Once Upon a Winter's Heart

"Melody delivers all that is sweetest and best about love in this Valentine's novella" about a woman who falls for her sister's boyfriend (Robin Jones Gunn, bestselling author of Sisterchicks in Gondolas).

Emma Burcelli has suffered over a decade of dating disasters. But she concludes that love is officially dead when her grandfather Poppi suddenly passes, leaving her grandmother Nona devastated. To help out, Emma works in the family bookstore, which Nona insists must be decked out in sweetheart décor as Poppi would have done for Valentine's Day. Although she feels like a V-Day Scrooge, Emma quickly learns to enjoy the task with the help of a handsome family friend, Lane Forester, who shows her that hanging hearts is much more fun when done to the tune of Dean Martin. As Emma and Lane share time and memories of Poppi, she reconsiders the notion that romance is alive.


Just as Emma's heart begins to lift, however, she learns her sister has already staked a claim on Lane. Emma's mother and sister insist Lane only sees her as a future sister-in-law, but she can't help wondering if it could be something more.


"A delightful story about the loss and recovery of romance, love and hope." —Family Fiction

"A sweet, quick read that celebrates love's beginnings as well the spirit of Valentine's Day." —USAToday.com

"A sweet love story, Once Upon a Winter's Heart is a beautiful picture of the joy of being swept off your feet." ―Melanie Dobson, award-winning author of Love Finds You in Mackinac Island, Michigan and Where the Trail Ends

"Once again Carlson touches the heart in this sweet, hopeful story of love finally found." —RT Book Reviews, starred review


"This should attract attention from the prolific Carlson's fans as well as fans of Christian romance." —Booklist