Sunny Christmas wishes – Kandy Shepherd

I know it’s a cliché to say “I can’t believe it’s nearly Christmas already”–but I really can’t! The year seems to have zoomed by. Fortunately I just finished a story for Harlequin Romance (to be published next July) so can now turn my mind to all things Christmas. For me, this doesn’t just involve putting up the tree, shopping, and wrapping and cooking but also a huge clean up of the house!

In Australia where we live that means thoughts of a summer Christmas. But even though it is likely to be hot, we Aussies tend to gather for a “traditional” Christmas meal based on a northern hemisphere winter Christmas. My family have a predominantly English background so that means a hot meal and lots of baked goods! I don’t care much for the rich cakes and puddings made from dried fruits but I’m very partial to shortbread.

Wherever you are in the world I’d like to wish Tote Bags ’n’ Blogs readers a very Merry Christmas and for those who don’t celebrate a very happy holiday season. And a big thank you to Lee for having me as a regular blogger.

I don’t have a Christmas book out this year but my 2016 Christmas novella Millionaire Under the Mistletoe is still available at e-retailers for just $0.99. 

Harlequin is also offering a festive season boxed set for just $US1.99 at e-retailers that includes my GiftWrapped in Her Wedding Dress which is a Christmas story I really loved writing!

And of course next year you can meet my gorgeous Greek tycoon hero Cristos in my February 2018 release Stranded with Her Greek Tycoon available in the UK and Australia in January and the US in February.

See you all next year!  

 

 Kandy Shepherd is a multi-published, award-winning author of contemporary romance and women’s fiction. She lives on a small farm in the Blue Mountains near Sydney, Australia, with her family and a menagerie of four-legged friends.

Visit Kandy at her website

www.kandyshepherd.com

Connect with Kandy on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram

Christmas is Coming! Post by Susan Sands

Christmas is coming to Ministry, Alabama!

I've been asked to write a Christmas story as a fourth installment in my Alabama book series for Tule Publishing. I'm so excited to finish out the year with this story following Forever, Alabama's release back in March.

I laughed just a little when I saw the idea suggestions for the tone of this title. The word that sprang out at me was fizzy-- as in, effervescent. When I think about the holidays, and how celebrating them might be with the Laroux family in Ministry, Alabama, fizzy might be a descriptive word one could use. A Southern, Christmas-set small town romance. Sounds fun.

But hey, we've got to have some complications here, don't we? Trust issues, family strife, drama, suspense. You're darn right. We can have it all--and we will, y'all. Christmas, Alabama is shaping up to be loads of fun. Handsome stranger, town photographer, and the whole town getting ready for the yearly Christmas festival.

So, as I lower my thermostat, listen to Christmas carols in the middle of summer, and rewatch some of my favorite recorded Hallmark holiday classics, I'll be working on capturing the Christmas spirit and creating another Alabama story for readers.

 

I love to connect with readers on social media!

A Seasonal Gift for You!

by Anna Campbell 

It's the time of year when for many of us, thoughts turn to gift giving! 

Way back at the beginning of 2013, wonderful historical romance writer Shana Galen contacted me about being part of a Christmas anthology with her, Kate Noble and Vanessa Kelly. I hadn't met Kate, but I knew and loved Vanessa and Shana (Shana was one of the very first Avon authors I met at my first RWA) both in person and as writers. 

Of course I said yes. This was a chance to hang out with some great authors. Even better, all of us were committed to putting the book up for FREE as a thank you to our readers. 

Much toing and froing ensued, although the girls were all such a pleasure to work with, it was all USEFUL toing and froing. We all wrote longish short stories so readers get great value for their zero expenditure (each story is more than 10,000 words). 

And voila, I introduce to you A GROSVENOR SQUARE CHRISTMAS: FOUR HOLIDAY SHORT STORIES, available free from your e-tailer! 

Here's the blurb:

Four breathtakingly romantic tales of a Regency Christmas from four bestselling romance authors.

Down through the years, enchantment touches a tall gray house in Grosvenor Square. The legend of Lady Winterson's Christmas ball promises true love and happiness to one lucky couple. Who will feel the magic this winter?

1803 - The Seduction of a Duchess by Shana Galen

Rowena Harcourt, the Duchess of Valere, never forgot the handsome footman who helped her escape the French Revolution. For fourteen years, Gabriel Lamarque has loved Rowena-now at Lady Winterson's Christmas ball, has fate finally delivered a chance to win her hand?

1818 - One Kiss for Christmas by Vanessa Kelly

Nigel Dash is London's most reliable gentleman, a reputation he never minded until he fell in love with beautiful Amelia Easton. Unfortunately, Amelia sees Nigel as a dependable friend, not a dashing suitor. At Lady Winterson's famous Christmas ball, Nigel vows to change Amelia's mind-by sweeping her off her feet.

1825 - His Christmas Cinderella by Anna Campbell 

At the season's most glittering ball, a girl who has never dared to dream of forever after discovers a Christmas miracle.

1830 - The Last First Kiss by Kate Noble

Susannah Westforth has always loved Sebastian Beckett - but he's only ever seen her as a friend.  When Sebastian takes his Grand Tour, Susannah transforms herself into a woman he'll notice. Now Sebastian is back, just in time for Lady Winterson's Christmas ball - but the last thing he expects to see is his little Susie, all grown up...

You're invited to join the whirling dance at Lady Winterson's sparkling Christmas ball, where miracles happen and true love shines forever. How can you resist?

I thought the idea of this glamorous Christmas ball was so romantic, that I went hyper romantic in my retelling of Cinderella. There's an ugly stepmother and one stepsister and a very charming fairy godmother. Or perhaps two if we count Lady Winterson as a person who facilitates the romance between humble but beautiful Campion Parnell and the magnificent Earl of Ravenglass.

You can read an excerpt from "His Christmas Cinderella" on my website here: http://annacampbell.info/xmascinderella.html

You can read an excerpt from Shana's "The Seduction of a Duchess" here: http://www.shanagalen.com/seduction-of-a-duchess1.php

You can read an excerpt from Vanessa's "One Kiss for Christmas" here: http://www.vanessakellyauthor.com/books/one-kiss-for-christmas/one-kiss-for-christmas-excerpt/

You can read an excerpt from Kate's "The Last First Kiss" here: http://katenoble.com/books/grosvenor.php

At this time of year, I love a short story or a novella. We're all so busy so it's an easy way for me to get my dollop of delicious romance without going totally off the rails! I hope you'll all download A GROSVENOR SQUARE CHRISTMAS and that our stories will give you a smile.

You can pick the book up at most etailers including Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Grosvenor-Square-Christmas-Shana-Galen-ebook/dp/B00FSLF4NO/ref=pd_sim_b_1 and Barnes and Noble: 

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/a-grosvenor-square-christmas-vanessa-kelly/1117251695?ean=2940045347853
 

So do you like Christmas stories? Do you have a favorite? Are you planning on reading any Holiday-themed stories this Christmas?