Re-Release! A Very Special Christmas Present

The Re-Buzz on “A Very Special Christmas Present”

Re-Released! New Cover!

Great news! My “Family Favorite” Regency short story has now been re-released!

Regency romances are always popular with readers. Perhaps it’s because they recall an elegant era or perhaps it’s the appeal of noblemen and their ladies. Whatever the attraction, I’m heartily glad for it! “A Very Special Christmas Present” began as a submission to a new Regency publishing house. The publisher was conducting a contest for short stories to include in the new print and electronic anthology, THE WINTER HOLIDAY SAMPLER. The contest rules were simple: set the story around a winter holiday: the parameters between Advent and Twelfth Night. Naturally I chose Christmas!

Happily, my story was one of the seventeen winners. “A Very Special Christmas Present” earned fantastic reviews.

Seventeen Wonderful Stories Of Regency England

As it happens so often, the publisher had to close its doors and the anthology is no longer available. With the rights to “A Very Special Christmas Present” returned to me.

Some time passed, and then I received a call from publisher Uncial Press to submit a short story. I sent in “A Very Special Christmas Present”. It had been part of their inventory for many years. inventory. Below is the original cover: 

Deidre's only brother was killed in the Napoleonic Wars, so romance is the furthest thing from her mind. However her young "niece"--Cupid's curly-haired accomplice--is determined to give Auntie Dee the best Christmas present ever.

I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my Uncial Press books--a total of five novels and three short stories. “A Very Special Christmas Present” is the fourth to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

Here’s the new cover:

Deidre’s young “niece” is determined to give her Auntie Dee the best Christmas present ever: a husband!

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

This book is part of the Elegant Regencies line.

Some very special reviews for “A Very Special Christmas Present”:

* FIVE STARS! Fans of the stories set in early nineteenth century England will find this a comfortably familiar world. The setting is completely perfect, from the wonderful home and dedication to needlework, to the holiday plans, and even the focus on marriage. You will enjoy Knight’s clever twist with descriptions--her snow-capped fir trees “huddle” from the cold, and main character Deidre expresses frustration by ‘savagely’ embroidering. Throughout, the phrasing is subtle but delightful. It’s hard to say more without spoiling this one. Full of Christmas charm, Susanne Marie Knight’s A Very Special Christmas Present, would make a very nice present for some lucky romance fan on your shopping list...I will certainly re-read.--Long & Short Reviews.

* This is a most refreshing story. Sometimes we judge too quickly before learning the real truth.--Romance At Heart.

* I didn't want this story to end! More, more, more!--Reader Comment

* This is the best Regency short story I've read.-- Reader Comment

Real life tidbit: Just as our heroine, Deidre Livingston, I dabble in embroidery. Or rather, I used to dabble in embroidery. I enjoyed buying handkerchiefs and then using one as a canvas, embroider a friend or family member’s name to give as a gift. Deidre has far more talent than I ever had!

Scene setup: At a Christmas party, Jeremy Stafford, the Earl of Bainbridge, encounters the intriguing Miss Livingston who rescues him from the consequences of an unplanned sneeze!

Jeremy picked up two glasses of the mulled cider and handed one to Miss Livingston. The pungent aroma of spices such as cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves, tickled his nose even before he drank.

He sneezed. “I beg your pardon.” Reaching for his handkerchief, he came up empty.

Miss Livingston must have realized his dilemma for she searched in her reticule and pulled out a delicate, embroidered cloth. “Please, take mine,” she offered.

Accepting the handkerchief, he marveled at the satin-stitch design and the feminine name of Deirdre stitched upon it. “My thanks, Miss Livingston. I gave mine to that imp of a child. Is this your fine needlework?”

She looked down at the parquet wood floor. Modesty became her. “Yes. I had the pleasure of giving handkerchiefs as Christmas gifts to all Lady Fairmont’s guests.” Her gaze everywhere but on him, she added, “Would you like for me to make one for you, also?”

His response came straight from the heart. “Indeed, if I may, I wish to keep this one. Your name is quite lovely.”

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I hope you enjoy Deidre and Jeremy’s Christmas story.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!

The Re-Buzz on ONE WIFE TOO MANY

Re-Released! New Cover!

I’m happy to announce that my popular second-chance-at-love contemporary romance, ONE WIFE TOO MANY, has now been re-released! Sometimes LOVE does find us, but at that particular time, we’re not ready for it. That’s what happens to Wilson Struthers.

Here’s the blurb:

Wilson Struthers is an ambitious attorney who advances his career by marrying eighteen-year-old Andrea, the boss’ daughter. Things go according to plan... until Andrea is lost at sea. Seven years later, Wilson marries again. Then the fun begins!

Now the dilemma: How do I craft this tale so that when Wilson and Andrea meet seven years later, they don’t recognize each other? How can I make this story believable?

Ah, that’s the rub! For Andrea, she suffers from total amnesia of her former life and becomes Anakalia Lawai’a, and for Wilson, well, let’s just say twenty-five-year-old Andrea looks very different from his virgin bride.

ONE WIFE TOO MANY was published by Uncial Press and had been with them for many years. Here is the original cover.

I recently decided to have the rights returned to me for all my Uncial Press books--a total of five novels and three short stories. ONE WIFE TOO MANY is the third to be re-released. It’s now available on Amazon.com and Smashwords.com!

Here’s the new cover:

Seven years after his bride is lost at sea, Wilson marries again. Bigamist!

Amazon.com and Smashwords.com

This book is part of the Romantic Contemporaries line.

ONE WIFE TOO MANY earned Best-Seller status at Fictionwise.com and is a Favorite in libraries across the United States including North Texas Libraries On The Go.

Here are some fabulous reviews:

5 STARS! Some books are meant to be classics. ONE WIFE TOO MANY is in this category. We are introduced to the main characters, Andrea and Wilson, as they just get married. Both of them are making a major mistake. Wilson, to get promoted, and Andrea, to escape her unloving father. But on the Hawaiian honeymoon night, Andrea’s eyes get cruelly opened, and she makes another bad choice, only to get swept overboard in a storm-tossed sea. Her body is never recovered. Seven years pass. Wilson is a sadder man, filled with regret, but feels it’s time to move on. He remarries. Then the unthinkable happens: his job sends him back to Hawaii where... ONE WIFE TOO MANY is a perfect second chance at love story. I thoroughly enjoyed reading how they met each other again with no recognition, and yet there was something achingly familiar that they just couldn’t identify. A wonderful treat for anyone who’s a romantic at heart!--Norwood Reviews

5 STARS! Amazing Book! After reading The Reluctant Landlord, which I was very impressed with, I decided to read another one of Susanne's books, One Wife Too Many. She did not disappoint me with this book either. Both books I thought were terrific. I would recommend both books to anyone and now I'm going to go onto one of her other books. I'm picking one of her short stories The Teachers Pet. I'm sure I will not be disappointed with that either. One Wife Too Many I read in one day as I could not put it down!--R.R. Amazon.co.uk

Susanne Marie Knight's books are always fun, sexy and tender. Her latest, ONE WIFE TOO MANY is all of the above, a real feel-good story. Andrea is young and innocent when she marries Wilson, who is an ambitious lawyer in her father's firm. Before the wedding night, she's lost at sea. He remarries, she survives and their lives get really complicated.--UP Reviews

This is a wonderful (as usual) love story. You’re soo good, Sus. Thanks so much!-- Reader Comment

 Susanne’s plot pacing is, as always, superb!--Reader Comment

Brilliantly written--Book Review

This book is great! I adore Andrea, and as for Wilson--yum! Thanks so much for this refreshing read!-- eader Comment

Whenever I want to take a Hawaiian vacation, I reread ONE WIFE TOO MANY. I love this story!-- Reader Comment

An excellent retelling at a second chance a love story!-- Reader Comment

Here is a popular book trailer for ONE WIFE TWO MANY, for the Uncial Press version.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6axHmA8xwc

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Below are a couple of tidbits from my life that helped me write this novel. The islands of Hawaii play a large role in ONE WIFE TOO MANY. During a terrifying storm, Andrea is swept overboard from the deck of a company yacht in the channel of waters between Molokai and Maui. I also was violently tossed about in a small yacht navigating very rough seas. Fortunately, I remained onboard!

Here’s how Wilson (Will) experienced the storm:

Still holding his drink, Will carefully maneuvered past annoyingly loud slot machines and equally annoying drunken passengers until he walked out the casino doors.

Once in the carpeted corridor, he stood a moment to get his bearings. Wrong move. A giant wave crashed against the starboard side of the ship. Will lost his balance... and his drink, and smashed into the wall.

While his crystal tumbler harmlessly bounced on the carpeted floor, the glassware inside the casino wasn’t as lucky. The tinkling of breaking glass was loud enough to be heard out in the corridor. Evidently everything that wasn’t nailed down on the bar counter had slid to the other end, then landed down onto the floor.

What a waste of booze!

Will grinned, righted himself and took a step. Another wave  crashed into the ship, knocking him full force him back into the wall.

Damn. The shit just got kicked out of him. If Andrea had been seasick before, there was no telling just how badly she was feeling right now. Urgency fueled his movements.

Here’s how Andrea experienced the storm:

Although unsteady footing was a problem, she managed to get to the stairway and headed up one level for the casino deck.

The yacht personnel were prepared for this type of weather. Little white bags had been placed on each step by the wall... just in case.

Thank goodness she didn’t need to use one. Her stomach was behaving nicely. And actually, she had to admit, it was fun to be thrown from one side of the carpeted wall to the other.

Andrea grinned. Maybe now that she was a married woman, she could handle things better than before.

After Andrea washes up in the city of Hilo on the big island of Hawaii, she is welcomed into the bosom of a traditional Hawaiian family, the Lawai’as. Since she has no memory of her previous life, she takes the name Anakalia, which means Andrea in Hawaiian. Seven years later, she reluctantly gives a stranger, Will, a tour of Hilo, including the famous Akaka Falls. Here’s a picture I took of Akaka Falls while on vacation there.

Here’s how Akaka Falls fits into the story:

Today was about as perfect as a day could be. Will thoroughly enjoyed pineapple pancakes for breakfast--an exotic treat for the palate--the tropical rainforest surrounding Akaka Falls, and the company.

Especially the company. Anakalia Lawai’a combined sultry beauty with a naiveté that stoked his growing desire.

Walking behind her in the dense jungle and watching her bewitching bottom sway as they’d traveled on a narrow path to the falls was nearly his undoing.

Or perhaps it was the primordial surroundings. Any minute he’d expected Tarzan to swing through the trees with his characteristic yell.

No, his overactive libido was all due to her.

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So now you know part of what happens when Wilson finds out he has ONE WIFE TOO MANY! I hope you enjoy Andrea and Wilson’s book.

Happy reading,

Susanne Marie Knight

www.susanneknight.com

Read outside the box: award-winning Romance Writing With A Twist!