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Small Gifts - Excerpts
WHEN RUDOLPH WAS KIDNAPPED by Christine DeSmet • Romantic Mystery
When her pet reindeer, Rudolph, is stolen from the live animal holiday display in her small town on the shores of Lake Superior, first-grade teacher Crystal Hagan has a big problem on her hands: her students fear that Christmas will be canceled. Ironically, the prime suspect is the old man Henri LeBarron who played Santa long ago before he became a recluse. Crystal marches to his mansion known as the "North Pole" and is shocked to meet Henri's mysterious son, Peter, who acts even more curmudgeonly and secretive than his father. To her even greater shock, he admits to kidnapping Rudolph and he won't give him back. Peter LeBarron finds his lonely existence charmed by the first-grade teacher who comes to his door with homemade chocolate pudding cake as a bribe for getting her reindeer back peaceably. This isn't the type of woman he's used to in his jet-set world. But is she the type of woman he can trust with the secrets of the "North Pole" and his own past?
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SPECIAL DELIVERY by Carrie S. Masek • Ghost Story
An elderly woman's empty life takes an unexpected turn after she accepts a ride from a stranger on Christmas Eve. One sad Christmas Eve, Margaret Parkhurst is tending the grave of her daughter and unborn grandchild and misses the bus back to the "home" where she now lives. She accepts a ride from a stranger, a swarthy but kind-looking man named Nicholas Myrna. On the way home, she hears the cries of an infant and insists he stop the car. Margaret ends up saving the child's life. When the home Nick drives her to turns out to be her idea of Paradise, she realizes that she's dead and Nick is St. Nicholas, the guardian saint of children. He gives her the choice of remaining in Paradise with her lost daughter and grandchild or becoming one of his helpers and saving other children
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A KISS UNDER THE MISTLETOE by Julie Skerven • Romantic Suspense
Five days before Christmas, Joanna Barnes finds herself breaking into Nick Maxwell's lakeside cabin to look for clues to her brother's disappearance. The last thing she expects to find is not at all what she bargained for when she meets the man of her dreams.
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WINTER ENCHANTMENT by Jane Toombs • Regency Romance
The Earl of Malden, cynical and embittered, is not planning to celebrate Christmas at the Hall. He's vowed he has no use for friends, much less love. But when a cat falls into his bedroom through the chimney, a baby is left on his doorstep and a damsel in distress needs rescuing from a blizzard, his vow begins to come unraveled.
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DECK THE HALLS by Cassie Walder • Paranormal Suspense
While she isn't at all in a Christmas mood, Laura Hall can't say that she's sorry to see this miserable year come to a close. In one short March evening, Laura lost her husband, her father-in-law, mother-in-law, as well as her brother-in-law and his wife. If Laura hadn't been at a trade show several states away, she might have been murdered as well. The police have no clue as to the identity of the murderer. As such, their deaths go unpunished. Running the family business gave Laura a reason to live when all she had wanted to do was to curl up in a ball and die from the pain of losing her family. But of all the things she's lost this year, Laura misses her mind the most. Even though she buried her family in the East Cemetery in the family plot, she keeps seeing them. The departed members of the clan are haunting the factory. And they aren't particularly happy. Enter Jack Decker, psychologist and parapsychologist, college professor, and ghost hunter. The sparks between them are immediate-both angry and romantic. Jack is looking for solid, verifiable proof of ghosts. Laura's his best chance of ever getting that. But Laura values her reputation as a level-headed businesswoman too much to be able to admit to the existence of ghosts. Christmas or no Christmas, the danger isn't over yet. The murderer is still out there. Will Laura be the next target? Not if Jack can help it.
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COUNTDOWN TO A CHRISTMAS WEDDING by Karen Wiesner
Contemporary Inspirational Romance
Craig Stevens is determined to tell Christie of his feelings for her once and for all. But how does a painfully shy man reveal his heart without voicing the words that could lead to rejection? Christie Renata Zondervon grew up being passed from one foster family to another. All she's ever wanted is a family, especially at Christmas-time. When she met Craig's brother, she thought she'd found the man to build that family with, and she was devastated when it didn't work out. Craig has been there for Christie since the day they met. He's dried her tears, held her hand, listened to her talk about her hopes and fears at any time of day or night. He believes in her even when she doesn't believe in herself. She's never looked at him romantically before?until he invites her to go to Olympia, Washington to spend Christmas with him and his family. For the first time, Craig begins to show her his heart, and she begins to see him in a whole new light. Craig has given himself twelve days to convince Christie he can be the man of her dreams. Now it's a countdown to a Christmas wedding or bust!
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