Thursday, December 17, 2020

Christmas Countdown Blitz Day Ten: Her Secret Agent Fake Fiance by Kimberley Montpetit

 



When she was in Paris, Kimberley Montpetit spent all of her souvenir money at the La Patisserie shops with their gorgeous and delicious pastries. 

She grew up in the fabulous city of San Francisco, hides a stash of anything chocolate and caramel when she can get away with it, and now lives in a small town along the banks of the Rio Grande with her engineer husband and three sons. 







Can two clashing agents survive gunshots, murderous millionaires, and dangerous covert snooping? Most importantly, will their own hearts betray them in the end?

Our Heroine: Erin Steele, FBI Agent. Alias: Cassandra Fairfax, oil heiress.

Her Partner: Braden Moretti, CIA Special Ops. Alias: Marcus Romero, Erin’s drop-dead gorgeous date with a talent for driving her crazy.

Where: A fancy Christmas party at the mansion of the wealthiest man in San Francisco.

Undercover Assignment: Fake FabergĂ© jewels selling for ten million bucks. A sting operation to take down the bad guys, of course . . . it’s all in a night’s work. 

Biggest Blunder: An encounter under the mistletoe that goes horribly wrong . . . or perfectly right?

◆ Fall in love with Romantic Suspense that includes intrigue and danger - all wrapped up in a red Christmas bow!

◆ Included in this romance: Agent Erin Steele's special Christmas morning recipe and pictures of a stunning Faberge jewel!

◆ Visit the author at www.KimberleyMontpetit.com for a free gift.  

  
  


Snippet:


Before I forget,” Darla added, running into the rear dressing room once more and returning in seconds. “Here’s your wrap and an evening bag to use. It is December, after all. Can’t have you catching cold.”

The woman placed a gold stole around Erin’s shoulders and a glittery red evening bag into her hands. “I filled the bag with a fresh lipstick—the same color you’re already wearing—a small pack of tissues and a secure cell phone.”

Erin slowly lifted her eyes to stare at the woman. Darla gave her a cell phone?

“Your date tonight already knows the number,” the older woman said softly, giving her a wink. 

You,” Erin spluttered. “You know—”

Darla shrugged with a self-deprecating smile. “Yeah, I’m actually retired from the force and returned to my old passion working disguises for agents just like you, Miss Steele. During the week, I’m a normal beauty salon owner.”

Laughter bubbled up Erin’s throat. “Oh my gosh, you knew all afternoon.” 

Darla shrugged mischievously. “I told you I was good.”

“I guess so!”

“Hey, if you get into trouble and you lose your partner in some way, just dial star 999. I’ll send backup—or a body bag. But we’ll stay optimistic.”

“You’re so comforting, Darla,” Erin said, throwing in a bit of sass.

“Your limo and man await, young lady,” Darla said while Erin was still in shock over herself in the wall of mirrors. 



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Wednesday, December 16, 2020

Christmas Countdown Blitz Day Nine: The Unknown Elf by Karlie Lucas

 





Karlie Lucas is a school crossing guard by day and a writer/artist by night. 

A graduate of Southern Utah University, Karlie received a B.A. in Creative Writing, with a minor in art. She is a member of Sigma Tau Delta, The International English Honor Society, SCBWI, as well as ANWA, the American Night Writers Association.
Karlie is interested in all things magical and mysterious, especially elves and dragons. She is an avid fan of J.R.R. Tolkien and J.K. Rowling.

When not writing, Karlie can often be found drawing, baking, watching her favorite old school shows, or just spending time with her family.

She currently resides in Dallas, Texas with her husband and a cat named Kally. 


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Marie never expected to wake up in North Pole City, let alone being made Santa’s Emergency Replacement. It was a job she never wanted but couldn’t turn down, thanks to Clarence, Santa’s right hand man. 

Now, Marie has to work with Clarence, who believes she is some kind of criminal who will cause the destruction of everything he holds dear. Trying to prove that he’s wrong, Marie keeps making mistakes that push them even further apart. It doesn’t help that she has a past she’d rather keep hidden. However, trying to keep her past where it should belong isn’t easy.

Just when Marie starts to feel like things are coming together, a madman with a bone to pick, and Christmas to ruin, threatens the whole of the North Pole Organization. Marie must rely on Clarence and her new friends to help her face her past before Christmas is gone forever.  But does she have the courage to truly be herself when it could mean losing everything?

  
  


Snippet:

"E-two to C-one! Do you copy? Over."

Clarence shakily pulled out the device and thumbed the transmit button. "C-one here. What's the problem? Over." 

Static sounded over the frequency as he released the talk button. He waited almost impatiently for a response, not liking the tone in Dena's voice. "We have a code seven. Repeat, a code seven. We'll meet in the usual place. Over," Dena's voice crackled.

"I'm on my way. Over and out." The radio gave one last burst of static as Clarence put it back in his pocket. He shook slightly as he stepped down from the running board. He couldn't help but remember a similar set of circumstances several years ago. Those circumstances had led to the death of one of his closest friends. He forced himself to stop trembling once his feet hit the cold ground. He had a job to do right now, and his personal life could not interfere, nor could his growing fear. He'd been trained too well. These feelings had to wait.

He turned to Marie with an unreadable expression. "Take the reindeer back to the stable, then go find Sandra." Without another word, he ran to a side entrance that led to the city, vanishing into the shadows.

Marie watched him leave, whistling a command to the reindeer. They ran to a high dune and disappeared. A growing fear beat against her chest; one she could almost put a name to.



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Tuesday, December 15, 2020

Christmas Countdown Blitz Day Eight: Miss Dashwood's Dileman by Arabella Sheraton





Arabella Sheraton grew up on a diet of Jane Austen, the Bronte sisters, and many other writers of that period. From Jane Austen to Georgette Heyer, Arabella has found both enjoyment and inspiration in sparkling, witty Regency novels. She also loves history and generally finds the past more fascinating than the future. Arabella wrote her first Regency romance to entertain her aged mom who loved the genre. Arabella is honoured to share the adventures of her heroes and heroines with readers.




In this delightful traditional Regency romance, Miss Diana Dashwood accepts an invitation to Lady Prescott's Christmas party at Camden House, in the countryside. But things do not go quite as she imagined. 

Through an unexpected event, she is forced to spend the night in a woodsman's hut with one of the guests. What a scandal! 

Of course, Sir Gareth Blakely must propose, and he does. Unfortunately, Miss Diana Dashwood has already been engaged to and broken off her engagement from Sir Gareth Blakely after a bitter quarrel. Is it likely she will bow to social pressure and accept his proposal, one made only to save her reputation, and if they marry, does their union stand a chance of survival?And what about the pretty heiress, Miss Jemima Plymstock, whom everyone thinks is the lady Sir Gareth had his eye upon? Headstrong and proud, Miss Diana Dashwood is caught in a dreadful dilemma. A must-read for Regency fans!


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Snippet:

Snow began to fall more heavily than before, with flurries swirling and eddying in a white haze. She could hardly see her own hand in front of her. The wind made matters worse as icy blasts pierced her layers of warm clothing. She had to get up or else freeze to death. Mrs. Whittaker’s brother popped into her mind. His lurid tales of travelers who froze to death just a few feet from their own front doors rang in her ears. She had to get up now, even though it would be so much easier to lie down right there and go to sleep. Diana managed to get onto her knees and Jess, sensing her distress, came running back.

“Don’t leave me alone, girl,” Diana said through clenched teeth. She could barely speak, her cheeks were numb. Jess walked a few steps again, looked back, and whined.

“Have you found a safe place?” Diana asked, and then laughed. She had gone completely mad. Imagine talking to a dog. Jess answered her with another bark. Diana dragged herself up by hanging onto a low tree branch, and tried to limp on. She could not move an inch. The pain made her gasp. Then someone grasped her from behind and lifted her off her feet. Diana screamed and fainted.


Monday, December 14, 2020

Christmas Countdown Blitz Day Seven: Gift of Restitution by Zina Abbott



My name is Robyn Echols. Zina Abbott is the pen name I use for my American historical romance novels. I’m a member of Women Writing the West and Western Writers of America, and American Night Writers Association. I currently live with my husband in California’s central valley near the “Gateway to Yosemite.”
I love to read, quilt, work with digital images on my photo editing program, and work on my own family history.
I am a blogger. In addition to my own blog, I blog for several group blogs including the Sweet Americana Sweethearts blog, which I started and administer.


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~ Amazon ~ Blog
Pinterest ~ Goodreads
 ~  Newsletter ~ Booklinker ~



The gift of peace of spirit that comes from restitution.

A year after Luke McDaniels broke away from the control of two eastern Sierra Nevada Mountain outlaws and freed Ling Loi from the Chinese brothel in Lundy, one aspect of their escape still plagues his conscience. Even though he made a point to take only what was owed him, and he left sufficient funds to cover the cost of anything he took from others without the owners’ knowledge or consent, there had been one exception. The second horse he planned to “buy” to assure a successful early winter journey was snatched away before his gaze. Another was left in its place. The ten gold half-eagles he allowed was less than the value of the one available to him. He hated short-changing the owner, but Loi, who took on the name of Joy when they married, had been his first priority.
     
Joy, grateful she has been restored to the way of decency, senses that Luke needs his own restoration. Can she convince him to do what he must to enjoy peace at Christmas? 

  
  


Snippet:

Feeling Caldwell grow restless beneath him, Luke slowly exhaled. It was time to return to the livery—a place he hoped to soon leave behind him. By the time he returned home, he would be gone slightly over a month. He hoped, in his absence, Pastor and Mrs. Campbell visited to answer Joy’s questions. He wondered if they or his mother already read to Joy the part of the Christmas story she held so dearly in her heart. If not, after he arrived home, he would read it to her. I need to teach Joy to read in English. Perhaps this winter.

Luke pondered over the extent Joy’s love of the Jesus stories changed how they spent their evenings. His mother had been baptized Catholic, but, as an adult, had not attended church. After she married his father who came from a Presbyterian background, they attended his church—when they went. Once David McDaniels died, and the white community of Duluth slowly turned their backs on her, Odette gathered up her little family and fled to the reservation. There she attached herself to her mother’s band. She became more comfortable with the centuries-old midewikwe beliefs of the Ojibwa than she did with the so-called Christianity of white Americans—a religion so many of them did not practice. Yet, one Chinese woman—someone most Americans considered a heathen—reintroduced a study of the teachings of Jesus to his family.



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Sunday, December 13, 2020

Christmas Countdown Blitz Day Six: Rebekah's Quilt by Sara Harris




Sara Harris makes her home with her family of seven, which includes her romance novelesque husband and her five children. 

She holds her BA in history and is currently back in school seeking her BSN.  











An Amish settlement. An English stranger. The Blizzard of 1888. Who can Rebekah trust when the line between the Amish and the English becomes blurred?

A sweet and gentle love blossoms between Rebekah Stoll and her childhood friend Joseph Graber, despite attempts by her saucy nemesis, Katie Knepp, to sway the young man's affections her way. 

When Joseph hints at the promise of forever, Rebekah is positive she should say yes to his proposal - until a mysterious English stranger shows up at her homestead and sets everything she thought she knew about her world on end. 

 

  
  


Snippet:

“I understand you wanting to keep her, Elnora,” Samuel’s patient voice was gentle when he finally returned to the wagon. Gentle and firm. “Especially since the Lord has yet to bless us with children of our own.”

Elnora fixed her eyes on the baby who lay asleep in the nest of pillowy quilts in the wagon bed. Usually, Elnora was unable to tear her gaze from the stars in the night sky. They seemed to wink at each other in the blackness, making her think they were simply bright young children, playing gotcha-games in Heaven. Tonight though, Elnora couldn’t force herself to look away from the tiny miracle of a girl. “Gelassenheit,” she whispered. “We must trust His divine reasons and timing.”

Samuel exhaled, swiping his gritty hands on his britches. “We simply can’t keep her. She is not one of us.” Exhaustion weighted his words.

“Ja Samuel, but those she belonged to are now with Our Lord.” Elnora sucked in a breath. “Aren’t we all children of God?” Her gentle voice wafted with the night breezes.

Samuel rubbed the bridge of his nose. The other men had returned to their families and were already fast asleep in their wagons, evident by several different tones of snoring. “Ah, Elnora. I love you and your compassionate heart. I want so to make you a happy wife.” He stifled a yawn.

“You do, Samuel.” The baby stirred and began to squeak.

Elnora’s voice was tender as she plucked the rooting babe from the nest of blankets. “Come here, Rebekah.”

“Oh mein! You’ve given her a name?”

She smiled, rocking Rebekah to and fro.

Sarah Wagler’s shy voice came from somewhere in the near darkness. “Elnora? Samuel? Are you awake?”

“Yes Sarah, we are.” Elnora bounced Rebekah in her arms as the infants squeaks grew into angry coughs and sputters.

“I heard the baby fussing.”

Crimson colored Elnora’s cheeks. “I’m sorry to have woken you Sarah–”

Waving a hand, Sarah cut her off. “Oh no, you see, the baby sounds hungry.” The flickering firelight from the Wagler’s dying fire illuminated her timidity. “And Elijah is only six months old. So I thought I might feed her until…”

The worried creases melted from Elnora’s face. “Thank you for your kind offer, Sarah. We call her Rebekah. Danke.”

Sarah accepted Rebekah and turned back to her wagon, picking her way carefully amid the carefully stacked wares and items. “Ah, sweet Rebekah,” she cooed. “I will share with you the story of your namesake.”

“Wake me when you bring her back,” Elnora whispered loud enough for Sarah to hear.

As Sarah and Rebekah retreated to the Wagler wagon, Samuel turned back to his wife. His hazel eyes shined with the tender light of a father.  Squatting, he scooped both her hands into his. “Elnora, would it be agreeable to you if we keep the child-”

She nodded emphatically, the straps to her covering bouncing against her shoulders.

Samuel’s face clouded over. “Dear Wife, if we keep her safe only until another English wagon happens by?”

With pain cramping her heart, Elnora managed a compliant smile. “That is agreeable, Husband.” Her words hung in the air as the song of a night bird laced the momentary silence with hope. “But what should become of Rebekah should we not meet another English traveler?”

Samuel’s gleaming white teeth were visible above his inky beard. He stood and ran his thumbs along the inside of his black braces. “Elnora, the English are moving west in droves.” He extended his hand and helped Elnora to her feet. “The Pike is rumored to be the most traveled route in The United States now. We will meet more English, you’ll see.”

Unable to meet his warm and weary gaze, Elnora nodded at the ground.

“Come Wife, let’s go to bed.”

With a heavy heart, Elnora closed her eyes. Though whether it was to hasten sleep or hold in the tears, she couldn’t be sure.


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