Great Christmas Tree Tour: Ann Lethbridge

Cheryl thank you so much for inviting me to your Great Christmas Tree Tour. I have had so much fun exploring everyone else’s posts. What a great group those Harlequin Historical editors are!

We have a mid December birthday at our house and until that is celebrated, we do not begin Christmas.  In the past we have had two trees, a large real one in the living room with a color theme and a smaller artificial tree in the family room in the basement.

This year I decided against a real tree because of transportation problems, so as you can see my artificial tree, one that I have had for twenty-five years now, takes pride of place in red and gold in the living room. And since I just happened to be dressed for a party and just happened to have a camera handy, I included me in the picture. I think the angel is a bit too heavy, she looks as if she might have imbibed a bit too much egg nog, poor old thing, but she also has been on our tree for a long time, so tipsy or not, there she stays.

Down in the family room I decided to do something different. Over the years I have sewn and embroidered a variety of little ornaments for our tree and, when they were little, my daughters loved to play with them, making up stories and moving them around to fit with their flights of fancy and those of their friends. I felt like we were the only family with an interactive tree. Now they are grown up they don’t do that anymore, so I created a special tree for those handmade ornaments and sat it in the corner of the hearth. I hope to make one new ornament every year, and it is quite likely I will need a larger tree before too long.

I wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a safe and happy New Year.

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Just in time for Christmas, HQN has paired the third and fourth books in the Castonbury Park continuity series (think Downton Abbey) and put them out under one cover entitled Ladies of Disrepute, including The Lady who Broke the Rules by Marguerite Kay and Lady of Shame by me, Ann Lethbridge.

The Lady Who Broke the Rules

Anticipating her wedding vows and then breaking off the engagement has left Kate Montague's social status in tatters. She hides her shame behind a resolute facade, but one thing really grates: for a fallen woman, she knows shockingly little about passion.

Could Virgil Jackson be the man to teach her? He's a freed slave turned successful businessman, and his striking good looks and compelling strength prove too much for Kate to resist. She has already scandalized society, but succumbing to her craving for Virgil would damage her status beyond repair….

Lady of Shame

Lady Claire is notorious for the wild persona of her youth, but she must set it aside if she ever hopes to find a suitable match. Swapping rebellion for reserve, Claire returns to her imposing childhood home, Castonbury Park, seeking her family's help.

But when the dark gaze of head chef Monsieur Andre catches her eye, he seems as deliciously tempting as the food he prepares. Claire knows he's most unsuitable, even if the chemistry between them is magnetic. Risking her fragile reputation for Andre would be shameful—but losing him could be even worse.

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Following hard on the heels of that book, out in February is Haunted by the Earl’s Touch a story which has a rather unique style, and all the elements of a true Gothic tale.

No man has ever wanted her for herself

When she arrives at Beresford Abbey, orphan Mary Wilder's hopes of finding a place to belong are dashed when she meets Bane Beresford, the enigmatic earl. He is as remote as the ghosts that supposedly haunt the Abbey…and, like its crumbling walls, her dreams fall apart.

Occasionally she sees a different, more caring man behind the facade, so is she foolish to long for a happy home…and a family? His proposal is for a marriage of convenience, but his touch has awakened within her a fervent and forbidden longing….

BBA 2012 finalist, Daphne DuMaurier Winner, you can find Ann Lethbridge at http://www.annlethbridge.com @annlethbridge and on facebook as AnnLethbridgeAuthor.