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Christmas Books

NEW RELEASE: “The Sheriff’s Christmas Angel”

October 23, 2017 Leave a Comment

“The Sheriff’s Christmas Angels” by Debra Holt

Blurb: Angels. Emma Cramer doesn’t consider herself an angel by any stretch of the imagination. Temporarily stranded, broke and unable to pursue her dreams of working in the big city following her mother’s death, Emma’s life changes when she rescues a small child and a puppy who get trapped in a garage where Emma’s truck has finally breathed its last . The girl’s relieved and grateful grandmother believes Emma has been sent by angels because her family needs temporary help. She offers Emma a job, a good salary and a place to stay until after the holidays. It seems like a Christmas miracle for both of them.

Angels often appear when least expected, but when the most needed. Cynical sheriff and rancher Cole Drayton has heard that all his life, but he’s never been in the market for much else. He can take care of his daughter, his ranch and his family on his own without his meddling mother, but his long protected heart and desire for isolation is no match for a beautiful stranded stranger and a misfit puppy who make his daughter laugh and him feel alive again.

Can unsuspecting hearts intersect at the moment when love and trust is needed most? Anything is possible with the magic of the Christmas season and faith in the Christmas angels.

**Find “The Sheriff’s Christmas Angels” now: Goodreads   Universal Buy Link

**About Debra Holt: Born and raised in the Lone Star state of Texas, Debra grew up among horses, cowboys, wide open spaces, and real Texas Rangers. Pride in her state and ancestry knows no bounds and it is these heroes and heroines she loves to write about the most. She also draws upon a variety of life experiences including working with abused children, caring for baby animals at a major zoo, and planning high-end weddings (ah, romance!).

When she isn’t busy writing about tall Texans and feisty heroines, she can be found cheering on her Texas Tech Red Raiders, or heading off on another cruise adventure. She read her first romance…Janet Dailey’s Fiesta San Antonio, over thirty years ago and became hooked on the genre. Writing contemporary romances, is both her passion and dream come true, and she hopes her books will bring smiles…and sighs…to all who believe in happily-ever-after’s.

**Contact Debra: Email   Website   Facebook   Goodreads   Twitter   Amazon Author Page

Filed Under: The Sheriff's Christmas Angel Tagged With: Books, Christmas Books, Country romance, Debra Holt, Holiday reads, New Release, The Sheriff's Christmas Angels

HOLIDAY SALE! “Merry & Bright” is only $0.99!

November 15, 2015 Leave a Comment

Hey, everyone! I hope you all are having a wonderful day! To celebrate the upcoming holidays, and add in a little cheer, I thought I’d share with you a little treat!


Holiday Sale MB FB Post

“Merry & Bright” is on sale for $0.99!

“Merry & Bright” has been out for just over two years, and my contribution, “Meet Me Under the Mistletoe,” was my first published story, which is what made me an author. While I’m proud of the short story I wrote, I’m even more proud to have my name on the cover with five other authors I share this book with, though we couldn’t have done it without Lucie Simone at Simon & Fig! That being said, if you’re already in the holiday spirit (or are wanting to get into it), be sure to pick up your copy now, (the sale ends on December 31st).


MERRY-BRIGHT-SALEBlurb: Sip your eggnog, linger under the mistletoe, and make a Christmas wish. Merry & Bright brings you six tales of Christmas cheer, featuring stories of budding romances, Southern charm, lost loves, heaps of humor, and lots of pie by authors Isabella Louise Anderson, Cindy Arora, Laura Chapman, Lauren Clark, Libby Mercer, and Nancy Scrofano. From sunny Los Angeles to the Rocky Mountains to the Deep South, Merry & Bright will take you on a heartwarming adventure you’ll love to visit again and again. Wrap yourself in holiday mirth and prepare to be swept off your feet.

**Buy “Merry & Bright” now!: Amazon, Amazon UK, Barnes & Noble, Barnes & Noble UK, iTunes and Kobo


Filed Under: Meet Me Under the Mistletoe Tagged With: 99 Cents, Books, Chick-Lit, Christmas Books, Holiday reads, Meet Me Under the Mistletoe, Merry & Bright, Romance, Women's Fiction

The Christmas Spirit

December 13, 2013 Leave a Comment

TheChristmasSpiritCover

The Christmas Spirit by Susan Buchanan

Blurb of “The Christmas Spirit”:

Christmas is coming, but not everyone is looking forward to it.

Rebecca has just been dumped and the prospect of spending the holiday period with her parents is less than appealing.

Eighty- two year old Stanley lost his beloved wife, Edie, to cancer. How will he cope with his first Christmas without her?

Jacob’s university degree hasn’t helped him get a job, and it looks like he’ll still be signing on come New Year.

Workaholic Meredith would rather spend December 25th at home alone with a ready meal and a DVD box set. Can anything make her embrace the spirit of the season?

The enigmatic Natalie Hope takes over the reins at the Sugar and Spice bakery and café in an attempt to spread some festive cheer and restore Christmas spirit, but will she succeed?

Chapter 1 tease

D-Day!

Well, my D-Day anyway, thought Natalie.

Every year on this day, December 1st, her raison d’être and her job, as such, began. It only lasted a month, but her personal deadline was always twenty-four days. The other week was just to ensure there was no unfinished business.

Natalie hoped Christmas 2013 would be a good one for everyone. If she had anything to do with it, as in the past, those she chose would have a Christmas to remember.

This year she would be working in the small town of Winstanton about twenty miles north of Glasgow; more of a village really, with its carefully tended lawns, idyllic cottages and splendid views over Loch Lomond.

Each year Natalie had to choose a different country. This was her first visit to Scotland. She hoped she would get used to the Scottish accent and that her own would go unnoticed. Speaking several languages came in handy, but it was even better to blend in like a local.

Although Natalie’s job actively only lasted one month per year, her preparation lasted ten months. Well, she did get some holidays. Ten months in which to research, narrow down and shortlist her candidates. It was no easy task, as although a small town, Winstanton still had fifteen thousand residents and Natalie could only choose four. Now, she couldn’t possibly check them all out, could she? No. Natalie had a gift which helped her. She could feel other people’s happiness. The downside was, she could also feel their unhappiness. Marvellous, eh?

Natalie readjusted her handbag on her shoulder and grabbed hold of the handle of her carry-on case, dragging it along the deserted platform of Winstanton train station. She had picked up the keys to her new one-bedroom cottage earlier that day in Glasgow. Now all she had to do was make her way there. There wasn’t a taxi in sight; not surprising, since she was the only person who had got off at the station. Fortunately there was a phone box, an old style red one – how quaint. Even luckier, it hadn’t been vandalised and it had a Yellow Pages in it, which hadn’t been ripped to shreds. Natalie had never got around to getting a mobile phone. There was no reception where she lived most of the year, so there seemed little point. Taking out a piece of paper from her purse, she dialled the first taxi number she’d come across in her research of the area; she was nothing if not prepared. In her job she had to be.  She was looking forward to her new role. Her job was always a job within a job; a little difficult to explain, but it was kind of like a secondment.

The taxi arrived soon after. Natalie could imagine there wasn’t much doing for a taxi driver on a Sunday night. A cheery old man, probably in his sixties, greeted her. ‘Miss Hope?’

‘The very same.’

‘Let me help you with your case.’

‘Thanks,’ said Natalie, when he swung it with some effort into the boot.

‘What have you got in there, bricks?’

Natalie laughed and said, ‘Wouldn’t you like to know!’

He looked as if he would indeed like to know, but was too polite to push it further.

They arrived at Rose Cottage within ten minutes.

‘Five pounds eighty, hen.’

‘Worth every penny,’ Natalie pronounced. She handed him seven pounds and told him to keep the change.

‘Do you want me to wait until you see if anyone’s home?’ asked the driver, eyeing the darkened cottage.

‘No, it’s OK, thanks, although that’s kind of you to be so thoughtful. I have a key.’

‘No problem. Have a nice night.’

‘You too. Hope it’s a busy one for you.’

The driver’s expression conveyed that was unlikely to be the case.

She noticed he didn’t leave until she was safely inside the cottage and she’d switched on the hall light.  Nice soul, obviously a happy man. He wouldn’t be needing her help.

Natalie closed the door behind her and surveyed her new living quarters. The darkness had made it difficult to notice much about the garden outside and the driving rain had made her keen to get inside as quickly as possible. She found herself in a small hallway, with a deep pile carpet, mocha in colour. She couldn’t wait to slip off her boots and luxuriate in the feel of the pile between her toes. Her feet ached from the journey; it was rather a long way.

An antique mirror, was it real? she wondered, hung from a hook in the hallway, which was dimly lit by a fake gas lamp. Off the hall were five doors. The first turned out to be a cupboard, also home to the boiler. The second led her into a country kitchen, complete with French dresser and pine table and chairs, with an Aga taking centre stage; well-equipped and quite spacious, considering it was a one bedroom cottage. Natalie exited the kitchen and tried the next door – her bedroom for the next month. A double bed, a large wardrobe and two bedside cabinets made up the room, nothing special, but comfortable enough. On the other side of the hall, the first door she tried led into the bathroom.

Oh, what a treat! A tiled wet room.

For a cottage, it was modern; a rare mix of old meets new.

The last door led her into a large living room with a bay window overlooking the front garden. She hadn’t been aware of how far up the hill the driver had come, but now she could see, even in the dark, the splendid views over Loch Lomond. Lights twinkled in the distance; she assumed they were from moored boats, or a boathouse perhaps.

The living room welcomed her with a coal fire. Lovely. It required extra effort, but was definitely worth it. Natalie planned on cosy nights in after work, although she did expect to be working long hours, relaxing in front of the fire with a good book, or cooking on the Aga. Bliss. The corner sofa wasn’t to her taste, but was new and clearly from the period when corner sofas were back in fashion recently. Heavy curtains hung over the bay window, keeping out the cold.

Yes, this’ll do nicely.

She returned to the kitchen and opened the fridge. Aw, the lady who had leased her the house and the bakery had put a few goodies in for her first night. How sweet, and much appreciated. Natalie realised she was worn out from the journey, and checked out the cupboards to see about pots and pans. Two bottles of red wine greeted her when she opened the first door and she made a mental note to thank the landlady; just what she needed to go with her first meal and help her unpack. Tomorrow would be a long day and a new start.

**Buy “The Christmas Spirit”: Amazon – US   Amazon – UK

SusanBuchananPic**Contact the author, Susan Buchanan

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**Also by Susan Buchanan:

SignOfTheTimesCoverPicTheDatingGameCoverPic

Filed Under: The Christmas Spirit Tagged With: Authors, Books, Chick-Lit, Christmas Books, Susan Buchanan, The Christmas Spirit, Women's Fiction

An Interview with Mary Kay Andrews & a Giveaway!

November 8, 2013 3 Comments

With great pleasure, I’m thrilled to have interviewed one of my favorite authors. She’s funny, inspiring, and her books are a true joy to read. Without further ado, here’s New York Times Bestselling Author, Mary Kay Andrews!BlackMKAAuthor, Mary Kay Andrews

INTERVIEW

Have you always loved to write? Yes! On the first day of first grade our teacher asked us to draw a picture of what we wanted to be when we grew up. While the other kids drew firemen and nurses and teachers and cowboys, I drew a picture of a lady sitting at a tall table in front of a wall of books—my six-year-old image of what a writer looked like.

How did you celebrate when you first book was published? With a party! My friends threw me a party at the house that inspired the setting for my first book, EVERY CROOKED NANNY.

Where is your ideal place to write? I like to write with the sunshine streaming in on me—at our vacation house on Tybee Island, or in the sun room of our restored Craftsman bungalow in Atlanta.

How has social media changed your career? Social media has connected me with so many fans and given me instant feedback on what my readers like and dislike. They enjoy being part of a community, and I enjoy hearing from them. That said, I spend a tremendous amount of time and energy staying connected with them.

What is the best advice you can give to a new author? Don’t fixate on writing that first “perfect chapter.” Just get on with the story—and finish it. You can go back and revise and hone and polish after you get the story down in black and white.

Who or what inspires you to write? Envy—when I read a great novel or chapter, I want to try to create something just as moving.

What is your favorite word? Vintage!

Every writer must have a…: Fine-point black felt tip pen.

What time of day do you seem to work best? Mornings when I wake up with an idea bubbling up from my self-consciousness, I reach for my laptop, prop myself up in bed and write like a woman possessed.

If you’re not writing, you’re probably: junking

What are you reading right now? Lee Smith’s Guests on Earth.

Are you a panster or planner? Mostly a pantser, although I’m always trying to plot and plan.

Do you have a motto? You can’t fix what you ain’t wrote.

Where is your favorite vacation place? Tuscany. Would love to go back someday soon.

Do you and your family have any Christmas traditions? If so, what are they? Children’s mass Christmas Eve, baking cookies together, Christmas stockings opened first thing Christmas morning, burning all the dried-out greenery in the fireplace Christmas night.

SantaMKA

**GIVEAWAY**

 **U.S. RESIDENTS ONLY, PLEASE**

ChristmasBlissGiveaway

If you’re in the Christmas spirit as much as I’m beginning to be, then you must enter to win the prizes in the picture seen to the left. I’m currently reading “Christmas Bliss” and am loving it, and I know you will, too!

How to enter: 

Step 1) Write a comment below telling me about your favorite Christmas tradition.

Step 2) Do NOT forget to leave your email address! (This is so I can contact you to let you know you’ve won). **If you do not follow this step, I have no way of contacting you.

Picking a winner:

1) I will draw a winner out of a hat on Friday, November 22nd!

Filed Under: Christmas Bliss, Mary Kay Andrews Tagged With: Chick-Lit, Christmas, Christmas Bliss, Christmas Books, Giveaway, Guest Interview, Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times Bestselling Author, Romance

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