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The randomly chosen winner of a $10 Amazon gift card is:

LSUReader

Congratulations!

Please send your email address to me at:

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Review - - The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel

The Perks of Loving a Scoundrel
By Jennifer McQuiston
Publisher: Avon
Release Date: September 27, 2016
 

 

Ms. McQuiston turns the “cute meet” on its ear with this opener: heroine, Mary Channing catches roguish Geoffrey West urinating in the bushes of her sister’s townhouse. The London-shy soon-to-be-out-and-about introvert soon brushes up against him again, this time at a dinner party featuring Mr. Dickens and Elizabeth Gaskell. Mary had retreated to the hostess’ library; and West, spying the winsome stranger in blue, followed her, thinking to introduce himself to who he thinks is a widow. Upon realizing his mistake, he goes to leave; however, the door opens and he whisks them both behind a curtain so they aren’t compromised. They overhear a plot to kill Queen Victoria—and just as they come out behind the curtains (after the would-be assassins leave), the door opens again and catches them both, compromised and Mary ruined.

Geoffrey West has a dubious reputation at best and a notorious rake of all scoundrels at worst. It’s been rumored he’s slept with a corpse after all (which he confirms later when she asks). He’s very much the little boy who cries wolf, the ultimate prankster. In fact, you may recall his antics from McQuiston’s previous novel featuring his sister, Lucy. (He sent her a letter with poison ivy.) He loves pranks, the more juvenile the better. He doesn’t seem to take anything seriously, and certainly not the fact he was given the Victoria Cross for his heroism in Crimea. His commitment to being a ne’er-do-well has successfully covered any seriousness he might possess.

Therefore, isn’t it ironic—or more likely, EXPECTED—when no one believes him when he does try to go to the Home Office and explain about a death threat on the queen? In fact, it’s clearly a big whopper to cover the fact he’s compromised a quiet, nice girl like Mary and doesn’t want to “pay the piper” so to speak. Never mind that Mary doesn’t want to marry him. He’s wild, frequently drunk, and seems to be the world’s biggest fribble. And he doesn’t seem remotely concerned about what is clearly a death threat on the queen.

When Mary gets a death threat for her search for the assassins, West persuades her to marry him so he can protect her properly. Together they continue to look for the killers, though West does his best to make sure her work on this project is minimal at best. In the nick of time, disaster is averted; however, the discovery of the villains is a punch in the gut for all.

Mary and West’s banter throughout the book is charming and funny. I felt they had real chemistry; and they brought out the best in each other. However, Mary’s penchant for danger made her a little frustrating (if you get annoyed by TSTL behavior, you may find this frustrating); and West can come across as more a wild frat boy than a man who is dealing with PTSD from his time in Crimea. The pacing is quick and the dialogue is strong—and meeting Queen Victoria is the cherry on this sundae.

~Hellie

Today's Special - - Sheila Roberts' Three Christmas Wishes and Christmas Central

Having met Sheila Roberts on several occasions, I can assure you that she is just as caring, funny, and genuine as the heartwarming novels she writes. A happily married mother of three, Sheila lives on a lake in the Pacific Northwest. She’s been writing since 1989, but former careers include owning a singing telegram company and playing in a band. Her band days are over, but she still enjoys writing songs. Sheila's books are best sellers and often appear as Reader's Digest Condensed Books. Her novel "Angel Lane" was named one of Amazon's top ten romances in 2009. Her novel "On Strike for Christmas" was a Lifetime Network movie and her novel "The Nine Lives of Christmas" was made into a movie for the Hallmark channel. When she’s not speaking to women’s groups or at conferences or hanging out with her girlfriends she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate. Readers can discover more about Sheila and her books at her website and connect with her online at Facebook and Twitter. 

Sheila Roberts—an Elf Who Works Year-Round

While many of us moan when we see Christmas decorations and wrapping paper crowding the store shelves before we’ve trick-or-treated or done the turkey deed, Sheila Roberts says, bring it on, the earlier the better! In fact, the prolific author of the fun October 18 novel, THREE CHRISTMAS WISHES, begins her Christmas shopping in January and gets great joy out of planning ahead so she isn’t so stressed over the holidays.

Her number one tip for making Christmas fun for friends and

family can be found in her website section she’s calling Sheila Roberts' Christmas Central. Check it out for creative shopping, wrapping, decorating, baking, party ideas and ways to make the holidays more fun and meaningful for the little ones.)  Here’s what she says about that planning ahead business:

Before the holidays are in full swing, as early as right now, schedule a “lists” night. Make a list of all the things you need and want to do for the holidays and schedule ahead.

A tip: break big tasks into smaller ones, giving yourself little things to do over several nights. Mark off some “silent nights”—times when you won’t make any plans. Reserve those nights for staying home and regrouping as a family, maybe watching a Christmas movie together. Let those times also be ones of rest for you, with a bubble bath on the agenda or an evening by the fire or curled up in your favorite reading spot with a book. Stepping out of the hectic race for a few moments will help you keep your strength up for the long haul, and the best way to make sure you get some time off is to schedule it in ahead of time. Then, stay strong and master the art of saying no.

Ironically, in Sheila’s THREE CHRISTMAS WISHES it isn’t advance planning that makes one outing particularly fun and memorable for three friends. On a lark, the three women, all wanting in the romance department, visit a mall Santa and share their most ardent wish. And, boy, does Santa deliver but in ways they would never have imagined! Later they learn they’re the only ones who can recall seeing this particular Santa in the mall—or anywhere. They’re beginning to wonder if he could possibly be . . . the real St. Nick!

We thought it would be fun to ask Sheila a few questions about her Christmases, past and present:

     Did a holiday mishap or disaster ever create a treasured, fun memory for you and your family?

Oh, yes. One of the crazy memories was when the kids were small. We were leaving my brother’s on Christmas Eve and discovered our car was stuck in second gear. Twenty-five miles of back roads. A horse and buggy could have beaten us. We got home in the wee hours. It was the only Christmas our kids ever slept in.

     Among your treasured Christmas decorations, what are the most meaningful for you? Which ones give you special joy when you unwrap them each year?

I have a couple. One is a cute Santa face made from Styrofoam that my mother made back in the ‘50s. I bring that out every year and love it. I also have a framed poster from my all-time favorite movie, “It’s a Wonderful Life” that my big brother gave me. That always gets hung in a special place.

    

 What is the favorite gift you’ve ever given?

Actually, that favorite gift is coming up this year. I inherited a darling little granddaughter when my son married, and this year she’s getting the china tea set that was mine as a child. We’ll be visiting them right after Christmas, and I’m hoping she and I can have a tea party.

      Readers are always fascinated by how authors’ minds work. For you, one question could obviously relate to how prolific you are with Christmas stories. Each year you write a Christmas story, and two have become made-for-TV movies. Do ideas for these stories pop into your mind during or after the holidays?

No. They pop into my mind when it’s time to come up with a new Christmas story. J

Are there any special meals or foods you serve during the holidays, besides the cookies in your recipe section on Sheila Roberts’ Christmas Central?

Eggnog lattes are my specialty, along with a fabulous biscotti recipe I concocted years ago for my novel “On Strike for Christmas.” Anyone ready for a coffee break? (Note that you’ll find three great Christmas cookie recipes on my Christmas Central website page!)

     Having shared many fun Christmases with your family, what advice would you give to young parents today as they set out to make Christmas special for their families?

Now is the time to make those memories. Take a drive one night and look at Christmas lights, bake cookies together, go caroling around the neighborhood. Let some of the chores and obligations slide—they’ll get done eventually—and focus on that time together. In the end, that’s the best Christmas present you’ll ever get.

Thank you, Sheila! I love your year-round Christmas spirit!

Readers, what traditions have you implemented to make Christmas special for you, your friends, or your family? 

Three Christmas Wishes
By Sheila Roberts
Publisher: Mira
Release Date: October 18, 2016

When three friends visit a shopping-mall Santa on a lark, the jolly old elf is full of mysterious predictions about the thing they're all wishing for: the perfect man. Or at least men who are perfect for them. 

Riley Erickson's fiancé turned out to be a dud, dumping her for her bridesmaid three weeks before the wedding. But Santa says that she's soon going to meet her ideal man in a memorable way. 

And he predicts that a new man is about to come into Jo's life. What on earth does that mean? She's pregnant and already has her hands full with the perfectly stubborn husband she's got. 

Noel has given up completely on ever finding her perfect match. But apparently Noel is going to get a good man to go with that house she's trying desperately to buy. 

These friends are about to discover that Christmas wishes can come true, because in spite of romantic setbacks and derailed dreams, this truly is the most wonderful time of the year!

Review - - You Had Me at Christmas

You Had Me at Christmas

By Karina Bliss, Stephanie Doyle, Laura Florand,

Jennifer Lohmann, and Molly O’Keefe

Publisher: Self-Published

Release Date: October 17, 2016
  

Anthologies of Christmas novellas have become common since the marriage of romance fiction and digital media, but there is nothing common about this anthology. It is an extraordinary collection by five talented authors of contemporary romance.

It gets off to a strong start with Karina Bliss’s “Play,” following Rise, the first novel in her Rock Solid series. Jared and Kayla Walker are high school sweethearts who married young. Kayla believes in Jared’s talent and encourages his dreams. When Jared won a spot in Zander Freedman’s resurrection of the band that made him famous with a new group of musicians, the resulting fame and all that accompanied it put a strain on the Walkers’ marriage. Having Kayla and the children join the tour was an attempt to relieve the tensions, but it backfired, putting their marriage in real jeopardy.

After the scandal surrounding Zander’s lip syncing in an appearance and the scare about the star’s throat, no one is sure what is going to happen to the band. Jared is home, making a desperate effort to repair the damage to his relationship with Kayla. She is no less committed to the relationship, but her confidence in herself and in Jared’s love for her have been undermined by her experiences on the tour. Her doubts about their future as a couple cannot be easily addressed. Christmas is approaching with all the attendant pressures of excited kids and family gatherings, and Kayla and Jared find it difficult to find time for the two of them. Can they find their way back to each other despite the difficulties?

Karina Bliss is brilliant at creating characters who hook me head and heart, and her prose is always superb. These qualities have made her one of my auto-buy authors. Rise was my top contemporary romance of 2015, even though I was initially skeptical about Zander Freedman as a hero. I have been eager for more of Jared and Kayla’s story since I turned the last page of that book. I was a bit disappointed that it was a novella, but Bliss, who first gained attention as a category author, knows how to pack a lot of story in fewer pages. “Play” was all I hoped it would be.

It is obvious that Jared and Kayla are deeply in love with one another and want to salvage their marriage, but their problems are significant. There is nothing trite about the obstacles they face. Jared is no self-destructive rocker seeking absolution for his betrayals, but fame has changed him and the way he lives his life. Bliss wisely avoids the simplistic and makes the marriage in trouble a problem that requires both partners to grow in understanding of self and one another if their reunion story is to have an HEA. The story has humor (including a very funny sex scene) and poignance, appealing kids and marital passion, and the real feel of a family preparing for Christmas. I loved it! “Play” alone is worth purchasing the anthology.

It is not necessary to have read Rise to enjoy this novella, but having read the earlier book will enhance the reading of the novella. The second novel in the series, Fall (the story of Zander’s PA Dimity Graham and Rage drummer Seth Curran), is scheduled for release in next month. I can’t wait.

~Janga

Stephanie Doyle’s “One Naughty Little Christmas” is the second story. Alone on Christmas night and counting the hours to December 26 when life will once again be filled with the demands of work, Kate McCullen passes the lonely hours with a little wine and consideration of a new app her assistant had downloaded to her phone: “a dating app specifically for people over forty. A more serious, more mature group of single people looking to find each other.”  Tentatively, Kate opens the app and, after a few misses, sees a picture of a man that intrigues her. The two connect—cyberly, emotionally, and, in a move out of character for both of them, sexually. Kate never expected that her lonely Christmas evening would end with Internet sex.

Moving the relationship from the virtual world to the real one is more complicated. Regardless of their instant connection via the dating app, Kate and John are very different, and they have their share of baggage. Both have known loss, and both know that the real is riskier, scarier than a fantasy. Can they overcome their fears and give the love they have unexpectedly found a chance?

I love the developing trend of older heroines and heroes, so I was predisposed to like this one. I found Kate, a woman who had devoted two decades to building a successful career and is now questioning if it is enough, a particularly sympathetic heroine. The cross-class romance is one of my favorite tropes, and this was an interesting take on that one. For readers who like highly sensual romances, this one has some sizzling scenes. My one complaint is the title. To me, it suggests a rom-com rather than the considerably more substantive story Doyle gives her readers.

~Janga

Jennifer Lohmann is up third with "Twelve Kisses Until Christmas." Selina Lumina's dreams of leaving her small Idaho town to pursue a career in the art world have turned to desperation with the increasingly insistent drunken attentions of her abusive stepfather. With little money left from her waitressing job at the local diner after paying for one college course per semester and many of the bills at her mother and stepfather's home and no emotional support coming from her mother, Selina sees no way out of her dilemma. Her future looks bleak...until the morning a stranger walks into the diner and offers her the chance of a lifetime.

Recently selling the app he created with his good friend for millions of dollars, twenty-five year old technology whiz kid, Marc Murcowski is determined to enjoy his new-found wealth, driving around the country, exploring out the way places and every ski run he can find. Except, it's not fulfilling him like he'd anticipated. He's bored, lonely, and can't stop thinking about the sold app that he's confident he can still make better. The only bright spot in his currently dreary life is the cute but weary - and wary - waitress in the small Idaho diner where he's stopped to eat. An impulsive decision leads him to offer her a ride to Salt Lake City where she can pursue her dreams if she'll agree to explore the out of the way tourist attractions with him along the way. The offer is strictly platonic but as they slowly come to know one another on the trip will it stay that way? And once they reach Salt Lake City, will they be willing to say good-bye or will they have found new dreams to explore together?

Selina and Marc are both young but no less complex for their ages and experience or lack thereof. Selina, in particular, is wise beyond her years, no doubt due to having to mature quickly because of her family situation.  Marc, while the elder and more successful of the two, has more maturing to do, a fact that Selina recognizes even if Marc doesn't. At least, not at first. Lohmann does a good job of keeping the characters and their journey true to their age and experience, especially with the ending which I found very satisfying. This was my first story by Jennifer Lohmann. I enjoyed her writing and plan to seek out more.

~PJ

I discovered Laura Florand earlier this year and she has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary authors. "Snow-Kissed," the fourth novella in this anthology, brilliantly showcases why all contemporary romance readers should have Ms. Florand on their reading list. This novella was previously published September 1, 2013 as the first story in Florand's Snow Queen duo.

Kai had once been a woman full of joy who was head over heels in love with her husband. She taught him how to smile, how to have fun. He was her world, as she was his, and then it all fell apart. Overcome with grief, unable to function any longer in her everyday life or find forgiveness, for either of them, Kai turned her back on Kurt and their marriage and escaped to his mother's cabin in the mountains. It had been 18 months since she walked out on their marriage and her soul was still as cold as the snow falling outside the cabin window when Kurt arrived at the cabin. She wasn't ready to see him; wasn't sure if she would ever be ready, knowing how she had ruined the love they once had.

Kurt had never stopped loving Kai during the long months they were apart. He knew he hadn't been there for her in the way she needed when her world fell apart but he didn't know what else he could have done. She retreated into her grief and guilt to a place he couldn't reach, didn't fully understand. When they are snowed in at the cabin, Kurt knows it could be his last chance to break through the wall she's erected around her heart, heal the rift in their marriage, and rediscover the joy they once shared.

In "Snow-Kissed," Laura Florand has created an exquisitely written, heart-wrenching tale of love, loss, grief, hope, forgiveness, healing, and reconciliation. It's one of the best, if not the best, second-chance love stories I've ever read. I was held spellbound by the imagery, the language, the fragility of these characters, the deep anger and feelings of helplessness, the tenuous hope as they cautiously reach out to one another, the gentle care and sensuous desire. The intimacy and emotional depth of this story is incredible. I didn't so much read it as I absorbed it at a gut level. It was as if I knew these characters, knew their pain, their anguish, and ached with them. In my opinion, "Snow-Kissed" is as close to perfection as a story can get. It has my highest recommendation.

A couple words of caution...
You probably don't want to read this novella on a crowded airplane (yes, I did and it wasn't pretty) and I strongly encourage you to have a full pack of tissues handy before you begin. There's a reason "Snow-Kissed" was voted Biggest Tearjerker of the Year in the annual AAR reader poll.

~PJ

Molly O’Keefe’s “Christmas Eve: A Love Story” concludes the collection. This is a reissue; the novella was briefly available in Sweet Talk, the limited edition collection released in May 2015 by Brenda Novak's Online Auction for Diabetes Research.

Trina Crawford and Dean McKenzie grew up on neighboring spreads in Dusk Falls, Wyoming. Best friends, they spent every Christmas Eve at the annual Christmas party thrown by Dean’s wealthy parents. Part of the tradition was the playing of Christmas carols by Trina on piano and Dean on guitar. That tradition, along with the Crawfords presence at the party, ended when Roy Crawford and Eugene McKenzie clashed over the ownership of a piece of land at the boundary of their properties, but even feuding fathers could not stop Trina and Dean’s friendship. Dean was there on the Christmas Eve when Trina’s mother left Dusk Falls forever, leaving Trina with her silent, drunken father. Dean understood Trina’s determination to escape Dusk Falls and her father. He too had plans to leave the town and the father he could never please.

The ties of friendship stretched but never broke as Trina left for college and law school and Dean studied land management in Laramie. If they each dreamed that there was more than friendship between them, the time never seemed right to speak of those dreams—not until as adults they found themselves back in Dusk Falls. But their idyll and their friendship were shattered by a double betrayal. It will take a Christmas Eve miracle of forgiveness to bring true reunion and an HEA.

Molly O’Keefe’s newest novels have been erotic romance, not a subgenre I read, so I loved this reread of a story that is a combination of sweetness and substance and characters so real I wanted to give them a hug. Friends-to-lovers and reunion stories are my favorite tropes, and this novella is a bit of both. I don’t rank this one quite as highly as O’Keefe’s Rita-winning Christmas novella “The Christmas Eve Promise” (2009), one of my perennial Christmas rereads, but it is a wonderful story and a sigh-worthy end to this excellent anthology.

~Janga

Have you read any of the authors in this anthology?

Do you enjoy Christmas themed romances? Do you like them light and comedic or deeply emotional?

Two randomly chosen people leaving a comment on today's post will receive an e-book copy of You Had Me at Christmas. (winner's choice of epub or mobi format)

On Second Thought - - Breath of Magic

Breath of Magic

By Teresa Medeiros

Publisher: Bantam

Release Date: January 5, 2011

(Originally published by Bantam.

February 1, 1996)

If you like your romances with a seasonal touch, it’s the time of year to read romance fiction that features witches and ghosts and things that go bump in the night. I’m not much of a paranormal reader, but I do have a few favorites that might be termed paranormal light. Breath of Magic ranks high in that group. I reread it not just at Halloween but also at other times when I need a romance that makes me laugh.

Arian Whitewood was sent by her ailing grandmother to live with her mother and stepfather in colonial Massachusetts. Arian’s mother died before Arian arrived, and her stepfather, who sincerely loved his wife and promised to care for her daughter, has struggled vainly for a decade to turn his white witch stepdaughter into a proper Puritan. Arian tries to cooperate with his efforts, but her supernatural abilities cannot be contained. When her stepfather asks for help from a minister, the result is a witch trial that concludes with Arian undergoing the water ordeal. Fearing that she is about to die, Arian casts a spell that goes awry, sending her, her emerald amulet, and her broomstick from Gloucester in 1689 to New York City in 1996.

Eccentric tycoon Tristan Lennox has cynically promised one million dollars to anyone who can prove the existence of magic outside the parameters of science. When a broomstick-riding Arian, dodging helicopters, lands in the courtyard of Lenox Tower where the magic contest is being conducted, Tristan is convinced she is a fraud. Feeling the need to keep an eye on her, he houses her in his penthouse apartment while his team of experts examines Arian’s broom to determine how it flew. Tristan, jaded and distrustful of almost everyone, is suspicious of Arian, angry with the chaos that she creates, and reluctantly intrigued by her. Arian is learning to use her own gifts and adjusting to life in a world that seems to her to be filled with unimaginable wonders and fearsome dragons. Tristan eventually learns to trust Arian and his feelings for her, but the two must survive many dangers before they can claim their HEA.

To enjoy this novel fully, you must be willing to suspend disbelief and accept this story as you would a fairy tale. If you can do this, you will be charmed by the effervescent Arian and gradually won over by the wounded loner Tristan. I adored them both. The secondary characters are also deftly drawn. The villains are appropriately heinous, Sven, Tristan’s bodyguard, and Michael Copperfield, Tristan’s Native American best friend and legal adviser, are scene-stealers. There is adventure and mystery in the plot, but it is the humor that makes the book special for me. Arian’s encounters with twentieth century plumbing and her first shopping trip to Bloomingdale’s are laugh-out-loud funny. They are among my favorite funny scenes ever even though I generally prefer more cerebral humor.

If you are looking for a bewitching romance to read for Halloween, I highly recommend Breath of Magic.  The sequel, Touch of Enchantment in which Arian and Tristan’s genius daughter travels to the 13th century, is almost as good. Another delightful bit-of-witchery romance is Jill Barnett’s Bewitching, with one of the best epilogues in romance fiction. Why not make one of them—or all of them—part of your Halloween celebration?

~Janga

Do you have a favorite witchy or ghostly romance? 

Review - - The Lullaby Sky

The Lullaby Sky

By Carolyn Brown

Publisher: Montlake

Release Date: September 13, 2016

 

 

It has taken her seven years, but Hannah Ellis has finally escaped an abusive marriage, forfeiting any rights to her husband’s considerable wealth in exchange for an uncontested divorce, custody of her daughter, and sole ownership of her house, her land, and her car. She also receives the authority to resume her maiden name and to give that name to her child. Henceforth, Hannah and Sophie Ellis will be Hannah and Sophie O’Malley.

Hannah has an extensive support system that includes two octogenarians, her great-aunt Birdie and Birdie’s friend Rosie, and a tight circle of life-long friends. They celebrate Hannah’s freedom, help her rid her home of the tangible evidence of her ex and his control of her life, and ensure that Sophie is surrounded by adults who love her. When Hannah decides to help other abused women, they help her turn her home in Crossings, Texas, into a safe house for women from Patchwork House, the local women’s shelter. Helping these other women helps Hannah to grow stronger and more confident, but she is heartbroken that Liz, one of her closest friends and principal of the school where Hannah works as a teacher’s aide, is still in denial about her own role as an abused wife.

Travis Wilson, another of Hannah’s friends and Miss Rosie’s grandson, is always there when Hannah needs him as a mover of furniture, as a guard for the safe house, or in any other capacity. He is willing to wait patiently until Hannah is ready to think about the future, a future he hopes to share with her and with Sophie to whom he is also devoted. Because the focus of the story is on Hannah’s recovery and her second chance at life, hope and optimism prevail despite the serious issue.

I found Hannah, Travis, and all of the secondary characters likeable but lacking in credibility. I need more depth and complexity than these characters offered to become invested in the story. The airplane Marty forgot that provides Hannah with a windfall, the reappearance of Marty’s new wife, the cuteness of Sophie, who seems minimally affected by her father’s behavior—all of these required more suspension of disbelief than I was able to summon. Carolyn Brown has a large, loyal following, and I feel certain that those readers and others who like their romance heavy on the sweetness and light will appreciate this novel more than I did.

~Janga

Review - - Christmas Comes to Main Street

Christmas Comes to Main Street

By Olivia Miles

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: September 27, 2016

 

 

Kara Hastings has risked her inheritance from her father to open Sugar & Spice, her own cookies-only bakery, but she is overwhelmed with all the work involved. The Christmas season makes her product in greater demand, particularly her special gingerbread houses. This is great for the bakery’s bottom line but not so good in other ways for the exhausted, sleep-deprived owner. The pressure to make a success of her business is intensified both by the emotional connection to her father and by the doubts of her mother and others who think the bakery is just the latest of Kara’s fleeting interests. Kara feels that she has a lot to prove, and her focus on Sugar & Spice doesn’t leave her much time for a personal life. Her happily married and about-to-be-married friends and her younger, newly engaged sister make Kara long to find “the one,” but Briar Creek doesn’t offer much opportunity to meet the man of her dreams. And then Nate Griffin shows up.

Nate, a workaholic management consultant, is paying a duty visit to his aunt. He has a deep affection for his quirky, bossy aunt, but he is not enthusiastic about spending time in Briar Creek. Not only does it seem slow after his busy city life, but the town’s immersion in Christmas and all its trappings stirs painful memories of his childhood Christmases made bleak by poverty. Nate’s plan is to ease his guilt by spending time with his aunt who adores him and then to return to Boston ASAP. Despite his reservations, Nate is caught up in his aunt’s frenzy to decorate her bed and breakfast so spectacularly that she will win the town’s annual contest for the best decorated Christmas house. Her matchmaking plan proves even more difficult to elude.

Nate and Kara have a disastrous first meeting when he inadvertently destroys a cookie order intended for the B & B, an encounter that leaves Kara angry and tearful. However, neither she nor Nate can stop thinking of the other. Even as attraction sparks between the two, Nate resists because he has jumped to the conclusion that Kara is a wealthy heiress for whom the bakery is a whim. Kara is offended by Nate’s attempts to give her business advice, and she knows his time in Briar Creek is short. But these are merely bumps on the road to a holiday embellished HEA.

Olivia Miles comes full circle in this fifth book in her Briar Creek series, adding a second Christmas romance to the series that began with Mistletoe on Main Street. Fans of the series will remember Kara who played a prominent secondary part in Love Blooms on Main Street (Book 4). I found her to be a much more sympathetic character in her own book, less whiny and more vulnerable. Nate is a younger, hot version of Scrooge. Seeing him fall for Kara and for holiday-drenched Briar Creek should have great appeal for readers looking for a sweet Christmas romance.

This book stands out among the 2016 Christmas romances I have read because the holiday is more than backdrop. From the food-coat-toy drive and the decorating contest, which is a major plot element, to Kara’s gingerbread houses and Nate’s need to learn to keep Christmas in his heart, this novel is saturated with the traditions and sentiment of Christmas. If you have enjoyed Miles’s other Briar Creek books, you should definitely read this one. I also recommend it to those who love a heartwarming Christmas romance. Christmas Comes to Main Street has Hallmark Holiday Movie written on it from the cover to the conclusion.

~Janga

Today's Special - - Susannah Sandlin

It's no secret that I'm a fan of a good romantic suspense novel that grabs me from the beginning and won't let go. The first two books in Susannah Sandlin's Wilds of the Bayou series have both kept me reading way past midnight, eagerly turning pages through the twists and turns of her meticulously-plotted, action-packed, can't-wait-to-find-out-what-happens-next stories. If you haven't read them yet, I highly recommend starting with Wild Man's Curse (read my review here) then diving straight into her October 18th release, Black Diamond. I can't wait for her next visit to the Louisiana bayou to find out what happens next!

Find more information about Susannah Sandlin (who also writes as Suzanne Johnson) at her website and connect with her online at Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Welcome, Susannah!  I’m addicted to your new suspense-filled Wilds of the Bayou series. What was your inspiration for these books?

Thank you! I fell in love with South Louisiana even before I moved there. The cultural gumbo, the music, the heritage, the language, the wildlife, and the terrain are unique. I love New Orleans, of course, but it’s in the rural parishes of South Louisiana where one finds the real blend of Native American, Acadian, French, Southern, and West Indies cultures. That’s why I wanted to set the Wilds of the Bayou series in the parishes west of New Orleans. ­

The second book in the series, Black Diamond releases October 18 and, as with Wild Man’s Curse, had me riveted to the story from beginning to end. What should readers expect from this book?

Black Diamond is a romance between two very damaged people who have to learn how to trust again and accept themselves. It’s a suspense story about people who make very bad choices in the face of desperation, and, yes, it has alligators in it—there are more than 1.5 million in Louisiana, even more than in Florida. I love alligators. (It’s not normal, I know. I even collect them. Well, not real ones…)

I was in Cole’s and Jena’s cheering section from the moment they met. Will we see more of them in future books in this series?

Absolutely! Because Cole and Jena have a lot of painful history to overcome, I didn’t want to push their romance as quickly as I normally might. So they will get some catch-up time in a future book. I always like to keep readers up to date on previous series characters.

You have a terrific secondary cast of characters in these books. I haven’t seen nearly enough of Jena’s temporary partner, Mac or senior agent, Paul Billiot. Do you have stories planned for either – or both – of these characters?

I have books planned for both Mac and Paul. Originally, I had planned for the next book to be Mac’s, but Paul keeps nagging me. He has a story and keeps whispering bits of it to me when I’m not expecting it. (Yes, stuff like that really happens—LOL.) So the next Wilds of the Bayou book will see our stern, obsessively neat Native American agent Paul Billiot finally meet his romantic match.

You excel at creating a sense of place in these books as well as creating characters who are complex and authentic – from gator hunters to game wardens to drug addicts to PTSD recluses. What kind of research was required for this series?

I’m an obsessive researcher. I came up with the idea of building a series around wildlife agents (i.e., game wardens) after Hurricane Katrina. I was living in New Orleans at the time, and LDWF agents were first on the scene, plucking people out of the floodwaters. I didn’t know until then that wildlife enforcement agents are the state’s first responders in search and rescue, but it makes sense because Louisiana has so many waterways, swamps, and marshes. So I read biographies of game wardens, learned about their training and structure, talked to law enforcement officers from South Louisiana, subscribed to a survivalist magazine to see how far I could take my hero off-grid, visited some South Louisiana marshes….I want my readers to feel as if they’re really in the story! And, of course, I spent much of my adult life on that stretch of I-10 between Houston and New Orleans.

Your descriptions of the gators in this book remind me of why I don’t spend a lot of time in gator-infested waters. Have you traveled the waterways of the bayous? Ever had an up close and personal encounter with a gator?

I find alligators fascinating! They have been around for more than 180 million years, making them contemporaries of dinosaurs…except they’re still here. (When we’re all gone, I’m convinced only cockroaches and alligators will survive.) I do have a healthy respect for them, however, so I have only traveled the bayous as a tourist. My up-close experience with alligators has come through friends—there are two herpetologists in my local writing group, both of whom have worked extensively with alligators—one even has the scars to prove it! So they’re my go-to sources for things like how long it might take a gator to digest something and how fast gators can move in the cold waters of early spring. I did stump them by asking how an alligator might react to a hallucinogenic drug, though.

Your bio says you’re a longtime resident of New Orleans. What are your three favorite things about living in southern Louisiana?

I had to move away from NOLA for family reasons a few years ago, but I’m pondering my return. I love the eccentricity of the place—people accept others for who they are, and every time you leave the house you can’t predict who or what you might see. I love the architecture, the history, and the marshes and swamps. The sound of ships’ horns echoing on the river. And did I mention the food? South Louisiana is the home of my heart, and always will be, no matter where I live.

What’s next? Will there be more books in 2017?

Definitely! I’d love to see both Paul and Mac’s books in the Wilds of the Bayou series out next year, as well as beginning a new suspense series I’m working on. I’ll be transitioning out of the day job next spring so I’ll be able to devote myself wholly to writing.

Thank you for visiting with me, Susannah! Would you like to ask our readers a question?

Thanks so much for having me! Here’s something I always want to ask readers.

Do you like a “slow burn” in your romantic suspense, or would you prefer to see the hero and heroine make their commitment early on?

Wild Man's Curse
Wilds of the Bayou - Book 1
On sale for Kindle @ $1.99
Read FREE on Amazon Prime

The bones said death was comin’, and the bones never lied.

While on an early morning patrol in the swamps of Whiskey Bayou, Louisiana wildlife agent Gentry Broussard spots a man leaving the home of elderly Eva Savoie—a man who bears a startling resemblance to his brother, whom Gentry thought he had killed during a drug raid three years earlier. Shaken, the agent enters Eva’s cabin and makes a bloody discovery: the old woman has been brutally murdered.

With no jurisdiction over the case, he’s forced to leave the investigation to the local sheriff, until Eva’s beautiful heir, Celestine, receives a series of gruesome threats. As Gentry’s involvement deepens and more victims turn up, can he untangle the secrets behind Eva’s murder and protect Celestine from the same fate? Or will an old family curse finally have its way?

Black Diamond
Wilds of the Bayou - Book 2
Release Date: October 18, 2016
On sale for Kindle @ $3.99

For some people, the untamed beauty of the bayou is a place to hide. For Louisiana wildlife agent Jena Sinclair, it’s a place of refuge—one where she can almost forget the tragedy that scarred both her skin and her soul. But when the remains of yet another fisherman turn up, Jena realizes that Bayou Pointe-aux-Chenes is not safe for her…or anyone else.

The mysterious deaths aren’t her only problem. A dangerous drug known as Black Diamond is circulating through Terrebonne Parish, turning addicts into unpredictable sociopaths. Jena’s investigation leads her to Cole Ryan—a handsome, wary recluse struggling with his own troubled history—who knows more than he’s willing to admit. If they want to stop the killer, Jena and Cole must step out of the shadows of their pasts and learn to help each other…before the evils lurking in the bayou consume them both.

Today's Special - - PJ's Birthday Retreat

You may have noticed that I didn't celebrate my birthday on the blog last month. It wasn't that I forgot...though I'm certainly old enough where that could be a legitimate concern. And it wasn't that this was a milestone year that I would have preferred to ignore...though it was the birthday year that one of my brothers dubbed "social and secure." Yeah, it was that one. However, the real reason I didn't throw a Dish party this year is that I had decamped to the other coast for the week.

I decided to give myself a birthday gift this year and that gift was a week in Spokane, Washington. Okay, I can see you all shaking your heads and muttering, "Spokane?" True, it had never been on my list of must-see places but I had good reasons for going there. Very good reasons. Authors Delilah Marvelle and Renee Bernard were hosting the inaugural Historical Romance Retreat in Spokane and one of my favorite authors (and people), Anna Campbell was coming over from Australia for the first time in six years. Happy Birthday to me!

Anna and I flew into town on Monday and spent a few days playing tourist before the Historical Romance Retreat (HRR) began on Thursday. I really didn't know anything about Spokane before arriving but it's a lovely city, steeped in history and resplendent in its natural beauty. We saw a lot in our three days while barely scraping the surface of all she has to offer.











Spokane has acres of beautiful parks. The Japanese and Rose gardens at Manito Park were my favorites.

They have good restaurants too. My birthday dinner at Clinkerdagger (located in a 100 year old flour mill) was fabulous. In fact, we enjoyed our dinners so much we went back there again the next night!

Arts and Culture are key components of life in Spokane as evidenced by the many beautiful sculptures are found throughout the city.

Spokane also has a beautiful Riverfront and waterfall that winds through the downtown area.









On Wednesday, Anna and I left our hotel on the Riverfront and moved over to the Historic Davenport Hotel, a Spokane landmark where history lurks in every corner. The hotel opened in 1914 and, as their website notes, is a "singular combination of world-class service, palatial splendor, and inviting warmth." For this first Historical Romance Retreat, I could not have imagined a more perfect location. From the moment I walked through the doors, it was as if I stepped back in time.









The kind gentleman who delivered my luggage to my room was very concerned about my ability to get into the (very high) bed without the aid of stairs. For the record, I managed on my own but I'm oh so glad nobody thought to take a video of the process! LOL!

I don't think I have enough superlatives to describe how wonderful the 2016 HRR was. Everything about it was exquisite, beginning with Thursday's night's showing of the 1951 romantic comedy, The Law and the Lady at the elegant Bing Crosby Theater next door to the hotel.

That was followed by high tea Friday afternoon...















a rousing good time at gambling night...

the book signing Saturday afternoon...
















the Grand Ball Saturday night...
(Husbands got into the spirit of things too!)

and a farewell breakfast on Sunday.














In between those fabulous events was plenty of time for relaxing, chatting with other historical romance readers and authors, and a quick trip to beautiful Coeur d'Alene, Idaho with Anna Campbell, Elizabeth Boyle, and Laura Lee Guhrke.








All in all, the Historical Romance Retreat was a fabulous experience that I can't wait to repeat in 2017!

Jenn LeBlanc welcoming attendees!

Not everyone dressed in costume but those who did looked fabulous. And many who did made their own costumes. I am in awe of their talent!

Author Anthea Lawson and her husband provided beautiful music for high tea.

















Elizabeth Essex looking like she stepped from the pages of a book.

Renee Bernard, ready for a night at the Regency style gambling tables!















The fabulous Delilah Marvelle at the Grand Ball.

Erin Knightley, Ashlyn MacNamara, and Valerie Bowman are ready to dance the night away.















Laura Lee Guhrke. Love her books!

My wonderful roommate, Rose Lerner, looking very chic 1920's style.

May I have this dance? 

Delilah Marvelle and her husband waltzing the night away at the HRR Grand Ball. 

With the lovely Tessa Dare. Have you read her fabulous Do You Want to Start a Scandal yet? My favorite historical romance of 2016!

















The adorable and very talented Wendy LaCapra.

Hanging out with Karen Hawkins who always makes me laugh.

Katherine Bone ready to sail away on the high seas.

Elizabeth Hoyt and Madeline Hunter

Julie Johnstone. Love her Scottish medieval romances!

Victoria Alexander looking regal.

With one of my favorite Canadians, Lila DiPasqua!

So thrilled to meet Mary Balogh...

...and Linda Lael Miller.















And that's how I spent my birthday.

If you'd like to see the rest of my (many) photos from my Spokane getaway, I have them posted at my Facebook page as well as The Romance Dish's Facebook page.

For more information about the 2016 Historical Romance Retreat, visit their website and follow them on Facebook and Twitter. News about the 2017 HRR will be announced in early January.

Do you enjoy stepping back in time though the pages of historical romance?

Would you attend a historical romance retreat with other readers and authors?

Which historical romance authors would you most like to meet?

How did you spend your birthday this year?


Four randomly chosen people who leave a comment on today's post will each receive one signed historical romance from my conference stash. (U.S. / Canada only) Deadline to be entered in giveaway is 11:00 PM, October 12, 2016.