by Gail, Stacy
Gifts of Honor
By Stacy Gail and Rebecca Crowley
I’ll be home for Christmas...
A batch of special Christmas cookies helps a wounded ex-Ranger remember the love of his life. A surprise phone call reunites a woman with the soldier who once broke her heart. There’s no place like home for the holidays, and there’s no better way to spend them than with the one you love.
Edited by Angela James, this anthology includes:
Starting from Scratch by Stacy Gail
Hero’s Homecoming by Rebecca Crowley
Stories are also available for purchase separately.
69,000 words
Dear Reader,
I’m on vacation, camping in the semi-wilderness. No, not when you’re reading this (well, maybe, who knows?) but when this letter is due to our production team. So I’ve chosen to hand off my Dear Reader letter responsibilities to the team for the month of November and let them tell you all about the fantastic lineup in store for you. We’re a team who really enjoys the books we acquire, and I know they’ll be glad for a chance to convince you to give one a try. In the meantime, I’ll be back next month. Happy reading!
Angela James, Editorial Director
Dear Reader,
Editorial assistant Stephanie here. Since Angela is “camping” (all I’m saying is that camping seems to involve a lot of tweeting), I’ve compiled a few fun facts about this month’s new releases. What kinds of great books do we have in store for you this time? Will I get in trouble for making fun of my boss’s camping skills? These are the questions I will strive to answer for you today.
Redemption by Stephanie Tyler, new adult, post-apocalyptic
Stephanie Tyler returns with book two in her post-apocalyptic new-adult motorcycle club series.
Redemption continues the story of the Defiance MC with Mathias and Jessa’s story. If you missed book one, Defiance—Cas and Tru’s story—you’re missing out on a fantastic world and some swoon-worthy romance.
—Angela James, Editorial Director, Carina Press
Snowbound with the CEO by Shannon Stacey, contemporary romance
Shannon’s books are must-reads if you love contemporary romance.
Shannon Stacey’s holiday novellas are becoming something of a delightful tradition at Carina Press, and we’re happy to have the latest in our hands!
—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press
Chance of Rain by Amber Lin, contemporary romance
We’re happy to welcome Amber to the Carina Press family!
This small-town reunion romance gripped me from the first chapter and wouldn’t let go. The tortured alpha hero, who just happens to be a Navy SEAL, also didn’t hurt!
—Tara Stevens, Assistant Product Manager, Digital Products
Take Me Home by Inez Kelley, contemporary romance
Inez writes contemporary and fantasy romance for Carina Press. Her new lumberjack series had the (admittedly largely Canadian) team intrigued from the start!
Maple-syrup maker Kayla falls for a sexy lumberjack with a bitter past and a wary heart in the first of her new Country Roads series featuring loggers in the Allegheny Mountains.
—Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press
Slow Ride Home by Leah Braemel, contemporary Western romance
Leah writes wonderfully sexy, emotional romances for Carina Press, including Texas Tangle and Tangled Past.
Leah’s lovely writing drew me right along into a sensual story of love, heat and scandal. With cowboys. Look for more of the Grady family to come. Did I mention there are cowboys?
—Brendan Flattery, Digital Production Coordinator
Love a Little Sideways by Shannon Stacey, contemporary romance
Shannon’s bestselling Kowalski family miniseries is a must-read for contemporary romance fans.
What begins as the annual Kowalski Camping Trip of Doom turns into a brand-new start for an unlikely couple—charming, funny proof that what we think we want and what the heart wants isn’t always the same thing.
—Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press
Sing for the Dead by PJ Schnyder, paranormal shifter romance
PJ writes futuristic science fiction romance and paranormal romance for Carina Press.
The exciting second book in the London Undead trilogy brings readers back into a world where zombies have taken over London. Now the werewolves who’ve stepped up to fight the creatures have a new ally—a member of the Fae who jumps right into the middle of the fray!
—Mallory Braus, Freelance Editor, Carina Press
Through the Black Veil by Steve Vera, urban fantasy
You may remember us gushing about Drynn, Steve’s first book in this series.
In book 2 of the Last of the Shardyn series, our fearless heroes have returned to their magical homeland to warn everyone about the danger threatening to destroy their world.
—Rhonda Helms, Freelance Editor, Carina Press
Improper Arrangements by Juliana Ross, erotic historical romance
Juliana writes sizzling historical romances set in Victorian times for Carina Press.
The follow-up to Improper Relations features a mountain-climber hero, Eli. He is my favorite type of hero: rugged, handsome, rough around the edges, mysterious. Love him!
—Carly Chow, Assistant Manager, Digital Commerce
Finessing the Contessa by Wendy Soliman, historical romance
Wendy Soliman writes wonderful, exciting historical romances. The first two Forsters books are currently available from Carina Press.
In Wendy Soliman’s Regency romance Finessing the Contessa, Lord Robert Forster is drawn to the brilliant Sicilian he meets at a chess match, but is she a spy or an innocent pawn in a game of international espionage?
—Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press
All In with the Duke by Ava March, male/male historical romance
Ava March writes can’t-miss historical male/male stories for Carina Press.
Max Arrington, the Duke of Pelham, has vowed to never again let a handsome face blind him to a man’s true intentions. But the beautiful Tristan Walsh is too intriguing for Max to resist, and it’s not long before their wicked nights together turn into something more.
—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press
For Her Eyes Only by Shannon Curtis, romantic suspense
This is the third book in Shannon’s exciting McCormack Security Agency series.
For Her Eyes Only features an admin assistant pairing up with the MSA’s undercover expert to investigate a murder. I loved the sexual tension between the hero and heroine!
—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press
Getting Rich by Monique Domovitch, cozy mystery
Monique’s first novel with Carina Press, Getting Skinny, had us all eager for the follow-up.
Just when she thinks she’s on the verge of getting rich, Nicky Landry finds out somebody is out to get her—and whoever it is has murder on the menu—in Monique Domovitch’s second Chef Landry Mystery.
—Deborah Nemeth, Freelance Editor, Carina Press
No Place Like Rome by Julie Moffett, action-adventure, mystery
In addition to writing the Lexi Carmichael mysteries, Julie also writes Scottish historical
romances!
Our favorite geek girl is off to Rome with the sexy and mysterious Slash to solve a case involving the Vatican, a dead body, some steamy kisses from her partner, and a top-secret encrypted file that even she can’t hack.
—Alissa Davis, Freelance Editor, Carina Press
Season of Seduction, erotic holiday anthology
Five Golden Rings by Jeffe Kennedy, erotic romance
Jeffe writes steamy erotic BDSM romance for Carina Press, as well as (also steamy!) fantasy romance.
Jeffe Kennedy heats up the season with this sultry, adventurous Facets of Passion novella set against the balmy days—and scorching nights—of a high-powered woman’s holiday-vacation-turned-sexual epiphany.
—Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press
Naughty Nicks by Christine d’Abo, erotic romance
Christine’s Long Shots series, about a BDSM club and its patrons, includes a choose-your-path erotic romance!
This sexy and emotional novella features an interesting holiday business—stripper Santas! There was so much great tension between the heroine and her hero, who also happens to be her boss.
—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press
Ménage on 34th Street by Elise Logan and Emily Ryan-Davis, erotic ménage romance
We are proud to welcome Elise and Emily to the Carina Press family! This is their first book with us.
Katrina and Liam have a happy marriage, but they’ve always felt there’s room for more. When their friend Hunter returns from active duty, they know exactly what that “more” is. Now if only they can convince Hunter...
—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press
Matzoh and Mistletoe by Jodie Griffin, erotic BDSM romance
Jodie writes about true-to-life characters exploring their sexy sides in her Bondage & Breakfast series.
This BDSM novella has a lot of things going for it—it’s sexy, emotional, and there’s a really hot cop. Jodie is known for writing wonderfully realistic characters, and she doesn’t disappoint here.
—Stephanie Doig, Editorial Assistant, Harlequin and Carina Press
Gifts of Honor, military holiday collection
Starting from Scratch by Stacy Gail, contemporary military romance
Stacy writes both paranormal and contemporary romance for Carina Press.
Stacy Gail gifts us with the sweetest of holiday reunions for a wounded Army Ranger and his one true love. Patience and forgiveness meet sharp wit and sizzling attraction!
—Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press
Hero’s Homecoming by Rebecca Crowley, contemporary military romance
Rebecca’s debut book with Carina Press, a fantastic sports romance called The Striker’s Chance¸ came out in September.
Three days before Christmas, a surprising phone call from an old love changes absolutely everything in this compelling novella.
—Kerri Buckley, Editor, Carina Press
Table of Contents
Starting from Scratch
Heros Homecoming
Starting from Scratch
By Stacy Gail
Christmas is the perfect time to start from scratch
Lieutenant Sully Jax saved his unit during an IED attack, but he couldn’t save his marriage. He can’t even remember it. Recovered from his injuries, he’s come home to the family and friends he knows—and an ex-wife who’s a stranger to him.
Lucy Crabtree was heartbroken last Christmas when Sully announced his plan to go on one last tour of duty, and devastated when he asked for a divorce after he awoke in the hospital with no memory of her. She’s finally moving on from her hurt and from losing the man she loved more than anything, and her cookie-baking business is taking off just in time for the holidays. But now Sully’s back, and she can’t deny she still loves him. But how can she trust her heart to someone who breaks it every time she sees him?
Sully might not remember Lucy, but something inside won’t let her go. With every bite of her cookies, he finds a new love for Lucy, and he soon realizes he wants to rebuild his life...with her by his side.
35,000 words
Dedication
This book is dedicated to my very own Swiss Miss, Célyne Stoudmann-Shull and Cpl. Timothy Shull, USMC, Ret. I met these two amazing people after Tim suffered a TBI caused by an IED explosion while serving in Iraq (Operation Iraqi Freedom) in August 2004. Their story inspired STARTING FROM SCRATCH. (By the way, happy belated 10th anniversary, Célyne and Tim. Much love to you both.)
Contents
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
About the Author
Copyright
Chapter One
“Hold on to your big-girl panties, Luce—Sully Jax is back in town.”
Silence slammed into the usually bustling kitchen of Pauline’s Praline Sweet Shoppe. Only the Christmas music playing overhead convinced Lucy Crabtree she hadn’t gone stone-deaf before she resumed beating a batch of cream cheese frosting into submission. Three sets of eyes zeroed in on her as she stood at the kitchen’s stainless steel workstation. Or at least she assumed they did. She was too busy making sure the now-ragged cloak of composure she’d been hiding under for a year covered her wounds.
“Lucy, honey.” The motherly voice of Pauline Padgett, the shop’s owner, came from the opposite side of the workstation. She looked ready to run to Lucy, despite being elbow-deep in spice cupcakes and having her gout-riddled feet propped up on a milk crate. “Did you hear Celia?”
“I don’t like the quality of powdered sugar we’re getting from our supplier lately.” Lucy lifted the spatula from the bowl of creamy sweetness to give it a critical once-over. “I get clumps no matter how many times I sift it. It didn’t used to do that.”
Pauline’s husband, Willard, a Santa Claus look-alike if there ever was one, seemed to forget he was supposed to be taking the latest trays of spice cupcakes out of the oven. “Lucy love—”
“I’m fine.” At last she raised her face, hoping they saw only calm. She was more numb than calm, but they didn’t need to know that. “Sullivan’s dad called yesterday to let me know his son was back, fresh from the final round of rehab they had him do at Brooke Army Medical Center in San Antonio. Since he’s still not a hundred percent he has to be supervised, so he’ll be staying on his father’s property for a while. Hate to say it, Celia,” she added to the worried teenage beauty in the doorway, “but you’re behind the times.”
“No fair. You had inside information.” With a sigh of relief, Celia Villarreal ventured in, her cheerleader’s bow tied around her ponytail. “Are you okay, Luce?”
“No, I’m devastated. Like, beyond repair. Any second now my flood of salty tears will ruin this batch of frosting.” She held out the spatula. “How does it taste, by the way? Pre-tears, I mean.”
“How can you wave all those yummy empty calories right under my dieting nose? Though, I suppose I can always run a few extra laps...”
“You shouldn’t be dieting at all,” Lucy admonished as the teen scrounged for a spoon. “Hold your head high and be proud of the person you are.”
“It was nice of Lowell Jax to call you.” At last, Willard remembered to rescue the latest batch of cupcakes from an incendiary death. “I’m sure he understood it’d be a shock if you were to bump into Sully walking down the street. He’s always been a good guy.”
“If Lowell was such a good guy,” Pauline inserted, lips pursed as
she expertly capped a cupcake with a swirly mountain of rich cream cheese goodness, “he’d have done the right thing and invited Lucy over to help welcome Sully home.”
“He did.”
Again, the silence. Inwardly Lucy cussed a blue streak and wondered how much longer she’d have to endure things like awkward silences.
“And you didn’t go over?” Celia, licking the spoon she’d loaded with frosting, stared at Lucy with huge eyes. “That is so...awesome. I’d totally do the same thing. I mean, he’s the one who hit the eject button. Why give him a minute of your time just because he’s a war hero?”
“That’ll do, Celia.” Pauline gave the girl a hard stare. “I can’t tell if you’re here to work or gossip. You get paid for one, but not the other. Which is it going to be today, dear?”
Celia let out a put-upon groan that only teenagers could get away with, and shuffled off to the mudroom the workers used as a locker room.
“Tying her apron on should give us at least fifteen minutes of privacy. Now.” Pauline turned her scalpel-sharp attention to Lucy. “As much as it shocks me to say it, I agree with Celia. I can understand why you decided not to force a meeting with Sully. But Bitterthorn is a small town, and everybody knows everyone. No matter how hard you try to avoid it, eventually you and Sully are going to bump into each other. What are you going to do then?”
Lucy kept beating the frosting to work out the nonexistent clumps and wished—not for the first time—that she hadn’t dug in her heels and settled back in Bitterthorn. If only she’d known how things would turn out when she’d made that decision. Now she was stuck. If she left the moment Sully Jax breezed back into town, it would look like she was running scared.
She’d be damned if she started running now.
“I’ve given it some thought, Pauline.” Translation, I didn’t sleep at all last night. “There’s no reason for it to be awkward.”
“You don’t think so?”
“Not at all. You’re acting like it’s going to be the first time for us to meet since Sullivan got injured, but I’ve seen him plenty of times since he returned to the States. I spent all of last winter with him at Darnall Army Medical Center in Fort Hood during the early stages of recovery.” Never mind the fact that it had been a nightmare filled with Sully’s screams.
