Amy, here. My friend, Regina Rudd Merrick, had a fun new book release yesterday. I couldn’t resist asking her to come tell you more about it.
Thank you, Amy, for inviting me to guest-blog today about my upcoming Christmas novella, 12 Days of Mandy Reno!
In Book 3 in the RenoVations, Inc. series, we diverge from romantic suspense to plain old contemporary romance, my first love, set in the rural area where I live in western Kentucky.
I could have interviewed a character—Mandy Reno and Clay Lacey both offered—but when I mentioned writing this post as a fairy tale, Mandy, especially, was all in. (Clay kinda rolled his eyes, but Mandy started bouncing on her toes and clapping her hands, and if Mandy likes it …)
I’ve never written a fairy tale as a book, and to be clear, 12 Days of Mandy Reno isn’t written in fairy tale form, but it’s a Christmas story, and magic happens, right?
If not, don’t tell me. Mandy and I like to live in our magical bubble, thank you very much.
You have to understand, I was the kid who wore out multiple copies of Grimm’s Fairy Tales and the “Stories and Fables” volume of our 1974 World Book Childcraft set, while the “Make and Do” and “The Green Kingdom” volumes were still pristine. Who knows? Maybe someday I’ll write a humorous, magical fairy tale set in Kentucky!
And now, snuggle up under a fuzzy throw and sip a cup of hot chocolate (or coffee, or tea) and listen to our little story …
Once upon a time, on a farm, in the (fictional) hamlet of Clementville, Kentucky, there was a Christmas Princess named Mandy Reno. All year, she’d looked forward to all things Christmas.
She was adored and held a place of honor as the baby of the family and as the daughter of the lady whom the family considered their very own “Christmas Elf” because of her over-the-top decorations proclaiming the season.
Princess Mandy Reno thought things would never change.
She had grown up into a beautiful young lady, a law student no less, but, again, being the youngest child, and the youngest GRANDchild in the Reno family, she had expectations, and as Princess, she decreed the following:
- After Black Friday shopping, decorating for Christmas would begin.
- No music but Christmas songs would play after Thanksgiving weekend.
- She might be all grown up, but Mom will always be there to make Christmas, Christmas.
When the grown-up Christmas Princess learns her parents have been delayed by the Spirit of Christmas Present and will be out of the country at, of all times, Christmas, the season is ruined. Utterly, undeniably, unconditionally, ruined.
(Apparently, the decree that Christmas must remain the same was lost in the shuffle and never notarized.)
For Princess Mandy, darkness spreads over all the land (of Crittenden County, in Kentucky).
When the Sheriff of the province, Clay Lacey (enter Prince Charming) hears of her plight, he knows he must do something. Otherwise, Christmas would not only be ruined for her but for him, as well.
He’s watched Mandy grow up, mostly while pursuing her cousin, but when she lays her plight at his feet (or rather, the booth at the Clementville Café), he realizes the five-year difference in age isn’t so large after all.
And Princess Mandy is very pretty.
As he ponders the disturbance in his jurisdiction, the first thing that comes to mind is the classic Christmas Carol, “The Twelve Days of Christmas.” The wheels of creativity begin to turn. How can Sheriff Clay combine the elements of the traditional song with a way of anonymously distracting Princess Mandy from the despair of her Christmas being ruined? It becomes his first priority.
Will Princess Mandy notice Sheriff Clay when, eventually, she finds out who has been her benefactor? Does she consider him just “the guy who used to date her cousin and asked her to marry him in the most embarrassing way ever,” or as someone she would consider a suitor?
The entire province (Clementville, Kentucky again) seems to have a part in the plan, and, even though dark forces threaten to pull him away from his project, which he’s named “12 Days of Mandy Reno,” he must choose whether to continue with the surprises, or let the pain and anguish (see what I did there, Amy?) of a shattered Christmas darken the holiday for everyone in the land.
I’d like to end my tale with “and they lived happily ever after,” but for that, look for 12 Days of Mandy Reno, newly released and also on Kindle Unlimited!
Now a question for you, the reader: Do you like fairy tale retellings? If so, what’s your favorite, or what fairy tale should I set in the unlikely kingdom of rural Kentucky?
Leave me a comment below by November 18th, and I’ll choose one reader to receive a brand-new, signed copy of my book, 12 Days of Mandy Reno (US readers only). And if you can’t wait for that, go ahead and snatch it on Amazon!
Law student Amanda Reno is stuck in her tiny hometown in Kentucky to complete her studies virtually and work part-time at the Clementville Café. Her parents are stuck in Brazil, leaving Mandy to celebrate Christmas without them.
Young Sheriff Clay Lacey takes matters into his own hands, devising a plan to take Mandy’s mind off her crushed expectations. She is no longer his classmate’s tagalong kid sister, but a young woman he is increasingly attracted to.
How will Mandy react when she finds out Clay is the one working to make sure she has a memorable Christmas? Will she be pleased? Or will she cringe as she thanks the man who may be falling in love with her?
Purchase Link: https://scriveningspress.com/book/12-days-of-mandy-reno/
Regina Rudd Merrick is a multi-published author, church musician, wife, mother, former librarian, lover of all things fun, beachy, and chocolate, and grateful follower of Jesus Christ. Married to her husband of 40 years, she is the mother of two grown daughters, and lives in the small town of Marion, KY. Connect with Regina on Facebook, Instagram, or on her website at https://www.reginaruddmerrick.com.
Amy R Anguish grew up a preacher's kid, and in spite of having lived in seven different states that are all south of the Mason Dixon line, she is not a football fan. Currently, she resides in Tennessee with her husband, daughter, and son, and usually a bossy cat or two. Amy has an English degree from Freed-Hardeman University that she intends to use to glorify God, and she wants her stories to show that while Christians face real struggles, it can still work out for good.
How delightful Regina and Amy. Thank you for such a wonderful post. We all make those contracts with our parents though the parents don’t realise. I love fairytales as they create such possibilities for my imagination. Sounds like a wonderful book and series. Looking forward to enjoying it.
I do like fairy tale retellings. My favorite is Beauty and the Beast, followed by Cinderella.
I love fairy tale retellings! I ❤️ Them all but a couple of my favorites would be Beauty and the Beast and Little Red Riding Hood.
Yes I do favorite is probably Cinderella or red riding hood. I’m not sure if it’s a fairy tail but I loved Hansel and gristle when I was younger.
Hi, your book sounds like a really good read!! Yes, I love Fairy tale retellings , I loved Beauty and The Beast. I would love to read one about Snow White as it is one of my favorite ones. Have a great day. I really enjoyed reading this blog and getting to know you and your Great sounding book! Have a great day and a great rest of the week.
Hi Regina, nice to ‘meet’ you, the book sounds great.
I love a fairy tale, I think most romances work well as fairy tales. Like you I loved reading fairy tales as a child and I think it’s where my love of romance started!
My favourites are Cinderella and The Frog Prince – I think the story of a princess who doesn’t realise what she’s been looking for was right there all along, because it wasn’t quite what she expected, makes a great romance plot.
Thanks for stopping by, Dianne!
Me, too, Trudy! My 2 favorites! Y’all are making me want to write a fairy tale!!!
Have you seen “Into the Woods?” Red is THE BEST!!!!
Hansel and Gretel is a good one – a little dark, but SO GOOD!! Cinderella was the first Disney feature movie I saw AT the movies, so I’m a little biased toward her! :)
Thanks, Alicia! Snow White would be a fun one to “retell!”
The old “friends to lovers” trope! Love it! Thanks, Ruthie!
Yes, I agree!!!
Thank you, Amy, for sharing this. Regina, I so enjoyed your blog. I do like retold fairy tales with the more modern twist. Sleeping Beauty has always been my favorite. I could see that set in Kuntucky. By the way, I love Kentucky. It is one of my favorite states. (I’m from Ohio).
Thank you, Bonnie! I love Sleeping Beauty, too!
I love fairy tale retellings. Beauty and the Beast is my favorite. It is also my favorite trope.
As a parent, I can honestly say there are several things I wish I’d never started with my kids because now they expect them every year. LOL!
Those are probably my top two as well, Trudy!
Fun choices! Now, I’m trying to imagine Little Red Riding Hood as a romance. ;)
Those are great choices. Thanks for commenting.
Those are great fairy tales. Thanks so much for stopping by and getting to know Regina.
Ruthie, that’s a great way to describe the Frog Prince!
Kentucky has grown on me over the last few years since making so many friends who live there. :) I may have to talk Regina into doing this Sleeping Beauty in KY thing.
That’s one of my favorites too. Seeing the person beneath who you originally see … beautiful.
Thank you so much for visiting. I would have to say Beauty and the Beast. God bless you.
It depends on the fairy tale, but I also always liked Beauty and the Beast.
That’s a great choice, Debra.
That seems to be a popular choice!
I love fairytale re-tellings! There are so many good ones that I don’t think I could choose just one, but I always enjoy a new spin on an old classic.
Completely agree!
Not all foxes have to be animals . . . ;)
I’ve seen the Beauty and the Beast musical SO MANY TIMES (my girls have been in multiple productions!), but I enjoy it every time! Sigh . . .
This was so much fun! Thanks for stopping by, and God bless you, too! :)
Something about that “enemies to lovers” trope that I love, too!
A girl after my own heart — asking which is my favorite fairy tale is like asking which is my favorite book – depends on my mood at the time! I will admit that Cinderella holds a special place because it was the first thing I ever saw at the theater, in first grade!