O Night Divine A Holiday Collection of Spirited Christmas Tales - Kathryn Le Veque Page 0,162

have everything.” She pulled him close and kissed him.

“We deserve happiness, Agatha. You are a wonderful mother to Henry and everything I could ever want in a wife.”

A loud meow sounded as Pretty sauntered past them on her way to the kitchen, followed by her three kittens, all walking single file. Laughter erupted from the two of them. “It seems that Pretty is also a wonderful mother. She takes after you,” he added, smiling.

Unable to contain her tears of joy, Agatha dabbed furiously at the corners of her eyes. It had been a wonderful year since her brother’s visit, those many months ago. She missed him and wished she could thank him and tell him how much she loved him, one more time.

As if in answer, a bell tolled in the background. Glancing around, she realized it rang for her alone, which made her smile. “Thank you, Thomas. I love you,” she mouthed. Her brother had given her the very best gift of all—the life she had always wanted.

Additional Dragonblade books by Author Anna St. Claire

The Lyon’s Den Connected World

Lyon’s Prey

About the Author

Anna St. Claire is a big believer that nothing is impossible if you believe in yourself. She sprinkles her stories with laughter, romance, mystery and lots of possibilities, adhering to the belief that goodness and love will win the day.

Anna is both an avid reader author of American and British historical romance. She and her husband live in Charlotte, North Carolina with their two dogs and often, their two beautiful granddaughters, who live nearby. Daughter, sister, wife, mother, and Mimi—all life roles that Anna St. Claire relishes and feels blessed to still enjoy. And she loves her pets – dogs and cats alike, and often inserts them into her books as secondary characters. And she loves chocolate and popcorn, a definite nod to her need for sweet followed by salty…but not together—a tasty weakness!

Anna relocated from New York to the Carolinas as a child. Her mother, a retired English and History teacher, always encouraged Anna’s interest in writing, after discovering short stories she would write in her spare time.

As a child, she loved mysteries and checked out every Encyclopedia Brown story that came into the school library. Before too long, her fascination with history and reading led her to her first historical romance—Margaret Mitchell’s Gone With The Wind, now a treasured, but weathered book from being read multiple times. The day she discovered Kathleen Woodiwiss,’ books, Shanna and Ashes In The Wind, Anna became hooked. She read every historical romance that came her way and dreams of writing her own historical romances took seed.

Today, her focus is primarily the Regency and Civil War eras, although Anna enjoys almost any period in American and British history. She would love to connect with any of her readers on her website – www.annastclaire.com, through email – [email protected], Instagram – annastclaire_author, BookBub – bookbub.com/profile/anna-st-claire, Twitter – @1AnnaStClaire, Facebook – facebook.com/authorannastclaire or on Amazon – amazon.com/Anna-St-Claire/e/B078WMRHHF.

The Heart is Never Silent

Bedlam and Bliss Prequel

Aubrey Wynne

Miss Etta Rose Comden is desperate to protect her younger sister, Horatia, after the death of their father. When the heir—and Tia’s new guardian—finds out his ward is deaf, he makes plans to send her away and marry Etta. With no one to turn to, the sisters flee in the middle of the night.

Dr. Gus Wharren, disillusioned with his practice in London, retreats to his late grandmother’s estate. Instead of a much-needed respite, he finds two lovely females stranded along the road.

Two sisters on the run. A London physician who has given up on humanity. The spirit of a loving grandmother. The stage is set for a holiday full of coincidence, a little Christmas magic, and a happy ever after.

“For it is good to be children sometimes, and never better than at Christmas, when its mighty Founder was a child himself.”

Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Chapter One

December 1813

Northumberland, England

Etta crumpled the letter in her fist. “Oh, Tia. He arrives in a few days.” Her younger sister sat across from her with her nose in a book. Etta reached for Papa’s cane, still leaning against the hearth in its accustomed place. She pushed back a corner of the Turkish carpet and rapped it on the floor planks.

Tia looked up with a scowl, one soft leather shoe dangling from beneath her Devonshire brown wool dress. She leaned her head back against the oversized leather chair and sighed. An exaggerated, martyred sigh that made her long, blonde curls sway against her pale cheeks.

“He comes