Christmas Owls
in July
Book 19
Ornamental Match Maker Series
A special event
Christmas in July
By
Marlene Bierworth
Copyright © 2019 Marlene Bierworth
All rights reserved.
No part of this book may be reproduced by any means, graphic, electronic, or mechanical including photocopying, recording, taping or by any information storage retrieval system without written permission of the author, Marlene Bierworth, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Disclaimer
This book is a work of fiction. Names, places, character and events are the product of the author’s imagination. While the author has tried to be historically correct, her goals in this book are great characters and storytelling. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locals, is purely coincidental.
Table of Contents
Chapter 1 Heritage Inn
Chapter 2 Guests Arrive
Chapter 3 Christmas in July
Chapter 4 The Dance
Chapter 5 Christmas Treasures
Chapter 6 The Heritage Queen
Chapter 7 A Visitor
Chapter 8 The Secret is Out
Chapter 9 A Visit to the Owls
Chapter 10 The Counterpart
From the Author
About the series:
Mrs. Claus is all about spreading Christmas cheer — especially to the many lonely hearts seeking friendship, love, healing, second chances, and that special someone of their own.
To help each lovely heroine and dashing hero find their perfect match, Mrs. Claus sends them a magical holiday ornament. From a carousel horse that matches the exact horse a hero will be found riding to an iced angel just like the cookies a dreamy chef bakes, each ornament has a real world counterpart that, if followed, will lead to true love. These books are designed to be a fun quick read with a touch of magic and romance.
From historical to contemporary, from heartfelt to humorous, each of these sweet romance stories ends in a festive happily ever after that will leave you wanting more — so be sure to check out all the titles by multiple authors in our Ornamental Match Maker Series, by visiting
https://www.facebook.com/groups/712109532498752/
About this book:
This is my 5th contribution to the Ornamental Match Maker series – a contemporary romance. Three new titles available from this author just in this Christmas in July venture alone.
When Trevor receives the Christmas owl ornament he is doubtful and laughs the love gift off as a sick joke from the North Pole. But his mother is hopeful and slips it into his suitcase as he packs to leave on another tour guide job. Mid way through the month long vacation, he senses his passengers are running out of steam. A quiet beach within a few hours drive and a relaxing stay at Heritage Inn beckons to him as a pleasant solution.
Angie Parkinson owns Heritage Inn and accepts the newcomers as a last minute replacement for a canceled group. Pleased that Christmas in July would happen as it had every year since her childhood, Angie prepares for their arrival. Little does she suspect that the North Pole has set into motion a chain of events that will open old wounds and bring together the past, present and future. When the barn owls at the resort are thrown into to the mix, the two lonely hearts best guard their hearts, or prepare to be swept into a romance long overdue.
HERITAGE INN
Trevor Dristoll was not a man to waste his mind on make-believe. He was far too practical. His mother once labeled him as a boy, stuck in the mud of reality. But Trevor was excellent at his job and hit upon great locations to entertain the high paying clients who traveled on his bus tours. They expected their guide to show them an awesome time, and Trevor never disappointed. They’d just finished visiting a string of national parks, where spectacular views and hiking at strenuous elevations had exhausted everyone. The Grand Canyon had been their last adventure. Now, most of his group wanted to relax somewhere in the fun and sun for a week.
Trevor scanned the web for something close. A charming and rather large Victorian Inn perched on the banks of a picturesque lake caught his attention. He scanned the list of activities and grinned. He could handle a week of boating, fishing, swimming, and lying on a private sandy beach. The Heritage Inn Resort bordered the quaint town of Pineville. And to start the good times rolling was his least favorite theme, Christmas – in July. How absurd was that? Anymore, he could barely tolerate one tinsel-filled holiday per year, yet here he sat debating on whether he should drag his passengers to this Inn for relaxation.
Trevor ran a unique business, where his high-paying clientele loved surprises and put themselves totally at his mercy for an entire month. In the past, he’d disappointed none, everyone enjoying the places they visited. Ninety percent signed up for future tours. But he’d never brought them to such an old-fashioned, laid-back resort, as this one appeared to be. Trevor weighed their fatigue against the silliness of the Christmas event. Over the previous two weeks, it had become obvious not everyone aboard the bus was a naturalist or hiker. He needed to set his reservations aside and put it to a vote. When he did, it was unanimous. All thirty wanted to stop, rest, and enjoy Christmas in July.
The last line of the advertisement brochure nearly caused Trevor to renege on the entire adventure. He threw his hands in the air as he read, the home of the famous love owls. Trevor recalled the item he’d received in the mail before this tour pulled out. He laughed outright. No way! His mother had been so excited and attempted to walk him down a magical, romantic lane of possibilities. Of all the gifts available, the item from of the North Pole – sent by Mrs. Claus,
