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Gloria
Alternative cover edition of ASIN B07WD2G7D6
Christmas and ice cream, a match made in Hamlet.
Christmas and ice cream, a match made in Hamlet.
Great Aunt Patti is dead.
Gloria Watson would probably feel a little sadder at that news if she had known about Great Aunt Patti in the first place. Growing up an only child, all she had was her grandmother. After Nana’s passing, Gloria thought she was the last one left in her family.
Well, she is. Since Great Aunt Patti is dead and all.
That’s okay. The nice lawyer who wrote her a letter assured Gloria that her great aunt lived a long, happy life in a small town that Gloria has never heard of. And now, as her next of kin, everything she owned belongs to Gloria.
Including a house. Which sounds like a godsend to Gloria, who is eager to start her dream business and could use the extra cash.
Only there’s a catch. Because of course there is.
The house is hers—but only after she lives there for a year. One year in Hamlet and then Gloria will have enough money to follow her dream. Why not? It’ll give her time to work on her flavors. And it wasn’t like she had much going on for her in the city anyway.
She’s moved in by Thanksgiving, ready to spend the holidays in her new home.
So what if her new neighbor is the hottest guy she’s ever seen? Franklin is as grumpy as he is handsome, and he hates Christmas.
Seriously.
A year? Gloria will be lucky if she makes it to January.
* Gloria is a small town Christmas romance set in Hamlet! It’s not explicitly part of the Hamlet series and for two reasons: the timeline and how different in tone it’s going to be compared to the other (darker, more suspenseful) books. Gloria will be a sweet, low-stakes, fluffy romance, similar to Hallmark Christmas movies, though it will feature characters and settings from the Hamlet books. You don't have to be familiar with those books to read this book—it's definitely a stand-alone—but it's also a bit of a prequel to that series, set a couple of years before the first Hamlet book Don't Trust Me.
212 pages, ebook
Published November 1, 2019
454 people are currently reading
325 people want to read
About the author
Jessica Lynch
65 books168 followersJessica Lynch loves to write! She's been writing ever since she was a child, and spent years writing fan fiction before deciding at the end of 2017 to begin focusing on her original works of fiction. A 14-time winner of NaNoWriMo, Jessica has tons of manuscripts waiting to be formed and shaped and introduced to the world -- plus countless more milling around in her brain. She just wishes she could type fast enough to get them all out!
When she's not writing or working, she's either reading, playing with her family of cats in Central New Jersey, rooting for her beloved Mets, or working on her graphic arts skills to bring her characters and cover art to life.
When she's not writing or working, she's either reading, playing with her family of cats in Central New Jersey, rooting for her beloved Mets, or working on her graphic arts skills to bring her characters and cover art to life.
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December 6, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (12/6/2020)! 🎁
December 31, 2020
Quick light holiday read
I enjoyed reading Gloria, the characters were well thought out and the story was fun. No sex, no swearing either, if that's important to you.
I enjoyed reading Gloria, the characters were well thought out and the story was fun. No sex, no swearing either, if that's important to you.
December 6, 2025
Gloria Watson received a letter from an attorney stating that her presence was needed to discuss an inheritance left to her. She was surprised because her grandmother was the only one who had ever raised her after her parents were gone. She had no idea there was another living soul that carried her blood. It would have been nice to know especially after her grandmother had passed. It turns out she was on her way to Hamlet, an extremely small town with no cell service. The weird location made it difficult for cell towers to reach that far into Hamlet, and the villagers long ago refused to put any towers of their own up.
No landlines, either. And, to Gloria’s surprise, there was no internet or cable television. They all use a handheld radio to contact each other similar to what the police officers use. The best was yet to come, she was told by the attorney she would get a sizeable inheritance only after she stayed in the cabin her aunt lived in for one year. She would be given a stipend to live off of since she would be giving up her job and her home for the year plus she would need the money to move her things.
The will stated she had three weeks to get her affairs in order. She followed the attorney up the mountain and into the home it was quaint. There were a lot of throw blankets around. She said so under her breath and her attorney overheard her. Sorry, Afghans. Sadie snapped her fingers and said that her aunt had wanted her to give Gloria something. When she returned Gloria couldn’t believe her eyes it was a box with a blanket for her. The exact one she had as a child, exactly. But larger, adult-sized. That’s when she knew her aunt had made her baby blanket that had burned in the fire.
She had lost her parents too. She cried to her grandmother to please buy her that blanket, and all kinda of others but none of them were the same until this one. And that's because her aunt had made it and because of her feud her pride wouldn’t allow her to call her sister for help not even for Gloria. That was how her aunt made her fortune. She was a world-class crafter, could make afghans, pillows, tea cozies… You name it she made it.” At first, she might have stayed quiet for Gloria’s sake. Losing her parents, so young had been hard, and Nana was devoted to making sure Gloria felt loved and protected.
Nana’s husband was long gone, and both Gloria’s mom and dad were only children. As far as she knew, Nana and Gloria were all each other had. As she grew older, Gloria had asked her grandmother about their extended family and the answer was always the same: they were all that was left. Gloria had to ask. “Patti… my great aunt? How exactly is she related to me?” Patricia Hammond, was your father’s aunt. She grew up in Hamlet with her younger sister Penelope—” “My Nana,” breathed out Gloria. “That’s right.
The Hammond's were one of the first families who settled in the village back in the ’40s. Penelope left Hamlet, obviously, but Patti lived here her whole life.” Sadie waved her hand around the cabin. “Literally here. This cabin was one of the first built. It might not be much, but it’s history. There are a lot of people in Hamlet who would pay nicely for this property.” Why did she just leave the cabin to someone in town who’d want it? I mean, she went to a lot of trouble with the will, right? Setting up a… like, an allowance, and making it so that I have to actually live here for the whole next year.
Why? It doesn’t make sense.” “Oh, sweetie. I thought you understood that, too. Your aunt set her will up like this on purpose because she wanted you to keep the cabin. She wanted her family to come back to Hamlet, to love the town and the family home as much as she did. And as sweet as Patti was, she was a shrewd woman. She knew what to use to get people to do what she wanted.” Well so did Gloria. That was until she met her grumpy neighbor when she went to get her car looked at. And lo and behold he is the owner, and does several things to it at no charge. His kid sister is working and says Hey as payment maybe you can make some of that great ice cream I keep hearing about, and she agrees. That night she takes some over. And so it begins, their two-step. Not dancing either. Arguing is their foreplay. So two days of sniping at each other, equals one day of nicety. Franklin Carter is the man of many trades and faceless emotions. Really enjoyed this book.
No landlines, either. And, to Gloria’s surprise, there was no internet or cable television. They all use a handheld radio to contact each other similar to what the police officers use. The best was yet to come, she was told by the attorney she would get a sizeable inheritance only after she stayed in the cabin her aunt lived in for one year. She would be given a stipend to live off of since she would be giving up her job and her home for the year plus she would need the money to move her things.
The will stated she had three weeks to get her affairs in order. She followed the attorney up the mountain and into the home it was quaint. There were a lot of throw blankets around. She said so under her breath and her attorney overheard her. Sorry, Afghans. Sadie snapped her fingers and said that her aunt had wanted her to give Gloria something. When she returned Gloria couldn’t believe her eyes it was a box with a blanket for her. The exact one she had as a child, exactly. But larger, adult-sized. That’s when she knew her aunt had made her baby blanket that had burned in the fire.
She had lost her parents too. She cried to her grandmother to please buy her that blanket, and all kinda of others but none of them were the same until this one. And that's because her aunt had made it and because of her feud her pride wouldn’t allow her to call her sister for help not even for Gloria. That was how her aunt made her fortune. She was a world-class crafter, could make afghans, pillows, tea cozies… You name it she made it.” At first, she might have stayed quiet for Gloria’s sake. Losing her parents, so young had been hard, and Nana was devoted to making sure Gloria felt loved and protected.
Nana’s husband was long gone, and both Gloria’s mom and dad were only children. As far as she knew, Nana and Gloria were all each other had. As she grew older, Gloria had asked her grandmother about their extended family and the answer was always the same: they were all that was left. Gloria had to ask. “Patti… my great aunt? How exactly is she related to me?” Patricia Hammond, was your father’s aunt. She grew up in Hamlet with her younger sister Penelope—” “My Nana,” breathed out Gloria. “That’s right.
The Hammond's were one of the first families who settled in the village back in the ’40s. Penelope left Hamlet, obviously, but Patti lived here her whole life.” Sadie waved her hand around the cabin. “Literally here. This cabin was one of the first built. It might not be much, but it’s history. There are a lot of people in Hamlet who would pay nicely for this property.” Why did she just leave the cabin to someone in town who’d want it? I mean, she went to a lot of trouble with the will, right? Setting up a… like, an allowance, and making it so that I have to actually live here for the whole next year.
Why? It doesn’t make sense.” “Oh, sweetie. I thought you understood that, too. Your aunt set her will up like this on purpose because she wanted you to keep the cabin. She wanted her family to come back to Hamlet, to love the town and the family home as much as she did. And as sweet as Patti was, she was a shrewd woman. She knew what to use to get people to do what she wanted.” Well so did Gloria. That was until she met her grumpy neighbor when she went to get her car looked at. And lo and behold he is the owner, and does several things to it at no charge. His kid sister is working and says Hey as payment maybe you can make some of that great ice cream I keep hearing about, and she agrees. That night she takes some over. And so it begins, their two-step. Not dancing either. Arguing is their foreplay. So two days of sniping at each other, equals one day of nicety. Franklin Carter is the man of many trades and faceless emotions. Really enjoyed this book.
December 8, 2020
“Gloria” by Jessica Lynch, the first in an intended holidays’ Tetralogy set in the “Hamlet”* verse, is a delightful small-town romance, that takes place during the holiday season and let a very nice fuzzy feeling in the reader… a perfect book for the Season 😊
Gloria Watson has been dreaming of starting her own business, and the time seem to have come. Fortunately, she just has inherited Great Aunt Patti state, an aunt she didn’t ever know she had in the first place. It’s a godsend, Aunt Patti seems to have had a good life, so no worries whatsoever and the state is the perfect monetary injection for her ice-cream parlor dream. There is catch through, to inherit the state, she will have to actually live in the house for at least a year, still… no worries…. for her dream Gloria is willing to take a slight delay in her plans and use the time to perfect the idea. Thanksgiving seems the perfect time to move in, holiday season in a small-town, the ultimate romantic dream, even the hot guy is included. Unfortunately, Hot-Guy Franklin is as sullen as they come, and he hates Christmas. No! it’s not a small distaste for the season, it is plain and simple hate, and he lives next-door…. Gloria leisure year has just turn into a nightmare, but at least a good looking one 😉
Jessica Lynch has a very distinctive writing-style that captivates readers from the very first page and takes them along effortlessly for the ride. “Gloria” is not exception, even if the theme is lighter and ‘fuzzier’ than any of her other books, the book is a wonderful reading, which all characteristics that make Jessica Lynch one of our favorite authors, while offering a very nice and relaxing lecture, perfect for the season. In a way like a very tasty Christmas cookie, full, tarty, sweet, fully satisfying and still we will ask for more… more.. more… just because it makes us happy.
The series is set in Hamlet, but it can perfectly be read independently from the prime series. It takes place some years previous, and has an easy going, romance theme analog to Hallmark Christmas movies, in contrast with the dark suspense that characterises the prime Hamlet series.
Gloria Watson has been dreaming of starting her own business, and the time seem to have come. Fortunately, she just has inherited Great Aunt Patti state, an aunt she didn’t ever know she had in the first place. It’s a godsend, Aunt Patti seems to have had a good life, so no worries whatsoever and the state is the perfect monetary injection for her ice-cream parlor dream. There is catch through, to inherit the state, she will have to actually live in the house for at least a year, still… no worries…. for her dream Gloria is willing to take a slight delay in her plans and use the time to perfect the idea. Thanksgiving seems the perfect time to move in, holiday season in a small-town, the ultimate romantic dream, even the hot guy is included. Unfortunately, Hot-Guy Franklin is as sullen as they come, and he hates Christmas. No! it’s not a small distaste for the season, it is plain and simple hate, and he lives next-door…. Gloria leisure year has just turn into a nightmare, but at least a good looking one 😉
Jessica Lynch has a very distinctive writing-style that captivates readers from the very first page and takes them along effortlessly for the ride. “Gloria” is not exception, even if the theme is lighter and ‘fuzzier’ than any of her other books, the book is a wonderful reading, which all characteristics that make Jessica Lynch one of our favorite authors, while offering a very nice and relaxing lecture, perfect for the season. In a way like a very tasty Christmas cookie, full, tarty, sweet, fully satisfying and still we will ask for more… more.. more… just because it makes us happy.
The series is set in Hamlet, but it can perfectly be read independently from the prime series. It takes place some years previous, and has an easy going, romance theme analog to Hallmark Christmas movies, in contrast with the dark suspense that characterises the prime Hamlet series.
December 30, 2023
"Your aunt set her will up like this on purpose because she wanted you to keep the cabin. She wanted her family to come back to Hamlet, to love the town and the family home as much as she did."
The premise behind Gloria isn't unique, woman inherits property from a long lost relative but must live there for a year before it's hers, yet I enjoyed the story. Gloria was a likeable characters and her cute, grouchy neighbor, Franklin, was a sweetheart in disguise. It's set in a small town, nestled in the mountains during Christmas (yes they get showed in) -think Hallmark movie. I did notice a couple of editing errors that surprised me (accident instead of accent) but for a free kindle read, it was enjoyable.
"...that’s all I want. To make you happy.”
The premise behind Gloria isn't unique, woman inherits property from a long lost relative but must live there for a year before it's hers, yet I enjoyed the story. Gloria was a likeable characters and her cute, grouchy neighbor, Franklin, was a sweetheart in disguise. It's set in a small town, nestled in the mountains during Christmas (yes they get showed in) -think Hallmark movie. I did notice a couple of editing errors that surprised me (accident instead of accent) but for a free kindle read, it was enjoyable.
"...that’s all I want. To make you happy.”
December 16, 2021
After the death of her great-aunt Patti, Gloria will inherit her house and her fortune - if she lives in said cottage for a year. Gloria is sure she'll manage, especially after meeting the owner of the other cottage on the mountain, Frank. Unfortunately, Frank turns out to be a grump who hates Christmas. Which Gloria takes as a challenge...
Predictable, too sweet sometimes, and too unrealistic (a complete village without internet or even landline?), however, well told, with very likeable (and also sometimes too sweet) characters, and a nice plot.
All in all, quite a nice relaxing book, and yes, I am going to get the next in this series.
Predictable, too sweet sometimes, and too unrealistic (a complete village without internet or even landline?), however, well told, with very likeable (and also sometimes too sweet) characters, and a nice plot.
All in all, quite a nice relaxing book, and yes, I am going to get the next in this series.
December 29, 2020
This was a Buy It Now in Romancing the Runoff, and I'm so delighted I went for it. Light and charming and adorable, perfect for a pandemic Christmas. The town is a little weird--all decorating alike, being so hidden it's not found by outsiders, no cell service. I understand the series is normally a crime one when not being a Christmas romance? And I'm kind of intrigued by that, ha. But Gloria was such a sweet character, and I desperately want to try her ice cream flavors. Frank is a good guy, and I wish they'd been able to bond a bit over her thoughts of October and his about December. But I really enjoyed the book, and it was exactly what I needed.
December 24, 2025
Entertaining; so-so plot and characters
In the beginning, the plot dragged and the characters weren’t well developed. The lead is decently developed but lacks connections with other characters. The mechanic comes across badly and he doesn’t come around for much of the book while the reader struggles to respect her attraction. Easy to leave for days at a time. Readable enough to return to. Many holes. She needed to develop friends in town. It’s like all the women ignored her completely. Weird. Well edited for grammar.
In the beginning, the plot dragged and the characters weren’t well developed. The lead is decently developed but lacks connections with other characters. The mechanic comes across badly and he doesn’t come around for much of the book while the reader struggles to respect her attraction. Easy to leave for days at a time. Readable enough to return to. Many holes. She needed to develop friends in town. It’s like all the women ignored her completely. Weird. Well edited for grammar.
January 2, 2021
Slow reading
This was an okay read, but really slow. (Possible spoilers) I know this is fiction, but I don't think a town of 190+ can support a mayor, doctor, store, garage, no internet or phones and can survive. Be that as it may, I needed more interaction with the town folk. There just wasn't enough 'meat', so to speak, in the story, to keep me interested. Not sure I'll read Holly's story.
This was an okay read, but really slow. (Possible spoilers) I know this is fiction, but I don't think a town of 190+ can support a mayor, doctor, store, garage, no internet or phones and can survive. Be that as it may, I needed more interaction with the town folk. There just wasn't enough 'meat', so to speak, in the story, to keep me interested. Not sure I'll read Holly's story.
December 9, 2020
Good Story.
While I liked the story and the holiday premise, this book would benefit greatly from continuity editing. The timeline just doesn't work. From a death on October 1, moving out of her old apartment at the end of November, there just aren't enough days to allow for all the weeks the author describes.
While I liked the story and the holiday premise, this book would benefit greatly from continuity editing. The timeline just doesn't work. From a death on October 1, moving out of her old apartment at the end of November, there just aren't enough days to allow for all the weeks the author describes.
December 9, 2020
An enjoyable read. Gloria goes to Hamlet not knowing what to expect and is surprised to find a relation she knew nothing about. Great Aunt Patti left her everything, house and money if she is willing to stay for a year. What does she have to lose... and she so wants to set up her ice-cream shop. Seems like an idyllic place to live.
Thanks Jessica Lynch for a good story.
Thanks Jessica Lynch for a good story.
August 17, 2021
This was a very sweet book. It had a decent amount of depth and backstory to make the reader invested in the couple, and I loved how each of them were described. Gloria and Franklin were both very likeable and I was rooting for them throughout.
Very low angst, nothing sexy here (they kiss a few times), no swearing.
Very low angst, nothing sexy here (they kiss a few times), no swearing.
December 11, 2020
Very cute romance with not much structure. Gloria inherits a cabin, and meets a not so nice man who is her neighbor. I gave it 3.5 stars. Nonetheless, it was quite gripping and had me reading till the end.
December 12, 2020
Enjoyable
This is a new author to me. Gloria loves Christmas. Her new neighbor, Frank, hates everything about it. He’s a grump, but a nice one. Fun, flirty, new beginnings, healing, and a HEA.
This is a new author to me. Gloria loves Christmas. Her new neighbor, Frank, hates everything about it. He’s a grump, but a nice one. Fun, flirty, new beginnings, healing, and a HEA.
December 20, 2020
Sweet story
Wow, a town with no phones, no TV and no internet. Sounds cozy. Gloria has to live in the small town to get her inheritance from her great aunt. What she ends up getting is so much more.
Wow, a town with no phones, no TV and no internet. Sounds cozy. Gloria has to live in the small town to get her inheritance from her great aunt. What she ends up getting is so much more.
December 22, 2020
Gloria has come to live in Hamlet because her great aunt has passed and left her a house and money if she stays for a year.
Sweet story about a stubborn ice cream maker and a shy mechanic, each with their own skeletons holding them back, who meet in the tiny town of Hamlet.
Sweet story about a stubborn ice cream maker and a shy mechanic, each with their own skeletons holding them back, who meet in the tiny town of Hamlet.
December 29, 2020
Disfrute y reí leyendo esta novela. Aunque era un cliché disfrute mucho la trama y las ocurrencias de la protagonista. No desarrollan los personajes pero tampoco es una trama muy profunda para necesitar más contexto.
January 27, 2021
Great little story
Would have liked to give it a 5*, but it needed some editing, and I’m a stickler. Liked Gloria’s character and the setup. Will continue to read the series. Give it a chance. Hope Jessica hires an editor.
Would have liked to give it a 5*, but it needed some editing, and I’m a stickler. Liked Gloria’s character and the setup. Will continue to read the series. Give it a chance. Hope Jessica hires an editor.
November 14, 2021
Christmas Love
A beautiful story of love and work, and the chance meeting of 2 people. One is well established and the other doesn’t know what next year holds. Read how romance finds a way!
A beautiful story of love and work, and the chance meeting of 2 people. One is well established and the other doesn’t know what next year holds. Read how romance finds a way!
January 2, 2022
A great Christmas gift
This was a wonderful story about an great aunt leaving a will for her niece to follow for a year before she could get her inheritance. She did and a lot more with her grumpy neighbor next door. A sweet ending and wonderful story.
This was a wonderful story about an great aunt leaving a will for her niece to follow for a year before she could get her inheritance. She did and a lot more with her grumpy neighbor next door. A sweet ending and wonderful story.
November 18, 2022
This was a cute story of a woman who pursues the man she wants. I really liked the way she courted him. While the story could be read as a stand alone, it was obviously part of a series and I think it would have been far more meaningful to me if I had read the series.
February 20, 2023
I want more
Warning-Spoiler alert
I have read every Hamlet book you have written and I want more! But, since he’s alive, and even thought he is a clingy, annoying and self absorbed jerk-does Frank Walsh really deserve to stay in prison?
Warning-Spoiler alert
I have read every Hamlet book you have written and I want more! But, since he’s alive, and even thought he is a clingy, annoying and self absorbed jerk-does Frank Walsh really deserve to stay in prison?
December 31, 2023
This was a weird story. The world building was seriously lacking and character development was minimal. It was like a wish, Lynch wanted this life so she wrote it with little effort to make it have any weight.
July 13, 2020
Small
Gloria has been left an inheritance, if she can find the town. Once she does can she stay in this small town for a year.
Gloria has been left an inheritance, if she can find the town. Once she does can she stay in this small town for a year.
December 11, 2020
This is a fun read with quirky characters and a grouch who hates Christmas. Fun!
December 16, 2020
A nice clean romance that can be enjoyed by even young readers. Small town setting, Christmas time. Likeable characters. Highly recommended.
December 19, 2020
Super cute, fun, sweet romance.
December 28, 2020
Sweet
A glass of wine, a fire, a cozy blanket, and sweet story...A simple and perfect recipe for a cold winter night.
A glass of wine, a fire, a cozy blanket, and sweet story...A simple and perfect recipe for a cold winter night.
January 23, 2021
Gloria
This is a fun story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters were likable and interesting.
This is a fun story with many twists and turns that keeps you reading. The characters were likable and interesting.
January 27, 2021
Cute Christmas story, easy read. Pretty flat character development.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 52 reviews