor his companions make him proud. The death of a beloved cousin shocked him back to sense. It also made him an earl and the heir to his grandfather, a duke. He’s been ordered to find a wife and settle down. He wouldn’t mind, but now he’s surrounded by flighty debutantes and their grasping mothers. The one woman who interests him avoids him. She acts as if she despises him. Is it possible he did something when out of control that he ought to apologize for, something he can’t recall?

Buy link: https://books2read.com/snowedbywallflower

About the Author:

Award winning author Caroline Warfield has been many things: traveler, librarian, poet, raiser of children, bird watcher, Internet and Web services manager, conference speaker, indexer, tech writer, genealogist—even a nun. She reckons she is on at least her third act, happily working in an office surrounded by windows where she lets her characters lead her to adventures in England and the far-flung corners of the British Empire. She nudges them to explore the riskiest territory of all, the human heart, because love is worth the risk.

Learn more about Caroline and her work here:

https://www.carolinewarfield.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WarfieldFellowTravelers
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/caroline-warfield

First Kiss Friday with Caroline Warfield

Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. I’m always thrilled whenever my dear friend Caroline Warfield is celebrating an upcoming release. Today she has an excerpt from Snowed by the Wallflower that releases on January 28th. We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene! Happy reading, my lovelies.

Excerpt:

John didn’t hesitate. He prowled in her direction with two hands full of snow. She started to break into a run, but wasn’t fast enough. Icy cold hit the back of her neck and dripped under her cloak. The other handful went down her chin. She scrambled to pick up another handful, but he reached her quickly with more.

The two of them wrestled with each other, laughing like fools, painting one another with snow, until Bel slipped on her cloak and fell over pulling John with her. They lay tangled, Bel on her back, John over her.

While they stared at each other, Bel surreptitiously scooped a handful of snow at her side.

No fool, he clamped his hand on her wrist forcing her to drop it. “Clever tactic, Miss Westcott. Wellington would admire it.” He kissed her lightly. “Unsuccessful though,” he murmured kissing her again.”

“Was it?” she asked, kissing him back. “That depends on my intention, don’t you think.”

He kissed her again, sliding his tongue along her mouth, seeking entrance. When she gave it, all coherent thought fled. He kissed his way along her chin to the spot below her ear, and Bel’s body felt as if it burst into flames. She ran her fingers through his thick hair, pulling him close until his mouth returned to hers and his clever hands began to explore her beneath the cloak.

When John started to move away, she groaned and tried to pull him back. “Why Miss Westcott, delightful as this is, I best stop while I still have some claim to the name gentleman.”

Startled back to reality, Bel started to protest, but good sense suggested better. She let him help her to her feet, not meeting his eyes. She patted and shook her cloak to remove the snow.

“You know, Miss Westcott, I do believe you have snowed me completely,” John laughed, knocking the melting stuff from his clothing.

Snowed by the WallFlower
By Caroline Warfield
Releases January 28th
Preorder now

Belinda Westcott doesn’t want to injure the Earl of Ridgemont. She merely wants to humiliate him. After all, one good prank deserves a payback. How could she anticipate that it would go so terribly wrong, or that he would turn out to be nothing like she expected?

Skilled in both chemistry and cooking, Belinda happily hides in her aunt’s kitchen rather than risk embarrassment at the ongoing house party. The unexpected appearance of the earl and a skating party present the perfect opportunity to embarrass him in front of some snooty society miss. Unfortunately, his partner is Belinda’s own cousin, and even worse, the cousin drinks the hot chocolate—laced with emitics—meant for the earl.

As plain Major John Conlyn, John had sunk into a morose of dissipation when first released from the army. Neither his actions nor his companions make him proud. The death of a beloved cousin shocked him back to sense. It also made him an earl and the heir to his grandfather, a duke. He’s been ordered to find a wife and settle down. He wouldn’t mind, but now he’s surrounded by flighty debutantes and their grasping mothers. The one woman who interests him avoids him. She acts as if she despises him. Is it possible he did something when out of control that he ought to apologize for, something he can’t recall?

Buy link: https://books2read.com/snowedbywallflower

About the Author:

Award winning author Caroline Warfield has been many things: traveler, librarian, poet, raiser of children, bird watcher, Internet and Web services manager, conference speaker, indexer, tech writer, genealogist—even a nun. She reckons she is on at least her third act, happily working in an office surrounded by windows where she lets her characters lead her to adventures in England and the far-flung corners of the British Empire. She nudges them to explore the riskiest territory of all, the human heart, because love is worth the risk.

Learn more about Caroline here:

https://www.carolinewarfield.com/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/WarfieldFellowTravelers
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/caroline-warfield

First Kiss Friday with Kara Griffin

Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog! I’m so happy you stopped by. Today’s guest is Kara Griffin who has an excerpt from her novel Bride Takes a Scot. We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

They had stopped by a stream, and she made use of a nearby bush for privacy. On her return, she found him resting by a tree. He had started a fire and wrapped his tartan over his body. Isabella sat across from him, disheartened that he hadn’t offered to share the warmth of his tartan. She was cold and shivered at the thought of having to sleep outside. Her cloak offered a little protection from the cold, but she suspected her husband’s body would be much warmer.

Declan unfastened his scabbard, pulled his sword free, and set it beside him. His sword was quite large and hefty given the thickness of the iron blade. She’d never seen a longsword akin to his. His sword had a cross-hilt with capped arms that ended in quatrefoils to protect his hands. There were no adornments to it such as jewels or embellishments on the blade. The wide blade didn’t appear too sharp, but thick enough to cause great injury. Isabella shook her head at the image of him using it in battle or against a foe. He likely knew how to protect them given the size of his weapon and that he frequently traveled the area. 

“Do ye wish to share my tartan? There’s a wee bit of a nip this night.”

A wee bit? It was bloody freezing. Before he might rescind his offer, Isabella hurried to sit with him. She was grateful he’d offered to share his tartan, but more pleased that she could cuddle next to him. Declan shimmied toward her and pulled the tartan over them.

“You are cold. Here,” he said and wrapped his arm around her back and pulled her tighter against him. “Share my warmth.”

She wanted to share more than that but refrained from saying so. “How is it you are warm and I’m…c-c-cold?”

He grinned and with his free arm, poked at the fire. “I’m used to the temperatures here in the north. This is a mild evening. You’ll get used to it, Wife.”

Isabella relaxed against him. She was lulled by the fire and his warmth and snuggled against his hard body. As usual, a thrill swept over her body from the places they touched to her extremities. She tilted her head back and watched his face. He seemed oblivious to her subtle signals. So Isabella reached to touch his chin and turn his face to look at her. “Declan…”

“Aye, Wife?”

“Why do you keep calling me ‘Wife’?”

“To remind myself that I’m married.”

What an unfeeling thing to say. He was a cad. She took a breath to settle her temper because it was becoming more difficult to keep from being outspoken. Isabella wanted to tell him what she thought of his inane comment, but instead, she said, “I’m so insignificant that you need to remind yourself that you married me?”

Declan leaned forward and turned to peer at her. “Ah, nay, lass, I did not mean it like that.”

“Then why won’t you at least kiss me?”

“You want to be kissed?”

Lord above, she drew in a deep breath. The man needed to be hit over the head. “Never mind. It seems my wishes don’t matter. And just so you know, I preferred to be called Isabella, not Wife.”

Declan took hold of her face, and his large hand cupped her neck. He pressed his lips on hers and then yanked her body to his. Isabella’s heart skipped several beats. His hard manly lips covered hers and he used his tongue to get her to open her mouth. She touched her tongue to his and moaned softly at the exquisite sensations swarming her body. Their kiss was much more affecting than the modest peck he’d given her after their vows. But it ended too soon when Declan pulled away.

“Now get some sleep, Wife. We will set out early.”

She scrunched her eyes in objection to him calling her wife again. “How much farther do we need to travel, Husband?” Isabella couldn’t help but pout at the thought of another long day’s ride. She wasn’t one to complain but she ached all over and was exhausted. A harrumph escaped her lips before she could stop herself.

He sighed a heavy breath and likely surmised her annoyance. “Another day or so. We should reach home by tomorrow night or mayhap the following morn. It depends on how fast we travel.”

It was probably the most he’d ever spoken to her at once and she revelled at the sound of his voice. Isabella nodded. “I shall do my best to keep up.”

She closed her eyes and relaxed, feeling protected. The sensations, tastes, and the feeling of their kiss continued to fill her thoughts. If bedding Declan was as pleasurable as that kiss, then she was in for a passionate experience.

Bride takes a Scot: Scottish Historical Romance
(Highland Vows & Vengeance Book 1)
By Kara Griffin

Laird Declan MacKendrick, falsely imprisoned in King Alexander’s dungeon, is offered his freedom with one stipulation―that he marry a border baron’s daughter. Accused of murdering his neighbor, a Campbell, Declan means to prove his innocence and find his enemy. If he must marry to do so, then so be it. But Declan doesn’t expect his new bride to be as beautiful or beguiling as Lady Isabella.

Isabella Forrester isn’t pleased by the king’s edict that she marry a man of his choosing. She doesn’t believe in marriage for love and always knew she’d marry a man for political alliance. Marriage to a Highlander means that not only must she adjust to a husband, but a whole new way of life amongst people who won’t trust her for her Sassenach ways. Then she meets Declan MacKendrick who introduces her to a life she never could have imagined as a wife to a laird.

Her days are spent in loneliness and isolation, but the nights in his sultry embraces might win her heart’s surrender. She cannot help but be won over by the noble, seductive Scot. Isabella meets her new husband’s son, a lad of tender years who cannot hear. The poor lad is ignored by all in the clan, even his father. Isabella makes it her responsibility to see to his caring and hopes the clan eventually accepts them both.

Declan wants nothing more than to find his accuser to enact his vengeance. He suspects the Campbells are behind the claims that induced his imprisonment. Someone wants to destroy and weaken his clan. But could his enemy be closer than he thinks? When Isabella’s life is threatened, Declan must confront a trusted ally to carry out his vengeance.

Will these Highland vows and vengeance hold the promise of love and redemption for Declan and Isabella?

Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPJFSTND

About the Author:

Read a Scottish or Medieval Historical Romance book by Kara Griffin and transport yourself to the mystical enchanting realms of the Scottish Highlands and Medieval Britain. Stories of noble swoon-worthy warriors and strong but sweet heroines will have you rooting for them as they encounter dastardly villains, political upheaval, and family dysfunction. Be romanced with sweeping tales of love and honor. 

Kara Griffin has always had a vivid imagination and has been an avid romance reader since her early years. Inspired by her grandfather’s heritage, she loves all things Scottish. From the captivating land to the ancient mysticism, all inspire her to write tales that make you sigh. With heroes, heroines, villains, and romance, there’s always a Happily-Ever-After in her stories.

When Kara is not writing, she enjoys family life with her husband of 34 years, daughters, and five grandchildren. Living in the Pinelands of New Jersey, she spends a lot of time at a nearby lake, the Jersey Shore, and wooded areas of the Pine Barrons. She and her family are huge sports fans and cheer on the teams of the city of Philadelphia. 

Online & Social media links:

Website:  https://karagrif66.wixsite.com/authorkaragriffin

Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKaraGriffin

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/authorkaragriffin

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/karagriffin/

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/kara-griffin

GoodReads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/1428371.Kara_Griffin

First Kiss Friday with Collette Cameron

Welcome, fabulous Readers, to my First Kiss Friday blog. Please welcome my guest Collette Cameron who has an excerpt from her novel Once Upon a Midnight Dream. Isn’t this cover just dreamy? We hope you enjoy this first kiss scene. Happy reading!

Excerpt:

He leaned over and snatched three biscuits off the plate. As he bit into the crisp, spicy sweetness, his attention fell on the correspondence Lilly had tossed onto the table in her haste to reach Eddy. 

Slowly straightening, Zander lifted the top letter.

“From Cambridge,” he muttered beneath his breath, a hint of something Lilly could not identify, rendering his voice husky. 

He glanced between Lilly and the rectangle he held between his thumb and forefinger. 

“I was on my way to my office to open it, when I heard Eddy’s cry.” Why Lilly felt the need to explain herself mystified her. 

Zander nodded but remained silent. 

Could he be as concerned as she was? 

“I fully intend to share the contents with you, Zander.” 

She swiped a tendril of hair that had come loose away from her face. 

And there she went again. 

Her tongue seemed to have taken on a life of its own and jabbered away without her permission. A most disturbing development, and one she must put an end to at once. 

Was he as worried as Lilly that whatever was written on that paper would send their worlds upon their heads? 

That they had no more control over what happened next than they did the sun rising and setting on the horizon each day? 

Zander dropped the letter, and then the cookies onto the table. 

Before Lilly knew what he was about, he gathered her into his arms and drew her against his hard chest.

His lips hovered above hers. 

“That letter may well tumble us tail over top. So, before you open it and everything changes, I want to kiss you, Lilly.” 

He grazed a finger over her cheek, the contours and planes of his beloved face taut with suppressed desire. 

“Will you let me, Lilly? Let us share this one moment? Mayhap, the only one we shall ever have?”

She should say no and pull away from his embrace. 

It is what an upright, moral woman would do without hesitation. Without regret or recrimination.

What Lilly should do and what she wanted to do wrestled for domination, but the outcome was predetermined. 

Because Zander was right.

The contents of the letter would likely leave her floundering in a jumble and, by all that was holy, at least she would have his splendid kiss to remember him.

For the kiss would be splendid. Spectacular. Glorious.

How could it not? 

“Yes, Zander.” 

Was that breathless, sultry voice hers? 

“Kiss me.” 

* * *

Still in the dining room 

A satisfied groan throttled its way up Zander’s throat as he captured Lilly’s mouth in a searing kiss. He honestly did not know what he would have done if she had refused. 

The joining of his and Lilly’s mouths was everything he had dreamed it would be and more. 

So much more.

His pent-up desire threatened to ignite them into a blazing conflagration. And by God, he would willingly burn to cinders for the opportunity to hold her and taste her mouth. To say with his caresses and lips what he dared not voice. 

Lord, was there ever such a magnificent woman?

She had become so beautiful and cherished to him; he hardly noticed the light smattering of pox scars on her face. 

Though it was unwise, and someone could interrupt them at any moment, he pressed her nearer, one hand between her shoulder blades, and the other at the small of her back. 

Twining her arms around his neck, she molded her soft, sweet lips and luscious body to his, giving as much as she took. Though obviously a novice at kissing, she eagerly explored his mouth, mimicking his movements. Her little sighs as she pressed into him almost drove him over the edge—past the point of retreat. 

Somewhere in the house, a longcase clock chimed twice. 

Careful. Caution.

This was madness.

He must stop.

For Lilly’s sake and his. 

Dredging up every ounce of his self-control, Zander lifted his mouth from hers and set her away from him.

Her lips, moist and full, glowed cherry-red from his fervent kisses. 

She appeared so ravishing and alluring, so muddled and bemused that he fisted his hands to keep from hauling her back into his arms and finishing what he had started—to hell with decorum and the servants’ delicate sensibilities.

But Zander was a gentleman.

He might not know his name or where he came from, but at his core, he knew he was an honorable man. 

More importantly, Lilly was a lady, and he would not treat her like a dockside harlot and take her upon the dining room table. 

Imagine the scandal. 

Her eyes wide and still slightly dazed, Lilly put two shaky fingers to her lips.

With a single glance, anyone with an iota of common sense would comprehend what had occurred between them. 

“I…I did not know a kiss could be like that,” Lilly whispered, dazed.

Most kisses are not, darling. 

Unrepentant masculine pride roared through Zander’s veins. 

Out of sheer preservation against giving into his baser instincts, he tore his gaze from her and picked up the letter. “Shall we see what it says?”

Shifting her befuddled attention to the small rectangle, she gave a reluctant nod, the lock of blonde hair bouncing near her temple. “In my office, though.” 

Because she wanted to protect his privacy, or because she did not want to chance a servant seeing her response? As stalwart as she had shown herself to be these past weeks, Zander still suspected the latter. 

They strode in silence to her office. 

Was she reliving their torrid kiss? For he sure the hell was.

Shoulders squared, chin up, she marched slightly ahead of him.

Why did it feel as though this was a march to the gallows?

Despite the somberness of the moment, Zander could not help but admire her composure and strength. 

And the marvelous sway of her plump derriere. 

A delectable derriere he yearned to smooth his hands over, preferably sans her clothing. You are a hopeless libertine. 

Once Upon a Midnight Dream
Chronicles of the Westbrook Brides, Book 10
By Collette Cameron®

A Romantic Opposites Attract Mystery & Suspense Family Saga Regency Romance

His forgotten past might shatter her future…

Captain Layton Westbrook has lost everything—his identity, his past, and the life he once knew. Left battered and near death after a violent attack, he awakens in a quiet countryside school, his mind a blank slate. Haunted by fragmented memories and a single vow never to trust again, Layton finds himself drawn to the serene presence of the woman who saved him. But shadows from his past are closing in, and danger may strike before he can uncover the truth.  

Lillibet Granger has dedicated her life to Kelston Hall Children’s School, nurturing orphans with the love she never knew. As the illegitimate daughter of a viscount’s sister, her position is precarious, but her compassion and quiet strength have earned her respect. When she finds an injured man on the school grounds, her instincts urge caution, but his vulnerability stirs something deeper. Yet Lilly knows better than to dream of love—a plain, practical woman like her has no place in a hero’s world.  

As Layton’s memories begin to surface, so do threats that could destroy everything Lilly holds dear. The future of her beloved school hangs by a thread, and Layton’s hidden identity could be the key to saving it—or the cause of its downfall. In a world where trust is fragile and love demands the ultimate risk, will they defy the odds and seize a second chance at happiness? Or will the secrets they hold tear them apart forever?   

Buy Link: Amazon – https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DP1BFGBK

About the Author:

USA Today Bestselling author Collette Cameron® is renowned for her captivating, humorous, and heartwarming Scottish and Regency historical romance novels. With over 65 published titles, over 1.4 million books sold around the world, and multiple writing awards to her credit, Collette is a well-known author in the world of historical romance. Readers love her witty and relatable characters including daring rogues, dashing scoundrels, and the strong and spirited heroines who capture their hearts. From the rugged highlands to the refined drawing rooms of Regency England, Collette’s novels will transport you to another time and place, where love and adventure are just a page away.

Collette’s Sweet-to-Spicy Timeless Romances® are the perfect escape for readers looking for romantic escape, poignant inspiration, engaging humor, and entertaining stories.

Based in the Pacific Northwest, Collette is surrounded by the lush greenery and rainy skies that inspire her writing. She dreams of one day splitting her time between the Pacific Northwest and Scotland. In the meantime, she indulges in her love of all things cobalt blue, dachshunds, chocolate, and of course, crafting her next historical romance.

Find Collette at:

Website: http://collettecameron.com

Facebook: http://facebook.com/collettecameronauthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColletteCameronNovels/

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/colletteauthor/

Amazon Author Page:  http://amazon.com/author/collettecameron.com/

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/collette-cameron

Collette’s Chèris VIP Reader Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/CollettesCheris/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/collettecameronauthor/

Newsletter: https://bit.ly/TheRegencyRoseGift

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/collettecameron

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ColletteCameronAuthor

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ColletteCameronNovels/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/collettecameronauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/collettecameron

Book Bub:  https://www.bookbub.com/authors/collette-cameron

First Kiss Friday with Sherry Ewing

Happy New Year, my lovelies, and welcome to a new year of my First Kiss Friday blog! I’m going to bend things to my will just a tiny bit and give you an excerpt from my upcoming release A Whisper of You: A Knights of the Anarchy Time Travel inside the boxset Lords of Midwinter’s Festival releasing tomorrow. Since this was a fast pace novella, the actual first kiss would give away the story so I’ve had to improvise. I know you’ll forgive me.

In this first scene, my hero and heroine are seeing each other in a dream. I have to admit, I loved everything about this little story and it’s probably the reason why enjoy writing time travel romances so much. Happy reading and enjoy!

Excerpt:

A heavy mist surrounded her, shrouding the landscape and making it difficult to determine where she was. Reaching out her hands, she blindly stepped forward, hoping to find the way out. At first, she felt the cold stone of something large. In the next moment, she was surprised when her hands were firmly grasped. There could be no doubt that the owner of the hands holding hers was a man—and one who was used to hard work, if the calluses on his palms were any indicator.

As the fog began to lift, she was finally able to determine who had given her his support. She had seen him in her dreams before. She stared into the forest green eyes of a man with jet black hair, tall and well built. For an instant she wondered why a stone wall separated them, but then her attention went back to the man still holding her hands. His clothes seemed oddly outdated, but she couldn’t give them much attention since she couldn’t stop staring at his face. On the one hand, she was sure she had never met this man before, which must mean she had conjured this man from her wildest imagination and yet… he certainly felt real.

“Is it you?” he finally whispered as their eyes locked. His thumb ran over the back of her hand causing her heart to flip inside her chest.

He was real! “How are you here? I thought you were only a dream ,” she rushed in excitement.

“I have only seen you when I slumbered, but to finally touch you… How is this possible?” he asked in startled surprise.

“I don’t know but I’m glad I’ve finally found you.”

She squeezed his hands to ensure that he was indeed standing in front of her. She could tell by the intensity of his stare that he was doing the same with her. She took a step closer, realizing that what she had taken to be a stone wall between them was actually a well. Looking down into it, she noted that far below, a deep hum could be heard from within its depths. Then a tingling sensation began where their hands touched and raced up her arms.

“Do not leave me,” he said, a hint of desperation in his voice.

“Never,” she vowed.

A woman’s breathy voice whispered around them. “What would you give to be together?”

The man scowled before pulling her around the well to stand beside him. He put one arm around her to shield her, gently placing his fingers around her wrist. “Tell me who you are,” he said in a commanding tone , ordering the voice to reveal herself.

“I am Anu,” the voice answered as the ghostly figure finally took shape. She was an ethereal beauty with her dark hair flowing around her as if an unforeseen breeze caressed it.

“The goddess of love,” Lorelai whispered, mostly to herself, but the goddess smiled at her and nodded.

“But I ask you again… What would you give to be together?”

“Anything!” they answered in unison .

This seemed to please the goddess for she nodded and pointed to the well. They both looked down and saw a basin where water would flow into it. Etched into the stone was the face of a woman.

Anu spread her arms wide before her shape vanished and the fog began to consume them once more. “Go to Midrummill and clasp hands before this well. Only then will you be able to find your heart’s desire.”

The man tightened his arm her about her waist, but she could already feel their connection fading as the fog surrounded them like a heavy blanket. “You cannot go,” he ordered as he pulled her fully into his arms.

“I don’t want to,” she cried out. She could hear an odd echo to her voice as their connection began to unravel.

“I will find you again even if it takes the rest of my life,” he declared taking her face in his hands.

“Tell me your name,” she yelled desperately as he began to vanish from her sight.

“Come back to me, my love…”

Suddenly a force slammed into her as though she was being yanked unwillingly through a tunnel. She stretched out her hands trying to find him again but came up with nothing but the sound of his voice, echoing faintly as though it was centuries away.

Lords of Midwinter’s Festival
Releases January 4, 2025
Preorder for $0.99 or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited

Welcome to Lords of the Midwinter Festival collection, a set of historical romance novellas never before published, by some of your favorite historical romance authors.

Secret loves… secret crushes… unexpected loves and so much more in this epic anthology!

There’s nothing so glorious as an ancient legend and the promise of love…

Far to the north in England, along the Scottish borders, lies a village full of promise and lore. In the center of this village rests an ancient stone said to have ancient and powerful powers. Gràdh gaoil, they speak of. The Lovespell. It is said if a couple holds hands over the stone, they are destined to be married. Every year, a midwinter festival is held in celebration of the stone that draws lovers from far and wide.

But the difficulty is in actually coming to the stone for some couples. For others, it is the fear of the unknown, the fear of failure. Some come during the festival, some come at any time of the year. But for all of them, one thing is clear – they greatly desire a love that is legendary and the Gràdh gaoil is their best hope for a happily ever after!

A Whisper of You: A Knights of the Anarchy Time Travel
By Sherry Ewing

Anything is possible if you only believe…

Lorelai Crawford has a problem with the man she loves. He is a figment of her imagination. She has known him for several years–but only in her dreams. When her work at the museum leads her to a painting hanging in one of the galleries, the images of her mysterious medieval knight become more vivid as each night passes into the next. Her sister thinks Lorelai is losing her mind. Is Lyla right?

Lord Constantine Warin, Earl of Charlbury understands he is expected to wed. The Empress Matilda has already attempted to force his hand by requiring him to compete in a tourney where the prize was marriage to a lovely lady. But that lady’s heart was already spoken for. Constantine is not a man to take second place in his wife’s love. But ever since, he has been dreaming of a woman. She could be the lady to win his heart. If only she were real.

Connected through dreams and guided by the goddess Anu, Lorelai and Constantine travel to the village of Midrummil to seek out a legendary well said to unite couples for all time. The present and the past begin to merge as they see each other for the first time in broad daylight.

Can a miracle bring two lovers together across the centuries? Perhaps, if Lorelai and Constantine have enough faith, they can bend time to their will.

You can still preorder the boxset for only $0.99 or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited.

Buy Links:

Amazon US | Amazon AU | Amazon CA | Amazon UK

First Kiss Friday with One Last Kiss!

Hello, my lovelies, and welcome back to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today I’m going to give you a blast from the past with an excerpt from One Last Kiss. Part of my Knights of Berwyck series, this short novella first appeared in one of the Bluestocking Belles’ box sets where a magical ring was passed down from couple to couple

In this scene, Thomas and Jade are finally brought together after having shared dreams of one another. I hope you enjoy this first kiss encounter to continue the celebration of Christmas. Happy holidays and enjoy, dearest readers!

Excerpt:

Thomas held open the door. Once Kenna left, he closed it and put the bolt in place to ensure their privacy. Jade quickly moved off the bed to stand behind a chair, clutching the wood with white knuckles, as if that would protect her. Her green eyes appeared damp and overly bright whilst she gasped and expelled her breath as though pained.

“I shall not harm you, my lady, but you and I must needs have speech,” he stated carefully, afore nodding to the vacant seat. “May I?”

He observed her slow nod, and he went to sit afore the fire. Her expressions changed from fear to curiosity, and he hid the smile that threatened to form upon his lips.

“Your name is Thomas,” she stated the obvious and finally took a seat opposite him, but she perched on the edge of her chair, at the ready to take flight if the need arose.

Thomas leaned back, attempting to appear calm when he was anything but composed. “Aye, I am Thomas Kincaid, lately of Berwyck, and you are one of those future women who continues to plague this place.”

“How do you know that?” she questioned, afore reaching for the jug of wine and pouring a cup. She offered him the chalice, and when their hands briefly touched, tingling sensations ran up his arm.

“We have met afore in my dreams. I will assume the same holds true for you since you knew my name as well.”

“Yes… I have dreamed of you, too,” she whispered, afore standing to pace the length of the room. “How is this even possible?”

Thomas shrugged, but he watched her every move, expecting her to disappear from view. “One does not tend to question such a gift, or so I have heard from the others who came afore you.”

She cocked her head to one side as though reliving some memory. “A gift or a curse?” she whispered, afore she crossed her arms and placed her hands beneath her underarms as though hugging herself.

“I would prefer to think on it as a gift and certainly nary a curse that you are here with us.”

“I am a long way from home, Thomas,” she murmured, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

“Perchance ’tis a Christmas blessing you appear to us for the holiday,” he mused aloud. He leaned his arms upon the chair, his hands forming a steeple whilst inspecting her further. “Will you be missed? In your own time, that is?”

She shook her head, and Thomas was thoroughly captivated as her blonde hair swayed to and fro. “No. Well, that isn’t necessarily true, I suppose. I have a few friends who might wonder where I am, but I have no family that I can claim.”

He nodded, feeling her plight. “I, too, am without my family, although I had hoped such circumstances might change in my future. Berwyck has been my home now for many a year. The MacLaren clan took me in when my father disowned me.”

Jade stopped her pacing. “Oh, Thomas, I’m so sorry. How horrible that must have been for you.”

Thomas let out a low curse. “I am not certain why I even shared such a private matter with you, my lady.”

“You don’t have to call me that.”

“Call you what?” he asked, pondering where he had erred.

“My lady. You don’t have to call me that.”

Thomas’s mouth dropped open. Was she mayhap of yeoman stock or a woman of ill repute? He frowned for he had never thought of her as such when he dreamed of her. “Of course, I do. You are a lady, are you not?”

She laughed, and the pleasant sound rang through the room like a fresh breath of springtime. “Well, I am a woman, Thomas, but I certainly don’t have a title or anything. I’m just me… Jade… from America.”

A-mer-i-ca, he silently mouthed the words of her origins. “You are a long way from home, for I have not heard of such a place.”

“So I have been told. Out of place and time it appears,” she whispered so softly, he almost missed her words.

Silence descended upon the room with only the crackling fire to break the mood that had come upon them. He stood and went to her.

He was pleasantly surprised when she watched him as carefully as he observed her. “You are not afraid of me?”

A small smile lit her face. “No, of course not, unless you think I should be.”

“Nay, I do not,” he answered honestly before giving her a short bow. “Mayhap, we should start again. I am Sir Thomas, ever at your service, my lady.”

“And I’m Jade. A pleasure to finally meet you, Sir Thomas.” A short giggle escaped her afore she held out her hand for him to take.

“I am certain the pleasure is mine,” he murmured. Bending to brush a kiss across her knuckles, his eyes widened when he became distracted by a strange glow coming from her opposite hand. ’Twas then that he recognized she wore his ring!

Suddenly, her left arm swept around his neck with alarming speed. The force brought their bodies together, and he could feel for himself when Jade attempted to catch her breath. “Thomas! I swear I didn’t do that on purpose.”

“Aye, I know,” he muttered as his eyes widened in surprise when a power bigger than either of them could have imagined began to bring their lips closer together.

“Thomas…” she said in a breathy whisper.

“Jade…” he returned as their breaths mingled on a heartbeat afore they surrendered to their first real kiss.

***

Jade was unsure what madness had overcome her to be kissing a man she barely knew, but, in many ways, she felt as though Thomas had always been a part of her. Crazy as it may seem to even have such thoughts, she gave in to the invisible energy surrounding and pulling them together.

The moment their lips touched, everything changed. Where before she felt as though she were being forced into something she didn’t want, now, it was as if this was where she was always meant to be. With Thomas… in his arms… kissing him with all the love she could muster up for another human being.

Their kiss ended just as quickly as it had started. Their breaths ragged, they could only stare into each other eyes. Thomas reached down to caress her cheek, and a sense of wonderment filled her, knowing she had truly crossed time. He gave her a half smile as though he had heard her thoughts before he leaned down to taste what she now freely offered. It was as though they were now in control of their destiny.

Thomas deepened their kiss, and she heard his moan of pleasure even as she held back one of her own. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t been kissed before, but there was a reason she had remained single for so long and not married right out of high school like so many had done. No man had ever stepped into her life that seemed to be the other half of herself or just the piece of her that had been missing. She had sworn to herself she would never settle, but with Thomas, she had an instant connection she knew she would never find again in any other man. In an instant, the universe tilted as though they became as one, almost as though Zoe’s words pulled them together from across the centuries.

As though she watched the scene in a movie theater, his arm wrapped around her waist, and he held her even tighter, bending her over. He made her swoon as no other man had ever done before. Her hand reached up and took ahold of his hair. Gosh, she never wanted to let him go. Emptiness surrounded her when he abruptly tore his lips from hers and pushed away from her. The cooler air of the room coming into contact with her flushed skin caused her to shiver.

One Last Kiss: The Knights of Berwyck, A Quest Through Time, Book Five

Sometimes it takes a miracle to find your heart’s desire…

Scotland, 1182: Banished from his homeland, Thomas of Clan Kincaid lives among distant relatives, reluctantly accepting he may never return home… Until an encounter with the castle’s healer tells him of a woman traveling across time—for him.

Dare he believe the impossible?

Present Day, Michigan: Jade Calloway is used to being alone, and as Christmas approaches, she’s skeptical when told she’ll embark on an extraordinary journey. How could a trip to San Francisco be anything but ordinary? But when a ring magically appears, and she sees a ghostly man in her dreams…

Dare she believe in the possible?

Thrust back in time, Jade encounters Thomas—her fantasy ghost. Talk about extraordinary. But as time works against them, they must learn to trust in miracles.

Can they accept impossible love before time interferes?

Buy links:

Amazon US  | Apple Books  | Barnes & Noble  | Kobo

Amazon AU  |  Amazon BR  |  Amazon CA |  Amazon DE  |  Amazon ES  |  Amazon FR  | Amazon IN  |  Amazon IT  |  Amazon JP  |  Amazon MX  |  Amazon NL  |  Amazon UK

First Kiss Friday with Cerise DeLand

Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today’s guest is my good friend Cerise DeLand who has an excerpt from Lord Appleby’s Gorgeous Imposter that releases December 27th. Isn’t the cover just lovely? Happy reading, enjoy, and Merry Christmas, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

Tate caught her wrist. “When I went to find you on the estate last June and you were gone, I left a letter. You did not answer.”

“I did not know you were in England, nor that you came to see me. I…I have not returned to my cottage since last spring.” That was true. But did she tell him too much? Reveal in her tone how her heart ached to learn this now? Now, of all miserable times, when the admission changed nothing.

“I long to tell you now what I wrote in my letter.”

Her gaze flashed up to seize his. She should not ask. She should not want to know. But she did. “What did you write?”

“An apology.”

“No, no apologies! You’ve given enough!”

“For the years I had to leave you, yes! For my father’s demands. The marriage I could not postpone or annul or even end through divorce.”

His marriage that showed her how she was so wrong for him. How she would never become his wife. “Tate, you are not responsible for what others have done.”

“It made hell for us, for you, so yes! I will say this. All of it. All that kept me away. Now Belinda is dead, Vivi. I did what I must by all the rules of Society and I kept away from Norfolk and you for a year. It appeared I mourned her…but I do regret it was less than that.”

Tears sprang to her eyes. She could not see him. But oh, she felt the iron bands of his embrace, the drum of his heart, the fine marble of his male form, and, yes, even his raw desire for her.

She clutched him. The man she’d adored since she was a girl. The man she’d admired and yearned for lo these many years. He was free now. A widower. A man untethered from the woman whom his father had chained him to with wealth untold and threats fantastic.

He lifted her face with both his hands. “I looked for you last spring because I wanted to tell you everything new and bright and possible then, but you were nowhere to be found. I went to George Farland.”

The man whose proposal she’d once considered taking. A tenant of Tate’s. A fine farmer. A fine man. One she could not marry because she did not love him. “Poor George.”

Sorrow suffused Tate’s manly features. “He did not know where you’d gone. I searched and found Charmaine in London. I caught her in her townhouse just as she was moving. But she said she did not know where you were.”

Viv winced. Charmaine always knew where Viv was. But it was news to Viv that Tate had gone to Charmaine, asked for her, and her sister had turned him away with no details.

He thumbed her tears away. “I searched, my sweet Vivi. I wanted to tell you this. Tell you more. Everything I have wanted to say for years!”

Viv stared at him. Charmaine could not tell him last spring where Viv was, lest the news ruin their project. So of course Charmaine had turned Tate away with no information.

Tate’s voice caught as he moved to embrace her. “But I have found you now. And I can say what I have wished to tell you for years. I value you. I admire you. I need you and I will not lose you again.”

Overwhelmed, she caught her breath.

He took her lips. His were warm and firm. He parted hers with a brush of his tongue to the seam. He darted his tongue inside, claiming all of her.

And for once, she let him have her, for she would not, could not, deny him or herself. Her lips molded to his with all the years of longing for him gone with the pressure of one kiss, and two, and another. Her arms bound him closer.

On a gasp, he bore her down to the chaise, her back to the silken damask, her legs open and his between hers. His kisses were stark and deep, fast and luxuriously wicked, his flesh searing hers.

This was what she had wanted from him since she was sixteen. She could not have enough now. His lips on hers. Her hands in his silken hair. His fingertips stroking her throat.

She gazed up at him, shocked she had him in such passion after so many lonely years. But she could not have him. Too much had changed.

She pressed her fingertips to his lips. “We must stop.”

Lord Appleby’s Gorgeous Imposter
By Cerise DeLand
Releases December 27, 2024

He’s the last man she wants to see.
But he’s the only man who sees right through her.
Haunted by their past, they’re desperate to save their future together…if they can.

He’s the last man Viv wants to see.

Vivienne de Massé goes to Paris impersonating her oldest sister, the infamous Drury Lane actress, Charmaine Massey. Viv has a reason…and a plan to avenge the capture and death of their other sister during the Terror. Only one man can stop her.

Tate Cantrell is the only man who sees right through her.

Tate Cantrell bursts into her dressing room one night in Paris, and calls Viv’s bluff. He reminds Viv she plays a role—and a dangerous game she cannot win alone.

He declares she needs him. She always has. Indeed, he’s spent the last decade helping the émigré Massé family—and falling in love with charming Viv. Now the Earl of Appleby, Tate works as a spy for Scarlett Hawthorne’s network on the Continent. He alone has the means and the connections to help her….if she’ll let him.

Haunted by their past, they’re desperate to save their future together… If they can survive those who would destroy them.

Preorder for $0.99 or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited.

Amazon: https://amzn.to/3Ag8tKA

About the Author:

Cerise DeLand is the USA TODAY bestselling author who loves to write about dashing heroes and the sassy women they adore.

Known for her poetic elegance and accuracy of detail, she’s won awards for many of the more than 60 novels she’s written.

Her work has been nearly life-long! First published in 1991 by Kensington, then Pocket Books, later by St. Martin’s Press and independent presses, she is now published by DRAGONBLADE PUBLISHING. Plus her books have been monthly selections of the Doubleday Book Club and the Mystery Guild.

To research, she’s dived into the oldest texts and dustiest library shelves. She travels abroad taking good walking shoes, trusty notebooks and pens, plus a camera! She visits chateaux and country homes she loves to people with her own imaginary characters.

And at home every day? She cooks. Never dusts. (That can be a problem.) She goes swimming or pumps iron once a week and tries (desperately) to grow vegetables in her arid backyard in south Texas!

Do visit her website, http://cerisedeland.com.

Also visit her YOUTube Channel for her videos of her research travels here https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCba82P_Q1kUrJUVVW0CwJmw/

First Kiss Friday with Ruth A. Casie.

Hello and welcome to another First Kiss Friday. I’m so happy you could be here with us today. Today’s guest author is my friend Ruth A. Casie who has a special treat for you from her recently released novel The Lyon’s Alliance. I’ll let Ruth give you the set up for the story so enjoy, lovely Readers! Take it away, Ruth!

The Set Up

You may remember that last month, I introduced you to Christina and Wolf’s first kiss. Ah, but my dear reader, Christina is being pursued by two men. It wouldn’t be fair if I didn’t tell you about Richard St. John.

Richard met Christina at her sister Louise’s wedding. He was taken aback when he found out she was a proficient astronomer. Fascinated, he came across an opportunity where her ‘hobby’ could be put to good use, teaching children how to navigate by the stars.  He brings her news that the board of The Society for the Relief of Indigent Widows and Orphans has voted to underwrite the project as well as an astronomy map. She is excited about his gift and eager to hang it on the wall.

The Excerpt

“The tacks, please.” His fingers brushed hers as he took the small metal pins. “You hold your end. That’s right. A little higher. Perfect. Now hold it steady.” His nearness was intoxicating, their breaths mingling in the confined space.

Once he had completed his side with the same care, he leaned back to assess their joint effort.

“A celestial tapestry waiting to be explored,” she murmured.

“A celestial tapestry?” He gazed at her.

“In the quiet of the night, when the world holds its breath, the celestial tapestry unfurls. It is woven from stardust and moonbeams, a cosmic quilt stitched by the hands of ancient gods.” Christina chuckled. “The headmistress of my school asked me for a poetic explanation of the night sky. That was my answer.”

As they stood side by side, admiring their handiwork, a surge of gratitude washed over her. She turned to Richard and found herself speechless with emotion, unable to contain the overwhelming sense of appreciation she felt for him.

“Thank you, Richard. You’ve made this course even more incredible than I imagined,” she said, her voice filled with genuine warmth.

He returned her grateful smile, his eyes holding hers. “I am glad to know that I played a part in bringing this program and your vision to life.”

And then, Christina threw her arms around him. The warmth of his body enveloped her, and she pulled him into a tight embrace. Richard’s arms enfolded her, solid and steady. The outside world faded, leaving only the two of them—partners, collaborators, and more.

As Richard’s chest rose and fell against hers, Christina felt a rush of warmth flood her senses. With a soft sigh, she nestled closer to him, her cheek against his shoulder. There was something undeniably secure in his embrace, a feeling she belonged there, with him and among the stars they had just pinned to the board.

And in that quiet moment, as their breaths aligned, the universe seemed to conspire. The map on the wall faded into insignificance, replaced by the uncharted territory of their hearts. Christina tilted her head, her lips brushing his collarbone, and for the first time, the boundaries blurred. The kiss was inevitable—a celestial collision, a fusion of longing and possibility.

Richard’s lips met hers, and the world shifted. The constellations spun, and the room dissolved. In that stolen breath, they tasted the promise of discovery—the wonders of the universe and the mysteries of love.

As they pulled back slightly, Christina couldn’t help but detect the way Richard’s eyes sparkled as his gaze met hers. It was as though they shared an unspoken understanding, a connection that bound them together in ways words could not express.

But all too soon, reality intruded upon their moment.

“Christina.” His chest rumbled. She didn’t want to move. She snuggled closer. He laughed, and she nearly swooned because she could hear and feel it. Contentment.

Reality intruded again. With a pang of regret, Christina nodded. “Your meeting,” she murmured, though she was disappointed.

“Please, don’t look so distraught.” He pressed a final kiss on the top of her head.

Christina wanted nothing more than to stay wrapped up in his embrace, to forget about the outside world, and to simply be with him.

“I would much prefer to stay here. I have left the best for last. The board has invited you to attend tomorrow’s luncheon. We can see when the board would like to start the sessions. I know you would like to move the program forward. I’ll gather you tomorrow at 11:00 A.M.”

His words held a promise—a bridge between their stolen moment and the practical world.

She nodded. Reluctantly, she watched as Richard made his way to the door.

“Until tomorrow then,” she called after him.

With a reassuring smile, Richard nodded as he glanced back at her one last time before disappearing into the bookshop and out the shop door.

The Lyon’s Alliance: Lyon’s Den Connected World
By Ruth A Casie

In a world where alliances are everything, love becomes the most daring and unpredictable alliance of all.

In Regency London, a mystery threatens high society. Christina Hartfield, facing financial woes, assists Mrs. Dove-Lyon with charity work. She is caught between Viscount Wolfton, who is hiding a wager that could ruin them both, and Richard St. John, who strives to protect her from the rake. Encouraged by Richard, Christina undertakes a project for impoverished children. It gains momentum, but whispers of embezzlement and scandal threaten her efforts. With reputations, fortunes, and hearts on the line, Christina must determine who to trust. Will the truth come to light before it’s too late? Can love triumph over deceit, or will shadows destroy her chance at happiness?

5 Star Review – Twist and Turns ~ “This was a very different tale to many in the series. The initial protagonist slithers in and out of the plot. In the meantime, another hero enters the fray. Finally, all is revealed. Well woven tale.” ~ Amazon Review

Purchase a copy or read for FREE in Kindle Unlimited: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DJ5P61FK

About the Author:

RUTH A. CASIE is a USA Today bestselling author. She writes historical adventures from the shores of medieval Scotland to the cobblestone streets of Regency London. Within the pages, you’ll discover ‘edge-of-your-seat’ suspense, mind-boggling drama, and heart-melting emotions featuring strong women and the men who deserve them. She currently has four historical series: The Druid Knight, The Stelton Legacy, and The Ladies of Sommer-by-the-Sea, and sheparticipates in The Connected World of The Pirates of Britannia as well as The Lyon’s Den Connected World. My fifth series, Barrington’s Brigade launches in January 2025 with Book One – A Marriage for the Marquess.

Ruth lives in New Jersey with her hero, three empty bedrooms, and a growing number of incomplete counted cross-stitch projects. Before she found her voice, she was a speech therapist (pun intended), client liaison for a corrugated manufacturer, and vice president at a major international bank where she was a product/marketing manager, but her favorite job is the one she’s doing now—writing romance. Grab your favorite cup of tea, or an ale if you prefer, and join her heroes and heroines as they race across the pages to find their happily ever after. Ruth hopes her stories are your next favorite adventures!

Social Media Links:

Website: https://ruthacasie.com/

Ruth’s Newsletter Signup: http://ruthacasie.com/contact.html#newsletter

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ruthacasie/

Facebook Author Page: https://www.facebook.com/RuthACasie/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/RuthACasie

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/ruth-a-casie

Amazon: https://amazon.com/author/ruthacasie

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4792909.Ruth_A_Casie

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Mastodon: https://romancelandia.club/@RuthACasie

Happy Release Day ~ A Christmas Quintet!

I ‘m super excited to announce that the Bluestocking Belles just released this little gem of a box set right in time for some Christmas holiday reading! A Christmas Quintet should have hit your eReaders at midnight if you were able to preorder it at the reduced rate of 99 pennies. As I’m writing this post, you may still be able to get it at the price so hurry and grab your copy!

A Christmas Quintet: A Bluestocking Belles Collection

Five charming stories for your holiday season:

• Friends to Lovers—The farmer’s daughter, the viscount’s son, and the estate manager reunite as adults. Della is starry-eyed for the viscount’s son, but is he really the one for her? (Regency, Christmas)

• Fake Relationship—When the pressure to marry is overwhelming, can a plan put in place at a Christmas house party turn into a love that will last forever? (Regency, Christmas)

• Second-Chance Love—An accident leaves the modiste burned, blinded and in despair until the physician offers hope and stirs memories. (Regency, Christmas)

• Country Mouse and Marriage-Shy Duke—Invited at the last minute to make up the numbers, she expects to be an interested observer. The duke has other ideas. (Georgian, Twelfth Night)

• Two Spies, One Secret—Trapped in a deserted wilderness, will they set aside secrets and past betrayals to rekindle their love and ring in the New Year together? (Medieval, Hogmanay)

Away From the Holiday Crowd
By Sherry Ewing

You’ve met Lady Elinor Lacy before in A Kiss for Charity where she was a secondary character and niece to my hero. And David Chadwick I’ve mentioned a time or two from his brother George in a couple of my other novellas with the Belles. I just know you’re going to love this little story along with all the other contributions to this set.

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas and happy reading!

Learn more & grab your copy from the Bluestocking Belles website:

https://bluestockingbelles.net/belles-joint-projects/a-christmas-quintet/

First Kiss Friday with Sherry Ewing

Welcome to my First Kiss Friday blog. Today I’m featuring myself and my novelette Away from the Holiday Crowd in the Bluestocking Belles boxset A Christmas Quintet. The boxset releases December 1st so you can still preorder it for only $0.99!

In this scene, David Chadwick, Marquis of Lockhart and Lady Elinor Lacey are out on a sleigh ride during her parents annual Christmas party. Happy reading and enjoy, my lovelies!

Excerpt:

Her hands went to his shoulders and one wound around his neck as he deepened their kiss. It became an exploration of two souls who had somehow found one another as their breaths connected them as one. He pulled her closer and heard a soft moan escape her before he finally broke the contact of their lips. He stared into her soft brown eyes while their breathing returned to normal.

When David heard another set of bells jingling from the harnesses of another team of horses drawing near, he knew they were once again about to have company. He took up the reins and was about to set the steeds back into motion when she pointed upwards.

“Did you deliberately plan to stop beneath a bunch of mistletoe?” she asked before giggling.

He followed her gaze upwards and a smile lit his own face. “A happy accident, I assure you.”

She laughed again and clapped her hands together. “I will take your word for it, my lord, given that I know you would never lie to me.”

“Perhaps by the time Christmas finally arrives, we might come to an understanding between us?” he asked, hoping she would be open to the possibility of becoming his wife.

“I think that would indeed make me very happy, David,” she beamed happily.

He leaned forward to give her lips another quick kiss before he slapped at the leather reins, moving the horses and sleigh forward.

The remainder of their ride was filled with laughter as they continued retelling stories of their past and their hopes for a future together. For once in his life, David was thankful for the miracle of a Christmas holiday and a woman who unexpectedly came into his life.

A Christmas Quintet
A Bluestocking Belles Collection
Releases December 1, 2024
Preorder for $0.99!

Five charming stories for your holiday season:

Friends to Lovers—The farmer’s daughter, the viscount’s son, and the estate manager reunite as adults. Della is starry-eyed for the viscount’s son, but is he really the one for her? (Regency, Christmas)Fake Relationship—When the pressure to marry is overwhelming, can a plan put in place at a Christmas house party turn into a love that will last forever? (Regency, Christmas)Second-Chance Love—An accident leaves the modiste burned, blinded and in despair until the physician offers hope and stirs memories. (Regency, Christmas)Country Mouse and Marriage-Shy Duke—Invited at the last minute to make up the numbers, she expects to be an interested observer. The duke has other ideas. (Georgian, Twelfth Night)Two Spies, One Secret—Trapped in a deserted wilderness, will they set aside secrets and past betrayals to rekindle their love and ring in the New Year together? (Medieval, Hogmanay)Buy Links:

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D49S4YQN/d

Books2Read: https://books2read.com/AChristmasQuintet