Spotlight: The Christmas Wish in Twinkle Falls by Freda Ann

(A Twinkle Falls Novel, #6)

Publication date: November 21st 2025

Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance

After my husband died overseas in an ambush, our kids became my world. He was my one and only—I could never meet anyone who makes me feel the way he did.

(Rochelle)

Needing a fresh start last year, I took my kids to Twinkle Falls for Christmas, but meeting Jesse was never part of my plan. When my best friend introduced us, this retired police officer’s charm and infectious smile started breaking down my walls.

Me and the kids agreed to make Twinkle Falls our forever home at the end of our three month break—but something went horribly wrong after returning home to pack up our things.

(Jesse)

After losing touch with Rochelle once she stopped all communication with me, I knew I’d been ghosted. Roe was the one person I could imagine a future with when my ex left me once I became an amputee.

With my buddies trying to fix me up, I decide it’s time to move on from the past.

(Rochelle)

Nine months after our planned move, me and the kids arrive in Twinkle Falls with everything we own after purchasing a home. Feeling horrible the way I left things with Jesse, our friends agree to let me be the one to tell him we’re here once me and the kids get settled.

Now ready to share the news, I texted Jesse asking if we can talk, but days go by with no response.

While having lunch with my friends I glance around the restaurant and my jaw drops. I see why Jesse didn’t respond to my message—he’s found another woman—the one whose hands are all over him.

Can a Christmas wish intervene and seal this couple’s fate?

This is a feel good, clean, faith-based Christmas romance featuring the charm of small town life, insta-love, and a Christmas miracle with a happily ever after.

It’s book 6 of an ongoing holiday themed sweet romance series, Hallmark style.

Excerpt

“Kids, you better get downstairs, Jesse will be here any minute to pick us up.” I holler from the foyer.

As feet quickly pound the steps, Lilly proclaims, “We’re getting our tree today!”

“Yay, we’re getting our tree!” Ty says when I hear the crunching of tires coming up the driveway.

The grandparents went in town for brunch at the Twinkle Falls Inn before watching the kids this afternoon when me and Trace go downtown.

Before Jesse knocks on the door I pull it open to his amazing smile as he scans the kids saying, “There’s two of my favorite kids.” They smile while all sharing a hug.

“Who wants to get a Christmas tree?” He asks full of enthusiasm.

They both scream while jumping up and down. “We do, we do!”

“Okay then, let’s get going.” He says leading Ty out to the truck so he doesn’t slide on the patches of ice while I hold Lilly’s hand walking carefully.

While Jesse looks for a parking spot Ty asks, “Mommy, is Mr. Kris really Santa Claus?”

Cutting my eyes to Jesse, my mouth opens then closes when I shrug at him and say, “Well, I can’t say for sure, but there are a lot of people that have lived here for a long time who kind of think so. Then again, why would Santa be working at a tree lot?”

Lilly matter-of-factly states. “Because he gets to talk to the parents and see which kids are naughty and nice.”

Giving me a brief sideways glance, Jesse cackles. “I think you might be onto something Lilly.”

After parking, I grab Ty’s hand so Jesse can have some time with Lilly. “Come on little man, let’s find the perfect tree.”

“Not if we find one first.” Jesse states while holding Lilly’s hand as they go to the left while I lead Ty to the right.

A while later we show each other the trees we like the most when Jesse suggests, “How about we flip a coin to see which one to take home?”

The kids look at each other and Ty shrugs, “Alright, can I flip it?”

Peeking at Lilly, she nods at me so I answer, “That sounds good to us, but we get heads.”

Whispering in Ty’s ear, my son says, “Okay,” before Jesse gives him a quarter which he quickly flips.

The coin bounces on the ground and lands on tails. “We won Mr. Jesse, we won!” Ty jumps up and down giggling and getting someone’s attention.

“That was a wonderful coin flip Tyler.” Kris bends over sharing his usual jolly smile with my son.

Ty’s jaw sinks down while staring at him for a minute then turns to me. “Mom, it’s Santa—I mean Mr. Kris.”

“Can you say hello to Mr. Kris?” I coax him.

Beaming, he looks him in the eyes and says, “Hi Mr. Kris. Are you really Santa Claus?”

Looking at Jesse, my face feels like it’s on fire. Sighing, I say, “I’m sorry Kris.”

“Oh it’s alright. I get that all the time. We do rather resemble each other, don’t we?” He lets out a long belly laugh while holding his round belly.

“How are you young lady?” He asks turning to Lilly.

Smiling, she says, “I’m good Mr. Kris.”

“That’s great to hear Lilly.” Her brows raise when he says her name.

He looks at Ty. “Have you been a good boy this year young man?”

Nodding, my son says, “Uh-huh.”

“That’s wonderful to hear. It looks like you’ve found the perfect Christmas tree. Well, let me get someone to help you take it to your car.”

As he walks away, the kids yell, “Bye Mr. Kris.” He chuckles and waves his hand through the air.

On the drive to our house the kids talk mostly amongst themselves about Mr. Kris, debating whether he is really Santa Claus or not while me and Jesse muffle our laughs.

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About the Author

Freda Ann is fondly known for her sweet/clean, HEA RomComs. Her loyal fans and reviewers have compared several of her books to Hallmark movies. Many have hit #1 in multiple categories after release.

She writes relatable, faith and family based love stories which include kids and adorable dogs. Her writing style appeals to people of all ages. Her books will take you on an emotional journey with likable characters, and dreamy settings you'll wish you could visit.

After retiring from a career in the law enforcement field, Freda feels blessed to be able to write and self-publish her stories for everyone to read. She adores her large family, 5 children and 9 grandchildren, and hosts monthly family gatherings.

To hear about new releases, please follow her on Amazon and also on Goodreads.

Connect:

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The Christmas Wish in Twinkle Falls Blitz

Spotlight: Coyote Snow by Laurie Lynn Muirhead

Step into the wild and sacred landscape of North Central Saskatchewan through Laurie Lynn Muirhead’s emotionally charged poetry collection, Coyote Snow.

With exquisite lyricism and a reverent eye, Muirhead captures the fierce beauty and fragile rhythms of a life entwined with the land, animals, and elemental forces. These poems are both a meditation and a reckoning—where cold meets spirit, survival meets grace, and readers find themselves transformed by the quiet miracles of the natural world. Don your winter boots and prepare to journey through the frosty, organic terrain of Coyote Snow.

Laurie Lynn Muirhead’s poetry shines as a rising star in the constellation of rural Canadian literature.

Excerpt

Regrettably

the time-loss of sharing gathers me unaware

that it is snowing now and I am cold

the coyotes are quiet and the colour is gone

my porch light, a small beacon of welcome

appeals to me

and I leave the secrets of this night where they belong

tomorrow I am assured

there will be two sets of tracks

in the coyote snow

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About the Author

Laurie Lynn Muirhead lives in beautiful North East Saskatchewan and is a creator of poetry and children’s literature. She writes what she lives and is especially inspired by the extreme simplicity of the natural world about her. Her work has appeared in numerous periodicals such as The New Quarterly and The Society and has been broadcast on CBC Radio. Her first collection of poetry, Bone Sense, was selected for Thistledown’s New Leaf Series and a children’s book, Lullaby Lilly, published with YNWP.

Laurie Lynn is a long-standing member with sans nom poetry group, is a Creative Writing Coach for youth and a current member with the Saskatchewan Writer’s Guild. She enjoys sharing her work at themed poetry readings, poetic gatherings and creative writing workshops. Besides writing, she works part time as a librarian at the Shellbrook Elementary Public School, and helps out on the family ranch in the rural area of Wild Rose.

Spotlight: Lovely Torment by Kimberly Quinn

(Savage Hearts Syndicate, #2)

Publication date: November 18th 2025

Genres: Adult, Dark Romance, Romance, Suspense

Synopsis:

He’s cold, calculating, and lethal. A killer. 

He’s also my hero. 

Finn Decker rescued me from a life in captivity, but not out of mercy. I’m his key to destroying the Bratva leader who shattered both our lives. A pawn in his ruthless game of vengeance. 

I should be afraid. I should run. 

Instead, I’m drawn to the darkness in his eyes, the craving he ignites, and the promise of retribution he offers. And I realize—I want him to use me in ways that have nothing to do with revenge. 

Only, it’s hard to tell if I’m his leverage, his weakness, or something far more dangerous. 

His. 

Because in a war this savage, there’s no room for mistakes. 

Or love.

Excerpt

A thrill shot through me. 

It was sharp and vivid, and suddenly, I was drowning in him. In his heat, in his scent, in the way his body caged mine like he was the only thing keeping me upright. 

“Don’t lie,” he growled. “You can be pissed at me. You can be scared. You can feel whatever the fuck you want. But don’t pretend you don’t want something more from me. You’ve been clinging to me since the day I took you out of Rykov’s house.” 

“Well, I wasn’t angry before.” I lifted my chin and let all my irritation flow into the glare I gave at him. “But now? Yeah. Now, I am.” 

“Good. Get angry for a change. Stand up for yourself. Prove you’re not just a victim looking for a goddamn savior.” 

“You think that’s what I want from you? That I’m so weak and desperate I can’t stand on my own?” The words tumbled out, fueled by a courage I didn’t recognize. A fire I’d never dared stoke before. 

“No, Lena,” he growled. “I think you’re a thousand times stronger than you know. And I think if you knew me at all, you’d understand why friendship isn’t something I can give you.” 

“But you’re friends with Robin.” 

“I don’t want to fuck Robin.” His voice was rough. Like the words had clawed their way up his throat.  

And they stunned me. 

My mouth opened, but nothing came out. Was I even still breathing? 

He twisted my arm higher up my back—the dull pinch of it, reminding me I was at his mercy. “I can’t be your friend. Because every time you get close, it gets harder to hold back. Harder to pretend I’m not about to lose my fucking mind.” 

His hold loosened, just slightly, like he was about to let me go. But before I could process it, his fingers flexed, and in a swift, merciless motion, he’d wrenched my other arm behind my back, pinning both wrists in one unyielding hand. 

“You want something safe. Someone stable. But that’s not who I am.” His free hand slid up to wrap around my throat, his fingers pressing into the side of my neck. “This is the kind of man I am.” 

And God, despite the edge of fear, despite the voice in my head telling me to run, my panties were soaked. 

He leaned in, his mouth hovering at my ear and breath rough against my skin. “What I want is to tie you up and then take you apart. Slowly. Thoroughly. Until you forget every man who ever came before me. I want to ruin you for anyone that isn’t me. Then build you back up from the wreckage. Stronger. Fiercer. Like the queen I already see when I look at you.” 

He paused, his breath hitching. “And then do it again. And again. And a-fucking-gain.” 

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About the About

Kimberly is a contemporary romance author, born procrastinator, and lover of morally gray heroes. She enjoys lively conversations, usually with imaginary people, and can often be found daydreaming at work.

She writes gritty, messy, dangerous romances, featuring beautifully flawed characters, pursuing love at all costs. It's romance with rough edges.

When she’s not busy writing, you can find her with a coffee in hand, dog at her side, and exploring the wilds of her hometown in Ontario, Canada… Or on her couch, getting lost in a good story.

Connect:

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Lovely Torment Blitz

Spotlight: A Sabre in the Hemlock by Dorothy Dreyer

(Blade Bound Saga, #2)

Publication date: November 18th 2025

Genres: Adult, Fantasy, Romance

With enemies closing in and magic slipping from her control, Celeste draws closer to unraveling a prophecy that could cost her the man she loves—as well as her soul.

In the wake of the carnoraxis attack on Ivystone Citadel, Celeste Westergaard’s battle for her future has only just begun. Trapped under the king’s watchful eye and hiding the magic awakening within her, Celeste must play the role expected of her, all the while uncovering secrets buried throughout Terre Ferique.

As the royal court embarks on a tour to solidify Dante’s claim to legitimacy, whispers of war and treachery follow their every step. The Shadow Tsar’s reach is growing, and the prophecy that fuels his reign foretells the rise of a power that will bring his downfall—one tied to the blood of the fae.

From glittering courts to bloodstained battlefields, Celeste must walk a knife’s edge between duty and desire, deception and truth. Because if the tsar discovers who she really is, he won’t just come for her magic, he’ll come for her soul.

A Sabre in the Hemlock is the thrilling sequel to the award-winning A Dagger in the Ivy, weaving romance, danger, and dark intrigue into an unforgettable tale of power and sacrifice.

Excerpt

His jaw flexes. “You used your magic again.”

“Dante—”

“You promised you wouldn’t,” he says, voice quiet but taut, threaded with frustration. “You said you’d wait. You said you’d let Ezra figure it out.”

“I never promised,” I snap back, chin lifting. “You asked me not to, but I never agreed.”

“You bled, Celeste.” He leans closer, his voice low, heated. “I could tell something was wrong, even from the water. And what I couldn’t see, Nadya filled me in on.”

Of course she did.

“I had to help you.” The words come out louder than I intend, sharp with the emotion I’ve been burying all day. “They sent armed soldiers after you. You were bleeding underwater. You could have been pummeled by a f***ing tsunami. You don’t get to ask me to sit and watch you die.”

His hands flex, fists clenching just beneath the surface. “And what if helping me had killed you instead?”

I stare at him, my breath shallow. I don’t have an answer—not one that would make him feel better.

He paces a few steps through the water, raking a hand through his hair until it curls wild and damp around his temples. “Gods, you’re so damn stubborn.”

“And you’re so damn arrogant if you think you can tell me when and how I’m allowed to use a power that’s mine.”

He turns sharply, water sluicing off his chest, his gaze fierce enough to stop me in place. He crosses the space between us with quick, sure strides—and suddenly, he’s there, his hands finding me beneath the water, one arm locking around my waist, the other curling so that his hand is tugging the hair at the nape of my neck.

The heat of him burns through the chill. My breath stutters.

“Of course you’d fight me,” he mutters, his voice hoarse against my cheek. “Even when I’m trying to protect you.”

“And of course you’d push me,” I breathe back, “even when I’m trying to save you.”

The air thrums between us, thick with something neither of us is willing to yield. My pulse hammers as his thumb grazes the side of my throat, slow and reverent, like he’s trying to memorize the beat of my heart.

“I told you,” he says, his forehead almost brushing mine, “you bleed for no one.”

“And I told you,” I whisper, “you don’t get to decide that.”

His jaw tightens—and then, in one breath, his lips are on mine.

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About the Author

Dorothy Dreyer is a Philippine-born American living in Germany with her family. She is an award-winning, USA Today Bestselling Author of fantasy, romance, and horror books that usually have some element of magic or the supernatural in them. Aside from reading, she enjoys movies, binge-watching series, chocolate, take-out, traveling, and having fun with friends and family. She tends to sing sometimes, too, so keep her away from your Karaoke bars.

Connect:

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A Sabre in the Hemlock Blitz

Spotlight: Wicked Witch of the West by Lona Bailey

Icons rarely stand still, and few have shifted the cultural landscape like the Wicked Witch of the West. In The Wicked Witch of the West: The Enduring Legacy of a Feminist Icon, Dr. Lona Bailey traces how one woman’s “wickedness” became a rallying cry for generations of women determined to claim their power.

Bailey approaches the Witch’s century-long legacy with a scholar’s eye and a storyteller’s touch, weaving together history, myth, and feminist theory. From L. Frank Baum’s original narrative to today’s modern interpretations, she explores how the Witch’s evolution parallels the broader transformation of women’s roles in society. Her analysis reaches beyond the yellow brick road to consider the deeper question of why women who seek autonomy are so often demonized—and why, despite that, they endure. Through this lens, the Witch becomes both a product of her time and a timeless symbol of defiance, proving that even in fiction, resistance leaves a legacy.

Excerpt

It’s quite impossible to explore the icon of the Wicked Witch without acknowledging Margaret Hamilton’s unforgettable portrayal of the character, as she is widely credited with introducing her to the world in a way that has captivated audiences ever since. Was it the green skin, broom, cackling laughter, exaggerated hook to her nose, or sharp-tongued quips that embedded her into cultural consciousness? Perhaps all of those things and more initially made the world fall fast and hard for the fiendish character, but only in the context of Margaret Hamilton’s simply splendid portrayal.

“I was walking down Fifth Avenue in New York not long ago when a nice-looking young man called to me. ‘Miss Hamilton,’ he said, ‘you don’t know me, but I know you. You scared the pants off me when I was a little boy,’” Margaret Hamilton recalled.1 The barely five-foot-tall Margaret “Maggie” Hamilton has managed to terrify millions for more than eighty-five years in her characterization of L. Frank Baum’s Wicked Witch of the West. What began as a fairly one-dimensional antagonist with few descriptives beyond her general reputation for wickedness, was suddenly and frighteningly brought to life thirty-nine years after she was penned in Baum’s book and the legend of The Wizard of Oz truly began. In following suit with what “that little animation company” Walt Disney did in the successful film adaptation of the children’s fantasy story Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, MGM bought the rights to adapt Baum’s novel The Wonderful Wizard of Oz to brilliant Technicolor in 1938. The demigod of MGM, Louis B. Mayer, purchased the book’s rights in the fall of 1937 upon the suggestion of Mervyn LeRoy. Mayer saw grand potential in a musical version of the children’s novel and with LeRoy and Arthur Freed on board, revisions toward final production were initially promising. The script went through a merry-go-round of revisions from its initial draft to its on-screen presentation with cuts, edits, rewrites, and additions from legions of hired, fired, and rehired writers. 

The only mainstays were the leading cast—well, sort of. Judy Garland was cast as Dorothy, Frank Morgan as the Wizard (and several other supporting roles), Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow/Hunk, Bert Lahr as the Lion/Zeke, Jack Haley as the Tin Man/Hickory, Billie Burke as Glinda, and Hamilton as the Wicked Witch of the West/Miss Gulch. 

Originally, actress Gale Sondergaard was cast as the Wicked Witch, but being a bit too glamorous for such a haggy and undesirable part, Sondergaard withdrew from the production and Hamilton was offered the role just three days before filming began. Hamilton had appeared in several films for MGM by 1938, and with her distinct features and knack for spinster supports, Director Victor Fleming thought she was a natural choice for the queen of mean. 

Whether or not Hamilton knew of Matilda Joslyn Gage as “the woman behind the curtain” of Baum’s novel, in her portrayal, she creatively matched the feministic intentions of the original story’s creator. While the Technicolor Wizard of Oz fostered the stereotypical image of what “witches” were believed to look like in the 1930s. 

Witches were generally considered sallow, sexless figures whose rebellious and/or peculiar behavior had caused them to be ostracized by the general public. One early exception to this is Edmund Spenser’s The Faerie Queene (1590) with the character of Acrasia, the enchantress who uses her beauty to seduce and corrupt knights. Unlike the longstanding, older, and malevolent image of witches, Acrasia is described as physically alluring and beguiling, using her appearance and charm as weapons to achieve her goals. Though still a nonconformist in Spenser’s story, Acrasia’s beauty masks her dangerous nature, a theme that has been echoed in later depictions of witches in literature and folklore, though most classic literature purports “witch” to be synonymous with “ugly.” 

Nonconformist characteristics (described in horrid terms) usually included degrees of unsightly yellow or red complexions, unkempt, stringy hair, exaggerated facial features, and of course, warts. For example, William Shakespeare’s witches, the “Weird Sisters” in Macbeth, are described as dirty, haggish rebels who live separately from society and possess not only mystical powers but also distinctively masculine features such as beards. Any beauty that was ascribed to a witch before the postmodern reinvention of her image was usually only a magical cover for her “true” haggish nature, which she ruthlessly used to further her evil agenda. For better or for worse, MGM began the reinvention process of the witch, and Margaret Hamilton’s face was the canvas on which they painted—literally. With a hooked nose, green skin, pointy chin, crystal ball to spy on her enemies, and dressed all in black with a flying broom, Hamilton herself subtly fostered a more progressive approach to villainy in that inch of redemption she gifted the character through her own touch of feministic essence despite her convincing malevolence on screen. 

Contrary to most villainesses in early literature, film, and television, the Wicked Witch was not a masculine character. Perhaps we wouldn’t call her “pretty” in the green paint and prosthetics, but still Hamilton brought a subtle, yet undeniable femininity to the role that changed the “look” of a “witch” in the general sense. The paradox of Hamilton’s portrayal in such a traditional era was that she brought both femininity and feminism to the characterization. Billie Burke, on the other hand, certainly brought femininity to “Good Witch Glinda,” and her delicate, docile characterization stuck closely by Baum’s original non-feministic “Good Witch.” Burke seemed to naturally exude a dainty energy and sense of glamour as Glinda, which is also what the role required, but as far as MGM was concerned, Margaret Hamilton’s subtle artistic strokes of feminism weren’t of importance just so long as she, as the “bad one” was scary and not too “pretty.”

Buy on Amazon Kindle | Audible | Hardcover | Bookshop.org

About the Author

Dr. Lona Bailey is an award-winning feminist biographer and Golden Age researcher who writes to restore women’s voices to the cultural record. Her acclaimed titles—Voice of Villainy, Uncredited, Mrs. Radio, and The Wasp Woman—bridge the worlds of historical documentation and narrative art. Bailey’s combination of academic discipline and psychological depth allows her to reveal her subjects as fully human—complex, brilliant, and flawed. Her work has earned international accolades and media recognition for its contribution to feminist biography. Discover her writing on her website or connect via Facebook.

Spotlight: Building Romance by S.E. Rose

Release Date: November 17

Ever since Camryn Tanner went to culinary school, she knew she wanted to own a café. She’s worked at one across from her apartment building for five years now, and the owner is ready to sell it. The question is: Can she create the café of her dreams?

Fletcher McDowell comes from a long line of bakery owners. His father has tasked him with opening their latest bakery in a trendy neighborhood in the city. After a playboy youth, Fletcher knows this might be his last chance to prove himself to his father. There’s just one problem—the bakery across the street from his. 

It doesn’t take long for Fletcher to meet his rival, a beautiful woman with a sharp tongue and baking skills that far exceed anything his bakery can produce. Their rivalry is about to be tested when they are forced to work together to win a baking competition. 

With Camryn’s lucky saltshaker missing and the two enemies vying to gain insider information about each other, the competition is off to a rocky start. But the true test is figuring out the sleeping arrangement when a pipe burst leads to a shared room.

Will these two get over their enmity and work together to win? And can they stop themselves from falling for their enemy in the process?

Buy on Amazon | Bookshop.org

Meet SE Rose

USA Today & International Bestselling romance author, S.E. Rose lives near Washington D.C. with her family.

When she's not wrangling her cats or keeping up with her kids, she's plotting her next story.

She loves all things wine, coffee, and cats.

In her non-existent free time, she enjoys traveling, going to concerts, binging on her favorite shows, and reading, especially if it's a good mystery or comedy. 

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To learn more about SE Rose & her books, visit here!

Connect with SE Rose: https://linktr.ee/seroseauthor