Christmas in New York! Four Stories, five #bookgiveaways DAY 3 IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL LIFE by Linda Rondeau

It Really is a Wonderful Life by Linda Wood Rondeau

I just finished this quick read at 3 AM--it was a page turner and a twisty-turny journey to happily ever after for two young people at a crossroads in their lives. Dorie Fitzgerald is left to raise her two young children after her husband Captain Devon Fitzgerald dies in the Iraqi war. She moves to be near her parents' home in upstate NY, and rents a house from her father while her mother provides daycare. She struggles to find a job, and decides to get to know the community through a local theater production of "It's a Wonderful Life". There she meets two eligible bachelors and is swept from one romance to another, but her heart is drawn to the quiet and unassuming Jamey Sullivan.

Jamey is an aspiring and agented actor on the cusp of his dream, but has laid aside his personal ambitions for a season to see to his dying father's affairs. The last thing on his mind is romance and family when the Broadway lights beckon. But something about Dorie makes it harder than ever to leave the small town behind. It isn't Bedford Falls, but he is a doppelganger for George Bailey, and there is a Mr. Potter type of monopoly threatening to take over the town of Midville in the form of Junior Harwood.

In this contemporary Christmas classic redeaux, everyone finds a happily ever after--even Junior Harwood and Dorie's spurned love interest. Jamey gives up his Broadway debut for the quiet small town life and settles down with Dorie, her son Josh and daughter Emma, and a dog named Boomer. The town is spared from a monopoly and welcomes back their hometown boy scout leader and erstwhile hero. And the struggling characters find through faith and budding romance that it really is a wonderful life.

Linda Wood Rondeau: Born in Syracuse, New York, I graduated from North Syracuse High School and went on to Houghton College, majoring in English and education. As often happens, I changed to a social work career working in various human services fields for nearly thirty years. As my heroine in It Really IS a Wonderful Life, I met my wonderful husband doing Community Theater. Three children and nine grandchildren later, we moved from Northern New York to enjoy the benefits of the sunshine state, mainly golf and daily walks. I published my first book-length manuscript in 2011, The Other Side of Darkness, a Selah Award winner for best new novel. Then came I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children, a devotional book, in 2012, It Really IS a Wonderful Life, a Christmas novella, in 2012 and Days of Vines and Roses, a contemporary suspense with paranormal elements, in 2013. Coming soon: two Christmas novellas: Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street (HHP) and A Christmas Prayer (LPC),a novel, Songs in the Valley (HHP) and a Jolly Angels, a contribution to HHP's romance anthology, Blue Heaven. You may learn more about me on my website, http://www.lindarondeau.com, or on facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, and Linkedin.

Enter to win one of two copies of this delightful retelling in today's comments. Winners drawn Friday, Nov 22. See Monday's and Tuesday's posts for two other chances to win a unique New York Christmas story. Tune in tomorrow for a chance to win a collection of Christmas romances set in New York City's Central Park.

To enter today, tell us about your favorite Christmas movie. For extra entries, tell me if you shared this post on fb, twitter, google+ pinterest, and if you are a follower of this blog.