This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. A print copy of 'Winter's Embrace,' autographed by author Jennifer Patricia O'Keeffe. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.
Embrace the joy of Christmas and some yuletide cheer in this collection of five sweet holiday romances from four of today’s most entertaining authors! Featuring brand new stories from Pamela Ackerson, Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe, Cindy Lewis Smith, and Jae El Foster, this anthology will help you hold the spirit of Christmas and the magic of true love in your heart the whole year round. Meant to Be by Pamela Ackerson: Single and starting over in tiny Lorman, Mississippi, teacher Faith Anjos dives into home renovations with tools in hand and a boat from her late dad's fishing Sundays. Realtor Gabriel White becomes her unexpected ally, sharing lunches, family barbecues, and stolen kisses under patriotic park lights. But when a sassy ex-roommate stirs trouble and life's curveballs hit hard, Faith learns that true love thrives not just in perfect houses, but in the messy magic of Christmas cheer and forever promises. Window Shopping by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe: Single and sentimental, Whitney dives into downtown's dazzling displays—animatronic toys, frosted windows, violin carols—chasing Christmas cheer alone after helping coworker Chad remotely. Fate intervenes with a literal bump into charming Chad, leading to diner laughs, Santa's lap shenanigans, and hand-holding revelations. As they embrace kid-at-heart traditions amid bustling streets and Santa's sly matchmaking, a parade invite blossoms into dinner-and-movie dreams. Proving the season's sparkle uncovers love when least expected. Mr. Hollister’s Christmas by Cindy Lewis Smith: Thirty-three and resigned to spinsterhood in Goldfield, Josie channels her Georgia Christmas memories into a perfect Eve nuptial for Rose and Hank, footed by taciturn rancher Clint Hollister. Their prickly partnership blooms amid pine boughs, fiddle waltzes, and whispered regrets from a saloon-fueled mail-order mishap. When a wheel-wrecked ride home unveils Clint's hidden role in her arrival—and his lingering loneliness—snowy revelations ignite a romance as timeless as the stars above the Llano River. What the Snow Blew In by Jae El Foster: Snowbound in Deerborne, Connecticut, during a record-breaking blizzard, editor Carina Whitaker hunkers down with wine, her cat Tom Boy, and cherished Christmas ornaments—until a shivering mailman named Jerry delivers a package and seeks refuge from the storm. As power flickers out and drifts bury her home, candlelit evenings spark unlikely conversations, shared meals, and cozy traditions that warm more than the gas fireplace. Amid reading aloud by firelight and piano carols, holiday magic proves that what the snow blows in might just be the love she's been waiting for. The Magic of Mistletoe by Jennifer Patricia O’Keeffe: Sarah's winter break turns into survival mode: dodging doll-throwing dollops, sweeping glass shards, and sacrificing her office sanctuary for peace between battling children. Amid cold coffee confessions and contract close-calls with hubby Thomas, festive fumbles—from runaway pillows to reluctant photos—test their bond. Yet as grilled cheeses soothe tears and starry-eyed surprises arrive post-midnight, mistletoe weaves its spell, transforming holiday havoc into heartfelt harmony and impossible dreams come true.
“I knew I should have just gotten everyone gift cards this year,” she muttered as she eyeballed the packages. She’d feel weird bringing Christmas gifts to people once the holiday was over and everyone had tired of it. “I could have just mailed the gift cards, but no… I had to shop like a crazy woman.” She looked from the tree to Tom Boy, who appeared to be sound asleep. “At least you’re here to open gifts on Christmas morning. Speaking of which, I hope you don’t gift me with a dead mouse like you did next year. With all this snow and as cold as it is, all the mice are probably dead already anyway.”
Tom Boy lifted his tail and then slapped it against the pillow, letting her know he’d heard her comment. She chuckled at him, loving the way he could appear sound asleep and still seem to notice every word she said to him.
She tried to turn her focus back to her book, but it was difficult. She wanted to play some background music, but she couldn’t. Every piece of technology in her house was either battery-dead or ran off electricity. There was an old piano in the living room, one that had belonged to her mother, but Carina hadn’t played a single note on it since she was eight. She’d never had the talent of her mother, even after three years of lessons.
“Now would be a perfect time for some brave carolers to brave the snow and entertain me,” she said with a sigh. More than the lack of electricity, the silence was growing on her nerves. This time of year, her house was normally filled with classic Christmas albums blaring from her stereo, and she missed it. With the gifts that wouldn’t be opened any time soon and the lack of holiday tunes filling the space, it was beginning to feel less like Christmas and more like an episode of The Twilight Zone.
Giving up on reading, she closed her book, set it on the table beside her, and took her glass in exchange. After a long swig, she stood and walked to her Christmas tree. Some of the ornaments on it were incredibly old and had hung on her grandmother’s tree for as long as she could remember. Others were ornaments her mother had collected, or ones that Carina had made for her when she was a child. Every single one of them held sentimental value to her, and her eyes fondly traced over them until her glass was empty. Then, she hurried back into the kitchen to refill it.
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