Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!
Today I’m changing books, to my Christmas novel that releases at the end of September, The Widow’s Christmas Surprise. This is book five of The Widows’ Club series and is Maria’s story.
Here’s the blurb:
BLURB:
The death of her husband has thrown Lady Maria Kersey’s future into doubt—and her heart into the arms of a man she cannot have. But Christmas with the Widows’ Club will bring choices—and surprises–that may change all her holidays to come . . .
Maria just gave birth to her first child, a beautiful daughter—but the event is shrouded in sorrow. A month earlier, Maria’s husband, Lord Kersey, was killed in a duel under compromising circumstances. Worse, Maria’s failure to provide a male heir has stripped her of any hope of an inheritance. Scorned by the ton, one of her few allies is her late husband’s steward, Hugh Granger. Hugh is everything her husband was not—warm, charming—and penniless. . . .
Hugh has fallen desperately in love with Maria, but has little to offer but comfort. As their attraction becomes impossible to resist, Maria flees to London to spend Christmas with her dearest friends, a group of widows who lost their own husbands in the Battle of Waterloo. Little does she know the holidays will reveal a twist of fate she never expected—proving that the greatest Christmas gift is the magic of true love . . .
I’m starting this snippet well into the book because this is a fun scene. Maria is about to leave her lover, Hugh, to go to Scotland until they can marry. Hugh has taken Maria out for a final outing, to spend some time together before they have to say goodbye.
We are in Hugh’s POV.
EXCERPT:
Courtesy Evelyn Simak and Wikimedia Commons
Pulling Caesar down to a trot and then a walk, Hugh brought them to a stop right at the end of the irregularly shaped pond. There were bulrushes thick at the far end, with overhanging trees, now leafless. Nearest to them was the overturned log where he and Bella had sat to lace on their skates last year. There was also a place to tie the horses so they could crop the little bit of grass still left. An idyllic spot for their last day together.
Hugh dropped to the ground, then helped Maria down as well. She slid down into his arms, every part of her touching every part of him it seems. The minx would try his patience for certain. He gave her a stern glare. “You had best behave, young lady–I made a promise to your cousin not to compromise you before we could marry.”
And now to finish the scene :
“I think I will take my chances with Jane’s wrath if it means I can be close to you, my love.” She gave a coquettish laugh and Hugh groaned. Best divert her away from this dangerous topic.
“Here is your surprise.” He waved toward the frozen pond.
“I see.” She looked askance at the pond, then at him. “I will admit I am surprised, for I cannot fathom a single reason why you would have done so.”
“Ah, but here is the other part of the surprise.” He untied the parcel from behind the saddle and brought out two pairs of—
I’m sure you can already guess what it is! LOL
The Widow’s Christmas Surprise is available on Amazon, B & N, Kobo, and Apple.
I’ll be running a Christmas giveaway between now and September 27 when The Widow’s Christmas Surprise releases. The prizes are signed print copies of the previous Widows’ Club books, Christmas ornaments, swag, and a $25.00 Amazon gift card. To enter this Rafflecopter giveaway, click here.
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Ice skates, of course. Love this excerpt.
LikeLike
Hugh sounds like a wonderful man. The rules of society at the time were so very unfair to women. Endangering them by changing their social and financial status over situations they had little or no control over. This sounds like a lovely story of two people that attempt to follow society’s strictures and still find happiness.
LikeLike
Great build up. Loved the scene. Don’t need to guess, eveyone else has.
LikeLike
Ice skates! Great imagery in this scene.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Correct, Elaine! Thank you!
LikeLike
Sounds like a great story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Gina!
LikeLike
Great imagery and yes, I can guess the surprise. lol Love it!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Karen! 🙂
LikeLike
Ice skates!
The scene is nicely descriptive. I can picture the surroundings from the way you’ve written it.
~Cie from Naughty Netherworld Press~
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you so much, Cie! Yes, ice skates! What better way to set a winter scene!
LikeLike
Delightful! I so enjoy your Christmas romances. I can hardly wait to read this one.-)
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Teresa! I hope it doesn’t disappoint!
LikeLike
It sounds like he has a lovely last day planned. But when does anything ever go as planned? 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
So true, E.D.. The best laid plans…
LikeLike
I always love Christmas Regency stories! This one sounds so good…enjoyed the snippet of course and that cover is gorgeous….
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Veronica! This is my first full length Christmas novel, so I’m very excited for it to release!
LikeLike
interesting cover
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you!
LikeLike
Fabulous scene. And I suspect int he next scene – a lot of falling into his arms.
Tweeted.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Daryl! Only next week’s snippet will tell. 🙂
LikeLike
Sounds very sweet, but can she skate? And the cover is beautiful!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Jessica! I love Jon Paul’s covers for this series! You find out about her skating abilities next week. 🙂
LikeLike
Hope things don’t heat up so much between them that they go through the ice! Loving your new release, Jenna!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Things do get rather hot between them, but not on the ice. Thank you, Nancy!
LikeLike
The surprise wouldn’t be ice skates would it?
LikeLiked by 1 person
This one is, but there are lots of surprises throughout the book. 🙂
LikeLike