Thoughts in Progress: Olivia Miles

Showing posts with label Olivia Miles. Show all posts

Wednesday, September 28, 2016

Christmas Comes to Main Street {+ Giveaway}

Christmas is still in the air and I’m delighted to be participating in author Olivia Miles’ CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET Release Week Blitz today.

As part of the blitz, Olivia is sharing her Top 5 hardest things about writing a story dealing with Christmas if it's not Christmas and I’m sharing my thoughts on this charming story. In addition, you can enter a tour-wide giveaway to win a copy of CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET. Please see the end of the post for more giveaway details

ABOUT THE BOOK

Title: CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET

Author: Olivia Miles

Series: Briar Creek, #5

On Sale: September 27, 2016

Publisher: Forever

Mass Market: $5.99 USD

eBook: $4.99 USD

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The fifth and final novel in Olivia Miles contemporary romance Briar Creek series!

The mistletoe is out, and the gloves are off . . .

'Tis the worst season to be single, but Kara Hastings won't let a little Christmas funk spoil the festive season. Sure, running her own bakery is a little harder than she expected, but she can handle it. And she'll prove it to a certain infuriatingly handsome, bossy Big City guy. She may be sugar and spice, but she can kick his butt twice.

Nate Griffin is in Briar Creek only for the holidays, and he refuses to fall for the whole "small town, candy cane-scented Christmas Wonderland" thing. He's more interested in the fresh-faced cookie chef who always knows exactly how to get under his skin. So when Nate challenges Kara in the town's big holiday contest, it's not just the competition that starts to heat up. If he's not careful, Kara won't just melt his icy resolve against a small-town Christmas . . . she'll melt his heart too.

CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET can be found at the following sites:

THE BRIAR CREEK SERIES

MISTLETOE ON MAIN STREET, #1

A MATCH MADE ON MAIN STREET, #2

HOPE SPRINGS ON MAIN STREET, #3

LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET, #4

CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET, #5

Series Page on Goodreads

The top 5 hardest things about writing a story dealing with Christmas, if it's not Christmas.

This is a very appropriate question because I have (almost) never written a Christmas story during Christmastime. CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET is actually the first Christmas book I have written during the holiday season; usually I am writing these in the summer, which poses a unique challenge. There were definitely times where I have called my husband at work and warned him that I might have to get out the artificial tree…in July.

I’d say the hardest things about writing a Christmas story in the summer are:

1. Really having to stretch your imagination

2. Not being distracted by the call of the beach or the pool

3. Just not “feeling” it

4. Wishing it was Christmastime, because now your book has put you in the mindset for it

5. Realizing that you are the only person (other than a fellow romance author, perhaps) who is curled up watching holiday movies in the evening instead of sipping a margarita on the porch.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Author Olivia Miles

Having grown up in New England, Olivia Miles attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec before settling in Chicago where she lives with her husband, their daughter, and two ridiculously pampered pups.

When she is not chasing after her little ones, she is hard at work creating feisty heroines and alpha heroes with a heart. A city girl with a fondness for small-town charm, Olivia enjoys highlighting both ways of life in her stories.

For more on Olivia and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter, and Goodreads.

To keep up with the latest on your favorite author and series, follow FOREVER online. You can visit their website and connect with them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Pinterest.

This is a delightful, heartwarming story that will put you in the Christmas spirit even if it’s the middle of summer.

The author has created well-developed characters that readers will become fond of and wish were real friends. As the story unfolds the main two characters evolve and grow giving depth to the story.

The small town atmosphere is the perfect setting that will draw you in and hold you captive until the last page. The story moves at a good pace making it a hard book to put down.

CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET is the fifth installment in the series, but can be read on its own. This charming story will have you humming a Christmas tune before you are half way through it.

Christmas Comes to Main Street by Olivia Miles, A Briar Creek series (Book #5), Forever, @2016, ISBN: 978-1455567188, Mass Market Paperback, 336 Pages

FTC Full Disclosure – A copy of this book was sent to me by the publisher in hopes I would review it. However, receiving the complimentary copy did not influence my review. The thoughts are completely my own and given honestly and freely.

The tour-wide giveaway is for ten (10) mass market paperback copies of CHRISTMAS COMES TO MAIN STREET by Olivia Miles. For your chance to win one of these copies, just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks so much for stopping by during Olivia’s visit. What do you think would be the hardest part of writing a Christmas story in the middle of summer?

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Monday, July 25, 2016

Love Blooms on Main Street {+ Giveaway}

It’s fun to be participating in the Release Week Blitz for LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET by author Olivia Miles.

LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET is the four installment in Olivia’s Briar Creek Series. As part of the celebration, Olivia is sharing and excerpt from the book and her “Top Five Things a Florist Doesn't Want to Receive as a Gift.” In addition, there’s a tour-wide giveaway for your chance to win a mass market copy of LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET. Please see the end of the post for more details.

◊ Title: LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET

◊ Author: Olivia Miles

◊ Series: The Briar Creek Series, #4

◊ On Sale: July 26, 2016

◊ Publisher: Forever

◊ Format: Mass Market & eBook

◊ Price: $5.99 USD (MM) & $4.99 USD (eBook)

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Love is always in season . . .

Florist Ivy Birch fantasizes about the day a man will surprise her with a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Especially if that man happens to be Brett Hastings. One stolen kiss at her best friend's wedding and Ivy can't get the sexy ER doctor out of her head.

In the small town of Briar Creek, you can't avoid anyone for very long. Not that Brett has been trying to avoid Ivy. He just can't afford to let anything distract him from his work-not again. So when a hospital fundraiser throws them together, love is the last thing on his mind. But with her quick wit and sweet laugh, soon the one woman he's tried to keep at arm's length is capturing his heart...

The “Top Five Things a Florist Doesn't Want to Receive as a Gift”

This is tricky, but I can imagine the following items would be less than appreciated…

1. A flower arrangement that doesn’t top what she is selling in the shop.

2. A boring vase

3. Gardening 101 book

4. An Idiots Guide to Flowers book

5. Yet another trinket with flowers on it

Now an excerpt from LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET for your reading pleasure.

          A small gasp escaped from her but was quickly silenced by the firm press of Brett’s mouth on hers. Unlike their last kiss, which had felt so tender, this time Brett was leaving no room for confusion about his intentions. She stiffened against his touch, trying to resist him, but pleasure pooled warm in her stomach and the space between her legs began to ache as he wrapped two arms around her waist and pulled her to his chest.
          Oh, God. She wanted to fight this. The feeling he was stirring within her. The need for more. She opened her mouth to him, letting him in. He kissed her deeply, not giving her a chance to break away, and she wasn’t so sure she could, even if she wanted to. Her hands, which had been pushed off her hips by the strength of his arms, hung loosely at her sides, as if determined to stay out of this drama she was creating for herself, but, like her mouth, they lost the fight. She slid her hands up onto Brett’s arms, taking in every curve of his hard muscles, and up onto his shoulders as she leaned into him. His breath was heavy as he kissed her harder, and she parted her legs to let his slide between and press against the tightness that was building within her.
          “What are we doing?” she asked when they finally came apart. She blinked up at him and resisted the urge to flatten his disheveled locks. I did that, she realized with a flutter.
          “I don’t really know.” Brett’s voice was low and coarse. “But I like it.”
          She firmed her mouth and smoothed her dress. Not good enough.
          Turning to stare at the folding table, she felt her spirits begin to sag. She’d let him in again. Let him take her to places she’d wanted, to dream dreams that should have stayed in her unconscious. And nothing had changed. Men don’t change, Ivy. That’s what her mother had always said. When would she learn?
          “Well, it can’t happen again,” she insisted.
          “Oh no?”
          She glanced back to see that slow, sexy smile. “No.” But even as she said it, her body was saying yes.

THE BRIAR CREEK SERIES

Mistletoe On Main Street, #1

A Match Made On Main Street, #2

Hope Springs On Main Street, #3

Love Blooms On Main Street, #4

Christmas Comes To Main Street, #5

Series Page on Goodreads

LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET is available to purchase at the following sites:

Author Olivia Miles

Olivia Miles is a Chicago-based romance writer. Having grown up in New England, Olivia attended McGill University in Montreal, Quebec before settling in Chicago where she lives with her husband, their daughter, and two ridiculously pampered pups.

For more on Olivia and her writing, visit her website and connect with her on Facebook, Twitter and Goodreads.

Follow FOREVER online at the following sites:

This is a tour-wide giveaway for ten (10) mass market copies of LOVE BLOOMS ON MAIN STREET by Olivia Miles. For your chance to win a copy just click on the Rafflecopter widget below and follow the instructions. The widget may take a few seconds to load so please be patient.

Thanks for stopping by today during Olivia’s blitz. Have you ever operated a florist or considered operating one? What do you think would be the most enjoyable part of operating a florist?

a Rafflecopter giveaway