Tamara Passey was born and raised in Massachusetts around a
large family, one that has served as inspiration for most of her writing. She
was named Arizona Young Mother of the Year in 2013 and contributes marriage and
family articles to FamilyShare.com. She loves most creative endeavors and when
she isn't writing or re-writing, you can find her baking or cross-stitching or
walking--though not all at the same time. She lives with her husband and three
children in Arizona. Other titles by Tamara include The Christmas Tree Keeper:
A Novel, and Mothering through the Whirlwind, a short memoir.
Connect with the Author here:
"Though Angela Donovan is out of work and needs money
for rent, she yearns for her eight-year-old daughter to have a carefree holiday.
The last thing she wants is the pressure of her daughter expecting a miracle.
But when they pick out a Christmas tree at a cozy Massachusetts tree farm
that’s exactly what happens when they learn the trees might be miracle trees.
Mark Shafer is soon to be the new keeper of the Christmas
trees when he inherits the family farm. He’d like to run it with a family of
his own, but his girlfriend wants nothing to do with farm life. He makes plans
to sell so he can propose to his girlfriend and pursue a career in music. Then
he meets an unforgettable customer and her daughter, and an anonymous gift
compels them to learn the truth about the trees.
With a buyer willing to pay top dollar for the land, Mark
has the fate of the trees in his hand. Will he be able to see what and who is
most important? And will Angela give the miracle of love a chance?"
Snippet:
From Chapter Eleven:
“Can we bring something for Christmas?”
“Like what?”
“Can I bring your nativity set?” she asked as she looked at it longingly.
Angela set the grocery bags down in front of the door. She picked up the case and began putting the pieces into their corresponding velvet compartments. Caroline helped. The place for the lamb remained empty.
“I’m sorry I lost the lamb,” Caroline said.
“It’s okay,” Angela insisted. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Will we ever find it?”
“Maybe,” she said. Probably not.
“What did Florinda tell you about the wise men?” Caroline asked.
Angela sighed. Her daughter’s energy seemed to increase as Angela’s waned.
“The wise men? ‘Don’t give up your search for Jesus,’ I think she said.”
“What does that mean?”
“The wise men travelled a great distance. It must have been a long journey, but they didn’t stop until they found Jesus as a child.” Angela almost closed the case, but Caroline reached for another piece.
“What about him? What did she say about Joseph?”
Too worn out to resist her daughter’s earnest inquiry, Angela explained, “Florinda said, ‘when you find someone as loving and as loyal as Joseph, keep him close to your heart.’”
Caroline reached for the figure and tilted her head. “You haven’t found someone like that yet, have you?” she asked.
Angela took the figure back, put it in the case and closed it. She spoke the obvious answer hanging in the air.
“No. I haven’t.”
“Like what?”
“Can I bring your nativity set?” she asked as she looked at it longingly.
Angela set the grocery bags down in front of the door. She picked up the case and began putting the pieces into their corresponding velvet compartments. Caroline helped. The place for the lamb remained empty.
“I’m sorry I lost the lamb,” Caroline said.
“It’s okay,” Angela insisted. “Don’t worry about it.”
“Will we ever find it?”
“Maybe,” she said. Probably not.
“What did Florinda tell you about the wise men?” Caroline asked.
Angela sighed. Her daughter’s energy seemed to increase as Angela’s waned.
“The wise men? ‘Don’t give up your search for Jesus,’ I think she said.”
“What does that mean?”
“The wise men travelled a great distance. It must have been a long journey, but they didn’t stop until they found Jesus as a child.” Angela almost closed the case, but Caroline reached for another piece.
“What about him? What did she say about Joseph?”
Too worn out to resist her daughter’s earnest inquiry, Angela explained, “Florinda said, ‘when you find someone as loving and as loyal as Joseph, keep him close to your heart.’”
Caroline reached for the figure and tilted her head. “You haven’t found someone like that yet, have you?” she asked.
Angela took the figure back, put it in the case and closed it. She spoke the obvious answer hanging in the air.
“No. I haven’t.”
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