The Sweet History of Gingerbread Houses

 

Merry Christmas, Friends!

The festive season is upon us, and with comes the tradition of gingerbread houses. These edible masterpieces have become an integral part of our Christmas celebrations worldwide, but have you ever wondered how they originated?

Gingerbread has its roots in medieval Europe, where it was a staple food among the wealthy. The spice trade had introduced exotic spices like ginger, cinnamon, and cloves, which were highly prized for their flavor and preservative properties. Gingerbread was initially made with honey, which was a luxury item, making it accessible only to the affluent.

In the 16th Century, Queen Elizabeth I started the tradition of making gingerbread-shaped people to impress her visiting dignitaries. 

It soon became a staple at European fairs and markets where it was sold as a sweet treat. The introduction of sugar in the 16th century made gingerbread even more popular, as it became more affordable to the masses.

In Germany, there are two versions of gingerbread, also known as lebkuchen. One version is a soft cookie, and the other is a harder cookie.

The harder lebkuchen is usually made in a heart shape and inscribed with love messages written in icing. They are sold at street markets around Christmas in many towns in Germany and have become a token of love to give to a partner.

The tradition of making gingerbread houses originated in Germany, where bakers would create elaborate houses. Gingerbread guilds were formed and only these guilds were allowed to make gingerbread.  Laws enforced by these guilds made the creation of gingerbread houses only during specific time periods surrounding Christmas and the new year, which is where the connection between gingerbread and Christmas first began over 400 years ago. Seen as a symbol of good luck and prosperity, bakers competed to create the most elaborate and intricate designs which were baked and then assembled using royal icing.

 

In turn, this tradition was popularized by the Brothers Grimm's fairy tale "Hansel and Gretel," which features a witch who lives in a house made of gingerbread and candy.

The tradition was brought to America by German immigrants in the 18th century, where it evolved into the gingerbread house kits we know today. The kits typically include pre-baked gingerbread pieces, royal icing, and candy.

On a world-wide scale, gingerbread house competitions have become increasingly popular, with many events held around the world. The National Gingerbread House Competition, held annually in Asheville, North Carolina, attracts competitors from around the globe.

 

    2025 National Gingerbread House Winner

Gingerbread houses have come a long way from their medieval originals. From a simple treat for the wealthy to a beloved Christmas tradition, gingerbread houses have evolved into a fun and festive activity for families around the world.

P.S. It's not too late to create a gingerbread house with your family. The children are home from school, the shopping, cooking, and baking are done. Let's have some fun creating a gingerbread house and some memories!

 

Here's a present from me to you...

"A Sleigh Ride for Claire" is free beginning today December 25th through Tuesday, December 29th! Merry Christmas and Happy Reading!

He was the most stubborn and prideful man she’d ever met.
She was a busybody who stuck her nose in his business at every turn!
With Christmas on the horizon, Claire McAllister has far too much to do to entertain dreams of a husband and family. Even if she feels inclined to help Lincoln Wyse outwit his three mischievous young daughters, it's impossible to imagine the handsome widower seeing her as anything but a scolding schoolteacher.

Even though the pretty schoolteacher never turned a favorable eye to him, Linc Wyse’s heart skipped a beat whenever she pinned him with her mesmerizing green eyes. Beautiful or not, Claire McAllister was a meddling spinster who placed judgments on him and his family.

Yet, neither one can imagine how three little, mischievous matchmakers and a magical Christmas Eve sleigh ride will open their eyes to love…or how the Lord will awaken their faith and hope.

CLICK HERE

A THANKSGIVING SLEIGH RIDE? by Marisa Masterson

 

Imagine the mounds of snow. Crisp air hits your lungs as you breathe. The horse waits, shifting so that the sleigh bells sound.

https://www.walmart.com/ip/Designer-Greetings-
Winter-Sleigh-Ride-Vintage-Christmas-Card/706102857

One man described this exact scene to celebrate Thanksgiving. Yes, that holiday--not Christmas. Jingle Bells by James Lloyd Pierpont is really a Thanksgiving song.

Why a sleigh ride on that day? According to legend, Pierpont wanted to write a song to commemorate his town's annual sleigh race. 

And consider that setting. This is not a fun, leisurely ride. It is an intense race:

https://www.metmuseum.org/es/art/collection/search/380479

 

Go it while you're young

Take the girls tonight

Sing this sleighing song

Get a bobtailed bay Two forty for his speed

And hitch him to an open sleigh

And you will take the lead

If you think of a sleigh race, the last line of the above quote makes sense. "Take the lead", as in pull ahead of the other races.

Because the song never once mentions Thanksgiving, it lends itself well to Christmas. It beccomes a nostalgic glimpse into holidays past, to a time long gone.

A great source to learn more--https://unrememberedhistory.com/tag/medford-massachusetts/

A New Release! 

Can they go beyond being compromised to becoming committed sweethearts and a family?

• Marriage of Convenience at Christmas
• Secrets Exposed
• Old West Adventure and Suspense
• Happily-Ever After
• Clean, Wholesome Romance

Click here to discover your next great read!

A Christmas Dream

 

When I was a little girl, my mom and grandma both enjoyed looking through magazines. As I got older, I also loved thumbing through the glossy pages. It was in a magazine Grandma had shared with Mom that an article featured a story about the beautiful Biltmore House of Asheville, North Carolina.

Mom mentioned more than once that she wished she could visit it someday, but that didn’t happen in her lifetime.

Years later, though, my husband and I took a holiday trip and toured the incredible Biltmore Estate.

When we walked through the impressive entry doors, the part of my heart where memories of my mama reside whispered, “We finally made it!” As we explored the house, I felt like she was right there with me, every bit as awed as I felt by the Biltmore.

Captain Cavedweller and I were thoroughly blown away by the Biltmore. From the stables and gift shops, to the restaurants and displays, everything was amazing and elevated to the next level.

The house, though, is something beyond the description of mere words. One needs to step into a world most of us can’t begin to imagine to fully experience what it is like to visit this incredible historical wonder.

If you’ve never heard of the Biltmore, I encourage you to read more about it. Constructed in the late 1890s by George Vanderbilt, the Biltmore is a 250-room French chateau filled with priceless treasures. Stepping inside the doors is taking a step into a different time where hospitality, luxury, and beauty reigned.

By the time we returned home from our trip, the idea for a series inspired by the Biltmore was beginning to grow, and blossomed into the Hudson House Holiday series.

Hudson House draws inspiration from the Biltmore and a much smaller mansion located in Portland, Oregon, called the Pittock Mansion. I hope as you read the story that the house and estate joined the cast of characters in your mind, because that is how it is intended.

The series follows the Hudson family through several generations, starting with Brant Hudson in 1892, and ending with Alex Hudson in 2024!

He came to build the house of his dreams, but found a home for his heart.

After an extensive search for the ideal location to build a house he’s spent years designing, Brant Hudson knows he’s found the perfect site the moment he sets foot on the land near Silver Bluff, Oregon. However, frustrating delays leave him laboring alongside the very crew he hired to finish the house in time for Christmas. His work leads the woman who catches his eye to believe he’s a carpenter rather than the owner of the grand manor.

Holland Drake grew up on a farm, but she aspires to secure a position as a housemaid at Hudson House. While delivering lunch to her brother at the worksite, the door opens to a job when Holland encounters a strikingly handsome carpenter whose charm captivates her. Soon, Holland discovers the enchanting man is none other than the owner of the house and her new employer.

As the holiday season arrives amid a flurry of excitement and possibilities, Holland and Brant face choices that could change their lives forever. Will fear hold them back from stepping into the future together, or will their Christmas dreams of love come true?

A Christmas Dream is the first book in the Hudson House Holiday series of wholesome, heartwarming Christmas romances full of the joy of the season.

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield is a farm girl who loves to write character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances are filled with sarcasm, humor, hope, and hunky heroes.

When Shanna isn’t dreaming up unforgettable characters, twisting plots, or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, she hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

A Sweet Yule Log

 

I've wanted to make a Yule Log for years, but never got around to it. 

 For those who aren't familiar with them, Yule log history goes back to a tradition historians believe originated long before the arrival of Christianity in Europe in the Scandinavian region. 

A giant log would be lit during the winter solstice and people would sit around it telling stories and feasting. For twelve days, the log would continue burning until the new year arrived, bringing luck and fortune. 

 The tradition evolved and was then used to symbolize the birth of Jesus. 

 In the 19th century, a delicious soft sponge cake evolved called a Bûche de Noël. The cake is shaped and decorated to resemble a Yule log. 

 Traditionally, edible Yule logs are covered in chocolate buttercream chocolate. As much as I love chocolate, I decided to go a different route with my Yule log cake.

INGREDIENTS 

 Cake: 

 3 egg yolks, warmed to room temperature 

 2 tablespoons granulated sugar 

 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 

 2 tablespoons milk 

 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 

 1/2 cup MINUS 1 tablespoon of all-purpose flour, sifted 

 1 tablespoon cornstarch, sifted 

 3 egg whites 

 1/4 teaspoon apple cider vinegar 

 2 tablespoons white granulated sugar 

 Filling: 

 1 cup seedless raspberry jam 

 1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

 1/2 cup powdered sugar 

 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

 Frosting: 

 2 cups confectioner’s sugar 

 1/2 cup butter, softened 

 1 tablespoon cream 

 1 teaspoon vanilla extract 

 DIRECTIONS

 Preheat oven to 375 degrees. 

 Sprinkle a cotton tea towel with powdered sugar and set aside. Line a 9x13 baking sheet with parchment and set aside. 

 In a large bowl, beat together egg yolks and 2 tablespoons sugar until combined. Add the oil, milk and vanilla, beating until combined. Sift in flour and cornstarch and mix until combined and smooth. Set aside.

 In a large bowl, whip egg whites until frothy, then add in vinegar and remaining 2 tablespoons sugar. Whip until soft beaks form. Fold egg white mixture into batter, using gentle strokes to blend. Carefully transfer batter to the baking sheet and smooth with a silicone spatula. 

Bake for 15 minutes, or until lightly golden on top. When you poke the cake with your finger, it should spring back. Remove from oven.

 Drop pan onto hot pads from about a height of an inch above them to prevent shrinkage. 

Invert cake onto the prepared tea towel. Peel off parchment paper and roll cake inside the towel. Allow to cool. 

 To make filling, combine cream cheese, powdered sugar, vanilla extract and jam, stirring until well combined. Unroll cake and spread with filling, then roll cake into a log shape and transfer to a serving dish or platter. 

 To make frosting, whip softened butter until fluffy. Add in sugar, cream, and vanilla and mix on medium speed until it is fluffy and thick. Spread over Yule Log. 

 I made frosting flower and leaves for mine, then sprinkled the whole thing with edible glitter flakes. Refrigerate any leftovers. 

 Yield: 12 slices  

Merry Christmas!

After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with hope, humor, and hunky heroes. When this award-winning author isn’t writing or covertly seeking dark, decadent chocolate, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller.

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at: ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter

Voting & Jury Duty- Chore or Privilege? by Zina Abbott

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As if a recent book release, Christmas coming, and a host of other distractions were not enough, I had jury duty this week. Sometimes, people speak and act as though they consider voting, and--especially jury duty--to be a chore, something they would rather not. Yet, the right to those two civic responsibilities were denied women until within the last century and a half. We should not take these privileges lightly.

My experience reminded me of a scene from Marigold, my 2022 book in the Christmas Quilt Brides series. To set the scene, the school board in New Ponca, Oklahoma Territory, where Marigold is a schoolteacher, is trying to convince her to accept less pay than what she was offered and contractually agreed to the previous year. Here is part of the scene:

            “Miss Calloway, you are being paid as much as a male teacher. That is unreasonable.” Scowling, Chairman Duffy ran his palm across the top of his head of thinning hair. “Everyone knows, women only receive one-half to one-third of the pay, depending on experience. The board must also consider the costs of running two separate classes. To pay the salary you received this past year to teach the younger class—”

            “Although I am happy to teach younger students, there is no reason that I must be the one to teach the junior class. I successfully taught all grades last year, including graduating two at the high school level. If cost, not quality of instruction is your primary objective, I will be happy to continue to teach the older students. You can then find a less-experienced female teacher with more limited training to teach the younger grades at the salary you propose.”

            “Miss Calloway, please be reasonable. A man is better suited to teaching the advanced courses of the higher grades and to handle the discipline issues that arise among older students.” Mr. Duffy beat the side of his fist on the table.

            “According to whom, Mr. Duffy? I respectfully disagree with your short-sighted premise. Just because a teacher wears trousers instead of a skirt does not necessarily make that instructor more capable as far as knowing the subject matter. Neither does it make them more organized nor more capable of managing students. Regarding my abilities to handle the more advanced topics and maintain order in the classroom, my experience teaching all of the grades this past year should speak for itself.”

            “Chairman Duffy, I agree with what Miss Calloway said. She has done wonders for our two boys.” A woman in the audience quickly rose to her feet. “Tell them, Henry.” She turned to the man wearing work clothes who sat next to her.

            “Mrs. Smithers, please sit down. We have not opened the meeting to any discussion from the audience. Besides, it is your husband who votes for school board members, not you. You are to allow him to speak for your family.”

            “Sit down, Mabel. Don’t make a scene.” The man seated next to Mrs. Smithers placed his hand on her arm and tugged her downward.

            “Why did you drag me to this backward, uncivilized territory?” Mabel Smithers hissed as she faced her husband. "When we lived in Kansas, not only could I vote for school board members, but I voted for the city taxes and bonds that paid their salaries. The members of the school board were not so quick to dismiss us women.” She turned her head and glared at Mr. Duffy.

 Just like now, issues not covered by federal law were left to the states and territories to decide. So, why did Mabel Smithers claim she had more privileges when she and her husband lived in Kansas? It was because she did.

I wish to quickly review the dates women received certain rights and privileges in four states in which I have set many of my books. For much of this information, I usually refer to my 

well-used copy of The Hidden Half of the Family by Christina Kassabian Schaefer, written to assist in finding female ancestors. The following are some of the dates women received certain rights in Wyoming, Colorado, Kansas, and Oklahoma.

Wyoming - Most who know even a smidgen of history are aware that Wyoming was the first state in which the territorial legislature gave women the right to vote. They were also given the right to be court justices and to serve on juries. The last two privileges were quickly taken away by that same legislature, due to complaints, mainly by husbands who objected to be left with the care of the children and household chores while their wives served. (Boo-hoo-hoo!) It might be all right for their wives to take over feeding the livestock or help with the plowing, planting, and harvesting, but ask a man to cook a meal or change dirty diapers? Absolutely not! (Again--boo-boo-hoo!) It took a long, long time before women were granted the right to serve on a jury again--anywhere.

Other rights and when they were granted in Wyoming:

1869 - A married woman's earnings are her separate property. (Before that, all money earned by a spouse or minor children were under the control of the husband/father. This came from England's common law and was typical throughout the U.S.)

1876 - A married woman's separate property is her separate estate, which she might devise by will.

1882 - A married woman is granted femme sole status to administer her separate estate.

1857 Kansas and Indian Territories Map

Kansas - 

1858 - A married woman may devise a will.

1859 - A woman's property rights are written into the territorial constitution. A married woman is guaranteed control over her separate earnings and separate estate.

1861 - Kansas drafts the first state constitution to give a married woman equal control of her children and marital property.

1861 - Women may vote in school elections.

1862 - In intestacy, a widow has the right to choose dower (1/3 of the estate not subject to paying husband's debt for duration of her life) or one half of her husband's estate, absoluteley, both real and personal.

1868 - A married woman may sue and be sued, "carry on any trade or business, and perform any labor or services, on her sole and separate account; and the earnings of any married woman, from her trade...shall be her sole and separate property, and may be invested by her in her own name. "The widow of a deceased husband, or husband of a deceased wife, are 'entitled to the same rights or portions in the estate of the other.'"

1887 - Women may vote in city and bond elections.

1912 - Kansas women receive complete suffrage.

 

What about the state in which my heroine, Varinia Jewell, lived: Colorado? It was actually one of the earlier states to receive complete suffrage.

Colorado - 

1874 - A married woman may devise a will.

1876 - (year of statehood) A married woman's separate estates is property that is held prior to and after marriage. Her separate earnings are also her separate estate.

1893 - Colorado women receive complete suffrage by amendment to the state constitution.

 

Now, let's take a look at Oklahoma, which became a territory separate from Indian Territory  May 2, 1890. Oklahoma did not  become a state until November 16, 1907.

Marigold was set in 1894. Beulah was set in 1896. The following was the timeline of rights granted to both Native Americans and women of other ethnicities in Oklahoma Territory/Oklahoma:

Oklahoma -

1890 -  Organized as Oklahoma Territory; the eastern portion of Oklahoma is Indian Territory under the jurisdiction of Arkansas; the Oklahoma Panhandle is opened for settlement.

- Oklahoma Territory law follows that of Nebraska.

- Indian Territory law followed that of Arkansas.

1918 - Oklahoma women receive complete suffrage.

Considering that Oklahoma Territory followed Nebraska law, here is what applied to women living there after Oklahoma Territory was separated from Indian Territory:

1867 - Women may vote in school elections.

1881 - All property owned by a woman at her marriage "shall be and remain her sole and separate property free from the disposal or debts of her husband."

Missed that when I researched Marigold. My resource is quiet regarding women's rights concerning their children or voting for school bonds, but, evidently, they could vote in school board elections. Maybe at the school board meeting dealing with trying to reduce Marigold's salary, Mr. Duffy should not have been so quick to dismiss Mabel Smithers. 

Beulah was released last Friday and is now available as an ebook and at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It will soon be available in paperback. To find the book description and current purchase options, 

please CLICK HERE

 

 

My other Christmas romance for 2023 is  

Vinegar Pie by Varinia. 

It is available as an ebook, including at no additional cost with a Kindle Unlimited subscription. It is also available in paperback. To find the book description and purchase options,

please CLICK HERE

Historic Adams House in Deadwood

 

A few weeks ago, I took a trip to Deadwood, South Dakota, for the annual Wild Deadwood Reads event. 

I had a little free time one morning and decided to do some exploring. I stopped by the Historic Adams House and was so glad I did! 

The Queen Anne-style home was built in 1892 for the Harris Franklin family with beautiful oak interiors, hand-painted canvas wall coverings, stained-glass windows, and gorgeous marble sinks. 

It was "modern" and perhaps even a little ahead of its time with indoor plumbing, electricity, and telephone service!

Harris and Anna Franklin, and their son Nathan arrived in Deadwood, Dakota Territory, in 1877.

Harris was a Jewish immigrant from humble beginnings, and earned his fortune through the wholesale liquor business. He gradually diversified into cattle, gold mining and banking. Between 1883 and 1890, the Franklins purchased four parcels of land in order to build a home with all the modern amenities.

In 1891, Harris and Anna Franklin commissioned Simeon D. Eisendrath, a Jewish architect from Chicago, to design their home.

The house was centrally heated, plumbed with hot and cold running water, and lit with electric lights. Servants were summoned by electric bells, and the owners communicated by telephone.

The Franklin’s moved into the residence, in 1893, and were soon entertaining guests. 

The tour I went on through the house was led by an amazing tour guide named Aaron who was knowledgeable about the home and it's past inhabitants. He also had a great sense of humor which added to the tour. 

According to Aaron, Mrs. Franklin loved music and when the family entertained, they would have musicians play in the round music room and the acoustics were so wonderful in that room, the sound would carry throughout the home.  The photo above shows the glorious hand-painted canvas walls encircling the music room. 

In the fall of 1893, their son, Nathan, wed Ada F. Keller. 

Three years later, Mrs. Franklin hired a firm to redecorate the house, improving on near perfection. Not long after, her health began to fail and she passed in 1902. 

Mr. Franklin sold the house to Nathan a few years later for the grand sum of $1. Nathan was a business man and community leader. In addition to owning a pharmacy, he was president of the First National Bank. 

Nathan and Ada raised their only child, Anna, in the beautiful home. They made improvements in 1904, 1914, and 1916, when Nathan was elected Mayor of Deadwood. 

The marble sinks throughout the house were incredible, with fantastic detail in the sink bowls.

When Nathan's second term in office ended, he and Ada made plans to move to move to New York city to be closer to their daughter and Harris. 

Nathan sold the house to William E. and Alice Adams for $8,500. According to Aaron, Nathan wasn't looking to make a profit, since the sum was about what Harris paid to have the house constructed. He wanted to sell the home to someone who would care for it.  

And William and Alice did. 

William and his brother arrived in Deadwood like many other young men - to mine gold. The brothers eventually opened a grocery business, but William ended up taking it over and turning it into a successful grocery wholesome business. William became one of the richest men in Deadwood, with properties in California as well. 

He and Alice had two daughters. One died as a young woman (I think Aaron said it was of diabetes, but I was so enthralled with the beautiful home, I wasn't paying 100% attention). Their daughter, Helen, wed and lived in California. Alice was diagnosed with cancer, but wanted to be in California with Helen as she was due to give birth to her first child. 

Upon arriving, Alice was exhausted and needed to rest - and passed that very day. Her sudden death was so upsetting to Helen, she went into premature labor and died. The baby also passed a few hours later. With less than 48-hours, William lost his entire family. 

Mired in his grief, he moved out of the master suite and went through the motions of living. Then he met Mary Mastrovich Vicich, a widow who was more than forty years younger than him. 

When the two of them wed, it set tongues wagging all over town. 

Mary "traveled for business" although Aaron the tour guide said no one had been able to determine exactly what type of business she conducted. 

Regardless, she and William became best friends. 

In 1934, William suffered a stroke and died. Mary didn't want his money, because she refused to be labeled a gold digger.

William left her the home and a lump sum of cash. She found it painful to live in the house without William there, so she left. Just closed up the house and left. Once a year, she would come back to Deadwood for a visit, but she stayed in a hotel. When asked why, she claimed the house was haunted. 

According to Aaron the tour guide, who's grandmother recalls seeing Mary, the woman likely encouraged the idea of the house being haunted to prevent it being vandalized. She could be seen wearing black with her hair stringing down, and youngsters called her the witch, or so Aaron said. 

At any rate, from the time Mary walked out of the house to the day she sold it in 1987, the house remained untouched. Every plate, every curtain, every pillow was left in place, exactly as it had been the day she walked out of the home. The sheet music was still on the piano, the books in the library, medicines in the bathroom, even cookies in a jar. 

The contents of the home were documented, photographed, and stored in the attic. For a few years, the house became a bed and breakfast. In 1992, the city of Deadwood purchased it and continued running it as a B&B until 1995.  The house was left in a state of disrepair the city decided to restore it.

Great decision! 

In 2000, the Adams House opened to the public as a museum. Approximately 80% of the furnishings in the museum are directly associated with the Adams family. 

On the tour, the tour guide pointed out an old waffle iron - one of the first that were electric. It plugged directly into an outlet (no cord!)

Aaron also pointed out a glass jar with what appeared to be Nilla wafers. According to him, it's thought the cookies were in the jar when Mary left the house. When they were bringing stuff down from the attic for the museum, one of the work crew decided to taste a cookie, which disintegrated into a substance not unlike sawdust at first bite. I was amazed the cookies are still in one piece, at least as long as they aren't touched!

At any rate, if you ever find yourself in Deadwood, I highly recommend a visit to the Historic Adams House. 

Since I adore big, old houses, and I love any reason to celebrate Christmas, today you can download a digital copy of The Christmas Bargain for free (which features the Granger House - a glory of a home that only exists in my imagination!).

One Old West Cinderella discovers

Prince Charming is a . . . Cowboy?

The death of her mother left Philamena Booth grieving and at the mercy of her drunken father. After spending more than a decade held captive on their run-down farm, she’s left speechless and dazed when her father strikes a bargain to settle a long overdue debt. In lieu of payment, a handsome cowboy agrees to take her. Mortified yet relieved to leave the farm, Philamena unexpectedly finds herself married to a charismatic, caring man.

Luke Granger might own Hardman’s bank and the fanciest house in this Eastern Oregon town, but he’d much rather be outside riding his horses or wrangling his herd of cattle than keeping his account books straight. In a strange, unsettling turn of events, he finds himself accepting a farmer’s daughter instead of money to cover a loan. If the man hadn’t threatened to sell her to the saloon owner, Luke might have refused. He has no idea what to do with beautiful Filly or their marriage of convenience, but he’s about to get far more than he bargained for.

Full of western charm and holiday warmth, The Christmas Bargain is a sweet Christmas romance filled with the spirit of the season.

USA Today bestselling author Shanna Hatfield grew up on a farm where her childhood brimmed with sunshine, hay fever, and an ongoing supply of learning experiences.

Today, Shanna draws on her rural roots to create sweet romances filled with hope, humor, quirky small-town characters, realistic heroes, and women of strength.

When this award-winning author isn’t writing or testing out new recipes (she loves to bake!), Shanna hangs out at home in the Pacific Northwest with her beloved husband, better known as Captain Cavedweller.