Lee Ann and I are doing a blog exchange that includes holiday recipes (mine is struffoli, "honey balls"), and she is featuring HOMEWARD BOUND HEARTS, on sale December 16.
About Lee Ann
Lee Ann writes from the heart about everyday people caught up in often extraordinary circumstances. Although she makes her home in the small town of Neosho, Missouri in the Ozarks, she’s a native of St. Joseph, Missouri. When she’s not writing or reading, she may be teaching at church. She’s penned more than fifty full length novels, has been included in two dozen anthologies, and published many short stories and articles. Her novels and short fiction have won awards. Her publishers include World Castle Publishing, Evernight Publishing, and The Wild Rose Press. She is widowed with three children. She enjoys cooking, gardening, and sitting on the front porch in what passes for suburbs in a small town.
A story of Christmas, faith, love and redemption, and a bronc rider ready to play Santa!
Take one saddle bronc ridin’ cowboy, Jeb Hill, the Hillbilly Hotshot, who suffers the worst injury of his career. Send him home to be cared for by a widowed nurse, Shelby Thacker, who struggles to pay her bills and support her two children. Add some friendship, then stir in a little attraction. Complicate things with the return of Jeb’s long absent father and throw in the Christmas season. Jeb wants an old-fashioned, heartwarming Christmas, but Shelby’s poverty destroyed her holiday spirit long ago. Toss in some faith, a country church, and a rodeo rider ready to play Santa Claus. Shelby’s and Jeb’s friendship deepens, but can they fulfill each other’s hopes and dreams?
JEBEDIAH ‘JEB’ HILL has ridden saddle broncs for years as ‘The Hillbilly Hotshot” but when he’s pitched hard into the dirt in an arena, it’s the last ride for Jeb. He feared he broke his back but the spinal fracture is serious enough to land him in the hospital. He’ll walk again but recovery will require months. The medical staff tells him he’ll walk but he won’t compete in rodeo again. Jeb has a choice – either he can check into a rehab facility or recuperate at home with an in-home nurse. He opts for the latter and returns home to the farm where he was raised in Northern Missouri.
SHELBY THACKER is a widowed home health care nurse, raising her two children despite her financial troubles. When she’s assigned to Jeb’s case, Shelby expects an older man and is surprised to meet a patient close to her age. She was hired to work with him each day but spend her nights at home.
Jeb isn’t the easiest patient and worries about staying alone at night when he can barely move. Shelby realizes his fears and returns on the first night. He offers to allow her and her children to move into the rambling old farmhouse while she’s on his case.
His expectations for a long recovery were dim but Jeb finds Shelby and her children, Levi and Lexi, to be cheerful companions. Although he’s not been around many children, he likes her kids. Shelby, armed with a list of the foods he likes, cooks up meals he truly enjoys.
As Jeb graduates from a walker to a cane, a friendship grows between them but Jeb soon learns Shelby is stubborn. Since he has more than enough money, he offers to help the struggling widow but Shelby refuses. She’ll earn her money and stand on her own two feet.
Since Jeb’s farm lies outside of town, closer to a small rural community, Shelby drives the children to school and back each day. Once the job ends, she plans to move back to her old house despite the disrepair. After his first doctor’s visit, Shelby and Jeb have an impromptu picnic at a scenic spot. They talk and kiss for the first time.
Shelby allows Jeb, who can now get around on a limited basis, inside her house so she can pick up a few things. While there, she finds part of the upstairs bathroom floor has sunk, which Jeb tells her is unsafe. He notes many other critical repairs needed before she moves back inside.
Dismayed, Shelby agrees she’ll stay at Jeb’s until some repairs are made. At the same time, her children get closer to Jeb. Levi plays soccer and Jeb attends the games along with Shelby and Lexi. When the stores begin having Christmas items, the kids dream about what they want for the holiday. Jeb learns Shelby doesn’t do much for Christmas. She hasn’t put up a tree since her husband died three years earlier and she can’t afford many presents. He learns her dad died around the holiday so Shelby has her reasons to be a Scrooge.
Jeb, however, wants a glorious Christmas. He plans for a tree, a fine dinner, many presents, and fun for everyone.
He and Shelby debate over how the holiday will be. In the meantime, they also begin attending Jeb’s childhood church a few miles away from the farm.
Jeb’s mother died when he was twelve and his paternal grandparents raised him. His dad left soon after his wife’s death so Jeb’s relationship with his father is rocky. His dad, Josiah Hill, shows up wanting money. He’s been drinking but Jeb gives him cash and sends him away.
Shelby realizes genial, generous Jeb has a hard side, too, and isn’t sure what to think.
Shelby’s mom, Delia, was wary about Jeb at first and urged her daughter to avoid a relationship with her patient. She soon likes the man, too, and is a big part of their lives.
Halloween passes and by then, Jeb loves Shelby and she says she loves him too. Neither know where they will go from here and for the moment they enjoy life one day at a time.
Just before Thanksgiving, Shelby visits her house in town to retrieve some warm clothes and her children’s coats. As they arrive, she realizes something looks strange with the roof, then see part of it has caved in. Despite the danger, she rushes inside to grab the items she needs. Jeb follows her and pulls her out just before the rest of the roof gives away. Her house is now a wreck and unlivable.
Shelby is upset and has a hard time with the loss. Jeb steps up to help cook for the kids and offers his support.
They prepare for Thanksgiving but on the weekend before, Jeb’s dad returns. This time he’s sober, returns most of the money, and asks if he can stay. Jeb wants to refuse then relents and allows his dad to bunk in the hired hand’s room in the barn. If his dad drinks or causes trouble, he’ll be asked to leave.
Family and friends gather for a traditional Thanksgiving at the farmhouse. Shelby does some Christmas shopping and Jeb does more. He’s ready to put up a tree but his plans are put on hold when Shelby comes down with a bad case of the flu. Delia takes the children home so they won’t get sick and Jeb nurses Shelby.
He’s decided to ask her to marry him around Christmas.
A major winter storm is predicted and so Jeb reacts. First, he asks his dad if he wants to move into the guest room where it will be warmer. They have been rebuilding their relationship one day at a time. Jeb and his father make a trip to town to prepare for the incoming weather. They finally pick up a Christmas tree, plenty of groceries, last minute gifts, and a ring for Shelby.
Delia comes to stay at the farmhouse, so she won’t miss Christmas with her daughter and grandchildren. She and Josiah are getting along well and it seems there may be another relationship in the making.
They decorate the tree and prepare for Christmas. The predicted snow arrives and drops several feet. The church Christmas Eve program is cancelled but they hunker down, make merry, and prepare for December 25.
Jeb intended to propose on Christmas Eve but the right moment didn’t come.
At the same time, Shelby wonders where this relationship might be headed and thinks about a new job. She even considers finding a place to rent. They can’t stay with Jeb forever.
Early on Christmas morning, Jeb asks Shelby if she will be his wife and she agrees.
They decide on a New Year’s Day wedding and their future together begins with joy.
In the last chapter, readers will see some of their future and the book ends with Jeb as a blessed and happy man.
Excerpt
Her new patient arrived in a medical transport van, and she noticed gray shot through his black hair. So, he is old. Then she caught sight of his face, and her mouth dropped open. Mr. Hill wasn’t old at all, despite the salt-and-pepper hair. His lean face tapered to a pointed chin, and he sported a slender hawk-style nose. His eyes were the deep-blue of the ocean or the sky in summer. He isn’t old, and he’s very handsome.
When he stood, using the walker, Shelby realized how tall he was. Still, she remained professional. She introduced herself, settled him into bed, and positioned his body for comfort. When he didn’t object to the kids, she heaved a sigh of relief.
She chose the menu early from a notebook where she’d written down everything she received about his case, from his dietary preferences to the doctor’s orders. Shelby had a section on his medications and his medical history, and flipping through it as she cooked, she realized she’d missed his birthdate. In case he had a birthday coming soon, she wanted to know so found the date on his records.
He would turn thirty-one in December, which made him three years older. Nothing indicated his career, and she had guessed him to be an attorney or college professor or an advertising man. When Jeb mentioned he’d been a saddle bronc rider, Shelby had been stunned. It wasn’t a career she’d considered he might have. Once she knew, however, she understood and realized it matched his injury.
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Pumpkin Bread Tradition and Recipe
When we remember the holiday seasons of the past, we often
recall the favorite foods or recipes we prepare. During my childhood, my family
hosted a multi-generational Christmas celebration which included both sets of
grandparents, a great-grandmother, often aunts, uncles, and cousins, as well as
my parents and siblings. Sometimes we included a family friend or two as well.
Our table was abundant with offerings including everything from roast turkey to
ham and the occasional quail from my dad’s frequent hunting trips. Side dishes
included my great-grandmother’s sage and onion stuffing, mashed potatoes and
homemade gravy, family recipe egg noodles, yeast bread or hot rolls fresh from
the oven, and an array of vegetable dishes. Since Christmas was also my mom’s
birthday, we had a bakery birthday cake along with other cakes and pies. Pumpkin
and apple were always the two top favorites.
We also had pumpkin bread, which my mother baked in coffee
cans for some reason I don’t know. I still bake it but either in a loaf pan or
a cute turkey shaped pan I bought years ago.
We also bake cutout sugar cookies, using well-used cookie
cutters handed down over several generations. We first baked the cookies and
frosted them with bright colors as a gift for Pop, my paternal grandfather, but
it became a tradition which has endured long after his passing.
Although now the mantle of hosting Christmas for a smaller
number of guests has fallen to me, I mostly make the foods our bunch has come
to expect. It wouldn’t be Christmas without them, and I’ve added a few items
from my late husband’s side of the family.
Pumpkin, though, isn’t just for Thanksgiving. Here’s my
tried and true pumpkin bread recipe, sure to please almost anyone.
Pre-heat oven to 350 and prepare a loaf (or other) pan
Ingredients:
1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 ½ cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
¾ teaspoon salt
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¾ to one teaspoon pumpkin pie spice (adjust to taste – some
like it spicier than others)
2 large eggs
1 cup canned pumpkin
½ cup canola oil
½ cup water
½ cup raisins and ½ cup walnuts to taste
Combine dry ingredients, add beaten eggs, pumpkin, oil and
water. Blend well. Add raisins and walnuts if desired.
Bake at 350 for 1 hour and fifteen minutes or until a knife
comes out clean.
Enjoy the holiday season with my fictional characters. They
have their favorite dishes too. Try my tried-and-true pumpkin bread recipe for
a delicious addition to any feast.
Have a wonderful holiday season. Take time to slow down and
savor the moments!
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