Debbie Macomber: Christmas Wishes

Christmas Letters is “a fine companion to a glass of eggnog.” —Publishers Weekly

Katherine O’Connor (known as K.O.) adores her five-year-old twin nieces—and objects to her sister’s plans to dispense with Christmas. Zelda is following the theories of child psychologist Wynn Jeffries, author of The Free Child (and, as it happens, K.O.’s neighbor). K.O. is particularly horrified by his edict to “bury Santa under the sleigh,” and she’s out to prove that Wynn and his ideas are full of...snow. He’s not going to ruin her nieces’ Christmas! Too bad the guy’s so darned attractive...

Rainy Day Kisses is a delightful romantic comedy at Christmas—or any other time of the year!

Seventeen years ago, Susannah Simmons was a career girl who knew nothing about babies. But after babysitting her niece, Michelle, Susannah discovered that one determined—and screaming—infant can make the corporate world look like child’s play! Thank goodness for Nate Townsend, her charming neighbor at the time. Now he’s her charming husband, and Susannah is a mother as well as an aunt. And every Christmas Eve, Michelle tells her cousins how their mom met their dad...

Praise for Christmas Letters by #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber

“Macomber’s charming contemporary Christmas romance is a sweetly satisfying, gently humorous story that celebrates the joy and love of the holiday season.”

—Booklist

“Another holiday romantic comedy by the talented Ms. Macomber.”

—Fresh Fiction

“A funny, touching tale… [Christmas Letters] overflows with holiday warmth and puts a new twist on the classic Christmas letter.”

—Library Journal

“Christmas Letters is an enchanting, magical holiday romance. A joy for all readers.”

—Romance Designs

“Christmas Letters by renowned author Debbie Macomber is a wonderful, whimsical story that is just perfect for getting you into the Christmas spirit.… Curl up with Christmas Letters and delve into the creative world of K.O. and Wynn.”

—RomanceJunkies.com

“Christmas Letters is page-turning, laugh-out-loud romantic comedy at its very best.… Christmas Letters is filled with humor, warmth, romance and the spirit of the season.”

—ReadertoReader.com

“Christmas Letters is a light, funny, warm read. Debbie Macomber’s familiar setting of Blossom Street in Seattle will make her many fans feel right at home, and the Christmassy atmosphere makes readers feel they have just had a refreshing holiday vacation from real life.”

—Bookreporter

Dearest Friends,

As you might have guessed from the number of Christmas books I’ve written, I’m a real Christmas person. Every year I decorate my house and office with boughs, holly, Christmas trees (yes, plural) and Nativity scenes. I simply love Christmas.

When my children were young, they’d leaf through catalogs, study each page, then make their lists of Christmas wishes (these days, they’d probably be doing it on internet sites!). When they were finished with their lists—and narrowed them down to under a hundred items—they’d present them to me. Come to think of it, they still do that.

I have a list of Christmas wishes for you, dear readers. I wish you joy and peace and love, not just this season but throughout the year. I wish you good health and prosperity. And I wish you laughter and contentment. (If these two stories bring you a chuckle or a smile, if they leave you with a feeling of warmth, I’ll have achieved my goal.)

Rainy Day Kisses has been updated, and it has a new prologue and epilogue. I wrote this in 1990, but it’s still one of my all-time favorites. Christmas Letters was published in hardcover a few years ago and is based (loosely) on all the holiday letters I wrote through the years.

I hope you’ll grab a cup of hot chocolate (or eggnog!), make yourself comfortable and enjoy these stories. And may all your Christmas wishes come true!

PS: I love to hear from readers. You can reach me through my website at debbiemacomber.comor through Facebook, or write me at PO Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366.

Christmas Wishes

Christmas Letters

Rainy Day Kisses

Debbie Macomber

www.mirabooks.co.uk

Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Praise

Dear Reader

Title Page

Christmas Letters

Dedication

Prologue

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Sixteen

Chapter Seventeen

Chapter Eighteen

Rainy Day Kisses

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Copyright

Christmas Letters

Debbie Macomber

To Katherine Orr

Better known as K.O.

for her encouragement and support

through the years

Prologue

Zelda O’Connor Davidson 76 Orchard Avenue Seattle, Washington Christmas, 2006

Dear Family and Friends:

Merry Christmas, everyone!

Let me warn you—this Christmas letter won’t be as clever as last year’s. My sister, Katherine (whom you may know better as K.O.), wrote that one for me but, ironically, she hasn’t got time to do this year’s. Ironic because it’s due to the popularity of that particular letter that she’s managed to start a little business on the side—writing Christmas letters for other people! (She offered to write mine, of course, but I know that between her work doing medical transcriptions, her job search and her Christmas letters, it would be a real stretch to find the time.)

So, here goes. The twins, Zoe and Zara, have recently turned five. They’re looking forward to starting kindergarten next September. It’s hard to believe our little girls are almost old enough for school! Still, they keep themselves (and us!) busy. So do our assorted pets—especially the dogs, two Yorkies named Zero and Zorro.

I’m still a stay-at-home mom and Zach’s still working as a software programmer. This year’s big news, which I want to share with all of you, has to do with a wonderful book I read. It changed my family’s life. It’s called The Free Child and it’s by Dr. Wynn Jeffries. My sister scoffs at this, but Dr. Jeffries believes that children can be trusted to set their own boundaries. He also believes that, as parents, we shouldn’t impose fantasies on them—fantasies like Santa Claus. Kids are capable of accepting reality, he says, and I agree! (See page 146 of The Free Child. )

So, this Christmas will be a different kind of experience for us, one that focuses on family, not fantasy.

Zach and the girls join me in wishing all of you a wonderful Christmas. And remember, a free child is a happy child (see page 16).

Love and kisses,

Zelda, Zach, Zoe and Zara

(and a wag of the tail from Zero & Zorro)

Chapter One

It was him. Katherine O’Connor, better known as K.O., was almost positive. She squinted just to be sure. He looked identical to the man on the dust jacket of that ridiculous book, the one her sister treated like a child-rearing bible. Of course, people didn’t really look like their publicity photos. And she hadn’t realized the high and mighty Dr. Wynn Jeffries was from the Seattle area. Furthermore, she couldn’t imagine what he was doing on Blossom Street.