EBook Giveaway: Sept 4 – 11: Anyone who comments will have a
chance of winning Her Christmas Dream.
A drawing will take place on the morning of the 12th.
Bio: Jo
Huddleston is a multi-published author who writes novels inspired by her
fascination with the 1950s and her love of her native American South. Novels in
her endearing Caney Creek series, her West Virginia Mountains series, as well
as her stand-alone release, Tidewater
Summer, are sweet Southern
historical romance novels. Visit Jo at her website (www.johuddleston.com), where you can sign up for her mailing list and read for
free the first chapters of her novels and novellas.
Blurb: A Christmas romance sprinkled with suspense!
In this sweet romance set in north
Georgia, all Marilyn dreams of for Christmas is a relationship with someone who
cares for her. Someone who really knows her. A stranger volunteers at the
rescue shelter where Marilyn and her best friend George volunteer. George has
concerns about Marilyn’s safety if she dates the stranger. When George becomes
overprotective of her, will Marilyn choose the bad-boy-stranger or her best
friend to spend Christmas with this year?
Read this 20th-century story to
find out which one Marilyn chooses.
A Fun Character Interview:
I’m here at the Promise Rescue Shelter in White Pines, Georgia, for
an interview with the shelter’s director, Miss Mabel Malcolm. I’m to meet her
in her office.
JH: Good morning, Miss Malcolm. Is it convenient for us to talk now?
MM: Yes, of course. Please come in, have a seat.
JH: Thank you. How long have you been the director of this shelter?
MM: For ten years now. Before that, I was first a volunteer here as
a teenager, then an hourly employee in my twenties.
JH: So, you grew up here in White Pines?
MM: Yes, I did.
JH: You must be doing an excellent job. As I walked through the
front living area, several people there seemed content.
MM: Yes, we offer those without stable living conditions a place
where they can feel secure and comfortable to spend a few hours each day. Of
course, the meals we serve bring in the most numbers. Our local merchants
support the shelter by donating clothing and shoes for our clothes closet, and
they generously give to our budget.
JH: You mentioned you were a volunteer initially. Do you have
volunteers now, or are all the folks working here on the payroll?
MM: We still have volunteer help who spend time here dictated by
their schedules. We need volunteers for mealtimes, and also for giving our
patrons attention as required.
JH: How many volunteers work here?
MM: At the moment, we have three volunteers—two who have helped us
for many years, and one who just started and probably won’t stay here long.
JH: Does that last one you mentioned find the work undesirable? Is
that why you think that person won’t be here long?
MM: Well, yes, and no. The young man does find the work here
undesirable. He has a bad attitude, thinking the work here is beneath him…I
just think he won’t be here long.
JH: You hesitated. Is there some other reason he’s not fitted for
working here?
MM: I’m not at liberty to discuss that person any further.
JH: Very well. Then, can you please tell me a little about the other
two volunteers you mentioned? What do they do? How many hours do they give to
the shelter?
MM: The other two are Marilyn and George. They also grew up in White
Pines and are delightful to have around. They show love for our clientele, who
love George and Marilyn in return.
JH: Sounds like they’re cut out for this kind of work.
MM: Yes, they are. Their personalities lean toward helping others.
They’re compassionate and patient toward those less fortunate than themselves.
They both have careers, but they’re here all day every Saturday and usually a
few hours after church on Sundays. I’m thankful for the help from both of them.
I’d like for you to meet them but, unfortunately, it’s not the weekend and
they’re not here.
JH: How old are these two volunteers?
MM: They’re both thirty years old, neither married. Like I said,
they both grew up here, went to school together, even went off to Athens for
college at the same place. The whole town expected them to marry each other by
now, but they’re simply best friends.
JH: Interesting. But your brow creased there for a second. Do you
have a concern for those two?
MM: Well, maybe off the record?
JH: Of course.
MM. The third volunteer we have—I think he’s a fly in the ointment.
I’m afraid he’s worming his way between Marilyn and George. He’s flirting a lot
with Marilyn. George is aware of this, and he doesn’t trust the new guy. He’s
tried to warn Marilyn about dating him because we know so little about him, but
she’s not listening. I think she’s flattered that someone as handsome as this
new guy is interested in her. George and I try to watch out for Marilyn, but so
far, she’s ignoring our advice.
JH: I can see where that is a concern.
MM: Christmas is almost here, and I’m afraid tensions may mount and spoil
everybody’s holiday. But all I can do is stand by and watch and pray for all of
them.
JH: Thank you, Miss Malcolm, for talking with me. I hope your fears
about your volunteers don’t become a reality, and you have a very Merry
Christmas.
MM: Merry Christmas to you as well.
Jo Huddleston’s Links:
Purchase Link: https://amzn.to/2YGpKXs
Website: http://www.johuddleston.com
Amazon author page: http://amzn.to/1TY4uDI
Facebook personal page: https://bit.ly/30V6rdh
