by Nancy Fraser
Having just experienced my seventy-fifth Christmas, I’m willing to admit… I don’t remember
much about the first one. Maybe not even the second year either. However, after that, the
memories fade in and out. As a child of the 1950s, Christmas was a lot different than it is now.
Gone are the aluminum Christmas trees, covered in boxes and boxes of silvery icicles that hid the fact ornaments and lights were more expensive. Nowadays everyone’s gone ceiling tall artificial, or natural trees. Or, in my case, a very small, tabletop green tree with mini bulbs.
Some of my fondest memories revolve around family, both in my youth, as a young parent, and now with my grandchildren. From the time I was four until I was around ten, my aunt would take me to downtown Detroit’s 14-floor Hudson’s Department store to visit Santa. The standard visit, subsequent photo (in black and white), was followed by our “ladies’ lunch” as my aunt called it. She’d have the store’s popular Maurice salad. I’d have the hot dog, chocolate milk, and a Mickey Mouse sundae.
As I got older, and was blessed with many, many, many cousins, gatherings took on a patina of chaos. With over a dozen children to entertain, that same aunt’s basement became our gathering place, aka the infamous “kids” table. (P.S.: I’m the surly one on the right, with the tight-lipped smirk.) It was there, on my thirteenth Christmas, that I got my first “fancy” lingerie… a matching bra and panties. Red bra and panties, but not nearly as red as my cheeks, I’m sure.
Young adulthood gave way to my own children, and the advent of larger Christmases, more
presents, and… heaven forbid… electronics. The one constant, throughout the years, was family and … ugh … food. Lots and lots of food. Belt loosening, and stuffed until you fall asleep, food. My family, on both sides, were from the south. My mother and her sister (not the same aunt) were phenomenal cooks. They are the reason I love to cook, and both my sons are fantastic cooks.
Although, I do admit, my current tendency is to let the sons and daughters-in-law do the heavy lifting, and I’ll bake and make fudge. Speaking of baking… I’ve got a FREEBIE for everyone. Related to our ongoing Dickens Holiday Romance series, we’ve put together a cookie book. Get your copy from all major eBook retailers here: https://books2read.com/Cookie2. The cookbook is also available in print on Amazon, should you prefer to hold your recipe books. While just cookies (and latkes and fudge) might not cover your entire meal, they will satisfy the kid in all of us.
It’s not all about the food and presents either, it’s also about a good holiday story. Whether it’s a movie on Hallmark or Netflix, or a good book. I admit, I overdid myself this year with not one, but five, holiday-related books. First came, Sweet Potato Pie by Susana (yes, there are recipes); then A Sleigh Ride for Eliza (old friends reunite); followed by Raine (Christmas Quilt Brides) (3rd of 3 related stories); and The Lost Shepherd (a tear-jerker and just released). All four of these books are historical western romances.
My final Christmas release, and the holiday story that I’m most proud of, is A Dickens Homecoming, a contemporary romance set in the fictitious small New England town of Dickens. In our fifth year, there are over thirty books in this multi-author series. All the books are standalone stories set in this wonderful holiday location. We share businesses, traditions, and every-once-in-awhile, you’ll even see a character or two visit from other books. It’s a joyous showing of the holiday spirit.
A Dickens Homecoming released on December 23rd and will remain on sale for 99¢ until the end of the year.
Here’s a sneak peek to, hopefully, whet your holiday whistle.
***
Blurb:
Macy Anderson hates not being in control. Of herself, her surroundings. Her life.
Unfortunately for Macy, everything she once took for granted was about to change.
Becoming an instant mother to her two nieces was definitely not part of her life plan. Especially when the youngest has challenges Macy feels ill-equipped to understand.
Doctor Mitchell (Mitch) Harrison is another thing Macy doesn’t understand. Or, at least, doesn’t want to understand. However, his skill in handling her niece’s issues is the only thing keeping Macy sane. Perhaps letting him into their lives isn’t the worst idea she’s ever had.
Will the town of Dickens, and its magical holiday season, show Macy there’s more to life than just being in control? Because, sometimes, letting go is the only way to find exactly what you need.
A Not-so-Short Scene:
Macy made the short drive from the church hall to the home where she’d grown up. Parking in the garage, she gathered up the guest book, leftover prayer cards, an envelope containing donations, the cards from the dozens of flower arrangements, and the paperwork from the funeral home.
She was tired, yet her day was barely half over. She still had to navigate cooking dinner and taking care of her nieces. A task she had little knowledge of how to do.
The moment she opened the door between the garage and the kitchen, the first thing she noticed were her nieces seated at the table, a meal of macaroni and cheese, green beans, and sliced tomatoes in front of them.
David’s favorite meal as a kid. Especially if the tomatoes were fresh from their mother’s garden.
The bittersweet memory sent a lump to her throat. “There you are,” Hannah said, meeting her gaze with a pre-teen, defiant stare. “Doc Harrison was worried you’d left town.”
“Hannah!” A rich baritone voice sounded loudly from the next room. “That is not what I said, and you know it.”
What was he still doing here?
“Where’s Angie?” Macy asked, her voice a mere whisper, her question aimed at her niece.
“She said she had to study for an exam on Monday. The Doc offered to stay.”
Of course, he did.
Macy hung her coat on the peg closest to the door and set her purse and the items she’d brought from the car on the nearby wicker stand. Sucking in a deep breath, she went to beard the lion in his den. Or, more precisely, her den.
“Doctor Harrison, how nice to see you again,” Macy snarked when she entered the room.
His deep chuckle sent tingles skittering across the back of her arms.
“You too Miss Anderson. What’s it been? Like two hours, two-and-a-half?”
“Why are you still here? Surely one of the neighbors would have been happy to come over and relieve you.” She shot him a glare. “Don’t you have patients to visit, or something?”
“I’m a pediatrician. Most of my patients are hunkering down in their pajamas by now. I stayed because LilyAnne refused her medication and, when I insisted, she had a minor meltdown. I wanted to make sure she was all right.”
With a softening of her voice, she whispered, “Thank you. That was very thoughtful.”
He gave a quick nod, but the expression on his face was more wary than agreeable. “I’ve made you a schedule,” he said simply, holding out the page-long list.
“Oh, great, another schedule.” The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted the harshness of her tone.
Rather than be angered by her sarcasm, the corner of Mitch Harrison’s mouth lifted in a smirk. “I take it you’ve experienced the church ladies and their penchant for lists.”
“Yes. It seems the only thing they haven’t scheduled are bathroom trips.”
The smirk became a full-on smile. “Those are on my list. At least for LilyAnne. I’ll leave the
scheduling of your bodily functions to you.”
Her gaze shot skyward in resignation. “Great. I feel like I’m in control again.”
“Macy, control for these next few weeks will be an exercise in futility. Resign yourself to the fact that you’re going to lose.”
She glanced down at his list, her attention zeroing in automatically on his name. “What’s this?”
“That’s me,” he said simply. “Or, more precisely, that’s LilyAnne’s next appointment with me.”
“I thought she saw a specialist.”
“She does. Every six months. In the interim, I manage her day-to-day care.”
“Okay, I’ve got your list, and Mrs. Richards’ list. I’m all set. You can go now.”
“Are you sure you don’t want me to stay until LilyAnne’s in bed?”
“Positive,” she told him, nodding toward the front door. “We’re all good.”
“Fine. I’ll go. My number is on the front of the refrigerator if you have questions.”
“I won’t.” She yanked the door open so he could leave.
He started through the door, only to stop short of crossing the threshold. “Macy, can I give you one word of advice?”
She huffed an exhausted sigh but gave her resigned agreement. “I suppose.”
“Don’t let LilyAnne bite you.”
“What?”
“And, if she does, make sure you wash her mouth with warm water before you worry about
yourself. Even if she breaks the skin.”
Certain he was being overly dramatic, Macy reached out and gave him a shove the rest of the way through the door. “That was five words of advice,” she pointed out as she swung the door to within an inch of closing.
“True,” he agreed, the sound of his laughter slipping easily past the thick oak barrier.
***
That’s it for me… at least until I get the chance to visit again. I wish everyone a safe and happy new year filled with joy, a bit of luck, and lots of love.
Nancy
NANCY FRASER is a bestselling and award-winning author who can’t seem to decide which romance genre suits her best. So, she writes them all.
Her preferred genres are sweet western historical and sweet small-town contemporary. However, she has been known to dabble in the most unusual settings.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/~/e/B09FTH655Z
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Congrats on FIVE Christmas books. I'm exhausted just thinking about it. Thanks for sharing your Christmas joy with your readers.
Wow! I don't know how you do it! I'm lucky to get a few books out a year! This looks like another winner. I just purchased it, and I'm looking forward to reading it. Best of everything in 2025!
Thank you for having me. It's been a crazy couple of weeks leading up to, and including, the holiday. I definately getting too old to go big.
Thanks for coming, Nancy, even if I did bring you the long way around! I love your post.