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In Time for Christmas
Cheryl Alldredge
 Highland Press

A stunning time travel back to when Vikings plundered. Gunnar meets a small boy, Jon, and feels compelled to say a prayer to the Christian God. His prayer for good fortune, and the gift of a box to Beth in the present day, send Beth hurtling back where she and Gunnar find love “In Time for Christmas.”

Cheryl Alldredge’s heartfelt story brings the time of the Vikings to vivid life. Her incredible gift at encapsulating details and emotions will leave readers yearning for more stories by this talented author. This compelling time travel beautifully juxtaposes the beliefs of the Vikings with those of the Christians to create a fascinating and sensitive portrait of Christmas

 Excerpt

Gunnar watched his little gift dancing around the bonfire. The flicker of the blaze revealed fiery streaks within the wealth of sable curls hanging loose around her shoulders. Her form was slender, but strong and nicely rounded in all the right places. She had a powerful ability to heat his blood. And he wasn’t the only one. Half his men were drooling over her like hounds over a bone.

 He’d checked on her throughout the day, knowing well that a man’s peace was tied to the peace among the women of the household. He’d been well pleased to see her getting along with the other women—even if a few did still eye her suspiciously. Her peace making seemed a feat Asa had no hope of conquering.

 Asa danced before the fire as well, but the tall golden beauty didn’t raise his lust this night. Perhaps her display of bad humor at the feasting had dampened his interest. She had turned red with temper when he’d set Beth in a place of honor and bade her retell her stories for his men. With his help, of course, since many couldn’t understand a word she said. When the men teased and heckled that no babe was worthy of such a grand tale, she only laughed and carried on. He found her to be a splendid storyteller, giving the tale life in the details.

 He would have to deal with Asa and her father on the morrow. While he’d listened to Beth entertaining the children with stories of the birth of the Christian Savior he’d begun to understand why the Christian God had sent her. The certainty of his course of action had been growing within his belly throughout the day. During this feast of new beginnings, he would be making a new beginning of his own.

 Getting to his feet, Gunnar waited for his little gift to dance her way nearer, then plucked her from the circle of dancing women. She squealed and laughed as he lifted her into his arms and spun her around, dancing his way inside and through the doorway that led to his private quarters. When he landed her on her feet, she looked confused.

 “Is the feast over?”

 “Nay, little one, the feasting will go on for days, but it is time we settled in to warm the furs.”

Beth’s gaze darted to his fur covered bed. “Did you say…we?”

 Gunnar chuckled at the sudden squeakiness in her voice. “Aye. You and I. Together.”

“Umm, I can sleep in the main…hall…longhouse …whatever you call it.” She waved her hand toward the doorway and attempted to pull away.

 “Nay. It would not be safe for you to sleep there and you will need the warmth of another to sleep through the night with comfort.” He watched her eyes take in his room, as if searching for a means of escape as she considered her possible arguments. Gunnar placed his fingertips across her lips before she spouted some nonsense that would make him crazy with jealousy. “Nay, little one. No one will warm you but me.” 

“And if I say no?” she mumbled behind his fingers.

 Gunnar traced her lips, then caressed the tip of her chin before lifting her face for a kiss. “Then I will be forced to persuade you.”

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