Enjoy these Christmas Reads

This month is about holiday romance reads and to be honest with you, I haven't had time to read a new holiday story.  I've been on a deadline to get a book written and haven't had time to read for pleasure.

I do have author friends with holiday books out, but I've not read them. I do know these ladies write terrific books so I'm confident in sharing them with you.

You can't miss with a book from Lauri Robinson. In Western Christmas Brides: A Bride and Baby for Christmas\Miss Christina's Christmas Wish\A Kiss from the Cowboy You not only get a great read from Lauri but also two other Harlequin historical authors, Lynna Banning and Carol Arens.

Three heartwarming stories of Christmas in the Wild West.

A Bride and Baby for Christmas by Lauri Robinson

Pregnant Hannah Olsen has made a list of Oak Grove’s eligible men. A list that Teddy White sees—and he’s not on it! Time for him to act so that both their Christmas wishes can come true.

Miss Christina’s Christmas Wish by Lynna Banning

Dedicated new teacher Christina Marnell feels her heart race as she watches Ivan Panovsky chop wood for the school. She had ruled marriage out, but Christmas is a time when miracles can happen…

A Kiss from the Cowboy by Carol Arens

Kitson James and Livy York both have secrets, but can their love overcome the lies they’ve told? A Christmas kiss might help…

Another great author is Caroline Clemmons. she has  the Christmas book of Mistletoe Mistake that is available: 

Shannon Callahan worked hard to become a physician. In New York, she meets resistance to a woman doctor and feels she is no more than a midwife. When the opportunity arises for her to go to Montana and be the only doctor in the town of Mistletoe, she grabs the chance.

Riley McCallister is sheriff of Mistletoe. When he learns the new doctor is a woman, he is shocked and vows never to let her treat him—no matter how beautiful she is. Slowly, Shannon’s skill wins his respect—and more. Shannon’s expertise and dedication during a measles epidemic convinces the town she is a good doctor—but does their acceptance come too late? 

Shanna Hatfield who writes both contemporary and historical westerns had a Christmas book out. Chasing Christmas 

He certainly didn't ask Santa for a bride. . .

Dragged into a crazy publicity stunt, one handsome cowboy has no idea how he ended up accidentally married.

Professional bull rider Chase Jarrett has the world on a string. The only blight in his idyllic existence is his nosy cousin’s nonstop nagging about his need for more publicity. Tired of listening to her suggestions, he gives her free rein when she hatches a plan to skyrocket his popularity. All he has to do is show up for a phony wedding in Las Vegas. Then Chase discovers the wedding was real, the surprise bride is beautiful, and his sponsors are demanding he remain married.

Shy and introverted, the last thing Jessie Pierce wants is to find herself in the spotlight. But thanks to a meddling so-called best friend, that’s exactly where she’s at. The promise of an all-expenses paid vacation to Las Vegas lures her on an adventure that ends with her unexpectedly married to a hunky bull rider who would draw her out of her shell if she’d let him. 

A business proposal leaves the two of them committed to a year of marriage. How hard could it be to remain wed in name only? 

Paty Jager is an award-winning author of 32 novels, 6 novellas, and numerous anthologies of murder mystery, western romance, and action adventure. All her work has Western or Native American elements in them along with hints of humor and engaging characters. This is what Mysteries Etc says about her Shandra Higheagle mystery series: “Mystery, romance, small town, and Native American heritage combine to make a compelling read.”


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Sweetness of the Season

Sweetness of the Season by Shanna Hatfield

A certain nostalgic sweetness sweeps through me, flooding my senses with sappy emotion, at the thought of holiday romance.

The reason for the syrupy state of my heart is due to my own holiday romance with Captain Cavedweller.

Years ago, on the day after Christmas, I reluctantly agreed to go on a blind date with the son of one of my dad's friends. Any number of thoughts, none of them very positive, raced through my head as I got ready to go out to dinner with him.

What kind of weirdo agrees to go out with the offspring of his father's friend?

What kind of whacko decides to go on a first date the day after Christmas?

What kind of loser doesn't already have a special someone?

Evidently, the negative notions rolling through my thoughts closely mimicked those he was thinking. (And yes, the fact that I was also a weirdo, whacko loser is not lost at all on me!)

It didn't help matters that he couldn't find the house I was living in at the time and showed up late. In fact, I'd just decided he was standing me up when the phone rang. He apologized for being late and asked for better directions. Within ten minutes, he stood on the front step and rang the doorbell.

Nervous and still slightly annoyed, I took a deep breath and opened the door. A shy, boyish smile charmed me. Then I looked into a pair of vibrant blue eyes and knew, in that moment, that I'd just met the man I'd marry. I never expected to open that door and immediately fall in love, but something I can't explain happened as soon as our eyes connected.

It took him a little longer than five seconds to decide he wanted to spend his future with me, but we married a week before Christmas the following year. We'll celebrate our twenty-third wedding anniversary this year.

Writing holiday romances gives me the opportunity to experience all those exciting, wonderful, falling-in-love feelings that I enjoyed first-hand from beginning my relationship with Captain Cavedweller. I love including elements of the season in my sweet romances. There's just something about all that mistletoe and sleigh rides that warms my heart.

My latest release, The Christmas Quandary, is no exception. I had such fun writing the story of a young man who comes home for the holiday season to recuperate from an injury and unexpectedly falls in love.

Tom Grove just needs to survive a month at home while he recovers from a work injury. How bad can it be to return to Hardman for the holiday season?  He arrives to discover his middle-aged parents acting like newlyweds, the school in need of a teacher, and the girl of his dreams already engaged.

After the loss of her parents and her fiancé abandoning her to spend a year abroad, Lila Granger desires a change of scenery. She leaves her home in New York to spend a few months with relatives in Hardman, Oregon. The idea of stepping off the train into a place that gives her a true sense of coming home never entered her mind. Neither did the notion of falling in love with a man who clearly can’t wait to get away from the small town.

The Christmas Quandary is a sweet Victorian romance, full of laughter and heartwarming moments, perfect for a holiday read.

Do you have a favorite holiday romance or holiday memory?

~*~

Shanna Hatfield

USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”

Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen, one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

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