Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !
Due to circumstances beyond my control, the release of Almost a Countess, book 2 of my Captivating Countesses series, has been pushed back to August 17. I’m so sorry, but there was no other choice, given the circumstances. I hope you still enjoy the snippets until then.
BLURB:
Exiled to a lonely estate in north Yorkshire, Dora Harper finds life satisfying, if appallingly routine—until an escaped Scottish prisoner begs for her help. Despite her misgivings, Dora takes him in, feeds and clothes him, and is amazed at his transformation into a very handsome, virile gentleman, who claims he is an earl. No matter who he really is, his very presence in her house could ruin her reputation for good. Trouble is, Dora might not mind that at all.
Phineas “Finn” MacDonald, the Earl of Aberfoyle, is on the run from a troop of soldiers bent on charging him with treason. Dora’s miraculous appearance is a godsend for him, in more ways than one. The pretty young English woman is kind, compassionate, and willing to help him in his attempt to seek justice and evade the troop that is quickly closing in on him.
With their close proximity over several days, Finn’s desire to escape wanes, even as thoughts of Dora fill his mind. So when a unique opportunity presents itself, Finn claims to be Dora’s husband to save her reputation and throw the soldiers off his trail. Now all Finn needs to do is persuade Dora to make the ruse a reality—before the soldiers can find him and carry out the grim penalty for his alleged crime.
EXCERPT:
Energy shot through Dora’s veins. She sat straighter, her mind calculating what she needed to do to bring the animal to a halt before Gretchen discovered no one was minding the reins and took off across the field at a dead run.
Trying to stem the panic that clogged her throat, Dora made herself let go her grip on the stranger completely, although she compensated by clutching him with her arms to keep him from falling. Afraid to move her head to either side to see the reins, she slid her hands down his arms until her fingers touched his, the ribbons still clutched in his grip.
Gently, she drew the leather straps from his fingers and felt a measure of calm descend on her. To be back in control again, with the reins firmly in her hands, was reassuring. Pulling on them steadily, Dora slowed Gretchen to a trot, then at last to a walk. Breathing easier, she spared a moment’s worry for the man again. Unfortunately, she could do nothing for him until they reached Bromley. Hopefully, he’d only fainted, nothing worse.
And a little more for good measure…
Her friend and sister-in-law, Judith Harper, had sustained a blow to the head that had rendered her insensible for more than four months. Of course, Judith’s wound had knocked her senseless immediately. That was not the case here. However, Dora couldn’t help but wonder if this stranger had lapsed into a stupor from which he wouldn’t recover for days or even months. She could only pray not and keep a steady hand on the reins and get them home quickly.
Almost a Countess is on pre-order on Amazon for $2.99. Grab your copy at the pre-order price.
And all of my Christmas novellas are on sale this month for just .99 each, as part of my Christmas in July promotion. If you’d like to grab a copy, click on the covers below!
I’m also giving away signed copies of my Christmas novel The Widow’s Christmas Surprise on Mondays in July. If you’d like to enter to win one, click here.
And don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There’s some fantastic snippets to be read.
Christmas Novellas
by
Jenna Jaxon
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 
Isn’t Judith Harper the heroine of another book in this series? It’s an e-book, so I can’t just swivel my chair and pull the book off the shelf to see its name and the heroine’s name — a very annoying features of e-books!
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Yes, Judith Harper is the heroine of A Countess of Convenience and is mentioned in Only A Mistress Will Do as well. All the heroines of my Captivating Countesses were introduced in Only a Mistress Will Do. 🙂
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Countess of Convenience is the one I was referring to.
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He’s lucky to have found her!
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Or to be found by her. LOL Yes, he is a very lucky man.
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He fainted again? Poor fellow. As always, great snippet.
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Thank you, Karen! He’s been through a lot at this point to be sure.
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Oh darn, we have to put up with fabulous snippets from this book for several more weeks. 😉
Sorry your book was delayed. It must be so frustrating.
Tweeted.
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Thank you, Daryl! 🙂 I hope you continue to enjoy them! As to the delay, it couldn’t be helped and it is frustrating for me but more so for my readers I think.
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She’s shown little flashes of being an independent woman in these snippets. I like that you write strong heroines. Sorry about the delay in the release. Hope everything is okay. ❤
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Thank you so much, Teresa! She’s actually changed a good deal from her persona in Only a Mistress Will Do. That experience and now living on her own has strengthened her independence.
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I love how confidently she handles the situation, even when there’s so much at stake if something should go wrong.
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She grows a lot in this book.
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I liked the symbolism of her regaining control at least to some extent here! Nicely done scene.
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Thank you so much, Veronica! Yes, she’s gained minimal control, but there’s still so much that can go wrong!
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Dora’s strength and determination shines in this scene! I’m not at all upset that we’ll get to enjoy more snippets until your release. 🙂
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Thank you, Julie! I hope you continue to enjoy them!
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That was a close call! Great snippet!
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Thank you, Jessica! 🙂
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