Showing posts with label 12 Days of Romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 12 Days of Romance. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

[12 Days of Romance] Love and Other Games #giveaway #Olympics

Title: Love and Other Games (Collection)
Author:
Melinda Dozier, Ana Blaze, Aria Kane, Kara Leigh Miller
Publisher: Swoon Romance
Publication Date: October 1, 2013
Format: eBook
Love and Other Games 
LOVE AND OTHER GAMES is a collection of four sexy new adult stories centered around athletes competing in the Winter Games by Ana Blaze, Melinda Dozier, Aria Kane, and  Kara Leigh Miller.

Worth More Than Gold by Ana Blaze
Amy Pierce, the klutzy sister and manager of America’s Skating Sweetheart, is used to being invisible. But when a friend drags her to a party near the Olympic Village, Amy catches the eye of a sexy Norwegian ski jumper. It’s a magical night, but an awkward next morning has her running. Everyone knows Erik Andresen’s best shot at an individual medal was back in 2010, before an injury pulled him from the competition. He’s there for his team, but a hot night and a remarkable final training session have him wondering if a gorgeous good-luck charm could give him another chance at the podium. With a little bit of luck, these two might have a shot at something worth more than gold.

Trouble With Gold by Melinda Dozier
US snowboarder and notorious prankster, Ty (Trouble) Madsen is only getting a taste of his own medicine when his Olympic teammates shackle him to a fence wearing nothing but his boxers.  Reception and protocol volunteer, Nadia Hoffman, gets up close and personal with the sexy snowboarder to rescue him, but she's not the kind of girl who lets her hormones get in her way.  A professional performance could help her land her dream job at Olympics Committee Headquarters, but her new assignment supervising the rambunctious US Snowboarding Team is making that difficult.  Can she see behind the snowman in the community center bathroom and into the warm heart of the man everyone calls Trouble?

The Girl Behind the Gold by Aria Kane
Greek aerial skier Lia Milonas’s parents are about to lose the family farm. Saving it means medaling and landing a huge sponsor. While her no-nonsense attitude has her well on her way to a medal, it hasn’t won her a place in fans' hearts. “Come back with a story that will make readers cry, or don’t come back.” This is what Brandon James’ boss told him before he left New York to cover the Winter Games for Moment Magazine. With a wink and a smile, he can charm his way into any invite-only party, but that career-making story is nowhere to be found – until he meets Lia. The two strike a deal that should get them both what they want - but neither would have guessed they’d also find what they need. 

Ice Gold by Kara Leigh Miller
Colton Campbell thrives on the fast paced, adrenaline rushed lifestyle of being an Olympic hockey player. Despite Brenna Jessup's abhorrence for the games and the athletes, she's hand-picked as the official photographer for the U.S. Olympic Hockey Team. When a faux pas by Brenna almost costs Colton his career, she owes him. Too bad for her, Colton doesn't want apologies -- he wants retribution! And he knows just how to get it -- and her -- in the process.
Social Media
Melinda Dozer on Twitter: https://twitter.com/MelindaDozier
Aria Kane on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Aria_Kane
Kara Leigh Miller on Twitter: https://twitter.com/KaraLeighMille1
Swoon Romance (publisher) site: http://www.myswoonromance.com/



Monday, December 23, 2013

[12 Days of Romance] Bells Will Be Ringing by @MonicaTillery, Carolynn Carey, Diana Jean, Angelita Gill


Bells Will Be Ringing Blurb:
’Tis the season . . . to fall in love! In this quartet of holiday tales, mistletoe magic sweeps from a Philadelphia candy company to the ballrooms of Regency England, across the shores of a Hawaiian island, and to a snow-struck cabin in Colorado.

HER SECRET SANTA by Monica Tillery
Neighbors and coworkers at Morgan Confectioners, Rebecca Sinclair and Ben Redding, have been best friends since grad school. Will they be able to get past their fears of ruining their friendship when their feelings turn more than friendly? A holiday gift exchange might just bring the best present of all - Christmas love.

MERRY’S WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS GIFT by Carolynn Carey
The winter holidays used to be Miss Merry Damonson’s favorite time of year . . . until her almost-fiancĂ© Edward Everton abandoned her two days before Christmas. Now he’s returned to their country village, but is it too late to reignite old flames? A holiday ball might just offer these unlucky lovers a second chance.

HIS HAWAIIAN CHRISTMAS by Diana Jean
Humbug in Hawaii? When Clara O’Fallen gets a promotion to paradise, she can’t help feeling homesick for her Wisconsin winters, complete with real snow, family traditions, and Christmas festivities. But smiling surfer Kai Schmitt might just show this scrooge how to hang loose and catch the spirit of the season - the aloha spirit!

GAVIN FEVER by Angelita Gill
A sudden snowstorm unexpectedly strands Julia Winthrop with her ex, reality TV star Gavin Beckett, at a cozy mountain cabin for the holidays. Trapped till the weather lets up, their attraction resurfaces. It’s not long before they realize their fling might’ve been the real thing, and this surprise reunion might just be a Christmas miracle.

Author BIO

Monica Tillery has been a social worker and a massage therapist, but is now living her dream as a romance novelist.  She loves nothing more than to get lost in a beautiful love story, holding her breath as the hero and heroine fight their way through obstacles to get to their happily ever after.  Monica lives in Texas with her own real-life romance hero, her husband of over a dozen years, and two wonderful sons.  When she’s not reading and writing romance, Monica loves playing bunco and bingo, hanging out with friends, and wasting time online.  She loves hearing from and connecting with readers.  Follow her on Facebook at www.facebook.com/monicatilleryauthor, on Twitter @monicatillery, or visit her website www.monicatillery.com.  Monica maintains her website on her own, so she warns you that it’s very basic and rarely changes, but all the pertinent information is updated.


RECIPE:
Oreo Truffles
I didn't create this recipe, but I use it every Christmas.
You need:
1 package of Oreos, crushed in a food processor, use mint if you're feeling fancy
1 block of cream cheese, softened
package of melting chocolate, white or milk or whatever you like
Mix the softened cream cheese with your Oreo crumbs and form into truffle-sized balls. Place them on a wax paper-covered cookie sheet. Refrigerate at least one hour. They should be firm when you take them out, which makes them easier to work with.
Melt your chocolate in a large container. Coat truffles in the chocolate. You can do it easily by dropping them into the melted chocolate and using a fork to move them around so they're covered. Pull them out one by one with the fork and let excess chocolate drip back into the container.
Place the chocolate-covered truffles on the prepared cookie sheet to set. Store them in a tightly covered container in the fridge. Enjoy!





Sunday, December 22, 2013

[12 Days of Romance] The Santa Next Door by Stephanie Cage #giveaway #interview




Sue Edmonds swore off men after her feckless husband left her struggling to care for their four-year-old daughter Trudi and maintain their ramshackle Victorian home. But her mysterious neighbor might tempt her to change her mind. 

Bryn Thomas once found peace and happiness in music but that was before his heart was broken. Now it stirs up painful memories and provides little comfort. That is until he finds himself sharing Christmas carols with his young neighbor and her beautiful mother. 

As Sue sees Bryn playing Santa, she is touched to discover his gentler side. Can she hope for a Christmas miracle and the fulfillment of Trudi's Christmas wish for a dad?

AUTHOR BIO:
Having been born and educated in the South of England, including a degree in English Literature at Oxford University and an MA in Creative Writing at Bath Spa University, Stephanie Cage now lives and writes in the beautiful county of Yorkshire. She is a member of the Romantic Novelists' Association with three published e-books to date: The Santa Next Door and Desperate Bid from The Wild Rose Press and Perfect Partners from Crimson Romance.  Perfect Partners is now out in paperback too, so she finally feels like a 'proper' writer!  When she is not writing, she also enjoys dance and musical theatre and is a frequent guest on Book It, a literary show on local radio.


RECIPE
Mulled grape juice
This is a great drink to serve at parties for the people who have to drive home!  It has the flavour of Christmas but without the alcoholic content of mulled wine.  Take a carton of red grape juice and a carton of orange juice (around a liter of each).  Mix them in a saucepan along with a few cinnamon sticks, a sprinkling of grated nutmeg and ginger, and a couple of halved satsumas or clementines.  Simmer gently for around half an hour, until the spices have thoroughly infused.  Strain and serve while still steaming hot. 

1)    What inspired you to write a holiday romance story?
The Santa Next Door was inspired by a very bad drawing I made in the snow.  I had the idea of drawing a snow devil instead of a snow angel, and then I started to imagine a hero who saw Christmas and all its trappings very differently from other people, and to imagine what might have happened to dampen his view of Christmas, and what it might take to make him happy again.  That’s how Bryn, Sue and her adorable four-year-old, Trudi came into being, and then I just wanted to tell their story.  

2)    What has been your favorite holiday-themed romance to read?
I don’t know!  My favourite book is mostly the one I’m reading at the time, and right now that’s Vonnie Davis’ Santa Wore Leathers.  It’s feisty and funny, and I’m enjoying the exotic feel of Christmas in Florida – for a Brit used to the holiday season being damp grey with the occasional flake of snow, sunshine is something of a novelty.

3)    Do you have any special holiday traditions?
Our best tradition when I was growing up was always having steak and chips on Christmas day because my family weren’t huge fans of turkey.  Then, for a while, I always went to the pub and then to the midnight carol service with one of my old school friends, to see in Christmas, but that one seems to have fallen by the wayside too.  Maybe it’s time to start a new holiday tradition... if that’s not a contradiction in terms! 

4)    What was your favorite childhood toy?
My computer. I was such a geek!  

5)    What do you do on a holiday eve?
A Christmas movie and mulled wine.  And a frantic tidy-up before the family come over on Christmas day!
QUICKIES
Snow ball fight or Snow Angels?
Snowball fight – or snow devils!
Sleigh Ride or Skiing?
Sleigh ride – I’d probably break my leg if I tried skiing. 
Hot Apple Cider or Eggnog?
I usually go for mulled wine, but failing that, hot apple cider.
Fave Holiday Song
Santa Baby – it’s cute, funny, great to dance to, and has been recorded by singers from Eartha Kitt and Mae West to Madonna and Kylie. 
Fave Holiday Dish
Christmas pudding with custard.
Fave Holiday Movie
Can I have two? Arthur Christmas and Olive, The Other Reindeer.
Fave Holiday Decoration

A bauble decorated with a picture of Sydney Opera House.