Written by Erica Rose Jackson A new book is on the way! I'd like to share chapter one with you, here. This is going to be my first book that's available in hardcover as well as eBook and paperback. Please enjoy the beginning of Stranded. Chapter 1 Party “I’m tired and I wanna go to bed,” Raelynn whined as her husband parked in front of their beach house in Cape Cod.
Henry smirked as he turned to face her, “I know, sweetheart,” he replied as he placed his hand on her knee, “but, I thought you might like spending your thirty-fifth birthday at the beach. It is your favorite place,” he added, earning a smile from her. His sweet tone softened her cranky exterior, “You’re right, thank you,” she conceded as she opened her door to walk into their home with her husband. Henry raced around the car to offer his arm to her. “I’m still not sure why you insisted I wear this dress just to come to our beach house,” she added as he guided her to the front door. The couple walked through the foyer in complete darkness. Henry flipped on the light switch as they entered the dining/living area. To Raelynn’s shock, their entire friend group appeared from every angle on the main floor yelling, “Surprise!” Raelynn was speechless as she took in the sight of the crowd filling every inch of their home. Once the initial shock wore off, she grabbed a drink and started mingling with the crowd. “Thank you so much for coming, Kate,” Raelynn began making her rounds, “I’m so honored you made time to be at my big night.” Raelynn found herself mimicking her first greeting throughout the crowd until she reached her best friend, Sara. “I’m so glad you and Robert came!” she exclaimed as she pulled her girlfriend into a bear hug. Sara smiled as the released each other, “Of course I’m here! It’s not every day, your very best friend in the world turns thirty-five.” The pair got caught up in conversation until Raelynn found herself being pulled onto the ‘dancefloor’ by Henry. ‘Learn to Love’ by W. Darling played overhead as Henry pulled Raelynn close into his arms, holding her tightly as they swayed to the music. He spun her out and pulled her back so he could hold her from behind and whispered, “What do you think of your party?” “I’m not the biggest fan of surprises but I am really enjoying this,” she admitted as she swayed her hips from side to side. “I can’t believe you were able to keep it a secret with this many people involved,” she added, revealing genuine shock within her tone. A slight chuckle escaped his lips, “Grand gestures have always kind of been my thing,” he shared before leaning closer to her ear to whisper, “Right now, though, I wish it was just the two of us here, tonight.” Raelynn turned herself in his arms so she could face him as the song continued, “Me too,” she revealed as she leaned up and placed her lips to his. As the night went on and the party fizzled, Raelynn and Henry remained with their two closest couple friends: Robert and Sara Carter, and Stewart and Lane Barnett. The six sat outside on the deck, enjoying each other’s company. “My darling,” Henry interrupted the conversation’s flow, “I have one more gift for you and it includes this entire group,” he shared as he passed her a card. Raelynn opened it and found tickets to cage dive with Great White Sharks. “We’re all going!” Raelynn exclaimed excitedly. Diving with Great Whites had always been one of her biggest dreams. Sara was the first to respond, “Yes!” she shrieked, “I’m not going to say I’m thrilled at this idea but I love you so I’ll do it!” “Agreed,” Robert, Lane, and Stewart said in unison. Raelynn stood and gave all of her friends hugs before ending at Henry. “This is the best birthday ever,” she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him, earning pretend gag noises from their friends. Once she released him, she whispered, “Thank you.” “You’re welcome, my love,” he responded, tenderly. Stewart spoke up, ruining the moment, “You all should make sure your affairs are in order before we go on this trip, just in case,” earning him a slap on the arm from Lane. Robert shook his head, “We’ll be in a cage. There’s nothing to worry about,” he clarified for anyone who might have gotten an extra case of the nerves after Stewart’s unnecessary comment. Lane stood, pulling Stewart up with her, “We should head out,” she stated. “Nonsense,” Henry interjected as he stood, as well, “I made sure the guest rooms were ready for you guys.” The couples shrugged as they got up to head to their rooms, each giving Raelynn a hug before they departed leaving her and Henry alone. “This is too much,” Raelynn thought outloud, “What did I do to deserve such a great man?” Henry sat back down and draped his arm across her shoulders, “You’re a good woman. That’s all you needed to do. Are you ready for bed?” he asked as he finished his drink. She nodded and got up with him to head to their room. As Raelynn fell asleep, she thought back to the first night she’d met Henry. Raelynn made her way to the wine tasting she had read about in the paper. Once she reached it, she paid the cover charge and began walking the tables to find something she might like to drink. She passed by the white wines with ease as she made her way to the reds. She sipped some Merlot and skipped the tables filled with Cabernet Sauvingnon. She looked around at the signs to find her favorite Pinot Noir. Once she located it, she made her way over to it and sipped some delicious wines from the Napa Valley. Her attention was quickly taken by a table from the Adirondacks called Four Fields. She made her way over to the crowded table and picked up a sample. She didn’t notice when the older gentleman running the stand had begun to look at her. She took a sip and immediately enjoyed the fruitful flavor this wine had versus others at this tasting. The man walked over to where she was standing, “Do you like our modest Pinot?” he asked Raelynn. Raelynn smiled in return, “It’s the best I’ve ever tasted. Can I buy a bottle, please?” she asked as she pulled out her wallet. “Unfortunately, there’s no bottles for sale with me today. I am looking to distribute this in the city but wanted to see how people reacted first,” the man replied. He was an older gentleman but still very attractive. He was dressed in a simple blue button down and black trousers magnifying his eyes and his hair had a touch of grey scattered in his dark brunette hair. Raelynn sighed, “That’s too bad. I’ll have to look and see if I can order some offline. Thanks for the sample,” she finished as she began to walk away. “Miss, I happen to have one bottle that you can have if you take me out for the best coffee in the city,” he finished stopping Raelynn in her tracks. “Right now?” Raelynn asked as she walked back towards the table. “Of course,” the man answered, “Bob can run the table.” Raelynn smiled at the older gentleman’s flirting, “I agree to your terms, but I’m not going for coffee with anyone if I don’t even know their name,” she said with a smirk. “Forgive me,” he responded as he came out from behind the table to join her, “I am Henry Kimble, proprietor of Four Fields,” he finished as he took her hand and placed a gentle kiss upon the back of it. Raelynn blushed as she slowly pulled her hand back, “Nice to meet you, Henry I’m Raelynn Montgomery,” she introduced herself with a smile. “Lead me to the coffee,” Henry said as he began walking. Raelynn joined him, walking next to him as she guided him to her and Sara’s favorite coffee spot in town. “So, you had Pinot at the table but what is your favorite wine?” Raelynn asked as they made their way to the destination. “Pinot is my favorite and I also like a nice Riesling. What about you?” Henry asked in return. Raelynn shivered slightly before answering, “I love Pinot Noir, Rose, and Moscato. Don’t judge me on the last one, it was kind of my way to get adjusted with wine drinking,” she finished, slightly embarrassed. “I’ve enjoyed my fair share of cheap wine, I promise. Are you cold?” Henry asked as he noticed Raelynn shiver once more. “Not at all,” Raelynn replied, lying as her lips quivered. “No need to be so brave,” Henry said as he removed his outer jacket and placed it on Raelynn’s shoulders. “Thank you,” she replied as they came up on Abraco, “this is it,” Raelynn said as she made her way to the door. Henry rushed ahead of her and opened the door, “Ladies first,” he insisted. Raelynn gave him a smile as she made her way to a table and the two sat down waiting to be served. “What can I get you?” the waiter asked as he approached Henry and Raelynn at their table. “I’ll have an iced white chocolate mocha,” Raelynn replied with a smile. Henry gave her a questioning look before ordering, “I’ll take a black coffee, thanks,” he said as the waiter wrote down their orders and walked away to get their drinks. Henry looked across the table at Raelynn, “Did I just hear you ordering a cold drink after watching you shiver outside?” Raelynn grinned back at him, “I prefer to be cold,” she explained, “It’s kinda warm in here so I wanted to have something cool.” Henry shrugged, “Well, if this coffee is indeed the best in New York City then I will be wanting to take you out tonight,” Henry announced confidently. Raelynn sat back, a little shocked, “Where would you be taking me? And shouldn’t you be on your way back upstate?” she asked, still taken aback by his bold statement. The waiter returned before Henry could answer and placed their drinks down and quickly walked away. “I’ll answer your query after I taste this coffee,” Henry responded with a sly grin as he picked up his coffee to take a sip. Raelynn watched as Henry’s face turned to delight as he drank a second sip of his beverage. “You like it, don’t you?” she asked, wearing a smirk of her own. Henry nodded as he spoke again, “I will be in town for two weeks doing different tastings around the city and I’d like to take you to the Museum of Natural History to visit the planetarium,” he offered confidently. Raelynn smiled in return, suddenly a bit nervous when she realized the age difference between them, but she shook off those thoughts. “Why not? Here’s my address, pick me up at 7,” she said mysteriously as she handed him the paper and picked up her drink and walked out of the coffee shop, without another word.
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Written by Erica Rose Jackson My latest book is available and I've already held my live reading online (you can check out the video on my excerpts page). I'd like to share chapter one of my latest work with you guys! Chapter 1 A Book Shop in Seattle Jinx Hunter found herself sitting in a cafe, alone, watching her target purchase his third cup of coffee for the day.
The FBI sent her here to follow Apollo Banks, a suspected terrorist, who was supposedly planning a large-scale attack on the U.S. So far, Jinx hadn’t seen anything to indicate Apollo was mixed up with any kind of terrorist agency but she had her orders and she was always one to follow her orders. She’d been sent to Seattle alone because the threat level wasn’t high enough to warrant an entire team. After a few days of observation, she agreed with the agency’s position on this target because he was only interested in coffee and the library so far. Jinx was a Special Agent by this point in her career which meant she was expected to take on cases that held a certain level of serious potential danger. However, she’d been following Apollo Banks for the past three days and he hadn’t done anything suspicious. In fact, he hadn’t even met with another soul. Apollo was the epitome of a loner and that made it hard for her to stay focused on him, as her target, because she was finding herself bored at each turn. Jinx watched as Apollo picked up his coffee and left the shop. She stood and, stealthily, followed him to his next destination. She watched as he waltzed into a mom and pop bookstore making sure to enter after him. The store was quaint and definitely one that would house the older titles a terrorist might reference for a potential attack. Apollo made his way to the gardening section of the store and Jinx was about to follow him when a small section of first edition novels caught her eye. Jinx couldn’t believe she stopped following her target but he hadn’t done anything suspicious, allowing her to feel confident in her choice to not stick as closely to him. She zeroed in on a first edition of H. Rider Haggard’s The Treasure of the Lake. She’d never seen that book in print but only an eBook. Jinx couldn’t help herself as she picked it up and sat down at a nearby table and began to read. She’d never read this novel from beginning to end and she found herself enthralled in the story but was careful to keep one eye trained on Apollo and his every movement. Two hours after he’d walked in to the bookstore, he was checking out with an armful of books. Jinx, regretfully, closed her book and stood to follow him to his next location. She had no idea when she put down that book what kind of consequences would follow… Written by Erica Rose Jackson My newest novella will be gong live in the twenty-four hours so I thought I'd share an excerpt of the first chapter with you guys. I hop you enjoy! Chapter 1 The First Crime Scene (that they know of) Ella Fox woke to the sound of her phone going off. She rolled over to see that it was three in the morning and rolled her eyes before she slid the bar across the screen to answer. “Ranger Fox?” she answered, her voice showing she’d been asleep. She woke almost immediately at the sound of John Walt’s voice, “Hey Partner,” he began, “sorry to wake you so early. We’ve got a homicide on our hands. Someone left a pretty mutilated body on the beach,” he shared.
Ella inhaled, hoping to capture the sleepiness in her voice, before she replied, “I’ll be right there,” she shared as she hung up the phone and got out of bed. She moved to her closet where she pulled on a pair of jeans and a button down before grabbing her badge and gun to meet John at the crime scene. Ella drove to the location John sent a ping to on her phone and found herself on the beach before the sun was even planning to begin to rise. “What do we have?” she asked, making her presence known. John moved aside to allow Ella to view the body. There were cuts all across the poor woman’s frame, none all the way through. She crouched down to get a closer look, scanning the body for anything that might jump out as the cause of death before she spoke with the ME. After she evaluated the body, she stood and turned to Walt, “Has the ME ruled on the probable cause of death?” she asked as she had an idea of what it was, from her own examination. “Do we have an ID on the vic?” she added. John passed Ella the vic’s license, “Her name was Amelia Baxter and the ME hasn’t ruled on a cause of death yet. Any ideas?” he asked, well aware of his partner’s ability to pinpoint small details of a case without anyone’s help. Ella nodded as she crouched back down beside the body and pointed at two small puncture wounds on the neck, “I think the killer did all this slicing and dicing to distract us from the real cause of death which was a bite from a venomous snake. I’m not sure which type of snake the killer used,” she explained. John sank down to meet her at her leve, “What makes you so sure the snake venom was the cause of death and not blood loss from any of these other cuts on her body?” Ella pointed to the plant left at the scene, “That’s a sansevieria plant, known as the snake plant to most. I think the killer left that as their calling card. Everything about this crime scene is meant to be a distraction except for that plant and these two bite marks, but I’m willing to wait until the ME’s report confirms my findings,” she added, causing John to look down to hide his smirk. His first attraction to her came from her uncanny ability to identify a cause of death without any aid from anyone and this crime scene was no different. “I’ll share your thoughts with the ME,” he responded, attempting to hide the pride he felt from her work at the crime scene. Ella nodded as she stood back up and began writing notes down in her notepad. Walt knew she was taking those notes to compare with unsolved crime scenes because not many Rangers would have pinpointed the snake connection in the death of Ms. Amelia Baxter. The key was going to be finding out why someone wanted Ms. Baxter dead and what her connection to other possible victims might be. That’s where John came in. He took off his cowboy hat as he stepped over to speak to the ME on their case, Chloe Santos. “Amy thoughts. Santos?” Walt asked as he flipped to a blank page in his notebook. Chloe brushed her hair out of her face before she replied, “Initially, I thought the cause of death was blood loss from the multiple cuts across the body,” Ella moved to join them as Chloe explained her thoughts. Chloe continued, “After further examination, though, I found two bite marks on the neck and that leads me to believe the true cause of death came from a venom of some sort,” she shared. John nodded, “That aligns with Ranger Fox’s findings,” he agreed before adding, “However, she narrowed the cause of death to be some kind of snake venom because the plant found at the scene,” he pointed at the sansevieria, catching a prideful smile from Ella. Chloe attempted to hide her huff as she surveyed the scene and, in the end, agreed with Ella’s findings. “I’ll run a tox screen on the victim to see what kind of snake was used to poison this poor woman,” she shared, conceding to Ella’s superiority. “Looks like we’ve uncovered everything we can for the time being,” Walt announced, “Everyone should go get a little bit more sleep before we meet at the station tomorrow to look deeper into this case.” Ella smiled as she pretended to say goodbye to her team members but instead went back to the station to start looking for previously unsolved homicides where a plant was left at the scene. Written by Erica Rose Jackson Tomorrow is Valentine's Day so to honor the special holiday for lovebirds, I'll be giving away by book The Valentine's Day Killer for free until February 15th. Please enjoy an excerpt from my slasher story! Chapter 1 Our story begins one year ago on Valentine’s Day when a serial killer escaped his cell in the prison’s psych ward. Liam Lander had been locked up just one year before when he murdered as many of the women who’d rejected him as possible, twelve of the twenty he’d been after before he was captured by Chief Robert ‘Bobby’ Hixon. All of this occurred in the small town of Rensselaer Falls, NY. Lander had used a machete as his weapon of choice with which to exact his revenge and he’d donned a white mask covering his face with one red heart painted over his left eye. One of the girls, Kensington ‘Kenz’ Coleman, survived the events of that night. She was also in a relationship with the Chief, even if she was only twenty years old. Kensington Kensington was walking with her friends when she notices Chief Hixon’s SUV parked outside the town’s convenience store. “I’ll be right back, guys,” she announced as she raced across the street and tapped on the vehicle’s window. The window rolled down to reveal Hixon, who Kenz always thought resembled Rob Lowe, with a surprised grin on his face, his blue eyes piercing her soul as the pair made eye contact, “What are you doing here?” he asked. She’d been away for the past two weeks on Spring Break. She leaned in and placed her lips against his, removing them quickly because she knew he wouldn’t approve of such a public display of affection. “I just got back this morning,” she replied to his query, “I really missed you. Any chance you have a break coming up?” A grin crossed his lips, “I could go off the radar for a few minutes. What did you have in mind?” Kenz moved closer, her lips almost on his ear, “I think you know, Bobby,” she whispered wishing she could see the look on his face as she spoke. “Hop in,” he gestured to the passenger’s side of his truck. Once she was inside, he reached over and placed his hand on top of hers, “How was your vacation? Did you meet any age-appropriate guys?” he asked. She laughed, “You know I wouldn’t care if I did, but it was nice. And, you are aware that you’re not that much older than me, right?.” she changed the subject back to her trip, “I got to lay in the sand and play in the ocean. That’s all I really need. Well, almost all...” she revealed, moving her hand onto his upper thigh. “How did you last over the last two weeks with your appetite?” he let out a laugh of his own as he turned into his driveway, “Don’t get me wrong, I don’t mind it at all,” his breathing had changed slightly as his anticipation grew. “I entertained myself,” she whispered in reply before she opened her door and walked through Bobby’s front door, amazed at how quickly he was out of the truck to follow her. Kenz pushed Hixon against the wall, undoing his gun holster first and carefully placing it on the nearby counter. His lips curled into a grin at her eagerness before she attacked his mouth with her own. As their lips parted and their tongues began their familiar dance, he ran his hand into the waistband of her skirt to her panties. She gasped as he slowly began to rub his fingers back and forth feeling his smile against her mouth from the small moans escaping her lips from his work. Kenz grabbed for his belt buckle so she could release him from his confines to end the teasing assault he was waging on her. She leaned in, controlling her breathing as much as she could, and whispered, “Fuck me.” Her words combined with the warmth of her breath over his ear caused Bobby to want her even more as he helped her work off their clothes. Once they were free of their garments, Hixon lifted Kenz in his arms and moved her on top of the island in his kitchen and then he moved inside of her, slowly at first before speeding up his thrusts once he felt her hips working in rhythm with his. After they finished, Kensington and Bobby put their clothes back on and sat across from each other at his dining room table, not ready to part ways for the afternoon just yet. Robert ran his hand through his thick, brunette hair before breaking the silence, “So, what are your plans for tonight? I know you aren’t one to sit Halloween out even after the events of last year,” he started the conversation that revealed what was truly on his mind, his concern for her. She looked down to suppress her smile before she replied, “Sophie and I were going to head to a party but she’s babysitting so I was gonna meet her there first. You don’t have to worry, Bobby. Liam’s been locked up for a year now. I’m safe,” she answered his question while also attempting to comfort him in his concerns. He leaned forward and took her hands within his, “I know but that doesn’t mean I can’t worry about you,” he shared. “What are your plans?” Kenz attempted to change the subject just slightly, “I assume you’ll be working but if you’re not...you could accompany me to the party,” she coyly attempted to propose a situation that would out them as a couple. Hixon released a deep sigh, “I wish I wasn’t on patrol tonight but you know how the holidays are,” he reached out for her sympathy, “Do you want to meet me here later on?” Kensington’s mind had started to wander to another topic, one that would make a significant impact on their lives. She shook off her worries regarding the timing of her cycle for the moment to answer Robert’s question, “We’ll see,” she said, shortly, “I was planning to spend the night at Sophie’s so let’s play it by ear,” she began to stand, “I should probably get back to them before they get suspicious about where I ran off to.” Robert couldn’t stop a soft chuckle from escaping his lips, “I’m pretty positive you’re friends know about us but I understand.” He stood and walked over toward her, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her forehead, “I hope to see you later.” Kensington gave a simple nod as she got up and left his house to grab a few necessities before meeting Sophie where she was babysitting. Liam Liam Lander sat in his cell after yet another ‘wonderful’ therapy session looking at the calendar he was allowed to have in his room to see that it was Valentine’s Day. If he was going to complete his mission, it would have to happen that day because it would be meaningless if he waited too long. ‘Yes,’ he thought to himself, he had to make his escape that day. Liam was aware of where his doctor had stored his mask and weapon so he merely needed to retrieve those and then get out of the prison. He’d had a planned formed since the very first day he’d been locked up. He only had to enact his plan to gain the freedom he required to finish the job he had started one year before. Liam knew there were still girls from his school who had rejected his advancements for a relationship and he wouldn’t be able to rest until those women no longer shared the same air as he did. Liam waited, patiently, for the morning pill delivery where he would begin his escape. He knew he only needed to subdue that guard, take his clothes, grabbed his things, and grab a car from the lot below his room. He laughed realizing how much easier an escape would be than the people who created this prison would ever dare to admit. With a knock on the door, Liam put his escape plan in motion and vowed to be in his hometown of Rensselaer Falls by mid-afternoon. Written by Erica Rose Jackson We’ve been waiting a long time for the follow up to 2017’s Wonder Woman and thanks to COVID, we got to wait a little bit longer. Was Wonder Woman 1984 worth the wait? That’s what I’m here to tell you. DC Comics has long struggled to create a universe as successful as Marvel’s. Wonder Woman was easily their best film to date. WW1984 may not quite live up to its predecessor but it is still a fantastic film: filled with adventure, humor, and heart. The sequel jumps ahead and shows us what Diana Prince's (Gal Gadot) life is like in more modern times. She’s still saving people as Wonder Woman while also working at the Smithsonian. She meets Barabara Minerva (Kristen Wiig) at her job and we are introduced to a new loveable, yet insecure, character. Wiig owns her role throughout her character’s transformation from shy Barbara to the Cheetah. Her performance reminds me of Michelle Pfeiffer’s as Catwoman in Batman Returns. I can’t think of a higher compliment than that! Wiig isn’t the only impressive addition to Wonder Woman 1984. We also get to enjoy Maxwell Lord played by The Mandalorian’s Pedro Pascal. Lord is an over-the-top oil tycoon/TV personality who can get pretty much anything he wants. Pascal’s work in this film is exceptional! He played a villain that I both love to hate and hate to love. He was just human enough that I found myself caring about his fate as the movie progressed deeper and deeper. I also loved his chemistry with Wiig in the scenes they shared. I could watch an entire movie about Lord and Minerva getting up to no good. WW1984 is beautifully acted by all parties involved and that rings most true when the scenes focus on Diana and Steve Trevor (Chris Pine). I won’t go into the details about how Steve returns from the grave to join Diana on her adventures, but I will share that these two have an undeniable chemistry on the screen. Diana and Steve are definitely my OTP in the DC Comics universe. This film feels like it’s been divided into two sections: the love story starts us off, and the action sequences follow. WW1984 is well executed, directed, and acted. Patty Jenkins delivered once again as the director for this outstanding follow-up to Wonder Woman. I’d love to see her involved in more projects because she is just that good! You can go to the theater (like I did -- thanks to McWane Center’s IMAX Dome), or you can stream the film from the comfort of your home with HBO Max. Either way, you’re going to love it because it brings us back to a hero’s story that DC Comics handles really well.
Written by Erica Rose Jackson As Christmas looms around the corner, I thought it would be fun to write a post about my novellas. They are all easy reads and make great gifts or stocking stuffers. Within this post, I've included the book cover, description and a link to purchase!
Written by Erica Rose Jackson With the recent release of the sequel to 'Mrs. Claus', I thought I'd dedicate a special blog post to giving y'all a teaser. I'm sharing the prologue and first chapter in this post along with a link where the entire novella is available. I sincerely hope you enjoy these opening chapters! Prologue “Merry Christmas to you too,” Nick replied with a laugh, “I happen to be making my rounds. You know, bringing everyone their presents.” Grae nodded, “Of course, I’m sorry. I just didn’t think I’d ever be seeing you again, after I left. How is Jordyn?” she asked, attempting to be polite. Nick shook his head, “She’s good I assume,” he paused before revealing, “back home.” “What do you mean?” she inquired, “I left, so she won.” “Can’t win something that’s been canceled,” Nick offered, “You see, I didn’t want anyone to be my Mrs. Claus except you. So, when you left that night I told Corym the entire thing was off.” Grae was confused, “But, you were supposed to pick someone. That was the whole point. Aren’t you going to get in some kind of trouble?” “You pointed out something very important on one of our first dates,” he responded, “I am Santa Claus, the boss of the North Pole. I don’t need some points system to pick out my future wife. Especially not when I have feelings for someone,” Nick took a few steps closer to her, placing his hands on her upper arms. “Did I mention how lovely you look in that gown?” he asked. Grae shook her head, “What are you trying to tell me, Nick? My heart can’t take much more of this,” she said, her voice low and vulnerable. Nick placed his hand on her cheek, “I canceled the competition because I want you. You’re the only person I want by my side, the only woman in the world who could be my Mrs. Claus,” he whispered, leaning in to place his lips to hers. Grae felt his lips on hers and allowed him to deepen the kiss, just as Emma entered the room again. “Um, I hate to break this up,” Emma cleared her throat and announced her presence, “But don’t you have a lot to do, Santa?” Nick pulled back from the kiss and chuckled, glancing in Emma’s direction, “You’re quite right, but I still haven’t given Ms. Reed her present.” Emma leaned back on the wall in anticipation. Grae scrunched her face, “What else could you have? You already told me you sent Jordyn home and I get to be yours. There’s nothing else I could ever need,” she stated. Emma laughed, unable to help herself, “That’s cheesy even for you, Grae.” Grae looked at her best friend and playfully frowned, “Sh,” she teased, “you’re going to ruin whatever this moment is.” Grae looked back at Nick, “Though with you, this could be an elaborate scheme to throw something at me,” she teased. “She’s not wrong,” Nick agreed as he got down on one knee in front of Grae. “You know, I didn’t plan on you being so well dressed for tonight, but this look really works,” he commented on her gown once again, adding to the anticipation. Grae rolled her eyes, “Is this what I think or are you about to just stand back up and get in your sleigh?” “Well, you did ruin our first kiss with questions about my beard,” he replied, teasingly, “This was my turn to delay at your expense this time. Is it annoying you?” Grae shook her head, “You know it is. Get on with it, Mr. Claus.” Nick laughed before he spoke, “Ms. Grae Reed, you are stubborn and intelligent. You challenge me at every turn. But against all odds, even the North Pole’s supposedly flawless system, I have fallen deeply in love with you,” he paused to pull out a box. He opened it to reveal a ring. The ring had a diamond snowflake surrounded in smaller diamonds on a white gold band. “You better not be playing with me,” Grae warned. Emma couldn’t stay quiet for another moment, “You’re ruining his moment again! Just hush and let him lead the conversation,” she caught a glare from Grae. “I say it with love,” she added. Nick glanced at Emma, mouthing ‘thank you’, before he looked at Grae once more to continue. “Will you do me the greatest honor of becoming my wife, Mrs. Claus, and the First Lady of Christmas?” Nick finally asked, “If you say yes, it will make me both the happiest and most annoyed man in the universe,” he added with a small, subtle laugh and a tiny wink. Grae rolled her eyes once again, “You just couldn’t resist could you?” Nick shook his head, “So, what do you say? Are you going to be my Mrs. Claus?” Grae took a deep breath and nodded, “Yes, I would love nothing more,” she answered, offering her hand so he could place the ring on her finger. He rose from on his knee and placed his lips to hers once more. “I’m getting everyone eggnog!” Emma shrieked with joy. Nick pulled back, “I’m afraid I have to get back to work,” he declined, “Grae, you once mentioned wanting to help me hand out gifts on Christmas. Would you like to join me?” Grae looked at Emma for approval. She didn’t want to leave her friend alone on Christmas Eve. Emma glared at her, gesturing for her to get out of there. “I would love to join you, Mr. Claus,” Grae replied as she took his hand and allowed her to guide her to his sleigh, this time as his fiance. Chapter 1 “Mom,” Grae whined as she flipped through the wedding dress magazine for the millionth time that afternoon, “I don’t have that much longer before Nick will be here. Can’t we just agree on one dress?” she practically begged. Her mom, Patricia, gave her best friend Emma an exasperated shrug before she responded, “When will you be able to come back and plan with us again? I just don’t think any of these dresses we’ve seen are speaking to me.” Emma quickly got up to brew another pot of coffee, not wanting to be forced to take sides. Grae sat back down and looked at her mother, “Shouldn’t the dress be speaking to me? Like, this one?” she asked as she flipped back to the dress which had jumped out for her. It was a lace gown with a sweetheart neckline with short lace sleeves. It was both simple and elegant, everything Grae was after for her special day. Patricia picked up the catalogue and took a closer look at the dress her daughter was pointing out. Silence followed as she studied the dress with an imaginary magnifying glass until she finally spoke, which felt like eons later. It took her so long, in fact, that Emma had returned with a cup of coffee for each of them. “I do like this one,” Patricia finally agreed, “I think it’ll look quite flattering on you. What do you think, Emma?” she asked as she handed the magazine to Grae’s best friend and maid of honor. Emma took the book and glanced at the dress in question, “That’s the one I like the best. My vote is yes,” she changed the subject, “I’m, honestly, more interested in what I’m going to be wearing. Have you and Nick decided on colors?” she asked. “We have,” Grae beamed, “we’re going with maroon and lace,” she shared before handing Emma a page of choices she would be able to pick her dress from, “What do you think?” she asked, slightly nervous as she revealed the color scheme of her upcoming nuptials. Emma and Patricia smiled brightly in unison, “Those are perfect colors for a December wedding!” Patricia agreed, enthusiastically, before asking, “And, are you sure December 12th gives him enough time to get back and prepare for the big night?” “Yeah,” Grae replied, “Nick said that should be plenty of time. I mailed the invitations out yesterday after we picked our colors so you two should be receiving yours any day now,” she revealed. Emma smiled once again before she passed the bridesmaid page back to Grae, pointing out the one she wanted. “I’m going to wear this one,” Emma announced as she showed off a basic, strapless maroon gown. “I knew you’d pick that one,” Grae responded with a slight laugh, “I love it,” she agreed before turning her attention to her mom, “I trust you to pick out anything because I know you have great style so don’t let me down,” she added with a wink. Patricia shook her head as she took a sip of her coffee, “Have I ever?” causing Grae to shake her head before embracing her mother in a large, tight hug. As the two women parted, they were interrupted by Nick’s entrance from the balcony, “Good evening, ladies. I hope you’ve had enough time to get some planning done,” he stated with a smile, “But, unfortunately, I need to take Grae back to the North Pole now.” Grae stood and gave her mom and Emma each another hug before she walked over by Nick’s side. Sometimes she still couldn’t get over the fact that he was so close to her age when he had grey hair and a beard to match. Luckily for her, he had a rugged Santa look instead of a cheesy one. “I’m good to go,” Grae replied after she wrapped her arms around him in a hug, “We picked out my dress and the maid of honor dress,” she shared, proudly. Nick placed a small kiss on her forehead, “Very good, dear. Well, ladies,” he glanced back to Patricia and Emma, “I’ll bring her back again as soon as I can.” With his words, the couple was back in Nick’s sleigh and racing back to the North Pole at record speeds. Nick pulled back into the stables in twenty minutes before he hopped off the sled and came around to Grae’s side to help her down, as well. Once she was on her feet, he leaned down and gently placed his lips to hers. “I can’t believe I get to marry you in just four short weeks,” Nick gushed once their lips parted, “I’m the luckiest man in the world.” Grae shook her head, “I hope you still feel that way after a few years,” she changed the subject,” What’s on my agenda?” she asked. Nick glanced down at her with a hesitant frown forming on his lips, “Actually, Corym needs to see you. I told him you were planning the wedding and he seemed extremely agitated at the idea,” he shared. “Do you know anything about previous weddings between Santa and Mrs Claus?” she asked, an idea already forming in her mind regarding what Corym wanted to see her about. Nick gave her an honest shrug in response, “I wish I did, but I don’t really know what’s expected of us. I have to go make sure everything’s on schedule. Will you be alright?” Grae gave him a small nod before she stole one more quick kiss and then headed to the main workshop where she knew Corym would be hard at work on everything from Christmas to their wedding. “Corym!” Grae yelled, once she entered the factory, “I heard you wanted to see me about Nick’s and my wedding,” she added. It only took a few moments before Corym appeared before her eyes. “I’m glad you’re here,” Corym began, “I’ve been wanting to show you the details of your wedding to Mr. Claus,” he announced as he opened a large binder in front of her with every detail planned out without any input from her or Nick, not even the colors they’d chosen. “Corym,” Grae began, “this is very sweet. But, I can plan my own wedding. In fact, I’ve already started. I mailed out the invitations yesterday,” she responded as she pulled out the magazine to show him the dress and bridesmaids dresses along with the color scheme. Corym shook his head as he looked over the different papers Grae had placed on top of the ones he’d prepared, “Grae, Mrs. Claus is not supposed to plan the wedding. It’s always been up to the Head Elf,” he revealed. “Excuse me?” Grae responded, her voice taking on a dangerous tone. Written by Erica Rose Jackson Y’all, I just got my review posted for Folklore and Taylor Swift has already released another album with evermore. If it’s possible evermore is even better than folklore which I loved so deeply and am still listening to on a weekly basis. Swift didn’t give us much warning before she let us know evermore was coming, but that doesn’t matter because it truly is the sister album to Folklore. Evermore is full of stories and feelings that are all just too much, but I’m still here for it. As I like to do, I’m going to go over evermore track by track. ‘willow’
‘champagne problems’
‘gold rush’
‘tis the damn season’
‘tolerate it’
‘no body, no crime’
‘happiness’
‘coney island’
‘ivy’
‘cowboy like me’
‘long story short’
‘closure’
‘evermore’
10. House – Joy To The World
9. Supernatural – A Very Supernatural Christmas
8. Boston Legal – The Nutcrackers
7. Monk – Mr. Monk Meets His Dad
6. Parks and Recreation – Christmas Scandal
5. Buffy the Vampire Slayer – Amends
4. The Office – Christmas Party
3. Seinfeld - The Strike
2. Grey's Anatomy - Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer
1. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia - A Very Sunny Christmas
Written by Erica Rose Jackson If I’d written this post a few years ago, it would have been titled the gifts for the nerds you know but times have changed. Nerds, like myself, are the cool kids now and Boxlunch is one of the best stores to shop in. Boxlunch has something for any fandom you or your friends and family might be into. Take a peek at my top 10 picks for fandom related gifts for this Christmas season! Visit boxlunch.com or all of your gift giving needs! 10. Marvel Chibi Characters Slow Cooker
9. Loungefly Star Wars The Mandalorian The Child Makeup Brush Holder - BoxLunch Exclusive
8. Harry Potter Slytherin Crest Holiday Sweater - BoxLunch Exclusive
7. Harry Potter Glow-In-The-Dark Hogwarts Puzzle - BoxLunch Exclusive
6. Friends Central Perk Soup Mug
5. Grey's Anatomy Grey-Sloan Womens T-Shirt - BoxLunch Exclusive
4. The Lord of the Rings Chibi Pencil Case - BoxLunch Exclusive
3. Wonder Woman: The Official Cookbook
2. Star Wars Comedic Illustrations Mini Backpack - BoxLunch Exclusive
1. Harry Potter Hogwarts Crest Floral Throw - BoxLunch Exclusive
Happy Gift Giving! |
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