In my
newest release Sinfully Ever After
the hero and heroine encounter each other during a snowy Yuletide in the small
fictional village of Hawcombe Prior. As is often the case for authors, I worked
on this story six months before it was due for release, so as I enjoyed the
first balmy days of summer and listened to the purr of the air conditioner, I
was writing about country lanes whitened with frost, cozy fireplaces, rum punch
and plum pudding.
Oddly
enough, it wasn't difficult to get into the mood at all. I played one of my
favorite Christmas CDs "To Drive the Cold Winter Away" by Loreena
McKennitt (whose music I always find inspirational, no matter which story I'm
working on). I also thought a lot about my own childhood Christmases in
England, walking with my sisters through the first crisp fall of snow with the
street lamps glowing, everything so lovely and peaceful.
Until I was
on the receiving end of a few merciless, well-aimed snowballs, of course.
Ah, the
joys of wet woolen gloves and frozen toes, the thrill of opening another door
on the Advent Calendar, and decorating the tree with the same familiar
ornaments— each one holding a special memory, meaning and place in my heart.
Even the
chilly weather is easy to forgive when we have hot chocolate to come home to,
presents wrapped under the tree, and all the other indulgences we allow
ourselves during the season. One thing I particularly remember— and a tradition
I still continue— is the Christmas tin of Quality Street chocolates. It's just
not Christmas without one of those big drums of prettily wrapped candies. And
oh, the depression, when there's only a few of the less popular, hard toffees
left by the first days of the new year! That's when you know the holiday is
over.
Although a
Regency era Yuletide did not include all the same pleasures we know today, the
idea of spending time with family, toasting the season around a roaring fire,
and reflecting on the past year must have felt just the same then as it does
now.
Regency
celebrations did not include a Christmas tree (that was introduced in the
Victorian period by Albert, the Prince Consort), but our relatives in the past still
enjoyed a hearty feast of food and drink with friends, family and neighbors. In
some families— including Jane Austen's— children were given "Christmas
Boxes" that contained money, and they sang carols, collecting money which
they donated to the poor. Fanny Austen Knight (Jane's niece) wrote about
different amusements that took place every evening from Christmas Day to
Twelfth Night. These entertainments included games, masquerades, plays and
balls.
In Sinfully Ever After, my characters enjoy
a treasure hunt on Christmas Eve, which turns out to be enlightening in more
ways than one and gives two of my very favorite creations a chance to be alone
together with some convenient mistletoe.
I enjoyed
following Rebecca and "Lucky" Luke Wainwright along snowy lanes and
into the warm, festive parlors of their friends and family to share in their
merriment. In fact, I became so deeply involved in their story that it was easy
to forget the sun shining brightly in the sky and bees buzzing through the
clover outside my window. I hope you find yourself drawn in to their Yuletide
celebrations too. I know you'll be very welcome!
I'll leave
you with an excerpt from the Christmas Eve treasure hunt in the village of
Hawcombe Prior.
Now which
Quality Street chocolate should I eat next? Hmm...
Happy
Holidays!
An Excerpt:
They
reached the apple trees and there, sure enough, they found mistletoe. He set
the basket down and reached up into the branches, using his handy knife to
sever a bunch.
"When
I was young," he grunted, "there was a bower of mistletoe put up in
the servant's hall below stairs."
"I
suppose you captured the hapless housemaids beneath it."
"I
didn't have to capture them. They hung about under it, just waiting for me to
pass." He looked down at her, grinning.
Yes, she
could quite imagine it. Not that she wanted to.
He
continued, "Each time a kiss was taken, a berry was plucked off the bower.
Then, once the berries were all gone, no more kisses could be stolen beneath
it." With a deep sigh, he examined the clump of pearly berries he'd cut
free. "I always thought it was a very sad sight, that empty bower of
mistletoe. Meant all the jollities were over for another year."
Was it the
moonlight catching his sad face that made her want to cheer it up? He looked
wickedly handsome. Even youthful perhaps. "I very much doubt you waited a
full year for more jollities,"
she exclaimed in a whisper.
With the
Colonel's arms reaching overhead again for more mistletoe he seemed even taller
and she, standing beside him, felt very small, awestruck by his powerful
musculature. She had forgotten the faint odor of manure on his boots for that
was overcome by masculine sweat and something else. Lemons and sage? Perhaps
Sarah had attempted to douse him in scent before they came out that evening.
Poor Sarah, hers was an uphill task, but she
was quite a stubborn little thing.
As he
handed the mistletoe down to her, Becky
plucked one of the berries from the cluster.
"I daresay you want a kiss from me now," she whispered.
"The way you used to take them from those housemaids."
Surely that
was why he told her the story.
But he
looked startled when the berry rolled into his palm from her fingers.
"You
may have just one," she added, pert. "It is Christmas and Jussy
assures me it's the season of good will to all men. Even you."
"Even
me, eh?"
Becky
nodded. Despite the cold air she was rather hot. And looking up at his mouth
was making her hotter.
A sudden
gust of wind blew through the broken
pane of glass and the lantern flame went out, leaving them in moonlight. Her
pulse was speeding recklessly, just as
it was when he tickled her palm, and raced the gig with her in it. Just as it
had when he kissed her before.
"One
berry to make our peace," she
said.
"I
would like that. I don't want us to be at war, Rebecca."Whenever he said
her first name it made her throat feel tight, as if something lurked there
waiting to fly out. She was rarely called "Rebecca" these days unless
she'd done something wrong and had to be reprimanded. Or unless they were being
formal in Mrs. Makepiece's house, of course.
"But
I'm not going to kiss you again," he said softly.
She thought
she'd misheard. Had he not told her that they should make the most of this time
alone?
"Like
I warned you at the party, Miss Sherringham," he muttered, "you'll
get no more kisses like that from me, until our wedding night."
She knew
her mouth had fallen open, but if anything came out she didn't hear it.
"I'm a
gentleman now, " he added, with just a hint of smug. "Gentlemen don't
kiss young lady's on their lips."
***
Title: Sinfully
Ever After
Series: Book Club Belles Society
Author: Jayne Fresina
Pubdate: December 2, 2014
ISBN: 9781402287794
Teaching scandalous young men a lesson? This is not your
typical book club
To Rebecca
Sherringham, all men are open books—read quickly and forgotten. Perhaps she’s
just too practical for love. The last thing she needs is another bore
around—especially one that’s supposed to be dead.
Captain Lucius
“Luke” Wainwright turns up a decade after disappearing without a trace. He’s on
a mission to claim his birthright and he’s not going away again until he gets
it. But Becky and the ladies of the village Book Club Belles Society won’t let
this rogue get away with his sins. He’ll soon find that certain young ladies
are accustomed to dealing with villains.
Jayne Fresina
sprouted up in England. Entertained by her father’s colorful tales of growing
up in the countryside, and surrounded by opinionated sisters, she’s always had
inspiration for her beleaguered heroes and unstoppable heroines. She lives in
upstate New York. Visit www.jaynefresina.com.
Buy Links:
Amazon: http://amzn.to/1vboi6B
Apple: http://bit.ly/1DXCt5S
Chapters: http://bit.ly/1zeECKA
Indiebound: http://bit.ly/1tGtCU3
happy Launch, Jayne! This one sounds lovely...just the thing for the holiday season Thanks for the post, and the excerpt
ReplyDeleteThanks for stopping by, Christy!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Shana! :)
ReplyDeleteHooray!! Happy Book Birthday, Jayne. What a gorgeous, wintery cover. Congratulations.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Cat!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the release, it sounds lovely...and now I have a hankering for chocolate, lol.
ReplyDelete