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Sea Stars Christmas
Author: Annie M. Ballard
Publication date: October 10th 2023
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Holiday, Romance
Mackenzie and Declan need a miracle. Or two.
Mackenzie wants to belong – to Declan, her boyfriend, and to Stella Mare, her new Canadian home. Putting on the village’s first-ever Sea Stars Festival at Christmas will help, but it must be perfect. She can’t risk making a mistake.
Declan can’t commit – except to his writing career. Much as he loves Mackenzie and teaching at the high school, he dreams of moving to the city as a successful novelist. In the meantime, he’s producing his first-ever play.
Pulled in different directions, a distance grows between them as the play and festival near. Emotions flare amid twinkling lights while personalities clash, equipment fails, and people fall short. They need a miracle. Or two.
Crusty villagers with a past, problem principals, an errant Santa all do their part as Christmas spirit blooms in the village. Come home to Stella Mare, as Mackenzie and Declan explore what it means to belong – to a village and to each other.
an excerpt
It was a good thing Santa was last in line. That gave her a little more time to pitch the story of Santa’s cousin Sammy the Sailor. She hoped the kids would buy it. She was halfway down the line of floats when she heard Kevin calling her. Turning, she saw him at the head of the line with two older men. Her Santa – now Sammy – had arrived.
“I tole you she was a cute lil’ one,” Billy slurred. The other man was Russ Johnson who’d originally told her where to find Billy. Billy was leaning heavily on Russ.
“Hi, Billy. Hi, Russ.” She didn’t say more. Russ planted his feet more firmly and looked sideways at Mackenzie.
“So. Seems like we might have a little situation here,” Russ said quietly. “Sorry about this, Mackenzie.”
Silence reigned as Mackenzie, Russ, and Kevin looked at Billy. Wobbly despite Russ’s firm grip, their would-be Santa gazed at the festive scene. “Looks like Chris’mas here.” He stepped away from Russ to fish a silver flask from his back pocket. “Merry Chris’mas. We jus’ need a little snow.” He gazed into the distance.
“Oh, Russ.” Mackenzie groaned. “Oh, no.”
“I know,” Russ said. “He wanted to come down here. I figured it was better for me to bring him than him try to drive.”
Mackenzie sighed as she approached Billy. “Hey, Billy. How are you?”
“What?” Billy squinted as he turned to her voice. “Hey, lil’ girl. Yeah, I’m good, I’m good.” He took another swig from the flask. “Almos’ Chris’mas, ain’t it?”
“Yes, it is,” she agreed. “A few more days. How do you feel, Billy?”
“Me? M’okay,” he said, gazing away from her. “Maybe a little tired.”
She turned a questioning gaze on Russ.
“I think he should go home,” Russ said. “He’s not at his best.”
“Yeah. I can see that.” Her heart had dropped at Billy’s first word. His bleary eyes confirmed the worst, but she was unwilling to concede defeat. “He’s only got to sit in the wagon. He doesn’t have to do anything. Or say anything.”
“You don’t want a sloshed Santa.” Kevin shook his head.
At that moment, Billy lurched toward Kevin, slung his arm around the other man’s shoulders and leaned into him. “Hey, Kev, how’s that woman of yours? She’s some fine, ain’t she?”
Kevin leaned under the man’s weight, and Russ stepped in to help keep Billy upright. Mackenzie could imagine the headline in tomorrow’s news: Sloshed Santa Makes Waves at Sea Star Festival. She sighed from the bottom of her feet.
Annie M. Ballard writes about women and family ties in the small villages that feel like home. With one foot in the Canadian Maritimes and the other in New England, she digs deep into the lives of her characters. When she’s not writing, she’s happily baking, gardening, powerlifting and trying to make friends with every dog in her neighbourhood.
Annie’s stories include strong women living real lives, good men trying to do better, and always a happy ending.
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