Title – The Kristmas Project
Author – Mary Martinez
Genre – Romance, wholesome holiday romance
Book Blurb –
Kristmas Noel Holly was born in December. Her parents hated everything about the season, so why had they named her after Christmas? Kris’s childhood memories were not filled with peace and joy, more of dread. She’s ecstatic when an invitation arrives to a prestigious conference in Germany for the first week of December. Her salvation to avoid the festivities.
Nicholas Joseph Holladay loves the season, every decorated tree, carol, and Hallmark movie. Nick’s idea of a perfect Christmas for his daughter doesn’t include a business trip. He loves his job ten months out of the year, so he’ll accompany Kris. He hopes to remedy Kris’s holiday workaholic tendencies by rekindling the special magic of the season for her. He plans to take Kris to the famous holiday markets and show her how much she misses while working.
Will his plan succeed, or will he ruin their working relationship?
Excerpt –
Nick disappeared into the kitchen. His sister blocked him from view. Now that his family had finished gawking at the way he’d left the table they turned their attention her way. Never one who liked to be the center of attention she did her best not to fidget in her chair.
“Grammy when are we going to the Noël Christmas market?”
Bless Joy’s heart. Until Joy gave her a quick wink before returning her attention to her grandmother, she hadn’t been sure if Joy had saved her on purpose, or if she just had a lucky break.
“We could go ice skating and have hot chocolate,” Angel added.
“We do that every year, moron,” Joy’s brother said.
“Ben that was not nice.” Nick’s sister admonished her son.
“It’s okay Aunt Brenda, Bennie’s a teenager,” Angel advised wisely.
“That he is,” his father agreed.
“Hey, I’m sitting right here.”
So, this must be what it was like to have a big family. Good natured squabbling. Anyway no one seemed upset, it just seemed like a normal interaction. She let her thoughts wander while they still quarreled good naturedly. Her gaze turned to the kitchen where she could still see Nick’s back.
Why had he left so abruptly? She had a feeling it had to do with the way he was looking at her. Maybe he was just lost in thought. No, that wasn’t it.
A tap on her leg and a plea, “Ms. Holly, please say you’ll come ice skating with us at the Christmas Market.”
Startled out of her thoughts, she tried to form an answer that wouldn’t give the fact away she hadn’t really been listening. Angel’s up turned face begged her to say ‘yes.’ How could anyone turn down that precious girl?
“Ah, I don’t ice skate,” Kris answered and hoped she hadn’t given anything away.
Angel inhaled audibly, more of a gasp. “Everyone does. You didn’t go when you were little?”
She remembered when the other kids talked about going to the skating park with their families. Her stomach squeezed as it had when she was young. With a yearning to belong. To be normal.
Here was a chance. Did she take it?
Nope she wasn’t ready. Another look at Angel’s earnest face she realized if she kept going to events, she would break the little girl’s heart. Her and Nick were friends. That was all.
Or was it? She had feelings she didn’t know how to deal with. Suddenly the room with all the attention focused on her, was closing in on her. She couldn’t stay here any longer. Not when she didn’t know what they expected from her, or what she expected from them. To add to her rolling stomach, she saw Nick leave the kitchen, coming back to the table.
“I’m sorry Angel, I never went when I was a child. I’d fall down and that wouldn’t be fun.” She shoved the chair away much as Nick had done. Addressed everyone, “I need to get home, the snow is still falling, and I have a long drive. Thank you for a lovely evening.”
She leaned over to give Angel an awkward hug, turned on her heel to head for the door. As she hurried away, she heard Joy call something but didn’t understand the words.
Buy Links (including Goodreads and BookBub) –
Regular price for the eBook is $4.99 but if you buy before November 1, it’s only $2.99!
Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gB8ARl
BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/the-kristmas-project-wintergreen-village-series-by-mary-martinez
Special Giveaway –
Enter to win a $25 Amazon GC
Entrants need to answer two questions to show they’ve at least read something about the book or bought it.
Book Event –
I will be doing an in person Launch at Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 7157 S Plaza Center Dr, West Jordan, UT 84084 on Saturday November 2, 2024, from 11 am to 3pm. If you’re in the area please drop by, there will be a giveaway.
Author Biography –
Award winning author Mary Martinez lives in Magna, a little town west of Salt Lake City, Utah. She loves to spend time with family and friends--she includes good books as friends! Mary and her husband love to travel, especially to the Caribbean for relaxing, Ireland and Scotland for her heritage, and Italy for the wine. One of her favorite US destinations is New York/Brooklyn, where her beloved Beckett's live. When she visits, she can wander their neighborhoods, favorite parks, and visit their favorite pub, Putnam's.Mary writes mostly romantic suspense, romance, women's fiction, and she has just begun to dabble in young adult mystery.
Mary also writes as ML Foxx. This is her first jaunt into Fantasy and Sci-Fi, she loves it. It gives her freedom of choice. You’ll see more books soon… Mary and her husband are also enthusiastic college football fans. They have season tickets to the UTES; University of Utah Football and they tailgate every game. They love tailgating so much, that they were married at a tailgating in 1999.GO UTES!
Social Media Links –