Heartlines – notes from a romance author’s heart
The Magic of Decorating
One of my favorite parts of the holidays has always been decorating. It’s a tradition that fills my house with light, memory, and a touch of magic. My Christmas village is the heart of it—a tiny world I’ve spent over twenty-five years building piece by piece. Each cottage, lamppost, and snow-covered tree holds a story. Every December, when I unpack the boxes and arrange the streets, I feel the years layering together like a quilt of Christmases past.
My ornament collection has its own history. During the flood of Hurricane Harvey, my storage unit filled with water, and nearly everything I’d saved over the years was damaged. I remember standing among those boxes, hand-washing each ornament, trying to save what I could. Many were lost, including my beloved Nutcracker collection—gifts from the dance students I taught when I owned my studio. Losing them was heartbreaking, but rebuilding has been healing. Every new piece I find now carries a sense of renewal and gratitude.
If you love decorating as much as I do, I hope your holiday home brings you the same joy. You can watch a glimpse of last year’s Christmas village here:
Watch the village video
Behind the Story: Thistle in the Mistletoe
When I first began writing the Stones of Iona series, I always knew I wanted at least one Christmas companion book. There’s something special about love stories that unfold in the stillness of winter, when the world feels a little softer and hope burns brighter against the dark.
Roderick MacDougall first appeared briefly in Stone of Love, and I always felt his story—and Mary Comyn’s—deserved to be told in full. Their romance was a thread woven through Colin and Brielle’s story, and when the chance came to create a holiday companion, I knew Thistle in the Mistletoe was the perfect choice.
Writing their book gave me the opportunity to deepen the world of the Stones of Iona saga. It offered insight into smaller characters and long-standing mysteries—like why Constance from Stone of Love was so cruel and manipulative. The answer lies within Thistle in the Mistletoe and the heartbreak that shaped her.
If you haven’t yet read Roderick and Mary’s story, I hope you’ll pick it up this season—it’s a tale of forgiveness, redemption, and love’s power to heal even the fiercest of feuds.
Explore the Stones of Iona series here:
https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor
Gratitude and Good Cheer
As this holiday season begins, I want to take a moment to thank you for being part of my writing journey. Every message, review, and shared story reminds me that these books aren’t just mine—they belong to a community of readers who love hope and magic as much as I do.
Wherever this December finds you, may your home be filled with peace, laughter, and the kind of love that makes ordinary days shine.
With warmth and gratitude,
Margaret Izard
Award-Winning Author of the Stones of Iona Series
https://linktr.ee/mizardauthor
