Christmas Hero

Home for Christmas #2

by Di Jones

Betty Hayes is a pushover, something she hates about herself. She can’t stand up for herself when her sister-in-law asks her to stay in town, cancel her holiday plans, and run her tiny bookstore over the Christmas holidays. Betty isn't happy with her life, but isn't sure how to fix it. Getting away at Christmas was supposed to help her figure out what to do about it but now that option is closed to her. Worse still, Betty also can't say no when that same sister-in-law tells her that her and her husband are traipsing off on their own vacation, and she’ll be expected to entertain her sister-in-law’s cousin over the holidays—whatever that means.

Andy Levee has been home from the military for about five minutes. And he’s already being passed around family members. The one event he was actually looking forward to—spending two weeks in the tiny home town he spent childhood holidays in—is ruined when he learns everyone is going out of town except his cousin's frumpy sister-in-law, who somehow got roped into running the family bookstore over the holiday season.

Andy didn’t expect the small and beautiful but fiercely fuming woman he meets when she picks him up at the airport. She refuses to speak to him the entire way to her home and he is starting to get the feeling she doesn’t want him there.

But things start to change when Andy volunteers to help Betty in the store. He instills her with confidence, helps her stand up for herself, and shows her that a holiday in her hometown is magical and everyone else is missing out.

105 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 20, 2019

About the author

Born in Liverpool, I started my working life as a librarian and have worked in a variety of jobs since, but none was as much fun as the one that allowed me to write and get paid for it. That was a few years ago, and each year it’s become more and more apparent to me that what I want to do is write full time, a dream that first occurred to me at seventeen.

Like my characters, I love my family and friends, beautiful shoes, anything sparkly, the “occasional” drink, parties, and a good belly laugh. I’m addicted to shopping, chocolate, bubble baths and anything else that smells nice, and the sort of TV programs you’d never publicly admit to watching. Did I mention that, like my characters, I also love dogs?

I’ve lived in England, Canada, and the United States but now call New Zealand home. I live in a lovingly renovated house overlooking Auckland’s beautiful Waitemata Harbour with my trusted Great Danes, Dolce and Gabbana, and their two cats, Charlie and Jamie. The dogs keep me fit and exercised, scare the burglars away, sit loyally by my side throughout my late-night writing sessions, and hang on to my every word when I read my final drafts aloud. They truly are my biggest fans, and I theirs! The cats, on the other hand, hang out by themselves and ignore the dogs and me.

I love my life but not so much that there’s not room to live a load of other lives, through the hearts and minds of my characters, all of whom I adore, and some of whom I’m fortunate enough to call friends.

I love to hear from my readers, and your emails and messages motivate me to keep writing, so keep them coming! I answer every one personally. Here’s how to touch base:

My website www.dijoneswrites.com
On Twitter: http://twitter.com/dijoneswrites
On Facebook: http://facebook.com/dijoneswrites
Pinterest: http://nz.pinterest.com/dijoneswrites/

Reviews

[Texas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Home For Christmas Series:
Christmas Harmony #1 - Another well written second chance romance by Ms. Jones. This quick read has interesting storylines and good characters. The dialogue is intelligent, and the journey to whether they make it together, or not, is interesting and entertaining. 4*

Christmas Hero #2 - A selfish, insufferable cow paves the way for love between an insecure woman and an Army veteran. Together, they run the cow's business while discovering each other. There are a couple of visits from some townspeople that were in Harmony. I like this story better than Harmony.4*
Home For Christmas Series end.

Christmas Lights series:
Christmas Kisses Down Under #1- A quickly read, interesting story set in a lovely location. The storylines were interesting, but the realistic and likable characters kept the reader immersed in their lives. Well written and entertaining, this is perfect for relaxation with a cuppa and a furbaby. 4*

Hot Kisses in Cold Christmas #2 - A quickly read, interesting story set in London for the wedding of the sister. The brother's turn to discover his heart and she's a little messed up. I loved the continued and new storylines, although I didn't care for her assumptions, eejit. Another well written, entertaining and lovely story by a wonderful author. Read in order for the best results, or not. 4*
Christmas Lights series end.

London Lights series: Boxed 5*
Meeting Miss Mollie #1 - A well written, heartwarming, funny romance story with wonderful and not-so-wonderful characters. Full of intrigue, suspense, betrayal and a dog makes it difficult to put the book down. This is a standalone in the London Lights series. 5*

Liverpool Kiss - Well written, believable characters; I didn't stop reading until I finished the book. I own Meeting Miss Mollie, which I will be reading soon. I read The Audition, also own, another fun read, which got me started on Ms. Jones. Both books were read in one sitting, they were so good. Luckily, I contacted the author to review her books and received a copy of Liverpool Kiss. * 5*

Cast Aside in Como #3 - Another well written, heartwarming and funny romance by one of my favorite ChiLit ladies. I didn't stop reading until the last page. I love that the story is Italy; didn't care about climbing fences, but the story needed a place to start and this worked out perfectly for the story line. I contacted the author to review her books. 5*
London Lights series end.

[Nancy Garbe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A warm, sweet with a little heat, romantic story of a young woman who needs a hero to protect her from herself and those who take advantage of her, and the hero who also needs a heroine to ground him.

I received a free advanced copy of this book and am pleased to voluntarily provide my honest review. This is a delightful read for a Christmas day or anytime.

[Pauline Frost · Rating 5 out of 5]

A well written perfectly paced story pulling you in from the start. This one is how Andy visits his cousin Mona after he has retired from the military and Betty is roped into entertaining him while he is in town. Then Andy and Betty set out on an adventure in his camper van to see the country. This is book two but a standalone read and a quick read.

[Lili · Rating 3 out of 5]

A light holiday story. Relaxing to read, a bit more depth wouldn't hurt.

[Michelle Custer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the book I liked how their romance blossomed through the book how they both went looking for each other in the end

[Danielle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Andy and Betty and forced together at Christmas and end up getting to know each other. It was A quick, light and fluffy read. And just what I wanted to read in December!