Today's Special - Once Upon a Christmas

I love Christmas anthologies. Not only is Christmas my favorite holiday but it's also a very busy time of year. What better than a collection of short, delicious, bites of romance when time is at a premium? I also enjoy romances set in different eras which is something that makes Once Upon a Christmas unique and especially enjoyable for a reader like me. The stories created by these four talented authors follow one family from the Regency to present day; from glittering Regency and Victorian ballrooms to freezing WWII battlefields to a truly sigh-worthy modern day conclusion when an American woman and an English duke have a second chance at love after a brief meeting seven years earlier. I'm delighted to welcome Maggie Robinson, Tiffany Clare, J.K. Coi, and Elyssa Patrick, the authors of Once Upon a Christmas.  

Maggie Robinson is a former teacher and library clerk who now balances her time between writing historical romance and doting on her adorable grandchildren. She and her husband live in Maine when they're not exploring the world. Her next full-length novel, Schooling the Viscount, first in her new Cotswold Confidential series, will be released January 31, 2017. Learn more about Maggie Robinson and her books at her website and connect with online at Facebook and Twitter. 

Maggie: The best thing about Once Upon a Christmas? It’s given four friends a chance to collaborate on a book using our multi-genre experiences. JK Coi has a great “Dear Reader” letter in OUAC explaining, which got me a little misty-eyed. We all write such different things, but OUAC follows one ducal family for almost 200 years. That gave me a chance to dive back into the Regency again, Tiff to work her Victorian magic, JK to write her angsty World War II story, and Ely to finish up with her fun modern-day duke. We had a ball with it!

And speaking of balls, A Price Above Rubies begins at one. It is the first time in 20+ books I actually have written a hanky-panky behind the potted palms in a ballroom scene; I’ve generally avoided “the duke and the deb at the dance.” There’s a strong Cinderella element, but paid companion Helen leaves behind something more valuable than a glass slipper. It’s up to Gabriel, 6^th Duke of Ravenglass, to find her, return it, and make her his!

Tiffany Clare writes sexy historical romances set in the Victorian era. A Canadian, Tiffany lives in Toronto with her husband, two children, and two dogs. She's currently working on her next book. Learn more about Tiffany Clare and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter. 

Tiffany: From the moment Elyssa mentioned collaborating on a family-through-the-ages saga, I knew this was our chance to write a story together. We’ve known each other so long, but have always written pretty far apart in style and sub-genre. This was like a breath of fresh air; a chance to tell a great holiday story, and to explore a family through each generation. (Though we had some pretty funny conversations along the way about which duke number we were at and what special items were being carried forward. BTW, our math—mine—sucks on occasion.)

My story starts the MacCallon legacy! I’m looking forward to writing the MacCallon series starting with the youngest sister Emily in Never Have I Ever Kissed a Duke, and yes, there is a game of Never Have I Ever! playing out in this story. It’s a best friend’s younger sister story, with a young independent woman finding her way in the world. But damn, reacquainting with the duke makes him rethink what he thought he knew about the world of falling in love!

J.K.Coi is an award-winning author of contemporary and paranormal romance and urban fantasy. J.K. spends her days in the world of insurance law while devoting her nights to her husband, son, and writing. Learn more about J.K. Coi and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter. 

JK Coi: What I enjoyed the most about writing Loving Lord Spy for Once Upon a Christmas was brainstorming the themes with these three fantastic writer friends. They all have such unique perspectives, and while they have each always been a font of knowledge, it was amazing to be able to pick their brains on a common project for the first time.

One of the themes we brainstormed was the Cinderella fairy tale, and while not all of us ended up using the theme, Maggie and I did. Although she focused on the idea of the ball and the lost item, I focused on Cinderella’s backstory involving her stepmother and step-siblings. I hope you enjoy my twist to it!

Elyssa Patrick is a former English teacher who left school behind to focus her energies on writing contemporary romance. As noted in her website bio, Patrick pens "quirky romantic comedies that are full of humor, heat, and heart." Learn more about Elyssa Patrick and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter. 

Elyssa:  I had so much fun working with my friends on this anthology! I love these fabulously talented women, and I’m so lucky that they’re also my dearest friends. They’re like family to me—I know they always have my back. It felt so right to have this anthology center around a family and to explore them through the ages. We each have a different writing voice and style, but all of our novellas fit so well together. There’s a strong connection throughout.

In my novella, I explore a particularly strong connection between my hero, Kit, and heroine, Belle. I had read one Missed Connection that had gone viral—and the ad really got to me. Plus, I have my own missed connection story, so I felt a personal pull to write this. I think we’ve all that moment in our lives where we’ve wondered What If. (For the record, the missed connection in my story is nothing like the missed connections I read or experienced.) I wanted to write about a missed connection that actually reconnected. What would happen if the hero and heroine met after seven years? I wanted to explore that What If. And I had such a blast writing this—I love the story so much. Belle and Kit were an utter delight, and I hope that, if you decide to read Once Upon a Christmas, that you feel that same delight in all of our stories as we did writing them.

Maggie again: Now I want to know what Elyssa’s missed connection is! 

We all hope you have the most wonderful holidays!


PJ here. Many thanks to Maggie, Tiffany, J.K., and Elyssa for stopping by today. I thoroughly enjoyed this anthology and give it my enthusiastic recommendation. I'm excited to read that Tiffany Clare plans to write more stories for the MacCallon family and am hoping that Elyssa Patrick's creative spirit might lead her to write stories for Kit's siblings! 

Today's authors are giving away an e-book of Once Upon a Christmas to two commenters. 

What’s your favorite time period to read about? 

Are you addicted to historicals or a contemporary gal all the way? 

Do you look forward to reading Christmas anthologies every year like we do? 

 (Deadline for comments to be entered for giveaway is 11:00 PM, EST, November 11, 2016.)

The holidays are a time for family, celebration--and the Dukes of Ravenglass to fall in love. Spend the Christmas season with the Wynter family, as the Dukes of Ravenglass find their happily-ever-afters in this delightful, heartfelt collection that spans from the Regency era to the present day.

In A Price Above Rubies by Maggie Robinson, set in the Regency era, paid companion Helen Lowe doesn't know the man she shares her first-ever dance--and first-ever kiss--is Gabriel Wynter, a reclusive, notorious duke. When Helen flees after being exposed, she leaves behind something of far greater value than a glass slipper. Can Gabriel find her, return it, and finally open his heart?

In the Victorian-era set, Never Have I Ever Fallen in Love with a Duke by Tiffany Clare, Alexander Wynter has a problem--his best friend's younger sister grew up. When he agreed to help Emily MacCallon make her debut, he didn't expect the beautiful, alluring woman before him--or for her to lead him on such a merry chase. Alexander knows one thing: the only man she'll be kissing forever and ever is him.

In the World War II-set, Loving Lord Spy by J.K. Coi, Winnie Jenkins, a combat nurse, and Lord David Wynter, an injured British spy, fall in love at the worst possible time. Each of them owes a duty to their country and must go their separate ways. They promise that when the war is finally over, they'll meet in Hyde Park on Christmas morning . . . but agree that if one of them doesn't make it, the other won't seek out the reason why. Can they keep their appointment? Or will secrets, lies, and the perils of war keep them apart?

A missed connection gets a second chance in the present-day contemporary romance, Saved by the Belle by Elyssa Patrick. Seven years ago, Kit Wynter met the woman of his dreams. Even after all this time, he's never been able to forget the American girl who captured his heart. When Belle Sweeney answers his ad--for she, too, never forgot him--it feels like there's something still there. Spending the holiday at Ravenglass Abbey is the perfect opportunity to figure out if this is love.

Amazon: http://amzn.to/2f3xURD
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Kobo: http://bit.ly/ouac_kobo
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Today's Special - - Maggie Robinson and Elyssa Patrick

It's my pleasure to welcome Maggie Robinson and Elyssa Patrick to the Romance Dish today.  I've known these two authors for many years; since long before either of them was published.  It's so much fun to watch their success and growth as writers.  Maggie and Elyssa have joined forces this Christmas in Holiday for Two, a duet of snowbound romance novellas.  Learn more about Maggie and Elyssa at their respective websites and check out Holiday for Two at Amazon and Barnes & Noble as well as other online book retailers. 

Welcome Maggie and Elyssa!

Hi Maggie!  Welcome back from your fabulous European vacation.  It's a pleasure to have you with us today.  Please tell our readers what they can expect from "All Through the Night."

ATTN is a warm, fun, feel-good romance where everyone's troubles get wrapped up with a red ribbon.  It's slightly Cinderella-ish, even though the Prince is just a viscount. ;)

I've always enjoyed a snowbound romance.  What do you think draws readers to this type of story?

Who doesn't love a good snuggle?  Snow is gorgeous to look at-- from the inside. I live in Maine where I'm snowbound half the winter. This is why I go to Florida in February, LOL.

Can't say as I blame you.  I grew up in snowy Michigan.  It sure didn't take much to convince me to follow my parents and younger siblings to the sunny beaches of southwest Florida!

Part of Griffin's initial appeal for Carrie is his English accent.  If you were in Carrie's position, snowbound with a hunky stranger for the night, what accent would you want him to have?

Well, you know Carrie is really a much-younger Maggie. I'll go with English too!

Carrie is transporting the Christmas turkey and the trimmings to her employer's home when she's caught in the snow.  What's the traditional Christmas dinner at your house?  

We've experimented with everything. Lately we've been having turkey breast and ham. My mashed potatoes are famous in the family, so I have to have them on the menu. My daughters do side dishes and my husband makes pies.  We all eat too much and drink lots of champagne!

What's next from Maggie Robinson?

I'm working on Book 4 in the Ladies Unlaced Edwardian historical series(the hero is a virgin!). I don't have pub dates yet, though. I also may write another contemporary novella, since I enjoyed doing this one so much

Thanks, Maggie!

Welcome, Elyssa!  It's your turn.  Please tell us about your story, "While it Was Snowing".  

Hi PJ! Thanks so much for having Maggie and I on here to talk about our anthology, Holiday for Two! 

While It Was Snowing is about two best friends who slowly discover that taking their relationship to the next level isn't as easy as they thought it would be and risk ruining their friendship for good. But thanks to a snowstorm, they're stuck in a cabin in Vermont and have to fight for what matters most: each other.

This story uses two romance themes: friends to lovers (they've known each other since they were seven) and opposites attract (Harry is a true beta with a quiet demeanor and a fondness for bow ties while Felicity is a take-charge woman with a fondness for four-letter words).  What about these romance tropes appeals to you as a writer?  Why do you feel they resonate well with readers?  

Ha, this shows you what type of writer I am as in I didn't really consider it to have too much of an opposites attract theme. ;)

But, yes, Felicity and Harry have different temperaments, but I usually like to do that with any book I'm writing where if one character is colder, the other is warmer, or if one is more outrageous, the other is more contained. In the case of Harry and Felicity, I wanted to take the usual thing and switch it up so that Harry was less assured while Felicity was not. And usually going further than just personality types, the characters are missing vital things they need: like one character might have a crappy family while the other has a warm, loving one. I like to pair characters who don't have the same qualities, so that there's that contrast and, ultimately, those differences complement one another. Also, I find it boring when the characters are too similar. Maybe it's also because I'm super shy, too self-aware, klutzy, have a sailor's mouth, and am an awful cook in real life that I tend to be drawn to confident men who can cook. :)

As to friends to lovers, I just love this theme and, for me, it's just that I think any strong relationship has friendship in addition to being lovers.

I can't speak for why the themes resonate to everyone or even guess why, but for me--and maybe this is foolish and silly on my part--but I think that most romance themes have this connection and hope that we want for ourselves in our real lives. Where our true selves are loved, accepted, respected, and where we can be who we are without fear or rejection, because the one we love loves everything about us. I believe romance is about finding the true essence of a person and celebrating that, and having that love be fulfilled for a happily ever after. 

Felicity attempts to set the mood for romance by cooking Harry's favorite foods.  What foods should a hero-in-waiting have on the menu if he wants to romance you?

I'm easy like that. Cupcakes or chocolates would easily win me over. Or nachos, lol. 

What's next from Elyssa Patrick?

Right now I'm working on my second new adult contemporary romance, Go With Me, which should come out late spring or summer 2014. 

Is there anything you'd like to ask our readers today?

Sure! Readers, tell me: What is your favorite romance theme and why? 

Reviews - - As You Wish and One Hit Wonder

As You Wish
By Elyssa Patrick
Digital:  Self-Published
September 3, 2012





Famous, and infamous, Rock Star bad boy Aubrey Riley has been on a downward spiral since the death of his beloved wife six years ago.  Burying his pain in drugs and alcohol,  he left his career to founder; his baby daughter to be raised by relatives.  Only the threat by his sister and her husband to take Aubrey's daughter away from him permanently penetrated the pain and sent him into rehab.  Now clean and sober, Aubrey is on his way to Vermont to spend the month of December with his family in a last ditch attempt to mend his  family relationships, especially with his daughter.  The last thing he expects to find stranded along a dark, deserted, snowy road is a cute, quirky woman who seems immune to his fame and, in fact, claims to not even like his music.  Oh yes, and who also seems to have an irrational fear of wolves - the four-legged ones.


Portia Jackson has enough on her plate this Christmas without getting involved with an arrogant, self-absorbed rock star who undoubtedly is just looking for a fling.  The small-town florist is trying desperately to save the family business she inherited but she's running out of time.  She has enough problems without adding Aubrey's to the mix but there's a chemistry between them that just won't be denied.  And, when they take the time to get to know one another, emotions come into play that leave them both wondering if there just might be more to this relationship than they first thought.

Can a small town girl find love and happiness with a world famous rock star?  Will Aubrey rediscover his love of music?  Will the lyrics that have been missing from his life return?  Will he lower his protective walls enough to let the love and affection of others inside?

Patrick's debut novel is fresh, engaging and, for the most part, well-written.  The story moves along at a good pace, the characters are vibrantly depicted and the relationship between Aubrey and Portia is realistic and believable.  Secondary characters are more than just window dressing, with some playing vital roles in the outcome of the story, especially the father of Aubrey's brother-in-law.

A couple issues kept me from scoring this book higher.  First, the hero can be a real jerk - and often is.  Yes, there is some redemption and Patrick does a good job of peeling back layers to give the reader insight into the background that shaped Aubrey's character, enough that I probably could have forgiven some of his behavior if it hadn't skated so close to the line between being a jerk and being cruel.  As it is, I was able to accept him as the hero and believe in his relationship with Portia but I couldn't embrace him as wholeheartedly as I would have liked to.  The other issue is the secondary romance in the book.  Without giving too much away, there is a shift in affection toward the end of the book with a resolution being quickly wrapped up with a nice tidy bow.  I didn't buy it.  The decisions and declarations made were not believable for me.  I felt the emotions were too new and fragile to be taken straight to the finish line.  Open-ended "possibilities" would have been much more believable.

Those issues aside, I did enjoy the book.  I like Patrick's voice and her fresh approach to contemporary romance.  I enjoyed the humor, emotion and sizzle of her story.  I especially enjoyed her pacing and the fact that she gave her characters time to grow their relationship from an emotional level before adding sex to the mix.  It made the sizzle that much more satisfying when it finally arrived.

While I had a few quibbles with this book, Patrick's potential is clearly evident.  I predict we'll be seeing more from this talented writer.

~PJ 

I had to pay a visit to my local DMV office this morning so I downloaded Elyssa Patrick's new novella, "One Hit Wonder" to keep me entertained while I waited for my number to be called.  Following is my review.


"One Hit Wonder"
By Elyssa Patrick
Digital - Self Published 
Release Date:  December 4, 2012

Jane Timmons has a great job working for a great guy and that's part of the problem.  She wants more from life than to be personal assistant to thirty-six year old Damon Suarez, the super sexy one-hit-wonder singer who reached his musical peak when he was sixteen.   Jane wants to run her own PR company and she wants to be far away from Damon, the man she has been in love with for the past two years.  True, it's been six months since there have been any women in Damon's life but it would break her heart to see him hook up with someone, even though she's not brave enough to put her heart on the line by telling him how she feels.  She has only one choice:  give her two weeks notice and hope she can stick to her resolve for the next fourteen days without letting Damon find out how she really feels.

Former teen idol, Damon Suarez knew the minute he met prim and proper Jane Timmons that she was the right woman to be his personal assistant.  Over the past two years he has come to rely on her to the degree that he can't imagine his life without her.  But now, he's having to do just that.  How can he possibly let her quit, especially when he's working so hard to finally make a comeback?  He has two weeks to change her mind, using every means at his disposal but what will happen when he slowly begins to realize that it's not the personal assistant that he needs but the woman herself?  Will the flamboyant singer and the buttoned-up assistant make beautiful music together or will they part ways, causing  the melody of their potential happiness together to go silent forever?

I loved this story!  Patrick has written a charming, humorous but emotional tale of friendship and love between two unlikely people.  Damon and Jane are both likable characters and such fun together. Patrick brings them to life so vividly that they practically dance right off the page.  Their banter is bright and engaging, their chemistry sizzles and their individual thoughts give the reader insight into each character's motivation and help move the story along.  I adored them, individually and as a couple; so much so that now that I've read their story once, I'm going to go back and read it again.  I'm not quite ready to say good-bye.

Looking for something that will make you smile, laugh and sigh without requiring a full day out of your busy holiday schedule?  If so, I highly recommend "One Hit Wonder" by Elyssa Patrick - only $0.99 at Amazon, Barnes & Noble and other e-retailers.

~PJ