I love Christmas. I mean, seriously love it. I love the smell, and the hype, and I’m probably one of the few people that actually like wintertime. Although this 6 degree weather is stressing even me out. My favorite thing about Christmas, though, is the magic.
I have a lot of fabulous memories of Christmas, but my absolute favorite was the year of
2004. My daughter was 1 at the time, and my son Jake was 4. Jake has always been very skeptical of Christmas and Santa Clause. I don’t know why, but he seemed to know that something fishy was going on, and it was difficult to sell him on the idea of a jolly fat man giving him things. Well, Christmas morning, we woke up, and he didn’t believe that Santa had brought all those toys under the tree. My husband and I told him that we had heard the reindeer on the roof the night before, so we knew he had visited the house. Jake went to the French doors of the sunroom, looks out at the snow, and turns around in disbelief. ‘He was here!’ he yells. ‘Look.’
Snow had fallen the night before, and there in the pristine snow were perfect deer prints on the deck. The second story deck.
My husband and I were stunned, but as parents we knew when to take advantage of a good thing. We told him they were definitely Reindeer prints, and he believed in Christmas for several more years.
We never saw 
the actual deer that made the prints. We assume, though, that they had come up to look in at all the love inside the house. I took pictures, of course, and the proof has perpetuated several extra years of innocent childhood for my daughter. I bring the photos out every year to remind them of the magic of the season.
Hopefully, this year, I will have a special Christmas gift for me under the tree, or on the computer, as it were. My debut release is scheduled for later this month, and I am so incredibly anxious. Second Time Around is a contemporary romance set in Kentucky horse country. Here’s the blurb:
Officer Shane Caldwell responds to a routine end of shift call with some annoyance, but when she tackles and handcuffs her ex-lover and the father of her son, things turn hot in a 
flash. Four years before, Quinn Scott disappeared to make his fortune, and she hasn’t heard a word from him. As his touch ignites old passions, Shane is torn between telling him about the son he’s never known, and protecting young Jackson’s heart from the man who walked away without a backward glance.
When Shane storms back into his life, Quinn isn’t surprised by the incredible attraction which sparks between them. He wants to take up where they left off, but years of lies and unexpected betrayals from family and friends endanger his Thoroughbred breeding operation and his dreams of a future with the woman he never really left behind.
Will old prejudices separate them again or can love grow stronger the Second Time Around?
In celebration of my upcoming release, and because it’s Christmas, and my birthday, I’m shipping one lucky commenter a Kentucky-themed gift box. Inside will be a horseshoe made of Chocolate, a Kentucky mug, and several other horse and book themed items. You will also receive a copy of Second Time Around when it comes out. You just have to tell me your favorite Christmas or Holiday story, in relation to your children. Come on ladies, I know you have your favorites. Share. The winner will be picked at random. Please leave your email address with your comment!
Thank you so much for your memories.
JM
You can find me at www.jmmadden.com.
On Facebook, I am J.m. Madden, or you can follow this LINK
Or you can Tweet me @lilbighorse.
