Title: Sommerville Holidays
Author: Vicki Batman
Genre: Rom-com holiday short stories
Book Blurb:
Holiday Disaster: Days before Christmas, a librarian experiences plumbing issues and visits from Mr. Maintenance Man who isn’t nearly as jolly as Santa Claus.
The Littlest Angel: Two people. One ornament for the tree. Can a twosome find common ground and discover the true meaning of Christmas?
Holiday Handbag Extravaganza: Christmas Countdown is on! A hunk-a-licious customer pesters a boutique owner to locate a vintage handbag for his mother. Too bad the wedge between them is his sister, the meanest girl in town.
Excerpt: Holiday Disaster
Merry Christmas to me. Not really.
Wrapping my hands around the older-than-time plumbing underneath my bathroom sink, I yanked, hoping-praying-hoping the darn thing would loosen, and all would be saved. But no. Nada. Too darn tight.
Obviously, somebody more muscular than me was required to strong-arm the pipe free. My shoulders hunched with helpless feelings. I should have closed the drain stopper to prevent my contact from swirling merrily away after it popped out of my eye and flew in the sink.
Not a great way to kick off the holiday season.
I should have paid more attention when Dad repaired stuff in the family homestead. Maybe I would have learned something valuable.
Nothing I could do. I declared “surrender” and called the condo’s emergency number. Mr. Maintenance Man told me he was on his way. I hoped he wasn’t humoring me. Lying—my number one enemy.
Excerpt: The Littlest Angel
Bright and early on Saturday morning at the Sommerville fairgrounds, I slowly strolled along an aisle at my favorite flea market, pausing to look at special goodies that caught my eye. I halted when I saw a woman several booths ahead of me stoop in front of a table. She reached inside a ragged cardboard container and pulled out something I knew deep within my heart what I hoped to find for many years—a little Christmas angel.
I always dreamed I would find a replacement. I dug through many a ripped carton or dirty bag and never saw anything close—until today.
Pressing my hands to my chest, I begged quietly, “Please don’t take her. Please don’t.”
Excerpt: Holiday Handbag Extravaganza
What a mess.
The bell sitting on the counter above my head ding-ding-dinged in an irritating way. I huffed. Really?
Then I heard, “Hey,”—two dings— Anybody working today?”
I didn’t answer, and not because I was mean. Because I was a woman on a mission. I had to retrieve the hundred-dollar bill, which vanished when The Copper Teapot’s front door erupted wide with a wintry gust. I dropped to my hands and knees and scrambled to retrieve the mess. In today’s sucky economy, every smidgen of revenue mattered.
Sticking the ruler in the gap between the floor and the showcase, I concentrated, waving the makeshift tool back and forth so I could snag the elusive dinero. Another three-note ding sounded.
I rolled my eyes before sing-songing, “Just a minute, please.”
Obviously, this guy couldn’t see me crouched on the floor. Fingers drummed above my head. Guess I should be a responsible business owner and do the right thing.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub):
Smashwords: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1132189/
Share a holiday family tradition:
Grandmother made a fantastic spice cake with cloves, nutmeg, cinnamon, raisins, chopped dates and walnuts. And tomato soup. Yup, that’s right—tomato soup. It’s a war recipe and definitely not icky. The cake is delicious and moist. The family calls the dessert Tomato Cake, but we tell our friends it is Grandma’s Cake.
Why is your featured book perfect to get readers in the holiday mood?
Sommerville holidays are rom-com short stories about the Christmas holidays with cute-meet heroes. You’ll feel all sugary after reading them!
Giveaway –
One lucky reader will win a $75 Amazon gift card
Open internationally.
Runs December 1 – 31
Drawing will be held on January 2, 2024.
Author Biography:
Vicki Batman’s stories are full of fun, romance, and possibilities which will delight all readers. She has sold many award-winning and bestselling romantic comedy works to magazines and most recently, three humorous rom-com mysteries. An avid Jazzerciser. Handbag lover. Mahjong player. Yoga practitioner. Movie fan. Book devourer. Cat and dog fancier. Best Mom ever. And adores Handsome Hubby.
Social Media Links:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Vicki-Batman-sassy-writer-of-sexy-and-funny-fiction-133506590074451/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/VickiBatman/
Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/vickibatman/
Author Central: https://www.amazon.com/author/vickibatman/
Instagram: vickilbatman