Sunday Spotlight is a feature we began in 2016. This year we’re spotlighting our favorite books, old and new. We’ll be raving about the books we love and being total fangirls. You’ve been warned. đ
Kiss Me at Christmas (Playful Brides, #10) by Valerie BowmanSeries: Playful Brides #10
Also in this series: The Right Kind of Rogue
Publisher: St. Martin's Press
Publication Date: October 30, 2018
Point-of-View: Alternating Third
Genres: Historical Romance
Pages: 299
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A spirited lady facing spinsterhood. A common man with a noble mission. And a surprise that just might be waiting for them under the mistletoe. . .
Bow Street Runner Daffin Oakleaf abhors Christmas. Carol singing and holiday cheer only remind him of a dark time. When a close friend calls on him for help, Daffin is happy to capitalize on the distraction. But when he learns the lovely Lady Regina is the one in danger, heâs to become bodyguard to the captivating womanâŚ
Regina has one mission: to find a night of passion in the arms of a gentleman. Considered firmly on the shelf, Regina has given up on marriageâbut that doesnât mean she wants to be denied the pleasure married ladies experience. Daffin has long captured her attentionâŚand when a threat calls him to her side, the sparks between them ignite. But how can a hired bodyguard find his way into Reginaâs noble heart?
I’m generally anti-Christmas until after American Thanksgiving, but I make an exception every year for holiday romances. I start stockpiling them in October. I’m a sucker for them. This is book 10 in the series, but I’m told it can stand alone well. There’s something really satisfying about historical holiday romances, don’t you think?
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Excerpt
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
âBut Daffin, itâs been days and thereâs been no sign of anyone,â Nicole insisted the next morning. She was lying on the sofa in the middle of the green salon, her hand resting on her forehead, one foot rocking back & forth. âI cannot stay inside a moment longer or Iâll go mad. I merely want to have a short jaunt around the meadow on my horse. I need some fresh air. Desperately. Please, itâs Christmas Eve.â
Regina sat across from Daffin, nodding vigorously. âYes, I agree. Please, may we go for a ride?â
âShould you be riding in your condition?â Daffin countered, addressing Nicole. His booted foot was crossed over his knee and he was eyeing her with a mixture of suspicion and tolerance.
âRacing, no,â Nicole replied, her voice still pleading. âBut a quick jaunt will hardly hurt me, and Atalanta is a perfectly trained horse.â
âGrimaldi wouldnât want either of you to go,â Daffin replied.
Regina paused and set the embroidery in her lap. She contemplated the question for a moment. âYes, but in all these days, youâve found no evidence we were followed here. I say itâs safe to believe the man who tried to hurt me is still in London.â
Daffin groaned and rubbed a hand across his face. His gaze bounced between the two ladies. âI have a feeling Iâm going to regret this, but very well. I insist upon accompanying you, however.â
âI never doubted it,â Nicole said with a smug smile. She hoisted herself from the sofa and headed toward the door. âIâm off to dress in my riding habit.â
Less than an hour later, outfitted in his own riding gear, Daffin accompanied Regina and Nicole out the back of the manor house. As they set out on the path to the stables, Daffin glanced around uneasily. He didnât like the idea of Regina being out in the open. It was true that he had seen no evidence of an intruder since theyâd been here, but he didnât like to take chances.
Nicole spun in a circle and sucked in lungsful of air. âItâs so good to be outside. I donât even care that itâs so cold.â
Regina laughed. âI agree. Itâs been positively stifling in that house.â
He was barely listening. He was focused on keeping his eyes and ears sharp, attuned to any noise or movement. The usual servants bustled about. Heâd got to know them all over the last several days. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary.
âHonestly, Daffin, you cannot think the shooter could be here of all places. Weâd see him coming a fieldâs length away,â Nicole said.
Daffin continued to scan the countryside. The meadow was clear and packed with untouched snow. Beyond it, a copse of trees. Nicole was right. No one could approach the house without being seen, and heâd had the footmen and groomsmen on watch round the clock. He stood watch daily himself. âUntil we have a better idea who he is, I donât know what heâs capable of, which means if youâre outside, youâre potentially in danger.â
They entered the stables and the smell of fresh hay, leather, and horses met their nostrils. Nicole waved to one of the groomsmen. âGood morning, Jacob. Did you saddle Atalanta?â Theyâd sent a footman to ask the groomsman to saddle the horses.
âYes, my lady,â the groomsman replied. âSheâs right there in the stall.â
âAnd Excalibur?â Regina added.
Daffinâs head snapped to the side to face her. He arched a brow. âYour horse is named Excalibur?â
âAnd sheâs a girl,â Regina said with a nod. âI was a bit grandiose as a child.â
Daffin shook his head and grinned at her.
âLet me go greet my girl,â Regina said, on her way toward the stall. âIâve missed her so much.â
Now that they were in the confines of the stable, Daffin relaxed a bit, but his guard remained up. They were about to ride through open fields, and that would be dangerous. Jacob should come with them for added protection. It couldnât hurt to have another set of eyes. He turned to speak to the groomsman.
A gasp from Regina made him swivel. She stood by her horseâs stall, her hand over her mouth.
âWhat is it?â Daffin asked, quickly making his way to join her.
Regina pointed toward the saddle. Daffin turned his gaze in the direction sheâd indicated. He narrowed his eyes. There was a small card sticking up between the saddle and the horseâs back.
He leaned closer and snatched up the card. Only five words were scrawled on it in a messy hand.
Iâm watching you, Lady Regina.
Playful Brides
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