Cowboys & Mistletoe – Shanna Hatfield

Happy Holidays to you! 

I’m excited to share with you my new Christmas books. It’s been a busy writing year. I’ve published 13 new books this year, as well as a few short stories, and I’ve loved writing each one of them!

Last December, Captain Cavedweller and I were able to cross one trip off our travel bucket list – seeing the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina. That visit inspired me to write a new holiday series of books set in a beautiful home on the Columbia River in Oregon. The four books follow four generations of the Hudson family, beginning with Brant Hudson, who builds Hudson House, and the feisty woman who captures his heart.

A Christmas Dream – Hudson House Book 1

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.

A Christmas Spark – Hudson House Book 2

Will Christmas spark a romance that blooms into lasting love?

 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.

A Christmas Love – Hudson House Book 3

Will a Christmas romance lead two searching hearts to a lifetime love?

Bound to the Hudson House family estate, Vienna Hudson strives to uphold the legacy her grandparents established. When she’s not busy preserving her heritage or managing the family corporation, she steals away for horseback rides across the sprawling grounds—until a chance encounter with a handsome stranger turns her world upside down.

Surveyor Sam Bishop is tasked with plotting a new interstate through the Silver Bluff area. He faces a significant challenge when his calls to an elusive landowner go unanswered, prompting an impromptu visit to Hudson House. Excited to explore the beautiful acreage, nothing could prepare him for Vienna’s fiery welcome—armed with a pistol and a courageous spirit.

As holiday bells ring across the estate, Vienna and Sam work together to navigate the complexities of both the road project and the ever-evolving feelings dancing between them.  Will the pair find a way to embrace their unexpected connection? Or will the pressures of responsibility and ambition tear them apart before they realize love is the most precious gift of the season?

A Christmas Love is the third book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.

A Christmas Hope Hudson House Book 4

A heartfelt holiday tale of a family’s legacy that leads two hearts to love.

 Reeling from the recent death of his father, Alex Hudson returns to Silver Bluff to protect his family’s legacy. Upon reaching Hudson House, he discovers the once-vibrant estate all but abandoned. On top of that, his conniving aunts seem intent on seizing his inheritance. In search of support, Alex turns to a local attorney. There, he meets a woman who becomes an ally, friend, and the one person who can give him hope and a place to belong.

Nori Laroux enjoys working as a partner at her father’s law firm. However, when he entrusts an important client to her care, Nori finds herself grappling with her feelings for Alex Hudson from the moment they meet. Committed to protecting his inheritance, she is determined to help Alex preserve the legacy of Hudson House, even if it means risking her own heart in the process.

When Alex suggests the idea of reopening the historic home for a Christmas celebration, Nori and her family eagerly step in to help deck the halls and fill Hudson House with cheer.

Will the holiday season bring Alex and Nori to the discovery that hope is a special gift and that love is the most treasured of all?

A Christmas Hope is the fourth book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.


I also have a new book in my Rodeo Romance series.

It was so fun to write because the heroes are funny guys and Mending Christmas includes a few scenes of Billy (the hero) and Beth (the heroine) babysitting her best friend’s three lively youngsters. The book releases December 12!

Mending Christmas 

He’s reckless. She’s cautious.

When life throws them together, will love mend the broken pieces of their hearts?

Injuries are an inevitable part of the job for rodeo bullfighter Billy Clark. But when a feisty bull tosses him over the fence, Billy lands at the feet of a captivating woman. In that moment, he concludes the pain might be a small price to pay just to experience her gentle touch again. Having grown up as an orphan, Billy has struggled with loneliness his whole life. Yet, the way this woman gazes at him ignites a flicker of hope that he might one day find love.

After years of working in a bustling big city emergency room, Dr. Beth Moore desperately needs a break. She retreats to Twin Falls, Idaho, and settles into the house she recently inherited from her grandfather. When her best friend, Sierra, talks her into attending a local rodeo, Beth never expected to have an injured cowboy land at her feet much less to be so attracted to the charming man.

Concerned about Billy’s recovery, Beth travels with the rodeo stock company to keep an eye on him, while he unwittingly teaches her about the importance of embracing happiness. Will their budding friendship begin to mend the broken pieces of their hearts?

Mending Christmas is a wholesome holiday western filled with heartfelt moments, humor, and a tender romance.

I also wrote a brand new short story for this collection of historical Christian romances from a group of amazing authors, including our own Karen Witemeyer!

The best part – it’s free!

Beneath A Christmas Sky is my contribution. If you’ve read any of my Pendleton Petticoats stories, you’ll be thrilled to see old friends, like Riley and Bertie Walsh and Steve the Mule, make appearances in this heartwarming holiday romance.

Provide your best caption for the picture below – humorous, thoughtful or poignant – to be entered in the drawing.

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA winners only, please.)

 

 

Cowboys & Mistletoe – Sarah Lamb

 

Christmas is my favorite season. There’s such a happiness and joy that seems to fill the air! Maybe that’s why I ended up writing a total of three Christmas books. I love a happy holiday story.

But, do you know what else? I know not everyone has friends or family or joy or happiness at Christmas. In fact, it can be a lonely thing. So, before I tell you about my two books, I want to take a moment to say that if you are hurting in this holiday season, I’m giving you a hug and sending love your way. I hope you can feel it, because my Christmas wish is that everyone can feel loved. Isn’t that actually why we all love romance? We enjoy that wonderful warm glow. Sometimes we really need it. And I know I don’t have to explain that further, because you completely understand.

But, I wanted to honor the fact that sometimes people have difficulties this time of year, in Letters to Santa, but especially in Letters to Santa. I’m terrible at accidently giving away spoilers, so I’m just going to share the blurb.

 

Will hope, love, and peace make it’s way to the western frontier this year and help someone in desperate need of the spirit of Christmas?

Edith Clarkson is determined to bring Christmas joy to others—no matter that her own heart is aching. When her boss—someone she considered a friend—humiliates her, she decides it’s silly, but she’ll send a letter to Santa for help. After all, if a Christmas wish were to come true, wouldn’t it be from him?

George Alcott didn’t mean to bring his best friend to tears. It had been a trying week—one full of people taking advantage of him. Often tongue tied around Edith, the things he wants to say always come out wrong. Though George wants to make amends, he doesn’t know how. Like always.

As Christmas draws closer, a mysterious letter writer—posing as Santa—helps Edith’s wishes come true. She learns there is still not only hope, but also kindness offered by strangers. But when Edith reveals her greatest wish of all, and the letter writer is unmasked, will things ever be the same again?

If you’d like to read Letters to Santa, you can find the ebook, paperback, or large print on Amazon. Clicking right here will take you to the ebook and paperback. 

 

I’d also like to share my other wintery title this year! You might have already read my post on A Sleigh Ride for Charlotte. Like many, Charlotte’s gone through hard times. She’s tried to keep her head up, but in moments, her heartache breaks through. Shhh. Mine does too.

Chances are you know that aching feeling too. I’m sorry you’ve felt that way, in the past or in the present. But, that means you understand how Charlotte feels. She’s also so focused and determined that if she doesn’t have this one thing…nothing will go well for her. Sheesh, it’s like I’m looking in a mirror sometimes! But, and here I go, almost spoiling things…sometimes when we don’t get what we want, we get something so much better, don’t we? Here’s Charlotte’s story.

 

 

Sometimes the simple choice isn’t easy.

Charlotte Harrison dreams of being part of the winter festival, where romance fills the air and new starts are made. Penniless after her family was swindled, she’s always stayed home, unwilling to be looked at with pity. But this year Charlotte is desperate and willing to do whatever it takes to be there when she hears the most eligible man in town has his eye on her.

New to town, Dr. Justin Davis is in dire need of someone to assist him at his practice. When Charlotte is suggested, it seems like an opportunity for them both. At first, he simply wants to help her financial situation. But against his better judgment, he falls in love with her. Worst of all, the man she desires is someone he can’t stand, and he might have just sent her straight into his arms.

Through a series of surprising events, Charlotte learns that not everyone is as they seem, and when she goes to give her heart away, she’s faced with uncertainty. Who is she going to choose? The man she’s been longing for? Or the man who truly loves her?

If you’d like to read A Sleigh Ride for Charlotte, you can find the ebook, paperback, or large print on Amazon. Clicking right here will take you to the ebook and paperback. 

 

Before you enter my giveaway, I want to end with one more hug for you and the deepest wish that this holiday season, you have moments of love, happiness, contentment, joy, comfort, and all of the best things that could happen sprinkled throughout. I’m sending love and wishes for you that way.

<3 Sarah

 

Provide your best caption for the picture below – humorous, thoughtful or poignant – to be entered in the drawing.

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA winners only, please.)

 

Cowboys & Mistletoe – Kit Morgan

Happy Holidays Everyone!

 

It’s that time of year when wonderful Christmas books abound! And who doesn’t like a great holiday romance? I’m reading several now. Yes, I’m one of those people that will read two or three books at once! I’ve written a fair share of holiday books over the years. I even have an entire series of romances set around the holidays called The Holiday Mail-Order Brides. But this year, I’ve done a couple historicals set around Christmas, and two contemporaries! Here’s a little more about the books. The one you were introduced to last week. A Child for Christmas, part of our Petticoats & Pistols group’s Christmas Stocking Sweetheart Series. The other Christmas books I have this year are:

A young woman down on her luck
A rich young man
And one eccentric matchmaker

After the famous Mrs. Pettigrew’s first husband, Xavier, passed, the matchmaker found little interest in matchmaking. That is until she hires Chastity Eastwick as her new maid, and thinks her neighbor Dalton Simpson the perfect match for her! Toss in a rival for Dalton’s affections and Mrs. Pettigrew’s own odd eccentricities, and the hilarity begins! Especially when Mrs. Pettigrew fails to mention to Dalton that Chastity is a maid at all. He thinks she’s a house guest!

The next two books of mine are contemporary. One is part of a series of cute, fun, novellas that have been releasing every week.

Find the book HERE

 

 

Christmas magic sparkles in small towns but can love bloom under the mistletoe?

Molly Sherwood has watched all her friends, including her own sister, find their happily ever after. But not her. She’s fresh out of college and despairing how to make a living with her new art degree. So when her sister, the new owner of the town’s famous Christmas House asks for some help with decorating, she gladly gives it as a distraction. But she’s not the only one helping. Edwina Dilly, the previous owner of the house digs out something called The Mistletoe Clause, which states that if a couple kisses three times under the mistletoe in the presence of The Mistletoe Clause, then they have to confess their feelings for one another. Molly thinks it’s cute, but a bunch of hooey. Or is it?

Sam Newell is beginning to despair of ever finding a woman to love. No one wants a simple antique dealer/furniture restorer. Good grief, it’s not like he’s asking for the moon. But in a small town, the pickings can be slim. Then Sam finds out Molly Sherwood is back in town. He’s always liked her. But with his cousin (now married to Molly’s sister) telling her he can get her a job in New York City, she’ll wind up with the same mindset of the other women he’s dated. He won’t be good enough for her. Well fine, he’ll beat her to the punch and make sure he shows no interest in her. Little does he know that a certain meddling matchmaker has other ideas.

Find the book HERE

Both my contemporaries take place in towns made famous in my historicals! It was fun to revisit my towns and see how they’ve changes for modern day! My next Christmas book is included in an anthology of romantic comedy done by eight authors. So you can not only read my story, but the others as well! The anthology is called December Dreams, and the stories are all loads of fun! Here’s a little more about my book:

 

Talia Davenport hasn’t been back to Clear Creek in eight years. And for good reason.

Instead, she makes her home in Los Angeles, is a fitness guru, and tries to live her life to the fullest. But was she? When she goes home to Clear Creek for Christmas and has to deal with someone who’s been a thorn in her side for years, she begins to see that maybe her life wasn’t what she thought it was, and that forgiveness goes a long way. Toss in a few nudges from some eccentric elderly innkeepers playing matchmaker, and the fun begins! But for Talia, forgiving is one thing, forgetting another. Can she open her heart to the happiness she’s always wanted, and with the least likely person to boot?

Find the book HERE

 

Provide your best caption for the picture below – humorous, thoughtful or poignant – to be entered in the drawing.

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA winners only, please.)

 

How One Trip to Colorado Changed My Life by Tanya Agler

Thank you so much to the fillies of Petticoat and Pistols for hosting me today during the month of my tenth Harlequin Heartwarming release, The Triplets’ Holiday Miracle.

Little did I know when I visited Denver for a writing conference in July 2018 how much that visit to Colorado would impact my life. Not only did I love walking around beautiful downtown Denver where I snapped that picture of the Paramount, a historic theater, but I also introduced myself to my editor, who requested my work in progress, which became my first published book. Now, I’m celebrating my latest release, which is set in the fictional town of Violet Ridge, Colorado, where a special production of The Santa Who Forgot Christmas is about to take place at the Holly Theater.

Colorado itself is home to quite a few historic theaters, many of which served as an inspiration for the Holly. The Boulder Theater in Boulder, CO, opened in 1906 as the Curran Opera House and is renowned for its Art Deco style. The Sands Theater in Brush, CO, has operated continuously since 1916. And the Egyptian Theater in Delta, CO, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. There are just a few of the amazing theaters in the state, many of which are now home to live performances and events.

Personally I love attending plays or watching classic movies in historic theaters. Near my home in Georgia, there is the historic Strand Theater where I have taken my twins and their friends to viewings of My Fair Lady, Singin’ in the Rain, and The Princess Bride. There’s something about walking inside a historic theater and seeing the architecture and artistic details in the crown molding and ceilings.

In my new release, Daisy Stanley is the mother of triplets, who have all received roles in the play set to take place on Christmas Eve. While Daisy wants to do her best to ensure her children have a memorable Christmas, she wasn’t expecting to have to spend so much time volunteering at the Holly Theater, let alone meet and spend time with former air force officer Ben Irwin. After the play’s director is called away on a family emergency, Ben and Daisy find themselves at the helm of the production. Working in such close proximity, they find themselves at odds about nearly everything. Yet they find their paths keep crossing and discover they may have more in common than they first thought, including families who own ranch land since Ben grew up on the Double I Ranch and Daisy’s family owns the Lazy River Dude Ranch.

Little did I know when I first visited Denver and passed the Paramount that I would be incorporating a historic Colorado theater into a future book, but I had so much fun writing The Triplets’ Holiday Miracle and mulling over the details of the Holly Theater. I hope you have a very Merry Christmas!

AMAZON

HARLEQUIN

BARNES & NOBLE

Have you ever visited a historic theater for a play, movie, or concert? Or even for a backstage tour? Please leave a comment and one randomly drawn respondent will receive a digital copy of The Triplets’ Holiday Miracle and a $5.00 Amazon gift card.

 

Award-winning author, Tanya Agler lives in Georgia with her husband, four children, and two dogs (including Linus the Beagle). Moving often in her childhood, she connected with stories with spunky heroines like Trixie Belden and Anne Shirley. Now she writes books that center around the themes of hope and redemption. She is a member of Georgia Romance Writers, Novelists, Inc., and FHL Christian Writers. When she’s not writing, chauffeuring her children, or folding laundry, Tanya loves classic movies (preferably anything with Cary Grant or Jimmy Stewart), waterfalls, and enjoying a cup of tea alongside a good book.

 

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts! Cathy McDavid

I’m so excited to be part of Christmas Stocking Sweethearts  – my first participation in a collection with my fellow Petticoats and Pistols fillies. Little known fact, I wrote western historicals early in my writing career before switching to contemporaries. I’m thrilled to be returning to one of my favorite romance genres. And the story also happens to be set in one of my favorite time periods:  the early 1900s.

A widow struggling to save her home

A cowboy sworn to protect his family

A Christmas neither will ever forget…

 

 

Merry Ann Bright may be pint-sized, but she’s chock-full of gumption. For the last three years, she’s fended off a wealthy and greedy neighbor bent on acquiring her land by hook or by crook — emphasis on the crook. The last thing she needs is more trouble. But when she unexpectedly encounters a family in dire straits, how can she turn her back on them?

Thèo Cartier is a man on a mission. Once he’s seen his sister-in-law and young nephew safely home, he’ll return to Texas and help his aging father run the ranch. The lovely widow Merry is a distraction he can ill afford. Especially when her roots are firmly planted a thousand miles from his own.

Can Christmastime, the shared love of favorite carols, and a special heirloom stocking show two people convinced they have no future together that anything is possible…if they just open their hearts?

Click here to purchase MERRY’S CHRISTMAS COWBOY

Click here to view the entire series on Amazon

 

Yes, we know. It’s that time of year when we sometimes feel less kind than we should.

Re-write the sentence in red to something less naughty and more nice.  For example:

NAUGHTY:  “Grandma’s eggnog is too thick and chunky.”

NICE: “Isn’t it wonderful Grandma is still with us to make her eggnog?”

THEIR DECORATIONS ARE SO GAUDY.

 

You might win this piano ornament from me – plus a backlist holiday book!

 

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA Winners only, please.)

In the event the piano ornament becomes unavailable, we will happily make a substitute.

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts with Winnie Griggs!

 

Hello, everyone, and welcome to our Cowboys & Mistletoes celebration! This year, we’re doing things a little differently—spreading our celebration over two weeks instead of one. For this first week, we’re thrilled to introduce a fun new Christmas series, Christmas Stocking Sweethearts, which we wrote specifically for this event. The connecting thread for the series is that the hero or heroine of each book is a former student of the same piano teacher, Melody Nightingale. At the opening of each book, the hero or heroine receives a package from Melody containing a very personal, handcrafted Christmas stocking and a letter written on the back of the sheet music for a Christmas carol.

Once we had our premise, we realized it would be helpful to explain a bit of the backstory about who Melody Nightingale was and why she would send these gifts to her former students. That’s how this first story came to be. I’m very pleased to present to you Melody’s story.

CHRISTMAS STOCKING SWEETHEARTS Book #1!

CHRISTMAS MELODY kicks things off with a story that not only introduces Melody, but gives us a peek into who the characters in the other books were as children

Stitching melodies of love, one stocking at a time…

In 1854 Nightingale, Texas, nineteen-year-old Melody Nightingale feels trapped by her family’s expectations. As the only daughter of the town’s founding family, she’s expected to make an advantageous marriage and take her place in society. Instead of attending the endless round of tea parties, Melody longs to share her love of music with others. She also has no interest in the eligible suitors her mother parades before her, she’d much rather discuss her favorite books with shopkeeper John Hartley.

When she discovers her housekeeper’s daughter secretly playing the piano, Melody makes an impulsive decision to give the child lessons—a choice that defies the strict social boundaries of her time. And in doing so she helps shy young Zoe find her confidence through music.

Melody realizes she’s finally found her own path, one that leads far from her family’s carefully laid plans. Ignoring her parents’ disapproval, she becomes the town’s piano teacher. It’s a calling that she pursues with great enjoyment and passion, eventually touching the lives of hundreds of students. And perhaps even that kind-hearted shopkeeper…

This heartwarming story of love, music, and finding one’s true path launches the Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series, introducing readers to the remarkable woman whose handmade gifts will touch lives for decades to come.

From now through the end of the year, this book will be available for only 99 cents!
PURCHASE HERE

 

Yes, we know. It’s that time of year when we sometimes feel less kind than we should.

Re-write the sentence in red to something less naughty and more nice.  For example:

NAUGHTY:  “Grandma’s eggnog is too thick and chunky.”

NICE: “Isn’t it wonderful Grandma is still with us to make her eggnog?”

THE TREE IS LOSING NEEDLES.

You might win this piano ornament that plays
Hark The Herald Angels Sing!

All entries will be eligible for our oh-so-beautiful Grand Prize, too!

Winners announced Sunday, December 15!

(USA Winners only, please.)

When Life Inspires Fiction

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!

 

Happy Veterans Day and A New Release Coming Soon!!

Hello everyone, Winnie Griggs here.

First off I want to wish everyone a Happy Veterans Day and to thank all of our military members, both active and retired, for your service to our country. It is a day very close to my heart since not only am I married to a Navy veteran, but it is also the anniversary of the day my parents married. It would have been their 73rd anniversary today.

And just a note of trivia. I wanted to write the word Veterans with an apostrophe but knew that the official name did not include one. Since punctuation isn’t my strong suit, I looked it up and here is the official explanation:  The holiday is not a day that “belongs” to one veteran or multiple veterans, which is what an apostrophe implies. It’s a day for honoring all veterans — so no apostrophe needed.
So now I know. 🙂

 

 

 

On the book front, if you’ve been keeping up with the posts here on the blog or over in the Reader Group, you know that we’ve got a fun new Christmas series coming – Christmas Stocking Sweethearts. I’ve been privileged to not only have one of the actual stories in the series, but to be able to write the Prequel as well. The prequel sets up the series by introducing you to Melody Nightingale, the remarkable woman who defied  social conventions to become the town’s music teacher and in doing so touched  the lives of many, many students. You’ll meet 8 of her students in particular, children who will grow up to be the hero or heroine of the other books in the series.

And as a special treat, from Nov 17th-21st the book will be available to you for free!! Because the book actually goes on sale on the 16th at 99 cents I suggest you DON’T preorder – Amazon wouldn’t let me set it for free the first day it’s available. Instead wait until the 17th to order it. But make sure you order it by the 21st because after that it goes back up to 99 cents!

 

Here is more info about the book

CHRISTMAS MELODY

Stitching melodies of love, one stocking at a time…

In 1854 Nightingale, Texas, nineteen-year-old Melody Nightingale feels trapped by her family’s expectations. As the only daughter of the town’s founding family, she’s expected to make an advantageous marriage and take her place in society. Instead of attending the endless round of tea parties, Melody longs to share her love of music with others. She also has no interest in the eligible suitors her mother parades before her, she’d much rather discuss her favorite books with shopkeeper John Hartley.

When she discovers her housekeeper’s daughter secretly playing the piano, Melody makes an impulsive decision to give the child lessons—a choice that defies the strict social boundaries of her time. And in doing so she helps shy young Zoe find her confidence through music.

Melody realizes she’s finally found her own path, one that leads far from her family’s carefully laid plans. Ignoring her parents’ disapproval, she becomes the town’s piano teacher. It’s a calling that she pursues with great enjoyment and passion, eventually touching the lives of hundreds of students. And perhaps even that kind-hearted shopkeeper…

This heartwarming story of love, music, and finding one’s true path launches the Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series, introducing readers to the remarkable woman whose handmade gifts will touch lives for decades to come!

Leave me a comment – about Veterans Day, the new Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series, or anything you feel like sharing – and you’ll be entered in a drawing for any of my backlist books as well as a little surprise gift.

 

Christmas Stocking Sweethearts – A New Series!

The Pink Pistol Sweet Western Romance Series was so successful, we wanted to do another, and we happily present to you our new Christmas series, Christmas Stocking Sweethearts!

Christmas stockings made by a devoted piano teacher for her beloved students connect each story in the series.  A classic Christmas carol also adds a romantic layer to the stories, and of course, each piano student–all grown up!–finds his or her true love.

Be sure to join our Facebook Reader Group to stay informed on each Christmas Stocking Sweethearts release, prizes, and get to know the authors, too.

Petticoats & Pistols Facebook Reader Group

Coming Soon:

A FREE Story, CHRISTMAS MELODY: A PREQUEL by Winnie Griggs

Preorders

Amazon Series Page

Beautiful Book Trailer

Cover Reveals

Our BIG Celebration during our annual Cowboys & Mistletoe event.  We’ll have prizes everyday, including a super-special GRAND PRIZE!

Participating Petticoats & Pistols Authors include:

Winnie Griggs

Pam Crooks

Sarah Lamb

Jo-Ann Roberts

Cheryl Pierson

Kit Morgan

Linda Broday

Cathy McDavid

Unwrap love, one stocking at a time, in the Christmas Stocking Sweethearts series.

 

Looking for Love in Christmassy Places…

We’re pleased to welcome special guest author, Valerie Comer, back to the junction!

Howdy Ladies of the Cowgirl Persuasion!

My name’s Eli. Eli Thornton. I’m not much of a cowboy for all I grew up on the Flying Horseshoe Ranch during the years my dad was foreman. I liked horses fine, don’t get me wrong, but engines have always been my thing. Still are.

Watching the boss’s headstrong daughter from afar was also my thing back then. Not in a creepy way, of course. I was a few years older, same age as her brother, my best friend, but Meg Carmichael always fascinated me.

Wow, she was something, and she knew it. All rebellion and sass. She never noticed me. I might as well have been one more tree in the forest. Just as well, really, all things considered.

Then came the fateful night when my dad’s carelessness caused a horrendous accident that nearly took Meg’s father’s life and ultimately cost him the use of his legs. Dad couldn’t face it — he packed Mom and me up and we ran. He should’ve known the Carmichaels would forgive him, but he couldn’t live with his guilt.

But Dad’s gone now, and I’ve returned to the Flying Horseshoe to make amends on his behalf, if such a thing were even possible. They welcomed me with open arms like the Christ-followers they are and offered me a job as the ranch mechanic.

Pretty safe, all things considered. Last I knew, Meg lived far away. She’d been whooping it up until her social media went dark about a year ago. Yeah, I’d been keeping an eye. I couldn’t help myself.

But her parents could not only forgive my father and me, but their Prodigal Daughter. Meg had returned, baby in tow, and found forgiveness and love in Jesus and her family.

How could I stay away when the new, improved Meg finally saw me for myself?

 

Blue sky, red barn, snow on ground and a cowboy tipping his cowboy hat. Text "The Cowboy's Forever Crush by Valerie Comer"

In this story, you’ll find:

  • A high school crush
  • A prodigal daughter
  • His best friend’s sister
  • A single mom
  • Cinnamon shortbread cookies
  • Little Town of Bethlehem
  • Aurora Borealis
  • Redemption and second chances
  • A faith-filled romance

Want to read The Cowboy’s Forever Crush? This complete romance novella is free for subscribers to Valerie Comer’s newsletter — that’s me!

Red barn with blue sky and snowy ground. Kindle with cover of The Cowboy’s Forever Crush by Valerie Comer

Some folks subscribe to a newsletter, download their freebie, then unsubscribe immediately. There’s no law against that! But why not hang around for a month or two and see if my emails might be something you enjoy? Give me a chance to prove I can keep on entertaining you!

FREE!!! Get your copy of The Cowboy’s Forever Crush here

Tell me, what keeps you subscribed to an author’s emails? What makes you hit the unsubscribe button faster than you can blink? Let’s talk!

***

Valerie shared her recipe for Cinnamon Shortbread! Yum!

About Valerie Comer ~

Author photo of Valerie Comer

Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner. She writes engaging characters, strong communities, and deep faith into her green clean romances.

Valerie’s life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary Christian romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie grows much of her own food and is active in the local foods movement as well as her church. She only hopes her imaginary friends enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable grandkids.