G'morning.

The blog is late. This would be due to the fact that the Blog Mistress thought that it would be wise to hit the stores early in the morning, to finish up her Christmas shopping. No, she is not done. Wah.

We're using the heroines we created last week, set in short Christmas scenes--today, the By Grace authors; tomorrow, the Moonlit authors. We hope you enjoy! (And if you see any you'd REALLY like to see in a book for Christmas next year, let us know! GGG)...

Don't forget, all our holiday titles are now available! Treat yourself to an early Christmas present today.

Holiday Heroines

CINDY GREEN

Abby set out the last of the Christmas presents and then sat back on the couch to observe the decorated tree, blinking brightly in the darkened room. Her heart ached at the thought of Katie spending this first Christmas without her parents. She felt such a burden in her heart to be there for her niece. But when she thought back to the previous night at how great Griffin had been with Katie, she knew how much the little girl was missing out without a father in her life.

The time had come to make amends with Griffin. As much as she fought it, they were good together. She’d forgotten how much she loved just listening to him talk. And the very thought of him spending the holiday all alone, made her heart ache some more. Rising from her seat, she sought out the telephone. She had a Christmas message to deliver.

SHEILA HOLLOWAY

Laura Simmons looked around the room, wary of bumping into Stan. Garland sparkled from the tree in the fellowship hall as the church Christmas potluck was getting underway. Various members of the congregation were grabbing plates and lining up. So far, no Stan. Thank goodness. After dating for all of two months, he couldn't understand why she wouldn't accept another date with him. True, he was a gentleman, and a Christian. He just wasn't the man with that...that special something. In fact, he was the sterotypical boring account, and clingy to boot.

A solid, manly bi-cep bumped against Laura's shoulder. She turned to find the most tender brown eyes she'd ever seen. This was certainly not Stan.

ROBIN BAYNE

The room swirled in gold and silver garland strands, the tree’s green and red the only break in the jewel tones. Christy loved it. Eyes wide, she drank in the colors, the scent of pine and cinnamon and the soft notes of Christmas carols filtering in through the speakers.

A new scent crossed the room and she snapped to attention, shivering a bit. It was him.

The mysterious detective had arrived, dapper in tweed slacks and a leather jacket. He nodded at her and moved to the buffet table, and Christy decided to follow. If he was half the man she thought he was, he would never refuse to help her find a missing child.

Even on Christmas Eve.

DONICA COVEY

Jazmine Kincaid sat in the window looking out at the snow falling gently on the ground. Reflected in the glass merry lights twinkled on the tree. Beneath it were gifts of all sizes wrapped in the Boyd’s Bears paper she picked up at the dollar store.

Still her mood was anything but jolly. Rand said he’d come but he was almost two hours late. Where was he? Had there been an accident? She stood up and paced the room. Tonight she was going to tell him that his secret didn’t change how she felt about him. Tonight she would admit that she had accepted him for the man he is.

Headlights flashed through the glass and she rushed back to the window. The car kept creeping down the road. Her heart sank. He wasn’t coming. Another flash of lights and his car turned into her drive. Elated she hurried to throw the door open and waited as he bounced up the steps.

MARY CLAYMORE

Felicia could feel all eyes on her as she strutted down the catwalk. The red velour dress fit her curves to a "T." It also covered some of the ones she didn't want the world to think about. Soon the Real Woman Magazine fashion show would come to an end, and she would be off to the My Own Size Christmas party. Such was the life of a glamourous model. A size 20 model, but size was just a number wasn't it? She turned at the end of the stage. Her skirt gracefully fluttered and spun. Cameras flashed all around.

"Felicia, I didn't know you had a beauty mark," fellow model, Sheryl, commented with a smirk as soon as Felicia was back in the dressing area.

Felicia peeked in the mirror. A dot of chocolate graced the corner of her mouth. Maybe no one else noticed.

MG BRADEN

Carissa looked out through the doorway of her office where everyone was gathered around the round table that held their corporate Christmas tree. They were all talking, laughing and passing around plates of goodies. She knew that as one of the managers of this division she needed to get out there and join them before they started drawing names for the annual gift exchange. This exchange was always awkward for her as one was supposed to fill out a questionnaire detailing all sorts of personal information, information she wasn’t willing to give. So instead, she always gave random answers and often ended up with gifts that were entirely unsuitable to her. However, they were suitable to the Carissa this staff thought they knew. Carissa held back a snort. She wasn’t even sure she knew herself anymore. She had reinvented herself so much that it was hard to find the person she really was. At least that was the plan. Throwing back her shoulders, she plastered a smile on her face and went to join the merriment.

DENISE PATRICK

"Judy, I can't find the angel wings!" Susan's panicked voice came over the phone.

Judy sighed and rolled her eyes. "They are in the closet in the upstairs office off the library. You put them there last year to keep them out of the way."

"You sure? I thought I looked there."

"Yes. And the shepherd staffs, and I think also the gifts for the Magi to carry."

"Hold on and let me check."

She could hear Susan's heels clicking as she walked down the church hallway. Judy wanted to reach through the phone and shake her. Judy hadn't been in charge of costumes for at least two years, so why did Susan call her when she was the one who put them away last year?

Her doorbell rang while she waited for Susan to speak to her again. Getting up from the pile of lights and Christmas decorations strewn across her living room floor, she stretched and headed for the door. Looking through the peephole, she gasp and hurriedly pulled the door open.

"Merry Christmas!" chimed Dane.