New Release ~ A Holiday Anthology (Volume Two) A Collection of Winter Holiday Tales

b4555-sneakpeeksunday

A Holiday Anthology (Volume Two)

A Collection of Winter Holiday Tales

EQCover

3ee39-synopsis

Please join us in reading this fantastically diverse FREE collection of stories to warm your heart while you wait for the kids, the oven to buzz, on a 15-minute break from work, or when you just need to hide for ten minutes from everyone! Every story is PG,but a few have a hint of zing.

The calendar on the wall says 2014 but the holidays are a magical time where anything is possible when it comes to romance. Prepare to travel through snow or to a tropical setting with a little dash of fantasy sprinkled in to make your holiday reading enjoyable. This heart-warming collection of all new, very short stories is our way of saying happy holidays to you.

172b0-a034cb721ae8fd640b8fc0b97a1cec38

A Kiss and a Promise by Lyndi Lamont

Hammond Park, England, December 21, 1878

A whirlwind rushed down the hallway and into Sophia’s bedroom.
Amused, she watched as her younger sister Cora hurried to the window, her red curls quivering in anticipation. Using the side of her fist, she wiped the steam off the inside of the glass and peered outside.

“Hurry, Sophia, I see them.” Cora turned and grinned. “I love sleighing. I’m so happy it snowed.”

Sophia moved toward the window and joined her. To say it had snowed was a bit of an understatement. The country had been in a deep freeze since November, and white powder decorated large swathes of the countryside. The Blatchford sleigh was indeed proceeding up the drive. As it neared, she noted Harry was driving, with little Phoebe beside him, while Lydia and Harry’s friend, Gerald Lovell, huddled in the back. Good for Lydia, Sophia thought. A match with Gerald would be just the thing.

“We’re late,” Cora said. “Better get your coat. Race you downstairs.”

“I’ll be down shortly,” Sophia promised, but not until she’d double checked her appearance in the mirror. She’d donned her warmest gown of dark green wool, knowing it brought out the color of her eyes.

Grabbing her fur muff, she left the room and walked down the wide stairs with all the dignity her eighteen years demanded. Cora’s excitement was contagious, and Sophia had to admit she was looking forward to gathering mistletoe for the kissing boughs. Her heart beat faster in anticipation at the thought of spending time with her friend’s brother. Still, she wasn’t about to give Harry the satisfaction of knowing she was anxious to see him. He was far too confident for his own good. And far too handsome for hers.

a89e8-meettheauthor

&

121c9-sociallinks

THE GIFT OF TIME by Rose Anderson

“Rose is a multi-published, award-winning author and dilettante who loves great conversation and discovering interesting things to weave into stories. She lives with her family and small menagerie amid oak groves and prairie in the rolling glacial hills of the upper Midwest.
Possessing an active imagination, she writes everything from children’s stories to historical non-fiction.”

FRANKIE’S WISH by Jennifer Garcia

Jennifer believes in writing love stories that connect families and touch hearts. Her first novel, My Mr. Manny, was released August 2013 and her first novella, In My Mother’s Footsteps, was released July 2013.

A KISS AT MIDNIGHT by Lily Bishop

Lily Bishop lives in South Carolina with her husband and two children. She writes contemporary romance and romantic suspense, and has published two books in the City Lights series, No Strings Attached and Under His Protection. She is working on the third book now.

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER by Dee Ann Palmer

In every age the heart loves, and Dee Ann Palmer’s romances reflect those eras in fantasy, historic, contemporary and futuristic tales. The award winning Palmer is a PAN member of Romance Writers of America and belongs to the Los Angeles chapter of Sisters in Crime.

MARJA’S VICTORY By Barb Caffrey

Barb Caffrey is a writer, editor, book reviewer and musician from the Midwest. She is the author of the humorous urban fantasy/romance AN ELFY ON THE LOOSE, and is the co-author of the Adventures of Joey Maverick series (with late husband Michael B. Caffrey).

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS by Beverley Bateman

Beverley Bateman is a Canadian author of several books who loves traveling, good wine and a mystery. She lives with her husband and two Shiba Inu dogs among vineyards and orchards set in lake country and surrounded by mountains – beaches, swimming and skiing.

GINGERBREAD DREAMS by Victoria Adams

Victoria Adams is a romance writer, dividing her writing between contemporary romance and New Adult contemporary romance. She lives in Ontario, Canada with her husband and kitten, Licorice. She likes to study Raqs Sharqi (Egyptian belly dance), garden, and bake.

CHE GELIDA MANINA by M. S. Spencer

Although she has lived or traveled in every continent except Antarctica and Australia (bucket list), M. S. Spencer has spent the last thirty years mostly in Washington, D.C. as a librarian, Congressional staff assistant, speechwriter, editor, birdwatcher, kayaker, policy wonk, non-profit director and parent. She has two fabulous grown children, and currently divides her time between the Gulf coast of Florida and a tiny village in Maine. Ms. Spencer has published nine romantic suspense novels.

ROMANCE VALLEY by Kaye Spencer

Native Coloradoan Kaye Spencer writes romances from her basement hovel in a small, rural town in the far southeastern corner of Colorado—no mountains in sight—just prairie dogs, buffalo grass, and glorious prairie sunsets. While drawn to cowboys and the Old West, all genres are within her story-crafting realm. Retired from a long career in public education that included teaching through a community college outreach program, Kaye is enjoying being a full-time writer and spoiler of grandchildren. Kaye is also afflicted with ACD—Accumulative Cat Disorder—with no cure in sight.

THE CHRISTMAS EVE GIFT by Janis Susan May

Janis Susan May is a seventh-generation Texan and a third-generation wordsmith who writes mysteries as Janis Patterson, romances and other things as Janis Susan May, children’s books as Janis Susan Patterson and scholarly works and non-fiction as J.S.M. Patterson. Janis and her husband live in Texas with an assortment of rescued furbabies.

TROPICAL CHRISTMAS by Gemma Juliana

GEMMA JULIANA is a multi-published author who lives in an enchanted cottage in north Texas with her handsome hero, teen son and a comical dog. She loves making new friends and hearing from readers. Exotic coffee and chocolate fuel her creativity.

A KISS AND A PROMISE by Lyndi Lamont

Lyndi Lamont is the racy alter ego of author Linda McLaughlin, who writes historical and Regency Romance. Since becoming Lyndi Lamont, she has discovered that writing sexy romance is a license to be naughty, at least between the pages of a book.

A COWBOY’S HOLIDAY by E. Ayers

E. Ayers is a multi-published and best-selling author of western and contemporary romances. Her books are never too sweet or too hot. She writes down the middle.

570ff-purchase

It is available for FREE at smashwords-icon1 and Barnes and Noble, and coming soon to Apple iBooks and Kobo.

addtogoodreads

Last year’s anthology is also available at

smashwords-icon1 and 6b0c2-b2526n

Don’t forget to enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card and a 2015 Mouse Pad Calendar in the December drawing.

Linda

a Rafflecopter giveaway

New Release: A Highland Pearl by Brenda B. Taylor @rayburnlady

A Highland Pearl
by Brenda B. Taylor

Just in time for Christmas shopping, A Highland Pearl is now available in ebook format. An ebook copy of the novel will be awarded to a commenter.

A sweet romance blossoms amidst feuding and war. With her reputation at stake after being accused of practicing witchcraft and hated as a member of a rival clan, Maidie considers leaving Clan Munro and returning to the home of her birth in ClaHighland Pearl covern Cameron. Fierce battles, a tragic encounter, and a handsome clan chief compel her to make crucial decisions in this haunting romance set in the16th century Highlands of Scotland.

A Highland Pearl, is the first novel in the Highland Treasures series. The story takes place in 1508 A.D. Scotland when clan chiefs ruled the highlands. Loyalty pledged to a clan chief meant provision and protection for the clansman, but in return rents were paid to support the chief and his family and service in the chief’s army was required of each able-bodied man. Within the walls of the great castles, intrigue and mystery reigned. Clans vied for land, livestock, and power. Fighting and reiving or stealing were prevalent, yet a gentler side with passion, love, romance, family and faith permeated the life of the Highlanders. A Highland Pearl tells about all aspects of life in the Highlands of Scotland.

Excerpt from A Highland Pearl

The warriors now lead by the tanist moved on to find and capture the reivers. Colin dismounted, took his horse and Andrew’s by the reins and tied both to a nearby bush.

A cold, light mist began to fall. Clouds cloaked the moon, making the night black. Andrew sat down on the root of a large oak with low hanging branches. Leaves from the large tree covered the cold, damp ground. An owl’s haunting call pierced the night air.

Andrew unhooked the plaide on his shoulder and wrapped it around his aching body, while Colin gathered small branches and twigs enough for a fire. He found dry leaves then piled them together close to Andrew’s feet. Using a flint stone and his sgian dubh, Colin soon had a small fire burning. He added kindling, larger sticks, and finally a limb.

Andrew leaned against the tree trunk, relaxing in the warmth of the fire. Colin soon joined him, wrapped his plaide around his young body, and rested against the tree. Andrew’s wound burned with pain. He closed his eyes, but could not sleep. Droplets of water from the mist collected on the tree’s branches and splashed down upon his head, but he did not care. His pride throbbed as mightily as the wound in his abdomen. He, the chief of Clan Munro, could not lead his men into battle. The tanist must now do his work. His warriors and people would hold him in contempt for not being able to perform his duties. How could he face his men?

Andrew’s eyes closed against his will. He wished for one of Maidie Munro’s potions to ease the pain in his gut and her gentle touch to ease the pain in his heart. He soon dozed. In a fitful sleep, he dreamed of a bonny lass surrounded by glowing light, dressed in a flowing sheer white gown with a wreath of yellow daisies about her head. She wore a large pearl around a slender neck, and her skin shone like alabaster. Golden locks spilled around her shoulders and down her back. Large blue eyes and red lips taunted him. He reached for her when she beckoned with one willowy hand.

“If you touch this pearl, you will have life and love,” she spoke in a voice sounding of tinkling bells.

“Aye, come closer and I will touch it.” Andrew stretched his hand out further. He had almost reached the pearl when the beautiful lass backed away. “Come closer. I canna reach you. I will touch the pearl,” he called as she grew smaller and smaller. He tried to run toward her, but his legs would not move. “Come back, come back. I canna reach the pearl,” he called at the top of his lungs, but she vanished.

Colin shook his shoulder. “Are you well, M’Laird? You’re talking in your sleep.”

“Aye. I’m fine, lad. Just a wee pain in the gut.” Andrew placed a hand inside his plaide and felt the warmth of blood oozing from the wound in his belly.

Colin rose to put limbs on the fire, and then settled against the tree once more. The night mist grew heavier and colder. The owl called again, this time from further away. Andrew guessed his cry had frightened the bird. Hopefully, no wolves were about. He didn’t feel up to fighting off a pack this night, and Colin would not be able to hold off very many by himself. Andrew had no spirit or energy left for fighting.

Even in the night’s cold air, perspiration lay on Andrew’s brow. He wiped it away with the plaide and then wrapped the wool garment closer about his body. For the first time since Tara Fraser, he longed to gaze into the eyes of a lass and wrap his arms about her, feel her touch on his skin, and press her warm lips to his. Since Maidie came into his life, his thoughts turned more and more toward the soft feel of a woman. If only he were free to properly court the lass. She may not want him, however, now that his strength was spent.

The sound of a distant owl broke the night air again. Colin wrapped his plaide tighter around his body. Another owl sounded closer.

Andrew jumped to his feet with a hand on the hilt of his broadsword. “Colin, douse the fire. ‘Tis no owl we’re hearing, but an animal far more dangerous.”

Read more about Brenda and her books at:

Historical Heartbeats, Facebook, Twitter, Amazon Author’s Page, Pinterest, Goodreads, StoryFinds.

Buy A Highland Pearl at Amazon.

This sounds very interesting, Brenda. Some of my ancestors were in Scotland in this time period, though they came to the US via Northern Ireland.

Do you have Scottish roots? Leave a comment below to win an e-book copy of A Highland Pearl. And enter the Rafflecopter giveaway for a chance to win a $10 Amazon gift card and a 2015 Mouse Pad Calendar in the December drawing.

Linda

a Rafflecopter giveaway