A struggling single mom. Her lonely boss who hates Christmas. As they rediscover the magic of the holiday, will they also find love? <br>  <br>Christmas hasn't been the same for Allison Voss since losing her husband, but she's determined to make it merry for her daughters' sake. She's between jobs and simply managing day to day is a struggle until she meets Ward Haysgard. His act of kindness and offer of employment just might turn her luck around. <br> <br>Ward is not a fan of Christmas. As a district manager for a large department store, he's seen plenty of greed and selfishness and not much good will toward men. But Allison's plight touches him. As he gets to know her and her girls, they work their way into his heart. A heart he thought had hardened long ago, when he lost the loving grandmother who raised him.</p><p>As the holiday approaches, an old secret from Ward's past emerges and threatens his closeness to Allison. Will he leave her heartbroken? Or will she and Ward discover together what makes Christmas real? <br> <br>Read all the stories in the Love in Applewood series by Christie Logan: <br>A Real Christmas: A Sweet Single Mom Romance <br>Dear Acquaintance: A Sweet Holiday Short Story <br>A Gentle Heart: A Sweet Valentine's Day Romance <br>Star Spangled Second Chance: An Sweet Interracial Single Dad Romance <br>A Firefighter's Luck: A Sweet Single Parent Romance