Countdown to Romance by Cari Lynn Webb
My mom likes to share a story about my childhood friend who found herself in a fast food drive-thru with my mom and me one evening. My friend and I were in the third grade and swam together on the same swim team. My mom picked us up from swim practice, took us through the drive-thru and passed our orders to us in the back seat.
In between bites of her hamburger, my friend looked up and said, “I’ve never eaten in a car before.”
I dipped my French fry in my perfectly balanced pool of Ketchup on the hamburger wrapper (this was before those convenient plastic to-go Ketchup containers made for dunking that my daughters enjoy today) and said, “I only ever eat in the car.”
According to my mom, my friend was somewhat appalled at her dining conditions while I was completely unfazed. With three older brothers and no outside food allowed in the basketball gym or the wrestling match and limited food options at the baseball game, I grew up cramming French fries into my mouth so that we could get inside the gym before the basketball tip-off or wrestling match buzzer. There didn’t seem to be a night where there was a pause in activities. (As a parent with only two daughters, I marvel at my mother’s ability to get us all to our activities with such patience and humor.) And I should mention, we had a dinner table, but with such varying schedules rarely sat down together to eat. Perhaps that is why we always lingered over holiday dinners and even today when our entire family is together the holiday meals are more of an experience that include good food, but even more stories and a lot of laughter. My drive-thru dinners worked for me – I liked to watch the cheerleaders at the basketball games and there were usually other little sisters to play with under the baseball bleachers. And in the car, no one stole my French fries and I had my mom’s undivided attention.
In Countdown To Romance, my heroine, Emily Hayes knows something about being on the move as a travelling nurse. Emily wouldn’t bat an eye about eating dinner in her rental car. She’s only ever used the dinner table in her various rental apartments as a convenient place to fold her washed scrubs. And she’d long ago locked away her childhood memories of tense family dinners along with her heart.
But her brother’s New Year’s Day wedding brings Emily home to Christmas Town. However, she’s determined to spend the week in a secluded cabin at the Blue Spruce Ski Resort, keep memory lane closed and her heart safe. Except she forgot to lock the doors on her rental car and keep former Navy SEAL, Zach Evans, out. She’d been fine with drive-thru dinners and solitude before she’d returned home. Before she’d met Zach. Before her heart threatened to step out of lockdown and open up.
Emily plans to leave town before she polishes off the dinner table and adds one more place setting. But Zach has plans of his own and convincing Emily to listen to her heart becomes a challenge he can’t refuse. I enjoyed watching Emily countdown the days to her departure while her heart counted down to something even better: New Year’s love.
Author Bio:
Cari Lynn Webb lives in South Carolina with her husband, daughters and assorted four-legged family members. She's been blessed to see the power of true love in her grandparent's 70 year marriage and her parent's marriage of over 50 years. She knows love isn't always sweet and perfect, it can be challenging, complicated and risky. But she believes happily-ever-afters are worth fighting for. She loves to connect with readers. Visit her at her website.
Author links:
Twitter: @carilynnwebb
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/carilynnwebb
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/carilynnwebb/
Website: www.carilynnwebb.com
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This holiday season, warm your heart with 15 connected sweet, clean & wholesome holiday romances set in Christmas Town from 15 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.
There are five connected books in A Heartwarming Holiday. That means each set of three novellas shares characters and storylines! This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, Maine, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually.
A Heartwarming Holiday will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters.
Book 1: Once Upon a Holiday by Anna Adams, Anna J Stewart & Melinda Curtis: Three former college roommates start a business to bring the magic of the holidays to everyone in Christmas Town.
Once Upon a Thanksgiving by Anna Adams, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Once Upon a Christmas by Anna J Stewart, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Once Upon a New Year’s Eve by Melinda Curtis, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 2: Holiday Heroes by Leigh Riker, Tara Randel & Cari Lynn Webb: Three former Navy SEALs come together to restore an outdated resort.
Thankfully Yours by Leigh Riker, award-winning, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Cooking Up Christmas by Tara Randel, Barnes and Noble bestselling, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Countdown to Romance by Cari Lynn Webb, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 3: 24 North Pole Lane by Carol Ross, Amy Vastine & Cheryl Harper: Romance is being delivered to 24 North Pole Lane this holiday season.
Hers by Thanksgiving by Carol Ross, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Peace, Love, and Baby Joy by Amy Vastine, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Never Say Never on New Year’s by Cheryl Harper, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 4: Magic Moments by Tara Taylor Quinn, Shirley Hailstock & Liz Flaherty: Three different times, three different stories. They all bring magic to Christmas Town.
Christmas Past by Tara Taylor Quinn, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
It Only Happens in Christmas Town by Shirley Hailstock, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
The Magic Stocking by Liz Flaherty, USA Today bestselling, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Book 5: Nutcracker Sweethearts by Dana Mentink, Roz Denny Fox, & Amie Denman: As the stage production of the Nutcracker unfolds in Christmas Town, three couples find love with the help of a little holiday magic!
Thanksgiving Duet by Dana Mentink, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Christmas Curtain Call by Roz Denny Fox, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
Set for New Year’s by Amie Denman, Harlequin Heartwarming author.
If this boxed set appeals to you, look for our previous holiday anthology: A Heartwarming Christmas.
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iTunes http://ow.ly/sajU302pwWP
And don't forget, included in A HEARTWARMING HOLIDAY is an exclusive coupon worth $1.00 off any Heartwarming title from Harlequin.com. Who doesn't love heartwarming romances?
And also don’t forget, if you missed last year’s collection, A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS, it’s available now for 99 cents! http://amzn.to/2ds2rI6
Hey, Cari! Great post. So proud and happy to be part of this collection. We had fun writing our holiday heroes, didn't we?
ReplyDeleteYes, I really enjoyed writing our holiday heroes. I also adore the authors in this box set - such a wonderful group :)
DeleteWow what a great boxed set. amazing. Sounds like a fun read to remind us of the season.
ReplyDeleteThanks Annette! I love getting into the season early... these are the perfect stories for that.
DeleteI LOVE this story!! I'll never look at a drive through (or French Fries) the same way, Cari. <3
ReplyDeleteI wonder if this might be why I don't eat much fast food these days :)
DeleteJana - thanks for having me here today to celebrate the launch of A Heartwarming Holiday. I'm so happy to be a part of this box set.
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting, Cari! This boxed set sounds amazing.
DeleteCari, this is such a great post! As the youngest of five kids, I, too, was a champion car eater. My meals were usually brown bag instead of drive through. Looking very forward to reading your story.
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