Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Aloha to SECRET SANTA - A Holiday Anthology by Fern Michaels, Marie Bostwick, Laura Levine, and Cindy Myers

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I listen to WGTS 91.9, contemporary Christian music, in my car (link).   This week, the DJ announced that WGTS will only play Christmas after Thanksgiving.  I agree with this philosophy, as Thanksgiving is often lost in the holiday hustle.  Yet here I am, promoting holiday books on my blog!  I do so to make sure readers receive books in plenty of time to read before Christmas.  Today I spotlight SECRET SANTA, a holiday anthology from Kensington (link):

Christmas is the time for miracles, mayhem, and holiday romance in these wonderful stories from four of today's most beloved authors…

"Mister Christmas" by Fern Michaels

A week before Christmas, attorney Claire O'Brien is summoned to Ireland to change her wealthy client's will--only to encounter resistance from his handsome nephew. Will Claire be forced to spend the holidays up close and personal with her irresistible Irish nemesis?

"The Yellow Rose of Christmas" by Marie Bostwick

Though Miss Velvet Tudmore wrote off romance years ago, rumor has it she has a secret admirer. And when her surprise suitor promises to reveal himself at the annual Christmas ball in Too Much, Texas, Velvet starts to wonder: is it ever too late to find love?

"Nightmare on Elf Street" by Laura Levine

Aside from the mortifying costume, how bad can a gig as a mall Santa's elf be? Jaine Austen finds out when she's teamed up with the Santa from Hell. But things go from bad to worse when he's found murdered on the job--and Jaine is a suspect. Now all she wants for Christmas is to find the real killer…

"Room at the Inn" by Cindy Myers

When a Rocky Mountain blizzard forces Barb and her husband to spend Christmas in a remote Colorado cabin with their fellow travelers, Barb struggles to cope--especially when her husband reveals troubling news. But sometimes a holiday shake-up is all a woman needs to discover what she's truly made of….


Lucky is ready for the holidays ... 

I requested to review this anthology for Laura Levine - I love her books with Jaine Austen, a freelance writer in LA whose best customer is a plumber seeking clever ads.   Jaine accidentally solves murders in this cozy mystery series with Prozac, her self absorbed cat, and Lance, her self absorbed neighbor.   NIGHTMARE ON ELF STREET hit the spot - I laughed all the way through this short story.   Highly recommend for longtime fans and new readers seeking a laugh out loud escape.   

I also enjoyed the other stories in this anthology - they were more sentimental.  I am giving away a print copy of SECRET SANTA to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Have you ever dressed as Santa, an elf, or a reindeer for any reason?   I have not, but I once wrapped gifts with another military spouse who had.  At a previous base, the commander's spouse ordered "sexy elf" costumes for the other spouses to wear during gift wrapping.   Hmmm, I don't think I look too sexy in a too short dress, covered with tape!

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

... and so is Zsa Zsa!


15 comments:

  1. I have NOT ever dressed up... I do have a Naughty Santa cap though I plan to wear this year. That is the extent of it!

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  2. No to dressing up as Santa, an elf, or a reindeer (though I think that last costume would be very interesting!) The closest I came was the year I was narrator for our school performance of Dickens' A Christmas Carol and I wore a bright green costume trimmed in fake white fur. I do have an LSU Christmas hat that I wear every year, while other family members wear traditional red and white hats.

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  3. I have not dressed up as any of those you mentioned.

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  4. I've never dressed as Santa, an elf or a reindeer, but I have been known to wear reindeer antlers with bells on them on occasion. LOL

    Marcy Shuler
    bmndshuler(at)hotmail(dot)com

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  5. No, I have never dressed up as Santa, an elf or a reindeer. Interesting idea, though!

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  6. No - never dressed up at Christmas - tho my brother was Santa on Halloween when he was about three years old - 30 years later his son wore the costume - it's really faded now - more pink than red.

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  7. Not I but my one daughter dressed up as an elf for 2 or 3 years for our American Legion children's party. (she was also the Easter bunny lol).

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  8. No I have never dressed up in a costume for Christmas. Do try to wear something on the day itself that's festive. Like red or green or tartan :) But no Santa, Elf or Reindeer outfit... Not my style ;)

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  9. I've never dressed up in a costume for Christmas. My dad did dress up for Santa Claus for a few years. It was fun to see him do that....he got a kick out of it.

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  10. My husband did. I made the Santa suit and now I wear the hat all the time at Christmas.

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  11. No, but when we visited our great aunt in the nursing home, we'd wear elf hats that had elf ears... Kinda Spock on steroids ears..

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  12. No I have not, but it would be fun to. Love the Christmas season, especially the decorations and music.

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  13. Years ago I used to play Santa at work!

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  14. I haven't but I do have a Christmas sweater.

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