1-800-CHRISTMAS and free books!

I’m thrilled to share my newest holiday book, 1-800-CHRISTMAS! Home flipping television shows definitely inspired this book. And because my husband flips homes for a living, I’m familiar with home renovations. Thankfully, none of our homes have needed as much work as the home below:

Here’s an excerpt from Chapter One:

Desiree Contando had gained weight. Not a lot, although the extra ten pounds on her five-foot-four-inch frame were enough to make her favorite linen skirt fit snugly around her waist.

When she was stressed, she ate pumpkin pie. Lately, she’d eaten a lot of pumpkin pie, and she had blamed it on Thanksgiving.
 However, it was more than the delicious turkey dinner her sister, Candee, had served. The cause of Desiree’s stress was the rundown Queen-Anne style home she’d purchased that morning.


“Your house is beautiful.” Candee’s voice came from behind her. “Now we both live on Thompson Lane!”


Desiree swallowed hard. “Maybe my house will be beautiful in a thousand years.”


She shouldn’t have done this. She should have dashed out of the lawyer’s office as soon as the closing papers had been handed over for her to sign.


“Mr. Dunworthy, the former owner, never got around to updating the home, and then Teddy didn’t have time,” Candee said. “Your house won’t take long to restore. My dilapidated Victorian is proof that even the most ramshackle house can be renovated.”


Teddy and Candee had met in Roses, North Carolina, when Teddy came from Miami searching for a house to flip. They’d married, and together with Teddy’s nephew, Joseph, they’d moved into a sprawling Victorian. Teddy had been granted legal guardianship of Joseph a few months earlier.


Desiree pushed out a tight breath. “Your Victorian still needs tons of work.”


“Thankfully, it has come a long way.” Candee stepped to Desiree’s side and flitted her a once-over. She carried a box of pumpkin muffins. “A housewarming token,” she’d declared, with a promise of something better coming on Christmas Eve.


“You’ve accomplished so much this year,” Desiree said. 
“I’m following your example.”

“Advocating justice for low-income families and children is a daunting task. Fortunately, you’re a talented attorney.”


“I’m just doing the best job I can.”


“You’re ensuring the poorest people receive fairness. I respect you.” Candee’s gaze wandered to the rambling house. “You have more than enough acreage on your property for horses.”


“I’ll leave horses to your animal expertise. And puppies.”


Months earlier, Candee had adopted Kisses, a pregnant beagle, from the local animal shelter. Of the six puppies Kisses had birthed, only one remained, as Candee had sold the rest.


Candee’s emerald eyes glowed. “Boomer is adorable—all black and white and tan. And he loves to eat.”


“Are you planning to sell him? He’d make a great companion for a special someone.“I’m sure you’ll find a forever home for him.”


“I’m sure I will.” Candee smirked.

Want to keep reading? You can find 1-800-CHRISTMAS on Amazon. Ebook and paperback are available, and the book is FREE on Kindle Unlimited!

Does any room in your home need renovating? Please share in the comments below.