Today at the Lovely Romance Sweet Clean Readers Facebook group, several authors will reveal a bit about their stories for a new series. Mail Order Bride’s First Christmas will feature historical stories set from 1800 through 1920 and in a location with trees. Prizes offered.
Click here to join
My story is A Christmas Tree for Trudel and the location will be based on the southern California mountains where I live.
Today I’m featured on N.N. Light’s Book Heaven Presents…Christmas and Holiday Book Festival. During the month of December, 63 books by 45 authors are highlighted with promotional information and a favorite holiday memory. Stop by to learn about these books and enter for a chance to win multiple gift cards.
https://www.nnlightsbookheaven.com/single-post/2019/12/06/A-Vow-for-Christmas-CHF
BLURB
Selina Davison was once a countess, but when tragedy struck, she learned to take care of herself. By creating hats adorned with realistic silk flowers, she’s built a successful business as a milliner. When a handsome gentleman stumbles into her shop asking for directions, she remembers the joy of having someone to share life’s ups and downs.
The second son of an earl, James Benton could enjoy social privileges, but the concerns of the gentry hold no interest for him. He’s much happier tending to his plants, which never judge him. His peerage connections help him secure the position as landscape architect for the winter garden in Highgate, but a lovely milliner could hold the key to his future.
BUY LINK
EXCERPT
When he came to the third shop, his heart leaped for joy. There, in the center of the showroom, was the beautiful white bonnet with the most exquisite cluster of pink and yellow roses. He pulled the door open and strode in.
He longed to reach out and touch the blossoms, but just then, the hat came off, treating him to a view of the most glorious head of hair, the color of gold.
“Oh! I didn‟t realize you‟d followed me in. May I help you?”
Help him? He blinked, realizing the owner of the glorious hair had turned around, and he stared into an equally magnificent pair of wide blue eyes. The soothing scent of lavender assailed him, and all his worries drifted away.
Patricia Kiyono lives in southwest Michigan with her husband, not far from her children and grandchildren. A former elementary school teacher, she now teaches music education at the university level. Current interests, aside from writing, include sewing, crocheting, scrapbooking, and music. A love of travel and an interest in faraway people inspires her to create stories about different cultures.
WEB CONTACTS
If you haven’t already participated in the giveaway for a chance to receive free ebooks in several genres, don’t wait. Click through to the page on Connie Bretes’ website or enter through the Rafflecopter below.
My giveaway, Silent Signals, is a historical western romance set in December 1887 in Aspen, Colorado with a rancher and a woman who trains shepherding dogs.
BLURB
Hope Kildaire gave up her dream of becoming a nurse practitioner when a car accident killed her father and left her mother an invalid. Working two jobs and caring for her mother leaves the twenty-seven-year-old with no time for fun or relationships. When a law firm representing her paternal grandparents sends her several letters, Hope ignores them. She despises the family who disowned her father and wants nothing to do with them.
Lawyer Tyler Coleman’s job is simply to obtain Hope’s signature on a legal document. Getting it is harder than planned, though, when an unexpected attraction blossoms between them. If Ty is honest with Hope about why he’s in Willow Springs, he’ll fulfill his assignment but may risk hurting her.
The opportunity to have everything she’s ever desired is at Hope’s fingertips. Will her dream come true at the expense of Tyler’s love?
BUY LINKS
EXCERPT
He cleared his throat, breaking into her thoughts, the sound barreling around them on the empty street.
“Well.” He buried his hands deeper into his jacket pockets. “I can see for myself you’re fine. You’ve had a full day, so I’ll let you get on home. Thanks again for the great lesson this morning. And for keeping me company while you worked.”
“It was nice to have someone to talk with, so in reality, I should be thanking you. And for seeing that I was safe.”
She wasn’t sure why, but when his cheeks darkened and his chin and gaze dropped down again at her words, she was utterly enchanted.
Without thinking why she shouldn’t, Hope stretched up, intending to kiss his cheek. At the moment right before her lips touched his skin, Tyler lifted his head and turned toward her. The kiss meant for his face landed squarely across his lips instead.
They both went stone still at the contact.
She’d put no heat behind the kiss. After all, it wasn’t as if she were kissing a man she was involved with. No, she’d simply planned it as a sweet way to thank him for being so kind and solicitous toward her, as she would to anyone she considered a friend.
Why, then, didn’t this feel like a chaste kiss between friends?
Why, then, did she feel as if she’d been dropped into a spewing volcano?
And why, then, did the thought of breaking the kiss leave her cold and lonely?
Tyler kept his hands in his pockets, never moving closer, and yet she felt enveloped by him as if he’d wound her into his arms and pulled her against his body. He let out a deep, long breath, the warm air drifting over her face and sending little tingles of…something…straight down her spine. Anticipation? Expectation? Desire? She had no clue, but Hope felt more alive and more aware than she had in years.
A tiny gasp pushed from deep within her when Tyler shifted his head, changing the angle of the kiss.
His lips parted, the taste of hops and barley riding on his breath as she breathed him in. He kept the kiss light, never pushing her into more, giving her all the control of where it went.
Hope had no idea how long they stood there under the bright streetlamp on the empty corner. It could have been a minute. It could have been an hour. The notion briefly blew through her mind that they were out in the open in a town where everyone knew her and liked nothing more to do on long winter nights than gossip. As quick as it came, the knowledge that she didn’t care a whit countered it.
Peggy Jaeger is a contemporary romance writer who writes about strong women, the families who support them, and the men who can’t live without them.
Peggy holds a master’s degree in Nursing Administration and first found publication with several articles she authored on Alzheimer’s Disease during her time running an Alzheimer’s in-patient care unit during the 1990s.
A lifelong and avid romance reader and writer, she is a member of RWA and her local New Hampshire RWA Chapter.
WEB CONTACTS
The post may not be the top one but it’s there all three days.
Hi there, I’m Elf Sparkle
My job at the North Pole is decorating the wrapped packages with ribbons and bows or silk flowers or glitter. <giggle> I love glitter, and I love this job because I like making things look pretty.
Playing holiday music while I work keeps me energized. I switch between vocals like Celtic Ladies Christmas or carols by country artists and instrumentals like Mannheim Steamroller’s Christmas in the Aire.
My favorite holiday snack and drink. I can’t decide between pfefferrnusse cookies (spice cookies coated in powdered sugar) or thumbprint cookies (cookies rolled in chopped nuts with a dab of jam in the center). But I know my favorite drink is hot chocolate stirred with a mini candy cane.
I’m the Secret Santa for Elf Annie, who works in the kitchen concocting decadent hot cocoa for Santa’s sleigh ride and helping Mrs. Claus bake cookies. I’m giving Elf Annie a mini-grater for the final flourish of fresh cinnamon or nutmeg on top of the whipped cream Santa loves on his cocoa.
This winter/holiday recipe I got from my mother (although she was Midwest born and bred).
New England Cranberry Custard Pie
Ingredients:
4 eggs
½ teaspoon salt
¾ cup sugar
2/3 cup undiluted evaporated milk
1 cup water
1 teaspoon vanilla
½ teaspoon nutmeg
9” unbaked pastry shell
1 8-oz can whole berry cranberry sauce
3 tablespoons cornstarch
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
¼ cup chopped nuts
Combine eggs, salt, 3/4c sugar, evaporated milk, water, vanilla and nutmeg. Beat well. Pour into pastry shell. Bake in hot oven (425°) 10 minutes, reduce heat to 350° and bake 20-30 minutes more, or until knife inserted hallways between edge and center of pie comes out clean.
In small saucepan, stir cornstarch into cranberry sauce then add 2 T sugar. Heat until boiling, then boil one minute, stirring constantly. Stir in nuts and orange rind. Cool cranberry mixture before spooning over the custard. Cool 3-4 hours before serving. Makes 6-8 servings.
My holiday gift to participants on this blog tour is that each task completed in the attached rafflecopter earns a chance in a random drawing for a print copy of One Winter Knight, a medieval winter holiday anthology of 8 stories, or an electronic copy of Silent Signals, a historical western novella.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
TAG LINE: Will the valley’s feud between cattlemen and shepherds keep Konrad and Anora apart? BLURB: After losing half his herd in the Great Blizzard of 1886, rancher Konrad Werner needs to safeguard his cattle. Tomboy Anora Huxley trains the Australian Shepherds and Kelpies that run the family’s sheep herd. Although cattlemen and shepherds are at odds, the pair discovers common interests. A threat is overheard, and Konrad rides out to Anora’s ranch to protect her. The tense situation reveals their true feelings. Will Anora be swayed by family loyalty, or will she listen to her heart that responds to Konrad’s silent signals? Buy link for all electronic formats: https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/681040 Here are the sites for the other participating authors. Visit them for more holiday fun, recipes and giveaways. http://transcanadaromancewriters.blogspot.ca/2016/12/highway-cafe-christmas-blog-tour.html http://www.findingthewritewords.blogspot.com/ http://www.tenastetler.com/my-blog/ https://barbaraburkeauthor.wordpress.com/ www.writerknapsack.com http://msspencertalespinner.blogspot.com/ http://www.maureenbonatch.com/blog/ http://www.sorchiadubois.com/
http://casimclean.com/casis-christmas-…cal-mystery-tour/ https://kaydenclaremont.wordpress.com/ http://mariahlynneauthor.blogspot.com/
http://kkweil.blogspot.com http://www.clairdelunebooks.co.uk/
HAPPY BOOK BIRTHDAY TO
CAUGHT BETWEEN WORLDS!
Caught Between Worlds
Contemporary Romance / PNR
By G.P. Gadbois
Publisher: Roane Publishing
Release Date: August 15, 2016
Keywords: Romance, contemporary, paranormal, ghosts, friendship, adventure, road trip
Gabrielle and three college friends must deal with a temporary setback when they are stranded in St. Clair, USA. Her holiday unravels in a series of exhilarating events. Her salvation, the handsome deputy Brady, succeeds in keeping her safe and captures her heart.
Deputy Richard Brady’s peaceful life ceases when Gabrielle shows up at his door. It is his duty to keep the charming Canadian safe from the life-threatening supernatural activities, but his personal motives frighten him more than the danger itself.
Will love conquer and bring them together after Gabrielle returns home?
PURCHASE LINKS:
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GIVEAWAY!
Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code. No purchase necessary, but you must be 18 or older to enter. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter, and announced on the widget. Winner well be notified by emailed and have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. The number of entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Roane Publishing’s marketing department.
BLURB
When Erika’s ex becomes her boss less than a year after dumping her by text, she gets desperate to find a date to the corporate Valentine’s dance so he doesn’t suspect she still has feelings for him. Though not a fan of texting for the obvious reason, she doesn’t have much choice but to tap the keypad in order to gain the attention of the only viable candidate from the classified ads.
Grayson made the mistake of listening to his brother a year ago and has regretted what he did to Erika ever since. But his brother’s next suggestion just might be his salvation when he takes out an ad for a Valentine’s date…and Erika answers.
Using a pseudo name and keeping contact to text messages only, Grayson’s plans to make Erika fall back in love with him appears to be working…until the date of the dance draws near, and she pushes a meeting—face to face.
BUY LINKS
EXCERPT
Valentine’s Day
She sank deeper into the couch. What was she going to do? She couldn’t show up alone to the company dance. Not with the chance of Grayson being there. No way.
“Maybe go to another speed dating session?” She grabbed a tissue off the coffee table and wiped the excess slime from her fingers.
“My hairdresser’s single. You want me to ask him?”
“Your hairdresser’s gay. I don’t think he’d be interested in me.”
“Really?” Megan gave her a funny stare.
“Really.” Erika snorted. “Have you not seen the picture of him and his ex-partner at his station?”
“That was his partner?” Her friend’s mouth gapped open. “I thought it was his brother.”
She shook her head. Her friend was one of the smartest people she knew, but common sense eluded the girl.
Megan popped more hearts in her mouth. “That explains so much now,” she mumbled around the candy. “No wonder my hair always looks good.”
“Yes, it does.” Erika sipped her wine.
Her friend swallowed. “Well, I’m sorry, honey. I don’t know any single guys. If I did, I’d try to date them myself.”
“That’s okay.” She sighed and slumped back onto the sofa.
“Is Grayson single?”
“I don’t know. Why are you asking?” She narrowed her gaze. “You want to date him?”
“No.” Her friend said “no” as if it was the most obvious answer in the world.
“I’m thinking about you. You wouldn’t go back out with Grayson again, would you? Please say no.” Megan’s shoulders sagged.
Go back out with Grayson. She never thought she’d be given another chance. Would she go back out with him after the way he treated her? Of course not. She deserved better, despite how wonderful he had been.
“I don’t think so. He really hurt me. I can’t give him that privilege again.”
“Good for you.” Her roommate perked up and patted her on the back. “Stay strong. You’ll find someone.”
“You’re right. I’m going to have a date for that corporate Valentine’s dance, even if I have to search the classifieds.”
“Surely, it won’t come to that.” Megan held up her glass for a toast.
Erika clinked hers with her friend’s. “Yeah, surely.”
Her roommate sat her glass down on the table and reached for more hearts.
“Here, give me one of those.”
“I love reading the little sayings.” Megan passed her a heart and tossed her dark hair behind her shoulder. “What’s yours say?”
She flipped over the candy to see the phrase. Bright pink letters stared back at her. Oh, you can’t be serious. “‘Text me’. Seriously?”
Megan burst out laughing.
“You would find that funny.” Erika popped the heart in her mouth and obliterated the little saying she had grown to hate so much.
Erin Bevan is a wife and mother of three. An avid reader, one day she decided to try her luck in writing stories of her own, and the idea paid off. She spends her days deep in the heart of Texas, fighting mosquitoes, cleaning dirty faces, and writing when the kids nap.
Web contact: www.erinbevan.com
Because of personal reasons outside my control (3-week evacuation due to forest fire), I wasn’t able to properly announce the release of this Fourth of July anthology to which I contributed a story. From Prairie Rose Publications, A Cowboy Celebration released late in June and is available in ebook and print.
BLURB for Forged By Fire
Ivey Treadwell, cook at her family’s boarding house, wants to accomplish something big. For now, she satisfies herself with improving on the traditional recipes for the boarders by adding herbs and spices she gathers. An incident with a broken pan causes her to see Berg Spengler, the town’s blacksmith, in a new light.
Stigmatized for his huge size and blamed for his brother’s injury, Berg has discovered being alone is safer for his heart. But when he sees interest spark in Ivey’s eyes, he decides to take a chance and approach her. The pair discovers an attraction that heats up each time they are alone together. Will Ivey convince Berg his wandering days are over and home is here with her in Comfort?
BUY LINKS
Other stories are:
The Longest Way Home by Lorrie Farrelly—Maddie, an orphan, is torn when her father shows up to reclaim her from her adoptive mother.
Winner Takes All by Meg Mims—Cora Peterson’s plan to beat her rival at a picnic auction brings about a surprising end and an unexpected love…
For the Love of Grace by Julia Daniels—Poppy travels west to find her sister—but her own happily-ever-after awaits, as well.
Brighter Tomorrows by Beverly Wells—Callie trusts no man. Chase Matlock is fearful to love again. He gets his man, she gets her adventure, and together they find it all.
Second Chance at Love by Agnes Alexander—A temporary living arrangement might lead to something else when love enters the mix.
Never Had a Chance by Angela Raines—How can a deadly trick bring two people the love they didn’t know they needed?
Today I have a writer friend from my local RWA chapter as guest. Welcome to Christine Ashworth.
What’s the logline that describes your writing?
Sweet, sassy, sensual stories to stir your heart.
Do you start a new story with the plot or characters first?
I actually start a new story with the back of the book blurb – weird, right? But from there I get both the outline of the plot, and my characters. I always think…what do I want to read? Then I just open the brain and let the words come out.
Is your writing style planned or freestyle?
Mostly freestyle – which can cause me problems. I usually have a vague idea of the story thru-line; it’s the little setbacks that the characters need to go through that tend to give me trouble. That’s when I start brainstorming.
Have you traveled to any locations that appear in your books?
So far, all of them! I tend to locate my stories in areas I know well, so I don’t have to do much research.
Do you write in a genre other than the one of this release?
Christmas Star is contemporary romance, a short-story prequel to the StarTide series. (The first full-length book comes out in February and is tentatively titled Guarded Star. ) I’ve also been published in paranormal romance, which is my first love. I have the rights back to the Caine Brothers series, and will hopefully be finishing off book 3 and indie publishing those this year.
Do you use visual aids (storyboards, Pinterest, collages) when plotting or writing?
Interesting question! I don’t, actually. Well, I do, but as a side effort – and after I’ve picked photos of my hero/heroine, I tend not to look at them again! But they are on my Pinterest boards, so…
In what genre do you read?
I read everything. From history to historicals, from zombie books to vampires to books on urban planning. Classics, comics, back of cereal boxes. I read everything and absorb knowledge as much as I can.
What do you hope readers gain from your stories?
Wow, a toughie. I guess it would be that my very human characters are just like them, that everyone is deserving of love, that everyone to one extent or another has to overcome their own self-doubts or self-hatred before they can love and be loved unconditionally. That we all need to accept who we are, and by doing so a lot of internal wounds can be healed. Gee…maybe that’s too much to expect from a novel…
Christmas Star Short Excerpt:
December 19th, evening
Elle Houston drew her feet up onto the couch and nervously watched her fiancé—her fiancé—finish packing in the hotel suite he called home. “Are you sure you want to get married?”
Taylor Collins, Grade A movie star, stopped adding shirts to his suitcase, tipped his head to one side and smiled, that lopsided grin that caused female hearts to flutter worldwide. “Are you getting cold feet?”
“No. Of course not.” She’d never thought she’d get a proposal, ever. Not saying yes to the guy who was People’s Sexiest Man Alive? She’d have to be brain-dead. “I’ve got the guy all the girls want, the guy paparazzi clamor over.” She nibbled her top lip, considering. “I guess I’m still just a bit stunned that you proposed.”
BUY LINK
Christine Ashworth grew up listening to the sound of her father’s manual typewriter as he wrote and sold over 300 novels. Now, to her delight, she’s the one writing novels. But as her dad is still writing away, she’s got some major catching up to do.
Christine is happily married to an actor/dancer/guitarist/hippy, has two tall sons, and tends to her garden and her family in southern California. You can read about her cooking, gardening, and wine picks at her website at http://christine-ashworth.com.
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CCAshworth
Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/AuthorChristineAshworth
Facebook Profile: https://www.facebook.com/ChristineAshworthAuthor
Amazon Profile: http://www.amazon.com/Christine-Ashworth/e/B004WXK66O/