Thanks so much for having me as a guest today, Kara! I’m thrilled to talk about my new book, Fated Hearts, A Love After All Retelling of the Scottish Play.

Last year I was invited to be part of a group project with other Regency romance authors, the Love after All Tragic Characters in Classic Lit project.

Or should I call it a  “challenge”?! Here’s the official description:


With complete artistic license, and an abundance of hubris, a group of Regency romance authors are retelling some of the great stories of literature, setting them in Georgian England, and giving these tragic heroes and heroines a happily-ever-after.

I am not super well-read in tragic fiction, so I settled on a story I do know: Macbeth. The real Macbeth was a relatively successful (though bloody) ruler of Scotland for about ten years in the eleventh century. Shakespeare’s Macbeth and his lady are tragic characters indeed, their stories ending in death! Quite the challenge.

As I plunged into planning this story, I quickly decided that the action would begin twenty years after their “demises”—when a failed lawsuit, allegations of unfaithfulness and a disastrous divorce send Macbeth off to bloody war and his lady into a tailspin of depression. Older and wiser, they meet again in London in March 1815 during the worst of the Corn Riots.

This being much more of a Romantic Suspense, there’s danger from an old villain plaguing them. Writing this, I often had to wrest my hero back from the darkness of his story. Or, as my editor gently suggested, I had to “moderate his fatalism”.

All-in-all, it was a very fun story, requiring a deep research dive into the Peninsular campaign, the Corn Riots, and best of all, men in kilts.

Other heroes being reformed in this series include Frankenstein, Colonel Fitzwilliam, the Sheriff of Nottingham, and Heathcliff. 

This is just such an awesome idea! And yes, men in kilts are always a plus!!!!

Do you have a favorite part?

I had fun writing the opening scene where Macbeth first sees his ex-wife, as well as his encounter with Lucie, the daughter who he believed was the product of his wife’s alleged infidelity twenty years earlier. Lucie was one of those characters we authors often encounter, a young lady who insisted on leaping from the page and surprising me.

I also loved writing the epilogue, which takes place in June 1815 in Brussels, after the Battle of Waterloo. This being a romance, our hero and heroine are together. But there’s a secondary couple whose story is yet to come.

Oh! I love it when secondary characters get a story!!!

​Can you share an excerpt with us?

​A crush was what they called these suffocating occasions, and the term was apt.

Major Finnley Macbeth, Scottish baron and late of his majesty’s Highland Brigade, shifted his weight from the leg that still ached like the devil, and scanned the room for his quarry, an undersecretary in the Home Office who he’d met at the army’s winter quarters in Frenada.

From his spot near a damask covered wall, he measured each breath, trying to calm his rising unease. The heavy scent of perfume mixed with fine beeswax and hothouse florals unsettled more than his stomach. The shimmering silks and waving plumes threatened to stir the disquieting visions plaguing him lately.

Fire, explosions, rain, the screams of men and horse.

He squeezed his hands into fists. These were not the hellish memories of the recent past, dammit, but rattling visions of some battle yet to come.

Or not. Foretelling the future was for Travellers and crones, wasn’t it? Not battle-hardened men like himself.

He inhaled slowly, holding the breath for a count, and then eased the air out. Best keep his purpose in mind—he was here to track down Sir Thomas Abernathy, lately arrived in London, and rumored to be attending this rout.

His gaze swept the room, seeking the distinctive bald pate. In spite of his own forty-three years, his eyesight was still keen enough to make out a sniper or spot the dust of a fleeing stag. Keen enough as well to relish the deep décolletages and clinging, delicate, almost transparent skirts on display this night, a vision far more cheering than the one the Sight was showing him.

A more modestly clad woman stood alone halfway across the ballroom, her back turned to him, surveying the room as he was doing.

A memory stabbed him, laced with an old shame. He’d once known a lass with hair like this, so abundant, so near to black. The lady tonight had crowned all the loveliness with dark feathers, like a glorious cormorant. His hand itched to pull out those feathers and rake his hands through the tumble of hair, as he’d once done…

He caught a steadying breath. It couldn’t be her. He’d simply been without a woman too long.

And these visions plaguing him of he knew not what? That foolishness grew from naught but fatigue, the wages of war, and the steady company of too much death. Napoleon had been defeated. He must put the memories of battle and that more distant passion aside. The lovely lady with feathers atop her head was only a stranger wondering where her man had got to.

Yet he couldn’t turn away. As he watched, she pivoted one way, and then the other, allowing a glimpse of dangling earbobs and a firm chin.

Drawn to her, he stepped out on his bad leg just as she turned.

Pain shot through his hip. The room threatened to fall away but he held onto the pain, let it shore him up whilst he swore a silent curse.

It was her.

I am sooo hooked!!! I can't wait to delve into this story! Is the book dedicated to anyone?

More than once during the writing of Fated Hearts, I worried about taking on one of the Bard’s famous tales. But I took heart from the fact that Shakespeare made free with the facts for the sake of a story. Here’s my dedication:  
​
With grateful thanks to William Shakespeare, the master at adapting history, myth and legend to meet the requirements of his audience.

Thank you, Ms. Field! And thank you for writing this romance. It sounds so intriguing!

Fated Hearts
Regency Romance

Plagued by hellish memories and rattling visions of battle to come, a Scottish Baron returning from two decades at war meets the daughter he denied was his, and the wife he divorced, and learns that everything he’d believed to be true was a lie. What he can’t deny is that she’s the only woman he’s ever loved. They’re not the young lovers they once were, but when passion flares, it burns more hotly than ever it did in their youth.

They soon discover, it wasn’t fate that drove them apart, but a jealous enemy, who played on his youthful arrogance and her vulnerability. Now that old enemy has resurfaced, more treacherous than ever. When his lady falls into a trap, can he reach her in time to rescue this love that never died? 

Bio: Alina K. Field

​Award winning and USA Today bestselling author Alina K. Field earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English and German literature, but prefers the much happier world of romance fiction. Though her roots are in the Midwestern U.S., after six very, very, very cold years in Chicago, she moved to Southern California, where she shares a midcentury home with her husband and a spunky, blond rescued terrier. She is the author of several Regency romances, including the 2014 Book Buyer’s Best winner, Rosalyn’s Ring. Though hard at work on her next series of romantic adventures, she loves to hear from readers!

Website: https://alinakfield.com/ 
 Amazon Author Page https://www.amazon.com/Alina-K.-Field/e/B00DZHWOKY
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alinakfield 
Twitter: https://twitter.com/AlinaKField
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/alina-k-field
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/alinak.field/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7173518.Alina_K_Field
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/alinakf/
Newsletter signup: https://landing.mailerlite.com/webforms/landing/z6q6e3

Hello, um, my name is Curtis McClain. (Nervously brushes dark hair from forehead.) You can meet me in the book MEG, book 20 of the Angel Creek Christmas Brides. I’ve been paired with Meg Todd… McClain. Let me tell you about our story:

Meg Todd is tired of putting her happiness on hold. When she learns her bullying brother-in-law has horrifying plans for her future, she asks an attorney family friend for help escaping. Meg wants her own husband and home and is willing to move over halfway across the country to achieve her goal. Along the way she agrees to take two children for their dying mother. Is she too impulsive? Did Meg think she and I and the children could become the happy family of her dreams?

I have to be careful with what’s left of my small savings or it won’t fund my dream of a successful newspaper. I’ve wanted a wife—and I’ve needed someone to help with the newspaper. I figured if I could combine the two, then I’d be all right. In a few years, we can start a family. Would a woman move to the middle of nowhere on those terms? Would she grow to care for me in spite of my… um, reserved nature?

Yes, I was slightly annoyed when Meg showed up with two orphaned children. Whew, when I learned the amount of her inheritance, I decided she wouldn’t be content to stay with me in spite of her assurance to the contrary. The boy and girl are well-behaved but I’m still not certain of my feelings for them. That is, until a terrifying event occurred that forced me to make a decision and take quick action.

Now that you know something about my story, I’ll elaborate. You’ve probably guessed that I live in Angel Creek, Montana Territory. The Angel Creek doctor, Nick Walker, and I have been friends since we were kids in Massachusetts. Nick knew I wanted to relocate and suggested I move to Angel Creek.

You see, I wanted to have my own newspaper instead of working for my father or older brother. Moving the printing press and equipment here was a chore. Now that it’s all set up in the print shop, I’m enjoying Angel Creek. I love owning the newspaper even though it’s not making much money now.

Most people say I don’t talk much and that I’m a bit of a grump who doesn’t like people. That’s not true. I envy those for whom casual conversation comes easy. It sure doesn’t for me. I don’t mean to be thoughtless but a lot of things don’t occur to me.

For instance, the first time I met Meg, she had two orphaned children with her. I don’t dislike children, but I don’t know how to talk to them. I couldn’t believe that a woman as beautiful and graceful as Meg was my wife. I couldn’t help being a little annoyed that she had agreed to take on responsibility for the children. One reason is because I like to plan out everything. I don’t like surprises. There I was, feeling lucky to have such a beautiful wife yet upset because my plans were shot to pieces.

Meg was cheerful and complimentary about the house. I bought the place because of her and the children. She seemed willing enough to be my wife but I still had reservations. When I discovered how much money she’d inherited when we married, I was shocked. Why would a woman like her want me? I couldn’t imagine her settling for me and Angel Creek.

Meg is quite a woman. In addition to being pretty, she’s a good cook and good with the children. She must be the smartest woman I’ve ever met. She caught on to everything I showed her and is even more help with the newspaper than I’d hoped. What I like most about her is that she is always cheerful. Seeing her smile lifts my spirits.

I don’t know why but she says she likes that I’m dependable and take care of the family. I try, of course. She said the children look up to me, which was a big surprise.

Angel Creek is a small place but it’s growing. I figure this will be a good place for us to raise our family. I don’t believe I’ll ever want to live anywhere else. Fortunately, Meg seems to share that opinion. We joke about neither of us wanting to ride the stagecoach again.

​What I’ve learned is that I can’t control everything. In addition, Meg has taught me a lot. My family never showed any affection, but I’ve learned to be more open and loving. To be truthful, I am a mighty lucky man.

Meg: An Excerpt

When he stepped forward, he was wearing a frown. “I’m expecting Meg McClain.”

He was tall with dark brown hair and startling bright blue eyes. Not Greek god handsome, he was ruggedly attractive. His posture gave her the impression he was ill at ease.

“Hello, Curtis. I’m Meg and these are now our children. Penny is four and Tom is six. How they came to be ours is a long story. Perhaps it can wait until we’re somewhere warm.”

Poor little Tom’s face clouded with worry. “I sure hope you’re not gonna be mad at us or our new Mama, sir.”

“New Mama?” Curtis’ eyebrows raised.

Before she could add anything, Tom added, “We’ll be real good and I’ll do all kinds of chores and help you. I reckon I look small but I’m strong.” He raised his little arm as if he expected Curtis to test it.

Curtis’ gaze turned to Tom and his frown softened. “You’re a hard worker, are you? I can probably find things that need your help.”

“You won’t be sorry, sir.”

Meg cuddled Penny’s head on her shoulder while she repeated her request. “I wonder if we can get inside? I’m sure we’ll become able to tolerate the weather, but we’re not yet used to the cold.”

He handed Tom the valise and then picked up the two suitcases that belonged to the children. “I’ll arrange to get the trunks later. Looks as if there are several.”

Carrying Penny, she followed, glancing at Tom to make sure he could keep pace. “I brought as much as I could. I didn’t know how much in the way of household supplies a bachelor would have. Plus, many are family things I wanted to save.”

“The answer to the first is not much. I only brought a few personal items and the rest was newspaper equipment. It’s heavy and cost a lot to ship.”

“I imagine that was complicated as well. Is it far to your house?”

He actually chuckled. “Across town, or what there is of Angel Creek. I bought the house from folks who were moving to the southwest.”

“The town is smaller than I expected but looks as if there’re enough businesses and homes to make a nice place.”

He led them to a pleasant looking house constructed of squared logs and opened the gate. “Here we are.”

Meg stopped to look at the house. In spite of the construction, a wrought iron fence wrapped around the spacious yard. Several types of trees grew inside the fence. Meg recognized pine but wasn’t certain of those that had bare limbs. The enclosure appeared neat

To her right at the equivalent of what would be a block in Charleston, a bridge crossed a creek. 

​He climbed the steps and set down the suitcases to open the door. “After you, Mrs. McClain.”

Bio: Caroline Clemmons

Through a crazy twist of fate, Caroline Clemmons was not born on a Texas ranch. To compensate for this illogical error, she writes about handsome cowboys, feisty ranch women, and scheming villains in a tiny office her family calls her pink cave. She and her Hero live in North Central Texas cowboy country where they ride herd on their two rescued indoor cats and dog as well as providing nourishment outdoors for squirrels, birds, and other critters.

The over sixty books she has created have made her a Top 100 historical author, a bestselling author, and won awards. She writes sweet to sensual romances about the West, both historical and contemporary as well as time travel and mystery. In addition to her series she has written single titles and contributed to multi-author series and box sets. When she’s not writing, she loves spending time with her family, reading her friends’ books, lunching with friends, browsing antique malls, delving into genealogy, checking Facebook, and taking the occasional nap.

Find her on her blog, website, Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and Pinterest.

Join her and other readers at Caroline’s Cuties, a Facebook readers group for special excerpts, exchanging ideas, contests, giveaways, recipes, and talking to like-minded people about books and other fun things.
​
Click on her Amazon Author Page for a complete list of her books and follow her there.

Follow her on BookBub.

To stay up-to-date with her releases and contests, subscribe to Caroline’s newsletter here and receive a FREE novella of HAPPY IS THE BRIDE, a humorous historical wedding disaster that ends happily—but you knew it would, didn’t you? 

Today we welcome Linda Nightingale, and her paranormal romance, Sinners' Opera. She shares pieces of the amazing setting and history behind the story. Let's hear from Linda.....

​Sinners’ Opera is set in Charleston, South Carolina, one of my favorite cities in the world (that I’ve visited).  It’s beautiful and on the ocean—two requirements of being a favorite. I’d simply love to live in one of the Antebellum mansions along the Battery. If you ever visit Charleston, take a buggy tour around the historic sights.
 
Charles Towne was founded in 1670, during the reign of Charles II of England.  This is important in the book because Morgan (the hero) became a vampire in 1659, and in 1670, the King sent him to the new colony to inspect its progress. Later, he returns to watch over a baby girl (the heroine) as she grows to womanhood.
 
Charleston boasts cobblestone streets, horse-drawn carriages, and pastel Antebellum houses, particularly in the elegant French Quarter and Battery districts. The Battery promenade and Waterfront Park both overlook Charleston Harbor. Fort Sumter, a federal stronghold where the first shots of the Civil War were fired, lies across the water.
 
Two beaches, Folly Beach and Isle of Palms, are near Charleston. Another requirement for a favorite of mine.
 
In nearby Mt. Pleasant, you can visit Boone Hall plantation. Some of the tours they offer are, "Exploring The Gullah Culture", House Tours, Plantation Coach Tour, Black History In America Exhibit, Slave Street and History Presentation, Garden Tour, and a Butterfly Pavilion.
 
My personal favorite is the Dock Street Theater, America’s first theater. On February 12, 1736, the Dock Street opened with The Recruiting Officer. Flora, the first opera performed in America took place at the Dock Street. Now, the Dock Street is owned and managed by the City of Charleston. I was enthralled by it when I went for a concert. The Dock Street looks like a 17th century playhouse with rows of wooden benches in the orchestra seating. The boxes overlooking the floor are draped in dark green, almost black velvet. The stage backdrop is an antique tapestry of Charleston Harbor. Photo Credit:  By Frances Benjamin Johnston
 
The Battery is a street along the seawall on the Atlantic Ocean. The pastel and colorful Antebellum mansions cost in the millions. When I was writing Sinners’ Opera, I drove up and down the Battery until the residents must have thought I lived there…or was a stalker. I finally chose a house for my hero. It’s Roper House, a brick structure with green shutters and a Greek portico to the left. A beautiful house, but because the main attraction, the portico, is on the side, it looks like the house has its shoulder to the sea.  A house with secrets.
 
I’ve driven those cobblestone streets in my little red Miata, eaten at some good downtown restaurants (never made Magnolias for shrimp and grits), and have gone to the Dock Street for a piano concert.  Morgan is a concert pianist, an English lord, and a vampire.
 
If I haven’t yet inspired you to visit Charleston on your next vacation, what can I say?  Real movie stars are moving to Charleston, and it is one of the most concentrated centers of wealth in this country. It’s also famous for art (Spoleto), culture, and history—and entertainment galore.

A Peek Into Sinners' Opera:

​Kirsty fanned with the program.  “However, I’m delighted to inherit his seat.  Culture, especially in the form of a rich bachelor, is something sadly missing from my life.  How does Lady Kirsty D’Arcy sound?”

“Like a tongue-twister.”  She tapped her friend’s arm with the heel of her hand.

Isabeau wasn’t looking when Morgan D’Arcy mounted the stage.

She turned.  Her smile solidified.  Applause erupted as the pianist glided to the piano.  The way he moved, his feet scarcely seeming to touch the floor, was hauntingly familiar.  He ducked his audience an elegant bow, the spotlight haloing golden hair.  Isabeau’s heart kicked her ribs. A trembling hand shot out to grip Kirsty’s arm.

“What’s the matter?”  Her friend passed a hand before Isabeau’s eyes.  “You look like you’ve seen a ghost.”
Staring at the man on stage, Isabeau nodded. I’ll be darned.  Here’s your ghost again.  And here I am one heartbeat away from another heartache.

“His hair is tied back with a black velvet ribbon,” Isabeau breathed, and a man hissed for her to be quiet, but she didn’t spare him a thought or a glance.

An invisible chord drew her forward in her seat, her hands clasped beneath her chin, her heart in the grip of impossible dreams.  A hush fell over the audience as Morgan D’Arcy drifted leaf-like, angel-like, to the bench and adjusted the height.  He closed his eyes, tilted his head back and flexed his long fingers.  The pianist extended exquisite hands over the keys.  Emeralds winked in his gold cufflinks.  Isabeau couldn’t peel her gaze off him.
Morgan D’Arcy was the spitting image of Gabriel.

He bent low over the keyboard, holding a thunderous chord.  A wisp of hair escaped his ponytail to brush the keys.  Eyes closed, he straightened, fingers blurring over black and white notes.  In the timeless vacuum of beauty, an hour sped by.  The last trill of Gaspard de la nuit died.  A collective sigh swept the dark theater.  Isabeau exhaled a pent-up breath.  A wave of applause washed the audience to their feet.

​Morgan D’Arcy rested his hand on the piano’s glistening wing and gave his fans a dazzling smile.  To the standing ovation, he folded his hands in front of him.  His bow was as elegant as the man himself.  The wayward gold strand drifted over his eye.  Isabeau remembered a child’s hand…her little hand…brushing back hair like that, hair as silken as the shiver gliding over her.  He straightened, swept the audience with an enchanting gaze.  Radiant blue eyes captured hers.  The foundations of her carefully ordered life shook.

BUY SINNERS' OPERA

In BAKED WITH LOVE, a MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN, book3, I wanted to give youngest O’Dowd sister, Maureen, a secret, that if revealed, could changed all the relationships she holds dear. Since Maureen is a twin, and her twin died of a rare breast cancer, it stood to reason Maureen ( and her sisters) might also be afflicted with the genetic marker for the cancer. They all three decided to be tested after Eileen ( the twin) died. Only Maureen never got tested. She was terrified to. Not having conclusive proof, in her mind, allows her to just forget about the possibility of her dying young.

The thought that she may die young is what has propelled her to never tell the man she loves that she loves him. She doesn’t want to start a relationship with him that might end up with her leaving him and causing him misery and heartache.

But, life has a way of changing our views on things. Once Maureen starts an affair with Lucas Alexander, she realizes there is no going back. She is terrified, though, that her secret will be revealed and her relationship will suffer because of it.
​
I love the idea of writing about sisters, and twins are such a wonderful mix of emotions and chaos, that I knew giving Maureen a twin who died would be all the more justification for why she acts the way she does.

Do you have a favorite part?

There’s a scene where Maureen, Lucas, and his teenaged son, Robert all go shopping to rent Lucas a tuxedo for an upcoming wedding. After shopping they all sit down to eat in a restaurant and the interplay and conversation, plus what get’s revealed about Lucas when hew as 17 to his teenaged son was so much fun for me to write. And read!

Is the book dedicated to anyone?

The book is dedicated to my lovely daughter and new husband, who were married during this horrible pandemic in a Covid-cautious and conscious ceremony in September. This is the dedication:

To Erin and Mahen ~ An old Irish toast as you start your life together:
​
May you have warm words on a cold evening, A full moon on a dark night, And the road downhill all the way to your door.

The toast is also used in the book when oldest sister Cathleen marries Mac Frayne ( from Book 2, TODAY, TOMORROW, ALWAYS)

​“Thank you again for coming and helping us out,” he said. “I haven’t worn a tux since prom.” He chuckled. “The cut and the price have changed dramatically since then, that’s for sure.”

Robert snorted at his father’s words, then flushed scarlet.

“What’s so funny?” I asked.

He lifted his head, glanced once at this father and then me, then dipped his chin again. “Nothing.”

“Oh, I think it was something.” I snuck a side eye at Lucas and grinned. “You’re trying to imagine your father at prom, aren’t you, and can’t quite picture it, can you, Bobby-Boy?”

Little grin lines popped up on his cheeks as he tried not to smile back.

“I’ll have you know I looked pretty damn good at my senior prom,” Lucas said, mild pique slipping through his tone. “I was even voted Prom King.”

“Dad.” Robert shook his head. “That’s so lame.”

I was barely able to keep my laugh at bay. “Chief of Police Lucas Alexander at eighteen. You should have seen him, Robert. Decked out in a blue velvet tux with a frilly baby-blue shirt and bow tie, his long hair slicked back like he jumped off a 1950s teen idol magazine, a pint of dime store cologne wafting from him.”

I lost the small thread of control I still had when Robert burst out laughing.

Lucas’s feeble “Hey!” of indignation made us laugh harder.

Our drinks arrived and while the waitress handed them out, Robert and I tried to control ourselves.

We did a pretty poor job of it.

“You didn’t really wear a velvet tux, did you?” Robert asked his father.

“I think I can hunt up Cathy’s prom pictures as proof. Colleen probably has them in the family albums at the house. I’ll ask her tomorrow.”

“Yes, I did, Robert, and you should know I rocked it. Why do you think the whole class voted me king?”

“Because everyone felt sorry for you, showing up in a velvet tux?” Robert had taken a sip through his straw and, at my words, laughed so hard he choked, then spit out his soda when it went up his nose, the moisture raining down all over the table.

Unfortunately, this only made me laugh harder. I don’t know who Lucas gave the more stern warning glare to: his son or me.

“What did Mom wear?” Robert asked when he finally composed himself.

Lucas winced.

I answered for him. “He and your mom had broken up, so he took Shelly Bookerman, the biggest flirt in the class.” I rolled my eyes and shook my head. “Shelly had a huge crush on your dad and had been after him for all of high school to pay attention to her. Followed him whenever he was in the halls, always tried to sit near him in the lunchroom. Went to all the football games, home and away, to cheer him on. She must have thought she’d died and gone to Heaven—the real one— when you finally asked her out,” I added, addressing Lucas.

“Dad.”

Lord, was there anything worse than hearing a teenager’s voice filled with censure? Or funnier? 

Bio: Peggy Jaeger

Peggy Jaeger writes contemporary romances and rom coms about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.

Family and food play huge roles in Peggy’s stories because she believes there is nothing that holds a family structure together like sharing a meal…or two…or ten. Dotted with humor and characters that are as real as they are loving, Peggy brings all aspects of life into her stories: life, death, sibling rivalry, illness, and the desire for everyone to find their own happily ever after. Growing up the only child of divorced parents she longed for sisters, brothers and a family that vowed to stick together no matter what came their way. Through her books, she has created the families she wanted as that lonely child.

As a lifelong diarist, she caught the blogging bug early on, and you can visit her at peggyjaeger.com where she blogs daily about life, writing, and stuff that makes her go "What??!"
 
Website/Blog: http://peggyjaeger.com/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/peggy_jaeger
Amazon Author page: http://www.amazon.com/-/e/B00T8E5LN0
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Peggy-Jaeger-Author/825914814095072?ref=bookmarks
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/peggyjaeger/
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/13478796.Peggy_Jaeger
Instagram: https://instagram.com/mmj122687/
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/peggy-jaeger
You-Tube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDR8RRIlssIyS0FYZWeGqsg/videos?view_as=subscriber

Book 7 in the Texas Brides of Pike's Run Series was a labor of love for me. Love's Redemption tells Willa Kramer's story, which became quite complex and meaningful.

Willa has to overcome some very difficult internal and external battles. She faces two truly evil people, and it was hard to write. Not because the story wouldn't flow, but because Willa's journey contained some tough events that she had to endure. And, of course, triumph over.

I love her story. I love what she learns about herself, and how she takes the necessary risks in order to save everyone.

She is strong. She is tough. Stubborn. VERY stubborn. And Lonnie, the man she loves, is her match.

I enjoyed bringing these two together. They are a force, in my opinion. After what they go through, not much else can shake their love.

Excerpt: Love's Redemption

When Lonnie stepped into the vacant kitchen, he caught sight of Willa's form through the screen door. She stood on the porch, her hands lightly gripping the rail, gazing at the outbuildings, field and the trees shading Glebe Run. The breeze caressed her, sending wisps of her hair to float around her face.

He paused. His chest tightened. He’d waited a long time to see her, had wondered if he ever would. Years ago, she’d wrapped him around her little finger, and he’d grown so attached to her, he’d thought about moving to Tennessee to be with her. But then she had stopped writing. To say it had hurt would be an understatement. But he hadn’t been angry. He could never be angry with her. Never. And now she was back and near. It was too tempting.

After taking a deep breath, he moved forward then went through the screen door. Even though it gave a loud creak, she didn’t turn. Did she know it was he who stood behind her?

The light breeze ruffled her skirt. Her long, velvety hair grazed the small of her back. An ache centered in the pit of his stomach. He’d missed her. And now she was here. “Hello, Willa,” he said, hearing the gentleness of his tone.

She tensed before facing him. Her gaze was shuttered, as if she needed to protect herself from him. Was she afraid? Had he said something in his letters that had hurt her? An urgency gripped him.

“How are you?” he inquired, tamping down the questions he really wanted to ask. Instead, he searched her face for clues as to why she seemed guarded. In the past, he’d been the person she trusted, the person she leaned on. What had he done wrong?

“H-Hello, Lonnie. It’s good to see you.”

Was it? She didn’t seem happy. “It’s…really good to see you, too,” he couldn’t help admitting.

“Did you meet my step-father?” she asked.

“I did. Seems like a nice fellow.”

“He is. He makes Mother happy.”

When she didn’t continue, he racked his brain for a response. Nothing came to him. Her upturned face held determined lines, and the barriers in her hazel eyes left him silent.

“Greg likes him,” she inserted into the awkward silence stretching between them.

He linked his thumbs through his belt loops. “I haven’t seen your brother yet. Where is he?”

She nodded her head in the direction of the barn. “Checking on his horse. He brought Tracks with us. He loves that animal too much to be apart from him for long.”

Lonnie understood. He was the wrangler on the family ranch and dealt with horses most of the time. He had a special relationship with the animals. “And Shelby?” he asked, inquiring about her sister. If mundane conversation was what Willa wanted, he would respect that. Besides, did he really want to ask why she’d stopped writing? Did he really want to return to the road that led to Willa Kramer? It had taken a while to stop feeling something whenever he thought of her. And he still thought of her. Every day.

“Married. She lives in Oregon. She hasn’t met our step-father, but I’ve written to her about him.”

Which meant Willa had indicated whether or not she trusted the man. Lonnie figured she did. If the man hadn’t earned the respect of Willa, Lonnie doubted her mother would have married him.

“How was the trip down?”

She shrugged. “As comfortable as possible. I hadn’t ever ridden on a train. It was much better than the stagecoach ride from Texas to Memphis.”

The day she’d boarded that coach to leave Pike’s Run had ripped out his heart. He’d watched her go, unsure of what she meant to him, what he meant to her. A week after the Kramer family had left, Lonnie had understood he loved Willa. He’d written. And she’d replied. But then, after the fifth exchange, she had stopped. Without warning. Without explanation. What had he done?

As he looked into her eyes, it was all he could do not to move closer, to cup her cheek with a hand. He was falling again. Or had he ever regained his heart? That invisible tug he’d felt around her had returned. In mere minutes.

Time goes by too fast. Too many moments zip by us, never to be experienced again. If we aren't aware, we may not realize how important certain events are.

Like lying in the grass, watching the lightening bugs twinkle and flit above you. Or rolling down the hill at Miller Outdoor Theater. Or running through the sprinklers. Or having a full team for kickball.

Those dusky summer evenings when adults sat in lawn chairs, and we ran around with water guns.

I can't get those back. They are gone...forever. Swallowed up into the gaping mouth that was Fall.

Just the word....Fall. It makes me nauseous.

Your hopes are falling. Your fun is falling. Your life is tumbling into an abyss of pencil, paper, "quiet water, still water", and math.

​
I think my mom forgot to tell me school was starting until she walked me to the bus stop. Maria was with us.

"Maria is starting Kindergarten today," Mom announces proudly and excitedly.

Maria is smiling, and I am looking at her like she has drunk the koolaid.

"And Kara is starting second grade."

WHAT?!!??!! Whoa, there. Slow down, boy! "What are you sayin', Mom?" I almost scream at her.

She raises a brow as if to say, "Deal with it. You'll be fine."

Oh, my Lord. It's starting again! Does it never end?

As a voice above me whispers, "No.", I realize there was nothing I could do about this hamster wheel I was on. They'd beaten me. I was a student, and I was going to school. No manner of wishin', hopin', or prayin' would change it. So, I might as well bear it.

I look down at my sister and see that hopeful gleam in her eye. She gazes up at me, unafraid because I am beside her.

Standing a little straighter, I decide I could handle anything for the sake of my sister. Even school.

I was approached by one of my best friend’s ever, Amanda McCabe, to do a Regency Christmas novella in mid-October. The conversation went like this:
 
Amanda: Hi Kathy!  I know it's short notice, being October and all, but would you want to do a short Christmas novella collection?  I have a couple novellas we can use, and you could do one connected to your Regency series?  If you have time, they're short and kind of fun!  We can talk about it more this weekend....

Kathy: Wait, what? Not write one. I can certainly share... We need to talk.

Amanda: I wish I had thought of it sooner, Xmas anthologies always do so well…
 
And, a Christmas Anthology was born and thus, Lady Felicity’s Feud with Christmas. I worked like crazy for three weeks, aiming for 20k words, on the hook: She hates Christmas…
 
So, not to give anything away: to get the hero’s aunt off his back to marry some silly girl, all he has to do is secure the heroine’s assistance for his aunt’s pet annual Christmas Charity project. But since our heroine will have nothing to do with Christmas our hero must come up with something to garner her attention and not send her running for the hills.

One really fun thing to note: My husband wrote a song for our anthology. He played the harpsichord and bass, and we worked on the lyrics together. There’s no release date yet, but I’ll keep everyone posted via my newsletter. You can sign up via my website. 

Well, that is all kinds of awesome! I love that! I can't wait to hear it. I also love how the anthology unfolded. And 20K words in three weeks? Your computer must have been on fire!

Can you share a little about all the stories in Regency Christmas Kisses?

​Snowbound Christmas – Amanda McCabe
(A sequel to "The wallflower's Mistletoe Wedding")
 
Years ago, fate parted Helen Layton and Charles St. George.  Now a wealthy widow and a famous artist, they are stuck together in a Christmas blizzard!  Can old pain, and true love, bring them back together?
 
Lady Felicity’s Feud with Christmas – Kathy L Wheeler
(Part of the Rebel Lords of London series)
 
Christmas does not come easy for a young woman who has seen too much tragedy around the holidays. Lord Lexum is snared into obtaining Lady Felicity’s assistance for a Christmas event. Can he find a way to show Felicity Christmas also means hope?
 
A Partridge in a Pear Tree – Amanda Mc Cabe
A National Reader's Choice Award Finalist
 
Spend the holidays at a Regency England house party! Seeking an heir to her fortune, a widow challenges her family to a wild holiday scavenger hunt in the novella "A Partridge in a Pear Tree"--and two lost, lonely people find a lasting love and true family seeking the Twelve Days of Christmas...
 
Five Gold Rings – Kathy L Wheeler
(Part of the My True Love Gave to Me anthology from the Oklahoma Romance Writers.)
 
The noblest of England’s finest families vie for the honor to attend Pemberton’s Annual Christmas Ball—most especially those with daughters of a marriageable age. Something Bartholomew Dixon, Viscount Weston, in all accounts, typically avoids like the plague but for one idiotic wager. He’s acquired four of the five rings required to win…but what of the fifth?
 
Nine Ladies Dancing – Amanda McCabe
(the sequel to A Partridge in a Pear Tree!)

Spend Christmas in the magic of Regency England! The lovely, red-headed Gordon twins, studious Jane and vivacious Kitty, are excited to attend their first Kirkwood Christmas Ball at Swan Court—-and are filled with plans for the future. Kitty has dreams of marrying the Duke of Tremanton, while Jane thinks the handsome new vicar, Harry Phillips, might suit her. But Christmas has a magic of its own—and the universe has its own idea of romance! Will all end well, under the mistletoe?

Thank you so much, Kathy! I can't wait to read all of these!

Bio: Kathy L Wheeler

Kathy L Wheeler (aka Kae Elle Wheeler) loves the NFL, the NBA, musical theater (don't ask how her how many times she's seen Phantom of the Opera (12); or Wicked (7)), travel, (Europe, Grand Cayman, Mexico, All over the US), reading (practically a book a night), writing (15 books and counting) and karaoke (well....what can she say). She assists other authors in critiquing, formatting, and creating covers for their publishing dreams. She writes contemporary and historical stories where the heroines save themselves and the heroes who honor their courage with suspense and humor.
​
website ~ bookbub ~ facebook ~ twitter ~ pinterest ~ amazon

Bio: Amanda McCabe

​Amanda McCabe wrote her first romance at the age of sixteen--a vast historical epic starring all her friends as the characters, written secretly during algebra class (and her parents wondered why math was not her strongest subject...). When not writing or reading, she loves yoga, collecting cheesy travel souvenirs, and watching the Food Network--even though she doesn't cook. She also writes as Laurel McKee. historical Elizabethan mysteries as Amanda Carmack., and Eliza Casey...
 
website ~ bookbub ~ facebook ~ twitter ~ pinterest ~ amazon