A Vow for Christmas

Weekenders Romance Watch

Spinster Mail-Order Brides Series Book 7

Author:  Linda Carroll-Bradd
Genre:  Historical romance
Buy: Amazon
 

Blurb:
Against his better judgment, Chad Rutherford advertises for a mail-order bride to take care of his household. As a widower, he’s had his great love and she died, so now he only wants companionship. But vivacious new wife Vika brings light and laugher back into his life until he’s ready to consider more for their relationship. Then a stranger threatens to rip away everything.

Enchanting Excerpt:
Mister Rutherford straightened. “We’d best collect your luggage. Come along, children.” He urged them forward.
 
She was left staring at the back of the three people who looked like a self-contained unit. Did room exist for her in any of their hearts? Shoulders drooping, she trudged behind them, wishing for a strong arm to lean on. On the platform near the freight car rested the trunk holding all her clothes, accessories, and valuables. Next to it were two wooden crates packed with kitchen items, linens, blankets, and her mother’s porcelain tea set. On top of the crates sat the wicker basket holding her beloved pet.
 
The baggage clerk lifted a hand. “Ah, Miss Vika. She’s been whimpering the last few miles.” He lowered the basket to the platform and worked to loosen the rope knot.
 
“Thank you, Mister Frederick, for all your good attention.” She reached into her reticule and pulled out a dime for his tip. Maybe extravagant but the clerk took good care of her Biscuit. Then she leaned down to drop her carpetbag before lifting the lid with one hand and slipping the other into the slim opening to grab Biscuit’s collar. “Calm down. I’m here.” Once she was sure the dog wouldn’t escape, she slid in her other hand to grab the leather leash and clipped it on. With a shove, she flicked back the lid.
 
Biscuit jumped out then shook herself before running her nose along the platform boards.
 
“What in blue blazes is that thing?” Frowning, Mister Rutherford pointed.
 
“She’s my dog, Biscuit.” Vika hurried to the platform edge and let her pet run down the four steps to the dirt to take care of her needs.
 
“You wrote nothing about bringing a pet.” He scoffed and waved a hand in the air. “And a scrawny dog, at that.”
 
After a moment, Biscuit hopped back to the platform then trotted toward the children, tail wagging like a flag in a stiff wind.
 
Her stomach rolled.
 
Both children looked at the dog then glanced at their father’s frown.
 
Would the presence of this surprise pet invalidate their agreement? Tiredness swamped her. “You never wrote that I couldna.” Needing the comfort of a warm being who loved her, she scooped up the dog, hugged Biscuit to her bosom, and kissed her furry head between her pointed ears. “Actually, you never wrote much of anything.”




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Prancing Around with Sleeping Beauty

Weekenders Romance Watch

Author: Stacy Juba
Genre: Chick Lit
Buy: Amazon | B&N | iBooks


Blurb:
Dance instructor Rory Callahan likes to play it safe. When she meets Kyle, he’s impulsive, persistent, and her exact opposite. He’s keeping Rory on her toes more than twenty years of dance teachers ever had. Unfortunately, he’s the grandson of her family’s archrival and she doesn’t want to disappoint them. After all, her parents imagine her as a proper princess - hence her namesake Aurora, AKA Sleeping Beauty.  Rory’s also dealing with a boyfriend who’s perfect for her, an obnoxious boss, and desperate dance moms. Kyle wants to change her whole life, but Rory doesn’t like the stakes. After all, princesses are the ones who get happy endings. . .aren’t they?


Enchanting Excerpt:
High above the crowded beach, an airplane skimmed the cloudless blue sky, its hum a distant whine over the thunderous surf. Behind it trailed a banner with red block letters. Cupping her hand over her brow, Rory Callahan squinted in the glaring sunlight.
 
WILL YOU MARRY ME, RORY?
 
She gasped, and her bare feet pressed into the gritty sand. Rory gripped the sides of her sunken beach chair. Her boyfriend, Dr. Brad Walker, a general surgery medical resident at Mountain View Medical Center, occupied the second chair, engrossed in a sports magazine, oblivious to the romantic gesture—or pretending he was oblivious.
 
Rory had accompanied him to the Jersey Shore for his parents’ thirtieth anniversary party. When Brad suggested a morning at the beach before driving back to the Catskills, she never expected a marriage proposal. Her stomach clenched, the semi-queasy reaction surprising her.
 
After all, she had wanted this—well, maybe not this, not yet—but Rory had wanted a declaration of love from the guy her mother worshipped and that her annoying big brother insisted “wasn’t that into her.” Obviously Brad was into her. This proved his willingness to make their relationship work. She would show her brother, and her friends, too. Rory knew her roommates worried that Brad didn’t carve out enough time for her, but unlike Dylan, the girls minded their own business.
 
All brides-to-be probably felt jittery during the proposal. She choked down the very normal mound in her throat, reached over, and touched Brad’s hand. “I had no idea you were planning this. Yes. I’ll . . . I’ll marry you.”
 
Brad dropped the magazine onto his nearby flip-flops as if sand fleas had nested inside the pages. His chiseled face had blanched whiter than his pale chest, arms, and legs. Summer was almost over, and Rory would bet this was the first time he’d worn the charcoal print swim trunks she bought him. “What? What the hell are you talking about?”


Website: http://stacyjuba.com/blog/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/stacyjuba
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Druid Warrior Prince

Weekenders Romance Watch

Author: Juli D. Revezzo
Genre: Fantasy Romance
Buy: Amazon


Blurb:
Gwenevieve Macken’s well-ordered world falls into chaos as encroaching interlopers scheme to possess both her and her land. Although she’s been trained to spot the signs of inhuman evil in men, the amassing armies take on guises she never expected.

When a foreign guardian presents himself as her only option for salvation, Gwenevieve must make a choice between her desires, and fulfilling the mythic fate to which she was born. A forced marriage to a Tuatha dé Danann warrior isn't part of her plan.


Enchanting Excerpt:
“Ho, open the gates!” Isaac called.
“Password!” the guard bellowed back.
He cried out the words... [S]oon the gate’s hinges creaked in annoyance as someone inside threw their weight against the pull. Two men guided the gate as it yawned wide.
Lord Macken waited beyond, pacing like a caged animal. “There you are!” Then he took in the condition of their band. “What happened?”
Isaac, Nigel, and Maedus exchanged a glance. “Our friend requires a healer,” Maedus said. “Have you seen Mistress Cyreth around?”
“The girl?” Gwenevieve asked.
“Take him inside.” Sir Macken then called out for his wife, and within seconds, she stepped through the door.
“Lord Tam requires the healer,” Sir Macken shouted.
She nodded and lumbered around the side of the house, demanding, “See that Mairrann Mac Carthaigh comes.”
Sir Macken turned his attention back to Maedus’ band. “He will take care of you, son.”
Isaac helped Tam to his lodging and at last, Sir Macken addressed his daughter. Rage clouded his eyes.
Maedus felt Gwenevieve fold into him.
Perhaps she might be safer outside the walls. “No going back now, lass,” he murmured.
“Can’t you slap me on the wrist and be done with it?” she whispered.
“It’s not my place.” He slid off his horse’s back and held his arms up for her. Despite the clouds, the sun lowering toward the horizon blinded him for a moment.
Gwenevieve slid into his arms and to the ground.
“What’s my father paying you? I’ll pay you twice as much to talk him out of punishing me.” She gave him a light kiss on the lips, melding against him as if they were the only two in the world. As if they’d returned from a pleasant afternoon’s ride. “I’d much rather you put me over your knee than let my father do it.”
Maedus blinked. She’d kissed him. What had she just promised?


Website: http://www.julidrevezzo.com
Blog: http://julismapsroom.blogspot.com/