Season of Boxed Sets


Hopes and wishes. And holiday kisses.
Wrap yourself in the holiday spirit with these romantic stories
filled with fun and forever after.
"The Littlest Angel"
Two people. One ornament for the tree. 
Can a twosome find common ground and discover the true meaning of Christmas?
Lauren MacDonald has always coveted her mother’s ornament, The Littlest Angel. When her mother gave it to another, Lauren finds a replacement only to have it snatched from her hands. 
Architect Smith Hancock’s grandmother has a little angel which is missing. Locating another at would make her holiday the best ever. Only a feisty girl is claiming it for herself. 
Find Season of Promises at: Amazon
Reviews:
5 stars. Vicki Batman is a master of short fiction. She writes succinctly, yet pulls you in with fully-drawn characters you care about, whether the story is three, fifty, or two-hundred pages. You know these people, and you feel what they feel.
While I read the entire anthology, the other stories were okay, but marred by the usual editing problems that drive me crazy. Ms. Batman also apparently either paid attention in English class or owns a copy of the Chicago Manual of Style, because her tenses match, she uses the right homonyms, and simply writes well. So whether or not you read the rest of the Season of Promises Holiday Box Set, I highly recommend “The Littlest Angel." - Roses & Thorns Reviews
5 stars. Great collection! Enjoyed the variety of stories. I always read Vicki Batman's work. She's one of my favorites! -author Diane Kelly
5 stars. The Littlest Angel really tugged at my heartstrings. I loved the idea of a man and a woman both wanting the same rare Christmas ornament for sentimental reasons. The banter between them kept me reading. It was hard to choose who should have the littlest angel, because they are both such likeable characters. I won't say more. 
5 stars. The Littlest Angel – Vicki Batman: Love the story line about tree topper! A nice warm Christmas tale! Ms. Batman’s writing was so good that I was drooling when they were eating the yummy sounding cookies. I could totally identify with disliking the male lead but could also understand the female lead’s attraction to him. Ms. Batman handled complicated characters very deftly in this short story framework. I really enjoyed this!
Find Season of Promises at: Amazon

Best Novella, "Holiday Handbag Extravaganza"

“Holiday Handbag Extravaganza”
Christmas Countdown is on! Hunk-a-licious customer, Jack Treadaway, pesters boutique owner, Callie Woods, to locate a vintage handbag for his mother. Too bad the wedge between them is his sister, the meanest girl in town.  
        What a mess. 
        The bell sitting on the counter above my head ding-ding-dinged in an irritating way. I huffed. Really? 
        Then I heard, "Hey,” —two dings— “I need help. Anybody working today?" 
        Despite the din assaulting my ears, I didn't answer, and not because I was mean. Because I was a woman on a mission. It was imperative I retrieve the hundred dollar bill that had vanished when The Copper Teapot's front door had erupted wide with a wintry gust. All kinds of stuff had gone flying like price tags, papers, and hard-earned moola. In today's sucky economy, every smidgen of revenue mattered. 
        Obviously, this guy couldn’t see me crouched down on the floor. His toe tapping and bell ringing conveyed his impatience. Sticking the ruler in the gap between the floor and the showcase, I bit my lip and concentrated, waving the tool back and forth so I could snag the elusive dinero. Another three-note ding sounded, and I rolled my eyes before singsonging, "Just a...minute, please."
        Fingers drummed above my head. I shrugged my shoulders, thinking, rats. Every customer is important. Guess I should be a responsible business owner and do the right thing. "Be right with you."
        "Okay, but hurry."
        "Almost...there...Got it!" I jumped to my feet and dangled the money in his face. "Pay day." 
        I finished my jig to check out the customer only to find —Oh By Golly— Jack, as in the Jack Treadaway, the hunky hunk from Sommerville High School days. I couldn't believe this man graced my shop.
          Why was he here? 
Find Season of Surprises at: Amazon  
Reviews:
5 stars. This is a heartwarming collection of stories that kept me turning the pages. Every author made me wish their stories were longer. I especially loved Holiday Handbag Extravaganza by Vicki Batman since I grab all her books as soon as they release. She didn't disappoint with this latest feel-good one. Now all I have to do is wait patiently for her next offering.
5 stars. WOW. Season of Surprises filled me with hope, uncontrollable giggles, and an all around good time. Just as I read one tale and thought, you can't top this, they did. Briliant tales of romance and fun with characters not without their problems just like any person but attaining their heart's wish. They were all so much fun to read it's hard to pick a favorite.   Holiday Handbag Extravaganza really shined for me. What do you do when the school bully grows up and comes into your shop? What do you do when her cute brother comes into your shop later? I don't like giving out spoilers but wow. All the books within Seasons of Surprise are the fun, enjoyable, and will make you smile all over.
5 stars. These short stories are a great representation of some of what romance has to offer. Sweet, each in their own way, I enjoyed this collection - from the handbag battle, to the English matriarch’s complicated second chance at love, to the agoraphobia who overcomes her fears.


Holiday Disaster" takes 1st Honorable Mention in the
Trans Canada 2015 Maple Leaf Awards



"Holiday Disaster"
The week before Christmas and all is in disarray when a librarian experiences horrible plumbing issues and a Mr. Maintenance Man who isn’t nearly as jolly as Santa Clause. This Christmas is a disaster.
Condo living isn’t all it’s cracked up to be, especially for Michelle Anderson whose plumbing problems go from bad to worse in the space of one week and right before Christmas, too.
To top it off, Mr. Maintenance Man is the surliest plumber ever. Is it her fault he gets soaked every time he fixes her pipes? And what’s with him winking and sneezing every time he comes over. Creepy—right?
This Christmas is a disaster.
Excerpt:
        Wrapping my hands around the older-than-time plumbing underneath my bathroom sink, I yanked, hoping-praying-hoping the darn thing would loosen up, and all would be saved. But no. Nada. Too darn tight.
        Merry Christmas to me. Not really.
        Obviously, somebody more muscular than me would be required to strong-arm the pipe free. Helpless feelings hunched my shoulders. I should have closed the drain stopper to prevent my contact from swirling merrily away when it popped out of my eye and flew in the sink. I hated feeling helpless.
        Not a great way to kick off the holiday season.
        When Dad donned his Mr. Fix-it hat and repaired stuff around the house, I should have paid more attention. Maybe I'd have learned something valuable, something resembling Plumbing 101. But like most little girls, playtime was ten times more fun.
        I declared surrender and called the condo's emergency number. The maintenance man who answered told me he was on his way. I hoped he hadn't said that to humor me. Lying had become my number one enemy. Lately, it seemed like everybody I knew told fibs:
        My co-workers: "It's in your mailbox."
        Not.
        My boyfriend, rather, my ex-boyfriend: "She means nothing to me."
        Not.
        My car dealership: "Your vehicle will be ready by noon tomorrow."
        Not.
        Unfortunately, I'd had to fabricate an untruth—just a teeny weenie fib­really—to get the maintenance guy to come to my rescue so quickly.
        When I'd called, the man didn't sound thrilled to be coming to my aid at six-thirty in the morning. I wouldn't be a happy camper either. In fact, he sounded—I scrunched my nose—hung-over, like he'd partied hearty until the wee hours.
        The doorbell chimed. I leapt to my feet and raced to the door, thinking please, let it be him. Please, God, please. He just has to find my contact and all will be saved.
Reviews: 
5 stars. Good short stories you can read in few hrs. Good short stories you can read in few hrs. all book have a recipe at the end. Book 4,Holiday Disaster, is a funny read. You'll enjoy it
5 stars. Fantastic set of stories that entertain especially during the holidays. Very good group of books and it offers you a variety of johras. Each of the stores were warm, entertaining and romantic. Others have described each of the stories in detail so to learn more details please read their opinions. I enjoyed each story and no two of the stories were alike. Each author brought her own style and the type of romance has its own appeal and each book kept my attention. There is also humor, suspense and some intrigue. I'm very glad I got this set and I will follow each of the authors so I can read more of each author's books.
4 stars.  Romance blooms. I only gave this set four stars because the story lines on a couple of the books were too similar even though the characters were different as were the scenes. I loved the humor in Holiday Disaster and thoroughly enjoyed the final book The Yuletide Bride.
Find Season of Magic at: Amazon ebook   Amazon PB

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