A struggling single mom. Her lonely boss who hates Christmas. As they rediscover the magic of the holiday, will they also find love? Christmas hasn't been the same for Allison Voss since losing her husband, but she's determined to make it merry for her daughters' sake. She's between jobs and simply managing day to day is a struggle until she meets Ward Haysgard. His act of kindness and offer of employment just might turn her luck around. Ward is not a fan of Christmas. As a district manager for a large department store, he's seen plenty of greed and selfishness and not much good will toward men. But Allison's plight touches him. As he gets to know her and her girls, they work their way into his heart. A heart he thought had hardened long ago, when he lost the loving grandmother who raised him. As the holiday approaches, an old secret from Ward's past emerges and threatens his closeness to Allison. Will he leave her heartbroken? Or will she and Ward discover together what makes Christmas real? Read all the stories in the Love in Applewood series by Christie A Real A Sweet Single Mom Romance Dear A Sweet Holiday Short Story A Gentle A Sweet Valentine's Day Romance Star Spangled Second An Sweet Interracial Single Dad Romance A Firefighter's A Sweet Single Parent Romance

ASIN B07D4P3KPN moved to this edition. When a man must choose either love or success... Ambitious businessman Alex has big plans for his life, and getting dumped by his fiancée won't sidetrack him. He'll have to face her again at an important professional function, but he won't let himself be the object of pity and scorn. What better way to show the world—and his ex—how well he's doing than to arrive with a beautiful woman on his arm? A woman he finds, of all places, behind the lingerie counter of a department store. Tyffanie has dreams that extend far beyond her sales counter, but she's been burned by men only interested in her looks. Deep inside, she's still the gawky, freckle-faced girl other kids used to tease. When handsome, successful Alex enters her life, everything changes. He's the first to look beneath the surface, respect her, and care about her hopes and dreams. Alex discovers there is far more to Tyffanie than outward beauty. He's falling in love with her kind soul and gentle heart when he must decide how far he's willing to pursue success and all its trappings. Because his need to win at all costs may cost him Tyffanie's love.

ASIN B07J9K9PSK moved to this edition They were best friends before he left town without a word. Now he's back. Will her heart be broken again? Good girl Portia Phillips always followed the rules, colored inside the lines and walked the straight and narrow. Only her best friend Raymond Alessio could ever get her to quit being "perfect Portia" for a minute and take a risk. Portia fell in love with Raymond way back in fourth grade. That love only grew stronger as years passed, but she kept it hidden, until one Fourth of July when she finally had the courage to share her feelings. That was the night he broke her heart. Since then she's kept it safe, under lock and key. Now, eight years later, he's back in town with his young daughter. His life's a mess, but his love for Portia never changed. Can Raymond convince her to give him another chance? Will Portia find the courage to risk her heart a second time?

A feisty single mom on her own. A firefighter with a rocky past. Can they lower their guard long enough to let love in? Luck has never smiled on Dante Ventura. He’s never had a home or much of a family. But when he learns he has a daughter he never knew existed, he’s determined to change his life. To become the kind of man she can look up to. Becoming a firefighter was the first step. Now he needs a decent place to live—someplace he’s not ashamed to bring his little girl. Brianna Pulaski is struggling to raise her troubled son Tommy. Renting out a room in her home to the newly-minted firefighter would help her financially as well as provide her boy with the role model he desperately needs. What she doesn’t know is that soon after offering Dante a room, she’ll be offering her heart as well. Can her love turn Dante’s luck around for good?