I’m very excited to have been part of the latest Crossroads Collection. If you’ve never heard of the Crossroads before, they’re the brainchild of Christian romance and suspense author Amanda Tru, where all of the books in a collection all have some common theme, and the final book ties them all together. They’re quite brilliant. I’ve had the pleasure to be part of now four of them:
Out of the Blue Bouquet, in which the common theme is a misdelivered flower order, and the protagonist in the final book is the florist
- Yesterday’s Mail, in which the common theme is some piece of mail that got lost, and the protagonist in the final book works in the post office and finds all of the lost mail
- The Wedding Dress Yes, in which all of the books have a wedding theme, and the protagonist in the final book is the wedding dress designer for all of the other brides
- And now finally, When Snowflakes Never Cease, in which all of the characters in the books are struggling against a storm-of-the-century that hits around Christmastime. Also, Amanda’s characters make an appearance in every book as they travel the country trying to locate the father of a terminally ill child, whose Christmas wish is to see her father before she dies.
Ya’ll, this is a good book.
I’m not just saying that because I’m in it. I’m saying that because Amanda Tru is quite amazing and pulled this together in a way that is ACTUALLY giving me chills as I write this.
My portion of this collection is my book titled Blizzard in the Bluegrass. Gloria Sutton, a divorced mom of an autistic 8-year-old boy, is doing her best raising her son on her own. She meets her new neighbor, widower Jeff Brock, Charula, Kentucky’s newest family practice doctor straight from the University of Louisville medical center, and completely feels like he’s out of her league. Over time, though, their friendship becomes something more. When the storm of the century blankets Kentucky under several feet of snow and whiteout conditions on Christmas day, Gloria and Jeff batten down at her father’s house, counting their blessings and basking in the warmth of their love. Until they discover that her son Noah is missing.
As the mother of an autistic son, this was the first time I put a child with autism into a story. It’s also the first time I had a child take a role as one of the main characters. When I started writing it, I really struggled with separating myself and the way I parent my son from Gloria. Finally, I quit trying. She is not me, and we do not have the same personalities. But by golly, she sure does parent like me. And in so doing, it became an exceedingly personal story. So personal that I feel like I am handing a part of myself over to every reader who reads it.
I hope you get an opportunity to read this collection. You can find it on Amazon’s Kindle Unlimited at this link.
Do you enjoy Christmas themed stories? Do you watch the Christmas romantic movies that start playing right around now?
Do you have a favorite you return to every year? I always loved White Christmas.
One commenter will receive the very first Crossroads Collection, Out of the Blue Bouquet in paperback.
Hi Hallee, how exciting. This is in my waiting to read pile. I love that you have a child with autism as one of the main characters- so important to raise awareness of how special and wonderful people with autism are.
My favourite Christmas movie is an old Australian film called Bushfire Moon.
Blessings:)
I’ll have to look that one up!
Thank you for sharing so much if yourself in this amazing story, I loved every minute of it!❤️❤️
Hallee, l love your article. I always love to read articles from authors.
I love Christmas themed stories and movies anytime of the year. We watch a lot of them. The first that we make sure we watch is “It’s A Wonderful Life”. Then there’s a couple more we watch are, “Holiday Inn” the original movie that “White Christmas” came from, and “Scrooge”, the one with George C. Scott.
Thank you for the chance.
I enjoy Christmas movies and books but don’t have a favorite. I have enjoyed the crossroads sets I’ve read. Looking forward to this one.
White Christmas is the only movie we watch every year without exception. :)
I’m so glad. :-)
George C. Scott was amazing!
I’m happy you’ve enjoyed the other Crossroads you’ve read!
Just the thought of that movie makes me smile.
Miracle on 34th Street, both the old and new versions.
I do enjoy reading Christmas themed stories. I don’t watch Christmas movies on TV, mostly because of time constraints and sharing the remote with a husband who would rather do anything but!
This is in my TBR stack!! I do like to read Christmas stories! My favorite Christmas Movies are White Christmas, Holiday Inn, and the original Miracle on 34th Street. I also like A Christmas Snow, a different type of Christmas movie. I don’t get Hallmark, but ION will have Christmas movies on, and they remind me of Hallmark movies.
I didn’t even know there was a new one!
Netflix had a round of Hallmark style movies, too.
I can understand that!
This is great! I have always wished to see authors write about children with special needs but perhaps its difficult to do accurately without experiencing it yourself. And also, I LOVE Amanda Tru’s collections. I’ve read 2 of the 4. Lovely fun ideas she has had!
I have watched three Hallmark Christmas movies so far this year & I’m sure I’ll find a few more to enjoy! Our favorite TV movies are It’s a Wonderful Life, A Christmas Carol by George C. Scott, the original animated Grinch Who Stole Christmas, and Miracle on 34th Street. Then we watch whatever we can catch from there, I have enjoyed White Christmas and Holiday Inn in past years. :-)
It’s not romantic but I love to watch A Christmas Story every year.