Title: Jingles
Author: D.F. Jones
Publisher: D.F. Jones
Publication Date: November 1, 2024
Pages:
Genre: Holiday Fantasy/Women’s Fiction
BOOK
BLURB:
Jingles by USA Today bestselling author D.F. Jones is a heartwarming
tale set in the picturesque town of HollyHaven, where Christmas magic is more
real than anyone could imagine. At the heart of this magic is Jingles, a
beloved Christmas shop that has always been the town's festive centerpiece. But
this year, something is different—the magic is fading, and the very spirit of
Christmas hangs in the balance.
Enter Nick, the reluctant heir
to the Claus legacy, who’s been tasked with saving Christmas before it’s too
late. While Nick knows the pressure is on, he isn’t expecting the key to saving
the holiday to come in the form of Clara, a talented baker who runs the town’s
cozy café, The Cinnamon Stick. Clara, still healing from past heartbreaks, has
wrapped herself in the warmth of her bakery, keeping her heart and belief in
magic safely guarded.
As Nick and Clara’s paths
cross, sparks fly, and magical happenings begin to unfold around them. Nick
sees something special in Clara—something that might just be the answer to
restoring the holiday magic. But more than that, he feels a growing connection
he can’t explain.
With Christmas Eve fast
approaching, Nick must convince Clara to believe in the magic of the season and
the love blossoming between them. Together, they must find a way to restore
Christmas before it fades away forever.
Jingles is a feel-good, magical romance filled with the joy of the
holiday season, perfect for anyone who loves a good dose of Christmas spirit,
love, and second chances. It’s a gentle reminder that sometimes, the greatest
magic of all is simply believing.
Jingles is available at Amazon at https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0DJDQLY66 .
Book Excerpt:
Nick ran his fingers over the delicate, gilded edges of the
ancient book, its weight heavy in his lap, both literally and figuratively. The Saint Nicholas Revelation. The magic
of Christmas resting on his shoulders? He had always imagined he’d carry on the
family traditions, but not like this—not with the ticking of an unseen
celestial clock urging him forward.
His father, Nicholas Sr., stood across from him, eyes
weathered by centuries yet still bright with the same magic that pulsed through
the very fabric of their family. He had seen countless Christmases come and go,
carrying the burden of wonder and joy on his back like a well-worn cloak. But
now, the mantle would fall to Nick, and it felt impossibly heavy. Between them
hung a silent bond of understanding. The older man had walked this path once
before, and while his demeanor was as steadfast as the North Star, Nick could
feel his father’s concern beneath the surface.
“What if I don’t want to fulfill the prophecy?” Nick's voice
wavered, betraying the doubt that had crept in under the cover of the predawn
hours when uncertainty tends to dig deep.
Nicholas Sr.’s eyes softened, though his voice carried the
weight of centuries. “It’s not about wanting, son. It’s about destiny. The
magic isn’t just a job—it’s in our blood, the essence of who we are. There was
a time when I asked myself the same question.” He paused, his gaze steady as he
stepped closer. “But I won’t force you into anything. You've always had free
will, just as I did. The choice is yours, but know this: without the magic,
Christmas as the world knows it might just become another winter day. The joy
and hope fade without someone to keep the spark alive.”
Nick swallowed, his throat dry as if the weight of his
decision had sucked the moisture from the air. “But what if I fail? What if I’m
not strong enough? You’ve had centuries to perfect it… I’m just—” He hesitated,
unsure of how to put into words the inadequacy that gnawed at him. “I’m not
you.”
A gentle and knowing smile tugged at the corner of his
father’s mouth. “I never expected you to be. Each of us carries the magic in
our way. I wasn’t my father either. But the magic… it grows with you, Nick. It
shapes itself around your heart, your desires, your dreams. And yes, your
fears, too.”
Nick’s hands gripped the book's edges, feeling the ancient,
worn leather under his palms. It was alive with an energy he didn’t fully
understand yet. “What if the magic’s not enough?”
Nicholas Sr. went to him, placing a hand on Nick’s shoulder.
“The magic is always enough. The question is, will you allow it to be? This
world, this time we live in, needs more than ever what we have. It needs
belief, Nick. Not just in the magic of Christmas but in something greater. In
hope, in light, in the power of love to heal what’s broken.”
The room fell silent for a moment, save for the faint sound
of the wind outside, gently brushing against the frosted windowpanes. Nick
nodded, feeling the gravity of his potential choice settle over him like a
cloak of invisible snow. He looked down at the book in his lap, which now
seemed to pulse with ancient, expectant magic as though it were waiting for him
to open it to begin the next chapter in their family’s story.
“The magic may be enough,” Nick said, finally meeting his
father’s eyes. “But I’m not sure I am.” Nick turned his gaze to the large sash
windows, where the snow-covered peaks of Reflection Ridge sparkled like a
thousand diamonds under the afternoon sun. The sight was familiar, yet today,
it felt distant. For a fleeting moment, he imagined life without the
enchantment of the mountain, without the reindeer or the elves bustling about
the workshops, and without the secret joy of slipping through time and space to
bring wonder to children everywhere. Could he really bear the weight of that
loss? “What about the store? What about Jingles? Items are selling like crazy,
and the sales help create funds for those in need.”
Nicholas Sr. leaned back, his eyes reflecting the deep
connection between their family’s magic and the store. “Jingles isn’t just a store, Nick. It’s an extension of you, of the
magic that runs through your veins. Every ornament, every stocking, every
trinket sold carries a touch of that magic. It’s why people feel a little more
joy when they walk out of those doors, why they believe just a bit more. The
magic within you breathes life into Jingles,
and in turn, Jingles spreads that
magic out into the world.”
Nick’s brows furrowed. “So, you’re saying if I don’t fulfill
my destiny—if I step away—the magic in Jingles
fades?”
His father nodded slowly. “That’s right. The store thrives
because your belief and commitment to Christmas are embedded in every aspect of
it. Without that, without you, Jingles
becomes just another quaint holiday shop. The enchantment fades. It’s not just
about selling ornaments; it’s about keeping the spirit alive. If your magic
dims, so does the store’s. It’s all interconnected.”
Nick swallowed hard, the gravity of it all sinking in. But
then a thought surfaced, one that gave him hope. “If I want to keep the store
after the transition, is that possible?”
His father’s lips curved into a warm smile, the twinkle of
Christmas magic in his eyes. “With Christmas magic, everything is possible,
Nick. You can continue, Jingles—you
can continue everything, but it must come from the heart. The Magic is about
more than fulfilling a duty. It’s about love, belief, and a willingness to
embrace the unknown. The store can thrive as long as you carry those things
with you.”
Nick breathed out slowly, a tiny flicker of reassurance
settling within him. He wasn’t just stepping into his father’s shoes—he could
make this legacy his own. Nick took a deep breath and exhaled, the weight of
the decision pressing in on him. “How does the transition take place, Father?”
Nicholas Sr. smiled, a gleam in his eye that Nick hadn’t
seen in a while. “It starts with finding your soul mate. Without Mrs. Claus,
the North Pole wouldn’t work how it needs to. Your mother and I have kept this
going for centuries, but we’re ready to retire, to hand over the reins, so to
speak, to you and a new generation.”
Nick blinked, feeling the ground beneath him shift. The
enormity of it all—a legacy more significant than anyone—hit him anew. His
father’s words echoed in his mind. A soul mate? It wasn’t just about magic, the
North Pole, or Christmas. It was about partnership, about love. That, more than
anything, had been the key all along.
“A soul mate? I don’t understand,” Nick
muttered, his voice barely above a whisper, yet it carried the weight of his
turmoil. “How does this even work? Am I supposed to conjure her with a spell?
How do I find this woman—the one destined to be my partner of Christmas?”
Nicholas Sr. let out a chuckle, the sound
tinged with nostalgia. “Love isn’t conjured, Nick. There’s no spell for
it, no incantation. It’s not a trick or a treat. She’ll find her way to you, as your
mother did to me, turning everything extraordinary in the most mundane
moments.”
Nick frowned, the gears of logic turning in his mind. “But
how will I even know? What if she’s just—” He waved his hand vaguely, “—some
mortal passing through? What if she doesn’t believe in magic at all?”
“Ah,” his father said, his eyes twinkling with a secret
knowledge. “That’s the tricky part. The magic only reveals itself to those who
believe. She'll see it if she’s the one, just like your mother did. But you
can’t force it. You can’t rush the magic.”
Nick wasn’t convinced. “And what if she doesn’t come at
all?” He asked the question again, frustration creeping into his voice like
frost over the windowpane. “What if I’m not cut out for this? For love, for
magic, for any of it?”
His father tilted his head slightly, his gaze never
wavering. “Then we live as mortals, and the world turns,” he said. “We adapt.
We let Christmas become just another day on the calendar.”
Nick felt a surge of indignation at the thought. Adapt? That wasn’t in their blood.
Adapting was for people who settled, who gave up the extraordinary for the
mundane. His jaw tightened, a flicker of resolve igniting deep within him.
“I won’t let that happen,” Nick muttered under his breath,
though the conviction rang between them like the unmistakable chime of a sleigh
bell.
Nicholas Sr. smiled knowingly, a twinkle in his eye
suggesting he’d once stood in this spot, facing the same dilemma. But he didn’t
press further, allowing the weight of Nick’s choice to settle around them like
the snow falling outside.
The room seemed to hum with ancient magic
as if waiting for Nick’s next move. One thing was sure: time wouldn’t wait for
him forever.
– Excerpted from
Jingles by D.F. Jones, D.F. Jones, 2024. Reprinted with permission.
About
the Author
Before she became the USA Today bestselling author, D.F.
Jones had a pretty different gig. She worked as a broadcast consultant at an
ABC Affiliate in Nashville. But then, in 2015, she decided to downsize her ad
agency to take care of her family and focus on something constantly
tugging at her heart—writing fiction.
Writing, for her, is more than just putting words on a page.
It's her escape, a place where the stress of everyday life melts away, and
anything is possible. And she wants to share that world with you. The stories
she crafts aren’t just filled with magic—they're packed with action, love, and
characters you’ll be thinking about long after you turn the last page.
At home, D.F. Jones shares a love story of her own. She’s
married to her best friend, a man who keeps her laughing every day. Together,
they raised two incredible sons, who are the true lights of her life and the
spark behind the heart and soul in her books.
When she's not writing, you’ll probably find her in her
flower garden. She loves the feeling of her hands in the soil, coaxing life
from the earth just like she does with her characters on the page.
So, if you're ready to escape into a world where love and
the otherworldly go hand-in-hand, D.F. Jones is the perfect guide. Her books
promise adventure, a bit of whimsy, and heart-pounding moments that'll keep you
hooked. Welcome to her world, where the impossible is just the beginning.
Website ➜ http://www.dfjonesauthor.com
Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/Author_DFJones
Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/DFJones.author
Instagram ➜ https://instagram.com/D.F.Jones_Author
Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/GoodreadscomdfjonesAuthor
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