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.

Review - - Montana Dreams

Montana Dreams
By Kim Law
The Wildes of Birch Bay - Book 4
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: September 25, 2018
Reviewed by PJ
 

When Jaden Wilde’s girlfriend turns down his marriage proposal just months before he receives his master’s in counseling, he’s convinced that it’s cold feet. Until he learns that her no came at the advice of a new age “dream reader.” But Arsula’s hardly the woo-woo hippie his scholarly mind imagined. She’s charming, smart, and uncannily perceptive. And before long, he’s drawn to her—despite his ongoing skepticism for how her practice works.

Arsula’s intuitions led her to Birch Bay not to guide Jaden’s girlfriend—but to guide him to his best life possible. As the odd one out in an unsupportive family, Arsula can relate to the struggle to find one’s path, and she wants to see Jaden with the woman of his dreams. Although she’s cautious of being the rebound girl, what she’s starting to feel for him is too real to ignore.

When Jaden’s own volatile family issues come to a head and his doubts are made resoundingly clear, Arsula worries she’s misread the signs. Maybe they’re all wrong for each other. Maybe he should be with his ex. She’s supported him, but if he can’t believe in her, how will they ever find out if they’re truly meant to be?

My thoughts:

I fell in love with the Wildes in book one, Montana Cherries, and those feelings have grown stronger with each subsequent book that Law has published. If I looked up "dysfunctional families" in a romance dictionary, the Wildes would undoubtedly be prominently featured and with good reason. Growing up under the manipulative influence of a mother with narcissistic personality disorder and a father who escaped into work in their family cherry orchard both before and after their mother's death, you'd expect these siblings to have a few issues. They've come a long way since book one but, as readers will learn with Jaden, there are still some obstacles left to overcome on the road to happiness.

While there's plenty of emotion in Montana Dreams, there's also great banter and a fair amount of humor. There are still serious issues being tackled but Law injects enough realistic humor into the story to keep it from becoming too angsty or dark. Tears were shed in the reading but there were more than a few laugh-out-loud moments too. I love that Arsula doesn't take any crap from Jaden. He's the baby of the family, pretty arrogant (a bit self-righteous, perhaps?) in his beliefs, and needs someone who will call him on his behavior when warranted. His growth over the course of the book is significant and satisfying but not without a few heart-wrenching roadblocks along the way. As for Arsula, I adored her, cheering her on the whole way. I want to be her friend, I want her to read my dreams, and I hope we see more of her in future books.  

The path to a happy ending wasn't easy for these two but I was happy with the resolution of their relationship issues - I love a good grovel - and am confident that Jaden and Arsula have what it takes to celebrate the good times, work through the bad times, and travel life's road together. 

I'm a stickler about reading series books in order. For a deeper understanding of the secondary cast of characters, the emotional issues they have overcome, and the events that have brought the Wildes to the place where Jaden's story begins, I encourage readers to start with book one and read the series in order or, at the least, read Montana Cherries first. Having said that, however, if you don't mind jumping into the middle of a series, Law has provided enough backstory (without an info dump) about the Wildes that you should be able to enjoy Montana Dreams on its own without feeling lost. But then go back and read the others because they really should not be missed. 

The Wildes of Birch Bay books published so far, in order, are: Montana Cherries, Montana Rescue, Montana Mornings, and Montana Dreams. 

Are you reading the Wildes of Birch Bay series?

Do you enjoy a blend of angst and humor in books or do you prefer one or the other?

Have you ever visited a dream reader? Would you?

I picked up a signed copy of Montana Cherries at a book signing earlier this year. One person who leaves a comment before 11:00 PM, October 5 will receive the signed, trade-sized book. (U.S. addresses only)

Review - - Montana Mornings

Montana Mornings

By Kim Law

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: February 28, 2017

Reviewed by: Janga

  

Gabe Wilde grew up the son of a narcissistic mother, and he married a woman cut to the same pattern. After fighting for years to save his marriage, he has filed for divorce, and he and his seven-year-old daughter, Jenna, have returned to Birch Bay, Montana, where Gabe has accepted a job as high school science teacher and football coach. Gabe is cautiously optimistic about his new life, but his concerns about his daughter are deep. The effect of her parents’ divorce on Jenna are profound. She is no longer the sweet, loving child she once was. Although flashes of that child emerge often enough to keep Gabe’s hope alive, Jenna is often rude and obnoxious. Only with Haley Denton, Jenna’s best friend and step-daughter of Dani Wilde Denton (Montana Cherries) is Jenna like her old self. It is for this reason that Gabe pulls strings to have Jenna placed in the same class as Haley, a class taught by a substitute teacher, Erica Bird.

Erica divorced her cheating husband two years ago, after his girlfriend announced her pregnancy at a football game, but since he was her high school sweetheart, the son of a prominent family, and a local golden boy, she has found it difficult to move on. When she found herself more entangled that she ever wanted to be, she resigned her tenured position at the elementary school where she had won two teacher-of-the-year awards and accepted the temporary job in Birch Bay. Erica knew that she might see Gabe, but she wasn’t expecting him to be the parent of one of her students.

Gabe and Erica have a history. They dated in college, breaking up their senior year after Gabe met Michelle, the woman who became his wife. Erica returned to her hometown and married J.C. Bird, the guy she dated in high school. Now Erica and Gabe are both free, and it is soon clear that they are still attracted to one another. They are also mature enough now to appreciate qualities in each other that they valued less as college students. But neither has completely cut the tendrils of the past, and Jenna’s needs must be considered. Stolen meetings are one thing, but building a life together is quite different. Are Gabe and Erica truly ready to commit to one another?

This is the third novel in Law’s excellent series, The Wildes of Birch Bay. It is one of the more realistic portrayals of divorce that I have encountered in romance fiction. For one thing, although Gabe and Erica’s situations are different, both demonstrate that divorce is not always the clean severing of a relationship that some novels suggest. For another, Jenna’s insecurities and her acting out show how divorce can affect children. Law is particularly effective at showing a young child’s mixed emotions about the absent parent and blame assigned to the custodial parents. Gabe and Erica are likeable, sympathetic characters, but it is Jenna even when she is at her brattiest, who will break the reader’s heart.

The secondary characters are also deftly drawn. Gabe’s family proves that he can depend on them when he needs them, whether it is providing an assist with child care or taking an active role in his battle with his malicious, conscienceless ex. I really appreciated that the Wildes have necessary roles to play and add to the novel’s emotional power rather than merely reminding readers that this book is part of a series. And I loved Bree, Erica’s free-spirited, forthright sister. Some readers may be bothered by the lack of redeeming qualities in the two exes. I’m not a fan of one-note villains, but I have seen enough of narcissists (Gabe’s ex) and over-indulged, eternal frat boys (Erica’s ex) in real life to find Michelle and J.C. credible.

Montana Morning can be read as standalone, but it will offer a more nuanced, more complex understanding of Gabe and Jenna for those who have read Montana Cherries and Montana Rescue. The first is an exceptional story, and the other two are strong books that you will be glad you read. I recommend all three books, and I hope I’ll have the chance to recommend Cord Wilde’s book. He is a most intriguing character.

Review - - On the Rocks

On the Rocks

By Kim Law

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: January 12, 2015

With one of her best friends reunited with the love of her life and the mother of a blue-eyed baby boy (Ex on the Beach) and the other married to the man of her dreams with a baby on the way (Hot Buttered Yum) and even her widowed mother flashing the perfect engagement ring and planning a wedding, thirty-year-old Ginger Atkinson is fighting the green-tinged monster. She doesn’t want to be jealous of these women she loves, but Ginger thought she would be happily married with a good start on the four children she always planned to have by this point in her life. She’s building her dream house, but even that means less than she thought it would because she has no one with whom to share it. Even though she loves the ferry business she inherited from her father and is proud of having grown it into a business that offers dinner cruises, fishing expeditions, and other activities, Ginger wants more. She also wants more than a series of failed dates and two years of celibacy.

Carter Ridley is mad at the world. He loved growing up on Turtle Island, but he has no desire to be there now. Unfortunately, his mother has guilted him into paying a visit to check on his younger, single sister who is seven months pregnant. Carter reluctantly agrees, but he is determined that he will stay only a few days, not the three weeks on which his mother insisted. All he wants is to be left alone with his anger, his writer’s block, his cigarettes and beer in the house he built for the wife who betrayed him. He’s not doing much more than sniping at his sister and drinking too much when a visit from an old friend starts to change things.

Growing up, Ginger and Carter had been next-door neighbors and good friends, sharing sunrises and dreams and just generally being there for one another. It takes some persistence on Ginger’s part, but gradually they renew their friendship, meeting to watch the sun rise together, to make each other laugh, and to talk at night when the darkness makes it easier to be vulnerable. When Ginger’s contractors let her down, Carter doubles the crew he has coming to the island to renovate his parents’ house so that Ginger’s house will be completed before her mother’s wedding. He even finds a spot in the house that inspires his writing and starts working on his book again. Ginger knows when to push him to talk and when to be silent. When the two of them decide to add benefits to their friendship, they agree that part of their relationship is temporary. They will enjoy each other and still be friends when they are no longer lovers. Of course, it’s not that simple. Time with Ginger has almost healed Carter when a message from his ex reawakens all his bitterness., and things look bleak for these friends who could be much more.

Friends to lovers is one of my favorite tropes when the friendship seems like the real deal. It does in this case. Even though Ginger and Carter lost touch, they have a long history together, and it is clear they know each other in a way that attests to their intimacy.  They genuinely care about one another as well. Carter encourages Ginger to be herself, and she knows he needs to talk about what happened with his ex.  When they become lovers, they are sizzling hot together. Their chemistry is intensified by their knowledge of one another and the trust that already exists between them.

I loved Ginger. She is just eminently likeable with her quirks, her insecurities, her zest for life, and her big heart. I also loved the friendship between her and Andie and Roni. It too feels real, from the phone calls to the girls’ night to their understanding things that are not said. I liked Carter too. It is clear from the beginning that he is one of the good guys who is not dealing well with the knock-out punch his ex gave him. I’m really tired of heroes who are soured on love and life forever because one woman betrayed them, but Carter is dealing with something much heavier than the usual infidelity. There is also an interesting gender role twist going on since Carter is a romantic who expects the HEA. But I think the thing I liked best was that both Ginger and Carter understand they have to find wholeness within themselves; it can’t be given by someone else.

This is the third novel in the Turtle Island series. Readers who read the earlier books will enjoy the updates on Andie and Roni, but the book also works well as a standalone.  I particularly recommend this one for readers who like their romance with heat but have read too many books in which character development and plot are sacrificed to add one more sexy scene. Law gives her readers ample action in the bedroom (and elsewhere), but she does not do so at the cost of her characters and their story.

 ~Janga

Today's Special - - Kim Law Montana Cherries Tour

Montana Cherries
By Kim Law
Publisher: Montlake Romance
Release Date: July 28, 2015

When her mother died in a car accident, eighteen-year-old Dani Wilde left college in New York City and returned home to Montana to help raise her younger brothers. Over the past fourteen years, she has devoted her life to fulfilling the promise she made to her mother to watch over the family if anything ever happened to her. She runs the household, cooks the meals, does the laundry, helps care for her young niece, and is an invaluable asset to the family's cherry business. But now that her youngest brother has graduated college and will be coming home to take over the books for the orchard, Dani is on the cusp of realizing her own dreams. She's obtained a college degree through online courses, established a successful marketing business in Montana and in four short weeks will be moving to New York City to reclaim the dream that was cut short when she returned home all those years ago. Now is not the time for Ben Denton, her brother's college friend and the man to whom Dani gave her virginity, to re-enter her life along with his adorable, newly discovered daughter. It's clear Ben has no idea how to be a father to Haley, a child who undoubtedly has been traumatized by being left with a stranger when she's abandoned by the only parent she's ever known. Of course, Dani, "the fixer," steps in to help and it's no surprise that her emotions become entangled with both of them.

Ben Denton is no stranger to abandonment. As a child, his movie star mother had little time for him. After his grandmother's death, when seven-year-old Ben was forced to leave his grandparents' ranch and live with his mother in Hollywood, the only times he felt part of a family were when he was with his college buddy, Gabe Wilde's family at their Montana home. He hasn't seen them in ten years - his celebrity photographer lifestyle takes him around the world - but when his life's turned upside down with the discovery of an unknown child, he turns to the best family he knows...to the woman he never quite forgot...and heads for Montana.

It's immediately apparent that the connection between Ben and Dani is still there. Their attraction for one another sizzles and the friendship that was always strong and easy, flourishes. They both understand that nothing can come of it, of course. In a few short weeks, Dani will move to the other side of the country. Ben isn't interested in having his, or his daughter's, heart broken. But the more time they spend together, the more invested they become in the relationship. Are they headed for a happy ending or will someone's heart be shattered?

In Montana Cherries, Law has created a complex, compelling drama that encompasses not only our romantic couple but the entire Wilde family. To the outside world, the Wildes have always presented the picture of the perfect, happy, cohesive unit. They've been well trained, even if Dani doesn't consciously remember that training. But the tides are shifting, bringing dark secrets and memories consigned to the deep recesses of Dani's mind floating back to the surface. Dani's brothers are keeping secrets from her. Not that they are intentionally trying to exclude her. No, what they are trying to do is protect her - they've spent the past fourteen years protecting her, even if she doesn't know that - and ensure that, after giving so much of herself to them over the years, she will now have the opportunity to follow her dreams to New York. They want nothing to stand in her way but, slowly, in bits and pieces, truths begin to emerge; truths that will not only impact Dani's relationships with her father and brothers but will challenge her own self-worth as well as her place in the family and, of course, her relationship with Ben. In light of what she learns, will she choose to give her relationship with Ben a chance? Will she even be capable of the love and trust required?

Montana Cherries is one of the best books I've read this year. Mental illness is a topic that is often misunderstood; hidden behind closed doors or spoken of in whispers, if it's brought out at all but Law faces it head-on in this complex and compelling story. It's impact is felt throughout the Wilde family, from their father to Dani and all four of her brothers. It has had a direct and lasting effect on their lives, impacting each of them in a different way. There's Dani's father, who has spent much of his life hiding from the truth, pretending that if he didn't acknowledge the problems, they didn't exist. Her brother Gabe's marriage is imploding; his choice of wife eerily similar to their mother. One brother has distanced himself from the family, another shut himself off from his emotions while the youngest has dived into the field of psychology in an attempt to understand a parent who could never love him. These are not perfect characters. They are all flawed, their relationships often messy, but they are real. I know this from experience. I didn't always like Dani's actions but, as the truths of her past were unveiled, I understood them. I adored Ben, especially his commitment to his daughter and his determination to "get it right" even when he had no idea how to do that. My heart ached for him and Dani as they both struggled with the fall-out of her family's revelations.

Montana Cherries is marketed as a stand-alone but I do hope that Kim Law will consider more stories for this family. I so want all of them to find happiness and I have no doubt that their journeys would be just as complex, compelling, emotionally wrenching, and rewarding, as Dani and Ben's. I appreciate that Law didn't take the easy road with their journey. There was a point where she could have but she chose to keep it real. Sometimes, we have to travel through the storm to find the light.

Montana Cherries is a book that should not be missed. It has my highest recommendation.

~PJ


Do you like your contemporary romances light and frothy or rich and deeply emotional? Or, like me, do you enjoy a bit of both?

Do you like a series centered around siblings?

The Wilde family owns a cherry orchard. What's your favorite cherry treat?

I have a signed copy of Montana Cherries that will go to one randomly selected person who leaves a comment on today's post. (US/Canada only)


There is also a tour giveaway with these prizes: a Kim Law tote bag filled with swag, one $25 Amazon gift card, and one $10 Amazon gift card.  



a Rafflecopter giveaway

As a child, award-winning author Kim Law cultivated a love for chocolate, anything purple, and creative writing. She penned her debut work, “The Gigantic Talking Raisin,” in the sixth grade and got hooked on the delights of creating stories. Before settling into the writing life, however, she earned a college degree in mathematics and then worked as a computer programmer. Now she’s living out her lifelong dream of writing romance novels. She’s won the Romance Writers of America’s Golden Heart Award, has been a finalist for the prestigious RWA RITA Award, and has served in varied positions for her local RWA chapter. A native of Kentucky, Kim lives with her husband and an assortment of animals in Middle Tennessee.

CONTACT LINKS:

www.kimlaw.com

kim@kimlaw.com

twitter.com/kim_law

facebook.com/kimlawauthor

pinterest.com/kimlawauthor/

Today's Special - - Cowboys for Christmas

Who doesn't love a cowboy? I know, I do! Pair him with my favorite holiday in overlapping stories from three terrific contemporary authors and you have a winning combination. Today, we're delighted to welcome to the Dish, Terri Osburn, Kim Law, Liz Talley and their Cowboys for Christmas!

COWBOYS FOR CHRISTMAS is a holiday anthology crafted by Kim Law, Liz Talley, and myself, Terri Osburn. The initial idea to write a collection of overlapping stories that featured three best friends who fall in love with cowboys came from a conversation between Kim and Liz, and I was the lucky author they invited to join them.

First, let's meet the girls.

In Love Me, Cowboy, the first story, written by yours truly, Claire Campbell has been back in Holly Hills, Texas—her hometown where her family has a long tradition of running the place—dealing with her new job as elementary school teacher and dodging regular insults and judgment from her mother. She's also newly slim, having lost about forty pounds, and not yet adjusted to her new body.

And that's where her hero, Tyler Holly comes to the rescue. Actually, Tyler comes to the rescue more than once in this story, but the most important thing is that he helps Claire see how beautiful she is. And it doesn't hurt that Tyler always thought she was beautiful, regardless of her dress size.

Then we move onto Kiss Me, Cowboy by Liz Talley, where we meet Georgia Hightower. Talk about Claire's opposite. Georgia has an attitude that goes on for days, a giant chip on her shoulder, and, of course, a mushy inner core of demons and doubts. A hard edge with the perfect dose of vulnerability. Not that George would ever admit to a vulnerable moment.

But that soft side is what makes her both leery of and helplessly attracted to her veterinarian hero Reed McCormick. Georgia has sworn off cowboys, but Reed is technically a California boy in a hat and boots. He's challenging, stable, and sees the damaged woman lurking below the surface who wants nothing more than to be loved. And he's hot, but you probably guessed that.

Now we come to the bride, Mary Catherine Holly, aka MC. The head cheerleader and daughter of one of the founding families of the town, MC struggles throughout Marry Me, Cowboy to realize that what she wants is more important than pleasing an overbearing stepmother. She and her fiancé may be perfect on paper, but that doesn't mean he's the man she should marry.

Cue Jax Tipton, bad boy rancher, and MC's high school love. Jax is defensive, defiant, and deceptively cool. Though he tries to respect that MC is marrying another man, the chemistry between these one-time lovers is too strong to be ignored. Jax stirs memories of a time when MC knew who she was, and he's exactly what she needs to make a stand for her own happiness.

Writing these stories was a labor of love, and we hope readers will settle into Holly Hills, pour a warm drink, or maybe a shot of Tequila, and enjoy watching these deserving characters find their happily ever afters.

Now a question for you. Which heroine above do you think you'd most relate to, and if you had your pick, which hero would you chose?

One lucky commenter will win a $15 gift card to Amazon or B&N (winner's choice) along with a notebook featuring the drool-worthy cover of Cowboys For Christmas and a Holly Hills shot glass. (Gift card is international, but the notebook and shot glass are US only.)

Terri Osburn is the bestselling author of the Anchor Island series. She makes her home along the coast of Virginia with an eye-rolling teenager, three fat tabbies, and a hyper yorkiepoo.

Connect with Terri online at her website, Facebook and Twitter.

Liz Talley is a former English teacher who lives in North Louisiana with her high school sweetheart, two rough and tumble boys, and a gaggle of pets.

Connect with Liz online at her website, Facebook and Twitter. 

RITA-nominated and Golden Heart winner Kim Law is a former computer programmer, now spending her days writing happily ever afters. A native of Kentucky, she lives with her husband and a passel of animals in Middle Tennessee. 

Connect with Kim online at her website, Facebook and Twitter.