May 5, 2014 9:58 am
Published by Jennifer Delamere
Happy May, everyone! I’m happy to say my final edits for A Bride for the Season have been turned into the publisher. In honor of that, and since this is May 5 (or 5/5), here is a little snippet from chapter 5.
Lucinda entered the drawing room and found Emily and James seated next to one another on the sofa, sitting just far enough apart to qualify as proper. Emily was sipping tea with unnatural tranquility; Lucinda had never known her sister to be able to control her fidgeting. She smiled at Lucinda with the complacency of a cat who has just swallowed a canary.
James stood up immediately, as did her father, whose expression Lucinda would have described as closer to resignation than contentment. But at least the signs of anger were gone—a complete turnaround from this morning. James gave her a bow and a polite greeting that was entirely devoid of his usual ironic air.
Lucinda could only stand and stare. The whole atmosphere of the room was weirdly off-kilter. Had everyone gone mad?
Her father took her hand and drew her into the room. “We’ve been waiting for you, my dear.” He led her to a chair with an assiduous attention that was completely unlike him. She stared at her father in mute inquiry.
“Sit down, Lucinda,” Lady Cardington commanded imperiously. “We’ve important family business to discuss.” She set down her teacup and began to dust sandwich crumbs from her fingers with a napkin.
Here, at least, was something that had not changed. Lucinda seated herself and accepted the teacup proffered by Emily. She took a cautious sip; Emily always put too much sugar in her tea. But today it was exactly as Lucinda liked it. She threw a wary look at her sister. “Are you well, Emily?”
“Oh, perfectly!” Emily answered, her eyes shining. “We’ve been making such wonderful plans, and—”
“—And your father is going to tell you about it,” her mother broke in, peering significantly over her pince-nez at Emily.
“Yes, Mama,” Emily replied demurely.
Too demurely. Emily never failed to bristle whenever their mother interrupted or corrected her. Now Lucinda was sure something was very wrong indeed. As all eyes in the room settled on her, she had a sudden mind picture of a gazelle being separated from the herd for a kill. It would be better to have this out as soon as possible. “So are Emily and Mr. Simpson to be married, then?”
“We are!” Emily clasped James’s hand and gazed at him like a schoolgirl whose head is filled with romantic fantasies about love. James did not appear quite so ecstatic, but he returned Emily’s smile with a warmth that Lucinda deemed sincere.
“Well, I’m glad that’s settled,” Lucinda said truthfully. She dared not ask why her father had abandoned his foolish insistence that Lucinda get married first. Everyone here knew full well she had no beau, nor was she likely to get one. Not that she was in the market. She’d made up her mind on that score. “My felicitations to you both. When is the happy day to be?”
“A week after yours,” her father said.
A Bride for the Season will be released this fall. I’ll be offering some fun giveaways this summer, so be sure to sign up for my newsletter to keep up with the current news!
Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: A Bride for the Season, Clean Romance, historical romance, Inspirational Romance, Sweet Romance, Victorian Romance
April 11, 2014 2:18 pm
Published by Jennifer Delamere
So happy to share this new cover with you!
A BRIDE FOR THE SEASON
Lucinda Cardington doesn’t care that she is close to being “on the shelf.” She has more serious pursuits in mind and is perfectly content to leave dreams of romance to silly young ladies like her sister. Yet when her sister places herself in a compromising situation with London’s most scandalous bachelor, the entire family’s reputation comes perilously close to ruin. Suddenly Lucinda is in the limelight…and in need of a husband.
James Simpson’s rakish ways have finally caught up with him. Snared in a scandal that for once is not his doing, he is forced to do the honorable thing and offer marriage to the lady. But her father won’t agree to a dowry unless James can also find a suitable husband for the lady’s elder sister—quiet, reserved Lucinda Cardington. As James gets to know the vibrant, charming, and passionate woman behind Lucinda’s shy exterior, he comes to the distressing realization that he doesn’t want her in anyone’s arms but his own…
A Bride for the Season will be released this fall!
Categories: Uncategorized
January 24, 2014 11:46 am
Published by Jennifer Delamere
Let’s Talk About Romance!
In March I will be a part of two different author panels at Wake County Libraries in the Raleigh, North Carolina area. We’ll be discussing many topics, including the craft of writing, the business of publishing, and the various subgenres of Romance fiction.
I’m excited to be appearing with these fabulous authors, and I hope you will be able to stop by one or both events for this lively discussion and Q&A!
Saturday, March, 15 at 2:30 p.m., appearing with Katharine Ashe, Sabrina Jeffries, and Deb Marlowe at the West Regional Library, 4000 Louis Stephens Dr. Cary, NC 27519 (919-463-8500)
Sunday, March 16 at 2:30 p.m., appearing with Laura Florand and Jo Graham at the East Regional Library, 946 Steeple Square Court Knightdale, NC 27545 (919-217-5300)
Categories: Uncategorized
Tags: Deb Marlowe, Jo Graham, Katharine Ashe, Laura Florand, Sabrina Jeffries
December 11, 2013 9:38 am
Published by Jennifer Delamere
For my new followers, and in case you missed it, here’s an excerpt from a post I wrote recently for a lovely blog called “Married With Fiction.” In it, I speak of many aspects of the marriage relationship that I weave through A Lady Most Lovely:
One of those concepts is how wonderfully unique each marriage is, because it is made up of two people who are unique on this earth. Even within the framework set up by God, the husband and wife have plenty of latitude to figure out the details of exactly how their marriage will work. What strengths does each bring to the marriage? How will they work together in day-by-day living? It’s a process that becomes more refined with time and makes the marriage even sweeter.
This is how Tom explains it to Margaret, because their marriage will be unconventional in a number of ways:
“Let me point out something about marriage,” Tom said. “It is a sacred bond. And yes, it is a contract. But every marriage is unique. Every husband and wife must decide between themselves which arrangements are right and proper for their lives. No one else can determine these things for them.”
You can read the full post here.
Categories: Uncategorized
November 14, 2013 10:55 am
Published by Jennifer Delamere
I’ll be signing copies of A Lady Most Lovely and An Heiress at Heart at the Barnes and Noble at Friendl
y Center, 3102 Northline Ave, Greensboro, North Carolina, this Saturday, November 16, from 2-3 p.m.
If you are in the area, I hope you will stop by!
Categories: Uncategorized
