Have you ever felt like life it simply to hard and you aren’t strong enough? We are often as weak as the little fellow pictured above but with the Lord we are strong. In A Christmas Surprise Keira has a very real fear of driving in winter weather due to an accident that killed her husband. This fear is her greatest weakness, and she must learn to trust the Lord in order to conquer that fear.
Below is an excerpt from A Christmas Surprise which is currently FREE on Amazon. Today is the final day to pick it up for free, however, it’s always free to read with Kindle Unlimited.
Keira Noble peered out her apartment window at the first snow of the season, and a shiver ran through her. Snow set her on edge. Winter in the quaint Bavarian village of Leavenworth, Washington, always meant snow, but it was only the middle of October—much too early. Taking a sip of her morning coffee, she tucked her feet under her legs and snuggled deeper into the quilt. She closed her eyes, unwilling to gaze at the one thing that tortured her every winter.
“Momma.” Four-and-a-half-year-old Cody padded out from his room and climbed into her lap. He nestled his head against her chest. “What’s for breakfast?”
“How about oatmeal with blueberries?” She didn’t open the candy shop until ten on weekdays, and treasured this time with her son.
“No.”
“Really? I thought you loved blueberries.”
He shook his head. “I like gummy worms. Can I have them in my oatmeal?”
“Eww. I don’t think so.” She gave him a squeeze and stood, setting him on the chaise. “Maybe after lunch you can pick out a few gummy worms from the bin.” She smiled to herself, imagining he’d be the most popular kid in school someday with his access to candy.
She heard footsteps on the stairs that led to the alley. Right on time. Her best friend, Susan, had a way of showing up a couple of mornings a week for breakfast. She especially appreciated the visit today, considering the weather. Susan knew the fear snow brought on. Just the thought of driving now made her shudder. A rap on the door sounded and Keira flung the door open. “Morning.” She gave Susan a quick hug and stepped back.
“Brrr. It’s freezing out there.” Susan unwound her scarf, pulled off her boots and hung her coat on a hook by the door. “Where’s my little buddy?” She tiptoed over to the chaise. “Boo.”
Cody squealed and laughed. “Aunt Susan, you always do that.”
Sitting beside him, Susan wrapped an arm around Cody. “And you always laugh.” She poked his belly. “What’s for breakfast?”
“Oatmeal, but Mom said no gummy worms.”
Susan snapped her fingers. “Bummer, but I’m sure she’ll let us have brown sugar.” Susan got up and walked into the kitchen. “I have a surprise for you.”
Keira looked over her shoulder and raised a brow at her eccentric friend with the purple streaks in her long black hair. “I’m not a fan of surprises.”
“You might like this one.”
“Might?” She measured out the water and poured it into a saucepan. “I don’t like the sound of this. Spill.”
“Sorry.” Susan pulled a card from her pocket. “Be at this address tonight at six and look hot.”
“Huh?” Her friend had never told her to look hot. She turned around and took the card. “Visconti’s?” She narrowed her eyes and crossed her arms. “What’s going on? I’m not going to show up someplace unless I know why.”
“Oh, all right. But you have to hear me out without interrupting.”
“Su-san!”
“We set you up on a blind date.” The words tumbled from her lips. “Pete is great. He’s a veterinarian. Josh knows him from church and got to talking with him when he took his dog in the other day and realized the man has no social life—”
“And he immediately thought of me. I need to have a few words with your brother.”
“You’re interrupting.”
“The two of you set me up? Why don’t you go out with him?” It had to be an all-time low when her friends thought they needed to find her a man.
“He’s not my type.” Susan grinned and batted her lashes.
“Don’t try that on me, missy.” She’d date again when she was ready. “I’m not going.” Keira turned her back on Susan and measured out the oats.
“But you have to. Josh already told him you’d be there.”
“He will have to un-tell him. What kind of person agrees to a blind date at the last minute?”
“Actually, Pete’s known about it for a week.” She ducked her head. “I didn’t know how to tell you, and then time got away from me and…” She shrugged. “You can’t cancel now. It’s too late.”
Her friend knew her well. Of course she would’ve canceled. Keira bit her lip. Maybe it wouldn’t hurt to meet the man. Besides, it would be rude to back out at the last minute, and she had always wanted to try the food at Visconti’s, one of the best Italian restaurants around. Considering how small the village was, it was crazy she’d never been there before.
But there was one problem—Cody. Who would take care of her son and what would she tell him? Since her husband was killed four years ago in a car accident, she had gone out only once. Keira didn’t want him to get confused or attached to a man who wasn’t going to stick around. Ack! She was getting ahead of herself. It was only one date.
Susan touched her arm and lowered her voice. “You need this. It doesn’t have to be anything serious, but it’s time you started getting out there again. You keep yourself holed up in this apartment or the candy shop all the time. Live a little. And don’t worry about Cody. I’ll take care of him.”
“Will you come here to watch him?”
Susan nodded. “Whatever you want.”
An hour before closing Keira walked out of the back room and into the candy shop, the boxes in her arms partially blocking her view. Her chocolatier would be making a delivery soon and she needed to get these unpacked before her arrival.
“Whoa.” Strong hands gripped her arms and kept her from colliding with the chest in front of her.
She peeked over the boxes and saw a man holding a charcoal-gray wool coat. “Oh, excuse me. I didn’t hear you come in.”
“No harm done.” He flashed a smile.
Oh, but he was handsome—striking blue eyes, a strong chin and an incredible head of dark wavy hair on a fit body. She cleared her throat and stepped past him. What was she thinking? She had no business checking out the man. He was probably married anyway. “Are you here for the weekend?”
“No. I live in Leavenworth.”
She pursed her lips. She really did need to get out more if Leavenworth had men like this. “Is there something I can help you find?” She set the boxes beside a display she’d been working on.
“I’d like a box of chocolates.”
“That’s our specialty,” she said with a smile. “What kind?”
“I’m not sure. They’re for my date, and I don’t know what she likes. Maybe this is a mistake.” He turned toward the door.
“Wait.”
He turned back and raised a brow.
Keira stepped toward him. “Even if she doesn’t like chocolate it’s a nice gesture. And take it from a woman, most of us love chocolate. You can’t go wrong with truffles.”
“Are you sure? I don’t want to look desperate.”
I hope you enjoyed this short excerpt. Here’s the amazon link to pick it up for free today http://amzn.to/2vIDH74
Have you ever had a fear that so impacted you that it affected your daily life? How did you overcome it?
Wemble says
Hi Kimberly, this book sounds good, I look forward to reading it. Thankfully I have not/do not have a fear that impacts daily life. I think it would take a lot of prayer/work/effort to overcome.
Blessings:)
Renate says
Hi Kimberly! I enjoyed your delightful inspiring romance A Christmas Surprise about preschoolers, puppies, a dateless veterinarian, a fearful mom and romance. I was drawn to the story ‘s setting Leavenworth, Washington – a quaint Bavarian Christmas Village similar to Frankenmuth, Michigan. My husband had visited Leavenworth, while in Washington state on business. Thankfully I have no fear that impacts my daily life. Living in the Midwest near the shores of Lake Michigan we receive our share of blizzards. The first major snow storm per season has residents scrambling to hon their winter driving skills, so I can identify with Keira Noble. Thanks for sharing and Happy Weekend.
Sherri G says
I fear driving in big cities and heavily traveled interstate highways. So I’m sometimes limited in where I can go and do. My depth perception is horrible so it makes it hard to merge into traffic.
lelandandbecky says
Your novels are wonderfully sweet and encouraging, with characters that I fall in love with and find myself cheering them on. Learning to trust and overcoming fear are things that are easy to relate to, making your novels so realistic. Loved this novel!!!
Jackie Smith says
I loved your book…..it was so fun and entertaining to read! Yes, I can relate to fear….am ok now, but it took me about a year to get over being robbed at work yrs. ago…tougher since it was at a Christian work place! As Wemble said….it took a lot of prayer/work/effort to overcome.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Hi Wemble, I’m glad you don’t have a fear like that! Happy reading. :)
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Renate, I love how you remember the story so well! I’ve never been to Michigan, but if it’s anything if Frankenmuth is anything like Leavenworth, I know I’d enjoy it.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Hi, Sherri G. I feel your pain. When I was a young adult living in the Seattle area, I didn’t enjoy that kind of driving, and I’m even worse now. I never drove over there. I depend a lot on my husband to take me places and sit there with my eyes closed.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Thanks, Becky!
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Wow, Jackie. I’m sorry you had to go through that. I’m so thankful the Lord to help us move past trauma.
Margaret Nelson says
Frankenmuth is a fun place to visit, but it doesn’t have the mountains around it like Leavenworth.
Ellie says
Thanks for sharing the excerpt! I enjoyed reading it and am looking forward to reading the rest.
I struggle every day with a fear and deal with it through prayer and sometimes talking with a trusted friend.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Hi, Ellie. I hope you enjoy the book! Fear is one of those things it sometimes helps to talk about. I’m glad you have the Lord too!
Colleen P says
I read this novel a few weeks ago and loved it. Fear can really make a person miss out on some good things/opportunities. Best way to overcome it is to face it head-on. I listened to a sermon by Joyce Meyer and she stated FEAR means FALSE EVIDENCE APPEARING REAL. Struck a cord within me and opened my eyes.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Thanks for reading it, Colleen! I’m happy you loved it.
Trixi says
Hi Kimberly! I went to pick up a copy of your book and discovered I already have it :-) I’m glad Amazon let’s me know when that happens so I don’t duplicate my purchases.
I don’t really have any fears that impact my daily life. My two biggest ones are fear of heights & bees (or wasps). I think I have to agree with the majority here, the key to defeating fear is prayer and reliance on God. There’s just no other way in my thinking. I really like what Collen said above about how Joyce Meyer describes fear: False Evidence Appearing Real. That’s how the enemy can defeat us, making us think something is bigger than us when it really isn’t. Another saying I like: Don’t tell God how big your problems are Tell your problems how big your God is :-)
My husband and I visited Leavenworth WA for two of our wedding anniversaries years ago. The first time was for the Maifest (or Mayfest) and the next year it was just because we wanted to go back :-) One thing I really liked about it, all the shopkeepers and workers dressed up in traditional German outfits. That was awesome! I would love to go again someday.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
I love your quote, Trixi. Tell your problems how big your God is. Yes, I can’t tell you how many times Amazon has told me I already own a book. Lol The only time I’ve run into a problem with duplicating an order is when I pre-order a print book and forgot I did it. I did that recently.
Margaret says
Sounds like a lovely story. I love Leavenworth and like to visit at least once a year. The northwest has been home to me since my dad brought us to McCord Field way back in the mid 1950’s from TN. Had to travel all the way to Spain to find an eastern Washington man. I can’t imagine living anywhere there were not snow capped mountains like the Cascades, Bitterroots or Rockies. It is nice to read about new places but it is special when you can see in your minds eye the setting and picture the scene because you have been there. Enjoyed the excerpt and must now know the whole story. Thank you
Andrea B. Brooks says
cover looks beautiful and catches my attention. I put it on my kindle.
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
Great! I hope you enjoy it.
tarafarah7 says
This sounded so good that I had to get myself a copy! ❤? Thank you!
I think the things we fear are due to unpleasant or sad experiences, such as the many mentioned, but I also think (with me), my fears have come on due to the “unknown” or having a lack of confidence in something I am trying to pursue. It’s difficult to imagine the outcome if we can’t even see ourselves in the process. I even sometimes have the feeling that I am the ONLY one who feels this or that. But, that is not true. The more I talk about my fears, inform myself, learn coping strategies, or hear about others who were in similar situations (possibly with positive results), it doesn’t seem as big of a mountain to climb anymore because I know I am not alone. As children we were willing to try it all because we were curious and forever in search of having fun. As we got older, though, and learned the ways of the world, our no-fear attitude changed and we became more cautious, then guarded, and sometimes we even walked completely away from the things we once loved, due to a bad experience or the fear of having one. For me, it’s the wonder and worry that gets me the most worked up. Although this is easier said than done, it’s sometimes necessary to take a leap into the unknown if we want to live life on our own terms, without feeling paralyzed by a fear that probably isn’t that scary, anyway. It’s probably really just the worry and the wonder of the unknown that’s getting the best of you. No one wants to live in fear…if we start thinking about the possibilities of what this experience could bring to our lives, rather than take away, we will hopefully be a little closer to overcoming the things that we most fear, together. ❤
Kimberly Rose Johnson says
First of all thanks for picking up my book. Secondly, thank you for your thought provoking comment. I couldn’t agree more with everything you said.