Where did the year go? Summer’s over and it’s now fall, and before you know it, it’ll be Thanksgiving and then Christmas. The busiest time of the year for me. I own a design and gift shop called Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, on Jingle Bell Lane, in Rudolph New York. Rudolph calls itself America’s Christmas Town. Obviously, November and December are our busy season, but we also promote ourselves as your Year-Round Christmas destination.
Essentially, Christmas never ends in Rudolph. Some might think that’s a bit too much Christmas, but we do it because we love it. I was born into a Christmas-loving family. My Dad’s name is Noel. My siblings are Eve, Carole, and Kris. My mom, who’s an internationally renowned opera singer, is another matter, but over the years she’s taken the whole Christmas thing without too much complaint.
My dad’s a former mayor of Rudolph and he serves as the town’s official Santa Claus. In July Santa Claus (aka Dad) came to Rudolph to have his summer vacation on Lake Ontario. We made a big deal of it with a boat parade, official welcome to the town, costumed elves, Santa meeting delighted kids on the beach. I even made a summer version of my Mrs. Claus costume. Alan Anderson, local woodworker and toymaker, didn’t bother to wear something seasonal when representing Santa’s Head Toymaker, and he just about melted in the heat.
It was a lot of fun, and everyone had a great day. Until. . .
Oops. Better not say too much. I’ll let you read all about it in Hark the Herald Angels Slay, the third book in the “Year-Round Christmas” mystery series, coming November 28 from Penguin Random House.
The town of Rudolph, New York, has the Christmas spirit all year long—but when homicide heats up a summer holiday, it’s up to shop owner Merry Wilkinson to wrap up the case.
In Rudolph, Christmas in July heralds Santa’s arrival by boat to begin his summer vacation at the lake, and Merry Wilkinson, owner of Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, is looking forward to a busy weekend. But she’s caught off guard when her ex-fiancé, Max Folger, unexpectedly arrives with a team from a lifestyle magazine wanting to do a feature on the July festivities.
It’s clear that Max’s visit has less to do with business and more to do with winning back Merry’s heart. Merry has too much on her plate to deal with an old flame, but when Max is found strangled to death in Mrs. Claus’s Treasures, she must find out who wanted him dead—and stop a killer from ruining the summer holiday cheer.
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Giveaway: Leave a comment below for your chance to win a print copy of Hark the Herald Angels Slay. U.S. entries only, please. The giveaway ends November 28, 2017. Good luck everyone!
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About the author
Vicki Delany also writes the Lighthouse Library series under the name Eva Gates, and the Sherlock Holmes Bookshop series. Body on Baker Street, the second in the series, was released in September by Crooked Lane Books. Find Vicki at www.vickidelany.com. She regularly runs giveaways and contests on Facebook.
All comments are welcomed.
Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for the opportunity to win. I really enjoy seasonal themed mysteries. Love the title! Great play on words.
I always like to add holiday stories to my list and this one is going on it!.
This one sounds marvelous. I want it.
Love the series. Like that town celebrates Christmas all year long.
A must-read for me!!!
Thank you for the giveaway…..
I love the title of this book. This sounds really exciting to read. Thanks for chance to win.
This is on my TBR list and can’t wait to read it! Happy Thanksgiving.
And Happy Thanksgiving to you & yours.
Years ago,we lived in a town that had a ‘Forever Christmas’ shop. It was so much fun to go into. A couple had it, and the man did die in his chair at the desk. But it wasn’t murder of course, it was a heart attack if I remember correctly.
donna (dot) durnell (at) sbcglobal (dot) net
Happy Thanksgiving! I have been looking forward to returning to Rudolph! Thanks!
Sounds like a good read.
Happy Thanksgiving Dru Ann. Thanks for the introduction to Merry Wilkinson and her beloved Rudolph, NY. Also thanks for the opportunity to enter the giveaway.
Looks interesting, would love to win!
This sounds like a fun read, thank you for the chance to win a copy.
wfnren at aol dot com
Love this author & series.
Rudolph what a great name for a town. I love all the Christmas theme names of everyone and everything.
Happy Thanksgiving! Great author, looking forward to reading “Hark the Herald Angels Slay”.
Happy Thanksgiving!!!! Thanks for the chance
Happy Thanksgiving! Thanks for the chance.
This series has been on my TBR list for quite some time now. Happy Thanksgiving and thank you for the giveaway!
I loved the first book and just realized that I need to get the second, thanks for reminding me. Happy Thanksgiving!
Happy Thanksgiving! 🦃
I love the setting and timing of this book! Having Christmas in summertime is a great idea.
Happy Thanksgiving! I think living in a Christmas themed town would be fun.
Thanks so much for hosting me, Dru. And thanks to everyone for commenting. Happy Thanksgiving, if today is your holiday.
Great post today. Love the book title!! Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for this chance to win!!
Pray you had a happy and blessed Thanksgiving. <3
Loved reading about A day in the life of Merry Wilkinson. I want to keep reading and learn all about Mrs. Claus’s Treasures in Rudolph New York. 🙂
Shared every where but would LOVE to be the fortunate one selected. Thanks for the chance to win a copy!
Sounds like a delightful book…and the cover is eye catching as well! This series obviously is not just for Christmas, but what else would you expect from a town called Rudolf?
This is next on my TBR pile. Very excited to read this series!
Great series. I enjoy all of Vicki’s captivating novels.
love this series!! thank you for the chance to win the newest installment
I enjoyed A day in the life of Merry Wilkinson. Thanks Vicki and Dru Ann!
A fun read in the offing. Thank you for the chance to get it
I love Vicki’s books. I also would love to win a copy of Hark the Herald Angels Slay. Thanks for the chance.
Sounds like a great book
I enjoyed the first two books in this series and look forward to reading this new one.
Thanks for a chance to win a copy.
Can’t imagine living in a town where Christmas never ends, but this sounds like a great series.
It sounds like a good one.
No snow here yet, but it is time for some Christmas spirit. This read would help.
Happy Thanksgiving, love this mystery series, Thanks for the chance at this awesome book.
**** WINNER ****
Hark the Herald Angels Slay is Lois Rotella
Congratulations!