A Very Scandalous Holiday
by Nancy Fraser, Sophia Garrett, Amber Lin, Crista McHugh
Entangled Publishing presents…
A Very Scandalous Holiday Anthology
Four very spirited vignettes of holidays past…
BLURBs:
Erin’s Gift by Nancy Fraser
Chicago 1920
Widower, Seth Harrison, has no intention of falling in love
again but will he be able to resist the sweetness of his son’s nanny, Erin
O’Mara—his sister’s best friend?
An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett
England 1833
The Duke of Sharrington left Rebecca with more than a broken
heart six years ago—he left her with a son. His return rekindles their passion,
but only a Christmas miracle will convince the town surgeon to believe in his
promises of eternity again.
Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin
England, late Regency
After three years at sea, Captain Hale Prescott has the
means to marry the love of his life and his best friend’s sister, Sidony
Harbeck. However, she might never speak to him again. Despite their whispered
adolescent promises, he never wrote her a single letter…at least, none he ever
sent.
Eight Tiny Flames by Crista McHugh
1944 Ardennes, WWII
Lt. Ruth Mencher has always secretly admired Capt. Joseph
Klein, but it takes the lighting of a Hanukkah candle to uncover the spark of
mutual attraction. Each night awakens a new facet of their relationship, but as
the Battle of the Bulge begins, the approaching Nazi forces threaten to tear
them apart.
EXCERPTS:
An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett
England, 1833
Andrew smiled at the pair. His son. The child he had always
wanted. Good God, all this time he had not been running from a fantasy, afraid
he would no longer be able to resist the temptation of Rebecca, when in truth,
he had given in to the burning desire, the unending yearning. And she had
surrendered as well.
Rebecca had been his.
“I have only ever wanted you, Rebecca. Say you will have me,
and if I must, I will forfeit everything for an eternity of you.”
Her fingertips danced across his cheek. In the depths of her
fawn-colored eyes, her very soul glimmered. “I long for nothing more.”
Andrew closed his eyes again, choking down a groan of
regret. Even now, he could still feel the scald of his skin where her touch
lingered. And yet, he could not quite grasp every nuance to solidify the vision
as memory not dream. What followed blended into nonsensical acts. Snippets of
making love to Rebecca merged with fantastic products of his imagination that
could never be reality. Unicorns, for heaven’s sake!
Lavender tickled his nose, and he slowly opened his eyes.
Rebecca stood across from him by the doorway, keeping her distance. Her
features were as ashen as if she’d been brutally struck.
Andrew pushed away from the doorframe and moved to where she
stood. Her gaze never left his. Looking down into her beautiful, expressive
eyes, full dawning fell heavily around his shoulders. He had torn her life to
shreds and not even known. His marriage had been agonizing. Pledging those vows
when he ached to say them to another, lying beside a woman who could never be
the one he wanted. Touching her as a husband should, all the while dreaming of
another.
He could only imagine the pain Rebecca must have felt.
She stared up at him, unshed tears glimmering in her eyes.
He knew well enough she would never let them fall. Anger was her recourse. Even
at eight, she had stormed and stewed when he caught her by a pigtail and ripped
out a handful of her hair.
“You are telling me then, Rebecca,” he murmured as he eased
his fingers to the regal column of her neck, “that I did not dream this?” Drawn
to the softness of her lips, he bent his head.
Beneath his fingertips he felt her shiver. Her voice hitched
as she asked, “Dream…what?” Her lashes fluttered heavily. A breath of air
escaped her lips as they parted.
“This,” he whispered.
Erin’s Gift by Nancy Fraser
Chicago 1924
“Well, well, well, what have we here?” The desk sergeant
stared down over the huge wooden barrier, his thick Irish brogue filled with
amusement. “Miss Harrison, Mr. Packard.” Glancing in Erin’s direction, he
added, “Don’t tell me these two have roped another of their Hyde Park friends
into skirting the law?” He shook his head and rubbed a meaty hand across his
whiskers. “What’s your name, girlie?”
“Erin. Erin O’Mara.”
“Saints be, they’ve drawn a fine Irish lass such as yourself
into their sordid business.” The officer turned his attention to Abby.
“I suppose you’ll be wanting to call that shyster brother of
yours, now won’t you?”
Abby nodded. “Yes, Officer O’Malley, if you wouldn’t mind.”
O’Malley motioned toward the single phone on the table opposite
the desk. “You can give him a call, but you’re going into the tank with the
rest of lawbreakers until he gets here. No more special treatment just ‘cause
your father’s a councilman. Understood?”
“Yes, sir,” Abby said. She started toward the desk and then
turned back to ask, “Did Mrs. O’Malley have that baby yet, Sergeant?”
“Not yet,” the man acknowledged, shaking his head. “You’d
think after ten, they’d just walk out on their own.”
The “tank” as Officer O’Malley had called it was made up of
three jail cells, side by side. Women were housed in the first, the middle one
sat empty, and the men were placed in the third. The young officer in charge of
escorting them to their cells opened the door and motioned them forward. “Miss
Abby,” the man said, “I’m surprised to see you back so soon.”
Abby laid her hand against the officer’s smooth cheek. “Oh,
Tommy, you know I couldn’t possibly go more than a week or two without seeing
your handsome face.”
The cell door had barely shut behind them when two women of
questionable virtue began whistling and making wild moaning noises. The older
of the two laughed heartily, her amusement ending in a rough-edged cough. “Oh,
Tommy,” she whimpered, “I missed you so much.”
“Leave it alone, Kitty,” Officer Tommy warned. “And don’t
you be trying to steal anything from these two young ladies.”
The woman called Kitty shook her head. “Don’t want nothing
from these swells, Tommy-boy, ‘cept maybe a ciggy if they’ve got one.”
“Not us,” Erin said, shaking her head. “We don’t smoke.”
“Well, la-de-da, aren’t you a couple a good girlies.”
Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin
England, Late Regency
Hale’s presence stirred the air behind her. She stared
straight ahead at the frost-covered panes. His breath ruffled her hair.
“Were you looking for me?” he whispered. “You knew I’d
arrive today. Is that why the window was open?”
An embarrassed flush heated her skin. She felt too exposed,
like a raw nerve. Still, there was one advantage to being found out. She didn’t
have to hide any longer. Turning, she faced him.
He bent his head to her. He was going to kiss her. She
should turn away. She should tell him no. His lips met hers directly, and she
moaned. She truly moaned, aloud. He could hear her, and instead of dying of
mortification, she wrapped her arms around his neck. He made a sound of
surprise before holding her more closely. His hand slipped to the small of her
back and pulled her against him. His other hand fanned along her jaw, holding her
steady as he kissed her. She needed his guidance because her body had lost all
sense and reason. Her limbs trembled, her heart raced.
“Hale?”
“Jesus, I missed you.”
It was the wrong thing to say. She pulled back. “You didn’t
write. You promised to write to me. Every single day, you said.” She let
sarcasm color her voice. “You could have skipped a few days. That would have
been fine.”
“I wrote.”
“No letters. Not even one.” She laughed hollowly. “You said
you loved me, Hale, and you couldn’t even bring yourself to write one letter.”
“I did… Damn it.” He ran a hand through his hair.
She waited for him to explain what he meant. A lump lodged
in her throat when he said nothing. He’d forgotten about her, and now he was
lying to her. For what purpose? So he could win a bet? Because he’d gotten
tired of traveling the world and could now settle for poor little Sidony?
“Get out,” she said evenly.
“Sidony.”
AUTHOR Bio and Links:
About Sophia Garrett:
Sophia Garrett always knew she wanted to be a writer, and
more specifically, a historical romance writer. Her teenage years were spent
rabidly gobbling up the newest books from romance icons such as Johanna
Lindsey, Sabrina Jefferies, Julie Garwood, and Kathleen E. Woodiweiss. She
composed her first romance novel about the American Revolution, in high school.
When Sophia is not researching...well, she's always researching!
But in her non-working hours she enjoys studying historical events (yes, she's
one of those girls), watching documentaries, taking in action-packed dramas at
the theatre, and spending as much time as possible with her two young sons
collecting bugs, racing Hot Wheels, and smashing things in video games.
Her second passion is animals, so much so that at one time
she considered a career in veterinary medicine. Chemistry, however, waged war
on her sanity, and she decided training horses was far less harmful than trying
to manipulate miniscule objects that can't be seen. Setting her sweatshirt on
fire in lab might have had something to do with that. She still has her horses
but has added a chicken...or two. And a duck. And a (house) pig. And several dogs.
And cats. And... who knows what might turn up next!
Sophia frequently attends conferences and signing events
that take her throughout the United States. In addition, she often presents for
her local Romance Writers of America chapters and is available to present to
additional authors' groups. She loves to connect with readers and writers
alike, so be sure to say hello!
Links:
Website: http://www.authorsophiagarrett.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ClaireAshgrove
About Crista McHugh:
Crista McHugh is a multiple award-winning author of fantasy
romance and paranormal romance with heroines who are smart, sexy, and anything
but ordinary.
Growing up in small town Alabama, Crista relied on
story-telling as a natural way for her to pass the time and keep her two
younger sisters entertained.
She currently lives in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle
with her husband and two children, maintaining her alter ego of mild-mannered
physician by day while she continues to pursue writing on nights and weekends.
Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs she's had in the
past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress,
morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.
And she's also a recovering LARPer. (She blames it on her
crazy college days)
To be the first to know about her latest releases or to be
entered into exclusive contests, please sign up for her newsletter using the
contact form on her webpage, www.cristamchugh.com.
Links:
Website: www.cristamchugh.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CristaMcHugh
About Amber Lin:
Amber Lin writes erotic romance with damaged souls and deep
emotion.
Her debut novel Giving It Up (Loose Id, 9781611188431)
received The Romance Review’s Top Pick, Night Owl Top Pick, and 5 Blue Ribbons
from Romance Junkies. RT Book Reviews gave it 4.5 stars, calling it “truly
extraordinary.” The sequel is slated for release in early 2013. Her small town
romance will be published by Carina Press in Fall 2013.
Amber married her high school sweetheart, birthed a kid
who’s smarter than she is, and spends her nights writing down her dirty
thoughts. In other words, life is good.
Links:
Website: http://www.authoramberlin.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/authoramberlin
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/authoramberlin
About NANCY FRASER:
Like most authors, Nancy began writing at an early age,
usually on the walls and with crayons or, heaven forbid, permanent markers. Her
love of writing often made her the English teacher's pet which, of course,
resulted in a whole lot of teasing. Still, it was worth it.
In her time away from writing, Nancy dotes on her five
grandchildren. She's currently happily single (let's face it, it's difficult to
find a man who can live up to her sexy, fictitious heroes) and enjoying life as
is for the time being.
Links:
Website: http://www.nancyfraser.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/nancyfraserauthor
Twitter: https://twitter.com/nfraserauthor
As with all Goddess Fish Promotions Tours the more you comment the better your chance of winning. The prize for A Very Scandalous Holiday's Tour will be a $15 Starbucks GC to awarded by Sophia Garrett to a randomly drawn commenter during the tour.
So, the more you comment the better your chances of winning. For the information on the tour and the schedule of blog stops, please click on the banner below:
Gosh gals, I just love the cover! It's awesome! Who did the cover art?
ReplyDeleteandralynn7 AT gmail DOT com
Thank you for hosting
ReplyDeleteAndra, the cover art was done by Entangled's art people. Thanks so much for popping in, by the way! I tend to be a morning and then late night responder... my schedule is pretty hectic during normal people's hours :)
ReplyDeleteAnd yes, this will show as from "Claire" but it's Sophia! It's entirely too complicated to have more than one identity for social networking.
Andra, thanks for stopping by. I think all four of us agree ... we couldn't be happier with the cover!
ReplyDeleteSounds like a great read!!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com