The Bells of St. Dickens — Judy Kentrus

Karla Sorensen's dream was to restore the bells in the former church in downtown Dickens. She feels a strong connection to the church since great, great, Grandfather Sorenson was the first pastor in 1870. After the church was deconsecrated, the town turned it into a library annex and the bells have been silent for seventy-five years.Time is running out on her two-year project. Karla assured the town council the work would be complete by Christmas Eve, but a vital part is missing and there's an outstanding balance due to the company. To raise money Karla has been doing online visits as Mrs. Claus. Her worries escalate when her visitations begin to dwindle. And then she learns her competition is the Grinch.Sebastian Nielson is a single father, raising his six-year-old daughter and teenage son. One woman has always held a special place in his heart, Karla Sorensen. She ended their high school love when he left for college. To this day, he doesn't know why.As the instrumental music teacher at the Dickens Middle School, he has a cracker-jack jazz ensemble that he entered into the county and state competitions. The instruments are old, and there isn't any money in the budget for replacements. Unbeknownst to anyone, he's been earning money to purchase new equipment by doing online impersonations of the Grinch.It will take the spirit of Christmas for Karla and Sebastian to rediscover their love and opposing sides can work together to make the bells chime.