A Mistletoe Proposal

The first book in the Diamonds Are Forever series, 2010

Dear Reader,

I must admit to getting a wistful satisfaction from writing about a heroine whose beauty and allure knock men sideways. No hopeless sighing for her. One quirk of her gorgeous mouth, a look from her sultry eyes, and they fall at her feet, begging for her attention. I guess we’ve all indulged that fantasy at some time.

But the underlying truth is never so simple, as I learned from Pippa, heroine of A Mistletoe Proposal. Beneath the surface of the sultry siren is a woman who has been hurt almost beyond bearing, and who has sheltered behind her desirability and her reputation as a good-time girl, determined not to let the world discover her fears.

Those fears include Christmas and mistletoe-both of which bring back suffering she can’t bear to recall.

But then she meets Roscoe, a man as damaged as she is, and as skilled at hiding it. Each sees through the other’s defenses to the loving heart beneath. Harsh and forbidding on the surface, Roscoe discovers depths of tenderness within himself, and uses them to rescue Pippa. Through him she finds that Christmas can once more be a time of joy.

But they are not alone in their struggle. Pippa’s beloved grandmother Dee has always been a loving presence, offering advice and standing as a symbol of love’s triumph to inspire her to her own happy ending.

Warmest wishes

Lucy Gordon