Sharon Wray's Blog, page 25

The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Peanut Butter Gems

New Year’s Eve is almost here and I’m still baking. So today I’m sharing one of my favorite and easiest peanut butter chocolate cookie recipes. They don’t take long to make and there’s no baking time at all. I hope you enjoy them and have a great holiday weekend!

PrintPeanut Butter GemsI make these in a 9×13" pan, but they can also be made into round buckeye cookies. But if you make it this way, and then dip the balls into the chocolate, you may need to double the chocolate amount.Course DessertKeyword CookiesPrep Time 30 minutes minutesChill Time 30 minutes minutesServings 30Calories 286kcalIngredients1 ½ cups peanut butter smooth1 cup unsalted butter softened4 cups powdered sugar1 ⅓ cups graham crackers crumbs2 cups milk chocolate chips2 Tablespoons butterInstructionsGrease a 9×13" baking pan. Set aside.In a large bowl, beat the peanut butter, butter, and powdered sugar until creamy. Then stir in the graham cracker crumbs. Spread this mixture evenly into the 9×13" prepared pan. Cover with plastic wrap and chill.In the top part of a double boiler over boiling water, melt the chocolate chips and remaining 2 Tablespoons of butter. Stir until it is all melted. Then immediately pour it over the peanut butter bars in the pan. Smooth the chocolate until all the bars are covered. Chill for another 30 minutes. Cut and store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

The post The Hungry {Romance} Writer: Peanut Butter Gems first appeared on Sharon Wray.

The Merry Christmas Gentlemen

“God Rest you Merry, Gentlemen“, now known as “God Rest Ye Merry, Gentlemen” is a traditional English Christmas Carol. It was written in the 1650s, and briefly became known as “Tidings of Comfort and Joy“. This famous song is listed in the Roxburghe Collection of Ballads (a collection of seventeenth-century musical broadsheets), and the earliest version of the printed musical sheet dates to 1760. But around 1775, something unusual happened to the opening line lyrics. A London street-caroler sang the song a bit differently, and this variant text was then printed in The Beauties of the Magazines, and Other Periodical Works, Selected for a Series of Years, 1975. That basically made the new lyrics a law.

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So what was this change in lyrics? And why should any of us care? Because the well-meaning street caroler moved a comma. And that, in turn, changed the meaning of two small words. Most language students understand (hopefully) that grammar is hugely important and, when mis-used, can cause all sorts of misunderstandings. For example, “Let’s eat, Joe” versus “Lets eat Joe”. And when the street caroler changed the comma, it moved from “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” to “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen”. In the first case, Merry is a ditransitive form of an old Anglo-Saxon verb. In the second, Merry is an adjective. And we’ll get to the difference in a moment.

Next, let’s break down the word “rest”. In today’s English, it means to sleep or lie down or just stay still when one is tired. But “rest” comes from the Latin ‘restāre’  and since it’s found in all Romance languages, it’s ‘Rester’ in French and ‘restare’ in Italian. So in the case of this Christmas carol, it means to “keep”, “cause to remain”, or even “make”. But it does not mean to lie down and take a nap with the kids and dogs after eating and drinking too much. But when the comma changed, the meaning of the word “rest” also had to change for the new sentence to make sense.

The second word that has changed meaning is the word “Merry”. In older forms of English, Merry does NOT mean happy. It actually means “might” or “great”. Robin Hood’s men were described as “merry”, meaning strong and scary. Armies, especially Roman and Celtic armies, were also labeled as “merry” for their fearsome fighters. So when the street caroler changed the comma, and the modern ear changed the meaning of our words, the song we hear now is “God Rest Ye, Merry Gentlemen”. Meaning, God let you happy men take a nap. But the true meaning of “God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen” means May God make you great and mighty, men!

I hope you all have a Great and Mighty Christmas season and a wonderful New Year!

The post The Merry Christmas Gentlemen first appeared on Sharon Wray.

Merry Christmas!

I just want to wish all of my family, friends, and readers a very Merry Christmas and a wonderful holiday season!

The post Merry Christmas! first appeared on Sharon Wray.

A Flurry of Christmas Romances

Today I have some free and on-sale Christmas romances for you, just in time for the holidays. I love reading and writing Christmas romances so I have eight for you this year. Six are mine, and two are from close friends: Susanna Eastman, who writes steamy-yet-sweet romance and Meg Napier who writes the loveliest second-chance romances. The selections below include six standalone novellas in my Deadly Force and Kingsmill Courtships series, and there are also holiday anthologies filled will holiday happily ever afters from other authors as well. I hope you enjoy them, and Merry Christmas!

Now on sale for .99!The Christmas Lily

Is Christmas Magic worth risking everything for… including the love of those they care about most?

Juliet Capel, from a remote southern sea isle shrouded in history and secrets, has never truly belonged anywhere. But now that she’s married to the man she’s always loved, she’s determined to share her dream of the perfect Christmas with her new family and the people of the Isle of Grace who’ve never accepted her. Except her dream falls apart on Christmas Eve when a rare snowstorm hits the isle, her father disappears, and Father Thomas threatens to cancel Midnight Mass. 

Green Beret Rafe Montfort will do anything for his new wife, even if that means hunting down everyone on the godforsaken Isle of Grace and forcing them to attend Midnight Mass. Although he doesn’t understand why his beautiful bride needs the acceptance of the people of the isle–especially those who treated her terribly during her poverty-stricken childhood–he knows this perfect Christmas is important to her. But what he’s willing to do for her could threaten everyone’s Christmas… along with their future happiness.

This is a prequel novella to Every Deep Desire, book 1 in the Deadly Force series.

Available now! ↦Free on Bookfunnel!Holly and HeartstringsAn Anthology of Christmas Romances

Christmas is nigh! Step into a world of romance where the chill of winter is no match for the heat of love. “Holly and Heartstrings: An Anthology of Christmas Romances” brings together a selection of heartwarming and slightly steamy stories that capture the magic of the holiday season. 

Whether it’s a chance encounter in a snowstorm, a rekindled flame at a Christmas market, or an unexpected kiss under the mistletoe, these tales are sure to melt your heart and warm your soul. Cozy up with your favorite blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, and let these enchanting love stories whisk you away to a winter wonderland where love is always in the air.

This collection includes my Christmas novella Home for the Honeymoon.

Authors include: Lilah Hart, Sharon Wray, Ella Braeme, Joann Baker & Patricia Mason, and Katherine Moore

Available now! ↦Now on sale and in KU!Let’s Get Naughty Vol. 3A Limited Edition Christmas Romance Anthology

If you think it’s too soon to get on Santa’s naughty list…think again. It’s time for Volume 3! So cancel your plans and spend this holiday season with 35+ romance authors who have teamed up to bring you a delicious holiday treat.

This holiday collection will have it all: fake relationships, second chances, enemies to lovers, friends to lovers, workplace romance, age gap, CEO’s, bikers, and falling for the best friend’s brother. Since each of the authors will have an unforgettable, steamy story, grab a blanke, and find your next favorite author today. Let’s Get Naughty 3 is the perfect anthology for you to binge this holiday season.

This collection includes my Christmas novella Snowbound with Lily.

Available now! ↦Now on sale!Winter Wishes & Holiday KissesA Limited Edition Hot Holiday Romance Collection

Anything can happen during the holidays!

Get ready to be swept off your feet by the flames of desire in the Winter Wishes and Holiday Kisses anthology. This exclusive anthology celebrates the winter holidays with contemporary romance that will thaw even the coldest of hearts.

From snowy landscapes to festive celebrations, these stories capture the essence of the season in all its splendor. From friends-to-lovers, forced proximity, grumpy/sunshine, and more, these authors invite you to experience the magic and steaminess of the holidays.

Don’t miss your chance to experience the ultimate holiday romance. Order your copy today and melt away the winter chill.

This collection includes my Christmas novella His Christmas Runaway Bride.

Available now! ↦Now on sale for .99!Someone Like Him for Christmas

She wasn’t looking for love… but Christmas has a way of surprising you.

For Carolyn Hardy, the holiday season is the loneliest time of the year. Quiet, brilliant, and hopelessly awkward, she craves connection but never thought she’d find it at Fantasy, an exclusive club with one rule–no strings attached.

Billionaire Martin Fuller has everything money can buy, but the glow of Christmas lights leaves him yearning for more. Meeting Carolyn at the club feels like a gift he never expected, and as their no-strings arrangement deepens, the magic of the season begins to rewrite the rules of their hearts. And changes everything they thought they knew about love… and Christmas.

Available now! ↦Now for sale!Love in Other WorldsChristmas Romance Digest 2024: Book 2

 A magic-filled collection of Christmas-themed portal fantasy romance novelettes.

Slipping through a portal to another strange world, filled with magical beings and fantasy creatures, and finding true love is challenge enough for any self-respecting hero or heroine.  How much more magic and mischief can Christmas deliver to transworld-travellers and their loved ones? 
 
Here are seven delightful Christmas romances featuring fantasy worlds reached from ours via portals of all varieties, where our heroes and heroines struggle to find true love at this most magical time of the year. 

 Authors/stories included :

“Veilbound” by Taylen Carver 
“Winter Fruit” by Chelsea Mueller 
“Second Christmas Solstice” by Meg Napier 
“The Hanukkah Pretzel Prophecy” by M.L. Buchman 
“Crowning the Snow Queen” by Michelle Moras 
“Ornaments of Ice” by Erin M. Hartshorn 
“Blackmont Bitters” by Tracy Cooper-Posey 
 

Available now! ↦Now on sale for .99!Nice Until Proven NaughtyA Limited Edition Romance Collection

Find the magic of the season under the mistletoe.

Spice up your reading with this collection of heartwarming and steamy Christmas romances featuring everything from sweet, snow-covered second chances to fiery nights by the fireplace. This collection of holiday romances delivers the charm and the magic of the holiday season.

Whether you prefer the nice or the naughty side of romance, there’s a story here to warm your heart or spice up your winter night. Are you ready to be naughty or nice this Christmas?

This collection includes my Christmas novella Eve’s Christmas Kiss.

Authors include: Colleen key, Holly Winters, Ella Graeme, Sharon Wray, and Maya Black.

Available now! ↦

This is a Bookfunnel collection of 35 FREE contemporary romance holiday romance novels. These are sweet and slightly steamy Christmas and holiday romances, and it includes my Kingsmill Courtships novella The Brightest Christmas Star. I hope they keep you warm during these cold nights and help ward off the holiday blues which can affect us all.

The post A Flurry of Christmas Romances first appeared on Sharon Wray.

Sarah Munro’s Winter Cranberry Tea

It’s freezing out and I’m gasping for my favorite hot beverages. But I’m also a bit tired of peppermint coffees and hot chocolates. Especially in the afternoon when I want something lighter and bit sweeter. This cranberry tea, made with fresh cranberries and cinnamon sticks, has become my new favorite afternoon treat.

For those of you new to this series, Sarah Munro, the heroine in ONE DARK WISH, the second book in the Deadly Force series, is an 18th century historian who inherited a collection of colonial-era herbal and homeopathic remedies. And, in this blog space, I’ve been sharing her recipes with you all. I’m adding this cranberry tea to this collection because all of the ingredients are not only delicious, they are filled with antioxidants, and Vitamins C and E which can protect against chronic diseases and support urinary tract health. They also all have anti-inflammatory properties and support your immune system, a critical need during this time of year.

Ingredients:

3 cups fresh cranberries4 cinnamon sticks12 whole cloves5 quarts water1 1/2 cups sugar1/2 cup orange juice1/2 cup lemon juiceDirectionsIn a large saucepan, boil the cranberries, cinnamon, cloves, and water for 30 minutes.Strain the tea and discard the cranberries, cinnamon sticks, and cloves.Stir in the sugar until it is dissolved. Then stir in the lemon and orange juices.Serve the tea in pre-warmed mugs. IMPORTANT DISCLAIMER ABOUT WILD PLANTS, FORAGING , AND MAKING HERBAL REMEDIES:

I am not a medical professional and nothing written on this blog is medical advice. None of my statements have been evaluated by the FDA (I am legally required to give you this disclaimer).

It is important to do your due diligence before foraging, harvesting, and/or consuming any type of medicinal plant.

If you are taking any medications, talk to your doctor about any potential drug interactions.If you are allergic to anything, make sure whatever you are foraging is not in the same family. Example: While dandelions are typically considered safe, those who are allergic to ragweed, latex, daisies, or any other plants in the same or similar families, may not be able to consume dandelion.

Always research potential side effects, dosage recommendations, and how to properly prepare and consume each medicinal plant.

Always make sure you are foraging what you believe to be. Fully prepare and study the anatomy before harvesting wild plants.

Always make sure your kitchen/work area is clean and that all materials are sterilized.

Do not forage plants from areas that have been sprayed within the past 2 years at the very least.

I am not legally or morally responsible for the health of any of my readers. Please do your own research!

The post Sarah Munro’s Winter Cranberry Tea first appeared on Sharon Wray.

Waiting for the Darkest Day

This is an edited repost from the archives.

That old saying about everything being darkest before the dawn comes from an event that takes place every year on December 21 ~ The Winter Solstice. The word “Solstice” is derived from an ancient Latin word “solstitium” meaning “sun” (sol) + “stitium” meaning “to stand still”. The Winter Solstice is the day when the earth’s orbit is tilted the farthest away from the sun, and the sun travels the shortest path across the sky. Unlike the Fall and Spring equinoxes where the days and nights are the same length, the Winter Solstice is gives us the shortest day and the longest night of the year. It also ushers in the colder winter weather. Luckily for us, with each passing day, the earth begins to tilt towards the sun again bringing longer days and shorter nights.

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Every place in the world has its own folklore and stories about the Winter Solstice, some dating back to neolithic times. In Pakistan, the Kalash people celebrate the Festival of Chaomos where they perform ritual baths as part of a purification process before attending a huge bonfire with feasting and dancing. In China, and other East Asian countries, they celebrate the Dongzhi Festival. This tradition derives from the concept of Yin and Yang philosophy of balance and harmony on the earth and in they sky. During this festival, families gather and eat tangyuan (balls of rice) that symbolize reunion. In northern territories, they eat dumplings to keep themselves warm.

In Scandinavia, it’s the time of the Yuul celebration. It used to be a pagan celebration when Yuul logs were burned and bonfires were lit to symbolize heat and honor the sun. They believed that the Yuul (now called Yule) log had a magical effect on making the sun burn longer and more brightly, and the embers frightened away evil spirits. They celebrated with mead (fermented honey) while minstrels sang of the ancient legends and gods. Today this festival is imbued with christian beliefs and leads into Christmas and the Epiphany.

In India, there is a huge festival known as Makar Sankranti, a time of gift giving and special prayers. Then there is the Jewish festival of Hanukkah whose Festival of Lights is a metaphor for the hopeful return of the sun and lengthening of days. Even the Romans celebrated this time of year with their festival of Saturnalia. It was a huge (some historians say debauched) party dedicated to Saturn, the god of agriculture, whose favor they hoped to garner when the spring planting time came around.

One of the most famous celebrations still takes place at Stonehenge, an extraordinary stone monument built by Neolithic people in Wiltshire, England. It may be at least 5,000 years old, and its massive stones are perfectly aligned with the sun’s rays on the Winter Solstice and the Summer Solstice. Archaeological evidence shows that the Druids (a group of Celtic pagans) held huge feasts, with dancing, eating, bonfires, and sacrifices around the monument while they waited for the sunset to be visible through the center of the stone circle.

In christian traditions, St. Lucy’s Day (December 13) and three Ember Days lead up to the winter solstice during this season called Advent. This year, the Ember Days are December 18, 20, and 21, and they are a time of prayer and fasting in gratitude. Gratitude for the previous harvest. Gratitude for making it through the winter so far. And gratitude for the coming spring when the world is renewed.

I love holidays that involve food and household traditions. One of the traditions my family used to do is pretty boring, actually. We’d clean the house for Christmas Eve. But when we were done, we’d light candles and have a simple supper while listening to Christmas Carols. Now as an adult, I like to make a do-ahead dinner, like my favorite Chicken Pot Pies, so they’re ready when the house is clean. But I also put on a winter simmer pot. I’ve linked to the pot pies, but here are the directions for a fragrant simmer pot with a wintery scent that leaves the house warm and cozy.

PrintWinter Simmer PotPrep Time 5 minutes minutesCook Time 6 hours hoursTotal Time 6 hours hours 5 minutes minutesServings 1 potIngredients2 cups fresh cranberries1 large orange thinly sliced3 sprigs fresh pine1 large apple thinly sliced3 sticks cinnamon1 Tablespoon whole cloves4 whole star anise4 sprigs fresh rosemaryInstructionsIn a large pot, add 2 cups of water (or at least 5 inches). Place the pot on the stove and bring to simmer.Stir in all the ingredients. Allow the pot to simmer for 6 hours, making sure to refill the water whenever necessary. SAFETY CONCERN: Never leave the simmer pot unattended or allow the water to evaporate completely while on the hot stove.

The post Waiting for the Darkest Day first appeared on Sharon Wray.

A Candy Cane for Christmas

I love candy canes. Not only are they fun to use as decorations, I love their peppermint flavor in hot chocolates, coffee, and cookies and baked treats. But they’re not just a sweet candy that brightens the tree and cookie dough. Candy canes, which have been around for at least 350 years, have a long, interesting history.

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These white sugar sticks, which took a lot of time and work to make, were originally given to children during the long Christmas Eve mass to help keep them quiet. The color white symbolized the purity of the Virgin’s birth and the piety of the characters showcased in nativity scenes. White represented the truth that Christ was sinless from the moment of birth to the moment of his death, and the candy’s hardness symbolizes the church, which is the rock of the Christian faith.

In 1670, the shape of this candy changed when a choirmaster at Cologne Cathedral in Germany wanted to honor his bishop with a candy in the shape of a shepherd’s staff. The shepherd’s staff is a Christian symbol for Jesus Christ as the good shepherd. And when you turn it upside down, the “J” shape of the candy stands for Jesus’s name. (The story about this choirmaster may be apocraphyl, but I’m sharing it anyway because it’s charming. :))

It wasn’t until 1847 that peppermint flavor was added to the candy, and that candy canes were first used to decorate Christmas trees. Christmas trees had been around for a long time, often being burned for weeks on end as a Yule Log. But in the 19th century, August Imgard, a German-Swedish immigrant from Wooster, Ohio, decorated an indoor Christmas tree with paper ornaments and peppermint candy canes. Since peppermint is a natural rodent deterrent, people began hanging candy canes on their live Christmas trees after bringing them inside their homes. They hoped that the candy canes would prevent creatures from seeking out their inside trees.

In the early 20th century, the color changed from a solid white to the white and red stripes we see now. These red stripes represent the plight of Jesus during his crucifixion and the blood he shed on the cross. Then, in the 1920’s in Atlanta, Bob McCormack, who owned The Famous Candy Company, was the first to give candy canes as Christmas gifts. But it wasn’t until the 1950’s that candy canes surged in popularity. And that popularity was due to a machine that was designed to automate candy cane production.

Up until 1950, candy canes were a ton of work to make but after Gregory Keller (Bob McCormack’s brother-in-law and a Catholic priest) invented a candy cane-making machine, candy canes became a commodity that could be distributed worldwide. This machine, known as the Keller Machine, was in use for over 80 years, and the Famous Candy Company changed its name to Bob’s Candies. Now candy canes are mass produced, using a similar machine to the Keller Machine, with the main difference being that the candy is covered with cellophane before they’re bent into their “J”shape. Not long ago, Bob’s Candies Company was bought by the Farley and Sathers Candy Company, and they still sell Bob’s original candy canes.

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An Ember to Light Your Days

Yesterday we entered a period of time, right before the Winter Solstice known as Ember Days. Ember Days appear four times a year, always in a series of three, always on a Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday following set seasonal markers. Ember Days are times set aside in the Christian calendar for additional fasting, prayer, thankfulness, and for asking requests for those in need. The December Ember days always occur after December 13th (the Feast of St. Lucy in the Catholic tradition), so this year (2024) they fall on December 18th, 20th, and 21st.

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The name “Ember Days” could be derived from the Latin quattuor tempora, which means “Four Times” or “Four Seasons.” Or it could also come from the Anglo-Saxon word ymbryne with means “cycle” or “round”. Regardless of the original source, these days always occur before the Fall and Spring Equinoxes (where days are equal length) and the Winter and Summer Solstices (where night and day are the longest and shortest of the year). Throughout history, these three days were set aside, four times a year, as way to celebrate the passing of each season with fasting, prayer, and time spent with family. The specific days of Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday refer to the days Jesus was betrayed, crucified, and entombed.

In December, the Ember days fall during Advent, the period of waiting before Christmas Day. Since Advent is already a time of quiet reflection and penance, I try to do something extra special during these days, including making Ymbryne Tarts for dinner. Below, I’ve posted some ways to celebrate these days, as well as a recipe for Ymbryne Tarts.

Ways to observe Winter’s Ember DaysFasting and Abstinence: Traditionally, Ember Days involved fasting and abstinence from meat, but anything can be abstained from. For me, this means avoiding Christmas cookies and my favorite peppermint hot chocolate. If you don’t want to give up food, maybe offer up a habit you’re trying to break. This self-discipline tactic purifies the body and soul. Prayer and Reflection: Journaling in the early morning hours, with a hot cup of coffee and buried under a blanket, is a lovely way to begin the day. Light your favorite candle and spend time in focused reflection. This practice is a wonderful way to strengthen your spiritual life and can ease the anxiety that sometimes comes with the holiday season. Acts of Charity: ‘Tis the season to give to others, whether wrapping gifts at a local church or checking on an elderly neighbor. Giving to others is a balm for the soul.Pray for Vocations: These days are a wonderful time to pray for those who serve all people through the priesthood and other religious positions. Ymbryne Tarts: These onion and egg tarts, similar to a quiche, are a perfect way to end a day of fasting or as an easy alternative to a complicated dinner. Filled with seasonal leeks, gruyere cheese, and herbs, this tart is not too unlike the earliest Ymbryne Tart recipe that dates back to 1390. PrintYmbryne TartThe original recipe I used as a kid included yellow onions, cheddar cheese, and raisins. But my kids hate raisins, and I prefer leeks and Gruyere cheese. So I tweaked this recipe to give it a more modern twist. I also sometimes will use a frozen puff pastry (defrosted and set in the 9" pie plate) to save time.Course Main CoursePrep Time 20 minutes minutesCook Time 40 minutes minutesResting Time 15 minutes minutesServings 6Calories 420kcalIngredientsTart Crust1 ⅓ cup flourdash sugar1 teaspoon salt1/2 cup butter chilled and cut into small chunks2-4 Tablespoons ice waterFilling2 large leeks (white parts only) washed and chopped into 1/2" chunks1 cup parsley washed and coarsely chopped1/2 cup Gruyere cheese shredded8 large eggs beaten1 Tablespoon butter melted1/8 teaspoon saffron1/2 Tablespoon sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/8 teaspoon each of dried sage1/8 teaspoon dried basil1/8 teaspoon dried thymeInstructionsTart CrustIn a large bowl of a food processor, mix together the flour, salt, and sugar. Pulse in the butter and keep pulsing until the dough forms small balls. Then add the water, 1 Tablespoon, at a time until the dough comes together. I use about 3 Tablespoons of water, sometimes just a dash more.Turn the dough onto a floured surface and form into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and chill in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes.Tart FillingFill a large pot with water and bring to a boil. Meanwhile, prep the onions. Put the onions in the boiling water for 3 minutes and then drain. Chop the cooked onions and parsley and place in a large bowl. Stir in the Gruyere cheese, beaten eggs, butter, saffron, sugar, salt, basil, sage, and thyme. Set aside.Preheat the oven to 350 ℉.Take the dough out of the refrigerator and roll out the dough to a 12" circle, or big enough for a 9" deep dish pie plate. Place the dough into the pie plate and flute the dough edges.Pour the filling into the dough in the pie plate. Bake for 35-40 minutes. Make sure the dough is golden brown on the edges and the eggs are set. Remove from the oven and let it cook for 15 minutes before serving.

A random note: According to folklore, and the Farmer’s Almanac, the weather we have during the four Embertide periods will foretell the weather conditions for the next three months. So I’m grateful the weather, while rainy, has been warmer than usual.

The post An Ember to Light Your Days first appeared on Sharon Wray.

The Christmas Lily is now on sale!

Since it’s the holiday season, I’m so happy to announce that The Christmas Lily is now on sale for .99! This story originally appeared in a Christmas anthology years ago and is now on Amazon. It’s a short story that takes place before Every Deep Desire, book 1 in the Deadly Force series. And it gives you all a chance to see Rafe and Juliet (the hero and heroine in Every Deep Desire) before their lives shattered in so many pieces that it took me 135,000 words in Every Deep Desire to bring them back together.

So up until Christmas, this e-book is on sale for .99 (from $2.99). I hope you love it as much as I loved writing it.

The Christmas Lily On sale now for .99!

Is Christmas Magic worth risking everything for… including the love of those they care about most?

Juliet Capel, from a remote southern sea isle shrouded in history and secrets, has never truly belonged anywhere. But now that she’s married to the man she’s always loved, she’s determined to share her dream of the perfect Christmas with her new family and the people of the Isle of Grace who’ve never accepted her. Except her dream falls apart on Christmas Eve when a rare snowstorm hits the isle, her father disappears, and Father Thomas threatens to cancel Midnight Mass. 

Green Beret Rafe Montfort will do anything for his new wife, even if that means hunting down everyone on the godforsaken Isle of Grace and forcing them to attend Midnight Mass. Although he doesn’t understand why his beautiful bride needs the acceptance of the people of the isle–especially those who treated her terribly during her poverty-stricken childhood–he knows this perfect Christmas is important to her. But what he’s willing to do for her could threaten everyone’s Christmas… along with their future happiness.

Buy for .99!

The post The Christmas Lily is now on sale! first appeared on Sharon Wray.

December Book Fairs & Events: Part 2

I have more holiday book/reader promos and events, just for you! Today’s list includes three FREE bookfunnel novella promos and anthologies as well as other book/reader promos. These events offer readers a chance to find new free books and new favorite authors.

1Romance Advent Calendar

The Romance Advent Calendar is a Bookfunnel collection of 35 FREE contemporary romance holiday romance novels. These are sweet and slightly steamy Christmas and holiday romances, and it includes my Kingsmill Courtships novella The Brightest Christmas Star.

2Holly and Heartstrings Free Christmas Romance Anthology

Next we have the FREE Bookfunnel Romance Anthology collection Holly and Heartstrings. Christmas is nigh! Step into a world of romance where the chill of winter is no match for the heat of love. “Holly and Heartstrings: An Anthology of Christmas Romances” brings together a selection of heartwarming and slightly steamy stories that capture the magic of the holiday season. Whether it’s a chance encounter in a snowstorm, a rekindled flame at a Christmas market, or an unexpected kiss under the mistletoe, these tales are sure to melt your heart and warm your soul. Cozy up with your favorite blanket and a cup of hot cocoa, and let these enchanting love stories whisk you away to a winter wonderland where love is always in the air. My story in this FREE collection is my Kingsmill Courtships holiday novella Home for the Honeymoon.

Authors include: Lilah Hart, Sharon Wray, Ella Braeme, Joann Baker & Patricia Mason, and Katherine Moore.

3Where Danger Meets Desire Bookfunnel Promo

This is a year-long promo that includes FREE novellas in the Contemporary Romance/Military Romantic Suspense genres. This collection includes my Deadly Force novella Searching for Ever After.

4Winter-Themed Romances Bookfunnel Promo

This is a collection of holiday and winter-themed romances that are free, up for preorder, and also on sale. This collection includes contemporary romances, dark and sexy romances, billionaires, sports romances, and lot of other popular romance sub-genres.

5Spicy Reads Romance Bookfunnel Promo

This collection of romances are free, up for preorder, and also on sale. This collection includes contemporary romances, sexy sci-fi romances, billionaires, sports romances, and many other popular romance sub-genres including a few boxsets and anthologies.

6I Like My Books Spicy Bookfunnel Promo

This collection of romances are free, up for preorder, and also on sale. This collection includes contemporary romances, paranormal/shifters romances, sexy sci-fi romances, dark romances and billionaires, sports romances, and many other popular romance sub-genres including a few boxsets and anthologies.

7The Isn’t it Romantic Book Club Group Monthly Livestream

The Isn’t It Romantic Book Club Group will be live-streaming on January 30 while we interview Ginger Scott and her newest release Home Game! It’ll be live-streamed on our YouTube channel and we hope you’ll join us there!

The post December Book Fairs & Events: Part 2 first appeared on Sharon Wray.