Aloha to Tara Randel and A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS Box Set

Tara Randel joins us today for a guest post ...

Looking back, I’m sure you can recall the times of year that are special to you. Birthdays, anniversaries, graduations. Valentine’s Day, July 4th, Thanksgiving, to name a few. But there is something about Christmas that makes it to the top of the memory list.

Decorating, gifts, carols, hot cocoa. All the things we associate with December 25th. For me, it’s a season of love. Love for our family, co-workers and friends. Making and sharing memories. Helping those less fortunate. Giving of ourselves. Love at its finest.

A few years ago I started a little tradition for myself. I pick three of four Christmas releases, either single title or an anthology, and carve out a few hours during the busy November and December schedule to get lost in a romantic holiday story.

At first I thought I was being selfish. What Mom out there doesn’t feel the tug of Christmas expectation? But after finishing the first book, I discovered I looked at the whole holiday season differently. So I read another. Then another. And decided to do it again the next year.

I have no idea which books I’ll read this year, but knowing I have set aside a few hours of fun, well, it makes the season more welcome.

If you haven’t made a tradition for yourself, I suggest picking out a book or two this year and giving it a try. I promise, you won’t be disappointed!

To celebrate Christmas this year, twelve Heartwarming authors have come together to offer A Heartwarming Christmas, twelve connected stories set in Christmas Town, Maine. Twelve romance novellas to warm your heart and treat you to laughter, tears and happily ever after. What better way to sit before the fire, wrapped in a warm blanket, reading about couples who struggle to find true love. If you‘re a romance reader, this gift is perfect for you.

Join us in celebrating a beautiful time of year.

Look for A Heartwarming Christmas on October 13!

Foreword by small town lover and New York Times bestseller Kristan Higgins.

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Tara Randel is the author of nine books, her most recent releases, Honeysuckle Bride and Magnolia Bride available from Harlequin Heartwarming. She is currently working on new books for the Business of Weddings series for Heartwarming, as well as a new mystery series. You can view her booklist at her website, tararandel.com, or just stop by, pay a visit and leave a message.

I am giving away a digital copy of A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS to one randomly selected commenter.  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about the holidays - do you have any special plans?

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, October 17, 10 pm in Baltimore.

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, October 24.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City

Aloha to Carol Ross and A HEARTWARMING CHRISTMAS - Box Set

Harlequin author Carol Ross attended my workshop, How to Promote Your Book, during the RWA Annual Conference.  We exchanged emails ... and I invited Carol to join us for a cozy chat.  From her bio,

Carol Ross was born and raised in Washington, where she lives with her husband and one perfectly loveable miscreant of a dachshund. She adores the Pacific Northwest because it offers so many opportunities to do what she loves--hiking, skiing, running, and spending time outdoors. Although she enjoys reading in many genres, she writes what she loves the most--romance, especially light-hearted stories about the fun, flirty, and often-tumultuous path toward a happily ever after. Stop by her website for all the latest news: carolrossauthor.com.  You can follow Carol on Facebook: facebook.com/carolrossauthor and Twitter @_CarolRoss.

Kim:  Washington - What is your favorite sight, sound, and smell of the Evergreen State?

Carol:  My answer to all three of these is literally contained in our state’s nickname. I love the green--trees, mountains, grass…just green as far as you can see (except for this crazy summer where we’re having a draught and everything is turning brown). For me, the Pacific Northwest is the greatest place in the world to live. There are virtually no poisonous critters, our “scary” animals are shy and seldom even seen, hurricanes and tornados are rare. I live close to the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains where I can literally take a walk on the beach in the morning and be snow skiing that same afternoon. Okay, I don’t really do that, but I could…

Kim:  What's not to love about dachshunds! Does he/she help or hinder your writing process?

Carol:  Well, anyone who knows my dachshund Lucky and is reading this is undoubtedly laughing at the first part of this question right now--and would probably answer “plenty.” Lucky is the light of my life, but he is a rescue dog and came to us with many, many issues. And by issues I mean he doesn’t like people, except me (he kindly tolerates my husband). He growls and barks at strangers (and people he knows, too), has bad manners, bad habits, is extremely spoiled, and is the prince of my world. If he had his way I would just pack him around all day long (which admittedly I do quite a bit.) Thankfully, writing gives us lots of snuggle time and allows him to snack and nap at will--his two all-time favorite activities. Lucky does help in my writing process because writing can get a little lonely at times and he is excellent company.

Kim:  Who or what helped you along the road to publishing?

Carol:  I literally owe my writing career to a few editors at Harlequin, and what I like to call ‘a series of fortunate events’... A few years ago, before I was published, I submitted a query to Harlequin’s American line and eventually submitted the full manuscript. The senior editor ultimately declined the story for American, but I was thrilled to receive the nicest, most encouraging letter from her. Later, I was contacted by the associate editor who had requested the full manuscript and was working for a new line (Heartwarming) to see if the story was still available. Under yet another editor (who is fabulous and, thankfully, remains my current editor) and with some revisions this story became my first published novel, Mountains Apart.

Kim: Who are some of your favorite romance authors?

Carol:  My go-to romance is contemporary humor, so to name just a few… Kristine Rolofson, Tracy Brogan, Jill Shalvis, Kristan Higgins, Melinda Curtis, Amy Vastine, and Susan Elizabeth Phillips. I also love historicals, so I have to mention Julie Anne Long (every single one of her Pennyroyal Green books has been my ‘favorite’) and Julia Quinn.

Kim:  What inspired your books?

Carol:  Inspiration comes to me through my characters. This fact has taken me a while to figure out and accept. I’m a little jealous of those writers who plot out the story before they ever write a scene. My characters form and grow and become like real people in my head first, and then I throw them into situations outside of their comfort zones. They react and I write it down and the plot (hopefully) thickens…

And….I’m so very excited to share some details about The Christmas Bell, my first holiday novella: 

Antique dealer Andrea Talbot is looking forward to enjoying her first real Christmas ever--a truly merry Christmas filled with love and laughter and fun like she’s never had with her wealthy, detached, and estranged family. This year her holiday is going to include Ben Fisher, the man she’s spent the last year getting to know…well, as much as you can get to know someone on-line anyway. 

It’s been a year since Ben hired her to find the antique fire bell that used to hang in Christmas Town’s firehouse and they’ve grown close during their virtual search. Unbeknownst to Ben, Andrea has managed to acquire the bell and plans to give it to him on Christmas Eve. But when Ben comes home early, and the bell is late, a series of distractions and mishaps threaten to spoil her surprise, her happy Christmas, and her once-promising relationship with Ben.

The Christmas Bell is available as part of A Heartwarming Christmas: A Boxed Set of Twelve Sweet Holiday Romances, which will be released October 13. The set is being offered now for pre-order for only 99 cents: 

This holiday season, warm your heart with 12 connected sweet holiday romances set in Christmas Town from 12 Harlequin Heartwarming authors who are USA Today, national bestselling, and award-winning authors.

There are four connected anthologies in A Heartwarming Christmas: A Boxed Set of Twelve Sweet Holiday Romances. That means each set of three novellas shares characters and storylines! This collection of PG-rated holiday romances are all set in Christmas Town, a location introduced in the 2014 Harlequin Heartwarming release Christmas, Actually. A Heartwarming Christmas will bring you laughter, tears, and happily-ever-afters (no cliffhangers), for more than 1200 pages.

Foreword by small town lover and New York Times bestseller Kristan Higgins.

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Carol is giving away a signed copy of her recent release, A CASE FOR FORGIVENESS, to one randomly selected commenter (I'll add swag from RWA!)  To enter the giveaway,

1.  Leave a comment about holiday romances - when is the right time to start reading them?  I enjoy reading holiday romances year round because sometimes the holiday magic helps me through the day.

2.  Comments are open through Saturday, August 22, 10 pm in Baltimore.  

3.  I'll post the winner on Sunday, August 23.

Mahalo,

Kim in Baltimore

Aloha Spirit in Charm City