Christmas in Moonshine, Georgia is salon owner Merilee Bellâs favorite season. She might still be single in her mid- thirties, but sheâs finally content, proud of her business and herself as sheâs made strides to make peace with her past. And then just at closing time, a tall, dark and handsome new deputy enters her shop, and everything seems poised to change.
Weeks before Christmas, Georgia Bureau of Investigation agent, Randy Slade arrives in Moonshine posing as Moonshineâs newest deputy for an undercover sting to catch a group of high-tech property thieves. Only the sheriff is aware of his true identity, but from the moment he meets Merilee, who trades a haircut for free parking, heâs smitten by her smile and warm, friendly manner. Unfortunately, she also has a rental property perfectly suited for his undercover operation.
Randy doesnât want to lie, but he has a duty to keep citizens safe, including Merilee. Can he do his job and still celebrate a small town southern Christmas, and maybe more with his dream girl?
A Taste of Christmas Magic by Sinclair Jayne
This Christmas, he just might believe in a little magicâĶ
Rustin Wildish furiously left Belmont North Carolina as a teen to make his reputation in the culinary world. Over twelve years later, heâs back in the town that where the founding family of Mayes once branded him a worthless bad boy. Intent to show them how wrong they were, he buys the local dinerâconsidered an institutionâfrom his former mentor and boss, Miss Millie Maye and transforms. Success will be his revenge as the Mayeâs and other âupstanding families,â are forced to eat their words and so much more. But then the youngest Maye daughter asks him for help, and he inexplicably says yes.
This Christmas Chloe Maye has finally bitten off far more than she can chew. Sheâs agreed to organize The Maye familyâs annual fundraiserâa movable feast where historic downtown homes are open to the public and each serve one course of a lavish meal. Chloe canât cook so armed with a historic handwritten cookbook she mysteriously finds in a mini library outside her Grandma Millieâs home, she approaches Rustin for help. Sheâs always crushed on him and is thrilled heâs back.
But when Rustin, who ignored her their entire childhood, takes a bite from the meal she cooks under his exacting supervision, the unthinkable happens. He falls head over heels in loveâĶ
A Saltwater Christmas by Laurie Beach
Christmas is a time of miraclesâbut is it magical enough to change a personâs mind?
Allie Westleyâs Christmas will be a bit different this year. Sheâs taken a big step to move away from Nashville to Goose Island, South Carolina, to pursue her dream of becoming a wine enologist, and sheâs not tripping over this chance to make a break from her family, either. Sheâll spend December 25 doing her own thing. Although the beach might be cold, it is the perfect place for new traditions.Â
But she was also counting on her new roommate, Sam Clare, to be a sister she never had. Instead, Sam is an ex-military man now working as a paramedic. Even his dog, Buttercup, is part wolf. Yet he turns out to be the most understanding person in her new world, despite the fact that sheâs declared him her enemy.
As the seasonâs activities bring them together, Allie uncovers several details her new circle of friends werenât forthcoming about. But will the secret Samâs keeping break her heart or mend what she didnât realize was broken?