Miracles and Ghosts: The Christmas Eve Walk #excerpt #preorder #christmasstories #secondchances #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #holidayreading

Hi!

Today I’m sharing the second story The Christmas Eve Walk and an excerpt from Miracles and Ghosts. Linda’s still reeling after her boyfriend broke up with her instead of the expected proposal. Her ex unexpectedly texts and asks if he can pick up his snow boots—because he’s going on vacation with his new girlfriend. To find some perspective, Linda takes her dog, Bubs for a walk in the forest. As the first snowflakes blanket the forest she hears a young boy calling out. He needs her help with some kittens he just found. This leads to a vet visit and an unexpected discovery.

Excerpt

The Christmas Eve Walk

The house was deep-cleaned, the decorations were up, and presents had been mailed to her sister. Linda Jones glanced out the window at the neighborhood’s festive glow. There was magic in the air tonight—that was what her mother used to tell her and her sister. If she had a wish, what would it be? The man of her dreams? He definitely hadn’t been Curt.

“Well, can’t hurt. I wish for my soulmate to find me under the Christmas Eve star I can’t see.” Linda grinned, proud of how well the holiday season was going, especially after the unexpected breakup. A familiar bolt of anger coursed through her like a bad burger. After all, she had expected him to propose, not end it.

“Nope. Not going there,” Linda informed her current best friend and furry companion, Bubbles. The shepherd mix had belonged to her sister until she moved out of the country to start over after her husband moved on from her. Must be a sibling thing, Linda thought. So she had inherited the poorly named dog, who she now called Bubs.

A beep came from her phone. A text from Curt.

I hate to bother you, Linda, but I believe I left snow boots at your house. On my way to Tahoe and hoping you are home so I can swing by and pick them up.

Without thinking, she responded.

I’ll be here.

She stomped off, Bubs following close behind. “Can you believe him? Some wish that was, and now he’s on the trip we were supposed to take. They’ve only been officially dating for six weeks, Bubs. We were together for two years. I had to earn my vacation with him, and that woman gets to go right away. Maybe she’s paying for it, because he sure never wanted to part with his money.”

Bubs sighed and sank onto his bed.

Linda quickly located the black size 10 men’s boots in her coat closet, glad to get them out of her house. Curt wore them the first year they were together when they went to cut a Christmas tree. The tree that she paid for had ended up at his house.

Blurb

Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection’s eight tales bring light in the darkest of circumstances. In the novelette, A Perfect Ghostly Christmas, Julie has survived the foster care system and finally comes home. She now owns her grandparents’ house and has received an offer that appears too good to be true. On top of that, the family she felt had abandoned her during her difficult times has reentered her life. But it’s the otherworldly experiences that lead her to something her grandparents left behind. This discovery changes everything and opens a door to danger. The seven short stories explore fractured families, a widower’s loneliness, a mall shooting, financial struggles, strained relationships, woodland kittens, and a woman haunted by a red truck. Whether it’s a ghost, an angel, or Santa, some unseen force is there to provide help when needed. A reminder in the busy holiday season or anytime we are never alone, and miracles are possible.

PREORDER:

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

 

 

Blog Tour Schedule for Miracles and Ghosts

Sandra Cox: November 1st A Perfect Ghostly Christmas

Liz Gauffreau:  November 5th Miracle in ER

John Howell: November 6th A Man and His Cat

Colleen Chesebro: November 7th At the Mall & video

Jacqui Murray: November 12th The Red Truck

Jan Sikes: November 13th Christmas Reunion

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book! D. L. Finn

 

Miracles and Ghosts: Words Hurt #excerpt #preorder #christmasstories #family #writingcommunity #readersoftwitter #holidayreading

Hi 🙂

I’m doing a short tour for the Miracles and Ghosts release and have included the stops at the bottom of this post.

During the tour, I will discuss six of the stories and release a new book trailer, but that left two stories not covered. So I’m going to do that here.

Today I will be covering Words Hurt and an excerpt.

Sally is estranged from her family after some hurtful words were said during the Thanksgiving dinner. She’s also lost her boyfriend through that. This leaves her and Ellie her bichon frise alone Christmas Eve. Her plans for a quiet holiday though are interrupted with bad news.

Excerpt

Words Hurt 

Sally MacNei decorated the white-lit faux tree with blue ornaments while listening to her favorite Christmas album. She found comfort in savoring her hot chocolate topped with marshmallows from a Santa face mug decorated with sparkles. Nevertheless, no matter how festive she made it, the holiday season was destined to be anything but normal. Not after what had happened at her sister’s Thanksgiving table.

She sighed, finished her beverage, and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand like her niece, Maggie, did. Maggie was the only person she missed, but she’d make it up to her if they let her.

“I sent Maggie the gifts, anyway. Plus, I’m sure that family we adopted this year will enjoy the little extra gifts we sent them, right, Ellie?”

The little dog peeked from behind the Christmas tree. She blinked her gentle brown eyes and settled in for a nap like a fluffy snowflake. “Glad you agree. Don’t knock anything off the tree,” she cautioned the impeccably groomed bichon frise with the fake diamond collar.

Sally placed the blue snowflake gift bag full of new squeaky toys for Ellie under the tree. That bag wouldn’t make it until morning. Her coworkers had given her gifts, but the absence of the presents she had bought for her family made the tree feel incomplete.

Although it wasn’t her fault, she’d make the best of it. Being alone had its benefits, like eating whatever she wanted. She was looking forward to the organic Christmas feast for two she’d pick up later. It came with a turkey breast, mashed potatoes, and gravy. She’d skipped the green beans and gone with double stuffing and real wheat rolls. The dessert was her favorite apple pie instead of traditional pumpkin. She planned on lots of leftovers.

“It will be fun, Ellie.”

The dog’s ears perked, but she didn’t open her eyes.

“After dinner we can watch all the sappy holiday movies we want. Perfect day, if you ask me.”

She pushed down the thought that “sad” might be a more accurate description.

Blurb

Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection’s eight tales bring light in the darkest of circumstances. In the novelette, A Perfect Ghostly Christmas, Julie has survived the foster care system and finally comes home. She now owns her grandparents’ house and has received an offer that appears too good to be true. On top of that, the family she felt had abandoned her during her difficult times has reentered her life. But it’s the otherworldly experiences that lead her to something her grandparents left behind. This discovery changes everything and opens a door to danger. The seven short stories explore fractured families, a widower’s loneliness, a mall shooting, financial struggles, strained relationships, woodland kittens, and a woman haunted by a red truck. Whether it’s a ghost, an angel, or Santa, some unseen force is there to provide help when needed. A reminder in the busy holiday season or anytime we are never alone, and miracles are possible.

PREORDER:

AMAZON US

AMAZON UK

 

Blog Tour Schedule for Miracles and Ghosts

Sandra Cox: November 1st A Perfect Ghostly Christmas

Liz Gauffreau:  November 5th Miracle in ER

John Howell: November 6th A Man and His Cat

Colleen Chesebro: November 7th At the Mall & video

Jacqui Murray: November 12th The Red Truck

Jan Sikes: November 13th Christmas Reunion

Embrace your inner child by reading a good book! D. L. Finn

“Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection” #coverreveal #writingcommunity #preorder #christmasstories #holidayreading #christmas

Hi! I know it’s been a while since I’ve posted anything here besides book reviews and new releases. Been taking some me-time to catch up and regroup. So I cut back on blogging and social media. I’m back now, although on a writing break until the end of the year. This gives me some time to do the stuff I don’t have time for like marketing and updating books.

I did continue to share my monthly updates in my newsletter. Included in the newsletter are my writing and other updates along with a Book of the Month and new releases. Click on the above newsletter link to see September’s edition.

Today I’m excited to officially share my cover and preorder for my upcoming release on November 1st: “Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection.”

Blurb:

Miracles and Ghosts: A Christmas Collection’s eight tales bring light in the darkest of circumstances. In the novelette, A Perfect Ghostly Christmas, Julie has survived the foster care system and finally comes home. She now owns her grandparents’ house and has received an offer that appears too good to be true. On top of that, the family she felt had abandoned her during her difficult times has reentered her life. But it’s the otherworldly experiences that lead her to something her grandparents left behind. This discovery changes everything and opens a door to danger. The seven short stories explore fractured families, a widower’s loneliness, a mall shooting, financial struggles, strained relationships, woodland kittens, and a woman haunted by a red truck. Whether it’s a ghost, an angel, or Santa, some unseen force is there to provide help when needed. A reminder in the busy holiday season or anytime we are never alone, and miracles are possible.

AMAZON PREORDER US

AMAZON PREORDER UK

Embrace your holiday inner child by reading! D. L. Finn