Spotlight: The Christmas Letters by Jenny Hale

Publication date: October 11th 2022
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

Sometimes, it takes losing everything to find what it is we really need. From the USA Today bestselling author of Coming Home for Christmas, with over one million copies of her books sold, comes a heartwarming holiday story that’s perfect for fans of Sheila Roberts, Debbie Macomber, and Jill Shalvis.

Elizabeth Holloway abandons her New York party at The Plaza, her sparkling world crashing down around her when her boyfriend of seven years drops the bomb that he’s leaving her—at Christmas. She suddenly finds herself seven hundred miles from her home in the city, trudging through the snow, back at her childhood farm in the Great Smoky Mountains in an attempt to piece her life back together.

However, she isn’t expecting to meet visitor Paul Dawson with his dazzlingly blue eyes and warm smile, chipping away at her resolve to focus on figuring out who she is and what she really wants in life.

When her mother is informed that they don’t actually own the farm that’s been in their family for generations, the news makes absolutely no sense to either of them. Nan had married Elizabeth’s grandfather at that house, and they’d lived out their years there.

But a stack of letters from Elizabeth’s grandmother will change everything she thought she knew about her family and cause a divide between her and Paul that she never saw coming.

Under the glitter of Christmas trees and bundles of mistletoe, Elizabeth uncovers more than she’d ever thought possible. Will the Christmas letters strip her of everything she holds dear? Or will they be the biggest gift of the season?

A heartwarming holiday escape that will have you rushing to your loved ones this Christmas. If you enjoyed the Christmas movies based on Jenny’s books and are looking for more feel-good, small-town romance, look no further!

Excerpt

“I’m so sorry, Mama, I can’t talk right now,” Elizabeth Holloway said gently, the phone pressed to her diamond-studded ear, as snow fell like feathers against the glittering buildings of the New York City skyline. “I’ll call you back first thing tomorrow, I promise.”

“Liz,” her mother, Loretta, breathed anxiously down the line in that southern accent that used to sing Elizabeth to sleep at night. 

If Elizabeth closed her eyes, she could almost hear her mother’s melody over the chirping of the crickets out back of Nan’s old farmhouse in Mason’s Ridge, Tennessee, the rustling of the trees in the apple orchard, and the squeak of the screened door as Mama stepped through it onto the front porch. While they’d lived just down the road, Nan’s little farmhouse tucked away in the hills had been where both of them had spent most of their time.

Having been so intent on getting out of her hometown, it had taken Elizabeth years to realize how much she missed those sounds. 

Growing up, Elizabeth had wanted to get a degree in social work and then go into the Peace Corps, leaving everything behind to learn and work in faraway places. She’d been constrained by her small town and had never really felt like she’d belonged with the people in it. They were all invested in their land and their place within the community, yet she’d wanted to spread her wings. However, she’d only managed to accomplish one of her goals: she’d left that little town, and everyone in it, over a decade ago.

Now her mother was tending to the aftermath of handling Nan’s will and her grandmother’s belongings all by herself, and she had tons of questions about taxes and the legalities of how to assume ownership of Nan’s property. Elizabeth had been trying to support her with it all as much as she could from New York, but it was proving difficult to do.

“I need your help with this,” Mama said, bringing Elizabeth back to the present. “I’m worried it ain’t gonna wait too long.” 

A pinch of guilt took hold of Elizabeth’s chest. She wanted to speak to her mother, but the charity benefit that had kept her in New York instead of back in Mason’s Ridge was starting. Nothing could be done with whatever the issue was at this hour, and she needed to take her seat. 

“I wish I could discuss this right now,” Elizabeth said, “but I’m on my way in to the event I told you about.” 

Holding the phone, she put one stiletto heel out of the limo and took the bellman’s gloved hand, the man guiding her out of the car outside The Plaza where she planned to have drinks, chat with important people, and, if she was lucky, she’d get to do the waltz on the dance floor—her favorite thing at these events. She raised her bright red ball gown to keep the satin from grazing the snow that had piled up in the gutter, a chill slithering down her limbs. Her mother continued to speak, but Elizabeth struggled to concentrate on her words with all the commotion.

The mammoth building in front of her gleamed like a golden torch, surrounded by dazzling Christmas trees, but Elizabeth barely gave it a thought. Her long-time boyfriend, Richard Oppenheim, was already out of the limo and on the sidewalk, standing opposite her in his tuxedo with a collar that showed off his strong jawline. He ran his hand through his salt-and-pepper hair that had come early for his age, making him look distinguished. Then, spinning a finger in the air impatiently, he indicated that she should wrap up the call before they went inside.

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About the Author

Jenny Hale is a USA Today, Amazon, and international bestselling author of romantic contemporary fiction. Her books have sold worldwide, have been translated into multiple languages, and adapted for television. Her novels Coming Home for Christmas and Movie Guide Epiphany Award winner Christmas Wishes and Mistletoe Kisses are Hallmark Channel original movies.

She was included in Oprah Magazine’s “19 Dreamy Summer Romances to Whisk You Away” and Southern Living’s “30 Christmas Novels to Start Reading Now.” Her stories are chock-full of feel-good romance and overflowing with warm settings, great friends, and family. Jenny is at work on her next novel, delighted to be bringing even more heartwarming stories to her readers.

When she isn’t writing, or heading up her romantic fiction imprint Harpeth Road, she can be found running around her hometown of Nashville with her husband, two boys, and their labradoodle, taking pictures—her favorite pastime.

Connect:
https://www.itsjennyhale.com/
https://www.facebook.com/jennyhaleauthor/
https://www.instagram.com/jhaleauthor/
https://twitter.com/jhaleauthor
https://www.pinterest.ca/jhaleauthor/_saved/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7201437.Jenny_Hale
https://www.bookbub.com/profile/jenny-hale
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4xY4E_pNRwzu_S3IHrvwiQ

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Spotlight: Calypso, Corpses, and Cooking by Raquel V. Reyes

Summary

It's time for a savory soirée--but something sinister is stewing--in Raquel V. Reyes's second delightful Caribbean Kitchen mystery, perfectly delicious for fans of Mia P. Manansala.

Fall festivities are underway in Coral Shores, Miami. Cuban-American cooking show star Miriam Quiñones-Smith wakes up to find a corpse in her front yard. The body by the fake tombstone is the woman that was kicked out of the school's Fall Festival the day before.

Miriam's luck does not improve. Her passive-aggressive mother-in-law puts her in charge of the Women's Club annual gala. But this year, it's not canapes and waltzes. Miriam and her girlfriends-squad opt for fun and flavor. They want to spice it up with Caribbean food trucks and a calypso band. While making plans at the country club, they hear a volatile argument between the new head chef and the club's manager. Not long after, the chef swan dives to his death at the bottom of the grand staircase.

Was it an accident? Or was it Beverly, the sous chef, who is furious after being passed over for the job? Or maybe it was his ex-girlfriend, Anastasia?

Add two possible poisonings to the mix and Miriam is worried the food truck fun is going to be a major crash. As the clock ticks down and the body count goes up, Miriam's life is put in jeopardy. Will she connect the dots or die in the deep freeze? Foodies and mystery lovers alike will savor the denouement as the truth is laid bare in this simmering stew of rage, retribution, and murder.

Excerpt

Halloween was a week away, and we didn’t have a single decoration up. The living room was littered with shopping bags, extension cords, four-foot-tall plastic jack-o’-lanterns, and one handsome Frankenstein.

“Babe, we’re going to need a ladder and a staple gun,” Frankenstein said.

“Can you borrow one from a neighbor?” I asked as I squeezed my foot into a shoe that had fit perfectly a few weeks ago but was now tight. My costume, like my husband’s, was a modification of something I already had. I’d taken a white apron and smeared it with beet juice. In red marker, I’d written Chef Vampira on a paper toque, the tall hat fancy chefs wore. I was not a trained chef, but I had reached local stardom with my cooking shows, Cocina Caribeña and Abuela Approved.

“Do I look undead enough? Do I need more white makeup?” I asked.

“No, but I need more spirit gum. This bolt keeps falling off.” Robert held the plastic hexagon out to me. For his costume, he’d taken one of his old, heavy New York suits and cut it to make him look like he was too tall and brawny for it. The cuffs were cut into a jagged hem, and the jacket’s back seam was unstitched halfway. He’d used a hair product I’d found at the store called Moco de Gorila, gorilla snot, to slick his dark-brown hair into a hard shell. Gross name, but boy, did the stuff work. The green makeup and plastic bolts were from a kit. I knew he wouldn’t need the wool suit in Miami, but it still pained me a little to see it in shreds. 

We’d moved to a three-bedroom, two-bath house with a yard in Coral Shores, a village within Miami, from a tiny NYC apartment about three months ago. That was partially the reason there were no lawn decorations up. I’d had to buy them since we’d never had a yard or storage space for them before. The other reason was that it had been a whirlwind since I’d set foot back in my hometown of Miami. My best friend, Alma, had pushed me into an unexpected job that I now loved. It wasn’t the food anthropology professorship I’d studied years for, but something slightly adjacent to it, at least. I did try to squeeze historical facts and tidbits about cultural crossroads into the show whenever possible. The show filmed once a week, and episode lucky thirteen was set to tape Monday. I planned to make joumou, Haiti’s much-loved pumpkin soup, as a nod to the Halloween theme. 

In addition to our new house and my new job, I’d gotten our son Manny settled into preschool. We’d bought real, grown-up, quality furniture and had a cement patio poured. Oh, and I’d helped solve a murder. 

“Mami. ¿Dónde está Camo?” Manny asked. 

“No sé, mi príncipe,” I replied. 

“Little man, I heard some rustling over there.” Robert pointed to a pile of bags. 

Manny, who had been in his police officer costume since he had sprung out of bed that morning, excited for the Fall Festival, called for his calico kitten. The festival put on by Agape Montessori, his new school, was a much-loved village event open to the public. Or so I was told when the school’s director talked me into having a booth. UnMundo, the Spanish language network that I worked for, had agreed to sponsor the booth and provide three hundred treat bags for the kids. Robert had also volunteered to staff a stall. His was sponsored by his environmental engineering consultant firm and was about the endangered Florida Atala butterfly. His educational non-candy giveaway goodies—a butterfly eraser and a pencil set plus butterfly temporary tattoos—were sitting on the dining room table neatly packaged in recycled paper bags, a project that had taken the two of us most of the night. 

“Ponte las pilas,” I said, looking at the time. Even though Robert didn’t speak Spanish, he’d picked up a good bit of it being married to me and knew the phrase meant to get energized. “We need to get going, or we’ll be late. I’m sure there’s setup to do before the gates open at ten.” 

“Mami. ¿Puedo llevar a Camo con nosotros?” Manny asked. He was cradling the young kitten on its back, and the multicolored fluff ball had a paw on his cheek. I snapped a picture with my phone. Super sweet. The two were in love with each other. That was another surprise the whirlwind of the last three months had blown into our lives. We hadn’t planned on having a pet, but Stormy Weatherman, the mother of the lady whose murder I’d solved, had shown up at our doorstep with the kitten last week. Manny had named the cat Camo, an odd name despite the cat’s camouflage-like patterning. My son’s favorite relative, Officer Gordon Smith, is to blame. The day Stormy came by, we were having a housewarming party to inaugurate our new patio, and Gordon happened to be wearing camo cargos. Gordon was also the reason for Manny’s costume choice. “No, mi amor,” I answered. No, he could not take his pet to the fair. I encouraged him to put the kitten in his room and motioned for Robert to get the boxes of treat bags. 

“Okay, got the first load.” Robert walked toward the door. “Don’t you have something on the stove?” he asked, glancing back to the kitchen. 

“Huh?” 

“That big pot of water. Did you start cooking something this morning?” 

I didn’t know what he was talking about, so I went to check. The cassava I’d peeled and left to soak in the large cast aluminum pot was on the eye. “Oh. No, that’s not on. It’s just soaking.” I dumped the milky water into the sink and refilled it. I loved the root vegetable, but it took planning to prepare. It required a day—two was better—to leach the toxins from the tubers to make it safe to eat.

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About the Author

Raquel's Cuban-American heritage, Miami, and Spanglish feature prominently in her work. Mango, Mambo, and Murder, the first in the Caribbean Kitchen Mystery series, won a LEFTY for Best Humorous Mystery. The New York Times Book Review wrote, “it executes its mission—with panache.”

Spotlight: Give Me Forever by Heidi McLaughlin

(Beaumont: Next Generation, #5)

Publication date: October 11th 2022

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

From the New York Times bestselling author of Forever My Girl: The Motion Picture, Heidi McLaughlin delivers an emotional second chance romance about life, love, and what it means to truly be happy!

Elle James has it all: a loving fiancé in Ben, a promising career as a music manager, and a supportive family. She couldn’t be happier with her life. That is until the unthinkable happens and she must accept the consequences of her actions and figure out how to come clean to her family or continue living the lie.

Ben Miller had it all: a loving fiancée, a budding career, and the support of people who loved him like family. That was until he wanted more, and his fiancée was unable to meet him halfway. He makes a decision, one that affects everyone. When his life takes an unexpected turn and he’s diagnosed with a life changing illness, he finds himself fighting for more than just love.

With their happily ever after slipping through their fingers, will Elle and Ben be able to survive, or will life’s curveball be too much for them to handle?

Excerpt

I’m listening to Elle talk instead of focusing on my current project. She’s on the phone with her mom or sister by the tone of her voice. When it’s business, she’s matter of fact. It’s her way or the highway—something I’ve learned by working for her management company over the years. In her line of business, she needs to be direct. Other managers have tried to show she can’t hack it in the industry, only for her to prove them wrong. Sinful Distraction is well on their way to stardom, and she’s in the process of signing two new bands. To say I’m proud of her is an understatement. Elle’s doing exactly what she set out to do—changing the music management industry. 

I look outside at the graying sky and wonder if there’s a storm coming or if December is going to be a dreary month in Malibu. I think it’s been a week since I’ve seen the sun, although the lack thereof hasn’t deterred any of the surfers. Every morning when I go for a run, they’re out there, welcoming the early morning waves and the quiet solitude before the traffic starts and tourists arrive. I close my laptop and make my way outside to get the mail. While most of our bills are online, all our packages come to the house. I’m elated to find a catalog full of wedding invitations and internally fist pump because this means we’re one step closer to finally nailing down a wedding date. We’ve already decided to get married in Napa at one of the vineyards or in Tiburon overlooking the bay, and just need to pick a date. 

Elle comes out of the office and finds me in the living room flipping through the catalog. I’ve dogeared a couple designs I like and plan to show her. She sits down next to me, leans over, and kisses me on the cheek before righting herself. “What are you looking at?” 

I close the magazine so she can see the front. “Came in the mail today. It’s a sign for us to set a date and finally get the ball rolling.”

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About the Author

Heidi McLaughlin is a New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and USA Today Bestselling author of The Beaumont Series, The Boys of Summer, and The Archers.

Originally, from the Pacific Northwest, she now lives in picturesque Vermont, with her husband, two daughters, and their three dogs.

In 2012, Heidi turned her passion for reading into a full-fledged literary career, writing over twenty novels, including the acclaimed Forever My Girl.

Heidi’s first novel, Forever My Girl, has been adapted into a motion picture with LD Entertainment and Roadside Attractions, starring Alex Roe and Jessica Rothe, and opened in theaters on January 19, 2018, and is now available on DVD & Digital.

Connect:
https://heidimclaughlin.com/
https://www.instagram.com/heidimclaughlinauthor/
https://twitter.com/HeidiJoVT/
https://www.facebook.com/AuthorHeidiMcLaughlin/
https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/6568302.Heidi_McLaughlin

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Spotlight: The Akseli by Dianne Duvall

(Aldebarian Alliance #4)

Release Date: October 11th, 2022

New York Times bestselling author Dianne Duvall brings readers the next stand-alone novel in a thrilling new sci-fi romance series full of action and humor.

Simone has hunted and slain psychotic vampires night after night for hundreds of years and desperately needs a change. When the leader of the Immortal Guardians offers her an opportunity to guard ten mortal women who are venturing to another planet, she dives right in and finds traveling into space and meeting amazing alien races just as exciting as she'd hoped… until an enemy attacks. Simone saves everyone she can before she's thrust into an escape pod and the ship explodes. Alone, fearing some—if not all—of her friends have been killed, she vows to seek vengeance.

Despite his fierce reputation and propensity for violating the law, Janwar has formed a friendship with strait-laced Prince Taelon of Lasara. When the prince's ship is destroyed, Janwar joins the massive Aldebarian Alliance-wide search and rescue mission and soon locates the Gathendien ship that launched the attack. An odd thing happens, however, as he and his crew stealthily approach it. The lifeforms inside begin to perish, two or three at a time in quick succession. Much to his surprise, someone else has reached the ship first: one of the very Earth women he hoped to rescue.

Fascinatingly fierce, Simone bands together with Janwar and his crew to search for her missing friends and wreak havoc upon those who wish to harm them. She also widens eyes, drops jaws, and sparks laughter and mischief as she banishes the warriors' world-weariness and makes each day seem like a new adventure. The friendship that grows between Janwar and Simone swiftly deepens into love. But the enemy warriors they face are tenacious and boast more weapons in their arsenal than the alliance knows. Can Janwar, Simone, and such a small crew vanquish them?

Buy on Amazon | Audible

About the Author

Dianne Duvall is the New York Times and USA Today Bestselling Author of the Immortal Guardians paranormal romance series, the Aldebarian Alliance sci‐fi romance series, and The Gifted Ones medieval and time‐travel romance series.  The Lasaran, the first book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a #1 Audible Mover & Shaker. The Segonian, the second book in the Aldebarian Alliance Series, was a Barnes&Noble Top Indie Favorite. Audible chose Awaken the Darkness as one of the Top 5 Best Paranormal Romance Audiobooks of 2018. Reviewers have called Dianne's books "fast-paced and humorous" (Publishers Weekly), "utterly addictive" (RT Book Reviews), “extraordinary" (Long and Short Reviews), and "wonderfully imaginative" (The Romance Reviews). Dianne's books have twice been nominated for RT Reviewers' Choice Awards. And her audiobooks have been awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence. 

Dianne's books have all appeared on the New York Times, USA Today, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, and/or Kobo Bestseller lists.  The first book in Dianne's The Gifted Ones series, A Sorceress of His Own, is a prequel of sorts to Darkness Dawns. A USA Today bestseller, A Sorceress of His Own is a medieval romance with paranormal elements that was awarded the AudioFile Earphones Award for Excellence and was an Audie Finalist. The second book in the series, Rendezvous With Yesterday, is a time travel romance that won the GraveTells Readers' Choice Award for Best Historical Romance. 

In addition to writing romance, Dianne has completed a one-act play (comedy) and teamed up with an award-winning screenwriter to write a spec script for a new situation comedy. Several of her poems have also been published in anthologies. 

When she isn't writing, Dianne is very active in the independent film industry and has even appeared on-screen, crawling out of a moonlit grave and wielding a machete like some of the psychotic vampires she creates in her books.

For the latest news on upcoming releases, contests, and more, please visit DianneDuvall.com or sign up for her Newsletter. You can also find Dianne online . . .

Blog — dianneduvall.blogspot.com

Facebook — facebook.com/DianneDuvallAuthor

Twitter — twitter.com/DianneDuvall

YouTube — youtube.com/channel/UCVcJ9xnm_i2ZKV7jM8dqAgA?feature=mhee

Pinterest — pinterest.com/dianneduvall

Goodreads — goodreads.com/Dianne_Duvall 

Book Bub — https://www.bookbub.com/authors/dianne-duvall

Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/dianne.duvall/

TikTok — https://www.tiktok.com/@dianneduvallauthor

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Spotlight: Always a Bridesmaid Never a Plus One by Iris Morland

Release Date: October 11

This wedding season, she’ll meet her match.

As a bridesmaid-for-hire, Anna Dyer lives and breathes weddings.

She’s not only the wedding planner, but she’s also the bride’s BFF, her confidante, and sometimes even her therapist.

Yet all of Anna’s experience is useless when she’s forced to work with the dreamy grump Rowan Caldwell.

Sure, Rowan might be a scrumptious hunk of manliness. But this handsome grump loathes weddings.

Even worse? Rowan concocts a crazy scheme for them to be each other’s plus-ones for wedding season. He says it’ll make things more convenient. (How romantic!)

Anna isn’t worried, though. She can play Rowan’s fake girlfriend without catching feelings.

But love? It has other plans…

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About the Author

A coffee addict and cat lover, Iris Morland writes sparkling, swoon-worthy romances, including the Flower Shop Sisters and the Love Everlasting series.

If she's not reading or writing, she enjoys binging on Netflix shows and cooking something delicious.

Connect with Iris Morland:

Website: https://irismorland.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/irismorlandbooks

Twitter: https://twitter.com/irismorland

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/iris-morland

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iris_morland/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/15613826.Iris_Morland

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Iris-Morland/e/B01KGHMZQS

Newsletter: https://irismorland.ck.page/70487e1d8c

Spotlight: The Bonne Chance Bakery by Charlotte Rains Dixon

Pages: 333

Genre: Romantic Women’s Fiction

All Madeleine Miller wants is for her new Portland business, the Bonne Chance Bakery, to be a success. But things get off to a troubled start when her husband Will runs off with an employee and starts his own rival bakery, leaving her hobbled financially—and romantically. Luckily, she has the help of the bakery's endearingly gruff accountant, Jack, and his precocious daughter Daisie. Portland foodies love the bakery's French macarons, but alas, their passion doesn't add up to financial success.

And then one day, world-famous entrepreneur slash actor Richard Bishop appears at the bakery and becomes smitten with Mad's macarons—and her. His offer to franchise the bakery concept feels like selling out, and Madeleine isn't interested. But when she learns of the shady dealings her ex-husband used to fund the bakery, she's forced to accept Richard’s money. She also succumbs to the lure of his romantic interest. Soon she's catapulted into a world of luxury and excitement in Los Angeles as she supervises the opening of a second Bonne Chance in Hollywood.

But in her efforts to save the bakery, will she lose herself? Set in Portland, Los Angeles, and Paris, the novel illuminates the crazy path romance can take us on—and the circuitous route that will lead the way home. With its themes of identity, self-determination and following your dreams, The Bonne Chance Bakery is a feel-good novel with a serious message at its core.

Excerpt

I watched Richard Bishop alight from his long black limo and thought three things nearly simultaneously: first, that I'd forgotten to remove my apron, which was dotted with specks of pink macaron batter, bits of pale blue butter cream, and a huge dab of yellow ganache. Second, that it was amazing how quickly and efficiently crowds parted for someone famous. Third, that Richard Bishop was the most freakishly attractive human being I'd ever laid eyes on. 

He was handsome in a the-Gods-bestowed-every-blessing-known-to-man-and-heaven kind of way. In a superhuman way. Apparently, also in a movie star way, though I'd never actually seen a movie star in person. But I was awed by his appearance, nearly knocked over by the sight of him. Especially because he seemed to me like my fictional idol Ford Dooley come to life, walking into the Bonne Chance. 

Jack and I stood in the doorway from the back hall to the showroom, watching as Richard made his way through the crowd outside, smiling, nodding, shaking hands, and pointing at people. His assistant held the bakery door open for him, while customers who had been in line gawked and craned their necks to watch him enter, then rushed to get a glimpse from the doorway behind him. Those who couldn't see from the door peered in through the glass door and storefront windows. 

And now Richard Bishop stood just inside the front door, grinning like a dog who knows he's about to go for a walk. He had the same eagerness as a dog, too, and a sense of being present unlike anybody I'd ever met. He wore a black turtleneck and trousers that fell in a perfectly cut line from waist to ankle. With his dark hair and dark clothes, he stood out among the pale blue and pink decor of the showroom and the muted jewel tones of the macarons, like a raven amid a flock of hummingbirds. He looked like he carried his own permanent illumination source, as if the sun shot beams of light upon him wherever he wandered. The man radiated charisma, and he wielded it effortlessly, smiling at each person in the crowd peering in the door one at a time and finally beaming his sunny grin at me.

I was not only awed by him, I was speechless, too. Because what do you say to a legend when he appears in your tiny little shop on a rainy September afternoon?  Especially after you refused to close said shop for his benefit?

If you're me, you say, "So you came anyway," and then wince because it sounded so snotty.

But Richard just grinned—that blinding smile—and walked toward me with his hand extended. "Madeleine Miller? I'm Richard Bishop. Pleased to make your acquaintance."  His voice was deep and low, his hand warm and soft, and then, unexpectedly he said, "Can I hug you? I'm a hugger."

Do you say no to a hug from a movie star slash business mogul? Do you say no to a hug from Richard Bishop slash Ford Dooley? Even when it strikes you as the tiniest bit creepy? Um, no. And so, I let him enfold me in his arms.  His turtleneck pressing against my cheek was as soft as cat's fur, and smelled vaguely of cinnamon, like the apple pie macaron I'd been trying to perfect. I tore myself from him before he pulled away from me, grimaced briefly at the crumbs my hug had deposited on him, then smiled in what I hoped was a bright, perky manner. 

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About the Author

The great-granddaughter of pioneers who walked across the Oregon Trail, Charlotte Rains Dixon considers herself a westerner through and through. Many of her stories are set in her home state of Oregon, where her characters reside in fictional versions of her favorite wine area and coast towns, as well as Portland, where she lives. She is the author of the novel Emma Jean’s Bad Behavior and the forthcoming The Bonne Chance Bakery.

When not writing fiction, Charlotte teaches writing in the south of France, England, and around the Pacific Northwest. She also coaches writers privately. She is Director Emeritus and a current mentor at the Writer's Loft, a certificate-in-writing program at Middle Tennessee State University. She earned her MFA in creative writing from Spalding University and is the author of a dozen non-fiction books. Her fiction and articles have appeared in numerous publications.

Charlotte lives with her husband in Portland, Oregon, in a multi-generational home that is by turns boisterous and exuberant but seldom quiet. She believes no breakfast is complete without a crossword puzzle to work and no Happy Hour can actually be happy without popcorn.(Wine goes without saying.) Despite frequent stays in France, she regularly fractures the language. She is, however, fluent in Carney. Charlotte writes stories about places you long to live filled with people you’d love to know.

Learn more about Charlotte at her website, charlotterainsdixonauthor.com and be sure to sign up for her author newsletter at charlotterainsd.substack.com.

You can also connect with her on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/Wordstrumpet.