Category: Christmas

Christmas in the Highlands (Virtual Tour & Giveaway)

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Today I’m pleased to share Madelyn Hill’s holiday anthology, CHRISTMAS IN THE HIGHLANDS. Read on to find out more about this pair of Christmas stories set in Scotland, as well as a giveaway happening through December 20th.

Christmas In The Highlands(1)

Christmas in the Highlands

by Madelyn Hill

Genre: Historical Romance

Blurb

A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS IN THE HIGHLANDS, BOOK ONE

Laird Malcolm Sutherland needs a bride. He has few requirements of his new wife; demands he should have insisted on with his former betrothed—namely, honesty, loyalty, and resources.

Lady Rossalyn Gordon will do anything to be rid of her tyrant father, even if that means deceiving the man who offers her an escape. If revealed, those secrets will either bring her mercy, or thrust her back into the hands of the devil who sired her.

When Rossalyn’s bastard of a father arrives at Sutherland Keep, going back on his word and ordering her return, Malcolm must decide if he can forgive his wife enough to listen to his heart and have a family for Christmas.

HIS BY CHRISTMAS
CHRISTMAS IN THE HIGHLANDS, BOOK TWO

Fiona Sutherland longs for love with the man she has pined after since she was a lass. When he weds another she is devastated, and questions why the man she pledged her heart to has forsaken a vow made in their youth. Could loving her be so hard?

Cameron Munro adores Fiona from afar, knowing her heart has been set on another. She is everything he desires—strong, loyal, and fiery in spirit.

Determined, he pledges to prove his love to her and win Fiona’s heart by Christmas.

ChristmasHighlands

Read an Excerpt

“I want to woo a wife.”

Brae tipped her head back and laughed. “You’ll not be needing my help with that, lad. Why, I could go in the kitchen and announce you’re looking for a wife and the lasses trample me trying to get to you.”

He chuckled, relaxed in his chair, and crossed his arms over his chest. “I want to woo Fiona.”

Abruptly, Brae sobered and then her eyes widened. “Fiona,” she exclaimed with wonder and a bit of surprise. “Are you certain, lad?”

He grinned. Fiona had earned her contrary reputation honestly. “Aye.”

“Well.” That single word held a heavy dose of skepticism. “‘Twill be tricky. She’s hurting and not likely to receive your attention. She’ll refuse you if you push her.”

Aye. Fiona was an independent woman, but with a vulnerability about her and something painful in her gaze that resulted from more than Mal’s so-called betrayal. Cam had witnessed it too many times. When those green eyes turned sad, it broke his heart. For her soul was strong and if sadness lingered, ‘twas a grievous wound within her.

“Lad, you’ll have to go slowly.” A quick smile flashed on Brae’s aged face. “Little things. Things a lass such as Fiona would appreciate. Nothing obvious.”

Aye, from what he knew of Fiona, she wouldn’t want a gift-giving swain made public. “Could you send a meal to her chamber as a courtesy?”

Brae’s smile forced her wrinkles to crease around her eyes. “For certain, Cam. ‘Tis a kind gesture.” She patted his arm and relayed his desire to one of the kitchen lasses.

His wooing would need to be quick, for if Fiona discovered his plan she’d fight him and the desire he kenned she’d have for him if she just gave him a chance.

Aye, he’d court her, gently but swiftly, for he’d only a fortnight.

And she’d be his by Christmas.

Enter for a chance to win free eBooks, Amazon Gift Card or a Holiday surprise. Give-a-Way ends December 20th! http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/f9e303c017/

Meet Madelyn Hill

Madelyn Hill’s novels have been nominated for the coveted InD’tale RONE Awards, awarded Favorite Historical Novel by Uncaged Book Reviews and Historical Novel of the Month by Long & Short Reviews. HeadShotMadelynHill

She has always loved the written word. From the time she could read and all through her school years, she’d sneak books into her textbooks during school. And she devoured books daily. At the age of 10 she proclaimed she wanted to be a writer. After being a “closet” writer for several years, she sent her manuscripts out there and is now published with Soul Mate Publishing. And she couldn’t be happier! 

A resident of Western New York, she moved from one Rochester to another Rochester to be with the love of her life. They are busy with their 3 children, grandson and a naught dog named Cannoli! They love to cook, go to the movies, and hang out with friends.

Amazon Buy Link: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01MQKK4HG/

Amazon UK Buy Link: https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B01MQKK4HG/ 

Amazon Canada Buy Link: https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B01MQKK4HG/

Find Madelyn Online!

MadelynHill.com

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Something Sweet (Virtual Book Tour)

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I’m very excited to be sharing a new Christmas romance release from a fellow member of the Moms Who Write community, Jessica Brown! Read on for more info about her adorable holiday romcom.

Something Sweet: A Something Series Christmas Romance

by Jessica Brown

Genre: RomCom, Christmas Romance

Blurb

Marley Winters’ life is her bakery. Just as the holiday season is kicking off, handsome John Klaus serves her an eviction notice: Marley must leave her bakery by the end of the year. Determined not to lose her bakery, Marley strikes a deal with the man she sees as her executioner: give her three weeks to earn the money she owes and she can keep the bakery. But when John keeps showing up at the bakery, Marley begins to wonder if he’s really as Scrooge-like as she first thought.

Something Sweet Book Cover

Read an Excerpt

Like every other end of the day in this bakery, I go through my checklist. Cookies made and cooling. Doughs resting. Fillings made and ready for their desserts. 

Satisfied everything is as it should be, I throw on my scarf, bundle into my coat, and grab my to-go cup of hot coffee. 

The hateful wind flings the door wide as I open it. Somehow I manage to keep hold of my coffee. Right now, its heat is a lifeline for this walk home. 

The wind whistles. Snow distorts the world around me. And I can’t get the darn door closed. Between the wind and clumps of snow stuck behind it, the thing won’t budge. I’m just about to sever my lifeline when a pair of gloved hands grip the door frame around me.

“Let me help with that, Miss Winters.” Mr Klaus towers behind me. We pull the door shut and I lock it. I turn toward him. He stands close, blocking the wind.

“Thank you, Mr. -”

“I think we’ve interacted enough where you can call me John.” He smiles as though letting me in on an inside joke. 

“John.” I expect it to feel strange coming out of my mouth. The formality of using surnames keeps him at an appropriate distance considering he’s the one who started this mess. First name basis is reserved for friends or acquaintances. Then again. I suppose I’ve seen him enough these past days where some might consider us acquaintances. At the same time, he did serve me the eviction papers. Can I really be friends with someone who did that? “I think I’ll stick to Mr. Klaus.”

“The weather is getting nasty,” he says. “And the ground is getting a bit icy in areas. Can I walk you to your car?”

He wants to walk me to my car? This man is an anomaly. How can someone do something so awful one moment and be so kind the next? I suppose the serving of papers wasn’t his fault, specifically. He was just doing his job. He really doesn’t have as much blame as Mr. Ferrar or Henry.

“Marley?” My name on his lips sounds foreign but not wrong. 

“Sorry.”

The air in front of him crystallizes from the warmth of his laugh. 

“You should stop apologizing all the time.”

“Maybe you don’t apologize enough.”

“I guess I never thought of it like that. Perhaps I don’t.” He steps back, putting enough distance between us that the wind makes me shiver again.

SOMETHING SWEET is available NOW for Kindle and in Print!

Meet Jessica Brown

Jessica Brown is a writer and SAHM based in Upstate New York where she lives with her husband, son, and tabby, Cutey. SheJessica Brown Author Pic started writing in 2017 and hasn’t covered even a fraction of the stories floating in her head. She can’t help but create the drama you hate to love and HEAs with the heroes you want in your bed. When she isn’t writing, you can find her posting on Instagram, playing with her son, and drinking tea. All the tea.

And maybe some coffee, too.

Find Jessica Online!

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Merry Christmas!

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From the craziness of Thanksgiving to the craziness of Christmas, the past three weeks have been something of a blur.

We only had three weeks of school between Thanksgiving Break and Christmas break. Every year I always feel like there should be another week between the two holidays. I mean, I know it’s four calendar weeks between them, and that school usually runs for about three of those. But it always feels like there should be more time.

I’m never ready for Christmas.

After this week, I’ll be sharing a few other fun things related to Better Than Chocolate – some inside scoop sorts of things. Also, I’ve been working on Book 2 of the “Sweet Somethings” series in particular. (No major details yet, as it’s still quite early in the drafting process. But I will share that Book 2’s heroine will be traveling to Rome, Italy!)

In the meantime, be sure to sign up for my email newsletter to stay in the loop with announcements about the “Sweet Somethings” series.

And to everyone who celebrates, Merry Christmas! (And if you don’t celebrate Christmas, may these final days of December be full of fun, laughter, and love, with a joyful New Year just around the corner.)

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Reclaiming Christmas

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I am bound and determined to enjoy Christmas this year.  I simply must.  The snow started today in my neck of the woods – enough measurable accumulation to cover the ground and then some. That’s Lake Ontario lake effect for you, early season snow.  We’re due, last winter it was unseasonably warm. I had tulips coming up in January.

Anyway, why am I seemingly desperate to have a good Christmas?

I have always loved Christmas.  The lights, the cookie-making, the sappy holiday movies, the music, both secular and religious alike.  I love getting together with family and friends.  I love going to Mass on Christmas Eve and celebrating the true meaning of Christmas.

Sure, I was one of those kids who sat down with the Sears toy catalog and circled the stuff I wanted.  Usually “My Little Pony” paraphernalia.  I remember one year, soon after I’d discovered Gone With The Wind, both book and movie, I begged and begged my parents to get me the “Barbie as Scarlett O’Hara” dolls, which were on sale for a much lower price in the BX catalog (that’s “base exchange” for you non-military brats).  I did eventually acquire all five dolls in the series, but not until much later on.

But I was never particularly caught up in the whole “gift getting” part of Christmas.  I mean, sure, I was a kid, and I loved opening presents, and there had better be the same number of boxes under the tree for me as for my sister.  Sometimes, one of us got socks to make it even.  I never knew it at the time, but my parents didn’t have a ton of extra money to pay for toys and games and so on. We always had what we needed, and usually what we wanted, and if we were told no, that was the end of it – no big deal, certainly no whining.  And even as a kid, I always liked giving presents.  My elementary school used to hold this “Secret Santa” shop just before the holidays, when we got to take our pocket change and buy ridiculously cheap gifts that usually broke a week after Christmas.  I always put a lot of thought into what I would get: the book light for my mom, which never worked, because she loved to read; the “#1 Dad” pencil holder shaped like a number 1; the mini broom and dustpan for my grandmother, because she could win an Olympic gold medal in cleaning if that was an Olympic event.  I even bought stuff for my annoying big sister, because at the end of the day, she’s my sister.

Most of my life, Christmas was awesome, and it was all about sharing love and memories and being happy.

Adulthood, however, has not always been as fun as those childhood Christmases would lead us to believe.

It’s unfortunate, but my family has had its share of unfortunate events over the past eight to ten years or so, especially in the last two, which sometimes makes it hard to remember what Christmas is about and how to be happy and thankful for the joys and blessings we do have.  It’s hard to keep hope and faith when all the things you wish for, all the things you’ve counted on, sort of start to disappear.

I don’t know why I’m so determined, but I feel like it’s time to reclaim Christmas, to hold onto all the good things and celebrate what we have.  And I have 30 days to convince myself that it’s okay to love Christmas again.

I’ll let you know how it turns out on December 26th.