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Warm your heart with nine enchanting tales of love.
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For the Love of Winter
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Volume Two
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Genre: A Collection of Holiday Romances
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with stories by
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Leah Miles, Vickey
Wollan, C.L. Hart, Sara J. Walker, Erika Kilmer Freidly,
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Marie Morton, Sally
Ann Murphy, Elizabeth Edgar, Vanessa Victoria Kilmer
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Warm your heart with nine enchanting tales of love. From historical winter
celebrations to modern sizzling New Year’s Eve encounters, this
anthology spans sweet to spicy romance across different eras and
realms. Whether you prefer gentle courtship or steamy embraces, this
collection has something for every romance reader.
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Mistletoe Magic, by Leah Miles:
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A holiday romance rekindles when Navy SEAL Michael
Rodriguez runs into his old flame, Nora Geller, and invites her to
his family gathering. Will they mend old wounds and find love again,
or will misunderstandings leave their hearts out in the cold?
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Happily Ever After, Take Two, by Sara Walker:
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Will Dino and Hilde’s second chance love
overcome family doubts and past mistakes for a lifetime of happiness?
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Love Under the Cold Moon, by Vanessa Kilmer:
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A headstrong Celtic woman and a reluctant Roman
heir clash and connect in an arranged marriage during the Alpine
winter festivals of 193 AD.
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Finding a Date for Christmas by Vickey Wollan:
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Joan’s going to a Christmas gala and
hires Mack on Rent-A-Date. If he reveals his secret, will he get a
second date? Can two lonely hearts find romance in time for
Christmas?
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Snowbound Hearts, by C.L. Hart:
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When a divorced couple ends up stuck in a snowbound lodge
in the Sierra Nevada mountains, it could either be the worst
Christmas ever or a second chance to make things right.
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A Fluffy White Christmas – A Tail of Love, by Sally Murphy:
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Can a half-starved stray dog help a lonely woman open up her frozen heart to a new love this
Christmas?
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Glancing over, Elizabeth saw Izzy in the window, her smile beaming out at the three of them. Then she looked at Elizabeth as if to say “It’s okay, Mom. It’s okay to love.” A shout brought her attention back to Ian and Agnes. With a surprisingly swift grace for such a large animal, Agnes had rolled to her feet and knocked Ian down. He could only laugh helplessly as Agnes settled on his back and smiled at Elizabeth, her tongue lolling.
“You two are a sight.” Elizabeth ran forward and dove at the two of them, and all three were rolling in the snow, laughing uproariously. Agnes recovered quickly and dashed away, bouncing back to playfully “boof” Ian with one large paw before racing away again to run in circles. Ian lost his balance and Elizabeth could not stop laughing.
“You’ve been ‘boofed’,” she told him, dipping her hands into the snow and throwing it at him. He ducked and returned the favor, but before Elizabeth could gather enough snow for a snowball, she was also boofed as Agnes’ affectionate pat sent her sprawling. They both lay in the snow and took turns throwing snow at Agnes, who thought this was hilarious and ran about wildly each time the cold spray hit her face. Finally, Ian rolled to his feet and helped Elizabeth to hers. Agnes promptly gave up the game and came to lean affectionately against the two of them.
“What a beauty,” Ian breathed, but he looked up and met Elizabeth’s eyes as the words left his mouth.
“She is, isn’t she?” Elizabeth said, and Ian nodded.
“Yes.” He leaned in and kissed her, a soft, friendly kiss, and when Elizabeth did not protest, he stepped closer and kissed her again. His arms went gently around her, and Elizabeth slipped her own around him, standing in the cold snow, kissing him as if in a dream.
Excerpt 2
December first. Elizabeth Jordan opened the last box of Christmas ornaments with a heavy heart, trying not to pretend she had been putting off this box on purpose. This box was a very special one, holding the ornaments of every pet she had had since she was a child: a Maltese, three Shelties, two tiny birds, and a Golden Retriever. All had lived long happy lives except one, Sam, her faithful Golden Retriever.
Sam had been lost to cancer, suddenly, painfully, and though two years had passed she still missed him very much. Her twelve-year-old daughter, Izzy, longed for another dog, but Elizabeth knew she would never be able to survive the pain of losing another dog like that. Life had no guarantees, she knew, but having also lost her husband to cancer, she felt safer keeping her heart closed.
“Mom!!” Izzy had a note in her voice that Elizabeth didn’t understand, but the high-pitched cry brought her running. Izzy stood by the French doors, staring in amazement.
“It’s Sam! Look, it’s Sam!”
Elizabeth knew it could not be Sam, but the sight of the large white dog gracefully clearing their fence to run through the backyard certainly made her think it was. Without thinking, she pulled open the doors and ran outside, Izzy on her heels, carrying the boots Elizabeth had forgotten as she raced across the yard.
“Here boy!” Elizabeth called, and the dog paused and turned back. Even as their eyes met Elizabeth knew this wasn’t Sam; this dog was either very pregnant or had recently whelped. Elizabeth had zero experience in those matters, but she clapped her hands and called. “Here! It’s okay.”
The dog loped toward her and allowed Elizabeth and Izzy to pet her majestic head as Elizabeth felt for a collar or a chip beneath her white fur. Which, upon a closer look, was matted and filthy.
“No collar,” she told Izzy, and then the dog turned away and crossed the yard, leaping into the neighbor’s yard behind them.
Not sure why, Elizabeth followed, but not before she pulled on the boots Izzy handed her. She watched curiously as the dog went up the neighbor’s front steps and tried to peer inside. Looking for her puppies? Elizabeth wondered. She didn’t know these neighbors well, only that they weren’t friendly, and their dog was a Coon Hound, who began to bark frantically at this intrusion.
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Maiya’s New Year’s Wish, by Marie Morton:
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Maiya Collins finds herself swept into an
unexpected holiday romance in the sun-kissed paradise of St. Croix.
Yet, a misunderstanding threatens to shatter her dreams. As the New
Year’s countdown approaches, she must confront her doubts. Can love
prevail, or will her island romance become another broken resolution?
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The Naughty List Nightmare, by Erika Kilmer Freidley:
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Love, traditions, and a mythical menace
collide as Thea and Bash get involved in a festive fight to save
Pittsburgh’s children.
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Winter Wonderland by Elizabeth Edgar:
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Cinderella made her own gown and found her
Prince Charming, but will they get their fairy tale ending?
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Don’t miss your chance to purchase this collection while it is available.
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Proceeds benefit First Coast Romance Writers, an independent non-profit organization that
helps writers hone their craft and expand their knowledge of the
publishing industry.
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Amazon
* Apple
* B&N
* Kobo
* Smashwords
* Books2Read
* Bookbub
* Goodreads
.
.
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The authors participating in this anthology are members of First Coast
Romance Writers (FCRW), and proceeds from this anthology benefit
their organization. FCRW is a non-profit that welcomes both published
and unpublished authors, as well as any individuals involved in
writing and publishing. The chapter is dedicated to promoting
excellence in romantic fiction through monthly meetings and workshops
in a comfortable forum. They strive to help writers establish careers
by providing innovative programs, networking opportunities and
pertinent information on effective marketing techniques. Learn more
about FCRW online at https://www.firstcoastromancewriters.com
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Website
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Follow the tour HERE for special content and a giveaway!
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~~~~~
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Dr. Judith Lucci is a Wall Street Journal and USA Today best-selling author. She is the award-winning author of the Alexandra Destephano Medical Thriller and the Michaela McPherson “Two Sleuth’s and a Dog” Crime series. She also writes psychological fiction. Her cozy series, The Artzy Chicks Mysteries focuses on a group of eccentric, talented but zany artists in their Art Gallery at a Five Star Mountain Resort in the Virginia mountains.
Anna Celeste Burke is a USA Today & Wall Street Journal bestselling author who lives in the desert near Palm Springs with her beloved husband and loudmouthed Siamese cat. A retired professor who once worked as a Disney chef, you’ll find her snooping into life’s mysteries with fun, fiction, and food!
Colleen
Fiona Quinn is a four-time USA Today bestselling author, a Kindle Scout winner, and has been listed as an Amazon Top 100 author in: Romantic Suspense; Mystery, thriller, and suspense; Mysteries, Science Fiction, Fantasy, and Horror.
Maria Grazia Swan
Kelly Hashway fully admits to being one of the most accident-prone people on the planet, but luckily she gets to write about female sleuths who are much more coordinated than she is. Maybe it was growing up watching Murder She Wrote that instilled a love of mystery, but she spends her days writing cozy mysteries. Kelly’s also a sucker for first love, which is why she writes romance under the pen name Ashelyn Drake. When she’s not writing, Kelly works as an editor and also as Mom, which she believes is a job title that deserves to be capitalized.
Kim Hunt Harris is the USA Today and Wall Street Journal best-selling author of the Trailer Park Princess Christian cozy mystery series.
Susan Boles is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling author who lives in Mississippi with her rescue mini Dachshund and rescue cat of no particular breed. You’ll find her writing mysteries centered around small southern towns with lots of great characters.
Lisa B. Thomas
Emily Selby is a Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author who lives between France and New Zealand with her husband, daughter and a multilingual rescue cat. She loves writing and reading cozy mysteries with a sprinkle of romance, full of quirky characters and set in charming little towns.
Joanna Campbell Slan
Ava Mallory is a multi-genre USA Today & Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author of what she affectionately calls Mysteries with Heart. When not dreaming up stories full of twists and turns, she’s spinning heartwarming tales of love, laughter, and a healthy dose of mystery.
Chelsea Thomas is technically two people… Married writing team Chelsea and Matthew Thomas. Chelsea and Matt have spent the last 9 years living in Los Angeles, where they have worked as screenwriters. There, they have worked with such companies as CBS, SONY, and Nickelodeon. Now, with the completion of their first cozy mystery novel, Apple Die, they are proud to say that they are novelists, too.
Sam Cheever is a USA Today and Wall Street Journal Bestselling Author who writes mystery and suspense, creating stories that draw you in and keep you eagerly turning pages. Known for writing great characters, snappy dialogue, and unique and exhilarating stories, Sam is the award-winning author of 80+ books.
