At First Sight — Parris Afton Bonds

UNLIKE ANY CHRISTMAS STORY YOU HAVE READ ~

New Sweden, American colonies (when Christmas was outlawed)

Five years before, in 1649, the heads of Lady Evangeline Bradshaw's father and brother rolled on Cromwell's chopping block, along with those of King Charles's and others. Not waiting to see if her head was next, she fled England with the family's remaining gold and silver crowns, putting a vast ocean between herself and peril.

Even here, in this remotest place on earth one could imagine, Evangeline still does not feel safe. And especially not now, this Christmas Eve, when she opens her Virgin Queen Tavern's door to admit the midnight traveler Nathan Sutcliff, who is most devilishly handsome ~ and most determined to carry out Cromwell's order.