Pre-Launch Party for Sweet Christmas Kisses 4

Announcing...

 

Sweet Romance Read's

4th annual

pre-launch Facebook party

to celebrate

Sweet Christmas Kisses 4!

 

 

 

Check out the event page today!

 

https://www.facebook.com/events/1736548013027579

 

You don't want to miss it!

My Garden of Earthly Delights - by Denise Devine

For me, the Minnesota State Fair signals the end of summer. It’s ten days long and ends on Labor Day. I love the fair and look forward to going each year, but it’s bittersweet because it means that summer is officially over. I love fall and the beautiful colors, but it seems to go by so fast, doesn’t it? You just get used to fall and suddenly it’s Halloween. Then you’re putting away your decorations and pulling out Thanksgiving décor.

My garden is winding down, too. I still have plenty of flowers, but it won’t be long before one frosty night takes them all. Even though I’ve been gardening for 30+ years, I still learn something new every year. This year I started a path through the woods behind my house using mulched oak leaves. I didn’t get very far, but I plan to finish it next spring, adding a stone bench and trail markers. I’ve been looking through the woods and found some interesting wild flowers that I didn’t know I had, like a giant Jack in the Pulpit.

Wild Blueberries

I also found a lot of wild blueberries. I’d like to cultivate a large patch someday, but it’s a lot of work and you have to find the right spot, so that is one of those “someday” projects. They grow well in oak forests because they like acidic soil.

Here is a wild columbine that simply grew out of a crack in my retaining wall.

Here are some gardening tidbits I would like to pass on to you:

Cardinal Flower

If you want to attract a lot of hummingbirds into your yard, plant a cardinal flower. I planted one last year, in the fall, and it was really small, fit into my palm. It is now about 5 feet tall and 3 feet around! The hummers fight over it all day long. So you can bet I’m getting another one this fall to put somewhere in my yard.

If you want to attract a lot of bees and butterflies, coneflowers and blazing stars are your best bet. Coneflowers are hardy and come in a lot of colors. I currently have at least five colors and am looking for more, but the bees seem to like the pink ones best. Blazing stars (especially the wild variety) attracts butterflies, including monarchs.

Coneflowers

One thing I learned this year (by accident) is that if you want to attract a lot of orioles, you need to get a jelly feeder. They don’t seem to care too much for the nectar feeders but they love grape jelly. I didn’t get many Orioles until I ran out of the cheap jelly and had to use Welches. Yikes, the Orioles were fighting over the feeder six birds at a time! So we went strictly with Welches and Smuckers and our results have been fantastic.

~     ~     ~
 

Denise Devine is a USA TODAY bestselling author who has writes sweet romantic comedy and inspirational romance. You can visit her at www.deniseannettedevine.com. She is currently writing two series, Forever Yours (Inspirational) and Counting Your Blessings (Christmas romantic comedy). Merry Christmas, Darling is the first book in this series.

 

Hey, it’s party time! Join us tomorrow, September 1st, at the Sweet Romance Reads Café for the kickoff party of our 2015 Sweet Christmas Kisses2 boxed set. The fun begins at noon (EST). We’re giving away a lot of great prizes so see ya there!

 

Setting Goals for 2015 by Kristin Wallace

So it’s 2015 and time for a fresh start. It’s a time two make new goals. For me it's writing goals. Whether I success in those goals...well that's another matter. Last year, I had the grand idea that I would write FOUR books in 2014.

Confession…I did not come close.

I finished one book BY CHRISTMAS, which I ended up self-publishing as part of the Sweet Christmas Kisses box set. Then I put it out as a single book. It was my first foray into the world of indie publishing so there was a big learning curve, meaning everything took longer to accomplish. I did have the benefit of working with 13 other fantastic authors from this group on the box set and learned SO MUCH.

So what about those other three books I was supposed to complete? Book two was supposed to be the fifth installment in my Covington Falls Chronicles series. However, somewhere along the line it became not Book 5 in that series, but Book 1 in a WHOLE NEW SERIES. It’s set in another fictional town, only this one is in Florida (where I happen to live). It centers on a prized pig named Matilda who inherits a fortune from her eccentric owner. Oh yes, there are also three women competing for custody of the pig (and control of the money, of course). As well as a trio of sexy men who might win their hearts.

The other two books are part of another series. This one is a contemporary romance/women’s fiction. It’s also set in Florida (different town) and it follows three former childhood friends who return to their hometown and become involved in rehabilitating an old dinner theatre called The Paradise. I finished the first book a couple years ago, but book 2 and 3 still need to be put down on paper.

The third idea is another series that is perhaps the craziest concept I’ve ever come up with. My heroine is a spoiled heiress who dies and then gets recruited as a celestial matchmaker, helping soul mates find their One True Love before it's too late. It’s crazy and weird and hilariously funny…It is also so far away from anything else I’ve ever written. A little scary.

So…yeah…that’s a lot of books. And I have a demanding full time job. I don’t know how I will possibly do them. I need a plan. I need help. I need to find that impossibly rich tycoon so I can quit the day job and write full time.

Hmmm…okay...writing all those books might happen first.

Kristin Wallace is the USA Today Best Selling Author of inspirational romance and women’s fiction filled with “Love, Laughter and a Leap of Faith”. She is the author of the Covington Falls Chronicles, romances set in a fictional Southern town. Find out more at Kristin Wallace Author 

A Shared Journey by Aileen Fish

A writer’s life is primarily one of solitude, us alone with our computers and characters. We do need critique partners and/or beta readers, and very much need our fans, but so much of what we do we do on our own.

Unless we’re lucky enough to find a group like Sweet Romance Reads. Having friends to work with you in promoting your books, or just introducing yourself to new readers, is beneficial in more ways than just increasing sales. We share knowledge and experiences, convince each other to try something new with the potential to move beyond what we’ve come to think of as our niches.

We did that this summer, with the project coming to completion just under two weeks ago. We contributed stories for our anthology, and set to work plotting and planning the best ways to get the word our there to new readers as well as the ones already watching for our next books.

It took the full team of our fourteen authors to accomplish our initial goal of hitting the top 100 at Amazon and Barnes and Noble. In addition to the prestige of being a bestselling author, that puts our book where more people might find it. But I’ll tell you a secret: deep down inside, most of us get giddy over the accomplishment of reaching those numbers. We only try to be blasé, while we’re screaming in excitement to our families.

Sometimes we get amazingly lucky, and all that works allows us to reach an incredible number of readers, as it did with out anthology. Our boxed set reached #51 on the USA Today Bestseller list! That’s like having your movie being one of the top earners for a weekend. It’s our version of a blockbuster, along with the other major bestseller lists.

So, what you find here at Sweet Romance Reads these days are some very happy authors, grateful to have found these amazing women to work with, and even more grateful to have an increasing audience of sweet romance lovers who want to read our books.

I know the others join me in saying thank you to each and every reader out there who has ever enjoyed one of our books. You make our writing lives complete.

~*~

Aileen Fish is the still-giddy USA Today Best-selling Author of sweet contemporary and Regency romance. Her most recent work, Christmas in White Oak, appears in the boxed set Sweet Christmas Kisses, and will be available individually on October 29th.

Stay up to date with her on her website http://aileenfish.com and on Facebook or here at Sweet Romance Reads.

Halloween Cometh by Kristin Wallace

It’s officially fall. At least the calendar says so. In my part of the world in South Florida, not so much. We had one day…ONE DAY…of relief from 100% humidity and then it was right back to business as usual.

It is officially October which means Halloween is right around the corner. I saw this sign in the window of a costume store the other day. As a writer is warms my heart. 

Halloween was always a fun time growing up. My mom used to make my costumes. There was a witch, a princess, Pocahontas. I’d go trick or treating with my older brother. Then we’d get to dump all the loot on the floor and go into a sugar coma just looking at all that chocolate. If you went to a party you were sure to play Bobbing For Apples, and they were bound to play Monster Mash & Thriller. (Who still remembers the Thriller dance?) Those are nice memories, along with pumpkin patches and cider and hayrides. When I was very young and still living in Reston, VA we went to a real pumpkin farm. That was the most magical place. Full of color and incredible smells. Sadly, no pumpkin farms in South Florida...just various places selling them on the side of the road. Not quite the same.

So what were your favorite Halloween memories growing up? What traditions? Do you carry on the traditions with your family?

Kristin Wallace writes inspirational romance and women’s fiction filled with “love, laughter and a leap of faith”. She is the author of the Covington Falls Chronicles, romances set in a quirky Southern town with a character all its own. The fourth installment (By CHRISTMAS) can be found as part of SWEET CHRISTMAS KISSES, a Sweet Romance Reads box set featuring 14 holiday novels by USA Today, national bestselling and award-winning authors. Visit her website at Kristin Wallace Author 

Secret Telling with the Heroes of Sweet Christmas Kisses

It's time for a little secret telling! Today the heroes of Sweet Christmas Kisses join us to discuss a quality that first attracted them to their heroine. Readers, what qualities do you find attractive in a hero/heroine?

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!

Gentlemen, what is one thing that first attracted you to your heroine? 

Aaron Chase (An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano): "As beautiful as Christy Cooper is, I think what first attracted me to her was her selflessness. I've never met anyone so willing to help others. I could tell right away she was much more vulnerable than she was letting on."

Paul Love (Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird): "There's nothing like a woman who can inspire four minutes of chaos in your first five minutes of meeting. I have to say Carol Baker immediately captured my attention: in a very big way."

Sean Fabian (The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby by Helen Scott Taylor): "Kelly didn't throw herself at me. Sounds weird, I know, but so many women come on to me it was nice to meet a beautiful woman who didn't."

Conran Dark (Story Times by Beate Böker): "When she straggled into my home during a storm, I lost my heart to those brown eyes almost immediately."

Jackson Hardaway (The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis): "Her bravery. She could have left me in the jungle as snake bait, but she didn't."

Nick Randolph (Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish): "We have been friends since we were kids, but I remember one day when I was a senior in high school and she was a junior. We were talking about whatever and she told a funny story. When she laughed, I realized how much I loved that sound. Knowing she was happy made me happy. I just didn’t know at the time how much that meant."

Dr. Tony Lorenzo (Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk): "With seraphic blue eyes and a riot of blond strands escaping from a brown, fur-lined hood, she was the prettiest thing he’d seen in a long time. Her delicious mouth rounded in an O of admiration."

Jim Standish (Small Town Christmas by Magdalena Scott): "I was attracted to Melissa Singer because she paid no attention to me. Growing up, she was a good friend of my sisters, Carla and Francie, and treated me and my brother David almost as if we were her own brothers. I always did like a challenge, and Mel has sure been worth it!"

Michael Campbell (By Christmas by Kristin Wallace): “Her eyes. They can be green or blue and they are always flecked with gold. I can get lost in them.”

*****

Sweet Christmas Kisses, a 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~

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

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).

Dancing with the Sweet Christmas Kisses Stars

Welcome to Dancing with the Stars! Today we're joined by the heroines from the Sweet Christmas Kisses anthology. The heroines will be performing choreographed dance routines with the professional partner of their choice! Readers, enter which pair you're most looking forward to in a comment - you can choose one or all!
**Remember, 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!

Welcome ladies! We have two questions. The first, which professional dancer would you like to be partnered with? And second, which dance do you look forward to doing?

Christy Cooper (An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano): "Oh, I think I'd trip up the world's most skillful dancer with these two left feet of mine; however, I dream of slow dancing to a romantic tune with Aaron Chase."

Kelly Grace (The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby by Helen Scott Taylor): "I have to admit I don't often have time for dancing. Just give me a cute guy who won't stamp on my toes and I'll be happy."

Joanna Damanti (Stormy Times by Beate Böker): "I'm not sure which professional dancer I would want to be partnered with, but something slow would be fun to do. Although, I don't know if anyone can compare to Conan. I love to slow dance with him - Preferably in the living room, without any groupies close by!"

Tiffany Bonander (The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis): "Valentin Chmerkovskiy. He's stepping out of his brother's shadow. I'm looking forward to the cha-cha. It's fun to say and it's fast!"

Sofia Suarez (Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish): "My first response is to scream Maks! I love watching Maksim Chmerkovskiy move on the dance floor, but he really intimidates me with his teaching methods. I’d probably be happier with Tony Dovolani. I would love to learn to cha cha. The feeling of cutting lose like that must be awesome!"

Julia Dutton (Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk): "I’d love to dance with Tony Dovolani. He’s so attractive, tall, dark and sexy. A tango with him would be perfect."

Noelle Robinson (By Christmas by Kristin Wallace): “I would choose Derek. What an amazing dancer. He’s hot, of course, but don’t tell Michael that. I want to break loose with a cha-cha or samba. Most people think I don’t really do sexy, so why not shock people a little?"

*****

Sweet Christmas Kisses, a 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~

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

Every comment this week on our blog this week 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).

Survivor: The Sweet Christmas Kisses Edition

Welcome to Survivor!

Today we're stranding our heroines on a deserted island. What skills will benefit them? And which heroine do you feel has the best chance to last until she's rescued? 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!

So ladies, tell us what skills or character traits you have to help you survive?

Christy Cooper (An Almost Perfect Christmas by Donna Fasano): "I don't know if I could survive on a deserted island, but I would give it everything I have. I'm pretty resourceful and I try to keep a positive attitude even when things look bleak."

Carol Baker (Mistletoe in Maine by Ginny Baird): "I'd have to say: resilience, determination, and faith. Being a single mom and a teacher have taught me the first two. One very magical journey to Maine re-inspired the other. I now believe anything is possible, just as long as you open up your heart and believe. I would not give up hope on a deserted island, and would try to convince any others with me to stay positive too."

Kelly Grace (The Army Doctor's Christmas Baby by Helen Scott Taylor): "This is easy for me. I'm an army nurse and I've worked in army field hospitals treating soldiers in theaters of conflict all over the world. I'm used to taking care of myself and others in challenging conditions. I'm a qualified nurse, I can quickly erect a shelter, and I know how to protect myself. I'd survive!"

Joanna Damanti (Stormy Times by Beate Böker): "My resourcefulness, improvisation, and tenacity would help me survive."

Tiffany Bonander (The Christmas Promise by Melinda Curtis): "My love for sushi, my determination, and I can use a machete!"

Sofia Suarez (Christmas in White Oak by Aileen Fish): "I think the fact I like my own company would help, and my laziness when it comes to makeup and hairstyles. I would love a break from the world…in small doses, anyway!"

Julia Dutton (Her Christmas Cruise by Mona Risk): "My sense of adventure and my determination to prove I can make it on my own. I didn’t hesitate to invite a stranger to come along on my would-be honeymoon when the sleazeball fiancé cheated on me."

Melissa Singer (Small Town Christmas by Magdalena Scott): "I’ve been told I’m a survivor. As a child my family life was difficult. I developed friendships that were more family than the one I was born to. Once I make up my mind to accomplish something, I never give up, no matter what."

*****

Sweet Christmas Kisses, a 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~

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

Every comment this week on our blog this week 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).

 

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 Kisses, a 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~

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

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).

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-- nirvana 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 Kisses, a 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~

Amazon | BN | Kobo | iTunes | Google Play

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).