Aloha to Crista McHugh, EIGHT TINY FLAMES, AND A VERY SCANDALOUS HOLIDAY

Crista McHugh prepared a guest post about the real events that inspired her WW2 Hanukkah novella, EIGHT TINY FLAMES, part of the anthology A VERY SCANDALOUS HOLIDAY.

But Yahoo ate it.

So I am going to wing this for my fellow RomVet - Crista served in the USAF!  From her bio (link),

Growing up in small town Alabama, I relied on story-telling as a natural way for me to pass the time and keep my two younger sisters entertained.

I currently live in the Audi-filled suburbs of Seattle with my husband and two children, maintaining my alter ego of mild-mannered physician by day while I continue to pursue writing on nights and weekends.

I am an active member of the Romance Writers of America (including the FF&P , Greater Seattle Chapter, and the Seattle EastsideChapters), Absolute Write, and Romance Divas.

Just for laughs, here are some of the jobs I’ve had in the past to pay the bills: barista, bartender, sommelier, stagehand, actress, morgue attendant, and autopsy assistant.

And I’m also a recovering LARPer. (I blame it on my crazy college days)

For the latest updates and answers to any burning questions you have, please check out my blog.

Entangled Publishing presents… A Very Scandalous Holiday Anthology. Four very spirited vignettes of holidays past.

Erin’s Gift by Nancy Fraser
Chicago 1920
Widower, Seth Harrison, has no intention of falling in love again but will he be able to resist the sweetness of his son’s nanny, Erin O’Mara – his sister’s best friend?

An Eternity of You by Sophia Garrett
England 1833
The Duke of Sharrington left Rebecca with more than a broken heart six years ago – he left her with a son. He’s rekindled their passion with his return, but it will take a Christmas miracle to earn her heart.

Letters at Christmas by Amber Lin
England, late Regency
After three years at sea, Captain Hale Prescott has the means to marry the love of his life and his best friend’s sister. Sidony Harbeck, however, might never speak to him again. Despite their whispered adolescent promises, he never wrote her a single letter… at least none he ever sent.

Eight Tiny Flames by Crista McHugh
1944 Ardennes, WWII
Lt. Ruth Mencher has always secretly admired Capt. Joseph Klein, but it takes the lighting of a Hanukkah candle to uncover the spark of mutual attraction. Each night awakens a new facet of their relationship, but as the Battle of the Bulge begins, the approaching Nazi forces threaten to tear them apart.

Navy personnel celebrate Hanukkah
Public Domain (link)

When we lived in the Netherlands, we paid tribute to the Battle of the Bulge by visiting Bastogne.  From Wikipedia (link),

On December 16, taking advantage of the cold and the fog, the German artillery started the Battle of the Bulge by attacking the sparsely deployed American troops around Bastogne. A few days later, Brigadier General McAuliffe and the 101st Airborne Division along with elements of the 10th Armored Division (United States) and the 82nd airborne arrived to counter-attack but, after heavy fighting, became encircled within the town. On December 22, German emissaries asked for the American surrender, to which the General answered quite briefly, “Nuts!” The next day, the weather cleared up, allowing air retaliation and the parachuting of much needed food, medicine, and weaponry. On December 26, troops under the command of General Patton broke the deadlock. The official end of the Battle of Bastogne only occurred three weeks later, when all fighting finally stopped.

Across the border in the Netherlands, American troops prepared for the battle by worshiping in the Maastricht limestone caves.  Check out this link from the Stars and Stripes about the Midnight Mass ... and now I am curious about how soldiers celebrated Hanukkah.   Stay tuned for the lost article from Crista!  In honor of military personnel celebrating the holidays around the world, I am giving away an ecopy of A VERY SCANDALOUS HOLIDAY to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about the upcoming holiday - do you have a special tradition?

2.  This giveaway is open to all readers.

3.  Comments are open through Saturday, November 30, 10 pm in Baltimore.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, December 1.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City