Katie M. Reid – Romantic Excerpt – Part 1 of 1

Shannon here: Katie M. Reid shares a romantic excerpt from her Contemporary Romance, A Very Bavarian Christmas. Comment or answer the question in this post to enter the drawing for a print copy, U.S. only. Deadline: Sept 14th, 11:59 pm central time. Here’s Katie:

How Do You Define Romance?

Read the following excerpt from the novel, A Very Bavarian Christmas, by Katie M. Reid and discover how the main character, Holly Noel, defines romance.

Excerpt from A Very Bavarian Christmas by Katie M. Reid:

“Romance to me is more like steadiness and tenderness versus hype and lavish displays of affection.” Holly shifted her weight, behind the counter of the ornament personalization station, at the mile-long Christmas store.

“Oh, come on. You mean to tell me you wouldn’t get weak in the knees if a guy made a fool of himself for you?” Her co-worker, Andy, teased.

Santa inched closer to them, hand to his ear, a twinkle in his eye.

“I suppose an over-the-top moment or two would be okay, but I want a guy who gets me and who will get along with my family—or at least tolerate them—so holidays won’t be tense. I also hope he’s good-looking and a hard worker with a sense of humor. And this is very important—he has to be at least three inches taller than me.” Holly gestured overhead.

“Sounds like an online dating service profile,” Andy retrieved a pen from above his ear and made a checkmark on his inventory list.

“Don’t act like you don’t have one, too,” Holly warned.

“Guilty as charged,” Andy crossed out an item on his checklist.

Santa leaned toward the single employees and cupped his mouth with his right hand. “If you can keep a secret, you’re not the only ones.” He winked.

“You have a dating profile?” Holly widened her eyes.

“Been looking for a new Mrs. Claus for a while now. The original took her last sleigh ride in the sky about a decade ago. But 2.0 has to be special—strong enough to keep up with the rigors of the season and tender enough to connect with all our children.”

“You want children?” Holly picked up a paintbrush, she couldn’t put her orders on hold any longer.

“At my age? Oh, no. Already have a handful back home and mini-grands running around, too. I meant all the children at the shopping mall who come for a visit and a picture with us. She needs to be welcoming but not a pushover, since the line needs to keep moving so everyone has a turn. Takes a special lady to become Mrs. Claus. A real blend of grace and grit, laced with gentleness and blessed with wit. I’ll know her when I see her.”

“I bet you will,” Andy said.

“Oh, and there’s one more piece of criteria that is of utmost importance.” Santa adjusted his hat. “It might seem nitpicky, but it’s actually a big deal.”

“What’s that?” Andy egged.

“She has to look good in red.”

“Of course she does. Comes with the territory.” Andy held an even tone, but Holly knew him well enough by now to recognize he was teasing. “Santa, thanks for telling us what’s on your grown-up Christmas list.”

“Your secret is safe with us. In fact, I’m kind of a professional secret keeper.” Holly avoided a sideways glance at the man standing next to her, focusing on the order in front of her.

“If I can offer one piece of unsolicited advice, it’s don’t despise grand displays of love. Yet hold on to the everyday kind of love, too—his hand in yours, a listening ear when you’re stressed, a shoulder to cry on when you’re sad, and a smile that makes you feel like you’re home, even when you’re miles from it. Stick with the one who gets you and loves you as you are and with whom you can laugh and dream.”

“Thank you, Santa” Holly whispered. “I’ll definitely keep that in mind.”

Her coldness toward Christmas was melting ever so slightly in the presence of this kind soul.

Question for Readers: Do you prefer romance that is more steadiness and tenderness or do you prefer hype and lavish displays of affection?

About Katie: Katie M. Reid writes inspirational rom-com fiction and non-fiction too. She is the author of the Very Bavarian series, Made Like Martha, and The Digital Peace Pact. She inspires audiences to live out their purpose with tenacity and grace through her books, speaking, songwriting, and “The Martha + Mary Show” podcast. To read more about Holly Noel’s journey to romance, pick up a copy of A Very Bavarian Christmas. Learn more & connect:

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About the book – A Very Bavarian Christmas:

Holly Brigham is making a list and checking it twice—counting all the reasons she is fed up with her not-so-jolly reality:

Single
Broke
Sleeping in her childhood bedroom at the age of thirty

After her dreams of opening a community art space in the city are shattered, Holly returns to her hometown of Bavarian Falls—the Christmas capital of the Midwest. She finds seasonal employment personalizing ornaments at Neumann’s, the mile-long Christmas store, instead of decking gallery walls with her art.

As December draws near, a melancholy mood—instead of mistletoe—hangs over Holly’s head. The only guy showing any interest in her is quirky Frank, who keeps her laughing but makes her feel boxed in. Then there’s handsome Nik, who has a shady past but takes her ambitions seriously.

As Holly faces fractured relationships and embarrassing misunderstandings, will she unwrap more disappointment or say yes to love, with no strings attached?

Can’t wait for the drawing? Worried you won’t win? Interested in Katie’s other titles?

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A Very Bavarian Christmas             Katie’s Books

Come back Sept 6th for Jodie Wolfe!