Tuesday, December 11, 2012

Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop



When It's Christmas Time in Texas... Anyone know that George Strait song? It's one of my favorites.

For many in the U.S., Christmastime means snow, roaring fireplaces, snuggling up under a blanket and drinking hot chocolate. Once in a while (like every 20 years or so), it's that way for us, too. But it's much more likely that we'll be in short sleeves with the windows open and the fans on. We had a short cold snap yesterday that dropped night time temps into the 20's, but we're already back up into the 50's and supposed to be near 70 by the weekend.

So how do you get into the Christmas spirit without the cold and snow? Well, we decorate, wrap packages, and play Christmas music. I also start making Christmas candy the week before Christmas. Since it's the only time of year I make these particular treats, it helps get us in the mood. Reality doesn't really set in, though, until the kids arrive.

Some years it's just the child who lives a few hours away, along with our two grandsons. Other years, the Harvard daughter comes home, and once in a blue moon (also the title of one of my books), the California boys come home. One year, we spent Christmas by ourselves. That wasn't much fun.

It's the kids that make Christmas the joyful time that it is. Especially the young ones. They get so excited about the tree, the lights, the presents--seeing everything through their eyes makes everything beautiful. I miss the days of big family gatherings, with lots of kids tearing into presents that might not have been expensive but were loved anyway. I miss the days of brothers and sisters, inlaws and outlaws, aunts and uncles, grandparents and friends gathered around a table groaning under the weight of food and desserts. But with families scattered far and wide, with busy lives and strained wallets, travelling a couple of thousands miles with two or three kids in tow just isn't practical.

In my latest release, The Christmas Wish, Merry Peterson is far from home and facing her first Christmas alone. Then she falls right into Santa's lap and he asks her what she wants for Christmas. Jason Wells might not be the real Santa, but he plays one for charity and he makes it his goal to make Merry's Christmas wish come true.

Check out The Christmas Wish on Amazon and all major retailers for just $1.99. http://amzn.com/B00AFBLUNA

For the blog hop, I'm giving away a copy of The Christmas Wish and a $10 Amazon gift card. You must comment to be entered, and you must post your email address in your comment. This prize is open to readers everywhere, but unfortunately the Grand Prizes are limited to U.S. readers due to shipping costs. 

What about you? What's your wish this Christmas? What do you miss most about Christmases past?


It's a Happy Holiday from your favorite Authors and Bloggers. While we know everyone celebrates a different way, we wanted to make sure that you guys knew how much we treasure you all. So from Dec 14th to Dec 17th, all 200 or so of us will be blogging about the holidays and what they mean to us. We may talk about our favorite holiday traditions, recipes, gifts, reads, heroes, and so much more. We want to hear about what you do for the holidays, what you read, and who you'll spend it with. We hope to see you here and happy hopping!

And while we do that, we are EACH doing a giveaway. Yep. There will be over 200 giveaways on each blog hosted by that Author or Blogger.

But that's not all....


We have THREE grand prizes. You as a reader can go to EACH blog and comment with your email address and be entered to win. Yep, you can enter over 200 times!



Now what are those prizes?

1st Grand Prize: A Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet
2nd Grand Prize: A $200 Amazon or B&N Gift Card
3rd Grand Prize: A Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!




67 comments:

rubyswan said...

I TOTALLY HEART IT'S A WON:DERFUL LIFE:D! I'M FILLED WITH ADORATION WHEN I C THE EFFECT HOW 1 PERSON CAN MAKE SUCH A HUGE DIFFERENCE N MANY LIVES:D! JUST THINKING ABOUT UNCONDITIONAL LOVE BRINGS WARMTH 2 MY HEART & RENEW MY FAITH,HOPES ,MAKES MY DREAMS SOARS HIGHER THAN MOON & STARS IT SEEMS & ALLOW THE MANY WHAT IF BE ENDLESS POSSIBILITIES OF HAPPBEEEE EVER AFTER:S 4 SURE!!
thanQ!
redz041@yahoo.com

KimberlyFDR said...

Thanks for doing the hop!

kimberlyFDR@yahoo.com

BLHmistress said...

I miss my son believing in Santa, waiting til he went to bed to eat the cookies placed and leaving him a note. One year we even video taped 'Santa' leaving his presents. My Christmas wish is for my honey to find a better job closer to home.

Dawna N.
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com

Unknown said...

I am looking forward to Christmas morning the most because of the wonder in my kids eyes and the utter chaos that ensues in my house with wrapping paper, ribbon, and bows. My wish for the holidays is to have all my family happy and healthy.

Tessa said...

i'm looking forward to the time with my family. And to plenty of time to read and just relax.
tessa.bamberg@kolumbus.fi

wwe11 said...

I wish for lots of books and I miss my mom from Christmases past.
erma2167@sbcglobal.net

Cassandra said...

My wish is that my mother's cancer would go away
Thanks for the awesome giveaway!
cassandrahicks1989@yahoo.com

Anonymous said...

One of my favorite Christmas Romance Books is The Untamable Rogue by Annette Blair! The story is about Ashford Blackburne Fifth Earl and he has to get married and get his willing bride pregnant before Christmas or his grandfather won’t let him inherit his money. Ash truly needs to inherit the money because his late father squandered it all away and he is taking care of his mother. After getting stood up at the alter, again, Ash and his friends go to the local pub where the owner plays a drunken Ash in a card game…his consolation prize is the pubs daughter Larkin, who he wants to get ride of. Ash has to learn to forgive…Larkin has to learn how to trust…can two completely different people find love together. This is a cute, extremely funny, romantic story with a surprise Christmas ending!

Angelheart618@gmail.com

Tori Scott said...

Some great Christmas wishes. I hope they come true for each and every one. And in light of today's tragedy, I pray for the families of the children who were killed and wish sanity would once again return to the world we live in.

Eva @ All Books Considered said...

My Christmas wish is to spend lots of time with family and eat good food!

booksconsidered[at]gmail[dot]com

Steelerlady2379 said...

WOO! HOO! Who is ready to go blog hoppin? :) lol.... I have done so many blogs, I have lost track of which ones I have already done, so if you get a couple from me then (sorry) lol.... :)
I hope everyone is ready for Christmas!!! I am about as ready as I am able to be lol.... :) Merry Christmas and Happy and Safe New Year to all!!!
Happy reading and writing*
Teresa
morris1963tess@yahoo.com

Melinda said...

i love family time, but like you I am thousands of miles from my own. Merry Xmas!

mrs.hildebrand AT gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My Christmas wish is for understanding between everyone. It seems that our Country and it's people have lost sight of compassion, kindness and hope. My Christmas wish is for everyone to receive compassion, kindness and hope. I really enjoy the holiday season. I enjoy the smells, the food and lights. Oh and the music too. Not much into baking anymore. But I do enjoy tasting, ask my scales. Tee Hee. Great blog.

roya-clan@sbcglobal.net

Judy said...

I miss my grandparents. They have been gone for many years, but I still miss them like crazy. It doesn't help that my grandfather's birthday was the 22nd, just a few days before Christmas. Additionally, my uncle died early Christmas morning; we got the call while opening presents. Christmas time for us is about remembering and celebrating the lives of family - both living and gone.

Merry Christmas and thanks for the blog stop.

Bookworm (dot) judy (at) gmail (dot) com

Adria's Musings said...

I miss the simplicity of Christmases when I was younger. Now things are more complicated.

adria.rose_03@yahoo.com

Tonda said...

I love spending time with my family, my wish is for all of us to be healthy again.
smoofrog@gmail.com

crystaley73 said...

I miss having my nieces and nephews around more but they are all now 13 to 21 in age except for one who is 10. So they have other things going on. I love baking and the Christmas Lights Thanks for the chance to win such a wonderful prize Merry Christmas
crystaley73 at yahoo dot com

Veronika said...

Christmas is my favorite holiday! Here we have snow every year during the holidays, so it's really beautiful! And of course I love spending time with my family!
Merry Christmas to you! Thank you for the giveaway!

verusbognar (at) gmail (dot) com

JanD said...

I wish for a great 2013.
bituin76 at hotmail dot com

Becca F (ReadingTeen) said...

I wish for lots of snow!

Beccaboo97200(at)att(dot)net

Lasha said...

I wish for a safe and happy holidays season. Thanks for the hop!

Lasha
mslasha at gmail dot com

magic5905 said...

To have a good and happy Christmas.
magic5905 at embarqmail dot com

Holly said...

Hello, thanks for the giveaway! Christmas always makes me miss the loved ones I've lost, but it's a time to remember them and the good times. :)

skizzles_22_hju@yahoo.com

Crystal said...

I love to give presents at Christmas time, I love being Santa :) I miss my Dad at Christmas time he's been gone since '09.

MinDaf @ Aol.com

Unknown said...

Thank you for being part of the hop... I know what you mean about not being able to get into the christmas sprit... I live in the South but my family lives in Norther Wisconsin so we do things a little different down here... we rake leaves and have cookouts, decorate the tree while making cookies and just try to make it feel like christmas without snow... if there is snow my 9 yearold gets super excited lol.

j.m.platt83@gmail.com

Solera said...

Our holidays are pretty quiet. We don't have kids so it's just me and lover. We enjoy one another though. Your Christmas story sounds sweet. :)

solerawinters@hotmail.com

Raonaid Luckwell said...

What I miss from Christmas past is when my grandmother and grandfather was alive. I really miss being with them.

Raonaid at gmail dot com

Unknown said...

I miss having my father around in Christmases past. It just isn't the same without him. This year I am wishing for some sort of peace in their hearts for anyone that was associated with the Sandy Hart School shooting. :(

Thanks so much for bing a part of the hop and for the amazing giveaway.

Merry Christmas,
Marlena
charmedpoms(at)yahoo(dot)com

Kaci Verdun said...

My christmas wish this year is for my husband, who is working overseas,to get a job in the US. I also miss our christmas traditions at grandma's when i was young.
Thanks for the great giveaway!

kacidesigns AT yahoo DOT com

Heather Thurmeier said...

A few days ago, my answer would have been different, but now my wish would be that this holiday wasn't a sad one for so many families.

I'd love a chance to win your book. Sounds like a great holiday read. hthurmeier @ gmail . com

Unknown said...

Happy Happy Holidays! Thanks for the great giveaway!
I want books, books and more books for Xmas!
grapeapril75(AT)gmail.com

Anonymous said...

My Christmas wish is that no other parent has to go through what the parents are experiencing at Sandy Hook, although as long as there is a choice to do right, there is a choice to do evil.

Merry Christmas and thanks for the chance to win some goodies.

Gail
djgandyfan@gmail.com

tracey said...

My christmas wish is one more day with my mom. I miss her terribly. Ty for bringing me memories of the holidays like jason's mom in the christmas wish. Tjammer77@gmail.com

Tori Scott said...

I will announce the winner of the book and $10 Amazon gift card either late tomorrow night or early Tuesday morning. My baby girl flies in from school tomorrow evening for the holidays.

For those of you missing family members this Christmas, lots of hugs and sympathy. Our Christmases just haven't been the same without my Dad and my Father-in-Law. They were the glue that held the families together.

kat said...

The antipation of being a kid at christmas- I miss it.

Kathewv@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

when we were little we used to sneak into where our parents hid the presents and try to guess what they were i loved that
kaholgate at ymail dot com

Unknown said...

I miss being a kid and waking up on Christmas morning with my big sister. It was so magical and exciting.

My wish for people to find peace and joy this Christmas. Thanks for the blog hop!

jenalang(at)live(dot)com

Unknown said...

i'm looking forward to spending more time with my kids. some are out of the house either married or in college. so this is the one holiday i really get to spend with the whole family. i loved the blurb and can not wait to read the book! thanks for the great giveaway!
miriam.whitewolf@gmail.com

Kym said...

I use to live in Florida, and enjoyed going to the beach on Christmas, but always missed the cold and snow. Now that Im back north and gettting older, not so much lol

Merry Christmas !
~Kym
flwrs4ever(at)yahoo(dot)com

Amy said...

I miss my mom.
Happy Holidays!
ajcraig77@comcast.net

Krysta B. said...

For this Christmas I wish for there to be no family drama.

Morganlafey86(at)aol(dot)com

Unknown said...

Happy Holidays! Great giveaway!

aprilnu2003(at)yahoo(dot)com

Mer said...

My major wish for Christmas (well, some new books for my kindle would be nice too) is to spend it with my family. It's something we haven't all been able to do in recent years and I've missed it, so I'm really looking forward to us all being in the same place this year!

dancingcelt at gmail dot com

Krista B. said...

Current wish: to see my great grandpa one more time before he passes.

deliachic3@hotmail.com

Daniel M said...

i wish my best friends mother pulls through, it's not looking good - regnod(at)yahoo(d0t)com

Sheri said...

Thanks so much for the giveaway! My favorite part of Christmas is just being with my family.
Sheri-feike@juno.com

Anonymous said...

I have a hard time with too much quiet in my house on Christmas. My childhood holidays were very loud, with lots of people. We've made our own traditions with our kiddos, and they are plenty loud some years.

Anonymous said...

I have a hard time with too much quiet in my house on Christmas. My childhood holidays were very loud, with lots of people. We've made our own traditions with our kiddos, and they are plenty loud some years.
Kris
lowekn@gmail.com

Natasha said...

I am looking forward to spending time with my family and opening presents. Thanks for the chance to win!
natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

LEENA7 said...

I really miss when the kids were little and all their enthusiasm over Santa coming..and now they are yound adults and it isnt the same. Makes me want to kidnap a few kids for Christmas morning. However, my tribe still loves all the goodies we make just this time of year..they dont seem right any other time.peach_hugs@yahoocom

Molly said...

I love seeing the looks on my kids faces each year when they see their gifts! I can't for that this year! And all the reading time I'll have done :)

Merry Christmas!
mollydawn81 at yahoo dot com

Rissa said...

I'm looking forward to my kiddos reaction on Christmas morning! :)

Thanks for the chance to win :)
raynman1979 at yahoo dot com

Rita Wray said...

I miss my parents at Christmas, they have both passed away. I remember the wonderful times we had at Christmas.

Kit3247(at)aol(dot)com

wpogrant said...

Merry Christmas
wendy.pogrant@yahoo.com

Dovile said...

I just wish for some peace and quiet for Christmas.

Thank you for the chance!

spamscape [at] gmail [dot] com

Allyson said...

I wish for my 3 year old to have a wonderful Christmas! I love the excitement he has this year...it is so much fun! Merry Christmas:)
allysonbrann06@yahoo.com

Susie Falkler said...

I wish to have one more day with loved ones now gone. After this weekend, hug everyone tight.


relklaf@aol.com

Shadow said...

What an awesome hop!! And a fantastic giveaway! Thank you!! Happy holidays to you all! Best wishes and many blessings!
shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com

Carla said...

My favorite thing about this season is cookies; I love making and eating them. Everyone is so willing to share.
planterofhope at aol dot com

SheriV said...

I miss going to my grandmother's house on Christmas Eve.

smurfettev AT gmail DOT com

Z said...

I would love one day of peace in the world. I miss my grandparents and the family gatherings.
Z
Seawitch Reviews at yahoo dot com

LisaRayns said...

I'm spending this holiday season with my family and hoping to win so I can read more romances. I don't have an ereader. Happy Holidays! lisarayns at gmail dot com

Stacey Brucale said...

Thanks for participating in the hop! Happy holidays!

squiggles87(At)aol(dot)Com

Theresa Esterline said...

I miss being the kid a Christmas and being totally surprised by what Santa left (back before I just bought what I wanted when I wanted it). Now I am looking forward to seeing my daughter's face when she opens her American Girl Doll from Santa.

Thanks for participating in the hop!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year (or whatever Holidays you celebrate between now and then).

theresa.esterline@gmail.com

Unknown said...

This is the first year in my whole life, that I won't be spending Christmas Eve with my dad's family in Michigan. In October, I moved 1000 miles away to Nebraska. I will be missing all my aunts, uncles & cousins this year.

drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com

Unknown said...

sbereza22@gmail.com

Tori Scott said...

The winner of The Christmas Wish and a $10 Amazon gift certificate is Miriam Whitewolf! Miriam, check your email in a few minutes.

Thanks everyone for making this a great blog hop. Be sure to check back at Carrie Ann Ryan's blog (where it all started) to see who won the grand prize packages. http://www.carrieannryan.blogspot.com/

Wishing everyone a magical Christmas full of peace and love, family and friends, and good things to eat and open.