Good Mornig,
Before I get into today's spotlight I have GOT to brag on my Alma Mater... The Iowa (Louisiana) YellowJackets made school history yesterday when they brought home the LHSAA State Championship title in a 50-43 win against the N. Desoto Griffins. I am SO proud and excited and happy for our little hometown I can hardly stand it LOL!
GEAUX Jackets 💜💛💜💛💜💛
Now, on to our regularly scheduled post...
Welcome to another installment in our All Christmas thru Christmas Saturday Spotlight feature! Today's guest is not new to our blog but her novel, Hilltop Reunion is a 2025 release from Elk Lake Publishing.
Thanks for joining us, Kathleen. Please share your book with us...
Jillian Despres never wanted to come back to Hilltop, New Hampshire, at the best of times. She’s put every mile she can between the ragged girl receiving the town’s charity and the polished Boston television anchor she’s become. But when the town authorities call her grandfather on his hoarding, Jill has no choice. She lands in Hilltop in time for the renowned Hilltop Christmas Festival, and in the arms of a man she knew was too good for her.
Police Chief Paul McKee has more reason than most to distrust Jillian, and to wish she’d stayed in Boston. But his vow to preserve and protect his community gives him no wiggle room. Whatever his personal feelings, he must champion the woman’s return to Hilltop, at least until she has her grandfather settled and his house put to rights.
When the ugly past threatens to invade this year’s festival, can Paul and Jill depend on the risen Lord to make things right?
Excerpt: Police Chief Paul McKee didn’t deal in “what ifs.” The nature of his job, even in tiny Hilltop, New Hampshire, demanded a certain amount of black-and-white. But at the end of that November day, he couldn’t help wondering. What if Officer Jimmy McGuire hadn’t had the flu and Paul hadn’t taken his shift? What if Paul had raided the overtime budget instead and called in an off-duty officer? What if he’d gotten to that parking space a half hour earlier or a half hour later?
At the end of the day, it might have been better for everyone. But that’s not what happened.
Chapter One
Paul’s long legs moved over the snowy sidewalk as he headed toward the cherry-red Mercedes coupe. He had his citation pad out, his pen poised for the chore he’d done hundreds of times, when he heard light footsteps moving over the packed snow.
A woman stopped beside him, and he caught a peripheral glimpse of a green coat, tall leather boots and a flash of auburn hair. A tourist? It wasn’t really the season.
“Since when does Hilltop have parking fines?”
He was bent over, scribbling the ticket, but he stilled. He knew that voice—sweet but husky, older now, exasperated. No way. Never mind Jimmy, he should have called in sick himself. But Paul McKee didn’t call in sick.
He straightened and looked down into a heart-shaped face and blue eyes framed by long lashes. Great. Just great. “We started giving fines when out-of-towners started thinking they could ignore the handicapped signs.”
“What sign?” Hands on her hips, Jillian Despres dug in for an argument.
“You’re parked on top—”
“If there’s a sign there, it’s covered with ice.”
“The markings on the pavement, fine.” Eyebrows raised, Paul gestured to the small freestanding sign on the sidewalk, its white wheelchair clear against the blue background. “But anyone could have seen that one.”
She flinched, and he saw her begin to shut down, just as she’d done when they were kids.
He willed the compassion away. Jillian wouldn’t know what to do with it anyway. And this wasn’t personal. Was it? It wasn’t, but then she hadn’t made any attempt to smooth things over after she’d publicly thrown the town matriarch under the proverbial bus two years ago.
Paul pretended to concentrate on the ticket he was writing, but failed. “So what brings you back to Hilltop?”
Jillian met his gaze head-on. “You know what.”
He did. But he had to wonder if there was more to her return than the pressing need at her grandfather’s homestead. Half the town watched the Boston wake-up television show she’d anchored, and when she’d suddenly disappeared from it a few months ago, she’d become a topic of speculation again.
Sure, Hilltop stood by its own and took back its fallen, but there had to be better places for Jillian Depres to lick her wounds. Anywhere but here.
He looked down into her exquisite face and told himself he felt nothing. Then he pulled the ticket from his book and handed it to her. “You’ve got thirty days, but I’d get on it sooner. District Court gets real busy around the holidays, and Marcia doesn’t cut any more slack than she ever did.”
