Featuring four of the TQ ladies, we bring you this delightful collection of Regency Christmas novellas...

After attending the funeral of an old school friend, six Regency gentlemen make a pact never to marry, convinced it will save them from meeting the same fate...


COLLECTION 1:

In Ava Stone's A BIT OF MISTLETOE, Everett Casemore, the very serious Marquess of Berkswell, returns home for Christmas, slightly shaken by the death of an old friend. Determined not to suffer the same sort of fate at the hands of a woman, Berks resolves himself to eternal bachelorhood. Unfortunately, both his resolve and his peace of mind are threatened by the arrival of a beautiful, thoughtful, but mostly unsuitable lady. * Miss Theresa Birkin knows better than most that an error in judgment can lead one down an unfortunate path. If only she'd been wiser when she was younger. If only she hadn't followed her foolish heart. If only she'd met Lord Berkswell long before now.

In Jane Charles's LADY DISGUISED, Mr. Sebastian Stanwick never intended to marry. It was bad enough that his father gambled away everything they owned and then drank himself to death, leaving his mother broken until she could not go on. But the death of his good friend at the hand of the man’s wife only solidifies Stanwick’s decision to remain a bachelor. Women were simply unpredictable and unstable if not taken care of properly. * Hélène Mirabelle wants few things in life. One, is to perform on the stage, and the other, is to be out from under the roof of her overbearing new family: Lord Bentley and the Trent brothers. Since her mother’s recent passing, Hélène's desire to return to Milan and the stage has only grown. A husband could never fit into the plans because no decent man would take an actress as a wife. * One fateful night leaves Hélène questioning if being an actress is the only thing she wants, while Stanwick begins to wonder whether all women are truly prone to madness and if they are, he may never get Hélène off of his mind.

In Catherine Gayle’s Thick as Thieves, David Hounslow, the Marquess of Preston, will not stand aside while those he loves are hurt. When it becomes clear his brother-in-law’s guest is up to no good, Preston determines to scrutinize every move of the would-be thief. Not that he minds such a task—Lady Frederica is as beautiful and intelligent as she is enigmatic. Considering her close relation to a wastrel brother and her current proclivity for the less-than-savory, Preston never expected to be won over to the lady’s charms. Yet she just might steal his heart. * Desperation has become Lady Frederica Bexley-Smythe’s constant companion due to her brother’s recent affinity for gambling and carousing. With the fate of both her mother and sister resting upon her shoulders, perhaps the time has arrived for Freddie to bend the rules. How else can she secure their future? Unfortunately, Lord Preston’s scrutiny is complicating her task. Far more perplexing than his perusal is his caring nature, which is distracting her from the treasures she intends to steal. But desperate times call for desperate measures…


COLLECTION 2:

In Jerrica Knight-Catania's ALL HE WANTS FOR CHRISTMAS, Rowan Findley can't imagine a fate worse than what his friend suffered at the hands of his mad wife, so he's made the decision to remain a bachelor for all eternity. That is, until Olivia walks into his cousin's drawing room for a Christmas party. Her fiery red hair and sweet demeanor remind him of a night so many years ago that he would never forget. * Olivia Edwards can't quite believe her eyes when Rowan Findley waltzes back into her life, as handsome and charming as ever. It's been almost seven years since she's seen him, and the secret she's been harboring all that time has her on edge whenever he's about. Yet she can't deny that she's still drawn to him, nor can she deny the desire she's kept hidden in her heart these many years.

In Aileen Fish’s CHASING LORD MYSTERY, Lord Northcotte is not in the holiday spirit when he joins his sister’s family shortly after the brutal death of a friend. Discovering a matchmaking scheme is afoot, he tells them he will never marry Lady Miriam or any other woman. Now if only his heart would listen. * Lady Miriam’s mother accused her of chasing Lord Mystery after a noble act by a handsome stranger six years ago became the measure of all other men. Now he’s staying at the home where she’d hoped to escape a summons from her grandfather, the Duke of Danby. Terrified Northcotte will recognize her and reveal the contents of the scandalous letter she wrote him years ago, she can’t decide which is the bigger threat: the duke armed with a special license, or Lord Mystery, who carries a secret she’d never live down.

In Julie Johnstone’s ’TIS THE SEASON FOR SURRENDER, Lillian Lancaster would rather catch the plague than a husband. Unfortunately, her abusive, recently deceased father’s will stipulates her inheritance hinges upon her marrying a lord. With time running out, Lillian proposes to the guilt-ridden, marriage-adverse Lord Edgeworth after securing his agreement to a marriage in name only. * Edgeworth feels responsible for his former betrothed’s death and believes he doesn’t deserve love, which makes Lillian’s proposal oddly perfect. Commanded by his grandfather to marry by Christmas or become penniless, the obviously perfect choice is a woman who wants nothing to do with him. * When Lillian displays a brave and true heart and Edgeworth reveals his honorable, protective side maintaining a marriage of convenience becomes harder than these two wounded souls imagined. Now, Lillian and Edgeworth must decide if they are courageous enough to risk their hearts and surrender to love.


Available now at the following retailers:
Amazon
Barnes & Noble
iTunes: Collection 1 ; Collection 2

The Ladies of Timeless Quills are so happy to welcome Regency Historical Romance Author, Julie Johnstone, to the blog today! We've asked her some fun questions about life, writing and her most recent release! Read to the bottom to find out how to win acopy of her latest release!

1)   What is the most interesting trip you have ever taken?

Italy, by far! The beauty of Rome and Tuscany goes without saying, but I'll say it anyway-I was stunned with the beauty of the ancient buildings and the old towns. The history is incredibly fascinating as well. Not only that, but my husband's uncle lives in an old town in Tuscany called San Quirico D'orcia, so we really got the local treatment! We hung with his friends over a huge platter of cheese, olives, wine, and bread, of course, and then they took us to a festival where we danced in the streets and held sparkling lights up as we paraded through these old, cobble-stoned streets in honor of the holiday they were celebrating. We stayed in a really beautiful chalet in Tuscany that was right out of my fantasy for a perfect vacation. Every night we dined outside in the middle of a lush garden under twinkling stars and candlelight. I could go on forever about the trip, but the funniest, er most interesting, part came at the end. We had flown to Italy on passes of my father's, he was a pilot at the time, but we didn't realize the day we were trying to leave was the start of Holiday over there. Italians take Holiday very seriously. There was a mas exodus and we couldn't get a flight back to the states! We ended up staying three extra days, and when they told us it would likely be another month before we could leave we bought two incredibly expensive tickets home because my husband was set to begin a trial. Talk about not wanting to go but having too! I'm currently learning Italian for a return trip to Italy! I can't wait!

2)   What was your most embarrassing moment?

Hands down my first year of law school. The professor called on me in Contracts and I was so nervous when I answered the question I couldn't hear myself talking and I have no recollection of what I said. My friend swears I sounded sane, but to this day I'm sure I mumbled some unintelligent answer.

3)   Besides me, who is your favorite author and why? ;)

Oh, this is very hard for me as I have several favorite authors. I love Diana Galbaldon and Philippa Gregory for their ability to so craftily intertwine history and romance in their story that I never feel as if I've had a history lesson or been reading a strictly romance. I would be utterly remiss if I didn't mention that I adore Jeannine Frost. She writes the most amazing kick butt heroines and larger than life heroes all wrapped up in great paranormal elements and she's not afraid to kill off some people!

4)     If you could be any character in fiction, who would you be?

Why Claire Randall, of course! Who wouldn't want to be married to Jamie Fraser!

5)     If you were a can of soup, what variety would you be?

Tomato Basil Soup is light, yet zesty, speaks to memories of warm, fuzzy blankets on cold, winter nights and reminds me that healthy things in life can make me sigh with pleasure.

Aw, love that answer, Julie, and I agree...you are light and zesty ;) Thanks so much for being here!

Now, for our readers...Leave a comment below and be entered to win a free copy of Julie's latest release,
What a Rogue Wants...

Lady Madelaine Aldridge might be the worst lady-in-waiting to ever grace King George III’s court. An oddball who prefers archery to knitting and honesty to deception, she earns the dislike of the Queen, the cruelty of the other ladies-in-waiting and the advances of a lecherous fiend who wants to make her his whore. Her father demands she find a proper husband―a task that seems hopeless until Lord Grey Adlard rides into court.
Grey Adlard lives up to his reputation as a dangerously handsome rake when he proposes Madelaine meet him in the stables for a tumble. Yet when she needs a protector the most, Grey offers his services and vows he wants to court her. Wary yet intrigued by the mystery he presents, Madelaine slowly allows Grey to capture her confidence and then her heart.

Things seem perfect until her father is imprisoned for plotting against the King and Madelaine learns Grey is not who he pretends. As King George III sinks deeper into insanity, Madelaine must prove her father’s innocence in order to save his life. With the future of England hanging in the balance and a ruthless murderer hunting them Grey and Madelaine engage in a clash of wills and a battle fraught with suspicion, secrets, betrayal and two hearts that cannot deny the impossible, irresistible love between them.

Enjoy this little video of some of your favorite authors, including Sabrina Jeffries, Jane Charles, Ann Lethbridge, Julie Johnstone, Samantha Grace and, of course, Ava Stone and Jerrica Knight-Catania of Romance Ramblings...

Answer our question in the comments for a chance to win a $10 gift card to Starbucks!