The prolific writer Pippa Greathouse joins up today with another wonderful story from the Strasburg series. This time the focus is on the next generation and Cicely Andrews is on centre stage. That means nothing but trouble, as you will see in Judging Cicely.

She stood before the bench, where the judge just happened to be her husband. What now?

Blurb:

A new generation of Strasburg is in full bloom. The twins of Cinderella and Henson Andrews are nineteen now and home from school for a month. And no less mischievous, to the entire town's dismay.

Cicely has loved Abel Carter for most of her life. But last year, when he put her across his knee for one of her pranks on another Strasburg citizen, she had decided she could never face him again.

Abel, now known as the firm and fair judge in Shenandoah County, has never stopped loving her. But he’s determined that she will begin to act like a grown up young lady, instead of the impish, naughty child she’s always been.

Cicely is determined to please him and to turn over a new leaf, regardless of what it takes. Unfortunately, trouble seems to follow her, no matter where she goes or what she does. And when she ends up facing him in court, she can’t believe it’s happening.

And Abel is the one person in town who can—and will—see to it that she behaves.

Publisher's Note: Judging Cicely is a delightful story of young lovers, containing sweet romance yet firm disciplining of errant young ladies. If this sort of story offends, please do not buy.

Buy link: - Amazon

Excerpt

Abel was on her in an instant, his arm about her waist. He had lifted her off her feet before she even knew it and hauled her back into the kitchen.

"Abel! Put me down! You don't understand!"

"I understand you are out of control, young lady. Calm yourself." His deep voice in her ear tried to get her attention. He didn't feel like he had accomplished it.

"No!"

Abel took her to the far end of the kitchen and pinned her to the wall, one hand on either side of her head. Immediately, she tried to duck under his arm, and he moved his hands under her arms and pushed her back against the wall with his hard body.

"Cicely Allison Carter." He leaned in close. His tone and voice were carefully controlled, but he was punctuating every syllable, now. "Unless you calm down this instant, I'll borrow a wooden spoon, and every person in this kitchen will witness you having your bottom paddled. Do you understand me?"