Welcome to the Prism Book Tour for A Nutcracker Christmas by Laurie Winter. Stop by each blog for excerpts and reviews from the book!
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A Nutcracker Christmas
By Laurie Winter
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A Nutcracker Christmas
By Laurie Winter
Sweet Contemporary Romance, Magical
Paperback & ebook, 210 Pages
October 11, 2021 by Champagne Book Group
Suddenly let go from her news anchor position, Aria Roberts heads north to stay at her late Great-Aunt Clara’s house. She has many good memories there and wishes to give Clara’s Christmas Shoppe, which is located on the first floor of the Victorian mansion, one final holiday season. When Aria arrives, she finds the special gift Clara left for her—an antique nutcracker with a poem hidden under the back lever. Aria reads the poem out loud. At sundown that night, those words magically bring the nutcracker to life.
Kort Zellner awakes inside the familiar surroundings of Clara’s house but learns she has passed away and now her great-niece resides there. The curse placed on him three hundred years ago traps him in the form of a nutcracker but allows him to return every December 1st through midnight on Christmas Day—only between sundown and sunrise.
After some convincing, Aria believes Kort’s strange story. She helps him experience life as he is gifted so few hours alive and in doing so, falls in love. He knows his curse makes it impossible to give her the constant relationship she deserves. His plan to leave her forever on Christmas Day collides with Aria’s desire to build a future together, even if for only twenty-five nights a year.
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A Nutcracker Christmas Book Excerpt
She sat on the sofa and placed the nutcracker by her side. “Let’s see what secrets you’re keeping.” Aria unfolded the note with care. The paper felt brittle and strange in her hand. Once upon a time, Aunt Clara told her this nutcracker had been crafted in the mid-1700s. Perhaps this note was as old.
Read out loud, the handwriting instructed through the network of time. So, she did.
A curse to serve as an example,
pride turned a beating heart to wood,
once a year, life you may sample,
change the past if you could.
Love will be denied you,
sorrow will be your friend,
until you offer your due,
and the curse comes to an end.
Weird and kind of creepy. A chill danced over her skin. After grabbing the box, she the nutcracker up the stairs leading to the third floor. She’d follow her aunt’s instructions then get to work. Today was already December first, and she hoped to have the shop ready for business in a few days in order to take advantage of the Christmas season. Then, when December twenty-sixth rolled around, she’d begin preparing for the sale of all remaining merchandise and the house.
Aria placed the nutcracker on the floor inside the large main room on the third floor and stared at the figure. It remained motionless in a stream of sunshine coming in from the window, and sparks of light drifted like sprites in the still air. A comforting warmth filled her chest.
“See you around,” she whispered before closing the door, unsure why she continued conversing with the wooden object.
As she descended the stairs, she pressed a hand to her fluttering heart. Nothing appeared out of the ordinary, yet she couldn’t shake the funny feeling something magical had been released into the air.
Excerpted from A Nutcracker Christmas by Laurie Winter, Copyright © 2021 by Laurie Winter. Published by Champagne Book Group.
About Laurie Winter
Multi-award winning author Laurie Winter is a true warrior of the heart. Inspired by her dreams, she creates authentic characters who overcome the odds and find true love. She keeps her life balanced with regular yoga practice and running with her dog, Shadow. When not pounding the pavement or the keyboard, she’s likely fueling up on wine, cheese curds, and Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups.
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Enter the tour giveaway
One winner will receive a print copy of A NUTCRACKER CHRISTMAS or ONCE UPON A PRINCE by Laurie Winter, $25 Amazon gift card, and a nutcracker Christmas ornament (US only)
Ends December 8, 2021
Sarah L says
Looks like a fun book.
Thanks for the contest.
Carolsue says
It’s a cute holiday cover! The book looks good, too!
Shelly Peterson says
I would spend my time with family and friends or do some traveling.
Carolyn Daley says
I am not sure what I would do. It depends on if I remember the past holiday or not. The book cover is really nice, but at first glance I didn’t realize it had a dog in the background. I definitely noticed the Nutcracker.