Holiday Friday With the Crew!

Happy Holidays, everyone!  'Tis the season for family, friends, and traditions!  To get us in the holiday spirit, I've asked everyone to share some of their holiday plans. Let's find out what the gang is up to!

Lara Lacombe

This holiday will be my first as a married woman, and I'm really looking forward to exchanging gifts with Mister (my husband).  He's like a little kid in a candy store on Christmas morning, and he gets positively giddy at the sight of gifts under the tree. He loves to open presents, and I love to wrap them--it's a match made in heaven!

If you're looking for a romantic suspense with a holiday setting, why not check out my newest book, Lethal Lies?  It's out now!  Here's the back-cover blurb:

Trusting the man she loves could cost her her life 

Putting her faith in someone who lies for a living isn't the safest thing Dr. Jillian Mahoney has ever done. But to stay alive, she has to believe the undercover agent—who's kidnapped her to prove his innocence—isn't a traitor to the FBI. And to help him, she must deny their intense attraction as they run from two vengeful killers. 

Her captor, Alex Malcom, has lived a life of lies—some worse than others. Still, there's one truth he's reluctant to disclose to Jillian, the woman of his dreams. One that could stop their relationship cold.

Amazon Kindle | Print

Barnes & Noble Nook | Print

Books-A-Million eBook | Print

Maureen McGowan

Every Christmas, I love going to visit my sister and her family in Ottawa, the capital of Canada. This year, I’m going the weekend before Christmas and we’re doing the whole turkey thing early! Since I’ll be spending Christmas day at my brother’s house, I'll get turkey dinner twice. Score! 

This is a photo of the Rideau Canal, with the Parliament Buildings in the distance. Once the canal freezes, usually right around Christmas, it becomes the longest skating rink in the world for a few months. People even use it to skate to and from work!

If you want a short romantic read to pass the time while your Christmas baking is in the oven, check out my time travel short story, Lost and Found. http://amzn.to/1rcwp0b

E.E. Burke

From the time my daughters were old enough to lick a spoon, we've had a tradition of baking Christmas cookies. The Saturday before Christmas, we spend most of the day at Grandma's house making treats we'll enjoy on Christmas Eve when the whole family gathers. Nothing fancy, just homemade deliciousness. 

Looking for something to read over the holidays? Check out my new release A Dangerous Passion. 

For our GLIAS readers only, I'm offering a special deal between now and Dec. 31st 50% off regular price. Go to Smashwords and enter this coupon code: UB25F when you check out. You can download an eBook in any format you prefer.

Alexa Bourne

One Christmas tradition in my family is opening Christmas crackers! My mother is from England and so we've continued the UK tradition here, too. When we set the table for Christmas, we put a cracker on each plate. Once we all sit down to eat, we "crack" open the crackers and share the silly toys and jokes inside. We also wear the paper crowns from the cracker throughout our Christmas dinner!

If you're really into holiday romances, consider picking up my romantic suspense novella. A US soldier, a Scottish bodyguard, & New Year's danger in Edinburgh! SIMPLE TREASURES! 

Jan Schliesman

For the past 18 years I have written a Christmas letter for all of our family and friends.  It started out being rather short and has grown into each member of our family having their own paragraph to recap all they've done in the previous year.  When they were younger, it was fun to tell cute things that they had said and done.  As they grew into teenagers, it was fun to embarrass them with their own bad behavior!  My husband told me five years ago that I needed to stop picking on the kids (and him) in the Christmas letter. So I made it boring and sent it over for his approval.  The girls came to me and complained that I wasn't mean enough in their paragraphs, and would I change it?

Now its fun to read through the previous years and see what was important to our family and where we were living at the end of each year.  We also include a family picture, which has also changed over the years.  It's one tradition I don't ever plan on giving up!

Lizbeth Selvig

There are so many Christmas traditions my family loves:  annual cookie baking, decorating the house, cutting our own tree rather than buying one from a lot, Swedish meatballs for Christmas Eve dinner, brunch at Grandma and Grandpa's house. But one of the quietest things I love to do every year is string garlands of popcorn and cranberries for our Christmas tree. It's such a silly thing, but my tree looks completely bare despite all our lights and ornaments until I put on the red and white strands. It takes a couple of nights in front of Christmas movies to finish--but I get such joy out of this little touch. Over the years various family members have helped create the strings. Now that the kids are grown, it's pretty much my task. But I love it!  Here's the result:

And if you're looking for some lovely sweet-sexy romances to put under the tree for someone special--or yourself!--think about the last two books in my small town Kennison Falls, back-to-back releases "Beauty and the Brit" and "Good Guys Wear Black." Click the book covers for more information! And I wish you all the happiest and most blessed of Christmases!

 

Angi Morgan

2014 ornament

When my kids were little, I couldn't buy ornaments for the tree so we made them. Tri-bead ornaments or painted walnuts, the tradition stuck. We made two Santas with presents in his sleigh. For the reindeer...we made one for each grandchild and gave to my inlaws and parents. It's fun to see that sleigh on the mantel each year. For many years my tree had only handmade ornaments and one store-bought with the date on it. 

A small section of my tree.

As the kids grew up, I put their ornaments into a box for their tree. I still make my ornaments, one for each grandchild and will someday pass those down, too.  My new tradition is to buy an ornament that represents each of the books I've contracted for that year. Finding them adds to the fun of shopping...because I search until I find the perfect depiction for that story's characters. OH, and did I mention lights?  I love lights.

After the holidays if you need to get away from everything...you might try my West Texas Watchmen series from Harlequin Intrigue. "Three women in trouble. Three hereos to watch their backs." You can follow the fun on Facebook or Twitter with #wTXwatchmen.

Jillian Stone

Jillian's hot spiced tea for the holidays. My sister says this tea tastes like Christmas! 

6 cups water

1 teaspoon whole cloves

1 inch piece cinnamon stick

6 tea bags (such as Earl Grey)

3/4 cup orange juice

1/2 cup sugar

2 tablespoons lemon juice

Pour water into a pot; add cloves and cinnamon stick. Bring water to a boil; remove from heat. Add tea bags to water and set aside to steep until the tea is to your preferred strength, at least 5 minutes. Remove and discard cloves, cinnamon stick, and tea bags.

Stir orange juice, sugar, pineapple juice, and lemon juice together in a saucepan; bring to a boil. Cook and stir the juice mixture until the sugar dissolves completely. Pour juice mixture into the spiced tea; serve hot.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS Y'ALL !!!

~ ~ ~

What's your family's tradition?

Lizbeth Selvig on What Good Guys Wear (And Do)

Hi Everyone!

It’s been quite a wild ride the past five weeks--I've had two book releases in that time, and I'm still not sure I believe it. Here I am shilling yet again to you our amazing GLIAS readers, this time for GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK, which was released last Tuesday. Before I say anything more, though, I need to thank you for supporting me and all of us here at Get Lost in a Story. It’s so nice to have such a great home with writers I admire and friends and readers I love and appreciate!

But, on to some fun stuff about GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK. I’m particularly proud of this book, and the comments I’m getting so far have been truly uplifting. The story started out in my imagination as no more than a novella about a minor character from my first three books, but it morphed into a full-length book dealing with several themes that seem to have touched people: What makes a family? What’s with banned books in this day and age? What’s it like to raise a child dealing with autism spectrum disorder (in this case Asperger’s Syndrome)?

 Here’s the back cover blurb to give you a little idea of the story:

Dewey Mitchell loves three things:  fixing old cars, football, and family. Although an illness robbed him of his NFL dreams and his hopes for a big family of his own, he’s made himself content working the family business and coaching middle school football. But when  his town’s vibrant new librarian and her young, emotionally-challenged son burst into his ordered life, Dewey finds himself inexplicably drawn to the fascinating woman

Boston-born Rose Hanrehan had no idea how different living in a small town would be. But she’s determined to start fresh for her son, who deals with Asperger’s Syndrome, without her overbearing parents judging her every move. Of course, sometimes her new neighbors seem to be equally closed-minded. And there’s one new neighbor she can’t seem to avoid… in fact, the handsome Dewey, despite his black hat and buried emotions, might end up being the only reason to stay in Kennison Falls.

Neither Dewey nor Rose is looking for love, but what they’re starting to feel can’t be anything else. Will the longtime bachelor and the free-spirited librarian let themselves fall? Or will their differences get in the way of their happy ending?

Rose’s son is Jesse, or as he says, “Jesse Loren Hanrehan. I’m named after my grandpas. Don’t call me Jessica.” Jesse’s challenges with Asperger’s syndrome manifest themselves in ways both big and small. He has a crazy-smart brain that can focus on and retain facts about his favorite subjects. His favorite things in the world are fire engines, and he knows makes, models, and specs on almost any engine he sees. Jesse also fixates on words, phrases, ideas, and things he decides he wants. He doesn’t have great social skills or good large motor coordination. He doesn’t like playing sports. 

All of this affects both his mom and Dewey—who Jesse admires in a way that confounds everyone.  Rose, because she’s a single mother, has grown very over-protective, to the point where sometimes she loses perspective on how to deal with her son. Dewey, because he’s always dreamed of having his own family of rough-and-tumble future football players, certainly has no understanding of a kid who can’t even catch a football.

But unique and special Jesse of course wears Dewey down. Here’s one of the craziest “guy scenes” I wrote between Dewey and Jesse. Warning: it’s about peeing in the woods—Rose was scandalized; hope you’re not! LOL.

EXCERPT:

“Come on, Mom.”

Jesse already sat astride the cutest little horse Rose had ever seen. This one was something called a Fjord pony—a buff-colored animal with a black-tipped mane that stuck straight up from its neck like the bristles on Marvin the Martian’s helmet. And its name was Thor. How sweet was that?

She’d have been content to take pictures of Jesse in his boots and little riding helmet sitting all by himself on the horse and call it good, but no such luck.

“Yeah, come on, Mom,” Dewey called from the back of a tall, gray horse named Rafe.

Rafe was big enough that he actually took up Dewey’s height and solidness. Rose had to laugh. Dewey wasn’t nearly as adorable in his helmet as Jesse was in his. In fact, she’d looked at herself and Dewey together in a car window after they’d put on the required helmets and thought they looked like alien nut cases. But she couldn’t argue with safety.

“You’ll be fine, Rose. I guarantee it.” Jill, beside her, gave her a confident grin. “Step on the mounting block. Tampa’s an old pro at this, she won’t move until you tell her to.”

Seconds later she was in the saddle. It was big, cushioned, and surprisingly comfortable. She grasped the saddle horn and forced her shoulders away from her ears.

“Are you sure we should be doing this alone?” she asked. “Don’t most riding places make you go with a guide?”

“Every one of these horses knows this trail blindfolded,” Jill said. “And Dewey knows it because he helped us clear it. Rafe’s main job around here is to lead kids around on Thor. And Tampa here, she’s cured a lot of people of their horse fears. Just let her follow. Take your time and have fun. If you’re not back in two days, I’ll send out the search and rescue.”

“Will you send a fire engine?” Jesse’s eyes lit.

“You want me to?” Jill asked.

“No!” Rose laughed. “No rescues. We’re coming back on our own.”

“Yes, we are,” Dewey replied. “Come on, cowpokes, let’s hit the trail.”

It wasn’t so bad. Fifteen minutes out of the old farmyard, Rose found herself trusting Tampa’s steady, cheerful walk. She didn’t rush, nor did she lag. She kept her nose beside Thor’s saddle and bobbed her head in a soothing rhythm. Jesse chattered on and off and held reins that were attached to sides of the bridle rather than the bit to keep him from  pulling on Thor’s mouth. Dewey led the way, holding Thor’s lead rope in one hand. He rode like an honest-to-gosh cowboy, and noticing the sexy, almost suggestive way his legs draped around his horse’s sides had as much to do with Rose’s diminishing nervousness as anything.

“Y’all doin’ okay?” He turned in his saddle to check.

“Fine until I heard that fake Texas accent.”

“Ouch. Here I thought it was so authentic.”

“Do you want me to lie to you? What kind of lesson does that teach?”

He let roll a genuine belly laugh. “Sounds to me like you’re doing fine, Madam Librarian.”

“Okay, I admit it, this is kind of fun. You having fun, Jess?”

“Cool.”

High praise.

They rode quietly a few more minutes until Dewey nearly shocked the helmet off her by starting to sing. His voice, a deep, slightly scratchy baritone, nonetheless stayed in tune.

“Rollin’, rollin’, rollin’…”

He sang until he got the dogies movin’ through rivers and streams that were swollen, and by the time he got to the chorus, Jesse was laughing. “Git ’em up, move ’em out, Rawhide,” Dewey bellowed.

His absolute abandon, something she’d never seen or expected to see, given his almost pathologically even-keeled personality, wormed its way into her heart, helped along by Jesse’s giggles. For the first time, she saw a man who might break the mold. Someone who could love her son for the strange and wonderful little person he was.

Forty minutes into their ride, they left an open grassy field and entered a stand of woods, bright golden and scarlet leaves whispering softly, getting ready to fall. The path was gorgeous, the air sweet with the scents of leaves and pine and earth.

“I have to pee.”

Jesse’s blunt announcement shattered the magic woodland spell. Dewey sputtered.

“Jesse!” Rose half-covered her mouth. “That’s not polite.”

“But I do.”

“Well, you have to wait until we get back.”

“Why?” Dewey stared at her. “We’re in the woods.”

“So?”

“Please don’t tell me the kid has never watered a tree in the woods.”

“Urinate outdoors?”

“You and your ultra-proper words,” he teased. “For cryin’ out loud. Stop the horses. The boy’s education is sorely lacking.”

“Don’t you dare!”

“Rose. Clearly, grandpas who are senators don’t go camping and teach their grandsons how to do this. It’s one of the few perks of being a guy, so stop, dismount, and get over the fact that your son has the equipment to pee in the woods.”

She wanted to be appalled, but he was right. She’d never had brothers. Her father was about as far from outdoorsy as one could get.

“Fine.” She moved up beside Rafe, pulled back on Tampa’s reins, and the mare halted. “But I guarantee you, this is not his style. He’s not a woodsy, grubby kid. He’ll want to wash his hands.”

“Stop fussing. Leave the guy stuff to the guys.”

He grinned, swung his leg over the back of the saddle to dismount, helped Jesse off, and aimed him toward the woods. He turned back to Rose and kissed her quickly. On the lips. Making her stupidly weak and acquiescent. “We’re going to whiz in the woods. Girls can do it on that side.” He pointed. “Use a leaf.”

“Eeew!”

He kissed her again.

She waited only a few minutes before Jesse came charging out of the woods, laughing like a little howler monkey.

“Mom, Mom, I watered a seedling by spelling my name.”

“Oh dear…” Rose covered her mouth to hold back a choking laugh. “Words cannot express my pride in you.”

“I didn’t look, but I think Dewey wrote the whole alph—”

Dewey swept in from behind and clamped a hand over his mouth. “Private boys’ club information there, champ. Trust me, she doesn’t want to know.”

Jesse struggled and broke free, still laughing. He clomped back to Thor. Dewey leaned in and kissed Rose again. And once more. “He rubbed his hands off on a basswood leaf. I’ll make sure he washes when we get back. Okay?”

“You are without a doubt a whizzing genius.”

He grinned, looking delighted and insufferably proud. “I keep telling you. He’s a boy. You have to treat him like a boy.”

She forgave him the cute little bout of arrogance. In all honesty, she was happy, relieved even, to have him role-modeling for Jesse. He still had no idea what Jesse could be like when he lost his emotional rationality, but there was no doubt Jesse listened to Dewey like he did very few others.

I don’t know if that makes Dewey a hero or not—it certainly did in Jesse’s eyes. As you’ll find out in the book, even after this ages-old male bonding experience, Dewey has a LOT to learn and accept about both Rose and Jesse. I hope I got it “right” in the book.  I know very well that dealing with emotional challenges is no easy task and certainly not always fun and games. So far, reactions have been very kind. I hope anyone who reads the book will eventually let me know what she/he thinks!

Jesse might have lots of challenges, but he doesn’t always know it.   

What about you, though? What’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in your life? Or, conversely, what’s the funniest challenge? Or the funniest thing you’ve ever taught someone to do?  I’ve got a signed copy of my last book BEAUTY AND THE BRIT and a surprise gift card for one commenter today.

"GOOD GUYS" BUY LINKS 

Amazon 

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MY WEBSITE

MY FACEBOOK PAGE (Come a "like" it--we have a blast there!)

MY NEWSLETTER (I'd love you to sign up -- lots of fun, personal stuff plus all the book news!)

Liz's Big Birthday Pre-Order Bash!

I have a first world problem, and I need help! I have moved from having two books out 1 ½ years apart to having two books coming out one month apart. This should be thrilling—instead it’s terrifying.

I’ve written before about what it’s like to be a “good” Norwegian Minnesotan. In a nutshell:  we don’t bang our drums for ourselves easily. I’ve done promo on two books—and that was excruciating. Now, I have to shout from the rooftops for two books in a row.

Holy Die of Embarrassment, Ole.

So—I come to you, my GLIAS extended family for safe haven and help. Both books are up for pre-order right now, it’s only three weeks until the September 2nd release date for the first of them “Beauty and the Brit,” and, gosh, it’s my birthday this Wednesday August 13^th.  And I’m wandering around in the “have to promote” wilderness without a map. Don’t you feel sorry for me? Don’t you think a poor old Minnesota girl deserves some love?

If so (or even if not) I do have a Birthday Bash offering in exchange for your love and support. (Translation from Minnesotan:  Beware--shameless begging about to commence.)  I’m going to share two excerpts here today, one from each of the new books. If they whet your appetite even a little, I’d love you to check out the pre-orders on B&N, iTunes, Indiebound and Amazon etc. and mark your calendars for the releases. Or pre-order if you like to do that sort of thing. And, if over the next six weeks or so you could tell one friend? I will come to your house and hug you.

Well maybe not.

But! I do have a Birthday present basket I’d love to give to a commenter. The basket includes virtual and physical prezzies: first of all,  e-book copies of both my current books, “The Rancher and the Rock Star”  and “Rescued by a Stranger,” plus a set of all four bookmarks from the Kennison Falls series, plus the first chapter excerpts from the two new books, “Beauty and the Brit” and “Good Guys Wear Black,” plus some Minnesota goodies (since that’s where the books are set) and maybe another surprise or two.

In fact—anyone who leaves comment … if you leave your e-mail as well I’ll contact you and send you a set of bookmarks. They’re pretty and fun and have cool little synopses on the backsides that are exclusive to the bookmarks. A bargain for the price of a comment :-D

And, so, here you go. A two-book excerpt party. See what you think!

BEAUTY AND THE BRIT

Release Date: September 2, 2014

                              AMAZON     BARNES&NOBLE     iBOOKS

EXCERPT:

“They’re actually quite pretty, aren’t they?” A curious smoky veil faded out the blue of David’s eyes.

Rio stared back. “If I knew what you were talking about I could agree or disagree.”

“The tattoos.”

“Oh!”

She stared down to where the delicate white, blue, and lavender-shaded feather along the inside of her right breast swooped up from beneath the rounded neckline of her tank top.

“I’m sorry. “He hesitated, measuring his words. “I was unkind yesterday.”

“It’s fine. You don’t have to like tattoos.”

“In the army I saw plenty of, how should I say it kindly? Unfortunate ones. It wasn’t fair to judge by those standards.”

“I was picky about mine. I knew I wanted beautiful art. They represent a lot of savings and, some would say, wastefulness.”

“How many do you have?”

She hesitated. “I have six.”

His eyebrows twitched a fraction higher, but he nodded and scratched his nose self-consciously. He looked positively cute in his awkwardness.

“Are they showable?”

She smiled and couldn’t help arching her own brow. “Not all of them.”

His Adam’s apple bobbed. Warmth flooded her cheeks.

“I expect that was a rude question considering my actions last night. I never apologized.”

She looked instinctively down the barn aisle.

“It’s all right,” he assured her. “I sent Bonnie back to the house to get something to drink. I wanted to say I’m sorry.”

“We’re adults. I didn’t exactly run screaming, David.”

“No. And I was glad you didn’t. Although tell me nothing happened during that kiss and I’ll feel a lot better.”

Over the two days they’d known each other the only thing she’d grown slightly self-confident about was teasing him, and suddenly she couldn’t even do that. So much had happened during the kiss she didn’t dare open her mouth.

He nodded. “That’s what I thought.”

GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK

Release Date:  October 14, 2014

                  AMAZON    BARNES & NOBLE    iBOOKS   

EXCERPT: 

Rose stood. “Time for dessert. You have birthday cupcakes from The Bread Basket,” she said. “I totally wimped out on making you a cake. There just wasn’t time after work. But next year, I promise it’ll be homemade.”

“Oh? So you’re promising me next year, too?” Dewey’s eyebrows cocked in anticipation.

“Unless I get fired. In which case, I may not live here so you’d be on your own.”

“Get fired.” He mocked her. “Wouldn’t worry.”

“Then I’m sure in a year I’ll at least still know where you work.”

Two cupcakes each, a rousing game of Wii bowling, and a hair tousle before sending Jesse off to bed later, Dewey stood at the door with Rose, his new hat cocked sexily back on his head ala Brett Maverick. She played with his bangs, straightening them beneath the brim.

“Tomorrow night,” he whispered, “can’t come soon enough.”

“I don’t know. You seem a little dangerous now in that black hat. Kind of villainous. Maybe I should stay away.”

“Oh, no you don’t. And you’d best not leave town before I get a chance to tie you to the railroad tracks.”

“But isn’t there always a guy in a white hat that comes along then and gets the girl back?”

“Hey, you picked the black, sweetheart.”

“I didn’t. Jesse did. There was no talking him out of it.”

“So you wish it was white, then.”

She rested the four fingers of each hand on his cheeks and stroked his mustache with her thumbs. She’d grown so used to it she rarely really looked at the thick, well-groomed hair above his lip anymore. She liked it. It was as much a part of him as his nose. But she still wondered what he’d looked like without it.

“No. You’re such a goody guy in real life—I guess I like me a little black hat action.”

“Goody-guy?” His nose wrinkled at her again, this time in disgust. “Might as well just call me a girl.”

“Trust me, buddy, you ain’t no girl.”

They kissed, and it filled her with bubbling longing from her lips to her heated core.

“See you tomorrow at six-thirty,” he said against her mouth.

Hope that gave you a little taste of what to expect from David and Rio as well as Rose and Dewey. My question for you is this:  Dewey’s black hat was a special birthday present from Rose’s son, Jesse. My question for you is this:  Dewey’s black hat was a special birthday present from Rose’s son, Jesse. What’s the most special birthday present you’ve ever received?

Seriously, thanks for stopping by and for taking a few minutes to hear about my coming releases.  Remember:  leave a comment for a chance to win a Birthday Present goody basket. And leave your e-mail and I’ll contact you about sending a set of bookmarks!