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Happy Mardi Gras!
It’s not often that my newsletter release day (first of the month) and Mardi Gras coincide, but this year they’re both on March 1st. It’s fitting because Mardi Gras is very special to me and my little family. Rene and I met on Mardi Gras. The first pic is of us on our second Mardi Gras together. I made the costumes.
Once we had Nick, our autistic son, he proved to love Mardi Gras himself. The beads tantalized him and the doubloons were shiny. He outgrew the love of doubloons, but he still wears beads so he can rub them. It’s called “perseverating” or “self-soothing.” Fortunately, I have good sources for beads, so he has quite a supply. The other picture is of the three of us, him with his beads and all of us holding our masks for the picture.
And my husband loves drinking out of plastic Mardi Gras cups, so several years ago, I bought some for him. The smallest amount I could order was 150 cups! But they were cheap, of course—they were designed to be thrown from parade floats. We’re still working our way through them, and probably will be until we die. How’s that for classy drinking vessels, LOL!
Now I’m going to get myself a Mardi Gras cup of cold water, and call it a night. Stay safe out there!
Best,
 
New Series Starter Coming Soon
The Designing Debutantes are coming soon, and they’re taking the ton by storm…
In A Duke for Diana, self-made man Geoffrey Brookhouse has unexpectedly inherited the dukedom of Grenwood, but he’s hiding a secret that could ruin his family. With the Season approaching, Geoffrey is desperate to find his sister a respectable husband who can protect her if the worst should happen, but he needs help to orchestrate her debut.
Enter Lady Diana Harper, spirited fashion expert, party planner to the ton, and rather more than Geoffrey bargained for. Finding him overwhelmed by the social requirements, she begins transforming him into something he never thought he’d be: a presentable duke.
Diana doesn’t know what to make of the dishevelled and bedevilled duke. He’s stubborn and completely unaware of his many faux pas, but there’s something rather endearing about his reactions to her teasing.
The real question is: can a man who hates the ton ever fall for a woman whose life revolves around it?
Pre-order A DUKE FOR DIANA in print, e-book, or audiobook formats.
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Exclusive ARC Giveaway!
Now that I’ve tempted you with a teaser about the launch book in my new series, who wants to read and review an early copy of A Duke for Diana? If you’re interested, send a message to sabrina@sabrinajeffries.com with “A Duke for Diana ARC” in the subject line by Sunday, March 13, for a chance to win one of 10 advance reader copies (ARCs). I’m always grateful for honest reviews (even a line or two!) from readers on Goodreads, Amazon, Barnes and Noble, and other bookish sites. If you ever have or ever plan to leave a review for my books—a million times, THANK YOU!
If you want to make sure you’ll have a copy of A Duke for Diana waiting for you when it comes out May 24, you can pre-order it here.
Random Number Generator will choose the 10 winners, and I’ll notify them via email and announce them in my April 1 newsletter. Good luck!
Regency Tidbit
One Mardi Gras custom that New Orleanians have in common with the people of Regency England is that of the King Cake. In the Regency it was served on Twelfth Night (January 5th), the night before Epiphany (January 6th), but in New Orleans it’s served on Epiphany/Kings’ Day (or as it’s called in some Catholic countries, Three Kings’ Day, for the Three Wise Men). In both Regency England and modern-day New Orleans, the cakes have something hidden inside—a bean or a coin for Twelfth Night cakes and a plastic baby for King Cakes. If you get the slice of a Twelfth Night cake containing the bean or coin, you’re designated king for the party. If you get the baby in a New Orleans King Cake, you have to bring King Cake to the next party (in offices, someone generally brings a King Cake every Friday, and sometimes every day, beginning on January 6th and going until Mardi Gras!). After Mardi Gras comes Ash Wednesday, the beginning of Lent. As you might imagine, after living in New Orleans for years, I felt quite at home with Regency England’s celebration of Twelfth Night and Epiphany!
Just for Fun
Which gown would you wear to a Mardi Gras ball?
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