A Sleighville Novel
Welcome to Sleighville…where mayhem meets murder.
Mayor Bryce Stuart’s quaint Christmas town is in crisis. With holiday cheer fading faster than melting snow, he turns to a PR firm for a total holiday makeover. Amidst the tinsel-draped chaos and unexpected divorce papers, Bryce is determined to save his town even as his personal life unravels.
Lila Hansley, a PR whiz, would rather dodge snowflakes than deck the halls. When her grinch of a boss tasks her with reviving a town where yuletide seems cursed, she finds herself tangled in more than just stubborn locals and tacky decorations. Between Bryce’s infectious Christmas spirit and his soon-to-be ex-wife’s icy interference, Lila’s job becomes a real-life holiday mayhem.
But when mischief escalates to murder, Sleighville’s revival takes a sinister turn. As tensions rise and secrets surface, Bryce and Lila must navigate a web of small-town intrigue where someone’s silent night just became permanent.
Can they uncover the mystery before their Christmas miracle becomes another holiday homicide? Or will Sleighville’s dark secrets bury their efforts deeper than the winter snow?
Don’t miss book two in this suspenseful Christmas series where you’ll find holiday joy all year long!
The entire Sleighville series: (each book can be read as a standalone.)
Dashing Through the Fear (Book 1): Griffin & Eve
Here Comes Chaos (Book 2): Bryce & Lila
Enjoy this short excerpt...
He relaxed back in his chair again. “I’d love to know your thoughts about the drive into town.”
Horrifying!
“It felt…welcoming.”
The first large sign she had seen, she cringed. Welcome to Sleighville. Where you are sure to have a holly, jolly time.
Honestly, there was nothing to change there because she knew it was a slogan meant to instill the holiday spirit. At this point in time, changing the town name itself was out of the question. But Sleighville? Maybe it was the horror fan inside her, but her mind went dark hearing the name. Like a slasher film about to come alive.
Bryce’s smile died and a slight huff escaped. She imagined he hadn’t meant to reveal that when he straightened his body as if that would erase the sound he’d emitted.
“What didn’t you like?”
READ MOREWell, the town name didn’t help its case. The sign itself was decent. Then driving down Main Street and seeing the Christmas lights strung up in all the window shops. Santa and his reindeer hanging out in the middle of the square. A large Christmas tree near them lit up in its glory. Some shops had Valentine’s decorations mixed in as well, and it all looked…odd.
Where did she begin?
Not with the truth.
Because the truth was she didn’t like Christmas.
She wouldn’t go as far as hate because, well, that was a strong word and she rarely used it unless necessary. But when the holiday rolled around, she didn’t get into all the hoopla surrounding it. She bought presents, but only when it was mandatory. Like the secret Santa exchange her work insisted on this past year. Of course, for her family as well because she wasn’t a complete Scrooge.
“I can’t say anything I didn’t particularly like. It all screams Christmas when you drive through town. If it weren’t February, I’d think the holiday was approaching for real. That’s a good start to a great image. That’s what you want to portray.”
She said it so professionally and like she knew what the hell she was talking about. Yay her!
“Okay, that’s good. You had me worried for a second.”
She waved her hand in the air as if telling him not to worry at all. Everything would work out splendidly.
“The problem is, you need more merriness.” If a bathroom were nearby, she would’ve rushed out and puked after saying that. Lying never felt right to her, but in this job, she’d learned that telling the truth put you in the hot seat.
Case in point—stuck on a mission to turn a Christmas town into the merriest place in the world when she disliked the holiday and screwed up her last PR campaign.
Her boss literally hated her.
His brilliant smile reappeared. “That’s why we hired you.”
She took another sip of her hot chocolate to stop from blurting out anything inappropriate. Like why in the hell he’d work with the shit company she continued to let boss her around.
“I’d love to know some of the ideas you have.” He leaned forward again as if excited about the prospect of inserting more cheeriness into the town. “You do have some ideas, right?”
She might not care for the holiday, and she despised her boss when he inflicted this assignment on her, but she was a professional. At all times. No matter the job she held at the moment.
(Copyright © 2024 Amanda Siegrist)
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Cover Designer: Amanda Siegrist
Photos provided by: lightsource/Adrianarad1991/depositphotos.com/vectorfusionart/shutterstock.com
Edited by: Editing Done Write
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