Love, Laughter and Merrily Ever Afters
Publication Date: November 25th, 2014
Genres: romance, Christmas
TEN fun, romantic holiday novellas by ten New York Times & USA Today bestselling authors
An all-star gathering of some of today's most popular NYT and USA Today bestselling romance authors in a fun-filled collection...holiday style! With the overwhelming response to the chart-topping summer boxed set, we've brought together even MORE of your favorite authors for a winter compilation, and this time, we've giftwrapped TEN stories for you all. From the funny & sweet, to the STEAMY & heartfelt, each novella is packed with a whole lot of romance, and hand-picked to infuse perfectly-portioned holiday cheer into your busy days this season...along with hot bursts of holiday steam for those winter nights.
Since there are so many wonderful books in this box set I'm going to try and feature a little something from every author. I'm sorry I can't fit everyone's in! This post would go on for days if I did!
Excerpt from Wild Irish Christmas by Mari Carr
As the bottle moved from hand to hand,
they each offered up words of thanks or wishes for the New Year. When it
reached Patrick, he lifted the bottle and proposed a toast he hadn’t used since
the last Christmas he’d celebrated with his wife, Sunday.
“To Conall Brannagh.”
Ewan took the bottle from his father.
“Who?”
“Conall Brannagh,” Patrick repeated.
“If your mother had chosen him over me, none of us would be here tonight.”
Sean leaned forward, a definite gleam
of interest in his eyes. “So you had some competition for Mom, eh? I never knew
that.”
Keira grabbed a bag of pretzels. “I
didn’t either. Was Mom in love with him?”
Teagan looked at Patrick. “I always
thought you were her first love.”
Patrick smiled at his daughter. “I was
her last love, Teagan. That’s a much better spot to claim. Besides, I
don’t know if it’s fair to say she loved Conall, though he certainly turned the
women’s heads. What’s the word you girls use for handsome men? Dreamy?”
Riley laughed. “Um…yeah, not in this
decade. I definitely don’t use the word dreamy to describe Aaron.”
“Then what would you say?” Pat
asked.
“He’s hot. Totally doable.”
Killian turned to look at his younger
sister and shook his head. “Jesus. How are we related?”
“Dreamy works for me, Pop,” Teagan said
quickly.
Patrick looked at his kids and silently
marveled at how different they were. Somehow, miraculously, their unique
qualities meshed perfectly, creating an amazing family.
Ewan, always the steady one, hadn’t
been distracted by the asides. “So Mom thought this Conall was dreamy?”
“All the girls in Killarney thought
Conall was handsome, but he only had eyes for Sunday. Not that I could blame
him. Your mother was a beauty, with that long dark hair and those crystal-blue
eyes. She caught every man’s attention.”
“But you didn’t fall in love
with her because of her looks, right?” Keira asked.
“Och, Lord no. While Sunday’s
face was pleasing, it was her heart, so kind and compassionate, that I found
attractive. That’s what captured me by my hand and—pardon the expression—balls
and kept me holding on to her for dear life.”
“So what was the story with this Conall
guy?” Tris asked.
“Well now, that is a tale.” Patrick
leaned back and closed his eyes, letting his mind drift to a different place, a
different time.
“I was working on my family’s sheep
farm during the day while tending bar at Scully’s Pub every night. I was a
young buck of twenty when Sunday, who was just nineteen, moved to Killarney to
live with her aunt. Scully hired her to sing in the pub and from the first
moment I laid eyes on her, I was lost…”
Excerpt from If I Return by Sawyer Bennett
I’m
about to step outside of the proverbial box.
Pushing
away from the elevator wall I had been leaning against, I walk up to Jack,
bringing my body close into his. Looking into his face, I see his nostrils
flare and unbidden desire leap into his eyes. It's all the encouragement I need
before I smooth my hands up over his chest, winding them behind his neck. My
fingers graze over the stubble of his short haircut. I'm pleased when his arms
wrap around my waist to draw me in closer. I waste no further time before
pulling his head down to me, until our lips meet softly.
Despite
the fact my inhibitions are lowered, despite the fact I boldly put myself in
Jack's arms, and despite the fact that his eyes were heated as our lips moved
toward one another, the kiss is surprisingly sweet. It's nothing more than a
gentle meeting of our lips. Our mouths are slightly parted as we move against
one another, tilting our heads first to one side, and then another as we
explore.
Even
though the kiss is soft and sweet, I still feel a warmth spreading through my
body. It causes me to want more... to experience Jack on the next level.
Tentatively, my tongue pushes forward into his mouth and at first he stills. I
can feel his fingers flex into my lower back, and I push my tongue in just a
little farther, taking a swipe at his.
He
answers me with a groan and then he's gripping my head, holding me in place so
his tongue can take charge.
And
I let him.
Letting
go, for once in my life, I let Jack have his way with my mouth. He deepens the
kiss and I can't help the sigh that escapes me. He eats it up, pleading for
more by the insistent way his lips move against mine.
Even
though we seem to both be drowning in the kiss, I find myself wanting to
submerge further into him. Desire floods my senses and my body moves without
thinking. I push myself closer to him, our bodies connecting. My breasts mash
into chest and I can feel his hardness against my stomach. I push closer yet,
wanting—no, needing—the contact.
This
kiss... this amazing kiss. It's like nothing I've ever experienced. It's full
of passion and fire. I realize that my prior kisses have been lukewarm at best.
Energy courses through me at the thought of what else I've been missing. The
shy introvert is gone and I can feel my inner sex kitten awakening.
And
I’m ready... ready to let her prowl because the passion that flows between us
has firmly shut boring Hope Camden away.
Cathryn’s
Favorite Holiday Recipe
This is a family recipe that has been
handed down from generation to generation. It’s so easy and a family favourite.
This is a family recipe that has been handed down from generation to generation. It’s so easy and a family favourite.
Peanut Butter Squares
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup graham wafer crumbs
2 cups icing sugar
2 teaspoons of milk
1. Put all ingredients together and spread in 9 by 9 inch greased pan.2. Melt one half a package of chocolate chips (1cup) with one teaspoon of peanut butter and spread on top. 3. Let them set, but cut before firm.
1. Put all ingredients together and spread in 9 by 9 inch greased pan.2. Melt one half a package of chocolate chips (1cup) with one teaspoon of peanut butter and spread on top. 3. Let them set, but cut before firm.
Janelle’s Favorite Holiday Recipe
Reese's
Peanut Butter Cup Cookies (super easy and SO yummy!)
Ingredients:
1
(18-24 count) package of miniature peanut butter cups, unwrapped
1
(18 ounce) package Pillsbury refrigerated peanut butter cookie dough
Directions:
Preheat
oven to 350 degrees
1. Before
starting, unwrap peanut butter cups and place in freezer.
2. Using
miniature muffin tins, place a 1-inch ball of dough in each cup.
3. Bake
for 5 minutes (less than package instructions of 7-8 minutes)
4. Remove
from oven and leave cookies in pan.
5. Remove
candy from freezer and carefully press one into each cookie.
6. Remove
from tins after they have cooled, and cool completely on a rack.
THE BOXED SET INCLUDES:
IF I RETURN -- by USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett
WILD IRISH CHRISTMAS -- by New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr
SEDUCING SANTA -- by New York Times bestselling author Janelle Denison (aka Erika Wilde )
DECKING DREW -- by New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke
FAIRIES & WISHES -- by USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson (aka Monica Murphy )
TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS -- by New York Times bestselling author Jessie Evans (aka J. Evans )
HOLIDAY SPIRIT -- by New York Times bestselling author Cathryn Fox
UNWRAPPED -- by New York Times bestselling author Melody Grace
A CHRISTMAS HEAT WAVE -- by New York Times bestselling author Alannah Lynne
HIS CHRISTMAS WISH -- by New York Times bestselling author Marquita Valentine
IF I RETURN -- by USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett
WILD IRISH CHRISTMAS -- by New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr
SEDUCING SANTA -- by New York Times bestselling author Janelle Denison (aka Erika Wilde )
DECKING DREW -- by New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke
FAIRIES & WISHES -- by USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson (aka Monica Murphy )
TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS -- by New York Times bestselling author Jessie Evans (aka J. Evans )
HOLIDAY SPIRIT -- by New York Times bestselling author Cathryn Fox
UNWRAPPED -- by New York Times bestselling author Melody Grace
A CHRISTMAS HEAT WAVE -- by New York Times bestselling author Alannah Lynne
HIS CHRISTMAS WISH -- by New York Times bestselling author Marquita Valentine
Check the box set out on Goodreads:
Purchase:
GIVEAWAY TIME!
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