a gift from author Laura K. Curtis
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Modern women can have
it all, they say. But "they" don't ever explain how. All too often, love
gets sacrificed to careers, to children, to art. In these five brand
new stories, women from all walks of life discover love long after
having given it up for lost.
This anthology contains:
“The Christmas Pony” by Sarah M. Anderson
What’s
Alice supposed to do with a pony? The teacher only knows the animal was
left on her porch right before Christmas. Then handsome Animal Control
Officer Kirk Douglas shows up, asking questions that Alice prefers not
to answer. But even the mystery surrounding the animal’s origins can’t
stop the holiday spark that ignites between Alice and Kirk. Can their
attraction survive ugly-sweater parties, well-meaning relatives and the
Christmas pony?
“Midnight Clear” by Ros Clarke
A year ago,
Alison had it all: a husband, a family, and a purpose in life. But now,
following a painful divorce, everything’s changed. She doesn’t know
where her life is going, and her faith is as wobbly as her lopsided
Christmas tree.
When she’s bowled over by an enthusiastic Irish
setter in the park, and the rather gorgeous older man on the end of his
lead, she’s not expecting more than a quick coffee and the mud brushed
off her coat. Certainly not a Christmas like she’s never had before,
full of peace, joy, and maybe even love?
“Sparks” by Laura K. Curtis
Kate
Bellows has no room for weakness if she’s going to pull JanCo Moving
out of the hole its in and create a solid career for herself. Her
carefully-laid plans, however, are no match for the fire that burns her
house to the ground. With few options, she accepts an offer to spend
Christmas with the volunteer firefighter who’d injured himself trying to
save her house.
But there are two major problems with staying
in Adam Miller’s spare room over the holidays. First, he works and JanCo
and there’s a good chance she will have to fire him. Second, he’s
entirely too attractive, and Kate Bellows has neither time nor taste for
romance.
“The Longest Night” by Yasmine Galenorn
The Winter
Solstice is the longest night of the year, and the past few years have
been dark for Merilee Johansson. After an acerbic divorce, Merilee moved
to Starwood, a small mountain town devoted to the arts. Here, she hopes
to heal from the wounds life has left on her heart and her self-esteem.
What she doesn’t expect is for Chris Hunter to enter her life, bringing
the promise of love on the darkest night of the year.
“A Taste of Blessings” by Suleikha Snyder
For
Tiya Chatterjee, coming home for one of her community’s most joyous
celebrations, Durga Puja, means coming home to her mom’s disapproval,
nosy aunties…and a crush on a man who shouldn’t even be on her radar.
For
divorced father-of-two Arnav Biswas, the three-day festival is a chance
to keep his culture alive for his kids — not an opportunity to flirt
with a beautiful woman who isn’t meant for him.
Fortunately,
fate has other plans for Arnav and Tiya, who must learn that giving
thanks to a powerful goddess means acknowledging the unstoppable power
of love.
