Good morning! Please welcome guest author Leanne Tyler. Though I will be away for most of the day, please feel free to leave comments for Leanne and I will post them as soon as I return. Thank you!
~Kate
Christmas is the Season for Love!
I know most probably believe February is the time for love because of Valentine’s Day, but I think Christmas is a more romantic time of the year. Why? Because of the lights, the decorated trees, the excitement of children, the mistletoe and the feeling of togetherness that we share with our family and friends. It also doesn’t matter whether you are single or in a relationship. Christmas is a time of joy. Unlike Valentine’s Day when so many single people feel left out because they don’t have that significant other.
But sometimes single people are content to be just that, single. They are perfectly happy while members of their family are looking for ways to get them paired up. It was with this in mind that I wrote my Christmas time-travel Season of Love. And what better location than Charleston, South Carolina (a favorite of mine) to set this Christmas love story.
Holly Marcum is single and a career minded individual. However, she is about to turn twenty-five and her single status is a thorn in her Aunt Jessie’s side. In an attempt to get her niece engaged, she decides to throw an antebellum costume party for her. Jessie even finds the perfect dress for Holly to wear, but that dress turns out to be more trouble than it’s worth.
Jeremiah Devereaux is too busy running the family store to think about a personal life. He doesn’t want to let his father down so he strives to make the store a success. Imports from Europe are one way he sets the Devereaux store apart from the other shops in Charleston. Ordering exclusive gown’s for the ladies is another. When a stranger appears in his storeroom wearing the very dress that had arrived that morning and then damages imported glass ornaments he is determined to regain his merchandise or be compensated. But an unforeseen illness forces him to open his home up for this stranger who he believes is a thief.
Blurb:
A nasty fall and an antebellum dress changes Holly Marcum’s life forever. Once she is revived, nothing is familiar…. The dress shop, her meddling aunt, and life as she knows it have all vanished. Instead a handsome stranger confronts her and accuses her of theft. One moment Jeremiah Devereaux was in his store room alone, and the next a strange woman appeared wearing a gown specially ordered for one of his wealthiest clients. Is she a vagrant or a thief, and how on earth did she get there? When Holly suddenly falls ill, Jeremiah’s sister insists on taking her in and caring for her. Can he risk the beautiful stranger staying under his roof–or will he lose more than his merchandise’
Excerpt:
“Who’s there?”
Oh, Lord, now what do I do? Holly considered her options. She could show herself, or hope he didn’t find her. Given the size of the storeroom, the second didn’t seem very likely.
She peeked around the counter again. A definite scowl covered his otherwise handsome face. He was tall, well above her five foot eight stature. Neatly trimmed brown hair, with a slight curl, framed his face. Overall, there was nothing about him to frighten her except his icy glare.
But it was enough.
“Come out from your hiding,” he ordered. “I heard you sneeze. There’s no way out except past me.”
Taking a deep breath, Holly rose from her hiding place. Shock washed over his features for a split second when he saw her, but anger quickly replaced it. He marched to the window, jerked back the curtains, flooding the room with late morning sunlight. He turned and demanded, “Who the blazes are you?”
Grateful for the barrier of the counter, Holly said, “I’m Holly Marcum.”
“Well, Miss Marcum, what are you doing in my storeroom?” Pointing at the dress, he added. “And what do you think you’re wearing?”
Puzzled, Holly glanced down at the dress that had started all this trouble and asked, “What’s wrong with it?” Without waiting for him to respond, she stepped around the counter, fanning herself with her hand, desperately longing for fresh air. The warmth of the dusty storeroom wasn’t helping. She felt another sneeze coming on, but was successful in avoiding it. “I don’t believe I caught your name, Mister…?”
“Devereaux,” he said, his glare never leaving her face. “Jeremiah Devereaux.”
Buy links:
Amazon: http://amzn.com/B00O25ASSB
Apple: https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/id925453571
Kobo: http://store.kobobooks.com/en-US/ebook/season-of-love-3
Social Media Links
Website: leannetyler.com
FB author page: facebook.com/leannetylerauthor
Twitter: @LeanneTyler
Goodreads: goodreads.com/LeanneTyler
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