by Sara Rosett
“Now? It’s not even Christmas Eve.”
“I won’t tell.”
I carefully pulled at the tape, trying to dislodge it without messing up the wrapping paper.
“I knew it. I knew you’d be one of those careful unwrappers,” he said with a smile and crossed his arms as he made a show of leaning against the wall to wait for me. “Tick-tock. I could have opened all my presents in the time it’s taken you to break that piece of tape open.”
I punched his arm. “I’m not that bad.” I pried the paper back and caught my breath as I recognized the peacock feathers. “A first edition of Pride and Prejudice.” I ran my fingers over the embossed surface.
“Not a particularly good one, I’m afraid. It’s worn. The technical term is ‘foxed,’ I learned, but I thought you’d like it.”
“I do.” I smiled wider. “Indeed I do,” I said, reaching to give him a kiss.
I leaned back, remembering I had a gift for him. “Your present isn’t wrapped.” I nodded to the print, which was propped up on the couch. The frame was a total loss, but the cardboard backing on the print had only cracked in one place near the bottom of the print. I’d flattened it out and taped it into place. The print itself wasn’t damaged that badly.
He crossed the room and picked it up, “This is…brilliant. I really like it.”
“You do?”
“Yes. I don’t have any proper art, so this is perfect.” He ran his hand over the crumpled edge that had connected with Carrie’s back. “What happened here?”
“It’s a long story. Come have some cookies while I tell you about it.”
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THE END
The Story Behind the Story
Thanks so much for reading the Menace at the Christmas Market novella. I hope you enjoyed it. I always have fun writing Kate and Alex’s adventures. I especially enjoyed exploring the world of Jane Austen fan fiction, which has an amazing array of titles available. It’s so interesting to me that an author who lived two hundred years ago and wrote only six books continues to influence reading and publishing as well as pop culture. (There really are Jane Austen-inspired boy short panties, which I think would cause a few interesting comments from Austen!)
If you’d like to read more in the Murder on Location series, there are full-length titles available, Death in the English Countryside, Death in an English Cottage, Death in a Stately Home, and Death in an Elegant City. I’m working on more books in the series. Sign up for my newsletter, and I’ll let you know when a new book is out. You’ll also get exclusive excerpts of upcoming books as well as access to member-only giveaways. Each novel in the Murder on Location series is a cozy mystery and explores some facet of Jane Austen, either the woman herself, her writing, or her influence in today’s world.
About the Author
Sara loves dark chocolate, Pinterest, and getting new stamps in her passport.
As a military spouse, she moved around the country gathering material for her first cozy series, the Ellie Avery series, about a military spouse who is constantly unpacking boxes and finding an occasional dead body. With the On The Run series, Sara branched out in a new direction, writing about some of her favorite international destinations with a healthy dose of mystery and a sprinkling of romance. Her latest cozy mystery series, the Murder on Location series, features a location scout whose life is complicated by murder and mayhem while searching the English countryside for stately homes for Jane Austen-inspired programs.
A native Texan, Sara grew up reading and dreaming of writing books. Her stories and essays have appeared in Chicken Soup for the Military Wife’s Soul, Georgia Magazine, The Writer, and Romantic Times Book Review. Sara is a member of Mystery Writers of America and Sisters in Crime.
Connect with Sara
@SaraRosett
AuthorSaraRosett
www.SaraRosett.com
Other Books By Sara
THIS IS SARA ROSETT’S COMPLETE library at the time of publication, but Sara has new books coming out all the time. Sign up for her newsletter to stay up to date on new releases.
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Murder on Location
Death in the English Countryside
Death in an English Cottage
Death in a Stately Home
Death in an Elegant City
Menace at the Christmas Market (novella)
Death in an English Garden
On the Run
Elusive
Secretive
Deceptive
Suspicious
Devious
Ellie Avery
Moving is Murder
Staying Home is a Killer
Getting Away is Deadly
Magnolias, Moonlight, and Murder
Mint Juleps, Mayhem, and Murder
Mimosas, Mischief, and Murder
Mistletoe, Merriment and Murder
Milkshakes, Mermaids, and Murder
Marriage, Monsters-in-law, and Murder
Mother’s Day, Muffins, and Murder