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Darlene Gardner | A Key West Christmas

Wondering if you'll have a white Christmas? Check out this probability map on the  National Climatic Data Center website. The NCDC defines a white Christmas as a "snow depth of at least one inch observed on Dec. 25."

The map explains why my sisters and I always rejoiced at the first holiday snowflake. We grew up in the Pittsburgh area, which is more likely than not to be snow free Christmas morning. Still, a 26-40 percent chance isn't bad, not compared to the less than five percent probability of snow in South Florida.

Even five percent seems high to me. My family lived in South Florida for ten years and never saw a flake. At first, I couldn't imagine how I'd ever get in the spirit of the season without that almost-magical snowfall. It turns out that Floridians know how to make their own magic. They decorate palm trees, throw concerts and host parades where boats festooned with holiday lights glide down serene waterways.

My December Superromance WISH UPON A CHRISTMAS STAR is not exactly a traditional Christmas story. For starters, it's set in Key West which I'd wager has a zero percent chance of holiday snow. Maria DiMarco, however, is hoping for a Christmas miracle.

Maria's a private investigator who never fully accepted that her younger brother died in the terrorist attack at the World Trade Center on 9-11. Not when his remains were never identified. After her brother's ex-girlfriend gets strange phone calls and letters that suggest Maria's brother is alive, Maria starts to hope.

Then she sees a shooting star and makes a wish. And suddenly she's in Key West during Christmas week trying to track down her brother. Following her there is ex-love, who's not quite as ready to believe in miracles at Maria.

Do you have a wish for this holiday season? I'll give away copies of THE CHRISTMAS GIFT and DASHING THROUGH THE MALL, books from my backlist, to a commenter chosen at random.

 

 

Comments

47 comments posted.

Re: Darlene Gardner | A Key West Christmas

Yes, growing up in Kansas we always had a white christmas
but living in Austin, TX is totally different weather. We
get very little snow if any and some ice but we are stilling
having warm weather here. I would love to wish for everyone
in the world to have world peace and help each other always
and stop the wars and stop the killing from now on. Every
person needs to get along with all people. God Bless US
everyone! Thanks, Cecilia CECE
(Cecilia Dunbar Hernandez 1:36am December 2, 2012)

My wish for this Christmas is for my kids to have a happy day with all of their dreams come true! Happy Holiday's!
(Christine Mead 4:45am December 2, 2012)

Good health for everyone in my family.
(Roxana Perez 5:09am December 2, 2012)

My most important wish is that I get to see my son for Christmas. He has just finished his Master's Degree and taken a full-time job, and this might be the first Christmas in his life (all 25 years) he has not seen his family for Christmas. Cross your fingers everyone.
(Donna Holmberg 5:11am December 2, 2012)

i see a great contest
(Kent Cook 5:56am December 2, 2012)

My wish for Christmas is to be selected to win the prize of your books. Hoping and wishing you the Happiest of Holidays.
Patricia Pascale
(Patricia (Pat) Pascale 6:02am December 2, 2012)

I've never had a White Christmas. I should wish harder
perhaps.
(Mary Preston 6:18am December 2, 2012)

My wish for 2013 is for a more peaceful world.
Blessings,
Marjorie
(Marjorie Carmony 6:29am December 2, 2012)

I am being materialistic, I want a silver Tiffany keyhole ring. I am hoping
hubby took the hint of the open catalog on his nightstand, lol
(Ann Sheiring 7:11am December 2, 2012)

Yes, sadly, my wish is for my family to go back to the way we used to
be...
(Kelli Jo Calvert 8:30am December 2, 2012)

My Christmas wish is to have a peaceful day. It would mean more to me than any present.
(Michelle Donaldson 8:43am December 2, 2012)

I love anything Christmas and would love to read this book!
(Bonnie Capuano 8:58am December 2, 2012)

My wish for the holiday season is continued good health for my family and friends. Prayers of comfort for those going thru tough times
(Shirley Younger 9:02am December 2, 2012)

My wish is for everyone to get along.
(Pam Howell 9:09am December 2, 2012)

Great contest, I'd love to win this book.
(Wilma Frana 10:51am December 2, 2012)

I wish for good health for my family.
(Rita Wray 10:56am December 2, 2012)

My wish is for our soldiers to come home safely to their families and loved ones. Big wish!!!
(Beth Charette 11:25am December 2, 2012)

I wishing for a wonderful year for our family.
(Sue Farrell 11:28am December 2, 2012)

Wishing a joyful holiday to you, your family and your many readers.
(Anita Waters 11:48am December 2, 2012)

Of course, everyone knows all the great Christmas wishes. I
wish those and a few extra ones for soldiers not in our
country this year for Christmas. I have a few selfish ones
just for my family, too. May you and yours have a very happy
Christmas, too.
(Mary Hay 12:26pm December 2, 2012)

I wish for smiles and happiness for Christmas! :)
(Colleen Conklin 12:30pm December 2, 2012)

Hi

Wishing 2013 is a peaceful year all over the world.
(Pam Brewer 12:40pm December 2, 2012)

I used to live 30 minutes from Pittsburgh, all that snow a few years ago had me packing my bags and going to SoFLo. They just had the Toys For Tots drive on the Intercoastal with all the boats lighted up - that has a certain magic to it, floating lights and decorations.
My Christmas wish is for people to find peace of mind, heart, and spirit.
(Carla Carlson 12:58pm December 2, 2012)

I would someday love to see a really heavy snowfall. If it came on Christmas Day that would be a double treat. Living in South Texas, that won't happen, but I attended college in West Texas, so did at least get to see actual snow. LOL
(Marilyn Nowlin 1:04pm December 2, 2012)

thanks for this chance. world peace
(Debbi Shaw 1:34pm December 2, 2012)

I wish that my sister and I would have a better relationship. Ever since her break-up with her ex, she has been angry and bitter. She has basically been mean to everyone in the household and has started taking things that begin to me and claiming it as her own. Our relationship is pretty much estranged and I wish that our relationship would be better.
(Kai Wong 2:10pm December 2, 2012)

I am hoping my whole family can get together for the holidays. My sons live out of state and it is always so wonderful to have them visit for Chirstmas.
(Robin McKay 2:54pm December 2, 2012)

My wish for the holiday is for my family to be healthy. We have experienced illness for the psst several years. It would be great if everyone; parents, grnadparents, children and grandchildren, to be healthy and well.
(L Green 3:24pm December 2, 2012)

What great comments. The older I get, the more I wish for good
health for my loved ones. I've also heard it said that
presence is more important than presents. Very true. But I do
like presents, too. :-)
(Darlene Gardner 3:26pm December 2, 2012)

My wish is for a happy healthy new year.
(Bonnie H 3:31pm December 2, 2012)

We would sometimes have white christmas
(Cynthia St. Germain 6:05pm December 2, 2012)

C
(Cynthia St. Germain 6:05pm December 2, 2012)

I wish for safe travelling for everyone who's travelling this season.
(Cheryl McEwen 6:06pm December 2, 2012)

'love came down at Christmas' - I wish for magic and moments of wonder, for light shining through the cracks, and hope opening the doors.
(Beth Fuller 6:14pm December 2, 2012)

Hey there neighbor - LOL. We have lots of family up in Pittsburgh!

My wish - health, happiness - being with family!
(Felicia Ciaudelli 6:19pm December 2, 2012)

My most sincere wish is a very good health for my mother who is now 82, and also for my husband, Serge. They are both very, very dear to my heart. :)

I also wish for peaceful and quiet times for myself at home, to relax with a nice book with a cocoa, and also I am wishing for having more time to draw.

Speaking of snow. Here we already have some. But no one will be surprised since I am in Canada
I love it when the first snow falls.
Thank you and a lovely december Holidays to you and your family, Darlene.
(Judith Venne 6:29pm December 2, 2012)

For a better new year.
(Leslie Davis 6:42pm December 2, 2012)

We got married on Christmas eve. Once the children were gone, we found that a quiet Christmas is so peaceful and enjoyable. Our children call to wish us the best, but we already have all the blessings we could ask for.
(Rosemary Simm 7:26pm December 2, 2012)

My wish is for a happy healthy new year.
(Kathy Fowler 8:07pm December 2, 2012)

I'm hoping that my family will get together at some point during the holidays. Ever since my Mother passed away a few years ago, we haven't gotten together, and that's not what she wanted for us. Every Christmas comes, and my heart aches, because we're not a cohesive unit. This year my Father is in a nursing home, and my heart is broken more. I would drive with my Husband to be with them, even though the trip takes over 2 hours one way. Every year pulls us further apart. In the meantime, I've started my second family, and am content to be with them every year. Have a wonderful and blessed Christmas, and a Happy and Healthy New Year!!
(Peggy Roberson 8:13pm December 2, 2012)

I got my wish for Christmas. My grandson in the military will be home. Enjoyed your blog.
(Sheila True 8:39pm December 2, 2012)

I hope all my family can be together for Christmas, and that good health is in their future.
(Anna Speed 8:49pm December 2, 2012)

My wish for Christmas is just enough snow on Christmas day to look pretty but that the highways will be clear for those travelling. I live in Ontario about an hour from Detroit Mich. and we either have a green Christmas or lots of snow. I also wish for everyone to have a Merry and blessed Christmas.
(Linda Fast 11:17pm December 2, 2012)

i would love to win and read both of these books and then share with my friends and local library...thanks
(Kimberly Hoefs 11:36pm December 2, 2012)

I wish that we all have a safe and fun holiday while we are in the mountains celebrating .
(Danielle McDonald 10:49am December 3, 2012)

I hope everyone has wonderful Christmas and a great New Year.
Debbie Rudder
(Debbie Rudder 8:28pm December 8, 2012)

A wish is for my husband to be well and me to get some more organising done here before we get the house insulated in January.
(Clare O'Beara 9:08am December 10, 2012)

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