On This Christmas I Thee Wed is my sixteenth story. In a previous story, the groom left the bride at the altar, and I thought a Regency Romance where the bride left a very eligible groom at the altar would be a fun story to write.
I enjoyed creating this story a great deal.
The relationship between a man and his wife was so different back then. Women were treated as possessions and had no rights. They could not own property or voice their opinion in politics.
I mention an incident in the book where a man put a collar around his wife’s neck and auctioned her off because he was displeased with her. This custom is referred to as wife-selling and originated around the end of 17th century in England.
My heroine abhors the idea of being subjected to the whims of a man and runs away, hoping to make a different life.
I am a romantic at heart and believe true love finds a way. The duke has just as much reason to avoid marriage as my heroine but for different reasons. He has seen the devastation losing the love of your life can cause and avoids the situation at all costs because he believes love is a weakness.
The Wild Rose Press, who published this story, had a series named Christmas in the Castle. I wrote this story for the series and once I submitted the manuscript I received a contract.
When I wrote my first book, I purchased The Guide to Literary Agents and submitted to every press who accepted romance submissions until I received an offer.
There is a lot of perseverance and soul searching involved, but my journey to being an author has been both fulfilling and exciting.
I look forward to many more contracts and release days. I want to thank all my readers for their support. I couldn’t do it without you.
Happy Reading!
Title: On This Christmas, I Thee Wed
Author: Virginia Barlow
Publication Date: December 18, 2024
Pages: 280
Genre: Historical Holiday Romance
Bartered to Viscount Hudson Becker by her father, Lady Lavinia Holbrook escapes her arranged marriage and travels to her Godmother, the Duchess of Chauncy to seek asylum. Determined to put men and marriage behind her, she is unprepared for the duke’s interest or his heated kisses.
The Duke of Chauncy believes love is a weakness and refuses to take a bride despite his mother's scheming. When the duchess makes a wager he will marry by Christmas, he considers the matter a lark. Until Lavinia gets under his skin, and he rethinks his position on love and happy ever afters.
On This Christmas I Thee Wed is available through these fine retailers…
Amazon | Walmart | Target | BooksAMillion | Indie Bound | Barnes & Noble | Kobo | Google Books | ITunes
She loves to write steamy romances whether fantasy, historical, or contemporary, all are liberally spiced with adventure and sensual, seductive heroes. Her heroines are just as compelling with equal parts intelligence, sass, and backbone. They give as good as they get whether saving their man’s life or responding to his heated kisses, they’re all in.
The most important thing in Virginia’s life is her family, and spending time with them. When she is not bouncing a grandbaby in her arms or handing out popsicles, she is writing and dreaming up her next love story. Virginia has published fifteen romance novels with another two on the way and has half a dozen more circling around inside her head eager to make their debut.
Website & Social Media:
Website ➜ https://www.virginia-barlow.com/
X ➜ https://x.com/Virgini35142126
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/groups/3046288755596817
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19838312.Virginia_Barlow
Thank you for hosting my book-Virginia Barlow
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