I’m all taken up with Christmas this month. It’s always this way for me. I get two Christmas’. One the first weekend in November and the other in December with the rest of the world. My November Christmas is really my mother’s bash and the month of October is consumed with last minute preparations. When I was kid Mom would take me around to boutiques and would show me things that she thought were beautiful. I remember how excited she felt. I wasn’t sure about all the stuff, but because she was excited, I was happy, too. I loved those times. They were like the official start of the holiday season for me. She used to tell me that someday she’d like to run her own holiday boutique. And now she does. Because when you want something badly enough, if you keep the dream alive and work hard for it, dreams really do come true. Mom has a group of crafting ladies who meet at her house all year long. They donate talent and many of the supplies and make gorgeous things. They work at home, too. And then, for two days, they sell their wares at Mom’s church. All profits go to children’s ministries – Mom’s choice. She’s in her 11th year now. I’m the slug. I load up the rented U-Haul at the storage unit. Unload at church. I’m also an arranger. I love the aesthetics and spend a day creating displays that show the bounty in best light. And I run the cash register. Last year we took in more than $10,000! In two days!
Mom’s boutique works because of the beautiful handmade crafts. But more, it works because of the spirit of Christmas that embodies all of those involved – the crafty ladies, their families, church personnel, and shoppers – the willingness to give, to share, to befriend, and spread joy. The anticipation I felt as a kid at Christmas time – the magic – that was real. While as a kid I might have been hoping for some great toy under the tree, the belief that something great could happen, was what excited me. And excites me still today. If we are kind, (Santa told us to be good) we are blessed (Santa said he’d give us a toy.) Christmas is real. Because kindness is real. Because hope is real.
So…you can imagine how ‘right’ it felt to me when I was invited to participate in a Christmas anthology with 15 of my author peers, many of them USA Today bestselling. Three of the authors had created a town, Christmas Town, Maine, and invited the rest of us to write our own stories in their town. It was a lot of work. A LOT of work. But it was so worth it! The anthology – 15 Harlequin Heartwarming authors, 15 holiday novellas, more than 2000 pages of reading – has been out less than 24 hours as I write this and is already ranking #1 on Amazon!
I’m an admitted Christmas addict. Not only with crafting year round, but with at least one Christmas decoration in every room in my home year round. The decorations are there to remind me of the spirit of Christmas. To give me a boost of anticipation. To remind me that there is always hope. To remind me to be kind. If you’re anything like me, and need your own Christmas fix, A Heartwarming Holiday is a guaranteed win. And our bonus gift to you? For an additional time, it’s available for only 99 cents! 2000 pages of bestselling, feel good, completely original and brand new reading for 99 cents! Merry October Christmas!
A HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY by Shirley Hailstock, Tara Taylor Quinn, Anna Adams, Melinda Curtis, Anna J. Stewart, Tara Taylor Quinn And Colleagues
Your favorite Harlequin Heartwarming authors are back with fifteen all new stories set in charming Christmas Town, Maine.
This holiday season, warm your heart with 15 connected sweet, clean & wholesome holiday romances set in Christmas Town from 15 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.
There are five connected books in A Heartwarming Holiday. That means each set of three novellas shares characters and storylines! This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, Maine, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually. A Heartwarming Holiday will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters (no cliffhangers), for more than 1200 pages.
Book 1: Once Upon a Holiday by Anna Adams, Anna J Stewart & Melinda Curtis:
Three former college roommates start a business to bring the magic of the holidays to everyone in Christmas Town.
Novella 1: Once Upon a Thanksgiving by Anna Adams, award- winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 2: Once Upon a Christmas by Anna J Stewart, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 3: Once Upon a New Year’s Eve by Melinda Curtis, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Book 2: Holiday Heroes by Leigh Riker, Tara Randel & Cari Lynn Webb:
Three former Navy SEALs come together to restore an outdated resort.
Novella 1: Thankfully Yours by Leigh Riker, award- winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 2: Cooking Up Christmas by Tara Randel, Barnes and Noble bestselling, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 3: Countdown to Romance by Cari Lynn Webb, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Book 3: 24 North Pole Lane by Carol Ross, Amy Vastine & Cheryl Harper:
Romance is being delivered to 24 North Pole Lane this holiday season.
Novella 1: Hers by Thanksgiving by Carol Ross, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 2: Peace, Love, and Baby Joy by Amy Vastine, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 3: Never Say Never on New Year’s by Cheryl Harper, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Book 4: Magic Moments by Tara Taylor Quinn, Shirley Hailstock & Liz Flaherty:
Three different times, three different stories. They all bring magic to Christmas Town.
Novella 1: Christmas Past by Tara Taylor Quinn, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 2: It Only Happens in Christmas Town by Shirley Hailstock, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 3: The Magic Stocking by Liz Flaherty, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Book 5: Nutcracker Sweethearts by Dana Mentink, Roz Denny Fox, & Amie Denman:
As the stage production of the Nutcracker unfolds in Christmas Town, three couples find love with the help of a little holiday magic!
Novella 1: Thanksgiving Duet by Dana Mentink, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 2: Christmas Curtain Call by Roz Denny Fox, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Novella 3: Set for New Year’s by Amie Denman, Harlequin Heartwarming author
Holiday | Romance Anthology [IndieWrites, On Sale: October 11, 2016, e-Book, ISBN: 9781680160932 / eISBN: 9781680160932]
Buy A HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY: Kindle | BN.com | iTunes/iBooks | Kobo | Google Play | Amazon CA | Amazon UK | Amazon DE | Amazon FR
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