"From the author of Christmas in Evergreen: The Bells Are Ringing (adapted from the Hallmark Countdown to Christmas original movie) comes another heartwarming, small-town romance where two childhood sweethearts find their way back to each other while planning the town's Christmas tree auction.
On a rare trip home for the holidays, Ella may have finally uncovered the secret to a joy-filled future by getting lost in her past.
Ella Wilson has avoided home and the holidays for nearly a decade. For her, the season is plagued by a jinx that's brought nothing but painful memories: her mother's death nearly two decades ago, her fiancé's abandonment last year, and now the loss of her job as an art curator. But without work to occupy her, home is exactly where Ella has ended up. And somehow, she's also been roped into planning the town's Christmas tree auction--side by side with her first love.
Seth Hamil knows that home is where the heart is, and for him, it's always been the sleepy community of Bellepoint, Pennsylvania . . . and for a while in high school that included Ella Wilson. Since then, he's been married and widowed and has spent the year throwing himself into his career as a music teacher and trying to keep his wife's memory alive, starting with the church fundraiser she launched to support local kids. So, despite their history, Seth isn't about to let his wife's vision for the event be easily dismissed by Ella's temporary presence and big-city ideas.
To find a way to work together, the two strike a deal: Ella can incorporate her splashy ideas into the auction if she will allow Seth to show her why Christmas is about more than decorations. Soon both begin to wonder whether fate has brought them together for a fresh start--and if Christmas wishes really can come true.
This uplifting tale of love rediscovered, interwoven with the joy of the holiday season, is the perfect fireside read this Christmas.
The recipe for Snickerdoodle Hot Chocolate is available in the audiobook companion PDF download."
"Travel writer Allie Sparks has one goal: to find the story that will save her career.
So here she is, visiting her bestie on picturesque Crescent Island—with sunwarmed beaches, the briny smell of the ocean, and rumors of a secret astrologermatchmaker who guarantees love. Of course, Allie doesn't believe in any of that stuff. If anything, she'll prove it's a total scam.
Ryan Parker believes in love—just not right now. He's focused on expanding his family's barbeque business, finding investors, and keeping his too-big Great Dane puppy from jumping on everyone, including his sister's pretty, whiskey-eyed best friend. Besides, falling for a tourist is definitely
not in his astrological forecast.
Allie is doing everything she can to resist the charm of the town and its beauty, not to mention her attraction to Ryan. But there's a lot more happening on Crescent Island than anyone knows … and when her story goes to print, this tiny, close-knit town might never be the same."
