Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

I’m back this week showing off book 3 of The Welwyn Marriage Wager series, Yule Be Mine, which is now on pre-order on Amazon!

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!

Ulysses “Yule” Quartermain is at a house party with Penelope, who was his childhood friend who moved away when she was seven. Now she’s all grown up and determined to make Yule see that. She’s managed to attach herself to Yule as they go out into the woods to gather greenery for the house party. And though she’s let her intentions toward him be known, he’s not having any of it! Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

She turned just in time to see Yule setting the basket of cuttings down with the growing pile beside the waggonette. Swiftly, she rushed toward him, taking his arm just as he put the heavy basket down. “Mr. Kastner says they are making up the game right now, over there.” She pointed toward the guests milling around under the skeletal oak trees. “It seems we are just in time.”

“Penelope, you didn’t mean what you said just now, did you?” Yule’s frown from the night before was back.

“Why would that be a bad thing, Yule?” Please, couldn’t he simply give in and let her have her way? “That is what mistletoe at Christmas is for.”

And a little more for good measure. . . 

“When you’re of a proper age for it, perhaps.”

Anger surging through her, Penelope swung herself around so she stood in front of him, stopping him mid-stride. Her body fairly trembled in outrage. “And you don’t think I’m of a proper age?”

His frown seemed more from confusion than anger. “No, I don’t. And I can’t understand why you think you are either.”

“Because I am of a proper age, you ninny.” What on earth was wrong with him?

Yule Be Mine is available for pre-order on Amazon for .99 . It releases in just 10 days, on December 5!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There are some fantastic snippets to be read.

The Welwyn Marriage Wager series

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

I’m back this week showing off book 3 of The Welwyn Marriage Wager series, Yule Be Mine, which is now on pre-order on Amazon!

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!

In this excerpt, Ulysses “Yule” Quartermain is at a house party with Penelope, who was his childhood friend who moved away when she was seven. Now she’s all grown up and determined to make Yule see that. She’s managed to attach herself to Yule as they go out into the woods to gather greenery for the house party. And she’s managed to let her intentions toward him be known! Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

Whether he would do that, of course, was still uncertain. But Penelope would do everything within her power to make that happen. So, when she reached the clearing, where other guests were also straggling back in as well, she hurried toward their host’s son, Fritz Kastner, smiling her sweetest at him. “Good morning, Mr. Kastner.”

“Good morning, Miss Penelope.” He returned her smile, his eyes lighting up. “How may I help you?”

“We are about to commence with the Mistletoe Run, are we not?” She glanced toward the growing number of people grouped over in the trees, all of them looking upward.

“Yes, as soon as all the guests have returned from the woods.”

And a little more for good measure. . . 

“Then my partner for the greenery gathering, Mr. Ulysses Quartermain, and I wish to be paired together for the first round of the run. If you can do that, Mr. Kastner, we would truly be very grateful.” She smiled at him, batting her eyes ever so slightly.

“Uh, well, I will see if that can be arranged, Miss Penelope.” The gentleman looked very uncertain. He glanced around the clearing and spied Yule, just coming toward them.

“I know the selection is usually random, however Mr. Quartermain and I are old friends and we have laid a wager on whether or not he will be able to catch me.” She giggled and Mr. Kastner visibly relaxed.

“Ah, I understand, Miss Penelope.”

If one mentioned the word “wager” with regard to a Quartermain, no one thought anything further of the matter.

Yule Be Mine is available for pre-order on Amazon for .99 . It releases a month from today, on December 5!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There are some fantastic snippets to be read.

The Welwyn Marriage Wager series

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

I’m back this week showing off book 3 of The Welwyn Marriage Wager series, Yule Be Mine, which is now on pre-order on Amazon!

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!

In this excerpt, Ulysses “Yule” Quartermain is at a house party with Penelope, who was his childhood friend who moved away when she was seven. Now she’s all grown up and determined to make Yule see that. She’s managed to attach herself to Yule as they go out into the woods to gather greenery for the house party. And she’s managed to let her intentions toward him be known! Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

Yule halted dead in the snow. Penelope continued several steps ahead before she noticed he had stopped. What the devil did she mean by that? “But that’s the object of the game.”

She glanced back over her shoulder, a smile spreading over her face. “Are you sure about that, Yule?”

Unable to move, Yule stood still watching as Penelope continued picking her way through the snow toward the clearing, his mind devoid of thought other than the crystal clear idea that he was in more trouble than he had ever bargained for.

****

Grinning wider with every step, Penelope reached the clearing well before Yule put in an appearance. Pleased with how well her endeavor had worked out so far, she took a moment to congratulate herself on a plan well executed. Of course, she’d been arranging this first meeting with Yule for the past two years, ever since Mama began talking about Charlotte’s come out.

And a little more for good measure. . . 

It had been her own suggestion that she and Charlotte come out together, ensuring she would be taken to all the entertainments and not left at home with a governess. Because how else was she to meet and enchant Yule Quartermain?

And things were progressing nicely. So far today, she’d done exactly what she’d set out to do. She’d talked to Yule respectfully, using his formal name as Charlotte had suggested. When she talked, she’d spoken with him about the approved topics, such as the weather and Mr. Dickens, which had worked admirably to further their conversation. And now she’d given him notice—thrown down the gauntlet, metaphorically speaking—that she was actively looking to get kissed during the Mistletoe Run. She’d shocked him, of that she was certain, but that wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. At least he couldn’t deny any longer that she was a young lady–an eligible young lady–one he could look on with an eye to becoming his wife.

Yule Be Mine is available for pre-order on Amazon for .99 . It releases a month from today, on December 5!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There are some fantastic snippets to be read.

The Welwyn Marriage Wager series

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

I am finally back after a month of absence–and what a month it’s been! Back in October I was involved in rebooting our production of A Streetcar Named Desire with rehearsals every day, then I headed up to Massachusetts for the Fall in Love New England reader event–which was wonderful to finally attend after two other attempts that were not successful. I drove up and back (in one day (Sunday) on the return trip) then turned around and two days later flew to San Diego for the Historical Romance Retreat which was the most fabulous time! I feel like I’d had a Season in five days with all the parties and workshops and changing clothes for each event (I know now why Regency ladies had to have a maid!).

Me at the Grand Masked Ball

It truly was the best time I’ve ever had at a conference and I’m signing up for next year as soon as the reservations open.

But now I’m back showing off book 3 of The Welwyn Marriage Wager series, Yule Be Mine, which is now on pre-order on Amazon!

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!

 

In this excerpt, Ulysses “Yule” Quartermain is at a house party with Penelope, who was his childhood friend who moved away when she was seven. Now she’s all grown up and determined to make Yule see that. She’s managed to attach herself to Yule as they go out into the woods to gather greenery for the house party. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“So your family will be in London for Christmas?”

“Yes, through the New Year, then we will move back home until spring when we will return for my and Charlotte’s Season.” Penelope tried to heft the heavy basket but had to settle for dragging it on the ground.

“Let me have that.” Yule grabbed the handle and lifted it easily. “We don’t want to dump it out on the way back.”

Penelope stood with her hands on her hips, arms akimbo, giving him a perturbed look. “I could have managed, you know.”

Yule grinned at her. “I know. But that’s what you have me along for.”

And a little more for good measure. . . 

She uttered a disparaging sound that was totally charming, then joined him on the trudge back to the clearing. “Boys always think they know best, but so seldom do.”

Chuckling, Yule glanced down at her. “And where in all your years did you acquire that piece of wisdom?”

“From observing the boys I knew in Ireland growing up. None of them gave me credit for having any sense either.” She wrinkled her nose. “I had hoped things would be different now.”

“Oh, I think you have sense, Penelope, just not the brawn it takes to carry this heavy load.”

“I could have figured out how to do it, Yule.”

“But you needn’t bother when I had the solution right here.” He raised the arm carrying the basket. “You could spend your time better occupied.”

“Doing what?” She looked up at him, puzzled.

“Figuring out how to avoid getting kissed under the mistletoe during the game.” He laughed. It ought to be fun watching her dodge and weave to avoid capture.

“Who said I wanted to avoid it?”

Yule Be Mine is available for pre-order on Amazon for .99 . It releases a month from today, on December 5!

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the Warriors here. There are some fantastic snippets to be read.

The Welwyn Marriage Wager series