There's still time!

Peace and Joy to You!

Enjoy a safe and comfy 

Holiday!   Claire

Another Holiday Freebie for You!

Lady Felicity Drummond and Chandler Rhys are hot for each other, but it takes a freak ice storm to bring them together -- but for how long? "Captive for Christmas" is a fun, sensuous Regency (Book #3 in the Merry Widow series) for your pleasure here: https://www.books2read.com/u/3J0ewe

Scents of the Season

Fill your home with the 

scents of the Season!

Peace & Joy

to you --  Claire H.

Life getting hectic?

An easy-peasy gift to give

How many times are we suddenly invited to join a friend during the holiday season and feel that we should have a little giftie for them?  I love making these bookmarks and they're perfect for a friend or co-worker who loves to read!

Here's what you need:

ready-made shipping tags (these are usually pre-punched and come in packs at any craft or office supply store) or heavy cardstock paper

scrapbooking papers 

stamps

inkpads  (a vintage dark brown is good for "aging" the edges)

variety of ribbons and fancy yarns

heavy-duty glue stick

hole punch (if you use cardstock rather than shipping tags)


Process:

Embellish the fancy paper with stamps and any other embellishments you want to apply; then ink the edges if you want a "vintage-y" look;

Trim to fit the shipping tag or cardstock paper;  apply glue stick to the back of the stamped piece and secure to the base tag / cardstock;

Gather up several strands of fancy yarns and ribbons and slip through the hole, securing in the back with a lark knot -- or just a plain knot;  trim to the length you want.

Just to be sure, I usually weigh down the bookmark with something heavy for a few hours to ensure that the glue is set.

Depending on the occasion, I sometimes write a note on the back of the bookmark. 

And that's it!  Bookmarks are the little gifts that keep on giving . . . ;-)  

  

Freebie for the Holiday!

Click on the image for links to get PDQ (excludes Kindle) --  Includes an excerpt from the second in the series, "Sweet Binding Love," which just released on November 14!

And honest reviews are always welcome!

New Release Available!

It's here!  Thanks for your patience while I put the

finishing touches to Lacey and Dante's story -- a light, sexy romance

set in the beautiful city of Venice, Italy!

Just click on the cover for all ordering links!

Or, if you prefer, here are the links if you're interested in purchasing at select sites:

BARNES & NOBLE

APPLE iBOOKS

AMAZON

KOBO

ANGUS & ROBERTSON (Australia)

OTHER

And don't forget the first novella in the series:  Love Long Overdue,

featuring Adam Cameron, the hot Scotsman who's determined to win over

the feisty Gina Bradshaw -- another fun, light and sexy read!

Click on the cover for all ordering links!

I hope you enjoy these romances -- a great way to relax for a few hours, de-stress

during the upcoming holidays.  And if you could leave a review, I would

truly appreciate your time in doing so.

Warm regards,

Claire H.

A few more weeks!

A change in the title -- wanted something that didn't imply S&M?! Ha! -- but otherwise, on track for November release.  If you haven't signed up for my newsletter, please use the link above on the tab line.  Thanks!

It's coming!

Busy working on the second romance novella under the "Mr. Librarian" umbrella!  This time we land in Venice, Italy and our hot librarian is Dante Alessandro -- tall, dark and a former soccer star, to boot.

Lacey Whittaker is recovering from a traumatic incident and, using her great-grandmother's travel journal from 1925, she is making her way through Europe.  But landing in "La Serenessima" has her deciding to stay longer while the hot Alessandro repairs the delicate journal.  

Can he also repair Lacey's heart?  Anticipated release date?  November 1st!  But in the meantime, why not pick up Love Long Overdue, the first in the "Mr. Librarian" series for only 99 cents!

Available at these sites!

Happy Labor Day

New Release!

NEW Release -- Book #1 of a new series!

All librarians wear cardigans, sensible shoes and glasses, right?  Think again.

Gina Bradshaw has kept her heart under lock and key for years.  Casual relationships have been the norm until the new librarian comes to town.  Now she's fighting against every instinct to keep her heart intact and stumbling headlong into the hot Scots' arms, determined that this is just another summer fling.  But Adam Cameron, lean-muscled, tall and handsome as sin, knows that Gina is The One from the first moment he sees her.  Now all he has to do is convince her that he's right. But the lass is proving to be obstinate.  All the better as he likes nothing more than a challenge, especially when the goal is not only taking her to bed, but wedding her, too.
Order here

So darn hard!

It's tough trying to write, revise and edit a book in the midst of summer . . . ugh.  It's so darn beautiful out there in the sun and the garden with the roses and clematis and the morning glory vines and the green, green grass -- well, you get the picture, I'm sure.

In the midst of winter it's so much easier to hole up in my writing cave / craft studio and hunker down for hours on end, then retreat to the fireplace with a glass of wine to do revising.  Yesterday when the temperature hit over 95, one of my daughters texted to come spend the afternoon at her pool.  

Hmmm . . . let me see:  sit in the lower level of my house and write -- OR -- go swimming in a beautiful in-ground pool and enjoy my children's company.  Which will it be?  Bingo!  Off to the pool, laptop turned off, lights out!  

So I'm confessing to you, my readers, that "Love Long Overdue" may be a bit overdue then the predicted date of release.  But I'll continue to push through, mainly because I'm so enjoying writing this romance.  I've come to love Gina and Adam (yes, I think I changed their names again) and how they ultimately come together in a HEA.

As promised -- cover reveal to come soon!  And if you haven't already signed up for my newsletter, please do so here for updates, sales alerts, etc.

"A book is like a garden carried in the pocket."

Chinese Proverb

Watch for it!

Want to find out more?  Sign up for my newsletter --  

and I promise not to stuff your mailbox either!

Romance Snippet Two:

A change from Snippet One posted earlier --  Gwen has become Gina -- don't know why, but the name just seemed more like the character herself.  Also, changed from first person to third person as I wanted several points of view in this romance.  Remember:  this is a work-in-progress!

 

Love Long Overdue

a Mr. Librarian romance

TWO

"What are you doin’ down there, lass?"  Carmichael put his hands on his knees and bent further down.  He was grinning ear to ear. 

"Nothing, just looking for signs of moles.  Old Mr. Anderson can't move around much anymore, so I try to do my bit."  Gina sneaked a peek to see his reaction.  God, just look at those hands, would ya?  Strong fingers, lean and clean.  What would they feel like on her --

"Moles, eh?  I don't see any holes anywhere.” 

“Of course not – I’m doing a good job keeping them away,” she huffed at him.  The grin just widened, showing white teeth against tanned skin. 

“Would you like to come out from under there now?  You must be a bit cramped."  He reached out a hand.  She chose to ignore it and started to scoot backwards.  Of course, that gave him a clean shot of her butt coming right at him.  Not exactly the most elegant exit, but then again, she wasn’t the elegant type.

But his hand was still waiting to help.  She grabbed it at the last second before she toppled over on said butt.  He tugged and she lunged, finding herself grasped firmly by two strong hands.

"Do you live here?"  Speechless, she nodded, feeling the warmth of his hands on her arms.  Little tingly things started happening and, damn, she thought she heard music, just like in those old classic movies.

Of course, idiot.  His cellphone was ringing. 

"Excuse me."  He released me and did a half-turn.  "Carmichael here . . . ah, ye don't say?  Really?  Be there in a tick."  He hung up and turned back to her, idiot woman who was still staring at his hands.  He extended one again.

"Name's Carmichael, Adam Carmichael.  And you are?"  His deep blue eyes watched her, probably wondering if she was suffering from a disability, like not getting one's brain in gear and putting two words together.  She blinked and shook her head up and down like a bobble doll.

"Yes, I live here.  Top floor.  Name's . . . "  What was her name?  Oh, yeah.  "Gina Bradshaw."  She finally looked up beyond his hand, her eyes roving up his chest, the open collar of his shirt revealing the hint of dark chest hairs, a strong jaw, a wide mouth still smiling until her gaze landed on his eyes.  She took the proffered hand, yanking it up and down like a well pump.

“Well, Gina Bradshaw, good to meet you,” he said.  He waved his hand to his car and back to the house.  “Just moving my things in, getting settled.”  He looked down at his hand, still being pumped.  “Do ye think I can have my hand back now, Gina?” 

She dropped it like it burned her skin. “Sorry!  My mind’s on other things.  Busy day, lots to do.”  She grabbed the shears and the daffs and started toward the garage door, but he was in the way.  She waited until he moved, then yanked the door open and left the shears on the potting table. 

"Well, I'll be off now.  See ya."  Gina spun on her heel, only to tumble to the side, the smooth surface of the ballet flats slipping in the grass.  He caught her.  Again.  She felt his warm breath on her cheek and stood stock still. 

"Careful there now."  She heard the low chuckle and tugged her arm free, then started back to the house, wanting to put as much distance between them as possible.  Her head was thick with thoughts and sensations.  She needed air.  She needed to calm those randy body parts.  She figured about two trays of ice cubes should do it.  She opened the back door and started for the stairs, but the damn Scotsman was right behind her. 

Yes, literally behind her.  Behind her behind, watching, she was sure, as she climbed.  As her foot hit the first landing, he tapped my arm.  Flashes of heat broke forth in her addled brain.  Good god, what the heck?  Get a grip, girl.

"You know you've got grass stains all over your as . . . uh, jeans."

"Yes, I know," she growled.

"You better put something on those stains.  They'll never come out."

"I’m well aware of that, thank you."  She lunged for the next steps but he continued to follow.  She stopped and turned, crossing her arms, blocking his way.  These last set of steps were hers.  No one but invited guests and her landlord came any further.  She pointed down the stairs.

"That landing is yours.  Your apartment is on the second floor, Carmichael."  Gina started to turn back but he caught her arm.  His grip was gentle but firm, and his eyes gleamed up at her in the half light from the landing window.

"I know where I live.  I just wanted to see you to your door.  In my country, that's what a gentleman does, you ken?"  A piece of her melted at those words, at the light burr of his accent.  She started to say something, but shut her mouth for fear of stammering.  She gave him a smile, nothing flashy or flirty.  Just a smile.

"Could we go out for a drink sometime?" he asked, as he shifted and came up a step, closing the space between them.  She was drowning in two blue pools rimmed by dark lashes.  Visions of a mountain lake lined by tall pines rose up in her mind's eye.  He hovered over her, his lips at her eye level.  Soft lips, wide and generous.  Things fluttered low in her belly and she sucked in air, knowing that if she didn't, she’d be toppling over the banister until her body – pasty white, mind you – was a mere splat on the floor three levels below.

"Ah, sure.  Sometime," she mumbled.  With all her strength, she turned, caught the last step and just about broke down the door to escape the man and what he was doing to her.  Not even ten minutes had she known him and already she was a puddle of helpless female longings.  Once inside, she leaned against the door, restraining herself from flipping the lock.  Not to keep him out, but to keep herself in.

This was something she'd never experienced before.  She’d always been the one to instigate the dance between man and woman.  She was assertive when she wanted someone.  Wasn't she?  Or was it that she always picked the passive guys, the oneswho needed to be prodded into motion, the ones who could be led around by the nose. 

Could Carmichael be led by the nose?  Highly doubtful.  But that would make it all the more exciting.  The thrill of the chase and all that.  But what about after the chase? 

Gina grabbed her cellphone and hit the speed dial for Julie’s salon while listening to Carmichael’s steps go back down the stairs.

“Yo!  I got you booked for 3:30 –“

“Houston, we have a problem,” Gina muttered, wiping a drop of sweat from the side of her face.

“Uh, oh.  What’s up?”

“Mr. Librarian.  Good god, my body is in meltdown, Julie.”

“Get your ass over here now.  Forget the tanning.  I’ve got a glass of pinot with your name on it.”  She hung up.

Right.  No tanning.  Julie and a glass of pinot. 

It wasn’t enough, but it would have to do. 

* * *

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This will be the last posting of

"Love Long Overdue" on my blog.