STORIES FOR THE HOLIDAYS.......Vicki Batman - The Littlest Angel

The Littlest Angel, a romantic comedy short story, by Vicki Batman, published in the Season of Promises holiday anthology

Two people. One prized ornament for the tree. Can a twosome get past their differences and discover the true meaning of Christmas?

Lauren MacDonald has always coveted her mother’s ornament, The Littlest Angel. When her mother gave it to another, Lauren unearths a replacement only to have it snatched from her hands.

Architect Smith Hancock’s grandmother has a little angel which is missing. Locating another would make her holiday the best ever. Only a feisty girl is claiming it for herself.

 

 Excerpt:

When I was a small child, my family’s next-door neighbor gave my mother an angel fashioned from a craft kit. The body was formed from a Styrofoam egg-shape. The hands and feet were smaller versions, cut in half. Her head was round. The limbs were attached to the body with furry, fleshy pink pipe cleaners. A round red sequin made her mouth. An even tinier one was pinned on for her nose. And silver lashes were glued in place for her eyes. White pincurls covered her head and silver wings were attached to her back.

        For many, many years, I coveted this angel. When my mom switched to another tree-topper, I’d begged for the first, but she’d said no. I was disappointed, but thought, perhaps Mom’s sentiments, a letting go of her friend who’d passed two years prior, made her reluctant to give me the doll. I got that.

        However, one day, I discovered she had given it to my sister instead of me. Saddened, my heart cracked in two, and when I asked Mom why, she said she’d forgotten I wanted the ornament and apologized.

        I knew the angel didn’t mean as much to my sibling as she did to me. For a while, I resented my mother and my sister.

        Such is life. And thus began my quest.

        I’d always hoped I’d find a replacement and searched the dusty aisles of the automobile building where the market was held the first weekend of every month. I dug through many a ripped carton or dirty bag and never saw anything close...until today.

        Discreetly, I moved off to the side and watched the woman to see what she would do, all the while thinking please put her back and walk away. Please. She fiddled with the wing and fingered her limbs. From the happy expression on her face, she seemed more than interested.

        I clasped my hands to my heart and repeated you don’t really want it, hoping my mental vibes would reach the customer and she’d return the ornament to the box. To my amazement and delight, she did put the doll back, toed the box under the table, and strolled to the next booth. With utter happiness tap-dancing inside me, I lengthened my spine and continued to play the patience game a shopper adopted for this kind of venue—show your poker face unless you were willing to pay full price.

        But my heart ruled over my logic. As soon as she cleared out, I stepped faster. No way would anyone else in the entire universe be buying my angel. Not this time.

Buy and social links:

Website: http://vickibatman.blogspot.com/p/more-about-me.html

Facebook: http://bit.ly/293iZIz

Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/

Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/

Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/

LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/profile/view?id=116288777&trk=hb_tab_pro_top/

Email: vlmbatman@hotmail.com/ 

Find Season of Promises anthology at:
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Season-Promise-Merry-Holly-ebook/dp/B01LQUP9AS/ 

Barnes & Noble: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/season-of-promises-holiday-box-set-marian-lanouette/1124742472?ean=2940153535586&quickview=true


Kobo: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/season-of-promises-holiday-box-set 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ASeasonOfMagic/?notif_t=page_name_change&notif_id=1475259216084740

Bio: Award-winning and Amazon best-selling author, Vicki Batman, has sold many romantic comedy works to the True magazines, several publishers, and most recently, two romantic comedy mysteries to The Wild Rose Press. She is a member of Romance Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and several writing groups. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Chocoaholic. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby. Most days begin with her hands set to the keyboard and thinking "What if??"

It's Everybody Reads YA Sunday - A Float Down the Canal!

A Float Down the Canal

A sweet story of puppy love where the underdog finally wins!!!

Twelve-year old Pam Simpson gets dumped on when her mother is called into work. She must cancel her plans for the mall to baby-sit her younger brother and his friend and take them to the public pool.  To make matters worse her cousin, Candy, is also coming over for the day.  She doesn’t even like Candy!

Much to Candy’s dismay, transportation to the pool is on inner tubes, floating down the canal.  One thing leads to another and it is Pam who, once again, must save the day.

When things couldn’t seem worse, the day takes a drastic turn for the better and it is Candy, and the float down the canal, that makes this the best day of Pam’s life!

Excerpt

It was July 24, and at 10:30 in the morning in Phoenix, AZ, a record was being broken as

one of the hottest days of 1967.  The temperature outside had nothing on Pam Simpson’s temper as she fought with her mom on the phone.  “Are you serious?  I have already had to give up my...but you said...fine.  Yes Mother,” Pam said, teeth clenched.  Just because her mom was called into work, she had to cancel her plans with her friends. She was supposed to be going to the mall.  Tommy Thompson was supposed to be going to the mall! Now she had to watch her ten-year-old brother and his friend.

“Another thing,” her mother continued, “Aunt Sherri is dropping Candy off to spend the day with you guys.”

            “What?” Pam exploded.  She must have misunderstood her mom.  “You know we don’t even like each other!”

            “Pam, don’t be like that.  Candy likes you very much. It’s you that has an attitude about her.  She doesn’t have many friends and I thought you could all go to the pool.”

            “Yes, thank goodness Pam is around to help entertain,” she thought as she hung up the phone.  She actually wanted to put the phone through the wall.  She was having a real pity party for herself.  The worst part was she never fought with her mom.  She was her best friend.  What a lousy day!

            Candy!  What kind of name was that anyway? Both girls were twelve years old.  Pam had thin brown hair, that didn’t have an ounce of curl, and it hung limp and lifeless just below her chin. She was also, what some might call thick, or chunky.  Her nickname at school was Champ, given to her because she was the softball throw champion of the district.

Then there was Candy.  She had thick, blonde, bouncy curls that hung down the middle of her back.  She was slender, and though most of Pam’s friends were wearing bras, Candy actually needed to wear one!  Plus her “helpless” act always made Pam want to throw up.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00CUQEZYE

I write stories for the young and for the young at heart.  More about my stores and myself can be found at the following links.  Stop by anytime.  I love visitors!

http://www.amazon.com/Penny-Estelle/e/B006S62XBY

www.pennystales.com

www.pennyestelle.blogspot.com

https://twitter.com/Pennystales

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/5820078.Penny_Estelle

http://www.facebook.com/pennystales

https://museituppublishing.com/bookstore2/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=146&Itemid=82

A Carol Plays by Kari Trumbo and four others in this Christmas Anthology

Christmas Is In the Air

It’s a Christmas sugarplum celebration! Christmas in Cutter’s Creek means a Christmas social; sugarplum contest, dancing, a dash of mayhem and a heaping helping of romance.

 

 First off is Kit Morgan’s Recipe for Christmas. This novella is set in 1866 and is the very first Cutter’s Creek Christmas social, and so much mischief happens, it’s a wonder they had another! 

 

Lucius Judrow from Love is Blind has a brother and he’s on his way to Cutter’s Creek. Come see who Eldon meets in this hilarious and sweet romance!

The next is Vivi Holt’s Seasons of Love. It takes place in 1872. The social has changed just a bit. You’d think they’d learned with all the trouble, but no, the social is more fun than trouble. Margaret is a lonely school teacher from the East looking for a little love and adventure. She finds just that and a whole lot more in this sweet Christmas romance!

Third Christmas novella is just a few years later and the social has changed yet again, to a cider competition! The contestants get a little rowdy and words are said that might ruin Christmas! Felicity will need special help to solve this mess. Find out more in Annie Boone’s Christmas Spirit.

The fourth and final Christmas novella takes place in 1892 and rumors of Christmas social’s past dominate the festivities. Carol needs to find a husband and the new doctor in town provides a great opportunity. A snowball fight leads to romance in Kari Trumbo’s A Carol Plays.

Recipe for Christmas  ǀ  Season of Love  ǀ  Christmas Spirit  ǀ  A Carol Plays

Find the Cutter’s Creek author’s on Facebook!

A Carol Plays  by  Kari Trumbo

His back was so broad and his movements so sure. She scooped a handful of thick heavy snow into her hand, forming it into a ball. As he grabbed for his mitts she launched her snowball at his wide back, hitting him between the shoulder blades. She turned and rushed on her way.

A snow clod landed at her feet exploding between her shoes. She danced away from the flying bits and turned, grinning at him. “You missed!” She laughed then shrieked as another ball hit her in the shoulder.
 
The snow was deep enough she didn’t have to lean far for another scoop of snow. She formed it in her hands calculating her next toss.
 
Dr. Gentry held up his hands. “White flag!” He smiled.
 
She lobbed it at his stomach. “I didn’t see a flag with all this snow.”
 
He slid to the side avoiding the snow bomb. His intense eyes took her in as he walked slowly for her, forgetting the shovel. He stopped right in front of her. The passion in his gaze stopped her and she backed a step away. He gazed down into her eyes then down to her lips. She gasped and glanced away.
 
“We should get you to the chapel.” His voice rumbled between them and he touched her elbow.
Her heart tripped over itself as she backed another step from him. “I’m sure I can get there.” She turned and his grip grew tighter. She couldn’t leave, but part of her didn’t want to. Part of her wished they weren’t standing out in the street in front of everyone.
 
“I know you can get there, but let me be the gentleman I’m expected to be and take you there.”