Holiday With You by Grahame Claire and Claudia Burgoa ~ Excerpt

Holiday With You by Grahame Claire and Claudia Burgoa ~ Excerpt

Holiday With You by Grahame Claire and Claudia Burgoa

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Holiday With You by Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire

Title: Holiday With You
Author: Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire
Genre: Small-town, Contemporary, Christmas Romance

Holiday With You by Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire

USA TODAY Bestselling authors Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire bring you an enchanting holiday romance that’s sweet and full of light.
Audrey’s boss gave her one objective—head to the small town of Winter Valley, and acquire that bed and breakfast the company has had their eye on forever. A big sale like this could change her career . . . and she’s the only one who could convince the owner to make the deal.

Excerpt from Holiday With You 

© 2020
Claudia Burgoa and Grahame Claire

 I hit a patch of ice.

The car skids and spins out of control.

This is it.

I knew it.

This is how it all ends. I’ll slide into a ditch where no one will find my body until this winter wonderland thaws.

When the car slams against something, I hold on to the wheel and scream until the airbags blow, pushing me back into the seat. My lungs contract with such force I’m afraid they might fold into themselves. The car has spun so many times that, when the door opens, I’m disoriented.

“Are you okay?” someone asks smoothly, the baritone of his voice reverberating through my bones. The low rumble is comforting, and I could listen to it all day.

When I look up, I understand why his silky words felt like a warm hug. I’m in heaven, and St. Peter is the most gorgeous angel I’ve ever come across. Not that I met any while I was among the living.

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About Claudia Burgoa

Claudia is an award-winning, USA Today bestselling author. 

She writes alluring, thrilling stories about complicated women and the men who take their breath away.

 She lives in Denver, Colorado with her husband and her youngest two children. She has a sweet Bichon, Macey, who thinks she’s the ruler of the house. She’s only partially right.

 When Claudia is not writing, you can find her reading, knitting, or just hanging out with her family. At night, she likes to binge-watch shows with her equally geeky husband.

Claudia Burgoa

Connect with Claudia Burgoa online:

About Grahame Claire

Grahame Claire is a USA Today Bestselling author of contemporary romance.

A writer. A blogger. United by our love of stories and all things romance. There was definitely some insta-love. Hello? Books involved. A little courting. A lot of writing. The result…Grahame Claire.

Soulmates. Unashamed of our multiple book boyfriends. Especially the ones that rooted in our heads and wouldn’t leave us alone. Don’t worry. We’ll share.

Pleased to meet you.

Want to find out what we’re up to?

Grahame Claire

More Holiday Romance for You

O Night Divine Anthology
Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn
Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson
Bayou Dreaming by Lexi Blake ~ Excerpt

Bayou Dreaming by Lexi Blake ~ Excerpt

Bayou Dreaming by Lexi Blake

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Bayou Dreaming by Magen McMinimy

Title: Bayou Dreaming
Author: Lexi Blake
Series: Butterfly Bayou #3
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Bayou Dreaming by Lexi Blake

New York Times bestselling author Lexi Blake’s heartfelt contemporary romance set in Louisiana’s Butterfly Bayou
 
Roxanne King left the big city looking for a simpler life, but after years of proving herself on a SWAT team in New York City, being deputy in a sleepy Louisiana parish is something of an adjustment. She’s settling in, but she knows she made some mistakes in the beginning–Zep Guidry being the worst of them. Zep drifts through life on his looks and Cajun charm. Roxie learned the hard way he’s not for her.

Zep is a man who knows what he wants, and what he wants is Roxie. He’s just not sure how to get her. They spent one hot night together a year before and now all the lovely deputy seems interested in doing to him is arresting him. He’s not used to a woman he can’t charm, but Roxie seems immune. He’s determined to win her back by any means necessary. Including becoming the kind of man she desires.

And when Roxie’s past comes calling, it might be the opportunity Zep needs to show Roxie that the town bad boy might just be the man of her dreams.

Excerpt from Bayou Dreaming by Lexi Blake

© 2020
Lexi Blake

The door opened and Lila walked in. “I’ve got good news and bad news. You do have a concussion, but it’s minor and my brother says the rest of your brain looks great. So you’ll be fine, but I either need to send you to the hospital for observation for the day or someone needs to stay with you.”

“I’ll be fine.” She wasn’t about to go to the hospital. No way. “Just give me some instructions and I’ll be out of your hair.”

“No, you won’t. You’ll be completely in my hair because, like I said, I need to know someone is watching you for the next twelve hours,” Lila explained. “I can do that by driving you an hour and a half to the hospital, checking you in, and then having someone pick you up late in the evening. Or you can have a friend stay with you today. I would tell you to hang out here at the clinic, but we’re closed this morning. I’m going to Noelle’s science fair. If we can ever trick another NP to come down here, well, we’ll still be closed sometimes.”

It was weird since hospitals didn’t close in New York, but this clinic was the nearest thing they had to a hospital in Papillon. Lila would definitely insist on driving her since she wasn’t even letting her lie on the couch by herself. There was no way Lila would let her get behind the wheel.

“I swear I’ll be cool,” she promised. “I’ll sign one of those forms and everything will be okay. I don’t mind signing it.”

“You want to sign an AMA?” Lila’s eyes had widened slightly but not in a surprised way. Nope. Roxie knew that look. It was the “dumbass said what” look.

“You’re not leaving against medical advice,” Armie declared with a frown.

She didn’t have anyone to call. She quickly went through the short list of people she knew well enough to ask for a favor. She pretty much only knew the guys she worked with. She worked and then went home. She got the occasional beer, and sometimes she hung out with Lila. That was the sum of who she might be able to ask.

Major was working. He would have been called in to take over the rest of her shift and his own. Armie would be at his daughter’s school event. Vince would be working with Major, and the fourth deputy, Chris, had recently hired on and was moving today.

The door opened and Zep walked in, Daisy on a leash, though she obviously wasn’t trained. She squirmed and strained against the leash the minute she got in the room.

“Sorry, I wanted to make sure you were all right before I head into Houma,” he said. “Also wanted to give you the chance to say good-bye to Daisy.”

If she didn’t find someone to “watch” over her, Armie would likely do it himself. Or they would have to spend their whole day driving back and forth to the hospital. He would miss his daughter’s science fair, and it wasn’t some elementary event where they showed off homemade volcanoes. Noelle was in her senior year of high school and competing for scholarships.

Also, she might save the puppy from having to go to some horrible shelter.

She looked at Zep. She knew what she was about to say was a mistake, but she didn’t see that she had any other choice. She was desperate. “I need someone to make sure I can wake up every couple of hours.”

Zep stopped and looked around as though trying to make sure she was talking to him. “You want me to call my sister or something?”

His sister and her husband, Harrison Jefferys, owned a B and B, the nicest one in town. That could be the solution. She could check in for the day and sleep on the couch in the great room. She’d heard their family dog was almost like a nanny to their little boy. Maybe he could be a nurse, too. “Does she have any rooms open?”

Armie huffed and Lila started shaking her head as though they both knew she planned to ask a dog to help her out before she’d ask the human male in the room.

Zep nodded as though that was what he’d expected. “Sorry. I was talking to Sera and Harry last night and they’re completely booked. They’ve got a big family coming down for the week. From somewhere back East.”

Then she didn’t have a choice. She closed her eyes and wished the ground would swallow her up. It would be easier than doing what she had to do now. She sighed and opened her eyes because the ground was still firm beneath her. “Would you do it?”

The slowest, sexiest smile crossed his face. “I can definitely wake you up, darlin’. Though I’m more used to putting pretty ladies to sleep. Wait. That came out wrong. Never mind. I can do it.”

She already regretted the choice.

Pick Up Your Copy Today!

About Lexi Blake

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Lexi Blake lives in North Texas with her husband, three kids, and the laziest rescue dog in the world. She began writing at a young age, concentrating on plays and journalism. It wasn’t until she started writing romance that she found success. She likes to find humor in the strangest places. Lexi believes in happy endings no matter how odd the couple, threesome or foursome may seem.

Lexi Blake

Connect with Lexi Blake online:

Reckless Refuge by Catherine Cowles ~ Cover Reveal

Reckless Refuge by Catherine Cowles ~ Cover Reveal

Reckless Refuge by Catherine Cowles

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

About Reckless Refuge by Catherine Cowles

Title: Reckless Refuge
Author: Catherine Cowles
Series: The Wrecked Series #4
Genre: Contemporary Romance

Reckless Refuge by Catherine Cowles

There were shadows I was running from.
Ones that haunted and taunted.
Ones that made it so I had no choice but to disappear.

I’d spent years hiding from the world.
My little island haven, the only assurance of safety.

It all changed the moment he showed up at my door.
The hint of pain in his eyes told me that something haunted him, too.
And I couldn’t help but be drawn closer.

But finding the person I needed most came with risks I never expected.
And when our ghosts find us again, neither of us may make it out this time.

Pre-order Your Copy Today!

About Catherine Cowles

Writer of words. Drinker of Diet Cokes. Lover of all things cute and furry, especially her dog. Catherine has had her nose in a book since the time she could read and finally decided to write down some of her own stories. When she’s not writing she can be found exploring her home state of Oregon, listening to true crime podcasts, or searching for her next book boyfriend.

Catherine Cowles
O Night Divine: A Holiday Collection of Spirited Christmas Tales ~ Spotlight

O Night Divine: A Holiday Collection of Spirited Christmas Tales ~ Spotlight

O Night Divine Anthology

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

Title: O Night Divine: A Holiday Collection of Spirited Christmas Tales
Author: Anthology
Genre: Historical Romance, Christmas

O Night Divine Anthology

A MASTERPIECE OF HOLIDAY STORYTELLING…

Enjoy this stunning holiday collection from some of your favorite Dragonblade Publishing authors in this collection of never-before published seasonal tales!

Imagine, if you will, that it is Christmas Eve.

The candles are guttered, one by one, and a hush falls over the parlor. The children have gone to bed, and a tall, gloriously decorated Christmas tree looms in the shadows of the hearth’s dying embers. A tattered copy of Charles Dickens’ masterwork, “A Christmas Carol” sits, cold and lonely, upon a table nearby.

A small gust of wind, hurling from the seam of an ill-fitting window, blows the cover open. The first chapter appears… “Marley’s Ghost”…

The clock on the wall chimes midnight.

Now, the magic happens.

From the gaily bedecked halls of Regency England to the cold and crisp air of the Scottish Highlands, and everything in between, enjoy the magic of a holiday collection that has drawn inspiration from Charles Dickens’ most beloved literary works. Where the ghosts of Christmas, the incandescent spirit of a tiny disabled boy, and the joy that is the very heart of the Christmas season come alive.

USA Today and Internationally bestselling authors bring you their version of a Dickens’-inspired holiday in O NIGHT DIVINE

The O Night Divine Anthology includes:

Twas the Executioner Knight Before Christmas by Kathryn Le Veque

A medieval version of the Ghost of Christmas Future…

No one survives an Executioner Knight and least of all, Maxton of Loxbeare. But when he married his wife and had children, three little girls right away, Maxton grew a heart. He became a devoted and dedicated father who loved his children dearly. But the Executioner Knight in him still lived. So after a very bad dream, Maxton sees that, for his daughters’ sake, he must change.

Learn more about Kathryn Le Veque: https://kathrynleveque.com

 

The Laird’s Yulebringer by Caroline Lee

The Mackenzies are in mourning… none so much as their laird. Since the loss of his wife, leaving Callan to raise a young son alone, he believes he’s lost his chance at happiness. As his extended family gathers to celebrate the Yule together, they can do naught to raise his spirits… until a midnight visitor—of the ghostly variety—brings him hope for the future.

Learn more about Caroline Lee: https://collettecameron.com

 

Making Spirits Bright by Chasity Bowlin

After a lifetime of secrets, scandal, and disappointment… Elizabeth doesn’t believe in happy endings, at least not for herself. But an unconventional nobleman, with the help of a novice Spirit of Christmas, may just change her mind…

Learn more about Chasity Bowlin: https://chasitybowlin.com

 

The Haunted Scot by Hildie McQueen

The allure of a reformed rake…

She’s as determined to pursue him as he is to keep his distance. After a heartbreaking debacle, Thomas Sullivan decides to give up his roguish ways and considers the priesthood. Unfortunately, the beautiful arrival gives him second thoughts. Mary Asher is not sure why the handsome new driver tries to avoid her at all costs. After being told he follows her every move, Mary decides to test him.

Learn more about Hildie McQueen: https://www.hildiemcqueen.com

 

Never Keep a Secret at Christmas by Maggi Andersen

’Tis not the season to be surreptitious…

Alice Dountry’s father has gout, and she must spend Christmas with her sister, Marian, Lady Belfries. Their neighbor, the gruff, bad-tempered Earl of Hawkinge, refuses Marian’s invitation to Christmas dinner.

While chatting with him over the garden wall, Alice suspects something deeper lies beneath his humbug opinion of Christmas. Hawkinge and his grandson, Hugh Gifford, are at odds. Alice writes to Hugh but must keep it a secret from her sister.

When the handsome Lord Gifford arrives, there is an immediate spark between them. But Lord Hawkinge is hardly welcoming, and now, Marian and her husband argue over the secret letter.

Learn more about Maggi Andersen: https://maggiandersenauthor.com

 

 

Her Star from the East by Mary Lancaster

Miss Emma Sayle has enjoyed two London seasons and rejected many suitors. Her heart was given long ago to an exciting prince of the east, a man of another country and another faith. As  Christmas approaches, she daydreams of what her life with him might have been – until his ghost walks out of the freezing fog. But is it the ghost of his past or her future?

Learn more about Mary Lancaster: https://www.facebook.com/mary.lancaster.1656

 

The Remembrance of Love by Meara Platt

Hyacinth Farthingale has known and loved Lord Innes Buchan since the day she was born. She is now in her debut season, and as Christmas approaches, it is high time this aloof and lonely lord realized his happiness depends on marrying her.

Learn more about Meara Platt: http://www.mearaplatt.com

 

How to get an Earl of Christmas by Violetta Rand

 

Learn more about Violetta Rand: http://www.violettarandromance.com/

 

Yuletide at Gillingham by Alexa Aston

A lonely holiday…

One boy abandoned by a greedy gambling father. Another boy watches his father slowly dying. A lasting friendship that will see them through the hard times—and beyond…

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Can two lonely boys draw strength from one another during a Yuletide season that only promises heartbreak?
Learn more about Alexa Aston: https://alexaaston.com

 

A Thrill of Hope by Anna Markland

Foiling an attempt to assassinate Queen Victoria earns Parker a medal and royal gratitude. The lunatic’s bayonet plunged into his thigh leaves him with a pronounced limp and reassignment to a small constabulary. Particularly trying is having to spend Christmas Day with his

miserly uncle.

During her family’s Yuletide celebrations, Samantha discovers she doesn’t love her straitlaced fiancé. A bleak future looms large.

Neither realize that anarchists are plotting to blow up a newly-constructed railway bridge—although Parker might if he’d heed the mysterious warning voices he hears.

A tale of the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Learn more about Anna Markland: https://www.annamarkland.com/

 

 

A Gift for Agatha by Anna St. Claire

A visit and a warning…

Years after her husband’s death, Lady Agatha Wendt has become a surly, cold-hearted miser, increasingly left to her own company. Childless and with little family, the wealthy widow fears

falling into poverty and spurns even the smallest gestures of Christmas giving. A determined spirit visits the wealthy widow and warns her change must happen.

Charles Bentley, her butler, sees goodness in her, and finds himself attracted to the real Agatha—despite knowing they could never be.

Can the spirit awaken Agatha to her real fears and help her to overcome them in time to realize the gift she has always wanted?

Learn more about Anna St. Claire: https://www.annastclaire.com

/

The Heart is Never Silent by Aubrey Wynne

 

Miss Etta Rose Comden is desperate to protect her younger sister, Horatia, after the death of their father. When the heir—and Tia’s new guardian—finds out his ward is deaf, he makes plans to send her away and marry Etta.  With no one to turn to, the sisters flee in the middle of the night.

Dr. Gus Wharren, disillusioned with his practice in London, retreats to his late grandmother’s estate. Instead of a much-needed respite, he finds two lovely females stranded along the road.

Two sisters on the run. A London physician who has given up on humanity. The spirit of a loving grandmother. The stage is set for a holiday full of coincidence, a little Christmas magic, and a happy ever after.

Learn more about Aubrey Wynne: https://www.aubreywynne.com

 

Of Christmas Past by Charlotte Wren

Pride and promise before forgiveness

At the volatile age of seventeen, Percival Josiah Northcott storms out of Highfield Hall on Christmas Eve, vowing never to return. It is a vow supported solely by pride, which, as the old adage goes, generally comes before a fall.

Five years later, Percival has fallen about as low as a man can get. He secretly longs to return home, but pride and fear stand in his way. That is, until he’s visited by someone from his past, someone who gives him the courage to seek his family’s forgiveness.

But first, he must promise to complete a very special task.

Learn more about Charlotte Wren: https://www.facebook.com/Wrenbook/

 

Tidings of Comfort by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

A boy with a remarkable talent…

In the lead up to Christmas, Captain Kit Hardacre is in London looking for his long-lost parents. After a disappointing initial search, he finds himself in the city alone. Bringing him out of his self-pity is a call to help in a search for a missing little boy. But which one of them is more lost?

When Kit finds Pip, he discovers a youngster with a remarkable talent for going directly into the heart of those he meets. After seeing Pip safely returned, Kit’s faith in family is restored and a kind word gives him the courage to continue his search.

Learn more about Elizabeth Ellen Carter: https://eecarter.com

 

A Christmas Miracle by Elizabeth Johns

Alex Hartmere, Duke of Frompton, has endured enough heartache to make any man bitter.

Having lost his wife and child in the war in Canada, he returns to England, only to inherit a dukedom from a father who dies in a scandalous duel soon afterwards.

Repairing to his family estate for Christmas, Alex finds his first love now widowed and penniless. Can a Christmas miracle, in the form of a crippled little girl, bring them the happiness which was once stripped away from them?

Learn more about Elizabeth Johns: https://www.elizabethjohnsauthor.com/

 

Her Christmas White Knight by Elizabeth Keysian

England, Yuletide 1587

The dice have really been loaded against Mistress Julia Wentworth. Little wonder she no longer trusts a soul—except for the urchin she rescued from the poorhouse. Having fallen in love with—and been abandoned by—a murderous traitor, Julia’s been turned out by her family and left to scrape what living she can on the brutal London streets. When a goose strays into her yard, it looks as if she’ll at least have something to feast on at Christmas.

Exploding into her life in pursuit of his goose is Myall Farrar, a scarred nobleman who loathes his miserly father and can’t afford to lose the fowl for which he’s scrimped and saved all year.

Can there be any common ground between the mismatched Myall and Julia? Is there any hope of goodwill within their families? And—perhaps more importantly—will the goose prove itself worth saving from the butcher’s knife?

Learn more about Elizabeth Keysian: https://elizabethkeysian.com/

 

Always the Mistletoe by Emily E K Murdoch

When a woman loves a man, it’ll take more than a little Scrooge like behavior to stop her standing by him. Her family, on the other hand…

Learn more about Emily E K Murdoch: https://emilyekmurdoch.com

 

A Libertine’s Christmas Miracle by Emily Royal

Christmas is a time for miracles

Alice and Ross Trelawney are enjoying a quiet Christmas in Cornwall, until their daughter Amelia strays onto the nearby estate of Mr. Scrimgeour, the infamous Beast of Boscarne. When Amelia comes home in tears after a terrifying encounter, Alice resolves to teach the Beast a lesson.

Haunted by his late wife’s ghost and taunted by the locals, Edward Scrimgeour hides away in his crumbling mansion. His peace is shattered when his neighbor’s hellion of a wife storms into his home on Christmas Eve. But she’s no ordinary trespasser. When events threaten to take a tragic turn, Edward is given a chance at salvation, showing that miracles can occur in the unlikeliest of places.

Learn more about Emily Royal: http://www.emroyal.com/

 

Past, Present, Future by Lynne Connolly

Rhona sent the love of her life away once, but now Frederick is back. He doesn’t care that she’s a housekeeper, and he’s a wounded soldier and the brother of a duke. For the three nights of Christmas, he’ll give her three gifts; wooden figures he carved for her in the long nights before his last battle. They represent their past, their present, and what they could have in the future. If she doesn’t accept his love this time, he’ll leave for good.

Learn more about Lynne Connolly: https://lynneconnolly.com

 

A Yuletide Yearning by Maeve Greyson

Regret is a sly enemy…

Captain Tait Mackenzie doesn’t regret a life of pirating, but it’s Christmas and he’s lonely. Thoughts of dying alone trouble him. What woman would settle for a life with a pirate lord?

If wishes and dreams were oceans and streams, she’d sail her way to happiness…

Ellie has always loved Tait, but he politely ignores her. She intends to change that with a little help from the North Star.

Can three pirate ghosts on Christmas Eve scare some sense into a Scottish rogue and make him see that the love he needs has been right in front of him all along?

Learn more about Maeve Greyson: http://www.maevegreyson.com/

 

A Strange Christmas Game by Whitney Blake

Mr. Charles Mason doesn’t expect a December summons to end in his own love story…

Learn more about Whitney Blake: https://www.whitneyblakeauthor.net

Twas the Executioner Knight Before Christmas by Kathryn Le Veque

A medieval version of the Ghost of Christmas Future…

No one survives an Executioner Knight and least of all, Maxton of Loxbeare. But when he married his wife and had children, three little girls right away, Maxton grew a heart. He became a devoted and dedicated father who loved his children dearly. But the Executioner Knight in him still lived. So after a very bad dream, Maxton sees that, for his daughters’ sake, he must change.

Learn more about Kathryn Le Veque: https://kathrynleveque.com

 

The Laird’s Yulebringer by Caroline Lee

The Mackenzies are in mourning… none so much as their laird. Since the loss of his wife, leaving Callan to raise a young son alone, he believes he’s lost his chance at happiness. As his extended family gathers to celebrate the Yule together, they can do naught to raise his spirits… until a midnight visitor—of the ghostly variety—brings him hope for the future.

Learn more about Caroline Lee: https://collettecameron.com

 

Making Spirits Bright by Chasity Bowlin

After a lifetime of secrets, scandal, and disappointment… Elizabeth doesn’t believe in happy endings, at least not for herself. But an unconventional nobleman, with the help of a novice Spirit of Christmas, may just change her mind…

Learn more about Chasity Bowlin: https://chasitybowlin.com

 

The Haunted Scot by Hildie McQueen

The allure of a reformed rake…

She’s as determined to pursue him as he is to keep his distance. After a heartbreaking debacle, Thomas Sullivan decides to give up his roguish ways and considers the priesthood. Unfortunately, the beautiful arrival gives him second thoughts. Mary Asher is not sure why the handsome new driver tries to avoid her at all costs. After being told he follows her every move, Mary decides to test him.

Learn more about Hildie McQueen: https://www.hildiemcqueen.com

 

Never Keep a Secret at Christmas by Maggi Andersen

’Tis not the season to be surreptitious…

Alice Dountry’s father has gout, and she must spend Christmas with her sister, Marian, Lady Belfries. Their neighbor, the gruff, bad-tempered Earl of Hawkinge, refuses Marian’s invitation to Christmas dinner.

While chatting with him over the garden wall, Alice suspects something deeper lies beneath his humbug opinion of Christmas. Hawkinge and his grandson, Hugh Gifford, are at odds. Alice writes to Hugh but must keep it a secret from her sister.

When the handsome Lord Gifford arrives, there is an immediate spark between them. But Lord Hawkinge is hardly welcoming, and now, Marian and her husband argue over the secret letter.

Learn more about Maggi Andersen: https://maggiandersenauthor.com

 

 

Her Star from the East by Mary Lancaster

Miss Emma Sayle has enjoyed two London seasons and rejected many suitors. Her heart was given long ago to an exciting prince of the east, a man of another country and another faith. As  Christmas approaches, she daydreams of what her life with him might have been – until his ghost walks out of the freezing fog. But is it the ghost of his past or her future?

Learn more about Mary Lancaster: https://www.facebook.com/mary.lancaster.1656

 

The Remembrance of Love by Meara Platt

Hyacinth Farthingale has known and loved Lord Innes Buchan since the day she was born. She is now in her debut season, and as Christmas approaches, it is high time this aloof and lonely lord realized his happiness depends on marrying her.

Learn more about Meara Platt: http://www.mearaplatt.com

 

How to get an Earl of Christmas by Violetta Rand

 

Learn more about Violetta Rand: http://www.violettarandromance.com/

 

Yuletide at Gillingham by Alexa Aston

A lonely holiday…

One boy abandoned by a greedy gambling father. Another boy watches his father slowly dying. A lasting friendship that will see them through the hard times—and beyond…

Top of Form

Bottom of Form

Can two lonely boys draw strength from one another during a Yuletide season that only promises heartbreak?
Learn more about Alexa Aston: https://alexaaston.com

 

A Thrill of Hope by Anna Markland

Foiling an attempt to assassinate Queen Victoria earns Parker a medal and royal gratitude. The lunatic’s bayonet plunged into his thigh leaves him with a pronounced limp and reassignment to a small constabulary. Particularly trying is having to spend Christmas Day with his

miserly uncle.

During her family’s Yuletide celebrations, Samantha discovers she doesn’t love her straitlaced fiancé. A bleak future looms large.

Neither realize that anarchists are plotting to blow up a newly-constructed railway bridge—although Parker might if he’d heed the mysterious warning voices he hears.

A tale of the eternal struggle between good and evil.

Learn more about Anna Markland: https://www.annamarkland.com/

 

 

A Gift for Agatha by Anna St. Claire

A visit and a warning…

Years after her husband’s death, Lady Agatha Wendt has become a surly, cold-hearted miser, increasingly left to her own company. Childless and with little family, the wealthy widow fears

falling into poverty and spurns even the smallest gestures of Christmas giving. A determined spirit visits the wealthy widow and warns her change must happen.

Charles Bentley, her butler, sees goodness in her, and finds himself attracted to the real Agatha—despite knowing they could never be.

Can the spirit awaken Agatha to her real fears and help her to overcome them in time to realize the gift she has always wanted?

Learn more about Anna St. Claire: https://www.annastclaire.com

/

The Heart is Never Silent by Aubrey Wynne

 

Miss Etta Rose Comden is desperate to protect her younger sister, Horatia, after the death of their father. When the heir—and Tia’s new guardian—finds out his ward is deaf, he makes plans to send her away and marry Etta.  With no one to turn to, the sisters flee in the middle of the night.

Dr. Gus Wharren, disillusioned with his practice in London, retreats to his late grandmother’s estate. Instead of a much-needed respite, he finds two lovely females stranded along the road.

Two sisters on the run. A London physician who has given up on humanity. The spirit of a loving grandmother. The stage is set for a holiday full of coincidence, a little Christmas magic, and a happy ever after.

Learn more about Aubrey Wynne: https://www.aubreywynne.com

 

Of Christmas Past by Charlotte Wren

Pride and promise before forgiveness

At the volatile age of seventeen, Percival Josiah Northcott storms out of Highfield Hall on Christmas Eve, vowing never to return. It is a vow supported solely by pride, which, as the old adage goes, generally comes before a fall.

Five years later, Percival has fallen about as low as a man can get. He secretly longs to return home, but pride and fear stand in his way. That is, until he’s visited by someone from his past, someone who gives him the courage to seek his family’s forgiveness.

But first, he must promise to complete a very special task.

Learn more about Charlotte Wren: https://www.facebook.com/Wrenbook/

 

Tidings of Comfort by Elizabeth Ellen Carter

A boy with a remarkable talent…

In the lead up to Christmas, Captain Kit Hardacre is in London looking for his long-lost parents. After a disappointing initial search, he finds himself in the city alone. Bringing him out of his self-pity is a call to help in a search for a missing little boy. But which one of them is more lost?

When Kit finds Pip, he discovers a youngster with a remarkable talent for going directly into the heart of those he meets. After seeing Pip safely returned, Kit’s faith in family is restored and a kind word gives him the courage to continue his search.

Learn more about Elizabeth Ellen Carter: https://eecarter.com

 

A Christmas Miracle by Elizabeth Johns

Alex Hartmere, Duke of Frompton, has endured enough heartache to make any man bitter.

Having lost his wife and child in the war in Canada, he returns to England, only to inherit a dukedom from a father who dies in a scandalous duel soon afterwards.

Repairing to his family estate for Christmas, Alex finds his first love now widowed and penniless. Can a Christmas miracle, in the form of a crippled little girl, bring them the happiness which was once stripped away from them?

Learn more about Elizabeth Johns: https://www.elizabethjohnsauthor.com/

 

Her Christmas White Knight by Elizabeth Keysian

England, Yuletide 1587

The dice have really been loaded against Mistress Julia Wentworth. Little wonder she no longer trusts a soul—except for the urchin she rescued from the poorhouse. Having fallen in love with—and been abandoned by—a murderous traitor, Julia’s been turned out by her family and left to scrape what living she can on the brutal London streets. When a goose strays into her yard, it looks as if she’ll at least have something to feast on at Christmas.

Exploding into her life in pursuit of his goose is Myall Farrar, a scarred nobleman who loathes his miserly father and can’t afford to lose the fowl for which he’s scrimped and saved all year.

Can there be any common ground between the mismatched Myall and Julia? Is there any hope of goodwill within their families? And—perhaps more importantly—will the goose prove itself worth saving from the butcher’s knife?

Learn more about Elizabeth Keysian: https://elizabethkeysian.com/

 

Always the Mistletoe by Emily E K Murdoch

When a woman loves a man, it’ll take more than a little Scrooge like behavior to stop her standing by him. Her family, on the other hand…

Learn more about Emily E K Murdoch: https://emilyekmurdoch.com

 

A Libertine’s Christmas Miracle by Emily Royal

Christmas is a time for miracles

Alice and Ross Trelawney are enjoying a quiet Christmas in Cornwall, until their daughter Amelia strays onto the nearby estate of Mr. Scrimgeour, the infamous Beast of Boscarne. When Amelia comes home in tears after a terrifying encounter, Alice resolves to teach the Beast a lesson.

Haunted by his late wife’s ghost and taunted by the locals, Edward Scrimgeour hides away in his crumbling mansion. His peace is shattered when his neighbor’s hellion of a wife storms into his home on Christmas Eve. But she’s no ordinary trespasser. When events threaten to take a tragic turn, Edward is given a chance at salvation, showing that miracles can occur in the unlikeliest of places.

Learn more about Emily Royal: http://www.emroyal.com/

 

Past, Present, Future by Lynne Connolly

Rhona sent the love of her life away once, but now Frederick is back. He doesn’t care that she’s a housekeeper, and he’s a wounded soldier and the brother of a duke. For the three nights of Christmas, he’ll give her three gifts; wooden figures he carved for her in the long nights before his last battle. They represent their past, their present, and what they could have in the future. If she doesn’t accept his love this time, he’ll leave for good.

Learn more about Lynne Connolly: https://lynneconnolly.com

 

A Yuletide Yearning by Maeve Greyson

Regret is a sly enemy…

Captain Tait Mackenzie doesn’t regret a life of pirating, but it’s Christmas and he’s lonely. Thoughts of dying alone trouble him. What woman would settle for a life with a pirate lord?

If wishes and dreams were oceans and streams, she’d sail her way to happiness…

Ellie has always loved Tait, but he politely ignores her. She intends to change that with a little help from the North Star.

Can three pirate ghosts on Christmas Eve scare some sense into a Scottish rogue and make him see that the love he needs has been right in front of him all along?

Learn more about Maeve Greyson: http://www.maevegreyson.com/

 

A Strange Christmas Game by Whitney Blake

Mr. Charles Mason doesn’t expect a December summons to end in his own love story…

Learn more about Whitney Blake: https://www.whitneyblakeauthor.net

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Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn ~ Book Review

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn ~ Book Review

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

Three reasons you should read this Hallmark Christmas Romance:

About Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn

Title: Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy
Author: Janice Lynn
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Christmas

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn

When a quilt shop owner 
finds a former Marine’s journal,
she longs to heal his heart…

When Sophie Davis sorts through a box of donated books to her church, she’s surprised to discover a soldier’s journal. As the daughter of a veteran who watched her father struggle over the years, she feels a deep connection to the man who wrote the emotional entries.

Former Marine Cole Aaron battled to find peace after returning to civilian life. He’s always needed to protect others. Now, fighting fires in Pine Hill, Kentucky helps him put out the demons within him. When Sophie shows up at the fire hall with his journal from when he’d first returned stateside, Cole can’t believe it was in the box he’d donated. Not wanting to face painful memories, he tells her to trash it.

Sophie and Cole are drawn together as they both volunteer for their community, but it’s hard for Cole to let down his guard, and he doesn’t need anyone’s pity. After all he’s been through in the past, can he find faith in a more hopeful future…one touched by joy?

This heartwarming romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Dilly Duchess Potatoes.

Wrapped Up in Christmas Joy by Janice Lynn was a very holiday romance. If you love Christmas, then you’ll get plenty of it here. It screams holiday madness from every page.

Sophie Davis LOVES Christmas. And this year, she’s determined to make the life of Cole Aaron fuller. She knows things about him that no one else does. Because she read his journal. She had good intentions, but it still bothered me the entire book. Why didn’t she check out the rest of the box it was in before she read all of it?

Cole is understandably upset when he finds out Sophie read his journal. And it was a journal of some pretty dark moments and thoughts in his life. But he’s way too much of a jerk about it too. In fact, he’s kind of a jerk about Christmas in general. Taking part in town events as his civic duty instead of because he wants to.

Sophie and Cole circle each other throughout the entire book. It’s very on-again, off-again – mostly on Cole’s side. He ran hot and cold, and it switched within a second. Sophie is a saint to have not given up on him. But they make a wonderful couple. They balance each other out.

The highlight of the book for me was Sophie’s quilting. I’ve always admired the creativity and craft that goes into making a quilt. And Sophie does such wonderful things with hers. Her dedication to making others’ lives better was amazing. It was really my favorite part of the book.

**I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book**

Pick up your copy today!

More from Hallmark Publishing

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson
Snowball's Christmas by Kristen McKanagh
Christmas in Bayberry by Jennifer Faye
My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts ~ Book Review

My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts ~ Book Review

My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

Three reasons you should read this Highland Romance:

  • My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts is an adventurous tale that seems to get to the heart of the Scottish Highlands and settle in for a bit.
  • Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a fascinating character that may be forced to choose between loyalty to her country and loyalty to her heart.
  • Laird Ruairi Sutherland isn’t quite sure what to think of Ravenna – the governess – and as he sees how good she is to his son, he can’t help but feel more.

About My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

Title: My Highland Spy
Author: Victoria Roberts
Series: Highland Spies #1
Genre: Scottish Romance

My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts

This Highland Laird won’t bow to the Crown

Laird Ruairi Sutherland refuses to send his only son away to be educated by the English. And he most definitely will not appear in Edinburgh to pay homage to a liege who has no respect for Scotland. So he does what any laird would do-he lies to the king. The last thing Ruairi expects is a beautiful English governess to appear on his doorstep.

But this lady spy might make him…

Lady Ravenna Walsingham is a seasoned spy who is sent to the savage Highlands to uncover a nefarious plot against the Crown. Playing the part of an English governess-a job easier said than done-she infiltrates the home of Laird Sutherland, a suspected conspirator.

If she doesn’t betray him first

Ravenna soon discovers that the only real threat Sutherland poses is to her heart. But will the proud Highland laird ever forgive her when he discovers the woman he loves in an English spy?

My Review of My Highland Spy:

My Highland Spy by Victoria Roberts is an incredible story – not just a romance (although there is plenty of that), but also a spy adventure. Lady Ravenna Walsingham is more than what she seems at first. She’s an accomplished spy in His Majesty’s service.

She’s sent to spy on a highland laird that refuses to send his son to be educated by the English. This is horribly suspicious, and Ravenna is perfect to infiltrate his home in disguise as an English governess.

Laird Ruairi Sutherland isn’t out to harm the crown. He just wants his son raised in his own way and not sent away from him for the English to raise. Ruairi is a wonderful father, and I fell in love with him because of the care he took for his son.

But we must have some conflict, and this is where things maybe fell a bit flat. I think it was too obvious from the beginning to Ravenna that Ruairi wasn’t up to any shenanigans, but it took her a loooong time to come to that conclusion. The court intrigue just didn’t seem to fit properly.

The romance was great. These two make an amazing couple. Ravenna’s strength and independence pair well with Ruairi’s stubbornness and family devotion.

There are several side characters that stole the show at times – one of which is a wolf-dog. But the people of the clan are enjoyable and you will grow attached.

Pick up your copy today!

Marilia, the Warlord by Morgan Cole ~ Book Review

Marilia, the Warlord by Morgan Cole ~ Book Review

Marilia the Warlord by Morgan Cole

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

Three reasons you should read this Female-led Fantasy:

  • Marilia, the Warlord by Morgan Cole is a fantastic start to a rich, new fantasy world.
  • Marilia is an unlikely hero and a very strong female lead.
  • The world and its characters are magically interwoven to complete a world full of interesting characters and new places full of adventure and discovery.

About Marilia, the Warlord by Morgan Cole

Title: Marilia, the Warlord
Author: Morgan Cole
Genre: Fantasy

Marilia the Warlord by Morgan Cole

Born the bastard daughter of a painted lady, Marilia was told she would live out her days within the walls of her mother’s brothel, a companion for the rich men of Tyrace. But after a terrible betrayal, Marilia’s world turns upside down. With the help of her twin brother, Annuweth, she flees the only home she’s ever known in search of the one man who can offer her a chance at a better life: one of her deceased father’s friends, the Emperor of Navessea’s greatest general.

My Review of Marilia the Warlord:

Marilia, the Warlord by Morgan Cole, was an amazing start to a new fantasy series. I love finding new fantasy authors and worlds to explore, and Morgan Cole has built a beautiful world and some fascinating characters.

Marilia is a smart child, but has few prospects of ever leaving the pillow house where she was born. But the fates have put her and her twin, Annuweth, in a position to find a way out. It isn’t easy, but they find themselves in the household of a great fighter from another land… and off they go!

This new life is just the beginning of their journey. Marilia is determined to earn a place in her new country. And not one of a meek woman taking care of the home. She has a brilliant mind for strategy, and she puts it to use.

Throughout it all, Marilia and Annuweth have an on again off again sibling rivalry that almost dooms them both. Their relationship was so true. I loved how real they both were – the love, the hate, the absolute devotion.

There were plenty of side-characters to fall in love with as well. They are so richly developed and have such important roles to play, and very few would fall into the typical fantasy stereotypes.

Throughout the book, Marilia and her friends have victories and defeats, and Marilia has to overcome it all. There really isn’t an end. The book wraps up just enough to bring a conclusion while drawing me inevitably to the sequel to continue their journey.

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***

Pick up your copy today!

Titanlord A Thousand Ashes by MG Darwish
The House by the Lake by Ella Carey ~ Review

The House by the Lake by Ella Carey ~ Review

The House by the Lake by Ella Carey

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

Three reasons you should read this Historical Fiction:

  • The House by the Lake by Ella Carey merges rich history with a contemporary mystery running through.
  • Anna Young’s family history is a bit of a mystery. And Ella Carey unfolds the past for us as Anna investigates her grandfather’s family home in Nazi Germany.
  • The story ties in elements of Paris Time Capsule and draws the two histories together beautifully.

About The House by the Lake by Ella Carey

Title: The House by the Lake
Author: Ella Carey
Series: Secrets of Paris #2
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Historical Fiction

The House by the Lake by Ella Carey

1939, BerlinMax Albrecht is the young and handsome heir to a beautiful house on a lake where he spent his happy childhood. As war approaches, his parents tell him he must join the Nazi party or the whole family will be killed. But when his beloved French fiancé Isabelle shows him the horrifying truth, Max faces an impossible choice: protect his family or save the girl he loves?

2010, San FranciscoAnna Young is content with her life, running a bustling deli and taking care of her adored grandfather Max, who raised her. Max has never spoken of his past until he hands over an old map, the plans to a grand house just north of Berlin. With a shaking finger, he points to it and says, “I left something behind under the floorboards. Please bring it home before I die.”

When Anna arrives at the crumbling manor in Germany, she discovers a hidden engagement ring in a velvet box. She is desperate to find the woman her grandfather hoped to marry, but the local villagers look away when she mentions Max’s name, and back in San Francisco he is now in hospital, too unwell to speak to her. What did Max do so many years ago? Is Anna ready for the terrible secret that her family’s past may hold?

From bestselling author Ella Carey comes an unforgettable novel, weaving together past and present. Gripping and heartbreaking, The House by the Lake uncovers the secrets and devastating choices that people were forced to make during history’s darkest time.

My Review of The House by the Lake:

The House by the Lake by Ella Carey was a beautiful mix of history and contemporary. Two tales unfold, tied together by Max Albrecht, Anna’s grandfather. In the present, Max sends Anna to find an item her grandfather holds dear. And while she is there, she stumbles on a mystery of what happened in the past and why he walked away from it all.

In the past, we see Max’s life, at first luxury, and then turning to disaster. I highly recommend reading Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey, as the two stories are entwined and build on each other.

Max’s history in Nazi Germany did not end well. And his is a love story gone horribly wrong. One that changed so many lives, and he’s been hiding from it ever since. But it’s time to unearth the past. I really felt for Max. Caught between two worlds and two choices. And never given the chance to decide which road to take.

Anna was a very determined character. Once she set her mind to making things “right,” she was all in. She doesn’t understand what she finds at first, and digs deeper, always looking for the next string to pull until she finds out how everything happened.

She has a very sweet romance. While it wasn’t the primary theme in the book, it was just enough to soften the edges of the tale. It made her more real and helped me root for her on her journey.

The way the two stories, history and present, wove together is what really makes this book a gem. The narrative bounces between the past and the present. But it’s done in a way that helps advance both storylines and each adds an extra level to the other. I can’t wait to read more by Ella Carey – she certainly has a way to pull me into the story.

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***

Pick up your copy today!

More from Ella Carey

Paris Time Capsule by Ella Carey
Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson ~ Book Review

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson ~ Book Review

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

Three reasons you should read this Hallmark Chirstmas Romance:

  • Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson is a sweet Christmas, small-town, second-chance romance between two really great characters.
  • I loved the little dose of magic that Teri Wilson brought to the story, it gave it that perfect Christmas feeling.
  • I adore small-town romances, and Owl Lake is a place I really want to visit again.

About Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

Title: Christmas Charms
Author: Teri Wilson
Genre: Hallmark Christmas Romance

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson

She never dreamed her holiday would include

her hometown, a dog, or a firefighter.

But a mysterious charm bracelet

predicted it all…

Ashley’s supposed to be having the Christmas of her dreams. After four years of working at an upscale jewelry store in Manhattan, she’s finally going to get a little velvet box of her own―from her boyfriend Jeremy, who’s taking her on a romantic trip to Paris. What could go wrong?

Well, everything.

Ashley heads home to Owl Lake instead, falling asleep on the train ride there…and waking up with a beautiful antique charm bracelet on her wrist. Soon, she realizes that each silver charm predicts an event that happens in real life. What does this mean for her and Jeremy…or her and Aidan, her former high school boyfriend, who’s now a local firefighter? Is there still a chance that she could have the perfect Christmas?

My Review of Christmas Charms:

Christmas Charms by Teri Wilson gave me to perfect dose of Christmas magic. When Ashley finds her Christmas plans unexpectedly canceled, she decides to her hometown of Owl Lake. She has no idea that this is actually the beginning of all her Christmas wishes coming true.

I love how Terri Wilson tied the charms into the story. Not only does Ashley work at the charms counter in a high-end jewelry store, but her love of antique and vintage charms plays well into the overall magic of the story. The charms almost become another character – or at least an extension of Ashley.

I’m not usually a big fan of second-chance romances. Someone has usually done something awful, and I don’t like disliking a character. But this was different. In this case, it just wasn’t the right time for them yet. Now, we just have to wonder if now is the right time, or they will miss their second chance.

As Ashley reconnects with her hometown, she realizes how much she left behind when she moved to the big city. And she misses it more than she expected. Aidan is still there, and not exactly waiting for you, but unattached. Their slow reunion was wonderful to witness, and I loved how the whole town was there for both of them. 

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***

Pick up your copy today!

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt ~ Review

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt ~ Review

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt

As an affiliate at retail sites, I earn a small commission from qualifying purchases. See my disclaimer for more details.

Three reasons you should read this Contemporary Romance:

  • Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt is a great new adult, finding yourself romance.
  • I loved Skye’s artistic eye and drive to make more of her art.
  • Braden remains a mystery, but he’s one that’s fun to try and pick apart – lots of stuff going on in there, and I want to know more.

About Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt

Title: Follow Me Darkly
Author: Helen Hardt
Series: Follow Me #1
Genre: New Adult, Contemporary Romance

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt

She’s a take-charge woman. But he’s a master of control.

Skye Manning knows what she wants. Her job as assistant and photographer for a major social media influencer isn’t perfect, but it’s a rung on the ladder to bigger and better things. She’s confident she’ll one day take feature photos for National Geographic.

Self-made billionaire Braden Black didn’t get where he is by taking no for an answer. When a chance encounter with the refreshingly innocent and beautiful Skye piques his interest in more ways than one, he’s determined to make her submit.

Dating a billionaire soon has Skye in the middle of a Cinderella story…until the clock strikes midnight and Braden reveals his dark side. Heat sizzles between them, and Skye finds herself falling hard.

But Braden Black is no Prince Charming, and his dark desires are far from his only secret. 

My Review of Follow Me Darkly:

Follow Me Darkly by Helen Hardt was quite a ride through the lives of the rich and famous. Sky Manning and Braden Black seem to be on opposite sides of the social spectrum. But Skye’s job shooting “selfies” of an influencer brings her into his world a little awkwardly. And to be honest, he seems like a total jerk at first.

Braden is super full of himself. At first, this comes off badly. But as the story continues and Skye gets more and more under his skin, you start to see a different side. Not completely different, but enough to be really intrigued by what his story is.

There is so much tension between these two! It snaps off the page. It builds and builds, and then when things finally happen – well, it doesn’t go as expected. Skye and Braden are going to have a lot to work through. Both are beyond stubborn, and the constant bickering was just enough to be amusing and not annoying.

There’s more to their story. There has to be – and I can’t wait to see where it goes.

***I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book***

Pick up your copy today!