by Amanda Cabot
Her heart so filled with love that she feared she would be unable to speak, Celia nodded. Mark had offered her everything she had dreamt of: love, marriage, a father for Emma, and most of all, a lifetime filled with joy. They would be a family.
She swallowed deeply as she tried to form words. “Oh, Mark, I love you so much. I can’t imagine anything more wonderful than being your wife.”
When he bent his head and she raised her face so their lips could touch, Celia whispered, “Mama was right. Christmas is the season of miracles.”
Author’s Letter
Dear Reader,
I’m particularly fond of Christmas books because, like Celia’s mother, I believe Christmastime is the season of miracles, and so it was a special pleasure to bring Celia and Mark to life for you.
Were you just a little bit hungry when you read about Celia’s baking? I have to admit that my mouth watered, especially when I wrote the words pound cake. That’s because my mother-in-law was of Swedish descent, and she made the best pound cake I’ve ever eaten, using a recipe her mother brought from Sweden. Her recipe is a family secret, but if you’d like to bake a pound cake, this recipe, which uses more commonly available ingredients than the original, is also excellent.
Swedish Pound Cake
Grease and flour a 12-cup Bundt pan. (I use a floured cooking spray like Baker’s Joy.)
Preheat the oven to 325 degrees.
Using an electric mixer, beat at high speed until light and fluffy:
1 cup butter or margarine
2 cups granulated sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla
Add one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition:
5 large eggs
Reducing mixer speed to low, beat in:
2 cups flour
Spoon into prepared pan and bake for 1 hour or until cake tester comes out clean. Let cool in pan for 10 minutes, then remove and cool thoroughly on a wire rack before serving.
Whether you are reading this during the Christmas season or at some other time of the year, I hope that you and your loved ones will keep the spirit of Christmas in your hearts all year long.
Blessings,
Amanda Cabot
Dreams have always been an important part of Amanda Cabot’s life. For almost as long as she can remember, she dreamt of being an author. Fortunately for the world, her grade-school attempts as a playwright were not successful, and she turned her attention to writing novels. Her dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s been spinning tales ever since. She now has more than twenty-five novels to her credit under a variety of pseudonyms.
Amanda is a member of ACFW, a charter member of Romance Writers of America, and an avid traveler. She married her high school sweetheart, who shares her love of travel and who’s driven thousands of miles to help her research her books. A few years ago they fulfilled a longtime dream and are now living in the American West.
Other Books by Amanda Cabot
* * *
Texas Dreams Series
Paper Roses
Scattered Petals
Tomorrow’s Garden
Westward Winds Series
Summer of Promise
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