Showing posts with label #ChristmasBooks. Show all posts
Showing posts with label #ChristmasBooks. Show all posts

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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Saturday, January 7, 2017

Hope and Christmas Miracles


I’d delighted to be a part of the blog tour for HOPE AND CHRISTMAS MIRACLES by Vicki Bell.

It may be after the holidays, but it’s not too late to enjoy a wonderful story about miracles. Vicki joins us today to talk about Christmas miracles. First, here’s a brief summary of the book.

How many times can one person lose those she loves and be left alone and still manage to pick herself back up and start over? Hope Masters asks herself that question when she learns the love of her life, Maxwell Abernathy, a wonderful man she has planned on spending the rest of her life with, has been killed in a car accident. Made even worse is the callous way Maxwell’s mother breaks the news to Hope as she forces her out of his house and onto the street with nowhere to go and no one to turn to in the world. 
          There are, however, a couple of things Hope does not yet know. For one, Maxwell isn’t dead as his mother lied but is rather suffering severe trauma and amnesia, also in part to more of his mother’s lies. Two, Mariss and Evan, two of Heaven’s favorite angels are on the case.
          Making right all that is broken won’t be easy or done overnight certainly—but can it be done at all? After all, even angels can’t interfere with freewill.

HOPE AND CHRISTMAS MIRACLES can be purchased through Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Now please join me in giving a warm welcome to Vicki as she shares her thoughts. Welcome, Vicki.

This Christmas was very much the same as most past ones. Does that mean it was in any way less special—definitely not. In fact, it is the direct opposite.

Loved ones, related and not, gathered to share time and food and happiness. To be fair I am a hardcore Christmas lover and it would take something quite horrible to ruin my holiday. I love the cooking, decorating and shopping for just the right gift for each one on my list and am CRAZY about Christmas movies and books. That’s probably one reason I have so much fun writing books about the holiday. I try to never lose sight that it isn’t the money spent or the most beautiful decorations (even though both things are pretty great) but rather the shared joy, whether with my large family or strangers I meet on the street.

The lights not only shine just a little brighter at Christmas, so do people. As a writer who has spent many of my adult years as a social worker investigating child abuse and neglect, I am perhaps a little more aware of the light in each person. I look for it. And I think everyone should.

Hope and Christmas Miracles, a Christmas book I have out encompasses everything Christmas is or should be. Having someone you love who loves you to share the holiday with is nothing short of incredible--the best.

Hope and Christmas Miracles is about my characters finding Christmas hope even when things seem the bleakest. I look back at all the stories I have written and I realize that even those not directly about Christmas have a social work element to them and the spirit of Christmas throughout. I am proud of Hope and Christmas Miracles because it serves as a reminder that love is the greatest of all gifts and helping others by keeping the good you do and feel at Christmas each and every day of the year. Our big hearts and ability to love just has to be the greatest gift any of us have received. 

Vicki, thanks for joining us today and sharing your thoughts on Christmas. Love is the greatest gift of all.

Now for those who aren’t familiar with Vicki, here’s a bit of background on her.
Author Vicki Bell

Vicki Bell graduated from the University of Oklahoma with a degree in Journalism. Her love of all things Christmas, including writing and reading Christmas stories, may be credited to Hope and Christmas Miracles which was published in December of 2014 as an eBook on amazon.com and will be out soon in paperback form. Also, coming in the Christmas 2015 season is The Pancake Club Christmas Collection, in which Vicki will be one of the four authors writing the short stories. Along with this, she has had several articles published.

A self-proclaimed compulsive writer, Vicki has written eighteen books, as well as several children’s stories a screenplay and a multitude of short stories. She has several works under way including a Christmas mystery titled Secrets for Christmas and two thrillers and a Christmas Romantic Suspense.

For more on Vicki and her writing, connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and her Amazon Author Page.

Thanks for stopping by today during Vicki’s visit. Do you enjoy reading Christmas stories just at Christmas or do you read them throughout the year?

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

6 Fun Christmas Books {+ Awesome #Giveaway}


Just in time for Christmas, you have a great opportunity to win six Christmas books by six bestselling authors! There's enough here to keep some for yourself and to share the love by gifting some to your friends and family!

Thanks to the lovely Meg at Tandem Literary I have this awesome giveaway to offer you. See the end of the post for more giveaway details.

But first, let me tell you what books are included in the giveaway and then a bit about each. You can enter to win a copy of A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS by Mary Alice Monroe, CHRISTMAS BLISS by Mary Kay Andrews, THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber, WINTER STORMS by Elin Hilderbrand, CHRISTMAS IN PARIS by Anita Hughes, and A SHOE ADDICT’S CHRISTMAS by Beth Harbison.

A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS by Mary Alice Monroe

In A LOWCOUNTRY CHRISTMAS New York Times bestselling author Mary Alice Monroe explores the story of a wounded warrior and his younger brother who discover the true meaning of Christmas in this timeless story of family bonds.

          As far as ten-year-old Miller McClellan is concerned, it’s the worst Christmas ever. His father’s shrimp boat is docked, his mother is working two jobs, and with finances strained, Miller is told they can’t afford the dog he desperately wants. “Your brother’s return from war is our family’s gift,” his parents tell him. But when Taylor returns with PTSD, family tensions darken the holidays.
          Heartbreak and financial stress threaten to destroy the spirit of the season until the miraculous gift of a service dog leads Taylor, his family, and their community on a healing journey to discover the true meaning of Christmas.

You can connect with author Mary Alice Monroe on Facebook.

CHRISTMAS BLISS by Mary Kay Andrews

‘Twas the night before Christmas, and Savannah was breezy. But there's trouble afoot - and it's heading toward Weezie.
Seems BeBe's been holding a big secret back that would make Santa's reindeer stop dead in their tracks.
Can these two best friends wriggle out of these twists? Will they do it in time to ensure CHRISTMAS BLISS?

Return to the wonderful world of Mary Kay Andrews' Savannah with Christmas Bliss.

You can connect with author Mary Kay Andrews on Facebook.

THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS by Debbie Macomber

Continuing in a festive annual tradition, Debbie Macomber returns with a new original holiday novel full of romance and cheer—and the magical prospect of finding love in the most unexpected places.
 
Friendly and bubbly, Julia Padden likes nearly everyone, but her standoffish neighbor, Cain Maddox, presents a particular challenge. No matter how hard she’s tried to be nice, Cain rudely rebuffs her at every turn, preferring to keep to himself. But when Julia catches Cain stealing her newspaper from the lobby of their apartment building, that’s the last straw. She’s going to break through Cain’s Scrooge-like exterior the only way she knows how: by killing him with kindness.
To track her progress, Julia starts a blog called The Twelve Days of Christmas. Her first attempts to humanize Cain are far from successful. Julia brings him homemade Christmas treats and the disagreeable grinch won’t even accept them. Meanwhile, Julie’s blog becomes an online sensation, as an astonishing number of people start following her adventures. Julia continues to find ways to express kindness and, little by little, chips away at Cain’s gruff façade to reveal the caring man underneath. Unbelievably, Julia feels herself falling for Cain—and she suspects that he may be falling for her as well. But as the popularity of her blog continues to grow, Julia must decide if telling Cain the truth about having chronicled their relationship to the rest of the world is worth risking their chance at love.

You can connect with author Debbie Macomber on Facebook.

WINTER STORMS by Elin Hilderbrand

Gather under the mistletoe for one last round of caroling with the Quinn family in this heartwarming conclusion to Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling Winter Street Trilogy.

Some of the stormy weather of the past few seasons seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns. After a year apart, and an ill-fated affair with the Winter Street Inn's old Santa Claus, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost; Patrick is about to be released from prison; Kevin has a successful new business and is finally ready to tie the knot with Isabelle; and best of all, there's hopeful news about Bart, who has been captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan.
That doesn't mean there aren't a few dark clouds on the horizon. Kelley has recently survived a health scare; Jennifer can't quite shake her addiction to the drugs she used as a crutch while Patrick was in jail; and Ava still can't decide between the two lovers that she's been juggling with limited success. However, if there's one holiday that brings the Quinn family together to give thanks for the good times, it's Christmas. And this year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as the Quinns prepare to host Kevin and Isabelle's wedding at the inn. But as the special day approaches, a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place--and the people--they love most. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough upheavals to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog, in this touching novel that proves that when the holidays roll around, you can always go home again.

Connect with author Elin Hilderbrand on Facebook.

CHRISTMAS IN PARIS by Anita Hughes

Anita Hughes's Christmas in Paris is a moving and heartwarming story about love, trust, and self-discovery. Set during the most magical week of the year, the glorious foods and fashions of the most romantic city in the world are sure to take your breath away.
Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel de Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs-Élysées and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macaroons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Isabel is an ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, and Neil suddenly decided to take over his grandparents' farm. Isabel wasn't ready to trade her briefcase for a pair of rubber boots and a saddle.
When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets for herself, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully her neighbor Alec, a French children’s illustrator, comes to her rescue. He too is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon for the holidays. With a new friend by her side, Isabel is determined to use her time in the "city of lights" wisely. After a chance encounter with a fortune teller, and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.

You can connect with author Anita Hughes on Facebook.

A SHOE ADDICT’S CHRISTMAS by Beth Harbison

From the author of the beloved bestseller Shoe Addicts Anonymous comes a heartwarming twist on a classic tale filled with holiday cheer.
Noelle is not a fan of the holidays and to make matters worse, she is at a crossroads in her life when it seems that love and adventure are no longer possible. When she stays late at her job in a department store on a snowy Christmas Eve she accidentally gets locked in after closing.
She isn’t too concerned about the prospect of spending the night in the store…until a woman appears out of nowhere and tells Noelle that she’s her guardian angel. Soon Noelle finds herself camped out in the shoe department facing several “ghosts” of Christmases past, present, and future...Will visiting the holidays of yesterday and tomorrow help Noelle see the true spirit of Christmas? And will the love she has longed for all her life be the best surprise gift of all?

You can connect with author Beth Harbison on Facebook.


Thanks to the lovely Meg at Tandem Literary I have all six of the books above to giveaway to one lucky winner. The giveaway is open to residents of the U.S. only (so sorry international visitors) and will end at 12 a.m. (EST) on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

To enter the giveaway, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient. A winner will be selected by the Rafflecopter widget and I’ll send an email with the subject line “Thoughts in Progress Giveaway.” The winner will have 72 hours to reply to the email or another winner will be selected. PLEASE be sure to check your spam folder from time to time after the giveaway ends to make sure the notification email doesn’t end up there. If you win and you’ve already won the book somewhere else or you just decided for whatever reason you don’t want to win (which is fine), once again PLEASE let me know.

Thanks so much for stopping by today. Have you read any of the books listed above? Are you familiar with all or some of these authors? Do you have a Christmas book you’d recommend to us?

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