Mistletoe Mashups by @JoanReeves #RomanceGems

Welcome to Mistletoe Mashups!

We're mashing it up and dishing it out—mashing and dishing what? Whatever the Romance Gems Authors wanted to share. It may surprise us as much as you! It might be a Giveaway...or a Christmas memory...or how our holidays have changed over the years...or who knows?

There really is a giveaway—not 1 but 2!!—at the end so leave a comment with your email addy to be entered. Giveaway open until midnight, Dec. 20. Winner to be announced Dec. 21. 

By the way, all of these books featured in this post make great gifts for your reading friends. Click on the title, and you'll be whisked away to the book's Amazon webpage. Buy for yourself, or look for Buy For Others in the right sidebar and click to buy to give to a friend.

Happy Mistletoe Mashups!

Lots of Holiday Romances by Joan Reeves

Is the new Chief of Police the perfect man to mend Cassie's broken heart?

Happy Holidays from Joan!

For me, Christmas starts in the summer when I begin writing the holiday stories I've contracted for the year. Often, when it's over 100 degrees F. outside, I'm in my office writing about blue northers that herald the arrival of winter in Texas.

You'll find my Christmas stories as diverse as the Romantic Thriller Dead Heat (It's a die-hard Christmas for Sabrina Snow!), the ultra-sexy Luv4Ever (free on Kindle), the Romantic Comedy Nobody's Cinderella, this year's short story Stuck on the Naughty List, and so many more holiday stories. Enjoy all the little stories you'll find below!

Today, Tomorrow, Always by Peggy Jaeger

Can a simple affair with an end date be just the thing to brighten their lives?

Happy Holidays from Peggy!

I'd always wanted ROCK'EM SOC'EM Robots as a kid and had put it on my Santa list for 4 years. Never got it because Mom told me Santa only gives girl presents to girls and that was a "boy" present.

Fast forward 35 years, and I'm telling this story around the dinner table at my in-laws on Christmas Eve.

The next morning, under the tree was a big box with my name on it and "Sorry this took so long, Love Santa" written on the tag. It was ROCK'EM SOC'EM Robots! After hearing the story, Hubby ran to KIDS'R US and bought it for me. Love that man so so so much!

Not So blue Christmas by Bonnie Edwards

Take one Christmas grouch. Add one vivacious widow…And you get a second chance at love.

Happy Holidays from Bonnie!

The season has changed for me many times since my typical childhood. We moved across country and for years, holidays were just the four of us. Two parents and two children.

Now, we've got grandsons, and wonderful in-laws. We all share the holidays, taking turns and enjoying the mayhem of six little boys between 3 and 7.

Brede by Connie Vines!


Trouble is something hard-edged rancher, Brede Kristensen, knows all about. What he hadn't bargained for was the woman he’d vowed to protect finding a way into the lonely corners of his heart.

Happy Holidays from Connie

Christmas has changed for me as my sons are grown men, and I am enjoying my role as Grammie.

Love, laughter, baking cookies, and sharing stories passed down through generations. Merry Christmas!

A Groovy Christmas by Jan Scarbrough

A Groovy Christmas is a heartwarming Christmas tale like no other.

Happy Holidays from Jan!

My 12 year old grandson found out about Santa Claus this year. A little magic has gone out of Christmas for him. I remember how exciting Christmas morning was for me as a child and for my own children when I played Santa.

One year my daughter got a saddle from Santa. Not the horse, but at least a saddle. Without little children in the house, Christmas morning is not as magical. However, I still love buying gifts for the grandchildren. It’s fun to see them open a package with a book in it, sit there under the tree, and start reading it. That’s still a bit of magic.

Colton's Rescue Mission by Karen Whiddon

When a serial killer strikes too close to home can forbidden love blossom?

Although the Avalanche Killer has been caught, Remy Colton fears the criminal’s shadow still looms over Roaring Springs. And falling for his brother’s ex, Vanessa Fisher, definitely doesn’t help matters. But when someone begins to target Vanessa, Remy vows to protect her at all costs! Even if that means nailing down a ruthless threat—once and for all.

Happy Holidays from Karen Whiddon!

Christmas has changed for me a lot over the years. Once, we had a large family gathering and meal. Usually on Christmas Eve.

Now, with both my parents gone, it's shrunk down to just my immediate family. We still have a meal, though we go out on Christmas Eve now. And we still celebrate, even though we miss those who aren't with us.

Elusive Dreams by Kari Lemor

An injured Marine, an introverted loner, two orphaned children needing a home. Can they create a perfectly imperfect family?

Happy Holidays from Kari!

When my children were young and all at home, we used to make decorating a family event. We'd all go out to pick out the tree. My husband would cut the bottom and put it in the base, then drag it in the house.

I'd put all the lights on. And my children got to add all the ornaments. Many of them were ones they'd made in school or scouts. I also had all the ones my mother had gotten over the years, plus her grandmother's. Many of which were over a hundred years old.

Now my kids are grown and moved out. I live in a very small place, so don't have room for a large tree. I put out a few things, but mostly I enjoy going to my daughter's where her children have decorated the tree. I get to see their joy now in the whole process.

Secret Gifts by Satin Russell

A romantic suspense holiday novella featuring Christmas trees, baking cookies, gifts, child abductions and religious cults. You know, light and fluffy, but don't worry, there is a HEA and NO cliffhanger!

Happy Holidays from Satin!

Fifteen years ago, my husband and I got married on December 18th. Ever since then, the holiday season has taken on extra special meaning. This year, we'll be celebrating our anniversary with an extended weekend in Montreal. Because we don't have kids, our Christmas mornings tend to be quiet. About mid-morning, we usually go to my sister's house to watch our niece and nephew open presents, then come back to enjoy a nice meal at home.

Old and New by Lucinda Race

The MacLellan sisters have vowed to never get married. But that was before their beloved Gran sent them an enchanted heirloom wedding dress.

Happy Holidays from Lucinda!

When my girls were small Christmas was a busy time for us all. With the hustle and bustle of family meals, gifts, all the cooking and traveling to see other relatives we were exhausted at the end of the holiday season. Sometimes I think we needed a nice long vacation after our holiday vacation.

Fast forward twenty years: Now I use the market to get relief in the kitchen, who says dinner rolls have to be homemade? When my family comes for Christmas Eve we don't exchange gifts. We actually just enjoy a nice dinner where everyone has brought something to share. We eat off paper plates and sit and talk over coffee and dessert. It is a more relaxed an enjoyable evening for us all.
Someday when my girls have children I'm sure we'll be back into the crazy swing. But for now I'm cherishing each special holiday with the ones I love.

Christmas Brides: 3 Regency Novellas by Cheryl Bolen

Three Regency novellas, including Christmas at Farley Manor, Best Novella of 2011.

Happy Holidays from Cheryl!

With children now grown, Christmas has drastically changed for us. Typically -- but not always -- our Christmas gift to our adult kids is a family trip at Christmas, which is a time when both our sons can more easily get away from demanding jobs.

We've spent three Christmases in Europe in the last five years. It sure takes the stress out of shopping! Buying for guys is soooo hard.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Volume 1 Box Set by Kathleen Lawless

See why readers are falling in love with the Mason brothers in 19th century Arizona, as each brother meets that special woman destined to be his bride. Contains a "not-for-sale" prequel to this popular sweet western historical series.

Happy Holidays from Kathleen!

With no little ones in the house, Christmas is all about time together, a leisurely champagne brunch, a walk on the beach, and making dinner together. This year we are having fondue.

Somewhere in there gifts are exchanged, but there is far less emphasis on that aspect of the day. I treasure these times outside of our busy lives and hope my adult children always consider “Mom’s House” the place to spend Christmas.

Haunting Highland House by Kathryn Hills

She’s looking to escape her man troubles. Instead, she finds the man of her dreams. There’s only one problem – he’s dead.

Happy Holidays from Kathryn!

When our daughter was young, we put away the fancy glass ornaments, opting for sturdier, kid-friendly decorations. We wanted her to enjoy trimming the Christmas tree as much as we did. Fast forward to her being older.

Themed trees came into being, and our girl took an active part in creating a special tree each year. That part remains. This year’s tree theme is “woodland creatures/rustic cabin,” and it’s stunning! However, we’ve reverted to unbreakable ornaments again, because… PUPPY!

The Sheriff's Gift by Kara O'Neal

Forbidden kisses with the sheriff weren't a part of the schoolteacher's plans, but Alice Parker can't help herself. When handsome Conner Lonnigan betrays her, she refuses to forgive him, but he won't give up and will do anything to win her heart back.

Happy Holidays from Kara!

I love Christmas. Mostly because we get to spend time with extended family. However, I've discovered that I'm in a transition period. My oldest daughter is in college. I'm jumping the gun, I know, but I'm looking ahead and seeing a future where I'm the grandparent and the big party happens at my house.

Can you hear my knees knocking? No? They are, and I feel like I need to start thinking about this so I can be as prepared as possible. A little early? Yes. But...well...I think my OCD self won't let me not draft strategy. So, Merry Christmas and I think I'm going to start looking for a maid!

The Christmas Carousel by Liz Flaherty

There’s work to be done in Christmas Town. Your favorite Harlequin Heartwarming authors are rebuilding a carousel in time for Christmas.

Happy Holidays from Liz!

I always think Christmas will be different. Each year, I plan to spend less, organize better, say no more often, and have a relaxing holiday.

However, when the season rolls around, I’m right back in the stores, my office is a maze of wrapping paper and misplaced rolls of cellophane tape, and the word no doesn’t have a place in my vocabulary.

So, what hasn’t changed is that the holiday’s never relaxing. What has changed is that I’m good with it—at the end of the day, it’s just the way I like it.

Highland Destiny by Laura Hunsaker

When he steals his enemy's bride out of vengeance, what will happen when they fall in love? Highland Destiny: Not even time itself can keep them apart.

Happy Holidays from Laura!

Christmas has changed a lot over the past couple years. I've had children grow to teenagers, and a baby grow into a big kid. It's crazy to see how even the simple act of buying Christmas presents changes. Teens no longer want toys, and the little one wants what the teens get, even if she is only 6.

We try to do a couple service projects during Winter Break to show the kids that Christmas is not about gifts, and this is new, because as the kids get older, I don't want them to become spoiled brats.

We keep our celebrations simple now. We enjoy good food, good friends, and good family, but we try not to be extravagant. We're aiming this year for a happy and joyful Christmas that stays simple.

I Won't Be Home for Christmas by Karen Kelley

Two stories from USA Today Bestselling author Karen Kelley that will have you laughing out loud one minute, and fanning yourself the next. Deemed "Romances Rising Funny Girl" by NYT bestselling author Sharon Sala.

Happy Holidays from Karen!

Here's a decorating tip for our Readers. Don’t try to do everything by yourself.

Bring the whole family in, turn off all cell devices, put on Christmas music, and reminisce about Christmas past. While everyone helps decorate cookies or make candy or decorate the house, they'll also be making memories of Christmas present to share in the future.

Mistletoe Mashups Giveaway #1

For a free copy of Snowflakes & Christmas Kisses, leave a comment about anything holiday related, along with your email address.

This box set includes Just One Look, a rollicking romantic comedy by Joan Reeves.

Open until midnight Dec. 20. Winner announced Dec. 21.

Mistletoe Mashups Giveaway #2

For a free copy of Love, Christmas 1: the Songs of your Heart, leave a comment about anything holiday related, along with your email address.

This box set includes Last Christmas, a romance about seduction, heartbreak, second chances, and redemption, by Joan Reeves.

Open until midnight Dec. 20. Winner announced Dec. 21.

But Wait, There's More

Of course, there's more. There's CANDY CANE KISSES, our December Rafflecopter!

Remember to enter CANDY CANE KISSES. For all the details, visit our Monthly Giveaway page. Or, go straight to the ENTRY FORM.

Happy Holidays from Romance Gems!

The Scents and Memories of the Holidays by Connie Vines

In an earlier blog post I touched on the impact of scents on memory and emotions. 

Mini Science Lesson: Scents bypass the thalamus and go straight to the brain's smell center, known as the olfactory bulb. The olfactory bulb is directly connected to the amygdala and hippocampus, which might explain why the smell of something can so immediately trigger a detailed memory or even intense emotion.

Now to the good stuff:  You might have noticed that the smell of grass and rubber cleats can bring back the memory of childhood soccer games in starker detail than watching a home movie of one of those games.  Or the scent of fog on alfalfa triggers a memory of horses trotting over, hooves pawing the ground in excitement, or a gentle nudge against your shoulder to let you know it’s past sunrise. Smells have a stronger link to memory and emotion than any of the other senses, and neuroscience may know the reason why.

When you see, hear, touch, or taste something, that sensory information first heads to the thalamus, which acts as your brain's relay station. The thalamus then sends that information to the relevant brain areas, including the hippocampus, which is responsible for memory, and the amygdala, which does the emotional processing.

This is why certain scents seem to transport you back in time.

My sons are married with families of their own but I still like to fill my home with fragrances of the past, the future, or holiday warmth.

I thought I’d share my simple ways to create ‘holiday scents and rekindle holiday memories’.
I use simmering potpourri for the house. 

While some simmer a mixture of spices on the stove.  I prefer mini crock-pots.

I find that I usually have my ingredients in my kitchen cupboards or refrigerator bin to create my holiday scent.

(onegoodthingbyJillee -photo credit)

Simmering Holiday Potpourri

1/2 orange, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1/2 cup of fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon cloves, whole or ground
1 teaspoon nutmeg

Add all the ingredients to a small crock-pot. The one I use is a dip crock-pot that came with my regular-size slow cooker. Fill the crock-pot with water about one inch below the rim.
For a regular-sized crock-pot you can triple the recipe; or double the recipe to to simmer on the stove in a medium sauce pan.

Soon your house will smell like holiday happiness!

Holiday Outdoor Potpourri
lemon, sliced

2 sprigs of fresh rosemary
1 teaspoon vanilla
(follow simmering instructions as listed above.)

Simmering Holiday Potpourri II

1/2 orange, sliced
2 cinnamon sticks, broken in half
1/2 cup of fresh cranberries
1 teaspoon cloves, whole or ground
1 teaspoon nutmeg

What does your home smell like during the holidays?

I, like my mysterious heroine in “Brede”, Rodeo Romance Book 2, like the scent of gingerbread cookies.  This will be simmering in my mini-crock-pot this weekend.

Favorite scents?  Please share in the comments section.

Remember it’s our Candy Kisses contest and giveaways this month.

May your Holidays be filled with Warm Wishes and Candy Cane Kisses,

Connie 

Snowed In With One Bed by Laura Hunsaker

A little while back there was a silly game going around the internet that looked a little like this:

Me: Ugh a Rom Com where there's only one bed and they're snowed in, how cliche.
Also Me: OMG a Rom Com where there's only one bed and they're snowed in! I love this cliche!

Me: Ugh She's leaving the big city to go home for the holidays to find herself
Also Me: OMG she's leaving the big city to go home for the holidays to find herself!

This made me giggle any time I saw a new one pop up. But it got me to thinking. With Hallmark, Netflix, Lifetime, and all the other channels that do the heartwarming Holiday Romances, why do they work for us?

They may be a bit tropey, but I think that's the draw. The same as any good book, we see recurring themes. There's the girl goes home for the holidays, boy is local and they hate each other at first but fall in love. Especially when there's only one bed ;)

There's the ol' meddling aunt/granny/friend who matchmakes with two unwilling people who then fall for each other.

There's the secret baby trope, the second chance at romance trope, I could go on and on. I love a good romance, whether it's a book or a movie, give me all the happily ever afters!

I think my favorite thing about these movies is that I know there's going to be a happy ending. They're fun, they're happy, and you know what you're in for. Whether the hero is a small town veterinarian and the heroine is a big city lawyer, or the hero is the local sheriff and the heroine is a baker, you just know they're going to have a happily ever after. And isn't that the best feeling?

That's the best part! You know what you're getting. The promise of a happy movie with a happy ending.

I'm so ready for the weekend when I can stay in my pajamas and binge watch the new movies. How about you? Any favorite movies you watch this time of year? What's your favorite trope? I have to admit I do love the "one bed, snowed in" trope.

My latest book Dark Past deals with a small town, a startling secret, and absolutely a happily ever after.

The small town was supposed to be safe...

Kate Landry is tired of running. Thinking she's safe, she settles in the small logging town of Chester, California to manage a cafe. She may be keeping a low profile, but she's hoping to return to a normal life.
When FBI agent Kyle Donovan visits to Chester to stay with a friend, and to recover from his latest case, he never expects to meet sexy barista Kate.

But someone is following Kate...
Kyle worries he brought trouble to her door, while Kate worries her dark past is coming after her.
With danger lurking around every corner, her safe haven isn't as safe as she'd thought. Kate will finally have to trust someone enough to tell him her secrets. Secrets that may just get them killed...

Don't forget to check out the monthly giveaways by clicking here.


We've set up a HOLIDAY BOOK FAIR just for you with more than 2 dozen Christmas romance novels. Buy for you, or buy for a friend—directions included for buying for someone else. Wonderful, romantic holiday books! Some are heart-throbbing; all are heartwarming! Drop by our Movie Theater and watch our December video featuring the Romance Gems Authors. You can also catch it on YouTube if you want to view it on your TV app. 

Be sure to enter our CANDY CANE KISSES Rafflecopter. We've got several very nice Amazon Gift Cards up for grabs. All of this is our way of saying, "Happy Holidays!"

CHRISTMAS TRADITIONS by Kathleen Lawless #romancegems @kathleenlawless

Wasn’t Christmas the best, most exhilarating time when we were young?  All the excitement, the anticipation, the festivities.  Falling asleep on Christmas Eve was never easy and Christmas morning couldn’t come fast enough so we could bounce out of bed to see what Santa left under the tree or in our stocking.

Somewhere along the way the holidays came to mean lists, lists and more lists.  Frenzied crowds in the shops or the mall.  Long line-ups.  Clogged parking lots.  Baking and wrapping and cleaning and planning.  Too much to do and never enough time, no matter how early one got started.  Which is when learned to I step back, take a breath and concentrate on the traditions I look forward to each year.

Our local yacht club hosts a "Sea of Lights" with the sailboats all decked in lights reflecting off the endless dark ocean.  Honey and I bundle up and watch it from the beach every year with mugs of (spiked) hot chocolate.  

For the largest truck parade in the country, Heavy Equipment Operators catch the Christmas spirit by decorating their huge work trucks with lights and driving them in a massive convoy through downtown with carols blaring and horns honking.  I usually open the sunroof and stand on my seat for the best vantage point as they drive past.  

A nearby world-famous garden trades its flower bulbs for light bulbs in December. Gardeners spend months decorating to the theme of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  My gleeful inner child loves to ride the carousel.  Thank goodness I can still fling my leg up and hoist myself onto one of the critters.   

More than ripping into gifts in the morning, my family and I look forward to playing games on Christmas Eve.  Our recent favorite, Cards Against Humanity, always turns into a laugh fest.  The simple act of being together with my love and my adult children is all I want for Christmas, and I give thanks every year that we all still enjoying being together.

Comment below and share some of your holiday traditions.  And don’t forget to enter our raffledraw.  This month’s prizes are bigger than ever.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/21df08a232/

If you’re a fan of box sets, my SEVEN BRIDES SERIES Volume 1 is now available.  It contains a bonus novella not available for purchase outside of the set.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07ZW9SVZK

If, like me, you have a penchant for cowboys, check out these heroes in cowboy boots, all available to read for free in KU.    
  

• https://storyoriginapp.com/to/409JnSj

Most of all have a safe and happy Holiday Season, however you choose to celebrate. 

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."

MEMORIES OF DISASTERS PAST by Hannah Rowan #RomanceGems

Some people love to cook.  Me, if I ever win the lottery the first thing I plan to do is hire a personal chef and never cook again.

I was so thankful that all I had to make for Thanksgiving this year was dessert for the kids.  Cookies shaped like turkeys.  Candied walnuts.  Easy-peasy.

Looking back on this year’s Thanksgiving dinner brings to mind some less successful culinary endeavors.  For instance, the first time I cooked for my future in-laws.  On the weekend after Thanksgiving I decided to invite my then-fiancé’s parents to my apartment for a turkey dinner.  I wish I had known there was a little paper bag full of giblets in the neck cavity.  But really, the paper couldn’t have hurt anyone, could it have?  After all, it was inserted in something people were going to eat.  

No, the real problem with that turkey was the stuffing.  Since I generally don’t learn how to cook things I don’t like, I had never learned how to cook stuffing.  How hard could it be?  I found a recipe that required chopping onions and celery and mixing it with breadcrumbs and some other things I’d rather not remember.  I was a busy gal.  I didn’t have time for all that chopping. I tossed all the ingredients into my blender and came out with a liquid mixture.  Having had no experience with stuffing, I concluded that it must gel while cooking, so I poured it into the turkey.  My theory turned out to be wrong.  My future mother-in-law was uncharacteristically diplomatic about my efforts but nobody had the nerve to taste my concoction.

At another Thanksgiving gathering my guests weren’t so fortunate.  For some unknown reason I decide to make pumpkin pie from scratch.  I’m sure it would have worked out fine if the directions had been a little more explicit.  Who knew there were different kinds of molasses?  The recipe called for molasses and I bought something called blackstrap molasses.  Don’t ever do this!  The pie was gorgeous but after serving it I was faced with a group of people grimacing and looking for a way to discreetly spit their first bite of pie into a napkin.

Unfortunately, my culinary disasters are few and far between and not enough to get me out of cooking on a regular basis.  So I have to keep hoping for that winning lottery ticket.

 

Season's Greetings! We've set up a HOLIDAY BOOK FAIR just for you with more than 2 dozen Christmas romance novels. Buy for you, or buy for a friend—directions included for buying for someone else. Wonderful, romantic holiday books! Some are heart-throbbing; all are heartwarming! Drop by our Movie Theater and watch our December video featuring the Romance Gems Authors. You can also catch it on YouTube if you want to view it on your TV app. Be sure to enter our CANDY CANE KISSES Rafflecopter. We've got several very nice Amazon Gift Cards up for grabs. All of this is our way of saying, "Happy Holidays!"

Unconventional Christmas by @ElsaKurt #RomanceGems

Christmas Eve

Growing up, my Christmas tradition comprised two very different celebrations. On Christmas Eve, we went to my Oma and Opa's house (my German grandparents) where we basically ate all day long.  

The main meal graced the long dining room table at around two - a meal my Oma prepared, cooked, and served single-handedly (because she trusted no one with her good china or her recipes). We'd eat until bursting, then men would wander off to watch football, and the women would clear the dishes (this was the seventies and early eighties, mind you). The kids carried on a steady litany of requests to open presents. When the adults couldn't take a minute more of our begging, they'd make a production of swearing they heard sleigh bells outside. We'd hush in anticipation. A knock on the front door made us gasp. Then, a hearty, "Ho! Ho! Ho! Merry Christmas!" followed - along with a couple extra jingle, jingles - and my grandmother would announce, "I wonder who that was," to which we'd scream, "Santa!" Shortly after that, we'd tear through the gifts like Tasmanian devils.

Tradition Check

I learned, much later in life, that this was not how most families handled the whole Santa business. In fact, it was my first husband (and father to my two grown daughters) who looked at me as if I'd just come off of Crazy Island when I explained how we celebrated Christmas.

He said, "What do you mean, Santa delivers the presents on Christmas Eve and you open them? All of them?"

"Duh," I said.

"No. That's just... wrong. Santa comes Christmas Eve night, while the kids are asleep, and they open the presents on Christmas Day morning. Have you not seen a single Christmas movie ever?"

My mouth opened and snapped shut. Wait. He was right. Damn.

 

Christmas Day

On Christmas Day, we packed up our gear and went to my father's parents, my Abuelo and Abuela. My memories of how we celebrated there are bizarrely hazy. Of course we ate and open presents and did all the stuff and things, I'm certain. But what I remember of those visits revolved around watching this cool new channel called MTV, where I could see videos of my favorite bands singing their songs. I recall swinging around and around the railing out front, sitting in rocking chairs on the front porch of my grandparent's three-family house, and sneaking up to the third floor to meet the tenant's newest litter of kittens. Weird, right? My only explanation is that we really spent the lion's share of time with the German side of the family, especially when the Cuban side all moved to Florida.

Fast Forward

When raising my daughters, my then-husband and I repeated the "my family on Christmas Eve," and "your family on Christmas Day" tradition. I can only hope my girls' recollections are as fond as my own. (I'll have to ask them this Christmas). I finally understood how exhausting it had been for my parents - the packing up, traveling, unpacking, repeat - sigh. I hosted as often as was fair, but we still did a LOT of traveling back then.

Little Further Forward

After my ex and I divorced, we kept the routine the same. Christmas Eve, mine. Christmas Day, his. But it sucked waving goodbye to my kids on Christmas morning just as much as it sucked for my ex to not see the girls on Christmas Eve. Eventually, we evolved into us all - my "new" husband and me, the girls, and my ex and his wife - celebrating Christmas Day morning together, so we both got to watch them open presents. We also conferred and co-ordinated. You get this, we'll get that. Go half and half? Sure, why not. And we also agreed to spend an equal amount so neither parent "outshone" the other. 

Christmas 2019

This year, we're really re-writing the script. You ready for this? My husband and I are flying to Florida this year for Christmas... and staying with my ex-husband and his wife... to celebrate Christmas with our girls. Five days of unconventional family-ing. Crazy, right? Our daughters - now twenty-seven and twenty-two - are still both a little amused and bemused. How the heck do they explain us, their unconventional parental units to friends and boyfriends? Hopefully, it's by saying something like, "Yeah, I know it's weird, but my parents are divorced and remarried to other people, but it's cool because they're all friends and that makes my life easier."

I mean, that's what started it all in the first place: wanting to make divorce a little easier on the girls. We hated making them a statistic. We hated the tension, the anxiousness, the awkwardness, the sadness, the guilt... the ugh of divorce. Plus, I think we were tired of hating each other, too. So, in the end, we're all making out pretty darn good in this deal. 

Side Note: Most people, upon hearing our story, cringe for our respective spouses. They usually wonder how they cope with us being so involved in our exes lives, thereby pulling them in, too. My husband and my exes' wife - who I jokingly refer to as my sort-of sister-wife - both readily acknowledge the strangeness of the situation. But they're also both "all in" kind of people. They get it and they love the girls, and that's usually all the explanation needed. My husband put it best (if not originally) when he said in response to someone's raised eyebrows, "Listen. We've got a perfectly imperfect life, and I love it."

Embracing the Oddness

I used to envy the ultra-conventional families and wish mine looked like theirs. Now, I'm just happy for them and hope their life is what I envision it to be like. But I love my unconventional life, too. It was fought for and hard-won. Despite whatever battle scars we may all have, we're on the other side of it and appreciating where we're at. This, as my beloved Cary Grant was known to say, is the good stuff. 

See you in the new year! xo - Elsa

DECEMBER GIVEAWAY NEWS

Our December Rafflecopter has 5 Amazon Gift Cards as prizes. Be sure to enter often to improve your chances of winning, and, please, tell your friends about Romance Gems—our Authors, our books, our blog posts, and our Giveaway every month.

Complete information on the contest can be found on our Monthly Giveaway page.

Watch our December Promotion Video, Candy Cane Kisses, and share the celebration with our authors. You'll also find this video and many others on our Movie Theater page. You can also watch our videos on YouTube.