Today’s Thursday Christmas Reads is A Heartfelt Christmas Promise by Nancy Naigle. She’s answering some questions about her book today and also providing a Christmas cookie recipe and excerpt from her Christmas book.
How did you come up with the idea for your Christmas book?
A Heartfelt Christmas Promise was inspired by those adorable Budweiser commercials with the lost puppy. Remember those? I’m a dog lover anyway, but those commercials absolutely stole my heart. I couldn’t wait to find a way to integrate a sweet puppy, and a handsome horse trainer into a novel. Six years later, here we are. I’m so excited for readers to visit the small town of Fraser Hills, NC and get swept up into all that’s going on in that small town.
Could you give a short synopsis on the book for my readers?
Yes, it’s a sweet small-town holiday love story, perfectly fine for readers of all ages, so mommas, you can share this one with your teenage-daughter and her grandmother, too.
Vanessa Larkin was supposed to be spending Christmas in Paris, France on a business trip she hoped to enjoy as a working vacation. Instead, she’s been assigned to Fraser Hills, North Carolina—home of the Best Fruitcake in the USA—to convert her company’s property into warehouse space and shut down Porter’s, the fruitcake factory. Offering retirement packages and selling locals on new job opportunities may not spread holiday cheer, but Vanessa believes she’s helping secure the town’s future.
Mike Marshall’s family founded Porter’s. For decades, the factory served as the lifeblood of the community until his grandfather sold the business to a Chicago corporation. The sale cost the town its independence—and the Marshalls their family ties. A horse farmer, Mike was never involved with his grandfather’s company, but still felt Fraser Hills lost part of its identity. And as a widower raising a teenage daughter, he’s suffered enough losses in one lifetime. News of the factory’s closing means losing another piece of the town’s legacy.
Far from the skyscrapers and rapid pace of the city, Vanessa finds herself enjoying the easygoing rhythms of rural living. With Mike as her guide, she learns to appreciate the simple pleasures found in shared holiday festivities among friends. Fraser Hills is a town she is growing to love—and Mike is someone she is falling in love with. Now all Vanessa needs is a Christmas miracle to give her newfound friends and home a gift they’ll cherish for many New Years to come.
What are some of your favorite Christmas traditions?
Oh gosh, there are so many! One of my favorites is hosting a cookie swap. It makes the daunting task of baking a huge and varied batch of cookies and treats for your family, fun and easy. Each participant makes six dozen of their favorite cookie or treat recipe. On the day of the swap everyone brings six dozen and goes home with an assortment of sixty cookies. A lot less work, and an evening of fun with the girls. What’s not to love?
What’s next?
On May 18, 2021, The Shell Collector comes out. This novel has been in my heart for years. Shells with messages are showing up on Whelk’s Island, and they always seem to be the encouragement or confirmation for those that find them. The Shell Collector is up for preorder so order yours now. We’ll be doing a cover reveal as soon as we get past the buzz of the holidays so stay tuned. It’s a beautiful story set on the coast of North Carolina, described as a touching novel of love and loss, a friendship that crosses generations, and learning how even the smallest gifts can change a life for good. Don’t hesitate…treat yourself right now: https://waterbrookmultnomah.com/books/668252/the-shell-collector-by-nancy-naigle/
RECIPE FAVORITES
Lilene’s Chocolate-dipped Fruitcake Squares
It’s your choice. Take a shortcut and make your treats from sliced up store-bought fruitcake and dunk the slices or squares in milk or dark chocolate, or use this recipe.
Either way you’re sure to end up with a delightful and unexpected goody to share. The best description I’ve heard is that these taste like a banana split only without the ice cream. All the yummy goodness and no brain freeze.
Fruit Cake Ingredients:
¾ cup butter, softened
1 ¾ cups packed brown sugar
3 large eggs
1 TBL vanilla extract
1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
3 cups coarsely chopped walnuts
1 ½ cups coarsely chopped candied pineapple
1 ¾ cups red and green candied cherries, halved
- In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar until light and fluffy.
- Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each, then add vanilla and beat just until mixed well.
- Add flour to mix, then fold in walnuts with a spatula.
- Spread evenly into a greased large rectangle baking pan.
- Sprinkle the pineapple, and cherries evenly across the pan, then press the candied fruit lightly into the mixture.
- Bake at 325° for 45-50 minutes or until lightly browned.
- Cool on a wire rack. Cut into squares. I like to let my squares rest a day before I robe them in chocolate.
- Dunk each square into your choice of milk or dark chocolate and cool. Enjoy!
And now for a treat of another kind: An Excerpt from
A Heartfelt Christmas Promise (2020)
By Nancy Naigle
Vanessa breezed out of her office and stepped back in the conference room. One of her coworkers, Micky Cooper, was pleading the case for a warehouse project to get moved to one in his portfolio in North Carolina. Something that had been on his books for a long time. It must not be making big profits lately, else why would he offer it up?
She took her seat.
“Porter’s has two huge warehouse spaces. Plus, the surrounding area has plenty of space for expansion. It’d be tight to do a shutdown and get ready by January first, but the right person could get it done.”
Vanessa politely smiled, rocking in her chair as she swung back around toward her boss, Edward Grayson. Yeah, it could be done, but Micky wasn’t the guy to do it. He was always running late on his projects. He was really much better on the front-end negotiations than the execution of things like this.
Edward’s bushy eyebrows wiggled like restless caterpillars.
“You’re right, Micky.”
Micky gave a cocky nod and leaned back in his chair.
“Only this can’t slip. Not one day.” Edward’s glasses slid farther down his nose as he swiveled his gaze across the team sitting at his table today, and then his focus landed on Vanessa.
As in a disastrous game of spin the bottle, Vanessa’s insides flipped.
“Porter’s is a small town. I went out there personally when we closed that deal. It’s the best option we’ve got in our portfolio to make this happen in the short time frame. Execution has to be flawless. Vanessa—”
“No.” She hadn’t meant to say that out loud. Trying to cover, she said, “Edward, there are plenty of good people on this team who can handle that assignment, and Thanksgiving is next week.”
“I need you to handle it.”
“Sir, with all due respect.” She lowered her voice and leaned in closer to him. “Paris? Leavenworth? I’ve earned those.” The words hung like peanut butter in the back of her throat.
“You’re right,” he said. “You have.”
She raised her chin, hoping he’d change his mind.
But Edward looked down the table again and with not an ounce of remorse announced, “I need you in Fraser Hills, North Carolina, on Monday. It’ll be quick, and I promise I’ll give you the next big thing that comes through this door. This has to go right. It’s important.”
Her throat tightened. “Yes, sir.”
Micky leaned forward with a sly grin. “I’ll send you the files on Porter’s.”
She nodded as she sat there trying to hold herself together as the agenda moved on.
When they got to the two projects she’d been vying for, she
could barely breathe while her dream projects were assigned. Micky and his brother Gary were assigned the Paris project as a team. None other than McAdo landed Leavenworth.
“That’s it for today.” Edward pushed himself up from his chair.
Vanessa was thankful Micky and Gary, full of enthusiasm, had cornered Edward so she didn’t even have to make eye contact with him. She pasted a smile on her face and headed straight to her office.
Want to read more? You can find A Heartfelt Christmas Promise at:
Amazon: Barnes & Noble: iBooks: Kobo: GooglePlay
About the Author:
USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she currently calls North Carolina home. Nancy is the author of Christmas Joy and Hope at Christmas, both of which have been turned into film for Hallmark Channel. A Heartfelt Christmas Promise is her 2020 release.
Stay updated on Nancy’s new releases, sales, and upcoming movie news by subscribing to her newsletter at www.nancynaigle.com.
Other places to find or follow Nancy: Amazon Author Page: Twitter: Facebook
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USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she currently calls North Carolina home.
Catherine Castle 