My guest today is Carol James, an Air Force brat. The longest Carol ever lived in one place was a year and a half. Maybe that’s why, when she and her husband bought their first home forty-two years ago, they stayed put. She lives in Lilburn, GA with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.
Loving intriguing stories with happy endings, she writes Redemptive Romance. She has had five full length novels and five Christmas novellas published. Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was an Amazon number one best-seller. Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter and get a free short story: https://www.carol-james.com
When she’s not walking Zoe, Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, as well as traveling. On Sundays, she loves serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night, you’ll find her bringing her newest novel to life.
Carol's latest release is CROCUSES FOR CHRISTMAS. What's it about? Read this:
When Matthew Dawson loses his wife in an automobile accident, he struggles to raise his three-year-old daughter, Emma, alone. He decides to hire a live-in nanny to take care of Emma, when he returns to work.
Matt asks the principal of Emma’s school for recommendations, and she suggests Hannah Collins. Hannah is a highly-experienced nanny who has recently moved to Crescent Bluff from the United Kingdom.
When Matt interviews Hannah, he knows she’s perfect for the position. But he’s concerned about Emma’s reaction. After Hannah and Emma meet each other, Matt makes Hannah an offer. Not only does Hannah immediately fall in love with Emma, she’s attracted to Matt and hopes to help this sweet family heal from their loss.
The more Matt and Hannah are around each other, the more they become attracted to one another and must make some difficult choices for their futures. When Christmas nears, the crocuses in Matt’s yard bloom early as a sign of hope, new life, joy, and new beginnings.
Now for an excerpt from this wonderful story!
Matthew Dawson held his wife in his arms and tickled her face and neck with kisses. If he didn’t have to work today, he’d stay here in their haven with the love of his life beside him. The only woman he’d ever loved. The only woman he ever would. He groaned. Any second now, the alarm on his phone would play their song, the singer declaring she would always love her sweetheart. As he would always love his sweet Natalie.
Their song floated from the radio on his nightstand and filled their room. He slipped his hand to the other side of the bed. The smooth, cool fabric of the sheets met his touch. As reality set in, he opened his eyes and jerked himself up. He’d been dreaming. The space beside him was empty. The sheets unruffled. The pillow smooth. No Natalie. Not today…not last night…not ever again.
“Matt.” Mom’s voice crept up the stairs, piercing his mournful solitude, reminding him this was not a dream. “Breakfast’ll be ready in a few minutes.” He didn’t want to do this, but he had no choice. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life in bed.
After easing back the covers, he struggled to sit up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stood, ready to perform his morning ritual, and then trudged to her closet and opened the door. He stepped inside, turned on the light, and buried his face in her pink dress. Her scent still lingered, but as each day passed, its strength faded a little more. Before long, it would be gone. Just like she was.
He left the closet and padded down the hallway. He paused at Emma’s door and eased it closed until only a crack remained. Large enough to hear her if she cried out, but small enough to muffle most of the morning noise…although she’d never had a problem sleeping. She might look like her mother, but she slept like him. Or at least, the way he used to.
The bottom stair creaked as he stepped into the entry hall. He’d promised Nat he’d fix it. But he never had. He’d always assumed he’d have time. Later. But time wasn’t a bank account where he could deposit more funds to increase his balance and withdraw some to use when his cache ran low.
If he’d known then what he knew now, he’d have taken advantage of every moment. He’d have worked less and played more. He’d have travelled less and worked from the office or from home more. He’d learned the hard way that life was about where you invested your time…not your money.
You can find Carol's website at: https://www.carol-james.com/
Crocuses for Christmas can be found at:
Amazon
Barnes&Noble
Kobo
Apple Books
Pelican Book Group
