Holiday James (neé Brandon) is the head of Shadow Falls Academy. Holiday is married to Burnett James with whom she has a daughter, Hannah. She serves as a mentor and close friend to Kylie Galen during her time at the camp. She helps out whenever the opportunity arises, and the students/campers are very respectful of her.
Biography
Early Life
Holiday was born with her twin Hannah, who she grew up closely with.
Holiday opened a summer camp called Shadow Falls after its previous version was shut down. Her goal was to open a safe haven for young supernaturals to learn to use their powers freely while also promoting peace among the species and end the feuds that have been ongoing for centuries.
She had a fiancé named Blake, and was ready to marry him. On the day of the wedding, he abandoned her. She later found out he slept with her sister the week before the wedding. She hasn't seen either of them since.
Turned at Dark
- Main article: Turned at Dark
Newly-turned vampire Della calls Holiday at the end of Turned at Dark to ask for help.
Born at Midnight
- Main article: Born at Midnight
Holiday is the one who presents Kylie to the world of supernaturals when she tells her about their existence. Since no one knows what she is, Holiday tells her that she is put on a quest of self-discovery.
She later persuades Kylie to take two weeks to decide whether she wishes to leave the camp or to stay after finding out that both of her parents are fully human.
She is also very hostile toward FRU agent, Burnett James, but decides to let him become her temporary assistant after her partner was arrested for assisting the Blood Brothers in attempting to shut down the camp.
Awake at Dawn
- Main article: Awake at Dawn
Holiday is initially quite upset with Kylie for telling Burnett about her past, and refuses to talk to her for a short while. However, when she hears that two girls have been murdered, she immediately assumes the worst. For this reason, she puts aside her personal feelings and forgives Kylie.
She accepts Burnett's offer to invest in the camp and become her partner.
When Kylie comes back to camp after a kidnapping incident, she explains how her powers have been manifesting when she is protecting someone, prompting Holiday to conclude that Kylie is a protector.
Taken at Dusk
- Main article: Taken at Dusk
Holiday's great aunt passes away, and she is absent from the camp to arrange her funeral.
She shows more affection towards Burnett but continues to keep at a distance. After working together to patch things up for Miranda and Perry, they both feel so excited by their success that they temporarily give in to their passion and kiss, until Kylie walks in on them.
When Burnett suddenly resigns himself, she questions his motives. He found out that she had at least four potential investors, but did not know that it was before she accepted his investment.
Whispers at Moonrise
- Main article: Whispers at Moonrise
Holiday's past is revealed in Whispers at Moonrise: she was previously engaged to a vampire named Blake, who cheated on her with her twin, Hannah Brandon. She found out via Kylie that Hannah had been murdered for months.
She becomes the next target for her twin's murderer, and almost dies before Kylie heals her. During her moment of death, her spirit conversed with her twin, made amends, and then she spoke with Kylie's grandmother, Heidi Summers, who told her not to be in the way of Kylie's choices.
She accepts Burnett's proposal and Kylie's resignation, but is hopeful that she will return.
Chosen at Nightfall
- Main article: Chosen at Nightfall
Holiday fears she may be pregnant when she starts having hiccups, something that happens to pregnant Brandons. After an embarrassing case of misunderstanding and arguing between Burnett and Kylie, Holiday tells Burnett that she may be pregnant. The pregnancy tests confirm that she is pregnant.
Holiday and Burnett marry at the end of the story, with Kylie as their maid of honor.
Reborn
- Main article: Reborn
Holiday is close to delivering, but continues to work as headmistress. When an innocent vampire is charged guilty for the murders of two people, Della and Holiday walk into the court and Della gives out crucial information to exonerate Billy. That afternoon, Holiday goes into labor. Stuck in a no-reception zone, Della has no choice but to deliver the baby on her own. Holiday passes out from blood loss and Della drives them to Dr. Whitman's clinic. Thankfully, by taking them to the clinic, Holiday and Hannah are both saved. According to Dr. Whitman, Holiday suffered from a minor but serious placental abruption which would have killed them both if the case had been severe. Holiday gives her daughter the middle name 'Rose' to honor Della.
Eternal
- Main article: Eternal
Burnett continuously speaks with swear words in front of Hannah that Holiday threatens to wash Burnett's mouth with soap if Hannah's first word is a curse word.
Holiday believes that Bao Yu is the most powerful ghost she's heard of after hearing how she almost caused a car accident. She is there when Burnett gives Della photos of Chase talking with her long-lost uncle.
Spellbinder
- Main article: Spellbinder
Holiday is mentioned throughout the story.
Unspoken
- Main article: Unspoken
When Chase Tallman joins the FRU and asks to train under Burnett, Holiday threatens to tear off his testicles if he hurts Della again.
When Hannah's first word is 'chit', Holiday gets so upset that she promises to wash Burnett's mouth with soap for a month.
Fierce
- Main article: Fierce
Holiday is seen in her office with Marissa Canzoni when she comes to inform Fredericka that her father has passed away. She later frequently talks with Fredericka regarding her grades brought to her attention by Cary Cannon, and again after Cary was fired for harassing Fredericka and encourages her to read the letter her father left for her.
Fighting Back
- Main article: Fighting Back
Holiday advises Kylie to tell Lucas how she feels about the repeated cancellations to their date plans before the feelings fester.
Midnight Hour
- Main article: Midnight Hour
Holiday and Burnett are trying to raise enough money to buy the next area. More students have enrolled for next semester and they are hoping to expand their property. Meanwhile, Perry has Holiday and Burnett take care of a baby after his mother was killed in a brawl between vampires. Holiday and Burnett decide to adopt him.
Physical appearance
Holiday has red hair and deep green eyes. She is tall and very beautiful.
Personality
Holiday is a very patient, kind, and generous person. She is always very supportive of Kylie's decisions, but also a tad overprotective. Generous as she is, she shows a bit of temper when she is around Burnett James. Due to her bad break-up with her last lover, she has a hard time letting her heart love.
Powers and Abilities
As a Fae, Holiday possesses the following abilities:
Fears
That caring for people hampers her ability to be logical.
Relationships
Romantic relationships
- Burnett James: Burnett is Holiday's Husband. They are initially attracted to each other but don't do anything but bicker towards each other. In Whispers at Moonrise, after Burnett begins to see ghosts and the spirit of Holiday's twin, Hannah he became especially concerned for her safety. After Holiday's near-death experience, he declares his love for her and asks her to marry him, to which she accepts. In Chosen at Nightfall, Burnett finds out that Holiday is pregnant and, though insecure at first, comes to accept his little family and marries the woman. They later have Hannah Rose James together.
- Blake: Blake is Holiday's ex-fiancé.
Friendships
Family relationships
- Hannah Brandon: Hannah is Holiday's twin sister, who was murdered by Collin Warren.
- Hannah James: Hannah is Holiday's daughter.
- Great-Aunt: Holiday loved her great-aunt so much that she took care of her will proceedings.
- Stella: Holiday's beloved aunt.
- Harry: Stella's husband and Holiday's uncle.
- Unnamed adoptive son: The baby fell into Holiday and Burnett's care after his mother died. With the father in incarceration, Holiday and Burnett decide to adopt him.