Laurisa White Reyes's Blog, page 16

WRITER 2 WRITER: HOW TO KEEP WRITING DESPITE THE HOLIDAY MADNESS

The holiday season is crazy busy for most of us, which means less time to write. With all the wonderful chaos of kids home on vacation, traveling, Christmas parties, and hosting out-of-town guests it is easy to lose momentum and fall behind in our personal goals.

So, how do writers keep writing? How do we carve out enough alone time to keep up with our works-in-progress? Here are five quick tips to help keep your creativity alive through the winter:

1.     KEEP A SCHEDULE – If you want to write during the holidays, you have to make it your #1 priority. If you don’t, everything else—cleaning the house, wrapping presents, baking strudel—will fill up all your time, leaving not a moment for personal creativity. That’s why it is vital to schedule a specific time each day to write. It should be the same time every day. Whether it’s morning or night, for an hour or ten minutes, is completely up to you. But put your writing time on your calendar and avoid scheduling anything else during your “ME TIME.”

2.     LEARN TO SAY “NO” – Between family gatherings, school celebrations, concerts, parties, performances, and more, you could easily fill every spare moment with Holiday Cheer. While it may be a given to support your kid’s performance in The Nutcracker Ballet or their school winter concert, maybe this year you could pass on your neighbor’s cookie exchange party or Great Aunt Marge’s yuletide sing-a-long. Make a list of all the events you could attend and select just those few that are the most important. Then cross the rest off the list!

3.     STOP FEELING GUILTY – Your son wants you to make pancakes. Your daughter needs help finding her missing shoe. Your husband can’t find the laundry detergent. Remember, this is YOUR TIME. You’ve earned it. Close your office or bedroom door. Lock it. Tape a sign on it that says “BACK IN 1 HOUR”. Tell your family you need this time to write, but they can have you the rest of the day. Trust me. They will survive without you no matter how much they whine.

4.     JUST KEEPING WRITING – Has the holiday madness muddled your brain? Can’t think of a single word to put down on paper? It doesn’t matter what you write as long as you write something. The goal during Christmas break is not to complete the next great American novel by New Year’s. Your objective should be to keep your writing habits in place and to keep up the momentum so when 2018 hits you don’t have to pick up the shattered pieces of your writing life. If you can’t think creatively, use your alone time to write a letter to a friend, update your journal, or start your gift list for next year.

5.     LET IT GO! – So, you missed a day because you absolutely HAD to help your son sell Christmas Trees for his Boy Scout troop’s annual fundraiser, or you woke up with an Egg Nog hangover from hell. Missing one day won’t kill you. Get over it. Pick yourself up and do what you need to do tomorrow. Just don’t let the missed days accumulate. One missed day is no biggie, but two or three and you’re setting yourself up for major bad habit repair work. Either way, whatever happens – whether you successfully manage to write a paragraph (or a sentence) a day for a month, or you throw it all to the wind and say to hell with it! – don’t beat yourself up. The holidays can be insane, but they are also joyous. Let go of the self-criticism and enjoy the spirit of the season.

$50 CHRISTMAS CASH GIVEAWAY

 Her TV Bachelor Fake Fiancé by Kimberly Krey Cambria gave this year’s TV Bachelor the face-slap seen & heard across America. Can she offer him redemption too? Canyon Byer, pharmaceutical rep turned famous model, is the new eligible bachelor on Find My Fiancé. Weeks into filming the reality TV show, Canyon earns the title of America’s Shallow Bachelor, as he seems to eliminate women with substance. As the finale draws near, he needs a shot at redemption, but in order to get it, America’s favorite bachelorette—the same woman Canyon wishes he hadn’t wronged—will have to give him a second chance. While Cambria Wilson sits among family and friends during finale night, mixed feelings fight for a place in her heart. Sure, she and Canyon shared a very memorable kiss and she’d even been falling for him until she realized what a jerk he was, but that doesn’t explain the strange sadness that looms as she waits to see which of the finalists he’ll propose to. In an unexpected twist during the final episode, Cambria learns that Canyon’s not going to propose to either of the bachelorettes left on the show. In fact, he’s about to appear on the doorstep of a woman he hopes to win back—all on live TV. The bachelorette will be asked to join Canyon on a two-week winter wonderland getaway. Cambria would bet her Soap and Body Shop that she’s the last woman he’d choose; that is, until the chime of her doorbell proves her wrong.   Her Crazy Rich Fake Fiancé by Jennifer Youngblood Haven Lockwood’s Christmas takes a nosedive when she discovers that her mother and identical twin sister, Brynn, ditched her, leaving her to spend Christmas alone in their New York City apartment. To make matters worse, Brynn’s boyfriend Wyatt shows up, ready to take Brynn on a road trip to Atlanta to meet his family. Haven is fully prepared to tell Wyatt the hard news—that her flighty twin sister jetted off to Ireland with a movie star, leaving him high and dry—however, when she finds herself staring into his mesmerizing blue eyes, all explanations fly out the window. Not only is Wyatt devastatingly handsome, but also charming and witty with an adorable Southern accent that rolls like a ballad off his tongue. Haven knows that when Wyatt looks at her with adoring eyes it’s only because he has mistaken her for her glamorous clothing designer sister. She wants to tell Wyatt the truth, but she can’t stand the thought of spending Christmas alone. As one thing leads to another and Haven and Wyatt share a near-kiss, Haven makes a split-second decision to accompany Wyatt to Atlanta—as Brynn! When the sizzling attraction deepens to something real, Haven faces an internal dilemma—should she come clean now, before Christmas, or wait until afterwards? Will the truth destroy Haven’s chance for happiness … or will it be the very thing that brings two searching hearts together?     Her Hollywood Fake Fiancé by Taylor Hart A famous movie star and the drama teacher who calls him a hack! Will they get their Christmas Miracle? Grant Kent, movie star extraordinaire, doesn't like the fact he has to have a fake 'media' relationship with his co-star to keep his movie producer's happy. And he really doesn't like the fact his brothers' give him grief about it. So when he's asked to help out at an acting camp for inner city kids, he jumps at the chance to do something real. Too bad the woman in charge tells him outright she thinks he's a hack. The talented Jewel Olympia only wants to help inner city kids by giving them an opportunity to learn acting skills. When she's notified the week before Christmas that the P.I. she's hired to track down her birth mother has a solid lead on her whereabouts, she decides it's time to finally meet the woman that abandoned her in a hospital emergency room twenty-five years ago. Too bad an amazing looking movie star keeps bugging her to go on a date--bug off, she's unavailable. But when her parents show up on her doorstep asking where she's going, she tries to distract them with Grant's star power to avoid hurting their feelings. When he blurts out he's her fiance, everything gets derailed and she finds herself on a jet to Jackson--this is not her life! When a simple trip turns into a media frenzy, they're left with a choice--trust in Christmas angels or lose everything.    Her Billionaire Boss Fake Fiancé by Cami Checketts Farm girl sass takes on America’s Most Eligible Bachelor in this fun fake fiance romance. Callum Hawk has it all—fame, money, and a family that loves him. He doesn’t have time for romance but that’s all right, his head of marketing does a great job scheduling dates with models and actresses for the necessary social events. When he almost hits Alexia Hall with his motorcycle, he’s intrigued by the feisty blonde and offers to hire her to be his fake fiancé for his brother’s wedding. When she not only turns him down but tells him to never come near her again, he has no clue what went wrong. Lexi Hall almost kills her billionaire boss--ripping his Brioni suit, and scarring his motorcycle. Her errant tongue offends him and she storms away from the job opportunity of a lifetime. Hours later, she finds out her mom has finally been matched to a kidney donor, if Lexi can help pay for the surgery and medications. Her options are to swallow her pride and beg Callum Hawk to take her back as his fake fiancé or jeopardize her mother’s health and let her entire family down.       Christmas Cash Giveaway Details $50 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 12/16/18 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the participating authors. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.      a Rafflecopter giveaway

$15 GIVEAWAY - THE SKELETON MAKES A FRIEND by Leigh Perry

The Skeleton Makes a Friend A Family Skeleton Mystery #5by Leigh PerryGenre: Cozy MysteryPub Date: 11/6/18
Georgia Thackery is feeling pretty good about her summer job teaching at prestigious Overfeld College, and she’s renting a rustic cabin right by a lake for herself, her daughter, Madison, and her best friend, Sid the Skeleton. Together again, the trio are enjoying the quiet when a teenager named Jen shows up looking for her friend. Georgia doesn’t recognize the name, but she learns that the person Jen was looking for is actually Sid.Sid reveals that he and Jen are part of a regular online gaming group that formed locally, and one of their members has gone missing. Sid admits that he might have bragged about his investigative prowess, enough so that Jen wants him to find their missing player. Given that Sid doesn’t have many friends offline—none, really, unless you count the Thackery family—Georgia agrees to help him search. They manage to discreetly enlist Jen, who lives in town, and follow the clues to… a dead buddy.Now they’ve got a killer on their hands. Probing the life of Sid’s friend, they realize a lot is wrong both on campus and in the seemingly quaint town, and someone doesn’t want them looking deeper.

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Though Leigh Perry was born in Pensacola, FL and raised in Charlotte, NC, she has been living north of Boston, MA for 26 years or so. She shares the house with her husband, two daughters, two guinea pigs, and a ludicrous selection of books. While the population of people and guinea pigs stays constant, the number of books is on an ever-rising curve. Under the name Toni L.P. Kelner, she’s published eleven novels and twenty-something short stories, as well as co-edited six urban fantasy anthologies with New York Times bestseller Charlaine Harris.
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$10 GIVEAWAY - A TRAGIC MIRACLE by Mindy Mather

A Tragic Miracleby Mindy MatherGenre: YA Romance 
Lacey looked forward to the bright future ahead of her. She had just graduated high school and was about to start college along with her twin brother Joshua and all of their closest friends. Life couldn't be better. That is until the night she was brutally raped and left for dead. After surviving that tragic experience, Lacey feels broken, dirty, and unworthy of love, but she soon discovers that the attack has also left her pregnant. Now she must make the most difficult decision of her life, abort the pregnancy or keep her baby.
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My name is Mindy M. Mather,
I have always enjoyed writing, ever since I was a young girl. As I got older I took a liking to Romance Novels specifically and decided that I wanted to write my own. My first novel, A Tragic Miracle, actually started out as a Sims 2 Machinima series that I made in 2008 and later decided to turn it into a book. It is one of my best stories, but I have many more that I am in the process of finishing.I hope that all of you will enjoy my books and if your interested in my sims 2 videos, they are on youtube. My youtube name is TMP200000.

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$25 GIVEAWAY - SECOND LOOK by Julie Coulter

 Second Look by Julie Coulter Bellon When the most wanted terrorist in the world escapes from a high security prison, Nate Hughes is part of the task force sent to recapture him. During the mission, he meets Abby, a fellow investigator that seems to have it all together. He's drawn to her and hopes they can join forces, but when her past is revealed, loyalties are called into question. Could she have turned against the country she once held dear? The CIA wants her captured and interrogated, but with a terrorist attack imminent, Abby may be the only person in a position to help them stop it. Nate must make a choice to either trust her or turn her in---but the wrong decision would clear the path for the largest attack on freedom the world has ever seen. And time is running out.   The lights were off, but a little sunshine filtered through the two high windows in the room. He peered inside, his weapon at the ready. He hadn’t expected to see a place that looked like something straight out of a luxury hotel with white linens, cream-colored couches, and pillows everywhere. Abby was curled up in the middle of the large four poster bed, her eyes closed. Her breaths weren’t even, though. Not only was she not very good at the quiet game, she was terrible at playing possum. “You’re a terrible faker,” he said softly, turning to shut the door. “The first rule of playing possum is to make sure you’re taking deep, measured breaths.” She sat up, staring at him in disbelief. “Are you a fake sleeping champion, too?” she said in mock annoyance. “I’ll have you know, you took about a year off my life. I thought you were Ramzi coming to check on me and I didn’t want to get caught with this.” She pulled a laptop out from underneath the pillows next to her. “Find anything interesting on it?” He smiled at repeating the same words to her that she’d said to him at Belmarsh. This was the Abby he’d met at the prison— confident and familiar. “I was just getting to that when you walked in.”      To celebrate the release of Second Look, books 1-3 in the Griffin Force Series are on sale December 10th & 11th!  Author Julie Coulter Bellon Julie Coulter Bellon is the author of nearly two dozen romantic suspense books. Her books All Fall Down won the RONE award for Best Suspense, The Capture was a Whitney finalist for Best Suspense/Mystery, and Pocket Full of Posies won a RONE Honorable Mention for Best Suspense. Julie loves to travel and her favorite cities she's visited so far are probably Athens, Paris, Ottawa, and London. In her free time she loves to read, write, teach, watch Hawaii Five-O, and eat Canadian chocolate. Not necessarily in that order.    
 
      Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash Ends 1/6/19 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  
 a Rafflecopter giveaway

BOOK REVIEW: THE FOXMAN by Gary Paulsen

THE FOXMAN
Gary Paulsen
Puffin Books
Ages 10 - 14

Carl and his cousin are lost and getting desperate when they find a shack hidden in the woods. It’s their only chance for shelter—but who could be living way out here? Then they see the Foxman. As he welcomes the boys, he grabs his mask—too late to hide his hideously mutilated face. Carl accepts his welcome, but is eager to leave the next morning. His cousin, however, will come back. There’s something about the Foxman he must know—about the tragedy that should have destroyed him, and the mystery of the wilderness that keeps him alive.

MY REVIEW:

Beautiful story about self-discovery, family, and compassion. After being taken from his unfit family and placed in the care of his uncle, the narrator learns the ways of the woods: hunting and trapping. When a snowstorm leads him to remote cabin and an old veteran with a deformed face, he discovers friendship and trust in the most unlikely of places. One of my favorite of Gary Paulsen's many books. Simple, direct, yet powerful. The Foxman is a memorable read.




CONTENT RATING:
* Though this book is for young readers, the main characters are teenage boys, and there are allusions to teen sex and mention of teen pregnancy.

Profanity: None
Sexuality: Moderate
Violence: Mild

$10 GIVEAWAY - PRINCESS MALINA OF CIERIA by Minday Mather

Princess Malina of GieriaUnknown Islands Series Book 1by Mindy MatherGenre: YA Fantasy Romance
Malina is the princess of her great island home known as Gieria. As such she knows she must fulfill certain duties, but she happens to be in love with the one guy that her mother, the queen, hates. Together they must overcome that obstacle and stop the threat of Malina's would be suitor who only wishes to become king and to do away with her.
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My name is Mindy M. Mather,
I have always enjoyed writing, ever since I was a young girl. As I got older I took a liking to Romance Novels specifically and decided that I wanted to write my own.
My first novel, A Tragic Miracle, actually started out as a Sims 2 Machinima series that I made in 2008 and later decided to turn it into a book. It is one of my best stories, but I have many more that I am in the process of finishing.I hope that all of you will enjoy my books and if your interested in my sims 2 videos, they are on youtube. My youtube name is TMP200000.

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12 DAYS OF CLEAN ROMANCE - THE GIFT OF LOVE by Delaney Cameron

  The Gift of Love by Delaney Cameron Leah didn’t plan to still be searching for love so late in her twenties. Her looks almost guarantee her success with the opposite sex, but quantity doesn’t mean quality. Good thing she’s got a great career to fall back on. The only dark cloud on that particular horizon is the enigmatic Dr. Levy, the man she’s come to think of as a permanent thorn in her side. Brilliant and handsome he most certainly is, but that doesn’t make up for the fact that he’s also stern, impatient, and bad-tempered. Oddly enough, it isn’t their mostly negative encounters that linger in her mind. Instead it’s the sadness she glimpses from time to time in his face. There’s no explanation for why she’s so bothered by this, nor can she imagine a situation where she’ll be in a position to discover the cause of his silent misery. All of which means she’s wasting her time. If anyone can take care of himself, it’s Dr. Levy. Stratton had only been at Hutchison Clinic a short time before he heard about the beautiful nurse on the second floor. In his usual skeptical fashion he discounted the gossip until he saw Leah for himself. He had no problem admitting that the reports of her beauty hadn’t been exaggerated, but appreciation was as far as he was prepared to go. Love, romance and the so-called happily-ever-after only exist in the movies. Putting your happiness in someone else’s hands is just begging to be hurt. He has a monthly alimony payment to prove it. Getting his family and friends to understand his preference for bachelorhood isn’t so easy. While he appreciates their concern, he doesn’t need the complication of something with such overwhelming odds of failure. One ex-wife is enough for any man. Author's Note: Although this book is a romance novel, it deals with loss and grief. If you're sensitive to these issues, this might not be the book for you.   Excerpt One: Leah walked out the side door of the house and didn’t look back. She’d known that going to this party would be a mistake. What had she expected? This is what happens when you’re dumb enough to go on a trip with three other girls, only one of whom you’re reasonably acquainted with. A shudder went through her that had nothing to do with the coolness of the night air. It had everything to do with being around guys who don’t understand what ‘no’ means. She wasn’t going to spend the rest of the evening hiding in the bathroom. The cabin belonging to Jessie’s parents that overlooked Lake Oconee was only a few miles away. She could be there in an hour if she walked fast. It was strange that she felt safer on a lonely road than in a house full of people. She’d always been afraid of the dark; now it seemed like a haven. A sweater would have been nice, but then again, she hadn’t expected to be returning from this adventure on foot. Not bringing the right clothes was the least of the mistakes she’d made lately, but thankfully the end of this disastrous weekend was in sight. By tomorrow evening, she’d be back in Myrtle Beach. The flash of a set of powerful headlights had her groaning inwardly. She moved off the road and reached in her pocket for her phone. Please don’t stop, she pleaded inside her head. In spite of this silent request, the profile of a truck pulled alongside her followed by the ominous low whine of the window sliding down. Great! This was just what she needed to make this terrible night complete. “Excuse me, miss,” said the last voice she expected to hear. “Do you need a ride?” Of all people, why did it have to be him? Was she ever going to be in a situation with this man that wasn’t embarrassing? At least he hadn’t recognized her yet. Hopefully, she could keep it that way. Not looking at him, she lowered her voice before replying, “No, thanks.” “Are you sure?” his deep voice persisted. “Very sure. My house is the next driveway.” Dr. Levy laughed and for some reason Leah’s heart began to beat faster. She quickly found a reason for this anomaly. She’d never heard him laugh before. She’d even entertained the thought that he’d forgotten how. Like everything else about him, it was hard to ignore. “That’s quite a coincidence,” he was saying. “My house is the next driveway, too.” She might as well give up. This just wasn’t her night. “That figures. I can’t even get away with a lie these days.” “There’s no need to lie. It’s just common sense.” He leaned across the console and opened the door. With the aid of the dome light, she was able to confirm his identity. She couldn’t decide if it was the absence of the formal attire he wore at work or his ruffled hair that made him appear so much younger and (dare she say it) approachable. Her glance dipped lower, taking in the corded muscles in his arms and chest straining against the material of a long-sleeve t-shirt. Yowza! If the nursing staff at Hutchison’s could see him now… His voice brought her eyes back to his face. “Leah! What a surprise! I didn’t expect to find you so far away from home.” That made two of them. “I’m, uh, spending the weekend with friends.” “Who have apparently left you high and dry. Hop in, and I’ll give you a ride to wherever you’re staying.” “Are you sure? I hate to take you out of your way.” He smiled lazily, and this time Leah’s heart actually jumped in her chest. Could shock cause that? “Let me worry about that.” Feeling as if she’d stumbled into some kind of twilight zone, she climbed into the truck and reached for the seatbelt. “The address is 48 River Knoll.” He shook his head in what she assumed was disbelief. “You were planning to walk that far?” “It was better than staying where I was. Is your house really the next driveway?” “I may be a lot of things, but I’m not a liar. My uncle left me a small cabin on the lake.” He pulled back on the road. “You picked a good time to visit this area. The dogwood trees are at their peak right now.” Leah forced herself to relax against the seat. “That’s the main reason I came on this trip. Spring is my favorite time of year.” “Mine, too. Are you from Myrtle Beach originally?” “No. I grew up in Columbus, Georgia.” He sent her a quick sideways glance. “You don’t say? I’m from Stone Mountain, which means we’re both Georgians. That must count for something.” “I guess it does. You can drop me off by the mailbox.” “I don’t drop off passengers at the mailbox, and in case you haven’t noticed, it’s pitch dark outside. We don’t need you tripping over something.” Leah lapsed into silence. There was no point in arguing. This somewhat surreal experience would be over soon enough. A few minutes later he drew to a stop in the shadow of the porch. “Here we are.” She unbuckled her seatbelt and fumbled for the door handle. “Thanks for the ride, Dr. Levy.” He threw her the same amused smile he’d done on those previous occasions. “You’re welcome, Leah. Enjoy the rest of your weekend.” She barely suppressed a shudder. There had been little enjoyment so far and having Dr. Levy find her in such a predicament hadn’t helped.     I loved this book! It has every element that makes for a fantastic read. It pulls you into the lives of the characters and you laugh with them, cry with them, hurt with them, and rejoice with them. It has passion and yet it is clean....loved it! I confess I almost never leave reviews. This series, and in particular this book, deserves special treatment. If you enjoy well-crafted stories with depth and compassion, you owe yourself the gift of reading this series. The characters are people I would like to meet, and their lives seem genuine rather than contrived as is common in romance novels. So many authors ‘attempt’ to write romance, but Delaney has delivered a truly well done book. The story is so well written you feel like it’s real with characters that come alive. The heartache, loss, laughs and joy will capture emotion that’s not always believable, but in this story I felt all that emotion. On top of that I can recall no grammatical or editing errors. That’s another rare treat. Without revealing the story line I will only say that there are major life changing events which are woven so well into this single book you don’t realize it's all happening until you’ve finished the book and still want more.   Author Delaney Cameron I'm a Georgia girl at heart if not by birth. I love to read, watch college football, and spend time with my husband. I'm a hopeless romantic so there will always be a happily ever after in my stories. I also like to write about second chances because love doesn't always work out the first time. My books are sweet romances set in both contemporary and regency settings featuring stories about the journey to love, from that first meeting to the point where two people know their hearts are no longer their own. My characters aren't perfect. They make mistakes and have faults like the rest of us. They learn the sometimes painful truth that the path to love isn't always smooth, but it's a road worth traveling.            
Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash Ends 1/1/19 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  
a Rafflecopter giveaway  Inspired Kathy bkhabel@gmail.com

$20 GIVEAWAY - A CHOICE OF SECRETS by Barb Hendee

A Choice of SecretsA Dark Glass Novel Book 4by Barb HendeeGenre: Historical Fantasy
Ever since raiders from the north began attacking villages, Lady Nicole Montagna has known that defending her people would come at a cost. The betrothal of her sister Chloe to a neighboring lord seems the perfect solution, forging a powerful alliance. But shortly before the wedding, Nicole is shocked to discover that her sister is with child—and not by her husband-to-be. Now she must make a choice. She has just hours to decide . . .


~Should she tell her soldier brother—who will take swift, ruthless action to ensure the family’s safety?
~Should she hold her tongue, let her sister deceive her husband into believing the child is his—and then hope Chloe can get away with the lie?
~Should she tell her family, hoping they will know the right thing to do?
With the help of a magic mirror, Nicole lives out each path, fighting to protect herself and those she loves with the weapons she has: wits, herbs, and fortitude. But no matter her cleverness, neither she nor her family can escape unscathed—for there are repercussions she could never have foreseen, involving her own heart . . .
A CHOICE OF SECRETS
New York Times bestselling author Barb Hendee spins a tale of intrigue, integrity, and the bonds of love and loyalty as one young woman finds her place in a turbulent world . . .


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A Girl of White Winter
A Dark Glass Novel Book #3


Kara, as a ward with no parentage and no future, has been raised knowing nothing outside her lady’s chambers. Until Royce Capello, a visiting nobleman, is struck by her ice-pale looks, and demands her as payment for the land the family needs.With barely time to protest, Kara is sold and packed off for a life as a concubine—until a raiding party descends on Royce’s company and she’s kidnapped for the second time in as many days.Whatever happens, Kara will be alone in the world, inexperienced and fearing even the vast unfamiliar sky. But one raider gives her a choice—and a magic mirror appears to show her where each path will lead…She can leave with her protector Raven and journey with his performing troupe, competing for his mercurial affections.She can flee the raiders’ settlement, and return to Royce’s manor, chattel among devious nobility.Or she can stay in the settlement, bound to firm, silent Caine, who is as gentle as he is staid and inscrutable.Her fates twist and turn to affect far more than she could have guessed, tangling the bitter with the sweet—and Kara must choose which consequences she can live with…
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A Choice of CrownsA Dark Glass Novel Book #2
Olivia Geroux knew her king was reluctant to marry her, whatever the negotiations had arranged. But she never expected to find handsome, arrogant King Rowan obsessed with his stepsister instead. And before she can determine what course to take, she overhears her greatest ally plotting to murder the princess.Olivia must act quickly—and live with whatever chaos results. As the assassin hunts his prey, a magic mirror appears to show Olivia the three paths that open before her . . .If she hesitates only a moment, the princess will die—and she will become queen.If she calls for help, she will gain great power—but she must also thrust away her own happiness.If she runs to stop the murder herself, she will know love and contentment—but her whole country will suffer.
As she lives out each path, her wits and courage will be tested as she fights to protect her people, her friends, and her heart. And deciding which to follow will be far from easy . . .

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Through a Dark GlassA Dark Glass Novel Book 1
On her seventeenth birthday, Megan of Chaumont discovers she’ll be sold as a bride to the brutish Volodane family—within hours. Her father grants only that she may choose which one of the ruthless, grasping lord's three sons she weds:Rolf, the eldest: stern, ambitious, and loyal?Sebastian, the second son: sympathetic, sly, and rebellious?Or Kai, the youngest: bitter, brooding, and proud?As shy, horrified Megan flees the welcome dinner for her in-laws-to-be, she finds an enchanted mirror that will display how her life unrolls with each man, as if she were living it out in a breath. But there is no smooth “happily ever after” in her choices.Deaths and honors, joys and agonies, intrigues and escapes await her in a remote, ramshackle keep, where these rough but complex men reveal one side and then another of their jagged characters—and bring forth new aspects of Megan, too. But the decisions of one teenaged marriage-pawn reverberate much farther than any of them have guessed . . .
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Barb Hendee is the New York Times bestselling author of The Mist-Torn Witches series. She is the co-author (with husband J.C.) of the Noble Dead Saga. She holds a master’s degree in composition/rhetoric from the University of Idaho and currently teaches writing for Umpqua Community College. She and J.C. live in a quirky two-level townhouse just south of Portland, Oregon.

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12 DAYS OF CLEAN ROMANCE - MARRYING MISS KRINGLE: FROST by Lucy McConnell

 Marrying Kiss Kringle: Frost Frost buried her face in her hands, feeling all the pressure to save Christmas. Neither Stella nor Robyn had the potential for love yet. They were starting from scratch. But she had more than potential; she had an invitation. It was up to her to find Tannon; get him to profess his love to her; and save her family, the North Pole, and Christmas for children all over the world. Oh, Tannon, I hope you're ready to love me. Frost Kringle broke one of the North Pole's rules the day she replied to a letter from Tannon Cebu; but, her Kringle-enhanced empathy wouldn't allow her to walk away from the anguish in his words. What began as a disobedient impulse grew into friendship and eventually love. If her secret romance is revealed, she'll be banished from her home and family. When the Kringles discover Christmas Magic is dangerously off balance, Frost musters up the courage to meet Tannon in person with the hope that they can marry and save Christmas. While she's away from her precious Letters Room, her secret is blown right open and she's exiled. In order to make it home for Christmas, Frost has to bring Christmas cheer to those who need it most. Tannon, is tired of the corporate grind and wants out. He's decided to sell his paper mill and retire to a quiet corner where he can raise his son in peace. His announcement, right before the holidays, creates an uproar as employees wonder if they'll have a job in the New Year. No one in town feels like celebrating and they have little hope of a happy holiday. If Frost can get Tannon, and the town of Elderberry, to believe in Christmas once again, she'll make it home and save Santa's workshop from turning into a block of ice and ruining Christmas for children all over the world. Trouble arises when Tannon's interest turn to Frost more than to Christmas. She walks a tinsel-fine line between falling for him and failing in her Christmas quest. With her whole world out of balance, Frost must look deep inside herself to bring about a Christmas miracle--with a little help from her jolly family.    Frost Kringle rubbed her arms. “It’s not my year. I’m the youngest. You two should find your husbands first,” she told her older, single sisters. Robyn huffed. “Apparently, Christmas Magic doesn’t give a partridge in a pear tree about birth order. And I don’t, either. Come with us—just to get used to being south-er.” Frost hesitated, searching for a polite way to tell them to jump out of a flying sleigh. Stella took her hesitation as a silent agreement and forged on. “Perfect. Where should we go? I was thinking of heading back to Alaska.” “No thanks.” Robyn popped another chocolate. “We need someplace new.” Frost puzzled the question of where they should go. She puzzled it high and she puzzled it low. And while she puzzled, a strange thought came to be. A thought she thought just might be the key. She tried to hold it in, did her best to be good. But there was a part of Frost Kringle that never quite could. “Oregon,” Frost whispered, staring off into space. “Elderberry, Oregon. That’s the place.” Both her sisters stared at her. “Why there?” asked Stella. Frost cleared her throat, breaking through the fog that had clouded her mind while at the same time giving herself clarity. She mentally stumbled to come up with an excuse that wouldn’t reveal her biggest and best-kept secret. “It’s got a large populate of single men. There’s a, um, paper company and mill and they make beautiful stationary.” Like cream envelopes with gold trim that bring the most wonderful letters. Stella shrugged. “As long as it’s got men, I’m game.” Robyn poked Stella in the arm. “That’s your problem—you need to be pickier.” “Do you have a better idea?” Frost held her breath. She’d dreamed and dreamed of going to Elderberry, of meeting Tannon, of finally seeing the man whose words had captured her heart. If she was a romantic, it was because each mail delivery included a little bit of romance just for her. “No,” admitted Robyn. “Okay, then.” Stella slapped her hand on the table. “Meeting adjourned. We’re going to Elderberry the day after tomorrow. Have your bags packed.” Frost threaded her fingers together under the table, holding her hands tight, tight, tight in an effort to hold in her excitement as her sisters left the room. She was going to meet Tannon. “I’m going to meet Tannon,” she said out loud. With a squeal, she threw her hands in the air. This trip may be the best thing that ever happened to her, or it may be the ending of a long and special friendship. Either way, the time had come to meet her crush face-to-face.   I have loved all of Lucy McConnell's books, and this one definitely lived up to my expectations. I love the other books in this series and this one did not disappoint. It was an enjoyable story that kept me reading late into the night. I can’t wait for next installment! I found Marrying Miss Kringle to be a fun and lovely read. It is light in nature with a feeling of watching one of those Lifetime Christmas movies, but only in book form.          Author Lucy McConnell Award-winning author, Lucy McConnell, loves Christmas, romance, chocolate and Elvis. After graduating from the University of Utah, she became an editor at an advertising agency before moving on to teach in the marketing department of the local community college. She loved teaching and often misses the academic environment. Lucy retired from teaching and began to write articles and sweet romance novels. She has been published in national magazines, newspapers, short story compilations, and she writes cookbooks under the name Christina Dymock. If she's not at the computer, you can find her trying to keep up with her husband and four kids on the ski slopes, on a bike, in the kitchen, or on a horse.  
   
 Giveaway Details $25 Amazon Gift Code or $25 in PayPal Cash Ends 1/1/19 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by Rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner may be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Amazon, BookBub, Instagram, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. This giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader & Clean Wholesome Romance and is sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.
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