At last! My second Georgian/Regency romance, Only Marriage Will Do, releases today!
There are so many traditions linked to weddings. Possibly the most enduring is the notion that the bride must wear “something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue.” I remember doing all those at my wedding. My gown was new, my handkerchief old, I borrowed my shoes, and my garter was blue. 🙂 The English add the phrase “and tuppence in her shoe,” and I had that as well from a trip to England I’d made years before.
One tradition all the women in my generation on my father’s side of the family followed was carrying a handkerchief or some sort of lace detailing made from the lace of our grandmother’s wedding dress (thus my old handkerchief). And I guess all of those things worked because in a week or so my husband and I will celebrate our 24th wedding anniversary!
I can only wish Amiable and Juliet as much of a happy-ever-after as I have had. But as the tagline for the book states: Not all happy-ever-afters begin at “I do.” And that is certainly the case with these two!
In celebration, I’m giving away an e-copy of Only Marriage Will Do to a commenter who tells me about a wedding tradition they followed or that they know of others following for their wedding.
BLURB:
Not every happy-ever-after begins at “I do.”
When the hero of her dreams rescues Lady Juliet Ferrers from the man claiming to be her husband, she is sure she has found her one true love. But is she free to marry him? Not to be deterred, Juliet arranges for her hero, Captain Amiable Dawson, to escort her to her family estate, hoping that along the way she can win his love.
Amiable is charmed by the sweet, beautiful woman he rescued, and although he has grave reservations about her marital status, he allows himself to be swept up into Juliet’s romantic spell and the promise of a happy-ever-after.
The spell breaks when legal questions arise and Juliet faces the horror of not knowing if she is married to her knight in shining armor or the cruel viscount who is determined to have her at any price.
EXCERPT:
London July 2, 1761
The brass lion-head knocker under Amiable Dawson’s hand sent a sharp rap through the
dark walnut door of Dunham House for the second time. The hot July sun hadn’t done his temper any good as he waited on the marble stoop for entrance to the Marquess of Dalbury’s townhouse. He’d been in a foul mood ever since the news of his beloved Katarina’s marriage to the marquess had reached him. Blast it to hell, he was supposed to have married the girl. At least he could make sure she was well and well taken care of by this man she had married.
At last a short, dark-haired maid opened the door. She took one look at him, gasped, and stepped back into the house. Her eyes widened and she glanced to her right, wringing her hands. “Who may I say—”
A man shouted from within. “No, I do not believe you.”
“It is true, I tell you!” A woman’s voice, raised and sharp with terror, sent a chill through Amiable.
Katarina. What in God’s name?
He barged past the stunned girl and strode down the hall toward the commotion. He burst through the doorway, expecting to defend the woman he loved, only to stop dead at the sight of a man lunging across a sofa and grasping a woman by the wrist. Amiable had half drawn his sword before he realized the woman was not Katarina, but a complete stranger. He dropped it back into its scabbard. This was none of his affair.
The young man, foppishly dressed in a robin’s egg blue satin coat dripping too many layers of frothy lace at throat and wrists looked at Amiable, a snarl on his lips.
Taking advantage of the distraction, the woman wrenched her arm from the man’s grip. “Praise God. Here he is.” She staggered as she righted herself. “Now you will have to believe me, Philippe.”
The fop scrambled back off the sofa and groped for a black lacquer walking stick that lay on the floor. Lips pressed together, he glowered at the woman. “That remains to be seen, ma chere. In any case, I have shown you the papers. They speak for themselves.”
The woman ran from behind the sofa to Amiable’s side, grazed a kiss over his cheek and whispered, “For God’s sake, help me. I am alone here and he is trying to take me away. Please, agree with whatever I say.”
Smiling into her pleading face, he grasped her hands and gave them a gentle squeeze to signal his acquiescence. “Whatever is the matter, my dear?” Hell if he knew. But he could play his part, even with little information. Let the lady lead and he’d follow as well as he could.
The woman smiled then took a deep breath. “My dear, may I present Viscount St. Cyr?” She nodded toward the fop. “Philippe, this is my husband, the Earl of Manning.”
Only Marriage Will Do is available at Amazon, B& N, and other e-tailers.
THE HOUSE OF PLEASURE SERIES
Two weeks early, the boxed set I’m part of, Crashing Into Love, released late last night! Whoo Hoo! That makes three releases for me in 16 days. I’m stunned!
Yesterday was my daughter’s birthday. We celebrated by going to a sushi restaurant for lunch, then taking her to see the new Melissa McCarthy movie Spy (which I quite enjoyed) then had ice cream cake and sparkling cider afterwards. As a little kicker Crashing Through Time, which is dedicated to her, released on her birthday.
I was one of the millions of people who were thrilled to death on the opening weekend of Jurassic World. I went with my daughters on Friday, and we all just loved it. There were some scenes I didn’t watch, but over all, I thought it was a great thrill ride. It may even have moved into my #1 slot for the Jurassic Park movies, even though I loved Jurassic Park 3. Let’s just say I’d spend money to go see JW again on the big screen. 🙂
Welcome back to Medieval Monday! Today my guest is Ruth A. Casie with her medieval romance, Knight of Rapture. Hope you enjoy!
Jenna Jaxon Romance--because passion is timeless. 