Cover Reveal, Excerpt & Giveaway for On the 12TH. Day of Christmas by Nikki Lynn Barrett

Though a standalone book, and not a part of the series, On the 12^th. Date of Christmas features Robin, who made her first appearance in The Secret Santa Wishing Well.  Readers have been asking for her story, and of course, more of Cheyenne, Jacob and the kids. 

On The 12th Date of Christmas Cover Reveal

By Nikki Lynn Barrett

Contemporary Holiday Romance

Expected release date: November 8, 2013

Book Description;

After being mugged, Robin Sorenson is left shaken and her spirit in humanity broken. Worse, she’s not sure how to deal with the new anxieties or who to confide in since she’s always preached to pick oneself up and move on. Yeah, she’s been the go to girl when anyone’s had problems.
Christmas is coming, and her belief in magic and miracles has faded. 

Then Jonas comes back.

Jonas Aimes made a mistake. A big one, when he walked away from Robin a year earlier. He’d loved her, always had and still does, but his desire to please his aging and strict parents took precedence. Back from the overseas internship they’d struggled to get him in, he plans on winning Robin back. What he didn’t count on was discovering the shell of the vivacious woman he’d loved.

Broken.

Remembering her love of Christmas, Jonas pulls the holiday heartstrings. What? All is fair and love and war. Right?

Twelve days, Twelve Dates.

Robin is speechless when Jonas not only refuses to leave her alone, but dares her to accept his cheesy holiday themed challenge. Twelve dates to give him a chance to prove he loves her and is never leaving her again.

But in the season known for miracles can Robin find the magic needed to open her heart and faith once more...or will she forever wonder about the ghost of the Christmas past that could have been?

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Excerpt :

As they walked through the mall and weaved into a few stores, she spotted red. Oh, there was a Santa here already this morning. She wondered if it was Jonas.

       Cheyenne tugged on her sleeve. “Hey, maybe it's Jonas.”

       “Get out of my head.” Robin giggled. “I was seriously just thinking the same thing. Let's get closer, but not be seen. If it's him, I want to watch for awhile. I'll be able to hear his voice soon, hopefully.”

       Cheyenne shrugged, but smiled and they inched closer, careful to stay behind some taller people  There were a few kids over by the well, wanting to make wishes. A few feet away, safely positioned behind a sunglasses vendor, Robin listened to the exchange between Santa and the kids. Warm waves of excitement ran over her skin as she heard Jonas's voice. It was him! Stifling a giggle, she pulled out her phone and brought up the camera function. She zoomed in on Jonas, as he knelt to talk to a little girl wearing a pink dress and had her blond curls up in pig tails. She snapped a picture of him as he directed the child to the well and she excitedly tossed her coin in for her wish.

       “Is it him?” Cheyenne whispered from behind her.

       Robin nodded and focused, taking another picture. “Yup. I'm going to send him a picture text. Of himself.” She giggled, punching the appropriate buttons on her phone to do the task.  “I don't know how soon he'll check it.”

       “Can I help you ladies?” A spiky haired man stood behind them now, eyes narrowed. Robin straightened her spine. Ah, but they must look a little suspicious.

       “No. Just ready to embarrass my boyfriend.” She cracked a grin. Whoa. She'd said boyfriend. Well, that made the most sense to tell the guy, as he already stared at them with a frown.

       “Is he the Santa unknowingly having his picture taken by you?” The frown on the guy's face disappeared as the corners of his lips twitched.

       “Absolutely. And I just sent him the picture, too.” Robin stuck her phone back in her pocket, stealing another glance over at Jonas.  At any time, he would pull out his phone to pretend to check his time, when he'd really be peeking at his texts. At this time, there were no kids around him, as they all scurried off with their families. Any second now. And boom. There it was. The quick sneak into his pocket, pulling it out slightly. Then he snapped his head up, looking around. She tried to back up, bumping Cheyenne and catching her off guard. That only caused a bigger distraction and Jonas caught sight of them. He smiled and waved.

       “Well, he's on to you now.” The guy smirked.

       “Yes, I've already noticed that. We'll be going now. Have a great day.” Robin tugged on Cheyenne's sleeve, pulling her away. They both burst into laughter as they approached Jonas.

       “Ho ho ho!” He said cheerfully. “Santa doesn't appreciate sneaky women taking pictures of him. You two are on the naughty list this year.” His eyes sparkled with laughter as he couldn't take them off of Robin.

       “I'm shaking in my boots.” Robin shivered for effect. She looked him up and down. “You've gained a lot of weight since I saw you last. What in the world is in your diet?” She poked at his  fake pudgy  belly, laughing at the way he pushed her hand away.

       “Hey! Santa does not appreciate naughty girls poking at his belly, either!”

       “Boy, Santa doesn't appreciate much this year, does he?” Robin cracked, elbowing Cheyenne as they both laughed.

       Jonas reached into his pocket and handed her a dime. “Here, why not make a wish?  Then be on your merry old way and leave this Santa to his work.” A gentle laugh came from his lips. Robin knew he was enjoying this just as much.

       “Can I wish myself off the naughty list?” Robin batted her eyelashes at him, edging closer to the well and prepared to drop the coin in.

       “It doesn't work that way, young lady. Santa loves the flirting,  but you're still on the list.” Jonas said close to her ear.

       “Darn.” She feigned a sad face, then dropped the coin in after thinking of a wish. “Despite your pudgy belly, you make a really hot Santa.” She backed away from him with a smile.

       “Santa will be calling you with details for your second date.” Jonas used a deep rumbling voice.

       “I'll be looking forward to it. Have a good day, Santa.” Robin waved at him. Her spirits lifted as she walked away with Cheyenne.  A few feet away, they looked at one another and burst into laughter.

     ROBIN MADE A VOW TO MAKE THE BEST OF THE HOLIDAYS THIS YEAR. 

 ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nikki Lynn Barrett lives in Arizona with her husband and son. She's an avid reader, a dreamer, and loves everything about books. She runs a book blog, an online used bookstore, and writes various genres of romance. Nikki can also be found outside with her camera when a storm is near, snapping photo after photo. Her dreams of becoming a writer started when she was young, when she started writing books in one subject notebooks by the fifth grade. The Secret Santa Wishing Well is her debut book. You can visit Nikki's site at: www.nikkilynnbarrett.blogspot.com for more information. She is working on her next book. Nikki would love to hear from readers. Email her at nikkilynnbarrett@yahoo.com

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And now the Moment We've All Been Waiting for..............

Discover the book that began it all…..The Secret Santa Wishing Well:

The magic of Christmas has been lost to Jacob Winston. At the suggestion of his ill sister, Jacob takes a job as a Secret Santa at the mall, hoping to restore his Christmas spirit. Even that doesn’t seem to work, until a special little boy ambles up to make a very special wish... Cheyenne Jensen is struggling to raise her two kids without the help of her ex-husband who refuses to acknowledge his daughter’s existence and doesn’t provide for the son he does. This Christmas is shaping up to be as heartbreaking as the last, until her son Ben’s kind actions lead a stranger to them. Ah, but it’s Christmas time and the magic has begun. When Jacob and Cheyenne meet, neither can deny their immediate attraction to one another. As situations arise that require they spend more time together, their feelings grow stronger and stronger. With Christmas fast approaching, the pair learn what matters most in life. Now, if only they could ditch the ghost of Christmases past. Maybe this holiday will bring some wishes come true- for everyone after all.

Don’t forget to check out more of Nikki’s work:

Baby Stetson

Love and Music in Texas, Book One

In small Texas towns, strangers come and go...

Left in a Stetson hat, on the steps of the local bed and breakfast, Avery Callimer came into the world on a wing and a prayer. Raised by loving adoptive parents, she's never lacked for love...only the knowledge of her past.

By day she works the Inn, but by night...Avery comes alive as lead singer in a band. Life was good...stable, until new guests blew into town. 

Some strangers come with secrets and lies.

Lucas Bennett is one such stranger. Drifting from one mess to another has left him jaded. Doesn't matter the dramas are never his doing. Giving it one last shot to make a fresh start lands him Harmony's Echo, Texas and smack dab in front of the tantalizing Avery.

Despite his best efforts to ignore the burn Avery's ignited within, he's intent to keep his distance. Secrets have followed him. Secrets he doesn't want Avery to know.

Each time they're near the other things heat up like a brushfire on a dry Texas prairie.

But maybe, after the dust settles and the smoke clears, love can bloom with a fresh start.

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3 e-copies of The Secret Santa Wishing Well

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