Under The Texas Mistletoe

Three Charming and Festive Holiday Novellas Spiced with Humor, Frontier Action, and Sweet Romance In this 3-in-1 novella collection, bestselling author Karen Witemeyer presents the new story "A Texas Christmas Carol," in which a town's wealthy, Scrooge-like bachelor finds his world invaded by a woman set on earning his donation for helping the local poor, and by the penetrating questions of three mysterious visitors. It also includes, for the first time in print, "An Archer Family Christmas." When the Archer clan gathers for the Christmas holiday, an unexpected request for help leaves Cassandra Archer directly in the path of a dangerous outlaw. Desperate to protect the woman he loves, Jim Archer races to the rescue, only to find that Cassie's life is not the only one in peril. It will take a Christmas miracle--and the entire Archer clan--to keep a second Archer Christmas from ending in disaster. In previously published "Gift of the Heart," a widow and her young daughter move to Hope Springs for a fresh start. But with no money to secure a home, Ruth must convince a wealthy resort owner to accept her heirloom brooch as collateral. Will the pin that brought love to three generations soften the heart of a wounded recluse and give Ruth a second chance at love as the holidays draw near? Sprinkled throughout the collection, you'll find a hope-filled Christmas devotion, Witemeyer holiday recipes, and fun facts about nineteenth-century Christmas celebrations!

Can a kiss under the mistletoe be the beginning of a beautiful relationship? Firefighter and paramedic Spencer McBride has never been tempted to change his happy-go-lucky bachelor status – until he literally runs into cute newcomer Georgie under the mistletoe. Wounded after giving her heart to a man who wouldn’t commit, paramedic Georgie Durant has come to Last Stand, Texas, for a fresh start. Though tempted by the handsome Spencer, she’s too leery of his easy charm and the pitfalls of a workplace relationship to risk one with him. But as they spend more time together amid the Christmas gaiety and Georgie sees Spencer’s dedication and devotion to the people he helps, she begins to wonder if this beguiling co-worker could be different. Spencer has always been a man who knows what he wants – and he wants Georgie. But when the man from her past comes to town, determined to win her back, can Spencer convince Georgie to take another chance – with him?

2022 Carol Award Winner From the talented pen of bestselling author Karen Witemeyer comes a charming Christmas novella inspired by the holiday classic The Christmas Carol. After the Panic of 1873 ruined his father and impoverished his family, Evan Beazer set a single life goal for himself--security. He would never allow joviality and dreams to send him to the poorhouse. Now a successful businessman, Evan runs a dozen inns throughout Texas from the privacy of his home, keeping locals away with the perpetual scowl and gruff manner that have become his natural disposition. Felicity Wiggins is in charge of distributing church Christmas baskets to the less fortunate, and she is determined help as many families as possible. In an attempt to gather more donations than past years, she must convince the wealthiest man in town to participate and sets forth on a campaign to pester him into cooperation. As Felicity tries to bring Evan out of seclusion--and he does everything in his power to avoid her--can she convince him that true riches lie not in bank accounts but in bringing joy to others?

In this volume, Elizabeth Silverthorne has gathered an intriguing array of folklore about forty-four of Texas' most fascinating wildflowers, such as water lily, Queen Anne's Lace, honeysuckle, dogwood, and morning glory.

Four Texas Babies by Tina Leonard To save his parents' ranch from falling into the wrong hands, Sam Johnston must marry. A quickie wedding to Lily Bartholomew brings more than he bargained for—including some shocking news about his new in-laws. But the biggest shock of all is that the baby on the way is actually four babies, set to arrive just in time for Christmas! A Texan Under the Mistletoe by Leah Vale Lori Beth Whittaker comes home looking for tradition—and discovers that for the first time ever, the Hooper Creek Christmas festival has been cancelled. She's determined the festival will go on, but one man stands in her way-Jackson Hooper, her former high school sweetheart and the man she left behind! Merry Texmas by Linda Warren Mariel Todd-Crandall and Grayson Crandall love their daughter, but since their divorce, it's hard to find time to spend with Chloe. But Chloe's sick of being ignored, and she knows her parents still love each other. So this Christmas she has a special plan, including a very special tree, that's going to make Mom and Dad see that Christmas—and every day—should be spent as a family.

In this romance series finale, a security specialist hopes repair his reputation with a scandalized beauty in time for his friend’s Christmas wedding. When the identity of a notorious blackmailer was revealed, the culprit’s connection to Gabe Walsh left him guilty by association. Now Gabe is trying to rebuild his reputation with the people of Royal, Texas—and especially with Chelsea Hunt. Chelsea blames Gabe for the compromising photos of her that everyone is talking about. And that makes things especially awkward as they try to co-plan their best friends’ Christmas wedding. Gabe has many opportunities to show the sexy cowgirl just what a good guy he really is. And apparently he’s pretty convincing, because she soon winds up in his bed! But is this just a holiday fling, or the real thing?

As of Christmas Eve, Hank McCabe will lose his chance to bid on the Mesquite Ridge ranch. But ever since Ally Garrett delivered her ultimatum, Hank's more set than ever on snapping up her land. He's ready to build his future, and is crazy enough to think generosity would overtake the holiday-hating Ally this season. Apparently not! Ally came home to say goodbye to her family ranch and sever her ties to Laramie County once and for all. Not find herself smooching with the hunkiest cowboy in Texas. And not having a litter of adorable golden retriever pups take over the house she's trying to sell! It seems that with a McCabe around, things always get complicated. So it's time to make a choice—sell to the highest bidder, or give in to the spirit of the holiday. After all, what could be better than a cowboy under the mistletoe?

“No single existing publication includes the kind of information featured in this book,” a natural history of the flora of the Lone Star State (A. Michael Powell, Professor of Biology Emeritus and Director of the Herbarium, Sul Ross State University). With some 6,000 species of plants, Texas has extraordinary botanical wealth and diversity. Learning to identify plants is the first step in understanding their vital role in nature, and many field guides have been published for that purpose. But to fully appreciate how Texas’s native plants have sustained people and animals from prehistoric times to the present, you need Remarkable Plants of Texas. In this intriguing book, Matt Warnock Turner explores the little-known facts—be they archaeological, historical, material, medicinal, culinary, or cultural—behind our familiar botanical landscape. In sixty-five entries that cover over eighty of our most common native plants from trees, shrubs, and wildflowers to grasses, cacti, vines, and aquatics, he traces our vast array of connections with plants. Turner looks at how people have used plants for food, shelter, medicine, and economic subsistence; how plants have figured in the historical record and in Texas folklore; how plants nourish wildlife; and how some plants have unusual ecological or biological characteristics. Illustrated with over one hundred color photos and organized for easy reference, Remarkable Plants of Texas can function as a guide to individual species as well as an enjoyable natural history of our most fascinating native plants.