Mini Review: Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer

Let It Snow by Nancy Thayer

Published: October 15, 2019

Publisher: Ballantine Books

Format: via publisher

Rating: 3/5

Synopsis

Christina Antonioni is preparing for the holidays at her Nantucket toy shop, unpacking last-minute shipments and decorating for her loyal Christmas shoppers. But when her Scrooge of a landlord, Oscar Bittlesman, raises her rent, it seems nearly impossible for Christina to continue business on the wharf.

Even so, Christina hopes there is a warm heart underneath Oscar's steely exterior. When she bonds with Wink, his sweet, young granddaughter who frequents the shop, it becomes clear that perhaps he isn't so cold after all. And with the help of Wink's uncle, who happens to be a charming and very handsome bachelor, this may be the best Christmas any of them could have ever imagined. Nancy Thayer's enchanting Nantucket setting provides the perfect backdrop for this holiday love story.

My Thoughts

If this isn’t made into a Hallmark Christmas movie I don’t know what will! In Let it Snow we have Christina who is the owner of a toy store who finds herself on a mission to try to save her store and others after their landlord has decided to raise their rent, many of who cant afford it.

One day she meets Wink, a little girl who she caught stealing but decides to help her out thinking she's a girl who doesn’t have anything or anyone. Little does Christina know that Wink is the granddaughter of her very wealthy landlord and finds out the girl is lashing out due to issues that are going on with her parents. However, Christina felt a connection with Wink and knew all she needed was someone to care and be there for her. In the process, she soon meets Wink’s uncle Andy and like that Christina is a goner. Andy is everything Christina would want in a man but she isn’t sure if she should take her time with him or throw caution to the wind. While they haven’t known each other for that long both can’t help but have feelings for one another but with her issues with his father and her not wanting to think she is using him, all these obstacles are very challenging for their relationship.

This is a very classic story when it comes to a Christmas romance novel, boy meets girl and something is always in the way of their budding romance, and while this one is that way its still very magical and a cozy read. I liked how she was very independent and didn’t want to use their relationship in helping her situation with her store. In the end, I will always be a sucker for a cute romance and throw in the holidays and I’ll buy it every time! So in that way, this is a no brainer if you want something short and fast-paced for the holiday season, definitely a cute romantic read.

Mini Review: Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle

Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle

Published: October 15, 2019

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Format: via NetGalley

Rating: 3.5/5

Synopsis

Growing up, Liz Westmoreland dreamed of taking over her grandparents inn located in the small mountain town of Angels Creek only for it to be sold before she ever got the chance. While browsing the internet, she stumbles upon a listing for what looks to be the picturesque inn and it’s set to go to auction. Liz places a bid, and by a miracle, wins the auction. But when she gets there she finds the property in significant disrepair.

When Matt Hardy narrowly lost the inn and property that butted his land, he just hoped it wasn't another city slicker coming to make matters worse after the previous owners gutted the place for an art gallery. But the minute he recognized the sweet, freckle-faced girl from his childhood and heard her plans to reopen the inn, he jumps at the chance to help his childhood crush restore a place where he made so many fond memories.

While working on repairs, Liz and Matt discover her grandmother’s collection of angels in one of the cabins. When the angels start mysteriously showing up all over the inn, she begins to look at them as reassurance—that restoring the inn is what she's meant to do. But when an accident leaves Liz feeling like she made a mistake, will Matt—and the residents of Angels Creek—be able to show Liz that she's found a home? And possibly true love as well?

My Thoughts

Christmas Angels is a tale of taking chances in life and especially love. Liz always cherished her Christmas memories of being with her grandparent’s inn over the holidays and her wish is to start an inn of her own so when her family’s old inn goes for sale she takes the chance and sees it as fate coming in and making things happen.

Matt is just trying to put his life together after a bad breakup. He is a simple man who wants simple things and doesn’t think love is on the horizon, that is until he sees Liz and he can’t believe his eyes that this is the same girl from his childhood, his old crush.

I really enjoyed this tale of second chances. I liked how these two were brought together to help each other go through this rough patch in their lives. I liked the characters and how they all came together to help each other in times of need. I found this story cute, cozy and inspiring just what I want in a Christmas read.

Blog Tour: Christmas in Evergreen: Letters to Santa by Nancy Naigle

Today we have the blog tour for CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN: LETTERS TO SANTA 

by Nancy Naigle! 

Check out this sweet new Hallmark holiday romance and grab your copy today!

CHRISTMAS IN EVERGREEN: LETTERS TO SANTA by Nancy Naigle

Genre: Holiday Romance

Publisher: Hallmark & Crown Media

About Christmas In Evergreen: Letters to Santa

Return to Evergreen, the town where Christmas wishes come true… But only if you know what your heart really wants.   When Lisa takes a last-minute Christmas trip to her hometown of Evergreen, she finds that the historic general store has closed. The place was a beloved local tradition, and she decides to use her skills as a professional retail designer to bring it back to its former glory. She charms a local contractor, Kevin, into working with her, and the pair find themselves facing one surprise after another.   One of the biggest surprises of all is finding the mysterious 25-year-old letter to Santa that never made it to the North Pole. Who really wrote it, and will its request come true at last? And will Lisa and Kevin figure out what they’re truly wishing for?   This sweet small-town romance includes a free Hallmark original recipe for Incredible Apple Dumplings.  

Excerpt

The closer she got to Evergreen, the heavier the snow. That added to Lisa’s happiness. Maybe there would be a snow angel in her future. She hadn’t made one since... It had definitely been way too long.

She took the Evergreen exit from the highway, reducing her speed on the quaint country road while still belting out fa-la-la-la-las. Up ahead, a red truck with pine trees in the back stood at the stop sign. She pulled up behind it. After a moment, when the truck hadn’t budged, she rolled her window down and peered around it. That’s when she realized the hood of the truck was up.

Aw, man. She leaned her head out the window. “Are you having trouble with your truck?” “It’s not my truck,” a man’s voice said. What kind of answer was that? “Is it stolen?” A dark-haired man with what looked like a day’s worth of beard poked his head around the truck. “No. It’s on loan from a friend,” he said with a smile. A very attractive smile, Lisa couldn’t help but notice.

The truck had to be an early ’50s model. Nice. She could’ve done without the gaudy wreath on

the back, but it was a sweet ride. Who loaned that kind of vehicle to someone? They must’ve been a pretty good friend.

She didn’t know why she had the urge to tease him, but she gave in to it. “Ohhh,” she said with an exaggerated moan. “You broke your friend’s truck?”

That got a reaction out of the guy. He stepped out from the front of the truck, looking on the defensive. “I didn’t break it, it was already...”

Lisa almost grinned, nearly breaking the ruse, then frowned in an attempt to look serious. “Hey, it looks to me like it—”

He shook his wrench in her direction. “You’re just messing with me.” His smile registered in his eyes as he laughed.

Busted. “I am. I am.” She flung open her door and got out. “No. Seriously. Can I do something to help?” He eyed her cautiously as he wiped his hands on a red shop rag. He was wearing a green down jacket, and he didn’t seem the least bit worried about dirtying the off-white sweater beneath it. “How are you with old engines?”

“Astonishingly good,” she admitted. Years of hanging out with her grandfather every summer in his garage while he worked on his old cars had paid off.

The old truck looked to be in great shape. It had either been kept in a garage and treated with white gloves, or there’d been one heck of a restoration on it. The flame-red paint job was so perfect it looked like it had just come off the line.

He looked unsure whether to believe her. “Really?” “Yeah. May I?” She took the wrench from his hand, noticing that his shiny red toolbox was from about the same era as the truck. Nice. “Thank you.” She leaned in to look under the hood. “All right. What have we got here?” She reached in and gave something a tap. “Have you tried this?”

“Yep.” The motor was clean. Someone took superb care of this ride. The spark plugs didn’t appear corroded or oily, but she tapped on the spark plug wire just the same. “How about this?” “Twice,” he said. “Hmm. I bet you haven’t tried this.” But before she could give the battery cable a good jiggle he said, “Yes. I tried that too.”

“Ah, but...” Lisa reached in to the engine and cranked the wrench against something that seemed a little stuck. “Let me just...” She got it to budge, then stood back. Handing the wrench to him, she asked, “Do you mind if I try to start it?”

“No, go for it.” “This is a beautiful old truck.” She crossed in front of him, opened the driver’s door and climbed in.

“Yeah, isn’t it?”

She closed the door. On the seat of the truck was a clipboard with an employment application for Banford Logging, Inc., already filled out. The guy’s name was Kevin Miller. He looks like a Kevin. In the passenger’s seat, a wooden crate overflowed with fresh vegetables: collards, sweet potatoes, eggplant, carrots, zucchini and peppers. They made her a little hungry for a good stir-fry. “All right.” She leaned forward and twisted the key. The engine struggled.

“Hold on a second,” he said. “Yep.” She took her hand from the key and put both of her hands in the air.

He did something under the hood, then stepped out where she could see him. “Okay. Try it again.”

She turned the key and the truck started right up. “Hey! Look at that!” She rested her elbow out the window. “Teamwork.”

“Yeah.” He walked over to the driver’s side of the truck. “Although I contend that I did most of the work, and most of that before you got here.” He leaned against the front fender, just behind the cute little round side mirror.

“That is fair. However.” She raised a finger toward him. “Had I not come along, you’d still be standing here with your little feet in the snow.”

“Also fair.” His friendly smile sent a zing right through her that could’ve melted that snow.

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About the Author

 

USA Today bestselling author Nancy Naigle whips up small-town love stories with a whole lot of heart. She began writing while juggling a successful career in finance and life on a seventy-six-acre goat farm. Her many books include The Secret Ingredient, Christmas in Evergreen, and Christmas Joy and Hope for Christmas, which were adapted into Hallmark movies. Now happily retired from a career in the financial industry, she devotes her time to writing, horseback riding, and enjoying the occasional spa day. A Virginia girl at heart, Nancy now calls North Carolina home.

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Holiday Review: Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle

Dear Santa by Nancy Naigle

Published: October 16, 2018

Publisher: St. Martin’s Griffin

Format: via publisher

Ratings: 4/5

Synopsis

Angela Carson wants nothing more than to be the third-generation to run her family’s holiday store, Heart of Christmas, successfully. They’ve weathered over sixty tourist seasons, major hurricanes, and urban sprawl, in their old decommissioned lighthouse. But the national chain that set up shop in their small North Carolina town of Pleasant Sands may be more than Heart of Christmas can survive.

Encouraged by her niece to ask Santa for help, Angela gives in and lets the words fly in a way that, if Santa were real, would no doubt land her on the naughty list. What’s the harm when it’s just a computer-generated response?

Geoff Paisley has been at his mother’s side running the mega-chain Christmas Galore for the last ten years. When his mother falls ill, Geoff promises to answer the town’s Dear Santa letters in her stead. Soon he realizes the woman he’s been corresponding with on Dear Santa is Angela. How could the woman that grates his every last nerve in person have intrigued him so deeply through those letters?

When Geoff reveals that he’s her Dear Santa, will Angela be able to set aside their very public feud to embrace the magic of the holiday and possibly find true love?

My Thoughts

In Dear Santa, we met Angela who runs her family’s holiday store and while as of late the store isn’t doing too good this year it seems as though this might be its last especially since the new big box store Christmas Galore has come into town. With its mega savings and everything you could ask for Angela just can't compete. One day her niece advises her to write a letter to Santa via an app and Angela who is all against technology finally agrees and soon she and Santa are messaging back and forth. Who is this “Santa” and will her wishes come true this Christmas?

Geoff didn’t think that his new store would cause this much trouble but when the owner of the local Christmas store blames him for her store closing he tries to get her off his mind but it seems everywhere he goes he bumps into her and soon he finds himself liking her more and more. He is also dealing with his mother who he is partners with but when her health takes a turn for the worse he soon finds out things about her and her past that he never knew about.

As time goes by Angela knows that Geoff isn’t to blame for her store closing she has seen it coming for years, but now she must decide what she wants to do in this new chapter in her life and she wants to make the right choice. Not only is she dealing with that her feelings for Geoff that can't be denied any longer she has to tell him since they have been spending so much time together. So will these rivals become more or will business come between them?

I really enjoyed this read it was cute and cozy and how could you not like a romantic Christmas read? Was it predictable? Yes, we all know they will, of course, end up together but who cares as long as its done right I have no problem with it and this was done right. So if you like a romantic read then pick this one up and enjoy!

Day 2 of 12 Days of Christmas: Hope at Christmas

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle

Published: October 10, 2017

Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

Format: via publisher

Rating: 4/5

Synopsis

A recently divorced woman and her daughter look for a fresh start by moving to a small town that embraces them in ways that only fate and the magic of Christmas can explain.

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, Ray Anne, head for tiny Hopewell, NC to the only asset her ex-has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays.

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought-after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born.

But when catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.

My Thoughts

In Hope at Christmas, we met Sydney and her daughter who are moving to a small town after her divorce and are hoping to start over. She is moving to Hopewell where her grandparents left her a farmhouse and where she spent her summers at her favorite bookstore as a kid. We also met Kevin who is a single dad and of course we all know he and Sydney are destiny to meet and fall madly in love.  He is trying his best to be a great dad to his son whom both were left by his wife at Christmas and of course, this is why he doesn’t care for Christmas.

I loved this story of starting over and second chances and of course romance. Sydney and Kevin don’t meet right away in the book which is good since we get to know each one individually which I find refreshing. I love how we have a build up when it comes to them and not that same old insta love like in other novels. I enjoyed getting to know them separately and of course rooting for them to finally get together.

This is one novel that was an inspiration in the sense that Sydney finally stands up for herself and becomes into her own and of course the romance side of it was very cute. I honestly wish this becomes a Hallmark Christmas movie one day! This is one that definitely has that Christmas magic feel in it.

SMP Holiday Blitz

Deck the Halls by Donna Alward

Publisher: Swerve

Published: October 3, 2017

Buy link

Summary

With shades of It’s a Wonderful Life, one man must face his past to find his future this Christmas.

In the last year, George's life has drastically changed. The formerly homeless veteran now has a job he likes, a family in the residents of Darling, VT, and for the first time in years, a home. But while his present is good, he's still haunted by the past, a past that appears shortly before Christmas when the older sister of his brother-in-arms hunts him down and finds him in Darling, working at the Ladybug Garden Center. 

Amy’s looking for closure for her family after her brother's death in the Middle East, but the serious man she finds working in Vermont doesn’t resemble the soldier she remembers from years before. This man is hardened and yet somehow fragile, too, and in her desire to find out what really happened to her brother, she learns more about George than she ever expected.

With a little Christmas magic and the whole town supporting them, can these two bruised hearts make a future together?

Author Bio

A busy wife and mother of three (two daughters plus the family dog), Donna Alward believes hers is the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mom and romance novelist. Donna loves being back on the East Coast of Canada after nearly twelve years in Alberta where her romance career began, writing about cowboys and the west. She is the author of Somebody Like You, Somebody's Baby, and Someone to Love.

Hope at Christmas by Nancy Naigle

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Published: October 10, 2017

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Summary

Sydney Ragsdale is divorced, but her husband is still calling the shots. In an attempt to shake free from his hold, she and her daughter, RayAnne, head for tiny Hopewell, North Carolina to the only asset her ex has no control over – a decaying farmhouse that once belonged to her grandparents. She finds solace at The Book Bea, the bookstore she’d loved as a child during her summer stays. 

Kevin MacAlea, Mac to his friends, is the local high school history teacher and baseball coach. Father of a twelve-year-old son, he’s Hopewell, North Carolina’s most sought-after bachelor. His young bride abandoned him and his son just before Christmas and has never come back. It has left his son bitter about Christmas which is hard for Mac who loves the magic of the season. He’s been the Santa here in Hopewell since the year Seth was born. 

When a catastrophe forces The Book Bea to close before the end of the year, everyone in the small town is feeling the loss. While Sydney is already off-balance by the bad news, her ex-husband breaks a promise to their daughter that sends Ray Anne running away. As Sydney tries to figure out what her next steps are she discovers all of the answers are right here in Hopewell.

Author Bio

USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she currently calls North Carolina home. Nancy is the author of Christmas Joy.

A Season of You by Emma Douglas

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Published: October 3, 2017

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Summary

It’s Christmastime in the quaint island town of Cloud Bay, where love is always in season...

Will has believed in love at first sight since the day he first laid eyes on Mina Harper five years ago. There was only one problem: She was happily married. Then, when Mina’s husband was killed by a drunk driver, Will figured she’d want nothing to do with a guy who owns a whiskey distillery. So he’s kept his feelings locked away, knowing that not even a Christmas miracle would be enough to melt Mina’s heart. . .

Mina believes her days of true love are behind her. Since losing her husband she’s kept to herself, content to do her own painting and stay out of the limelight that comes with her famous family. But when, after a freak accident, Will comes to her rescue, Mina can’t quite get him out of her mind. As curiosity turns into a fling during Cloud Bay’s first Christmas Festival, she finds it harder to convince herself that her feelings for Will are just mistletoe-inspired. Could Mina be ready to lay the past to rest and finally admit that what she really wants for Christmas—and forever—is Will?

Author Bio

Emma Douglas would love to live in a world where professional napping was a thing. But until then, she thinks writing books is a pretty awesome alternative. When not writing about imaginary people, she can be found reading, doing something crafty, binge-watching TV, playing her latest song crush on repeat, or singing badly in her car. She lives in Melbourne, Australia in a tiny house stuffed full of books, too many craft supplies and two cats who take up more space than you would expect. Find out more about Emma at www.emmadouglasbooks.com.

Christmas at Two Love Lane by Kieran Kramer

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Published: October 3, 2017

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Summary

The best gift of all is the one you share with someone else. . .

From the moment he strode through the iron gate and into the offices of Two Love Lane on a crisp December day, it was obvious that Deacon Banks was something different. He wasn’t a Charleston native, not with that adorable Yankee accent. And unlike the usual client at the elegant matchmaking agency, he had no interest in finding a woman to marry—just a few no-strings dates while he was in town. 

Macy Frost takes her professional services very seriously—how could she not, when she’s rumored to be a direct descendant of Cupid? Tech entrepreneur Deacon says he’s just trying to make his social-climbing aunt happy by being seen out and about with a few prominent beauties, but Macy insists she can make her client fall in love…for real. And Deacon can’t help but think she might be right. As charming as the palmetto trees and magnificent harbor may be, it’s the beautiful, breath-of-fresh-air Macy who’s become Deacon’s favorite part of the scenery. But can the hopelessly romantic Southern belle stop trying to fix him up and just let Cupid do his work on her own heart?

Author Bio

Kieran Kramer, the author of the Impossible Bachelors series, was born in Washington, D.C. to an Air Force pilot father and actress/singer mother. She grew up mainly on Johns Island, a rural sea island near Charleston, South Carolina, where she helped build her family’s log home. Having worked for the CIA and as a journalist for The Charlotte Observer, Kieran is now a stay-at-home mom. She once won $34,000 on Wheel of Fortune, and also won on Family Feud. She’s been married to her naval officer husband, Chuck, for twenty-one years, and they have three children.

With this Christmas Ring by Manda Collins

Publisher: Swerve

Published: October 3, 2017

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Summary

A wallflower determined to fulfill a dying promise, the rogue she jilted years ago, and an orphaned baby are all brought together amidst the magic of Christmas in this new novella from Manda Collins. 

Miss Merry Parks makes a deathbed promise to a school friend that her infant daughter will be taken to her absent father. There’s only one problem—to find the baby’s father, she’ll have to consult his cousin, Viscount Wrotham, the man she jilted five years ago. The man she couldn’t forget. 

Alex Ponsonby, Viscount Wrotham, is stunned to find Merry Parks—looking more lovely than ever--on his doorstep with an infant in her arms. His shock soon turns to dismay when he learns his own cousin William is the man who abandoned his wife and child. As head of the family, he’s duty bound to see right is done. But he can't let this opportunity pass. He’ll take Merry and the baby to his cousin, but he’ll woo her back in the process.

Merry agrees to travel with Alex and the baby to Wrotham Castle, where the entire Ponsonby family has gathered for Christmas, but her plans to see the baby settled then leave are ruined by a snowstorm. After five years apart, Alex and Merry will spend the week getting reacquainted. Perhaps it’s the spirit of the holiday or the magic of the season, but there could be something else in the air this Yuletide…A Christmas Reunion.

Author Bio

Manda Collins is the author of the Studies in Scandal series, The Lords of Anarchy series, The Ugly Duckling series and the Wicked Widows series as well as several other Regency-set romances. She spent her teen years wishing she’d been born a couple of centuries earlier, preferably in the English countryside. Time travel being what it is, she resigned herself to life with electricity and indoor plumbing and read lots of books. When she’s not writing, she’s helping other people use books, as an academic librarian.

The Christmas Cowboy Hero by Donna Grant

Publisher: St. Martin's Paperbacks

Expected Publication: October 31, 2017

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Summary

New York Times bestselling author Donna Grant returns to Texas, where a small-town legend just might find the greatest gift of all. . .

’Tis the season for ex-Navy SEAL Clayton East to come home for the holidays—even if the mood at home is anything but festive. His father is ill. The East Ranch is in financial trouble. And now it’s on Clayton, the prodigal son, to make sure his family doesn’t lose everything. 

Headstrong Abby Harper is like a mother to her younger brothers, who she’s helped raise since she was a teenager. Keeping them in line is no small task while she’s also working toward her college degree. And now that one of her brothers has been arrested for stealing cattle at the East Ranch, Abby is at her wits’ end. But there is a silver lining: Clayton East. He believes in second chances and is willing to give one to her brother this Christmas. Letting beautiful Abby—and the inescapable longing in his heart—off the hook, however, is a whole ’nother story. Could it be that the woman of this local hero’s dreams has been back at home all along? 

Author Bio

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Donna Grant has been praised for her “totally addictive” and “unique and sensual” stories. She’s written more than thirty novels spanning multiple genres of romance including the bestselling Dark King stories, Dark Craving, Night’s Awakening, and Dawn’s Desire. Her acclaimed series, Dark Warriors, feature a thrilling combination of Druids, primeval gods, and immortal Highlanders who are dark, dangerous, and irresistible. She lives with her two children, a dog, and four cats in Texas.

Christmas in Kilts by Terri Brisbain, Lecia Cornwall, Brownwen Evans, Lavinia Kent, May McGoldrick

Publisher: Swerve

Expected Publication: October 31, 2017

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Summary

Tis the season to fall in love! These five bestselling authors bring you great tiding of highlanders and romances this holiday season!

A HIGHLANDER'S HOPE by Terri Brisbin
A village harlot who would never dream she could have a different life meets a Highlander who visits for the holidays and brings with him an offer and hope.

A HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS WAGER by Lecia Cornwall
When a snowstorm forces a charming lass hiding a broken heart to take shelter in a castle with three fine Highland lairds just days before Christmas, there’s a game afoot—who will be the first to win a kiss and maybe her heart.

A SCOT FOR CHRISTMAS by Bronwen Evans
She's ready to embrace her life and future as a spinster, he's trying to have one last hurrah before he gives into his family's wishes and proposes marriage to his neighbor, but fate has other ideas when the lady and the Scot meet at a holiday house party in the wilds of Scotland.

LEFTOVER MISTLETOE by Lavinia Kent
What happens when a highlander finds himself stranded, maybe kidnapped, with an English lady around Christmas... maybe the mistletoe will help answer that question.

SWEET HOME HIGHLAND CHRISTMAS by May McGoldrick
An encounter between an English officer and a desperate aunt trying to keep custody of her young niece leads to a little magic during the holidays.

SMP ROMANCE HOLIDAY BLITZ 2017 AUTHOR Q&A

Donna Alward

When do the holidays officially start for you?

December 1 - or the weekend just preceding it. That's when we get out the decorations and go crazy.

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

THE MOVIES. I love sitting with my kids (who are of the nearly-adult variety) and watching holiday movies with a glass of wine or hot cocoa.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Tons! There are certain things we bake. We have a whole bunch of Christmas Eve traditions, including a barbecue (steak!), putting presents under the tree, going for a drive to see the lights, and watching The Polar Express. And even at their age, they still ask me to read 'Twas the Night Before Christmas.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

I have too many - my fave depends on my mood. Top contenders: Christmas Vacation, Christmas with the Kranks, White Christmas, Love Actually, The Polar Express.

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

Hmmm. I don't tend to re-read holiday-themed books, but I'll confess that I have a soft spot for any (all) of the Christmas books in the Chesapeake Shores series. Those O'Briens... :)

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Nat King Cole's version of The Christmas Song. Simplicity and nostalgia all rolled into one smooth voice.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

Cozy nights with a glass of wine and a book. LOL! Seriously though, I miss living near the Rockies, because the skiing there spoiled me for anywhere else.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

One year my sister put together a recipe book with our mom's fave recipes over the years. She added some of her own, too, but if I want something that Mom used to make back in the eighties? It's in that book!

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Yes! Yoga socks, books, and a kindle.

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Do better. :)

Bronwen Evans

When do the holidays officially start for you?

Mid December

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Guilt-free reading and being with my family. Even an author needs down time.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Besides putting up my Christmas tree? I always make a pavlova with kiwi fruit for our Christmas day dessert. Remember it's summer in New Zealand.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

I have three - Love Actually (one of my favorite movies of all time) and Die Hard and Lethal Weapon. I love action movies.

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

No, but I will say one Christmas a friend kept telling me to read JR Ward's Black Dagger Brotherhood as I had never read it. So I decided to read book 1. Well, over the Christmas break I read all 12 in a row!

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Mary's Boy Child by Boney M

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

Well, it's summer in New Zealand at Christmas, and I love simply getting out my Kindle, pulling up my lounger, and lying by my pool reading a great romance book.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

I love giving, who doesn't. So I usually give anonymous gifts to my friend's children. I knew one child was saving for a present but would be short, so I sent him a card with money in it from Santa. Seeing his joy was priceless. My most memorable gift was when I was 7 and I got my first puppy. I'll never forget seeing his little nose poking over the edge of the box and hearing his little barks.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Not really. I have a book wish list and at least everyone knows I'm easy to buy for.

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

I haven't thought about it yet, but I usually just wish for my family to be happy and healthy.

Donna Grant

When do the holidays officially start for you?

I'd say October 1st because I get ready for Halloween. Then November 1st to get ready for Thanksgiving, but its day after Thanksgiving, it's all Christmas!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

The decorations. I love to see it all!

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

We spend Christmas Eve at my parents where there is a bunch of finger foods. Then Christmas Day everyone comes to my house where we have gumbo (Cajun tradition). Then we head to the movies about 2.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

It's a toss-up between White Christmas and Love Actually and Christmas Vacation. We watch them every year.

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

No. I'm an equal opportunist for holiday books. :)

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

White Christmas

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

Around me, we have the Texas Renaissance Festival, which is the largest in the US. It always begins at the end of September and runs until Thanksgiving weekend. It always signals the begin of fall for us.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

I received my long-haired Chihuahua for Christmas. She was unexpected but so amazing!

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Walls. The flood from Hurricane Harvey took everything, but I'd like walls and doors for privacy again. lol

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

I try to make some improvement each year. For 2017 it was balanced. I'm not sure what 2018 will be yet. I might still need to work on balancing everything.

Emma Douglas

When do the holidays officially start for you?

After my mom's birthday which is early December!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Getting together with my family and friends and just having a good time with the people I love.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Making the plum pudding with my mum and watching Carols by Candlelight which is broadcast on TV here in Oz on Christmas Eve.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

Die Hard

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

The Father Christmas Letters by J.R.R Tolkien. Gorgeous illustrations and funny! They're letters he wrote to his kids (as Father Christmas) each year, telling the stories of what had been happening at the North Pole that year.

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

O Holy Night because I love the melody.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

I do Christmas in summer here in Oz so that makes it swimming or otherwise avoiding the heat. But in winter I have a weird liking for walking in the cold, as long as I can thaw out with a good book afterward.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

Both my current cats I gave myself for Christmas but that probably doesn't count. I got a membership to the local zoo which was fun as I like to wander around there. Other than that, like a true bookworm, every year I love getting books.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Nothing big but I'm sure I'll come up with a list of books and art supplies that would be great to get.

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Both to write more and to have more time for non-writing things. Maybe I need a clone for Christmas?

Kieran Kramer

When do the holidays officially start for you?

Thanksgiving Day, as soon as I turn on the TV to the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade! Can't-miss the Rockettes segment, ever!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Inhaling the delicious scent of the Christmas tree, seeing the twinkling lights, hanging out with the family and our friends.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

I always make frosted sugar cookies, and I always try to watch as many Christmas movies as I can. I also try to go to the Holiday Boat Parade in Charleston harbor!

What's your favorite holiday movie?

It's a Wonderful Life; I never get tired of it!

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

Definitely How the Grinch Stole Christmas....

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Away in the Manger sung by Julie Andrews--the UK version of the melody

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

baking bread, using my crockpot, reading cozy books, buying myself winter clothes, going to parties, eating holiday cookies

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

My favorite gift is having my family all together in one place. Nothing matters more. Sometimes we can't all be together, so I cherish the Christmases that we can celebrate under one roof.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

Yes, having my own little family together again--the last two years some of us have been overseas. But if I have to mention something from the store, I'd love to have some canvases and paint and painting lessons!

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Yes, to slow down and get centered, to really look around each day and marvel at this beautiful world filled with people who all want to love and be loved. I refuse to let the haters in. Oh, and I have to keep dancing to my Alexa, haha!!

Lecia Cornwall

When do the holidays officially start for you?

We officially call it Christmas the day of the Toronto Santa Claus Parade, which is in late November. We watch the parade on TV, have our first toast of eggnog, and enjoy the season's first batch of Very Special Christmas Chocolate Chip Cookies. Then on the closest Saturday to December 13--that's my husband's birthday--we go out as a family to get our Christmas tree (we still have a real tree) and put it up.  

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Family and food.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Christmas baking is a huge tradition for us. I make Very Special Christmas Chocolate Chip cookies, Quiche for Christmas breakfast, and Kulach (Ukrainian Christmas bread).

What's your favorite holiday movie?

Hard Question! The Bishop's Wife, perhaps, though Love Actually, White Christmas and Polar Express are very close seconds (or thirds and fourths).

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

I have a small collection of Christmas books that my mother used to put out as decorations every year. When I was little, I loved the one about old-fashioned Victorian Christmases, and I adored the gorgeous illustrations in a children's book called Once In Royal David's City. My mother also had a book of poetry and stories called 1000 Beautiful Things, which includes a story called The Other Wise Man by Henry Van Dyke. I'm not sure if it's the memory of my mother reading that story to me or the story itself I loved, but I still have the battered book and treasure it.

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Another tough question! "Merry Christmas, Darling" by The Carpenters,

"J-I-N-G-L-E Bells" by Frank Sinatra, and anything from Loreena McKennitt's album To Drive The Cold Winter Away.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

I love planning for the holidays, and being outdoors, that includes walking with my dog through the fall colours along the Bow River, baking and cooking for Thanksgiving (in mid-October in Canada), decorating the front porch for Halloween, raking leaves and putting the garden to bed for the winter, and stringing up the outdoor Christmas lights on one of the last nice fall weekends before it gets too cold (we don't turn them on until December 1, which was one of my father's rules). My now-grown kids still make ice luminaria for Christmas and New Year's Eve whenever it's cold enough outside to freeze a bucket of water (Try this, readers, they're gorgeous, and a little bit of Christmas magic in the dark. Fill a bucket with water. It freezes overnight, but the center of the ice block stays liquid. Take the ice block out of the bucket, chip a hole in the top, pour out the water, and set the luminaria outside with a tea light candle inside).

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

When I was first married, my in-laws gave us airline tickets so we could fly to Calgary to spend Christmas together as a family. Christmas with my own family growing up was usually very stressful, but my in-laws filled Christmas with love, laughter, warmth, and fun. Although my children are grown (aged 23 and 26), I've been fortunate enough to have them home for Christmas every year, and to me, that's the best Christmas gift of all.  

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

New books are always welcome or maybe just an extra shelf for my massive (and ever-growing) to-be-read pile! There's also the traditional Miss America answer to this question--a wish for world peace--but doesn't it just seem more important than ever this year?

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

I always set goals in categories: personal, career, home/family, and new things I want to try. I'm usually good about achieving the career and family goals, but not so good at the personal or new ones. I already know that next year will be full of huge new challenges and opportunities for me, so at the moment my goal is to find my way through whatever comes with as much grace and balance as possible.

May McGoldrick

When do the holidays officially start for you?

The holiday season has no start or end in our house. We are a multi-cultural and multi-denominational family. One holiday hands off the fun to the next...and the next...and the next...And then we start again! Our full name is 'May Your Holidays be Endless McGoldrick'! (You can call us 'Festive' for short.)

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Family get-togethers

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Before Christmas, we have a 'Gingerbread House Night.' I always think simple...graham crackers, candies, some frosting for the roof of a quaint little cottage. My competitive and mildly cutthroat family members, however, build the Golden Gate Bridge, the Taj Mahal, the Eiffel Tower, the White House...

What's your favorite holiday movie?

Love, Actually

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

The Night Before Christmas

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Christmas is All Around You (Bill Nighy via The Troggs)

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

Pick your own peaches. Pick your own apples. Pick your own pumpkin. Cut your own Christmas tree. And reading.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

For all the years our sons were young, we hid Christmas gifts all over the house. Assembly and wrapping took place after the boys were asleep on Christmas Eve. I remember the year when I used the last bit of wrapping paper while congratulating myself on my precision and planning. What I didn't know was that Jim had yet to wrap my gifts.

The next day, we all lined up on the stairs and then raced down to see what Santa left for everyone. The most charming gift was sitting under the tree. A large black trash bag containing Nikoo's gifts...tied up with a bow.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

A cottage on the beach in Southern California. Jim says, "Keep writing."

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Smile every day.

Write every day.

Make others happy.

Manda Collins

When do the holidays officially start for you?

The first frosty morning when there's a nip in the air and I can feel that winter is on the way. I love that feeling!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Getting together with family and friends is the best. We don't necessarily see one another all that much during the year, but we all make time during the holidays.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

I listen to carols sung by the King's College Choir every year and spend at least one-day boiling cloves and spices on the stove to get the house smelling like Christmas.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

The Thin Man starring Myrna Loy and William Powell as Nick and Nora Charles. (Of course, MY favorite holiday movie has witty repartee and murder in it!)

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

That would be Christmas Angel by Jo Beverley. It's one of her early Company of Rogues books and I love the way Lucien and Beth and her children become a family over the course of the story.

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

The Holly and the Ivy.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

I'm not really the outdoor type (though I have been known to go outdoors) so I like to snuggle up inside with a cup of hot chocolate and read. Or knit.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

My grandmother gave me the gift of the love of reading. It's the best thing I've ever been given.

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

I'm at an age now where the things I wish for aren't material (though obviously there are some that I'd like--a new car, for instance) but stuff like health and for my family to be safe and happy. I wouldn't turn down a pretty scarf, though!

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

Just to keep writing books that my audience enjoys reading!

Nancy Naigle

When do the holidays officially start for you?

I used to believe I was an "after Thanksgiving" gal when it came to gearing up for the holidays, however, the last two years I've had Christmas books come out in October so I'm totally amped up extra early. Hallmark's Countdown to Christmas starts in late October too, and I’ll be tuned into those movies no matter when they start. So, Merry Christmas with a pumpkin and turkey feather on top!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

The smell of pine from a fresh cut tree throughout the house, and getting more intense every time I vacuum up the needles. Warm aromatic afternoons of baking. Crafting homemade gifts. Fellowship. Christmas movies and cocoa. Glossy gift wrap, and wire ribbon that makes a simple shoelace bow look pretty on a package.

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Baking cookies. Old family favorites, and a few new recipes which always results in at least one complete #fail.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

My favorite all-time holiday movie is the original Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is still my very, very favorite. I’m not embarrassed to admit that I still tear up when the Abominable Snowman bonks poor Rudolph on the head. Thank goodness for good ol’ Hermie the wanna-be dentist!       

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

I love all those special sized hardcover holiday books. I have a shelf dedicated to them. One that I really love is by Debbie Macomber -- THERE'S SOMETHING ABOUT CHRISTMAS. The beautiful gold cover perfectly envelopes the warm story inside.

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

Silent Night.

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

Bundling up and stargazing on a chilly night.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

Homemade gifts. Always!  Among them, an old Singer sewing machine with the metal frame turned into a table, a handcrafted snack jar made out of wood with a mason jar, loop potholders, and homemade Christmas ornaments. A girl can never have too many ornaments, right?

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

I don't have any tangible items on my wish list. Making happy memories is all I wish for this year.

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

To live a healthier lifestyle, and figure out how to do that while integrating more book events into my schedule so I can meet more of the dear readers who’ve blessed me with spending their free time reading my books. Thanks, y’all.

Terri Brisbin

When do the holidays officially start for you?

Thanksgiving!

What's your favorite thing about the holidays?

Family! And now watching the grandkids celebrating!

Are there any holiday traditions you do every year without fail?

Our traditions have changed a bit as my sons married and grandkids began arriving. The one thing we still do is gather to decorate the Christmas tree at our house.

What's your favorite holiday movie?

Christmas Vacation and Elf    

Do you have a favorite holiday book?

I just love reading holiday romance anthologies!

What's your all-time favorite holiday song?

A Christmas Wrapping by the Waitresses

What's your favorite activity during fall or winter?

I love walking in my neighborhood after a new snow.

What's your favorite gift you've ever received or given?

My favorite gift was when I arranged a surprise family trip to Disney World for Christmas! It was hard but I succeed!

Do you have any items on your wish list this year?

None yet but there will be!

Any resolutions or goals for next year?

It's been a really difficult 2017 so my resolution for 2018 is to make sure my loved ones know they are...loved.