Synopsis

Sparkle In The Snow Leads To So Much More

Celeste Nicholas has always preferred to keep to herself in her hometown of Pine Gulch, Idaho…until she becomes an instant celebrity! When one of her children’s stories becomes a major success, she’s suddenly the talk of the town. Celeste should be gloriously happy…but something, someone, special is still missing from her life. Could the return of her childhood crush be the answer?

Flynn Delaney has moved back home for his daughter’s sake. Yet all the millionaire’s resources can’t help the little girl heal from the tragic loss of her mother. Shy librarian Celeste and her stories do hold some indefinable magic, though. Flynn came home looking for support—can he find that, and true love, in the one who got away?

Synopsis

Celebrate the magic of Christmas in Haven Point with New York Times bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne, where hope, home and happily-ever-after are as close as your holiday stocking…

Christmas is the last thing on Cole Barrett’s mind this year. He’s barely hanging on trying to care for his two grieving children since his ex-wife died in a tragic accident. For the reclusive Cole, this is no time for gift-giving and celebration—and certainly not for a sunny-natured optimist to blow into his screwed-up life.

Physician Devin Shaw has long researched the curative powers of Lake Haven’s mineral waters. Unfortunately, the hot springs are on Barrett property, forcing Devin to strike a bargain with the ranch’s attractively gruff owner: she’ll give Cole’s children a magical Christmas, and Cole will allow her patients access to the springs. But can she work her holiday magic to heal the Barrett family’s battered hearts—and her own?

Tips for a Stress-less Holiday Season by Bestselling Author RaeAnne Thayne

Every year as the holidays approach, I seem to face them with the same curious mix of anticipation and dread.

I love so many things about this time of year. Wonderful memories created with family, the many kindnesses I see everywhere, the reminder that no matter what holidays we celebrate, we all seem to pause this time of year to focus on the things we find most important.

While I treasure the music, the food and the traditions, it is undoubtedly a time that can be filled with stress. The shopping, the cooking, the cleaning, the houseguests. All can combine to make me feel somewhere far south of jolly.

That is the case for single father and rancher Cole Barrett, the hero of Evergreen Springs, the latest book in my Haven Point series. He seems to be having stress piled upon stress—until local doctor Devin Shaw steps in to help.

Last year was a particularly tough Christmas for my family as my husband broke his leg on December 16 and required emergency surgery. I won't even mention the Christmas-morning ambulance ride to the ER in the middle of a snowstorm, since that's another wild story!

Dealing with an injured sweetheart would have been hard enough, but we had planned to leave the day after Christmas for a long-anticipated cruise and Disney World trip. This was our gift to our two boys at home and our daughter and son-in-law in another state. As a result, I had very few gifts purchased and none wrapped, hadn't planned any big meals and had decked our halls very minimally since we weren't planning to be home during the holidays.

After his injury, not only did we have to abandon those plans (yay for trip insurance!) but I had to throw together a last-minute holiday. Somehow, despite everything that should have been wrong, it turned into one of our most joyful seasons ever.

I learned some lessons during that year that I plan to implement to make this holiday season amazing, too.

1) I don't have to do everything myself! Who knew, right? It's okay to order my family's favorite dessert from a bakery or even cater a special meal instead of spending hours in the kitchen.

2) Creating memories is more important than "stuff." Consider giving gifts of a special meal at a favorite restaurant or a trip to the movies or an afternoon spent ice-skating together.

3) It's okay to say no! Can't bear the idea of one more cookie exchange or white elephant party? Don't be afraid to be fiercely protective of your time and energy during the holidays.

4) Schedule in time for yourself! Seriously, put it on the calendar. A quiet afternoon sitting by the fire with a mug of hot cocoa and a good book will leave you recharged and refreshed and ready to jump back into the fray.

5) Plan now to budget at least part of your family's time and finances during the holidays toward looking outward and helping someone else in need. Children especially need those experiences to remember the holidays aren't about who has more gifts under the tree. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, spend an afternoon cutting and tying fleece blankets to take to the local children's hospital, make cookies for a neighbor who might be lonely. I promise, your holiday season will be richer because of it.

6) Savor the small things. We don't have memories of a grand trip to the Caribbean, though we did use the trip insurance to go to Hawaii this summer, which was amazing! Despite the change of plans and all the traditional things that were missing last year, we had a wonderful holiday together anyway. My children still laugh about playing board games on a snowy afternoon with my heroic husband while he was delirious on pain meds. They will never forget it.

What about you? How do you plan to make the holidays as stress-free as possible?

Happy holidays,
RaeAnne

Author Information

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne has written nearly fifty books for HQN, Special Edition, Intimate Moments/Romantic Suspense and Bantam Loveswept. A four-time RITA nominee, RaeAnne has received a career achievement award from Romantic Times for series romantic adventure, as well as two RT Reviewers’ Choice awards for best Special Edition. She finds inspiration from the beautiful mountains of northern Utah, where she lives with her family.

Her books have been described as “poignant and sweet,” with “beautiful, honest storytelling (that) goes straight to the heart.”

#1 NYT Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber says, “reading these stories of small-town life engages the reader’s heart and emotions, inspiring hope and the belief miracles are possible.”

RaeAnne is available for speaking engagements, interviews, and appearances. She also loves speaking with reader and writer groups via telephone or Skype.

Giveaway

One grand prize winner will receive:

• 2 copies of each print title (one for yourself and one for a friend!): Christmas in Mustang Creek by Linda Lael Miller, The Christmas Family by Linda Goodnight, When Secrets Strike by Marta Perry, A Cold Creek Christmas Story by RaeAnne Thayne and Evergreen Springs by RaeAnne Thayne

• An ebook copy of Act Like It by Lucy Parker

• 2 Harlequin Classics limited edition notebooks

• 100,000 Harlequin MyRewards points

• 1 Brenda Jackson Westmorelands notebook

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