WARM AND COZY GREETINGS!

I hope that you had a wonderful Thanksgiving with friends and family. And that you didn’t do too much shopping. :-)As for me, I haven’t had time to shop or do much of anything else. For the last six weeks I’ve been too busy working. But…now it’s FINALLY done. I’m thrilled to let you know that I have an entirely rewritten and replotted book available for you this week. It is the second book I ever wrote and even now it remains one of my very favorites.

When I walked the narrow cobblestoned streets of Rye in southern England two decades ago, the plot jumped full-blown into my head. I could swear I heard the cries of excise officers chasing desperate smugglers. And the story never let me go.

Even today, I still get goosebumps remembering how I somehow found myself lost in Needles Passage.

SEVEN NIGHTS WITH A PIRATE is the result, set in the beautiful brooding marshes of southeast England near Rye.

The time – 1813, at the height of the Napoleonic Wars.

Who– smugglers, spies and traitors.

And two brave but wounded lovers.

I completely rewrote the 700 page book, a real labor labor of love. I think the story sings now, and I’m hoping you will agree. This is a sweeping adventure for real historical fans.

And of course, there is a passionate romance at its heart.

And although my book cover is not shown in the box set, it will be repackaged at a higher price early next year. Meanwhile, here’s a sneak peek at the gorgeous new cover.

And for the next week, SEVEN NIGHTS WITH A PIRATE is specially priced as an early Christmas gift for readers. It is part of a box set of three wonderful pirate historicals from Steel Magnolia Press. I hope you will enjoy it, and the two powerful companion books by Jennifer Blake and Lynette Vinet.

PIRATE HEARTS includes three historical romances by three award-winning, national and international bestselling authors with over 120 titles between them!

PIRATE’S BRIDE (Lynette Vinet)

Young Bethlyn Talbot, daughter of the Earl of Dunsmoor, is forced into an arranged marriage with brash colonial Ian Briston, who abandons her after the wedding ceremony. Seven years later, she sets sail for America, determined to force her husband to be just that. But when the ship is captured by the infamous American privateer, Captain Hawk, he mistakes her for a prostitute. Bethlyn becomes Hawk’s prey and succumbs to nights of passion in the arms of the masked buccaneer. But what will happen when she arrives in Philadelphia to claim her wayward spouse now that she’s known the ecstasy of being the pirate’s bride?

SEVEN NIGHTS WITH A PIRATE (Christina Skye)

Driven to redeem her father’s debts, gently bred Tess Leighton dons a mask and cloak by night, running contraband across the sands of Romney Marsh. After crucial military secrets are captured enroute to Napoleon, London sends naval hero Viscount Ravenhurst to stop the elusive Romney Fox. But one kiss by moonlight invigorates his passion … and the heart he thought long dead. Then Tess is betrayed and finds herself the captive of a notorious smuggler pirate. Now two unyielding rivals swear to claim her wounded heart. But a traitor watches from the shadows, and Tess must learn who to trust before she loses everything she holds dear.

Note: this book was originally published by Dell as The Black Rose.

But I consider this a brand-new book. Every page has been changed, the characters reworked, the plot transformed. The result is one of my very favorite books.

EMBRACE AND CONQUER (Jennifer Blake)

Félicité despises the Irish colonel, Morgan McCormack, who marches into New Orleans with the Spanish conquerors, even though she’s pressed into becoming his mistress or risk losing her father and brother to charges of treason. Pride demands she escape from his beguiling embrace, but when she flees, she winds up in a pirate haven where desperate men vie to have her. Morgan follows her into the island trap, where only courage and desperate desire can possibly lead to freedom, trust … and love.

I will have a special announcement soon with my next Christmas title. And a very special Christmas bonus coming to you.

Meanwhile, to get you in the mood, here is my favorite Scottish shortbread recipe, courtesy of one very rugged Highlander.

Jared MacNeill’s traditional Earl Grey Shortbread Cookies

Makes 2-1/2 dozen

INGREDIENTS:

1 cup pastry flour

1 tbsp loose Earl Grey tea leaves

(Preferably Trader Joe’s Lady Grey)

Approximately 4 opened bags

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 cup unsalted butter, soft

1/4 cup confectioner’s (powdered) sugar

1/2 tbsp orange zest — finely grated

DIRECTIONS:

Open the tea bags. Crush the loose tea leaves by hand to a fine powder.

Take a moment to inhale the rich scent….

Mix the tea, flour and salt.

In a separate bowl cream the butter. Once it is fluffy, add powdered sugar, orange zest and vanilla. Mix all the ingredients well. Then add the flour/tea blend in two batches. Mix well.

Shape the prepared dough on a floured surface. Divide in half.

Roll out in 1-1/2 inch diameter logs. Completely cover in plastic wrap and chill well in refrigerator.

While the oven is preheating to 350°F, cut the logs into 1 inch segments and shape into circles. Bake for 12 to 15 minutes, just until the edges are golden. Do not over cook. Cool on a wire rack before serving.

Enjoy with a steaming cup of Earl Grey.

Or a crisp Riesling, if you are so inclined.

With warm regards,

 

 

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