Book excerpt: After her mother's death, young Louise is left caring for her melancholy father and a wayward younger brother. She works tirelessly in a baker’s shop, but dreams of becoming a successful children’s author, and her love life is in turmoil because of a lifelong attraction to the local bad boy. With the help of some interfering friends, she wins a Christmas competition to spend a week at a writers' retreat at the Mystic Springs hotel. It seems that Lou’s luck is changing, but can she keep her focus amidst eerie occurrences and the presence of a very attractive writing mentor? Add a little dash of magic and lose yourself in this cozy Christmas romance.