Good Morning!
I pray your week has been and continues to be BLESSED.
This week we're doing a little something different on our Wednesday Words with Friends post. We're eavesdropping on a conversation with Melody and Lari from Smokey Mountain Christmas, a collection of four Christian Christmas stories centered around Granddaddy Buchanan's 80th birthday celebration!
We'll listen to what these two cousins have to chat about and find out about the women who created them.
Welcome ladies.....
Granddaddy Buchanan’s 80th birthday party is
about to get started. The whole Buchanan family is gathered in the barn, which
has been transformed into a winter/Christmas wonderland. Laramie (Lari) Buchanan
arrives, along with her family and her fiancé, Evan. She skirts the crowd
gathered around her cousin Gabbi who, someone hurries to inform them, has just
said yes to Joseph Garrison’s proposal. Another cousin, Grace, waves from
across the room, but doesn’t look likely to move far from the man at her side. Everyone
is excited. So is Lari, but she wants some of Granny’s special-recipe Christmas
punch before she starts mingling.
At the table, she finds her cousin Melody filling two cups
with the delicious beverage.
Lari (grinning): “Hey, Mellie! Honey, I could have found you
in the dark. You’re absolutely glowing. I take it you and Drew finally got
together—and about time too. This should have happened years ago.
Congratulations!”
Mellie (offering a sheepish smile): “Thank you! When I left
home, I thought a life like this was destined to be stuck in my dreams. Drew
hadn’t proposed, and life with the symphony was calling.” (Glancing across the
room at her best friend and fiancé) “Guess I needed to leave so Drew could find
his own path. I’m still surprised at how well he kept the secret of his career
from me.” (Focuses her attention back on Lari. Shakes her head.) “But you know
all about secrets, don’t you? Who would’ve thought Evan’s innocent little
surprise for you would have backfired to such a horrible degree?”
Lari: “You know, honey, I guess it is a shame we lost
the past three years, but God has His reasons. We both had things to learn, and
I think we have. (Soft laughter) One of them is that sometimes the things we
think we see… (Shaking her head) “…aren’t the real picture at all.”
Mellie: “Ain’t that the truth!” (Sipping punch) “I returned
here pretty proud of myself for having found the success I always wanted, and
the man of my dreams. I had to come back home to realize everything I ever
wanted or needed was right here all along. My life in Colorado was a fairytale.
This—” (Breaks off, her gaze dancing here and there around the barn) “This is
the real deal!”
Lari (takes Mellie’s hand, gives
it a squeeze): “Getting together for Granddaddy’s birthday made this year a
turning point in all four of our lives. Granny and Granddaddy are pleased as
this awesome punch.” (A mischievous grin. Wrinkles her nose.) “You think maybe
next year Granny’ll give us her secret recipe?”
Mellie: “Never! Knowing Granny,
she’ll find a way to make us prove we’re worthy of it.” (Lari giggles. Mellie shakes
her head. Smiles.) “I’m so glad we all made it back home. You’re right,
cousin—it’s been a definite turning point for us all. Now, come on…let’s get on
with enjoying the celebration that brought us here.” (Laughing) “If Granny
catches us hanging out around the punch bowl ‘like a couple o’ gossipin’ ol’
crows,’ she’ll eat that punch recipe, just to make sure it never gets in
our hands!” (Links arms with Lari. The two young women leave the punch bowl
behind and join their friends and family.)
(From Delia and Tiffany): To learn
more about Lari and Mellie’s stories,
pick
up a copy of the collection or leave a comment below for a chance at a FREE
copy of your own. Thanks for taking the time to join us on Pam’s Wild Rose Blog
today! The other stops along the tour should be listed below. We hope to see
you at each one. Remember, each blog you visit and comment on
is
another chance to win!
Do You See What I See?
Delia Latham
Laramie
Buchanan’s fiancé betrayed her on what should have been their wedding day. Evan
Lassiter was jilted at the altar three years ago. Yesterday's heartbreak blinds
them both to a surprising truth that could heal their hurting hearts. Will they
see it in time to save their love?
Delia’s bio:
Delia
Latham lives in East Texas with her husband and a spoiled Pomeranian named Kona.
She writes inspirational romance and devotions. You’ll always find a
touch of the divine in this author’s tales of sweet romance.
A
former newspaper Staff Writer, Delia is now blessed to have twenty-seven
published novels/novellas/novelettes, as well as short works in a number of
devotional anthologies. She designs cover art and marketing materials, and offers
freelance editing/proofreading services. Contact her
about speaking at your upcoming event.
Hometown
Melodies
Amber Stockton
Melody May Buchanan left
Gatlinburg to pursue a life in the symphony. When a letter arrives asking her
to return home for her granddaddy’s 80th birthday, she goes, but upon her
arrival, she’s faced with everything she loved while growing up there…even her
best friend, Drew. When her fiancé arrives, her two worlds collide, and she has
a choice to make...but which option is the best?
Amber’s bio:
Tiffany Amber Stockton has been embellishing stories since childhood,
when she was accused of having a very active imagination and cited with talking
entirely too much. Today, she has honed those skills to become an
award-winning and
best-selling author and
speaker who is also an advocate for literacy as
an
educational
consultant with Usborne Books. She lives with her husband and
fellow author,
Stuart
Vaughn Stockton, along with their two children and three dogs in Colorado.
She has sold twenty (21) books so far and is represented by Tamela Hancock
Murray of the Steve Laube Agency. You can find her on
Facebook and
GoodReads.
Christmas in July blog tour schedule:
Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for more Wednesday Words with Friends and another Saturday Spotlight!
Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT
