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Home for Christmas was pure Joy for me—in every chapter and word. I was thrilled when my editors gave me the green light to write this, the first Christmas story set in Indian Lake. I certainly hope it’s not the last for my beloved characters.
This story is especially dear to me because it’s cut right out of my life. In my hometown of La Porte, Indiana, there was a magical all-glass greenhouse just like the one Joy Boston inherits. From my earliest memories of Christmas, visits to the Bernacchi Greenhouse to choose the right poinsettias for aunts and friends was practically part of my DNA. For decades, even when I moved out of town and lived in big cities and foreign countries, Christmas memories always began in those greenhouses. . .
"I absolutely loved the setting, too! The poinsettia greenhouses anchor this story with their potential and fascinating, town-edifying history. Grandfather Frank’s dreams are renewed, and his memory is revived in a surprising and sweet way.
Home for Christmas infused me in the spirit of Christmas and satisfied me with its ending."
"This is your typical second-chance romance with a bunch of Hallmark movie thrown in. And because it is a Christmas book, that makes it fit absolutely perfectly. You can't help but love this formula at this time of year, because it always makes you feel good."
Joy shoved the phone in her purse and saw the Uber driver at the bottom of the escalator, holding a sign with her name on it.
She walked up to him. “Hi! I’m Joy Boston.”
The middle-aged man nodded. “I’m Roy. Happy to see you. I’ll take your bags for you. Do you have more luggage to claim?”
“No, this is it. I won’t be staying long.”
“Oh, that’s a pity,” Roy said, as he politely ushered her toward the outer door.
“Why’s that?”
“Indian Lake is so lovely at the holidays. So many decorations and activities. The Christmas Concert. The symphony. The children’s Christmas pageant. The caroling parties. The Candlelight Tour…”
"This was like Hallmark in a book. Another sweet second chance romance between two people who have had their love rekindled again."
A CAROLING WE GO
This is my front door where yes, last year, a small group came to my door and sang Christmas carols. Luckily, I still had some Christmas cookies to gift them. . .
". . . the second chance romance, Christmas setting, and lovely characters all bring the book together in a lovely way. I would highly recommend for fans of Hallmark movies- this is a sweet and heartwarming (clean) book!"
"
Home For Christmas displays how the magic of community and holiday spirit come together to rejuvenate a person’s spirit. Even if you’re away from an extended period time, one can truly return home and find the key to inner peace. I would definitely recommend this story to anyone who enjoys a holiday tale with a strong sense of community!"
"I really loved this book. If you are looking for a book to get you into the holiday spirit look no further. This one did get me a little teary eyed in the beginning because it is sad. This book gave me plenty of heart and feels. It's also a great second chance romance."
"First of all, this is a beautifully-composed, sweet romance with no offensive content. In fact, if you love Christmas rom-coms that appear on the Hallmark Channel every year, this is the book for you. This is just like a Hallmark Christmas movie, except it’s even better!"
Roy drove into town, past the red sandstone county courthouse with its one-hundred-and-forty-year-old clock tower and onto Maple Boulevard. They passed houses she remembered, belonging to Sarah Jensen and Mrs. Beabots. Saint Mark’s Church. The Indian Lake Police Station. Specters of past, happy days flew around Joy, pulling her back to Indian Lake like magnets. And with each memory, she missed her mother, her father and especially her grandfather all the more.
That was why when Roy drove up to the three glass greenhouses, which her grandfather had built right after World War II, her vision had been blurred by her tears. She couldn’t possibly be seeing correctly.
“What is this?” she asked Roy, like a stupefied tourist.
“Boston Greenhouses.” He waved his hand across the expanse of the windshield. “This is it.”
"
Home for Christmas was just the right book to get me in the mood for Christmas. I really enjoyed following Joy and her friends as they prepared to reopen the old greenhouses Joy’s grandfather loved so much. It was interesting to learn everything involved to reopen the greenhouses. . . . If you are looking for good Christmas stories to read during the Holiday season, this is a really great one to check out."
"Whether you’ve been a fan of Lanigan’s long-running Shores of Indian Lake series from book one or you’re just arriving on the scene, the close-knit small town’s charm will quickly wrap you in twinkle lights and hot chocolate. Joy and Adam’s story is a look at grief, bitterness, forgiveness, restoration… and coming home again. Second chances abound in more ways than one in
Home For Christmas, and you’ll love discovering each one."
"
Home for Christmas by Catherine Lanigan is a great book that I devoured it. Joy jumped out of the pages and into my head along with the other characters. I love happy endings. Ms. Lanigan is an excellent writer. I am giving
Home for Christmas five stars and recommending it to everyone."
TREE FARM DAY
It was a year to pull out all the stops. And I did.
The tree farm was the first stop. I hadn’t been to our “Pine Country Tree Farm” in decades. What an eye-opener. Trust me, the scenes in any movie you’ve seen don’t compare to the real thing. What an operation. There was a gift store. A Santa all suited up sitting in his own cabin! Florals, garlands, wreaths were being shipped out by truckload. A horse-drawn wagon took folks up to the rolling hills to chop down their own tree. Hot apple cider and cocoa awaited them upon their return. . .
"
Home for Christmas set a beautiful scene for the upcoming holidays for me as I read it. This second chance love story had such heart ad a great setting. . . . This was a very heartwarming story and was lots of fun to read."
"
Home for Christmas is a touching story of forgiveness and second chances – on a personal level between Adam and Joy, and also as the community comes together in support and help.
Home for Christmas would make a moving Hallmark movie and the company is missing a great opportunity if they don’t snatch this one up. But the book is even better than a potential movie because of all the richness and depth that a movie can’t convey."
THE CHRISTMAS POPS CONCERT
The Christmas Pops is truly unique. It’s held at our Civic Auditorium, built in the 1920’s and houses over 3,000 people. The main floor, where basketball used to be played when I was in high school, is filled with linen covered tables and chairs, decorated with flowers and candles and the ceiling is draped, flung and crisscrossed with thousands of Christmas lights. The La Porte County Symphony plays as various choral groups, the Children’s Choir, soloists and local harmonizing groups perform. The night is upbeat and fun. Everyone dresses up, lots of tuxes and gowns; Christmas dresses and fun Christmas ties, I have to say. . .
"This is a wonderful, heartfelt story of love, betrayal, misunderstandings, confusion, forgiveness and grief. The setting is in a small town during the Holidays. . . . The characters are so endearingly realistic, the scenes described in a way they are easily visualized. . . . I feel this novel earns a Five Stars rating. . ."
"Another hit by one of my favorite heart warming authors! Lanigan has done it! Once again, she has created a Hallmark worthy story for readers. Every page turn pulled me farther into the story, and help me captive until the very end."
She looked toward the back of the retail gift area. Two French doors led to a smaller greenhouse where specialty orchids, amaryllis and hybrid poinsettias used to be displayed on long wooden tables. That was Joy’s favorite area, where her grandfather would test his yearlong projects of coral-and-white-striped poinsettias, yellows, ambers, and try as he might, the absolute impossible task of creating a blue poinsettia. Blue poinsettias didn’t exist naturally, and he would dye white ones to please designers in Chicago, but he was a dreamer. He’d often told her he wanted to create a flower that was not only beautiful but timeless. Something the world would never have seen if it hadn’t been for him.
"The book has so much meaning to it. There are lessons we can learn — especially one concerning Joy’s grandfather."
Adam took off his hat, and as he did, his thick black hair fell over his forehead.
Joy nearly gasped as the movement reminded her of when they’d been in love.
“I know that Frank didn’t want to destroy your memories of this place. How it was.”
“It was glorious, wasn’t it?” Joy felt her first smile creep slowly to her lips as she remembered so much.
“It was,” he replied wistfully, still staring at her.
"I loved this magical tale! . . . I am giving
Home for Christmas a very well deserved five plus stars. It is most definitely a must to add to any reader’s Christmas reading."
"This settles it. I want to live in Indian Lake surrounded by friends who show up, a mentor like Mrs. Beabots, and the romance that permeates the town. . . . Catherine Lanigan gifts readers with a story of second chances, forgiveness, and finding home again through Joy and Adam’s eyes. I didn’t want this story to end."
5. What is your favorite thing about having a “story world” that you can return to in new books?
C: For my series set in Indian Lake, I truly cherish the ability to go back with each story and see what mysterious, elegant and tight-lipped Mrs. Beabots is up to. Though she is the doyenne of the community, she is the wise sage. The giver of all gifts. The mirror for every heroine or hero to face at one point during the story.
"This was my first book by Catherine but it won’t be my last. Beside sharing a name, and thus automatically qualifying as awesome, she has a talent for weaving a sweet story with just enough depth to keep the characters growing throughout. . . . I look forward to returning to Indian Lake and getting to know the residents better."
“So, Dad,” Titus said as he dipped thin chicken tenders in a mix of flour, chili powder, granulated garlic and black pepper, “do you think we should ask Mr. Boston’s granddaughter over for Thanksgiving dinner?”
Adam stopped pouring the olive oil into the frying pan. “How do you know anything about Joy Boston being in town?”
“Mrs. Beabots. She came over to Timmy’s house and made oatmeal cookies for us.”
“Oh, she did? And how many did you eat?” Adam asked, hoping to change the subject.
". . . when you find a romance as good as this one (and the whole series really) you just have to keep reading!
Home for Christmas will keep you reading. It will feel like you just sat down with a good friend and before you know it, the whole book is over and you’re still longing for more time to chat."
"Catherine Lanigan has become one of my favorite authors because she truly does write heartwarming novels that are suitable for all readers, ones you can share with your daughters, mothers. grandmothers, friends and family. I love a sweet, clean romance and Ms. Lanigan is one of the best authors in this genre."
The excitement on Titus’s face hit mega wattage. “We’re gonna have the biggest, bestest tree ever! We’re going out to Pine Country Tree Farm, where you can ride out to the groves and pick any tree you want. They cut it down, unless you wanna do it yourself.” He tilted his head up to Adam. “You gonna do it again this year, Dad?”
“Probably.”
Titus turned back to Joy. “Then we ride back and they bundle it up and put it in our truck. I want a really, really huge one this year.”
“Wow,” Joy replied. “Just how big is that?”
"If you are ready for some happy tears and heartwarming scenes, start looking for
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. It will have you in a festive and giving mood in no time plus you might just end up a happy puddle of happy Holiday goo!"
CHRISTMAS COOKIES
I get it that a lot of people don’t bake anymore. Slice and bake or pick up from the local bakery or grocery store. As long as they look like Christmas cookies that’s good enough, right? Well, not in my house. Every year I make hundreds—bordering on a thousand—Christmas cookies for friends and family. I mail them all over the country and to Canada. I know. I must be nuts. That’s another thing. I order my nuts from a local charity every year. If I’m not Suzanne’s larger client/supporter, then the honor must go to a retailer. I plow through a lot of nuts, butter, flour and sugar.
"Travel to Indian Lake for a sweet, second-chance romance this Christmas. . . . Catherine Lanigan’s
Home for Christmas is everything I love to find in a holiday romance. Heartwarming and feelgood, it’s one to add to the Christmas TBR if you love contemporary romance."
Adam pulled up to the bank. He put the truck in Park and turned to her. “What are you asking me?”
“Have you got an ulterior motive, Adam Masterson? Because if you do, it’s time to lay your cards on the table.”
“Initially, I wanted to show you that Indian Lake wasn’t the hall of horrors you thought it was. That the people here were wonderful and loving and that maybe you could come to need them.”
"Yall, this book had all the feels. I got caught up with all my friends from the other books and it warmed my heart to see them come together for Joy and Adam. Sometimes it does take a village and it was evident here. . . . If looking for a feel-good second chance romance with the backdrop of poinsettias, this is for you. Adam and Joy are ranking up there as one of my favorite couples in Indian Shores. Mica and Grace, you have competition. Thank you, Ms. Lanigan, for this book. It is what I needed for the start of the holiday season."
IT'S NOT CHRISTMAS WITOUT POINSETTIAS
My love for this book,
HOME FOR CHRISTMAS, is far more emotional than I’d thought when I started out writing it. Poinsettias remind me of nearly every “passed on” family member of my life. My grandmother, Ethel, who was born in the deep South and lived in Northwestern Florida most of her adult life, adored tropical flowers. Both she and my mother not only absolutely, indisputably had to have poinsettias in the house, but they also always had red anthuriums on the dining table for Christmas dinner.
"I love how
Home for Christmas opens the door into Joy's life by a heartfelt wave of sentimental nostalgia for her grandfather's Thanksgiving at Indian Lake. . . . I personally have always appreciated the compelling ways in which Ms Lanigan pulls you back through her vision for Indian Lake. . . Lanigan makes us feel as cosy comfortable in Indian Lake as if we had been reading it since the first novel released. And, that is one of the reasons I love this series as much as I do. . . . The story was a bit sweeter round the edges due to the Christmassy inclusions and the back-drop of this revolving round a favourite (and cherished!) holiday flower which is only available during the holiday seasons."
". . . I loved loved this story on 2nd chances. . . . Her story is putting me in the Christmas spirit and I can almost see this as a Hallmark movie with a happy ending for Joy and Adam. . . . This is a new to me author that I will look forward to in the future. Her writing is sweet. I love sweet and heartwarming stories like this one."
What 5 things should readers know about you?
- They should know I take my writing very seriously. I feel a responsibility to deliver the best of my talent at the age I am when writing it.
- I’ve been writing for 40 years.
- I work endlessly on screenplays.
- My first Hallmark movie, THE SWEETEST HEART was aired last year
- I love to cook.
"I love holiday books and I have read other books by this author so I was excited to read this book.This story is book 12 in the “Shores of Indian Lake” series but they can be read as stand alone books. I have only read one other book in this series and I really enjoyed it! . . . This was a sweet romance about second chances, family, and making a home with the people around you. I really enjoyed reading it!"
Don't forget to enter the giveaway at the end of this post...
Home for Christmas
(Shores of Indian Lake #12)
By Catherine Lanigan
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 Pages
November 1st 2019 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Can a magical Christmas under glass…
…bring them back together for good?
Widowed dad Adam Masterson still doesn’t understand why Joy Boston left Indian Lake and broke his heart all those years ago. Now she’s returned to sell her grandfather’s beloved poinsettia greenhouse—and Joy and Adam’s connection is as strong as ever. But Joy has a life in New York. And Adam has only until Christmas to convince Joy that she belongs in Indian Lake—with him.
(Affiliate links included.)
Other Books in the Series
Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of over forty-five published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of
Romancing the Stone and
The Jewel of the Nile. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into over twenty-four languages. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid foundation to pen a collection of compelling and informative true stories of teen addicts. Ms. Lanigan’s SHORES OF INDIAN LAKE series for HARLEQUIN HEARTWARMING includes LOVE SHADOWS, HEART’S DESIRE , A FINE YEAR FOR LOVE, KATIA’S PROMISE, FEAR OF FALLING, SOPHIE’S PATH, PROTECTING THE SINGLE MOM, FAMILY OF HIS OWN, HIS BABY DILEMMA, RESCUED BY THE FIREFIGHTER and HERS TO PROTECT (2019).
Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs. She writes a monthly blog for Heartwarmingauthors.blogspot.com.
- One winner will receive a $100 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
- Two winners will each receive a signed copy of Home for Christmas with a bookmark (US only)
- Ends November 27, 2019
