Twelve Dates to Christmas

Lili Valente

Nov 2014 · Lonesome Point, Texas Book 4 · Self Taught Ninja

About this ebook

It’s the time of year for miracles…

Once upon a time, Lula and Carter were inseparable and Christmas was Lula’s favorite time of the year. But when Lula refused Carter’s proposal one dark December night—unwilling to abandon her hometown to live the dangerous life of a treasure hunter’s wife—the holiday lights went out in her heart. She abandoned all hope of romance and embraced a hermit’s existence, keeping her distance from dangerous men and untamed cowboys. 

Until now…

Years of hard knocks have taught Carter that the greatest adventure is the one he once found in Lula’s arms. He’s back in Lonesome Point determined to win back the only woman he’s ever loved, but Lula is just as determined to keep her heart under lock and key. She gives Carter twelve days—and twelve dates—to make his case before she sends him on his way, not counting on the fact that the two of them have grown into people even more meant to be.

It looks like Lula and Carter are on track to Happily Ever After take two, but when Lula’s old fears are reawakened Christmas Eve it will take a holiday miracle to keep them together. 

The Lonesome Point Bachelors Series (each book can be read as a Standalone romance):

Leather and Lace

Saddles and Sin

Diamonds and Dust

Twelve Dates to Christmas

Glitter and Grit

Sunny with a Chance of True Love

Chaps and Chance

Ropes and Revenge

Eight Second Angel

A Hundred Million Reasons

Perfect for fans of Stephanie Rowe, Lori Wilde, and feisty, feel-good small town romances.

Ratings and reviews

Some people don’t like novellas. I happen to love them. Especially Jessie Evans' novellas. It takes a brilliant writer to get everything you need, want and love into a short book! This book has 2 of my favorite things: it takes place at Christmas and it's a second chance romance! Lula Jo and Carter were in love and planning to spend forever together, but he leaves to follow his career dreams. Years later he comes back to town and wants Lula Jo back. She puts up a good fight, but her body quickly remembers Carter. Her mind is a little slower to believe that he's back for good and wants her. Can she forget the pain and loss she felt when he left? Can she let him in again? He has 12 dates to convince her that he loves her. Can he do it? I love this series and I can't wait for Diamonds and Dust! "Play with me," Cater said, his voice husky. "I'm yours." "Don't ever leave. Stay here forever." "Yes, ma'am," he drawled. "Though we might get some funny looks if we go down to serve customers naked and tangled up."

Tallulah Josephine Watson was a spinster at the age of 33 years old. At least, that is what she felt like. Lula was 22 years old when she fell hard and fast for Carter Bryce, an archaeologist who came to her home town seeking his fortune. Despite a courtship that spanned a few years, Carter left abruptly when faced with Lula's decision to refuse his ring and not leave with him when his job ended. Devastated when his departure coincided with a family tragedy, Lula's life fell into a predictable routine until the unexpected return of the love of her life. How could she trust him again? Could Carter convince her that he was sincere and back for the long haul? I loved this quick read set in the wonderful town of Lonesome Point, Texas! I'm a big fan of the series and this installment felt like going home. Both sweet and romantic, the author breathes life into the characters she creates. With Christmas as a cheerful backdrop, and gnomes (both real and magical), I laughed and got misty in equally measure through all the twelve days. Another great book by this author!

Twelve Dates of Christmas: The Ballad of Lula Joe by Jessie Evans is a novella in her series. This is the sweetly tragic tale of young love gone wrong and second chances and all they can bring. Lula and Carter were in love - until he insisted on leaving Lonesome Point and she refused. The turn of events around this forever soured Christmas time for Lula, and while she put on a good face year after year, inside she was Scrooge and The Grinch all rolled into one. When the appearance of a Christmas garden gnome threatens to rock her world all bets are off and there is no more room for bah-humbug and small hearts. A heart-warming, well-paced Christmas time story with Characters that you feel like you know and appearances from old friends from other books in the series. One of my favorite authors - highly recommend!

About the author

Lili Valente (also writing as Jessie Evans) is a USA Today Bestseller who writes everything from steamy suspense to laugh-out-loud romantic comedies. A die-hard romantic and optimist at heart, she can’t resist a story where love wins big. Because love should always win.

When she’s not writing, Lili enjoys adventuring with her two sons, climbing on rocks, swimming too far from shore, and asking “why” an incorrigible number of times per day. A former yoga teacher, actor, and dancer, she is also very bendy and good at pretending innocence when caught investigating off-limits places.

You can currently find Lili in the mid-South, valiantly trying to resist the lure of all the places left to explore. 

Find Lili at www.lilivalente.com