Trading Christmas: When Christmas Comes / The Forgetful Bride

Trading Christmas: When Christmas Comes / The Forgetful Bride
Debbie Macomber

Perfect for fans of Maeve Binchy' - CandisEmily Springer decides to leave Leavenworth, Washington, to spend Christmas with her daughter in Boston.Charles Brewster, history professor, curmudgeon and resident of Boston, wants to avoid Christmas altogether. He figures a prison town should be quiet over the holidays—except he's thinking of the wrong Leavenworth! Charles and Emily arrange to swap houses for the holiday.So Emily goes to Boston—and discovers her daughter has gone to Florida. And Charles arrives in Leavenworth to discover that it's Santa's village! Meanwhile, Emily's friend Faith Kerrigan travels to Leavenworth to visit her and instead finds Charles the grinch.Then Charles's brother, Ray, shows up in Boston to discover that he isn't there—but Emily is. Through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, romance emerges in unexpected ways. Because everything changes at Christmas!Originally published as When Christmas Comes. Also included is a bonus story, The Forgetful Bride!

Trading Houses. Trading Towns. Trading Christmas!

Emily Springer, widowed mother of one, decides to leave Leavenworth, Washington, to spend Christmas with her daughter in Boston.

Charles Brewster, history professor, curmudgeon and resident of Boston, wants to avoid Christmas altogether. He figures a prison town should be nice and quiet over the holidays—except he’s thinking of the wrong Leavenworth!

Through an internet site, Charles and Emily arrange to swap houses for the holiday. So Emily goes to Boston—and discovers that her daughter has gone to Florida. And Charles arrives in Leavenworth to discover that it’s not the prison town—it’s Santa’s village! The place is full of Christmas trees, Christmas music and…elves.

Meanwhile, Emily’s friend Faith Kerrigan travels to Leavenworth to visit her and instead finds Charles the grinch. Then Charles’s brother, Ray, shows up at his home in Boston to discover that he isn’t there—but Emily is.

Through all the mix-ups and misunderstandings, amid the chaos and confusion, romance begins to emerge in unexpected ways. Because everything changes at Christmas!

November 2011

Dear Friends,

I wrote a story called When Christmas Comes back in 2004—and laughed all the way through the manuscript. To my mind, it was the perfect Christmas movie. Lots of action, delightful characters (if I do say so myself!) and plenty of good-natured humor. There’s Santa, the dwarfs, a runaway lobster and…

Well, guess what? Hallmark Channel agreed that this romantic comedy was a natural for a Christmas movie, so they approached me with the idea of turning it into one, to be broadcast in late November or early December of this year. They wanted a different title, though, and in the end decided to use the shout line from the original back cover copy. Trading Christmas. It’s a perfect title.

Yes, Trading Christmas is really When Christmas Comes—with one additional bonus. It will come to life via your television screen. (There’s actually a second bonus included in this volume; it’s another Christmas story—first published in 1991—called The Forgetful Bride).

Years ago I saw a cartoon that showed a goat chewing away on a movie reel. He looks up at the viewer and says he liked the book better. In this instance, you’ll have to be the judge. The book or the movie? Hopefully both will keep you richly entertained.

Happy holidays, everyone. I hope you laugh and sigh and think this was the best Christmas book and movie you ever enjoyed.

Debbie Macomber

P.S. You can reach me at P.O. Box 1458, Port Orchard, WA 98366, or through my website, www.DebbieMacomber.com.

Trading Christmas

Debbie Macomber

www.mirabooks.co.uk (http://www.mirabooks.co.uk)

Praise for Debbie Macomber’s Christmas stories

“Macomber once again demonstrates her impressive skills with characterization and her flair for humor.”

—RT Book Reviews on When Christmas Comes

“Don’t wait until Christmas to read Debbie Macomber’s When Christmas Comes. This heartwarming little book will get even the Scrooge in you ready to welcome the holiday season! It’s a delightful story, complete with lessons about love, friendship and the spirit of Christmas, but is never preachy. This is just the book to curl up with before the season spins out of control.”

—Bookreporter.com on When Christmas Comes

“Once again author Debbie Macomber is back to offer readers a delightful seasonal story of friendship and love. Macomber is a master storyteller and this small volume is a testament to her lively skills…A warm and loving novel that is destined to quickly become a Christmas favorite.”

—Times Record News,Wichita Falls, Texas, on The Christmas Basket

“Debbie Macomber’s familiar setting of Blossom Street in Seattle will make her many fans feel right at home, and the Christmassy atmosphere makes readers feel that they have just had a refreshing holiday vacation from real life.”

—Bookreporter.com on Christmas Letters

“A fast, frothy fantasy for those looking to add some romance to their holidays.”

—Publishers Weekly on The Snow Bride

“Where Angels Go…should definitely get anyone in the mood for holiday cheer and warmth.”

—FreshFiction.com

“What would Christmas be without our traditional Christmas story from our favorite author?”

—Writers Unlimited

Trading Christmas

For my cousin Paula Bearson, with gratitude.

And special thanks to writer and friend Ann DeFee.

Contents

Chapter One (#uf50f74c0-ed03-5086-8f44-28d2a0439d55)

Chapter Two (#u27f99fde-f74a-5f4e-b26d-8fd4d3d6000e)

Chapter Three (#ubed3983b-80f4-57a7-8d79-81ecc383700c)

Chapter Four (#u726780da-5609-5430-9357-b7a2b3b31b0b)

Chapter Five (#ubbdb9ba9-4c1f-5307-bdf4-a18f52ac8297)

Chapter Six (#u8764565b-6738-5347-a147-e799c5f19131)

Chapter Seven (#ua12f107f-d2a2-5242-9c66-9ab43f0d6383)

Chapter Eight (#u93f181d7-576b-5300-9f97-32d3814d772a)

Chapter Nine (#u4975dba2-2f97-5b9a-a014-69ff937dffcc)

Chapter Ten (#u3f1393eb-34b2-5e04-8084-2a9229fd49dc)

Chapter Eleven (#u1323ae45-521c-52fd-9ac7-962f0b5cc27d)