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The Christmas Reunion Series
Christmas Reunion – Book 1
A family Christmas is not for everyone, so when Sandra suggests a singles’ reunion over the holidays, her childhood friends are all in. But what is her real reason for bringing them together?
Romance is in the air, but when old rivalries and forgotten feelings resurface, drama, intrigue and misunderstandings are inevitable. Bright, beautiful, successful Sandra may think she knows her heart and her friends, but a flurry of mixed emotions, funny moments and unexpected distractions will reveal everyone’s true desires.
Secrets and scars are exposed on a path to forgiveness, friendship and love, as second chances become real on Christmas.
Christmas Reunion – Book 2
What better time to deal with personal issues than Christmas? With twinkle lights, tinsel and snow in the background and drama in the foreground, old friends learn that relationships are never easy and happily ever after is often an illusion.
Sandra and her friends thought they found their soul mates at their Christmas reunion, but a year later their relationships are fraught with insecurity, jealousy, disappointment and resentment. Old flames reignite and ghosts of their past come back to haunt them as they rely on their friendship for solace, strength and answers.
No matter how well they think they know their friends and lovers, there is always room for shocking news, unexpected twists and surprising secrets, they are reminded as they struggle to make the right decisions. But behind deceptive appearances and funny incidents lie love, friendship, growth and generosity.
Frames
What does one do when life comes to a hopeless standstill and the desired fresh start is not what it seems? Four enthralling, emotional short stories capture diverse characters who are stuck, desperately searching either for a new beginning or for an end to their misery. Opportunity presents itself under the unexpected guise of theft, murder and suicide intertwined with love, friendship and generosity. In need of purpose, as well as affection and passion, they are torn between their conflicting desires and moral values, often finding solace and support in unexpected, shocking situations and people. Can an assassin love? Is one’s death someone else’s fortune? Should outcasts dare to dream of a better future and should the past be put behind? These are merely a few of the questions tormenting them, pushing them to honestly acknowledge and assess their needs and their existence.
Albatross
There are no villains and no heroes, only people caught in a pivotal moment of their existence. Nothing is absolute, no one is only good or entirely evil. One’s life course can be deviated in an instant, and choices are often made instinctively, unconsciously, not only rationally, under socially acceptable terms. Imperfect, damaged characters struggle with their duality and evolution. Their reactions are the product of violence, physical and emotional abuse, neurosis, depression, but also of love, hope and melancholy. Fear is what they all have in common.
The past leaves visible painful scars, which determine present behaviour varying from melancholic introspection and nostalgia, to escapism, claustration, hatred and violence. The six short stories portray characters deeply marred by trauma, loneliness and fear, yet also motivated by hope and love. Acceptance and forgiveness are part of life, just like murder, rape, deception, crime and punishment.
Ambivalence is prevalent. Violence can bring people together as an act of love and support; but its victims rarely stand a chance to thrive. Betrayal can make a relationship stronger; but the people it separates don’t always find their way back to each other. Childish simplicity is magical, but deconstructed childhood myths lose their charm; and not all children have a chance to enjoy a carefree life, protected by their parents. Albatross is a world of lost innocence, populated with common, complex people torn between their dual nature and the relativism of their values. Even behind ghastly, mortifying acts there are relatable reasons, and the focus is on those weaknesses and feelings triggering such behaviour. Existence is a balancing act and everyone is one false move away from disaster and darkness.
Glass Slippers and Stilettos
Regina is the woman everybody loves to hate and hates to love. Behind the gorgeous, demurred façade lurk selfish ambition, ignorance, avarice and a desperate need to find her happily ever after. Her constant search for a man to rescue her and make all her wildest dreams come true takes her on a sinuous, often obscure, but always entertaining path. Regina may try to deny it, but she is no innocent princess, Prince Charming is often a beast in disguise and modern-day “happily ever after”-s are nothing like their fairy tale version.
The ten short stories are a satire of her journey, presenting the almost stereotypical character in various everyday situations, all of them related to her extraordinary ability to manipulate the men in her life. Other (often equally shallow) characters, such as Nice Guy, Boyfriend, Ex, Impeccable Pedigree, Sweet Girl, Lover or King will keep her company, allowing Regina to use them and occasionally using her, thus supporting her belief that she is a victim of circumstance. Charismatic and wild, Regina likes to enjoy all life’s pleasures and wants to have the best of everything, while endeavouring to preserve her “good girl” image. There are many obstacles between Regina and her ideal man, but her high heels relentlessly walk over them and the people in her way, hoping for her dream marriage to become reality.
In spite of her many flaws, Regina remains a likeable “villain” able to trigger a spark of compassion mainly because one can occasionally relate to her amusing predicaments and moral dilemmas. After all, many have struggled with some of these issues – or similar ones – at least once…
Parallel Lives
Young, beautiful and independent Amalia refuses to apply traditionalist values to any of her relationships with men; therefore commitment, marriage and couple routine are not part of her vision on life. Cynical and highly aware of the realities of an unromanticized modern world devoid of long lasting feelings, Amalia appears to only expect a few moments of fleeting happiness from the men in her life. The opposite sex is often no more than a refuge from all mundane problems and deceptions, so the young woman stubbornly refuses to settle down with any of the men who try to win her affection – that would only mean the death of her soul, independence and character.
A man will treat a woman as badly as she allows him and no man can offer a woman all she needs – these are two of her strongest beliefs, and needing to be in control, she will not shy away from being at least as selfish, self-involved, manipulative and cold as men are to other women in their lives. Amalia wants someone who can make her feel and forget. But as she thrives on introspection and analysis, doubt and disappointment, together with unwanted and unexpected feelings will often overwhelm her.
Above anything else, she is their confidante, the one they entrust with all their fears, hopes and mundane stories, Amalia enjoying their conversations as a means of escaping and forgetting her own issues. Infiltrating the thoughts, ideas and emotions of men who care for her becomes a guilty pleasure in which she will relish whenever she finds the power to remind herself that any drop of happiness needs to be savoured. Getting to know the various men in her life ultimately translates into a deeper understanding of herself and her needs, discovering she can still be both disappointed and amazed by the person she is.
Her evolution over the years outlines the image of a woman who refuses to lie to herself and become somebody else in order to please people and fit in, often accepting loneliness as a reward and not a punishment.
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Happy reading!
Ana Linden 