By: Sarah Vance-Tompkins
Genre: Contemporary Christmas Romance
Release Date: October 27, 2021
Publisher: Tule Publishing
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This Christmas calls for a special touch of magic…
December was always a special time for seaplane pilot Morgan Adair, but after losing her parents six years ago, the holiday is a quiet affair. When her siblings announce plans to sell the family home, Morgan longs to experience her favorite, now-forgotten tradition one more time: a lighted tree that, for over a hundred years, has appeared floating on a boat in the harbor every Christmas Eve.
The Taylors were always rivals to the Adairs in the once-thriving fishing village of Christmas Tree Cove, but Jesse Taylor was much more. He wanted to be understanding when Morgan set aside their plans to escape to Chicago in order to hold her family together, but his future as a successful freelance photographer soared on without her.
As Morgan dives deeper into the history of the mysterious holiday appearance, she discovers that true love has always been at the heart of the annual tradition. Can the wonder of Christmas and a few surprises along the way rekindle that love for Morgan and Jesse too?
Age: 30
Date of birth: 5-8-1991
Physical Description: Jesse is impossibly tall and lean. Despite his height, in elementary school he was the most likely to be picked last in dodgeball. He didn’t play football. He read poetry and wore an old Leica camera around his neck on a leather strap.
As an adult he wears his hair long, his black curls tamed by product. Dressed in a cashmere sweater, expensive wool pants, and leather driving mocs, Jesse is epitome of urbane masculine elegance, looking more like a fashion model than a photographer. Someone has styled him—a woman, no doubt.
Whoever she is, she managed to take the edge off the awkward geek that has always been the essence of Jesse’s personality..
Occupation: Commercial Photographer
3 likes in no particular order:
Morgan Adair
Photography
Living in a small town
3 dislikes in no particular order:
Flying
Being bossed
Being gossiped about behind his back by his mom and sister.
Drink of choice: Locally brewed artisanal beer
Favorite food: Dry-aged ribeye steak with steamed broccoli and twice-baked potatoes.
Favorite song: “Learn to Fly” by the Foo Fighters
Choice of transportation: He’d prefer to walk, thank you very much. Even though Jesse grew up on a fishing tug he isn’t a strong swimmer. Although he is a frequent flier, he is absolutely terrified to fly.
Favorite way to spend an evening: On the prowl in his hometown looking for a terrific place to take an amazing photograph.
Favorite holiday tradition: Kissing Morgan Adair on the bench behind Obermeyer’s shanty while everyone else who lives in Christmas Tree Cove is singing Christmas carols in the town square.
Best memory to date: Spending the day on a fishing tug with Morgan Adair.
If you could have a do-over, what would you do differently? Not take no for answer.
What’s something you’ve said you would never do, but in fact have done? Spend Christmas on a beach.
Most romantic gesture (done or received): That’s a secret. A big one. And the true mystery of Christmas Tree Cove.
Words to live by: “Which do you love more. All the twinkling stars scattered across the inky black of a midwinter sky? Or the brightly colored lights reflected across the water from the tree on Christmas Tree Cove?”
“You. It will always be you.”
Jesse opened the luggage compartment, forcing himself to focus on loading the metal suitcases that held his photographic equipment, and not the aircraft’s pilot. Grace and Aurora settled themselves while Morgan inspected the lights on one of the wings.
But then something made her take a step back.
“Huh,” she said.
“What?” Jesse dropped Aurora’s bag and joined Morgan near the wing of the plane. “What is that supposed to mean? Is everything all right?” he stuttered as his heartbeat quickened.
Morgan sucked in her cheeks. “It’s nothing. Everything’ll be fine.”
“What do you mean, ‘everything’ll be fine’?” He was quickly moving into panic mode, which was not a good look on him. Not in front of Morgan. Not after all this time.
She turned to him with one hand on her hip. “Let me ask you a question, Jesse. Have you ever seen The Sound of Music?”
He rolled his eyes. “Julie Andrews. Christopher Plummer. A house full of kids. And Nazis. My mom makes us watch it every year at Christmas.”
Morgan smiled. “Do you remember how Maria sings about her favorite things to feel better during a thunderstorm?”
He shook his head. “Kinda. Maybe I should’ve paid better attention.”
“Well, if this were The Sound of Music and I was going to sing about my favorite things, every note in my song would be about flying this plane.” Her tone softened to a soothing lilt. “Nothing’s wrong with the plane. I promise. And I’m a really good pilot.”
Then she ducked under the wing to march across to the FBO to file the manifest and get her flight plan stamped. Jesse laughed, loud and long. Seeing a flash of swagger and bravado on Morgan’s face gave him a bit of hope, reminding him of the girl he once loved.
But then something made her take a step back.
“Huh,” she said.
“What?” Jesse dropped Aurora’s bag and joined Morgan near the wing of the plane. “What is that supposed to mean? Is everything all right?” he stuttered as his heartbeat quickened.
Morgan sucked in her cheeks. “It’s nothing. Everything’ll be fine.”
“What do you mean, ‘everything’ll be fine’?” He was quickly moving into panic mode, which was not a good look on him. Not in front of Morgan. Not after all this time.
She turned to him with one hand on her hip. “Let me ask you a question, Jesse. Have you ever seen The Sound of Music?”
He rolled his eyes. “Julie Andrews. Christopher Plummer. A house full of kids. And Nazis. My mom makes us watch it every year at Christmas.”
Morgan smiled. “Do you remember how Maria sings about her favorite things to feel better during a thunderstorm?”
He shook his head. “Kinda. Maybe I should’ve paid better attention.”
“Well, if this were The Sound of Music and I was going to sing about my favorite things, every note in my song would be about flying this plane.” Her tone softened to a soothing lilt. “Nothing’s wrong with the plane. I promise. And I’m a really good pilot.”
Then she ducked under the wing to march across to the FBO to file the manifest and get her flight plan stamped. Jesse laughed, loud and long. Seeing a flash of swagger and bravado on Morgan’s face gave him a bit of hope, reminding him of the girl he once loved.
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Giveaway ~ Tule Publishing is offering up an eBook copy of Sarah's ON CHRISTMAS TREE COVE.
To enter: Answer Sarah's question. “What's your favorite Christmas song?”
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I have always liked Blue Christmas by Elvis.
ReplyDeleteAll I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
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