Life is usually peaceful in Buford, Alabamaespecially for Elba Rae Van Oaks. She teaches school, attends church, and typically leaves the drama to others. But when Elba Raes mother takes her last breath, Elba Rae must reunite with the only person in the world with whom she has absolutely nothing in commonher sister, Lila. As Elba Rae busily prepares for her mothers funeral, the last thing she has time to deal with is a sister who wants to butt into the otherwise orderly execution of making arrangements. But even though the two women have happily avoided each other for years, Lilas already on her way. As Elba Rae begins placing calls, making lists, and deciding on musical selections, she has no idea that when Lila arrives, she will be as close to coming undone as Elba Rae has ever seen her. Both women are about to find out what happens when avoidance is no longer an option, when ignoring their history is nearly impossible, and when death may be the least of their worries. Hastings shares the hilarious antics of a family of characters from rural Alabama wonderful tales similar to the ones heard at family reunions Linda Harris, New 50 Magazine

Jodi Eagle knew at an early age that he was going to leave the reservation. Being raised by his grandfather, Jodi had learned the ways of his Sioux heritage, but reservation life was not for him. He had seen too many friends come to a bad end. With help from friends he had made along the way Jodi became a Deputy Sheriff at North Bend, Washington where a killer was kidnapping and killing children.Local parents were terrified for their children. One of the victims was the son of Jodi's friend Earl Campbell. Jodi's own son was a school mate and friend of the murdered child. Jodi tried to help control his own son's grief with stories and customs of his Native American heritage. After eight years fingerprint evidence gathered at one of the crime scenes is matched with a body found near Anchorage, Alaska. This would solve the child murders, but opened a new question; Who killed the killer. The effect of this turmoil on residents of the small western Washington town was great and the wounds deep. His department would find closure to this eight year search with the implication of a one-time deputy. With enough twists to keep the reader engrossed and turning the pages and enough surprises to bend the mind.

Elementary school teacher Mary Alice Reed wanted a nice, stable guy to share her happily ever after. When she thought she'd found him, everyone tried to tell her that the guy she thought was her Mr. Right, was really Mr. Somebody Else's. Living with a town's worth of I-told-you-so isn't easy, but she's coping. And definitely taking a break from love in order to get past her last disaster to chair her favorite Christmas charity. Trauma surgeon Chad Phillips gave up the intensity and long hours of a big city hospital to move to Wishful. He wants a home and family, a town with a slower pace, where he can actually build a life. Being one of Wishful’s most eligible bachelors has gotten him a lot of pie and casseroles, but it hasn’t helped him find that special someone to come home to. When a friend’s accident lands Mary Alice in his ER, Chad finds himself more than intrigued. Part Martha Stewart, part Mary Poppins, and all Girl Next Door, she’s exactly what he’s been looking for. Volunteering for the Fountain of Hope charity seems like the perfect way to get to know his Christmas crush. But just as he seems to be overcoming Mary Alice's once bitten, twice shy caution, that one tiny thing from his past, that he probably should have told her about, shows up for a Christmas season visit. Chad's gonna have some explaining to do.

A time-limited holiday set of three small-town Southern romance novellas, including: DANCE ME A DREAM As guardian to her younger siblings, Tara Honeycutt has forgotten what it's like to be a normal twenty-something. When a major gas line breaks, leaving them with no heat, no hot water, and no way to cook for Christmas, Jace Applewhite invites Tara and her sibs out to his family's Christmas tree farm. Will a good old fashioned farmhouse Christmas be enough to get Tara to give him a second glance? THE CHRISTMAS FOUNTAIN After finding out her Mr. Right was actually Mr. Wrong, Mary Alice is taking a break from love to chair her favorite holiday charity. Chad thinks volunteering is the perfect way to get to know his Christmas crush. Will he manage to overcome her once bitten, twice shy caution? A LOT LIKE CHRISTMAS Hannah's waiting tables at Wishful's Dinner Belles diner and dreaming of getting an interior design business off the ground. What better way to practice and show off her skills than with some holiday decorating? Jaded Ryan, an Army medic on leave, and his cantankerous great uncle, Percy, are desperately in need of Christmas cheer—and a referee. Can Hannah's warmth thaw these frosty hearts? A VERY CAMPBELL CHRISTMAS The Campbell clan is in for a very special Christmas surprise in this exclusive bonus short story!

Sometimes salvation is found in the strangest places: a true story. Aaron Hartzler grew up in a home where he was taught that at any moment the Rapture could happen. That Jesus might come down in the twinkling of an eye and scoop Aaron and his family up to heaven. As a kid, Aaron was thrilled by the idea that every moment of every day might be his last one on planet Earth. But as Aaron turns sixteen, he finds himself more attached to his earthly life and curious about all the things his family forsakes for the Lord. He begins to realize he doesn't want the Rapture to happen just yet--not before he sees his first movie, stars in the school play, or has his first kiss. Eventually Aaron makes the plunge from conflicted do-gooder to full-fledged teen rebel. Whether he's sneaking out, making out, or playing hymns with a hangover, Aaron learns a few lessons that can't be found in the Bible. He discovers that the best friends aren't always the ones your mom and dad approve of, and the tricky part about believing is that no one can do it for you. In this funny and heartfelt coming-of-age memoir, debut author Aaron Hartzler recalls his teenage journey to find the person he is without losing the family that loves him. It's a story about losing your faith and finding your place and your own truth--which is always stranger than fiction.

When Moxie Brecker chose her kicky nickname back in college, it suited her perfectly. But now she feels it's one big misnomer. After graduation, she set out to command her own seventh-grade science class and was stunned to find the job too challenging. She didn't have the energy necessary to get a roomful of pre-teens excited about atoms, and she never felt like herself, so she handed in her chalk and lesson plans. Stumped about where to turn next, she followed the advice of her best friend Gerard and took a job folding underthings at the chain lingerie store in the mall. She's got plenty at home to distract her, including her neighbor, Steven Tyler (no, not that Stephen Tyler) and the kindly septuagenarian Joe, who runs the joke shop downstairs, but she spends her days languishing in the store. Though she feels tired and just out of it physically, she still gets bored steaming peignoir sets, protecting the thong table from shoplifters, and readjusting bras straps for hours on end. Maybe that's why, when a handsome guy named Allan starts hanging around the store for little chats, Moxie sees hope on the horizon. Maybe, just maybe, her employee discount won't go to waste for much longer…

Spring-Heeled Jack is a British urban legend, first appearing in 1837. Eye witnesses tell of a man who could leap several stories in the air with little effort. Some say he could breathe blue fire, others say he lured women out of their homes and attacked them by clawing at their faces. By all accounts he was a thief and a menace. Sightings of Spring-Heeled Jack continued for several centuries and crossed numerous continents, but he has been mysteriously absent from the 21st century. Until now. Spring-Heeled Jack breaks into the houses of two women, brutally attacking them both. Police report that a few items from each house were stolen and neither women were critically injured. His appearance is frightening: dressed in all black with hat, full face mask, goggles, cape, shirt, pants, and boots. He then breaks into an antique store, searching for special items for their energies including a rare glass knife. With the correct combination of objects and energies, Jack can open portals to different times and places. Enter Alice, who works at the store. Jack suspects she herself can open portals and the two develop an unlikely alliance in a search for a portal to a mythological utopia.