Wednesday, November 28, 2018

One of a Kind Christmas (+ Giveaway)


I’m delighted to be participating in the Reviews by Crystal Blog Tour for ONE OF A KIND CHRISTMAS by Lexi Post.

As part of this fun tour, the author has a $25 Gift Card to giveaway during the tour. Please use the Rafflecopter below to enter. Remember you may enter every day for your chance to win. You may find the tour locations here https://goo.gl/sPP5CV.

One of a Kind Christmas
A Christmas Carol Book #4
By Lexi Post

For her to love him, he must face a spirit, an archangel…and himself.

The spirit of Cameron Douglas has totally screwed-up…again. Now, he has to fix his mess in one night with the help of his best friend and somehow encourage his widow to move on.
Holly Douglas is anguished that this is the last Christmas she’ll be visited by her late husband, Cameron. For three years he’s sent her the spirits of Christmas Past, Present, and Future, and they‘ve helped her cope with her loss. But now all that ends, and she doesn’t understand why he must push her away.
Ethan Stewart has been in love with Holly since Cameron’s death, but she isolated herself from everyone, including him. Then something changed, and he was welcomed back as her friend. But he wants more— to love her openly, and most of all to make her happy again. Though he loved his best friend like a brother and will do anything for Holly, as he’s pulled into the spirit world, he discovers the price they must pay for their chance at forever…and it just might be too high.

Releases Day December 5, 2018. Here are buy Links for One of a Kind Christmas:


Now an excerpt for your reading pleasure:

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath before opening them. “I miss Cam. It was as if we were two parts of the same soul. I lived vicariously through him even while I worried constantly about him. It was one of the reasons I was constantly warning him to be careful. I was afraid to lose him.” Ethan looked away and rubbed the back of his neck. “And then I did.” She felt as if her heart were breaking all over again, not for her but for Ethan. He was so good to her. He even loved her. And she… “Ethan, I understand.” His gaze returned to hers. Though she couldn’t see his face clearly, the limited light reflected off the sheen in his eyes. She placed her hand on his cheek and rising on her toes brushed her lips across his in a feather-light kiss. She only meant to give comfort, but a spark of something else hit her heart. She remained there, her lips close to his but not touching, wanting more but afraid to ask. Ethan remained absolutely still, his breath mixing with her own. He loved her but would never push her. It wasn’t his nature. She could walk away right now, but to what? Nothing. She stared at his mouth in the dim light. She wanted to live again. She wanted to feel again. Tilting her head, she pressed her lips more firmly against his, moving her hand down his stubbled jaw and behind his neck to pull him closer. Ethan’s lips opened, and she slipped her tongue between them. As his arms came around her, it was like waking from a dream. A slow burn flowed through her veins as he took control of the kiss and explored her mouth with his tongue. It was an unhurried exploration and heat built in her belly. When he pulled back to lick the underside of her top lip, she took her first deep breath. As she exhaled, tingles spread throughout her body. He kissed the corners of her mouth before leaning his forehead against her own. “Ye catch my blood on fire, lass.”

Other Books in the Series: A Christmas Carol Book 1, Pleasures of Christmas Past is on sale for only $.99!

Jessica is assigned a hot, Scottish mentor who confuses her heart. But will he protect her soul? Buy Links for Pleasures of Christmas Past:
Desires of Christmas Present (A Christmas Carol Book 2)

Sometimes not knowing is better…for everyone.

Temptations of Christmas Future (A Christmas Carol Book 3)

He set out to prove the future was far worse than she imagined. Now he wished it wasn’t.


About the Author:

Author Lexi Post
Lexi Post is a New York Times and USA Today best-selling author of romance inspired by the classics. She spent years in higher education taking and teaching courses about the classical literature she loved. From Edgar Allan Poe's short story “The Masque of the Red Death” to Tolstoy’s War and Peace, she's read, studied, and taught wonderful classics. But

Lexi's first love is romance novels, so she married her two first loves, romance and the classics. From hot paranormals to sizzling cowboys to hunks from out of this world, Lexi provides a sensuous experience with a “whole lotta story.” Lexi is living her own happily ever after with her husband and her cat in Florida. She makes her own ice cream every weekend, loves bright colors, and you will never see her without a hat.

Lexi's Social Links:

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Who would you like to have as Christmas ghosts visiting you?



Monday, November 26, 2018

Christmas Gift Guide Roundup (+ Giveaway)


Just in case you didn’t find everything you were looking for during Black Friday, I have some book suggestions to add to your Christmas giving.


To make this feature extra special, the wonderful folks at Casablanca is giving away five (5) sets of their six Christmas books. Be sure to check out the giveaway at the end of the post. Now here are some tantalizing books to give (or keep for yourself).

Mistletoe in Texas

Gift this to: Anyone who loves all things Texas or rodeo, and fans of second chance romance

Suggested gift pairing: A cute Texas cookie cutter, or a bag of Texas Pecan coffee for a warm and authentic treat. (Because a horse won’t fit under the tree!)


Cowboy Christmas Jubilee

Gift this to: The friend who loves Christmas more than any other holiday, and fans of small-town cowboy romance

Suggested gift pairing: Anything Christmas related – bonus points if there are cowboy boots involved.


Rocky Mountain Cowboy Christmas

Gift this to: Anyone who has ever wanted to live on a Christmas tree farm (!) or cowboy readers who like a little suspense

Suggested gift pairing: A pine-scented candle, or a favorite piece from a local artist (in honor of our folk artist heroine)


Cowboy SEAL Christmas

Gift this to: The friend whose favorite holiday movie is How the Grinch Stole Christmas, or anyone who thinks horses and heroes are a winning combination.

Suggested gift pairing: Cute notecards, a framed photo, or an invitation to a holiday celebration because Christmas is all about connecting with the people we love!


Billionaire Wolf for Christmas

Gift this to: The friend who has a long checklist for her perfect guy (billionaire, doctor, wolf shifter) or anyone who loves a trope mashup!

Suggested gift pairing: If you can’t find a half-naked billionaire to put a bow on, then how about an adorable book themed tote to throw a copy into.


My Forever Home

Gift this to: Dog lovers, and fans of

Suggested gift pairing: A puppy! (just kidding) For the minimalist friend, give this along with making a donation to a local no-kill rescue shelter. For something that’s easier to wrap, pair this with a cozy pair of red mittens for a soft and sweet gift.


Don’t forget gifts for you! At the holidays we always spend so much time thinking about others that it’s easy to leave ourselves out. Treat yourself this Christmas and enter to win all 6 holiday books! Then cozy up with a blanket, a hot cup of whatever you like, and get lost in a wonderful romance.

Thanks for stopping by today. Did you find a favorite book for someone on your list or perhaps a book for yourself?

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Thursday, November 22, 2018

Happy Thanksgiving

Just wanted to take a moment to wish everyone a safe and HAPPY THANKSGIVING (whether you're celebrating or not) and hope your holiday is filled with love and laughter.


Here's a photo of the shirt I'll be wearing today. We made these where I work and several of us got one to celebrate the holiday. Do you have a favorite holiday shirt you enjoy wearing year after year?


Thanks for stopping by. If you're shopping on Black Friday, be safe and have lots of fun. Hope you find loads of bargains. See you back here on Monday for a fun post.

Tuesday, November 20, 2018

Nick and Eve (+ Giveaway)


As cooler temperatures head our way, I’m looking more and more toward Christmas-themed stories and I have a perfect one to share with you today – NICK AND EVE by Elle Rush, the third installment in her North Pole Unlimited series.

Check out the excerpt below, the tasty recipe, and be sure to enter the awesome giveaway at the end.

*Nick and Eve
*By Elle Rush
*(North Pole Unlimited, #3)
*Publication date: November 19th 2018
*Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

          Nick’s plan: dodge his grandmother’s matchmaking attempts by claiming Eve is his date for Christmas. He probably should have asked Eve first.
          Although Nick Klassen is grateful when Eve rides to his rescue after he breaks down outside of December, Manitoba, he can’t run fast enough when his meddling grandmother tries to set him up with the pretty tow-truck driver. Then he gets an idea.
          Between juggling extra hours at work and a never-ending Christmas to-do list, Eve LeBlanc doesn’t have time for a new man in her life. But ever since she picked Nick up on the side of the road, she’s been running into him everywhere.
          His flirtations started innocently enough but when his grandmother invites “his girlfriend” to the family’s Christmas dinner, Nick realizes if he wants to stop pretending about Eve, he must come clean. Once Eve learns of his deception, he’ll need Santa’s help to turn their fake relationship in the real thing.


EXCERPT:
Eve rolled to a stop in the driveway. “This is impressive.” Strings of unlit Christmas lights framed his grandmother’s two-storey house and circled the spruce tree in the front yard. Plastic candy canes stuck in the snowbanks lined the sidewalk, and a pinecone-studded wreath twice the size of the one on the tow-truck’s grill hung from the screen door.
“You should see the inside. Can you wait till I’m certain her car will start? She hasn’t run it in a couple weeks,” Nick said.
His grandmother must have been watching from the window, because the front door opened before they hit the first step. “Come in, it’s freezing out here,” she said.
The entranceway and the adjacent living room were fully Christmas-bombed, from the reindeer-shaped sofa cushions to the double-decker white candy bowl stand, which had a Frosty face and top hat stuck to the top of the wire frame. Nick held back a snicker as Eve spun in a three-sixty and breathed a quiet, “Whoa.”
“You’re not kidding,” he whispered back.
“I’m Adelaide Klassen. Who might you be?” his gran asked. She was dressed for her appointment. After a lifetime of seeing her in business suits at the office, it was always a shock to Nick’s system to see his grey-haired grandmother in jeans and a plaid, flannel shirt.
Eve gave Adelaide’s hand a hearty shake. “Eve LeBlanc, tow-truck driver.”
“It’s lovely to meet you. Are you a special friend of Nick’s?”
Nick sighed. She was starting, and they’d been in the house for thirty seconds. “No, Gran, she’s not my girlfriend.”
“I just picked him up on the side of the road. I must say he is the cutest stray I’ve come across in a while,” Eve added with a smile.
“Don’t encourage her!”


Elle’s Christmas Chocolate Drops (makes 4 dozen)

1/2 cup butter or margarine (125mL)
1/2 cup milk (125mL)
2 cups granulated sugar (500mL)
1/2 cup cocoa (125mL)
2 1/2 cups rolled/quick oats* (625mL)

Put first 4 ingredients in a saucepan.
Bring to a boil, stirring constantly.
Boil for 5 full minutes.
Remove from heat.
Stir in rolled oats.
Drop by teaspoon full onto trays covered with waxed paper. (Do this immediately – the chocolate hardens quickly, and you’ll be stuck with a pot full of chocolate if you take too long.)
Let harden.

*Coconut fans can replace 1/2 cup of oats with 2/3 cup of coconut.

Now for those who aren’t familiar with Elle, here’s a brief bit of background on her.

Author Elle Rush
Elle Rush is a contemporary romance author from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. When she’s not travelling, she’s hard at work writing books which are set all over the world. From Hollywood to the house next door, her heroes will make you sigh and her heroines will make you laugh out loud.

Elle has a degree in Spanish and French, barely passed German, and has flunked poetry in every language she’s studied, including English. She also has mild addictions to tea, yarn, Christmas decorations, and HGTV renovations shows.

For more on Elle and her writing, click on the following links:

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Doesn’t the recipe make you want to start baking? Those would be delicious treats to munch on while you read NICK AND EVE, wouldn’t they?

GIVEAWAY!
 
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Monday, November 19, 2018

Cowboys for Christmas – Kim Law, Liz Talley, Terri Osburn (+ Giveaway)


Christmas is not as far off and as might like for it to be, so there’s no better time than now to begin reading Christmas-themed stories.

I’m delighted today to share a delightful new release with you (and an awesome giveaway at the end). Come along for the fun.

Cowboys for Christmas
Kim Law, Liz Talley, Terri Osburn
(A Holly Hills Anthology)
Publication date: November 19th 2018
Genres: Adult, Contemporary, Romance

3 cowboys…2 weeks…1 wedding!

          Claire, Georgia, and Mary Catherine couldn’t be more different, but they promised they would be there for one another no matter what. And when they all gather in Holly Hills, Texas, for Mary Catherine’s Christmas wedding, they’ll find they have one thing in common: hearts that are about to be branded—by unforgettable cowboys.
          In “Love Me, Cowboy” by Terri Osburn, wallflower Claire would be more excited about the wedding if it didn’t mean running into Mary Catherine’s brother—the bull rider she once had a scorching one-night stand with…
          Ivy League volleyball coach Georgia never wanted to see Holly Hills—or another cowboy—again. But a sexy veterinarian is making her rethink her vow to never marry a Texas man in “Kiss Me, Cowboy” by Liz Talley.
          Claire and Georgia both think that Mary Catherine is getting hitched to the wrong man, despite how perfect he is. And in “Marry Me, Cowboy” by Kim Law, a local rancher with a wild reputation gives Mary Catherine a glimpse of what might have been—and what could still be…

SNEAK PEEKS!
Love Me, Cowboy by Terri Osburn
Crossing the short distance to where he’d left his tools near the back of the truck, Tyler bent down and lifted with his left arm, only to have the box drop back to the floor with a crash. He gripped his left shoulder as his face contorted in pain.
“Tyler? What’s wrong?” Claire was afraid to touch his arm for fear of hurting him more. “Tell me what to do. I don’t know how to help.”
“It’s fine,” he said through a clenched jaw, then took several deep breaths, keeping his eyes closed. “I just forget sometimes.”
Claire caught herself taking deep breaths with him and had to make herself stop. “Forget what?” she asked.
Dropping his hand, Tyler opened his eyes and slowly lowered his shoulders. “The face wasn’t the only thing damaged in the accident. As I said at the Thirsty Cowboy the other night, my shoulder got torn up pretty bad, too. Doc has me in physical therapy and it’s mostly healed, but the weight of the toolbox was too much, I guess.”
He guessed? The man had taken years off her life with that reaction. The pain must have been excruciating to take his breath like that.
“Thank goodness you won’t be doing that anymore.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, working his shoulder up and down. “Picking up the toolbox? Not with that arm, I won’t.”
“Not the toolbox,” Claire said with a roll of her eyes. “Riding bulls. No more climbing onto the back of a beast that would rather kill you than let you stay there.”
Tyler’s face turned serious. “I have every intention of getting back on a bull.”
“You can’t be serious.”
“Dead serious.”
Claire threw a hand on her hip. “If that’s supposed to be a joke, it isn’t funny.”
“I don’t make jokes about my life.” His eyes darkened. “My life. I’m a bull rider, and I’m going to continue being one. No matter what you or my sister or anyone else says.”
Jerking the toolbox off the ground with his good arm, Tyler slammed it onto the truck bed, then hopped up after it. Claire had to shuffle around to the back so she could use the bumper to climb up, but she wasn’t about to let this stubborn cowboy walk away from this argument.
“Your sister loves you,” she yelled, storming across the empty flatbed. “And I . . .” She what? Loved him? Unfortunately so, but she wasn’t about to tell him. “I care about you, too. That bull could have killed you.”
“And I could get hit by a truck tomorrow. Doesn’t mean I’m going to hide in my house.”
“That isn’t the same and you know it.” Why couldn’t he see what getting back on a bull would do to the people around him? How they’d feel if the worst happened?
Tyler turned so quickly, Claire nearly charged into him. “What if someone told you to stop teaching?”
“What?”
“Didn’t your parents push you to be a lawyer? To do your civic duty and join the family business of running towns and making decisions for other people?”
Her situation was nothing like his. “Being a teacher isn’t going to get me killed.”
“No? How many school shootings have we had in the past few years?” Tyler asked. “Life is random, Claire. A meteor could kill us all tomorrow. You have to live while you can, the way you want.” His voice dropped as his eyes held hers. “I’m a bull rider. That’s what I do.”
Claire felt deflated. He was right. It was his life, and only he could decide how he wanted to live it. But that didn’t stop her from wishing he would choose another way.
“It’s going to kill your sister when you climb back on one of those bulls.”
And it will kill me, too, she thought.
“I can’t do what she’s done, Claire. I can’t walk away from the thing I love because it’s what other people think I should do.”
The need to grab him and hold on was so strong, Claire did the only thing possible.
She backed away.
“That banner probably needs to dry before being hung up. I’ll get someone to help me with it tomorrow.”
“Claire, don’t—”
“Mom’s expecting me for dinner.” Claire looked at her watch. Then at her feet. Anywhere but at the cowboy with his hand out. “You should head out, too. Thanks for helping the kids.”
“You’re welcome,” he said, but she barely heard the words as she hopped off the truck and stepped through the open warehouse door into a chilly December evening.
Kiss Me, Cowboy by Liz Talley
Reed didn’t say anything. Just watched her. The way her glossy lips shone in the neon glow, the way her eyes roved over the dance floor, the way that dress hugged every curve of her body.
Georgia’s gaze returned to his, and she must have seen the glint in his eyes. “I’m not going to sleep with you, you know.”
“What?”
“The way you’re looking at me, breaking in on my dance with Rusty, I can tell.”
“Rodney.”
“Who?”
“His name was Rodney. Not Rusty.”
“Oh,” she said.
“And I never said I wanted to sleep with you,” he said, hoping she couldn’t see straight through his bullshit. “I said I wanted to dance with you. See, those are two different things. For dancing, you usually keep your clothes on.”
“Depends on how you dance,” she said, cracking a smile. In her gaze he could see her trying to gain control. Her boldness seemed part of her protection. After Paul Milligan made the comment about Georgia growing up next door, he’d asked Tyler about his fiery damsel in distress. He now better understood the BMW, the fancy boots and jacket. He’d never been poor—quite the opposite—but he could imagine coming home to a town that had pigeonholed her. Not easy.
“Well, I suppose I could be talked into naked dancing by the right girl.”
“Too bad I’m not the right girl.”
Marry Me, Cowboy by Kim Law
Mary Catherine glanced causally around as she headed back to the bar, and this time she found Jax leaning against the far side of the counter.
He’d also found her.
His hat was pushed back on his head and those blue eyes she remembered so well were trained on her. And they didn’t seem anxious to move on anytime soon. Her breath hitched in her throat.
“Buy you a drink?” A dark-blond cutie asked when she stopped by an empty stool. “You’re the one getting married, right? I’m Tony. Me and my buddies here would be glad to protect your integrity tonight.” All five men gave her wide smiles.
She laughed with good humor. Her integrity didn’t need protecting, but she was there for some fun. And these guys were harmless. They’d been at the bar for a while now and didn’t seem to be looking for more than an entertaining Friday night off the ranch. “You and your buddies good at protecting a girl’s integrity, Tony?” she teased.
“The best.” He motioned for the bartender, and when asked what she wanted, she took another peek at Jax.
“Tequila,” she said. She winked at Tony. “Top shelf.”
Cuervo was her go-to for forgetting denim blue eyes.
Her brother came in then and caught her eye. He scanned the men now surrounding her and gave a wink—probably after also concluding that her integrity was intact—then turned his gaze away to take in the remainder of the crowd. Tyler was two years younger than her and was most definitely a town heartthrob. He’d been gorgeous for most of his life. Now he had a nasty slash across his left cheek.
It had only made him more good-looking.
A gaggle of women made their way over to him, and his broad face broke into a wide grin. The poor rodeo star, recovering from a bad throw from a bull. He didn’t seem to be suffering too much, that was for sure.
Mary Catherine shook her head at the unfairness of it all. If a woman came in with a scar like that, men would turn the other way. She rolled her eyes and leaned back against the bar, enjoying the night. The back of her neck suddenly tingled, and she knew without looking that he was looking at her.
The bartender set down the shot, and she tossed it back in one quick motion. It burned all the way down. She hissed in a breath between her teeth then took another peek at Jax.
Yep. Still looking. One eyebrow lifted subtly. That pissed her off. The man hadn’t spoken to her in ten years—other than to offer a foursome with two other women the night she’d been in here after her college graduation—and now, of all times, he showed up and wouldn’t look away.
As if something about her interested him.
Too damned bad. And ten years too late. She was an engaged woman now.
She motioned to the bartender for another drink.
“A girl who likes her tequila,” Tony muttered, leaning into the counter beside her. His eyes glowed with delight. “That’s pretty hot.”
Mary Catherine gave him a toothy grin. “Down boy. I’ve just decided I’m going to be drinking a lot tonight. Which means you have to behave.” She patted his shoulder. “I’m not expecting you to buy what I’m about to put away, though, so that’s the bright side. But I will take you up on that integrity thing. You keep me safe, okay? At least until my girls get back.”
She motioned to the dance floor with the second shot, where Georgia was dancing with Reed McCormick, and Claire was once again running from a handful of men. They’d been following her around all night as if she were a dog in heat.
“You got it.” Tony nodded like an obedient puppy and scooted in closer. He was taking the job seriously. The other four followed suit. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw no less than three women now crowding around Jax.
Maybe the four of them would have a foursome tonight.
Probably it was his regular Friday-night routine.
She downed the second shot and one of the guys ordered her a third, and then she returned to that night ten years ago…

Author Liz Talley
A finalist in both RWA's prestigious Golden Heart award and RITA award, Liz Talley has found a home writing sassy contemporary romance. Her stories are set in the South where the tea is sweet, the summers are hot and the men are hotter. Liz lives in North Louisiana with her childhood sweetheart, two handsome children, three dogs and a mean kitty. You can visit Liz at www.liztalleybooks.com to learn more about her upcoming books.


Author Terri Osburn
Author of the Amazon and Wall Street Journal bestselling Anchor Island Series, Terri Osburn started putting words on the page in 2007. Five years later she was named a finalist in the Romance Writers of America Golden Heart contest for unpublished manuscripts. That led to signing with an agent in June of 2012, and the publication of her debut novel, Meant To Be, with Montlake Romance in May 2013. Since then Terri has gone on to sell more than a million books worldwide, and her work has been translated into German, Turkish, Italian, Spanish, and French. Ms. Osburn resides in middle Tennessee with her college-student daughter, four frisky felines, and two troublesome terriers. When she isn't writing, she's either traveling the world to meet new readers, or taking on a home improvement project to justify the purchase of all the power tools now filling her garage.

Author Kim Law
As a child, award-winning author Kim Law cultivated a love for chocolate, anything purple, and creative writing. She penned her debut work, "The Gigantic Talking Raisin," in the sixth grade and got hooked on the delights of creating stories. Before settling into the writing life, however, she earned a college degree in mathematics and worked as a computer programmer. Now she's pursuing her lifelong dream of writing romance novels. She has won the Romance Writers of America's Golden Heart Award, has been a finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA Award, and has served in varied positions for her local RWA chapter. A native of Kentucky, Kim lives with her husband and an assortment of animals in Middle Tennessee.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. What would you do if you had to plan for a wedding around Christmas time? Did one or all of these excerpts grab your attention?

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