Secret of the Hopeful Holiday: A Whispering Pines Short Mystery

by Shawn McGuire

With ornaments in festive colors popping among the twinkling lights on the trees, Blackwood Grove, Wisconsin, sparkles with festive cheer. It’s the perfect place for Jayne O’Shea’s girlfriend getaway with Morgan Barlow. And a chance to rekindle the holiday spirit Jayne’s been missing.

But there are strange, magical happenings going on in the charming small town that Jayne can’t accept as being real . . . even though everyone around her seems happy to believe they are.

Then she crosses paths with a pink-haired stranger in need of help, and Jayne starts to wonder if this Christmas will finally bring the miracle she’s been hoping for.

99 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 17, 2025

About the author

Mystery and fantasy author Shawn McGuire loves creating characters and places her fans want to return to again and again. She started writing after seeing the first Star Wars movie (that's episode IV) as a kid. She couldn't wait for the next installment to come out so wrote her own. Sadly, those notebooks are long lost, but her desire to tell a tale is as strong now as it was then. She lives in Wisconsin near the beautiful Mississippi River and when not writing or reading, she might be baking, crafting, going for a long walk, or nibbling really dark chocolate. You can learn more about her work on her website www.Shawn-McGuire.com

Reviews

[Diane Tosney · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this short story. Jayne and Morgan take a short girls trip to get away and do some Christmas/Yule shopping. They stay in a magical small town where strange things keep happening. Is it witchcraft, magic, coincidence or something else?

[jaine vaux · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful

Thank you Shawn for writing this absolutely lovely book I'm so glad combined the 2 villages being the witches together 💖💖💖