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 10th 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.
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 (22nd 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 23rd, 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.
