Thanks so much
for inviting me to appear on your blog, Lee.
I’m very happy to be here, especially during the holiday season. It’s my favorite time of year and like many
of our readers I had a very, merry Christmas with my family. Perhaps a little too merry, if you get my
drift!
In my
holiday-themed historical romance, His Mistletoe Bride, there’s a lot
of merrymaking going on, too. Much of
the book’s action takes place during the Christmas Season, which runs from
Christmas Eve through to Twelfth Night on January 6. Back in the day, the final party on Twelfth
Night was usually a real wing-ding, roughly comparable to the kind of blow-out
we now celebrate on New Year’s Eve. If
there was one thing they knew how to do in the Regency period it was party!
One of my
favorite scenes in His Mistletoe Bride happens at a family get-together, when the
wassail bowl first makes its appearance.
Wassail, a very boozy and sometimes alarming beverage depending on the
ingredients, was the high point of many a Christmas party, and family recipes
were often closely guarded secrets. And
I suspect that over-consumption of wassail probably led to more than one family
feud!
What were the
ingredients that made wassail such a potent beverage? Well, the base was usually mulled apple cider
with sugar, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, sometimes topped with slices of
toast. Apples and oranges could be added
to the mix too. In earlier times, the
base often consisted of either mulled beer or mead, and any wassail recipe
could be topped off with brandy or sherry.
Do we really need to wonder why folks had such a great time at Regency
Christmas parties?!
What
about you, readers? What’s your favorite
beverage during the holidays? And do you
sometimes have relatives who celebrate just a little bit too much? One person who
comments will win a copy of my previous book, My Favorite Countess.
HIS MISTLETOE BRIDE
When Major Lucas
Stanton inherited his earldom, he never dreamed his property would include the previous
earl’s granddaughter. Phoebe Linville is a sparkling American beauty, yes, but
with a talent for getting into trouble. Witness the compromising position that
forced them into wedlock. Whisked away to Mistletoe Manor, his country estate,
it isn’t long before she is challenging his rules—and surprising him in and out
of bed…
Phoebe has no
intention of bowing to Lucas’s stubbornness even though he offers all that she
wants. His kisses and unexpected warmth are enticing, but Phoebe is determined
to show the Earl of Merritt what real love is all about. And if that takes
twelve nights of delicious seduction by a roaring fire, she’s more than willing
to reveal her gifts very slowly…
Buy
links: Amazon Barnes & Noble Books A Million
Vanessa
Kelly was named by Booklist, the
review journal of the American Library Association, as one of the “New Stars of
Historical Romance.” Her Regency-set historical romances have been
nominated for awards in a number of contests, and her second book, Sex and The Single Earl, won the
prestigious Maggie Medallion for Best Historical Romance. Vanessa also writes contemporary romance with
her husband under the name of V.K. Sykes.
You can find her on the web at www.vanessakellyauthor.com or at www.vksykes.com.
***Vanessa's winner is Beautiful Disaster! Please email totebag@authorsoundrelations.com with your full name and mailing address!***
36 comments:
I have to take some medication & so drinks with a bit of booze are off limits for me. Even during the holidays, oh well. Instead I like to drink hot cinnamon tea & sometimes add foamed milk on the top with a sprinkling of extra cinnamon. This makes it look more festive.
I like to drink a glass of white wine, simple and tasty.
I am simple, I like beer or rum and coke. My sisters mother in law, though drinks to extremes every holiday...Well every get together to be exact! She can be very inapprioate.
My husband makes a great eggnog, all homemade. I add brandy to mine, he adds whiskey. For the most part, everyone keeps it under control.
My favorite winter hot drink is half coffee half hot chocolate :) My family is not really drinkers so we don't have any relatives that celebrate to much but a few of my friends can really get in the spirit.
Punch (non-alcoholic) is our favourite holiday beverage
My favorite holiday drink is my moms vodka strawberry slush. It is soooo good. As for drinking in excess, I have a few relatives that partake in that but it's harmless fun.
sbereza22@gmail(dot)com
My favorite holiday drink is very chilled White Merlot by the firepit with the family and friends
That sounds quite good, actually!
Yum! I'll have to try that, Robin!
Gatormom, I didn't know there was a White Merlot wine!
Just give me a nice Riesling or a sparkling Moscato and I'm a happy girl!
Normally I drink Cabernet Savignon but for the holidays I enjoy Kalua and coffee or Bailey's and coffee (on Christmas morning especially) or Mimosas for brunch or for a cocktail a Black Russian. Everyone behaved this year but we have had our moments lol.
During these cold weather months I love to drink hot buttered brandy (same batter as hot buttered rum drink, but with smooth brandy instead of rum). The glow I feel lasts into sleep... hmmm!
Eggnog for me! Or a nice red wine! Or hot
chocolate with lots of marshmallows! Or a
well-blended sangria! Lots of nice beverages
available for the holidays!
Pat C.
Congrats Vanessa on the newest release! Thanks for a fun post. These drinks sound sooo good, I'm definitely going to have to try :) I love hot apple cider the way that my grandpa used to make it.
Well, I've never loved eggnog, lol, but Hot Chocolate is a nice way to warm up during the Winter. :-)
lovesgamble at gmail dot com
My favourite holiday drink is eggnog.
My favorite holiday drink is milk, got to love plain ol' 2%. :-)
I just like to have a couple of glasses of wine on Christmas day.
mce1011 AT aol DOT com
I don't do any drinking during the holidays unless it's a nice cup of hot cocoa, or maybe hot cider. Both of those will warm me up on a cold winter's night. :D
Chocolate hot drink, Always love chocolate :)
I absolutely LOVE this time of the year and I think out of my family I am the most excited to celebrate! My holiday drink of choice is always good ole fashion hot chocolate... sometimes if I want to get a little crazy though I'll a touch of hazelnut syrup and plenty of whipped cream:)
yadkny@hotmail.com
Yum, Janice!
Thanks for stopping by, Erin! Your grandpa's drink sounds great!
yadkny, that sounds wonderful!
Thanks so much for stopping by, ladies! Y'all are making me thirsty!
My fav drink is chocolate milk! I can drink it anytime. My family isn't into alcoholic drinks; fruit drinks or tea is more our taste.
My favorite drink tends to be hot chocolate, I can't drink much due to taking blood thinners so I tend stay away from alcohol.
Here in Sweden we like to drink Glögg (Mulled wine) and my favorite is flavoured with cognac. Our family has dwindled these last years, so now we have a quiet celebration and noone is too .. spirited =D
Thanks for the giveaway & Happy New Year!
//Linda
I do enjoy a glass of white wine.
My daughters came up with a twist on a screwdriver. Iced cake vodka mixed with orange juice and a splash of club soda. Really yummy and refreshing it is a taste of summer on a cold day. No one drank too much, but a good time was had by all.
We enjoy Wassail too! I had never heard of the drink until my husband and I started dating. They have it every year for the holidays and drink it warm. They however don't put any alcohol in the drink so the grand kids enjoy it too and love adding stuff to it such as fruits and marshmallows. They get creative for sure :)
Enjoy your books so much.
Happy New Years,
Lori
lorih824(at)yahoo(dot)com
I prefer eggnog or a very sweet wine.
kscathy AT yahoo DOT com
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