Indie author E.A.Stark’s third book, CHRISTMAS IN CARLING, is bursting with festive traditions, winter adventures, and a pure love romance between a widowed mother and a professional baseball player. Blending the holidays with a glimpse into the life of an MLB athlete, Christmas in Carling is a tale of two seasons. The two main characters and the mother’s little girl bond during their memorable two-week vacation. Filled with unique altruistic acts of kindness that will ignite your emotions, their experiences set the stage for an unforgettable year ahead. E.A.Stark creatively intertwined snippets of the 2018 Boston Red Sox World Series battle before the story returns to where it all began to celebrate a second Christmas in Carling.
Centered around the Muskoka Lakes region, located two hours north of Toronto, the inspiration for the fictional Carling Hotel is The Rosseau, a resort and spa known as a hidden gem in Ontario, Canada’s cottage country. Set amidst many scenic lakes and rivers, coated by a unique rocky landscape and dense forests, the area boasts a reputation for high-end real estate, the most beautiful water views, unparalleled sunsets, and, of course, epic social gatherings. But this bustling summer tourist mecca eventually transforms into a frozen icy haven. That is when E.A.Stark says she loves to visit.
“In December, there is a special feeling at the Rosseau. It’s hard to describe unless you’ve been there. Guests find a Christmas tree in every corner, and you can smell the burning logs from the large fieldstone fireplace. Outside, surrounded by Muskoka chairs, is a caldron fire, where you can enjoy smores, hot chocolate, and apple cider. Walking or snowshoeing through the wooded trails on the lakeside property, you will see deer jumping a few feet away – maybe even a rabbit or two chasing each other through the snow. It is simply a magical place. So luxurious and peaceful.”
Having visited The Rosseau recently to read the final draft of her newest book, she says she often sat in the Lakes Lounge because it has a view of the entire lobby and adjacent corridors.
“The Lakes is the hub of the hotel. There is always something to see that inspires me,” the author said. ”The staff is so friendly. They invite you in like you are family. It is not unusual for them to share pieces of their lives and inquire inquisitively about yours. They are wonderful people.”
When asked what inspired the story, the author revealed that during her stay in late November 2018, she witnessed something out of the ordinary while a squall raged outside, blanketing the town of Port Carling with two feet of snow and ice. That night, she wrote the first eighteen chapters of the book.
Christmas in Carling book description:
Driving to the luxurious Carling Resort Hotel, Julia Mariani and her daughter Sydney can hardly wait to immerse in the peaceful, cottage-country setting and spend uninterrupted time with their adoptive Carling Family. Armed with an itinerary of magical, time-honored traditions, the two gift the staff a Christmas to remember to thank them for their continued love and support after tragedy struck five years ago.
Accustomed to having the entire hotel to themselves for a few days, upon arrival, the concierge informs them that this will not be the case since they are expecting another guest that evening. Rumored to be avoiding Christmas festivities, Julia is disappointed to hear of the man’s Scrooge-like attitude and believes he will ruin their holidays. But when she bumps into handsome professional baseball player Ty Reynolds, in the early morning hours, to her surprise, sparks fly. Their heartwarming experience triggers a year of new beginnings.
CHRISTMAS IN CARLING is available December 17, 2022, in bookstores worldwide. For more insight on this story, visit her BLOG at EAStarkBooks.com.
Explore her other publications, ESCAPING WHITSUNDAY, THE ORB’S GIFT FROM HEAVEN, and get a sneak peek at the new YA-Series for 2023.
For interviews or comments, please email E.A.Stark directly at eastark.author@gmail.com.
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Company Name: EAStarkBooks.com
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City: Markham
State: Ontario
Country: Canada
Website: https://www.eastarkbooks.com/