THE CHRISTMAS DILEMMA PLAYLISTS

Just for fun. And to put you into the holiday mood. As if you needed any help at all after decorating the tree and the front door. I’ve put together some playlists to go along as background music while you’re reading THE CHRISTMAS DILEMMA.

It’s an establish fact that Eli Adair is a bit eccentric. He has ecclectic taste when it comes to music. And he’s gathered together an intriguing assortment of music to listen to over the holidays. He’s drawn to classic Christmas songs from his youth. And he was influenced by his dad and grandfather when it comes to holiday classics. I hope you’ll enjoy having a Spotify playlist to listen to while you’re reading.

And thank you for reading THE CHRISTMAS DILEMMA. I’m so grateful to you. Especailly at this time of year when it’s important to take a few minutes to rest and count our blessings.

Happiest holiday wishes to you and yours.

xoxo

Sarah

CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT GIVEAWAY

THANK YOU!

For being a part of the Christmas Advent Calendar. I want to giveaway this Christmas ornament to a lucky participant. This Christmas ornament was part of the inspiration for Book #1 in the Adair Family Series, ON CHRISTMAS TREE COVE. A story about an seaplane pilot and a professional photographer who are scared to take a second chance on love.

Here’s the blurb:

December was always a special time for seaplane pilot Morgan Adair, but after losing her parents six years ago, the holiday is a quiet affair. When her siblings announce plans to sell the family home, Morgan longs to experience her favorite, now-forgotten tradition one more time: a lighted tree that, for over a hundred years, has appeared floating on a boat in the harbor every Christmas Eve.

The Taylors were always rivals to the Adairs in the once-thriving fishing village of Christmas Tree Cove, but Jesse Taylor was much more. He wanted to be understanding when Morgan set aside their plans to escape to Chicago in order to hold her family together, but his future as a successful freelance photographer soared on without her.

As Morgan dives deeper into the history of the mysterious holiday appearance, she discovers that true love has always been at the heart of the annual tradition. Can the wonder of Christmas and a few surprises along the way rekindle that love for Morgan and Jesse too?

If you enjoy THE CHRISTMAS DILEMMA, you’ll enjoy meeting all the characters in ON CHRISTMAS TREE COVE. Comment below with the name of your favorite Christmas song and I’ll select one person at random to win the Christmas ornament. Thank you and best wishes for a very happy holiday season.

xoxo

Sarah

KATHARINE HEPBURN BROWNIES

Ingredients

1/2 cup cocoa or 2 squares (2 oz.) unsweetened baker’s chocolate

1 stick (1/2 cup) unsalted butter

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/4 cup AP flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

Pinch of salt

1 cup roughly chopped walnuts or pecans

Directions

Pre-heat oven to 325 degrees.

Melt butter with cocoa or chocolate together in a heavy saucepan over medium low heat, whisking constantly until fully blended and shiny. Remove from heat. Let cool. In a standing mixer, whisk together sugar, eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour, salt and nuts. Add chocolate mixture. Mix well. Pour into a well buttered 8-inch square baking pan. Bake at 325 degrees for about 40 minutes until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool completely cut into sixteen squares. These brownies are fudgie and perfect for a cold winter’s night.

Oh! I almost forgot. There’s a legend that goes along with the Katharine Hepburn brownies. You can read all about that delicious story HERE. But make the brownies and a cup tea first so you can really sit down and enjoy it. xo

THE CHRISTMAS DILEMMA COVER REVEAL

Skipping Christmas is easy. But it’s impossible to deny your heart…

Eli Adair is the first call whenever his family and friends need a hand. But this Christmas, he has no obligations, so he’s taking a break from the stress of big family celebrations. No presents under the tree. No stockings by the fireplace. No twinkling lights.

All he wants is to be home alone at Hillcrest House.

Travel nurse Audrey Elliott is returning to Christmas Tree Cove hoping for a big holiday celebration like the ones on her grandparents’ farm—all she has left of happier times before her mom’s condition lost those memories. Candy canes. Gingerbread houses. Holiday carols.

All Audrey wants is a place to call home for Christmas.

When a high school friend assures her there’s plenty of room at Hillcrest House, it seems like all her Christmas dreams are coming true until she discovers she’ll be living with Eli, the boy she’s never forgotten. Or the first kiss they shared.

Eli and Audrey are about to discover whether December is about reliving traditions—or making new ones.

 Available 11.1.23

PRE ORDER NOW: : https://tulepublishing.com/books/the-christmas-dilemma/#order

COFFEE CAKE

We have an orange tree growing in our backyard. For Easter I combined my mom and my mother in law’s recipes for sour cream coffee cake. Threw it all in a bundt pan and came up with something special I think you’ll really enjoy when your house fills up with family on holidays.

SOUR CREAM COFFEE CAKE

½         CUP                 BUTTER

1          CUP                 SUGAR

2                                  EGGS

1          TSP                  BAKING SODA

1          TSP                  BAKING POWDER

½         TSP                  SALT

1          CUP                 SOUR CREAM

1          TSP                  VANILLA

2          CUPS               FLOUR

FILLING

½         CUP                 BROWN SUGAR

¼         CUP                 WHITE SUGAR

1          TSP                  CINNAMON

1          CUP                 CHOPPED NUTS

POUR OVER

½         CUP                 ORANGE JUICE

½         CUP                 WHITE SUGAR

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder & salt. Add sour cream and flour mixture to butter and sugar. Add vanilla. Mix well. Layer batter with filling in a greased and floured Bundt pan.

BAKE 323

40-45 MINUTES

Remove from oven and Bundt pan, poke holes with a toothpick and pour mixture over the cake before it cools.