Beaver Creek Christmas

Beaver Creek Christmas

The Kindle Cover for Beaver Creek Christmas

ISBN: 9781095233702

Released 22-4-19

Andrew R Welsh Author Page with all book links.

The Query Letter  

I am pleased to be able to introduce my novel “Beaver Creek Christmas”.  It is a 65,170 word Christmas romance about a widowed Englishman Robin Whittaker and his daughter Holly, who take a holiday in Beaver Creek and Neve Avery, a sergeant in the 10^th Mountain Division, who has taken a post as Manager of The Nordic Center in the resort. 

They bump in to each other on the way and spend the vacation taking part in outdoor and festive activities, getting to know each other further. The relationship blossoms and by the end of the story, Neve accepts Robin’s engagement proposal and he has accepted a job offer at a local high school and plans to move back in the New Year. 

Meanwhile, Neve has engaged Holly to become more outgoing and exuberant and they also grow to care for each other after initial protective behaviour by Holly of her father.

Over the course of the story, Robin becomes more expressive, though the transformation is still incomplete.  He sees an opportunity with Neve helping him, to allow his creativity to blossom, not only as a writer, but as a cook and a wood worker.

Neve, like the others, allows herself after many years to let love into her life, as well as seeing the possibility of change beyond that that she had already decided on when leaving the army to become the outdoor activity manager.

The "blurb" from the back of the paperback

Robin Whittaker and his daughter Holly, decide to take a holiday in Beaver Creek, Colorado. Meanwhile, Neve Avery, a sergeant in the 10th Mountain Division is leaving the US Army to take up a post as Manager of The Nordic Center at the resort.  They bump in to each other on the way and spend the vacation taking part in outdoor and festive activities, getting to know each other further. A relationship develops as shy Robin slowly is drawn out of his shell, through various family Christmas traditions.

The Synopsis

Robin Whittaker and his daughter leave England at about the same time as Neve Avery is leaving Kuwait.  They both fly via Amsterdam where they bump into each other and then again in Denver they meet accidentally again before sharing transport to Beaver Creek.

En route they discover a shared appreciation of the music of Michael Bublé and as the Whittakers are dropped at the hotel, they find out that Neve’s Aunt Judith is the concierge at the hotel. 

Neve continues her journey to Camp Hale to finalise her discharge papers and returns the next day (22^nd December) to assist on a nature snowshoe trail activity as a way of saying thank you for the lift the previous night.

Robin and Holly have various planned activities for their Christmas week vacation which was intended to get them out of a rut in England and for them both, but Holly mainly, to experience a really snowy Christmas.

After the nature trail, they spend time in the Candy Cabin and in the evening Robin and Holly return the favour with a meal for Neve at a hearthside grill in the hotel.  They get to know each other further.

On the 23^rd, Neve is shown around her new work place by the previous manager Hurit, while Holly and Robin go cross-country skiing with the same member of staff Ross, who took them out the previous day.  They enjoy sausages at a mountain grill at the end of the skiing.  In the afternoon Robin shows off his hot chocolate making skills with Neve (and Judith) at the log house Neve inherited from her parents, just to the north of the village and choose a tree in the afternoon.  There, Robin cuts his hand and they get a ride to the Emergency Room in Hurit’s husband (Sheriff’s Deputy) Berry Jackson’s cruiser.

In the evening, after some time at the hotel’s pool and hot tub to relax, Robin, Neve and Holly meet Hurit at the local theatre to catch a performance of A Christmas Carol and Robin is introduced to a superintendent and an assistant principal from the local high school, who think he could be what they need as a substitute teacher with a speciality in science.

Robin shows off some poor cookie decorating skills on Monday 24th, before he takes a phone call at Neve’s house in the barn, that is his interview for the substitute teacher job.  In the evening, he and Neve go, with Holly, to the skating rink to meet up with some of the some teachers and students prior to every heading off to the high school Snow Ball.  At the rink Holly makes friend with some middle schoolers who have older siblings at the high school Robin will attend.  Robin excels himself with some dancing at the Snow Ball and is greeted by the students with enthusiasm.

On Christmas day, Neve arises first in her house and opens a few presents.  Holly and Robin sleep in accidentally and have to be rushed around to Neve’s by taxi.  They receive and give gifts and using their new snowshoes, Holly and Robin go with Neve on a hike up towards the Candy Cabin before heading back down on the ski lift to the hotel.  On the walk, Robin loses the engagement rings, earrings and other pieces of jewellery he was planning to give to Neve.  Holly finds these on the way as Robin loses them and so saves the day.

In the late afternoon on Christmas Day, Judith takes the trio to her house for a large meal and to meet her family of husband John, son and chef Nathan and his wife, Vanessa and daughter, Scout who is also Holly’s age (10).  The two young girls get on well and play with the family’ rescue dog, Star.

Returning to the Hotel, a squally blizzard whips up which calls into question the suitability of Robin’s choice of final activity he has set up - the sleigh ride at about 9pm in the evening.  Luckily the weather breaks and a perfect layer of snow is left for the ride around the village.

Back up in the hotel room, Robin finally gets the opportunity to propose, Neve accepts, they have their big kiss, before they all settle down to watch a film from a Christmas movie marathon.