It’s mid-September. Leaves are turning red and gold. Nights are getting colder, but we haven’t had a garden-killing-frost yet. Even when we do, a farmer/gardener’s fall work isn’t done. We’ll cover the tomatoes for another week or two, as long as the days are warm, in hopes of more ripening and lots more canning. We’re picking pumpkins and squash, digging up the potatoes and carrots and beets, and getting them all prepared for winter storage.
Thoughts are turning to winter days ahead. Of frosty air, dancing snowflakes, hot cocoa, and sledding parties. Perhaps we’re already thinking of Christmas — what gifts to make or buy for loved ones, what new treats we’ll try baking this year, what parties or other special events we’ll orchestrate.
Marisa Hiller, the heroine of More Than a Tiara in the collection Snowflake Tiara, used to be a supermodel. (We can all relate, right? LOL) But after a nasty breakup with the photographer on one of her shoots, she retreats to the family farm near Helena, Montana, where her single mom has just been laid off her long-time job. Marisa and her mom decide to join the local CSA (community supported agriculture) organic box program as growers. Marisa is perfectly content there, and barely remembers that it’s been twenty-seven months, four days, twelve hours, and thirty-six minutes since she and Jase Mackie hurled nasty words at each other in front of the luggage carousel at JFK Airport.
No sooner has she seen a poster advertising the Miss Snowflake Pageant—the same one her three-time-great-grandmother competed in 125 years before—than Jase Mackie shows up, in the flesh, proving to Marisa that she’s not over him, in case she had any doubt. Better (?) yet, he’s the official photographer for the pageant… and the CSA coordinator is determined that Marisa will enter to represent local food for everyone.
Snowflake Tiara contains two Christmas romance novellas set 125 years apart. Both stories address this question: What if you were caught doing something good… but the man you loved didn’t see it that way?
The Debutante Queen by Angela Breidenbach ~ 1889 (Helena, MT): Calista Blythe enters the first Miss Snowflake Pageant celebrating Montana statehood to expose the plight of street urchins. But if her hidden indentured orphan is discovered, Calista’s reputation and her budding romance with pageant organizer, Albert Shanahan, could both unravel. Will love or law prevail?
More Than a Tiara by Valerie Comer ~ 2014 (Helena, MT): Marisa Hiller’s interest in competing in Miss Snowflake Pageant for the city of Helena’s 150th anniversary is at zip zero zilch when she discovers the official photographer is Jase Mackie. Can Jase make amends for past mistakes and offer her, not only a tiara, but a partner in her crusade to help needy children and families?
Want to win a digital copy of Snowflake Tiara? Comment below and let me know what about the winter season you like most. Do you live somewhere with four distinct seasons? What do you think of snow?
Giveaway closes Saturday evening Pacific time (Sept 20). Winner announced in this week’s Sunday Edition.
Valerie Comer is a USA Today bestselling author and a two-time Word Award winner who writes where food meets faith and fiction. She injects experience laced with humor into her green clean romances. Her life on a small farm in western Canada provides the seed for stories of contemporary inspirational romance. Like many of her characters, Valerie and her family grow much of their own food and are active in the local foods movement as well as their church. She only hopes her creations enjoy their happily-ever-afters as much as she does hers, shared with her husband, adult kids, and adorable granddaughters.
I love the winter. We don’t get much winter here in the coastal area of Texas. When it does get cold I have a lot of energy. Cooler temperatures make it seem more like Christmas.
I get way more energy in winter, too!
Any book with some Christmas/winter in it is always a favorite of mine :) but I prefer my warmer weather. I like the snow until about December 31 then I’m ready for some warm weather. My favorite part about the winter season – drinking hot coffee and roasting marshmallows in our fireplace while its snowing out.
The older I get, the more I like winter!
It really sounds like a good book. Years ago as a youngster, I used to love snow. That was when I lived up north. However, I now live in Florida and fortunately, don’t have to deal with it now. But it sure is beautiful and I still miss it at Christmas time.
Yes, I think most people would love to have snow for a week over Christmas, at least! In reality, it can linger much (did I say MUCH??) longer!