June Brides: Happily Ever After by Jan Scarbrough

The RWA website: Two basic elements comprise every romance novel: a central love story and an emotionally satisfying and optimistic ending.

So, to have an optimistic ending, hero and heroine need to “come together” at the end of the book. Maybe it’s a declaration of undying love. Maybe it’s a proposal. Romance writers don’t often write about what happens AFTER the wedding. Those are stories for another day.

I’ve included actual brides in my books. In Heart to Heart, I simply indicated the bride-to-be by an engagement announcement in the newspaper.

Legend Post-Dispatch

Six months later in the society section:

Martha Fields, a professional animal communicator, is to be married to Jeremy Hamilton, owner of Hamilton Staffing located in Louisville, Kentucky. Ms. Fields is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Nate Fields of Legend, Tennessee. Mr. Hamilton is the son of the late David Hamilton of Louisville, Kentucky. A June wedding is planned.

One of my books I actually used “bride” in the title. In Kentucky Bride, I included a newspaper announcement of the wedding.

The Chicago Tribune Online

Aimee Elliott and Camden Brennan were recently married at St. Peter Catholic Church in Skokie with a reception following at the Chicago Botanic Garden. The bride is the daughter of Ray and Martha Elliott of Skokie. Mr. Elliott is the president and CEO of Elliott Construction Company of Chicago. The groom is the son of Henry and Virginia Brennan of Louisville, Kentucky. The bride, 25, received a BS in animal sciences and is the program director for The Hope Therapeutic Riding Center, Shelbyville, Kentucky. The groom, 30, graduated from the University of Kentucky with a MS degree in business. He is president and CEO of Brennan Equipment Company. The couple honeymooned in Ireland, Scotland, London, and Paris and reside in Louisville.

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In Mercer, Stef and Brody (hero and heroine from book 1) get married. Mercer attends the ceremony.

Stef was a beautiful bride, relaxed and happy and dressed in an off-white, lace-lined, floor-length dress with a short train. It had a corset style bodice with drawstring laced-up back. With her natural-colored boots, she looked pure Montana, ready to ride off into the sunset with her man.

When the minister proclaimed, “You may kiss the bride,” Brody swept her into his arms and bent her backward in a long, drawn-out kiss. The audience broke into cheers and applause. Mercer didn’t think she would ever stop clapping. It was so darn romantic she wanted to cry.

Writers are often told to start a story where it begins. In Tangled Memories, I realized the story started when my characters married, so the beginning of the story describes the wedding.

His eyes were gray. I had never noticed before. They weren’t the color of slate but smoky and mysterious.

Swallowing a hard knot of dread that surfaced in my throat, I walked down the silent aisle toward him. Chin held high, very lady-like in posture and demeanor, a trace of smile upon my lips—I was the picture of confidence.

Inside, I trembled.

I stopped in front of the altar. A cloying scent of gardenias assaulted my senses. How curious the delicate white flowers in my bouquet should be so overpowering. Just like the man beside me. Just like the deep, heady gray of his eyes.

I extended my hand. He took it, and I drew a breath and held it. The firmness of his fingers surprised me.

“Friends.” The minister glanced up at us and smiled. “We are gathered together in the sight of God to witness and bless the joining together of Mary and Alexander in Christian marriage.”

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Romance Gems authors honor June Brides this month. Please take time to add some of our brides to your summer reading list.

A little bit of Ireland to ensure you're Lucky in Love by Peggy Jaeger

March is one of my favorite months because of March 17th – St. Patrick’s Day. So the theme, LUCKY IN LOVE, for this month’s blog is appropriate in so many ways. 

 As a tidbit of backstory, I am 100% Irish American and wicked proud of that fact. My mother and father were both first-generation Irish Americans, so I grew up in a household where most of the people over the age of 40 spoke with brogues, which is where I learned to write the vernacular dialogue so well. 

In my series A MATCH MADE IN HEAVEN, 93-year-old Nanny Fee (Fiona) still speaks with a thick brogue even though she came to America at the age of 16 ( the same age my grandmother arrived on these shores.)The auditory memories I have of my grandmother telling a story are vivid and I used her cadence, tone, and slang for Nanny Fee.

I think I did a good job, too, evidenced by how many readers have told me when she is “speaking” on the page, they “hear” her in their heads and she sounds like a leprechaun! 

So, since we’re speaking of Luck this month, know that the Irish are a very superstitious lot and good luck, or good fortune, means a great deal to them. For instance, if a knife falls on the floor, it’s said a gentleman caller is coming. Finding a coin is considered good luck, but if you leave it about, bad luck will come to your door. Don’t ever put your shoes on the table or else bad fortune will meet you at every turn. If your left palm is itchy, you’re coming into some cash. The right, though, means you’re giving some away. 

 The Irish have full-proof ways of ensuring you are LUCKY IN LOVE (and marriage), and St. Patrick’s Day is considered by most to be the best day of the year to get married. I love this old Irish wedding poem which details the months a couple should marry to gain good fortune: 

 Marry when the year is new, always loving, kind and true 

When February birds do mate, you may wed, nor dread your fate. 

If you wed when March winds blow, joy and sorrow both you’ll know. 

Marry in April when you can, joy for maiden and for man. 

Marry in the month of May, you will surely rue the day. 

Marry when June roses blow, over land and sea you’ll go. 

They who in July do wed, must labour always for their bread. 

Whoever wed in August be, many a change are sure to see. 

Marry in September’s shine, your living will be rich and fine. I

f in October you do marry, love will come but riches tarry. 

If you wed in bleak November, only joy will come, remember. 

When December’s showers fall fast, marry and true love will last.

 A few more wedding superstitions to ensure the happy couple is lucky in love include:

 1. The bride’s veil should be placed on her head by a happily married woman, and not a single maid. This allows good luck to pass from the matron to the bride. 

2. In the church, guests are given small bells to ring once the couple is legally married – this wards off evil spirits that could damage their union. 

3. The bride should wear a small horseshoe sewn into her gown, pointed upward so the luck will never run out 

4. The first person to greet the married couple at the church door once the vows have been said should be a man and not a woman ( this one boggles my mind, but they are superstitions for a reason.)

 5. During the first dance the bride’s feet should always remain on the floor – the groom is not to lift her off the ground, or else the fairies would come and steal her. 

 Like I said, they are superstitions for a reason, but the end result is that you want the couple to be lucky in love and life. 

 Here’s a little tidbit from my current Match Made in Heaven book, BAKED WITH LOVE, featuring Nanny Fee: 

 When the cake was finally served and I’d received a number of compliments on its design and taste, Nanny dinged her champagne glass and called for everyone’s attention. With all eyes on her, she smiled at Mac and Cathy. 

 “There now, seeing as I’m the family matriarch, it’s me duty to propose a toast to these two lovelies. But before I do, I’d like to say a few words.” 

 Lucas leaned over and whispered in my ear, “Any chance it really will be just a few words?” I bit down on my bottom lip to keep from laughing out loud. Nanny slanted the both of us a look, and I felt exactly the way I had when I’d been a student in her Communion class and she’d caught me talking out of turn. 

After giving us both a blistering, periwinkle stink eye, she turned back to the newlyweds. 

 “From the moment I met ya, Mac, I knew you were the man for me darlin’ Cathleen Anne. I knew down to me soul you were the one who could bring the happiness back into her eyes and the joy back into her heart. And ya have. I’ll always love ya for it.” 

 Mac smiled at her and then took Cathy’s hand. 

 “Cathleen Anne, me darlin’ girl. You’re me oldest granddaughter. From the moment your da put ya in me arms, I’ve loved ya. It didn’t hurt that ya were me own spitting image.” 

 Scattered laughter filled the room. Cathleen’s grin dipped down on one side, and she rolled her eyes good-naturedly. 

 “I’ve watched ya grow from an inquisitive, smart, responsible wee lass into an independent, beautiful woman who’s a force to be reckoned with inside a courtroom and out. Blessed, ya are, with beauty, brains, and a soul made for lovin’. And now with a man who loves ya as much as me and your sisters do, you have everything I’ve always dreamed of for ya, darlin’ girl, and I couldn’t be happier.” 

 Tears pooled in Cathy’s eyes. She laid her head down on Mac’s shoulder as he brought her hand to his lips. 

 “Well now, before ya all complain I’m getting too long in the tooth here”—she glared at Lucas and pursed her lips, to which he lifted his glass and saluted her— “stand and raise your glasses.” 

 When everyone in the room stood, champagne flutes held high, Nanny told Mac and Cathy, “This is an old toast I learned when I was a young lass back in Ireland. ‘May you have warm words on a cold evening, a full moon on a dark night, and the road downhill all the way to your door.’ Congratulations, me darlin’s. May love and happiness follow you all your days.” 

 While everyone cheered and echoed Nanny’s words, Cathy and Mac rose and hugged her.

I'm so happy I could include that toast in the book because it was just perfect for Nanny Fee to give.

So, as the month comes to a close, I hope, pray, and wish you all have Luck in Love ( and life!)

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Until next month, lovely readers! ~ Peg

Grab a FREE copy of My Lord Raven by Jan Scarbrough

The 12th annual Smashwords Read an Ebook Week sale takes place Sunday March 7 through Saturday, March 13, 2021.

MY LORD RAVEN is one of my most popular books. During the Smashwords sale, it is FREE but only on Smashwords.

To protect what little family she has left, Lady Catrin Fitzalan switches places with her cousin when King Edward orders the pious girl to wed his royal champion, a vicious knight called the King’s Raven. Rumors abound that this savage is responsible for the deaths of Lady Catrin’s father and brother. How can she allow her sweet cousin to wed a murderer?

Bran ap Madog, bastard son of a Welsh prince, has devoted his life to serving the English king. His badge is the raven, a creature that feeds off rotting spoils, just as Bran feeds off the spoils of war. Now he wants a reward for his service: a wealthy wife and the land and power she can bring him.

But there’s another side to the rapacious black birds Bran has chosen for his badge. Social and family-oriented, ravens mate for life. Which gives them something Bran never had—a family, a sense of belonging, and a rightful place in the world. Bran has fought for everything he’s ever had. But his last battle, with his new wife, may cost him the one thing he isn’t prepared to lose: his heart.

Grab your FREE book here.

****

In my February blog I wrote:

Romance novels (and Hallmark Channel movies) are about the conflicts leading up to true love. We love reading about whatever keeps the hero and heroine apart, but we always know they will end up happily-ever-after (HEA). Let’s face it, life is not always HEA. Because of that, we often need to escape into the world of books.

We like HEA endings if we read romance. We all want to be lucky in love, don't you think?

Romancing Cupid by Jan Scarbrough #RomanceGems

When I saw the blog theme for February, I wondered what to write. So, first thing I did was to look up the definition of Cupid.

Cupid, ancient Roman god of love in all its varieties, the counterpart of the Greek god Eros and the equivalent of Amor in Latin poetry. According to myth, Cupid was the son of Mercury, the winged messenger of the gods, and Venus, the goddess of love. He often appeared as a winged infant carrying a bow and a quiver of arrows whose wounds inspired love or passion in his every victim. He was sometimes portrayed wearing armour like that of Mars, the god of war, perhaps to suggest ironic parallels between warfare and romance or to symbolize the invincibility of love.

Britannica, The Editors of Encyclopaedia. “Cupid”. Encyclopedia Britannica, 12 Feb. 2020, https://www.britannica.com/topic/Cupid. Accessed 25 January 2021.

Wow! I love the idea of the invincibility of love. As psychic medium Blair Robertson says, love never dies.

Romance novels (and Hallmark Channel movies) are about the conflicts leading up to true love. We love reading about whatever keeps the hero and heroine apart, but we always know they will end up happily-ever-after (HEA). Let’s face it, life is not always HEA. Because of that, we often need to escape into the world of books.

In my book Liz, the hero Chaz thinks: Novels gave the reader the opportunity to experience the possibility of other choices without actually making those choices. In a book, the reader lived a life outside his normal existence, helping him learn about himself—or herself, as the case might be.

I often let my characters say the truths that I’ve learned from a few years of living. Here are a few quotes from my different books:

The big world beyond was scary.

“C’mon, Mel. Make an old man’s dream come true.”

“That’s just it, dreams don’t come true.” She sounded as if she had voiced an inner conviction.
“Sure, they do, Mel. If you make them come true.”

Stef had also said it was dumb to love a man who didn’t love you back. 

“I guess a person can love more than once.”
“Yes, your dad and I are proof of that.” Liz gave a small laugh, her gaze faraway as if she envisioned someone standing across the floor. “And when that happens, you’re blessed.”

What have you learned anything about yourself from reading a romance novel?

Do you believe that love never dies?

 

Falling in Love – It takes two by Jan Scarbrough

I’ve learned one thing about romantic love in all my years. It takes two people. Those two people must want to make it work. During my first year of college, I asked my mother how you know if a man was the right one to marry. I remember clearly, she said “you never know.”

So, falling in love is always a risk. We romance authors write plenty of stories about heroes and heroines hurt by love. We also strive to make our endings “happily-ever-after.” No such thing in real life, but sometimes we come close to it.

When I opened the door to a blind date after four years single and no dates, I had no clue that five years later, I’d marry the guy and twenty years after that, we’d still be together. Our first conversation around dinner was about his two nearly grown children and mine. Our kids were the same age. Then we talked computers. I was a technical writer and he was a computer programmer. We had something in common.

What do you remember talking about to your significant other when you first met?

In my Ghost Mountain Ranch series, the first FREE book is called Hank. It was originally published as a Christmas novella for the Montana McKennas series written with Maddie James. I had always intended to take Hank away from the McKenna Ranch to work at one across the mountain. The ending of Hank’s story in the book that bears his name is anything but happily after. He had to wait until the next book Darby to get his romantic happy ending. Here’s an excerpt.

***

Darby drew a breath before speaking. “What did you say to me that night at the hospital?” She paused. “You know, when I left.”

Hank ran a hand through his thick head of hair and swallowed hard as if he suddenly grew nervous. “I don’t know what you mean.”

Grinning, Darby shook her head. “You know very well what you said, but it was so faint, I was afraid I’d heard you wrong.”

He offered a bemused smile. “Oh.”

Was he sweating? He’d never said he loved her. She’d just gone on the assumption years ago. But as the saying went, assuming something was never wise.

“I think you said the L word,” she teased.

He blushed, turning as red as his red flannel shirt.

“If you meant it, you need to convince me. It’s time to cowboy up, buster.”

Hank’s jaw clinched. He hesitated a moment, then placed his hands on the desktop and pushed to his feet. There was a new determination in his eyes.

“Darby York, you know damn well I love you.”

She tucked her chin, playing coy. “I do?”

He came around the desk and pulled her into his arms, holding her in a great big grizzly bear hug. They stood that way, drawing warmth from each other, feeling each other’s heartbeat, until Darby slipped her arms around his neck.

“I always thought you knew,” Hank whispered, “but I could never say it.”

“I did know, but it’s always nice to hear it said.”

“Biggest mistake I ever made. Not telling you.”

Darby drew back a little to gaze into his eyes. “My biggest mistake was running from the ranch and you.”

“No,” he said firmly. “There are reasons for things. You’ve had a good life. You’ve got your two kids.”

Yes, she had her kids, and she’d had a wonderful life. But her life wasn’t over. A new chapter was just beginning.

“What if I stayed at the ranch, too,” she ventured. “But I won’t stay unless you agree to marry me.”

His mouth dropped open.

“Because I love you, too, Hank Slade.”

Then she stood on tiptoe and kissed his lips so completely that the past was forgotten. Only the present mattered. They would make a new future together.

***

Last Chance Beach: Summer's End is here for only a few more weeks. The box set is still only 99¢ and is available on Amazon.

If you haven't picked up your free copy of Cocktails on Last Chance Beach, do that too. Our little recipe book is still in the Top 100 of Bestselling Special Occasion, Beverages, etc. on Kindle.

A month of Changes by Peggy Jaeger

 September 2020 has been a month of change for the Jaeger clan.

On September 12, my darling daughter got married in a very Covid-compliant ceremony in New York. The original wedding was planned for over 300 people on the top of Mount Washington in New Hampshire. 2021 will see that celebration come to fruition if we get out of this pandemic, but for now, she married the love of her life, her soul mate and best friend in a small Catholic ceremony with the people they both love best in the world in attendance. He father walked her down the aisle, and yes, he wore a mask, but there was no missing the smile lighting up his face, evidenced in his shining eyes.

God smiled on the happy couple because the weather was glorious.

On September 14, we buried my brother-in-law. After an 11 year battle with cancer, he finally succumbed to its clutches and as a family we gathered to mourn him, celebrate his life, and bury him.

In the same weekend my husband and I gained a new son and lost a beloved brother.

Change, for sure.

On September 17 we welcomed a new member into our small nuclear family. A chocolate lab named Maple Leaf. It's been a long-ass time since we had a dog - much less a puppy - in our house. My first dog baby was born in 1987 and died in 1999. So for the last 21 years we've been without a family dog. It was time.

Meet Maple Leaf Jaeger, 12 pounds of 8 week old puppy love and energy. And just like the change a household goes through when a new (human) baby is brought into it, there's a lot of change in our house right now that concerns feeding times, midnight diaper changes in the form of walks, and teething issues. I never thought I'd hear myself say this, but I'm really feeling my age right now!! I've finally discovered the answer to why you should have a baby ( and a puppy) when you are younger. Your stamina is much greater. Hee hee. Maple Leaf has her own Instagram account where I'm documenting her life with us. My husband says she won "Doggie Lotto" when we brought her home, and he's not wrong!! You can follow her adventures on Instagram, here: MapleLeaftheDog

Another change coming down the pike occurs in October. My newest indie-released holiday RomCom releases on 10.14.2020. I've gone back to the bosom of the San Valentino family for MISTLETOE, MOBSTERS, & MOZZARELLA and visited the Aunt Gracie branch of the family. I have to admit, when I was writing this one, I truly did laugh out loud at times - especially at Uncle Sonny and mama Gracie. I hope you'll find Madonna San Valentino's story a fun and inspiring one of family, faith, and love. So, why a holiday story in October? Because it's never too early for Christmas, RomComs, or love!

Finding a body in the freezer of the family deli isn’t the way Madonna San Valentino planned to start her day.

Adding insult to injury, the investigating detective is the one guy she’s never been able to forget. After seven minutes of heaven in the back seat of his car when they were teenagers, Tony Roma skipped town without so much as a thanks for the memory.

Just when Madonna thinks the present situation can’t get any worse, Tony is ordered to go undercover at the deli to ferret out a killer. Forced to work together, she vows to keep their relationship cool and professional. But with the sexy, longing looks he tosses her at every turn, Madonna’s resolve is weakening.

With Christmas drawing closer and Tony’s investigation taking an unexpected turn, Madonna is at her wit’s end. Can she really be falling for him again? And will he wind up leaving her broken hearted and alone like the last time?

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