Miracle for Christmas in July(2019)

Christine Sterling

Mercy is happy for her best friend, Annamae, when she falls in love and marries, but she is saddened by the fact it leaves her desperately alone at the boarding house. She dearly misses her roommate and all the good times they shared as struggling actresses.

In the midst of her melancholy, she receives a gift of a lovely pair of gingerbread cookies from Mrs. Claus — a cheerful boy and girl decorated with red and white icing, holding hands. They’re accompanied by a note announcing that Christmas miracles come to those who believe, and love is the greatest miracle of all.

Mercy is breathless with excitement to realize it’s finally her turn, because every young woman in Pinetop who’s received such a gift has ended up married to the man of her dreams. There’s only one problem. Her own dreams have always included a knight, with skin as dark as her own, riding off with her into the sunset; whereas the only man currently vying for her affections is the giant of a Scotsman who serves as her trapeze partner at Castellano’s. Is it possible Mrs. Claus knows Mercy’s heart better than she knows it herself? Also, is it complete stuff and nonsense to believe a Christmas miracle is coming her way in July?