Spotlight & Giveaway - - Christmas in July

I don't know about you but with 90+ degree temperatures hitting my town every day I'm more than ready for a taste of Christmas in July. Lucky for us, these eleven talented authors have eleven brand-new novellas of love, romance, and holiday happily-ever-afters. I've already smiled my way through early copies of a few of them and can't wait to read them all. I love collections like this that not only include bonus stories set within series I love but also introduce me to new authors and series I've yet to read. (I'll be correcting that error soon!)  At only $0.99 (e-book) each from now through July 22, it's the perfect time to give yourself a Christmas in July treat and download all eleven!

A Pride Christmas

 by Jill Sanders

 It's a simple road trip until a blizzard strands them in the perfect romantic setting.

  

An Unplanned Christmas 

by Lizzie Shane

She didn't plan to let him back into her heart, but nothing is going as planned.

Cliffside Bay Christmas Wedding

 by Tess Thompson

Their mothers just might wreck Rafael and Lisa’s dream wedding in scenic Colorado.

Caitlyn's Christmas Wish

 by Sandra Owens

A surprise daughter, an unlikely attraction, and a Christmas wish…

Christmas In His Arms

 by Cynthia D'Alba

A non-wedding, a snowmageddon, and an unexpected union of old lovers.

The Sweetest Things

 by Bria Quinlan

Starlight Harbor's sweetheart is done playing nice when an out-of-town journalist slanders her quirky small town. (PG-13)

Gifted: Riley & Christian

 by Savannah Kade

Surprise romance and broken rules are just the beginning of true love.

  

Mistletoe Summer

 by Abby Tyler

When a veteran and a cheer coach are forced to work together, it's love at first sight -- for their dogs. (PG-13)

Matter of Fact

 by Heidi Hutchinson

Mistletoe, rock stars, and her grumpy ex. Throw in Grandma’s eggnog and it’s a party. 

Montana Mistletoe

 by Kim Law

She has the chance to create the future she wants, but first 

she’ll have to face her past.

Among The Stars

 by Terri Osburn

She's fake-dating the most eligible bachelor in town. Or is it fake after all?

So far, I've read Christmas in His Arms, The Sweetest Things, Montana Mistletoe, and Among the Stars and they are all gifts filled with humor, heart, and happily-ever-afters that I'd be happy to find under my Christmas in July tree. Terri Osburn's Among the Stars highlights everything I enjoy about her writing: sass, sizzle, witty banter, and heartfelt emotion. Kim Law's Montana Mistletoe is another emotional addition to her Wildes of Birch Bay - one of my favorite contemporary romance series. The Sweetest Things by Bria Quinlan is a quirky, feel-good story with an intriguing (and likable) cast. I don't know if she plans more stories in Starlight Harbor but I sure hope so because I want more of these characters! Cynthia D'Alba's Christmas in His Arms combines two of my favorite tropes: reunited lovers and snowbound romance. I couldn't get enough of these two. I've downloaded the rest of the novellas shown above and am eagerly anticipating reading them all.

Have you read any of the Christmas in July novellas yet?

Are any of the authors above new to you?

Three randomly chosen people who post a comment before 11:00 PM, July 13, will each receive their choice of three of the above Christmas in July novellas in Kindle format.

Today's Special - - Debbie Mason Christmas in July Blog Tour

It's a pleasure to welcome the Debbie Mason Christmas in July blog tour to The Romance Dish today.  I first discovered Debbie through her paranormal romances written as Debbie Mazzuca and followed happily when she began writing contemporary romance under the name of Debbie Mason. Her first book in the Christmas, Colorado series, The Trouble With Christmas was a delightful introduction to this small mountain town with its quirky inhabitants  (read my review here)  and has me eagerly anticipating a return visit with the release of Christmas in July later this month.  

Praised as a "writer to watch" by RT Book Reviews, Debbie Mason also writes Scottish-set historical paranormals as Debbie Mazzuca. Her MacLeod series debuted in April 2010 and is said to "combine the passion of Hannah Howell's Highand romances with the seductive fantasy of Karen Marie Moning's bestsellers."

Check out the rest of the Christmas, Colorado series at http://authordebbiemason.com/books.html 

Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Debbie-Mason/492150187499546

Twitter: https://twitter.com/AuthorDebMason

Website: http://authordebbiemason.com/

Christmas in July

Black Hawk pilot Jackson Flaherty, along with his crew and reporter Maria DeMarco, had been held captive in Afghanistan for seventeen months. Three weeks ago, they'd escaped their captors and are now back in the US. 

Excerpt #1

From where he sat behind his desk, the doctor made a nervous sound in his throat when Chief Warrant Officer Jackson Flaherty unfolded his large frame from the chair opposite him. “Chief Flaherty, if you’d be patient a bit longer, I’ll—”

“With all due respect, Doc, I ran out of patience two days ago.” Jack winked, rapping his knuckles on the dark polished wood. “There’s a steak calling my name and a gorgeous woman waiting for me, so I’ll be on my way. If I have any problems, I’ll be in touch.” 

The doctor looked like he’d swallowed his tongue. His bald head bobbed a couple of times before he recovered his voice. “I realize after your experience you’re anxious to get on with your life, Chief Flaherty, but there are some things you need to know.” 

Experience? Interesting choice of word to describe over a year in captivity, Jack thought, but let it go. He was due some serious R and R and had already lost several days being debriefed, poked, prodded, and analyzed. It was standard procedure, but there were other things he wanted to be doing—like Maria DeMarco, the reporter they had been sent in to rescue when the  RPG—rocket-propelled  grenade—brought down his Black Hawk seventeen months ago. 

The beautiful, voluptuous brunette was exactly the type of woman Jack was attracted to. Smart and aggressive, she was an adrenaline junkie like he was, and more importantly, she wasn’t looking for a ring on her finger.

During their captivity, with an attentive audience, they’d had little opportunity to do more than talk and steal a kiss or two. And even though they’d had the freedom and privacy to do a whole lot more while they were on the run, all they’d managed was one very hot, very steamy make-out session.  He planned to rectify that now.

Jack headed for the door. “Thanks, Doc, I’m sure I’ll figure it out.” Learning the blow he’d taken to his head in the crash had stolen the last four years of his life had taken some getting used to. But what no one seemed to understand was that Jack felt lucky just to be alive and back in the good old U.S. of A. There were a lot of guys who’d lost far more than he had.

“Wait, you can’t go. Your sister’s on her way. She should be here shortly.”

Jack stopped in his tracks and swung his gaze to the doctor. “What do you mean, my sister’s on her way?” Jill hadn’t mentioned coming to Virginia. He’d told her that, once things were squared away on his end, he’d head to Colorado. But now that he thought about it, she had sounded like she was holding something back during their conversation. At the time, he’d put it down to shock at his return. 

Avoiding Jack’s gaze, the man shuffled the papers on his desk and cleared his throat.

“Under the circumstances, I thought it best for a family member to be present  when—”

The cell phone Jack had been given pinged. He held up a finger, cutting off the doctor’s explanation, and read Maria’s text. Once he finished, Jack narrowed his eyes at the man who was putting a serious crimp in his plans. “Thanks to you, Doc, I’m going to have one unhappy woman on my hands.” Hot-tempered and dramatic, Maria’s reaction to this latest delay in their one-on-one time would no doubt be over-the-top.

Her intensity was a little unnerving at times, but his hope that she’d bring some of that passion into the bedroom outweighed the discomfort. 

“You don’t know the half of it,” the doctor murmured.

Before Jack could question the man’s odd remark, another text popped on the screen.

Maria was on the base. He shouldn’t be surprised. The woman was also tenacious and enterprising. Two traits he admired, but not necessarily when they were applied to him.

“I’ll be back in a minute,” he said, opening the door to step into the corridor.

~~~~~

Grace Flaherty had given up hope of ever seeing her husband again. After all, it'd been over a year since he went missing in combat. So when he strides through the door of her bakery in downtown Christmas one sunny afternoon, she can hardly believe her eyes. But her happily-ever-after is going to take some effort - because Jack has no memory of his family.

All Jack Flaherty remembers about Christmas is that he couldn't wait to leave town. Now he's a local hero with a wife and son he doesn't know. Even as he struggles to rekindle the romance with his wife, he knows in his heart what he wants: a second chance at love.

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Readers, do you enjoy amnesia stories?  Second chance love stories?  

In her husband's absence, Grace has made a name for herself as the best baker in Christmas.  Do you bake? Do you have a specialty? What's your go-to baked item for special celebrations?  If you don't bake yourself, what guilty pleasure item do you enjoy buying when you visit a bakery?  

One US/Canada commenter from the entire tour will win a Barnes & Noble Nook, plus a digital copy of THE TROUBLE WITH CHRISTMAS.

The more stops readers leave a comment on, the greater their chances of winning!

Please see the Rafflecopter widget for full Terms & Conditions and directions on entering.

Tour Stops:

6/16: The Romance Dish  (http://www.theromancedish.com/)

6/17: Aly's Miscellany (http://alysmiscellany.blogspot.com/)

         Sun Mountain Reviews (http://sunmountainreviews.wordpress.com/)

6/18: Urban Girl Reader (http://urbangirlreader.com/)

6/19: Lush Book Reviews (http://lushbookreviewss.blogspot.com/)

6/20: What I'm Reading (http://sillymelody.blogspot.com/)

6/23: (un)Conventional Bookviews (http://unconventionalbookviews.com/)

6/24: ExLibris (http://www.stella-exlibris.com/)

         Harlequin Junkie (http://harlequinjunkie.com/)

6/25: Riverina Romantics (http://riverinaromantics.com/)

6/26: Romancing Rakes for the Love of Romance (http://romancingrakes4theluvofromance.blogspot.com/ )