Celebrating the Holidays with Jude Magdalyn

(This is kind of weird to write—because even though it’s just now Christmas for us, the Jude Magdalyn series had Christmas sometime in July. Or I suppose it might be closer to June. So I’m writing from an angle of both knowing and not knowing which is a little confusing to say the least.)

Ah, the holidays. That time of year when family and friends come together to reminisce and remember the year(s) gone by, where strangers are just a little bit nicer, and being on the streets in a major city is pretty darn close to participating in a demolition derby.

What? You thought this post was going to be all snowflakes and wassailing? That’s not Jude Magdalyn.

Okay, there would probably be a Christmas tree, for a few reasons. One, there’s a five year old in the house and Celia is the type to pretty much demand a big, elaborate tree. Two, this is the first Christmas together for Jude and Theo and the pair of them—okay, more Theo than Jude—are all about making memories, one of which would have to involve a tree. The ornaments would probably be a cross between hand-crafted heirlooms pulled out of the Covenant’s attics and new, kitschy ones that Jude and Elizabeth found in specialty stores throughout the city.

There might be mistletoe. Maybe. But then again, considering the tumultuous relationship between Elizabeth and Rian, mistletoe might not be the best bet. Actually, considering the overly-handsy attitude of Jude and Theo, it probably really wouldn’t be a good idea. Which sucks, since this is also a first Christmas for the newlyweds Lies and Samuel and they’d probably be really cute kissing under all the mistletoe. But you have to make sacrifices sometimes.

Of course there’d be a big dinner. If there’s one thing the people at the Crossroads are down for it’s a good dinner. Ham, turkey, fish, the ubiquitous green bean casserole, a slew of other side dishes. And that’s not mentioning the desserts. If there’s one thing that everyone should experience it’s a dessert—any dessert—created in New Orleans. Creole Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce, Bananas Foster, and of course Pumpkin and Sweet Potato Pie—honestly, I’d be happy with just the Pumpkin Pie but it’s hard to pass us any of them.

I don’t know if they’d all gather together around the tree on Christmas Eve, singing carols and sharing goodwill and stories of yuletides past. I really don’t know if the gang of the Crossroads would stay up all night and wait for Santa—something tells me not even Celia is going to do that. But I do know that they’ll all be together. And that’s what really matters.

Shades of Gray

Book One

By L.M. Pruitt

Jude Magdalyn Henries lives what many would call an unconventional life. 

Orphaned at birth, raised by nuns, a teenage runaway living on the streets... she now earns a living at odd jobs, including one as a fake tarot card reader. Very little about Jude's life appears normal, by any scale. 

When she accepts a gig to do a private reading, unconventional takes on an entirely new meaning. Life as she knows it ends when she's thrust into a world she never knew existed-one filled with magic, vampires, and her beloved New Orleans on the verge of an underground war. 

To make matters worse, she's got two men in her life vying for attention, Williams and Theo. Both call to a different part of her, but one scares her just a little bit. 

Can she step up to the challenges set before her and make the right choices for the greatergreater good?

Shades of Desire

By L.M. Pruitt

Blurb

All I wanted was a little peace and quiet.

Instead, I've got dead Covenant members and a steady stream of letters from the new guy in town. His beverage of choice? A 2002 Merlot, with a shot or two of powerful virgin blood.

On top of that, I'm breaking in a new police liaison, failing at playing matchmaker, and fighting nausea like it's a full time job. All I wanted was a little peace and quiet.

Instead, I've got dead Covenant members and a steady stream of letters from the new guy in town. His beverage of choice? A 2002 Merlot, with a shot or two of powerful virgin blood.

On top of that, I'm breaking in a new police liaison, failing at playing matchmaker, and fighting nausea like it's a full time job.

Did I forget to mention that I've also got enough girls living at the Crossroads to start my own boarding school?

Peace and quiet? Out the window.

--Jude Magdalyn Henries

Kindle    

Hole in the Wall a Jude Magdalyn free Kindle short

Shades of Blood

Felipe, one of New Orleans's most infamous—and crazy--vampires is back in town. And to say he's unhappy is an understatement.

Duprees and Williams have to track down Felipe, fast, before he claims any more victims. If that means making a deal with the Devil--otherwise known as St. Germaine--and using an untrained dhampir, so be it.

If that wasn't enough, I've also got rebellious teenagers, feuding couples, and a suddenly full social calendar.

The more things change....