Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Mischief Under the Mistletoe

BLURB:

Every romance needs a bit of mischief. . .

At her eighteenth birthday celebration Jenny Crowley’s parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has actually been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a festive Christmas house party–complete with many eligible young bachelors–Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps find the man of her dreams.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny about as much as she does, but when his family’s dire financial status comes out, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a horrible mistake. Struggling with his unexpected new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

I’m jumping ahead to Jenny’s introduction to Lady Celinda Grantham at the Christmas house party Jenny’s Aunt Arabella invites her to. They are talking about coming out in the spring when Celinda mentions The Matchmaker’s Ball. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“Well, the reason it’s called that is that, several years running now, almost all the young ladies who attend the ball end up meeting the man they marry.” Celinda grasped her tea and took a long sip. “The second year that happened, the ton noticed and started calling it The Matchmaker’s Ball.”

“How delightful.” Jenny smiled and picked up her cup. Perhaps she could relate this to Mama and Great-Aunt Harriet when she returned home. One never knew what might change her great-aunt’s mind. About to take a sip, Jenny stopped, eyes widening. “But Celinda, you attended the ball this year, you said. Why are you not married?”

And a little bit more…

Her friend shrugged and rolled her eyes. “Unfortunately, it’s not a hard and fast rule that a young lady will find her true love there. I thought I had, but then Papa disliked him and wouldn’t agree to our marrying.”

“Why did he object?”

“Lord Kensington, while his title is old, has less money than a church mouse. Papa called him a fortune hunter and wouldn’t budge when I pleaded with him.” Celinda scowled. “I had to tell his lordship that we couldn’t marry, after all.”

“Did he pledge you his undying love?” Such a romantic story her friend had been caught up in.

“No, he turned around and married Lady Harlow, who is at least ten years older than he but possessed of the sizeable fortune her first husband had left her.” Celinda shrugged. “I have come to bear my trial, as you are doing, Jenny, with as much fortitude as I can muster.”

Mischief Under the Mistletoe is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your copy here!! It will release on Amazon and on other platforms in just 9 days on July 16, 2024.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There’s some great stories out there!

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Mischief Under the Mistletoe

BLURB:

Every romance needs a bit of mischief. . .

At her eighteenth birthday celebration Jenny Crowley’s parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has actually been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a festive Christmas house party–complete with many eligible young bachelors–Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps find the man of her dreams.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny about as much as she does, but when his family’s dire financial status comes out, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a horrible mistake. Struggling with his unexpected new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

I’m jumping ahead to Jenny’s introduction to Lady Celinda Grantham at the Christmas house party Jenny’s Aunt Arabella invites her to. They are talking about coming out in the spring when Celinda mentions The Matchmaker’s Ball. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

Jenny hung her head, staring into her teacup. “I doubt I will be allowed a come out, Celinda.”

“Not have a come out?” Celinda’s round face looked like a huge “O,” her eyes wide, mouth open. “Why ever not?”

With a sigh, Jenny launched into her tale of woe. “And so these weeks here at Marbury Place are all I’m to get for a Season.” She sighed and took a sip of her cooling tea. “I am most grateful to my aunt for arranging it, but in the end, I suppose I shall have to return home and marry Alexander.”

Celinda, whose face had warmed and paled throughout the explanation, leaned forward and whispered, “Is he old and warty?”

And a little bit more…

Jenny laughed and set her cup down. “No, nothing like that. He’s a little older than me, but only by a few years. I’ve known him all my life.” She grew quiet. That was the problem. She didn’t want to marry someone she’d seen climbing trees at ten years old or falling and skinning his knee. She wanted someone new and exciting, someone she could dance and flirt with without remembering that they’d once poured a bucket of rainwater down her back. Most of all, she wanted to have a choice.

“Hmmm.” Celinda tapped her finger against her lips. “But the main reason they want you to marry him is because he will inherit his father’s title. Is that right?” Her eyes closed to mere slits.

Jenny nodded, a sliver of hope dawning within. Did Celinda perhaps have some sort of plan to thwart her parents?

“So if you fall in love with another gentleman who has a title, they should let you marry him, correct?”

“I suppose so.” Jenny thought about her great-aunt’s face when she’d chastised Mama about not marrying up. “Great-Aunt Harriett wants to be able to crow about having a family member with a title. I doubt she’d be very fussy about what the title was.”

“Such a shame then that they won’t let you have your Season.” Celinda sighed deeply. “I’m quite certain you could find the perfect gentleman at The Matchmaker’s Ball.”

“The Matchmaker’s Ball?” Jenny had never heard of such a thing. “Do they have real matchmakers in London?”

Mischief Under the Mistletoe is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your copy here!! It will release on Amazon and on other platforms on July 16, 2024.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There’s some great stories out there!

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Mischief Under the Mistletoe

BLURB:

Every romance needs a bit of mischief. . .

At her eighteenth birthday celebration Jenny Crowley’s parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has actually been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a festive Christmas house party–complete with many eligible young bachelors–Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps find the man of her dreams.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny about as much as she does, but when his family’s dire financial status comes out, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a horrible mistake. Struggling with his unexpected new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

I’m jumping ahead to Jenny’s introduction to Lady Celinda Grantham at the Christmas house party Jenny’s Aunt Arabella invites her to. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

Her aunt and her friends had resumed their conversation. Their daughters, however, surrounded her like hunters closing in for the kill.

“Have you just arrived, Miss Crowley?” One young lady, dressed in blue with gilt trim—was it Lady Mary?—arched her neck in a superior way.

Before she could answer, quite the tallest lady of the group grasped her arm and exclaimed, “What a pretty frock you have on. Did you get that in London?”

Jenny stood tongue-tied as the questions came fast and thick.

“Are you related to the Duke and Duchess of Beddingfield–their family name is Crowley.”

“No, their name is Crawley, Caroline.”

“Indeed, Anna, I know it is Crowley because Lady Grace Winthorpe married a younger son and—”

“You look like you could use a cup of tea right now,” said a petite blonde in a sweet pink and cream sprigged dress, holding out a steaming cup toward her.

And a little bit more…

“Here, let’s go sit away from all the fuss.” The young lady motioned toward a pair of chairs in a cozy corner away from the fireplace. “Ladies, please go back to your places. Let Miss Crowley have a minute to accustom herself to our company.”

Jenny smiled gratefully at her. “Thank you.” She hesitated. Was this Lady Diana or Miss Newel?

“Lady Celinda Grantham,” the blonde supplied with a little tinkling laugh. “It’s always impossible to remember which face belongs to which name when they throw them at you all at once. It’s easier for me, since there’s only one of you.” She smiled, crinkling her eyes and drawing a dimple out of her left cheek. “You’re Miss Crowley, from Lancashire, is that correct?”

“Please call me Jenny,” she said, dropping gratefully into the plush chair. “I’m not at all used to being called Miss Crowley.”

Lady Celinda seated herself in the companion chair, smoothing out her skirts. She cocked her head. “And I insist you call me Celinda. But why are you not used to your address?”

“I’ve only just become Miss Crowley. I’ve been plain Jenny up until my birthday, ten days ago.” She sipped her tea, wanting to groan with pleasure as the hot, fragrant beverage slid down her throat.

“Ah, a happy birthday wish is in order.” Lady Celinda leaned forward and bounced in her chair. “Then you will be coming out this spring?

Mischief Under the Mistletoe is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your copy here!! It will release on Amazon and on other platforms on July 16, 2024.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There’s some great stories out there!

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Mischief Under the Mistletoe

BLURB:

Every romance needs a bit of mischief. . .

At her eighteenth birthday celebration Jenny Crowley’s parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has actually been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a festive Christmas house party–complete with many eligible young bachelors–Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps find the man of her dreams.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny about as much as she does, but when his family’s dire financial status comes out, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a horrible mistake. Struggling with his unexpected new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

The birthday celebration continues, however Great-Aunt Henrietta has a very important question. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“Not bad?” Great-Aunt Harriet swung her gaze to Jenny and fixed her with a cold blue-eyed stare. “You should be grateful, girl. Your parents and I have arranged for you to take your place in society, as a titled lady in due time.”

Jenny sent a panicked gaze from her great-aunt to her mother. “It’s not true is it, Mamma?”  She could barely choke out the words in a voice that didn’t sound like her own at all–too high, too soft. A peculiar roaring in her ears made her head light.

“Yes, my dear, it most certainly is true.”  Great-Aunt Henrietta nodded with such vehemence that the feathers on her green velvet turban bobbed back and forth. 

And a little bit more…

“When your mother refused to marry up, I swore none of your family would ever see a penny of my money.  Then when you were born, she came to me, begged me to reconsider, and promised that you had already been betrothed to the Isley heir here.” She pointed a finger at Alec who looked like he might dive under the table.  “She showed me the betrothal papers.”

The others at the table sat in stunned silence, their eyes darting from one face to another. 

Jenny looked down at her hands, clasped together so tightly her knuckles showed white.  All her dreams of excitement and romance during her Season had just exploded in the blink of an eye.  Then the real import of her great-aunt’s word sank in and her stomach twisted. They expected her to marry Alec?

Mischief Under the Mistletoe is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your copy here!! It will release on Amazon and on other platforms on July 16, 2024.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There’s some great stories out there!

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

Mischief Under the Mistletoe

BLURB:

Every romance needs a bit of mischief. . .

At her eighteenth birthday celebration Jenny Crowley’s parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has actually been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a festive Christmas house party–complete with many eligible young bachelors–Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps find the man of her dreams.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny about as much as she does, but when his family’s dire financial status comes out, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a horrible mistake. Struggling with his unexpected new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

The birthday celebration continues, however Great-Aunt Henrietta has a very important question. Enjoy!

EXCERPT:

“So, Charles, when is the wedding to take place?” Great-Aunt Henrietta trumpeted the question from her place at the mid-point of the table, her spoon already busy with her dessert.

“Wedding, Aunt Henrietta?”  Papa’s voice rose in a question, but he cut his eyes toward Mamma, who sent a frightened look at Jenny. 

Odd, but no more so than her great-aunt’s question.  Whose wedding was she talking about?

“Yes, Charles.  Jenny’s wedding to young Alexander here.”  Henrietta nodded across the table to Alexander Isley, who sat up abruptly, staring at her aunt with wide eyes, as though he thought the old lady quite mad. 

And a little bit more…

Jenny thought so herself.  A prickly sensation began at the back of her neck. She shot Alec a quick look. Did he know what her aunt was talking about? No, his face wore an expression of outright confusion, his brows knit over his dark brown eyes.

“She’s eighteen now, and you promised me when she was of age I’d see her married into the Isley family.  I have lived for the day that I could announce to the world that one of my family had moved into the titled class.”  She glared at Mamma, who blushed and turned to Jenny.

“It’s not as bad as it sounds, Jenny darling,” Mamma said, patting her hand.

That might have reassured Jenny, except her mother’s wide, staring eyes said yes, it was that bad. Maybe worse. Her heart began to pound and the sweet trifle turned sour in her mouth.

Mischief Under the Mistletoe is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your copy here!! It will release on Amazon and on other platforms on July 16, 2024.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There’s some great stories out there!

Welcome to Weekend Writing Warriors !

So much has been going on I didn’t realize it’s almost been a month since I posted here. I went to Chicago for my daughter’s play which was fabulous. Then I came down with conjunctivitis and have been unable to see clearly for almost two weeks. But now I’m back with the first book in the reboot of my Handful of Hearts series. It’s a Christmas story, and it’s actually a prequel to the new The Matchmaker’s Ball series called Mischief Under the Mistletoe.  It went up on pre-order on Amazon yesterday and will release on July 16 as part of my Christmas in July promo. So I’ll be showing snippets of it for the next few weeks!

Mischief Under the Mistletoe

BLURB:

Every romance needs a bit of mischief. . .

At her eighteenth birthday celebration Jenny Crowley’s parents announce that instead of having the London Season she’s dreamed of for years, Jenny has actually been betrothed from birth to Alexander Isley, son of family friends and heir to a title. A distraught Jenny refuses point-blank to marry Alec, and when her aunt offers to whisk her away to a festive Christmas house party–complete with many eligible young bachelors–Jenny jumps at the chance to enjoy a variety of entertainments, be courted, and perhaps find the man of her dreams.

Alec Isley is between a rock and a hard place. He desires a marriage with Jenny about as much as she does, but when his family’s dire financial status comes out, he follows Jenny to the house party in hopes of convincing her to marry him after all. When he discovers who else is courting her there, Alec is frantic to keep her from making a horrible mistake. Struggling with his unexpected new-found feelings for his childhood friend, can Alec convince her of his love in time to save her from being ruined under the mistletoe?

EXCERPT:

“Happy birthday, my dear.” Mama smiled her lovely, sweet smile, her eyes brimming with tears and hugged Jenny around the shoulders. “Your favorite desert for your special birthday.” She motioned for Agnes, the maid, to enter the festively decorated dining room.  Candles burned brightly in the best silver candleholders all along the blue damasked covered table. Bows of gaily colored lace adorned the chair where Jenny sat in the place of honor on this great occasion, in Mama’s seat at the end of the table. Her closest friends and family were gathered around the table to wish her well on this auspicious day.

Jenny twisted around to see, as though she were a mere eight rather than a dignified young lady of eighteen. She turned again and straightened her new blue silk striped gown, feigning reserve when what she wanted to do was shout and skip all over the house.  She had done it, had at last turned eighteen–this year all her dreams would come true.

And a little bit more…

“Happy birthday, Jenny.”  Alexander Isley leaned toward her, his deep voice startling her out of her daydream. He was seated to her right, and currently running his finger around the top of a very tightly tied cravat.  The elder brother of her best friend, Alec had ever been a presence when she and his sister, Margaret, played together growing up. 

“Thank you, Alec. It’s so good to see you today. It’s been ages, hasn’t it?”  She smiled and patted his hand.  He’d almost been the brother she’d never had, playing with her and Margaret constantly throughout their childhood years. Sadly, she’d not seen much of him the past few years. First, he’d been off at university, then living in London attending to some sort of family business Mama had said. The last time she’d seen him had been at Margaret’s wedding.

His quick, lopsided grin assured her he hadn’t changed an iota.  He’d always used that silly smile to tease her.

Mischief Under the Mistletoe is available for pre-order on Amazon for just .99! Grab your copy here!! It will release on Amazon and on other platforms on July 16, 2024.

Don’t forget to check out the rest of the WWW snippets here! There’s some great stories out there!