California Dreaming… Former child star Meredith Alcott knows life isn't like the movies. But now she has a chance to realize her own Hollywood dream by restoring a run-down amusement park to its former glory before Christmas. Clashing with the owner's arrogant, all-business son wasn't in the job description…even as Jake Walters sweeps her into a romance she never wants to end. As financial adviser to the stars, Jake always has his eye on the bottom line. He doesn't want an outsider anywhere near the legendary institution that's been in his family for generations. Yet Meredith gets top billing when she's hired to revamp his family's park. The bewitching designer challenges him at every turn while arousing a desire that fulfills Jake's wildest fantasies. But sabotage threatens to turn all their passionate hopes to dust. Unless Jake can come up with a loving plan that keeps the magic going past the holidays—and Meredith in his arms forever….

California Dreaming... Former child star Meredith Alcott knows life isn't like the movies. But now she has a chance to realize her own Hollywood dream by restoring a run-down amusement park to its former glory before Christmas. Clashing with the owner's arrogant, all-business son wasn't in the job description...even as Jake Walters sweeps her into a romance she never wants to end. As financial adviser to the stars, Jake always has his eye on the bottom line. He doesn't want an outsider anywhere near the legendary institution that's been in his family for generations. Yet Meredith gets top billing when she's hired to revamp his family's park. The bewitching designer challenges him at every turn while arousing a desire that fulfills Jake's wildest fantasies. But sabotage threatens to turn all their passionate hopes to dust. Unless Jake can come up with a loving plan that keeps the magic going past the holidays-and Meredith in his arms forever....

A spicy and heartwarming Christmas romance short story collection from contemporary romance author Talya Blaine. Spend Christmas in the California sun with these feel-good, later-in-life contemporary romance short stories. Five standalone short stories. Five sultry dreams. Five hot, sweet Santas whose gifts can't be wrapped and put under a tree. The California Dreams Christmas Romance Collection includes: Santa & Anna When a divorced baker-to-the-stars bumps into Santa, their meet is anything but cute. Crumbs and icing fly--until Santa makes a deal and delivers not one but two sweet gifts. Santa & Clara When a workaholic Silicon Valley IT consultant reluctantly takes on the role of Mrs. Claus at her client's corporate Christmas bash, a B-list celebrity Santa coaxes her to reveal her fantasy holiday wish. Santa Cru Sofia practically pops a cork when the Santa she hires for her winery's big party cancels last-minute--until his stand-in's earnest plea restores her Christmas spirit. Santa & Monica Stuck together in a luxury beachfront vacation rental, Santa and Monica's slow-burn connection and dark humor transform loss into found. Santa & Barbara When ex-pat Barb returns home to spend Christmas with her ailing grandfather, Santa helps her reconnect in ways she will always remember. Full of twists on your favorite tropes--enemies to lovers, forced proximity, second chance, slow burn, fake relationship, mistaken identity--with touching, happy endings. At Christmastime, these five California dreams just might come true. Standalone short stories. Mature language, themes, and situations. M/F romances. Heroine POVs. No cheating between characters. No cliffhangers.

In 1934, twenty-two-year-old George Skinner was stricken with polio and confined to an iron lung in the polio ward of Los Angeles County General Hospital. Regular visits from his father, Albert, and the outpouring of support from his neighbors and community kept him going as he struggled to heal. Determined to walk again and recover from this horrible disease, he vowed that when he left the hospital he would create something to thank his community and to repay their kindness; he would create something called the Christmas House. In the midst of the Great Depression, in 1936, those dreams came true. George left the hospital and began building an elaborate outdoor display with his father. Newspapers sent photographers; the local American Legion Post donated time and supplies; churches provided choirs and contributed food; but most of all, children and adults came to experience the first house ever decorated with elaborate outdoor holiday displays and to bask in the true spirit of Christmas.