The Gift of Christmas

THE GIFT OF CHRISTMAS

A book review by Collette Cameron

collettecameron.com

Collette Cameron

An eclectic assortment of twelve holiday stories, I spent two pleasant evenings reading The Gift of Christmas.

Rather like a box of chocolates or an assortment of Christmas cookies, each story offered a tantalizing taste of holiday spirit.

From Susie Slanina’s, Metro’s Mountain Cabin, a simple tale of childhood chums seeking the perfect camping cabin, to Susan Lute’s, A Marine’s Christmas Proposal, a delightful sexy twist on an office romance,  the book kept me turning the pages.

I couldn’t wait to read the next story!

Melissa Yuan’s, The Cancer Christmas, brought tears to my eyes as she shared her personal experience as her father battled cancer. I cheered as the miracle needed to save the family farm came from a wholly unexpected source in Pamela Cowan’s, Christmas Miracles, and Courtney Pierces’s, The Nest, had me grinning at the antics of a ‘special’ guest who arrived for the holidays. 

Readers will sit on the edge of their seats trying to unravel the mystery in Paty Jager’s, Isabella’s Christmas Box, and they’ll shiver in suspense at the paranormal twist Anna Brentwood weaves into The Mermaid’s Treasure.  I fell in love with the characters in Christy Carlyle’s tender love story, Don’t Forget the Mistletoe, and I sighed with satisfaction when I finished reading Judith Ashley’s, First Love.

Just when I thought I couldn’t possibly read anything new and unexpected about the Christmas season, Jane Killick had me reeling with a fabulous twist in Christmas With You, as did Jamie Brazil in Career Conundrum Christmas.

Lastly, Maggie Jaimeson takes the reader all the way to Scotland in The Hogmanay Stranger, for yet, another inspiring tale of selflessness.

The Gift of Christmas contains everything a holiday anthology ought to.  A bit of romance, compassion,  mystery, devotion to family, love surpassing time and physical restraints,  these authors’ talents should be enjoyed with your favorite hot beverage, maybe a tasty treat or two, and tucked beneath a favorite blanket before a blazing fire.

The Gift of Christmas is sure to have something for everyone seeking the Christmas spirit. 

I was given a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

FOR THE LOVE OF SHAPESHIFTERS by Susan Lute

DRAGONKIND CHRONICLES
BOOK 1

As I'm writing this post, I'm watching The Wedding Date, a classic romance if ever there was one, and one that's right up my alley. Fun. Quirky. Unexpected. I'm also making a new version of teriyaki chicken with baked potatoes. Multitasking. Since there's never enough time in a day, that's a skill writers need.

But this is about dragons. I'm a little obsessed with them. I've always loved paranormal romances, just never envisioned myself writing one. Nor did I set out to write dragon shapeshifters on purpose. It was more the result of a temper tantrum, believe it or not, and came about while on a flight to Norman, Oklahoma to see the hubby. Women's fiction was tanking. My agent, who worked her little heart out, had just received another rejection from an editor we thought was on the verge of buying.

That's when the shift happened. I thought...I'll try anything. Anything that's not women's fiction or contemporary. So...Logan Pen, Beyla, the Umbra, and The Dragonkind Chronicles were born. At a lusty, crowded bar, in a post apocalyptic New Orleans, they came to life. He'd come to capture an elusive shadow thief. She escapes after stealing his greatest treasure—a talisman forged at his birth on the night of the apocalypse. Of course there's more at stake than the loss of his telein. That's what kept me writing to the end. It took eight months to write that story and I enjoyed every minute of the process.

Why do we, as readers, love paranormal romances? I think we relate to a world gone a bit sideways. We're willing to take the journey in order to see if good overcomes evil. Along the way, the discovery that things are not exactly as they seem answers age old questions. Who are we? Are we alone in this universe? The answer to that in my universe is a world inhabited by dragons, shadow thieves, shaman, the phoenix (a hint of what's to come), Avalon, more dragons, fallen angels, all recorded in the Dragonkind Chronicles. We want to fight on the side of good. Victory is our reward.

The cool thing about paranormal romances is that the genre draws it's multitude of fans into the story's central struggle, takes them on a ride, invites them to be part of the triumphant party at the end. The stories and legends are gripping, interactive, and best of all uber-satisfying. Some of my favorite shapeshifter storytellers are Rebecca Zanetti, Jessa Slade, Elsa Jade, and  J.T. Geissinger. Who are yours?

SUSAN LUTE

Susan Lute is an award winning, multi-published traditional and Indie author. She is published in women's fiction, contemporary romance, and paranormal/fantasy romance. Her most recent release is A FOOL FOR LOVE, Book One of the Sellwood Novellas. Look for the second book in The Dragonkind Chronicles, DRAGON'S FLAME, coming out in 2016. You can find Susan at www.susanlute.com. Visit and sign up for her newsletter, Su's News, to be one of the first to hear about new releases and special deals.

Website: www.susanlute.com

To signe up for Su's News: http://susanlute.com/contact-me/

GIFTS FROM THE HEART

Romancing the Genres is well-represented in the new Windtree Press anthology, Gifts from the Heart. Three of the nine stories were written by Genre-istas!

Welcome! I'm Judith Ashley, author of The Sacred Women's Circle novels, romantic fiction that honors spiritual practices that nourish the soul and celebrates the path from relationships to romance.

Sarah Raplee writes scary, funny paranormal and steampunk romances. She writes because she can't help it, and it's more fun than most of the alternatives. Her first novel, BLINDSIGHT, will be available in January 2015.

Paranormal Romance Author Diana McCollum weaves time travel, historical and/or fantasy elements into her stories. Her first novella, THE WITCH WITH THE TRIDENT TATTOO, will be available in January 2015.

The three of us are excited to be a part of the latest Windtree Press Anthology!

Rediscover the magic and romance of Valentine’s Day. Heartfelt stories of best friends, lost chances, first love, love renewed, and new love will bring a tear to your eye and a little skip in the beat of your heart.


Empathize with two different widows as they strive to overcome their past and open their hearts to trust again. 

Follow a survivor of the Titanic as she boards another ship and her past and future collide. 

Shiver with the cautionary tale of the prison of love in the legend of Ann’er from the dark world of Thorn. Laugh at the humorous escapades of a young woman led to find love through the questionable assistance of her cat. 

Then finish this volume by relaxing in the fairy-tale world of a little dog who helps a sad and lonely princess learn to accept the unconditional love of pets.“

The Telltale Heart” by Sarah Raplee
How can there be a win-win situation when two young men love the same woman? This story of best friends, lost chances, and found love will bring a tear to your eye and a little skip in the beat of your heart.

Is He the One?” by Judith Ashley
When her best friend and long-time lover proposes, Sophia hesitates to say “yes.” Unable to trust her heart, Sophia analyzes their relationship using Dr. William Glasser’s concept of basic psychological needs. By morning she has her answer.

Saved by the Ring” by Diana McCollum
A soldier leaves for Afghanistan. The love of his life has refused to wait for him. Through war and injury he remains faithful and motivates his recovery with the thought of seeing her one more time.

“Be My Valentine” by Susan Lute 
“Dancing on the Water” by Mercer Addison 
“Heart of a Highlander” by Collette Cameron
“The Flaming Heart of Winter” by Pamela Cowan 
“Matchmaker Cat” by Jane Killick 
“Metro Goes to London” by Susie Slanina

Gifts from the Heart is available in early January 2015! In the meantime, add Gifts from the Heart to your Valentine gift-giving list. We guarantee there is a story to warm the heart of the recipient and maybe garner a kiss or two for the giver!

Contemporary Romance – What Makes It Fun To Read...And Write

By Susan Lute

SUSAN LUTE

According to Wikipedia, in 2004 over half of the romances published in the U.S. were contemporary romances. That's probably still true, though today, as then, there are many sub-genres that rise and fall in popularity. What makes the contemporary novel fun to read? Different romance genres take the reader to different places. Romantic suspense puts them on the edge of their seats. Paranormal romance crawls inside their skin, taking them to the other side of reality. A good historical will transport them back in time. For me, what makes contemporaries fun to read is that ultimately they bring the reader home, whether they are about Jenny from the block,  girls in the city, life in small towns, community, families. Finding love in today's confusing and fast-paced world can be a challenge. Contemporary romances remind the reader, while falling in love can have it's ups and downs, it still feels like nothing else in this world.

I like to watch House Hunters International because it's all about couples leaving everything they've known behind to start over in a brand new life. Reading a contemporary romance is like that. Fun. Exciting. Triumphant. Really, these stories could be about any of us.

To write a contemporary is sometimes more challenging than any other romance genre because the framework of suspense, 1830's London, warlocks, and shape shifters are elements that can carry a story all the way to the end. In a contemporary romance the location can become a character, but it's the characters themselves that move and shape the story. There is nothing more exciting than finding out what moves the hero and heroine, what molds their hearts, how love changes them and helps them grow.

I especially like to write the unexpected, and  roll reversal stories. A Marine heroine who is lost, and the man paying dues for his own mistake who shows her the way home – Jane's Long March Home. A single dad bringing his heart-wounded daughter back to his hometown, only to find the girl he left behind about to spread her wings, determined to escape small town life and take on the big city – The Return Of Benjamin Quincy. A former Marine suddenly responsible for his grieving nephew, who takes a job as “secretary” to the boss determined to prove to her CEO father she can fill his shoes – A Marine's Christmas Proposal. Currently I'm writing a small town contemporary, slightly humorous I think story, where our heroine is the Sheriff. Finding out if she will get her man is almost more fun than going to Disneyland.

What is your favorite contemporary romance novel, and why?

Susan Lute is a traditional and Indie published author of Contemporary Romance, Women's Fiction, and Paranormal Romance, The Dragonkind Chronicles. You can find her on the web at her website, www.susanlute.com, Pinterest, Facebook, and Goodreads. 

I'm  giving away three copies of Jane's Long March Home. Leave a comment and sign up for my newsletter to be put into a drawing to win.