The Christmas Switch | Excerpt + Giveaway

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ABOUT THE BOOK

Keeping this secret gets complicated

with the family she wished for right next door.

Swapping places with her identical twin over the holidays sounds easy enough to Chanel Houston. But playing the role is trickier than expected when it comes to maintaining frosty relations with her sister’s neighbor and nemesis—especially since he has an adorable little girl and a rowdy puppy. Ryder Frost’s supposed to be grumpy and rude… so why does Chanel find the single dad so irresistible?

Publisher: Love Inspired

Release Date: October 25, 2022

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EXCERPT

Chanel eyed the beautiful dog, who was staring at her with pleading eyes. She didn’t know how she was going to resist their pull. Even now, her fingers itched to play in his glossy mane. Chanel was a dog lover, and trying to stay away would be torture. But somehow, she must. Cara had been bitten by dogs twice, and that had sealed her dislike for life. Because of that, Chanel had never owned one. But her first job had been in a pet store as a groomer in the next town, so she had been given many opportunities to play with other people’s dogs.

She licked her dry lips, tugged on a tendril of her shoulder-length curls and then shot back. “Well, goes to show that you might not always know a person.” Inside her chest, her heart raced. She hoped he bought her flippant response; otherwise her ruse might be up before it began. Like a tennis player, she waited for him to serve his comeback.

Ryder held up a hand. “Easy now, Cara. I’m not about to engage in another shouting match with you because of Wolf.” Hearing him call her by her sister’s name gave Chanel a jolt. She stuck her tongue between her teeth to keep from correcting him. And, oh, how she wanted to. Instead, she kept up her search for the keys.

“I’ll be getting on my way.” Ryder gave a shrill whistle. Wolf opened his eyes, then turned his head and closed them. Ryder’s face reddened. He took a tentative step. “C’mon, boy. Let’s go.”

Wolf gave a growl and hunkered down on the front door mat.

“I don’t know what’s gotten into him,” Ryder said.

“Yes, you do,” she accused, taking on Cara’s attitude. “He does this all the time.” Well, she hoped he did. Her mind raced to recall. The only thing that truly registered in this moment was that she needed to suggest Cara check her vision. The man before her was not a beast.

Aha! Success. Her fingers curled around the keys.

Ryder looked away, his hair falling into his face. “I don’t know what it is about your porch or yard that draws him over here. I’ve tried keeping him away.”

“Yes, well. Do more than try and keep him away from my vegetable garden,” Chanel said, remembering Cara’s chief complaint. She opened the front door, knowing she had to get away from these two before she confessed. What she wanted to do was offer the dog some water or a snack. Chanel stepped behind the screen and into the house, then turned, intending to close the door.

Ryder bent over and scooped the dog into his arms, his muscles bulging. Chanel admired his strength. Ryder Frost was in great physical shape.

Then she saw a small figure approach. One that turned her legs into concrete.

“Daddy, I was looking for you,” the little girl said in a booming voice with a slight lisp. She looked to be about five years old and wore a sunflower dress, white cardigan, white frilly socks and black Mary Janes. Her blond hair had been pulled into a neat bun, and she wore a headband with a sunflower. Then she pinned Chanel with eyes similar to Ryder’s before lifting her head to ask her father, “Daddy, did Wolf get out again?”

She racked her brain to remember if Cara had mentioned her neighbor had a daughter. She touched her chest. The familiar ache returned for the child she would never have. All that had been buried along with her husband.

Ryder must have nodded, because Chanel heard her say, “Bad doggy. You need to stay over at our house.” That earnest face was a shock to Chanel’s system, bringing a hope she thought dead alive. The screen was a poor shield against the cute package mere feet away.

“We’re sorry to bother you,” Ryder said, turning to leave. He gestured toward the little girl. “Let’s go, Gabby.”

Her name was Gabby. Short for Gabrielle, maybe?

“Wait,” Chanel breathed out and pointed to the dog. She found she wasn’t ready for this family to leave. That was strange because she had lived on her own for years and hadn’t had a problem being alone. Maybe it was coming back to this house. This place. The first question that jumped into her mind popped out. “What made you decide to call him Wolf?”

“I named him that,” Gabby said in a loud voice, stepping close to the screen door. “Cause he’s a cousin of the wolf family. Daddy got him for me.”

Chanel felt her lips twitch, and she tried to keep up Cara’s persona. Her mother had said there was no such thing as a stranger with Chanel. She made friends quick and easy, always ready for a conversation. Unlike Cara, who was more reserved and suspicious—traits well suited for her career. Cara wouldn’t be smiling right now. She would go into inquisition mode. But at this moment, Chanel took over, did what she wanted to do. And what Chanel wanted to do was smile.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Zoey Marie Jackson loves writing sweet romances. She is almost never without a book and reads across genres. Originally from Jamaica, West Indies, she has earned degrees from New York University, SUNY at Stony Brook, Teachers College Columbia University and Argosy University and has been an educator for over 20 years. Zoey loves interacting with her readers.

Connect with Zoey by visiting zoeymariejackson.com to follow her on social media or subscribe to email newsletter updates.

GIVEAWAY

(1) winner will receive a $25 Amazon Gift Card.

Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 25, 2022 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on November 1, 2022. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.

Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.

ENTER GIVEAWAY HERE

TOUR SCHEDULE

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