Winter Blogfest: Marianne Plunkert

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of the new historical romance WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN.

The Yule Log

Around this time of year, a delicious chocolate cake treat, decorated to look like a tree log, can be found on bakery shelves: the Bûche De Noël. Some holiday gift shops sell real logs, adorned with greenery, cranberries, pinecones, and cinnamon sticks, with three holes drilled in them to hold candles for those who like to celebrate the holiday with a nod to an old tradition. And television networks and streaming services air their individual versions of a program titled Yule Log, which is essentially a continuous video of a log burning brightly in a fireplace. But what exactly does a Yule Log represent and what is its relevance to this holiday season?

The tradition of the Yule log is said to predate medieval times. The word “yule,” which means Christmas in Old English, is closely related to the Old Nordic word, “jōl,” which referred to a 12-day winter solstice festival. A large log or tree was ceremoniously chosen to be burned for twelve days at the end of December. The Celts, a pagan group, noticed that the sun seemed to be motionless during this period and believed if the log was kept burning for the length of the festival, the sun would be encouraged to move once more, resulting in longer days again. If the fire died, bad luck would follow. After the festival, ashes from the log were sometimes collected and kept to ward off evil spirits.

It wasn’t until centuries later that the Yule log was adopted by Christians. For some, the lighting of the log symbolized the birth of Jesus, the light of the world. For others, it signified Jesus’s triumph over sin. For still others, the modern-day Yule log sold in shops today is regarded to represent the three wise men. The candles on the log (the men) are lit every evening of the 12 days of Christmas, ending with January 6th, the Christian holiday known as the Epiphany, or Three Kings’ Day.

Today the burning of the Yule log has become a secular tradition, but it remains a symbol hope with the birth of a new season, just as it has been for pagans and Christians alike throughout history.

Desperate to escape a lecherous uncle, Melissa Sullivan stows away in a wagon departing Nebraska City for the Colorado territory. She has resolved she will never be subservient to any man as her aunt was, and especially not to the high-handed Union Army Lieutenant Nathaniel Bellamy, who seems to think he can make decisions for her just because he happened to find her hiding in his wagon.

Upon arriving at their destination, Lieutenant Bellamy reports to his post while Melissa is given an opportunity to fulfill her goal of being self-sufficient by a kind, considerate, and handsome mine owner but wonders if her choice is worth the price. How can two strong-willed people set aside their pride to give love a chance?

After spending 25 years in academia, teaching finance and authoring finance textbooks as an independent contractor for major publishing companies, Marianne retired early to devote more time to her lifelong dream: writing a novel and having it published. What Might Have Been, her debut novel, was inspired by the rich history of the Denver, Colorado, area she discovered while living there. She currently resides in western North Carolina.

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Winter Blogfest: Helen C. Johannes

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a Kindle copy of The Prince of Val-Feyridge, US only . 

A Festive Holiday Alternative to Pie by Helen C. Johannes

With the holidays just around the corner, many of us are planning our holiday dinner menus. If your family is looking forward to the traditional pumpkin pie, wonderful! However, if you’re looking for alternative desserts, or need an extra one if company is coming, I have a recipe for you. And it looks super festive, too!

This family recipe for Apple Upside-down Cake is at least 70 years old, so definitely tried and true! Simple, everyday ingredients. It’ll look lovely on your brunch table if that’s the meal you’re hosting on the big day.

Apple Upside-down Cake

Cake batter:

¼ cup butter or other fat

½ cup sugar

1 egg

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups sifted flour

2 tsp. baking powder

¼ tsp. salt

½ cup milk

2-4 firm-fleshed apples, peeled, quartered and sliced (enough to cover the bottom of a 10-inch round pan)

Topping:

1-2 tsp. cinnamon (to taste preference) mixed with ¼ cup sugar

10-inch round pan. Springform pan works best but a layer-cake pan or pie pan also will serve.

Parchment paper

Cream the fat while adding the sugar, well-beaten egg, and vanilla. Sift the dry ingredients together and add alternately with the milk to the first mixture. Line the pan with parchment paper and spray or grease the lining. Pare, quarter, and slice the apples thin. Arrange the slices in an overlapping layer on the bottom of the pan, starting with the outer rim and working in circles to the center. Sprinkle the cinnamon sugar over the apple layer. Pour the cake mixture over the apples. The batter is thick and may need to be spread with a knife to cover all the apples. Bake at 325 for 45 min. Allow to cool for a few minutes before inverting onto a plate or serving platter and removing the parchment paper. Serve warm or cool with whipped cream or hard sauce or ice cream.

Enjoy!

She’s all wrong for Prince Arn, this lowborn healer who keeps meddling in his march to conquer her homeland. If only she hadn’t helped him, and he hadn’t kissed her, he could stop looking for her everywhere, hoping to find her…again.

Prince Arn has a destiny-an ancient throne-but he’s not waiting for fate to deliver when he can act now, before his enemies organize against him. The healer Aerid longs for her barely remembered homeland. Marked out by her gift and her unusual looks, she insists she is no witch. The swordsman Naed hopes to honorably defend his uncle’s holding, but he harbors a secret fascination for the exotic healer. Prince Arn’s campaign against Aerid’s homeland throws them into a triangle of forbidden love, betrayal, and heartbreak. Only when they realize love is blood-kin to friendship, and neither is possible without risk, can they forge a new alliance and restore a kingdom.

If you long to be swept away from today’s worries, what better way than joining larger-than-life characters on an epic quest where honor matters, a broken land’s future is at stake, and forbidden love requires world-altering sacrifices?

 

Helen C. Johannes writes award-winning fantasy romance inspired by the fairy tales she grew up reading and the amazing historical places she’s visited in England, Ireland, Scotland and Germany. She writes tales of adventure and romance in fully realized worlds sprung from pure imagination and a lifelong interest in history, culture, and literature. Warriors on horseback, women who refuse to sit idly at home, and passion that cannot be denied or outrun—that’s what readers will find in her books.

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Winter Blogfest: Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Homeward Bound Hearts. Book is also available in paperback. 

Once in Awhile You Can Go Home Again by Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy

We all have somewhere our heart calls home. Sometimes it’s only a memory but there are times when home remains a reality. Sometimes we find unexpected blessings, especially during the holiday season. And although Thomas Wolfe wrote that you can’t go home again, once in a while you can and do.

After a move far away, we were going home, to my Granny’s house, for the holiday when I was ten. We had a tree in our new place but were told there would not be another at Granny’s.

On a cold December night, we arrived at Granny’s old two-story frame house. We unloaded our suitcases, brought in a couple of bags of presents, and when we headed upstairs to bed, I made a discovery.

A tall Douglas Fir rested against the wall in one of the bedrooms. The soft pine aroma wafted from it. Delighted, I hugged my grandmother and thanked her, but it wasn’t her doing.

My dad’s oldest brother, Uncle Roy, provided a tree. We decorated it with the simplest ornaments, a new glass topper from the dime store, and a string of lights. That scrawny tree remains my favorite in a lifetime of Christmas trees and traditions.

I still recall the joy of going home for Christmas and the love surrounding me once there.

In Homeward Bound Hearts, Jeb Hill returns home after being injured. He doesn’t expect much but he has nowhere else to go. His return becomes a defining moment in his life and leads to the family he’s long wanted.

Here’s the blurb and a brief excerpt:

 

Take one saddle bronc ridin’ cowboy, Jeb Hill, the Hillbilly Hotshot, who suffers the worst injury of his career. Send him home to be cared for by a widowed nurse, Shelby Thacker, who struggles to pay her bills and support her two children. Add some friendship, then stir in a little attraction. Complicate things with the return of Jeb’s long absent father and throw in the Christmas season. Jeb wants an old-fashioned, heartwarming Christmas, but Shelby’s poverty destroyed her holiday spirit long ago. Toss in some faith, a country church, and a rodeo rider ready to play Santa Claus. Shelby’s and Jeb’s friendship deepens, but can they fulfill each other’s hopes and dreams?

 

“Bring it on, then.” Jeb bit his lip so he wouldn’t groan. He’d hurt before many times, but not this bad. “Will I walk again?”

“No reason you shouldn’t. You can talk to the doctor when he comes in, which will be soon. Dr. Ahmed is making rounds. I’ll get your meds and be back. Don’t go anywhere.” Sam stood and winked.

If he could have, Jeb would have punched him square in the nose.

Before the physician arrived, the nurse returned and injected Jeb with morphine.

It dulled Jeb’s pain to a tolerable level, but relief wasn’t immediate.

Dr. Ahmed sauntered into the room in a confident fashion. His salt-and-pepper hair and beard indicated he wasn’t young. He catalogued Jeb’s injuries, outlined the treatment plan, and read the chart. “Have you been briefed on your injuries?”

“I got two questions —will I be able to walk and can I ride again?” Jeb clenched the edge of the sheet with his fingers. Both activities were important to Jeb. His future depended on those abilities.

“Walking shouldn’t be a problem, not after rehab and therapy. Dr. Ahmed tugged at his tidy goatee. “Riding horses is more problematic. I don’t recommend busting broncs or participating in any other rodeo events in the future. Although you’ll recover from the fracture, your spine is compromised. You don’t want any further injury because any future breaks are more likely to cause permanent issues.”

The doctor’s stern expression sobered Jeb. He tightened his jaw so hard it ached. If he couldn’t ride, he would no longer be able to compete. With his career and livelihood at stake, Jeb drew a harsh breath as he steeled himself not to weep. “When can I go home?” Jeb pictured his quiet farmhouse back in Missouri. “And how do I get there?

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Winter Blogfest: E.L. Roux

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Unrequited Love (claim before January 1st) . 

Allergy and Food Intolerance-Friendly Chex Mix by E.L. Roux

Hi All,

This is your friendly low fantasy romance author E.L. Roux, here to talk about all things festive, and by all things, I really mean food. I have food intolerances (not allergies fortunately), but it means I have a hard time digesting fun things like wheat, dairy, soy, and plants in the Allioideae family including onions, shallots, and garlic. Sadly things like Lactaid don’t work for me, but I was able to find a powder that enabled be to digest onions and garlic (Fodzyme has been a lifesaver to my tastebud delight).

All of this is to say I love food, mainly because I have to make a lot of my food, and I try to include that love in my work. This time of year, I make a mean Chex Mix, a homemade peppermint bark, fudge, pumpkin pie, and cookies, so many cookies.

What I’ve found if you’re cooking for yourself, or a family member or friend, is that you need to read labels constantly, even for items you’ve used in the past. Don’t assume that because it’s labeled on the front as something that there isn’t a weird ingredient in it that could trigger a response. Non-stick sprays tend to almost always have soy in them. I’ve come across soy in spaghetti sauce instead of olive oil, and milk hides in things as a thickener. Vegetable oil usually contains soy, and margarine isn’t always dairy free.

All those hard things to remove aside, here’s the Spicey Check Mix I make several times around the holiday season:

3 cups Corn Chex
3 cups Rice Chex
1 cup nuts of choice
2 cups Pretzels (not all gf pretzels are soy and dairy free)
1/4 cup imitation butter (I use Smart Balance or soy free Earth Balance)
1/4 cup corn oil
1.5 tablespoon parsley flakes
1.5 teaspoon celery salt (watch the salt in the butter because you can over salt)
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper
6-12 drops of hot sauce (tabasco is usually a safe bet)

Set oven to 250°F.

1. Heat butter and oil with flavor additions until combined and simmering, stirring occasionally.
2. Turn off heat before flavorings burn.
3. Add Chex, nuts, and pretzels into a clean paper bag.
4. Add flavoring a few teaspoons at a time, shaking and mixing the bag between additions, until all flavorings have been added and the Chex has a light oil covering.
5. Give the Chex a taste and adjust flavoring as needed by adding more spice or salt. If more oil is needed, use appropriate oil spray like an avocado oil nonstick spray or the rare canola oil nonstick spray. NOTE: I haven’t tried an olive oil spray because of its distinct flavor.
6. Place an even layer of the Chex Mix on a cookie sheet/s and place in oven the rough middle of the oven. Dry out Chex Mix in oven until fingers no longer come away with moisture and flip mix half way through (usually takes 2 to 3 hours).

Cool down before storing in an airtight container to keep it crisp😊 or just eat it by the handful like I do.

I hope you enjoy this spicy mix as much as I do!

E.L. Roux

 

I’ve been in a rut since my boyfriend dumped me, and now he’s in my coffee shop every day with his new fiancé. When grouchy Cane makes my body hum again, I know I’m ready to move on. With his curled horns and awkward smile, I’m braced for Cane to ask me out, except he doesn’t.

Cane wants to make a deal. I’d help to foresee into my ex’s love life, something I don’t want to do, and I’m guaranteed a sexy night of skin-on-skin contact wrapped in Cane’s warm muscled arms, an experience I might have been hoping for.

What’s the harm in partaking of the pleasures the spell requires? The thing is, love spells require one thing, and it’s something I’m not sure I can give…

 

E.L. Roux is a Science Fiction and Fantasy Romance author who writes about finding love in all the wrong places. E.L. uses their knowledge on everything from prosthetics to the sport of fencing, to weave together complex romances you can’t put down.

E.L. Roux lives in Washington State with their artistically inclined family, an indoor street cat, and a terror of a Bosten Terrier.

To find out more about this author, or to stay in touch, visit www.linktr.ee/elroux

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Winter Blogfest: Cherie Colyer

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of Merry Little Wishing Spritz. Additional for US only, swag. 

 

Embracing the Warmth of the Season and Wishing You Happy Tidings by Cherie Colyer

 

As the temperatures drop and snow gently falls outside, blanketing the world in a peaceful white canvas, there’s an undeniable warmth that fills the air. The holiday season is a wonderful time for coming together, but it’s also a beautiful opportunity to slow down, reflect, and find joy in the simple pleasures of life.

My holiday decorations are up, my shopping is down, and it is way too cold to be outside for long periods of time. But it’s a perfect time of year to curl up with an enchanting book or movie. I like to nestle in my favorite chair, wrapped in my cozy Gryffindor throw. The aroma of hot coffee, with a hint of peppermint, wafting through the air as I hold the steaming mug in my hands. It’s the perfect setting to lose myself in a captivating story. Be it a classic holiday tale, a heartwarming romance, or a spellbinding fantasy, escaping into another world, leaving behind the hustle and bustle of everyday life, is a wonderful escape.

As you reflect on another year past, as the outside world fades away, replaced by the magic of the story unfolding before you, in this tranquil space, I wish you peace, joy, and a renewed sense of wonder. So, this holiday season, give yourself the gift of time—time to relax, to read, and to bask in the warmth of the season.

 

Happy holidays, happy reading, and may 2025 be filled with magic! 📚❄️☕

When modern-day witch Cassie Moore’s cozy life is threatened, she casts a well-intended spell meant to save her apartment and her job. But magic is unpredictable, especially when her friend casts a little charm of her own that has Cassie lusting after the man she desperately wants to despise.

 

Professional network technician by day, novelist by night, Cherie lives a quiet life in the Chicago suburbs with her charming husband. She has four amazing sons who she loves dearly. Cherie magically weaves together stories with a paranormal twist. She’s the author of the Embrace series (Embrace, Hold Tight, and Entwined), Challenging Destiny, Damned When I Didn’t, and Friends to the End. She waltzes into the adult novel world with this enchanting holiday romance, Merry Little Wishing Spritz.

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Winter Blogfest: Nan Reinhardt

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.

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Winter Blogfest: Harley Wylde

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: Jessica Coulter Smith

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an Ebook copy and Spotify audio code of Intergalactic Brides book 1 – Brielle and the Alien Geek.

This is one of my favorite times of year.

When I was little, my grandmother on my dad’s side would make both chocolate fudge and peanut butter fudge. My grandmother on my mom’s side would bake a Coa-Cola cake. Since my parent’s weren’t together anymore, I’d spend Christmas Eve with one side of the family and Christmas Day with the other – and it would rotate each year. To some, that may seem hectic or even sad, but I didn’t know the difference. It was just a normal holiday for me.

My grandparents are no longer with us, and I miss them dearly. So this time of year, I think back on all those family gatherings, the yummy desserts and how noisy my family could be. The memories are bittersweet because I wish I had more time with my grandparents.

I’m not a baker, and I’m not the best cook, so sadly my husband and children don’t get to experience those amazing desserts. I think my grandmother’s Coca-Cola cake recipe is long gone. No one in the family ever got it from her, and she didn’t have it written down anywhere. And I’m nowhere near talented enough to make fudge. But there’s one thing I can make – don’t laugh when I tell you. My dad’s mom also made a chocolate pie. But her pie was just chocolate pudding in a premade pie crust and topped with Cool Whip. That’s the extent of my baking skills. But at least it makes me feel like my grandma is still here with us during the holidays.

Most of my characters also find themselves without family during this time of year. Blossom and her young son are an example, but no worries… she meets a sexy alien who takes them into his home and gives them the most magical Christmas ever.

What’s your favorite holiday dessert or memory?

Blossom has struggled all her life, never able to claw her way out of the worst neighborhood in Los Angeles. Her loser ex-boyfriend isn’t who she thought he was, and now she’s in deep trouble — but Christmas is the time for miracles, and Blossom needs one now more than ever. She just doesn’t expect her miracle to arrive in such a sexy, purple package. When the notorious alien actor Brexton knocks on her door, she does what any rational woman would do — she slams it in his face. Wishing for a miracle is one thing, but having the heartthrob of Hollywood on her doorstep isn’t what she had in mind.

Brexton has always wanted a mate and family, though he’s never been blessed with either. When he hears about a single mom who’s in trouble, he knows he can’t leave her to face her fate. Having a door slammed in his face hadn’t factored into his plans, but that one glimpse is enough for Brexton. He’d do anything to get another look at the sexy female with blue hair, and a body that would feature in all his future dreams.

Despite danger lurking around every corner, Brexton is determined to give Blossom and her children a Christmas they’ll always remember. Now that he has the family he’s always wanted, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, and hopefully share the first of many holidays with his new mate and kids.

Jessica Coulter Smith is an acclaimed romance writer with a passion for storytelling. Her works showcase the power of love and its ability to transcend boundaries, capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide. With a unique writing style and perspective, Jessica continues to inspire and entertain readers from all walks of life.

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Winter Blogfest: Barbara Robinson

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

A Yule Log on the eve of the Winter Solstice

As a Christmas tree farmer’s daughter, I am fonder than most of holiday greenery. I still make my own wreaths and garlands, and I still go out to harvest a Christmas tree from our land each year. My husband and I bought a red pick-up back in April, and in a week or two we’ll be coming down off Folly Mountain looking like a 2023 version of those little trucks that decorate throw pillows and wall plaques in Christmas discount stores this time of year. Finding and decorating a Christmas tree is a cherished tradition, and I could write pages about the history, symbolism and beauty of evergreens, but today I thought I’d write about the yule log, and the part that this lesser-known tradition plays in my own holiday celebrations.

In its earliest guise, a yule log was a massive thing, dragged into a hall at the darkest time of the year, and meant to burn all through the yuletide celebrations. Pre-dating electricity by more than a millennium, the light from the yule log would have been an important reminder that that sun’s strength would soon increase, and light and life return to the land. Many charms and traditions grew up around the log, like saving a small piece from the previous year to light the new yule log, and some of these have survived with variations into modern times. Now, yule logs might be made from confectionary, or they might be ceramic decorations with electric lights, but some people still use an actual log, decorated with candles and greenery.

We use a birch log, in part because the white birch bark is decorative when paired with greenery and red or white candles, but also because it is deeply symbolic. The rune representing birch is Berkana (Beorc), and it is associated with fertility and new beginnings, holding the promise of the new year ahead. We usually decorate our yule log and leave it on display, then remove the greenery on the eve of the winter solstice so we can light the candles without risk of stray spark igniting the tinder-dry boughs and pinecones. We have been using the same piece of birch for many years now, saving the log and replacing the candles and greenery each yuletide.

After supper, I will light the candles, and watch them burn down until they are spent. In early Anglo-Saxon England, the eve of the winter solstice was known as Modranigt , the night of the Mothers, and it was a time to pay homage to the female ancestral guardian spirits who watch over families and are concerned with fate and destiny. I usually leave a small offering of food for these guardian spirits, in gratitude for their care and protection throughout the year. Though not actively scrying, I think about the year to come as I watch the yule log, and ideas will often come to me as I watch the candle flames dance. Once the candles have burned away, the yule log is safely stowed away for the next year’s celebrations. Lecouteaux, Claude. (2016) Encyclopedia of Norse and Germanic Folklore Mythology and Magic. Inner Traditions, Vermont, USA.

For centuries, Gamekeepers have used their magical abilities to create a buffer between the creatures who dwell in the enchanted forest and the sleepy coastal town that sits in its shadow.

When Gamekeeper Stan Ross’s magic begins to fail, he must find out what went wrong, then fix it before the two worlds collide. His hit or miss magic has already led to a few close calls so he journeys to the Sacred Isle searching for answers and advice. Finding a cure proves elusive—until Stan encounters a kitchen witch who captivates him body and soul.

Lynnette Peters is healing from her own wounds, however, and it isn’t clear whether she’s ready to open herself to the possibility—or the peril—of love.

Barbara Robinson is a debut paranormal romance author who writes novels and short stories with an otherworldly flair. She is an unrepentant optimist who believes that lasting love is possible, and her stories feature happily-ever-after endings.

Most of her writing includes an element of magic, rooted in the cultural and spiritual traditions of pre-Christian Europe. She finds inspiration in myths and folktales, poems and ballads, historical sources and academic writing.

She also draws inspiration from nature. Barbara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the shadow of ancient mountains that lie along the Bay of Fundy coast. New Scotland has a magic all its own, with mist covered valleys and wild, windswept shorelines. These rugged vistas shape her story settings, while providing the perfect backdrop for life with her husband, three hounds and a dragon (Pogona Vitticeps).

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One Night Stands and Lesson Plans by M. Jayne LaDow – Spotlight and Giveaway

This post is part of a virtual book tour organized by Goddess Fish Promotions. M. Jayne LaDow will be awarding a $25 Amazon/BN gift card to a randomly drawn winner. Click on the tour banner to see the other stops on the tour.

In the close-knit town of Marchfield, where gossip spreads faster than a teenager’s texts, English teacher Audrey Fremont and Algebra instructor Oz Taylor find themselves at the center of a scandal—and a romance neither saw coming.

A few too many drinks at Happy Hour and a glimpse of his infuriatingly sexy shoulders lead to a one-night stand that should have ended there—but didn’t. Relentlessly organized and a bit of a perfectionist, Audrey is horrified to discover that Oz is one of her new coworkers. Yet, stolen glances in the hallway, moments in the copy room, and snarky banter make keeping it “no strings attached” nearly impossible to maintain.

With meddling friends and nosy colleagues already placing bets on their romance, Audrey and Oz can’t ignore the chemistry simmering between them. But just when Audrey thinks she’s got everything under control, a surprise confession from Oz leaves her questioning everything she thought she knew about love.

In a town where everyone’s watching, Audrey and Oz must decide: will they keep playing it safe, or risk their hearts on a love that could change everything?

Enjoy an Excerpt

“I picked up a guy, Val, and I took him home,” I said into the machine without daring to look at her.

A minute passed in silence. Sammy Kershaw twanged Third Rate Romance in my head while I pushed and prodded the levers and buttons, searching fruitlessly for the jammed paper.

Seconds ticked by slowly, and my anxiety grew until I couldn’t stand it anymore. I ducked my head out to look at her.

Val was gaping at me. Her mouth moved as if she tried to breathe air underwater. Finally, she managed, “WHAT?!”

I snorted at her expression. “It was irrational and completely unlike me. But I was blindsided, Val. He came into the bar, and he had these shoulders. Massive shoulders!”

Val gasped dramatically. “Oh no! Not SHOULDERS?!”

I glared at her. “You know my weakness.”

“I do,” Val nodded solemnly for a moment. “So what happened?”

“I asked him to drive Green Lightning to my apartment.”

“You never let anyone drive her! Not even me,” Val pouted.

“He didn’t even like her! He said she was ugly!”

Val’s hands fisted, and she hit the table. “Outrageous! What a jerk. I can’t believe you let a jerk drive her!”

“I’ll say it again. I was both wasted and irrational.”

“And hot for a bologna pony, apparently,” Val responded wryly.

I wiggled my eyebrows. “I may have offered to ride his stick shift.”

About the Author: M. Jayne LaDow is a playwright and author who leapt into writing romance after spending thirty-three years wrangling middle school English students. Her rom-coms are hilariously inspired by her years in education, where she was regularly pied in the face, sang classroom karaoke, and dressed up like characters from novels. She resides with her very patient husband, two brilliant yet snarky children, three cuddly rescue cats, a toe-biting tortoise, and a bearded dragon who judges her life choices from his terrarium.

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