Stranded For The Holidays

Welcome to Truelove, North Carolina, set in the breathtakingly lovely Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina.

Though the course of true love doesn’t always run smooth, never fear. The Truelove Matchmakers are there to make sure everyone finds their happily-ever-after.

The heart of this story is about a man searching for a love that will never leave or desert him. It’s also about a woman searching for a place to belong. This story is about trusting God. With the good. With the bad. With everything.

As AnnaBeth discovers at the FieldStone Ranch, no matter how tragic the past, God has a place of belonging for each of us. And most importantly, she learns to see herself from God’s perspective.

You, too, dear reader, are so beautiful to Him. A precious jewel. And so beloved.

This is why I wrote this story. And because it is my prayer that you will ultimately find in Him your home. The happily-ever-after for which you were truly made.

I hope you have enjoyed taking this journey with AnnaBeth, Hunter and Jonas. I would love to hear from you. You may email me at lisa@lisacarterauthor.com or visit www.lisacarterauthor.com (http://www.lisacarterauthor.com).

In His Love,

Lisa Carter

In thanksgiving to the great and holy Immanuel—God with us. He came down from Heaven to dwell among us so that we might behold His glory, the glory of the Son of God. It is through Him we become the children of God and have eternal life.

Contents

Cover (#u89d6ef26-3bea-5856-9b8a-439c4e236ece)

Back Cover Text (#u1d05ad62-f920-5862-86b7-be5b4249fac2)

About the Author (#uc82937ae-f339-55fb-8695-831d0c9ace90)

Booklist (#u2b19ce1c-a62a-5223-99a9-411106557d65)

Title Page (#ua05f1ba6-96ae-528d-ad75-193585eb3a83)

Copyright (#u027a4b57-23eb-5de3-a490-3a57f4535b74)

Note to Readers

Introduction (#uabb6d66a-9960-543c-8980-b0590154be71)

Bible Verse (#u12f135f1-e1c3-5434-ab2d-599bc9c8a55c)

Dear Reader (#u26e17caf-9138-5061-9b0f-840fdd4e3d51)

Dedication (#u84c9f2de-2628-51b9-adf5-3bf61350eeeb)

Chapter One (#u87c7d0b0-f1e6-50a3-90ac-da63edb7cb64)

Chapter Two (#u44502bb6-d305-5d00-ac72-6c238582b9b5)

Chapter Three (#ua770468f-0c3f-5431-9ce3-6a46c632a087)

Chapter Four (#u2f3a1ce5-e8dd-517b-972b-bde233072c00)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)

Extract (#litres_trial_promo)

About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter One (#u483479d1-77ac-54ca-b3b7-49c346ba283a)

Grinning, Jonas Stone snapped a quick photo of his son. In a pint-size Stetson and cowboy boots, four-year-old Hunter looked adorable sitting in Santa’s lap.

From the mounted loudspeakers at the edge of the town square, strains of “Winter Wonderland” provided a festive note. Friends called out greetings to each other.

Pretty much the entire population of Truelove, North Carolina had turned out for the annual Christmas parade. And also for the free hot chocolate, courtesy of the Mason Jar, the local diner on the other side of the green.

Nursing a cold, Jonas’s mother had remained at the ranch, opting to skip the parade and the visit with Santa. Per tradition, the Truelove Christmas parade always landed on the Saturday after Thanksgiving.

But it seemed to Jonas that Christmas came earlier every year. At least, the trappings of Christmas. If it wasn’t for his son, he’d just as soon bypass the holidays.

Or maybe he was getting old. Old, alone and—according to his also widowed mother—dangerously close to being forever set in his grumpy ways.

Enthroned in the gazebo, Santa—aka Truelove’s mayor—patted Hunter’s jean-clad knee. “Have you been a good boy this year?”

“I think so, Santa.” Hunter’s dark brown eyes swung to Jonas. “And a weally good cowboy, too. Wight, Dad?”

His son’s breath fogged in the crisp, mountain air. The cold front and plummeting temperature had necessitated pulling out their winter coats before they’d left the ranch this morning.

Jonas smiled at his little cowboy. “A very good cowboy.”