The FINAL FOUR SPECIAL Christmas Novellas by some Sweet Romance Reads Authors!

LYN COTE HERE~Get them while they're DISCOUNTED! I don''t know about you but I love reading holiday stories during the holidays! I actually do cozy up to a fire with my Kindle at this time of year. But I'm usually drinking iced tea, not hot cocoa. Yes, I'm weird!! (But the fire is HOT!

 Nov. 29-Dec. 4

Kimberly Rose Johnson 

Title: Until I Met You: Brides of Seattle series

Blurb: A driven graphic designer has her world rocked when she meets a software engineer who has captured her attention and possibly her heart. She's promised the Lord she would focus on Him until Christmas, but will Ian wait?

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Until-Met-You-Seattle-Prequel-ebook/dp/B07MB87ZR6/ref=sr_1_43

Nov. 29-Dec. 4

Magdalena Scott

Title: Small Town Christmas - Serendipity, Indiana Book One

Price: 99 cents Nov. 1 - Dec. 31

Blurb: 

Melissa and her son need a new start. Jim wants a second chance. The past can ruin their future...or make it magical.

Melissa is back in Serendipity, Indiana to raise her young son and run her new business. Her best friends still live here, but so does the man who broke her heart years ago. Serendipity is full of surprises, and second chances. And this year, there's an undeniable touch of Christmas magic.

Links: 

Apple: http://apple.co/1fXJADS

Kindle: http://amzn.to/2eVVxux

Kobo: http://bit.ly/2jbY20Y

Nook: http://bit.ly/1qoHpzo

Dec. 5-11 

Laura Iding

Author: Laura Scott

Caitlyn’s Christmas $0.99 November 2nd-December 15th

After witnessing a crime, can Devon keep Caitlyn safe long enough to celebrate Christmas?

Amazon B&N Apple GooglePlay Kobo

Dec. 5-11 

Jean C. Gordon

Holiday Escape

On sale for 99 cents through Dec 31.

All they want is a holiday week away. Bridget from her well-meaning family’s condolences about her not-to-happen  Christmas Eve wedding and memories of a future that won’t be. Luke from his family’s annual critique at which he and his life choices always fall short. But, under the blue Caribbean skies, anything can happen.

BUY LINK: https://books2read.com/ap/nlw2wR/Jean-C-Gordon

Why not share these with a friend? 😅

Favorite Holiday Traditions by Laura Scott

 

Good morning from chilly Wisconsin! I hope you had a blessed Thanksgiving. I hosted the entire family at my house, and we had wonderful family time. That's what the holidays are all about, right?

Okay, so I have a confession to make. I love having the house decorated for Christmas, but I'm the only one here to do it, so I tend to dread the task. I know, I know, I should just put on the Christmas tunes and enjoy, but I guess I miss having my kids around to help. I love that they're grown up and doing their own decorating, but still, Christmas seems geared for kids.

Now my favorite tradition is sitting down with my hubby to watch Christmas movies. He's good for a couple, and that's fine with me. Maybe some day, my kids will see fit to give me grandkids, but alas, that's not happening yet. I look forward to hosting Christmas, I cherish the time with my family. 

So I've told you my secrets, now it's your turn. What are your favorite Christmas traditions? 

I'm blessed to have a Christmas book available from Love Inspired Suspense. If you read Wyoming Mountain Escape you met three US Marshals, Slade, Tanner and Colt. I've written their stories, starting with Hiding His Holiday Witness. 

Keeping out of sight

is the only way to survive.

A frantic call from a witness whose Colorado safe house is breached sends US marshal Slade Brooks to Robyn Lowry’s side at Christmastime. But when he reaches her, she doesn’t remember him—or the crime she witnessed. With the trial just days away, someone won’t stop until Robyn’s dead. And while she might recover her memory in time, keeping Robyn alive long enough to testify is Slade’s hardest mission.

Amazon B&N Apple GooglePlay Kobo

Merry Christmas to all! May you stay happy and healthy throughout the celebrations.

Laura Scott

Christmas Movies by Magdalena Scott

Photo by Dario on Unsplash

Recently in a group of friends, I mentioned that White Christmas is my favorite Yuletide movie, and that I usually wait until December 24th to watch it. After a little bit of discussion, a couple of people said they don't watch a movie more than once.

I was stunned, and decided this was not the time to pull out my phone and share my alphabetized list of Christmas movies that I like to watch every year. 

How about you? Once you've seen a flick, Christmas or otherwise, do you move on and never revisit it? 

While we're on the topic of holiday entertainment, make sure to check out this week's bargain books.

Kimberly Rose Johnson 

Title: Until I Met You: Brides of Seattle series

Blurb: A driven graphic designer has her world rocked when she meets a software engineer who has captured her attention and possibly her heart. She's promised the Lord she would focus on Him until Christmas, but will Ian wait?

Link: https://www.amazon.com/Until-Met-You-Seattle-Prequel-ebook/dp/B07MB87ZR6/ref=sr_1_43

==and==

Magdalena Scott

Title: Small Town Christmas - Serendipity, Indiana Book One

Price: 99 cents Nov. 1 - Dec. 31

Blurb: 

Melissa and her son need a new start. Jim wants a second chance. The past can ruin their future...or make it magical.

Melissa is back in Serendipity, Indiana to raise her young son and run her new business. Her best friends still live here, but so does the man who broke her heart years ago. Serendipity is full of surprises, and second chances. And this year, there's an undeniable touch of Christmas magic.

Link: books2read.com/SmallTownChristmas

Magdalena Scott

Website: https://magdalenascott.com/

Free and 99cent Christmas Romances ONLY Nov 24-28th

 

Five, count 'em, 5 Sweet Romance Authors are offering free or 99 cent Christmas Romances for FOUR DAYS. SO take time out from Christmas shopping and snag these bargains!

Altogether 39 authors of sweet, clean romance are participating.

IN PARTICULAR: Our member participants are:

 Kimberly Rose Johnson, 

Susan Aylworth, 

Jean C Gordon,

 Laura Ashwood 

and me, Lyn Cote!

CLICK HERE to see the books included and snatch up the ones that will make your season SWEETER AND BRIGHTER!

It's Boxing Day!

For our friends in Britain and throughout the Commonwealth, today is Boxing Day. It's a great time to box up the Christmas decorations for next year, put away this year's gifts, and clean up the leftovers from your holiday meal. It's also traditionally used for going out with friends, shopping the post-Christmas sales, or attending sporting events. 

Two other traditions are giving money to the people who serve you throughout the year (like the mail and newspaper deliverers) and supporting charitable organizations. I like those two especially, since they seem like good ways to counter the post-holiday letdown that often follows the holiday. Common sources for the After Blues include:

• Perfectionism
• Unrealistic expectations
• Family issues
• Disappointment 
• Emotional triggers
• Grief for those who are missing
• Guilt over what we "should have" done

Some wise person once said that we cannot feel disillusioned unless we have first ridden the crest of a great illusion. A strong first step for avoiding the after-holiday crash is to plan to do LESS rather than more, expect less, and let go of the sense that we need to achieve perfection in our holiday decor, menu, gifts, etc. After all, there is only one Martha Stewart, and you know she has hired help.

Another plan is to remember what triggered sad feelings at past Christmases and avoid those triggers--or, if we can't avoid them, prepare ourselves to accept and deal with them. That can also include planning for the grief or guilt that we know may follow. We can choose to focus on the positive, reminiscing over our best times. As Zig Ziglar put it, "One small positive thought can change your whole day." Yay for that kind of change!

Planning another event to follow shortly after Christmas--yes, even before New Year's Eve--can be another way of connecting with people we love and with whom we can enjoy reliving the high moments of the holiday and maybe extending the joy. 

Calling on the traditions of our British Commonwealth friends, we can lift ourselves out of the post-holiday blues by giving to others, especially if we've missed Giving Tuesday on Nov. 30. Two great organizations which I support and can heartily recommend are Choice Humanitarian and Operation Underground Railroad. 

Choice states its mission as the end of extreme poverty. I have seen where they work in Bolivia and in their newest project in the Navajo Nation, Arizona. I've also seen how Choice is making a difference.

O.U.R. has a different, but equally worthwhile, purpose. Like the original Underground Railroad, O.U.R. seeks to rescue people from a present, insidious form of slavery. Their mission is to rescue trafficked children and give them a second chance at a healthy life. 

If you're prone to the after-Christmas Blues, giving to others can help. Reminiscing the best times with friends can help. If all else fails, book your next vacation. As author Elbert Hubbard put it, "No [one] needs a vacation so much as the [person] who has just had one." Happy December 26th!

Susan Aylworth is the author of more than 20 novels. The third book in her Christmas Town series, Kisses and Kittens in Christmas Town, is on sale for 99c now through Dec. 1. Over the Rainbow, a prequel to the Rainbow Rock Romances, is available free to everyone who subscribes to her newsletter on her website: susanaylworthauthor.com. Contact her on her Facebook author page or via susan.aylworth.author@gmail.com or join her on Twitter @Susan Aylworth. 

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Quilt Expos by Janice Lynn

 So, I was recently blessed with the opportunity to do a book signing at the Original Sewing and Quilting Expo in Nashville, Tn. I'd never been to a quilt expo, so I wasn't sure exactly what to expect other than there would be quilts. What fun, y'all?! And, how amazingly talented are the folks at these shows?! My book signing was at 3, but I arrived a couple of hours early so I could walk around and look at the quilts and do some shopping. I may be too ashamed to ever post another photo of one of my quilts, because let me just tell you, the artistry of these quilts is just mind blowing. I'm going to post photos of just a few of my favorites, but there were so many that it's difficult to choose. 

This first quilt was just so eye-catching with it's dark background and it's brightly colored embroidery. Just absolutely gorgeous work.

 This next beauty has varied blocks and applique and was stunning. 

This photo was of one of the booths where you could buy material, kits, and premade goodies. And then next is another of some gorgeous embroidery work on quilts. Truly, photos just don't do these quilts justice.

This quilt was one of my favorites!

 I've always seen quilting as a form of artwork, and attending a quilt expo definitely highlighted that. One wall displayed beautiful quilted panels. There were so fabulous 

My book signing went well. I loved getting to meet so many who share my passion for quilting and for books. 

I obviously love quilts. My books feature some very special quilts called Quilts of Valor. These quilts are meant to heal and welcome our military home.  

Do you have any special quilts in your life? Perhaps that a grandmother made or that someone gave to you as a gift? Have you ever been to a quilt expo or show? 

Wrapped Up in Christmas Hope from Hallmark Publishing is available now!

Buy Your Copy HERE

USA Today, Wall Street Journal, & Publishers Weekly Bestselling author JANICE LYNN lives in Tennessee with her Prince Charming and their princes and princesses, her vivid imagination, an adorable Maltese named Halo who's the true royalty of the house, and bunches of unnamed dust bunnies that moved in after Janice started her writing career. In addition to writing romance, Janice is a nurse practitioner, a quilter, an exercise queen, a military mama, and an avid supporter of the Quilts of Valor Foundation. Just kidding on the exercise queen. www.janicelynn.com   WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS & WRAPPED UP IN CHRISTMAS JOY are available at AMAZON Barnes & Noble WALMART

www.janicelynn.com

A Fairy Tale, A Holiday, And Small Town Montana by Merri Maywether

 
This is, without a doubt, my favorite time of the year. At the beginning of November, everyone pauses to notice the good things in their lives. They take time to be grateful. To say thank you. To be kind. 

When I visit the larger cities, I notice people holding doors and looking each other in the eye to say thank you. And that is what I cherish about the holiday season. People are more receptive to give and receive kindness. There is no questioning of motives. They just accept kindness.

In rural Montana, kindness is the norm. People will help without giving it a second thought. Here, it goes to the other extreme. If you need help and don’t ask, friends and neighbors will ask why you felt like you had to handle the situation on your own. 

So the holiday season, to the rest of the world, is what it feels like to live here all year long. Kindness is more than a virtue here. It is a way of life.

Kindness is also why Cinderella is one of my favorite fairy tales. 

Cinderella was a kind-hearted person, despite her mean step-sisters and step-mother. She was getting dumped on all the time. Yet, she sang and danced with the mice and birds. As a kid, I loved the fairy godmother popping in and granting a wish. My favorite part was that scene when she was given a gown, a tiara, and a horse-drawn pumpkin carriage. 

Funny thing. I'm a romance writer and Cinderella marrying the prince didn’t matter to me until I was in my twenties. 

Even funnier–now I'm wishing the magical birds and mice would befriend me and help with the chores. But I digress. 

One day inspiration struck. What would happen if I wrote a Cinderella-inspired Christmas story set in small-town Montana? 

And that was the spark for Meet Me By the Christmas Tree. 

A Hollywood star returns to his small-town roots and makes a wish for a wife beneath the magical Paradise Hills Tree. There is more to the story, but like the prince in Cinderella, he has one thing to find the lady who has captured his heart–an angel pin. 

It was a fun story to write. I acquired a gingerbread cookie habit after writing it. If you want to see the recipe or the images I used for inspiration, here is the link to the Pinterest Board I created while writing it. 

This is where I'll close this month's Sweet Romance Reads post. Before I go I have two questions. Answer one or both. What was your favorite story when you were younger? And, what is your favorite thing about the holiday season?

____________________________

Meet Me by the Christmas Tree

is available at your favorite

online retailer for 99¢

Amazon | Apple Books | B&N | Kobo

_______________________________________

Merri Maywether lives with her husband in rural Montana. You can find her in the town's only coffee house listening to three generations of Montanans share their stories. Otherwise, she's in the classroom or the school library, inspiring the next generation's writers.