Things Rudolph never told you...

Seven Things Rudolph Never Told You

by Teri Wilson, Author of Sleigh Bell Sweethearts

Tis the season for Christmas trees, carols, Nativity scenes, sleigh rides...and reindeer. Sleigh Bell Sweethearts, the Christmas book in my Alaska series for Love Inspired, tells the story of Zoey Hathaway, a charter pilot who unexpectedly inherits a reindeer farm. And the reindeer come with an even bigger surprise -- their brooding ranch hand, Alec Wynn.

Just in case you find yourself in Zoey's predicament, here are seven surprising facts about reindeer...

1. Both male and female reindeer grow antlers.

2. Reindeer legs make a unique clicking sound when they walk, so they can find one another in a blizzard.

3. Reindeer noses have the ability to warm the air before it gets to their lungs.

4. Reindeer can run up to 48 miles per hour. Whether or not they can fly is debatable.

5. Male reindeer shed their antlers at the end of mating season in early December, which means that Santa's sleigh is run by girl power!

6. Reindeer are the only mammals whose eyes appear to change color. In the winter, their eyes appear blue, but in the summer, when reindeer experience almost constant sunlight, their eyes are gold.

7. Reindeer feet are the widest of any deer feet. The special width of their hooves act as snowshoes for walking in Arctic snow.

On top of all that, they are adorable!

Owning her own plane is all charter pilot Zoey Hathaway's ever dreamed of. So when she inherits a struggling reindeer farm, with three dozen unruly reindeer and one dangerously attractive ranch hand, Zoey's well-crafted plans seem to fly out the window. Now she must put her trust in Alec Wynn, and hope that the troubled cowboy's past won't interfere with her plans to save the farm. Zoey knows that if she wants to succeed, she can't do everything on her own. But as she accepts Alec's help, she'll soon realize it's not just her farm that's at stake—but her heart.

Reindeer Run Amok: Sleigh Bell Sweethearts by Teri Wilson

Sleigh Bell Sweethearts by Teri Wilson

Welcome back to Aurora, Alaska! Sleigh Bell Sweethearts, my November release from the Love Inspired line, is the third book in my series of Alaskan romances. It's a Christmas book with a rather quirky twist…what would you do if out of the blue you suddenly inherited a reindeer farm? That's the dilemma heroine Zoey Hathaway faces on page one, and things only go downhill from there.

Zoey doesn't know a thing about reindeer. Neither did I when I started writing this book. I'd seen reindeer in person before, and had even been chased by some when I participated in the Running of the Reindeer in Anchorage one year when I was there on vacation. But that was the extent of my reindeer knowledge.

I reached out to the Williams Reindeer Farm, a family-run enterprise in Palmer, Alaska, and they helped me along the way. In the beginning, I was so clueless that I didn't even know what questions to ask. I sent Denise Hardy, one of the owners, a list of questions. And then I began peppering her daily with more questions that kept popping up.

What do they eat? (Hint: not reindeer chow.) What do they do all day long? Do they make noise? Have you ever tried to herd them using a dog? What kind of fence do you have? And…(poor Denise)…tell me how to teach them to pull a sleigh! She patiently responded to all my inquiries, even going so far as to send me photos and videos.

Really, I owe Denise a debt of gratitude. I never could have written the book without her. And Palmer, the main reindeer character in the book, has turned out to be every reader's favorite. Everyone wants to adopt a naughty reindeer now. You will, too, once you visit the Williams Reindeer Farm's Facebook page. Make sure to take a peek come springtime when the babies are born. Beyond adorable. Truly.

You can visit them here: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Williams-Reindeer-Farm/141332809217918

And be sure to check out Sleigh Bell Sweethearts to find out how Zoey copes when three dozen reindeer and one very surly ranch hand are dropped in her lap!

Second Chance Yuletide  

Owning her own plane is all charter pilot Zoey Hathaway's ever dreamed of. So when she inherits a struggling reindeer farm, with three dozen unruly reindeer and one dangerously attractive ranch hand, Zoey's well-crafted plans seem to fly out the window. Now she must put her trust in Alec Wynn, and hope that the troubled cowboy's past won't interfere with her plans to save the farm. Zoey knows that if she wants to succeed, she can't do everything on her own. But as she accepts Alec's help, she'll soon realize it's not just her farm that's at stake—but her heart.