A Halloween Decorating Idea by Kristin Wallace

I can’t believe it’s October already! In so many ways time seems to have stopped mid-March and yet the calendar keeps changing.  

I wanted to share something a little more lighthearted this month. It’s a Halloween decorating idea that is super cute and easy for even non-crafty people (which I definitely am) can do. 

 

Now I did not come up with this idea on my own. I was in Party City looking for decorations to put up in my apartment for my roommate’s birthday a couple weeks ago. Since the Halloween decorations were already out in full force, I looked around and came upon a display of clear round ornaments with tiny Halloween-themed lights inside them. 

 

At first I wanted to buy the ornaments, but of course, they were just for the display for the lights. Still, I loved the idea so much that I decided to make some for my apartment. 

 

I bought 8 sets of lights, including ones with tiny pumpkins, ghosts, spiders, and bats, as well as simple colored lights. I also bought a string of lights with pumpkins on them. Mine came from Party City, but I’m sure you can find similar lights at other stores. 

 

Then I bought clear plastic balls at Michaels. Again, you might have another craft store that sells something like that. Since Christmas décor is also already out they aren’t hard to find. 

 

NOTE: Make sure you get ornaments that come with two halves that you fit together. If you get the regular ornaments with only a small hole at the top the lights won’t fit. (I realized this after buying the wrong kind of ornaments.)

 

Then you put batteries in the lights, put them inside one half of an ornament, and snap the two halves together. Then you can hang them wherever you want. 

 

It turned out really nice. 

 

The best thing is, I can change out the lights inside the ornaments for different holidays. I’ll probably try fall colors for Thanksgiving and then red & green for Christmas. 

 

Do you have any cool Halloween decorating ideas? Please share them with me! 

 

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of sweet contemporary and inspirational romance filled with Love, Laughter, and a Leap of Faith. She is the author of three popular series, Covington Falls Chronicles, Shellwater Key Tales, and Palm Cove Tales. 

Christmas in July Bargain Reads by Kristin Wallace

Even though temps are in the 90s (at least where I live) we have this fun tradition of celebrating  Christmas In July. Hallmark Channel runs their Christmas movies. Stores have holiday specials. I thought I'd get in on the act by putting a couple of my Christmas-themed books on sale for $.99 cents. This month you can download the Christmas In Shellwater Key and Second Chance Christmas.


You can get them both for 99 cents on Amazon. HOWEVER, if you are an Amazon Prime member you can get them for free.


Christmas in Shellwater Key (Boxset) - Now on sale for .99 cents!
Shellwater Key Tales

This boxset contains 3 Shellwater Key Christmas novellas. The main stories in the series center around three childhood friends who revive the old Paradise Dinner Theatre. The holiday novellas venture beyond the theatre.

Finding You At Christmas

After years of looking out for everyone else, preacher’s daughter Janie Worthy is ready to get a life of her own. But on the way to her first date, her car decides to quit, and a stranger on a motorcycle becomes her savior. The short time she spends with Caleb Montgomery on the side of the road might be the most romantic interlude Janie can remember. Of course, it’s all a fantasy, and soon Caleb is riding off into the night.

Until he shows up again in Shellwater Key. When Caleb decides to stay in town for Christmas, Janie can’t help but wonder if she is the reason. Except people don’t fall in love in one night…Right?

Falling For You At Christmas

Pregnant and alone at Christmas, Cassie Stevens decides to take a holiday vacation in Shellwater Key before her baby girl is born. Then she discovers her reservation is lost and there is literally no room left at the inn. Thankfully, single inkeeper, Jared Lathem, offers to let Cassie stay with him and his young daughter. She won't have to sleep in a manger, but being in close poximity to the gorgeous Jared might be dangerous t her piece of mind...and heart.

But the magic of the season can change everything. Cassie is suddenly surrounded by a group of friends, who all seem to have names relating to another important birth long ago. And when Christmas Eve brings an unexpected delivery, Cassie will discover that miracles are still possible even in modern times. 

Loving You At Christmas

Annaliese Matheson once had a perfect life, with a successful career on Broadway and a loving husband. Then her husband died. Devastated, she left the stage behind and only returned when her best friend, Grayson Kendall, asked her to perform at The Paradise Dinner Theatre in tiny Shellwater Key, Florida.

Annaliese is convinced she’ll never love again, but when she steps in to direct to Middle School Christmas Show, nothing will ever be the same. A man unlike any she’s known awakens her buried heart, giving her a second chance at forever with the last person she would have expected. It will take a miracle for Annaliese to let someone else in and embrace happiness again...but then it is Christmas.

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Second Chance Christmas - Now on sale for .99 cents!

Palm Cove Tales

This book is part of my Palm Cove Tales series. It’s the follow-up to the Heiress Games trilogy. It features desperate single mom, Mia Reynolds, the cousin of security expert Damon Grant (who appeared in the Heiress Games books).

Ten years ago, Mia Reynolds and Winthrop Barrington spent one magical Christmas together. Until lies and manipulation at the hands of Win’s wealthy family tore them apart and left Mia to raise a daughter on her own. Now, both of them have returned to their hometown of Palm Cove, Florida. Once they uncover the truth, can Mia and Win rediscover the love they lost and celebrate a Second Chance Christmas with their daughter?

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Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and sweet contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. 

A beach read to take you away...by Kristin Wallace

It's been such a craaaaaaazy year. I barely know what day it is, let alone the month. The world seems to have stopped sometime in March, like a weird Twilight episode. Since most of us have been on

lockdown, it might be a good time to take a virtual vacation. How does Florida sound? A quaint beach town filled with characters you will love.

I'm talking about my Shellwater Key Tales series. The books have been out for awhile, but now I'm getting ready to release a 4-book Box Set, "Four Tales From Paradise". (I already put together a box set with three holiday novellas.)

These books follow 3 childhood friends who return to their hometown when their lives fall apart. They become involved in reviving the old Paradise Dinner Theatre. 

Four Tales From Paradise – Shellwater Key Tales 

Three childhood friends return to their hometown at a crossroads in life. One slightly past-her-prime dinner theatre in need of some TLC will show them that love and healing is still possible by the time the curtain rises.

Left Turn At Paradise (Layla & Grayson’s story)

Layla McCarthy has spent most of her life trying to outrun the wild reputation of the mother who abandoned her as a baby. Raised by her grandmother, one of the first female surgeons in Florida. Layla puts all her faith in building a career, only to lose everything when her business partner absconds with the company funds. Then she learns her grandmother and great aunt have bought an old, rundown dinner theater in her hometown of Shellwater Key.

Bringing The Paradise back to life will play a key role in bringing about a brand new act in her life. Including a romance with Grayson Kendall, the enigmatic and sexy director hired to produce the first show. At the same time, the mother who abandoned her as a baby returns seeking redemption.

Can she learn to forgive her mother and open her heart to love? 

Coming Home to Paradise (Beth’s story)

This is the companion book to Left Turn At Paradise, telling the story of Layla’s mother, Beth McCarthy.

After years of trying to outrun the memories and guilt, Beth McCarthy has come home to Shellwater Key to make amends. She has survived deadbeat relationships, single motherhood, and a fight with cancer. Now, she faces the most difficult battle of her life…finding a way to connect with the legendary mother she was never able to please…and earning the forgiveness of the daughter who has every reason to hate her. She might even have a chance to find the missing piece of her heart when Layla’s father comes back to Shellwater Key looking for answers. 

Straight On Toward Paradise (Emma & Reece’s story)

As a teenager, Emma Bertram’s perfect family splintered when her father left her mother for another woman. Anger and bitterness, along with the demands of being a professional chef, have kept Emma apart from her father and his new family for years. Then her father and stepmother are killed in a car accident. Returning to her childhood home of Shellwater Key, Emma learns she has become guardian of her two half-sisters.

What Emma knows about raising children could fit on a restaurant napkin. Then there’s her father’s law partner, Reece Casings, who has no trouble telling Emma what she’s doing wrong. The buttoned-up, so-wrong-for-her, but oh-so-handsome lawyer makes Emma’s blood boil. Or is it heart race? 

In the end, Emma will have to learn how to forgive her father…and herself…and trust in love and faith again if she ever hopes to serve up a happily ever after for everyone.

Last Stop At Paradise (Callie & Noah’s story)

When Callie Dalton’s charismatic televangelist husband falls into disgrace, she and their children is taken down with him. Now, he’s dead, and Callie is left with no other choice but to return to Shellwater Key…and the memories of the mother who tragically died there when Callie was just a girl.

A job as the House Manager at the Paradise Dinner Theatre seems like a chance to start over. However, every instinct warns that the sexy and mysterious carpenter, Noah Johnson, could be the most dangerous complication in her life…and her wary heart. 

When she learns his secrets, will she be able to face her own tragic past and embrace the possibility of a love that will finally set her free?

Four Tales from Paradise will launch in a few days so look for it. All of the Shellwater Key Tales books are in Kindle Unlimited right now so you can scoop them up for free if you're a subscriber. 

Check my Amazon Author Page for all of my books. 

Kristin Wallace is a USA Today Bestselling Author of sweet contemporary and inspirational romance filled with "Love, Laughter, and a Leap of Faith". It's not too late to pick up her holiday box set featuring three Christmas romances (Finding You At Christmas, Falling For You At Christmas, and Loving You At Christmas). Christmas in Shellwater Key is available on Kindle Unlimited so go ahead and scoop it up now. 

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Giving Birth to a Book Cover —by Delsora Lowe

One of the most exciting things about writing a book, besides the words THE END 😊 (Okay, in full disclosure, there are many other things that are exciting too,) is designing the cover.

Now, disclaimer, I DO NOT design my own covers. But I have found an incredible cover designer who appears to be able to read my mind, across country, between California and Maine.

As I write and edit, ad nauseum, my mind is whirling with images of what the cover will look like. When I have spare moments, or can’t think creatively to write words, I search for photos that might fit my vision of the perfect cover. So, by the time I am ready to contract for my cover, I know exactly what I want.

Okay – another disclaimer. I THINK I know exactly what I want.

In my imagination, I can see the cover, but having the brain translate the vision into words, not so much. That’s where my file of photos come in. Also, I am not an artist. So, what I think might make a great cover, never does.

For example, for The Legacy of Parkers Point, book one of Serenity Harbor, I had an evening image picked out of the front of a café. Picture dark background with twinkling lights sparkling EVERYWHERE, off trees and a “loving” couple.

Enter my cover artist. She is called an artist for a reason.

I sent Karen (of Covers by Karen) my ideas through the photos I collected and book covers of authors I love that showed what I want to say in a cover. I also described the setting of my book.

She pointed out that there was no space that wasn’t too busy to add the title, series title, or author name. But she also knew the novella series was set in a seacoast town on an island connected to the mainland by a bridge and that book one was set in the fall.

Since this was my first time making a cover, we did a lot of tweaks. It was a learning process for both of us. For me, understanding what makes a good cover background. And for Karen, learning to anticipate what I really wanted.

The first try with couple we found on depositphotos. But author name didn't show up well.

I asked Karen to use my author name off my website, But too dark.

Website-branded author font, but white shadowing added to make it lighter and readable.
And we tweaked the background along the way.

For The Rancher Needs a Wife, my book to be released in October, I sent her a photo taken by my daughter while on a hike in Colorado.

When I saw the photo, I knew it was a perfect example of what I envisioned for my cover, a fence and mountains. And miraculous teal-blue skies on a fall day, that fit the setting of my story. Karen loved the picture. Plus, it had the correct resolution.

So, in this case, with that one photo the search for the cover background ended. But not the tweaking of the cover.

When I chose the model for my hero in The Prince’s Son, book one of the Cowboys of Mineral Springs, I also took notes on models for the next three books and socked them away in my file. Of course, a year later, when I worked on the cover for book two, The Rancher Needs a Wife, weighed down with half a dozen links from Period Images, I had to start over. Same model, but oooh, so many pose choices. I went back and forth, forever…and narrowed it down to three, then sent them out to my critique partners. Amazingly, we all agreed.

A special thanks to my critique partners. I have run every cover by them and they always have good suggestions. The best part is when all of us say, THAT’S THE ONE!

I sent the cover model photo to Karen, and she sent out the first rendition of the cover.

Loved it!

Except…

I loved the white writing for the title, BUT it got a bit lost in the clouds, as did the hero’s white hat. I loved the red in the author name. And I loved the feathery look of the tree branches. I looked at the original photo and picked out the section of the photo she had used. BUT, I REALLY wanted the fence. And the title needed a bit of shadowing to make it pop a bit more. Luckily Karen can interpret what I’m looking for, even when I’m not sure what I really want or how to say it. So, Karen used a different portion of the background photo.

Loved it!

Except…

I did miss the feathery tree, but to get the fence, I had to sacrifice the tree. Maybe we could lower the sky a tad, so that patch of blue would make not only his hat stand out more, but make the hero stand out from the background more.

What came next was WOW! Karen worked her magic by moving the background photo over, zooming in a little, and lightening it up a bit. She changed the title from white to red. And everything popped.

Here are some other examples of the cover production progression. This is the cover for Come Dance With Me, book two of the Serenity Harbor series.

I wanted the heroine to have dark hair and a clip in her hair for the final romantic dance, before her world gets turned upside down…and not in a good way. We also tweaked the background several times, as I recall. And as I also recall, we made more than three attempts at this cover.

I really loved the cover, but the hero was all wrong from what I envisioned.

Yay - found a couple I loved. Except hair color was wrong.

Karen changed the hair color and added a barrette I found on a free clip art site.

Although I felt like a pest, tweaking here and there, that was only my second cover. And working with Karen on both the first and second covers, gave her an idea of my working style. And mine of hers, cool, calm, collected, and ready to do whatever I needed to make a great cover.

In Moonlighting, book three of Serenity Harbor, we got the cover right the first time around. Although, the following year, I had Karen update both this cover and Come Dance With Me to show they were holidays reads, by adding ribbon banners at the top.

Each author and cover artist have their own strategy for working together to make a cover. Mine is simple. I know what I want, but I really don’t. 😊 I tell Karen. She works her magic. Sometimes several times. And voila!

Finding the right cover artist is crucial and may take working with several before you hit on a good working relationship. I got lucky the first time around.  Karen gets me and understands what I want. Sure, it takes some back and forth work on both our parts. That’s to be expected. After all, the process is similar to writing, editing A LOT, and finally releasing a book.

But as I mentioned, it is a fun ride.

And oh, so exciting, when that cover finally appears on the front of your “baby” on release day.

Thanks for stopping by today. When you chose a book, what stands out in a cover that convinces you to buy the book?

~ cottages to cabins ~ keep the home fires burning ~

Delsora Lowe writes small town sweet romances and contemporary westerns from the mountains of Colorado to the shores of Maine.

Author of the Starlight Grille series, Serenity Harbor Maine novellas, and the Cowboys of Mineral Springs series, Lowe has also authored short romances for Woman’s World magazine.

Social Media Links:
Author website: www.delsoralowe.com
Author FaceBook page: fb.me/delsoraloweauthor
Amazon Author page: https://www.amazon.com/Delsora-Lowe/e/B01M61OM39/ref=ntt_dp_epwbk_0
Books2Read Author page: https://www.books2read.com/ap/8GWm98/Delsora-Lowe
BookBub Author Page: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/delsora-lowe-93c6987f-129d-483d-9f5a-abe603876518
Goodreads Author Page: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16045986.Delsora_Lowe

Celebrating A New Release by Kristin Wallace

I’m excited to give you a glimpse of my new book SECOND CHANCE HERO, which will be out March 26. It’s part of a new trilogy in the Palm Cove Tales.

Second Chance Hero is the follow-up to The Heiress Games trilogy, featuring Serena Douglas, who not only lost the Armington fortune, but also managed to escape the competition without falling in love. Or so she thought…

After losing the Heiress Games, Serena Douglas, has been reduced to living off the largess of a pampered pig and the benevolent graces of her childhood nemesis, Eve Bennett. Then Serena learns she has a chance to win a fortune of her own. Deceased heiress, Victoria Armington, has arranged for the other Armington descendants to secure a $10 million trust, including Serena’s sister Isabella. The catch? In order to gain control of the trusts, they must all be gainfully employed. Serena is determined to get her hands on the trust. Not for herself, but for the sake of Isabella, who needs the money to fight leukemia. All she has to do is convince someone to hire a former heiress with no job skills. Her search leads to Damon Grant, the man she’s been trying to forget since she was a teenager. All she has to do is convince him she can help protect a bald show cat.

Security expert, Damon Grant, nearly lost his life when a bereaved mother tried to take out the participants of the Heiress Games. He’s been stuck in Palm Cove trying to recover. Just when he’s finally ready to escape, Damon finds himself agreeing to protect a Sphynx cat named King Tut, who’s been threatened if his owner doesn’t remove him from a prestigious cat show. Damon never figured on hiring an assistant for the job, and certainly not pampered princess, Serena Douglas. She’s been an enticing thorn in his side since he was a teenager. By rights he should hate her. She’s spoiled, arrogant, and she used to torment his best friend, Eve Bennett. Still, that’s never stopped him from wanting Serena, or saving her, even when it cost him everything.

As Serena and Damon work together to uncover the villain threatening King Tut, they’re also working overtime to resist an attraction that’s been simmering for decades. Can they overcome past pain, and Serena’s past behavior, to find a second chance at love? 

Here's an Excerpt:

Serena grabbed a glass of champagne and swallowed the contents in a few gulps. 

“Easy there, Your Highness,” a deep, masculine voice drawled in her ear.

Serena choked, nearly spitting out the last sip of champagne. Damon Grant smacked her

gently on the back, and she almost jumped out of her skin as his touch burned through her silk top like a cattle brand. 

She took a strategic step back. “What are you doing here?”

“I was invited.”

“Why?” 

Serena knew the question was unforgivably rude, but she was in a pretty unforgiving mood. How dare he show up and make her relive those moments in the grand salon? And how dare he look so delicious? Damon had red hairfor heaven’s sake, which wasn’t supposed to be sexy on a man. Okay, his hair was more of a dark brown burnished with deep auburn. Not like his cousins, Chloe and Mia, who both had flaming red locks. Plus, his eyes were strange. Saved from ordinary brown by a touch of gold, like an Old Spanish coin. 

One rust-colored brow arched as Damon regarded her with barely disguised amusement. “Maybe because I helped save Matilda’s life?”

“I helped save Matilda’s life,” she groused. “I stood between Matilda and Mrs. Palmer’s gun.”

“I know.” Damon gazed at her for a long moment. “You nearly got yourself killed, Your Highness.”

“So did you.” Her eyes automatically swept downward. Somewhere under his black, button-down shirt, a bullet wound marred his chest. 

“I’m okay.” His tone went soft and gentle. Or as gentle as a man like him could be. 

Shuddering, she lifted her gaze back to meet his. Why did he have to look at her like that? Like he saw past the mask she carefully kept in place? “When did you get out of the hospital?”

He seemed willing to go along with the new direction. “Last week.” He looked across the pool deck to where his cousin stood with Eve Bennett. “I’ve been laid up in Chloe’s apartment above the bakery.”

“She’s taking good care of you?” 

“Chloe’s been stuffing me full of pastries.” Damon chuckled, a sound that seemed to sweep right down her spine, like it always had. “If I don’t get out of there soon, I’ll end up weighing three hundred pounds.”

“I don’t think you’ll ever be out of shape,” Serena said, trying to ignore the sizzle that warmed her veins as she took him in. Damon was built like fortress, with muscles decorating his muscles. He towered over just about everyone here, except for Killian, but with even more bulk. Killian had a quarterback’s sleek build. Damon looked like someone who could tear you apart with his bare hands…and smile while he did it.

Still, Damon wasn’t invincible. He hadn’t been immune the effects of a bullet, in the end. He’d almost been killed. Saving her. 

Without thinking, Serena put her hand on the place where the bullet had entered his chest. “Did I ever say thank you?”

Under her palm, his muscles tensed. “For what?”

“If you hadn’t pushed me out of the way—”

“—If you hadn’t jumped in front of Mrs. Palmer’s gun.” Damon placed a hand over hers, trapping her fingers tight against his shirt. The warmth of his skin burned through the cotton fabric. 

For a moment, the sounds of the party receded. She and Damon might have been alone on the patio. “I guess we both did something stupid.”

“Saving you was not stupid.” His words were sharp, firm, and definite.

Her lips curved in a sardonic smile. “There aren’t many people who would agree with you.”

“There aren’t many people who know your true worth, Serena.” He stepped closer, until he was an inch away. “They don’t know what you hide under that glamorous shell.” 

Her entire body seemed to flutter. “What do you think I hide?”

“A heart.”

            “Take that back.” The words came out breathy, rather than resolute, which she blamed entirely on the fact that he was standing so close. Damon had always caused her brain to short circuit, and it was as dangerous now as it had been all those years ago.

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Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. SECOND CHANCE HERO will launch March 26th. 

Favorite Romantic Movies Round 2...by Kristin Wallace

Last year for (post) Valentine’s Day, I wrote about my favorite romantic movies. I had so much fun that I decided to do follow-up with Round 2 of some classic rom-coms.

Crazy Rich Asians

We’ll start with a recent movie. This movie was a hug hit last year and was unique in that is featured an all-Asian cast. American Rachel falls in love with handsome Nick Young, not knowing he is basically royalty back home in Singapore. When she travels to Singapore for his friend’s wedding, she’s introduced to the life of the “crazy” rich. A modern fairy tale where Cinderella is smart and more than capable of standing up to his mother. 

You’ve Got Mail

Tom Hanks & Meg Ryan made the list last year with Sleepless in Seattle. In the story, a children’s book store owner is trying to save her store from the mega-bookstore opening around the corner. The two are also unknowingly talking in an online chat room. She doesn’t know he’s the guy putting her out of business. He doesn’t want to tell her once he finds out. Then he has to make her fall in love with him…the real him. Not the online version. (BTW, the choice of song makes even more sense when you know that You’ve Got Mail is a modern version of an old Judy Garland movie.

Notting Hill

“I’m just a girl, standing in front a boy, asking him to love her.” Only the “girl” is the most famous woman on the planet, played ironically by Julia Roberts. The “boy” is a regular Joe bookstore owner played by Hugh Grant. It’s sort of Cinderella in reverse, which is a nice twist. 

Sweet Home Alabama

An up-and-coming New York fashion designer, played by Reece Witherspoon, has gotten engaged to an amazing man (Patrick Dempsey!) Unfortunately, she never quite got divorced from her first husband. She must return to her Alabama hometown to get the divorce papers signed. But does she still love her childhood sweetheart? You bet she does!

Pretty In Pink

This was the peak of Molly Ringwald fame, not to mention one of the best 80s teen movies. Poor girl Andie is wooed by rich guy, Blane while her quirky best friend, Ducky, pines for her in secret. She sews a pink dress and gets the rich guy (although many secretly thought she should have ended up with Ducky). 

Enchanted

A Disney fairytale with a fun twist. Giselle is a classic Cinderella/Snow White-type girl in the animated world of Andalasia. She’s all set to marry her prince (after knowing him for 1 day). Before the wedding, the groom’s evil stepmother throws her down a well and she ends up in the real world of New York City…where she meets a gorgeous single father (Patrick Dempsey again!) 

So what do you think? Do you have a favorite romantic movie? Share it here!

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational and contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. Look for her upcoming release, an all new Palm Cove Tale, SECOND CHANCE HERO next month. 

Spotlight on Second Chance Christmas by Kristin Wallace

I get to do a special "guest" post this month as we celebrate holiday romances. My latest Christmas romance launched as part of the Sweet Christmas Kisses 5 box set (which you can download for only 99 cents), but now I am publishing my story as a single title. 

SECOND CHANCE CHRISTMAS is part of my Palm Cove Tales series. It’s the follow-up to the Heiress Games trilogy, which launched this spring. This tale features desperate single mom, Mia Reynolds, the cousin of security expert Damon Grant (who appeared in the Heiress Games books). Mia has been hiding a very big secret about her daughter and now the truth is about to be revealed. 

Ten years ago, Mia Reynolds and Winthrop Barrington spent one magical Christmas together. Until lies and manipulation at the hands of Win’s wealthy family tore them apart and left Mia to raise a daughter on her own. Now, both of them have returned to their hometown of Palm Cove, Florida. Once they uncover the truth about what happened, can Mia and Win rediscover the love they once lost and celebrate a Second Chance Christmas with their daughter?

Now here’s an excerpt from Chapter 1…

Mia eventually left Damon and Riley, who were hanging up posters in her new room, while she went back to get the last box from her car. 

Serena met her at the bottom of the stairs. “Oh, you haven’t changed yet?”
            Mia frowned. “Why would I change now? I’ve been moving and there’s still a lot to sort out.”

“Yes, but you can’t conduct an interview looking like that.” Serena wrinkled her nose. “Not the best first impression.”

Mia gaped in astonishment. “What interview?”

“For your new job, of course.” Serena smiled as though she’d done the world a favor.

“What new job?” Mia looked over at her sister for an explanation, since Serena seemed to be speaking in code.

Chloe grinned. “She has a great opportunity lined up for you.”

“She does?” Mia swiveled back toward Serena. “You do?”

“An old friend of mine recently moved back to town to take over his family’s company and he’s in need of a new executive assistant,” Serena said. “The previous one who worked for his grandfather retired, too.”

“And he’s willing to hire me, just like that? No interview or anything?” Mia asked, amazed that a job offer was being laid out on the table so easily. Even more amazing, the job offer came courtesy of Serena Douglas. “Why are you so willing to help me anyway?”

“Why shouldn’t I help you?”

Because it was Serena Douglas, and she never went out of her way to do anything nice. 

Her sister seemed to understand what Mia was thinking because Chloe sidled closer. “I know it’s weird, but just go with it.”

Serena looked over at her. “Why is my job offer weird?”

“You’re not exactly known for your charitable nature,” Chloe said, her voice full of sarcasm.

Serena straightened, her “off with their heads” look in full force. “I’m workingon that, all right?”

Chloe grinned and shook her head. “I know, but you’re gonna have to give the rest of us time to catch up to the new you.”

“This is what I get for trying to be nice,” Serena murmured, before turning to Mia. “Listen, the job offer is real, and yes, he’s willing to hire you. Actually, Win said he knew you, and wanted to help out.”

Mia almost fell over. “Win? As in Winthrop Barrington?”

Serena stared at her in confusion. “Yes, that’s right. You know him? Well, of course, you probably do know who he is. The Barringtons are one of the most prominent families in town. His grandmother’s family is just as important.”

Panic gripped her like a vise. Win Barrington was living in Palm Cove again? He was supposed to be working for some big corporation in New York. That was the only reason she’d agreed to move back home. “I can’t work for him!” 

“Well, why not?” Serena began to look insulted. “You have an objection to a regular paycheck?”

Chloe put a hand on Mia’s arm. “Honey, calm down. Win is a pretty decent guy, for a North-sider, and you know Barrington Enterprises is stable. It’s been around forever.”

“No, you don’t understand,” Mia said. “He’s not supposed to be in Palm Cove anymore.”

“Why do you care if Win Barrington lives here?” Chloe asked. 

“Yes, I don’t know why you’re freaking out,” Serena said. “Anyway, it’s a little late to protest now. He’ll be here any minute to discuss the job.”

This could not be happening. In town less than a day and already disaster was striking. “No, no, no, no!”

The bell above the door jingled and a tall, dark-haired man in an expensive-looking suit strolled into the bakery. Familiar blue-green eyes found hers and the room spun.

“You!” she breathed.

He gave a half-smile and a shrug. “Hello Mia.”

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Kristin Wallace is a USA Today bestselling author of inspirational and sweet contemporary romance filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. She is the author of 3 popular series, Covington Falls Chronicles, Shellwater Key Tales and Palm Cove Tales. Look for Serena and Damon's story, Second Chance Hero, coming soon! For more info about her books, visit Kristin's Website.