The Christmas season is my favorite time of year, by far, and I'm happy to be joining with several other fantastic authors for an event we're calling the Twelve Days of Christmas giveaway!
If you've read any of my Dream Series novels, you know that several of them are set around Christmas (DREAM STUDENT, DREAM CHILD, WAKING DREAM and DREAM HOME, to be exact). Christmas gifts, obviously, play an important role in the stories, and I'd like to share a gift with all of you.
I've got two neat prizes to give away: a signed paperback copy of one of my novels (winner's choice), and a USB flash drive with ALL the books preloaded on it. All you have to do for a chance to win is click here and enter your name and email address. And just for doing that, I'll also send you one free Dream Series ebook or audiobook of your choice. You really can't beat that!
And in case you're new to the books, here's the basic idea in a nutshell: what if you could see everyone else's dreams? The books answer that question as we follow Sara, a young woman who has the ability to do just that. Over the ten books of the Dream Series, we see Sara wrestle with this gift (or curse!) and try to balance it with all the other responsibilities in her life. There's romance, suspense, humor and plenty of heart, and i think you'll really enjoy the books!
Nicole Zoltack here. I'm so glad to have this chance to talk to you, readers. Christmas is one of my favorite holidays. I love the sense of hope and peace it brings, the family togetherness, and, of course, giving.
But I'll get back to the giving in a moment.
First, I wanted to talk to you about two of romances, both Christmas romances.
We know deep down that life is short, and that death will happen to all of us eventually, and yet we are infinitely surprised when it happens to someone we know. It’s like walking up a flight of stairs with a distracted mind, and misjudging the final step. You expected there to be one more stair than there is, and so you find yourself off balance for a moment, before your mind shifts back to the present moment and how the world really is.
LIVE your life TODAY! Don’t ignore death, but don’t be afraid of it either. Be afraid of a life you never lived because you were too afraid to take action. Death is not the greatest loss in life. The greatest loss is what dies inside you while you’re still alive. Be bold. Be courageous. Be scared to death, and then take the next step anyway.
A number of things come to mind when I read this, but I suppose it's the simple thought of "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow."
Yes, you want to make sure to take the time to save for a house, a vacation, retirement, and so forth, but no one ever lay on their deathbed saying "damn, I really wish I could have put in 100 more hours at work."
Take the vacation.
Go for a walk.
Buy an ice cream cone for yourself.
Step outside on a sunny day; soak in the rays.
Step outside into the rainstorm; let the water wash over you.
Grab an extra hour of sleep.
Call a loved one and just BS on the phone.
Go over and see them.
Buy a bag of dog food and bring it to the animal shelter.
Clear out the canned goods that are about to expire at home and donate them to a food pantry for the less fortunate.
Sing or dance like nobody is watching / listening.
If there are people around, do it anyway.
Play with your kids / grandkids.
If they are older, take them to lunch (or that ice cream cone).
Forgive someone for their trespass; you do not have to forget what occurred, but perhaps it's time to let part of it go.
Ask for forgiveness for a trespass of your own; if you are not forgiven by them, at least forgive yourself.
I will close my thoughts by looping back on what I said prior - "plan your life like you might live forever but live it as if it might end tomorrow."
You want to do whatever you can that is timely and practical as far as working and savings so that you can have the best chance to have the same kind of life in your final years as you experienced your working adult life.
With that I emphasize two additional 'moderation' thoughts:
Do something 'small' tomorrow for yourself, in case it does in fact end up being your last day.
You are never going to see an armored car follow a hearse; find a balance in what you are putting off for 'down the road' and what you could do, streamlined, next weekend.
Hi, everyone! Britany Mills is going to take over my blog today to kick off our event. Take it away, Britney!
I am so excited to be part of this fun book giveaway for Christmas! There are a bunch of fun authors participating and so many chances to get a great book!
I'm giving away a few copies of my book, #ShareChristmas, that I finished a few weeks ago. I love Christmas stories, the short ones that make you want to cry because of the goodness of people. The reason I wanted to write a bunch of short Christmas stories is because there are so many different family situations that you might come across during the holiday season and I think by showing what people are going through, we can all be a little bit more sympathetic.
There are ten stories that are all fiction but based on things that have happened in my life or in other's life that I have witnessed and so hopefully you can connect with a few of them. This is a great book to add to your Christmas collection and even has a bunch of fun activities to do with your kids to keep the real meaning of Christmas in your home during this great holiday!
Plus, I'm also giving away a few more editing opportunities! Make sure to enter now!
A warm and merry welcome to you! The Baron and Baroness Welles their daughters Jean and her husband and Eliza and her betrothed Stephen ofJOY TO THE WORLDcould not be happier to invite you into their humble abode. Things had been a little unnerving when Stephen, the Duke of Wyndale, had showed up late to his wedding with Eliza, a wedding which has now been postponed. Hopefully there will be no further complications with their next wedding.
To win a signed, print copy of The Test of Time with swag, comment below with your favorite holiday cookie and the answer to be found at the previous stop on the tour, Jude Knight's blog.
What is the title of Jude Knight's contribution to Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem?
Eliza, Stephen, Jean, and Lord and Lady Welles are characters in Joy to the World, in Mistletoe, Marriage, and Mayhem
Eliza Berkeley
Eliza Berkeley enjoys going for walks and playing
on her pianoforte. As the second daughter of a baron, she never expects a duke to
look her way. When one does, and proposes, she immediately accepts, never
suspecting that she might be taken by a reprobate …
Stephen Huntington
Stephen
Huntington, Duke of Wyndale, enjoys drinking, gaming,
and wenching. He loves the ladies, and they love him. Settling down is not in
his future… until he learns that he is to be wed on the morrow to a woman he
has never met.
Stephen made his way to Eliza's side. She shyly glanced his way. He was clapping mightily.
"Lovely singing," he exclaimed. "Perhaps you could play on the pianoforte, Miss Berkeley?"
"Perhaps." She flushed under the heat of his gaze. "But first, would everyonel care to have wassail?"
This traditional wassail recipe features hard cider, sugar-roasted apples, brandy and sweet spices. It is a simple, old-fashioned recipe.
Ingredients
·4 small apples
·1 cup unrefined cane sugar
·1 medium orange
·13 whole cloves
·2 quarts hard apple cider
·1/2 cup brandy
·1 tbsp powdered ginger
·1 tsp grated nutmeg
·6 allspice berries
·2 cinnamon sticks
·6 large eggs, (separated)
·toast, (optional, to serve with)
Instructions
·Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
·Scoop out the core of the apples without fully penetrating the apple – a melon baller works well. Fill each apple with about a tablespoon of unrefined cane sugar. Place the apples in the baking sheet. Stud an orange with thirteen cloves and place it in the baking sheet. Bake the apples and orange together for forty minutes.
·While the apples and orange bake, pour apple cider and brandy into a heavy-bottomed stock pot and warm over moderately low heat. Whisk in powdered ginger and grated nutmeg. Do not bring the wassail to a boil.
·Cut a small square of the butter muslin and place allspice and cinnamon into the square; tie with 100% cotton cooking twine and float this sachet of spices in the wassail as it warms.
·Beat egg yolks until light in color and set aside. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites until stiff peaks form. Fold egg yolks into whites, then temper the eggs by slowly pouring one-half cup wassail into the eggs. Remove the spice sachet from the wassail and pour in the tempered eggs. Transfer to a punch bowl. Float baked apples and oranges in the wassail and serve by the mug, topping each much with a small slice of toast if desired.
Excerpt from Joy to the World
It had been years since Stephen last touched a pianoforte’s keys. To his trained ears, his lack of practice was evident, so evident he almost stopped playing. Only the intent eyes of the lady beside him forced him to push through it. Eventually, his fingers cooperated, and he tempted the instrument to play something resembling music. When he finished, Eliza said, “That was...” “Not as good as yours.” He grimaced. Failure was not something he was accustomed to, and why he had offered to play in the first place, he did not know. She did not disagree with him. His frown only deepened, but then, he smiled. Eliza did not feel the need to agree with his every word... Was that for good or for ill? “Who taught you to play?” Her fingers hovered above the keys. “I have not seen a male pianoforte player before.” “My mother.” “Ah.” She nodded as if that explained much. “She always wished for a daughter, but I was her only child.” Again, that same nod. He fidgeted, suddenly uncomfortable. “Did you play for him?” Eliza paused and tilted her head, considering. “No. There was no time for it.”
Ah, something he had over the impostor. This greatly pleased him, which, in turn, worried him.
Eliza's father clapped his hand. "Please, join us for some food and drink. I insist." His wife nodded. "But of course. I do hope you enjoy lobster." Stephen smiled widely. "Lobster is a great favorite of mine." "Good." Lady Welles turned to you. "Yours as well, I pray."
Lobster au Gratin
As served at the Christmas dinner of the Duke of Buckingham in 1808, with the expatriate French king, Louis XVIII
Recipe from: A Complete System of Cookery, 4th Ed., by John Simpson, Cook to the late Marquis of Buckingham.
Cut up a lobster, take the fish out, cut it in small pieces, and put it into a stewpan with a little sauce tourney, pepper and salt, and a little anchovy essence. Mix it all together, split the tail and body shell; put the lobster in, and cover it over with bread crumbs; drop clarified butter over the lobster, and put it in the oven to brown: if for meagre, use cream.
"Eliza, will you be a dear and fetch some elder wine for our guest?" her mother asked. Eliza glanced at Stephen. "Will you help me?" "Of course." As Eliza walked past her sister, Jean gave her a wise smile. "He looks favorably upon you." Eliza blushed and hurried to catch up to her betrothed. No one but herself and Stephen knew that the man she had been about to marry had not actually been the Duke of Wyndale. This Stephen was the true duke. And he had stepped into the impostor's shoes and agreed to marry her, if she wished, to save her name and her family from scandal. Lately, though, she could not help but wonder what it would be like to marry him for him and not for the sake of her family... Although what Stephen would think of that, she surely did not know.
Recipe from: A New System of Domestic Cookery: Founded up Principles of Economy; and Adapted to the Use of Private Families, by Mrs. Maria Eliza Ketelby Rundell
To every quart of berries put two quarts of water, boil half an hour, run the liquor, and break the fruit through a hair sieve; then to every quart of juice put three quarters of a pound of Lisbon sugar, coarse but not the very coarsest. Boil the whole a quarter of an hour with some Jamaica peppers, gingers, and a few cloves. Pour it into a tub, and when of a proper warmth, into the barrel, with toast and yeast to work, which there is more difficulty to make it do than most other liquors. When it ceases to hiss, put a quart of brandy to eight gallons, and stop up. Bottle in the spring or at Christmas. The liquor must be in a warm place to make it work.
With thanks to Jane Austen’s World (Please see link for an in-depth discussion of the recipe)
In this collection of novellas, the Bluestocking Belles bring you seven runaway Regency brides resisting and romancing their holiday heroes under the mistletoe. Whether scampering away or dashing toward their destinies, avoiding a rogue or chasing after a scoundrel, these ladies and their gentlemen leave miles of mayhem behind them on the slippery road to a happy-ever-after.
Eliza waved with her family as they saw you off with directions to the next stop. "Do take care and Merry Christmas!" she called.
Make sure you visit all of the Belles' holiday wassailing stops, with a different Regency era Christmas carol, dinner selection, and beverage, and wassail recipes at every stop that you can make in the modern kitchen.
If you've read any of my Dream Series novels, you know that several of them are set around Christmas (DREAM STUDENT, DREAM CHILD, WAKING DREAM and DREAM HOME, to be exact). Christmas gifts, obviously, play an important role in the stories, and I'd like to share a gift with all of you.
I've got two neat prizes to give away: a signed paperback copy of one of my novels (winner's choice), and a USB flash drive with ALL the books preloaded on it. All you have to do for a chance to win is click here and enter your name and email address. And just for doing that, I'll also send you one free Dream Series ebook or audiobook of your choice. You really can't beat that!
