For
some reason the song “So-long, farewell, etc. etc” from The Sound of Music is going through my head—probably because this
is my last post here at The Roses of Prose.
Good-byes are always difficult, no matter
what the situation. I was in London last
week for a wedding, which was happily followed by seven days of nonstop
visiting with old friends from when I lived there. After the final dinner with
one, I burst into tears because we happen to be at that age where ‘ya never
know.’ But let me not get too morbid.
Here on the Roses’ blog, we’ve had some pretty good times, many laughs,
shared a lot of important information, and hopefully made friends for the
future. As Thanksgiving approaches, I find I have a lot to be thankful for.
And
the best good-byes are brief so I won’t linger.
It’s been highly enjoyable for me and I’ve appreciated all the support
over the months, and reading everyone’s thoughts, both in their own posts and
in comments. So, farewell everyone!
Oh,
but it wouldn’t be an author’s post without one more thing. I know my fellow Roses will be entertaining
you with their Christmas stories throughout December, but let me also mention
my latest before I go, available at https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Cowboy-Keep-Contemporary-Collection-ebook/dp/B07JF6LYWD/ Curl up with some great Christmas reading:
The weather is cold, the atmosphere is festive, and the
cowboys are hot. How do you keep a cowboy at Christmas?
Don’t miss this holiday collection of modern-day cowboys and
the women they love, featuring USA Today, Amazon
Bestselling, and Award-Winning authors.
CHRISTMAS, LIBERTY, AND THE THREE MINUTE MAN by Carra
Copelin
Nashville event planner Liberty Ann Hart has come to
Mistletoe, Texas, to set up and promote a Christmas fundraiser for country music
star Lilah Canfield. She tries not to fall for the local carpenter building the
outdoor stage, but his cowboy charisma is hard to ignore.
Daniel Dylan Layman is happy to live his life in obscurity
in Mistletoe, until a sassy, headstrong woman removes her shoe and beats an ATM
machine for eating her debit card. From that moment, he’s determined to show
her a Texas country life away from the glitz and glamour of Nashville.
A CHRISTMAS CAROLE by Andrea Downing
When single mom Carrie Matheson inherits a Wyoming ranch and
moves out of NYC, her six-year-old son is not happy. Trying to help Tim settle
into life out west isn’t easy, especially when his pleas to Santa receive
replies from a mysterious correspondent. Is it the crotchety ranch foreman upon
whom she relies so much? Somehow, she doesn’t think so….
Tate Schrugge is amused by his new neighbor when she jogs
over with some mis-delivered mail. But Tate has just finished with a long-term
relationship, and the lithe blonde in front of him has just called him Scrooge.
If these two can get together, it might be the Dickens of a
romance.
THE PEPPERMINT TREE by Kristy McCaffrey
Skye Mallory had always aspired to leave her family’s ranch, and she took
pride in having achieved her dream of becoming a lawyer. But when an unexpected
inheritance draws her home for the Christmas holidays, she’s surprised by a
longing to set down roots in the wide-open meadows and woodlands of
southwestern Colorado. Only one thing stands in her way—a cowboy who broke her
heart nine years ago.
In high school, Joe Carrigan had admired Skye for her spirit
and her intellect, but he had known she was destined for a life beyond
ranching. Turning down her romantic overture had been the best course of
action for them both. But now, he’s returned to the community he left years
ago, and it’s inevitable that he’ll come face-to-face with his one regret in
life—Skye Mallory. This time, however, he wouldn’t be so chivalrous.
THE DEVIL’S CHRISTMAS KISS by
Devon McKay
Kristen Kelly is returning home
with a new attitude. No longer the shy, awkward girl of her past, she’s
determined to show the small town what she’s made of. Especially Cole Lawson. When
she’s challenged by Cole at a holiday kissing booth, she finds the wicked
cowboy hasn’t changed a bit. He’s still the most frustrating, infuriating, and
tempting man she has ever come across.
The minute he sees Kristen again, Cole Lawson can’t believe
his eyes. She’s the one girl he’s never forgotten but convincing her they
belong together will take more than a Christmas kiss. Kristen doesn’t trust him
but, this time, he’s determined to not let her go.
SLAY BELLS by Hildie McQueen
Big-city girl Carmen Dias is prepared for the worst when she
accepts a writing assignment in rural Montana, but she’s pleasantly surprised
by the jubilant atmosphere and warm welcome of the townspeople. Unfortunately,
as she begins working on an article about their small-town Christmas festival,
she discovers a dead body, putting her face-to-face with a local—and
hunky—detective.
Weary from his all-work and no-play schedule, Detective
Jared Bowden braces for a busy season helping at his family’s Christmas
festival. When a beautiful writer arrives in town, his holidays immediately
take a turn for the better. But a murder investigation, possible charges
against him, and a pesky ex-girlfriend don’t exactly spell romance.
Can Carmen and Jared find love amidst the mayhem and sleigh
bells?
THE BEST CHRISTMAS by Hebby
Roman
Sofia Rossi travels to Texas to
re-connect with her estranged teenage son, Aaron, who’s at a ranch
rehab-center. An immigrant from Argentina, she has managed to thrive in the
tough New York world of modeling. And she’s a survivor of an ill-advised liaison
with a wealthy, married member of New York society. When her ex-lover manipulates
their son into living with him, Aaron gets into trouble. Sofia will reclaim her
son at any cost.
Gar McCulloch, after losing his
wife to her high school sweetheart and his daughter to a drug overdose,
believes his life is over. He dedicates himself to turning a dude ranch into a
juvenile drug rehab-center. Selfless and with twenty years of juvenile counseling
experience, Gar is a wizard at reforming other people’s kids, but he can’t forgive
himself for his one failure… his daughter.
As two emotionally-damaged
people come together to save Sofia’s son, neither feel they’re entitled to
romance or happiness. Their mutual attraction and admiration come as a surprise
and an unexpected joy, making this their best Christmas… ever.
COUNTING DOWN TO CHRISTMAS by Patti Sherry-Crews
Melody Evans grew up as the only child of a single mother,
never putting down roots. Instead, they carried family traditions from home to
home, none more precious than those surrounding Christmas. Romance? Melody has
put a wall around her wounded heart and turned a cynical eye to the concept of
happily ever after, despite making a living as a wedding planner.
Veterinarian Leland Jennings IV has roots long and deep at
his family’s ranch in South Dakota. What he lacks, according to his meddlesome
sister, is someone to settle down with. But he continues to hold out, nurturing
an unwavering belief that there is only one woman out there for him. Christmas?
It’s a holiday for children, not a bachelor living alone.
Once Melody and Leland get over their initial animosity,
they come together like two pieces of a puzzle, sparking emotions and nostalgic
memories that bring magic to the holiday season. But when tragedy strikes, will
the budding romance become a case of the right person at the wrong time, or
will they forge a new path together?
