It’s funny the way life tends to circle around sometimes.
When I was a little girl, one of the things my mom and grandma both enjoyed were magazines. I can remember Mom sitting at the kitchen table with a cup of coffee and a magazine, taking a break between cleaning up from lunch, laundry, chasing after me and the grandkids, and before she began on dinner preparations. My grandma subscribed to a handful of magazines and often passed them on to my mom when she finished reading them.
I learned to appreciate those beautiful glossy pages and found my own enjoyment thumbing through them.
Although I don’t recall when the article came out, or even which magazine it was in, I do remember a feature about the Biltmore House of Asheville, North Carolina. I don’t know what it was about the place or the story, but she became enthralled with the Biltmore. More than once she mentioned wishing she could visit it someday. Sadly, that didn’t happen in her lifetime.
But last year, Captain Cavedweller and I made a trip to Asheville in December and got to see the incredible Biltmore Estate. (I know they were hit hard by Hurricane Helene, which makes me even more grateful we were able to visit last year.)
The property is spectacular, and the day we visited the blue sky made a gorgeous backdrop.
When we walked through the impressive entry doors, the part of my heart where memories of my mama reside whispered, “We finally made it!” As we explored the house, I felt like she was right there with me, every bit as awed as I felt by the Biltmore.
Captain Cavedweller and I were thoroughly blown away by the estate where everything, from the gifts shops to even the food carts were top notch.
The house, though, is something beyond the description of mere words. One needs to step into a world most of us can’t begin to imagine to fully experience what it is like to visit this incredible historical wonder.
If you’ve never heard of the Biltmore, I encourage you to read more about it. Constructed in the late 1890s by George Vanderbilt, the Biltmore is a 250-room French chateau filled with priceless treasures. Stepping inside the doors is taking a step into a different time where hospitality, luxury, and beauty reigned.
I don’t know what it is about the house, but it has its own presence—a character that lingers with you.
By the time we returned home from our trip, the idea for a series inspired by the Biltmore was already growing in my thoughts.
I knew the house was too big and grand for the story I wanted to write, but bits and pieces of it found its way into my Hudson House series.
Another house that added to my inspiration is a mansion located in Portland, Oregon, called the Pittock Mansion. We’ve visited it a few times and I’m always so taken with the feel of the house that really gives off a warm, welcoming vibe, which is how I wanted Hudson House to feel. My amazing cover designer (thank you Josephine from Covers & Cupcakes) was able to find an image of Pittock Mansion we could use as a starting point for Hudson House on the covers of the books.
Way back in January, I’d planned to write the four sweet romances in this generational series that begins in 1892 and ends with a modern-day story. It didn’t happen. Then I thought I’d get started writing them when CC and I went out of town for a week for Valentine’s Day. I got so entranced watching snowflakes fall in the woods from out hotel window, I didn’t write a single word. Before I knew it, it was June and I still hadn’t started on the series, although I did have my beautiful covers. Eventually, September was half-way gone and I realized if I didn’t get busy the books were never going to be more than words floating through my thoughts.
So, in five weeks of writing, I cranked out the four books that are the Hudson House series. I hope you’ll enjoy them even half as much as I loved writing them. I hope, too, if you read them, you’ll find that Hudson House isn’t just a setting, but one of the characters in the books.
Hudson House
Four generations find romance and joy during the holidays at a home filled with wonder and love.
The first book in the series, A Christmas Dream, released last week, and A Christmas Spark debuts tomorrow!
He came to build the house of his dreams, but found a home for his heart.
After an extensive search for the ideal location to build a house he’s spent years designing, Brant Hudson knows he’s found the perfect site the moment he sets foot on the land near Silver Bluff, Oregon. However, frustrating delays leave him laboring alongside the very crew he hired to finish the house in time for Christmas. His work leads the woman who catches his eye to believe he’s a carpenter rather than the owner of the grand manor.
Holland Drake grew up on a farm, but she aspires to secure a position as a housemaid at Hudson House. While delivering lunch to her brother at the worksite, the door opens to a job when Holland encounters a strikingly handsome carpenter whose charm captivates her. Soon, Holland discovers the enchanting man is none other than the owner of the house and her new employer.
As the holiday season arrives amid a flurry of excitement and possibilities, Holland and Brant face choices that could change their lives forever. Will fear hold them back from stepping into the future together, or will their Christmas dreams of love come true?
A Christmas Dream is the first book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.
Will hope spark a holiday romance?
After losing his brother and part of himself on a French battlefield during the Great War, Kase Hudson seeks refuge from the haunting memories at his childhood home. He finds solace in carving wooden Santa figurines in his workshop in the stables that he sends to gift shops to sell. Kase distances himself from his family’s unwanted sympathy until his sister, Sarah, arrives for the holidays with her vibrant friend. He never expected beautiful Dori to breathe warmth and joy into the house right along with his heart.
With no family of her own, photographer Dori Stanford eagerly accepts Sarah Hudson’s invitation to join her for Christmas at her family’s home in Oregon. The two friends travel from their college in California to Silver Bluff, excited to spend the holidays at Hudson House. Once they arrive, Dori makes it her mission to connect with Sarah’s sullen brother, Kase, and draws him into the wonder of the season.
Will her persistence and encouragement be the spark Kase needs to step out of the past and into his future—possibly one that includes Dori?
A Christmas Spark is the second book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.
For a chance to win a $5 Amazon Gift Card
and an eBook copy of A Christmas Dream,
just share one happy or memorable vacation memory!
After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky western heroes.
When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.
Biltmore is back open.
Your series sounds lovely.
We always loved our summer trips to the beach with the boys.
How fun you had the beach trips with the boys! Love that! So happy the Biltmore is back open!
The year we took my teen sister on vacation with us… and we went through the Biltmore estate together on a beautiful summer day
That is so neat you took your sister with you. I’m picturing the Biltmore on a beautiful summer day. It must have been glorious!
Two trips come to mind. One to Biltmore and one to the Grand Canyon. Both works of art.
They both are! How fun you made those two trips and have good memories. Love that!
My family and I spent a week at the Outer Banks in a huge vacation home near the beach. It was a wonderful and memorable time!
So neat you were able to stay for a week and have that time together.
Thank you for stopping in today!
I’ve been to the Biltmore House two or three times, but those visits were several years ago. I need to plan another trip, and I’ve never been at Christmas but always wanted to.
Oh, you should go during the Christmas season sometime. The decorations are incredible! We hope to go for a spring visit some year to see all the flowers in bloom.
I always loved visiting my cousins summer cottage by the lake, that was right next to a lake.
It sounds so lovely, Minna! How wonderful to have a summer cottage by the lake.
Going to Alaska was special, riding the train to Denali and touring the park in a school bus was beautiful, fun especially along side my husband.
So neat you and your husband were able to take an Alaska adventure!
Thank you for stopping in today!
Please visit Biltmore and other parts of North Carolina and East Tennessee that are open for tourist! Many businesses rely on tourist for income!
My daughter and I visited Biltmore several years ago. In the bookcases upstairs on the floor under the bench style seats we discovered all of the color fairy books! Of course we did not get to touch or open them!
How fun about the fairy books at the Biltmore. I was so impressed with everything at the estate. We hope to return someday!
Our 6 week adventure the summer of 1969 when we were in a station wagon pulling a camper from Indiana south to Galveston to CA – north to Yosemite to the Cheyenne Rodeo and finally back home!
Oh my goodness! That sounds like an epic adventure. I bet you have so many memories of that trip!
Hello Shanna! Your books sound wonderful! I’ve shared this before, but McKinaw Island was such a wonder! Loved that place. My sister-in-law and I went to the island in September 2013. You have to take a ferry to the island. The Grand Hotel is beautiful. The film Somewhere in Time was shot there with Jane Seymore and Christopher Reed. Only horses and bikes were the transportation there. We talk about going back all the time.
I’ve been to the Biltmore Mansion with my husband close to 20 years ago. We were blown away! Such a grand place for sure!
Best wishes to you always Shanna! My Sissy and I plan to read your series…..just because you were inspired but the Biltmore!
That is one of my favorite movies ever, Tracy! I hope to visit The Grand Hotel someday. I hope you and your Sissy enjoy the books. Thank you for reading them!
I remember going to Biltmore and Grove Park Inn around Christmas when I was little. It was absolutely beautiful with snow on the ground, poinsettias, and Christmas decorations everywhere. There was even a room full of gingerbread houses in the Grove Park Inn! It’s a memory I’ll treasure always. 🙂
What a fun memory, Sabrina. I’m sure it was glorious with the snow and all the Christmas decorations.
We’ve been to Biltmore a few times and have enjoyed it! When we would visit Asheville, we would also go to the Grove Park Inn. I highly recommend visiting there, too. The fireplaces are huge (we have pictures of us standing inside of them?), the views are beautiful, and during Christmas time they had gingerbread houses everywhere.
We will have to make sure to visit Grove Park Inn on our next trip. Thanks for the tip!
Years ago when our oldest granddaughters were teenagers, we went on a vacation. We went to Rock City, the Smokies, and on our way home, we visited the Biltmore. It’s beautiful and the girls and us enjoyed it.
So neat you were able to go on that trip with your granddaughters and make fun memories. I bet they had a great time!
I have visited a Vanderbilt estate in upper New York State in Hyde Park. It had some very astonishing details to it which had been the ideas of this Vanderbilt. On the second floor was a large area of balcony which had a cove ceiling. This ceiling was an integral part of keeping the mansion cool as it implemented the first known method of cooling/air conditioning. It was unbelievably comfortable as we stood there. There were more such surprises, but I no longer remember them. I do recall an elevator from the kitchen to the upper levels. Needless to say, it was awesome and beautiful. There was also another building where they housed male guests who came to visit someone in the mansion.
That is so neat, Judy! I’ll have to look that one up! So fun you were able to visit it and have great memories from the trip!
A friend and I visited Savannah back in 1993. We visited old houses, the Museum by the Sea, and old churches. It was so fun!! I love visiting old places, they have a sense of history and you almost feel like you’re stepping back in time.
Those old places are so neat and they do feel like you’re stepping back in time. So nice you had that trip with your friend.
Since our children are all grown and we turned our church over to our son, my husband and I enjoy road trips, and have visited all of the lower 48 states. I have so many wonderful, happy memories, but one in particular was inspired by your book Capturing Christmas. We visited Twin Falls, Idaho where we saw Shoshone Falls, the Snake River, and even visited the Japanese internment camp outside of town. We also visited Pendleton, Oregon. My husband called it my “book tour” because I wanted to see some of he placed I read about.
I love that so much, Elaine! Twin Falls is such a neat area, and I’m so glad you got to visit Pendleton. That is wonderful. I also want to visit all 48 of the lower states. So glad you and your husband are enjoying those road trips!
The best vacation I ever took was in my early 20s, when my parents and I went to Colorado. We spent two days horseback riding in the mountains around Pagosa Springs, and two days in Colorado Springs visiting the ProRodeo Hall of Fame, Rock Ledge Ranch, the Ghost Town Museum, and the Flying W Wranglers. My dad passed away 7 years ago and I’m so thankful to have all my memories of the times we spent together.
I’m so glad you had that time with your parents and made the sweet memories with your dad. It sounds like it was such a special trip. Colorado Springs is on my “want to visit” list!
When I was in 4th grade, my parents, brother, myself, & our pets(a dog & a quaker parrot) went to Maine to spend Thanksgiving with our extended family(both sets of grandparents, almost all of our aunts & uncles, & cousins). It was our first big Thanksgiving. We had family pictures taken on my dad’s side of the family with everyone. We also got a puppy cocker spaniel(the main reason we went then instead of the summer like we usually do) because my grandpa’s dog had puppies. It is also the first time I ever saw snow! It wasn’t much but at the time,it was everything, so magical.
It sounds like it was a magical trip for you, Joannie! So neat you got to bring home a puppy, and your first time to see snow! So special!
Thank you for dropping in today!
Visiting Asheville and Grove Park Inn was an amazing and memorable experience. The area was wonderful and uplifting. I hope to return soon.
It is so neat there. WE hope to visit again some year in the spring when all the flowers are blooming. Thank you for stopping in today!
So wonderful you had good memories of your trip there! Hope you can return soon!
My best memory of a trip was the last one we took as a family before the kids went their own ways. It was a road trip and we took turns reading Harry Potter out loud.
I love that you had that last trip with your kids and how fun you took turns reading Harry Potter. What a great memory to have.
Thank you for stopping in today!
Good morning , one memorable vacation that we took as a family was when our daughter was in Kindergarten and our son was in pre school. Well it was in October and we went to Mazatlan , well we first flew , we rode a train and we got to see the Copper Canyon which is really an Awesome place to see and we were way up high on the mountains on the train. When we got to Mazatlan, that evening and night Hurricane Tico welcomed us while we were in our Hotel, well that was a little scary. Thank God we were on the 2nd floor, we could see all kinds of things swaying coconut tree swaying and the water on the beach coming across the street. In the morning there was no electricity anywhere so restaurants were closed, pretty sad as we walked around and we saw alot of the ocean fish and life on the street that had been washed away. We finally got to a restaurant that did have electricity and we were able to eat breakfast there. We did cut our vacation short though. What we did get to see was nice and very memorable for sure.
That would have been so scary, especially with little ones. Glad you all were safe and can look back now on the memory of the trip.
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My aunt and I took a road trip from Florida to Toronto to bring her car back after she stayed in Florida for the winter. We stayed in so many places on the way home. My fav had to be Charleston SC. I love that city and I hope to go back one day. We have done a couple of road trips together in the past. We were great travelling companions. I wish she was still with us to do one more.
I love that you did a road trip with your aunt. I’m sorry she’s no longer with you, but how sweet to have those memories.
I’ve never been to Charleston, but it is on my bucket list!
Memorable… we went on our first cruise when I was turning 11. We were near a hurricane, alot of people got seasick, but my dad and I were okay… we actually saw dolphins swimming next to the ship in the rain… on the last day they gave me a small b-day cake to take with us… unfortunately we went to Cape Canaveral and left it inside the hot car… it was all melted, LOL. Then we went to enjoy Disney World… I split off with my grandparents and we had car trouble… after that we got lost heading back to the hotel… I actually helped find our way back… so that was one of my most memorable vacays and I still smile about it.
Wow, Colleen! That is a memorable vacation, but how neat you had those experiences and they bring a smile when you think about them now. Thank you for sharing that. Have a fabulous day!
You’ll be happy to know the Biltmore has reopened and hauled in its Christmas tree. Check out their website for a look at the decorations.
That is fabulous! I heard they had their tree! Thank you!
I have never been there, but it’s always been on my bucket list. I love the old buildings/houses that stand the test of time.
I went to Yellowstone when I was a kid. I got the black bear with the red collar plastic animal from the gift shop. I loved that gift shop bear a lot!
going to Hawaii
I think my favorite Christmas memories are when my boys and Grandson were little. The magic of Christmas thrive their eyes. I didn’t need to go anywhere, I was right where I wanted to be.
We enjoy historical sites but also love the national parks. My husband and I visited Yellowstone probably about fifteen years ago, during the second week of September. We had booked a lodge room for three nights in the Canyon area, which was a beautiful and fascinating location for a base camp, so to speak. We come from an area that only occasionally has snow. During our trip, Yellowstone had their first snowfall of the season. It was like the icing on a cake! We have so many wonderful pictures and memories of that trip.
My favorite vacation will always be the summer of 2023. It was our 50th anniversary and rather than go on a romantic couple trip, all 10 of us stayed in a lovely air BnB in Noxville, TN. The kids koved spending the day in Dollywood, touring Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. An entire week of all of us spending time together, sharing meals and memories.
It sounds like a wonderful time together. So glad you could have that trip that made great memories!
Our trip to Disney World as children
Growing up, my family went from Ohio to Rice Lake, Canada for two weeks every year to fish. We sat in that little boat from sunup to sundown, through sun, wind and rain, with a worm dangling on a hook. Those are the sweetest memories ever as both of my parents have been gone for many years and I still miss them dreadfully.
I’m so sorry for your loss. So lovely you have those sweet memories.
We started a family tradition we called Grandson Vacation which meant we took the grandsons to the beach and no parents were allowed. We stayed in a motel for 3-4 days. We started with one grandson, and as the others came along we added them, for a total of four. They are all adults now and every summer I miss having Grandson Vacation. Such wonderful memories.
What sweet memories you made with your grandsons. So lovely you had those special times with them at the beach.
Sebago Lake Maine. Back in the 60’s and 70’s was a great place to explore as a kid. So many great memories of all the summers I spent there.
It sounds like a wonderful place to make memories!
I guess it would have been the year after I got married and we took a trip to Myrtle Beach SC. I had never seen the ocean before and it was an awesome week.
How fun! That’s neat you got to experience the beach for the first time!
The last Christmas I got to spend with my parents was in 2013. We lost my dad in April of 2014 very unexpectedly. I am so thankful for those memories.
I’m so sorry for your loss. Those memories of our loved ones no longer with us are so cherished.
Driving to Georgia one year for Christmas. We made a pallet in the back of the station wagon because my dad started driving while it was still dark out. Guess that was before seat belts were required for kids? Thanks for the chance to win a prize. I love historic houses.
Fun you got a bed to sleep in while your dad drove. Those historic houses are amazing!
My Christmas trip in 2008 to Germany and Austria was magical! Experiencing the Christmas Markets and special Chrismas presentations and festivals was a dream come true! By the way, my family and I visited Biltmoore several years ago and it was also so magical!
So fun you got to see Germany and Austria for Christmas. It seems like it would be an amazing experience!
For our 50th Wedding Anniversary, our children gave us a vacation trip to the beach in Florida. Since our anniversary is Christmas Eve, we waited until February to take our trip. It was wonderful. Not hot, not cold, no crowds, just the sound of the waves to lull you to sleep and great seafood to enjoy. One of my favorite trips.
It sounds like an incredible trip! How sweet of your children to gift it to you!
I actually haven’t ever had a vacation, but if I ever have the chance I would love to visit Ireland, it just seems like a beautiful place with wonderful views.
I hope you get to go there someday!
My Mom and I visited Biltmore together several years ago on a first trip. It was so magical! I loved getting to explore the house and estate, and we even splurged and stayed at the hotel that’s on the grounds. It was such a lovely trip.
As a child, I loved going to my Mom’s homeplace in a small lumber community in West Virginia. The house at that time was on a dirt road. There is a creek across the road where we would play and clean up. Growning up, there was a hand pump in the kitchen. There was no running water in the house until I was older when my uncles put plumbing in with a toilet and sink. For many years, there was a wonderful wood burning stove in the kitchen that we would have fresh eggs cooked on. There is nothing better than fresh eggs cooked on an old wood stove.
Congratulations on your new series. Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you. Happy Thanksgiving.
Especially memorable was the first cruise hubby and I did to celebrate our 10th anniversary. We had such a fabulous time together.
Luckily the Biltmore house itself was high enough not to be hit by the flood. Sadly Biltmore Village took a big hit as did the grounds of the estate. The whole area of NW NC and NE TN took such incredible damage, it is hard to believe even after seeing it every day and being involved in the relief efforts.
We have had many memorable vacations. The most recent was in 1019. We bought a used RV and drove from TN to Seattle. We took the train from there to Vancouver, BC and took a cruise-land tour to Alaska. We flew back to Seattle, picked up the RV and drove back to Alaska. We spent 2 1/2 months on the trip and it was wonderful. I would love to go back to see more of Canada and Alaska.
I’ve had many wonderful vacations, but when I was growing up my folks took us camping in the Sierra Nevada mountains for 2 weeks most years. My brother’s were a fair amount older than I. They’d go hiking in the high country and I’d be left in camp with my folks. They loved to sit in camp watching the squirrels , birds, and read. Mom brought her stash of magazines to catch up on. We’d play board games. occasionally I got to bring a friend along. It seemed to me all we did was sit in camp! When I grew up, went to school and worked i longed for those days of sitting in camp watching squirrels and birds! Since I retired to Idaho I’ve been able to go on 4 of those glorious camping trips with family! I’ve loved sitting in camp doing what my folks did except I have my camera focused on birds, squirrels, the river, mountains and clouds!!
I came from a large family. 11 children so we traveled the country with a tent trailer. That was how my parents could afford to go on vacation. My favorite trip was traveling to the east coast! We went to North Carolina and made our way to Harkers Island where my grandpa served a mission for our church. Friends and mosquitoes welcomed us with open arms!! We had a great time visiting and eating some amazing food!