Title: “Under the Mistletoe”
Author: Tess Matthews
Release date: Dec. 9,2016
Genre: historical romance, Christmas
Links :
Taglines
- A missing bride and a determined husband.
- How will Levi find and keep his runaway bride?
Blurb
If you are a girl and you fall in love with a boy you see only once a year, on Christmas Eve, for many years, do you marry him when you get older and he insists upon it? You do if you’re Janie Dunn and your only option is to remain under the thumb of a drunken and abusive father.
But the rash and impulsive marriage between Janie and Levi Atwood is hopelessly marred from the beginning. Janie disappears shortly after the ceremony, and the sheriff finds her father in their home, murdered with Janie’s knife.
But Levi refuses to give up hope, never believing either that she murdered her father or that she, herself, suffered the same fate. He keeps searching for years until he finds her. Then it is up to him to help her sort out the twisted web of intrigue that her life has become, and along the way to instil respect for him and for his hard hand and paddle on her bare bottom.
He also must prove to her how much he loves her, and how much he wants her to love him.
Publisher’s Note: Under the Mistletoe is a romance novel that contains descriptions of sex and of domestic discipline in the form of bare-bottom spanking and paddling. If such subject matter offends you, please do not read this book.
Excerpt one- rated PG-13
“You can try to do all those things, but I promise you, Levi Atwood, as soon as I can, I’m
running away!” Janie stomped her foot.
“I’m glad to see you still have that stubborn fire in you, Janie, but I promise you if you
try to run, I will catch you and I will spank your behind crimson red.”
Janie’s beautiful blue eyes doubled in size. “You can’t do that.”
“Just try to run away and see what happens,” Levi said. “Now let’s go.”
Levi led the way, tugging a reluctant Janie behind him.
Excerpt two – rated PG -13
Levi touched his hand to her chin and gently moved her face to look him in the eye. She
was uncomfortable as he studied her face. Then his eyebrow went up, and Janie knew it was
over. He had found her out.
“Janie Dunn Atwood, I know what you are thinking, young lady!”
Janie folded her arms across her chest and scooted a few inches away from her husband.
“No, you don’t, Levi Atwood. No one can read a person’s mind.”
Levi reached for her and slid her back to his side. “Well, I can read yours, and you are
still planning on running away, aren’t you?”
Janie bit down on her lip and whipped her face toward Levi and glared. “I will do as I
please. I am a grown woman.”
Levi grabbed her and sat her on his lap. “You are my wife and you are staying here, and
if you do run, I’m gonna add to the spanking you are going to get for running away in the first
place.”
Janie froze. Her stomach flip-flopped, but she tried to remain unaffected.
“You most certainly will not, Levi Atwood.”
“We will see.”
Excerpt three – PG-13
When she was so full she could not possibly eat any more, she crept her gaze up at Levi.
He sat, arms folded, face rigid, and the muscles in his jaw flexed as he gritted his teeth.
Dread washed over her; she knew this would not be a pleasant conversation.
“You finished, young lady?”
Janie gulped and nodded her answer.
“Then follow me,” he said. “We have business to attend to in the parlor.”
Janie trailed after her husband, wondering why her body trembled a little at the sound of
his voice. She felt as if her being were trying to warn her of some unpleasant peril.
“Sit.” Levi pointed at the sofa, and Janie complied.
Excerpt four- rate: PG-13
Levi stopped and drew back. His eyes trapped hers in their mossy green coolness. As she
lay on the sofa with Levi gazing into her eyes, she felt the world melt away; the only beings who
existed were her and her soon-to-be lover.
“Janie.” Levi cupped her face in his hands, his breathing raspy and his gaze wanting.
“Janie, honey, I want you.”
Her body trembled at his words, and he mistook her shudder of desire for fear. He pulled
away from her and sat on the edge of the sofa.
“I’m sorry, Janie, I didn’t mean to scare you, it’s just—” He scrubbed his face with his
hands. “It’s just I want you so much.”
“I want you too, Levi,” Janie said as she gently leaned up toward him, placing her hand
on his arm.
Levi looked at her. “Janie, are you sure? I mean we are getting to know each other again.
I don’t want to rush you.”
“Levi, I have loved you most of my life, and I think we know each other better than
anyone else. I’m ready, Levi, and I want you, too.”
Author Bio
After raising her children and retiring from a career in education, Tess Matthews is following her passion – writing romance. Her stories are full of adventure, intrigue and above all romance, but not your ordinary vanilla romance, Tess writes about strong alpha men who love their feisty women and take them in hand when needed. Although she enjoys all types of romance stories, her favorites take place in the old west – after all, who can resist those cowboys!
Tess lives on the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in northern Alabama with her husband and a variety of dogs, cats, and chickens.
Social Media
Facebook @tessmatthewsauthor
Twitter @blushingtess
Website
tessmatthewsromance.com
tessmatthewsxoxo@gmail.com
Cariad Books 