Today, LitNuts is shining a spotlight on The Christmastime Series from author Linda Mahkovec, a collection of Christmas stories set in New York City and the rural Midwest during the World War II years.
"A whimsical and pleasingly old-fashioned collection of stories about the holidays." ~Kirkus Reviews
Christmastime 1939: Prequel to the Christmastime Series
Book 1 in The Christmastime Series
4.4 stars, 969 ratings on Amazon
From $2.99
The prequel to the Christmastime Series introduces the reader to the world of Christmastime. Set in Brooklyn, we meet the young widow Lillian Hapsey and her two sons, Tommy and Gabriel. Even though the Christmas season is just around the corner, Lillian has no Christmas spirit. Alone, unhappy with her job, and plagued by financial concerns, Christmas has become a burden to her.
Overshadowing everything is the war in Europe. Despite the setbacks, Lillian is determined to give her sons a happy Christmas. Can she rekindle her girlhood love for the holiday season? Rediscovering her touchstone just might be the key to unlocking the excitement and magic of Christmas.
★★★★★ "Filled with joy and laughter." ~Goodreads Review
Christmastime 1940: A Love Story
Book 2 in The Christmastime Series
4.5 stars, 718 ratings on Amazon
From $0.99
A tale of transformation involving a struggling single mom who is trying to make a fresh start in life and a man who has lost his connection to humanity. The curmudgeonly Charles Drooms is content with his life as the owner of a successful accounting firm. However, his narrow world is shaken up when the beautiful widow Lillian Hapsey and her two young sons move down the hall from him. The converging forces of the Christmas season, the presence of the widow, and the mysterious appearance of a little boy serve to stir up memories from Drooms’s boyhood and force him to make a life-altering decision that will affect them all.
★★★★★ "Uplifting holiday story." ~Amazon Review
Christmastime 1941: A Love Story
Book 3 in The Christmastime Series
4.6 stars, 422 ratings on Amazon
From $4.99
The third book in the Christmastime series opens two days after Pearl Harbor has been attacked. War has just been declared. It follows the love story of Lillian and Charles, the adventures of Tommy and Gabriel, the bittersweet romances of Izzy and Red, and the office manager at Drooms Accounting, sixty-year-old Mrs. Murphy, and someone from her past.
★★★★★ "Romance, women’s fiction, and a touch of historical fiction." ~Goodreads Review
About the Author
Linda Mahkovec focuses on themes of love, family, and home in her stories. Though they may be set against the backdrop of war or deal with the disappointments in life, the overarching feel is uplifting and hopeful. Threads that run through her work are the search for beauty and meaning, and the artistic female character – whether she is a writer, an actor, a painter, a gardener, or simply someone who lives creatively and seeks connection.
Learn more at lindamahkovec.com, and be sure to follow her online:
