Welcome back to our Dear Santa series on Under the Covers Book Blog! This holiday feature is where authors write letters to Santa, full of humor, heart, and a little bit of festive fun. It’s a delightful way to connect with your favorite writers and maybe even discover a new book or two to add to your TBR pile.
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Dear Santa 2024: A Letter from Emily Sullivan
This week, we’re thrilled to feature Emily Sullivan, an award-winning author of historical romance and mystery. Emily’s books are packed with independent heroines, complex heroes, and rich historical settings, perfect for fans of stories that combine romance with intrigue.
Her latest release, Duchess Material, is a sizzling tale of romance and mystery. When Phoebe Atkinson, a fiercely independent bluestocking, enlists the help of her sister’s best friend, the Duke of Ellis, to find her missing student, sparks fly. With Bridgerton vibes and plenty of heart, it’s a must-read for historical romance fans.
Now, let’s dive into Emily’s hilarious and heartfelt letter to Santa!
Dear Santa…
I know you haven’t heard from me for a long, long time, but I’m back. And no, I’m not asking for an American Girl doll or an Easy Bake Oven this time. Still waiting on that one, by the way.
Anyway, I’m not sure how much you keep up with internet discourse, but a lot of people are saying that historical romance is dead.
So this year, I’m hoping you can bring me some readers. Specifically, historical romance readers. The kind that want books that feature whip-smart heroines who challenge the men in their lives to do better. Who want heroes who wear suspenders and top hats while inherently believing that women are people who deserve to be treated as equals.
Who like reading about different old-timey modes of transportation. And people making out on those different old-timey modes of transportation. Like carriages. Trains. Steamers bound for France, or the 19th-century equivalent of a hotel shuttle service.
I want readers who care about period-accurate undergarments and think learning about parliamentary procedure is cool.
And who don’t mind a little bonkers in their storylines sometimes, like being kidnapped by your dying uncle’s protégé or getting into a knife fight with a giant man in Venice. Or knocking out your love interest, then tying them to a chair to interrogate them until things take a surprisingly sexy turn.
Anyway, I could go on and on, but I think you get the idea. Please, Santa, send me some readers this year. Besides, I think you owe me for all those cookies I left for you. Do this, and we’ll call it even.
Love,
Emily Sullivan
Duchess Material by Emily Sullivan
When independent bluestocking Phoebe Atkinson’s most promising student goes missing, she has no choice but to turn to her sister’s best friend, the Duke of Ellis, for help.
William Margrave never wanted to be a duke, but now that he is, he’s determined to marry the perfect duchess. A schoolteacher like Phoebe doesn’t exactly fit the mold. But as they dive into the mystery of the missing student, old feelings resurface, and William realizes he never got over his childhood crush on her.
If you’re a fan of Bridgerton-style romance, sizzling chemistry, and fiercely unconventional heroines, Duchess Material is a must-read.
About Emily Sullivan:
Laurie London is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the Sweetblood and Iron Portal series—dark, sexy paranormal romances set primarily in the Pacific Northwest. Publisher’s Weekly describes her work as “sexy” and “sizzling.”
She lives on a small farm outside of Seattle with her husband, two children, and a variety of animals. After graduating from college, Laurie worked for a Fortune 500 company as a programmer/tester and an underwriter. Her diverse job history also includes roles as a cocktail waitress, hotel maid, candy store manager, and bridal gown sales associate.
When not writing, she enjoys running, reading, sewing, making jewelry, mucking stalls, volunteering, or riding her horse. She aspires to qualify for the Quarter Horse World Show—if her horse stays injury-free.
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