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Do you enjoy reading Christmas stories to put you in the spirit? If so, you’ll love these three… #mgtab @mimisgang1
A few years ago, I put together a trilogy of Christmas stories that have been well loved by many of the readers. These are not blockbuster books that will take you weeks to read, but short, stand-alone novellas you can finish in one sitting. If you love dogs, white Samoyed puppies in particular, then you will like this collection: Holiday Heartwarmers.
The stories are about small airplanes crashing in a northern wilderness, abandoned puppies, scared kids, and couples searching for romance.
A huge number of the reviews were exactly what I’d hoped they would be and I’ve decided to share some with you here.
“You can’t go wrong with this wonderful heartwarming collection! Mimi Barbour delivers again with this holiday romance, three books, three puppies that will steal your heart, and happy-ever-afters. A perfect read for a snowy afternoon and a cup of hot cocoa! Enjoy. I did.”
Reviewed by ~ USAT author, Patrice Wilton
Hard to put down. Warm stories of puppies and people who they have chosen to love and the experiences of all the men, women and children in their furry little lives.
Reviewed by ~ Joyful
“i really enjoyed the three stand alone stories about three puppies and their adoption into new families. the stories were fun and uplifting. I will purchase other books by this author.”
Reviewed by ~ Kindle Customer
It was awesome , Love the story , I couldn’t stop reading it , can’t wait to read your other books , what a great writer you are . Sandy ?
Reviewed by ~ Amazon Customer
My one regret was that I had to replace the first book in the series called “Please Keep Me” with a later one “Frosty the Snowman”. Because book #1 was in another collection, I didn’t feel it would be right to the other publisher to put it in both. Therefore, if you’d like to read that first story, it’s available here on Amazon.
Creatus Talis by Carmen DeSousa – a fabulous book! #mgtab @mimisgang1
Creatus Talis
Carmen DeSousa
Publication date: December 18th 2018
Genres: Adult, Paranormal
For four thousand years, creatus elders have insisted that the creatus population concealed themselves from human beings because humans had hunted the creatus almost to extinction…
But one woman’s research reveals that when creatus first arrived on this planet, humans didn’t fear the alien beings that looked so much like the human race. That is, until the creatus started to breed with humans, creating a ferocious killer feared by humans and creatus alike. A creature so fierce that its legacy of death and destruction has fed nightmares for millennia. And now, a new breed of creatus has been born — or rather, reborn.
Vev, one of the first generations of creatus talis, finds herself torn between her younger family members and a forbidden love as she fights to save the young talis from being turned into a weapon — or worse, annihilation.
Goodreads / Amazon / Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
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Grab Creatus – book 1 – for FREE!
Amazon/ Barnes & Noble / iBooks / Kobo / Google Play
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EXCERPT:
Hesitantly, Vev stepped forward. She’d never kissed a male before. Wasn’t even sure how it worked. She’d read about it, of course. Watched it. But as with everything, her knowledge only took her so far. Life experience, she was learning, was invaluable.
Zach’s heart rate sped up again, and the musky scent she’d noticed intermittently throughout the day escalated. Every beat of his heart fanned the potent scent, filling the room. In response, all of Vev’s senses intensified, as though she were hunting game.
“Vev,” he said, stepping toward her again, “please stay.” His hand stroked her cheek, brushing back a strand of hair. He took another step, this time slipping his arm around her waist.
The pounding in Vev’s heart exploded into such a fast rhythm she could hardly breathe. She gulped, licked her lips. Zach moved just his head toward her this time, pressing his lips to hers. A kiss. Her mouth parted unconsciously as his mouth moved back and forth.
She closed her eyes and inhaled. He smelled so good. So delicious—Vev pulled back so fast that Zach fell forward.
She twisted her body, jerking away. The door. The sun must have set. Regardless, she needed to leave.
“What happened?” Zach’s voice cracked.
“I must go.”
“Vev?” His warm hand made contact with her shoulder and she lurched forward, as far away as the room allowed.
She wheeled, facing him. “I’m not human, Zach. Can’t you see that?”
His lips turned up slightly, revealing curved lines that framed his mouth. “You feel plenty human to me.”
“I’m not!” Vev insisted. She reached for the only thing in her vicinity. A broom. She snatched it from the corner and held it up. She didn’t know how much strength humans had. According to Marguerite, not much. “Can you break this?”
“Why would I want to break my broom?”
Vev huffed out a breath. “Can you?”
“I guess. If I leveraged it against something, I could.”
Vev brought the broom down over her knee, splitting it in two, then squeezed her hands around each part, pulverizing the wood until each piece was nearly sawdust. She released the slivers and shards, crumbling the pieces.
Zach’s eyes grew wide. His heart raced disturbingly fast. She hated scaring him, but she had to make him see the danger. Marguerite had said that her research revealed that the earliest humans hadn’t been afraid of creatus, but that they had become jealous of their beauty and strength, and started hunting them. Vev had never understood that. Now she did. Humans hadn’t hunted the original creatus because they were jealous; they’d been frightened. Because humans smelled good. Because even though she liked the feel of Zach’s kiss, a part of her imagined biting his neck and feasting.
Author Bio:
My stories overflow with romance, suspense, a hint of humor and, of course, a few Kleenex moments. After all, what would a great story be without an emotional event setting the stage? All of my novels are sensual, but not erotic, gripping but not graphic, and will make you cry, laugh, love, and hope. Although some of my books include supernatural or ghostly beings, my stories dance on the edge of make believe. My hope is that as you read my stories, you’ll wonder, “Hmmm…what if?”
Like most authors, I blame my leap into a full-time career as a professional writer on my love of reading. Reading has always been an escape for me. When life was rough as a child, I could always disappear into a book. But I found something else too… I discovered that writing out my thoughts was healing. Not only could I create hope for my protagonists, but I could do away with the antagonists–legally.
When I penned my first novel, “She Belongs to Me,” I allowed only my cousin and best friend to read it. They are the reason I write. They pushed me to publish, as they felt my stories would give hope to others who’ve experienced tragedies. So now, even though I still write for myself, I also write for my readers who continually tell me that my words touched their soul.
Currently, my husband of twenty-seven years and I live in California with a very spoiled “rescued” calico we lovingly refer to as “Baby Kitty,” even though she’s eleven years old. Hubby and I love to experience different areas, so we move a lot. We’ve lived on both of Florida’s coasts: Cocoa Beach and Tampa Bay; Charlotte, North Carolina; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania; Chicago, Illinois; Bullhead City, Arizona; and now the Northern Central Valley of California. But we’re always looking for our next adventure, so we travel every chance we get.
Most of my novels share some of our favorite hobbies, mostly, anything to do with the great outdoors. We both love to read on the beach–or in a coffee shop if it’s raining–and if the weather is really nice, we love to go kayaking and hiking. We rarely spend our days off at a movie theater or the mall. In fact, I hate shopping, and my hubby would rather do anything other than take me to a movie when I’ve already read the book. 🙂
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
We did it!!! And it’s thanks to all of you!! USA Today… #mgtab @mimisgang1
Awesome News!
I just had to write to you and explain that there are 8 wonderful authors in our Authors’ Billboard group who are over the moon with joy!!
Love, Christmas 2 hit the USA Today Bestseller List and we could not have done it without you—our loyal readers!
All of us at Authors’ Billboard want to express our heartfelt thanks to each and every one of you for your support.
A #contest that will blow your mind. #Win a #prize of $100 #mgtab
´*•.¸(*•.¸ ♥ A Chance to Win $100 ♥¸.•*´)¸.•*´
In case you didn’t know, I started (along with a group of others) the Authors’ Billboard. We have come so far since the beginning and having another collection being released that could take us to the USAT list is mind-blowingly fantastic! But as I noted below we have a slight problem and to solve it….
I propose a CHALLENGE – with $100 Amazon gift certificate / or a Paypal payment as the prize.
As you know, we are trying to reach the USAT list with our new 99 cent Authors’ Billboard collection “Love, Christmas 2” and we need help in one area.
Of course it’s sales – but not just any sales. We need to sell as many books as possible to readers who support: Kobo and iBooks.
Therefore to encourage you, our readers, who buy books at those venues, if you reply with a link showing a purchase from any one of these 3 places, we will enter your name into the Giveaway. You can enter as many times as you have purchase slips. The draw will be picked on Oct 23rd.
Just email your proof of purchase to authorsbillboard@gmail.com
iTunes: http://bit.ly/2LoveC2
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LC2Kobo
**(No purchase necessary to enter.)
♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ BOOK SPOTLIGHT ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~ ♥ ~
~ ♥ ~ Love, Christmas 2 – Movies You Love (The Holiday Series Book 2) ~ ♥ ~ Anthology
BUY NOW – https://amzn.to/2EtRHKa #LoveChristmas #TheHolidaySeries #Anthology #Christmas
Holiday Romance (Both Sweet & Steamy) Sprinkle a little Christmas magic into your life with 26 ALL-NEW, never before released romances. Each title – exclusive to this set – is inspired by a favorite holiday movie, spun into a fantastic love story by a NY Times, USA Today, and/or award-winning, bestselling author and delivered to you in this wonderful collection full of cheer for the coming season.
Mimi Barbour – Fan Page – A Wonderful Life – Though Mary works with troubled teens, can she and an angel help a man living a nightmare?
Leanne Banks – A Royal White Christmas – Can a secret prince be a Christmas wish-come-true for a small-town girl?
Joan Reeves Writes – Brianna’s Season For Miracles – Her seductive persona hides what she’s ashamed of… What will happen if the man she’s fallen for discovers her secret?
Mona Risk, Author – Jingle With My Princess – The doc and the princess… He saves lives, but she may save his heart.
Rebecca York– Can She Get Home for Christmas? – Will a killer stop her from getting home for Christmas?
Jacquie Biggar – Mistletoe Inn – A grieving man finds the greatest gift is love.
Alicia Street – Miracle on Christmas Tree Street – A single mom discovers her business partner is more than he seems.
Author, Nancy Radke – The Holiday (Christmas) – Jodi’s house-swap to Maui came with a small dog and a shipwrecked sailor.
Katy Walters –Letters from the Snowman – The snow revealed a precious love.
Stephanie Queen – Holiday Affair – Melissa goes from riches to rags but will she find gold in a holiday affair?
Aileen Fish Author – Almost Christmas in Connecticut – Can a wounded warrior learn to trust her celebrity chef crush after discovering his secret?
Rachelle Ayala – A Christmas Creek Carol – A reclusive writer is given a one-star review on her life by characters from her past, present, and future.
Dani Haviland Author – The Polar Xpress – She prefers dogs to men…until she rescues the doctor. Traci Hall – Love, Actually (By the Sea) – Two strangers. One intimate night. Reunited a year later, can it actually be love?
Taylor Lee – The Ref-er-ee – With a family this discombobulated, it will take a referee to save their Christmas.
Donna Fasano – Her Mr. Miracle – It’s Christmas Eve and Veronica is stuck in a nearly deserted seaside town… She needs a miracle.
Cynthia Cooke – A Christmas to Remember – A Christmas storm. Wedding plans in peril. Has a lost love been found?
Susan Jean Ricci Author Page – A Joyous Holiday Inn – Can Twigg restore the joy of Christmas to Chloe’s indifferent heart?
Tamara Ferguson – Two Hearts Home for Christmas – Can a long ago promise of love bring two lonely wounded warriors home for Christmas?
Suzanne Jenkins – Christmas with the Clouds – Tracy isn’t interested in love until an unexpected Christmas visitor changes her heart.
Natalie Ann – How Gavin Stole Christmas – Can Jolene help Gavin find the Christmas spirit when he’s the epitome of Mr. Bah Humbug?
Ev Bishop – A Sharla Brown Christmas – For single parents Sharla and Jake, Christmas is the loneliest time of the year…until it’s not.
Alyssa Bailey – In the Spirit of Christmas – Chase can protect Tara from danger, but can he protect his heart?
Stacy Eaton – Finding Love on Christmas Vacation – Christmas isn’t the same for Lucy without her father…until she meets his friend Maverick.
Jen Talty Author – The Christmas Getaway – A mix-up in reservations leaves a mother and her son to share a cabin with a broken-hearted stranger.
Melinda De Ross – Boyfriend Wanted for Christmas – A thirty-something singleton’s desperate yet humorous quest to find a boyfriend in the seven days before Christmas.
~ Amazon ~ B&N ~ Apple ~ KOBO ~ BookBub ~
Sprinkle a little Christmas magic into your life with 26 ALL-NEW, never before released romances. Each title – exclusive to this set – is inspired by a favorite holiday movie, spun into a fantastic love story by a NY Times, USA Today, and/or award-winning, bestselling author and delivered to you in this wonderful collection full of cheer for the coming season.
Celebrate with us! #Facebook #party #prizes #freebies #contests #mimisgang1
| Only 1 more sleep!! ? I have no idea how Tuesday, October 16th can be almost upon us, but it is! In just two more sleeps, LOVE, CHRISTMAS II will hit digital bookshelves everywhere, and you’ll have more reading pleasure ahead of you than you can even imagine, LOL. All 26 brand-new novellas are titled after favorite holiday movies. Stock up on yummy book-worthy beverages and snacks now! |
| If you haven’t pre-ordered your copy of Love, Christmas 2 for just .99 cents, grab it today: AMAZON.COM ~ AMAZON.CA ~ AMAZON.CO.UK ~ AMAZON.AU KOBO ~ iBOOKS ~ NOOK Celebrate with us! ? |
| Don’t forget to join in the celebrations at our launch party on Tuesday, October 16 and Wednesday, October 17! A couple of you contacted me, asking what a Facebook Party is, so in case it’s new to you too, let me explain. In a nutshell, it’s an online get together on a pre-arranged date and special page on Facebook. People who want to “attend” click the link beforehand to say they’re interested, then click to say they’re going. Then, during the party hours on the party day, you go to the link again and it’s “live.” People (in this case, me and the other Love, Christmas 2 authors, in assigned 20-minute slots) post in real time and you reply and respond to posts as you feel moved. The prizes, of which there are TONS, are usually won via random draws. You get your name entered based on easy to answer questions or small tasks. 🙂 Don’t be intimidated. These kinds of events are very fun and very easy! You’ll figure it out, super fast. Still in doubt? Just come! You won’t be sorry. 🙂 (And if you really hate it, LOL, you can duck out right away. :D) I’m starting the party off at 12:00 noon PST (3:0 p.m. EST) on Tuesday and really, really hope you’ll join in on the fun at: Facebook Party Extravaganza! See you there! P.S. Can’t make the party during the “live” event hours? Come by any time Tuesday after 12:00 noon PST until Thursday 7:00 p.m. and scroll around, make comments, get entered in draws and have a blast. |
I propose a CHALLENGE – with $100 Amazon gift certificate / or a Paypal payment as the prize.
As you know, we are trying to reach the USAT list with our new 99 cent Authors’ Billboard collection “Love, Christmas 2” and we need help in one area.
Of course it’s sales – but not just any sales. We need to sell as many books as possible to readers who support: B&N, Kobo and AppleBooks.
Therefore to encourage you, our readers, who buy books at those venues, if you reply with a link showing a purchase from any one of these 3 places, we will enter your name into the Giveaway. You can enter as many times as you have purchase slips. The draw will be picked on Oct 23rd.
Just email your proof of purchase to authorsbillboard@gmail.com
Thanks for your support, everyone!!
~*~*~*~
Where are the Moose Mugs? @mimisgang1 #mgtab
Like most people, I love Christmas. I love the glittery lights, the music that touches the soul and the smiles- I love the smiles! I’m not a big fan of opening gifts, but I sure do love giving them!
I love how the holidays are filled with traditions, like in our family on Christmas Eve we have dinner with my husbands extended family. There will be fifty or more people there, all the way down to 4th cousins, for a fantastic dinner.
On Christmas Day, we open gifts in the morning with immediate family, and then the afternoon is filled with family entertaining and gifts being swapped while we pig out on finger foods.
There is one other major tradition in my house. The week before Christmas, we decorate the tree. While we are decorating, it’s a rule that my favorite Christmas movie needs to be playing. How fun it is to decorate while Chevy Chase is having a fun National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation!!! Have you seen that movie? What’s your favorite part?
I have so many that are my favorites – but one of my favorite scenes is when Clark and his cousin Eddie are talking in the living room and sipping eggnog from the moose mugs! I LOVE THOSE MUGS! So much so, that my husband bought me a set a few years ago. Now after we decorate, the hubby and I pour ourselves a cup and sit down to finish the movie in the glow of the lights.
That’s why I titled my story in the Love Christmas 2 box set, Finding Love on Christmas Vacation. It’s not like the movie at all, but they are on vacation and they do find love!
Keeping Christmas No Matter What #mgtab @mimisgang1
Reflecting over the past sixty plus years, I’ve proven that life can be falling apart but traditions will not be ignored. An example: I remember my mother being half-dead with pneumonia and insisting we take her to Walmart to buy my sister a cake and gifts for her birthday. It was not acceptable to give me the list because she had to do the shopping herself. In my story, the family insists life will go on as normal at all costs when tragedy strikes before a holiday.
Christmas in the Clouds is the movie that inspired me to write Christmas with the Clouds.
In the movie, a Native American son, Ray has just returned from college to run the ski lodge in Utah that his father once managed. A comfortable environment where employees’ children play in the lobby and the handyman hits on guests, the lodge isn’t four-star travel guide material. So when Ray learns that a representative from a famous travel guide is coming to inspect, he makes a complete overhaul of the hotel. Getting his father to stay out of the way is a minor issue, shadowed by dealing with the eccentric staff, which includes the vegetarian chef who takes pleasure in naming the animals diners are eating.
Despite Ray’s careful plans, everything goes wrong. Beautiful Tina arrives at the lodge and Ray mistakenly thinks she’s the travel writer and sets about giving her the royal treatment while the real travel writer is ignored and is subject to hilarious hotel bungling. Read the review on Rotten Tomatoes here.
Although my story, Christmas with the Clouds is not a comedy, there are some parallels with the movie. The action takes place in Utah, but the family returns to their roots at the Indian Reservation in Lapwai, Idaho after a tragedy ruins their Christmas. What happens next is unexpected. My heroine, Tracy’s presence with the family seems to make their grief turn around. Because of Tracy’s small child, Jasmine, they decide that Christmas cannot be canceled. It becomes a healing, almost joyful time for everyone. For the story, I drew on an experience of a year ago. Preparations for my granddaughter’s birthday loomed ahead. Ponies, a taco truck, and a lifeguard for the pool were all arranged when my son received a life threatening diagnosis the morning of the party. My desire was to get into bed and stay there for the rest of my life. My daughter-in-law said, “no way.” The show would go on.
The bouncy house and water slide were installed and inflated. Relatives from Michigan and Pennsylvania arrived from the airport; friends from all over California showed up by noon. Soon, their backyard was filled with twenty children and their parents, nannies and helpers. I was overwhelmed by the chaos. The ponies were hysterical, wearing headdresses of flowers. The taco truck was the perfect accompaniment. For a few hours, our worry and pain were alleviated by a child’s birthday party.
In Christmas with the Clouds, it takes a year for the characters to cycle through their grief. Finally, by the following Christmas, although they will never forget their loss, something wonderful ensues and they take the next step in moving on with life.
In our instance, a year later as life had returned to our new normal, my granddaughter’s next birthday approached. The celebration was just as chaotic, but without the dread. We all marveled that we’d weathered the year, and had some good news with which to rejoice.
To read an excerpt of Christmas with the Clouds please download our free Book Bites!
Love Christmas, 2 was the perfect vehicle to get me to write the story that had been simmering away for a year. The holidays provide so much for us, in spite of the busyness. The danger is allowing the gift buying and meal preparations to overshadow the fun – getting together with our friends and families, reinforcing traditions for our children to carry on, and just the break in routine. If you celebrate the holidays, what are you planning?
I especially love to hear about the traditional foods served; everything from ethnic favorites to all time American dishes like green bean casserole. Our free recipe book has new dishes to try this year.
Next week, our release party for Love Christmas, 2 is at Facebook on October 16th and 17th. Be sure to stop by here and say you’re going! We’ll have lots of giveaways and gifts to share.
One of the giveaway prizes at this event is a Love Christmas 2 book cover bracelet!
Love, Christmas 2 – The best collection of the 2018 season! Titles based on favorite holiday movies! #mgtab @mimisgang1
Love, Christmas – Movies You Love
(The Holiday Series, #2)
Publication date: October 16th 2018
Genres: Adult, Romance
Sprinkle a little Christmas magic into your life with 25 ALL-NEW, never before released romances. Each title – exclusive to this set – is inspired by a favorite holiday movie, spun into a fantastic love story by a NY Times, USA Today, and/or award-winning, bestselling author and delivered to you in this wonderful collection full of cheer for the coming season.
Mimi Barbour – A Wonderful Life – Though Rylee works with troubled teens, can she and an angel help a man living a nightmare?
Leanne Banks – A Royal White Christmas – Can a secret prince be a Christmas wish-come-true for a small-town girl?
Joan Reeves – Brianna’s Season For Miracles – Her seductive persona hides what she’s ashamed of… What will happen if the man she’s fallen for discovers her secret?
Mona Risk – Jingle With My Princess – The doc and the princess… He saves lives, but she may save his heart.
Rebecca York – Can She Get Home for Christmas? – Will a killer stop her from getting home for Christmas?
Jacquie Biggar – Mistletoe Inn – A grieving man finds the greatest gift is love.
Alicia Street – Miracle on Christmas Tree Street – A single mom discovers her business partner is more than he seems.
Nancy Radke – The Holiday (Christmas) – Jodi’s house-swap to Maui came with a small dog and a shipwrecked sailor.
Katy Walters –Letters from the Snowman – The snow revealed a precious love.
Stephanie Queen – Holiday Affair – Melissa goes from riches to rags but will she find gold in a holiday affair?
Aileen Fish – Christmas in Connecticut – Can a wounded warrior learn to trust her celebrity chef crush after discovering his secret?
Rachelle Ayala – A Christmas Creek Carol – A reclusive writer is given a one-star review on her life by characters from her past, present, and future.
Dani Haviland – The Polar Xpress – She prefers dogs to men…until she rescues the doctor.
Traci Hall – Love, Actually (By the Sea) – Two strangers. One intimate night. Reunited a year later, can it actually be love?
Taylor Lee – The Ref-er-ee – With a family this discombobulated, it will take a referee to save their Christmas.
Donna Fasano – Her Mr. Miracle – It’s Christmas Eve and Veronica is stuck in a nearly deserted seaside town… She needs a miracle.
Cynthia Cooke – A Christmas to Remember – A Christmas storm. Wedding plans in peril. Has a lost love been found?
Susan Jean Ricci – A Joyous Holiday Inn – Can Twigg restore the joy of Christmas to Chloe’s indifferent heart?
Tamara Ferguson – Two Hearts Home for Christmas – Can a long ago promise of love bring two lonely wounded warriors home for Christmas?
Suzanne Jenkins – Christmas with the Clouds – Tracy isn’t interested in love until an unexpected Christmas visitor changes her heart.
Natalie Ann – How Gavin Stole Christmas – Can Jolene help Gavin find the Christmas spirit when he’s the epitome of Mr. Bah Humbug?
Ev Bishop – A Sharla Brown Christmas – For single parents Sharla and Jake, Christmas is the loneliest time of the year…until it’s not.
Alyssa Bailey – In the Spirit of Christmas – Chase can protect Tara from danger, but can he protect his heart?
Stacy Eaton – Finding Love on Christmas Vacation – Christmas isn’t the same for Lucy without her father…until she meets his friend Maverick.
Jen Talty – The Christmas Getaway – A mix-up in reservations leaves a mother and her son to share a cabin with a broken-hearted stranger.
Melinda De Ross – Boyfriend Wanted for Christmas – A thirty-something singleton’s desperate yet humorous quest to find a boyfriend in the seven days before Christmas.
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SNEAK PEEKS:
A Wonderful Life by Mimi Barbour
Prologue
“Clarence, you haven’t stopped watching Noel Bradford for days. What in the world is happening to that young man?”
“I’m glad you noticed my preoccupation, Sir. I’m afraid he’s not doing too well. Do you remember a man called George Bailey?”
“Certainly, I do. Wasn’t he the reason you got your wings?”
“Yes, that’s him. Well poor Noel Bradford is heading in the same direction; he’s on the bridge right now, ready to jump. I’m thinking it’ll take the same interference to stop him from killing himself that it took to prevent George from doing the same thing many years ago.”
“I see. Then what are you waiting for, Clarence? You must go and save him.”
“I suppose you’re right. I just hate the thought of that icy water. It took me forever to warm up the last time.”
“Clarence, if you stop that poor fellow from ruining all the lives of the people who will one day love him, I’ll send you the wherewithal to get warm, now off with you. There’s no time to waste.”
Chapter One
Noel Bradford never believed himself to be a coward, a weakling who gave up in troubled times, a man whose shoulders were so narrow they couldn’t bear misfortune.
He was wrong.
Four days ago, when the police had knocked on his door to give him the horrifying news that his parents and their driver, his only brother, had all been killed in a car accident, he’d thought nothing could get worse.
They were heading to their favorite resort in Aspen when their car careened over the bank of the mountainous road, dropping into a lake probably 400 feet below. The back end of the car, where the license plate could be seen through binoculars, proved it was their vehicle and the chance of any survivors was nil.
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A Royal White Christmas by Leanne Banks
Chapter One
A baying howl cut through the early December night, even through the walls of the cottage Brice rented. He glanced up from the material he was studying and the baying howl echoed again. The fireplace crackled, and Brice knew the snow was still falling.
Again, the baying howl broke through the quiet.
Sighing, Brice rose from his laptop and peered out the window. The floodlights revealed nothing. He was going to have to brave the cold, he supposed.
Tugging on his boots, jacket and gloves, he opened the door and trudged outside. “Talk to me beagle or hound,” he muttered.
Another howl cut the air. Several moments later, Brice found the beagle wagging its tail, its leash wrapped around a tree trunk. The beagle whined and barked. He immediately noted that the dog was female. “Well, good evening to you, Miss. A fine mess you’re in. Let me help you out.” He unwound the leash and waited for the beagle to run for freedom. Instead the dog came at him and licked his hand.
“I know you have an owner,” he said. “That’s a nice leash.”
The beagle continued to nuzzle at him and whine.
“I guess you can stay the night. It’s a nasty one,” he said and looked at a tag. “Brandi,” he read. “I’ll give your owner a call, but you can stay the night.”
Brice pulled off some chicken and rice from his leftovers and offered it to the dog. She gobbled it up quickly. “You have a good appetite,” he said and dialed the number on the dog tag. The number rang and rang then disconnected. Brice frowned. “That’s not good,” he muttered to himself and punched in the number again.
GIVEAWAY!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Other Venues for Love, Christmas 2 are:
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