New Release Spotlight & Guest Post: Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses by Laura Briggs

Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses (A Little Hotel in Cornwall Book 3) by Laura Briggs

Finding Inspiration from Favorite Christmas Romance Tropes!

Thanks so much to Ellesea for inviting me to share with her readers about my newest book, Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses!

As you might have guessed from the title, this is a holiday romance read. It’s also the third installment of my new UK series, ‘A Little Hotel in Cornwall’ and continues the adventures of Maisie Clark, an aspiring author who found her inspiration working overseas at a breathtaking Cornish hotel. And since this happens to be a Christmas book, I thought it might be fun to share a post about my favorite Christmas romance tropes and how I managed to weave a few of them into Sea Holly and Mistletoe Kisses.

A holiday competition:

Whether it’s gingerbread house making, cookie baking, or even Christmas tree decorating, there’s often a contest to liven up a holiday book or film (especially if it happens to be a Hallmark Channel movie!). It’s a plotline I’ve always enjoyed, and so it wasn’t surprising that such an event found its way into Maisie’s first Cornish Christmas. Ice sculpting seemed like an especially festive challenge, and thanks to a rather persistent—and persistently charming—American guest at the hotel, Maisie finds herself caught up in the competition instead of just observing it from the sidelines of the hotel’s elegant grounds. But not everyone is happy about her holiday partnership with the handsome and friendly Gavin, leading to one of my next favorite tropes...

A Christmas love triangle:

There’s something special about a Christmas romance—whereas a love triangle at the holidays is more like a recipe for disaster! It can also make for some rather humorous misunderstandings, though, and in Maisie’s case, more than a little confusion between her and the charming groundskeeper Sidney Daniels, whose ‘friendship only’ bargain with Maisie is put to the test when newcomer Gavin arrives on the scene. With jealousy and tension mounting, Maisie faces an unexpected holiday dilemma of the heart.

A heartwarming gift:

Without spoiling too much, I’ll just say that Maisie receives one of these—and it should melt the heart of any romantically inclined reader!

A special, semi-magical weather event:

In most holiday movies and books this would refer to a last-minute—and nearly impossible—Christmas snow in a warmer winter climate. Since Cornwall isn’t exactly known for having a white Christmas (although it can happen at times) and since I had already featured such an event in my novella A Christmas in Cornwall, it felt like Maisie should have her own unique experience with Cornish winter weather. And so readers can expect something a little more dramatic—and hopefully breathtaking—when Cornish storms roll onto the beaches as Maisie experiences a romantic revelation not so very different from the waves crashing below.

Hopefully all of that sounds like your cup of tea for Christmas—and if you want to catch up with Maisie and her friends, Books 1-3 are currently available, with Book 4, The Cornish Secret of Summer’s Promise already available on pre-order for January 2020!

Christmas is coming to Port Hewer and the hotel Penmarrow, where Maisie is suffering a case of the holiday blues far from home this year — until Gavin, a young American businessman staying at the hotel through Christmas, talks her into joining him as his partner in the hotel's ice sculpting competition in a mutual pact to enjoy the holidays to the fullest.

Meanwhile, Maisie experiences the village Christmas season vicariously through Sidney, and continues writing her Poe-inspired story with only Sidney aware of her secret novel. She soon learns, however, that criticism and praise go hand in hand when he takes issue with her latest chapters, which puts pressure on their friendship, too.

But is that what's really the issue between them? Because handsome Gavin has more than ice sculpting in mind when it comes to Maisie's time, which comes as a surprise to no one who's seen them together. As Maisie faces this sudden romantic dilemma, she realizes what she wants most in her life ... and faces a question of what her heart wants most, too.

https://smarturl.it/seahollyandmistletoe

Laura Briggs is the author of several feel-good romance reads, including the Top 100 Amazon UK seller 'A Wedding in Cornwall'. She has a fondness for vintage style dresses (especially ones with polka dots), and reads everything from Jane Austen to modern day mysteries. When she's not writing, she enjoys spending time with family and friends, caring for her pets, gardening, and seeing the occasional movie or play.

Twitter: http://bit.ly/1ME9ivJ

Author Facebook: http://on.fb.me/1JjeMoI

New Release Spotlight, and Review: This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman

This Earl of Mine by Kate Bateman

Introducing the Bow Street Bachelors—men who work undercover for London’s first official police force—and the women they serve to protect. . .and wed?

Shipping heiress Georgiana Caversteed is done with men who covet her purse more than her person. Even worse than the ton’s lecherous fortune hunters, however, is the cruel cousin determined to force Georgie into marriage. If only she could find a way to be . . . widowed? Georgie hatches a madcap scheme to wed a condemned criminal before he’s set to be executed. All she has to do is find an eligible bachelor in prison to marry her, and she’ll be free. What could possibly go wrong?

Benedict William Henry Wylde, scapegrace second son of the late Earl of Morcott and well-known rake, is in Newgate prison undercover, working for Bow Street. Georgie doesn’t realize who he is when she marries him—and she most certainly never expects to bump into her very-much-alive, and very handsome, husband of convenience at a society gathering weeks later. Soon Wylde finds himself courting his own wife, hoping to win her heart since he already has her hand. But how can this seductive rogue convince brazen, beautiful Georgie that he wants to be together…until actual death do they part?

 https://us.macmillan.com/books/9781250305961

This is my first Kate Bateman novel and it's fabulous.

Georgiana Caversteed needs a husband to prevent her greedy cousin from snatching her inheritance away from her. Therefore, she hatches a plan which involves marrying a convict destined for the gallows at Newgate prison. However, the man she never expected to see again after her marriage isn't executed… he's very much alive, as is the memory of the kiss they shared to seal their devious contract.

I love the refreshing originality of the plot, it's unlike anything I've read previously. I devoured it in one sitting because I couldn't tear myself away. Georgiana is a strong and determined heroine, even though her idea to foil her cousin wasn't her finest hour. Benedict Wylde is a fine specimen of a hero and proves to be an honourable gentleman. His background suggests he'll try to outwit his newly acquired wife, but instead, he supports and respects her in her capacity as a business owner. Together, they make an exciting and intriguing couple.

In some way, what's possible for a woman to achieve nowadays compared to the nineteenth century differs greatly and I wonder if Georgiana achievements could be possible. Yet, I respect the author's vision for her leading lady because it created such an exhilarating story.

I'm patiently waiting for the next instalment of this wonderful new series but meanwhile, I'll pick up some of the author's other works.

***arc generously received courtesy of St Martin's Paperbacks via NetGalley***

Kate Bateman, (also writing as K. C. Bateman), is the #1 bestselling author of historical romances, including her RITA® nominated Renaissance romp, The Devil To Pay, and the novels in the Secrets & Spies series To Steal a Heart, A Raven’s Heart, and A Counterfeit Heart. When not writing novels that feature feisty, intelligent heroines and sexy, snarky heroes you want to both strangle and kiss, Kate works as a fine art appraiser and on-screen antiques expert for several popular TV shows in the UK. She splits her time between Illinois and her native England. Follow her on Twitter to learn more.