The 10-Minute Summer Dessert That Tastes Like Christmas (Plus a Free Holiday Romance!) by Josie Riviera

July might bring hot and humid temperatures here in the Carolinas, but that doesn't mean we can't enjoy a taste of holiday cheer! This month, I'm sharing my favorite no-bake peppermint icebox cake. It's refreshing, festive, and perfect for those "Christmas in July" moments when you need a midyear dose of holiday spirit.

Recipe for Quick Peppermint Icebox Cake:

• 1 package chocolate graham crackers
• 2 cups whipped topping
• 1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract
• 3 tablespoons crushed peppermint candies or peppermint baking chips (available in the baking aisle year-round!)

Layer graham crackers with the peppermint-infused whipped topping in a small dish, refrigerate for two hours, and enjoy! It's simple enough to make with grandchildren on hot afternoons and festive enough to bring holiday magic to summer days.

Speaking of holiday magic, I'm celebrating Christmas in July by giving away my sweet holiday romance Candleglow and Mistletoe completely FREE for the next few days. In this story, talented pianist Noelle Wentworth finds unexpected love with charming stuntman Gabe Waters in the picturesque, fictional town of Snowing Rock. I am a pianist, though not as talented as Noelle! :)

Grab your free ebook copy here.

Do you celebrate Christmas in July? I'd love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.

P.S. The newest bird to visit my backyard bird feeder is Brewer's Blackbird.

If you're looking for your next great read, the complete Sweetwater Springs series is my newest release and now available in a boxed set. These three sweet romances will transport you to a charming small town filled with hope, heart, and the kind of community we'd all love to find.

The three books in the boxed set include:

WHISPERS OF LOVE IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
One mysterious letter. Two childhood friends. A love story decades in the making.

WHISPERS OF MAPLE MEMORIES IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A century-old secret. A stolen chronicle. Could unearthing their past cost them their future?

WHISPERS OF HOLIDAY MAGIC IN SWEETWATER SPRINGS
A struggling baker, a determined financier, and a small-town mystery where secrets spark holiday magic.

Grab your copy of Whispers of Sweetwater Springs today.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully support husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

Christmas in July: Adding Holiday Sparkle with Easy Cookies & Cozy Romance by Josie Riviera.

Let's give July a touch of Christmas magic – it's easier than you think!

Here's a down-to-earth guide on how to sprinkle some festive joy into your summer:

1. Decorate Your Space: No need to go overboard, just a few decorations can do wonders. Hang some fairy lights, put up a wreath or two, and maybe place a small Christmas figurine on your mantle. It'll add that cozy holiday vibe without breaking a sweat.
2. Festive Treats: Let's talk about everyone's favorite part – the food! Whip up some easy Christmas cookies to snack on while you enjoy the season's spirit. And don't worry, I've got a simple recipe for you below.
3. Movie Night In: Gather your loved ones (or enjoy some alone time) and cozy up with a good ol' Christmas movie. It doesn't have to be the latest blockbuster – classics like "Home Alone" or "It's a Wonderful Life" will do just fine.
4. Spread Kindness: Take a cue from Santa and spread some joy wherever you go. It could be as simple as complimenting a stranger or volunteering at a local charity. Remember, it's the little things that count.
5. Make Memories: Whether you're single, dating, or happily committed, make the most of this time with your loved ones. Bake together, laugh together, and cherish every moment.

Now, let's get to that Christmas cookie recipe:

Easy Christmas Sugar Cookies

 

Ingredients:

1 package of store-bought sugar cookie dough (16-ounce package)

All-purpose flour (for rolling)

Christmas-themed cookie cutters (like stars, trees, or bells)

Assorted colored sugar or sprinkles for decorating

Instructions:

1. Preheat your oven to the temperature specified on the cookie dough package.
2. Lightly flour a clean surface and roll out the sugar cookie dough until it's about 1/4 inch thick.
3. Use the Christmas-themed cookie cutters to cut out shapes from the dough.
4. Place the cookie shapes onto a baking sheet lined with parchment paper, leaving some space between each cookie.
5. Sprinkle the cookies with colored sugar or sprinkles to decorate them.
6. Bake according to the instructions on the cookie dough package, usually around 8-10 minutes or until the edges are golden brown.
7. Let the cookies cool on the baking sheet for a few minutes, then transfer them to a wire rack to cool completely.

These festive Christmas sugar cookies are perfect for your Christmas in July celebrations. They're easy to make and sure to bring a smile to everyone's face. Enjoy!

New release! Celebrate Christmas in July with Holiday Hearts Volume 5!

Get ready to be swept away by the enchanting spirit of Christmas with this heartwarming collection of three sweet and clean romances. These stories are like a warm cup of cocoa for your soul, celebrating the true magic of the holiday season. ★★

In 1-800-NEW YEAR, Shanice is faced with a choice: sell her cherished family farmhouse or hold onto the memories it holds, especially those of her teenage crush, Lincoln Reid. When Lincoln returns to Roses, NC, their paths cross once again, but this time, he's determined to win her heart. This small-town contemporary holiday romance promises a Hallmark-worthy Happily-Ever-After and a beautiful interracial love story.

Christmas in the Air  Meet Penelope Reid, a single mother navigating life after a difficult divorce. She opens up to a stranger on a plane, only to discover that he's none other than Jacob Williams, the new pediatrician in town. As their connection deepens, secrets are revealed, and a heartwarming romance blooms, all while facing the judgmental eyes of her critical son and their close-knit community. Get ready for a tale filled with holiday cheer and the power of love.

Cocoa's Christmas Love    Visit Evergreen Valley, where Ivy Bennett's flower shop is the heart of the town. When a disillusioned hometown photographer, Blake Shepherd, returns, he crosses paths with Ivy and her magical Wishing Blooms ceremony. As their lives become intertwined, along with the addition of an adorable rescued pup named Cocoa, the holiday spirit rekindles their hearts. This story will enchant you with the beauty of nature, the magic of the season, and the power of love.

If you're a fan of sweet romance movies and books that fill you with joy and captivate your spirit, don't miss out on Holiday Hearts Volume Five. Grab this 3 book boxed set today at a special introductory price. Available in ebook and paperback.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully support husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

 

Embracing Whimsical Celebrations: Christmas in July with our Precious Pets by Josie Riviera

Hello, dear sweet romance readers, and welcome to Christmas in July!

This month, I'm exploring ways to celebrate Christmas in July with our beloved furry companions. So, grab a cup of cocoa or a glass of lemonade, curl up with your pet, and let the holiday spirit fill your hearts.

1. Create some festive Christmas memories. Bring out the twinkling lights, dust off the stockings, and deck the halls with ornaments and garlands. Embrace the holiday spirit by transforming your home into a summer wonderland.

2. Consider their safety and enjoyment. Opt for pet-friendly decorations that won't pose any harm, and decorate your house with pet-themed ornaments,

3. Take a stroll in the park or on a pet-friendly trail. Or organize a "Santa Paws" photoshoot...what fun!

4. Bake pet-friendly treats, using ingredients safe for your pets to enjoy. You can also spoil them with festive-themed pet treats available in stores.

5. Christmas in July is perfect for gift giving. Treat your pet to a new toy or cozy new bed.

Let's never forget the joy our precious pets bring into our lives every day. I hope that you and your pets enjoy celebrating Christmas in July!

I have a new release this month: Christmas Tails of the Heart: A Heartwarming Collection of Sweet and Inspirational Romance Books Featuring Pets, Puppies, and Horses.

                        This collection includes the following 3 books:

A Christmas Puppy To Cherish
You don’t need ears to hear God’s plan. All you need is an open heart…

A Christmas To Cherish

There’s nothing a Christmas kiss won’t cure. Except perhaps a shattered heart.

Sweet Peppermint Kisses

There’s no place like home. Until the heart gallops off in an unexpected direction…

FREE on Kindle Unlimited. Grab your copy of Christmas Tails of the Heart today before price goes up. Available in ebook, paperback, large print paperback, and Hardcover. Audiobooks for each book sold separately.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully support husband. They share their home with an adorable Shih Tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

House Calls for the Holidays by Pat Simmons

 For seven years now, I have tried to pen heartwarming holiday stories that show the spirit of Christmas.

My offering for 2022 is about my grand-pup Dr. Avery. It's part of the Sweet Romance Reads' Puppies for Christmas collection.

Here's a snippet:

A doctor. A nurse. A matchmaker.

Chase McCall couldn’t have survived the holidays without her petite Goldendoodle. She named him Dr. Avery because he healed her broken heart after a bad breakup. She plans to spend the holidays on the road away from St. Louis with her pooch in tow.

Sawyer Kahill needs a fresh start, so he relocates to Raleigh, working in the IT field. He’s enjoying life until his aunt has a health scare back in St. Louis. 

He plans to bring her back with him after he suspects someone is trying to take an advantage of her. Every time he’s on the phone with Aunt Edith, she raves about Dr. Avery and his nurse making house calls.

The joke is on him.

Sawyer has no idea the regular visits are from a dog named Dr. Avery and Chase who is an RN by profession. His aunt refuses to budge from St. Louis.

 After a chance meeting with Chase in the hospital, he learns she now moving to Raleigh.

Will their paths ever cross again? Not unless they both come home for the holidays. 

Leave that up to the Lord and Aunt Edith. PRE-ORDER  .99

***

Pat Simmons is a multi-published Christian romance author of more than thirty titles. She is a self-proclaimed genealogy sleuth passionate about researching her ancestors, then casting them in starring roles in her novels. She is a five-time recipient of the RSJ Emma Rodgers Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Christmas Dinner was also an Emma Award winner for Book of the Year. Christmas Dinner and Here for You were featured in Woman’s World Magazine.

 

As a Christian, Pat describes the evidence of the gift of the Holy Ghost as a life-altering experience. She has converted her sofa-strapped sports fanatical husband into an amateur travel agent, untrained bodyguard, and GPS-guided chauffeur. They have a son and a daughter. Pat holds a B.S. in mass communications from Emerson College in Boston, Massachusetts, and has worked in radio, television, and print media for more than twenty years. Visit her at www.patsimmons.net.

Why Celebrate Christmas in July? by Josie Riviera

 Many of us have heard about or have celebrated Christmas in July. But why?

Some say it's a good opportunity to take advantage of July holiday sales, as retailers have jumped on the "Christmas in July" phenomena. Others cite that reading about and embracing the cold helps to beat the summer heat and humidity.

A popular legend is that Christmas in July began in Brevard, NC, in a summer camp. The year was 1933, and campers decided to celebrate Christmas complete with fake snow and a fake Santa.

If you decide to embrace the July Christmas holiday spirit, here are some ways to celebrate:

Fun summer gift giving: Think pool floats or bubbles or beach towels.

Delicious summer recipes, including frozen chocolate novelties, and graham cracker gingerbread houses.

Embrace the joy of a beautiful season and Happy Christmas in July!

Celebrate Christmas in July with my sweet holiday romance, A Snowy White Christmas. The book is on a Kindle Countdown sale and only 99¢ for a limited time. (U.S. residents only.)

Can she resist the handsome, charismatic Prince Charming a second time?

Grab you copy of A Snowy White Christmas today. Available in ebook, Paperback, Large Print paperback, audiobook, and hardcover.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of contemporary, historical, and inspirational romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area with her wonderfully support husband. They share their home with an adorable shih tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovation.

Sign up for her newsletter and get a FREE ebook on her website: josieriviera.com

It's Picnic Season by Josie Riviera

 It's picnic season!  The time to gather outdoors with family and friends. The laughter. The games. And the delicious picnic food.

My husband and I recently hosted a 4th of July picnic for our family. When it came time to prepare the menu, I was asked to supply everyone's favorite side dish, Grandma Brown's baked beans.

The beans aren't a family recipe, and my last name isn't Brown. But the beans are a must-have side dish, just the same.

From my exhaustive searches, I found that the beans are only sold in upstate New York, although they are sold on Amazon.

I add dark brown sugar and bacon, and then bake for 30 minutes. Easy and delicious! The smell as they cook is amazing, and they taste wonderful.

Are you known for a favorite signature dish you're always asked to bring to gatherings? 

Please leave your comments (and recipes), below.

Love celebrating Christmas in July? Be sure to pick up your copy today of A Portuguese Christmas, which is on the final hours of a Kindle Countdown sale. (U.S. residents only.)

Only 99¢!

Available in ebook, paperback, large print paperback, audiobook, and hardcover.

Love can come softly, like holiday snow. Or sweep you away like a riptide.

Josie Riviera is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet contemporary, inspirational, and Historical romances that read like Hallmark movies. She lives in the Charlotte, NC, area, with her wonderfully supportive husband. They share their empty nester home with an adorable shih tzu, who constantly needs grooming, and live in an old house forever needing renovations.

"Like" her author Facebook page.

Follow her on Bookbub.

Follow her on Amazon.

Remember to join our Sweet Romance Reads Cafe.

Sweet Bargain Books

Booby traps explode into flame endangering tourists on the shore of Lake Superior. Can the new sheriff live down his wild youth and catch the culprit? And what about one of the targets, the single mom trying to start a coffee-shop bakery. The sheriff wonders is he worthy of her?

LIMITED TIME ONLY SALE!

WILL NOT BE ON SALE AGAIN THIS YEAR!

NORMALLY PRICED $2.99,

NOW TILL THE END OF JULY–99 CENTS!

WHY NOT BUY NOW?

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO.

⭐️ New Release by Josie Riviera ⭐️
Celebrate Christmas in July with

Holiday Hearts Volume Three

❤️ 3 BOOKS FOR 1 LOW PRICE OF 99 CENTS! ❤️

Cozy up and lose yourself in this wonderful season of love.

Set includes:

Sweet Peppermint Kisses

There’s no place like home. Until the heart gallops off in an unexpected direction…

A Chocolate-Box Christmas

Love is sweeter with a touch of mischief.

Holly’s Gift

Miracles don’t always come easy. Sometimes it takes a secret wish to light an angel’s way.

Grab your copy today before price goes up. Also available in Paperback and Large Print Paperback.

FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

The Prodigal's Shotgun Wedding

❤️ Sale Price 99 Cents! ❤️

A prodigal’s hope for a happy homecoming is derailed

Clay left home after his brother’s death—a death for which he was responsible. After years away he’s finally returning, hoping for reconciliation with his father. But when the stagecoach he’s riding in wrecks and he is injured, he finds himself in a fight for survival.

Jolie is fleeing a nightmare situation. She desperately hopes becoming a mail-order bride doesn’t land her in a worse place. When the stage crashes and she spends the night alone with a wounded man, she wonders if her intended will still want her. If he doesn’t, what will she do? She has no money and nowhere to go.

Grad a copy at 99 cents before the price goes up. Free on Kindle Unlimited.

Click here to Buy

Christmas In July Bargain Books by Kristin Wallace

Christmas in Shellwater Key (Boxset) - Now on sale for .99 cents!

Shellwater Key Tales

This boxset contains 3 Shellwater Key Christmas novellas. The main stories in the series center around three childhood friends who revive the old Paradise Dinner Theatre. The holiday novellas venture beyond the theatre.

Spend Christmas in sunny Florida where palm trees sway on a warm breeze and the scent of saltwater tinges the air. You'll fall in love with these three couples as THEY find love in the most unexpected ways. 

Contains:
Finding You At Christmas (Janie & Caleb's story)
Falling For You At Christmas (Cassie & Jared's story)
Loving You At Christmas (Annaliese & Duke's story)


BUY NOW ON AMAZON

Second Chance Christmas - Now on sale for .99 cents!

Palm Cove Tales

This book is part of my Palm Cove Tales series. It’s the follow-up to the Heiress Games trilogy. It features desperate single mom, Mia Reynolds, the cousin of security expert Damon Grant (who appeared in the Heiress Games books).

Ten years ago, Mia Reynolds and Winthrop Barrington spent one magical Christmas together. Until lies and manipulation at the hands of Win’s wealthy family tore them apart and left Mia to raise a daughter on her own. Now, both of them have returned to their hometown of Palm Cove, Florida. Once they uncover the truth, can Mia and Win rediscover the love they lost and celebrate a Second Chance Christmas with their daughter?

BUY NOW ON AMAZON

Only 99¢ from July 15-22, 2020. Regularly priced at $5.99. Available at Amazon.

Three heart-warming stories featuring strong women who know what they want and aren’t afraid to go after it.

A Love Song for Kayla

A young business owner discovers that things aren’t always what they seem when she meets a mystery man hiding out in her small town.

An Encore for Estelle

A former Hollywood actress turned restaurateur finds small town life to be more than she imagined when she volunteers at the children’s theater. But it’s not without its bumps thanks to the handsome theater director.

A Waltz for Amber

A local ballet teacher and a high school choir teacher are at odds over their holiday performances. Can these two overcome their differences and find true harmony in time for Christmas?

Buy Now on Amazon

And More Christmas In July from 

Jean C. Gordon

❤️ Only 99 Cents! ❤️

Friendship, memories and wishes are powerful things and in the small town of Snowflake, Colorado they combine to form a memorial to a lost friend. Following her death, Charity Hart left six of her close high school friends, including Caro Price, fifteen hundred dollars each and an assignment to use that money to grant someone else’s secret wish by Christmas. 

Temporarily back in Snowflake to help her beloved grandmother recover from an illness, nurse practitioner Caro is on the hunt for a recipient for her secret angel gift. A chance encounter in a specialty store focuses Caro’s interest on a red-headed little girl fascinated by a nativity scene. 

Caro’s grandmother has matchmaking on her mind as she pushes Caro and her neighbor, Simon Novak, together. It turns out that Simon coaches the little redhead’s older brother at the high school. With Simon’s help, Caro tries to learn more about the family and it quickly becomes apparent that the widowed mother and her two children are struggling financially. But is there more going on than meets the eye, for Caro sees flashes of fear in their eyes. 

Christmas is the season of wishes, and Caro, with God's guidance, is determined to make one little girl’s dream a reality! And, maybe, just maybe, fulfill a dream of her own!

Buy or Read Free with Kindle Unlimited