Hello, all!
I hope you all are having a nice December. I’m so far behind on pretty much everything, but it’ll all come together. It usually does. 🙂
Christmas in Holly Pines was published on November 1st. I’ve published quite a few books over the years (the Willy series included), but I’ve never had the success that I’ve had so far with Holly Pines. Honestly, it surprised me. Not because I’m not proud of the book – I am – but because it was the first book I’ve published since the Willy series ended last year. It surprised me because it’s a Christmas story not set in my crazy version of the North Pole, and there are no kinky elves or shifting reindeer to be seen. 😉 There is, however, a small shout out to Randy.
Thank you to everybody who has bought or downloaded Christmas in Holly Pines so far. I held on to that story (well, 2 stories in one) for over 2 years. Jacob and Owen’s was written and polished approximately 2 and a half years ago. Only later did I add Dustin and Reese to the mix.
I also send a huge thank you to my best friend for encouraging me to publish it even though she hadn’t read it yet. Just knowing she had that kind of confidence in me and my writing means everything.
Below is a quick excerpt from Holly Pines. It describes the first time Reese Wells and Dustin Knight meet face-to-face. You can find out a little about how Jacob and Owen met in an excerpt that was published in October on On Top Down Under Book Reviews. You can find it here and Kazza’s review of the book here.
Excerpt –
I barely have time to react before Jesse’s yelling my name and running to me. I just manage to lift him up before I fall back on my ass.
“Reese, you’re here.”
“I am. You must be Jesse.”
“Well, duh. You’ve seen me a million times.”
“I’ve seen you exactly twice outside of pictures.”
“Yeah, same thing. Dad, Reese is here,” he calls out as he climbs down.
I look over, and I swear my heart stops. Dustin Knight is standing a few feet away. I take a step toward him, but Owen has other ideas. He nudges me to Jacob.
“This is Jacob Knight,” he gushes. “He’s mine, so hands off, little brother.”
“You’re so weird, Owen,” Jesse tells him.
“Nice to officially meet you, Jacob,” I tell him as I shake his hand.
“You too, Reese.”
Jesse grabs my hand and pulls me to his dad. “This is my dad, Doctor Dustin Knight.”
“Hello, gorgeous,” Dustin says with a grin as he takes my hand in his.
“Oh, my gawd,” Jesse blurts out. “You can’t be calling people that, Dad. This is Reese. He’s practically family. He might not want to stay if he thinks you’re a weirdo.”
I laugh and look down at the kid, my hand still in Dustin’s. “There’s not a person alive who doesn’t like being called gorgeous. And you’ve met Owen. You know I’m used to being around weirdos.”
“I resemble that remark,” Owen says from somewhere behind me.
“Let go of his hand, Dad. Geez. You’re embarrassing me in front of my new best friend.”
“We can’t have that, can we?” Dustin says, letting go of my hand, reluctantly, if his expression is to go by. “Go wash your hands for dinner.”
“You’re not going anywhere, are you, Reese?”
“I’m not going anywhere.”
He rushes off to do as he’s told.
“We’ll, uh, be somewhere,” Owen says, pulling Jacob with him.
“In the kitchen where dinner is?” Jacob asks him.
When they’re out of sight, I get a good look at Dustin. “Hey there.”
“Hey there, yourself.”
He surprises me by leaning in and kissing me softly on the lips. He’s smiling when he pulls back.
“I’m suddenly really wishing we’d met the first time without the others around,” he whispers.
“We have time, don’t we, Doc?”
“Yes, we do. Now let’s go to the kitchen before a certain little boy comes in and fusses at me for monopolizing his new best friend’s time.”
Blurb –
Holly Pines, Vermont, is a traditional small tourist town. In the off-season, there are fewer than two thousand residents. A snow skiing paradise, that number increases dramatically during the holidays. It’s been home to brothers Jacob and Dustin Knight their entire lives.
Being the chief of police in a busy tourist town makes it hard for Jacob to find the time to date. Dustin is bisexual and has plenty of options but no interest in anyone in town. He’s a single father who knows that anyone he brings into his world has to accept that he and his son are a package deal.
Owen Wells is a professional photographer who plans to snap a few shots of the Christmas lights on Holly Pines Bridge then be on his way. A matchmaking seven-year-old boy has other ideas. When unforeseen circumstances keep Owen in town overnight, sparks fly between the photographer and chief of police. Suddenly, Owen’s not so keen on leaving after all.
Reese Wells is a traveling nurse who never stays in one place for long. His older brother may have found love, but he has no plans to follow suit. That changes during a video call with Owen and young Jesse Knight. When the boy’s dad joins the chat, all bets are off. Reese is suddenly eager to take a trip to the small town of Holly Pines, Vermont.
Jacob and Owen’s relationship runs smoothly from the get-go. Dustin and Reese’s, not so much. Between a quick misunderstanding, a jealous nurse, a busybody teacher, and a less than maternal ex-wife, these guys have to work hard to become the family they desperately want to be.
Available from Amazon in Kindle Unlimited and paperback.
You can add it on Goodreads here.
~*~
In the event I don’t pop in again before the end of the month, I hope you all have the best of holidays and a very Happy New Year!
Until next time,
Candi
As most of you know, the series ended with 
After 
I’ve not pushed the freebies much because when I did that in 2019 hardly anybody read them – or that’s what the download count at Book Funnel told me anyway. I will likely (in the coming week or so) post those stories (including Logan’s) on this site somewhere so the reader doesn’t have to be taken to somewhere else for it.
If you’re interested in the first 2, click the link above. It’ll take you to the page where you can download them. If you’ve not read the rest of the series (especially Luke and Micah’s book), you’ll be confused if you read the short stories.
The Hooper Lake series consists of 5 stories that take place during the same time period. Each one has new main characters and love interests, but they’re all linked – the stories, characters, etc. Each book focuses on an adopted adult son of Esther Hooper (who insists on being called Gran or Gran Es, even by her adopted sons). Esther is a character. Her only goal in life seems to be pushing her sons to get laid. If their getting laid leads to falling in love, even better. She has no filter but she has a heart of gold.
The first one is about Noah, the oldest of the 5 adopted brothers. Something life-altering from his past sets the stage for his story and that of the others. The brothers are (listed from oldest to youngest) Noah, Aiden, Matthew, and Elijah (Eli) and Ethan, who are identical twins.
Hopefully 2021 will have me publishing at least 2 new Christmas stories that I wanted to publish in 2020. It didn’t happen for a variety of reasons, one of which being that I didn’t want to take away from the finale of the Willy series. They take place in a small Vermont town during Christmastime. The first one is about Jacob and Owen. Jacob is the police chief of the small town who meets Owen, who’s just passing through. The second one is about Jacob’s brother (a doctor) and one of Owen’s relatives.
If you like kids, you should enjoy these books. Jacob’s nephew Jesse steals the show a few times. If you don’t like kids, you might want to pass on these when they’re released. Jesse’s not everywhere in Jacob and Owen’s story, but he’ll play a big part in Dustin’s because Dustin is his father.
They won the championship the day before my birthday so you know I had a blast celebrating. I’m hoping the 2021 season is as good as 2020’s was. It was nice watching the haters (there are SO many Alabama haters) eat their words about us only ever playing ‘cupcake’ teams.
Wear a mask. Get the vaccine if you can, when you can. If you don’t believe in wearing the masks, don’t be a jerk to those who do.
I think that about covers everything for now. For those who have asked about An Unlikely Romance: Brett & Casey, there’s something holding me back from publishing it. It’s been edited and ready to go for a couple of years but I feel like something is missing. When I figure out what it is – and fix it – I’ll hit publish on it. Note that the cover on the right is tentative. It may change slightly before it’s published.
What a year it’s been, huh? Geez. I’m sure I speak for everybody when I say that 2021 can’t get here fast enough.
Also, you have to read/listen to her review of the book. You can do that 
I’ve been bad this year about posting. Worse than usual, I mean. I think 2020 has been crazy for everybody. I’ve barely even promoted ‘Santa’. I’m truly blessed to have the amazing readers I have. If you’re new to the series, welcome! And I guess I should apologize in advance for Willy. 😉 If you’ve been with me from the beginning and are still hanging around, I adore you. Seriously.
I typed the words THE END on the 7th and final installment of the
For those who don’t know, Santa’s love interest is Andrew (Drew) Lanzer, 
There’s also the matter of Santa being told throughout his existence that he’s not allowed a mate. This was discussed at length in 
The (very rough) first draft came in at almost 108,000 words, by far the most I’ve ever written for one book. Again, expect that number to change.
The Hooper Lake series (series title subject to change) is a little different from other books I’ve written. It’s a 5 book series about 5 adopted brothers who all have to come back to their family home when the oldest brother has a life-changing event occur. Each brother has a unique backstory. I’ve tried to add humor but there are some pretty serious issues delved into with each of the brothers.
What is a big deal is that this author didn’t just write under a pen name, he catfished a lot of women. As in, gaining trust and sexting. From what I’ve read, private photos were sent to him that would not have been sent had the women known he wasn’t the female he claimed to be.
on Twitter bigoted for daring to give her views on the above-mentioned author. He then said (later down in his comments) that what the catfish did was ‘marketing’. I kid you not. The man who said this is an author. Below is his quote. I’m not naming him.
Take care of yourselves. We’re in trying times right now and the new numbers of COVID-19 cases are staggering, my state now considered a hot spot. Wash your hands, use hand sanitizer, and if you’re told to wear a mask, wear a mask. It’s a small inconvenience. I live in the South where it’s miserably hot this time of year. But you know what? I go nowhere without my mask on, regardless of how uncomfortable it gets to be. And trust me, when the heat index is often close to 110 F with sky high humidity, it gets uncomfortable.
Every year on April 5th I celebrate my publishing anniversary. My first book, 
If you don’t want to leave a comment, send me an email to candikayauthor@gmail.com or a private message on one of my social media accounts – 
This giveaway will run through April 15th.
Stay inside and away from people. Follow all the guidelines, including social distancing. I’ve seen so many people complaining. I’d rather be inconvenienced some that end up in the hospital or worse.
The first draft of the still-untitled Santa’s story (Willy, #7 – the series finale) is close to being complete. It’s going to be so hard saying goodbye to those guys. I’ll update more on the story throughout the year.