Under the Mistletoe with Tamara Hughes

Rebecca’s Tipsy Seduction…

Hi, I’m Tamara Hughes, author of Once Upon a Masquerade, a Cinderella murder mystery romance set in New York City in 1883.

This is an amazing time of year. Not only do the holidays give us an excuse to get together with family and friends, but they remind us to be thankful that we have those people in our lives. In a way, just like in the movies, it’s magical. While I may not have the childlike wonder I once had, I find the holidays to be filled with surprises, laughter, and love. I hope you all have a fabulous holiday season! And when January comes around, keep an eye out for my next book Tempting the Pirate. A Casanova pirate meets his match—a woman who sorely distrusts all men. Will he win her over? Find out soon.

Favorite Holiday Song: I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus

Favorite Holiday Food: Gingerbread Teddy Bears – so soft and delicious

What’s your favorite thing about the winter holiday season?

Getting together with family and friends

What’s your least favorite thing about the winter holiday season?

Sometimes the shopping and baking gets a little stressful. I don’t like shopping, so for me, there’s nothing worse than cranky, aggressive shoppers in stores and parking lots.

About Once Upon a Masquerade

Hero’s Name: James Lamont, ship captain and heir to the Lamont Shipping empire

Heroine’s Name: Rebecca Bailey, housemaid, whose gambling father makes her life miserable

What would the perfect gift your hero would give your heroine and why?

Although it wasn’t for Christmas, James does give Rebecca a gift in the book, and in my mind, it’s perfect. She loses her late mother’s locket during an encounter with the brutish men attempting to force from her what her father owes in gambling debts. James manages to get it back, but the chain is broken, so he removes his own (one that sports the lucky coin he always wears). He puts her pendant on his chain and secures it around her neck, along with the lucky coin. I find this such an endearing gesture. I love it.

What would the perfect gift your heroine would give your hero and why?

James values honesty above all else. When Rebecca finally confesses who she really is and why she’s been playing her charade, he feels a satisfaction like nothing he’s ever felt before. For him, that is the perfect gift.

Where would your hero or heroine secretly hang some mistletoe to catch an extra special holiday kiss and why?

Spencer Henley is a good friend to James and Rebecca throughout the book. He’s the type of man who truly enjoys the games high society plays. He finds all the gossip and petty fights amusing. I believe James and Rebecca would hide mistletoe in Spencer’s country house during one of his infamous parties just to give Spencer more to chuckle about.

Share an excerpt of your favorite kissing scene between these two characters.

With a low chuckle, James steadied her, his hands resting at her waist. “You don’t drink much do you?”

“Never before,” Rebecca confessed with a small giggle.

He pulled his hands away, and she glanced down as if first realizing he’d touched her. Her face pinkened sweetly, and she raised her gaze, but only got so far as his chest.

Leaning toward him, she studied the lucky coin he wore on a chain about his neck. “What a unique charm,” she breathed, reaching out to touch the ancient metal.

He drank his fill of her delicate cheekbones and striking eyes. “I’m told it’s a rare coin from China, said to ward against evil.”

Her stare rose to his. “Are you superstitious?”

Although he’d never thought so, he wore the amulet everywhere. He shrugged, admitting, “I am a sailor.”

Miss Bailey worried her lip and studied his face. Her attention settling on his mouth, he wondered what she would do next.

He didn’t have long to wait. His lips twitched as her eyelids drooped heavily, and she tilted her head up to his, her look almost dazed. “Are you well? You appear as though you may faint.”

Raising one eyelid, she maintained her silly position, admitting through semi-pursed lips, “I’m enticing you to give me a kiss.”

A laugh rose up, but he held it back. “I see.” What an unusual but most delightful woman. His coin was lucky indeed. “I suppose I am a pirate and I’ve cornered a captivating damsel alone and intoxicated.”

Christopher glanced at the empty doorway, where a large potted plant shielded them from sight, and questioned the sanity of what he longed to do. If caught, her reputation would be sorely compromised. What’s more, she’d been Nathan’s love. Despite the year that had passed, he should honor that relationship. He should, and he would.

He stared down at her upturned face, delicate, alluring. She waited, utterly unconcerned by the open door. He liked that she was so different from the other ladies of the bon ton, different from Adele. Miss Bailey’s free spirit, so open and real, appealed to him like no other. Her pale pink lips tempted him to no end. Her scent, cloves and warm woman, wrapped around him, drawing him in, making his blood pump faster and his mind slow.

Would she taste as good as she smelled? Without thought, he cradled her face in his hands, the silky softness of her hair teasing his fingertips. He lowered his head, sampled her lips, and was lost.