Series: Gift Counselor #1
Publication date: July 12th, 2014
Synopsis:
Do all gifts have strings attached?
Yes, believes Jonquil Bloom and she intends to prove it. She's a psychologist who uses her skills in a department store to help shoppers of all ages become good gift givers. Yet, her ten-year-old son wants a dog she won't let him have.
Enter the handsome bachelor who is ready to settle down.
A timeless mix of romance, family drama, psychological and inspirational breakthroughs, all served with humor, this story will warm your heart year round. Winner of Beverly Hills Book Award, shortlisted for the UK Wishing Shelf Book Award.
The Gift Counselor is suitable for young adults. Book club recommended.
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Excerpt
Like other novice therapists, Jonquil had the habit of labeling people. She had yet to learn how inadequate a label or diagnosis is when it comes to describing the unique qualities of a person's smile. For when she stepped up to the center perfume counter and introduced herself, the woman behind it flung out both arms in greeting and said, "So! You've come to your scents(es)," then giggled at her pun.
She had to be fifty, yet she laughed with abandon, like a girl. "Don't mind me, that's just my little joke. I'm Ms. Oglesby, but you may call me Rita," she added with a soft Southern drawl. She glanced at Jonquil's name tag.
"Do you go by Jonquil? Pretty name, sounds like one of my fragrances. Personnel called down and said you were on your way. Got any sales experience? Ever work in a department store during the Christmas season?" she asked, taking Jonquil's purse and jacket and stashing them in a drawer.
Jonquil shook her head no, but Rita was already handing her a gaudy pink smock, as if it were made of pure silk. The one-size-fits-all cotton cover-up hung down nearly to her knees. She felt absurd in it, until Rita adjusted the matching belt, puffed out the sleeves, and affixed her nametag. Then, she stood back to appraise her handiwork.
"Got any allergies?" After Jonquil shook her head no again, Rita explained. "Last week they sent me a part-time college student, big sun-of-a-gun, six feet two. On his first day of work, he keeled right over the Chanel display and caused quite a stink. Case of a slight hangover and no breakfast. They transferred him to mattresses." Is she pulling my leg? thought Jonquil.
"Since it's your first day, I recommend Destiny--it might bring you luck," said Rita, reaching for a perfume applicator. She prepared to perform a baptism on the spot. "Oh, but I never wear perfume," Jonquil objected. Nothing could have stunned Rita more. She froze, perfume atomizer in mid-air, mouth ajar, eyes glassy, a textbook example of shock....
Sheila M. Cronin is the author of the Gift Counselor novels. Her stories have appeared in Woman's World Magazine, Good Old Days Magazine, The Golden Domer--online publication of the University of Notre Dame, and Spark Magazine.
AWARD NEWS: Winner of the Beverly Hills Book Award. Shortlisted for the UK Wishing Shelf Book Award. 2018 1st prize: The Joy Story Contest. 2nd place winner, Beneath the Rainbow Christmas Short Story Contest. 2019 Chicago winner of Alignable's SmallBiz Short Story Contest. Poetry Nation semi-finalist, National Amateur Poetry Contest.
Writing fiction, painting portraits and composing songs on piano are her favorite "cre-activities" next to reading a good book.
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