It’s always a delight to talk
about author Jodi Thomas and her feel-good books. Today I want to let you know
what Jodi has in store for us this coming season.
First, PICNIC IN
SOMEDAY VALLEY, the next book in Jodi’s Honey Creek series, will be
released April 27, 2021. You may remember the first book in the series, BREAKFAST
AT THE HONEY CREEK CAFE that was featured here back in May. Jodi is
also currently writing Book 3 in that series with more wonderful characters to
entertain us.
In the meantime, A
TEXAS KIND OF CHRISTMAS which came out last October recently won first
place at the National Federation of Press Women's Communications Contest. Now
it will be a re-release on September 29th.
A
TEXAS KIND OF CHRISTMAS
By Jodi Thomas, Celia
Bonaduce, & Rachael Miles
*Zebra Books, an imprint
of Kensington Publishing
*On Sale: September 29th,
2020
*Mass Market
Max/Fiction$8.99($10.90CAN)
*978-1-4201-4869-5
*Setting: Dallas, TX –1859
Jodi headlines a Christmas
Collection with three connected stories featuring a historic Dallas hotel in
1859, built and managed by a fascinating local widow, Sarah Cockrell. Sarah was
a Texan businesswoman known for her contributions to the development of the
state, the famed St. Nicholas was one of the most fashionable, grand hotels of
its time.
It’s Christmas Eve, 1859,
and everyone who is anyone is headed to the glorious St. Nicolas Hotel for the
most talked about ball of the season. A TEXAS KIND OF CHRISTMAS,
a holiday-themed collection of three connected stories based on the true
history of the St. Nicholas Hotel.
In the hands of Jodi
Thomas, Celia Bonaduce, and historian and novelist Rachael Miles, this
real-life setting comes to life in three romantic tales infused with vivid
imagery and witty prose. A TEXAS KIND OF CHRISTMAS evokes the
grandeur of a bygone era and the indomitable pioneer spirit of the region and
is sure to be the fan favorite romance collection of the Christmas season.
THE
HISTORY BEHIND A TEXAS KIND OF CHRISTMAS
➢Sarah
Horton Cockrell opened the St. Nicholas Hotel in 1859 under her own management,
one year after her husband, Alex Cockrell, died at the hands of a Dallas
sheriff. It was known as one of the most fashionable, grand hotels of its time until
it burned down in the Dallas Fire of 1860. It was the first building
constructed taller than two stories and the crowning social event Dallas
society was the grand ball with which it made its debut. Sarah Horton Cockrell
named the hotel after the man she chose as its manager –Nicholas H. Darnell, a
captain in the Indian wars of 1839, Speaker of the House of Representatives in
the Texas Congress of 1842, and Lieutenant Governor elected in the first state
election of 1846.
➢An
astute businesswoman, real estate maven and transportation pioneer whose wealth
and power defied gender conventions of the time, Sarah Horton Cockrell went on
to own nearly ¼ of Downtown Dallas, opening the Dallas Hotel (later known as
the St. Charles), a number of flour mills and other businesses. She constructed
the first iron bridge across the Trinity, leading to enormous economic
development for the state.
➢After
Sarah Horton Cockrell’s death in 1892, The Dallas Morning News’s obituary stated that her
funeral procession and floral tributes were among the largest ever seen in
Dallas.
Meet
the Authors
Jodi Thomas is a New York Times bestselling
author and fifth-generation Texan who sets many of her award-winning stories in
her home state, where her grandmother was born in a covered wagon. A multi-RITA
Award winner and member of the prestigious Romance Writers of America Hall of
Fame, she’s written over 50 novels with millions of copies in print. Her most
recent releases are The Little Tea Shop on Main and the first book in her new Honey
Creek series, Breakfast at the Honey Creek Café is out now. Please visit her at
www.JodiThomas.com.
Celia Bonaduce, also the author of The
Venice Beach Romances and the Welcome to Fat Chance, Texas series, has always
had a love affair with houses. Her credits as a television field producer include
such house-heavy hits as Extreme Makeover: Home Edition; HGTV’s House Hunters
and Tiny House Hunters. She lives in Santa Monica, CA, with her husband and
dreams of one day traveling with him in their own tiny house. She can be found
online www.CeliaBonaduce.com.
Rachael Miles is an acclaimed romance
novelist and historian specializing in the 19thcentury, as well as a professor
of literary history. A fifth-generation Texan and native of Dallas, she now
lives and teaches in New York. Visit her online at www.RachaelMiles.com.
Jodi’s newest historical
short story "Father Goose" will be featured in THE COWBOY WHO
SAVED CHRISTMAS. It will be released October 27. You’ll love reading about Trapper Morgan who
must deliver five little girls back to Dallas after the Civil War
THE COWBOY WHO SAVED
CHRISTMAS
By Jodi Thomas, Sharla
Lovelace, & Scarlett Dunn
*Kensington Books, an
imprint of Kensington Publishing
*On Sale: October 27th,
2020
*Trade Paperback/Fiction$15.95($21.95CAN)
*978-1-4967-2549-3
Jodi headlines a new
Christmas anthology celebrating heroic cowboys and all things Texas.
The Lone Star State
doesn't have to be lonely during Christmas time! Legendary author Jodi Thomas
headlines a new holiday-themed Western historical romance collection featuring
three Texas-set stories of romance and adventure.
The Civil War is over,
Christmas is coming—and it's time for three rugged cowboys to hang-up their
spurs and settle down. These authors combine their talents and excel at creating
atmosphere and complex characters which infuse these stories with Texas history
and evoke the grandeur of a bygone era and the indomitable pioneer spirit of
the region.
Prepare to be swept off
your feet by these heroic cowboys who will stop at nothing to make sure this
Christmas is one to remember. Ideal for gift giving, The Cowboy Who Saved
Christmas will be the fan favorite collection of romance forthe2020 Christmas
season!
ABOUT THE NOVEL
In these Texas-set stories
of romance and adventure, the Civil War is over, Christmas is coming—and it’s
time for three rugged fighters to become lovers . . .
FATHER
GOOSE
*Jodi Thomas
Dispirited by war, when
Trapper Morgan accepts a job hauling five little rich girls to Dallas, all he
cares about is the money.
He doesn’t expect they’ll
awaken his spirit—or that their intriguing nursemaid, Carolina, will awaken his
heart. And when danger strikes as Christmas Eve nears, he definitely doesn’t
expect Carolina and the girls to risk their lives—for him.
THE
MISTLETOE PROMISE
* Sharla Lovelace
A catastrophic storm, an
ailing herd, and a failing cattle ranch have left Texas rancher Josie Bancroft
in danger of losing everything her father worked for. Still, she’d rather die than
merge with her neighbor rancher Benjamin Mason, the man who broke her heart years
ago, on Christmas Eve.
As old sparks fly and
secrets are revealed, however, Ben is determined to help Josie—and prove that
this time around can be different. That the misunderstandings of Christmas past
need not define their future . . .
CHRISTMAS
ROAD
* Scarlett Dunn
Yellow Fever has hit Clint
Mitchum’s Texas hometown and taken his father and siblings, leaving Clint
evermore cynical. Racing homeward to be by his mother’s side, Clint finds only
a note from her, asking that he help her caregiver, a young woman named Amelia.
Assuming his mother has
passed, in his grief Clint ventures out to search for Amelia—and finds the best
of gifts—just in time for Christmas.
Meet
the Authors with Jodi
Sharla Lovelace is the bestselling,
award-winning author of sassy, sexy love stories. Being a Texas girl through
and through, she’s proud to say she lives in Southeast Texas with her retired
husband, a tricked-out golf cart, and two crazy dogs. She is the author of the
exciting Heart of the Storm series, the fun and sexy Charmed in Texas series,
and five stand-alone novels. Connect with Sharla at www.sharlalovelace.com or find her on
social media as @sharlalovelace at all the places!
Before becoming a
published author, Scarlett Dunn was an entrepreneur. Her love of history
and the adventurous souls who settled the West inspired her to write historical
inspirational romance novels. She lives in Kentucky, and as an avid
outdoorswoman she enjoys any activity under the sun where she develops her characters
and plots. Readers can find her at www.scarlettdunn.com
or on Facebook, Twitter (scarlettdunn2), or Instagram.
Thanks so much for
stopping by today. I hope I’ve enticed you to check out one or all of these
heart-warming tales. Isn’t the history behind A TEXAS KIND OF CHRISTMAS fascinating?
HUGE congratulations (and thanks) to all.
ReplyDeleteThat's such an interesting idea! To link a group of stories through a hotel is creative and clever. And it sure takes collaboration for three authors to put something like this together. I give much credit to all. Thanks for sharing, Mason.
ReplyDeleteThe St. Nicholas was truly a "grand hotel"--a paradigm of luxury built just two years before the start of the Civil War. "A Texas Kind of Christmas" is an entertaining read, filled with wonderful characterizations and a touch of holiday magic. Miss Jodi has a special magic all her own due to her superb storytelling skills!
ReplyDeleteThese short stories will keep you reading and get you in the Christmas spirit during these difficult times we're having. Thanks for such a beautiful blog!!
ReplyDelete