Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!
I’ve switched to my next big release in late December, Book 4 of The Widows’ Club series, Much Ado About A Widow! If you’ve been keeping up with my widows over the past year or so, this book is Georgie’s story–a true romantic comedy adventure romance. Of course, nothing else would do for the heroine, Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick!
BLURB:
Lady Georgina Kirkpatrick defied her family, jilted her fiancé, and married the man she loved. But when her husband died at Waterloo, she was delivered right back into her father’s power . . .
Victory is sweet—but England’s triumph was Georgie’s rout. Now that she’s widowed, the loathsome marriage her father first arranged has simply been renegotiated. With neither money nor rights, and nowhere to flee, all she can do is cherish her last weeks of freedom. . . . Until a band of ruffians overtake her carriage and kidnap her. When she escapes in seaside Brighton and encounters her brother’s rather wild friend, Lord St. Just—whom she suspects aspires to be a pirate—she’s prepared to entertain more of his adventurous suggestions than usual . . .
St. Just knows his mind and his duty, and he loves a challenge. Helping a fair lady make her farewells to hoodlums suits his talents well. Within the hour he has Georgie, her lady’s maid—and her little dog too—sailing for his castle in Cornwall. Meanwhile, the lady’s entire family, her kidnappers, and her scheming intended are in pursuit. But as he and the indomitable Georgie grow closer, he begins to suspect that together they will prove a match for them all . . .
I started my snippets a good way into the story. Lady Georgina, on the way back to her father’s house to an arranged marriage with a man she’s already jilted once, is kidnapped. She manages to escape and runs straight into the arms of her brother’s friend, Robin, Marquess of St. Just. She’s more than distrustful of Rob, having convinced herself the young man is wild and has ambitions to become a pirate. But beggars can’t be choosers, so she enlists his aid. He’s rowed her out to his ship and they have settled down to get to the bottom of things. After she relates her story, she asks for the loan of a carriage, but St. Just says he doesn’t have one, he’s only in Portsmouth for the day. He manages to convince Georgie that going to an inn for the night is a very bad idea and this week comes up with an alternative plan: Sail with him to his home in Cornwell. Georgie’s response follows.
We are in Rob’s POV now and he speaks first.
Some portions of this snippet may be changed from the book’s regular format to allow for WWW’s 10 line requirement.
SNIPPET:
The Justine
“Of course I do not wish to marry Lord Travers, who is without a doubt the most loathsome creature to whom I have ever been introduced, and that includes Lord Fernley, who is loathsome, but who does seem to have a few redeeming qualities–he plays whist very well, anyway”—Lady Georgina shook her head and her straggling curls bobbed. “Lord Travers has made me uncomfortable ever since I met him,” she said, looking Rob squarely in the face, “which does not, however, mean that I will not marry him.”
A far cry from the answer he’d expected–Lady Georgina was not a predictable lady at all. “But if you have no affection for him, why marry him? Surely there are other gentlemen of the ton who are just as eligible and not as disagreeable as Travers.”
“You know Lord Travers then, my lord?”
“I do, although mostly by reputation; I do not run in the same circles as he.” Rob wouldn’t give a hot ha’penny for Travers’s usual companions–not since the Hellfire Club had a more profligate group of gentlemen assembled. “I daresay he would not have been the choice most fathers would arrange for their daughters.”
“My father is definitely not as most fathers are.”
Much Ado About A Widow is now available for pre-order here and will release on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2019!
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
The Widows’ Club series by Jenna Jaxon
Check them out on my Amazon Author Page!
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Hmm – I know who I’d prefer if I were her! Interestingly, The site of the original Hellfire Club is not very far from where I live now – I went into the Hellfire caves once – a fascinating and interesting experience!
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The marriage conventions of the time seem so barbaric.. I can’t imagine marrying against my will. Yet so many girls did to please their fathers who wanted political advantage or enrichment. I hope she stands up to him.
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I’m really enjoying these excerpts. Looking forward to next week.
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Thank you, Elaine! 🙂
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Hmm, you have me wondering… Is her father marrying her off to someone she loathes–as revenge for her earlier marriage against his will?? Great snippet!
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Yes and no–he was very angry that she married her first husband, but that’s not exactly why he’s forcing her to marry this guy. 🙂 The plot thickens! LOL
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I get such a kick out of your dialogue, Jenna, and this snippet is no exception! Georgie is such a fascinating character. Great work! 🙂
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Thank you, Julie! She was a lot of fun to write!
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She’s feisty, yet she’s willing to marry Lord Travers anyway? Interesting.
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Well, she has her reason–which I think we’ll be getting to next week.
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She is an unusual heroine and I like that! Definitely makes me want to keep reading so I enjoyed the snippet very much…
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Thank you, Veronica! Georgie is a bit different, in several ways. I like the unconventional too!
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I wonder how much her father knows about Travers’s true character, and if he’d change his mind if he found out.
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Georgie’s father doesn’t care about anything except connections and money–two reasons he chose Travers in the first place. His personal character would matter not at all.
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