The Gift of Christmas

by Diana McCollum

“The Gift of Christmas” is an anthology of short stories set around Christmas time. This book came out a few years ago, but is worth reading today.

All the contributing authors are multi-published. The stories are from all different genres.

One in particular touched my heart, The Cancer Christmas by Melissa Yuan, Melissa reveals how, when her father was diagnosed with a brain tumor, she dreaded the upcoming holiday season. But her father, along with her infant son, taught her the most important Christmas lesson of all.”

The stories are filled with miracles, mystery and magic!

The only children’s story:  Metro’s Mountain Cabin by Susie Slanina, “Metro the dog spends a snowy Christmas with friends in a mountain cabin. As with all the Metro books, some events are true and some are imagined. For children ages 7-12 and the young at heart.”

Christmas Miracles by Pamela Cowan, “an Heirloom box of foreign coins presents a series of odd twists of fate . . . bringing a struggling family some luck—good and bad—and maybe even a miracle.”

The Nest by Courtney Pierce, “Estate sales can be magical. For baby boomers Jean and Spence Collins, the purchase of a once-cherished ornament transforms their Christmas holiday from routine to extraordinary.”

Isabella’s Christmas Box by Paty Jager, “Anthropologist Isabella Mumphrey must unlock the secrets of the Mayan Puzzle Box in time to celebrate Christmas with DEA Agent Tino Constantine.”

The Mermaid’s Treasure by Anna Brentwood, “Will the discovery of an antique brooch, hidden for decades in an old trunk, bring a young woman closer to her deceased father? Or will it cause her to question everything she’s ever believed in?”

Don’t Forget the Mistletoe by Christy Carlyle, “Two people may love each other deeply but the timing isn’t right. Allowing the mistletoe to serve as a message between Amelia and Benedict may give them a second chance for love.”

First Love by Judith Ashley, “Falling in love is easy for everyone—except Ashley. Her past has left her with distrust, hesitation, and a fear that she will never be married or have children. Join Ashley on her journey to finding and accepting love.”

Christmas with You by Jane Killick, “Sylvie is thrilled when her airline pilot husband is able to change his work schedule to spend Christmas with her and their young son, but all is not as it seems in this story of a family Christmas overshadowed by fate.”

Career Conundrum Christmas by Jamie Brazil, Caught between past and present, fine art appraiser, Sara, wants to honor her father’s decorative arts legacy while forging her own future. But will the career opportunity of a lifetime dry up like her overcooked holiday turkey if she accept Ben’s marriage proposal?”

The Hogmanay Stranger by Maggie Jaimeson, “The Sweetwater Canyon family celebrates Hogmanay in Scotland with Rachel’s father, Gavin Cullen. Clearing the cobwebs of the past year in order to begin anew is a tradition with special meaning. Will a stranger help them all to remember what is most important in life and thus free them from the past?”

A Marine’s Christmas Proposal by Susan Lute, “Celebrating Christmas is the last thing on his mind when David Randal leaves behind his military life to take care of his orphaned nephew. But finding work in a depressed economy is tough: and job-hunting in December is nothing short of an act of desperation. So when a temp job casts him as ‘Girl Friday’ to a notorious workaholic lady boss, even this Marine knows the greatest risk might lead to the greatest reward of all.”

All these great stories are in the anthology 

"The Gifts of Christmas", so buy your copy, grab a hot cup of coco or tea, maybe some popcorn, and read a short story or two to relax during this busy time of year! You won't be disappointed!

Do you have a favorite Christmas novel or anthology?

Leave a comment to be entered into a Christmas drawing for an Amazon card!!!
Drawing open till December 4th!!!

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY HOLIDAYS!!!!

I need a little help this holiday season

Hi everyone! I am YA author B A Binns , writer of contemporary and realistic fiction for teens. My tagline tells you what I am about - Stories of Real Boys Growing Into Real Men - and the people who love them. 

I'll start by saying I'm the wrong person for this month's topic - the Holidays. I totally understand Scrooge. (The Bah, Humbug part that is. I can only wish I had a pile of money to sit on) I've never been much on the season to be jolly thing, even as a child.

In last month's post I explained that Halloween is my major holiday. It's also the beginning of my down-time. I suffer from SAD, Seasonal Affective Disorder. I have the lights, my doctor has me taking extra vitamin D, nothing makes me care all that much. I'm hoping my new granddaughter will do something, but I've already done my Christmas shopping for her. The best part was the near empty parking lot, the empty stores, filled shelves, and clear streets for driving. Now I only have to wait for next month to make the delivery and another Christmas is over and done with.

Whew!!

Except, this year I want to change things. I haven't read a holiday-themed romance in years.  Many of my fellow Genre-istas write holiday romances that are available this time of year. Probably almost all read them. Then there is me.  (I wrote a piece of Christmas-themed flash fiction a few years ago, I'm not a total buzz kill.) The truth is I love happy couples. So I'm making an early New Year's resolution to find some good ones to read.

I am hoping readers of this blog will help me.  I would love to hear some recommendations of holiday books to read.  I promise to take a look at all you come up with, so leave comments on Thanksgiving (are there any) or Christmas romance stories.  Bonus points for Hanukkah or Kwanza romances.  I'm really hoping you can pass me on some suggestions that I can use, especially if some help lift me from this Scrooge spirit.

So let me know. Leave suggestions for me in the comments.

Oh, and, happy holidays.

Image Inspiration for a Ghostly Christmas Story - Corrina Lawson

It was this photo that inspired Ghosts of Christmas Past. 

In June of 2013, I went to a business conference in Detroit sponsored by Ford. As part of that conference, I drove a new Ford truck out to a Habitat for Humanity project in one of the most blighted areas of Detroit. 

We passed this once-thriving and now derelict town center on the way to the Habitat project. Near this corner was an abandoned neighborhood bank, complete with a mounted clock that no longer worked. I wis I could describe how gut-wrenching it was to drive past this place, and then through the residential portions of the neighborhood. In once-typical suburban neighborhood, three of our four houses were either gutted, wrecked or had steel doors and windows to prevent the same from happening. 

Yet, that fourth house, the one still in use, was inevitably well-cared for, with new paint jobs and lovely manicured lawns. It was as if those homeowners refused to give into the chaos around them. They, perhaps foolishly, perhaps hopefully, believed in the future of that place. 

And that's what I wanted for my Christmas story. I wanted a story that showed that it was possible for love to win and for people to take care of each other, even under what might be the worst circumstances.

The tagline for Ghosts of Christmas Past is "Christmas Can Be Murder For a Relationship on the Rocks." My hero and heroine are struggling to get through their first holiday season together. Aloysius James is the hardened, cynical and yet honest detective. Al is amazed he's found love again but he's not sure he should keep it. That's because his girlfriend, Lucy aka Noir, is at the beginning of her career as an artist. From Al's perspective, Lucy is destined for great things beyond the city even residents call the Double C. (Charlton City aka Cancer City.) 

But Lucy is far more than an artist. With her power to turn invisible, she's Al's secret partner in the war against corruption and crime. Al doesn't think Lucy has to fight this war. Lucy, who knows what it's like to be without hope, doesn't understand why Al wants to push her away. 

And in the middle of it all, a murderer chooses to make a statement by placing a body in front of the "Christmas Carol" exhibit at the Charlton City art museum. 

It's a romance, so I hope I'm not spoiling anything to say that there is a happy ending, but I wanted more than a happy ending for Al and Noir. I wanted a happy ending for the amazing people of the Double C, the ones who have chosen  to stay and rebuild among the ruins. Because on Christmas, anything is possible. 

Buy links:

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1z30Qw7

B&N: http://bit.ly/1z317PA

Note: the book is out on 11/25, but is all ready for pre-ordering everywhere. 

Author Bio:

Writer, Mom, Geek & Superhero, Corrina Lawson is the author of the superhero romance series, the Phoenix Institute, and the alternate history Seneca series, in which Romans and Vikings have settled in ancient North America. 
She is also co-founder and Content Director for GeekMom.com and a mother of four, including twins.

Author website:

www.corrina-lawson.com

Publisher website: 

https://www.samhainpublishing.com/book/5208/ghosts-of-christmas-past

ENTANGLED HOLIDAY AUTHORS KAREN ERICKSON & VICTORIA JAMES

Karen Erickson

Ah, the holiday romance. 
I do love writing them…almost as much as I love reading them! This is one of my favorite times of the year, reading-wise. So many holiday romances to choose from, not enough money to buy or time to read them all! In fact, I have a confession to make…I have holiday books I bought last year that I never got a chance to read! Sigh…

In the hustle and bustle of the holiday season I love being able to relax for a bit and lose myself in a story. It helps me forget all the presents that still need to be wrapped, the cookies that need to be baked and the teacher gifts that need to be bought—at least for a little while.

My latest release, JANE’S GIFT, is my favorite of all the holiday romances I’ve written. For my heroine, it’s about grabbing that second chance at life and running with it. For my hero, it’s learning how to depend on someone and let that someone depend on you.

Overall, it’s a story about love, both from your family, your children and that special someone in your life. How love can come along when you least expect it. And there’s no better time than the holidays for all of this magic to unfold…

Do you enjoy reading a good holiday romance? Any favorites? Share with me in the comments! I’ll start with my all-time favorite—Jill Shalvis. She can write about any holiday and I’ll read it. She’s an automatic buy for me. But her holiday stories are some of my favorites (and she has a Lucky Harbor Christmas novella coming out next month—squee!).

JANE'S GIFT blurb:

A devastating house fire cost Jane Clark nearly everything: her husband, her confidence, and her looks, with the physical scars marbling her body. Now, two years later, she’s living and healing back in her childhood hometown of Lone Pine Lake. The upcoming holidays are the perfect opportunity to bring some Christmas cheer into her young children’s lives, starting with a visit to the firehouse, where her brother’s best friend has offered to help quell their residual fears.

Lone Pine’s resident playboy, fire captain Christian Nelson is happy with his single-guy lifestyle. He’s an everyday local hero, so he’s never wanting for attention around the holidays. But when Jane Clark shows up, Chris is immediately drawn to the beautiful widow—even though kids and commitment have never been his style.

Despite her brother’s warnings about his friend’s playboy status and dangerous occupation, Jane can’t help but fall for the gorgeous fire captain. The holidays are a time of new beginnings, but can two scarred people find the strength to let go of their pasts to live in the present, when a lifetime together might be the sweetest gift of all?

You can find JANE’S GIFT at Amazon | B&N | Kobo

Where you can find Karen:
 Website | Facebook | Twitter | Goodreads | Pinterest

Victoria James

Staying Power…

As far back as I can remember I have always been a reader.  And a loyal one-I basically had a ‘keeper shelf’ without knowing what that meant! One of my earliest reading memories was with my mother, at the doctor’s office.  I was around four years old, and every time we’d sit in the waiting room, I’d run and grab the book about the duck that tears down his house trying to find an ant.  I still remember the basic plot of this book.  And I can still remember my mother’s face when she had to read, and reread this book-every time we went to the doctor’s.

My tastes have thankfully evolved since then (though, I think I need to search for a copy of that ant book!) I still have my favorites-you know that stash of books, that you still enjoy even though you’ve read them a dozen times?  They sit in a basket, beside my bookshelf.  Each of them appeals to me for different reasons, and at different times.   And each of them has the power to transport me back to that moment in time when I first read them.  If I’m crunched for time, I might just flip through and re-read my favourite parts.  Inevitably, though, I usually get sucked in and read more.  

I think a book can bring you comfort, laughter, and peace. I think it can also say a lot about your personality, who you are.  For instance, I started reading romance during high school.  Historical, was my first love, then contemporary.  I always gravitated toward characters that had to overcome adversity, because seeing them triumph in the end was so rewarding.  As a writer, I find myself drawn to writing these types of characters.  Humor is vital for me as well.  

 In my current release, THE BILLIONAIRE'S CHRISTMAS BABY, my heroine, Hannah Woods has had a traumatic past.  When she was growing up, the only real thing she had to call her own, was a small stash of books.  The books traveled with her from home to home-and the comfort she derived from them was her constant.  Books gave her the ability to escape the life she was living-and they kept the idea that happy endings really did exist inside her.  

 When she sees her favorite romance book in the hero’s hands-Hannah feels exposed.  She feels that way because of her deep connection to the book and what it reveals about her character.  Eventually, she does open to the hero about her books and childhood dreams.  He, being the fabulous guy that he is, vows he’ll help her fulfill those dreams ;-)

How about you?  Do you think that your favorite books reveal your personality?  Do you have a pile of ‘keepers’?  Or are you always looking for something new?  Are you drawn to books with certain types of characters or do you like a variety?

You can find The Billionaire's Christmas Baby here

About Victoria James:

Victoria James is a romance writer living near Toronto, Canada. Victoria is a mother to two young children, and one very disorderly feline. Victoria attended Queen's University in Kingston, Ontario and graduated with a degree in English Literature, where she met and then later married, her own hero. After Queen's, Victoria earned a degree in Interior Design. After the birth of her first child she began pursuing her life-long passion of writing. Her dream of being a published romance author was realized last February, 2012, when Entangled Publishing bought her manuscript.  Victoria is living her dream-staying home with her children and conjuring up happy endings for her characters.

Visit Victoria James:  www.victoriajames.ca  Twitter: @vicjames101

STREET KIDS CHRISTMAS

Merry Christmas and a safe, happy and prosperous New Year to everyone.
Here is a Christmas stoy with a difference. Hope you enjoy it.

                       

                                    STREET KID’S CHRISTMAS by Margaret Tanner

            “Will you show me around? the softly spoken stranger asked.

            Ash did not move from his lounging position. Who the hell is this idiot, asking me, the leader of the city’s toughest street gang, to play tour guide?

            “Do you know who I am, mate?” He dragged on his cigarette and purposely blew smoke into the man’s face.

            “Yes, I know who you are.”

            “Then p…off, while you’re still able to.”

            Ash surprised himself by not punching the man’s face in, but something about this stranger, a nagging sensation dredged from somewhere deep down, stilled his hand.  Maybe I’m being generous because it’s Christmas.  Had they met before, in the days before drugs and crime banished him from the world of ordinary people?  An undercover cop perhaps?

“If you’re a cop and they find out.”  He jerked his finger towards the pinball parlour. “You’re dead meat.”

“I’m not a cop.  I’d just like you to show me around your world, Ashley.”

How the hell does he know my name?

Now nineteen years old Ash had lived on the streets for six years. Feels like sixty sometimes.  Housebreaking, mugging, selling his body to gutter crawlers, he had done everything short of murder to get money for a fix. How many thousands of dollars had he injected into his veins over the years, before he got himself off the hard stuff?

They headed towards the railway yards where the graffiti artists displayed their work. “Merry Christmas,” he stumbled over the words.  “Peace on earth.” He gave up the struggle.

“Haven’t tried that.”  He tossed his head so the several ear studs he wore were shown off to their best advantage.  “Can’t write much and I don’t like drawing.”

He stuck his hands into the pocket of the leather jacket he recently stole from a department store.  He would probably end up selling it after a few days, depended on how things went.  Christmas meant plenty of money around, and people got careless over the holidays.

“I solicited here sometimes.” He jerked his thumb towards a poorly lit toilet block. “Good place to roll people too.”  He waited for the stranger to condemn him, but he didn’t.

“You could pull yourself out of his hell, Ashley.”

“Nah. What’s the use?  It’s not such a bad life.”  He wasn’t having some soppy do-gooder feeling sorry for him.  He hated the life but wouldn’t admit it on pain of death.  What else could he do anyway?

“Tell me about your parents.”

“Don’t have any. When me mother died I cleared off.”  Hatred that had lain dormant for years surfaced, but he pushed it aside, trying to think of something to say or do to shock this nosy stranger.

They passed shops adorned with Christmas decorations, and a fat old Santa ho-ho-hoed his way along the street as they headed towards the sleazy nightclubs where young girls plied their trade.  He waved to Brooke who opened the passenger door of a white Mercedes.

“She used to be my girl once.”

“You don’t mind if she goes with other men?”

“Nah, why should I?” he lied.  I could kill some of those old sleazebags, but Brooke lived on borrowed time, so would her clients if they weren’t careful.  He snickered inwardly because he knew she had a deadly STD.

A heavily pregnant girl limped up to them.  Her arms and legs were matchstick thin, her skin drawn so tightly over her cheek bones the blue veins stood out. One of her eyes looked swollen and black.

“Here, get yourself something for Christmas, Mel.” Ash dragged a crumpled ten-dollar note from his pocket and shoved it at her.

“You could help these people,” the stranger said again.

“Listen, if you’re a cop or one of those do-gooders, I’ll…”

“You’ll do what?”

“Kill you.”

“But you haven’t taken a life before.”

“Yeah, well there’s always a first time. Don’t think it makes any difference to me if it’s bloody Christmas Eve, same as any other night to me.   I seen you somewhere before. Dunno where, but a long time ago.”

They wandered along the beachfront.  “Poor old bugger.” Ash pried Keith’s fingers from the empty sherry bottle, buttoned up the old man’s gaping coat and re-arranged the newspapers over him.

“Got bad lungs, night air will kill him one day.  I don’t want cops swarming all over the place.” Ash excused his act of kindness.

The stranger stood with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. They traveled all over Ash’s territory. Brightly lit streets with Christmas carols blaring out from loud speakers, along dingy alleyways where addicts lounged in doorways or negotiated with pushers.

“Want me to steal us a car?”

“No, I prefer to walk.”

At Greasy Sam’s they stopped to order hamburgers.  As they waited in the cubicle, the stranger started nagging him again.

“You’re the only one who can help these people, they trust you.”

“Why should I?  Anyway, who are you to tell me what to do?”

“These people are suffering.”

“And what the hell would you know about suffering?  Have you ever been hungry and cold? Repeatedly stabbed by some pimp like me?  Seen your friends die from an overdose?  Watched your old lady being bashed?” The hatred that had poisoned his system for years spewed out, as the stranger listened without interruption.

Ash shook with emotion by the time he finished, and he felt almost light headed with relief.

“Promise me, Ashley, that you will help these people, because I can’t.” The stranger stared at him with sadness and sorrow etched into his face. “I can only stay a short time.”

What intense eyes he had. Ash blinked several times.  A roaring sound almost ruptured his eardrums.  He remembered where he had seen this man before.  In a picture hanging inside a church he was vandalizing.  At the last minute something stopped him from lighting the match that would have burned the place to the ground.

“Remember me now, Ashley?”

“No.  You can’t be the same man because… All right, I’ll try to help these people, but leave me alone.”  He hardly recognised his own voice because it sounded so fearful.  I’m losing my mind he thought frantically.  It can’t be the same man.

“I am the man,” the stranger said, spreading his hands out on the table.

Ash closed his eyes so he wouldn’t have to look at the nail holes, but he vowed to help the street kids. When he finally glanced up he was alone.  What a relief, he’d been hallucinating. That bloody plum pudding he had stolen must have been contaminated.  He was suffering from food poisoning, seeing people who weren’t even there.

Sam slithered up wearing his usual glum face. “Where did your friend go?” he sniveled. “You’ll have to pay for both hamburgers if he doesn’t come back.”

                                                  ***
Margaret is a multi-published Australian author with Whiskey Creek Press and The Wild Rose Press
Website: http://www.margarettanner.com/