Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors!
Today I’m continuing with 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:
“My hero.” She clutched his arm in mock terror.
He pushed aside some frozen vegetation, creating a path to the ice. “Hold my hand.”
She gripped it tightly and followed him to the edge.
“Wait here and let me sound out the ice. It’s been so cold recently I don’t think it has thinned, but best be safe.”
Maria nodded gravely, her brows drawn inward. “Do be careful.”
He set his skates on the smooth ice and pushed off.
And now to finish the scene :
Each year it came back to him, as if he skated every day of his life. Cautiously, he struck out for the center of the pond, watching for slushy spots or cloudy patches of ice. That meant it wasn’t frozen hard enough. But everywhere he looked the ice was clear. No air bubbles, no cracks, just solid, clear ice. Perfect. “I think it’s good,” he called, turning toward the bank. “Come on out.” He waved to her even as he started back.
Maria set her skates on the surface and pushed off. She wobbled for a moment, her arms flailing as she fought for balance.
Hugh hurried toward her, then something seemed to change.
Suddenly, she remembered her balance and her strokes became strong and even. She threw back her head and laughed, then struck out to meet him. Grabbing his hands, she assumed the skater’s position, right hand over left, and their feet began to glide in unison.
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. 
Skating scenes are so romantic. I like the details about checking for good vs. bad ice. That was really important in the era before artificial rinks.
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Beautifully written scene. The meticulous nature of it. Great job.
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I love how they gained their confidence on the ice as if it were second nature. I liked the imagery of him checking out the ice before calling for her to join him.
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I like the way they each ‘remember’ how to skate once they’re on the ice. Lovely detail. Enjoyed the snippet!
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Thank you, Veronica! I figured skating would be like anything else, unless you do it every day, you have to re-learn each year when you use the skill again. I’m so glad I seem to have gotten it right!
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I like to find situations that haven’t been used much, to bring a feeling of originality. That’s what you’ve done her with skating.
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Thank you so much, Ed. What a fabulous compliment! 🙂
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My husband and I went ice skating on our first date. I was 25 and hadn’t been skating for prolly 6 or 7 years. You described that return to the ice so well in this scene! The wobble–and then it comes back. lol Thanks for the memory 🙂
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Thank you, Teresa! As I said earlier, I’ve never skated, but I assumed it was like riding a bicycle, which I have done on occasion and took that experience as my model. 🙂 So glad you enjoyed it!
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What a lovely scene, and the cover is gorgeous.
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Thank you, Elaine!
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Awe, this is sweet and lovely. It makes me wish I could skate (and not look like bambi trying to walk for the first time)!
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I’m with you! I couldn’t skate if my life depended on it. But I thought it was a great way for them to bond over skating. 🙂
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It definitely is, there’s so much romance and also danger if you count the prospect of thin ice. When you wrote him going to check it’s condition I was terrified the scene was going in a different direction.
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The Skater’s Waltz is running through my head 🙂
Tweeted.
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Do you skate, Daryl? I’ve never even tried ice skates. I have no balance. LOL
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Such a beautiful cover! And I’m glad the skill came back to her! Sounds like they’re going to have a wonderful time together.
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Thank you, Jessica! I love that cover too. So Christmasy looking. 🙂
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