Saturday Snippet- Are You Planning On Attending the Christmas Program?

Featuring "Christmas in July" Books 

Today's Saturday Snippet is taken from

Vinegar Pie by Varinia

Old Timey Holiday Kitchen, Book 25

by Zina Abbott 

          “I like it, too. Pa saw opportunity. Actually, after my ma died, I think he sought an excuse for a change. He claimed that even after the train brought people here, they would still need either saddle or carriage horses to get them around.”

          “Yes, there is opportunity in Cleora.” Varinia offered a closed-lipped smile. She did not clarify that, after attending normal college, and then teaching school in Kansas City for two years with no wedding prospects, her married friends’ expressions of pity wore on her. She had also felt the need for change. When her father decided to leave his job with the Kansas Pacific Railway—now part of the Union Pacific Railroad—for one with the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, she had considered moving with her family and accepting a teaching position in Cleora as an opportunity. “To answer your question, when we are alone, I would be pleased to call you Arnie, if you will call me Rina.”

          “Thank you, Rina.” Arnold’s grin spread. “Pa was right about the need for a stable and feed business.” Crossing his arms, Arnold nodded. “The railroad might have brought in an influx of residents, but the miners who were here before the Denver and Rio Grande are still around. Although I don’t have enough farrier work to keep me busy fulltime, I notice I work as much on mules as I do on horses.”

          Pressing her lips together, Varinia felt her heart sink. By admitting his business was only part time, did he just answer her question regarding being in a position to marry in the near future? “And now, there is a nice school in Cleora so those children whose fathers are mining silver or working for the railroad can get an education.” Varinia forced a smile. “I have enjoyed our visit, but I do need to get to the mercantile so I can return home before dark.” She stepped forward but then turned back. “Are you planning on attending the Christmas program on Friday?”

          “I wouldn’t miss it, Rina.”

 

Vinegar Pie by Varinia is featured in the A Holiday Christmas in July joint author promotion detailed later in this post. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE  

Coming in August is my book, Mail Order Barber,  the final book in the Hopeful Husband's series. It is currently on pre-order. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

Hal's Lucky Escape is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My most recent book in the Prairie Roses Collection, Sue, is now available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

  

 

My book, The Mine Owner's Rescue,  Book 7 in The Rich Man Takes a Bride series is also available for sale as an ebook or at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. To find the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

A Holiday Christmas in July

Includes my own VINEGAR PIE BY VARINIA, LEMON COOKIES BY LISBETH, MARIGOLD, and PHOEBE

Please CLICK HERE 

 

Watch for Anthelia Yosemite Bride, coming soon. No link yet.

Saturday Snippet: "I don't need a chaperone"

 

For those who love "Christmas in July" books, 

 

today's snippet is taken from

Vinegar Pie by Varinia

Old Timey Holiday Kitchen series

 

           A burst of male laughter filled the air.

          Along with the rest of her family, Varinia snapped her attention to the rear of the room where a circle of five men stood conversing. What was more, she recognized that Betsy’s gaze had honed in on one particular man in the group—Arnie Dickens.

          “Fine. If you don’t want me to socialize with friends from school, then I’ll visit with a few other people, instead. Ma, I’ll come with you in a few minutes, I promise.” Turning to face her mother, Betsy assumed her most winsome, charming smile.

          Varinia knew that smile. Her sister regularly used it to get her way. It had gotten Betsy out of trouble more than once. “With whom do you plan to speak?” Varinia again grabbed her sister’s arm. “If it is one or more of the men in the back of the building, who will go with you as your chaperone? I don’t have time.”

          “All I want to do is greet the Dickens men, the widower and his son.” Smirking, Betsy lifted one shoulder as she turned her gaze toward Varinia. She narrowed her eyes. “We’re in a room full of people. I don’t need a chaperone.”

          “That’s not what you’ve told me on the days after church when everyone stayed to visit. You always insisted I needed a chaperone whenever Mr. Dickens approached to greet me.” Even as Varinia kept her focus on Betsy, in her peripheral vision, she watched her mother’s gaze shift between her and Betsy.

 Vinegar Pie by Varinia is included as an ebook in a "Christmas in July" joint author promotion. I'll share the details below. To find the book description and all purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

Sweet Historical Christmas in July Romances

Includes my own VINEGAR PIE BY VARINIA and MARIGOLD

Please CLICK HERE

My next scheduled romance, Wyatt's New Bride, is currently on pre-order and scheduled for release on 9/26/24. To find the book description and pre-order link, 

please CLICK HERE

 

Lucy, Book 46 in the Prairie Roses Collection, is now available for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It is also available for sale as a paperback.

For the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

 

 

 

  Florence's Good Deed, Book 6 in the Rejected Mail-Order Brides series, is now for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It is also available for sale as a paperback.

For the book description and purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

  Jocelyn's Wedding Dilemma, the second book in the series, The Matchmaker and the Mother-in-Law, is now available as an ebook,  is now for sale as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It is also available for sale as a paperback.

For the book description and purchase options,

please CLICK HERE

The entire series,

Mountain Men and Mail-Order Brides,

is now on pre-order. To find the links to all the books, 

Please CLICK HERE

 

The following series started in February and will continue through September:

The Matchmaker and the Mother-in-Law

To find the links to all the books, 

Please CLICK HERE

 

 

My book in the Confederate Widows, Spinsters, and Proxy Brides series is not scheduled for release until 11/27/24. Here are the "Christmas in July" books, several already available, with the rest on pre-order.

Please CLICK HERE