A Christmas Wish List 

Hi friends, 
So happy to be with you today! It’s that time of year when family and friends are asking what I want for Christmas and I don’t know about you, but books top my list. Along with a few writer items. Today, I thought I’d share the Christmas books I plan on reading, the books I can’t wait to read in 2024, and a couple of writer gifts for that writer friend of yours. Hope you enjoy the list! I’d love to know what you’d most like to receive at Christmas, if there’s a book you read every year and what book are you most anticipating for 2024. I know that’s a lot of questions so feel free to just share one if you like. But I love hearing what upcoming releases everyone is excited about. I had a hard time limiting my list to just a few. There are so many amazing books out there. I’ll definitely be reading more than I featured on my list. But these popped out at me the most. 

First, I always re-read Pride & Prejudice at Christmastime. It’s my favorite novel and there’s just something special about setting aside that time during the stillness of winter to curl up with a cup of hot cocoa in a fuzzy blanket in front of a roaring fire to read. I never grow tired of it. Lizzie is so plucky, and Darcy is swoon-worthy once you get to truly know him. They are my second favorite story couple. My first favorite? Aragorn and Arwen—particularly in the movie version. To add to my Christmas reading, I’ve picked up the fabulous Amanda Dyke’s Christmas novella, Bespoke: A Tiny Christmas Tale. If you aren’t familiar with Amanda, you need to be. She writes lyrically and I’m always in awe of her storytelling. 

Now, for the books, I’m anticipating the most. I’m making a list of twelve. But, to keep this post from getting super long, I’m going to highlight just a few. 

Can’t Wait to Read!

Born of Gilded Mountains

When newcomer Mercy Windsor arrives in Mercy Peak in 1948 after a scandal shatters her gilded world as Hollywood’s beloved leading lady, she is determined to forge a new life in obscurity in this time-forgotten Colorado haven. She purchases Wildwood–an abandoned estate with a haunting history–and begins to restore it to its former glory. 

But as she does, her every move tugs at the threads of that mountain’s lore, unearthing what became of her long-lost pen pal, Rusty Bright, and the whereabouts of the infamous Galloping Goose Engine No. 8, which vanished years ago, along with the mailbag it carried, whose contents could change the course of countless lives. Not to mention another fabled treasure that–if found–could right so many wrongs. 

Among the towering mountains that stand as silent witnesses, the ghosts of the past entangle with the courage of the present to find a place where healing, friendship, and hope can abide amid a world forever changed.

If the Boot Fits

Determined to prove that cattle king Eli Dearing has no justification for evicting his stepmother and half brothers, Asher Ellis uses the cover of a fancy ball to break into the Three Cedars ranch house to search for proof of wrongdoing. On the verge of discovery, he flees, but a boy’s cry compels him to make a daring rescue.

Spunky and independent, Samantha Dearing balks when she learns the ball her father is hosting in her honor is nothing more than a matrimonial ambush. Taking a break from her unwanted suitors, Samantha spots a thief fleeing her home. When the stranger ends up saving her brother’s life, she hides the only clue to his identity left behind–his boot–and resolves to find him herself.

But when Samantha encounters the older brother of a student she tutors, all thoughts of the bootless mystery man vanish. Although Asher tries to keep his distance from Samantha for reasons of his own, a series of suspicious accidents befall her, and his protective instincts flare, no matter the cost to their future.

This Western reimagining of the classic Cinderella fairy tale is an enchanting story of courage, family, and the power of true love.

Rocky Road

FBI Agent Jude Camden handles every aspect of his job with by-the-book professionalism. There’s no reason why his latest assignment—which calls for him to pose as the boyfriend of perfumer Gemma Clare—should be any different.

Except Gemma is different. She’s creative, bold, and feisty. And as soon as she meets Jude, she wants to loosen him up, wrinkle his perfect shirts, and test every ounce of his towering self-control.

The FBI has an ironclad rule against romances between those working together on operations. Jude’s never met a rule he didn’t respect. But adhering to this one is going to be tough because, as time goes by, he finds Gemma more and more irresistible.

Buckle up! It’s going to be a rocky road.

Favorite Writer Gifts 

Over the years, reader friends, fellow writers, and loved ones have given me writing gifts that I adore. Here’s a quick roundup of my top three. 

I’m a pen fanatic. These are my favorite. I bet each author has a favorite, but there’s nothing like erasable pens when furiously writing that first draft or rewriting. I love the variety of colors as well as each has a different meaning for me during revisions. 

And, last but certainly not least, a coffee gift card. I have to keep that coffee-fueled writing going. 

Reader Question: 

What book have you read that has encouraged you in difficult times? 

Blessings, 

Dani

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Dani Pettrey

Praised by New York Times best-selling author Dee Henderson as "a name to look for in romantic suspense," Dani Pettrey has sold more than half a million copies of her novels to readers eagerly awaiting the next release. Dani combines the page-turning adrenaline of a thriller with the chemistry and happy-ever-after of a romance.

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