THE SECOND TIME
AROUND / LOVE AT CHRISTMAS INN – MARIANNE EVANS
BLURB:
Dustin Farrell is expected to succeed. He’s gifted with the
means and ability to take the world of business development by storm…and he’s
doing just that, right on plan.
As
Christmas approaches, he’s called home, to Hope Creek, Tennessee. He’s been
given a slam-dunk objective from his investors: Take a small, local art shop
and expand it into the retail mainstream.
Lillianna
Bennett, Dustin’s former high school classmate, is part owner of Purple Door
Art Market. Long ago, her shy sweetness captured his imagination, but nothing
came of the affectionate flame between them.
Until
a reunion at Christmas Inn. Dustin presents his offer, realizing the wallflower
of his youth has bloomed into a confident, talented woman with the kind of
free-spirited heart for which he always longed. And he wonders: Is a life of
expectation, and ‘more’ what he really wants? Will his professional quest end
up compromising Lillianna if her gifts and business become part of a wider
view?
Most of all, will love be lovelier...the
second time around?
EXCERPT:
“The first rule of wood burning? Never
be afraid of a blank canvas.” Slow, measured steps took Lillianna Bennett
around the perimeter of the dining room at Christmas Inn, a space temporarily
transformed into classroom space for her weekly wood burning class at the famed
B & B. “Yes, you can see the stencil I provided—the outlines of a Christmas
tree, of words to be engraved. There’s a foundation, but beyond that, the
canvas is blank, isn’t it?”
Her students
nodded, a few of them fingering the scalloped edges of a light colored, Baltic
birch plaque that rested before each participant. Satisfaction and contentment
swelled while Lillianna took in the already stenciled outline of a tree against
the right edge of each plaque, the swoop and swirl of the words, ‘Joy to the
World’ which she had penciled lightly into the open space, words which were now
ready to be burned to permanence.
“Rule number
two? Don’t be afraid to create. There’s no right or wrong in the art we’re
creating today. Add a couple of ornaments, or maybe a gift. Some candy canes.
But…” Lillianna lingered over the foreboding word, her enthusiasm and energy
carrying to the dozen expectant, people now turned her way. “Don’t be afraid of
blank space. Blank space can be like taking a breath of air. Blank space can be
freeing, with a beauty all its own.”
One of her
participants, a guest of the Inn, spoke up. “But I can’t even draw stick
figures. Seriously.”
Lillianna joined
a circuit of laughter that engulfed the table. She rested her hand gently on
the forearm of the middle-aged woman. “Don’t even worry about that. This is
going to be fun, and you have a general outline to follow in the stencil on the
wood before you, so just relax and enjoy!”
Murmurs
increased to a conversational flow as her students prepared to burn wood and
create a Christmas-themed wall hanging to take with them as a memento of their
visit to Christmas Inn. Five-by-seven-inch wood pieces were stationed next to
small, hand-held wood burners. There were also sanding blocks meant to be a
prop for hot instruments to keep heated tips away from table surfaces. Within
small metal bowls rested a variety of burning tips with a pair of tongs meant
to be used for removal. Next to that lay a stack of colored pencils.
But first things
first—a bit of instruction. “I want you to pick up the small square of wood
next to your plaque. That’s going to be our practice piece, so you can get
familiar with how wood burning feels, how to adjust your touch from gentle to
firm to create light to deep grooves. Go ahead and turn on your burners. While
they heat up, I’ll review a few safety rules and give you some tips.” A general
rustling took place as participants complied. Lillianna continued her
instruction. “First of all, use the tongs in the metal bowl next to you to
remove the burning tips when you want to make a switch. The bowls are on
trivets so don’t worry about the heat. The tips cool quickly.”
She launched her
class by teaching basic techniques in line drawing, adjusting burn tips from
fine to thick, showing by example how to work the wood as well as the hand-held
instrument. The door to the dining room swung open and Paulina Kovacs ushered
in what seemed to be a late arrival to class. A man. A very handsome man. A
very handsome and familiar man.
All at once,
Lillianna morphed from confident, engaged and energetic craft instructor to the
tongue-tied, clumsy, overweight high schooler she had been ten long years ago. She released a quiet,
involuntary gasp. Dustin Farrell. What on earth was Dustin Farrell doing in
Hope Creek? At Christmas Inn? In her class,
for heaven’s sake?
PURCHASE
LINK:
BIO:
Marianne
Evans is an award-winning author of Christian fiction and romance. Her hope is
to spread the faith-affirming message of God’s love through the stories He
prompts her to create. Readers laude her works as: “Riveting,” “Realistic and
true to heart,” “Compelling.”
Her novel, Forgiveness,
was named Christian Small Publisher Book of the Year in the romance category as
well as a Romantic Times Magazine 4.5-Star Top Pick. Her Christian fiction
debut, Devotion, earned the
prestigious Bookseller’s Best Award and Heart of Excellence Award from RWA. Hearts Communion earned a win for Best
Romance from the Christian Small Publishers Association. She is also a two-time
recipient of the Selah Award for her books Then
& Now and Finding Home as
well as a three-time recipient of the International Digital Award for her books
By Appointment Only, Maria’s Angel and Operation Breathless.
Marianne is a
lifelong resident of Michigan and an active member of Romance Writers of
America, most notably the Greater Detroit Chapter where she served two terms as
President. Marianne loves to hear from readers, so connect with her at MarianneEvans.com, at her blog, on Twitter, or “Like” her author page on Facebook.
Comments