A FREE Christmas Gift for YOU! @karilemor #RomanceGems

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…or is it?

Several years ago, I wrote a story that was originally published in the WORST HOLIDAY EVER anthology. A bunch of us authors put together stories of terrible holidays, distressing situations, and ridiculous relatives. The result was amusing, to say the least.  

Because this year has been extremely stressful, today I'm sharing this story FREE. It's not on every retailer, but you should be able to download it to most devices.

Here's where you can get this cute little story.

Prolific Works  (your choice of mobi, pdf, or epub)

 Kobo

Google

Barnes & Noble

Books2Read

You don't need to sign up for anything to get this FREE story. I'm happy to give it to you just for coming here today to join the Romance Gems. 

Just FYI, the characters in this, Dave and Tina, are secondary characters in my romantic suspense novel, Wild Card Undercover. You'll hear more about that soon!

I wish everyone the most Merry Christmas ever and nothing but great and fabulous things in the New Year! 

Love 

Kari

Ring in the Holidays by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

Today is the first day of December. Hurray! Ring out the bells!

Our theme for December? The Gift of Romance.

Like nearly everyone in the era of Covid, I'm ready for some joy, good cheer, and happy times.

I want to bake cookies, make pralines, give presents, write Christmas cards, sing along with Christmas pop songs and favorite carols, watch Hallmark holiday movies, kiss under the mistletoe, and read holiday romance novels.

We all need this! The world needs this. That's one thing I love about romance novels. They truly are the optimistic genre. If you're feeling down, turn off the news and pick up a holiday romance. 

Santa's Book Shop

We're ringing in the Holidays in style. We have created a Book Fair just for you. Some of the books may be free; some may be bargained price. All are wonderful romances that give you the best of the season from comedy to suspense to drama.

Through the month of December, most of the Romance Gems authors will offer free and on sale books. 

These bargains come and go so fast that it's impossible to update the Book Fair page with them each day.

The best way to find out when a book is on sale is to subscribe to the Author's Free Newsletter.

I send my newsletter twice a month. My next one goes out this weekend, and I have a free book offer just for subscribers as well as sale books by me and some of my friends.

To become one of my Reader Friends, click to subscribe to my newsletter. 

When you confirm your subscription to my newsletter, you'll receive a link for a free ebook romance.

Now, hitch a ride on a sleigh and drop by Santa's Book Shop and pick out some books. Add some to your shopping list to give to a reading friend. It's easy and inexpensive to give ebooks. Instructions are on the Book Shop page to help you out.

December Author Spotlight

That smiling face you see to the left is Peggy Jaeger, who occupies the December Author Spotlight. 

Read all about Peggy and her new release, Baked With Love. The book cover is so pretty. You'll love it.

By the way, the link to Baked With Love is a universal book link so you can select the retailer of your choice. The book publishes December 9, but you can get it now on pre-order.

Be sure and visit every day or you may miss a bargain. Before I leave you to go make some pralines, I want to give you a free book offer.

LuvU4Ever—FREE on Kindle

If you haven't read this steamy holiday romance, pick up a free copy at Amazon today. 

Some Kindle shops outside the U.S. charge for this book so make sure it shows as free before you "buy" it.

Reviewers Say

I love a good short story with a beginning, middle and strong ending and LuvU4Ever delivers with no cliffhangers to cheat the reader.

LuvU4Ever is one short story I would recommend to all lovers of romance! —Jane Jones, Amazon Top 1000 Reviewer

Joan Reeves crafts a delightful and compelling romance. While it may be short, it is vivid and certainly hits home for many women. The characters of Noelle and David are quite 'real' and I found their story poignant. If you have never read a Joan Reeves romance before (where have you been!) this is a fabulous introduction to her romantic style! —eBookLuver Reviews

A lot of love, a touch of hate, and plenty of heat! —Loretta Wheeler Review

Makes you "awww!" and believe in true love! —Carol Iris K.T., Amazon Reviewer

Until next time, if you're looking for this guy in the Santa hat, forget checking under the tree.

Look in the pages of a Romance Novel!

Hugs and Holiday Wishes!  Joan

JOAN'S FREE NEWSLETTER

Amazon | BookBub | Facebook | Twitter | Joan's Blog

My Grandparents by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

My grandmother was a teacher and a working mom in a time when women didn't do that. She was an English teacher for 30 years and ended up being Regional Teacher of the Year. She was a Kansas Princess who became a Texan's wife. She started and maintained the public library in her town, and she owned over 1000 books herself. Which she organized into her own personal card catalog. And boy howdy, was she smart. Playing Twenty Questions with her was like...well...the hardest thing ever.

My granddad, her husband, was a pharmacist. He took over his father's confectionary shop when he got home from WWII -- he was a Sea Bee -- and put a pharmacy in it. It was a drug store, complete with a soda fountain and booths and swivel seats. And Blue Bell ice cream. He was a hard worker. Gentle. Kind. And his parents were from Spain -- but that's a story for another time.

My grandma grew up picking cotton. She quit school when she was in 3rd grade in order to help her family pick cotton. They moved around a lot. She was German, Texan, sweet as jam and pie, and couldn't raise her voice. Even when she tried. She had three rowdy boys -- and I do mean rowdy -- and she couldn't holler at them. She could cook like you would not believe and playing scrabble with her was impossible. She won every time.

My grandpa started working when he was 12. He had twelve brothers and sisters and he had to make money. He was the second oldest and worked on a diary farm. All the money he made he sent home. His employer fed him, and he slept in the loft. He was German, hard-nosed, hard-working, and a Sergeant in the Army during WWII. He died on Thanksgiving Day.

I've been thinking about them a lot lately. Probably because of the holiday. I hosted Thanksgiving this year. It was my second opportunity to host.

I also happen to be the keeper of many of my grandmother's and grandma's things.

I served the turkey on my grandmother's Thanksgiving platter, and we ate off of her wedding china. I sat at her Duncan Five table and in her folding chairs. And all of the platters and china I used are stored in my grandma's china cabinet.

This Thanksgiving was a sweet and blessed day. I felt so very close to all four of them. Losing my grandpa on Thanksgiving was tough. He died in 1998, the year I got married. He's been gone for awhile now, so I can think of him without tears, but that love/pain is there in my chest. I miss him. I miss all of them. They're all gone now, but I know they watch over me.

I also ended up dedicating my most recent book to them. It's weird how things work out. The story got me thinking about them because, well, the heroine, Truly Cunningham, gets married on Christmas day. And my grandma got married on Christmas day. That's the day my grandpa had off from work. The only day, in fact.

There's so much more I could say about these four people. Even now, I thank them often for being there for me and shaping me into the person I am.

The Christmas Bride released on November 21st! It is $0.99 cents and ready to help you snuggle up and get cozy during this upcoming winter season!

The Christmas Bride

Historical Romance

Truly Cunningham flees after her fiancé jilts her for her sister. With nowhere to go, she ends up in Pike’s Run, Texas, hiding in the town’s opulent Royal Hotel. As she nurses her pain, finding no comfort in the Christmas season, she is slowly running out of funds. She must find a way to support herself or return to Dallas where her sister is the wife Truly had planned to be.

Alfred Taylor, manager of the Royal Hotel, hates Christmas. The decorations. The celebrations. The presents. All of it. And he must help the Ladies’ Auxiliary put on the Christmas Eve social. The only bright spot is the presence of a new guest, Truly Cunningham. She is beautiful, mysterious, and warming parts of his heart he thought dead.

When Truly asks for a position in his hotel as hostess of the establishment, Alfred immediately hires her. Which becomes dangerous. He can’t stay away from her, and even worse, wants to spill his secrets. Will he lose his one chance at happiness, or will Christmas finally give him the hope it promises?

The Daffodils Are Coming!The Daffodils Are Coming! by Nora LeDuc #RomanceGems

I wandered lonely as a cloud
That floats on high o'er vales and hills,
When all at once I saw a crowd,
A host of golden daffodils;
(William Wordsworth)

With my stay at home life, I'm more eager than ever to get out and spot New England's signs of spring. I especially love the trumpet-shaped flowers, the daffodils. Their welcoming bright yellow, orange, or white colors welcome all who pass and raise my hopes for summer. So let's not waste time. Since car rides are allowed in our state, I'm off on our search for these harbingers of renewal. I'll add a few interesting landmarks along our way.

Molly Stark House at Pages Corner. Molly 
married General John Stark.

Before we leave, I check my yard. I discover the newest grouping I'd planted last fall near the road. They've survived the overflow of sand and salt from the plow truck and being buried beneath a mound of snow. Sadly, their buds haven't opened yet. But we've more to find. I hop in my vehicle and drive to the Pages Corner Cemetery that was named for the original land owners. Their daughter, Elizabeth Page (aka Molly Stark) lived on the corner and married Revolutionary War Hero John Stark.

Pages Corner Cemetery flowers--white building houses a horse-drawn hearse-
thanks to the town hearse restoration committee

But refocus! The plants are up at the cemetery! A long row of them, courtesy of our garden club. Their petals flutter in the wind and beckon me to snap their picture. I oblige. You might be curious about the white building in the grave yard. It houses a restored 1870 horse-drawn hearse.




I travel a few yards to the town line. Here, multitudes of daffodils are growing. Woo Hoo!! The residents of our community planted these for our town's 250 birthday celebration a few years ago.

                                          Roadside mass of flowers thanks to our town garden club                                         

Finally, my car chugs up the nine-hundred-foot-hill to the Center. There I make a glorious discovery. In front of the Caleb Stark Statue, the old horse trough contains a cheery display on this gray day. In case you're wondering, Caleb was Molly and Gen. John Stark's oldest son. Caleb is often depicted in paintings, chasing after his father who tried to leave him behind when John rode off to fight at the Battle of Bunker Hill. Yes, Caleb caught him and became the aide-de-camp to the general. We end our brief tour here. I declare our flower hunt a success on a cool April afternoon.

In the background, statue of Revolutionary soldier Caleb Stark

Now as the days grow warmer and longer, I grab my laptop and sit on the deck or by the windows. I dream of gardens rioting with color and stories filled with challenges and sometimes danger where love conquers all.

Before I sign off, I wanted to let you know my newest book, Christmas at the Easy Breezy will be in pre-order in June. The characters will celebrate with an outdoor spring wedding! Maybe you'll spot a daffodil.
Love to all,
~ Nora

****

Wait, there's more!!

Our monthly Rafflecopter is waiting for you and with an added chance —the Easter Egg Scavenger Hunt.  Complete information can be found on our Monthly Giveaway page. Yes, Easter is over but you can still enter. Just check out my Facebook page and my BookBub page to find my egg. Please like and follow me while there!!

Our Favorite Day by @KaraONealAuthor #RomanceGems

I'm so excited to finally share this! I've been waiting for December so I could tell y'all about it.

My family has a wonderful Christmas tradition. We call it Christmas Feast.

The first weekend in December we pull out the Christmas decorations -- we have A LOT -- so we can trim the tree and the house.

While the kids and my Prince Charming put everything out, I cook. I make all kinds of appetizers and finger foods. I use all my best and cute party platters, and our table is FULL of food. We eat for days after, which is just another great thing about it.

We listen to Christmas music, and the kids get all excited about each ornament they pull out and hang up. It's wonderful.

Y'all should know that I spend about 5 hours in the kitchen. My feet and back kill me by the time I'm done, but it's soooo worth it. I wouldn't trade it at all. The menu consists of:

1) Deviled eggs -- a riot ensues if I don't make these
2) Pigs in a blanket
3) Cheese tray
4) Cream cheese with jalapeno jelly
5) Jalapeno poppers
6) Pizza rolls
7) Parmesan crusted chicken tenders
8) Stuffed mushrooms
9) Veggies and dip
10) Egg rolls
11) Cookies galore
12) Taco sticks
13) Apples and a fruit dip
14) Pot stickers
15) Queso
16) Salsa

It's a lot. But it's sooooo great. I change it up each year, but only a little bit.

Once everything is done, we fill our plates and watch Home Alone. And the kids still giggle. They're 19, 17 and 13 now, but it doesn't matter. They love every bit of this day, and we have every intention of continuing it even after they're grown and gone. This year my daughter helped me with cooking, and she did such a great job. It only took three hours. I sure wish I had two ovens, though. That's for the next house, I guess.

Here's a little look into what it's like for us. The kids are younger in this video.

It's traditions like these that make it easy for me to write like I do. The best thing about my books is the family feel in them. I think it's become a trademark for me, because my readers remark on it often.

I'm glad I can evoke homey feelings in my stories. Hopefully it shows the love I have for my family and friends, and gives readers a sense of what life is all about.

What reminds you of family? What do you look forward to -- it doesn't have to be a Christmas tradition. Comment below and I'll send a copy of any book in my series to one lucky person -- winner can choose the book. Please leave your email!

And don't forget our December contest and giveaway! Enter CANDY CANE KISSES and win prizes! For all the details, visit our Monthly Giveaway page. Or, go straight to the ENTRY FORM.

 

Shiny Brites and Other Treasured Ghosts from Christmases Past by Kathryn Hills #RomanceGems

It happened just a year ago. My family home of seventy years was sold, and everything needed to go. Decades of happy memories, gone through, divided up, donated, or thrown away. My two siblings and I, plus a couple of our kids, chipped in to tackle the monumental task. From the musty basement to the eaves of the dusty old attic, we sorted through our parent’s and grandparent’s lives along with our childhood things. There were laughs, countless stories, and more than a few tears. Parting with a beloved place can be rough.

Then came the effort of taking what we wanted back to our own homes and families. Cars were jam-packed, every remaining box, scrap of paper, and old cloth used as transport material. Two moving trucks later—thank God, because we foolishly imagined we could move some of the big stuff ourselves—we were on our way. It’d been a long time since any of us moved on such on grand scale.

Some things are still packed away, but others immediately became a part of my family’s holidays. My mother’s dining room furniture… That china closet takes me back. The sound of it opening—rattling glass and dishes—and its familiar, pleasing scent. Childhood and the first home I’d ever known was still there! It had been my job as a kid to dust and wax that furniture whenever we entertained. I can’t smell Lemon Pledge without reminiscing. Now, that china closet is proudly displayed in my home.

From that "dusty old attic" came Christmas ornaments. Shiny Brites to be precise. Some so old and fragile, there is no way they’d hang on a tree again. To keep them safe I purchased fancy glass jars. They graced my own tables beginning last season, and I just put them out again.

And mom’s dining room table? It’s now in my family room/kitchen space, so our guests can enjoy it. Last Christmas Eve, family and friends shared their own stories around that table. Everything had come full-circle.

But the best part was Christmas morning, when I was up alone and early with my pups. My memories were all there, nestled into the hush of the peaceful winter’s morning. I sat with my coffee, gazing at our pretty tree and all the new, “old” things surrounding me again. It had been quite a harrowing journey, getting everything there. Especially during the hectic holiday season. Yet, I could feel them…my treasured ghosts of Christmases Past. They’d found a new home with me, and it was perfect!

Psst...want to hear an author secret? I've got a "thing" for attics, basements, and the treasures they can hide. Perhaps it's more of a ghost hunter thing, but places like those are intriguing to me. They play their parts in my Time Traveler's Journey Series. Take a peek at My Books if you'd like to learn more.

Also, if you're a fan of Shiny Brite ornaments, check out a fun and informative post on the history of these classic holiday decorations by DIY decorating guru Laura Tedesco - CrackerJack23.

Thanks for reading! I wish you ALL a blessed holiday season and a happy, healthy, prosperous New Year!

~ Kathryn

Visit our Holiday Book Fair for holiday-themed reads from RomanceGems Authors

And don't forget the December Giveaway!

Enter our December RAFFLECOPTER to win 1 of 5 Amazon Gift Cards!

Or, visit our Monthly Giveaway Page

CHRISTMAS MEMORIES

By Caroline Clemmons

This season resurrects so many memories for each of us—some good and some not so nice. Fortunately for me, Christmas brings happy memories. Certainly, some are better than others, but this is a happy time—my favorite time of year.

What’s the first Christmas you remember? 

Mine is when I was three. My parents and I moved from North Texas to Southern California when I was ten months old. By the time I was three, we lived in a home I loved in a suburb of Bakersfield.

That year the family Christmas Eve celebration was at our home.  Around twenty extended family members were assembled for dinner and… Santa! One of my favorite relatives, Buster, knew Santa personally and went to the airport to pick him up. Though I adored Buster anyway, this fact cemented him in my favor permanently.

Sure enough, Santa came in loaded down with toys. He gave me a rattan doll buggy and a doll. I remember the look on the face of my 9-month-old niece, Linda, as she stared wide-eyed at Santa. Probably the same expression was on my own face. When all the toys had been delivered, Buster took Santa back to the airport so he could catch his plane to the North Pole in time for his sleigh run. I didn't question why Santa had to take a plane when he had that sleigh and reindeer.  

That's me with the buggy
and doll from Santa.
No snow--it's in 
Southern California.

Santa—Buster’s older brother, Roy—wore a luxurious red velveteen suit trimmed with artificial fur that looked real to a child. Years later, I learned my half-sister, Clarice, had sewn that costume. She was the best seamstress I’ve ever known. That suit was handed down in the family for decades.

The summer before my eighth birthday, my parents and I moved back to Texas. I missed those wonderful Christmas gatherings until the year my husband and I took our infant daughter there. The evening was as wonderful than I remembered.  By this time, Roy had passed Santa duties to my half-brother, Herschel.  He was so impressive that even several teenaged guests were awed.

For years, when kids told me there was no Santa, I argued with them. I had seen Santa and he had personally handed me toys! That Christmas remains an outstanding memory and the first of many wonderful Christmases in my life.

For this Christmas, I wish you joy, peace, and love--and the wonder and faith of a child. Merry Christmas! 

I’m giving away a copy of one of my e-books to one person who comments today. Winner's choice from my Amazon Author page at https://amazon.com/Caroline-Clemmons/e/B001K8CXZ6/

In addition, we have a great Rafflecopter giveaway for the month for our CANDY CANE KISSES GIVEAWAY. This is five Amazon Gift Cards. Grand Prize is $30, 2nd prize is $25, 3rd prize is $20, fourth prize is $10, and fifth prize is $5. 

Rafflecopter Giveaway

Secret Hunger on Sale! @SatinRussell #RomanceGems

Hello Romance Readers,

I hope your holiday season is going well. Many of you have probably been busy decorating the house, shopping for gifts, and hosting holiday parties.

With so much to do, this time of year can be joyful but also stressful. Sometimes, it's nice to take a moment and escape into a good story.

I'm here to help! Secret Hunger is currently on sale for only $0.99. It's very rare that I put my books on sale, so get it while it's good. That way, even if things are too busy now, you'll have something to look forward to in the new year.

Get your copy HERE.

Happy reading and Season's Greetings!
Satin

Have you already read Secret Hunger? Be sure to check out our Holiday Book Fair for a list of other great holiday titles written by our talented Romance Gems.

Don't forget to enter our monthly Romance Gems Rafflecopter Contest for your chance to win one of FIVE Amazon Gift Cards! This month's theme is "Candy Cane Kisses."