Smitten Novella

Every second, several thousand people somewhere in the world are celebrating a birthday. What better way to celebrate that special day than with this charming little gift book. Chris Shea fans and newcomers alike will be pleased to add this treasure to their gift list on that wonderful holiday called The Birthday!

When a group of friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country's premier romantic getaway, Julia finds her own true love along the way.With the local lumber mill closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners-Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese-decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They'll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination!In "Small Town, Big Dreams" by Kristin Billerbeck, Julia Bourne has big city dreams for her hometown of Smitten. Will grill owner, Jake Grant, send her plans up in smoke?Excerpted from Smitten, a novel in four parts written by Christian Fiction's most popular romance novelists-and real life BFFs!

When a group of friends devise a plan to turn Smitten, Vermont, into the country's premier romantic getaway, Shelby finds her own true love along the way.With the local lumber mill closing, residents wonder if their town can stay afloat. Then four friends and local business owners-Natalie, Julia, Shelby, and Reese-decide the town is worth saving. How will they do it? They'll turn Smitten into a honeymoon destination!In "You've Got a Friend" by Diann Hunt, Shelby Evans' craft room goes up in flames. When volunteer fireman Nick Majors offers her the use of a building on his Christmas tree farm, Shelby discovers feelings for the tender heart that beats beneath his rough, mountain-man exterior.Excerpted from Smitten, a novel in four parts written by Christian Fiction's most popular romance novelists-and real life BFFs!

Welcome to Smitten, Vermont. With the help of four friends, it's about to become the most romantic town in America. The proposed closing of the lumber mill comes as unwelcome news for the citizens of Smitten. How will the town survive without its main employer? A close-knit group of women think they've got just the plan to save Smitten. They'll capitalize on its name and turn it into a tourist destination for lovers-complete with sweet shops, a high-end spa, romantic music on the square, and cabins outfitted with fireplaces and hot tubs. But is this manly town ready for an influx of romantically-minded guests? Country music sensation Sawyer Smitten, the town's hometown hero, wants to help by holding his own wedding there on Valentine's Day. And little Mia's lavender wreaths hang all over town as a reminder that faith can work miracles. Along the way, four women spearheading the town's transformation-energetic Natalie, sophisticated Julia, graceful Shelby, and athletic Reese-get in the spirit by reviving their own love lives. Join best-selling inspirational romance authors (and real-life BFFs) Colleen Coble, Kristin Billerbeck, Diann Hunt, and Denise Hunter for an inspiring stay at the (soon-to-be) most romantic town on the eastern seaboard. One visit . . . and you'll be smitten too.

Summer, fall, winter, and spring, Smitten is a place for love  . . . and mystery. But will Tess ever find herself a partner in crime? There's a secret in Grandma Rose's attic-a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to town, so how did his dog tags end up in the Grandma's attic? It's a romantic mystery fit for a town like Smitten, Vermont, which has been working hard to reinvent itself as a destination for lovers. Rose's three granddaughters-Tess, Clare, and Zoe-vow to investigate, though their mother, Anna, warns against digging up the past. But will they all be distracted by mystery men of their own before the puzzle is resolved? In Love between the Lines, bookstore owner Tess recruits widower Ryan to help her solve her family riddle. She'd like to recruit him as leading man in her own story, but she's convinced he's out of her league. But does Ryan have a few secrets thoughts of his own to reveal? Excerpted from Secretly Smitten, a novel in four parts written by Inspirational fiction's most popular romance novelists-and real life BFFs!

Fall, winter, spring, and summer, Smitten is a place for love  . . . and mystery. But will professional cupid Zoe finally meet her match? There's a secret in Grandma Rose's attic-a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to town. How did the dog tags end up in the Grandma's attic? It's a romantic mystery fit for a town like Smitten, Vermont, which has been working hard to reinvent itself as a destination for lovers. Rose's three granddaughters are determined to investigate, though their mother Anna has reservations about digging up the past. But will they get distracted by mystery men of their own before they solve the puzzle of the dogtags? In Make Me a Match, Zoe sinks every dollar she has into a matchmaking service, but the good-looking new city manager seems determined to shut her business down. Is he an obstacle to her success . . . or a divine gift for her own lonely heart? Excerpted from Secretly Smitten, a novel in four parts written by Inspirational fiction's most popular romance novelists-and real life BFFs!

Spring, summer, fall, and winter, Smitten is a place for love  . . . and mystery. But master gardener Clare Thomas is about to dig up something surprising. There's a secret in Grandma Rose's attic-a forgotten set of dog tags belonging to her first love. But David Hutchins was killed in action and never returned to town. How did the dog tags end up in the Grandma's attic? It's a romantic mystery fit for a town like Smitten, Vermont, which has been working hard to reinvent itself as a destination for lovers. Rose's three granddaughters are determined to investigate, though their mother Anna has reservations about digging up the past. But will they get distracted by mystery men of their own before they solve the puzzle of the dogtags? In Love Blooms, Clare is really, really tired of being called predictable, which is why she decides to gives a job at her nursery to the scruffy vagabond on a motorcycle. Is trusting her instincts the most foolish thing she's ever done . . . or the smartest? Excerpted from Secretly Smitten, a novel in four parts written by Inspirational fiction's most popular romance novelists-and real life BFFs!

A sweeping love story set in a lavish seaside mansion in 1901 Rhode Island. Melinda Hollister is a society lady, intent on finding a rich husband before her peers discover her quickly diminishing wealth. Nick Bryson is all business, focused on making a name for himself in his father's teamship line. Despite the marriage of their siblings, they rarely gave each other a second glance-until a tragic accident results in Melinda and Nick being appointed as co-guardians of their three-year-old niece Nell. In order to get better acquainted with Nell and one another, Melinda and Nick agree to spend the summer in their own private quarters of the Bryson family vacation home, Summerhill. As their love for Nell grows, so does their attraction to each other. And for the first time in their lives, they sense that God has a bigger plan in motion. Yet old habits die hard and Melinda and Nick each find it difficult to resist the pull of their former worlds. When the unthinkable happens, they find themselves faced with seemingly impossible choices and a new understanding of God's true love.

The century-old Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship is no ordinary book club choice. But for the little book club in Smitten, Vermont, it might be their best pick yet! The thick, leathery tome Heather pulled out of the dusty cardboard box was definitely coming home with her. Not only was The Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship an appealing curiosity by virtue of its title; it was also written by Smitten, Vermont native Pearl Chambers, a local gentlewoman from three generations back. Little did Heather know the repercussions this little curiosity would have on her and her friends' romantic exploits. When Heather and her fellow book club members begin passing the book around, their respective interpretations are unleashed on their respective love lives . . . for better or for worse. Is it a mystery? An idealist fantasy? An intimation of Jane Austen? As romantic love finds its way to each woman, the Guide proves itself both surprisingly prescient and hilariously irrelevant. What's more, a handwritten inscription indicates that the arcane book might hold the only extant clues leading to buried gold-exactly what one of the members needs to keep her house. How could they not go treasure hunting?

The century-old Gentlewoman's Guide to Love and Courtship is no ordinary book club choice. But for the little book club in Smitten, Vermont, it might be their best pick yet!When Lia's childhood best friend Joey moves back to town, his daughter plays matchmaker to help them find their own new beginning.Lia is a kindergarten teacher who insists all the Smitten Book Club members read Anne of Green Gables. She likes nothing better than a pastoral novel where an outsider finds a special place in an idyllic community.When her childhood friend Joey moves back to Smitten with his daughter Grace in tow, Lia reaches out to help with Grace as Joey settles in as partner in his brother's dental practice. With a little matchmaking from Grace, Lia and Joey soon discover their friendship has grown into a love that could last a lifetime."Charming." -Best-selling author Robin Lee Hatcher of Knit One, Love Two

Molly may not be the Smitten Book Club's biggest reader, but her new friend Gage seems to read her like an open book. Molly's really more of a romantic comedy movie fan than a reader, but being a member of the Smitten Book Club is so much fun that she reads the selections anyway. And the Book Club has seen her through some dark days. When Gage Turner offers to help Molly with her failing business, her book club talks her into accepting his help, even though Molly wonders if his motives are pure. After all, his business could easily absorb her customer base. But in truth Gage has admired Molly for years and has been hoping for a way to connect with her. Will his efforts prove fruitful or will Molly's pride get in the way of her own happily ever after?