It’s Release Day for Yule Be Mine, Book 3 of my Welwyn Marriage Wager series!

I love a Christmas romance, and Yule and Penelope’s story is one of my favorites I’ve written. You may find a few references to the story of Odyssyus, wandering for 10 years after the Trojan War trying to get back to his wife, Penelope. Except in my version, Penelope is the one who sailed away and comes back all grown up and ready to marry her Ulysses, only he refuses to believe she’s grown up and ready for love.

To celebrate my book birthday, I’m holding a giveaway of a signed copy of Yule Be Mine, a swag pack of Jenna Jaxon goodies, and a $20 gift card to Starbucks to one lucky commenter on this post who tells me what your favorite Christmas memory is!

BLURB:

‘Tis the season for love—no matter how much mistletoe it takes!

It’s Christmas time and Ulysses “Yule” Quartermain is unenthusiastically looking for a bride when Penelope St. Clare, the little sister of his boyhood friend, makes an appearance at a Christmas party. But it’s been ten years since he’s seen her. Penelope is no longer a child but a ravishing beauty, who’s turning heads everywhere she goes. And much to his discomfort, Yule is not immune to the charms of the little girl next door. But he’s working on it.

Penelope has wanted to marry Ulysses Quartermain for most of her life. Now she’s on the brink of her come out Season–a desirable young lady with wit and determination–and her happy ever after is within her grasp. If only she can make Yule see that she’s grown up and would make him the perfect wife, it’ll be the best present she’ll ever get.

Still, Penelope is not leaving anything to chance. Utilizing every ball of mistletoe she can find, she teases and tantalizes Yule, daring him to kiss her in hopes of breaking down his staunch resolve. As Christmas Day approaches, Penelope sets a final desperate plan in motion. Before the holiday is over, Yule will know just how much of a woman she truly is!

EXCERPT:

With a cry, Penelope leaped forward, dashing away as though the hounds of hell were snapping at her feet, though they would have been much preferred to her true Quartermain adversary. Her half-boots slipped on the snow, causing her to wobble, but she found her footing and regained her stride. Listening keenly for his pounding footfalls, all she heard were the racing of her own heart and the shush shush of her own feet. Instinctively, she slowed and, despite her vow, glanced back over her shoulder.

Yule hadn’t moved. He stood watching her, his face pinched, his brows in a deep frown.

So he wouldn’t even chase her? He didn’t want to get within yards of her, was that it?

Indignation flamed up in Penelope like a fire fed with dry wood and potent spirits. She whirled around, her hoops riding up allowing chilled air underneath her warm petticoats. The shock of that simply fueled her further as she stalked back toward Yule and the murmuring guests, taking in every bit of the spectacle.

“What’s the matter, Mr. Quartermain? Have your legs no strength? Are you winded from lugging the greenery back to the clearing? I told you you should have let me do it.” Penelope’s voice carried loudly in the crisp air. “A young lady has quite enough stamina to prevail when older gentlemen discover they don’t have the staying power they think they have.”

Yule’s eyes narrowed, but he kept his silence, which infuriated Penelope even further.

“Or do you fear I will simply outrun you? To make a poor showing in front of your friends might make you seem ridiculous.” Penelope had slowed down until she stood about five feet in front of Yule, who hadn’t budged. “What’s wrong, Mr. Quartermain? Cat got your tongue?”

“Behave yourself, Penelope,” was all she got from him, in a low growl.

“Or what? You’ll chase me?” She made a face, sticking her tongue out at him just as she’d done all those years ago when he and Victor had forbidden her to tag along to the fishing pond one day. “You couldn’t catch me if you tried.”

Without warning, Yule lunged toward her.

Penelope shrieked, and threw herself backward, circling around the pathway, as the crowd cheered her on. She dodged and wove back and forth, laughing as he came close enough to brush her sleeve before she nimbly skipped out of his reach. This was more like it. She twisted around the stump of a tree, putting it between her and Yule, her gaze darting here and there, trying to find a path to freedom. The only one left her was down between the rows of oak trees.

She turned to flee toward her only hope of escape when her heel caught on a half-submerged root. With a cry she fell, her arms going out instinctively to keep her hoops from tangling, guiding them to collapse under her as she’d been taught since she’d first graduated to grown-up clothing more than three years ago.

Strong arms embraced her before she had sunk a foot. Yule grasped her, his hands easily spanning the circumference of her waist and lifted her with an ease that took her breath away. Everything about him took her breath—the touch of his hands on her body, the nearness of him pressed right against her, the faint scent of his citrus cologne—until her lungs burned for lack of air. The rest of her burned as well.

He turned her around until she faced him, staring into the dark blue, no almost black eyes as he studied her for several moments. The crowd had hushed until all she could hear were the beating of her heart and the whoosh of the wind through the trees.

Mesmerized, Penelope peered at him, wondering if he was simply going to stand there holding her forever. Well, she wouldn’t mind that at all. Her gaze strayed upward, past his face to the lofty oaks above them—and the large green ball with waxy, white berries clinging to it directly above them.

Penelope found her footing and pushed upward, sliding her arms around Yule’s neck, and pressed her lips onto his, kissing him for the very first time.

Heat poured through her from her lips, down her arms, her back, her sides, all the way down her legs until her toes curled inside her half-boots. It was like she was electrified, with sparks shooting through her body and out her fingers and toes. Despite all these incredible feelings, she reveled in the fact his lips were soft, yet firm. And that he was incredibly gentle, despite everything they’d just gone through. Lord, but she never wanted this to end.

Yule broke the kiss and glared down at her. “What the hell have you done?”

Yule Be Mine is now available on Amazon for .99! Click the graphic above to go grab your copy! Merry Christmas reading!

THE WELWYN MARRIAGE WAGER SERIES