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Wednesday, November 13, 2013

CASA FOR THE HOLIDAYS ~ GUEST POST AND GIVEAWAY!





Every so often, you get your heart set on that one special gift for Christmas… in today’s Casa for the Holidays blog stop, our authors are telling us what the heroines of the Christmas romance novels want this year, and what their heroes are ACTUALLY getting them :)

 
 
Grace Burrowes, author of Lady Jenny’s Christmas Portrait

Lady Jenny's Christmas Portrait (The Duke's Daughters, #5) (Windham, #8) Grace Burrowes

For Christmas, Lady Jenny Windham thinks she’s going to give herself the freedom to pursue her art, and freedom from her family’s overprotective influence, and she will have those gifts, but not in the sense she intends.

Jenny is determined to leave Merry Olde England for Paris, where a talented female artist of Regency persuasion will not be held back by her gender or her station, or so Jenny hopes. In truth, Jenny wants to escape the weight of her family’s marital expectations—she’s the only one of eight siblings to remain unmarried—and she wants to escape the pitying looks she endures from those who regard her as a spinster in training.

But who should show up on the Windham doorstep as Christmas approaches but Elijah Harrison, the most in-demand portrait artist of the Beau Monde? Elijah has accepted commissions from Their Graces, Jenny’s parents, and thus Jenny’s holidays include the gift of Elijah’s artistic companionship…. and—to her surprise and delight—his kisses.

Jenny confides in Elijah that she intends to go to Paris, immediately after the holidays, and while Elijah understands that an artist deserves to nurture her ability, he also sees that Jenny is running, and that her departure will break her family’s heart.

And his.

For years ago, Elijah turned his back on family and friends to heed his muse, and while he has recognition and financial security now, he knows all too well the price paid for these accomplishments.

Elijah finds a way for Jenny to have her art and to have her family’s love and support, but it takes courage, honesty, and determination—also a bit of holiday magic, and the encouragement of not only Jenny’s siblings and relations, but Elijah’s as well.

I loved writing this story, in part because it’s about others seeing us more clearly, and more lovingly, than we see ourselves. Jenny needed Elijah’s artistic ability to see clearly, and to show her and her family some truths they were struggling to find on their own. Elijah sees clearly not only because he’s paid attention to his own journey, but also because he loves Jenny, and cannot bear for her to trade one lonely struggle for another.

So the gift Jenny thought she wanted—freedom to pursue her art—she did in fact receive, but she found this great boon in Elijah’s arms, not in the chilly streets of Paris!

 
 
Juliana Stone, author of The Christmas He Loved Her
The Christmas He Loved Her (Bad Boys of Crystal Lake, #2) Juliana Stone

The Christmas He Loved Her isn’t your typical Christmas romance. This books hurts. There are characters who are broken and damaged and in dire need of love and forgiveness. But ultimately, it’s an uplifting story that really plays on the power of love, family and second chances.

That being said, I truly believe that Christmas is the one time of the year when miracles can really happen. There is something so simplistic about the story of Jesus, about the hope that baby brought to his parents, and that hope carries through the holiday season.

And I think for Raine, the heroine in my book, hope is what she wants the most. Hope that things will get better and hope that she can find love again. Hope that she can help Jake, a man she’s known pretty much her entire life.

My hero, Jake is thinking the same thing. He wants Raine to be happy and I think the togetherness and family that a holiday like Christmas brings to the table is just what he needs. And in this story the magic of Christmas is the best gift of all.

Terry Spear, author of A SEAL Wolf Christmas
A SEAL Wolf Christmas (Heart of the Wolf, #12) Terry Spear

Anna has never had a Christmas before and she catches the hero, Bjornolf, ordering online before Christmas and asks if it's his old girlfriend in a teasing way. She gets him what every SEAL could ever need, so if she really thought about it, she would have thought he might get her some of the same. But instead, he gets her a beautiful crocheted sweater just like the one destroyed when a villain attempts to kill her. Only Bjornolf gets it in several different colors. What are heroes for after all but making our dreams come true on Christmas and every other day?



Carolyn Brown, author of The Cowboy’s Christmas Baby
 The Cowboy's Christmas Baby (Cowboys & Brides, #2) Carolyn Brown

Natalie hasn’t even thought about what Lucas might get her for Christmas but I’m sure she’s going to be blown away when she opens a booklet filled with kissing coupons. One says that with this coupon, you get a nonstop body kiss from the top of your head to the tips of your toes. Another says that the coupon was good for a long and wonderful kiss under the stars. And then there’s the instrumental CD of an assortment of slow love songs and candles and bubble bath, lotion, and bath powder all in the same fragrance, funny socks with toes in them and fuzzy slippers in black and white zebra stripes to keep her feet warm when she had to get up at night with Joshua. But her big present, as he called it, was the shocker…which I could tell you all about but it would sure spoil the surprise.

 


To enter to win a prize pack of all 4 of these Christmas authors’ novels, let us know what you think you’re getting for Christmas this year… This contest is open internationally.



To find out more about these authors, please visit their websites!


Carolyn Brown Website: http://carolynlbrown.com/

Grace Burrowes Website: http://graceburrowes.com/

Terry Spear Website: http://www.terryspear.com/

Juliana Stone Website: http://www.julianastone.com/

 
 
FOLLOW ALONG WITH THE “CASA FOR THE HOLIDAYS” VIRTUAL TOUR!
October-December 2013

Fun Holiday-Themed Posts from Carolyn, Grace, Terry and Juliana,

And Chances to WIN Books at Each Stop!

 

October
Oct. 8
Booked and Loaded
Oct. 16
Ramblings From This Chick
Oct. 23
Debbie's Book Bag
Oct. 29
The Reading Café
November
Nov. 4
Book Girl of Mur-y-Castell
Nov. 6
Smexy Books
Nov. 12
Cocktails and Books
Nov. 14
The Bookish Babe
Nov. 20
Night Owl Reviews
Nov. 22
Fresh Fiction
December
Dec. 4
USA Today HEA
Dec. 5
Under the Covers
Dec. 10
Romancing the Book
Dec. 11
Anna's Book Blog
Dec. 16
What's on the Bookshelf
Dec. 17
That's What I'm Talking About

 
 
 UPDATE: The winner of the Casa for the Holidays Prize is Veronica!
 
 
 
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37 comments:

  1. What a fun post! I have no idea what I'm getting for christmas, but I'm hoping to get a new iPhone, and gift cards from Amazon and B & N for books :)

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  2. Not sure my mother will have time to go and get me something but i do hope to receive some books from my wishlist or the bookshelf to put them on^^

    thank you a lot for this giveaway!!

    isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com

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  3. I gave my husband some ideas, but who knows, he probably will get something totally different.
    skpetal at hotmail dot com

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  4. Hopefully Amazon gift cards. That's what I ask for every year :)

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  5. This was a fun post! I love Christmas reads!

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  6. What a great post! It's really interesting even though I haven't heard of some of these books. :) Thanks for sharing :)

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  7. I'm not a picky person to buy for, heck I got a wheel barrow with two wheels for Christmas! Besides my diamond rings, it was the best present I ever got! Of course I live on a farm. I'm happy with anything I get.
    Thanks for sharing some awesome authors like Carolyn and Julian. I also love meeting new authors and look forward to reading the others books!

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  8. Love the festiveness shining through here. I need to start researching some good Christmas books to start getting me in the mood for the holiday season. This year has gone by so fast!

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  9. I'm getting homemade soap and scrub pants... which I know for sure b/c my mom forced me to order them for her to give to me! But there could still be some surprises :) Thanks for the fun giveaway!

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  10. Aww...I'm going to have to pick up these Christmas reads! :) Hopefully I'll get a few giftcards as gifts. This is a fun post, Andrea!

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  11. I am hoping for a laptop and Krupps coffee maker..but will be happy spending the day with my peeps by the fire. I am a complete sucker for holiday books and loved Brown's book...looks like I need to add the others!

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  12. I will probably get Amazon GC! YAY!!! There is not much else I want besides a job!

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  13. Thanks for sharing the great book. Thanks for the giveaway. evamillien at gmail dot com

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  14. I am hoping for books and hand-made body butter and luxurious bathrobe

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  15. I'm hoping for Amazon gift cards and books!!!

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  16. I love Christmas-themed stories, and these sound like fun! I totally agree with the "miracles can happen" this time of year sentiment, too.

    Wendy @ The Midnight Garden

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  17. I'm pretty sure I'm not getting anything for Christmas since I already got my Christmas present during the summer. My brother got me the nook hd+ as an early Christmas present so i'm not expecting anything.
    paaj(_)xyooj(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  18. Hmm, makeup and nail polish probably. My family tends to get the same gifts for me every year but in a different version of the year before. Not that I mind, I will always love makeup and nail polish. :)

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  19. Probably a amazon gift card and maybe a bracelet.

    pjmillion (at) comcast (dot) net

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  20. Probably some lotions, body sprays, and bath gels and some chocolate. Oh and a pyrex dish to replace the one I just busted.

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  21. My husband and I are talking about getting each other a new exercise bike. Otherwise, I'll probably get gift cards and cash.
    jmcgaugh (at) semo (dot) edu

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  22. My family doesn't exchange gifts anymore except to get the kids something, so I know that the only thing I'll be getting is a little bit of money from my mom.

    Pam
    vanillaorchids69(at)gmail(dot)com

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  23. I love being surprised and getting something that I don't really need. That being said, I have a strong suspicion someone is going to get me a mixer and coffee maker as both mine just broke lol

    xo_veronica16[at]hotmail[dot]com

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  24. Since I don't need much, I think I'm getting some jewelry, probably more charms for my Brighton bracelet or a nice necklace.

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  25. Someone recommended Julianna Stone to me not long ago. I'll have to take a look. Thanks!

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  26. I hope I'm getting books & yummy toiletries.

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  27. I'm hoping for a Tiffany keyhole ring, I've hinted to the hubby, lol

    Ann(dot)sheiring(at)gmail(dot)com

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  28. A new kindle Fire HDX ;-)

    itzel_library AT hotmail DOT com

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  29. I'm not sure but I think I'm getting a new laptop computer.

    ayancey1974(at)gmail(dot)com

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  30. I'm hoping for a kindle this year : )
    ghwasd (at) gmail (dot) com

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  31. I'm wanting to get a pasta roller and a cupcake stand!
    Thanks for sharing!
    mestith at gmail dot com

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  32. I think I'm most definitely getting books for Christmas! Hahahaha of course!

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  33. Hopefully a Kindle!
    Thanks for the chance to win!
    natasha_donohoo_8 at hotmail dot com

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