Curl Up with this Holiday Romance...

Buy Links: Pelican Book Group & Amazon

“Do you believe in second chances, Chaney?” His voice rumbled near, tickling the bare skin on her neck.

Was he referring to them? Or to his skating career? The air compressed from her lungs, but somehow she managed to squeeze out a raspy, “Yeah.”

His gaze never left her face, but his fingers moved to toy with the ends of her hair. Sliding the strands through his fingertips, a tic tightened his jaw and his lips firmed into a straight line.

Of its own accord, her palm reached up to cover his cheek, his whiskers scratchy against her skin. It wouldn’t ease the pain or regret over his past choices, but perhaps she could offer small comfort now.

“Do you think we might have a second chance?” His lashes dipped to hide his expression from her. She almost missed the naked vulnerability, the loneliness.

“A second chance at…?” She held her breath, waiting, hoping he wasn’t referring to their Olympic dreams.

“Us.” His lips covered hers, gentle and tentative, soft and tender. When her hand curled around his neck and dragged him closer, he deepened the kiss and slid one arm around her waist while the other cupped her cheek, his thumb wreaking havoc with her pulse.

Oh, dear God in heaven, I love this man. What will I do if he leaves again?

What readers are saying about Christmas in the Rink:

"Tis the season for love, faith and joy and what better way to experience them than by reading this book!" ~ Sally Shupe

"...a marvelous novella that reminds us dreams may be set aside for a reason and forgiveness can heal hearts. A lovely story for the season!" ~ Julie Steele

“Washed up Olympic hopeful looking for part time mechanic's job.”

Not quite the glamorous life Conner Weddington envisioned during those countless hours of high school skating practices; but after his mother’s untimely death on Christmas Day, Conner joined the Army and left everything behind, including the father who despised his dreams, and his beautiful skate partner, Chaney Mitchum.

Chaney Mitchum understands why Conner left, but he stole her Olympic aspirations along with her heart. She's never matched that graceful rhythm with another partner, so with her dreams squelched and an adorable niece who requires her attention, Chaney fills her days with diapers and students, not pleasure skating or romance.

Now that Conner's back in town, will he reclaim the joy he once felt about Christmas and faith? Can Chaney and Conner rediscover their poetic elegance on the ice?

Buy Links: Pelican Book Group & Amazon

Call for Submissions: White Rose Publishing & Harbourlight Books

PERMISSION TO FORWARD

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS: WHITE ROSE PUBLISHING & HARBOURLIGHT BOOKS

Pelican Book Group is seeking manuscripts to fill a special 2012 holiday release extravaganza. We are currently seeking novelette to novella length stories (between 15,000 and 25,000 words) to fill twenty-four
special slots. Stories may fit either the White Rose Publishing (romance) or the Harbourlight Books (general fiction) imprint, but must have a Christmas theme. Submissions must be received on or before 1 May 2012.

Stories must be Christian fiction, may be contemporary or historical, and may fall under any subgenre (e.g. romantic suspense, sci-fi,) To submit, please use the submission form found on our website. (http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/submission-form ) Be sure to include: CHRISTMAS SUBMISSION in the additional notes section.

In addition, Pelican Book Group is always open to general submissions. Full submission guidelines may be found at http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com/ec/write-for-us

For more information about White Rose Publishing and Harbourlight Books please visit our website at http://www.pelicanbookgroup.com or read some of our titles. Our books are available local and online retailers such as Amazon, ARe, Apple, Barnes and Noble, Christian Book Distributors, Sony.

White Christmas by Tanya Stowe

After his very public break-up from his fiancé, Chad Fletcher is convinced that a healthy marriage and his rising political career won’t mix. Christmas at his Aunt Nell’s home in White, Arizona is a great way to start fresh. 

Political watch dog Tessa Conway plans to spend her Christmas vacation enjoying her grandparents’ ranch before they must sell it. So she is not pleased with Grandma Sophie and Aunt Nell’s efforts to throw her and Chad together during White’s Christmas celebrations. 

Chad begins to believe Tessa may be the perfect antidote to his unhealthy relationships of the past. But when he decides to take support from a company with questionable ethics, his perfect bubble is burst. Fearing Chad is not the Godly man she believed him to be, Tessa ends their budding romance. Will Chad find the strength and courage to do what’s right even if it costs him his career?

Here's an excerpt:

Now he remembered her. She always wore her hair tied back in a bun and secured with combs. She’d been so business-like, so informed and capable. Her curls and her embarrassment over the nickname made her human and real.

“Your secret is safe with me,” he said, laughter still in his tone. “I won’t remind you or rub it in. Especially after all the nice things you said about my work. I want to keep you on my side. In fact, I’m thinking of asking you to be my campaign manager.”

Suddenly, the laughter left her eyes and she gazed up in all seriousness. “Will there be a campaign? Is that why you refused another term in the assembly so you can run for Senator Rizzi’s seat when he retires next year?”

Chad caught his breath, wondering how he’d let that happen. He never spoke out of turn or let information slip. But they’d been talking like old friends and it just happened. What was it about this young woman that made him so comfortable? Before he could gather his thoughts and come up with a reason, she held up her hand.

“Don’t answer that,” she said, closing her eyes. “I’m sorry I even asked it. That’s none of my business and I don’t know why I said it. I--I just feel like I know you.”

Chad smiled, thinking how her words echoed his feelings. “We do. We’ve even worked together.”

Tessa opened her eyes and stared at him. A slow, sweet smile spread over her lips and made her blue eyes sparkle. He thought it just might be the prettiest smile he’d ever seen.

That’s when the alarm bells started going off.

Suddenly, he noticed that it had gotten dark and Aunt Nell still hadn’t shown up. He looked around. “Well, it was nice talking to you.”

He stopped short of saying Tessa. The name had taken on new meaning for him…untamed strawberry curls and a sweet smile. Now, it sounded far too personal.

“My aunt’s waiting for me, so I’d better get back,” he said rather shortly.

She nodded. “My grandmother’s waiting, too.”

Her tone sounded disappointed and those blue eyes that had sparkled all night lost some of their shimmer. She gestured across the street. He turned and saw Aunt Nell sitting on a park bench. Beside her was another little white-haired lady. They both smiled and waved.

“Wait a minute,” he said beneath his breath. “You’re not-”

He turned back around.

Tessa smiled and held out her hand. “Nice to meet you. I’m Sophie’s granddaughter.”

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Tanya Stowe has written for the real estate industry, television, publicity firms and national publications. Her first novel, a time-travel adventure, Time's Embrace, was released in the United States in 1993 and internationally released in 1995. Tanya has held eclectic positions, doing market research, arts education at a performing arts center and for the American Cancer Society. Most recently, Tanya contributed to a collection of women's survival stories titled, Triumph! The Beautiful Face of Courage and collaborated on her first full-length play, a Christmas musical titled, The Night Before Christmas.

Tanya has been married to her high school sweetheart for thirty-seven years which is a romance story in itself. They live in California on the edge of the Mojave Desert where they help their four children raise their seventeen grandchildren. She says they're building a dynasty of Christian soldiers and improving the world, one baby at a time!

Visit Tanya at www.TanyaStowe.com and www.creativewritingforces.blogspot.com