Merry and Bright Romance Series by Daphne Lynn Stewart

Leigh and Matthew were best friends from childhood who met at her grandmother’s lakeside cottage in a charming tourist town every Christmas. They dated throughout high school and now, fifteen years later Leigh is a renowned reporter and Matt owns the Little Inn at Bayfield. They have not seen each other since graduating from high school... moreLeigh and Matthew were best friends from childhood who met at her grandmother’s lakeside cottage in a charming tourist town every Christmas. They dated throughout high school and now, fifteen years later Leigh is a renowned reporter and Matt owns the Little Inn at Bayfield. They have not seen each other since graduating from high school. Leigh is in town to cheer up her grandmother, who recently lost her dog, and finds buried in the garden a time capsule that she and Matt put together when they were fourteen years old. When she meets him again she learns that he is engaged and that the inn is in trouble because the town does not have enough business in the winter. Leigh’s plan is to advertise Christmas in Bayfield via a documentary. Although it is June, sunny and warm, she is determined to dress up the town in holiday style to film. Matt she decides will be the star of her show, and against her will she finds her attraction to him rekindled even though he has a fiancée and she a boyfriend. She realizes that she must never reveal her feelings. But just when she thinks she has managed to shield her heart from him and her current boyfriend, her docudrama, which is nothing short of Reality TV, shows her and the rest of the world the truth. less

On the eve of the Christmas season Danica Meriweather picks up the wrong pet carrier at her local airport, and is thrust face to face with the man of her dreams. Only thing is: she never really saw his face. He was gone with her pet carrier before she knew what had happened and all she remembers of him is his tall, handsome form disappearing into a limousine with her dog. Now she has his dog, and their plan to exchange pets is postponed due to a raging snowstorm... moreOn the eve of the Christmas season Danica Meriweather picks up the wrong pet carrier at her local airport, and is thrust face to face with the man of her dreams. Only thing is: she never really saw his face. He was gone with her pet carrier before she knew what had happened and all she remembers of him is his tall, handsome form disappearing into a limousine with her dog. Now she has his dog, and their plan to exchange pets is postponed due to a raging snowstorm. Sam Forrest is a wonderful man with an eight-year-old daughter whom Danica falls in love with. And although she has met his daughter she has yet to meet him in the flesh. His job keeps taking him out of town. But love blossoms between them nonetheless even though they have only communicated by phone. Meanwhile Danica’s catering business, which is run from her home—a heritage building—is threatened to be torn down by a ruthless corporation. Her only hope is to convince the company’s CEO Mr. North the value of historic homes. Despite her apprehensions she agrees to cater his corporate Christmas party despite mixed feelings, and soon learns why her feelings are mixed. less

Kendra Tyler has big dreams, one of which includes becoming a professor of animal behavior. In order to accomplish her dream she needs to go to grad school, and in order to pay for school she needs a good part-time job. This she finds at the Bunny Club in Toronto. Her other dream is to marry the wonderful man she’s dating. Cabe Alexander is rich and powerful and has her destiny in his hands... moreKendra Tyler has big dreams, one of which includes becoming a professor of animal behavior. In order to accomplish her dream she needs to go to grad school, and in order to pay for school she needs a good part-time job. This she finds at the Bunny Club in Toronto. Her other dream is to marry the wonderful man she’s dating. Cabe Alexander is rich and powerful and has her destiny in his hands. But another powerful man, Nicholas Marley is waiting on the sidelines to shake up her destiny, someone whom she least expected to throw a wrench into her plans. If Cabe finds out that she works as a cocktail waitress he could end their relationship. When her young nephew asks to adopt one of her lab rabbits as a Christmas present, Kendra knows that this more than anything else is what she wants to accomplish. But her apartment building doesn’t allow pets and she and her sister who lives with her can’t afford a place that does. So she must keep the high-paying Bunny job until she can make a down payment on a condo, and risk Cabe finding out what she really does for a living. As Christmas approaches and her secret is exposed, Kendra is betrayed by the man she trusted and finds help and love from a most unlikely source. less

What would you do if you fell in love with your cousin’s boyfriend? Joy Zamboni is a magazine writer for a rag called Cats and Dogs, her Christmas assignment is to produce an article about how dogs are replacing men in the loves of modern women. To aid in her research she has adopted an Australian shepherd dog from a shelter. The dog is skittish and does not trust her, and on their first outing together, Rocky runs halfway down the block before stopping... moreWhat would you do if you fell in love with your cousin’s boyfriend? Joy Zamboni is a magazine writer for a rag called Cats and Dogs, her Christmas assignment is to produce an article about how dogs are replacing men in the loves of modern women. To aid in her research she has adopted an Australian shepherd dog from a shelter. The dog is skittish and does not trust her, and on their first outing together, Rocky runs halfway down the block before stopping. As soon as she gets close he takes off again. They play this game for ten minutes until a dashing and charming man appears out of nowhere and shows Joy how to win the dog’s confidence. His name is Jack Tinsle, and he owns a canine training school, which recently opened in the neighborhood. They hit it off. In fact Joy is so smitten that she enrols Rocky in classes, and has the guts to ask Jack if he’d like to have dinner with her so that she can interview him for her article. He flashes his engaging grin, giving the impression that the feelings are mutual, and they meet to discover they have everything in common. They plan to meet again but not until after the holidays because both are going away for Christmas. Joy drives from her hometown of Calgary with Rocky to the mountain resort of Emerald Lake where her father owns a winter lodge. There her brother and sister have already arrived. Her dear cousin Ellie is there too. And she has brought her boyfriend—Jack. less

Romance bookstore owner, Olivia Snow, has a serious choice to make. When the godlike sous-chef at the French bistro next door saves her cat Nilly from the top of a lamppost in the quaint town of Dundas, Olivia believes her months-old feud with him is over. She believes that maybe she has feelings for him until her pretty younger sister Gabrielle beats her to the punch. They both need dates for their cousin Darla's Christmas wedding at a gorgeous chateau near Paris... moreRomance bookstore owner, Olivia Snow, has a serious choice to make. When the godlike sous-chef at the French bistro next door saves her cat Nilly from the top of a lamppost in the quaint town of Dundas, Olivia believes her months-old feud with him is over. She believes that maybe she has feelings for him until her pretty younger sister Gabrielle beats her to the punch. They both need dates for their cousin Darla's Christmas wedding at a gorgeous chateau near Paris. Winter in Paris and a castle wedding is a dream-come-true. When sister Gabby steals her date, Olivia is desperate to find another and settles for Hank a wine connoisseur and manager of her local liquor store. Yeah, pretty ordinary guy, she thinks, but boy is she ever wrong! less

It’s love at first sight on a snowy winter’s day in early December when Joe Douglas and Noelle Hollyburn meet at her cousin’s veterinary practice in Ottawa Ontario. Noelle is a pet photographer. Joe’s dog has peed on her and she has to change out of her soiled clothing and wear her cousin Nicola’s lab coat. It just happens to have the name Dr. Nicola Hollyburn, DVM stitched on it... moreIt’s love at first sight on a snowy winter’s day in early December when Joe Douglas and Noelle Hollyburn meet at her cousin’s veterinary practice in Ottawa Ontario. Noelle is a pet photographer. Joe’s dog has peed on her and she has to change out of her soiled clothing and wear her cousin Nicola’s lab coat. It just happens to have the name Dr. Nicola Hollyburn, DVM stitched on it. When Wealthy advertising executive Joe Douglas arrives to pick up his bulldog, Bosco, he mistakes Noelle for Nicola, the vet. Joe asks her on a date. At Noelle’s pleading, Nicola agrees to allow Noelle to pretend to be her. It is too late for Noelle to correct him now that they are dating, but her luck can only last so long before he finds out who she really is. less

When Abby Hollybrook’s high school crush Max Granger returns at Christmas with two dogs he needs to rehome, Abby knows that the troublesome pups are about to change her life. Her landlady hates the dogs and she hates Abby. Fortunately, she doesn’t hate Max. Max’s rented house no longer allows dogs and Abby’s landlady jumps at the chance to find him a new place—preferably by her side. Abby must keep her rescue center open and train Max’s dogs... moreWhen Abby Hollybrook’s high school crush Max Granger returns at Christmas with two dogs he needs to rehome, Abby knows that the troublesome pups are about to change her life. Her landlady hates the dogs and she hates Abby. Fortunately, she doesn’t hate Max. Max’s rented house no longer allows dogs and Abby’s landlady jumps at the chance to find him a new place—preferably by her side. Abby must keep her rescue center open and train Max’s dogs. But will it be enough? Will Abby and Max get together by Christmas or will Abby’s landlady force them apart? less

Marilee Christian’s world is falling apart. She has no love life. Her junior assistant is scheming to steal her job. And her precious little dog has been diagnosed with cancer. Only a life-saving operation can keep him alive and give him a chance for a future. This surgery is only available at the OVC, a special animal hospital in Guelph Ontario, where their specialists are in high demand... moreMarilee Christian’s world is falling apart. She has no love life. Her junior assistant is scheming to steal her job. And her precious little dog has been diagnosed with cancer. Only a life-saving operation can keep him alive and give him a chance for a future. This surgery is only available at the OVC, a special animal hospital in Guelph Ontario, where their specialists are in high demand. Because of her deep love for this dog, because of all the joy he brings to people and animals alike, Marilee promises to sacrifice her ambitions—if it will allow Tang to live.The trip to the OVC will require a whole day of travel, beginning with the flight from Vancouver, where she lives. Taking time away from her job as executive sales rep at the multinational petfood corporation National Pet, means risking her future with the company, and perhaps even the company’s future. Marilee is considered the best. She must make the pitch to a critical client. But the only spot open at the hospital is the same day as the presentation. Her boss is adamant. The date cannot be changed.When all seems lost, a chance meeting with Joel, a man Tang mistook for Marilee’s brother, helps her decide. Joel is kind and good, a veterinarian from Toronto. Tang is kind and good, an innocent dog whose destiny opens Marilee’s heart to the truth about love—a truth that her dog always knew.***Author’s NoteBased on a true story. The real-life story took place around Christmastime 2014. This version is fiction, so none of the characters are real. Except Tang.Tang is a shih-poo who developed cancer in his lower jaw when he was five years old. He was saved by the veterinarians at the Ontario Veterinary College hospital. After a surgical cure, he went on to live for ten more years, never failing to show his love and appreciation of everything that lives. His happy bark will long be remembered. less

Former puck bunny Angel Turtledove reunites with high school classmate, ex-hockey star Barry Shepard at her daughter’s birthday party. Her daughter’s pet bunny is missing and the party is outdoors in a park in the middle of winter. Angel realizes what it is like for the homeless, especially around Christmas. She has seen it first hand with a woman she befriended, who lives in a tent at the park... moreFormer puck bunny Angel Turtledove reunites with high school classmate, ex-hockey star Barry Shepard at her daughter’s birthday party. Her daughter’s pet bunny is missing and the party is outdoors in a park in the middle of winter. Angel realizes what it is like for the homeless, especially around Christmas. She has seen it first hand with a woman she befriended, who lives in a tent at the park. When she learns that Barry has not only rescued her daughter’s lost bunny, but that his dream is to build homes for the homeless, she is smitten. As she struggles to convince her wealthy ex-husband and girlfriend to finance Barry’s project, she finds that the girlfriend is not only blocking her blossoming romance with Barry, but that she is dead set on getting rid of the homeless neighbor. That neighbor has a secret... And it has something to do with her. less