Tuesday, September 30, 2014

The Dating Game with the Sweet Christmas Kisses Heroes

Welcome to The Dating Game! You, dear reader, are the Bachelorette seeking a date and will be asking questions of our Bachelors, the Heroes from Sweet Christmas Kisses. Judge their answers carefully (LOL), and post your chosen date in the comment section. Every comment this week on our blog will earn an entry into a book prize package to be announced on Saturday! Comment every day to increase your chances of winning!

Today's game will feature two questions. Are you ready Bachelorette? Bachelors? Let The Dating Game begin!


Bachelorette (you): Gentlemen, what do you love about the Christmas holiday?

Bachelor #1 (Aaron Chase from An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano): "I love the look of wonder on my little girl's face as she enjoyed the magic of Christmas."

Bachelor #2 (Paul Love from Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird): "I think what I love most is making people feel at home and connected to others. As the owner and operator of the Love Inn, hosting is in my nature. I especially love entertaining guests during the holidays. There's nothing like a cup of cocoa by the fireside with the snow gently -- or ferociously! -- falling outside. Spending Christmas in Maine is always an adventure, and sometimes that adventure is tinged with magic..."

Bachelor #3 (Sean Fabian from The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby by Helen Scott Taylor): "I always love spending time at home with my twin girls, especially at Christmas time--a truly magical time of year if you're a dad."

Bachelor #4 (Conran Dark from Story Times by Beate Böker): "It gives me a breathing space as most of my fans are busy with their families and business slows down, so it's a time for me to recuperate and come up with new songs."

Bachelor #5 (Jackson Hardaway from The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis): "The smell of a Christmas Tree, sitting quietly in front of the fire, being surrounded by family."

Bachelor #6 (Nick Randolph from Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish): "I haven’t been able to enjoy Christmas in the past few years, even as my daughter grows old enough to look forward to it. I’m hoping this year will be better."

Bachelor #7 (Dr. Tony Lorenzo from Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk): "I love the family gathering, the holiday excitement that goes with Christmas preparation and gifts. I always volunteer to set the Christmas manger and tree in my mother’s travel agency shop."

Bachelor #8 (Jim Standish from Small Town Christmas by Magdalena Scott): "I love making sure everybody has just the right Christmas tree for their home. This is how Dad taught me and my siblings to run the tree farm."

Bachelorette (you): Name one Christmas gift you wanted, but didn't receive. Why was it important to you?

Bachelor #1 (Aaron Chase from An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano): "When I was 10 years old, I asked for a set of barbells for Christmas. All the superheroes in my favorite comics had powerful muscles and I wanted to be like them. Over the years, I've learned that "saving the day" takes more than physical strength."

Bachelor #2 (Paul Love from Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird): "You've caught me off guard with the question, but I'm going to answer honestly. The one Christmas wish I had that wasn't granted was for my beloved late wife Nancy. I would have given anything for her to have lived to see our son Daniel grow into the young man he is today, now nearly an adult and headed to college. But I understand life had other plans. Sometimes those plans are difficult to make out until several years later. Now, I'm convinced Nancy would have wanted me to move on, and find hope and happiness once again. This Christmas, for the first time in forever, I'm starting to believe that maybe I can. It certainly helps that a beautiful brunette, with a quirky personality and a winning smile, has managed to reawaken my faith. Not only that, she is dynamite on skis."

Bachelor #4 (Conran Dark from Story Times by Beate Böker): "I always wanted to be a drummer, but my parents did not want to have the constant noise in the house. They gave me a guitar instead. At first, I was truly disappointed, but as it turns out, it was a great foundation for my career."

Bachelor #5 (Jackson Hardaway from The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis): "A BMX bike. I got a 10-speed instead. Diminished my cool-factor in the seventh grade."

Bachelor #6 (Nick Randolph from Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish): "I wanted a horse when I was a kid. I thought that would make me part of the cool crowd, but we couldn't afford one. I may get one for my daughter some day, just because I've always loved horses."

Bachelor #7 (Dr. Tony Lorenzo from Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk): "I wanted my father to be present at Christmas. Didn't happen. But this year I received a wonderful gift: a Christmas cruise with the lovely girl who stole my heart."

Bachelor #8 (Jim Standish from Small Town Christmas by Magdalena Scott): "When I was 18, I wanted a sports car, but Dad and Mom bought a newer model pickup truck and let me and my brother David share the old one. Taught us to get along, and to earn enough to buy what we wanted."





So, Bachelorette. Who will you choose? Bachelor #1 (Aaron)? Bachelor #2 (Paul)? Bachelor #3 (Sean), Bachelor #4 (Conran), (Bachelor #5 (Jackson), Bachelor #6 (Nick), Bachelor #7 (Tony), or Bachelor #8 (Jim)?

*****

Sweet Christmas Kissesa bundle of PG-rated romance novels and novellas from USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.

Sweet Christmas Kisses takes you from small-town USA to England, Scotland, and even Ecuador; from the beach to snow-capped mountains, and to the wild--sometimes magical--west. The Sweet Christmas Kisses bundle will bring you laughter, tears, and always joy, for more than 1600 pages. Foreword by New York Times bestselling author, Brenda Novak.



~Available Now~

Every comment this week on our blog will earn an entry into a book prize package shown here, winner to be announced on Saturday! Comment every day to increase your chances of winning!
Prize pack contains: 2 autographed sweet romances from friends of SRR (The Promise of Rain by Rula Sinara, Mountains Apart by Carol Ross), a book bag from Rula Sinara, an Alaskan key chain from Carol Ross, a purse-size first aid kit from Roz Denny Fox, a heart-shaped stress ball, a Sweet & Heartwarming bracelet, a bee set of salt & pepper shakers, sweet wooden embellishments (hello, darling, cute, friends, sunshine, lovely).

Monday, September 29, 2014

A Q&A with the Sweet Christmas Kisses Authors

The release of Sweet Christmas Kisses is tomorrow! To celebrate, this week will be devoted to getting to know the books and characters in this set! The authors of Sweet Christmas Kisses have joined us today to share what got them excited to write their story.

Every comment this week on our blog will earn an entry into a book prize package (see below), winner to be announced on Saturday! Comment every day to increase your chances of winning!

First up is Donna Fasano, author of An Almost Perfect Christmas. Hello Donna! What got you excited to write An Almost Perfect Christmas?

Donna: "Hello! The first character from An Almost Perfect Christmas to come to me was 8-year-old Izzie. She started chattering to me (as little girls often do) about how she wants her daddy to have Christmas all year long. I simply HAD to write her story."


Thank you so much, Donna, for sharing your story.


Next up is Ginny Baird, author of Mistletoe in Maine. Welcome, Ginny! Tell us a little about the inspiration behind Mistletoe in Maine.

Ginny: "Thank you! I'd spent some time on vacation with my husband in Maine, and really fell in love with its beauty. So many stories set in Maine take place on its rugged coast, but I was excited to write about a lesser known area... its isolated northwestern corner. It made the perfect romantic backdrop for a holiday tale, complete with skiing, dog sledding, horse-drawn sleigh riding, and of course lots, and lots of snow!"

Thank you, Ginny! That seems like a wonderfully romantic setting for a holiday story.

Helen Scott Taylor, author of The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby, joins us now. Welcome, Helen!  What led to the creation of this story?

Helen: "Hello everybody! Sean Fabian, the hero of The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby, is a hotshot army surgeon who operated on a child in one of the other Army Doctor books. A tall, blond, blue-eyed heartthrob, I knew the moment he stepped into the series he must have his own book."

I'm sure readers are glad you gave Sean his own book! Thank you for sharing!

The next author to join us today is Beate Böker, author of Stormy Times. Hello there, Beate! What can you tell us about your story inspiration?

Beate: "Hello! After a very exhausting trade fair in NYC, my fiancee and I took three days off to drive to Long Island. It was so beautiful and so serene that I fell for the area and immediately decided to set a book there!"

Thank you, Beate, for sharing that experience with us!


I would now like to welcome Melinda Curtis, author of The Christmas Promise. Thank you for being here today! Why did you write The Christmas Promise?

Melinda: "Hi! My friend Kim went to Ecuador to create an organic chocolate snack. Kim encountered bugs, downpours, and snakes-- nirva
na for a comedy writer. A fish-out-of-water story was born!"

It sounds like your friend is having quite the experience! Thank you for sharing with us.


The next Sweet Christmas Kisses author to join us is Aileen Fish, author of Christmas in White Oak. Hello, Aileen, tell us a little bit of the story behind your story.

Aileen: "Hello! This was my first book in my Small Town Sweethearts series where a main character had a child, so I was eager to put the feeling of a family Christmas into a story. I love huge family gatherings, especially at Christmas!"


Thank you Aileen, Christmas is a wonderful time of year for family to come together. 



Mona Risk, author of Her Christmas Cruise, joins us now to tell what her inspiration was.

Mona: "Hello all! Vacationing on a cruise is heaven for me. I relax and watch the people around. Honeymooners in love, retired couples enjoying their free time, elders fulfilling a bucket list. Many love stories start in the romantic atmosphere provided by a cruise. Her Christmas Cruise was written during a Mediterranean cruise."

That sounds like fun! Thank you for sharing your inspiration with all of us!


Let's welcome Magdalena Scott, author of Small Town Christmas! Hello, Magdalena.  It's a pleasure to have you here. Can you tell us the story behind Small Town Christmas?

Magdalena: "The pleasure is all mine! The plot started as a brainstorming session when I was training my replacement at the day job. We both had a “goose bumps” moment when I suggested the final scene. I dedicated Small Town Christmas to her."


I'm sure that was a great honor to her! Thank you for sharing Magdalena!



Last, but certainly not least, let's welcome Kristin Wallace, author of By Christmas! Thank you for joining us Kristin, what was the motivation behind By Christmas?

Kristin: "The heroine of my book (Noelle Robinson) had a minor role in my first book. She was a jilted bride. I loved the idea of giving “poor little Noelle” a happily ever after. Adding the element of the Christmas holiday and her having to run the town’s festivities just made the story all the more fun."

By Christmas sounds like a wonderful holiday story! Thank you, Kristin, for sharing!


I would like to thank the authors of Sweet Christmas Kisses for joining us today and sharing such fabulous backstory! It's always interesting to see the inspiration behind the stories we read. Come back tomorrow for more fun with Sweet Christmas Kisses!

*****

Sweet Christmas Kissesa bundle of PG-rated romance novels and novellas from USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.

Sweet Christmas Kisses takes you from small-town USA to England, Scotland, and even Ecuador; from the beach to snow-capped mountains, and to the wild--sometimes magical--west. The Sweet Christmas Kisses bundle will bring you laughter, tears, and always joy, for more than 1600 pages. Foreword by New York Times bestselling author, Brenda Novak.



~Available Now~

Every comment this week on our blog will earn an entry into a book prize package shown here, winner to be announced on Saturday! Comment every day to increase your chances of winning!
Prize pack contains: 2 autographed sweet romances from friends of SRR (The Promise of Rain by Rula Sinara, Mountains Apart by Carol Ross), a book bag from Rula Sinara, an Alaskan key chain from Carol Ross, a purse-size first aid kit from Roz Denny Fox, a heart-shaped stress ball, a Sweet & Heartwarming bracelet, a bee set of salt & pepper shakers, sweet wooden embellishments (hello, darling, cute, friends, sunshine, lovely).


 

Sunday, September 28, 2014

PTSD Sufferers Can Love- by Karen Rock

In my September released Harlequin Heartwarming novel, SOMEONE LIKE YOU, my main character, Niall Walsh, is an Afghanistan veteran harboring a terrible, classified war secret that keeps him from wanting to live the life he’s been spared. In fact, he tells his concerned sister, Mary Anne, that the wrong man survived the tragic day he lost his battle buddies… namely him. In addition to survivor’s guilt, he’s joined the swelling ranks of our returning warriors with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. It’s an increasingly recognized and diagnosed condition, one families and partners cope with when helping their loved one readjust to civilian life.
Soldiers have witnessed horrors and experienced fears that are beyond our imagining. It affects them on many levels, especially in their ability to give and receive love. Some may no longer feel able or willing to care for another. The lighthearted, generous, open man who was deployed has now come home darker, troubled, and closed off. He may be reluctant to show emotion at all as he learned that it was easier to cope with war’s devastation by not letting himself feel at all. How to bring him back? The man you love.
Patience is key.  Love is like energy. It cannot be destroyed. It is there, but is buried under thick layers of pain, fear and anxiety. It will take time, understanding, and treatment to get through them. The more extensive his traumatic experience, the longer the process will take. Kayleigh, the heroine in my novel, is Niall’s longtime childhood friend. She’s persistent about getting him out of his hermit-like existence. She gradually helps him to understand that he has value in this life, that there is a reason he survived and that he owes it to himself and his fallen comrades to appreciate this gift and live… as well as love.
Support your loved one. Love can frighten a PTSD sufferer. It doesn’t make sense when they compare it to the suffering they’ve experienced or witnessed. How can he delight in your lovely smile when horrific images override it? How can he think romantic thoughts when devastating memories cloud his mind? Love and Pain. Joy and Fear. The job is to make them exist together, until the healing process is finished, so that life and love can go on. Be present, every step of the way and when the path to wellness is complete, he’ll remember that you were there through the good times and the tough ones, too.
Understanding. No one can know what your loved one went through except him. Still. You can show him that you are willing to listen and empathize without judgment. War requires soldiers to commit acts that, to civilians, would be hard to accept. Yet you must, for the sake of your relationship, be that person he can turn to when he needs to vent. He doesn’t want your pity. He needs your understanding and by giving it to him, he will be better equipped to understand himself and what happened during the war.
Put together a strong network. Like Niall, my hero, many returning vets find refuge in isolation. Don’t let your partner fall prey to that. Surround him with friends, family and even veterans groups that will support, accept and appreciate him. He needs to rediscover the goodness in his life. Together, with others, you’ll show him the way back to life and love, teaching him to accept what happened and love himself again, too.
Love is possible for those suffering from post-traumatic stress syndrome. It will take time, support, understanding and a strong network. Most of all, it will take faith. Believe that the wonderful person you love may have changed from his experiences, but he is still there. Like all worthy treasure, you’ll need to dig deep to uncover it again.
As Niall says to Kayleigh at the end of SOMEONE LIKE YOU:
I see you when I close my eyes,” he murmured, touching his forehead to hers. “I can’t stop thinking about you, wondering where you are and what you're doing. Things in my past made me closed off. You were right about that. But I’m not anymore. My heart is open, and it belongs to you.”
Kayleigh and Niall have their happily-ever-after and so will you. Like them, it’s not an easy road, but believe that it will end in love.
~*~
Karen Rock is an award-winning YA and adult contemporary author. She holds a Master of Fine Arts in English and worked as an ELA instructor before becoming a full-time author. When she's not writing, Karen loves scouring estate sales for vintage books, cooking her grandmother's family recipes, hiking and redesigning her gardens. She lives in the Adirondack Mountain region with her husband, daughter, and two Cavalier King cocker spaniels who have yet to understand the concept of "fetch" though they know a lot about love. http://www.karenrock.com

Friday, September 26, 2014

You're Invited! by Ginny Baird


Party Down with #SweetXmasBox Authors!

Date: Tuesday, September 30th 2014
Time: 3:00 pm - 10:00 pm ET

I’m happy to share that fourteen members of Sweet Romance Reads are hosting a party to celebrate their new boxed set and you’re invited! Sweet Christmas Kisses: Fourteen Sweet Christmas Romances is a collection of heartwarming stories that will take you from small-town USA to England, Scotland, and even Ecuador; from the beach to snow-capped mountains, and to the wild—sometimes magical—west.  


I couldn’t be more excited to have participated in this project with fellow talented authors Donna Fasano, Helen Scott Taylor, Beate Boeker, Melinda Curtis, Denise Devine, Raine English, Aileen Fish, Patricia Forsythe, Grace Greene, Mona Risk, Roxanne Rustand, Magdalena Scott and Kristin Wallace. All of us are coming together, alongside some fab guest authors, to celebrate the bundle’s release on Tuesday, September 30th from 3:00 pm to 10:00 pm ET, right here at Sweet Romance Reads on our Facebook page.

Will there be games? Oh yeah. And fun? You bet! How about cool giveaways and prizes? Absolutely! Apart from our guest authors generously gifting a prize each hour, we’ve arranged a dynamite Rafflecopter, including Amazon Gift Cards, books, and other great items! What’s more, there will be several ways to enter and up your chances of winning. We’d love to have you join us for the festivities. If you’re hoping to connect with particular authors, you’ll find their schedule of appearances below. We’ll look for you at party time! ;)

3:00 pm
SRR Host: Helen Scott Taylor
SRR Host: Beate Boeker
Guest Author: Jayne Ann Krentz

4:00 pm
SRR Host: Melinda Curtis
SRR Host: Donna Fasano
Guest Authors: Karen Rock and Shanna Hatfield

5:00 pm
SRR Host: Magdalena Scott
SRR Host: Raine English
Guest Authors: Susan Meier and RaeAnne Thayne

6:00 pm
SRR Host: Grace Greene
SRR Host: Denise Devine
Guest Author: Emma Miller

7:00 pm
SRR Host: Mona Risk
SRR Host: Kristin Wallace
Guest Author: Hallee Bridgeman

8:00 pm
SRR Host: Ginny Baird
SRR Host: Roxanne Rustand
Guest Author: Melissa McClone

9:00 pm
SRR Host: Aileen Fish
SRR Host: Patricia Forsythe
Guest Author: Cheryl St. John
Honorable Mention: Brenda Novak

~*~

Sweet Christmas Kisses: Fourteen Sweet Christmas Romances is currently available for Pre-Order at the following vendors: AmazonKoboiTunes and Google.

Coming to Barnes and Noble release day, September 30th 2014.


Wednesday, September 24, 2014

What Does Fall House-Cleaning and Sorting Have to Do with Writing Romance?

Lyn Cote here--The answer is that Fall House-Cleaning and Sorting is keeping me from writing romance!

Fall color at the lake

I live at a lake and I'm expecting fall company very soon. I have just finished not one but TWO intense revision projects.

I looked at the calendar and realized that I have a weekend getaway with my dh and then COMPANY!
Foggy Fall Morning at the lake

I am not known for perfectionism around the house, but REALLY--I'VE GOT TO DO SOMETHING QUICK! That something being sorting and clearing off the mound of stuff I want to upcycle to the local thrift store. All that stuff is mounded on my guest room bed!

Sigh....

I'll get it all done and it will feel great! It's just that so much else is vying for my attention--like a husband, 3 cats, an various appointments. Does this sound like your life?

Well, it explains why I'm not getting any writing done.

What takes you away from what you want to do, need to do? GO AHEAD --LET IT ALL OUT!

BTW, on my blog I am hosting authors of PLAIN PEOPLE. This week, Ann H Gabhart is talking about SHAKERS. Ever heard of them?  Click here, if curious.

Well, back to cleaning and sorting-BYE!!! --Lyn


Monday, September 22, 2014

Taking it for granted by Joanne Hill

This last week down here in New Zealand we've had a general election. The day before the election I  spoke, by dint of my day job working in heritage, at a woman's suffrage event. Suffrage - such an odd sounding word - is the right to vote in an election and its a subject dear to the hearts of Kiwis because we grew up knowing that New Zealand was the first country in the world to give women the right to vote - back in September 1893! So it was a true privilege to speak at this event, an event honouring the group of determined and passionate women who all those years ago presented a petition to the New Zealand parliament demanding equality, and who paved the way for women all over the globe, regardless of their status.

I quite like public speaking but this was a different kind of event. Not only was it literally in public, in a public square in the CBD, but it was political. Scary, right there! There were dignitaries attending including the deputy mayor, members of parliament, city councillors, and local board members. Talking at a public and political event like this is not quite like giving a talk on plotting to your fellow writers on a Friday night, but it was an honour, even more so knowing that the next day I would be voting, thanks to the bold, courageous women who fought that fight.


The woman associated with the movement was Kate Shepherd. A Christian socialist, she joined the Women's Christian Temperance Movement and pushed for the right to vote in order to bring in prohibition, but soon the issue of voting itself took over and it became more about the right to vote, full stop. A few years back, she was honoured with her picture going on the New Zealand ten dollar bill.

We take it for granted now but as one of the speakers reminded us, the fight isn't over, not by a long shot. There are still countries in the world where women are treated appallingly just because they are women and at this moment, there are also women - and no doubt men - fighting for what we now see as a most basic human right.
The words bold and courageous have come up a lot lately, and women like Kate Shepherd were definitely that. Who do you think of when you think of those words?
Joanne's current book Dating Daisy is part of a bundle with seven authors called Second Chances and is now available on Amazon for just .99c until the end of October.
 

 

 

 

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Be Kind: A 50-Year-and-Counting Love Story



I witnessed a rare event the other day.  It was a surprise party we had organized for my dear friends Lena's and Sam's wedding anniversary.  

Lena is a talented woman who works with special kids and plays percussion in a rock/jazz band.   She's gorgeous - she looks just like Julia Roberts with gentler, softer edges and the same million-volt smile.  Sam is a gentle, kind man with a twinkle in his eye - the strong, silent type who's proud to let his woman shine.  You can see it in the way he looks at her.

The bride and groom
Their kids, her sister and a few good friends got together to throw them a party because it wasn't just any anniversary.   
We were celebrating their fiftieth one.

In the course of the party, someone obviously had to ask them how they'd lasted so long.  After all, not many relationships make it that long.

The couple looked at each other as if the answer was obvious. 

"Be kind to each other," Lena said, as if it was the most natural thing.  Sam patted her hand and she gave his a little squeeze.

I can hear the skeptics saying, well that's easy to say when you don't have any problems.  Lucky them, they probably had an easy life.  Not so. Neither one of them have had easy lives, not before they met, not during their lives together.  But they are among the happiest, most giving and kind people I know.

Despite constantly struggling to make ends meet, many moves, health issues, raising three kids, the pressure of jobs and helping out with grandchildren, they've distilled the essence of making it work to two words:  

Be kind.

Sam fled home as soon as he was old enough.  His vehicle of escape was joining the Navy.  After basic training, he kept begging to get shipped out and instead kept being stuck with shore-side assignments.  One day, while on leave, a friend took him up to Rhode Island to visit some cousins.   

As they walked toward the house, they saw a girl standing on the porch.  She turned as they approached.  Sam took one look at her and knew.  That was it - he told his friend this was the woman he wanted to marry. 

Lena took one look at the cute sailor coming up the drive of her friend's house and promptly added three years to her age.  Afraid that he'd ignore her because he'd think she was just a kid, she lied and told Sam she was eighteen.

Two years later, when they went to get their marriage license -- only days before the wedding, because they'd forgotten all about that little detail! -- they almost had to cancel the event.  The judge wouldn't sign the license until Lena's parents showed up at the courthouse, too, to give their permission, because she was still three months shy of her eighteen birthday!

As fate would have it, not long after they started their new life together, he got shipped out with the Fifth Fleet and spent the next two years at sea.  Lena still has every letter they exchanged during that time - and in all the years since then.  Her family is cajoling her into turning those letters into a book about what it was like to be a Navy wife, almost fifty years ago.  

They think it would be a fascinating historical work. 

I think it will be a wonderful love story.



In addition to "be kind" -- any favorite words of wisdom from other happy couples out there?


Milou Koenings writes romance because, like chocolate, stories with a happy ending bring more joy into the world and so make it a better place.  

Her new release, Reclaiming Home, A Green Pines Romance, is available at Amazon
 
You can find her on her website, www.miloukoenings.com, on Facebook, Goodreads or Twitter.