Welcome back to Romance Sweet Reads. We're featuring the holiday anthology, Hearts, Homes and Holidays. The anthology is a currently available to pre-order for just 99¢ on all major ebook retailers. All proceeds from the sale of Hearts, Homes, and Holidays will benefit Reece’s Rainbow, an organization that assists with the adoption of special-needs children.
Today, we’ll look at the last of our nine stories, Macy’s Gift by author Nancy Fraser, including an exclusive excerpt available only on Romance Sweet Reads.
Family Ever After
Longing hearts, loving homes, and lively holidays combine in this Romantique Treasury with new contributions from nine bestselling and award-winning authors. This warm-hearted romance anthology combines friends, families, and faith as hope blossoms in the lives of orphaned children.
Macy’s Gift by Nancy Fraser
Macy Williams loves her career as a photojournalist. She loves the freedom to travel, to take pictures of people, places, and events that help shape the world.
When her brother and sister-in-law die in an automobile accident, Macy is drawn back to her small, mid-Michigan hometown of Brant Mills to handle their estate. In and out, that’s her plan. At least it was her plan... until she discovers she’s been named the sole guardian of her two nieces. Eleven year old Brittany and four year old, autistic, Lily Anne are now the only family she has. Macy must figure out how she will cope with a life she never asked for, or wanted.
Cordell (Cord) Adams was Macy’s brother’s best friend, and also the Williams’ family primary physician. He’s surprised by his friend’s choice of guardian for the girls. He only met Macy once, and the meeting was anything but cordial. Now, he must find a way to make peace with the opinionated Macy and help her navigate this sudden change in— not just her life—but that of the girls as well. Hopefully, his faith will help him make the right decisions.
Can two strong-willed individuals set aside their differences for the good of two young girls who long for stability and love?
Macy Williams loves her career as a photojournalist. She loves the freedom to travel, to take pictures of people, places, and events that help shape the world.
When her brother and sister-in-law die in an automobile accident, Macy is drawn back to her small, mid-Michigan hometown of Brant Mills to handle their estate. In and out, that’s her plan. At least it was her plan... until she discovers she’s been named the sole guardian of her two nieces. Eleven year old Brittany and four year old, autistic, Lily Anne are now the only family she has. Macy must figure out how she will cope with a life she never asked for, or wanted.
Cordell (Cord) Adams was Macy’s brother’s best friend, and also the Williams’ family primary physician. He’s surprised by his friend’s choice of guardian for the girls. He only met Macy once, and the meeting was anything but cordial. Now, he must find a way to make peace with the opinionated Macy and help her navigate this sudden change in— not just her life—but that of the girls as well. Hopefully, his faith will help him make the right decisions.
Can two strong-willed individuals set aside their differences for the good of two young girls who long for stability and love?
Enjoy an Excerpt
“There you are,” Brittney said, meeting her gaze with a defiant stare. “Doc Adams was worried you’d left town.”
“Brittney…” A rich baritone voice sounded from the next room. “That is not what I said, and you know it.”
What is he still doing here?
“Where’s Millie?” Macy asked, her voice a mere whisper, her question aimed at her niece.
“She said she had to study for an exam tomorrow. The Doc offered to stay.”
Of course, he did.
Macy hung her coat on the peg closest to the door and set her purse and the items she’d brought from the car on the nearby wicker stand. Sucking in a deep breath, she went to beard the lion in his den. Or, more precisely, her den.
“Doctor Adams, how nice to see you again,” she greeted when she entered the room.
His deep chuckle sent tingles skittering across the back of her arms.
“You too Miss Williams. What’s it been? Like two hours, two-and-a-half?”
“Why are you still here? Surely one of the neighbors would have been happy to come and relieve you.” She shot him a glare. “Don’t you have patients to visit, or something?”
“I’m here because LilyAnne refused her medication and, when I insisted, she had a minor meltdown. I wanted to make sure she was all right.”
“That was very thoughtful of you.” With a softening of her voice, she whispered, “Thank you.”
He gave a quick nod, but the expression of his face was more wary than agreeable.
“I’ve made you a schedule,” he said simply, holding out the page-long list.
“Oh, great, another schedule.” The moment the words left her mouth, she regretted them.
Rather than be angered by her sarcasm, the corner of Cordell Adams’ mouth lifted in a smirk. “I take it you’ve experienced the church ladies and their penchant for lists.”
“Yes. It seems the only thing they haven’t scheduled are bathroom trips.”
The smirk became a full-on smile. “Those are on my list. At least for LilyAnne. I’ll leave the scheduling of your bodily functions to you.”
Her gaze shot skyward in resignation. “Great. I feel like I’m in control again.”
“Macy... uh... Miss Williams. Control for these next few weeks will be an exercise in futility. Resign yourself to the fact that you’re going to lose.”
She glanced down at his list, her attention honing in automatically on his name. “What’s this?”
“That’s me,” he said simply. “Or, more precisely, that’s LilyAnne’s next appointment with me.”
“I thought she saw a specialist.”
“She does. Every six months. In the interim, I manage her day-to-day care.”
“Okay, I’ve got your list, and Mrs. Miller’s list. I’m all set. You can go now.”
“Are you sure you don’t me to stay until LilyAnne’s in bed?”
“Positive,” she told him, nodding toward the front door. “We’re all good.”
“Fine. I’ll go. My number is on the front of the refrigerator if you have questions.”
“I won’t.” She yanked the door open so he could leave.
He started through the door, only to stop short of crossing the threshold. “Macy, can I give you one word of advice?”
She huffed an exhausted sigh. “I suppose.”
“Don’t let LilyAnne bite you.”
“What?”
“And, if she does, make sure you wash her mouth with warm water before you worry about yourself.”
Macy reached out and gave him a shove the rest of the way through the door.
“That was five words of advice,” she pointed out as she swung the door to within an inch of closing.
“True,” he agreed, the sound of his laughter slipping easily beneath the thick oak door.
Nancy Fraser a Top 100 best-selling and award-winning author.
Rather than be angered by her sarcasm, the corner of Cordell Adams’ mouth lifted in a smirk. “I take it you’ve experienced the church ladies and their penchant for lists.”
“Yes. It seems the only thing they haven’t scheduled are bathroom trips.”
The smirk became a full-on smile. “Those are on my list. At least for LilyAnne. I’ll leave the scheduling of your bodily functions to you.”
Her gaze shot skyward in resignation. “Great. I feel like I’m in control again.”
“Macy... uh... Miss Williams. Control for these next few weeks will be an exercise in futility. Resign yourself to the fact that you’re going to lose.”
She glanced down at his list, her attention honing in automatically on his name. “What’s this?”
“That’s me,” he said simply. “Or, more precisely, that’s LilyAnne’s next appointment with me.”
“I thought she saw a specialist.”
“She does. Every six months. In the interim, I manage her day-to-day care.”
“Okay, I’ve got your list, and Mrs. Miller’s list. I’m all set. You can go now.”
“Are you sure you don’t me to stay until LilyAnne’s in bed?”
“Positive,” she told him, nodding toward the front door. “We’re all good.”
“Fine. I’ll go. My number is on the front of the refrigerator if you have questions.”
“I won’t.” She yanked the door open so he could leave.
He started through the door, only to stop short of crossing the threshold. “Macy, can I give you one word of advice?”
She huffed an exhausted sigh. “I suppose.”
“Don’t let LilyAnne bite you.”
“What?”
“And, if she does, make sure you wash her mouth with warm water before you worry about yourself.”
Macy reached out and gave him a shove the rest of the way through the door.
“That was five words of advice,” she pointed out as she swung the door to within an inch of closing.
“True,” he agreed, the sound of his laughter slipping easily beneath the thick oak door.
~ ~ ~
Meet the Author
Nancy Fraser a Top 100 best-selling and award-winning author.
She's also the granddaughter of a Methodist minister known for his fire-and-brimstone approach to his faith. Nancy has brought some of his spirit into her Christian romances. And, her own off-beat sense of humor to her clean & wholesome books.
When not writing (which is almost never), Nancy dotes on her five wonderful grandchildren and looks forward to traveling and reading when time permits. Nancy lives in Atlantic Canada where she enjoys the relaxed pace and colorful people.
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Adoption is another word for love, and proceeds from this collection of inspiring stories will benefit special-needs adoption grants through Reece’s Rainbow.
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Thank you so much for joining us over the past ten days to celebrate Hearts, Homes and Holidays. We hope you’ll take the time to purchase the anthology in support of Reece’s Rainbow. Remember, it’s only one sale through release week before the price increases!
Blessings,
Nancy
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