A Newport Christmas

Ice skating? Sleigh rides? A white Christmas? Not at the Newport Beach house. In Southern California, it’s twinkle lights on palm trees, boat parades with colored lights everywhere, gondola rides and beach-front mansions decorated with Santas. But also cookie exchanges, house decorating contests and hot chocolate. And Jen is determined to re-create all of her grandmother’s Christmas traditions, if it’s the last thing she does. The Christmas angels have different ideas, though, and Jen and her lifelong friends create an entirely different—and even more heartwarming—tradition.

It’s Christmas in Newport. The mansions are decorated, and the streets are filled with excitement. Across the bay, preparations are in full swing for the wedding of Meri Calder-Hollis and Alden Corrigan. A year ago, Meri never imagined that she would marry her best friend, Alden, or become stepmother to his two teenaged children, Nora and Lucas. But as the wedding day draws near, tension and emotions run high, and Meri’s happiness turns to uncertainty. Nora is suddenly acting sullen and withdrawn, Alden is preoccupied, and Meri wonders if her marriage will bring the family closer together or tear them apart. It seems like this wedding may be doomed before it begins until a special Christmas surprise brings home the meaning of family and the joy of the holidays.

Love can be downright messy.This last year has been a total disaster, but my failed six-month marriage takes the cake. While my ex is out having the time of his life, my coping mechanisms consist of an unhealthy obsession with true-crime podcasts and trying to revive my floundering social media account.So, when I get an offer from one of social media's darlings-Nikki Aker-to make gingerbread centerpieces for her Christmas wedding, I can't refuse. Not only because the job pays well (my maxed-out credit card will attest to how much I need this money), but it's a last-ditch effort to increase my following before I'm forced to get "a real job."There's only one small problem I didn't account for: Nikki's a self-proclaimed matchmaker, and apparently, I'm her next target. My only hope to escape unscathed is to conspire with Nikki's grumpy-albeit gorgeous-brother, Landon, who seems equally determined to get through this wedding with his single status fully intact.All we need to do is convince Nikki we're developing feelings for each other. What can possibly go wrong?

**A USA Today Bestseller!** Try this heartwarming beach read, Book One in the series, for free! Widow Jen Watson is looking forward to having a blissful summer at the family beach house with just her lifelong best friends, for the first time in years—until she finds out her family has been scheming to sell it. They don't want to put any money into making necessary repairs when they could sell at a nice profit instead. But Jen and her friends are willing to do just about anything to keep that from happening. They decide to take on the work themselves in between long walks on the beach, watching spectacular sunsets during happy hours on the deck, and wiggling their toes in the sand. They are determined to show the rest of the family that selling is a mistake, and that Nana's house should be restored and kept in the family, cherished forever. Cozy up for this heart-warming series, where the bonds of friends and family run deep. Book One: Newport Harbor House Book Two: Newport Beginnings Book Three: A Newport Sunrise Book Four: Newport New Moon Search Terms: Free book, free novel, free romance, free books to read and download, man from the past, second chance, ebook, sweet romance, clean and wholesome, women's fiction, women's friendship fiction, best friends, women friends, beach read, friendship, heartwarming, sweet romance, clean, contemporary romance, contemporary women, happily ever after, family life, older characters, older heroine, later in life romance

There are no clues as Police Lieutenant Clayhill and his partner, Sergeant Souza, struggle to discover and apprehend the brutal murderer of three young women, each murder taking place on a national holiday. The confessed killer, Lloyd Krubick, is quickly tried, convicted and sentenced to a life term in prison, where in a short time he is killed by other prisoners. While all is now calm in Newport, murders start happening in Miami, Florida, which are hauntingly similar to those in Newport. Could this be a copycat killer? Or was Krubick's confession false and has the real Newport killer moved south?

Brilliant cartoons on Christmas that will amuse the whole family