Winter Blogfest: Kristina Kelly

December 25, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Tavern Tale. 

The snow is falling, the wind is chilling, and maybe I can’t feel my fingertips. But it’s a wonderful time to share my favorite winter moments in fantasy.

The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

Likely the most memorable for me, the whole story is Christmas with high stakes. The snowy landscape, a sleigh, gift giving and Father Christmas. While the Long Winter’s reason for existing isn’t all smiles and giggles, I can’t deny the coziness that comes with a setting of snow and people (er, animals) coming together. But Tomnus, please put on a shirt.

The Fellowship of the Ring

Stay with me on this one. I really like the scene where the fellowship is trying to pass over the mountain and the snowy storm thwarts their plan (whether it is the mountain itself, or Saruman as shown in the movie). In the movie, the scene of treking through the snow is just cinema magic to me. And then, they go into what could be the cozy fires beneath the mountain but, you know, find a balrog. LOTR is a Christmas movie and you can’t convince me otherwise.

The Lady’s Crownbearer

My coauthor and I created an in-world holiday, The Day of Laphrim, for our series the Etherea Cycle and wrote a short story for it. Having a wintry scene is a little difficult when the seasons don’t change (the world is tidally locked which means it doesn’t spin). But the holiday is like Christmas mixed with Mayday – gift giving, music and singing, festival yummies like roasted nuts and popcicles in the shape of Laphrim’s feet, and weaving ribbons around a special tree. And, a mythical creature with antlers like tree branches is said to appear.

Icewind Dale Trilogy

Focusing on the Crystal Shard, it makes me nostalgic for hunting giants in the tundras of the MMORPG Everquest. Drizzt, the drow elf, also roams the Tundra of Icewind Dale hunting yeti and giants. Since the whole setting is a winter icy landscape, there are many scenes of cold…and more cold. But I particularly remember several key moments like an avalanche and a crystal tower which really made me think of a giant icicle. While I loved the descriptions, I’m glad I don’t live there.

What about you? What’s one of your favorite winter scenes in fantasy?

“What if the side quest is really the main quest?

Divine, a healer of the Goddess of Souls, has chased the thief who stole her talisman across half of Trelvania. The talisman is the key to accessing her magic well, and without it, she is powerless. While chasing her betrayer, former girlfriend, and servant of the Goddess of Condemnation, Divine meets Saph, a flirty tavern owner with an eyepatch and a proposition. Saph will help Divine locate her talisman if Divine helps her complete a mysterious quest in a chest.

Inspired by RPGs and set in scenic autumn, prepare for an adventure with gods and goddesses, deceitful exes, axe throwing, and fantastical creatures. Can Divine learn to trust again and find romance in the middle of finding her magic?”

About the Author: Kristina W Kelly writes fantasy, sci-fi, and poetry and loves being a geek. Her coauthored novel, Trials of the Innermost, is book one in the epic science fantasy series The Etherea Cycle. Her debut sapphic fantasy romance adventure, Tavern Tale, releases January 7, 2025. She is the author of Imaginari, a sci-fi and fantasy poetry collection paired with her photography. Kristina is a trumpet player but dabbles in other instruments, plays video games, and tends to her flower garden and two children in Indiana. Several of her short stories have received honorable mention, silver honorable mention, and semi-finalist from Writers of the Future. She is amazed by nature and enjoys painting vivid scenes for her readers. She loves going on new adventures in the great wide somewhere (sometimes just by picking up a new book).

Www.kristinaseyes.com
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Winter Blogfest: Vicki-Ann Bush

December 25, 2024 By 4 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Alex McKenna and the Geranium Death. 

Christmas 1997 by Vicki-Ann Bush

My story begins not with joy but with one of the scariest evenings my parents ever experienced. However, I promise if you stay with me to the end you will smile.

It was 1997 and we all resided in Las Vegas, Nevada. My parents, who were retired, lived a modest lifestyle. Enjoying their home and family was the most important way to spend their time. We had all been celebrating my youngest child’s birthday at our home, which was about a 25-minute drive for Mom and Dad. It was getting late, and they were tired, so they decided it was time to go home. We had our good-bye hugs and kisses (Italians take longer to say hello and good-bye than the actual time it takes for the celebration) and walked them to their car.

I’m not sure how much time passed but I had just snuggled into bed when the phone rang. My mom could barely get the words out. My heart raced and my brain shut down. All I could think of was that they were in an accident and Dad was seriously injured. Then over gasps for air, she pushed the words past her lips, “We were robbed! They broke down the front door. All the Christmas gifts are gone.”

The thieves had taken everything, even my mom’s jewelry. My parents were inconsolable. How could someone do this? These were the words they asked over and over again. We found out later that they had been doing it for a while. Hitting homes at the holidays. Eventually, the universe did catch up with them and they were caught. But that didn’t help my mom and dad. They fell into a depression. Only twelve days until Christmas and they couldn’t financially replace everything that was under the tree.

Every Christmas Eve, my parents would open their home to people who didn’t have family or who were separated by miles from their loved ones. Mom would cook for a week. Setting out an abundance of delicious Italian food and delectable desserts. We had the best time, and everyone looked forward to December 24th at the Guidice home. But this year, it was going to be different. Or, at least that’s what they thought.

Unbeknownst to my parents, our family got together and reached out to the friends my parents had helped over the years. Everyone came through with a little something that they could afford. We went shopping and replaced what we could, and used the remaining funds to help them have the most beautiful Christmas Eve ever. All of the usuals came, and a few new faces as well. My mom and dad were overwhelmed with love. Our family spoke about that Christmas Eve for years, and we will never forget the joy and love that not even a vicious few could take away from our family and friends.

 

No dark entities shall pass through this shield, as I will it…so shall it be.

Alex McKenna’s plans for a couple of supernatural-free days are interrupted by an ominous visit from the ghost of seven-year-old Haven.

The little girl needs his help and he’s willing to risk his life to save her after-life. Despite his great-grandmother’s warning, he chooses to cross the bridge between the living and the dead to assist her. The trip lands Alex and his girlfriend at a high school known as the Academy of Souls. The ghostly campus for dead teens is a safe place for those who are unable to complete their after-life journey. There they meet Ophelia, Haven’s older sister, who has been searching for her for more than a century. 

To reunite the sisters, Alex must cross the treacherous terrain of the in-between realm known as the Underworld, and rescue Haven from the clutches of the Soul Gatherer. A demonic spirit who feeds off of the souls of children. 

Could this be Alex’s last case or will he keep his promise to Haven and save her soul before it’s too late?

 

Originally from New York, Vicki-Ann is an award-winning author and short screenplay writer. She currently resides in the Pacific Northwest. Writing Young Adult paranormal, she finds inspiration from events that have been in her life for as long as she can remember. Inheriting the sensitivity to the supernatural from her family, they continue to be an endless source of vision.

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Winter Blogfest: Tammy Lowe

December 25, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win three e-books from The Acadian Secret Series: The Acadian Secret, The Sleeping Giant, and Rise Like a Phoenix. 

Why Nova Scotia Sends a Christmas Tree to Boston Every Year by Tammy Lowe

Every year, the tiny Canadian province of Nova Scotia sends a Christmas Tree to Boston, Massachusetts.

“Why?” I hear you ask.

Well, grab a cup of hot chocolate and gather round for story-time.


Did you know…as World War One raged across Europe, the largest man-made bomb (prior to Hiroshima) went off—

In the Halifax Harbor.


It was the hub of Canada’s war effort.

Home of the Royal Canadian Navy.

And base for merchant ships from around the globe.


December 6th, 1917.

Normally, a flag would fly from a ship to alert others if it was carrying explosives. However, the captain of a French freighter, the Mont-Blanc, decided not to fly the flag to avoid the possibility of becoming a target of any German U-boats.


The Mont-Blanc carried:

–2,300 tons of picric acid

–200 tons of TNT

–35 tons of high-octane gasoline

–10 tons of gun cotton.


Meanwhile, after a series of “unfortunate events”, a relief ship bound for Belgium ended up on the wrong side of the channel—heading straight for the Mont-Blanc.


At the last moment, the Mont-Blanc tried to turn, the relief ship tried to reverse its engines, but the two ships collided.

8:45 am.

The damage wasn’t more than a large gash, however the collision caused benzol fuel to leak.

The metal from the colliding ships caused sparks to fly, igniting a fire.


The Captain of the Mont-Blanc knew this was disastrous and ordered everyone to abandon ship. In lifeboats, his crew rowed toward shore, all the while yelling at everyone, warning of the danger.


However, none of the French crew of the Mont-Blanc spoke English.


Crowds gathered along the harbor to watch the burning ships, completely oblivious to the horror yet to unfold.


The Mont-Blanc floated closer to Pier Six, starting the wooden structure on fire. The Halifax fire-department sent its brand spanking new gas-powered fire truck.

Meanwhile, Canadian and British navy ships began rescuing people from the water.


Eventually, word of the actual danger everyone was in began to spread. Vincent Coleman, who ran the telegraph station, realized a passenger train was due at the pier any moment.

He frantically sent out a warning:

“Hold up the train.

Ammunition ship afire in harbor making for Pier 6 and will explode.

Guess this will be my last message.

Good-bye boys.”


It was his final message.


At 9:05, the fire reached the cargo hold of the Mont-Blanc.


With the force of a nuclear bomb, the ship disappeared in a white flash. Everything was flattened within a mile. Windows were blown out of buildings up to 60 miles away.


The explosion then caused a tsunami, sending ships out of the harbor and onto the shore.

Houses collapsed.

Fires were started in the rubble of fireplaces and stoves.


At least 2000 died that morning.

9000 were injured.


At first, nobody knew the ship carried the explosives. They assumed Halifax had been hit by the Germans. So, all German speaking residents were rounded up. It wasn’t until later in the day they realized what had really happened.


To make matters even worse, as the rescuers searched the debris for survivors—a blizzard arrived in Halifax.


Yep. A blizzard.


This made the search even more difficult as would-be survivors in the rubble were now buried beneath snow, trains couldn’t arrive, and travel was severely hindered.


Word spread throughout Canada and the USA of the devastating events. Within hours, Boston, Massachusetts raced to send medical personnel and equipment to help the Nova Scotians.

They were the first to arrive and the last to leave.

And that is why, to this day, Nova Scotia sends a Christmas Tree to the city of Boston as an expression of everlasting gratitude.


Canadian Heritage Minute:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rw-FbwmzPKo

When Elisabeth London travels back in time to the 14th century, she is transported to a world straight out of the pages of a fairy-tale. Swept away by the adventure and romance, Elisabeth follows her heart—and Aquarius—into this whole new world.

But Elisabeth soon learns her father has discovered where (or rather when) she is. He’s sent a bounty-hunter to bring her home. Although a million questions buzz through her mind, there’s one thing she’s certain of—her parents will never let her hang out in the 14th century with a guy she met in Ancient Rome.

With her heart at stake, can Elisabeth avoid the bounty-hunter and find a way to stay in this fairy-tale world?

Or is her love-life about to take a rather grim twist?

Find out in Elisabeth London’s timeless story of love, danger, and adventure.

 

An adventurer at heart, Tammy has explored ruins in Rome, Pompeii, and Istanbul (Constantinople) with historians and archaeologists.

She’s slept in the tower of a 15th-century castle in Scotland, climbed down the cramped tunnels of Egyptian pyramids, scaled the Sydney Harbour Bridge, sailed on a tiny raft down the Yulong River in rural China, dined at a Bedouin camp in the Arabian Desert, and escaped from head-hunters in the South Pacific.

I suppose one could say her own childhood wish of time-traveling adventures came true…in a roundabout way.

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Winter Blogfest: Lucy Felthouse

December 24, 2024 By 4 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a backlist ebook of the winner’s choice.

 

Weaving Reality into Fiction—At Christmas by Lucy Felthouse

A couple of years ago, I found out about this really awesome local initiative that was taking place. A café in my nearest town was putting on a meal on Christmas Day for those who would be alone, or for whatever reason didn’t have the funds/resources to cook their own meal. They were raising funds to pay for it, and asking for volunteers to help out on the day. I wasn’t in a position to volunteer, unfortunately, but kept it in the back of my mind for the following year. Sadly, it wasn’t to be, as the café has since closed—a real loss to the community.

However, the idea and the spirit behind it remained bubbling away in the back of my mind and I decided to make it the jumping off point for my latest Christmas book, When Christmas is Cancelled. I took the charity meal idea and the café itself and weaved them into my story. It made for a very heartwarming plot, and the ideal place for my lead characters to bump into each other a decade after a painful breakup. I had lots of fun telling their angsty, twisty story against the wholesome backdrop of people volunteering their time to help others, with Christmas cheer, food, songs and decorations everywhere.

My local town isn’t actually named in the book, but I did borrow heavily from it. The lovely Christmas trees and decorations that are up at this time of year, the fantastic independent shops, the sense of community and generosity. All this reality was woven into fiction, and then I went heavy on the making stuff up at a pivotal moment in the book when I added some snowfall—which we rarely get in this neck of the woods, for some reason (and when we do, it’s way more inconvenient than fun).

I really enjoyed picking and choosing my favourite bits of reality and putting them into this story—although it was weird to be writing a Christmas book during the summer! Thankfully, by the time the editing phase came along, we were in the grips of a chilly autumn and even had some early snow, so it was easier for me to add in some more of those wintery details as I polished up the book to a gleaming shine, ready for readers to (hopefully) enjoy. The result is a book that (and early reviews attest to this) is heartwarming, scorching, and also tugs on the heartstrings. So if you like second chance romance with an age gap and a spot of BDSM, then do check out When Christmas is Cancelled. It’s available from to buy from Amazon in eBook and paperback formats, and is in Kindle Unlimited for one term only, so if you’re a subscriber, add it to your shelf ASAP.

Have a wonderful holiday season, and happy reading!
Lucy x

When Rosie does a good deed on Christmas Day, she’s not expecting to come face to face with her very own ghost of Christmas past.

Rosie Kilbride’s festive plans are derailed when her mother calls on Christmas Eve to postpone their family get together due to illness. Left with a surplus of food and no one to eat it with, Rosie contacts Ingrid, a local café owner, to find out if she still needs volunteers for the charity Christmas meal she’s organising. Ingrid jumps at the chance, and on Christmas morning Rosie heads out, anticipating a busy but pleasant day doing something nice for others, followed by a meal of leftovers with her fellow volunteers.

Unfortunately, on being introduced to the café’s kitchen staff, she discovers the head chef is none other than Luke Adams, the man who broke her heart into a million tiny pieces ten years ago. And she’s got to work with him. Despite her inner turmoil, there’s no way she’ll let Ingrid and the diners down, so she’s determined to grin and bear it. It’s just a few hours, after all.

When the day is almost done, tiredness and hunger kick in, and emotions start to run high. Can Rosie get away unscathed, or will she be forced to deal with Luke and all the feelings his presence has dredged up?

When Christmas is Cancelled is a standalone M/F steamy contemporary romance with second chance, age gap and BDSM themes.

 

Lucy Felthouse is the award-winning author of erotic romance novels Stately Pleasures (named in the top 5 of Cliterati.co.uk’s 100 Modern Erotic Classics That You’ve Never Heard Of), Eyes Wide Open (winner of the Love Romances Café’s Best Ménage Book 2015 award), The Persecution of the Wolves, Hiding in Plain Sight, Curve Appeal, Not That Kind of Witch and The Heiress’s Harem and The Dreadnoughts series. Including novels, short stories and novellas, she has over 175 publications to her name. Find out more about her and her writing at http://lucyfelthouse.co.uk/linktree

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Winter Blogfest: Aliyah Burke

December 24, 2024 By 18 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win $25 Amazon gift card.

Getting ready for Christmas

When I lived out in Albuquerque for a couple of years, I wisely got into the habit of going to look at all the Christmas decorations that were set around. One of my favorite things to attend was heading down to and walking around Old Town Plaza for the Luminaria Tour. You, can also, simply head down there and walk around on your own without taking a guided tour. Either way, it’s a night to make memories.

If you weren’t aware, the luminarias are paper lanterns which stem from a tradition that goes back over a few hundred years. Sand in the bag that you’ve folded at the top, in goes a votive to sit in the sand. While it sounds simple (and is) the visual it presents when there are thousands of them along the streets, driveways, etc is incredible.

People and their kids, pets are out. I’ve seen friends gathering there to make their own tour, visit their favorite places in Old Town Plaza.

It is an experience I won’t forget. Also, if you decide you don’t want to go there, many of the residents in the city have put together some design of their own in their yard and by their homes, so if you’re wanting to drive/walk around to see some holiday light displays, I feel you just can’t do wrong.

While I’m not generally a larger crowd fan, something like this where I am plied with hot drinks and get to see pets who are out and about, it was always something I got to enjoy.
If you happen to be there during this time of year, take a chance and check it out.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from my home to yours!

Sometimes past demons need to be faced before one can embrace what the future offers, and who better to slay them than a Marine?

Gunnery Sergeant Sam Hoch travels to the Pac Norwest upon receiving word his mentor and the closest thing to a father he’s had, has taken a turn for the worse and is in the hospital. Once there he meets a woman who is unlike any he’s ever met before. A former Marine herself, she opens up her home to him so he can be near his family.

Roxi Mammon isn’t positive it’s smart to allow Sam to stay with her, not with her immediate physical reaction to him. She’s heard tales of him from her best friend, his sister, and now having met him she is even more impressed by the man the Corps has turned him into—a silent, strong type. Passion grows between them and soon she finds herself falling for the Recon Marine. And falling hard.

As things escalate between them, Sam has to accept his past doesn’t control him if he plans on keeping Roxi in his future. Can he understand that this is the one woman who can give him something more? Will he silence the fear within him and tell Roxi she’s the one for him? Will he realise that he deserves more than just a temporary home?

USA TODAY BESTSELLING AUTHOR

Aliyah Burke is an avid reader and is never far from pen and paper (or the computer). She is happily married to a career military man. They are owned by six Borzoi. She spends her days at the day job, writing, and working with her dogs​. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached here. She can also be found on social media.

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Winter Blogfest: Nan Reinhardt

December 24, 2024 By 3 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win e-book copies of reader’s choice of any two of my five River’s Edge holiday romances. One reader, two books. 

Repeat the Sounding Joy by Nan Reinhardt

I love to sing. I can’t sing. I mean I have a truly terrible voice, but I love to sing. Especially at Christmas. So Pandora’s Christmas Classics starts playing at our house before Thanksgiving and NPR gets switched to the Christmas station on the car radio as soon as B104.5 becomes all Christmas music all the time. I’ve played James Taylor’s holiday CD so many times I’m surprised it isn’t worn through and at least four times a week, I hunt for the Eagles version of “Please Come Home for Christmas” on YouTube and play it while I’m working.

Hello, I’m Nan and I am a Christmas music junkie.

It’s not just the holiday tunes that we all know and love—you know, the ones that send warm little snuggly hugs throughout your whole being? “Winter Wonderland.” “The Christmas Song” (Nat King Cole’s version, of course). “Most Wonderful Time of the Year.” “Jingle Bells.” Even the more up-to-date ones like “All I Want for Christmas” and Leonard Cohen’s haunting “Hallelujah,” make me happy.

But it’s the Advent singing that takes me into the holidays with the gladdest heart. All the lovely carols we sing as a part of Sunday worship in December and the special music. “Mary, Did You Know?” “Who Comes This Night?” “Go Tell It on the Mountain.” And of course, “Oh, Holy Night.” My Aunt Ruth Audrey used to sing that beautiful carol every Christmas Eve while my cousin Susie accompanied her on the piano. Aunt Ruth had a gorgeous contralto that sent shivers down your spine when she hit that first “Oh night divine…” As a kid, that’s when I knew it was truly, truly Christmas.

I miss her. I miss those family Christmas Eves and the singing around the piano and lighting the advent candles and Mom reading to us from the second chapter of the gospel of Luke and my grandfather’s turkey dinner on Christmas day. I do what I can to make our Christmases as special as they felt when I was a kid, but even today, it’s the music—the carols, the songs about snow and pie and winter wonderlands and silver bells that truly bring the spirit of the holiday to life for me.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and yours and if you need a little holiday boost, turn on some Christmas music and sing along. Your heart will thank you.

 

This Christmas he has big plans until he meets a beautiful distraction….

Army reservist Cameron Walker loves everything about the holidays in River’s Edge—celebrating with his big family and carving out more time to work on his custom design furniture in his studio. But when he meets a visiting artist and niece of a family friend, he’s eager to break his work plans for play. He knows first-hand life’s short.

Teacher and artist Harper Gaines is bowled over by the handsome and friendly finish carpenter she meets during her vacation. His admiration for her art and his enthusiasm for life light her up, and remind her of how much she’s been missing since her soldier husband’s death. But when she discovers Cam’s also a soldier, she retreats, unable to risk another loss.

Cam has never felt such a strong connection, and he won’t give up without a fight. But will Cam’s persistence and the magic of Christmas be enough to convince Harper to take a chance on them?

 

Nan Reinhardt is a USA Today bestselling author of sweet, small-town romantic fiction for Tule Publishing. Her day job is working as a freelance copyeditor and proofreader, however, writing is Nan’s first and most enduring passion. She can’t remember a time in her life when she wasn’t writing—she wrote her first romance novel at the age of ten and is still writing, but now from the viewpoint of a wiser, slightly rumpled, woman in her prime. Nan lives in the Midwest with her husband of 50 years, where they split their time between a house in the city and a cottage on a lake.

BIO

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Winter Blogfest: Mariah Lynne

December 24, 2024 By 3 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an e-book copy of “A Christmas Wish for Love.”  

 

A Taste of Christmas by  Mariah Lynne

Each year, as I unwrap precious ornaments from my childhood, I am reminded of past family holidays. My father immigrated to the US from Naples, Italy and brought this holiday tradition with him. I find it ironic that I now live close to Naples, Florida.

​Southern Italians especially Neapolitans begin their holiday on Christmas Eve with a very special meal, The Feast of The Seven Fishes. Growing up in New Jersey, I remember my mother and father taking me to my Aunt Maggie’s (Michelina’s) on Christmas Eve to celebrate with cousins, aunts and uncles. As we walked through light snow, past bushes filled with colored lights, to climb the two steps up to her front door, aromas of fresh bread, sauces, and homemade desserts greeted us from her kitchen.

​Once everyone had arrived, we gathered in her dining room. Laughter, homemade wine and animated conversations filled the room. An ecru lace tablecloth crocheted by my grandmother covered her long dining room table. Red poinsettias and a special nativity from Italy decorated her sideboard. All the children gasped when we saw the colorful packages underneath her Christmas tree knowing she always had a present for each of us,

​This special night, all problems were left at the door. Only love and happy thoughts of Christmas filled our minds as we eagerly anticipated dinner. My aunt and grandmother cooked all day. My mother brought her homemade biscotti to serve for dessert along with her homemade cannoli.

​The oohs and aahs became louder as my aunt and uncle carried in the platters filled with The Feast of The Seven Fishes. The menu remained constant.: calamari, baccala (salt cod), clams with linguini, crab in a tomato sauce with angel hair pasta, anchovies, baked flounder, and shrimp cooked in olive oil with lemon butter. I’ve watched the Feast cooked by professional chefs on TV, but none could ever compare with Aunt Maggie’s labor of love.

​Living by the sea, I kept the tradition of serving fresh seafood on Christmas Eve. Not as big as the Feast but one appropriate for our smaller gathering: homemade New England Clam Chowder, baked stuffed shrimp or Shrimp Scampi, Parmesan Crusted Grouper and my mother’s homemade biscotti.

RECIPE FOR SHRIMP SCAMPI: ENJOY!

​Ingredients

1 POUND OF LARGE SHRIMP (16-20), peeled and de-veined

SALT and FRESH GROUND PEPPER TO TASTE

3 GARLIC CLOVES CHOPPED– OR MINCED

2 TABLESPOONS FRESHLY CHOPPED PARSLEY

2 TABLESPOONS OLIVE OIL

3 TABLESPOONS BUTTER

½ CUP WHITE WINE

RED PEPPER FLAKES TO TASTE

1 ½ TABLESPOONS OF LEMON JUICE

Heat olive oil and butter in a large skillet. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute. Add shrimp, season with salt and pepper and sauté for 1-2 minutes on one side until they begin to turn pink, then flip.  Pour in wine, add red pepper flakes. Simmer for 1-2 minutes or until wine reduces to half and shrimp is cooked through but not over– cooked.  Stir in the remaining butter, lemon juice and parsley and take off heat immediately. Serve over rice, pasta, or steamed vegetables.

Have you ever had a holiday cookie that came with a set of instructions? You’re about to.

In this sweet, heart-warming holiday romance, a precocious twelve-year-old named Luci, short for Lucia, never met her mom because she died giving birth. Her dad, a Florida Gulf Coast Island veterinarian, loved his late wife so much that he does not date or look at any other woman even though women are attracted to him. He still wears his wedding ring and, every Saturday night, shares a box of her mom’s memories, hoping to keep her alive in Luci’s heart.

Luci’s elderly Swedish next-door neighbor Meta loves Luci like an adopted granddaughter. When Luci’s dad gets called in for an emergency on her birthday which happens to be Saint Lucia’s Day, Luci and her dog Chester visit Meta.

Meta gives Luci a surprise birthday gift as she leaves to take home and open later with her dad. Then the holiday magic begins.

A CHRISTMAS WISH FOR LOVE is an enchanting and inspiring story you will want to share with others!

 

 

Mariah Lynne takes her readers on exciting adventures. Travel through time to catch a thief or be rescued by a handsome knight, outsmart murderers who think they are invincible, and fall in love again with romances that will make you smile and melt your heart. Her heroines are fearless, strong- willed independent women whose stories are sure to entertain you . 

A resident of a beautiful Florida Gulf Coast barrier island for more than thirty years, she loves to weave the local color of islanders into her characters as well as set her stories in the scenic island backdrop that serves as her back yard. An animal lover, all her heroines have pets. Her books include: The Love Gypsy, Shadows Across Time, The Duchess’ Necklace, A Gem of a Murder, Claws for Justice, Paws for Christmas, Max Canine Concierge of Love, and A Christmas Wish for Love.

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Winter Blogfest: Harley Wylde

December 24, 2024 By 4 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an Ebook copy of Venom (Dixie Reapers MC) and swag (bookmarks, character cards, and stickers).

Christmas is a time for miracles, and a time of joy. Seeing the Christmas lights, listening to the songs, or sipping hot cocoa on cold nights fills me with warmth. Despite the chaos of the stores, I enjoy buying gifts for my family. Even when I’m “done” shopping, I still run across things I just know they’ll like or might need, so I end up getting more. My husband tells me I go overboard every year. And I do, but I don’t see the harm in doing that once a year.

I love taking the kids to look at the large light displays. There are two about an hour away from us, but sadly, they seem to do the same lights every year and I think the kids are a little tired of it. So, this year, I’m hoping to find something new for them to do. It’s something we’ve done since they were little, and even though they’re all grown up now, I still like to do those sorts of things with them.

In the past, we’d visit family on Christmas Eve. Over the years, our family has shrunk one person at a time as we’ve had to say goodbye to them. I’d like to think they’re still watching over us. So, the traditions we once had, have changed a bit. But I still let my kids open one gift on Christmas Eve. It’s something I always did growing up, and my mother as well. So, now my children do it too. Even when things are tough, I know we’re blessed and don’t struggle as much as others, because someone has always been there to lend a hand when we’ve needed it.

For some families, this is a stressful time. There are no light displays, possibly not even a tree in their home. They don’t know how they’re going to feed their children, much less buy gifts for them. And if they do manage to get things, it ends up being necessities and not fun stuff. It breaks my heart knowing there are children who won’t get to experience the same things my children can. Those who feel left out when they go back to school and their friends talk about all the amazing things they received or did over the holidays. Which is why I do my best to look for ways to help out, whether it’s a Toys for Tots donation box, picking an angel off the tree at Walmart, or helping out a friend who’s struggling. Sometimes I do all of the above. I’ll even donate items to shelters and rescues. Homeless kitties and puppies need love too.

I incorporated some of that int one of my Christmas romances – Heart of a Hero. It ties into my Dixie Reapers MC series, but it’s book one in an all new series (Swift Angels MC). Dawson is truly a hero at heart, and proves it by saving a single mom and her daughter from a burning building, then welcoming them into his home. The story is a slow-burn romance with suspense, hope, and love – all set around Christmastime.

What’s your favorite thing about this time of year? Do you have a special holiday tradition? Or is there something you enjoy doing for others? Leave a comment and let me know! I always love hearing what other people enjoy about the holiday season.

The unexpected twists and turns in life often lead to the most beautiful surprises.

Nora: If there’s anything I’ve learned, it’s that life never goes according to plan. But having my apartment burn down was certainly not on my to-do list. Being trapped with my daughter, the flames drawing closer, was the most terrifying thing I’d ever experienced. Until the sexiest firefighter I’ve ever seen came swinging through my window and saved us.

I should have known our heroic rescuer wouldn’t just sit back and do nothing when he heard we had nowhere else to go. So now we’re staying with him, and the more I learn about Dawson Kane, the harder I start to fall for him. But what if he breaks my heart just like all the others?

Dawson: Growing up as the son of a Dixie Reaper, I’ve seen so many couples come together, having fallen in love at first sight. Never thought it would happen to me. Now that it has, I’m going to hold onto Nora and her daughter Taylor with everything I have. Even finding out she’s three months pregnant isn’t enough to scare me off. Her ex causing trouble doesn’t either. I’m going to prove to her she’s worth fighting for.

Now I just have to confess to my dad that I not only helped start my own motorcycle club, but I’m the VP. The holidays are supposed to be the time for miracles, and I’m going to need several! One to ensure my dad doesn’t kill me when he finds out what I’ve been hiding from him, another to make Nora stay with me forever, and the last one to get rid of her psycho ex once and for all.

Uncover a tale of love that defies the odds in “Heart of a Hero,” perfect for fans of romance with a touch of danger.

WARNING: Heart of a Hero is intended for readers 18+ due to adult situations, bad language, and violence. This story is what I like to call MC-Lite and is a slow burn romance. But there’s a guaranteed HEA, no cheating, and no cliffhanger.

Harley Wylde is an accomplished author known for her captivating MC Romances. With an unwavering commitment to sensual storytelling, Wylde immerses her readers in an exciting world of fierce men and irresistible women. Her works exude passion, danger, and gritty realism, while still managing to end on a satisfying note each time.

When not crafting her tales, Wylde spends her time brainstorming new plotlines, indulging in a hot cup of Starbucks, or delving into a good book. She has a particular affinity for supernatural horror literature and movies. Visit Wylde’s website to learn more about her works and upcoming events, and don’t forget to sign up for her newsletter to receive exclusive discounts and other exciting perks.

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Winter Blogfest: Garth Pettersen

December 24, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of The Swan’s Road (book #1 in the Atheling Chronicles). 

 

Christmas in the Eleventh Century by Garth Pettersen 

I have been wondering about Christmas in the early part of the 11th century when my characters in The Atheling Chronicles lived. I finally found some information. Here is a quick summary. 

In the early 11th century, the good folk of Engla-lond were either Anglo-Saxons (Germanic) or Danes. Both groups had originally been pagan, believing in a whole pantheon of delightful gods and goddesses.

In 597 c.e. Pope Gregory the Great sent missionaries to Engla-lond with the PR strategy of continuity, i.e. keep as much the same as it was. Yule was a pagan festival (not connected with the Winter Solstice) with an association with fertility⸺it may have involved some ceremonial copulation.  

The Church had decided (in the 4th century) that December 25 would be celebrated as the birth day of the Christ Child, so they turned the Yule fertility festival into a Christian feast day. In Anglo-Saxon the word was “Cristesmæsse.“ Easter was the more important festival for the Church, but around Christmas, the English would take part in fasts, vigils, prayers, and the giving of alms both to monasteries and to the common people, for the full twelve days before Christmas. The copulation part was dropped. 

So there we have the beginning of celebrating the birth of Christ and the origin of gift-giving. The last tradition added during the Anglo-Saxon period was the holiday (holy-day) part. One of Alfred the Great’s laws (there were a lot of “Greats” in those days⸺we’ve forgotten all the “Not So Greats” such as Sven the Slackard) stated no one should work during the Twelve Days of Christmas.” This gave the hardworking folk of Engla-lond a much-needed rest and a reason to celebrate. So there you have it.  

Gesælige Cristesmæsse! 

 

In 1030 C.E., Cnute, king of England, Denmark, and Norway, sends Harald, his middle son, to the Kingdom of Dublin to meet with his Norse-Irish allies. Harald’s mission is to coordinate an invasion of the northern Welsh kingdom of Gwynedd, to replace King Rhydderch who is growing too powerful on England’s borders. Harald is reluctant to be involved in affairs of state, but agrees to go, even though his beloved wife, Selia, is unwell. Harald tells Selia he will not have to take part in the fighting.

Harald becomes involved in a conflict with Dublin’s neighbor, and to appease the king of Dublin, he commits to leading their combined forces in the attack on Wales. The plan is to replace King Rhydderch with Iago, the weaker King of Anglesey. The more Harald learns of these monarchs, the more his allegiance leans toward the man he has been sent to kill. 

Will Harald unseat a strong and just ruler to carry out his father/king’s commands, or will he tread a more righteous road, which will destroy the life he and Selia have built in England?

 

Garth Pettersen is an award-winning Canadian writer living in the Fraser Valley near Vancouver, BC, where he and his wife board horses. Pettersen has a BA in History from the University of Victoria and is a retired teacher. His short stories have appeared in anthologies and in journals such as Blank Spaces, The Spadina Literary Review, and The Opening Line Literary ‘Zine. Garth Pettersen’s historical fiction series, The Atheling Chronicles, is published by Tirgearr Publishing and is available through most online outlets. The latest book in the series, The Sea’s Edge, received a first-place Incipere Award.

 

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Winter Blogfest: Megan Slayer

December 24, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a bracelet made by the author.

My Christmas Playlist by Megan Slayer 

I thought I’d pull together a list of my favorite Christmas songs. I’m kind of picky about what I like at Christmas. I’m not wild about much of the newest versions of the old songs. Here are some of my favorites (in no particular order)

“Jingle Bell Rock” ~ Bobby Helms – It’s just classic.

“I’ll Be Home for Christmas” ~ Bing Crosby – this one makes me sad and think about the people in my life that aren’t there any longer. But it also makes me glad I knew them.

“Have a Holly Jolly Christmas” ~ Burl Ives – now that I know he was blacklisted, I love it even more.

“Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)” ~ Gene Autry – we sang this song at school. It reminds me of being in the first grade.

“Rockin’ Around the Christmas Tree” ~ Brenda Lee – doesn’t she have the best Christmas songs? Besides, how can you not love it and not think of Home Alone?

“Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” ~ Judy Garland – makes me sad, yet Christmassy, too.

“White Christmas” ~ Bing Crosby – it’s just a classic

“Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town” ~ Bruce Springsteen – okay, I love how he asks how many have behaved and when he gets a poor response, he says, ah…not many, not many. Cracks me up.

“Santa Baby” ~ Eartha Kitt – she makes Christmas sexy 😊

“The Chipmunk Song” ~ How can you not like the Chipmunks at Christmas?

“Little Saint Nick” ~ The Beach Boys – I learned the Muppets version of this song and love both versions.

“When the River Meets the Sea” ~ Paul Williams, but sung by Robin the Frog and Denver with the Muppets

And….

“The Peace Carol” ~ Traditional ~ John Denver and Scooter with the Muppets

I know I left off the Drifters, Otis Redding and Darlene Love among others. They’re on the longer list. What are your favorite Christmas songs? Do you lean classic or contemporary? I’d love to know.

 

Two hearts, one child and the chance to make everything right.

Jamie Starkey has started to wonder about having kids. He thought he had his life sorted out—the job, the life and the house—but he doesn’t have it all. And there’s one man he never forgot. Haddie Clay. Jamie’s long had his heart set on him, except Haddie isn’t interested in him—until now.

Haddie Clay has always known Jamie was the father of his kid. Haddie’s raised his nephew, Chris, for the last ten years, but it’s time Chris knew the truth, that Haddie is Chris’ uncle and Jamie is his biological father. He’s also never forgotten the attraction to Jamie.

Now that they’ve got to work together to raise Chris, they’re going to have to figure out if they want to give in to the desire between them…and be a real family.

 

Megan Slayer, aka Wendi Zwaduk, is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to LGBTQ and white hot themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been nominated at the LRC for Best Author, Best Contemporary, Best Ménage, Best BDSM and Best Anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com.

When she’s not writing, Megan spends time with her husband and son as well as three dogs and three cats. She enjoys art, music and racing, but football is her sport of choice. She’s an active member of the Friends of the Keystone-LaGrange Public library.

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