A HERO FOR CHRISTMAS by CHERYL PIERSON

by

Well, who wouldn’t want a hero for Christmas…or FOUR of them? And they’ll all fit snugly in a stocking or on your e-reader!

Yep, I’m talking about my latest release, A HERO FOR CHRISTMAS, which is a collection of four of my Christmas themed historical romantic short stories! These are all available separately, as “single sell” short stories for only .99 through Western Trail Blazer, as well. But I was thrilled when my publisher suggested putting them all under one gorgeous cover and offering them as a collection.

A Night for Miracles is the first story in the collection. It will always be near and dear to my heart because it was the first holiday story I ever wrote, as well as being the first short story (which really turned into a novelette.) I still just love the story of Angela Bentley and Nick Dalton. Angela’s a widow, alone on Christmas Eve. Gunman Nick Dalton stops at her cabin in gathering wintry twilight. Wounded, and with three children in tow, there’s no chance of Angela telling him he has to ride on.  Will this be A NIGHT FOR MIRACLES for them?

Legend says that miracles happen on Christmas Eve. Can a chance encounter between a gunfighter and a lonely widow herald a new beginning for them both? On this special night, they take a gamble that anything is possible–if they only believe! Available now with WESTERN TRAIL BLAZER PUBLISHING!

The second story is a very different kind of Christmas story, HOMECOMING. I wrote this story long before I ever even thought of selling it. In fact, I wasn’t sure I COULD sell it. But it turned out better than I ever imagined, with so much power and emotion, I’ve had many, many compliments on it. It still humbles me, to think of this story that came from nowhere, one I wasn’t sure would ever see the light of day—has now become one that so many people have enjoyed.

       A holiday skirmish sends Union officer, Jack Durham, on an unlikely mission to fulfill his promise of honor to a dying Confederate soldier—his enemy. In an odd twist of fate, a simple assurance to carry young Billy Anderson’s meager belongings home to his family a few miles away becomes more than what it seems.

       As he nears his destination, the memories of the soldier’s final moments mingle with his own thoughts of the losses he’s suffered because of the War, including his fiancee, Sarah. Despite his suffering, can Jack remember what it means to be fully human before he arrives at the end of his journey? Will the miracle of Christmas be able to heal his heart in the face of what awaits him?

MEANT TO BE is the third story in the collection. It’s a time travel story of love that crosses centuries. The heroine, Robin Mallory, is stranded on Christmas Eve and begins to walk for help, only to find that she’s walked down a road to the past and into the arms of handsome a Confederate soldier, Jake Devlin. Will she stay in 1864, or will she return to the lonely life she left behind? (If he looked like Jimmy Thomas, that would be a very easy decision!)

       Robin Mallory is facing another Christmas all alone when she decides to surprise her aunt and uncle several hours away. A flat tire leaves her stranded near a desolate section of interstate. With a snowstorm on the way, Robin has no choice but to walk, hoping to find shelter before the storm hits full force. But the road she chooses leads her back in time, to a battleground she’s only read about in history books.

       Confederate Jake Devlin, an officer in Stand Watie’s Cherokee forces, is shocked when the spy he jumps turns out to be a girl. She’s dressed oddly, but her speech and the ideas she has are even stranger than her clothing. Where did she come from, and what is he going to do with her? Will he be able to hold on to his heart? Is it possible for a love this strong to span centuries? It is, if it was MEANT TO BE…

And last but not least is a story I have wanted to write since I was a little girl. If you’ve ever heard the old folk song, SCARLET RIBBONS, perhaps you’ll understand why. In the song, the  singer (I love the Harry Belafonte version more than any other) tells of hearing his little girl praying for some scarlet ribbons for her hair. Everything is closed for the night, and there’s no hope of him being able to buy them for her; such a simple request and no way to grant it. All night long he’s thinking about it and finally goes to peek in on her only to find her asleep, the scarlet ribbons on her bed. “If I live to be a hundred, I will never know from where…came those lovely scarlet ribbons, scarlet ribbons for her hair…” Well, I can never get through that song without getting misty eyed, but I always wondered about the story behind the scarlet ribbons…so I wrote one.

    Miguel Rivera is known as El Diablo, The Devil. Men avoid meeting his eyes for fear of his gun. Upon returning to a town where he once knew a brief happiness, Miguel is persuaded by a street vendor to make a foolish holiday purchase; two scarlet ribbons.

       When Catalina, his former lover, allows him to take a room at her boarding house, Miguel soon discovers a secret. Realizing that he needs the scarlet ribbons after all, he is stunned to find them missing. Can a meeting with a mysterious priest and the miracle of the Scarlet Ribbons set Miguel on a new path?

Now you can get all these stories under one cover! The print version will not be available until next week, but the kindle version is available NOW.http://www.amazon.com/A-Hero-for-Christmas-ebook/dp/B009R2SGRQ/ref=sr_1_cc_1?s=aps&ie=UTF8&qid=1350438073&sr=1-1-catcorr&keywords=A+Hero+For+Christmas+by+Cheryl+Pierson

I will be giving away a digital copy today to one lucky commenter!

For all my books, short stories and anthologies, visit my Amazon author page here:

 

Website |  + posts

A native Oklahoman, I've been influenced by the west all my life. I love to write short stories and novels in the historical western and western romance genres, as well as contemporary romantic suspense! Check my Amazon author page to see my work: http://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
I live in Oklahoma City with my husband of 40 years. I love to hear from readers and other authors--you can contact me here: fabkat_edit@yahoo.com
Follow me on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/cheryl.pierson.92
https://petticoatsandpistols.com/sweepstakesrules

56 thoughts on “A HERO FOR CHRISTMAS by CHERYL PIERSON”

  1. Good Morning

    I just finished reading Meant To Be just 5 minutes ago. Can’t wait to read the others in your Xmas List.

    Have a Great Day

  2. I always enjoy Christmas themed stories with their magic and miracles. Great idea to put your 4 stories together in an anthology. I’d love to read it to get into the holiday spirit.

  4. Cheryl,,what a nice post enjoying reading it,,love books about Christmas,,I dont have a digital reader I only read “real” books,,so I cant enter to win the book,I have nothing to read it on,,but just wanted to say loved the post

  7. You’ve done it again!! Great stories and Christmas!! Thanks a bunch!! I’m looking forward to all of them together!

  10. I love everything Christmas! I just finished reading a Christmas story this week and it’s getting me in the mood for the holiday season already! It must be strange as an author to have to write a holiday book way ahead of time when it’s NOT Christmas though!

  14. Holiday stories tend to be heart-warming and that’s why I enjoy reading them all year round. It’s even sweeter when it is closer to the holidays.

  16. Oh I love collections and definitely holiday stories! 😀 All of those covers are wonderful and each story sounds terrific.

  18. Hi Sherry! Thanks so much for letting me know how much you enjoyed Meant To Be. I’m glad you dropped in today!
    Cheryl

  19. Laurie, I feel the same way–and when you mentioned “magic and miracles” it got me to thinking about these 4 stories–there is truly some kind of miracle in each of them!
    Cheryl

  21. Vickie C., I’m glad you let me know that–if you do win, I will be glad to send you a copy that you can read on your computer, if you like, rather than the another version. Thanks for coming by. I don’t want anything to keep anyone from being entered in the giveaway!
    Cheryl

  22. Cathy, I know how you feel…so many, many wonderful books out there and so little time! LOL Got you entered!
    Cheryl

  23. Hi Elizabeth! I love these covers too–Karen M. Nutt was my cover artist and I think she did a great job on every one of them. I’m always ready for Christmas. My husband says I’m the world’s biggest 4th grader when it comes that! LOL
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

  24. Aw, Cate, thanks so much. This is really exciting for me to have a collection of my own short stories like this. Hopefully, there’ll be another one next year. I do love Christmas stories!
    Cheryl

  25. Hi Goldie,
    WOW, thanks so much for those kind words. You made my day! You can click on my Amazon author page link and find everything I’ve got out right now right there in one place. A lot of the short stories are available in digital form only, but all of the novels, novellas and anthologies are also available in print. Here’s the link:
    http://www.amazon.com/author/cherylpierson
    Cheryl

  26. Anon, if you win I will send you a digital copy you can download to your computer, if you like. Be sure to check back late tonight or early tomorrow morning for my winner. Thanks for commenting!
    Cheryl

  27. Hi Valri!
    You’re right about the idea of writing way ahead for things, but as writers, we get in the habit of that, I guess. For things to be compiled in an anthology and edited, etc. the stories have a deadline that is usually 3-6 months ahead of the publication date, so that means, if you want to avoid burning the midnight oil at the last minute (which I’ve been known to do!) you do have to write the story months ahead of time. I can pretty much write a Christmas story any time of the year, though–I love that holiday so much!
    Cheryl

  28. Sarah, I agree. I do love the holiday season. Don’t you wish it could be like that all year round? Seems like everyone is so much more pleasant and kinder to one another.
    Cheryl

  30. Margaret, thank you so much. I think that cover is one of my very favorites EVER. There was another one with him in the same pose but a different background that I had to choose between, but I think this is the best one–even though it was a HARD decision! LOLLOL I can’t wait to get my print copies of this, but it’s going to be awhile. Thanks again, my filly sister!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

  31. Na S, you are so right–Christmas stories are always heartwarming and just make you feel great when you’re done reading them, don’t they? And even more so around the holidays!
    Cheryl

  32. Tanya, I am like you–I’ve got a ton of great reading waiting for me on my kindle, and just no time to actually sit down and do it. When you do get around to reading them, I hope you enjoy!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

  34. Colleen, this year is really a good one for me with Christmas stories–I had two of them released last month as single sell .99 short stories (Meant To Be and A Night For Miracles). This collection, A HERO FOR CHRISTMAS, includes both of those and two other short stories, Scarlet Ribbons and Homecoming that were previously released as .99 single sell stories. I have a story called THE WISHING TREE that wil be out in a Christmas anthology from Victory Tales Press sometime in the next week or two, and also have a western paranormal story that will appear in another anthology, “SIX GUNS AND SLAY BELLS: A CREEPY COWBOY CHRISTMAS”, that will be out on the 31st of this month, published by the Western Fictioneers.
    Cheryl

  35. Stefanie,
    I think you’re right about how Christmas gives that added little “boost” to a story. And I think the reason is that everyone can relate to the warm feeling of Christmas. In historical stories, there is non of the commercialism that we must deal with today during the holidays, so that makes us even more nostalgic, doesn’t it? Thanks for coming by today!
    Cheryl

  36. Hi Mary!
    I’m dropping your name in the old Stetson again! You never know! But even if you don’t win, they’re available at my Amazon author page separately or in the anthology. You save a dollar by buying them in the anthology rather than separately. And if you love time travel, try out my novel TIME PLAINS DRIFTER if you haven’t already read it. Thanks so much for coming by today!
    Cheryl

  38. This is just the time of year when themed books are on my list – what better way to get in the mood for the holidays. I enjoyed hearing about your stories and they sound wonderful, especially Scarlet Ribbons.

  40. Oh these stories sound fabulous and I would love to read them all. Sounds great that they put them in one cover.

  42. Catslady, I truly enjoyed writing the story of Scarlet Ribbons. That song has always touched my heart. You’re right–it’s that time to start getting in the “holiday mood” again, isn’t it?
    Cheryl

  43. Thank you, Melinda. I love those themed stories, too. I don’t know why, but I really do love reading anthologies that have some kind of common theme to the stories–I think it’s just getting to see all the different “takes” on what people write about. Thanks for coming by!
    Cheryl

  44. Hi Quilt Lady!
    Thanks so much for your very kind words. I was just thrilled when I found out that this was coming out–all my Christmas western historical romance short stories in one place! I’m hoping next year to do one of these anthologies with my contemporary Christmas short stories.
    Cheryl

  45. Love the covers and I have a couple of these books already on my kindle, but would love to have them all…
    I just love holiday themed books..

  46. Dang, Cheryl, look at you go! I nearly wore out my scrolling finger getting to the bottom of the comments. I love your writing, and your covers are always so genre appropriate and enticing. Wishing you all the best with this anthology! Maggie

  47. Hey Kathleen! I’ve gotcha entered in the drawing–you never know–you might be the lucky one! I love holiday stories, too!
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

  48. Aw, Maggie, thanks so much for coming by! I know you have a new release out today! On The Nickel–available now for Kindle! Thank you for the very kind words and for taking time to stop by and comment.
    Hugs,
    Cheryl

  54. Jes, Homecoming was one of those stories that was so very different, yet so touching. I’m glad that so many people have enjoyed it.
    Cheryl

Comments are closed.