Welcome to Christmas in July. Each Music Monday this month will feature Christmas music and a giveaway. Scroll down below the video for a few details.
Published on YouTube Oct 26, 2009, by Atlantic Records
I have five books which are set around Christmas:
A Very Mary Christmas
For Peace of Mind
No Other Choice
Two Days Before Christmas
One Winter’s Eve
Each Monday, I will leave a link in my Music Monday post which will have 5 copies of one of those books at it. (Books will be given away in random order — not in the order listed above.)
There are five Monday’s in July.
That’s a total of 25 books being given away — just like the day on which Christmas falls 🙂
Two other pieces of information you might wish to know:
Each Monday post is scheduled for 8:05 am Atlantic time.
The link will be located just before my story excerpt each week because I would like you to read the post, but feel free to read after you have clicked to see if any books remain. 🙂 I get it — being quick on the click is important here.
Now, let me tell you about how I decided on the musical selection for today. I sent out an email to my mailing list to give them a heads up on this special month of Music Monday posts. I was, at that time, still undecided about what video I would share today. Well, before I had made my final selection, I received a reply to the email I sent out, and in that reply, there were two suggestions of groups with great Christmas music. One of those groups was Trans-Siberian Orchestra, and the other one was Blackmore’s Night. I went to YouTube and looked them both up and listened to a few songs. The song above I had never heard before, and it was so beautiful that I just had to use it today. (In case you’re wondering, it’s quite likely that I might use one from the other group on another Monday.)
In other news…
Master of Longbourn has launched successfully and has several lovely reviews. 🙂
Tomorrow, Tuesday, July 3, 2018, on Austen Authors, I will be discussing part of the plot structure of Master of Longbourn as it pertains to Mr. Collins’s inner journey.
I managed one day of writing on two stories this past week. So, not exactly a great success for the new writing routine, but it’s a good start.
I have Thursday Three Hundred posts scheduled all the way through September now, and still, Delighting Mrs. Bennet has not reached its conclusion. That means the release date is still unknown and will likely not be any sooner than sometime in November.
The first three chapters of Charles’s story have been posted at Patreon, and I am beginning work on Chapter 4. I hope to get at least one more chapter completed and posted at Patreon this week.
Before I get to the excerpt from Charles’s story, here is the link where there are five copies of For Peace of Mind waiting to be claimed. The copies are available on a first come, first serve basis until all five have been claimed or the link expires on Friday, July 6, 2018.
CLICK HERE TO CLAIM ONE OF THE 5 COPIES OF For Peace of Mind.
[update: All five copies have found homes.]
And now for…
AN EXCERPT FROM Charles: To Discover His Purpose:
“Miss Barrett,” the very rapscallion to whom her mother had been referring appeared before them at the side of his friend, Henry Crawford, “have you been claimed for the first set?”
“Not officially,” her mother answered, “but I did give a gentleman hope that he would have it. Had Evelyn been present, she would be engaged.”
“That is a travesty,” said Charles. “I shall not discourage such an arrangement.”
Her mother’s brows furrowed. “At what are you playing?” she demanded.
“Mama,” Evelyn pulled her bottom lip between her teeth. She knew better than to scold anyone in public – especially her own mother. However, her mother’s reply had startled her, and the word flew from her mouth before her brain could think better of it.
“I am not in favour of you dancing with Mr. Edwards,” her mother said plainly. “However, I do know that you cannot refuse and still accept others.”
“There will be no dark corners,” Mr. Edwards replied. “The ballroom is spectacularly lit. Not a shadow to be seen, and I have looked.”
Mrs. Barrett’s lips pursed, and one brow rose.
“He is an honest scamp, at least,” said Mrs. Kendrick.
“Not always,” Mr. Edwards replied with a grin.
“My question stands. At what are you playing?” said Mrs. Barrett.
“My good friend is about to marry your daughter’s good friend in a few week’s time, and I think it would be good if Miss Barrett and I were at least able to speak to one another since we might likely be tossed into company on occasion after the happy event occurs. Therefore, I think it a fitting plan to allow you to see that I can indeed treat your daughter with the respect you require, and she deserves. This,” he made a sweeping motion toward the dance floor, “seems a good place to begin, what with all the chandeliers and all.” He shrugged. “I shall wait to see if she is claimed for the first dance and then petition you for another. However, if she is not claimed as you hope, I shall offer my services so that she will not be left standing after which I may quit this soiree since my purpose in attending will be complete.”
“You came just to dance with me?” Evelyn was not certain if she should be impressed by such a deed or worry about his mental faculties.
“No, I came to dance with you and by dancing with you and behaving appropriately, demonstrate to your mother that I am not entirely without a moral compass.”
Yes, she should likely worry about his mental faculties if he thought he could dissuade her mother from disliking him.
“And,” he continued, “I have been considering what both you and Mr. Linton said last evening, and since you seem to know a great deal about charities, I thought you might be able to point me in the direction of one to which I might be of service.” He held up a hand and turned to Mrs. Kendrick. “I am not taking it on for any recognition from the masses of young ladies who will find it charming.” He shook his head. “I wish to see if I can tolerate the activity before I do that.”
Most definitely it was his mental faculties at fault for one in his right mind would not declare such before her mother and still think it was possible to convince her that he meant her daughter no harm.
“Mr. Edwards,” Mrs. Barrett began, but the music started at that precise moment, and she forgot to continue as she looked around in what Evelyn thought was a rather frantic fashion for Mr. Marsh to appear.
“What say you?” Mr. Edwards asked Mrs. Barrett. “May I request the first set from your daughter?”
For a moment, Evelyn thought her mother was going to become physically ill, for she looked utterly aghast at the question.
“It matters not to me if he has the first or some other dance, Mama,” Evelyn whispered.
“But it is the first dance,” her mother replied.
“The first of many,” Evelyn countered.
“Very well, Mr. Edwards, you may inquire,” Mrs. Barrett agreed reluctantly.
Charles smiled broadly as he bowed. “Miss Barrett, might I have the pleasure of partnering you for this set?”
Evelyn shook her head and rolled her eyes but held out her hand to him. For a gentleman who was not in his right mind, he was both excessively charming and cunning.
“Your choice of jacket sets off your bruises quite nicely,” she said as they moved toward where Henry and Constance were forming a set with two other couples. “I thought you were too ashamed to be seen until they were healed.”
“I was until a friend dragged me from my hiding and insisted I join society.”
“I believe it was an acquaintance, not a friend,” she replied.
He shrugged. “Whatever you must tell yourself.”
“I do wish you would stop saying that.” She willed herself not to scowl at him.
Again, he lifted his broad shoulders and let them drop as a lazy and tantalizing smile spread across his face. “I might stop if you would stop disagreeing with me.”
It was a comment which superseded her will to appear pleasant.
“You scowl very prettily,” he said as he dropped her hand and took his place opposite her in the line.
Her eyes narrowed. “You are incorrigible,” she whispered.
He leaned forward. “So, I have been told many times by Mr. Linton.”
Thankfully, the music began, and their conversation was lost for a time to the patterns of the dance.
~*~*~
KOBO AMAZON NOOK IBOOKS MAILING LIST PATREON SOCIETY6
Thank you for sharing this excerpt as well as for the opportunity to receive a free book each week for five weeks! I love your books and was missing a couple of your Christmas novels so the chance to win them is really nice.
That’s awesome that you’ll have a chance to get those books. I wish you well in the effort to add them to your digital bookshelf. 🙂 I love it when my stories find a loving home 😀
I LOVED that video… well done. It was a perfect choice. I already own the 5-books and will let the others have a chance to own them. This is so much fun. I look forward to hearing your other music selections. Blessings…
Pachabell’s Canon is one of my very favourite pieces of music, and this take on it is just stunningly beautiful, IMO. I just had to share it. I’m looking forward to this break from routine Monday’s this month! (And I love doing little giveaway surprises like this 😉 )