Category: Winter’s Favorites

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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day 9

Welcome to Day 9 of Winter’s Favorites
I have one of my all-time favorite authors Laura Wright and a new to me author that I freakin’ love Eliza Gayle. 
I will stop talking and let the ladies take over. 
Christmas Eve; The First Kiss
By Laura Wright
I’ve always thought that there was nothing more sacred, more special or more holy than Christmas Eve night. It’s my absolute favorite night of the season. Don’t get me wrong, I love Christmas Day. But the two occasions have such completely different vibes, and I seem to gravitate toward the still and silent night.
I’ve had many amazing Christmas Eves in my forty-one years, but this one is etched in my memory forever because it was spent with my first official boyfriend instead of my family. And it was when he told me he loved me. We were both sixteen and wild about each other. I spent more hours in that boy’s home on any given week than in my own, and when I was invited to Christmas Eve dinner, I well, jumped at the chance.
*Side Note: At this dinner I tried steamed artichokes dipped in butter for the first time too, and that love affair is still with me today.
Anyway, the dinner was absolutely lovely, but it was the walk afterwards that made that Christmas Eve so special. Picture it: A Minnesota night that wasn’t frigid, but perfectly cold, a tree-lined street frosted in that morning’s new fallen snow. The pale, ethereal light of the street lamps interspersed with the charming, homey glow of the neighbors house lights. And the hand of the boy you’ve had a crush on for two years reaching out to hold yours.
Then it starts to snow.
Gently, sparsely at first. Perfect little miniature doilies falling all around you, and the he stops and turns, and with those killer blue eyes looking into yours, he says two things…
Merry Christmas Eve, and I love you.

Laura’s Quick bio:
I was born and raised in Minnesota. It’s where my love of all things green, wet and grown in the ground comes from. Before writing I was an actor, singer and dancer, specifically a BALLROOM dancer – an instructor and competitor as well. That work took me to many places like New York, Ohio and Wisconsin. I live in Los Angeles now, but I’m always thinking about greener pastures – literally.


Find Laura here: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER
           



Eliza Gayle’s Favorite thing about Winter:
Winter Is All About The Hot Cocoa
Living in the South, I yearn for the cold, crisp air of winter and an escape from the oppressive heat. That first cool, clear night where I can go outside and smell winter in the air is heaven. The first thing I have to do is pull out my special winter mug reserved especially for the dark chocolate hot cocoa I love. To me the cold air enhances the flavors and aroma of what you’re drinking. J The next thing is the purchase of a brand new pair of warm, fuzzy slippers. This year it’s a pair of purple furry booties that make me smile when I put them on.
Unfortunately, I am not a coffee drinker so a warm drink on a cold winter morning is a special treat for me. Often times my schedule precludes me from taking the time to bake and cook all the fun things I enjoy, but I can always afford a few minutes to make a simple and delicious chocolate treat. Since I love to share I’ve included a quick recipe for you all to enjoy along with me.
Sinless Dark Chocolate Cocoa
1 c. skim milk
1 inch cinnamon stick
2 tsp dark unsweetened cocoa
2 tsp sugar
2 tsp warm water
1/4 tsp. pure vanilla extract
1 dash chili powder (optional)
8 mini marshmallows
In a mug, combine the cocoa powder, sugar, and water. Heat the milk and the cinnamon stick until slightly bubbling. Remove the cinnamon stick and add the milk to the mug. Combine and add the vanilla extract and slight dash of chili. Top with mini marshmallows.
Coats, hats and gloves, oh my.
Back to winter, and all her glory. Where I live we don’t get snow very often so when we do it’s something to be savored. Kids haul out the heavy coats and gloves and start cutting up cardboard to create makeshift sleds. It’s pretty funny to watch. But when it comes to snow there is one rule that can never again be broken.
Eliza is not allowed to drive.
Seriously. Every single time I try to drive in the snow I wreck a car. It’s pretty cringe worthy. I blame it on the fact that I am a Florida native born and raised. So now, I walk outside, I make snowballs and play with my husky as he frolics and rolls but under no circumstances may I drive. Lol
My love of winter doesn’t end there. I live away from most of my family, but every year my mother knits me a fabulous new hat and scarf to brighten up my winter. I LOVE these. I have several colors and varieties to choose from and I cherish wearing them.
Nobody is a stranger in wintertime.Winter in the South also seems to change more than just the climate. With the heat temporarily gone, neighbors wander out of the house to enjoy the cooler air, people linger in the winter sunshine and we gather in coffee houses and cafes for good cheer and good food. In fact, here in Charlotte we have the ultimate French bakery that is open twenty-four seven, 365 days a year. Somehow I always end up there more often in the winter to people watch, write and savor the amazing treats.
Eliza’s bio:
Eliza Gayle lives a life full of sexy shapeshifters, blood boiling vamps and a dark desire for bondage…until she steps away from her computer and has to tend to her family.
She graduated Magna Cum Laude (which her husband translated into something very naughty) from Park University with a dual degree in Human Resource Management and Sociology.  That education, a love of the metaphysical and a dirty mind comes in handy when she sits down to create new characters and worlds.  The trick is getting her to sit still.
…Join her in her world.  The door is always open and the next red hot adventure is just a page away.
Find Eliza here: WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER

Laura is offering an Audio of Eternal Hunger (bk1) & 
a Mark of the Vampire Swag bag. 
Eliza is offering up one back list book.

To enter please leave a comment for Laura & Eliza about your favorite thing about winter.  Then head over to the MAIN Winter’sFavorite page and enter for a chance to win. 
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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway Day~~8

Welcome to day 8 of Winter’s Favorites.
Today I have my good pal Marissa Dobson on the blog talking about her favorite thing about winter. 

Hello everyone. Thank you for allowing me to stop by Books-n-Kisses. I am thrilled to be here. Last Christmas I had The Twelve Seductive Days of Christmas published in the Believe anthology from Turquoise Morning Press. Christmas is my favorite time of the year so it seemed fitting I would have my first work published in a Christmas anthology.
My favorite thing about winter is snow. Yes I hate going out in it like most people but when I am sitting in my office writing and the snow is coming down the words just flow onto the page. For some strange reason the snow makes me more creative. My muse and I are more turned into each other then. Thankfully I have a large office window that I can open and get a great view of the snow.
When I’m not writing and it is snowing I love to curl up in front of the fire with a good book. Oh and you can’t forget my writing companions, Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) who believe if I’m not working I should be giving them attention. I guess that is the pay for having writing companions.
I am giving away an e-book copy of Believe to one lucky commenter. To be entered please tell me your favorite thing about winter.
Believe
by Marissa Dobson

Blurb:
Jasmine Pierce has been burned by love and family before, and now she has a daughter to worry about. She isn’t looking for anything, just a quiet place that she can raise her daughter.
Logan Clarke fell in love with the mysterious Jasmine long ago, hearing stories from her grandmother. And now that Jasmine is finally here, he knows he’s in love for sure.
 Snowbound in a cottage, twelve days before Christmas, does Logan have enough time to convince Jasmine of love at first sight? And can Jasmine let go of her past, and let Logan into her heart?
Amazon ~ Kindle ~ Nook ~
1 Place For Romance ~ All Romance E-Books ~ Smashwords ~

OmniLit ~ Digi Books ~ Turquoise Morning Press

Born and raised in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area, I now reside about an hour from Washington, D.C. I am a lady who likes to keep busy, and am always busy doing something. With two different college degrees, I believe you are never done learning.
Being the first daughter to an avid reader, this gave me the advantage of learning to read at a young age. Since learning to read I have always had my nose in a book. It wasn’t until I was a teenager that I started writing down the stories I came up with.  
I am blessed with a wonderful supportive husband, Thomas. He is my other half and allows me to stay home and pursue my writing. My writing buddies Max (a cocker spaniel) and Dawne (a beagle mix) are always around to listen to me bounce ideas off them. They might not be able to answer, but they are helpful in their own ways. 
I am the owner of Sizzling Hot Book’s and Sizzling PR.
 I love to hear from readers, you can email me atmarissa@marissadobson.com Or visit me athttp://www.marissadobson.com/
Marissa is offering an e-copy of Believe.
To enter please leave a comment, questions or tell Marissa your favorite or least favorite thing about winter.  Then head over to the MAIN Winter’sFavorite page and enter for a chance to win. 

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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway~~Day 7

Welcome to Day 7 of Winter’s Favorites.
Today Virna DePaul is sharing her uummm…. Favorite thing about Winter?  
I will let her explain. 


Winter-Shminter
I’ll be honest—winter isn’t a season I truly look forward to.  I’m a wimp when it comes to extreme weather (hot or cold), and I tend to gain weight and suffer from depression.  Given all the holiday sales, my compulsive online shopping also tends to rev up and I become even more of a homebody than I already am.  Since none of this makes me feel better about myself, you might say winter is one big annual guilt-trip just waiting to pounce.
My favorite thing about winter is when it ends and spring comes around.  J 
That said, winter does have it good points.  Getting to wear cute boots and layers.  Getting to build fires and spend more time snuggled under the covers.  Holiday festivities, traveling, and vacations from school and work.  And, of course, I read and write and generally lose myself in fictional worlds where heroines are adored by their heroes no matter how much they weigh, characters face their fears and  become better people, and far more exciting things than Internet shopping take place. 
Yeah, I’m more of a spring/autumn kind of girl, but love, good friends, and good books get me through each day no matter what season it is.  Wishing you a wonderful holiday season and fabulous new year!

A little about Virna: 
Virna DePaul is a former criminal prosecutor whose debut paranormal romantic suspense novel, Chosen by Blood (Book 1 in the Para-Ops series), came out May 3, 2011 by Berkley Books. Chosen by Fate (Book 2 in the Para-Ops series) launches October 4, 2011.

In addition, Virna writes contemporary romantic suspense for Harlequin Romantic Suspense (Dangerous to Her, September 2011) and HQN (Shades of Desire, April 2012).
Visit her at www.virndepaul.com| FACEBOOK | Twitter

Chosen By Sin 
Coming January 2012
The longest life isn’t always the happiest one…
Five years after the Second Civil War ends, humans and Otherborn— humanlike creatures with superhuman DNA—still struggle for peace. To ensure the continued rights of both, the FBI forms a Para-Ops team with a unique set of skills.
For now, werebeast Dex Hunt serves on the Para-Ops team, but his true purpose is to kill the werewolf leader he blames for his mother’s death. Biding his time, Dex keeps his emotional distance from his team members and anyone else he might care for, including a mysterious vampire he met in LA.
As a doctor, vampire Jesmina Martin has dedicated her immortal life to healing others.  As a scientific researcher, she’s trying to prolong life spans, in particular those of her adoptive dragon-shifter family and the werewolf who saved her as a child.  Her greatest hope lies with Dex, a werebeast she believes can gift immortality to others.
Only Dex knows nothing about his gift or the fact Jesmina wants to harness it.  After a passionate night together neither expects to see the other again.  Weeks later, they are reunited in France and forced to acknowledge a fragile miracle—a new life struggling to survive.  At the same time, they must stop a group of rebel shape-shifters hoping to unleash every demon in hell.  But before Dex and Jesmina can save their child or the world, they must relinquish their secrets, face their fears, and open themselves to love.

.Virna is offering a copy of Chosen by Fate.  
To Enter please leave a comment, questions or tell Virna your favorite or least favorite thing about winter.  Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page and enter for a chance to win. 


Order HERE

Chosen by Fate

Book 2 in the Para-Ops Series

Although he keeps company with a vampire and a were, human Shaman Caleb O’Flare can definitely hold his own. But neither his psychic ability nor his healing powers can help his sexy-as-hell teammate, Wraith-a ghost with no memory of her human existence, who cannot experience touch without pain. No wraith has managed to exist past its tenth year, so her time is about to run out. She wants only two things before accepting her fate: to learn her human identity, and experience one night with Caleb..
.
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Winter’s Favorite Giveaway~~Day 6

Welcome to Day 6 of Winter’s Favorites. 
Today we have 2 WONDERFUL ladies sharing on the blog.  First up is Ava Riley sharing her favorite thing about winter.  Then we have the Uber Fun Shiloh Walker sharing along with a free short Christmas story. So I will stop talking now and let the ladies take over…
Ava Riley’s Favorite thing about winter is:

Winter Makes Me Smile

I’m a four seasons girl and usually by the time the ending of one is close at hand, I’m more than ready to move on to the next one.  I’d have to say that winter is my favorite season of them all, though.  Not because of the bitter cold, or the whipping winds.  No, it’s not because of the layers upon layers I must endure.  The time of the year that it represents is what I like best about winter.  You see Christmas is my most favorite time of the year, it always has been.  Even when I was single and would wake on Christmas morning alone it still was my favorite.  Now that I am married with two children, Christmas is even more exciting for me.  I love decorating the Christmas tree w/the family, baking cookies for “Santa” (although this is the first year my kids know that Santa is Mommy/Daddy), and being woken up on Christmas morning to smiling, eager faces.  And although the opening of gifts is fun and the time it takes to get to the end is quick, the spirit of Christmas and what it represents is what I’m so glad I am able to share with my family.  So yes, winter is my favorite season and Christmas is the reason.

About Ava: 

I was born in Mississippi and lived there until I was 11 years old, at which point I moved to Missouri.  I am a military brat and very proud of it.

I have always had a love for the written word and spent a lot of time writing short stories and poetry in high school.  It has always been an outlet for the voices that speak to me to come out (lol).  Writing has always been a source of serenity that allows me to find balance.

I now reside in New Mexico with my incredibly supportive husband, two beautiful children, two cats and one fish. I am also proud to say I am a true soccer mom who enjoys cheering my son and his team on.
I am currently a non-traditional student (another way of saying OLD student) at The University of New Mexico where I am working on a double Major in Creative Writing and Philosophy.  I should be enjoying the fruits of my labor come Spring of 2013.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER


Shiloh Walkers’ Favorite thing about winter is:  

My favorite thing about winter…well, it would have to be Christmas.  I love Christmas.  I will freely admit, I’m terribly materialistic and I love to get presents.  But I also love shopping for them, love to buy stuff for my kids, for my guy, for friends. I love taking my kids out to look at the lights, to go do some of the special Christmas events, all of that jazz.  I’m also not at all bothered by the cold…it gives me a good reason to curl up by the fireplace with a hot drink and a good book.  If you’re in the mood for a quick read, you can check out the free short story I’ve got listed up on my website, A PRESENT FOR CHRISTMAS…just look in the sidebar! (here is the link to Smashwords)


A little about Shiloh: 
Shiloh Walker has been writing since she was a kid. She fell in love with vampires with the book Bunnicula and has worked her way up to the more…ah…serious works of fiction. She loves reading and writing anything paranormal, anything fantasy, and nearly every kind of romance. Once upon a time she worked as a nurse, but now she writes full time and lives with her family in the Midwest.  She writes paranormal and contemporary romance, as well as romantic suspense.
WEBSITE|FACEBOOK|TWITTER 



Ava Riley has donated 2 ebooks (pdf form) A Lifetime to Find Love and Sacred Surrender to one lucky person.  Shiloh Walker has offered a signed book from her back list.  
So again to enter please leave a comment or question or tell the ladies your favorite thing about winter.  Then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page to enter.   

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Winter’s Favorites Giveaway Day 5

Welcome to Day 5 of Winter’s Favorites.
Today the Wonderful Sharon Buchbinder is sharing her favorite thing about winter along with a recipe that is sure to keep you warm on those cold winter days.   Without further ado, I present Sharon…

Oh, the Weather Outside is Snowing…

As you can see from the photo, one of my favorite things to do in the winter is to wear a tiara, wrap a vintage fox stole (yes, they are biting their own tails in perpetuity), mug for the camera and toast the New Year with my family and friends.

The other thing I love to do is going to sound a little crazy. When the weathermen start hopping around in excitement and predict a blizzard, I run to the grocery store for the Baltimore Casserole: eggs, milk, bread and toilet paper. Then I make sure there’s enough propane in the tanks for our whole house generator and fireplaces, check the movie listings, start baking corn muffins and pull out the crock pot. You guessed it: chili time! Here is my favorite recipe for Turkey Chili without beans:

Turkey Chili, Hold the Beans!
Serves 4-6 hungry snow showmen builders, snow angel makers or snow shovelers 
3 pounds ground turkey (NOT just breast–you want dark meat, too)
2, 16 ounce jars Tomato Basil Sauce
1 medium onion diced
2 tsp minced garlic (jar or tube)
Chili powder & sugar or other sweetener to taste
1 stick butter
Melt butter in large skillet, put diced onions & garlic into butter and cook til tender.
Put onions in crock pot on heat.
Brown turkey in pan with butter drippings, and pour in chili powder.
Remove turkey from fat and put in crock pot on top of onions & garlic.
Pour in 2 jars of tomato sauce.
Add sugar or other sweetener to taste.
Cook in Crockpot on medium (not boiling) for 4-6 hours.

You can eat this chili the same day. It’s even better the second day when all the seasonings have rested. Serve with piping hot corn muffins slathered in butter, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, all the goodies!

Thank you, Kelly, for having me here today. I want readers to curl up with a hot read to keep them warm this winter, so to celebrate winter and the RT Book Awards nomination, I am giving away two (2) e-copies of my RT Book Reviews Nominee for Best Erotic Fiction Book of 2011, DESIRE AND DECEPTION.
Stay warm, everyone!
Sharon

www.sharonbuchbinder.com/blog
Fireworks for the Mind–Surprising and Sizzling
Twitter | Facebook 
To enter for a chance to win one of 2 ebooks of Desire & Deception please leave a comment or question for Sharon then head over to the MAIN Winter’s Favorite page to enter.
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Winter’s Favorites Giveaway~~Day 4

Winter’s Favorites~~Day 4
I would like to introduce everyone to Kacey Hammell.  
Kasey is sharing her favorite thing about winter.  Take it away Kacey. 


One of my favorite winter things is simply watching my kids, and others playing in the snow! As they build snowmen, forts, slide down hills on their toboggans and/or sleds, it always brings a smile to my face. Plus their laughter is always contagious.

Afterward, coming inside to warm up, putting on thick socks and wrapping them up in fleece blankets is priceless. Hot chocolate in hand, warm cookies, and watching the Frosty the Snowman movie are always the perfect remedies after a day of playing outside in the snow.

Here is a little more about Kacey: 
Kacey Hammell is a self-proclaimed book-a-holic, who began reading romances at a young age and became easily addicted.  A decade ago, while working for multiple review sites, Kacey quickly discovered that she was developing the writing bug. Thanks to the encouragement of her own beloved hero husband, she decided to try her hand at writing.
With the love of contemporary settings, modern day romances and make believe happily ever after, as well as the excitement of suspense, Kacey creates her stories writing what she’s familiar with and what she loves most. Of course those aren’t the only books she reads. Blood-sucking vampires who nibble the necks of the heroines are another addiction she especially loves, shape-shifters are sexier than hell and she’d loves the thought of her very own werewolf or were-cat to tame!
Locked in her office, at her computer, she lets her lusty and exciting characters lead her through their trials and tribulations, their love and their adventures. Detectives, P.I.’s, sassy and headstrong women all come to life in her heart and on paper.
Readers can contact Kacey at kaceyhammell@gmail.com
Readers can follow me via… 
Facebook|Twitter|Website/Blog
Giveaway information:
One winner will receive ebook copies (their choice) of Last Man Standing and Sinful.  Simply leave a comment for Kacey.  Then please head over to the MAIN Winter’sFavorites Giveaway page to enter for a chance to win Kasey’s books. 

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Winter’s Favorites~~Day 3

Welcome to Day 3 of the Winter’s Favorites Giveaways.  Today we have the wonderful Keri Ford and the uber talented Sherrilyn Kenyon sharing their favorite thing about winter. 
Keri Ford and Winter Wonderland.
Thanks so much Kelly for having me today! One thing I love about winter is snow, which is unfortunate since it rarely snows where we live. Once a year, if we’re lucky. The last three years we’ve gotten extra lucky with a light dusting.
Enough that we can build a small snow man on the porch, barely do some sledding, get enough for ice cream and toss a couple snow balls. At least until the cold snow leaks through our gloves—then it’s all over with.
There’s just one problem with playing in the snow…I don’t like to be cold. But I have my reasoning! Thing is, if it’s going to be cold, by golly, I want to make it worth it and have snow on the ground too. And while we get a little snow, it’s not really enough to make it truly worth it. We bundle up and survive outside for about fifteen minutes before we’re all freezing and ready to come in. The snow we get is very wet and it’s melting by afternoon, making it just leak through your clothes in double-time.
Even with the cold a longtime dream trip of ours is a winter resort with skiing and snowmobiling. I guess we’ll just have to stuff our clothes with hand warmers to survive the trip.
What are your feelings on snow? Leave me a comment and one randomly selected person will win their choice of my backlist!
***
Keri Ford is the author of six sexy contemporary novellas set in the small town of Apple Trail, Arkansas. She’s got 3 more novellas currently scheduled for 2012 and a series of single-title romantic mysteries coming 2013.
Her latest release is Chasing Her Trail and is available at TMP | Amazon | Smashwords | AllRomanceEbooks | Bookstrand (will be available in more places soon! distribution times and all that)
To keep with the latest on Keri, check out her website.
Twitter , Facebook
 
 

Sherrilyn Kenyon’s favorite thing about winter:

I absolutely love gloves! They are an inexpensive fashion accessory and I have a giant box of them.

The Fun Bio:
The #1 New York Times bestselling author, Sherrilyn Kenyon, who is proud of her mixed Cherokee heritage, lives a life of extraordinary danger… as does any woman with three sons, a husband, a menagerie of pets and a collection of swords that all of the
above have a major fixation with. But when not running interference (or dashing off to the emergency room), she’s found chained to her computer where she likes to play with all her imaginary friends. With more than twenty-five million copies of her books in print, in over one hundred countries, she certainly has a lot of friends to play with too. In the past three years, her books have claimed the coveted #1 bestselling spot sixteen times. This extraordinary bestseller continues to top every genre she writes. Her current series include: The Dark-Hunters, The League, Chronicles of Nick and Beladors. Since 2004, she has placed more than 50 novels on the New York Times list in all formats including manga.
Her Lords of Avalon novels have been adapted by Marvel and her Dark-Hunter novels
are now a New York Times bestselling manga published by St. Martins. Coming soon in
manga, the Chronicles of Nick.

Learn more about Sherrilyn at her website

Now for the good stuff…. 
Yep the Prizes!!!
Keri Ford has offered one lucky follower one of her back list books. And let me tell you I LOVE her Apple Trail series.
I have an extra copy of Sherrilyn Kenyon’s Fantasy Lover (not signed) I am donating to the giveaway. 
So here is what you need to do. Leave a comment below then head over to the MAIN Winter’s FavoritesPage(ßßß click on the link it will take you there) and enter the contest over there.  The top 5 items on Rafflecopter will be new.  Fill those out for extra points. 
If you have any question please email my by using the Contact page at the top of the blog.  Or email me at books.n.kisses(at)gmail(dot)com.  
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Winter’s Favorites Giveaway ~~Day 2

~~Day 2~~
I would like to introduce you to the wonderful Kristina McMorris 

Kristina McMorris has garnered nearly twenty national literary awards and two nominations for the highly coveted Golden Heart® for her fictional work. A former PR Director and weekly television host, she has been named one of Portland’s “40 Under 40” by The Business Journal. Her in-depth literary research includes rare interviews with WWII vets, an internment camp pilgrimage, and a flight on a restored B-17. She currently resides in the Portland, OR area, where she is a member of several literary organizations including Willamette Writers, RWA®, and Rose City Romance Writers.
For more information about Kristina McMorris, television clips, recipes from her books and more, please visit: www.KristinaMcMorris.com
My Favorite thing about winter:

Aside from the icy roads (ack), what’s not to love about winter?! Personally, I love snuggling up in a cozy blanket by the fire, ugly fuzzy socks on my feet and a mug of hot cocoa (with a splash of Peppermint Schnapps) within reach. I simply adore all that comes along with Christmas: decorating the tree with my family, old-fashioned Christmas tunes (hard to beat Bing Crosby and Dean Martin), our annual holiday brunch with close friends (the white-elephant gift exchange somehow never gets old), and movie classics like It’s a Wonderful Life and (to my husband’s dismay) Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas.

I love when the house smells like Date Pinwheel Cookies and hot apple cider and grandma’s Pineapple Cream Cheese Pie (ugh, now I’m getting hungry). And most of all, I love watching my kids play in the snow. Bundled up like Randy from the movie A Christmas Story, the two will play together for hours, their noses pink and voices full of giggles. I tell you, for me, nothing in the world can top that sound. 
Wishing you all a very safe and happy holiday season! 
xo,
Kristina



Now for a chance to win an ARC of Kristina’s next book Bridge of Scarlet Leaves. (US/Canada Only)

Bridge of Scarlet Leaves 
Preorder HERE
Paperback: 352 pages
Publisher: Kensington (February 28, 2012)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0758246854
ISBN-13: 978-0758246851


Los Angeles, 1941. Violinist Maddie Kern’s life seemed destined to unfold with the predictable elegance of a Bach concerto. Then she fell in love with Lane Moritomo. Her brother’s best friend, Lane is the handsome, ambitious son of Japanese immigrants. Maddie was prepared for disapproval from their families, but when Pearl Harbor is bombed the day after she and Lane elope, the full force of their decision becomes apparent. In the eyes of a fearful nation, Lane is no longer just an outsider, but an enemy.
When her husband is interned at a war relocation camp, Maddie follows, sacrificing her Juilliard ambitions. Behind barbed wire, tension simmers and the line between patriot and traitor blurs. As Maddie strives for the hard-won acceptance of her new family, Lane risks everything to prove his allegiance to America, at tremendous cost.
Skillfully capturing one of the most controversial episodes in recent American history, Kristina McMorris draws readers into a novel filled with triumphs and heartbreaking loss–an authentic, moving testament to love, forgiveness, and the enduring music of the human spirit.


To Enter please go to the (MAIN) Winter’s Favorite Giveaway page.  Look for the new items on Rafflecopter that have to do with Kristina for more chances to enter to win. 

Don’t forget to leave a comment or question for Kristina here!


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Winter’s Favorite’s Month LongGiveaway~~Day 1

Winter’s Favorites Monthly Giveaway

Hi everyone,
To celebrate winter I have asked 40 of some of my favorite authors to tell me about their favorite thing about winter.  Some shared memories, some shared recipes, and some wrote a short flash fic story just for this giveaway.   
For the next 31 days there will be an author or two posting each day and each day there will be a giveaway.  On the December 31st, will be a very large Thank you gift basket from me, filled with a whole lot of really good stuff. 
To enter, you will need to go to the main Winter’s Favorite’s Giveaway page (click link above to take you to contest page) and use Rafflecopter to enter.  Each day there will be new requirements to enter. You can enter every day to increase your odds at win a prize or two.  There is no limit to how many prized one person can win.  So even if you enter on day 1, 3, 10 and 25.  You can still win a prize from any of the 31 days, including my Huge Thank you basket. 
So let’s get this Celebration Started. 
For day 1 the Wonderful Yasmine Galenorn has sent me a signed copy of her newest book Courting Darkness (book 10 in Otherworld series). 

Courting Darkness
by Yasmine Galenorn
Order Here: Amazon| B&N
 We’re the D’Artigo sisters: sexy, savvy ex-operatives for the Otherworld Intelligence Agency. But being half-human, half-Fae means our powers go haywire at all the wrong times. My sister Delilah is a Death Maiden and werecat who belongs to the Autumn Lord. My sister Menolly is a vampire who’s dating a gorgeous werepuma, and the godfather of the undead-set. And me? I’m Camille, Priestess of the Moon Mother, married to a dragon, a youkai, and a Svartan. But my dragon father-in-law has decided that he doesn’t like having me for a member of the family…
It’s Winter Solstice, and Aeval welcomes me into her Court of Darkness. With Morio still dangerously weak from his injuries and Vanzir alive only thanks to my silence, the thought of training under Morgaine doesn’t seem as daunting as it did. But then, Hyto returns to shatter my life. Captured and swept off to the Dragon Reaches, can I manage to stay alive long enough to escape, even as Smoky’s father intends to break my spirit, then my body?
So I am going to start off the Winter Giveaway with my Favorite thing about winter.  My favorite thing is warm drinks, a good book and family time, but when I am not doing that.  Give me a mountain, a snowboard and some really warm gloves because I LOVE SNOWBOARDING!!!!!!


So now that you know my favorite… Swing over to the main Winter’s Favorite’s Giveaway and enter.  Don’t forget to leave a comment here!!