Love Finds You at Home for Christmas

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Love Finds You at Home for Christmas Page 26

by Annalisa Daughety


  “Tell me again about this ornament.” Jon pointed to the red ball, and Sophie plucked it from the tree.

  “It’s cool, isn’t it?” Sophie cupped it in her hands. “Like our family, it has been through a lot, but it’s never been broken. I hope I never break it!” She reached up to place it back on the tree.

  Jon stopped her. “Where’s the note?”

  “What note? You mean the one that my grandpa put inside it?”

  “Yes. The one declaring his love.”

  “I don’t know what happened to it. I’m sure Granny has it somewhere.”

  “Could it still be in there?” Jon’s eyes glittered.

  “Surely not. I mean, no. Don’t you remember when I took the topper off a few weeks ago and showed you the inside?”

  He nodded.

  Sophie held the ornament up to the light. “That’s weird, though. Look! There does seem to be something inside it.” She took off the topper, just as she had before, but this time there was a note inside. Her heart skipped a beat.

  She turned the ball upside-down, and a tiny scroll fell into her palm. She handed the ornament to Jon and unfolded the scroll.

  Dear Sophie,

  I’ve loved you since the second grade. And I always will.

  Jon

  Sophie gasped.

  Jon looked at her, eyes shining.

  She pulled him into her arms and kissed him, knowing she was home.

  Sophie’s Pumpkin Cheesecake with Molasses Cookie Crust

  .................................

  1-1/2 cups Ruby’s Chewy Molasses Cookies*, crushed (see page 160 for recipe)

  3/4 cup ground pecans

  3 tablespoons brown sugar

  6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

  24 ounces cream cheese, softened

  1 cup brown sugar

  1-1/2 cups pumpkin

  1/2 cup heavy cream

  1/3 cup maple syrup

  1 tablespoon vanilla

  3/4 teaspoon cinnamon

  1/2 teaspoon allspice

  4 eggs

  Candied pecans and whipped cream, to serve

  Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease and flour a 9-inch springform pan. Combine first four ingredients with a fork. Press onto bottom and two inches up the sides of the pan to form a crust. Beat cream cheese and brown sugar till light and fluffy, then stir in pumpkin, heavy cream, maple syrup, vanilla, cinnamon, and allspice. Beat in eggs one at a time, mixing until smooth. Pour batter into crust and bake in a water bath for 90 minutes or until center is set. Allow to cool for 30 minutes, then refrigerate overnight. Garnish the top of the cake with whole candied pecans. Serve with whipped cream.

  *Can use crushed gingersnaps in place of molasses cookies.

  About the Author

  ....................

  Gwen Ford Faulkenberry lives and writes in the Ozark Mountains of Arkansas. She is married to Stone, and they have four children—Grace, Harper, Adelaide, and Stella. In addition to mothering and writing, Gwen teaches English at Arkansas Tech University—Ozark Campus. She is the author of Love Finds You in Branson, Missouri, Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado, and three devotional books—A Beautiful Life, A Beautiful Day, and Jesus, Be Near Me. Look her up on Facebook; she would love to hear from you.

  Want a peek into local American life—past and present? The Love Finds You™ series published by Summerside Press features real towns and combines travel, romance, and faith in one irresistible package!

  The novels in the series—uniquely titled after American towns with romantic or intriguing names—inspire romance and fun. Each fictional story draws on the compelling history or the unique character of a real place. Stories center on romances kindled in small towns, old loves lost and found again on the high plains, and new loves discovered at exciting vacation getaways. Summerside Press plans to publish at least one novel set in each of the fifty states. Be sure to catch them all!

  NOW AVAILABLE

  Love Finds You in Miracle, Kentucky

  by Andrea Boeshaar

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-37-5

  Love Finds You in Snowball, Arkansas

  by Sandra D. Bricker

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-45-0

  Love Finds You in Romeo, Colorado

  by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-46-7

  Love Finds You in Valentine, Nebraska

  by Irene Brand

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-38-2

  Love Finds You in Humble, Texas

  by Anita Higman

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-61-0

  Love Finds You in Last Chance, California

  by Miralee Ferrell

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-39-9

  Love Finds You in Maiden, North Carolina

  by Tamela Hancock Murray

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-65-8

  Love Finds You in Paradise, Pennsylvania

  by Loree Lough

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-66-5

  Love Finds You in Treasure Island, Florida

  by Debby Mayne

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-80-1

  Love Finds You in Liberty, Indiana

  by Melanie Dobson

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-74-0

  Love Finds You in Revenge, Ohio

  by Lisa Harris

  ISBN: 978-1-934770-81-8

  Love Finds You in Poetry, Texas

  by Janice Hanna

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-16-6

  Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon

  by Melody Carlson

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-18-0

  Love Finds You in Charm, Ohio

  by Annalisa Daughety

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-17-3

  Love Finds You in Bethlehem, New Hampshire

  by Lauralee Bliss

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-20-3

  Love Finds You in North Pole, Alaska

  by Loree Lough

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-19-7

  Love Finds You in Holiday, Florida

  by Sandra D. Bricker

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-25-8

  Love Finds You in Lonesome Prairie, Montana

  by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-29-6

  Love Finds You in Bridal Veil, Oregon

  by Miralee Ferrell

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-63-0

  Love Finds You in Hershey, Pennsylvania

  by Cerella D. Sechrist

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-64-7

  Love Finds You in Homestead, Iowa

  by Melanie Dobson

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-66-1

  Love Finds You in Pendleton, Oregon

  by Melody Carlson

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-84-5

  Love Finds You in Golden, New Mexico

  by Lena Nelson Dooley

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-74-6

  Love Finds You in Lahaina, Hawaii

  by Bodie Thoene

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-78-4

  Love Finds You in Victory Heights, Washington

  by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-000-9

  Love Finds You in Calico, California

  by Elizabeth Ludwig

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-001-6

  Love Finds You in Sugarcreek, Ohio

  by Serena B. Miller

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-002-3

  Love Finds You in Deadwood, South Dakota

  by Tracey Cross

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-003-0

  Love Finds You in Silver City, Idaho

  by Janelle Mowery

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-005-4

  Love Finds You in Carmelby-the-Sea, California

  by Sandra D. Bricker

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-027-6

  Love Finds You Under the Mistletoe

  by Irene Brand and Anita Higman

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-004-7

  Love Finds You in Hope, Kansas

  by Pamela Griffin

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-007-8

  Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho

  by Angela Ruth

&
nbsp; ISBN: 978-1-60936-008-5

  Love Finds You in Camelot, Tennessee

  by Janice Hanna

  ISBN: 978-1-935416-65-4

  Love Finds You in Tombstone, Arizona

  by Miralee Ferrell

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-104-4

  Love Finds You in Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts

  by Melody Carlson

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-110-5

  Love Finds You in Prince Edward Island, Canada

  by Susan Page Davis

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-109-9

  Love Finds You in Groom, Texas

  by Janice Hanna

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-006-1

  Love Finds You in Amana, Iowa

  by Melanie Dobson

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-135-8

  Love Finds You in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania

  by Annalisa Daughety

  ISBN: 97-8-160936-212-6

  Love Finds You in Branson, Missouri

  by Gwen Ford Faulkenberry

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-191-4

  Love Finds You in Sundance, Wyoming

  by Miralee Ferrell

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-277-5

  Love Finds You on Christmas Morning

  by Debby Mayne and Trish Perry

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-193-8

  Love Finds You in Sunset Beach, Hawaii

  by Robin Jones Gunn

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-028-3

  Love Finds You in Nazareth, Pennsylvania

  by Melanie Dobson

  ISBN: 97-8-160936-194-5

  Love Finds You in Annapolis, Maryland

  by Roseanna M. White

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-313-0

  Love Finds You in Folly Beach, South Carolina

  by Loree Lough

  ISBN: 97-8-160936-214-0

  Love Finds You in New Orleans, Louisiana

  by Christa Allan

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-591-2

  Love Finds You in Wildrose, North Dakota

  by Tracey Bateman

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-592-9

  Love Finds You in Daisy, Oklahoma

  by Janice Hanna

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-593-6

  Love Finds You in Sunflower, Kansas

  by Pamela Tracy

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-594-3

  Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan

  by Pamela Tracy

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-594-3

  COMING SOON

  Love Finds You in Glacier Bay, Alaska

  by Tricia Goyer and Ocieanna Fleiss

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-569-1

  Love Finds You in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin

  by Pamela S. Meyers

  ISBN: 978-1-60936-769-5

 

 

 


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