Book excerpt: The bestselling Hero’s Welcome series continues with a juicy Christmas romance, a short novel set in Seaside, North Carolina, where the bustling military base keeps this small town stocked with dedicated, lovable heroes. Three-hundred-and-sixty-four days a year, Allison Carmichael doesn’t mind being single. It sure beats dating another loser, and it keeps her heart safe. Then there’s that three-hundred-and-sixty-fifth day: Christmas Eve, the traditional time her entire family gathers together—and gangs up on her, demanding to know when she’s going to get married. This year, she swears, is going be different. And that’s why, at a charity auction she’s throwing on-base, she buys herself a man. Sergeant Troy Matthews insists that he’s not for sale. His time is, though, and he’s happy to donate it. Happier still when he learns the identity of the winning bidder: the redhead with the killer good looks and smart mouth who runs the veteran’s center. Allison needs Troy’s help to fool her family into believing they’re an item, and he’s all too happy to indulge her. But by the time Christmas Eve rolls around, their little charade is working a little too well . . . because Troy’s falling head over heels. Praise for Welcome Home for Christmas “A beautiful and funny Christmas romance that will get you in the right mood for the holidays, and will make you swoon.”—Roberta’s Dream World “A heartwarming, sweet, fun, and well-written story with just enough turmoil to balance all the Christmas cheer. It has a dangerous mystery to solve to give it some spice, it has Christmas family drama like most of us have, it has goodwill and helping hands to spread the love to those in need, but mostly it has steaming hot romance, flirting, amorous play, and romantic moments that melts your heart.”—Books and Spoons “Welcome Home for Christmas is a lot of Christmas and cute. A light and fluffy story, with a whole lot of holiday cheer.”—Harlequin Junkie “Just the type of book to get me in the mood for the holidays. I would love to be smack-dab in the middle of Seaside during Christmas. What a joyous place to be! Annie [Rains] captures that within her writing and shows the remarkable aspects of wonderful moments.”—Reads and Treats “A sweet, well-written, fast-paced . . . Christmas story with just enough tension and drama to make it an addictive page-turner.”—Lucia’s Book Reviews “So easy to get into and so hard to put down.”—Romantic Reads and Such “I cannot even begin to describe just how much I loved Welcome Home for Christmas! . . . This whole series will be one I will always love, but this book I will always treasure!”—Cara’s Book Boudoir Includes an excerpt from another Loveswept title.