A Merry Christmas Survey

Posted December 12, 2014 by Jana in About Me / 5 Comments

Welcome back to another Bookish Little Christmas feature post! I found this lovely little survey on Book Nut and decided I’d love to post it myself! If you’d like to as well, that would be great! I’ll post a linky at the bottom of this post so we can jump around and see what everyone else has to say about this special holiday!

When do you begin watching Holiday movies?
I usually start watching them right after Thanksgiving dinner, but this year Hallmark had so many cute ones that I did sneak one in a day or two before Thanksgiving. In my defense, it was Love at the Thanksgiving Day Parade… so I’m thinking it’s ok that I fudged a bit.

What’s your favorite Holiday movie? Do you have a favorite scene? A favorite line?
I really, really love The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (with Henry Winkler) and The Holiday. There are too many amazing quotes from The Holiday to pick just one!

What’s your favorite TV special?
I love the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree Lighting special. I was in NYC during Christmastime a few years ago, and it was so unbelievably magical ad beautiful that I love seeing the decorations every year on TV. I fast forward through the sucky singers!

christmas under the umbrella treeAre there any specials from your childhood days that you wish would make a come back?
I loved Bluetoes the Christmas Elf and Christmas Under the Umbrella Tree. Oh, and I really loved Barney Waiting for Santa and Christmas Eve on Sesame Street. And A Merry Mirthworm Christmas. I’ve slowly found used VHS tapes or YouTube videos of these specials, and I love re-visiting my childhood.

When do you start listening to Christmas music?
Pretty much after Halloween. I don’t go full-fledged until the week of Thanksgiving, though. I love Christmas music and sometimes feel like I don’t have enough time to listen to everything I love before the season is over!

What are some of your favorite albums?
Neil Diamond’s Christmas Album and Christmas Album Volume II
Let Us Adore Him by The Gibbons Family
The Classic Christmas Album by Kenny G
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Let it Snow by Michael Buble

I have a million more, but I think I’ll stop with these ones!

Is there a particular album you couldn’t do without because it “makes” it feel like Christmas?
Honestly, both of Neil Diamond’s Christmas albums are classics every year. We to them while I put up the tree and while we open presents.

What’s your favorite Christmas song? Traditional? Nontraditional?
My favorite hymns are The First Noel and Angels We Have Heard on High. My favorite Christmas song is Andy Williams’s It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year.

If you were to make your own holiday mix what would it have on it?
It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year by Andy Williams
Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow by Dean Martin
White Christmas by Bing Crosby
Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Frank Sinatra
It’s Beginning to Look Like Christmas by Bing Crosby
White Christmas by The Drifters (this is the one from The Santa Claus movie)
Here Come Santa Claus by Gene Autry
Jingle Bell Rock by Bobby Helms
There’s No Place Like Home for the Holidays by Perry Como
Mary Christmas, Darling by Karen Carpenter
We Need a Little Christmas by Percy Faith & His Orchestra
O Come, O Come, Emanuel by Neil Diamond
Little St. Nick by The Beach Boys
Have a Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives
The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole
Sleigh Ride by Leroy Anderson
Joy to the World by Neil Diamond
Mele Kalikimaka by Big Crosby and the Andrews Sisters

See how I’m basically pretty traditional? There’s a million more songs I’d add, but you get the idea!

Do you have any favorite holiday-themed books?
My favorites are Let it Snow by John Green, Maureen Johnson, and Lauren Myracle and Sleigh Bells in the Snow by Sarah Morgan.

Is there a book (or two) that you make a point of reading each year?
I have a whole stack of children’s Christmas books that I love looking at each year. I really love Merry Christmas, Amelia Bedilia by Peggy Parish.

What about recipes? Do you have a special food (or drink) that you make or bake only during the holidays?
Spritz cookies are my specialty! I also make Russian Teacakes, frosted sugar cookies, and my mom makes yummy fudge. I found a few new recipes I’m excited to try as well!

Want to share a favorite recipe or cooking tradition?
I might as well share the Spritz Cookie recipe! This is a really popular recipe. You can find it pretty much anywhere.

Ingredients

3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 1/2 cups butter softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
2 tablespoons milk
1 teaspoon clear vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon no-color almond extract
Red and green food coloring
Sprinkles

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF.
2. In bowl, combine flour and baking powder. In large bowl, beat butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add egg, milk, vanilla and almond extract; mix well. Gradually add flour mixture to butter mixture; beat until combined. Do not chill. Stir in food coloring. Fill cookie press with dough and with desired disks, press cookies onto ungreased cookie sheet. Sprinkle on sprinkles.
3. Bake 10-12 minutes or until edges are light golden brown. Cool 2 minutes on cookie sheet on cooling rack. Remove from sheet; cool completely.

What’s your favorite memory of Christmas as a child?
I’m not sure how old I was, but a neighbor was walking around outside jingling sleigh bells, and I about lost it! I bolted up the stairs and flew into bed, worried Santa would leave since I was still awake. There’s also the year I got a red kitchen with a ton of food. I played for hours, and was so excited.

What’s your favorite memory of Christmas as an adult?
Wow, this one is hard. I’m going to count a time from high school since I was really close to being 18, which is technically an adult. lol. Three of my guy friends decided to do 12 days of Christmas for me. But they wrote the weirdest, most random things for each day (seriously, they did not make sense and I had to use a magnifying glass a lot of the time just to read them) and gave me the silliest things. I had no idea who they were, so I would sit by the door and then as soon as they rang the bell I’d jump up and bolt outside. They were too fast, or else they had the best hiding spot ever. It became a game. One night I sent up a hidden camera. It was too dark to tell who it was, but the next night one of them dressed up as Bigfoot (where did they find that costume?) and did a dance for the camera. I figured that deserved treats at that point, so I started leaving them things. They finally revealed themselves on the 12th night, and we had so many laughs! I have never felt so special during Christmastime.

Let’s talk gifts. What’s on your wish list this year?
I really don’t want a lot of things in particular. I asked for the complete series of Everybody Loves Raymond, this cute little black kitten hot chocolate mug, some jewelry, and a couple books. OH. There’s a super soft charcoal cardigan sweater with patch pockets that I adore.

When do you begin shopping? Is it something you love or hate?
Believe it or not, I started in June this year! I LOVE Christmas shopping.

When do you do gifts–Christmas Eve or Christmas?
We do gifts on Christmas morning, and we go around the family from oldest to youngest. Each person opens one present at a time while everyone else watches. Its a rule to guess. We love taking our time and making it last as long as possible. We started at 9:00 AM one day and were still going on strong by 9:30 that night, only breaking for food.

Is Christmas Eve family time? Or rushing around crazy time? Or a bit of both?
We take my dad’s dad out to dinner and then drive around to look at Christmas lights. Then we stuff the stockings and go to sleep. During the day we’re usually wrapping last-minute gifts or watching a Christmas movie.

List your favorite things about Christmas.
Listening to Christmas music, watching Christmas movies, reading Christmas romances, spending time with family, driving through light displays (we have two amazing ones here), going to Temple Square to see the lights, baking Christmas cookies, singing carols, decorating (inside and out), going to Riverwoods to see the lights, Christmas shopping, going to Christmas parties, wearing Christmas clothes and jewelry (I have a lot. I should be an elementary school teacher!), going to church the Sunday before Christmas (it’s always such a powerful experience), and giving gifts to people. I love the meaning of the season. I love how happy I am and how much time I have to spend time with my family.

 


Brittany at The Book Addict’s Guide Presents “The 12 Recs of Christmas”

Posted December 11, 2014 by Jana in Guest Post / 5 Comments

My favorite part of my A Bookish Little Christmas event is that I get to invite my friends to join in on the celebration and contribute Christmassy guest posts! I’m so glad Brittany of The Book Addict’s Guide was so willing to write such a fun post! And I had SO much fun designing and setting up the imagery for it. :)

The holiday season is upon us again — one of my favorite times of the year — and since I don’t usually get too Christmas-y on my own blog, I am THRILLED that Jana asked me to guest post for her wonderful Christmas feature on hers!

One of my favorite parts about being an avid reader and blogger is helping people find new books (especially ones that I’ve fallen in love with myself) and I tend to go a little crazy buying books for people at Christmastime. This year I came up with the idea for “The 12 Recs of Christmas”, sharing some of my favorite books and gift suggestions in the style of “The 12 Days of Christmas” (but don’t worry. No singing involved)!

12RecsofChristmas

 

12. My True Love Gave To Me: 12 Holiday Stories by Various Authors

I actually haven’t read My True Love Gave to Me yet but it’s the perfect selection to kick off this holiday list (and fits the theme too perfectly!) — I was going to buy it for myself but I haven’t yet JUST in case it’s coming as a gift! This book is a collection of short stories by some of my favorite contemporary authors, all with a holiday theme! Perfect for Christmas or any time you want to get back in the holiday mood!

11. Eleven Kids, One Summer by Ann M. Martin

The follow up to Ten Kids, No Pets, this book was one of my all-time favorites growing up. It even ranked higher than The Babysitter’s Club! Both books are about the Russo family which consists of (surprise) ten kids (in the second book, eleven with the latest edition) and the antics of a big family. Personally I think this is a great children’s book, spanning upwards to the younger side of middle grade readers. It was one of my favorites! (And still is!)

10. Top Ten Clues You’re Clueless by Liz Czukas

This is Liz’s sophomore YA novel and I LOVED it. It takes place on Christmas Eve so it’s perfect for the holidays and it’s just such a fun read. It also has a sort of Breakfast Club-feel and really solidified my love for Liz Czukas (and I loved her debut, Ask Again Later)!

9. To the Nines (Stephanie Plum #9) by Janet Evanovich

The Stephanie Plum books are my fall-back fun reads. I started them a few years ago during a blizzard so they always remind me snowy days a little bit! They’re really fun and both quick and easy to read. The movie didn’t really do the series justice (I think) and I think I’m about 14 in now… Even though they get a bit silly sometimes, definitely a series I plan to keep reading as long as Janet Evanovich keeps writing them!

8. Ramona Quimby, Age 8 by Beverly Cleary

I used to love the Ramona books when I was young! I actually don’t remember much about them as an adult and I think a re-read would be really fun! I do know that this was a favorite of mine as a kid and I know it’s favorite of many other people as well! I have to re-read it but I think it’s still a pretty solid recommendation for the younger crowd and a classic!

7. The Sevenwaters Series by Juliet Marillier

My bestie Alyssa bought this for me last year and it’s one of her all-time favorite series ever. She has confidence that I’ll love it and it’s one that I’m resolving to read in 2015! She bought it for me last year and I failed to read it in 2014 but I’m clearing my schedule a bit in 2015 and this one is a priority!!  

6. Six of Crows (The Dregs #1) by Leigh Bardugo

Six of Crows doesn’t officially come out until October of 2015 (tentatively) but I’m already recommending it. In 2014, I fell in love with Leigh Bardugo’s debut Shadow and Bone and of course the other two books in the trilogy too. Six of Crows takes place in the same universe (the “Grishaverse”) but with other characters (though the original characters may be alluded to)! I already know it’s going to be fantastic because her writing really grows with each book!

5. The 5th Wave (The 5th Wave #1) by Rick Yancey

I almost didn’t pick this one up last year because I don’t do “alien stories” but thank goodness for the hype to make its presence known because I picked it up on blogger recommendations and LOVED it. It was so much more than just aliens. I loved the characters, the setting, the world, and there was so much action and adventure. Perfect for male or female readers, young adult or adult!

4. The Sign of Four by Arthur Conan Doyle

The first review I ever posted on my blog was for the first Sherlock Holmes mystery, A Study in Scarlet. (And also, HarperTeen is coming out with a really neat reprint of ASiS this winter with some great illustrations too!) I really want to keep on reading the Sherlock Holmes mysteries soon because I really enjoyed A Study in Scarlet and I’ve been meaning to read more for years now!

3. Trilogies

Okay, this one is cheating a little bit, but I really enjoy trilogies. I know some people were getting frustrated with how many series were turning out to be trilogies but I really do think it’s a nice way to form a series plot and it’s not too short, not too long. I also can’t help but recommend some of my favorites!

The Grisha Trilogy by Leigh Bardugo
His Fair Assassin Trilogy by Robin LaFevers
Under the Never Sky Trilogy by Veronica Rossi
The Hunger Games Trilogy by Suzanne Collins
Anna and the French Kiss companion trilogy by Stephanie Perkins
The Mistborn Trilogy by Brandon Sanderson (though there are more “spin-off” books that go with this trilogy)

2. Walk Two Moons by Sharon Creech

This was an all-time favorite book as a kid and I re-read it as an adult, totally terrified that it still wouldn’t hold that same weight. HOLY COW. I’m still in love with it and the book sort of ruined me all over again. It’s great for middle grade readers and I will still recommend it to young adult and adult readers as well!


1. Just One Day/Just One Year/Just One Night by Gayle Forman

Gayle Forman is definitely a forever-favorite of mine. I fell in love with If I Stay and Where She Went and it was SO exciting being a Gayle Forman fan when the Just One Day duology came out as a new release. I connected SO much with Just One Day and just really loved everything about it. I know readers were a bit frustrated with the slightly open ending of Just One Year so that’s where Just One Night (a novella) comes in (and ahhhh sigh of relief and utter satisfaction). I just love these books and I love Gayle Forman and I will forever recommend her work! 

 

Thanks so much, Brittany! I’ve got some new books to add to my TBR!

So, let’s chat. What books are you giving for Christmas?

Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan | Book Review

Posted December 10, 2014 by Jana in Adult Fiction, Book Review / 2 Comments

Maybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan | Book ReviewMaybe This Christmas by Sarah Morgan
Series: O'Neil Brothers #3
Also in this series: Suddenly Last Summer, Sleigh Bells in the Snow
Published by Harlequin on October 28, 2014
Genres: Contemporary Romance, Holiday - Christmas, Romance
Pages: 384
Format: eARC
Source: Publisher (Netgalley)
Add to Goodreads
Buy on Amazon

This winter, ex-skiing champion, reformed heartbreaker and single dad Tyler O'Neil has only one mission—making sure his daughter, Jess, has the best Christmas ever. The fact that his best friend, Brenna, is also temporarily moving into his chalet at the overbooked Snow Crystal resort is a delicious distraction he's simply going to have to ignore. Theirs is the one relationship he's never ruined, and he's not about to start now.

Ski pro Brenna Daniels knows all about the perils of unrequited love—she's been in love with Tyler for years. But living with him is absolute torture…how can she concentrate on being his friend when he's sleeping in the room next door? Then when Tyler kisses Brenna, suddenly the relationship she's always dreamed of feels so close she could almost touch it. Could this be the Christmas her dreams of a happy-ever-after finally come true?

I have really enjoyed the O’Neil Brothers trilogy, so I was excited to read the final installment about the final brother. I love the Snow Crystal resort in Vermont, especially during Christmastime! It was so nice to go back and visit. As always, my main points are bolded. :)

1. Things started out a little slowly for me. I felt like everyone kept saying the same things over and over again. Brenna kept talking about how she and Tyler could never be because he treats her like one of the guys and thinks of her only as a friend. Tyler kept talking to himself and his brothers about how he and Brenna are such good friends and he does not want to ruin it. Everyone else kept discussing Tyler and Brenna with one another. Even Jess, Tyler’s daughter, can’t stop talking about those two. The main idea for a huge portion of the book was: Brenna and Tyler are friends but wish it were more. I actually skimmed a few passages because I felt like I’d already read it before.

2. Things definitely picked up about halfway through. Brenna goes on a date with the local police chief, and it was hilarious to read about Tyler’s jealousy (apparently his jealousy surprised him!) and his efforts to get Brenna to wear more clothes and snow boots instead of stilettos. I also enjoyed Tyler’s banter with Jess. They have a sweet father/daughter relationship, yet Jess seems to be raising him instead of the other way around. The fact that I love these characters so much helped me swim through the more redundant parts of the book.

3. Like I said, I love Snow Crystal. I love Sarah Morgan’s descriptions of the resort, the snow, the scenery. Everything felt so magical to me!

4. I have always loved reading about friends who fall in love with one another. I just wish the romance took up more of the book. We spend so much time reading about their friendship and how it can be nothing more, that by the time the romance blooms everything escalates too quickly and is resolved too quickly. While I usually believe stories like this, I had a hard time believing it this time. It almost felt like insta-love, even though they have known each other for 20+ years.

5. When the romance did happen, it was super swoony and sweet.

6. I loved catching up with old friends. Kayla, Jackson, Sean, Elise, Elizabeth, Jess, etc. are there and we get to see how their lives have progressed (although we never really saw any interaction between Sean and Elise.).

All in all, I did really enjoy this story despite my few complaints. Christmas books make me so happy, and I love them. Sarah writes very pretty descriptions, and she writes characters you love. I will miss the O’Neil family and the Snow Crystal. I’d love it if Sarah wrote a follow-up in a few years so we can visit again and see what everyone’s up to! Babies? Jess’s wedding? There’s so many possibilities. Definitely read this if you love the O’Neil family. Kayla and Jackson’s story is still my favorite, but I’m glad Tyler and Brenna finally got their happily ever after.

The Ten Things I Love Most About Christmas | Guest Post by Brenda Novak (+ Giveaways)

Posted December 9, 2014 by Jana in Blog Tour, Giveaway, Guest Post / 4 Comments

 

Welcome to my stop along the Harlequin Holiday Reads Blog Tour, hosted by Rockstar Book Tours! I absolutely love Christmas books, and this year’s line of holiday reads are wonderful! I’ve read and enjoyed several of them, including The Heart of Christmas by Brenda Novak, which I get to highlight today! Check out my review here. I loved it, and it definitely got me into the holiday spirit.

It’s my pleasure to have Brenda Novak on the blog today to tell us all about the ten things she loves about Christmas. She also has a fun giveaway for my readers to go along with the Harlequin-sponsored giveaway of all the books on the tour and some other fun goodies. So basically, this post is full of Christmas goodness!

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The Heart of Christmas by Brenda Novak
Published by MIRA Books on October 28, 2014
Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Christmas
Pages: 384
Format: Mass Market Paperback
Buy from Amazon • Buy from B&N • Buy from IndieBound • Add to Goodreads

 Eve Harmon has always enjoyed Christmas, but this year it reminds her of everything she doesn’t have. Almost all her friends are married now, and that’s what Eve wants, too. There’s no one in the small town of Whiskey Creek she could even imagine as a husband—until a handsome stranger comes to town.

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The Ten Things I Love Most About Christmas
by Brenda Novak

1. Christmas Memories. They are some of my best. I will never forget the agonizing anticipation of trying to get through Christmas Eve as a young child. I think that’s been the only time in my life when I absolutely couldn’t sleep for the tremendous amount of excitement pouring through me. I’ll never forget my grandparents (one or the other, since they were divorced), coming to spend the night with us. That changed up our sleeping situation, which put us kids in various beds together. We would squirm and talk and anxiously await dawn—and then we’d get up before the sun only to be sent back to bed until the clock struck six.

2. Dickens Village Pieces. No one loves the Victorian era, or Charles Dickens, quite as much as I do. So I started collecting the Dept. 56 Dickens Village pieces early on. After several years, I couldn’t practically store and put out, so I quit adding to the collection. But I still enjoy setting up my village every year. There’s something about imagining that era that really gets my imagination going.

3. The hustle and bustle in the air. I love the frenetic activity. Some people eschew the crowds in the mall and on the streets, but I feed off the excitement. Several years ago, we started a tradition of going out very early on Black Friday to grab all the deals we could, and we’ve had a blast ever since, chasing from store to store with our five children.

4. The food. Need I say more? I think most people will agree with me here. My mother is now in her eighties and can’t cook anymore, but I will always remember her big dinners with great fondness. No one can make stuffing the way she could.

5. The lights. I can’t say that my husband is quite as excited as I am to drive around and see the lights, but I make him take me. There are certain streets not far from where we live that are famous for their displays. I enjoy getting a cup of hot cocoa and cruising around to take in the beauty.

6. The snow. Okay, this might be stretching it a bit, since I live in California. But I love snow in theory. I love the romanticism of a white Christmas, the beauty of it on Christmas cards (although I’m fine to admire it from afar—LOL).

7. The magic. I know a lot of people complain about the commercialism of Christmas. I’m sure they have a point. There is too much of that. But I also see a great deal of magic happening at this time. The gathering of friends and family builds stronger bonds. We remember associates we haven’t spoken to in a long time and take a few minutes to reconnect with a gift, some baked goods or a card. I love that this season causes us to pause and reflect on the things that are most important to us.

8. The gifts. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t love the gifts, so I’m going to be honest and include them. LOL

9. The books. There are so many inspiring and uplifting books that come out this time of year. Such stories of sacrifice and forgiveness and community inspire me.

10. The meaning. Peace on earth. Just saying those words makes me feel hope and joy.

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About Brenda Novak:

Brenda and her husband, Ted, live in Sacramento and are the proud parents of five children—three girls and two boys. She juggles her writing career with her children’s softball and soccer games, field trips, carpool runs and homework sessions. Readers can find out more about Brenda at her website.

Find Brenda on Facebook and Twitter

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Looking for more holiday-themed reads? Click here to discover.

Harlequin-Holiday-group-image

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Giveaways!

(Each week of the tour holds a separate shared giveaway among that week’s tour stops, so make sure to visit stops each week for more opportunities to win)

The Harlequin Holiday Reads prize-pack includes:
– One mass market paperback of each of: Christmas with the Billionaire by Carole Mortimer, Maisey Yates and Joss Wood; Maybe this Christmas by Sarah Morgan; Snow Angel Cove by RaeAnne Thayne; The Heart of Christmas by Brenda Novak; and The Lodge on Holly Road by Sheila Roberts.
– One copy of Her Holiday Man by Shannon Stacey in the digital format of your choice.
– One package of ornament charms
– One box of Harlequin-themed gift tags

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Apron_Brenda Novak prize

To be entered to win an autographed ‘Just Likes Mom’s’ apron from author Brenda Novak, share in the comment section of this post why you think having traditions is an important part of life.

It’s a New Adult Christmas with Megan Erickson! (+ Giveaway)

Posted December 8, 2014 by Jana in Book Excerpt, Giveaway / 1 Comment

NAChristmasbanner

 

It’s a new adult Christmas! This holiday season we’re celebrating with thirteen new adult authors. There’s bunches of stops along this tour starting today and going all the way up to Christmas Eve! Today I’m hosting Megan Erickson, author of the Bowler University Series: Make It Count, Make It Right, and Make It Last (coming January 6, 2015). She has a brand new Christmas scene for us that takes place shortly after Make It Right ended.

Max Payton spat out his half-chewed bite of pecan pie onto his plate. “Why the f—- does that taste like fire?”

Lea Travers dipped her finger into the gelatinous middle of Max’s slice of pie and stuck the tip of her finger in her mouth. Max was not wrong. She could feel the searing warmth down her throat and into her stomach. Her eyes watered and she coughed. Max leaned into her shoulder. “You all right, doll?”

“Water,” she gasped.

He reached for her glass on the coffee table in front of the couch they sat on in the Payton living room. He handed it to her and then turned to his brothers. Brent stood beside the recliner where their father was drinking a beer, and Cal leaned against the fireplace.

Brent looked pleased, chomping merrily on his pie. “I think it’s delicious.”

“What’d you do to the pie, Brent?” Cal asked.

“I made it delicious.”

“You made it burn the lining of my esophagus,” Max shot back.

Brent rolled his eyes. “You guys just can’t appreciate good Bourbon.”

“How much bourbon did you put in it?” Cal asked.

Brent didn’t answer.

Lea assumed if she checked the recycling, there’d be an empty bottle. That pie was drunk.

And seeing as Christmas Eve in the Payton household wasn’t going too hot, a hangover tomorrow was the last thing they all needed. Lea could tell her boyfriend, Max, and his brothers and Dad were trying, but they didn’t quite seem to have the holiday cheer. She wondered how the hell they got through previous holidays. Or if what she was witnessing right now was as merry as they got.

Which was sad. They were good guys. They just lacked a little finesse. A feminine touch. Their mom had left when Max was a kid.

Cal brooded by the fireplace, Jack drank in silence, and Max picked at his pie with a disgusted look on his face. Lea began to think that her plans for this evening might have been a bad idea.

Her plans that would be here in approximately five minutes.

She began to sweat and fanned her thin sweater off of her chest. Max frowned at her. “You okay?”

She wiped her forehead, like she was sweating. “Yeah, it’s just hot in here, you know? Maybe we can all go out in the backyard?”

Brent looked up from devouring his alcoholic pie. “Outside? Lea, it’s thirty degrees and dark.”

Why couldn’t they all just go with it? She had about – she glanced at the clock on the wall – T minus two minutes to get them out of the house before they heard the doorbell.

“It’s a family tradition of mine to look for shooting stars on Christmas Eve.” She was pretty proud of herself for that lie. It was a damn good one, and she’d made it up on the spot.

Max just stared at her. “What are you talking about?”

She tugged on his sleeve and stood up, bustling around to get their coats together. “Christmas Eve. Stars. Wishes. You know.” She clapped her hands together. “Round up, boys!”

Jack didn’t lower the footrest recliner. Cal was looking at her like she was crazy. Brent was picking a piece of pie off of his shirt…

And then the doorbell rang.

Cal’s head went up and he frowned. “Who the hell is ringing the doorbell on Christmas Eve?”

Lea laughed nervously. “I’m sure it’s just a solicitor or something. Okay, so backyard?”

But Cal ignored her and strode toward the front door. Max followed him and when they swung the door open, she squeezed her eyes shut. And waited.

There was a pause.

A long pause.

And when she cracked an eye open, she saw Cal scowling at the group of carolers Lea had asked to come from the local church. They were staring back at Cal like he was an axe murderer, and Max slowly turned his head to pin Lea with his gaze.

She waggled her fingers in weak wave.

Max sighed and turned back around.

There were five carolers, and the older woman in front was wearing a huge red coat over an ugly Christmas sweater and a massive fur hat. She seemed to gather herself together, and Lea had to hand it to her, because that was a bright smile in response to Cal’s frown.

“Merry Christmas, I’m Theresa and we’re from First Presbyterian over on Oakmont,” the woman said. “Would you like to hear some carols?”

Lea stepped up before Cal could answer. “Yes, please. Yes, yes we would.”

She felt a presence at her back and looked over her shoulder to see Brent, a grin on his face, his eyes on the cute young female caroler in the back. Who was blushing.

Lea rolled her eyes.

“Okay, ready?” Theresa said. “One…two…three.”

They began to sing a somewhat tentative version of “Jingle Bells.” Even so, Lea had to admit they sounded absolutely lovely, with a young guy in the back accompanying with a set of bells.
When that was over, Cal looked like he was going to close the door. But Lea could see Max beginning to smile, Brent bobbing his head, and Jack had even risen from his statue-like state on his recliner to listen to the carolers.

“Another please?” Lea asked.

Theresa nodded and turned to her group. Lea swore she saw a twinkle in Theresa’s eye as she communicated silently with her group.

Then Theresa turned around, and the carolers launched into a rousing rendition of “Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree.”

And it was lovely. And fun. Brent began clapping and even placed his fingers in his mouth and whistled. Max grabbed Lea’s hand and swayed to beat. Even Cal was smiling, leaning back against the open door, his lips moving as he sang silently along with the carolers. Lea swore she caught Jack tapping his toe.

Lea threw back her head and laughed as Max picked her up and twirled her. He leaned his forehead against hers. “You already made me the happiest guy in the world, and now you’re trying to work your magic on my family?”

“I have no idea what you mean,” she said with fake innocence as she gripped his dark hair tightly.

He lowered her to the ground. “Yeah ya do. And we all appreciate it.”

She ran her fingers along the stubble on his jaw. “Merry Christmas, Max.”

He leaned in and pressed a tender kiss to her lips. “Merry Christmas, doll.”

Sweet, huh? Makes you even more excited to read the series, huh? You have the opportunity to win the first book by entering the giveaway at the end of this post! First, I’m going to introduce you to Megan and her final book, Make It Last, which comes out in the new year and can be read as a standalone!

 

About Megan:

Megan Erickson worked as a journalist covering real-life dramas before she decided she liked writing her own endings better and switched to fiction.

She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, two kids and two cats. When she’s not tapping away on her laptop, she’s probably listening to the characters in her head who won’t stop talking.

Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Goodreads, and at her website!

 

Make It Last by Megan Erickson
Series: Bowler University #3
Published by William Morrow Impulse
Genres: Contemporary Romance
Pages: 336
Buy the Book • Add to Goodreads

After graduating from Bowler University, the last place Cam Ruiz ever expected to find himself is his hometown. A bad job as a bouncer and worry over his mom’s health make living in Paradise anything but. There’s only one thing that can make his return any harder—running into the only girl he’s ever loved.

Tate Ellison made a mistake when she was eighteen, one that cost her the best thing she’s ever had. She’s always hoped the regret of losing Cam would fade over time. Too bad it’s only grown. She took comfort in the fact she’d never have to face him again, so his presence in Paradise throws her for a loop.

The pull between them is instant and when the truth of what happened years ago tumbles out, they share a mind-blowing kiss…which leads to more. But the past has a way of repeating itself. When all the cards are on the table, Cam and Tate must decide what they are willing to do to make it last.

 

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