All About the Writing

The Widows of Wayward Manor Are Here!

It took a lot longer than expected, but I can finally introduce you to my favorite widows - Allegra, Madeleine, and Anne. There's also Lily and her sister Ophelia, but I don't want to ruin the surprise about them.

This book required more time because it's several stories in one, with Allegra in the present, and the others in the Regency era. All of them are connected by Wayward Manor and Madeleine's diaries. There is more detailed info in the blurb below.

I hope it was worth the wait, and that you enjoy the widows and their romances!

After eighteen months as a widow, Allegra Watkins knows it's time to move on with her life. She's just not sure how to accomplish it. A sign from the Universe would be really helpful—especially before her mom starts signing her up for dating sites.

Out of the blue, Allegra learns she's the new owner of an estate in Bath, England. But there's more to this inheritance than a Jane Austen summer vacation.

Allegra is the latest in an unbroken line of widows, going back two hundred years, and her new home is known as Wayward Manor.

That's because of the first widow, Madeleine, Lady Canton – who was never the meek and mousey wallflower type.

How could Allegra hope to continue that legacy? She barely remembers how to flirt anymore.

Fortunately Madeleine has left a diary which details her new romance with a dashing Navy captain, as well as the story of her widowed sister Anne finding love again.

The diary becomes a guidebook for Allegra's new life. It inspires her to embark on a romance with her sexy neighbor, Max, who needed adventure as much as Allegra did. She's also regained her confidence about the future and the direction it's headed.

If all goes well, Allegra will have a ton of exciting diary entries to inspire future widows—and make the previous Widows of Wayward Manor beam with pride.

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Fortune's Scoundrel

Book 5 of The Curse of True Love Series

James Arrington fled to the continent to escape his gambling debts. Now he has returned to London, eager to make amends and secure his financial future—by marrying an heiress.

A chance encounter with Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love, threatens to derail these plans because James falls instantly, inexplicably, in love with a woman he hasn't even set eyes on.

Fortune is smiling on this charming scoundrel, for the stranger who stole James' heart is an heiress. All he has to do is convince this fierce beauty, as well as himself, that he is worthy of being her husband.

Cecily Honeyfield has been wary of charmers her entire life. She rarely lets down her guard and is well-accustomed to fending off unwelcome suitors—at sword point if needed. She isn't about to lose her wealth, or her heart, just because a gentleman is witty and handsome and possesses an irresistible smile.

Yet this fortune hunter is unlike the others seeking to enrich themselves at her expense. His every word and deed makes Cecily feel that she, not her money, is the treasure he truly desires.

Can Cecily trust that she has finally found the one who is worth risking it all? Or will love remain a luxury neither of them can afford?

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Meet Me at the Mistletoe!

Imagine you were given a card with these words – Meet Me at the Mistletoe – except you have just half of the card. You're at a masquerade, eager to meet the unknown woman who has the other half.

She hasn't shown up.

And now you're starting to think asking the Matchmaking Earl to help you find love was a terrible idea.

That's Desmond's current plight.

Now imagine you're at a masquerade, and, out of the blue, another woman gives you a card -- half a card actually -- insisting you use it because she has found her own beau.

Sharing kisses under the mistletoe does sound like a lovely way to spend the evening. It also isn't likely to lead to anything long-lasting, which is just what you prefer.

That's Lorelei's situation.

This story is my current response to "what would my Regency characters do in a modern-day situation". Instead of a blind date at a coffee shop, how about a meetup at a masquerade, with a slight twist? I was utterly delighted with their path to love. I hope you will be, too.

Originally this was in the Mistletoe and Mayhem anthology, and I thought it might be the last of the Matchmaking Earl's escapades. But there is at least one more, which I'm hopeful will be available in 2022, though it's been a challenge to get the story finished. It feels like I have half a card with the words "Meet me at the Word document" but the characters are gleefully refusing to play their part. We'll see who ends up victorious. (Fingers crossed it's me.)

Until then, I hope you enjoy Desmond and Lorelei's romantic adventure. I always love to hear your thoughts, and if you want to leave a review so others can see how you felt, that would be a wonderful gift, too.

Have a happy holiday season!

~~~~~

Book 4 of The Matchmaking Earl Series

Desmond Mayfield enlists the Matchmaking Earl to find his perfect match, hoping for a love like his parents' legendary romance. He meets an enchanting temptress, but she is only amenable to a brief affair, unwilling to risk another loveless union.

Can mistletoe—and the kisses they inspire—convince her their passion will last through every season?

~~Previously published in the Mistletoe and Mayhem anthology~~

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The First Christmas Romance Story

Do you remember your first Christmas romance story? It took me a while to remember mine, but then I realized it's. . .

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

At first glance, it seems to be a story about a lovable reindeer with an odd quirk--that bright red nose of his--and an elf with a seemingly unattainable career choice. But when you dig a little deeper, you can see how this tale really does track with the romance stories we love so much.

There are two young lovers, Rudolph and Clarice, who have strong feelings for each other, despite their parents' objections. And Clarice's dad -- it's great to be protective of your daughter, but he gets a little too alpha about it, literally butting heads with Rudolph's dad. He's the reason the young reindeer are torn apart, even though we know how perfect they are for each other. 

One minute Rudolph is flying through the air because Clarice has let him know she's smitten with him. The next he's leaving his home, and his detractors, because they have shunned him and his glowing nose. Talk about heart wrenching!

Fortunately he joins up with Hermey, the would-be dentist, and the two are off on a grand adventure, gaining experiences that will aid them in the future.

There's even a black moment, when all seems hopelessly lost. The Abominable Snowman has captured Clarice, as well as Rudolph's parents, planning to make them his holiday snack. In true heroic fashion, Rudolph sacrifices himself to save those he loves. It looks like HE might be the next thing nibbled on by The Abominable One, but Hermey gets to use his dental training, rendering the big guy toothless, and harmless. 

And just like in all the best romances, the character trait that seems to be a flaw in the beginning turns out to be just what everyone needed, although they were unable to see it at first. Rudolph's beacon of a nose saves Christmas, since Santa was ready to cancel the whole thing (he said it was because of the weather, but maybe he finally realized how tough it is to deliver that many toys in just one night--we'll never know for sure).

Rudolph also rescues the lonely toys from the Island of Misfit Toys, so they can be given to children who don't have any play things--demonstrating Rudolph's compassion, and giving us a lovely misty-eyed moment, like all great romances do.

I've always believed the story ends with a happily-ever-after. And if it doesn't, I've already written one in--because after all of those romantic, heroic things we've just experienced, it wouldn't be right for Rudolph and Clarice to be denied their happily-ever-after.

A Twelfth Night to Remember is back!

Yes, Book 3 of The Matchmaking Earl Series is once again available for your reading pleasure. It was first published in 2019 as part of the Winter Wishes: A Regency Holiday Romance anthology (a USA Today bestseller!)

And don't forget, once you've finished with Grace and Rhys' love story, you can move right into Book 4, Meet Me at the Mistletoe, which is in the recently released Mistletoe and Mayhem anthology. More info can be found HERE.

I love the cover Carrie at Cheeky Covers created. The sleigh is such a perfect touch since it's in one of the scenes in the book, and as much as I'm not a fan of winter, I love the wintry backdrop of this cover!

 

High-spirited Grace Nettleton had once believed in exciting escapades and magic—so much so, she eloped with a man who promised both. But her husband offered little beyond betrayal and heartache, except for their son, Oliver, the one good and pure thing to come from their union. Now widowed, Grace has returned to Hartstone Hall, resuming a position in the kitchens and setting aside her former fanciful notions of adventure in order to provide stability for her son.

Rhys Wilton, Grace's dearest childhood friend, has loved her all his life, but his position as third son of a noble family seemed an insurmountable obstacle in their youth. Putting Grace's happiness first meant silently stepping aside when she departed to begin a life with someone else, despite the blow to Rhys' soul. With her return, he will not make the same mistake twice. Finding his place in Grace's and Oliver's hearts is easy. Convincing her to ignore their stations, and embrace a new adventure as his wife, will require all the magic of the season.

~~Previously published in the Winter Wishes: A Regency Holiday Romance anthology~~

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Mistletoe and Mayhem is here!

Are you ready for some Mistletoe & Mayhem? Today is the day!

My story, Meet Me at the Mistletoe, is Book 4 of The Matchmaking Earl series. Here's the blurb:

After years of pleasurable but temporary pursuits, Desmond Mayfield enlists his friend, the Matchmaking Earl, to find his perfect match, never dreaming he’d find a love to rival his parents' legendary romance. Then he meets a temptress so enchanting, the very idea of letting her slip away is too dreadful to consider. But while Desmond may have fallen fast and hard, his Siren is determined to allow only a brief holiday affair, unwilling to risk a repeat of her previous loveless union.

It will take all the mistletoe Desmond can find—and all the kisses they afford him—to convince her that theirs is a passion to last through every season.

I hope you enjoy Desmond and Lorelei falling in love, along with all these other wonderful stories!

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There’s no Christmas like a Regency Christmas spent under mistletoe! New York Times Bestselling author Cheryl Bolen and friends invite you to discover true love in an all-new collection of steamy holiday romances.

Countess by Christmas (House of Haverstock #5) by Cheryl Bolen: Newly inherited Lord Paxton is forced to spend Christmas at his family’s old hunting lodge with the woman to whom his father left the house.

Silver Bells (A Distinguished Rogues Novella) by Heather Boyd: On the run from a man determined to take her child, Ruby seeks refuge at her uncle’s estate, only to go from one intolerable situation into another. Should she trust her own flesh and blood? Or rely on someone else, someone from her past, to keep her son safe?

Convincing the Countess by Alina K. Field: When a business-minded aristocrat encounters a fetching widow he met years earlier as the bride of a ne’er-do-well earl, temptation steers him along a track that may derail all his plans. Can he convince her to set a course for her future that includes him?

Rescued By A Rake by Wendy Vella: Miss Ivy Redfern’s life is thrown into turmoil when her brother disappears five days before Christmas. Desperate for help she turns to the devilishly charming Mr. Haddon. He agrees but it comes with a price – her heart!

Unwise but not Dishonorable by Barbara Monajem: A spymaster’s beautiful daughter crashes a Christmas house party to steal back a precious medallion, but finds that one of her father’s men is already there on a secret mission. Can they work together to unmask a traitor despite the distraction of falling in love?

Meet Me at the Mistletoe (The Matchmaking Earl #4) by Donna Cummings: Desmond Mayfield enlists the Matchmaking Earl to find his perfect match, hoping for a love like his parents' legendary romance. He meets an enchanting temptress, but she is only amenable to a brief affair, unwilling to risk another loveless union. Can mistletoe—and the kisses they inspire—convince her their passion will last through every season?
  
While You Were Roguish (An Everly Manor Happily Ever After) by Samantha Grace: When a roguish neighbor breaks into her cousin’s house seeking shelter from a winter storm, Bess decides to teach him a lesson. Instead, the wild and reckless Lord Julius reignites a fiery passion in her that almost led to her ruin years ago—and threatens to consume her now. 

Wedded to the Welsh Baron (A London Lords Novella) by Sasha Cottman: With little more than a ruined castle in Wales to his name, the last thing, Welsh baron, Rhys Morgan wants is to inherit a rundown English estate. With no money and no prospects, Wister York’s greatest fear is that when Lord Carno arrives at Kington House, he will throw her out. 

Once Upon a Kiss Gone Horribly Wrong (A Once Upon a Kiss Series Prequel) by Bree Wolf: Always has Anne looked at her childhood friend Tobias Hawke with love in her heart. Only now, she no longer sees Little Toby when those chocolate-brown eyes meet hers and she cannot help but wonder, what if he kissed her?

A Rogue and Some Mistletoe (The Rogue Chronicles #5) by Lana Williams: A lady fearful of risking her heart meets a handsome rogue who tempts her to find the courage to love with the help of mistletoe and the magic of Christmas. 

The Duke’s Christmas List by Bronwen Evans: Ignored all season, Lady Harriet Rondell is affronted by Charles Spencer, the Duke of Bladestow’s sudden Christmas visit proffering marriage. Armed with a copy of Blade’s disgustingly traditional list of requirements he is looking for in his wife, Harriet sets about convincing him she is not—and never will be—his Christmas bride.

Publishers note: If you adore steamy Christmas and Regency romance, you’ll love this anthology!

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Sneak Peek: Meet Me at the Mistletoe

Book 4 in The Matchmaking Earl series

Martin, the Matchmaking Earl, has promised his friend Desmond he will find a woman who is perfect for him. He has arranged for Desmond to meet her at a masquerade ball, but the plan has a serendipitous detour or two...

Lorelei turned to continue her stroll around the ballroom, but just then a young woman stopped her, pressing a card into her hand.

"I will not be needing this now. You should go in my place."

"What do you mean?" Lorelei glanced at the card, which was torn in half and outlined in red, engraved with the phrase, "Meet me at the mistletoe".

"I was supposed to meet a gentleman, but I've found the most wonderful one on my own!"

Before Lorelei could respond, the young woman darted off with her new suitor, both of them clearly bursting with happiness.

Lorelei felt a pang of envy. She missed that feeling of falling in love, when everything was still filled with promise and possibility…

Why not steal a few kisses under the mistletoe? She could do it anonymously, with the gentleman not aware of who she was. Indeed, she could pretend she was the one he was supposed to meet. Afterwards, she would return to her normal existence, with no one the wiser.

This would be a perfect way to spend the evening.

She tightened the ribbons of her mask and began to search for this mystery man in earnest. There was a multitude of mistletoe throughout the overheated ballroom. How was she supposed to find the one man waiting for the woman she was pretending to be?

A good many of the mistletoe bunches were occupied by couples, surreptitiously kissing, taking a berry from the mistletoe each time. It was easy to rule them out as potential mystery men. Presumably he would have a card, the other half to hers, so she kept her attention on that aspect.

After another turn around the room, she began to wonder if she had been sent on a fool's errand.

All of a sudden, she saw a tall gentleman underneath a large cluster of mistletoe. How had she missed him before? He had chestnut hair, rakishly long, and an elegant mien. He was perusing the crowd but seemed disenchanted, and Lorelei wondered why. He began to tap a card against one hand—a card torn in half and edged in red.

Her heart thumped with excitement.

She stepped forward, eager to meet her mystery man. She could only imagine what kissing him might be like. The thought made her lose her footing for just a moment. She laughed at her clumsiness but her mirth instantly turned to dismay.

Another woman had swooped in to flirt with him!

This was such a fun book, and I hope it will make you laugh and fall in love with these characters like I did. Here's the blurb, so you can see more of what's to come:

After years of pleasurable but temporary pursuits, Desmond Mayfield enlists his friend, the Matchmaking Earl, to find his perfect match, never dreaming he’d find a love to rival his parents' legendary romance. Then he meets a temptress so enchanting, the very idea of letting her slip away is too dreadful to consider. But while Desmond may have fallen fast and hard, his Siren is determined to allow only a brief holiday affair, unwilling to risk a repeat of her previous loveless union.

It will take all the mistletoe Desmond can find—and all the kisses they afford him—to convince her that theirs is a passion to last through every season.

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One Month to Go!

The Mistletoe & Mayhem anthology is almost here! My story, Meet Me at the Mistletoe, is Book 4 of The Matchmaking Earl series. I'll have a sneak peek soon-ish, but until then, here's the blurb:

After years of pleasurable but temporary pursuits, Desmond Mayfield enlists his friend, the Matchmaking Earl, to find his perfect match, never dreaming he’d find a love to rival his parents' legendary romance. Then he meets a temptress so enchanting, the very idea of letting her slip away is too dreadful to consider. But while Desmond may have fallen fast and hard, his Siren is determined to allow only a brief holiday affair, unwilling to risk a repeat of her previous loveless union.

It will take all the mistletoe Desmond can find—and all the kisses they afford him—to convince her that theirs is a passion to last through every season.

So pre-order now, and on November 10 you can enjoy Desmond and Lorelei falling in love, along with all these other wonderful stories!

Amazon ~~ B&N ~~ Apple ~~ Kobo

Mistletoe and Mayhem!

It's beginning to look a lot like pre-order time! My story, Meet Me at the Mistletoe, is Book 4 of The Matchmaking Earl series. I'll have a sneak peek soon-ish, but until then, here's the blurb:

After years of pleasurable but temporary pursuits, Desmond Mayfield enlists his friend, the Matchmaking Earl, to find his perfect match, never dreaming he’d find a love to rival his parents' legendary romance. Then he meets a temptress so enchanting, the very idea of letting her slip away is too dreadful to consider. But while Desmond may have fallen fast and hard, his Siren is determined to allow only a brief holiday affair, unwilling to risk a repeat of her previous loveless union.

It will take all the mistletoe Desmond can find—and all the kisses they afford him—to convince her that theirs is a passion to last through every season.

So pre-order now, and on November 10 you can enjoy Desmond and Lorelei falling in love, along with all these other wonderful stories!

Amazon ~~ B&N ~~ Apple ~~ Kobo

 

The Widows of Wayward Manor -- Teaser

It's taken a little longer -- okay, a LOT longer -- than I'd hoped to get this ready to publish. I'm anticipating it will be available in another month or so. Until then, here's a little teaser for you, when the heroine Allegra learns she's inherited a manor in England:

~~~~~

"It really would be foolish to let an opportunity like this slip by."

"Exactly!" Her mom beamed. "It's like all those times when you were a kid and dreamed you were a princess, wishing you'd find out you had inherited a castle. Now you have."

"How did you know I dreamed about that?"

Her mom snorted. "Every little girl dreams of that when she's mad at her mom. I did, too."

"Really? But Gran is so sweet—"

"Of course she's sweet. Now. When she doesn't have an angry daughter stomping around wishing her father the king would come rescue her."

Allegra laughed, feeling the first flutter of excitement. "It's been a long time since I've had any kind of vacation. Why not go there for a couple of weeks, check out the manor, and see what it's all about?"

"I agree." Her mom added several cucumber sandwiches and a crumpet to her plate, sighing happily. "I can't wait to hear all the details."

"Wait. You're not coming with me?"

"Not this time. This is an adventure you need to take by yourself."

Allegra gulped. She hadn't expected to set off on this excursion without a safety net.

"What if—I mean, they're probably expecting someone completely different than me. It's not like I know how to be the lady of the manor or anything."

"That's easy. Just fake it until you make it."

Allegra narrowed her eyes. "That always sounds like it's great advice, but I'm skeptical about how often it actually works."

"Allegra, that's the beauty of all this. Nobody knows you there, so you can be whoever you choose to be. I'm kind of envious, to be honest."

She had to admit it did sound appealing. She'd have the chance to be strong, courageous, decisive, maybe even lighthearted and playful—all kinds of things she hadn't been for the longest time.

Maybe she could even quit looking for anvils to fall out of the sky. At least for a couple of weeks.

"Okay, you've convinced me. A femme fatale might be a stretch," Allegra said with a laugh, "but a newly widowed American who has unexpectedly inherited an English manor should be within my range."

~~~~~

An uncertain American woman. A restless English man. And the Regency house that brought them together.

 

Allegra Watkins has finally stabilized her life after the unexpected death of her husband, and she’s not eager to interrupt that. So a letter in the mail declaring her the heiress of a mansion in England is hardly the great news it might seem to be. Still, Allegra figures that a Jane Austen vacation might not be the worst thing, so she packs her bag and heads to Wayward Manor, so named for the spirited widowed sisters who first owned the house.

 

Connor Maximilian, called Max, is dying to get out of his boring rural life. But his ties to the Tudor house that his family has always owned are too strong to break, so he plods through life the best he can while dreaming of more adventure-filled days. What he didn’t know was that his adventure was about to come to him, in the form of the new American neighbor at Wayward Manor.

 

The Widows of Wayward Manor is a lighthearted romance that dances between the contemporary adventures of Allegra and Max and the Regency romances of Allegra’s widowed ancestors.

 

Coming soon-ish!

 

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