Christmas Countdown Blitz: Day Nine: A Spellbinding Christmas by Chelsea O'Neal

Chelsea O'Neal lives in her fantasy world where people can fly, vampires could be real, money is never an issue and the romantic meeting of your true love is a normal happening. When not relaxing in Chelsea-ville, she enjoys talking with animals who talk back and taking long walks with her prince charming.
Actually Chelsea lives in the United States in Nebraska, where she was born and raised, with her black lab Daisey, who hasn't spoken actual words to her but she is pretty sure Daisey understands her. She is yet to meet her prince charming, though she is quite sure he is out there. Chelsea enjoys working in a library as well as a cosmetologist. She is an avid reader and writing has always been her passion. Chelsea has written three novels and a novella, and she is working on her next book now.

Q & A With The Author:

5. What is the hardest thing you've ever done? The hardest thing I have ever done is say goodbye to my grandma who died earlier this year.  She was my best friend and I hung out with her every single day. I miss her so much and think of her all the time.

6. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

I have been working on a version of the following for a while now, and here it is, a bit sad maybe, but it's mine. :)

Love is vital.

On a cold March morning awakened from a restless foreboding sleep by an alarming ringing phone, my life changed.  "It is time come quick." 

I raced to pull on clothes through fear and hot tears, not stopping to even comb my hair, I raced to my destination, one I had left mere hours before. My grandma is sick and I must go to her, for this might be the last time. We were very close, grandma and I.  I lived with her for some time a result of a happy accident, and visited her every single day after I moved back home. Once in the morning, to help her get ready for the day, a lovely moment spent before the work day then again after I got off work just to talk and see how her day went. I visited her to help her in any way she may need, to show her my love. 

We had inside jokes, watched tv, and told stories to each other. I could spend hours just listening to her when she spoke of her life or of her late husband, my grandpa. I loved every moment of it.  Though those moments had an expiration date that seemed to loom coming ever closer to an end I never wanted to see.

In a cold hospital room heavy with disbelief we found out she had cancer, an evil vile monster that was sure to suck her life from her, no matter what we did.  A monster that caused pain and suffering for all, not only the one infected. The surgery, the medicine, the pain and not knowing how long we had filled our precious days to come.  The awful infections that brought about the last birthday celebration my grandma would have, moments we would never have a chance for again. She was gone a month later, not a moment later, but a month. 

A month to say all the things you will never get another chance at, a month to soak up the love that you will never feel again, and a measly month to watch the person you love slowly and painfully fade away. I held her hand as she took her last breaths, my heart clenching painfully as her pain ended. Knowing in that moment, I wouldn't have given up an ounce of the love I have for her, no matter how much it hurt.  It was difficult to tell one you love so much goodbye, knowing you will never see them again in this life. To convey to her how much she meant to you, and how much you hope to be like her one day, the wise, lovely, strong woman you were lucky to know.  She was one of my best friends, and I love her still though she is no longer physically here. Love can hurt and heal, it can bring joy or cause tears, love can fill you and leave you feeling empty. Yet love is something I and most everyone longs for.

Love is not only a universal theme, but a very universal feeling.  Love can describe many things: be it your pet dog, or your favorite shirt, or a family member. I believe that we are made to love, and love fiercely.  Love is a vital part of your life.  Love is at the base of most moments in life, those that take a second or a month.  Love can be the most shocking thing to experience either personally or through fictional characters. Love can help save someone, and can be an intense feeling as you lose someone, it can be the easiest thing to accept or deny. Love is vital.

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Can Trinity control her power?

Trinity is headed home to celebrate Christmas with her Gran. She hasn't been back in nearly ten years staying away from the man she has longed for since she was young. The man who has starred in every one of her fantasies, her Gran's next door neighbor, Travis. As her emotions run high, her inherent magic is let loose.
Can Travis let Trinity in?
Travis never noticed Trinity, but has grown close to her grandmother after the loss of his parents and his uncle. When Trinity comes swirling into the house an attraction flares in him but he fears loosing anyone else in his life.
The more time spent together the attraction grows, so does a new found realization that Trinity has a magic that has captured his heart.
Will this spellbinding Christmas be merry?

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Top Ten List:

1. I love the color green- truly it is an obsession or maybe a way of life...

2. I am a lifetime Girl Scout and I earned my Gold Award when I was in High School

3. I am a huge Potter Head!

4. I am also a huge fan of The Flash- Love Barry Allen/Grant Gustin!

5. I am a youth librarian.

6. I have a tattoo of an open book with 3 birds flying above it.

7. I have went back to school after graduating in 2004. I am earning my Bachelor's in Creative Writing.

8. I love to dress up in costume- the crazier the better!

9. I am a binge you tube watcher- I just love short videos!

10. My favorite movies to watch are animated children's movies- I'm a kid at heart.

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Christmas Countdown Blitz: Day Eight: The Fourteenth Quilt by Robyn Echols

Robyn Echols currently lives with her husband in California near the “Gateway to Yosemite.” She is a member of Women Writing the West and American Night Writers Association.

She enjoys any kind of history including family history. Currently she is the editor of her local genealogical society newsletter and occasionally gives family history presentations.

When she is not piecing together novel plots, she pieces together quilt blocks.

Q & A With The Author:

3. What do you fear most?

I fear most being a failure as a mother.

. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

            In my high school senior class play I played the role of the snotty business woman trying to steal the hero from the sweetheart heroine. For my costume, I brought a knit dress from home that was modest enough, but by the time the make-up artist plastered tons of goop on my face and the costume manager stuffed about three rolls of toilet paper in my bra so I would have the right appearance when I walked out on stage under the floodlights, I looked the part on steroids.

            After the play, the cast and crew went to a local pizza parlor to celebrate. Shortly after we sat around a table, about three young men I didn’t know with wide grins on their faces dragged their chairs around our table and began to hit on me. At first I was puzzled. I wasn’t used to drawing that kind of attention. Then I realized we were all still in costume and off-stage and up close, I looked like a hooker. 

            I stood up, said good-by to my friends, and I was outta there.        

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Annie, Celia and Lynn are all that are left of the Relief Society quilting class, but they are still determined to make baby quilts for the new mothers at church. Annie, who is just south of eighty years old, calls the quiltsters (short for quilting sisters) together to ask for more. She wants to make lap quilts to give to some of the “forgotten” oldsters she sings to each week at the nursing home—something to wrap them in love at Christmastime. It’s a good idea, but the trio discovers that life and making quilts don’t always go as planned.

The quiltsters discuss recipes and quilting ideas including a crocheted cat mat to use up their fabric selvage and trim scraps, all of which they share in the book.

Sarah and Brian meet at the university. Their first date is after Sarah’s First Saturday Block of the Month class she attends with her mom at the local quilt shop. Their romance grows, and they plan their future together—a plan that will require them to be separated for six months before their wedding. But, can they bear to be apart that long?

What wraps together this Christmas tale? The Fourteenth Quilt.

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Top Ten List:

          1.      I love my computer so I can use it to write stories

2.      I love my sewing machine so I can quilt when I need a break from writing

3.      I love paper and ink books that fill my bookcases

4.      I love my Kindle, Nook and Deseret Book apps because my bookcases are already full of paper and ink books

5.      I love my camera so I can take photographs

6.      I love my photo-editing program so I can tweak my photos so they look even better

7.      I love Yosemite National Park because it is so pretty in any season

8.      I love museums because of all the wonderful historical items they display

9.      I love Columbia State Park and Mono County because they capture the history of the California Gold Rush

10.  I love my car because it comfortably takes me to all my favorite places

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Christmas Countdown Blitz: Day Seven: Restored Hearts by Railyn Stone

Railyn Stone, author of The Christmas Tree Guy, A Secret to Keep, Restored Hearts and Lest We Aren't Forgiven, lives in North Carolina with her husband. When she's not behind the screen of her laptop, she's usually enjoying time with her family. The only child of two educators, she learned early on just how magical words can be.

Q & A With The Author:

. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?

           

            Sometimes doing a favor for someone can cause you a tremendous amount of trauma. Years ago, my parents stored an old rug for my uncle. He was in the process of moving, but I guess at the time, he wasn’t able to transport it to his new place and needed a place to keep it until he could pick it up. That weekend he dropped it off on our front porch but once the evening came, my parents brought it in the house to keep it from getting rained on overnight. The next morning came and we were back in our normal routine of getting ready for the day.

            That morning I was in the middle of getting ready for school and I had taken a seat on the floor in my mom’s room to put on my shoes. I was getting myself together while my mom was preparing breakfast. As I sat on the floor, I put on one shoe and as I stretched out my leg, my foot hit my mother’s bag leaning against the dresser. In the blink of an eye, from behind the bag, popped a huge woolly spider that proceeded to take a seat on my leg. Before I could scream or form any words or sounds, he scurried away and I had no idea where he went. The next thing I remember was standing up and finally being able to pull in enough air to scream. I was frozen in the middle of my mom’s room with one shoe on and no idea where the spider was. I could hear my mom running through the hallway to come to my rescue, but I was too afraid to move. She was asking what was wrong, but I couldn’t answer her. I couldn’t do anything. Fear had frozen me in place and I could feel tears starting to flow out of my eyes. I had no idea where the spider was and I just knew I was going to die.

            Luckily, my mom is not the type to freeze in a dire situation. As I stood there wondering exactly where the spider was, I didn’t have to wait long. I felt the whoosh of my mom’s hand slide across the back of my neck and heard a thump as the spider landed in the middle of the floor. She quickly took care of the spider and I had never been so happy to see my mom in my life. She later admitted she acted out of pure adrenaline. When she came into the room, she said the only thing she could see was this woolly insect sprawled across the back of my neck and she went into protection mode. It was the most traumatic event I’d ever experienced and to this day I am deathly afraid of spiders.

In reflection, my parents believe the spider had taken up residence in the rolled up rug and had decided to venture out into our home overnight. Needless to say, we never kept another rug for anyone ever again.

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EnVee McAlister just bought a house. It’s an old Victorian home that needs a lot of work, especially if she wants to get into it by Christmas.

Logan Edwards is the contractor she’s hired to help her. Unfortunately, he’s not like any man she’s ever encountered and his arrogance and crass demeanor is making it hard to deal with him. Both she and Logan hold no punches and their terribly blunt personalities clash like oil and water.

But when she finds out about Logan’s tragic past, it forces her to deal with her own insecurities and emotions she’s desperately tried to forget. And instead of a house for Christmas, EnVee receives something she never expected.

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Top Ten List:

1)      Chocolate

2)      Spending quality time with my husband

3)      Laughing

4)      Dancing to great music

5)      My mom’s Red Velvet Cake

6)      The color green

7)      Shopping at Sephora

8)      Writing, of course

9)      Hearing a baby laugh

10)   Sitting on a beach watching the waves roll onto the shore – it’s one of the most relaxing feelings

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Christmas Countdown Blitz: Day Six: A Candlelight Courting by Joyce DiPastena

Joyce DiPastena dreamed of green medieval forests while growing up in the dusty copper mining town of Kearny, Arizona. She filled her medieval hunger by reading the books of Thomas B. Costain (where she fell in love with King Henry II of England), and later by attending the University of Arizona where she graduated with a degree in history, specializing in the Middle Ages. The university was also where she completed her first full-length novel…set, of course, in medieval England. Later, her fascination with Henry II led her to expand her research horizons to the far reaches of his “Angevin Empire” in France, which became the setting of her first published novel, Loyalty’s Web (a 2007 Whitney Award Finalist). 

When she’s not writing, Joyce loves to read, play the piano, and spend time with her sister and friends. A highlight of her year is attending the annual Arizona Renaissance Festival . Joyce is a multi-published, multi-award winning author who specializes in sweet medieval romances heavily spiced with mystery and adventure. She lives with her two cats, Clio and Glinka Rimsky-Korsokov, in Mesa, Arizona.

Q & A With The Author:

1.  Describe yourself in 50 words or less.

Shy, quiet, old fashioned, likes people but better at listening than talking to them, loves music and playing the piano, was a childhood comic book fanatic (especially Spiderman, Fantastic Four, and Thor), medieval history nerd, BIG fan of chocolate, can be bribed with homemade chocolate chip cookies (no nuts).

2. What do you love most in the world?

My family. (And yes, that includes my cats.)

Connect with the Author here: 

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When Burthred comes courting on Christmas Eve, Meg rejects his advances. She has her heart set on becoming a nun and insists that he call her Christina, the spiritual name she has chosen for herself. She tries to make him swear on her box of holy relics that he will not pursue her, but he carefully words his oath to allow him to stay in her candlelit chamber and try to change her mind. 

What Meg does not confess is that her reliquary box holds a secret.

Burthred needs a wife, and no one will satisfy him except Meg. He swore on his father’s deathbed that he would marry her. But Burthred has a secret, too. When they come together before the Yule fire, their shared revelations will either join their hearts together or tear them apart.

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Snippet:

Had her father locked the door? She took a step forward to test the latch, then froze, the hairs prickling along the back of her neck. A sky heavy for weeks with snow clouds blocked even a faint glimmer of the stars or moon from filtering through the wooden shutters into her chamber. Even so, she could have found her way to the door with her eyes closed, but she felt her lids instead straining wide. She thought she heard a soft intake of breath. A breath that had not come from her lungs.

“Who’s there?” Her voice came out in a terrified strangle.

A rustling sound, followed by a distinct clearing of a throat, and then, “My lady—”

The gruff male voice topped off her panic. Christina stumbled back against her bed and screamed like a madwoman. 

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Christmas Countdown Blitz: Day Five: A Christmas REunion by Donna Hatch

Donna Hatch, author of the best-selling “Rogue Hearts Series," as well as over a dozen other published titles, is a hopeless romantic and adventurer at heart, the force that drove her to write and publish seventeen historical titles, to date. She is a multi-award winner, a sought-after workshop presenter, and juggles multiple volunteer positions as well as her six children. Also music lover, she sings and plays the harp, and she loves to ballroom dance. She and her family recently transplanted from her native Arizona to the Pacific Northwest where she and her husband of over twenty years are living proof that there really is a happily ever after.

Q & A With the Author:

Tell us about your writing - What genre do you prefer to write?

I write historical romance—specifically the Regency—that has been described as sweet but with a lots of sizzle.

What about you as a person? What do you do to relax?

I walk daily—both for exercise and because I enjoy it. I also like to hike. Music is also a big deal for me. I sing and play the harp. I also love ballroom dancing. 

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Heartbroken at the news that her betrothed has wed another woman, Emily is determined to pick up the pieces of her life and enjoy Christmas with her family. ? Newly returned from war, Bennett holds a secret and will do anything to ensure Emily, his only true love, never discovers it...even if it means losing her. Fate reunites the star-crossed lovers and reveals the truth that will either unite them or drive them apart forever.

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Snippet:

In the main dining room, a few candles guttered in their melted wax, filling the room with smoke. Her eyes smarted and watered. Blinking back the moisture, she moved toward a doorway leading to the kitchen. She kept her eyes averted from the shadowy forms in the corners of the room, hoping to avoid detection and trouble with any late-night customers of the inn.

“Are you a ghost come to haunt me?” a voice rumbled from the darkness.

She froze. Bennett. His voice had become rougher, more a growl than she remembered, but she’d recognize it anywhere.

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