12 Days of Christmas Reads – The Seventh Day: 'The Gift of the Inn' by Golden Keyes Parsons

Welcome to the seventh day of Christmas Reads, and a special post in memory of those loved ones who are no longer able to celebrate Christmas with us here on earth—in particular, today’s featured author Golden Keyes Parsons. May the God of comfort draw to Himself those who mourn this Christmas. <3

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~ Christmas with Golden Keyes Parsons ~

Written in her honor by Roseanna White, Editor at WhiteFire Publishing

A good Christmas story should be about family. About love. About the miracle of God reaching down to us. A good Christmas story can be set in any time, any place…but there’s something special about one that plunges the reader into the middle of a snowstorm, with nostalgic images all around. And it gets even better when the story includes a tradition that will make readers’ hearts warm. Like, for instance, stockings personalized and decorated by a loving hand for every member of the family. Stockings like the ones that appear in The Gift of the Inn and lead a family to reunion. Stockings based on the ones from author Golden Keyes Parsons’ own family.

The Gift of the Inn is a special book—special to Golden because of those stockings, and the fact that she based the inn on one her own family used to run. The image of the house on the cover is in fact her family’s. But what none of us knew when we started working on this story with Golden was that it would be her last book. In February of 2017, she was killed in a tragic car accident. We at WhiteFire Publishing waited to see what her family’s wishes were in regards to the story and were so glad when they asked us to proceed with its publication and shared how excited Golden had been about it.

As we move into the Christmas season and I’m in communication with Golden’s family, I know this is sure to be a hard one for them. But I also know that the legacy their mother/grandmother left is one of shining faith, and in finding the joy in Christmas even amid loss—the very message of The Gift of the Inn.

The Parsons family is one of many that will be mourning this year as they celebrate. It’s never easy to lose those we love, but my prayer is that as we contemplate the miracle of God becoming man, of giving His own life for our sakes, we realize that death can’t keep us from His love. For those left behind, the loss is very real. But when we band together, beauty can still find us. It’s our prayer at WhiteFire that The Gift of the Inn can touch hearts this Christmas season for the Lord…and in honor of an amazing woman who gets to celebrate the holiday with the Lord this year.

~ About the Author ~

Golden Keyes Parsons was a popular retreat and conference speaker, author of historical novels and an ordained pastor.

Her book, “In The Shadow Of The Sun King,” (Thomas Nelson Publishing), first in a three-book series based on her family genealogy, released Fall 2008, and was named a finalist in the ACFW’s Book of the Year Debut Author category. The book chronicles the saga of the Clavell family in 17th century France, where, as French Huguenots, they suffer persecution at the hands of Louis XIV’s Catholic government. The second book, “A Prisoner Of Versailles,” was released September 2009 and was named a finalist in the prestigious RWA Daphne award for best Historical Romantic Suspense for 2009. “Prisoner” was also a finalist in the AWSA Golden Scroll Award contest. Book Three, “Where Hearts Are Free” released Fall 2010 and was a Women of Faith library selection.

Her fourth book, “His Steadfast Love” A Civil War novel set in Texas released in November 2011 and was a finalist for the RWA’s National Reader’s Choice award.

Her biblical fiction compilation, “Hidden Faces: Portraits of Nameless Women in Scripture” (Whitefire Publishing) released in the spring of 2014. And her non-fiction “Spiritual Spring Cleaning” (BoldVision Books) released in the spring of 2015.

Golden went to be with her Saviour on 16 February 2017. She is survived by her husband of almost 55 years, her three daughters and eight grandchildren.

Website:  www.goldenkeyesparsons.com

~ About the Book ~

Despite her best efforts to go through the motions and the good fortune to have a husband stationed stateside rather than in the midst of the brutal combat unfolding in Europe and the Pacific, Christmas Eve is a less than festive time for innkeeper Naomi Lockhart. It’s been especially hard since she, her husband, Quenton, and their daughters restored her parents’ Colorado boarding house and turned it into a charming inn. Residing in the setting of the tragedy and haunted by a heartbreaking and terrible loss, Naomi can’t help but relive the Christmas Eve so many years ago when her infant child disappeared without a trace.

Gracie brushed aside comments about how little she resembled her parents for most of her life without really understanding why they made her feel so odd. A slip of the tongue by her grandmother brings the discovery that the people who raised her are not her birth parents and acts as a catalyst for the start of a search for her real identity. After a whirlwind romance with a young, Europe-bound GI and subsequent elopement in defiance of her affluent, traditional parents, Gracie flees Texas for Colorado, following one of the few clues that she has about her real identity. She finds herself alone and working as a waitress in blizzard-prone Colorado Springs, Colorado at the end of her pregnancy. Snow bound, she struggles to bring her child into the world as she becomes ever more confident that the innkeeper from across the road, who acts as a midwife of necessity, may hold the answers she seeks. Meanwhile, her wounded husband desperately tries to reach her side.

Amazon US  //  Amazon AU  //  Goodreads

~ Giveaway ~

WhiteFire Publishing is offering one lucky reader an eBook copy of The Gift of the Inn.

To enter, comment on this post (even if it’s just to say ‘Thanks for the giveaway’!) and then click here to go to the giveaway.

* This giveaway is run through Rafflecopter. See full Terms and Conditions here.

Thanks to Roseanna White at WhiteFire Publishing for joining me today and generously providing the giveaway copy. Don’t forget to join me again tomorrow, when my special guest will be Laurie Germaine.

PS – You can also find a comprehensive list of Christmas-themed releases for 2017 on my aptly-named page Christmas Releases for 2017.

Missed a previous 12 Days of Christmas Reads post? You can visit them via the links below:
4th December – Debra E. Marvin
5th December – Melissa Tagg
6th December – Erica Vetsch
7th December – Susan May Warren
8th December – Lucette Nel
9th December – Amber Lynn Perry