Writer Wednesday: A Holiday Romance with guest-author Ann Brodeur!

Good morning!

First, Happy Veterans Day in the USA!

I’m sharing a pic of one of my favorite veterans, my Great-Uncle Harold Phillips, a WWII fighter-pilot in the South Pacific, and his dear sister that I never met, My Great-Aunt Irene Phillips. Such a cute photo!! Apparently he brought her the grass skirt from New Guinea, and when they got ready to take the picture, he tickled her in the ribs to get her to smile! 🙂

He was fun like that, and I loved him dearly!

Besides Veterans Day, Christmas is beginning to make itself evident!

Today I’m excited to bring you a real-life holiday story from guest-author Ann Brodeur!

Welcome, Ann!

The Christmas Proposal

It should have been more romantic than it was.

Québec City, Canada with all its European splendor decked out in Christmas garb and draped in a fresh blanket of white was the only place he’d ever imagined he could ask the question that would forever change the course of his life.

He would never have a more romantic setting than this.

Except, I’d nearly ruined the experience.

We arrived at the hotel with his parents. It was his Christmas gift to us – a mini-vacation in the heart of La Belle Province. He had been in the driver’s seat for several hours and I was eager to see his face rather than the back of his head. We exited the vehicle and Martin’s mossy green gaze captivated my attention before I slammed my door…entrapping his thumb. Realizing my mistake, I pulled the latch open again, yanked off his leather glove, and plunged his hand into the ice-cold bank of snow.

We spent a long evening sitting in the lobby of the hotel with his hand raised high above his head and at times buried beneath a mound of ice in a borrowed bucket. I gave him a few ibuprofens with lots of bottles of water, checked the swelling in his thumb several times, making sure to alternate between elevation and dunking his thumb in ice. And talking. Boy, did I keep him talking!

Thankfully – God had Martin’s healing in control.

Relieved that the swelling in his thumb was minimal and circulation evident, I made sure Martin got to his hotel room okay and passed him off to his dad. I then settled into my own hotel room for the night.

The next day, we explored the old town of Québec, but something was up, I could feel it. I shoved the emotions down of feeling I’d blown a chance at a true relationship with this guy and tried to focus on the cobblestoned streets and the ancient buildings that spoke of a time only touched on in history books. We turned a corner and stopped to admire the most magnificent view – an orange construction fence.

That was it! He’d had it! This trip was not going the way he’d planned.

“We can always come back another time.” I offered feebly, hoping beyond hope there would be another time. He clutched the strap of his backpack and turned to look at me. Sadness? Disappointment? In me???

Perhaps it would be better to end the day with a good meal instead.

It wasn’t the best meal I’d ever eaten, but at least the company was pleasant. After our main course, I headed to the restroom, praying that I wouldn’t mess up the rest of the trip.

As I drew closer to the table, his dad sat with his camera ready and his mom sat weeping. Martin turned in his chair, his trembling hands clamped on the table. His tortured look sent a shot of panic coursing through my body and I instantly regretted slamming his thumb in the door.

This was it. My worst nightmare. He was breaking up with me in front of his parents – in an intimate restaurant setting!

“You are the sweetest thing in this restaurant. You’re sweeter than maple pie.” He nudged his chin toward the slices of the Québec specialty sitting on the table next to him. “Will you marry me?”

???????

Of course, I screamed. The rush of relief and exhilaration at his proposal washed over me like a tsunami.

He loved me! He wanted to marry me and not dump me!

His mom wiped away her tears and his dad snapped his camera capturing a moment none of us will ever forget – Martin’s Christmas proposal and the start of our own happily-ever-after.

How about you – what’s your most memorable holiday moment?

About Ann Brodeur

ANN BRODEUR is an award-winning novelist who writes inspirational and contemporary romances offering sweet hope and happy endings. She is proudly married to her own French Canadian Hero and is the blessed Maman of four girls.

When she’s not reading, writing or chasing after her kids, Ann can be found drinking coffee, that’s been reheated several times throughout the day. She aspires to someday drink a hot beverage in one sitting.

 

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Featured Book:

SNOWBOUND IN WINTERBERRY FALLS by Ann Brodeur

Unwrapping their past – one secret at a time.

Owning her own PR firm is all reporter Stephanie Clark wants for Christmas, but the idea of running a prestigious election campaign in the country’s capital throws her stomach into knots. A last minute vacation road trip to focus and seek God’s direction for her life ends up in disaster when she gets caught in the worst snowstorm to hit Vermont in over a decade, crashing her into a small town and the one person she’d rather forget.

Former photojournalist Jason Miller hadn’t planned on being solely responsible for saving his family business from financial ruin. He’s barely keeping the newspaper in print, his News Editor has gone AWOL during the town’s most celebrated holiday festival, and reports of missing Christmas decorations have everyone on edge.

When a desperate knock at the newsroom door brings a ghost from Christmas past back into his life, can Jason make up for his prior behavior without breaking his promise to Stephanie’s father? Will Stephanie’s quest to solve the town’s Christmas caper—and uncover the truth about Jason’s disappearance—cost her everything she’s ever wanted?

You can purchase Snowbound in Winterberry Falls HERE!

Thanks for sharing today, Ann! And personally, a proposal after all that was MORE than romantic – it was inspired! 🙂

Have a wonderful Wednesday!

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Purchase any of my books on Amazon HERE!