by: Ginny Baird
Genre: Christmas Romance/Contemporary Romance/Romantic Comedy
Release Date: October 8, 2024
Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca
Annie Jones is stuck repeating Christmas Eve until she finds everything she's been missing in life in this heartwarming time travel Christmas romance for fans of Miracle on 34th Street, Groundhog Day, and Josie Silver's A Winter in New York.
Annie Jones works hard designing windows for iconic New York City department store Lawson's Finest. So when her Christmas window display gets upended by some rambunctious kids on Christmas Eve, the all-too-realistic store Santa gives Annie a little decorating tip on how to start over. With help from friendly security guard Braden Tate, Annie repairs the damage and heads home. But when she wakes the next morning, she's bewildered to find that it isn't Christmas day at all, but Christmas Eve all over again.
Trapped in a time loop, Annie doesn't know how she'll ever make it back to the present. Luckily, she has an infinite number of chances to get things right. As little everyday choices bring her closer to Braden and to Christmas day, Annie starts to picture what her new life― one full of friendship, love, and community―could look like.
Braden shook his finger at her, like he’d put something together. “You’re our window dresser, right?”
She proudly squared her shoulders. Lawson’s soon-to-be Lead Visual Artist. “Um, yep. That’s me! I was just talking to—” She glanced around.
“Talking to—?”
“Our new store Santa.” A few sales associates strode toward their departments or opened registers. Annie craned her neck looking for Santa, but she didn’t see him anywhere.
Braden crossed his arms. “He’s not the one we had before?”
“No, I don’t think so.” She undid the brass buttons on her suddenly too toasty coat. “This one’s very good.”
“So, maybe he’s the real deal?” Braden teased her with a grin. “You’re never too old to believe, I hear.”
She made a feeble stab at banter. “I mean, I’m sure he still comes to some people.” Annie rolled her eyes. “The nice ones on his list.”
“Right.” His mouth twitched. “The naughty ones get coal and switches.”
She gasped. “What? No. Santa’s always forgiving and kind.” This impromptu exchange was fun, almost flirty. Not that she flirted—much. Anymore. She was probably out of practice.
“Ah, so you do still believe,” Braden said deadpan.
Think. Think. Think. Witty repartee!
She drew a total blank.
Definitely out of practice.
“Um, sure?” She searched his eyes. “Don’t you?”
Annie bit her lip at Braden’s amused look. “I’d say the jury’s still out on that one.”
CHRISTMAS EVE LOVE STORY
© Ginny Baird 2024
She proudly squared her shoulders. Lawson’s soon-to-be Lead Visual Artist. “Um, yep. That’s me! I was just talking to—” She glanced around.
“Talking to—?”
“Our new store Santa.” A few sales associates strode toward their departments or opened registers. Annie craned her neck looking for Santa, but she didn’t see him anywhere.
Braden crossed his arms. “He’s not the one we had before?”
“No, I don’t think so.” She undid the brass buttons on her suddenly too toasty coat. “This one’s very good.”
“So, maybe he’s the real deal?” Braden teased her with a grin. “You’re never too old to believe, I hear.”
She made a feeble stab at banter. “I mean, I’m sure he still comes to some people.” Annie rolled her eyes. “The nice ones on his list.”
“Right.” His mouth twitched. “The naughty ones get coal and switches.”
She gasped. “What? No. Santa’s always forgiving and kind.” This impromptu exchange was fun, almost flirty. Not that she flirted—much. Anymore. She was probably out of practice.
“Ah, so you do still believe,” Braden said deadpan.
Think. Think. Think. Witty repartee!
She drew a total blank.
Definitely out of practice.
“Um, sure?” She searched his eyes. “Don’t you?”
Annie bit her lip at Braden’s amused look. “I’d say the jury’s still out on that one.”
CHRISTMAS EVE LOVE STORY
© Ginny Baird 2024
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this sounds fantastic.
ReplyDeleteI'm sure it will be. I LOVE Ginny's Christmas stories.
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