Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott popping in with Love’s Design, the fifth book in her Bodyguards Inc series, we have a fantastic excerpt, a brilliant giveaway and Lisa’s review, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Love’s Design
(Bodyguards Inc 05)
by
R.J. Scott
Can Christmas be the time when Kirby finally stops running and allows himself to fall in love with the man who saves his life?
CIA Agent Stefan Mortimer is cooling his heels in the UK until he can go home. Taking on easy assignments with Bodyguards Inc. seems like a good solution to keep him sane. He’s used to life throwing him curveballs, and it’s just another day at the office when he rescues Kirby Devlin and his niece and nephew. Now he has to keep Kirby and the kids alive and stay professional.
Kirby Devlin has one priority; keeping his small family safe. On the run, and facing danger at every turn, Kirby finally runs out of places to hide on a snowy December day at an Edinburgh train station. Stefan comes to the rescue, saves him and the children. Is it possible that Kirby finally has someone to trust?
Now, if only it would be as easy for Kirby to trust Stefan with his heart.
“…Kirby was on the run with little Andy and Louise, having seen their father stabbed and left for dead. An unexpected attack at the train station left Kirby in a bloody mess and Stefan coming to the rescue. … Love’s Design was a great addition to the Bodyguard, Inc. series, with a magical Christmas theme…”
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott popping in with the cover to her upcoming release Gabriel, the second book in her new series Legacy. Obviously R.J. Scott is the Queen of sadistic torturer’s as she’s teasing us with Gabriel‘s stunning cover 5 and a half MONTHS before it’s release… yep she deserves that crown! So lets wallow in this torturous time and just bask in the gorgeousness of that cover. <3 ~Pixie~
Gabriel
(The Second Legacy)
by
R.J. Scott
Trapped in darkness, can an escort find a man to help him into the light?
Gabriel Reyes never gave in. He fought and was hurt, was abused but escaped with his life. He made his way in the world using the one thing he was good at: sex. Using his body, he earned the flash car and the apartment with the views. Gabriel’s a success; he’s made it.
He needs no one and he has no one. But that’s okay, because he’s safe.
Cameron Stafford hires Gabriel for a night, needing nothing more than eye candy to persuade his family that he’s happy. With the money he has in the bank and a job that takes him all over the world, why wouldn’t he be happy? It doesn’t matter that a degenerative disease is stealing his vision; for now he has purpose.
One night with an escort was all it was supposed to be, until Cam is thrust into Gabriel’s world. He soon realizes he’s fallen for Gabriel, a man caught in his own world of darkness.
A new story set in the world of Jack and Riley Campbell-Hayes and the Double D Ranch, Texas.
My goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.
I’ve been writing since age six, when I was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and a mixing bowl. You can’t tell a six-year-old not to lick the bowl!
I was told to write a story, and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.
As an avid reader myself, I can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, my first real true love will always be the world of romance. I love my cowboys, bodyguards, firemen, and billionaires (to name a few), and I love to write dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between them. (Yum.)
With over ninety titles to my name and counting, I’m the author of the award-winning The Christmas Throwaway, which was the All Romance eBooks bestselling title of 2010.
I’m also known for the Texas series, which charts the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series, which follows the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.
I’m always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers, and other writers. Please contact me via the links below:
Hiya peeps, we have R.J. Scott popping in with Undercover Lovers, the fourth book in the Bodyguards Inc series. We have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Undercover Lovers
(Bodyguards Inc 04)
by
R.J. Scott
Even if Ross and Kyle make it out of this alive, will the secrets in Kyle’s heart stay safe?
Kyle gets caught up in a case that is entirely unrelated to Bodyguards Inc. Not only does he abruptly need time off, but he has to have absolute trust and complete support from Ross without being able to tell Ross a thing.
CIA Agent Stefan Mortimer needs Kyle’s help with a case of a geneticist and a missing formula. Trouble is being led right to Kyle’s door, endangering the life of the team he has built and the man that he loves.
Going undercover, with Ross as his husband, is the worst kind of torture in so many ways, but it is the only answer. Kyle and Ross may well live through this but Kyle is convinced his heart won’t survive.
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott popping in with the cover to her upcoming release Kyle, the first book in her new series Legacy. Obviously R.J. Scott is a sadistic torturer as she’s teasing us with Kyle‘s stunning cover 4 MONTHS before it’s release… yep she’s evil! So lets wallow in this torturous time and just bask in the gorgeousness of that cover. <3 ~Pixie~
Kyle
(The First Legacy)
by
R.J. Scott
Two men destroyed by the past learn to live—and love—again.
Kyle Braden has nowhere else to go. With no money, no prospects, and no drive to be something else, he turns to the only man who promises him help. Jack Campbell-Hayes wants to show Kyle that he can be more than he ever thought.
Kyle gets to realize just how far he’s come from being the scarred man who shut everyone out, when the first person through the doors of Legacy Ranch carries a gun and threatens to kill anyone who comes near him. Kyle wants to be the man that someone turns to for help and it scares him.
Thrown out of his house and with three years on the streets marking every inch of his body, Jason Smith is scared. His life is an evil mess of hate and despair, and even the offer of a fresh start and a clean bed isn’t enough for him to hand over his gun. He’s cheated death twice, and he’s not letting there be a third time—he might not be so lucky.
For these broken men, Legacy Ranch offers more than a place to live and work.
It offers hope.
A new story set in the world of Jack and Riley Campbell-Hayes and the Double D Ranch, Texas.
My goal is to write stories with a heart of romance, a troubled road to reach happiness, and most importantly, that hint of a happily ever after.
I’ve been writing since age six, when I was made to stay in at lunchtime for an infraction involving cookies and a mixing bowl. You can’t tell a six-year-old not to lick the bowl!
I was told to write a story, and two sides of paper about a trapped princess later, a lover of writing was born.
As an avid reader myself, I can be found reading anything from thrillers to sci-fi to horror. However, my first real true love will always be the world of romance. I love my cowboys, bodyguards, firemen, and billionaires (to name a few), and I love to write dramatic and romantic stories of love and passion between them. (Yum.)
With over ninety titles to my name and counting, I’m the author of the award-winning The Christmas Throwaway, which was the All Romance eBooks bestselling title of 2010.
I’m also known for the Texas series, which charts the lives of Riley and Jack, and the Sanctuary series, which follows the work of the Sanctuary Foundation and the people it protects.
I’m always thrilled to hear from readers, bloggers, and other writers. Please contact me via the links below:
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by with her brand new release Three, we have a great excerpt and Lisa’s review so check out the post & enjoy! <3 ~Pixie~
Three
by
R.J. Scott
Is this just hot sex or can two become three?
Mark is finding his way in life after six years in the army. He’s always wanted to write scripts for TV, and for one show in particular, Tomorrow’s Game.
Half in lust already with the lead actor Zach, he is shocked when he ends up in Zach’s bed. Not just that, but Zach’s co-star Rob is part of the package.
NB: This story was previously available through DSP as a short story in 2010. The story has been significantly re-worked and extended.
Hiya guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by with the first book in her Montana series, we have a great excerpt, a fantastic giveaway and my review, so enjoy the post and click that giveaway link <3 ~Pixie~
Crooked Tree Ranch
(Montana 01)
by
R.J. Scott
When a cowboy meets the guy from the city, he can’t know how much things will change.
On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a business manager with an expertise in marketing, on a dude ranch in Montana. With his sister, Ashley, niece, Kirsten and nephew, Josh, in tow, he moves lock stock and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life on Crooked Tree Ranch.
Foreman and part owner of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running the dude ranch, for five years ever since his mentor Marcus Allen became ill. His brothers convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the business grow. He knows things have to change and but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow – he just isn’t prepared for how much.
“… This is a beautiful love story between two men, each with secrets they are afraid to reveal. …”
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott popping in today to celebrate the release of Texas Wedding, while R.J. celebrates the rest of us will all be quietly sobbing over our e-readers as we say goodbye to Riley and Jack as Texas Wedding is also the last book in the Texas series. R.J. is letting us have a sneak peek with a great excerpt and she’s softened the blow with a fantastic giveaway, so enjoy the post as you wipe tears from your eyes and then click that rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Texas Wedding
(Texas 07)
by
R.J. Scott
Sometimes Riley and Jack have to be the ones to fight other people’s battles and stand up for what is right.
With the life changing prospect of a yes vote from SCOTUS on the issue of same sex marriage, Riley and Jack realise they have decisions to make. Add in some distressing family news and the very real possibility that old secrets may resurface, and this last book in the Texas series pulls together as many threads as the boys can manage to handle.
But through all the ups and the downs, children, family events, laughter, and tears, there is nothing as special as the forever love between these two men.
Hi peeps, we have R.J. Scott and Meredith Russell stopping by with the last book in their Sapphire Cay series Forever In the Sun. We have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Forever in the Sun
(Sapphire Cay 06)
by
R.J. Scott & Meredith Russell
Feuding families, unearthed secrets, and a violent storm threatens the Cay. Will the idyllic island with her cast of characters make it through unscathed? It’s time for the circle to close on the story of Sapphire Cay, and on the men who have lived and found love on her beaches.
Join characters old and new as we celebrate Dylan and Lucas’s wedding and delve into the history of Sapphire Cay.
Connor and Shaun are directly related to Peter and Alfie, a couple whose clandestine lover affair was overshadowed by old prejudices and a world war. Shaun Jamieson is a writer, a romantic and needs to pen the story of the affair’s final secrets; Connor French’s family wants to stop Shaun.
When the two men step onto the sands of Sapphire Cay, they find more than just the secrets of an old love. They find hope and comfort in each other. But with the past hanging over them, can they ever have what Peter and Alfie could not? Or are they just as ill-fated as their ancestors?
Hiya peeps, we have R.J. Scott popping in with her brand new release Undercover Lovers, the fourth book in the Bodyguards Inc series. We have a brilliant guest post, a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Undercover Lovers
(Bodyguards Inc 04)
by
R.J. Scott
Even if Ross and Kyle make it out of this alive, will the secrets in Kyle’s heart stay safe?
Kyle gets caught up in a case that is entirely unrelated to Bodyguards Inc. Not only does he abruptly need time off, but he has to have absolute trust and complete support from Ross without being able to tell Ross a thing.
CIA Agent Stefan Mortimer needs Kyle’s help with a case of a geneticist and a missing formula. Trouble is being led right to Kyle’s door, endangering the life of the team he has built and the man that he loves.
Going undercover, with Ross as his husband, is the worst kind of torture in so many ways, but it is the only answer. Kyle and Ross may well live through this but Kyle is convinced his heart won’t survive.
Hiya peeps, R.J. Scott stops by today with her new release Retrograde the first book in the multi author series Flight HA1710. We have a great excerpt and a fantastic giveaway so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Retrograde
(Flight HA1710, 01)
by
R.J. Scott
Co-Pilot Lachlan Donaghue wakes up in hospital, a survivor of the crash of Flight HA1710, with memory loss and the suspicion that he could be at fault for the tragic accident. When everything becomes too much he goes home to hide, back to the small Scottish town he grew up in and to his family home.
Rory Kendrick watches the news, sees every hour of the disaster unfold but never thinks that Lachlan was in the middle of it all. Or that his friend will be forced to come back home to hide and to heal. What Lachlan needs is a friend, not a lover, but sometimes the lines are just too blurred to make any sense.
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by to show off her upcoming release The Summer House, I’ve nicked a short excerpt off R.J. and there’s a great giveaway so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
The Summer House
An English Hearts Story 01
by
R.J. Scott
Ashby Sebastian Sterling-Haynes has had a lot of boyfriends, but he’s never found the one.
The only person he can form an attachment to is his fourteen year old niece, and even that is in jeopardy when babysitting her cat goes all kinds of wrong.
Veterinarian, Connor Lawson is much happier working with animals than with people. He has deliberately returned home and to the Summer House he recalled from childhood holidays for peace and quiet and the chance to heal from wounds no one would ever see.
When his next door neighbor comes into the practice with a cat that has been in a fight he hides in his office because this Ashby guy is all kinds of dangerous. Too hot, too rich, too titled, and way too sexy for his own good.
Can two men who refuse to believe in love ever learn that love is the easy part of the journey to forever?
Hi guys, today we have joined by MRL Press as they show off their newest series Storming Love: Blizzard, there’s six books in the series from six great authors and I’ve nicked an excerpt from MLR Press for one of the books *shhh don’t tell MLR Press* so check out the post and then click the Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Storming Love: Blizzard
by
Sara York, Neil Placky, R.J. Scott, Vicktor Alexander, Nicole Dennis, Jackie Nacht
Storming Love: Blizzard – Jens & Elliot by Sara York (release date: 1/23/15)
Jens Arnesen is only looking for a taste of the city, a place to experience Boston. What he finds is a sexy naked man who ends up being more than he bargained for. Elliot Matthews needs a place to stay until the storm blows over and the airports open. Being walked in on by Jens starts out as an annoyance but grows into the best thing in his life. When the skies clear and the airports open, they have no choice but to part. If only they lived closer to each other then life would be perfect.
When the storm throws them together, can Jens and Elliot make the most of the situation?
Storming Love: Blizzard – Kimo & Mike by Neil Plakcy (release date: 1/30/15)
Former competitive surfer and Honolulu homicide detective Kimo Kanapa’aka is in his element in his home state of Hawaii. But a ski trip with his partner, fire investigator Mike Riccardi, knocks him off balance. As a bitter storm rages outside the condo where they’re staying, one of Mike’s college buddies is feuding with his wife and the other is making sexy overtures to Kimo. Will these tensions ruin the vacation and perhaps even drive a wedge between Kimo and Mike?
Storming Love: Blizzard – Seth & Casey by RJ Scott (release date: 2/6/15)
The blizzard of the century has stranded teacher Casey McGuire and pupils at a country retreat. As a last resort and fearing for their lives he calls his ex, fireman Seth Wild. The same man who promised that he would always be there for Casey.
Seth is on sick leave after a terrible accident leaves him near dead. He’s wallowing in self pity and he’s already driven away the only man who cared about him. Casey. When he receives the call, he is the only person left to help and nothing will stop him.
Because if Seth can’t help, then very possibly Casey and the kids won’t make it out of this alive.
Storming Love: Blizzard – Layne, River & Damion by Vicktor Alexander (release date: 2/13/15)
It has taken Damion Martin six months to finally start to get over the startling break-up from his partner Layne Haylse. They’d been high school sweethearts and blissfully in love. Then the man suddenly wanted nothing to do with him. Having to work with him at Yale University almost every day made the separation that much harder. Meeting the young marketing major, River Cunningham, may just be the ticket to helping Damion heal.
But they say that to every story there’s two sides, and the truth lies somewhere in the middle. When a harrowing blizzard crashes through Connecticut, trapping all three men inside the campus library, they will soon find that sometimes things aren’t as black and white as they seem. When the truth is revealed, it may change their lives forever.
(release date: 2/13/15)
Storming Love: Blizzard – Gavin & Morgan by Nicole Dennis (release date: 2/20/15)
Drained from forecasting both hurricanes and twisters, Gavin Larson, a meteorologist, accepts a request to become the head forecaster for a Philadelphia television station. He goes for a trial time during winter. A calm, quiet winter where he can recharge. Until he discovers a series of potential events ready to clash.
Taking over his family’s position, Morgan Rylee Whittaker III feels the pressure to follow their lofty attitude, he can’t stay hidden in the executive suites. He jumps into the chaos. Bumping into the meteorologist, Morgan feels a thump of arousal, but listens when Gavin locates a dangerous blizzard heading up the coast.
Together, they protect and prepare Philadelphia from the incoming nor’easter. They dance around the steady beat of attraction brewing between them as the storm rages.
(release date: 2/20/15)
Storming Love: Blizzard – Stokes & Ford by Jackie Nacht (release date: 2/27/15)
Ford and Stokes are about to weather two storms; the blizzard coming their way and their growing feelings for one another.
Stokes has been rooming with Ford ever since the first day of college. Although his feelings had started out as friendly, over time, they have grown deeper. He’s fallen for Ford, hard, but how the hell is Stokes going to tell Ford? When college winter break approaches, Stokes decides to take Ford up to his parent’s rental to have a fun weekend with Ford and finally let his best friend know what he feels. However, with a blizzard coming in, they will have to weather the storm outside and in their hearts.
Hey peeps, we have the brilliant R.J. Scott visiting today with her brand new release Angel in a Book Shop. R.J. lets us have a peek at an excerpt and she has a great giveaway, so enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Angel in a Book Shop
by
R.J. Scott
What happens when a broken man has to trust in the impossible?
Chapter One, an antique book shop is the last tangible thing Josh and his mom have left of his dad. Nestled in a quiet square a few steps from London’s St Pauls Cathedral, it is boarded up with whitewashed windows and no new stock. The place is a sad reminder of loss and it has to go, but destroying a business that has been in his family for generations is not a role Josh is looking forward to.
Michael is the owner of Arts Desire, the shop next door. With his rainbow pride mugs and his sunny positive outlook he is the complete opposite to what Joshua thinks he needs in his life.
But, when Josh and Michael become friends, Josh learns that finding true love starts with making big decisions, and that everyone deserves their own Christmas miracle sometimes.
Hi guys, we have R.J. Scott stopping by with Texas Fall book six in the Texas series. R.J. Lets you have a peek at an excerpt and there’s a fantastic giveaway. So enjoy the post and click that Rafflecopter link <3 ~Pixie~
Texas Fall
(Texas 06)
by
R.J. Scott
Jack is focusing on building an equine therapy school for children with special needs and works hard along side his normal horse training and breeding program. He and Riley have settled into a softer, quieter, kind of family life, but that doesn’t stop them using the barn with the door to the fullest!
But the lull comes before the storm.
Riley and his new assistant travel to Laredo, and across the border into Nuevo León as part of an exploratory team and things very quickly go to hell. Riley is caught in some serious Cartel problems and suddenly everything Jack holds dear is threatened.
Add in Vaughn and Darren’s story, revisiting Robbie, Eli, Liam and Marcus, alongside Sean and Eden and the wedding that never was, and this story promises you everything you want from a Texas series book.
Blurb: Kian has crossed over from his world to ours to seek revenge. His plan is to kill the monster who murdered his Uncle. The same monster who used magic to escape to our world and is hiding here and growing in strength.
Regan Campbell is a hunter of Demons. The first son, of a first son, he is the one who protects this world from the monsters that no one else knows are here.
When Kian reaches this world, he knows Regan is the perfect man to fight alongside him, but Regan trusts no one.
It isn’t until they are facing death and a terrible evil that will be let loose, that Regan finally realizes he can trust another…his fated partner, Kian.
Please note: this book was originally a short story written in 2010 and released by Silver Publishing. This version is inspired by that short story and is a complete re-write.
Review: Kian ap Rhys has come to the human world hunting a Danio that ripped the fire from his uncle. But he is also seeking his bondmate, the one person who was meant for him. Regan Campbell is hunting demons, a task that has been passed down through the family, when he is approached by Kian he isn’t sure what to make of the ethereal man especially when Kian starts talking about a near parallel world. Kian and Regan must fight together to conquer the evil they now face, but Regan finds it hard to trust and Kian won’t force the bond.
This great little novella introduces us to a world that is nearly parallel to our own but has magic. Kian is from that world, he has traveled to our world to find a killer, and the man he is destined to bond with. Regan is a human who is from a family who has hunted demon’s for hundreds of years, his one goal in life is to destroy the evil, falling in love never enters his mind. Kian wants nothing more than to bond with the man meant for him, but Regan doesn’t trust, and when the threat is taken care of Kian is still in danger, as he can’t survive without his bonded.
This story is a great start to a new (re-written) series, it has a bit of world building for Kian’s world, and the bond is explained perfectly. Kian is a brilliant character who holds back as best he can when he realizes that Regan doesn’t want a bond, Regan is a great character who fights against what he feels but finally accepts his feelings. It is a story that isn’t instant love or instant bonding; it is more a story of trusting what you feel is real. It would have been so easy to have had that instant spark acknowledged and to have everything fall into place, but Regan’s personality wouldn’t have made that believable and we wouldn’t have gotten the nice juicy angst that we so enjoy.
I have to say that R.J. Scott has done a good job of giving us just enough information to enjoy this story but leaving enough information to whet our appetites for the next books, like the waking dreams that plague Kian at the end. I liked the fact that both Kian and Regan tried to fight the bond, although they had very different reasons for fighting it. I liked that when they did come together fully, sexually, it wasn’t straight away; they had time to pull back and think about it, especially Regan. I must admit that Kian made things harder by not explaining things in full but it does add nicely to the tension between Kian and Regan, making their end relationship that much more believable.
I have to recommend this to those who love paranormal romances that are a bit bumpy, danger, tension, and a touch of angst, some sweet loving, accepting fate, and a very interesting ending.
Hey guys, today you will see various posts from Authors that we hounded… er asked what they would be doing for Christmas and many of them have sent us wonderful posts with pictures so we can share their holiday’s with you.
My first author is Mary Calmes, I adore Mary’s stories like Where You Lead and with how she creates great stories I just had to find out how she celebrated Christmas.
Christmas at the Calmes house begins with tree decorating and we watch the movie Elf while we’re doing it along with eating popcorn and drinking hot chocolate. Even in Hawaii we did the same thing. There are store bought ornaments and handmade ones as well. We hang the kids’ stockings and two years ago, we got a cat, so Dewey’s goes up too. The last decoration we put up is the angel and she always goes in the kitchen. We open gifts Christmas day, not Christmas Eve, and since we moved to Kentucky, we drive out to the country to spend the day on the family farm. The very best part of the holiday is being together.
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My next author is Sjd Peterson, and after chasing her all over cyberspace I finally pinned her down to share her Christmas plans. Oh I nearly forgot that she once did a Christmas story, Leon it’s a cute read that’s all warm and snuggerly.
Well, I’m not big on decorating. I used to be but I’ve gotten lazy so the tree is all you get. But hey, it’s a perty… “Oh shiny” tree. (It’s so totally me)
I’ll be spending time with friends and family on Christmas and taking all the positive vibes and magic of the holiday season and sending them to Tj, Eric and their families. If anyone deserves a Christmas miracle it’s them. Please keep them in your thoughts and prayers.
Merry Christmas Hugs
Jo
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And now we have R.J. Scott, who within minutes of being asked had everything back to me with a picture collage, but then she always seems prepared with her excellent Christmas stories like Texas Christmas.
When Pixie asked me to write and tell you about the Scott family Christmas I immediately went to my stock of family photos. I love Christmas, I love the friends, the food, I love writing about Christmas, watching Christmas films, giving presents… you name it and I sign up to it!
This Christmas day is at mum’s house where wine will be consumed and presents opened alongside a huge Christmas dinner. We’ll play games, Matt’s favourite is Sorry, followed closely by Uno and Sevens. We’ll build lego, and probably Mr RJ and my sister’s hubby will have a sleep – that is if Mum’s dog will let them! We always have big plans for what we call *tea* which is at around 7pm… but end up being way to full to manage even a small slice of cucumber.
We don’t really have snow at Christmas (despite what the films tell you!) but every so often we do get the white stuff. Apparently this year it will be overcast and raining… 🙁
All my presents are wrapped and ready, I just need to get Jesse’s Christmas out and available then I can relax!
Happy Christmas to everyone!
RJ X
Picture 1 – Baby’s first Christmas… and yes that is me… bald as a coot and three months old, with my first two teddy bears. I think those bears are the only things holding me up, bit like after I have had a few too many wines.
Picture 2 – Baby’s first Christmas, take 2 – this time I am the one in the rather fetching blue dress, with my mum and dad, circa 1972, holding my little sister (and yes she WAS born with that much hair, unlike me). This was a very special Christmas as we were a family of four.
Picture 3 – An old Christmas Decoration – This is a decoration that we have just put on my Mum’s tree. So many memories of putting this same decoration up every year.
Picture 4 – The Scott Christmas Tree with added arty effects. We put this up at the weekend and I love turning the lights out and sitting watching TV with just the Christmas lights on. Beautiful.
Picture 5 – Don’t ask. When I was 12 I was in the wonderful Panto Cinderella at my school. Yes I played the ugly sister and it was a big (and funny) part, and yes I absolutely needed padding and so much makeup on to make me look hideous…
Picture 6 – Cinderella again. This is a set of Christmas lights that hang in my mum’s house and have done every Christmas since I was little. The set is Cinderella’s carriage interspersed with tiny lanterns. Very pretty and so old now.
Stephani Hecht, sent along her little post about her family Christmas and only technical difficulties have postponed their Christmas snapshots. I suppose to make myself feel better I should read Wayne County Holiday’s and Hot Cocoa and Candy Canes!
Family Traditions-Stephani Hecht
Our family traditions are pretty simple. We like to decorate our tree as soon as possible, usually on Thanksgiving Day. Yeah, we love the Holidays that much. The thing we look forward to the most is the day where they have the Christmas Story marathon. We usually watch it all day long. Sigh We never get tired of that movie. Even though Cody is twenty and Joie is twelve, we all still get stockings. We even make up little ones for the birds and our lizard, so nobody gets left out.
We don’t leave cookies and milk out for Santa anymore, which is kind of a bummer. I miss doing that. The one silver lining in that, is that we passed down our nice plate and glass down to Jackie’s kids. So, it almost feels like the tradition has carried on.
As usual this year, I went overboard on presents. But, to me, the fun part is giving, rather than receiving. I love to see people’s faces when they open a gift that I got for them. To me that’s what the Holidays are all about—bringing joy to others.
Amber Kell, Well if I had RJ then I had to have Amber Kell as well, well they did come up with the wonderful The Case of the Sinful Santa and Amber went even further with her free Christmas short stories Christmas Tree Magic & Santa Wishes! So I had no choice to invite the Queen of Novella’s to tell us her Christmas plans.
When MM good book reviews asked me to write a post I had to take a moment and ponder if I truly wanted everyone to know how strange I truly am. Then I realized most of my fans probably already do so they probably won’t be the least bit surprised at my revelations.
I was asked what sort of Christmas traditions my family follows. Growing up we didn’t really have any. My family isn’t religious and most of the time was spent putting up the fake tree and juggling time between my mom or dad’s house. As an adult I decided to start my own traditions.
1) We always have a real tree. We go to a tree farm and find the perfect tree. Then my husband tells me it won’t fit in our house. Next, we scale down expectations and find a tree that will at least scrape the ceiling. Once tree is home we drown it in lights and ornaments until it can barely stand beneath the weight.
2) We go to Archee McPhee’s and purchase a mystery bag. This will be opened on Christmas Eve to keep the children’s little heads from exploding from Christmas expectations. It contains the normal stuff: poseable Einstein dolls, zombies and the occasional bacon flavored candy…you know the usual holiday cheer.
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3) We get a Lego advent calendar so my eight-year-old Lego fanatic can put them together every day. Older son had one last year but he didn’t want one this time because they didn’t have a Santa Darth Maul. He has a chocolate one instead.
4) Hubby and I send the kids to bed early, drink eggnog and put presents under the tree while we watch our holiday movie The Ref. I always wrap and assemble everything as soon as it is purchased and stash it away. I hate wrapping anything on Christmas Eve. Christmas Eve is the time for coffee and movies with hubby with a side of Santa.
Along the way we do have things like the usual sugar cookie making. One year I couldn’t find my Christmas cookie cutters so I made Christmas octopuses, once baked they looked like Cthulhu. Maybe it was wrong to take them to my husband’s highly religious family but we had fun.
This year my son’s teacher sent a bag of crayons, a star mold and instructions on making custom crayons. End result. Hubby used them to make crayon zombie fingers. Just another holiday tradition at the Kell house. I hope everyone has fun this holiday season following your own traditions. Merry Christmas.
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T.M. Smith, was an obvious author to invite, after all she does fulfill my pervie needs 😉 She has no Christmas stories as yet but she rocks with The Library!
Christmas in our house means a time of gathering and recognizing the traditions. There is a long list of things we do every year, and the family have come to expect it. First, we always decorate our tree on Thanksgiving day while listening to Christmas Carols. We have such an eclectic array of ornaments and each and every one holds special meaning as well. Every year each member of the family gets a new ornament and this ornament always reflects that person. Trust me, if you know us you could walk over to this tree and know who each ornament is for! For each of the kiddo’s in the family, including myself, we have a baby’s first Christmas ornament. So there are precious bobbles on this tree that are 42 years young!
Friends and family gather every year the weekend before Xmas for a party and gift exchange. And every year it seems, the group grows by one or two. Some of these people we only see this one day a year, so it is all that much more cherished. The conversations, the visiting, sharing events from the past year, eating lots of good food and drinking LOTS of good wine!
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These are all things that my grown children look forward to every year. And my hope is that as they grow older and wiser, that they will continue these traditions in their own homes. Thanks for stopping by today and sharing my Christmas traditions with me! I’d love for you to leave a comment and tell me what Christmas means to you, or one of your families Holiday traditions.
MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYBODY ** .
Cardeno C. Was cautious to join us, but as I said it’s a holiday so send what you can, so C.C. had celebrated Hanukkah and shared with us their holiday celebration, and I am going to tell you to have a look at In Another Life because it’s a wonderful Hanukkah story.
. Hanukkah came at a fun time this year because the 2nd night was on Thanksgiving. That made for some creative Thanksgivukkah celebrations, like a pumpkin turned into a menorah.
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Like with any holiday, there’s food, of course. Potato latkes are traditional this time of year and I tried to get creative with mine. Instead of the usual grated potatoes and onions fried into patties, I used roasted potatoes and all sorts of veggies. It was pretty good, I think, though nothing beats the original. What I’m more proud of were my matzah balls. My father has always made wonderful matzah balls but he was out of town for the holiday this year so I gave it a go. I think they turned out pretty well.
But food and candles aside, Hanukkah is about spending time with family and friends. I was lucky to share candles and dinner and dreidel on the eight night with people I hold near and dear. What is dreidel? Well, it’s a fun game where you spin a top and gamble chocolate coins.
Food, games, and candles with friends and family. That was my holiday this year and it was wonderful.
And now we come to Beau Schemery & Augusta Li, I invited these authors separately but am posting them together because they are such an awesome pair, I adore both these authors books and nearly *squeed* in joy when they said yes!
My name is Beau Schemery and I’ve written the YA novel, The Seventh of London and the Verses of Vrelenden series. Xmas isn’t a real big day in our household which is to say Gus (That’s Augusta Li, fantastic and infamous M/M writer; yep, we’re roommates) and I are normally too busy to go in for all the pomp and circumstance. Our kids are older so they’re not really into the craziness anymore either. We both still work day jobs to supplement our writing so we don’t really get a Christmas break. We really just get a day off.
That said we really use the day to relax and play Xbox games that we will probably buy for each other. We do presents but nothing super elaborate (Note the extra fancy wrapping bags nicked from our place of day jobbery). We also still put up stockings for the kids with mostly Japanese candy inside. My stocking is one of my boots with my Slytherin scarf thrown over it.
Our goal this year was to not leave the house but since we don’t have cable, we’ll be seeking out a relative’s home to watch The Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Time of the Doctor. And we’ll probably sit around weeping like little kids when Matt Smith regenerates.
Oh and wine. Lots of wine. Hope your day off is as relaxing and filled with weird, authory awesomeness as ours will be!
Augusta Li was ever so kind as to create a picture of the stars of the Blessed Epoch series, Yarrow, Duncan and Sasha…. I have died and gone to heaven, aren’t the guys just so sweet! ~Pixie~
Blurb: Six men with lives linked to the Double D… Danger comes to the Double D from Liam’s past and threatens everything Jack and Riley hold dear.
Centering on Jack and Riley, parents, lovers and friends. Jack makes a decision that will affect the ranch, and Riley realizes peace comes at a price.
Eli and Robbie have their home on Double D land. Their love is rooted in the Texas soil and they weather as many storms as can be thrown at them.
And Liam, a young man with a head full of dreams and sleep full of nightmares, finds that all things are possible when Marcus decides to interrupt his solitary existence.
Review:This story is part of a series and must be read in order. When Liam came to the Double D ranch, he had little more than the clothes on his back, his trust had been destroyed, and he was wary of what is expected of him. Now he has an admirer and he isn’t sure what to do, Marcus doesn’t seem like the type of man to hurt him but Liam finds it hard to open up. Marcus is determined to get close to the young man who fascinates him and discovers what has Liam so afraid, he woos Liam slowly, but when danger comes from Liam’s past will he be strong enough to help Liam through it. Jack and Riley are looking forward to their expanding family but the red tape is tangled. Eli and Robbie are getting ready to settle into their new house but leaving their little apartment is harder than Robbie thought.
We are back at Double D ranch watching as Jack and Riley’s family expands, as their friends, Eli and Robbie, settle into their new home and Liam learns to trust Marcus and find his place on the ranch. This is a beautiful addition to the Texas series; it’s filled with joy and sadness, pain and relief and men who love something fierce. It covers the months from September to December with us watching the ups and downs of these six men and we get the story of Liam’s life and hardships, we see the developing love between Liam and Marcus and the solid love between Jack and Riley, and Eli and Robbie.
So I might (under torture) admit to having to wipe a couple of tears away at certain times during this story, and some of those tears might have been for the joy and love that smacks you in the face, but some of those tears were also for the pain and heartache that Liam suffered and rolls off the page to torture your heart. Damn you R.J. Scott! I also admit to loving this story completely and having fallen madly in love with Max, that little tyke just about rips your heart out with his little hand *the one not clutching Thomas* and he refuses to give it back.
This is a wonderfully written story taking us through the journey of not just Liam and Marcus’ burgeoning relationship but the journey that Liam takes within himself to overcome his painful past with the help and love of Marcus and the support of Jack, Riley, Eli and Robbie. We see the struggles that Riley and Jack face with the red tape as they adopt Max, and as they get into the swing of being parents to the twins. We see the love that Eli and Robbie have for each other as they move into their own house and the support they offer to their Texas family.
I recommend this if you love cowboys, family, love, and support. If you adore well-crafted tales of building families through love and trust, overcoming the past and welcoming love and a beautiful Christmas ending.
Blurb: Return to Sapphire Cay for Christmas. Lucas and Dylan invite their friends to share in their Christmas celebrations on the island along with Lucas’s sister, Tasha, and her husband. Christmas is a time for family, forgiveness, and to look to the future, and this year Dylan has to face up to all three.
Unearthing the memories of two men in love, frozen in time and buried among the history of the island, Lucas and Dylan realize that sometimes loving someone is not always enough. It’s about being brave and taking the next step, to learn from the past to move forward.
Family has always been important to Lucas since his own was struck by tragedy. Though Dylan disapproves of his methods, Lucas has nothing but good intentions about wanting Dylan to reconcile with his father. The two Gray men haven’t spoken properly in years, their relationship strained by heartache and mistakes reaching back into Dylan’s childhood.
Forgiveness is a hard thing to give and sometimes even harder to receive.
Review: Oh my, this was a fun read and reconnection with Sapphire Cay. I must say that this Christmas story is unlike others. There is no white Christmas here, rather sunny and full with games, laughter, swimming and… well all sorts of incidents really.
I was quite happy reading this book as it’s a gathering of all the characters/couples that make the Cay the paradise it is. The main couple of course are Dylan and Lucas, but make no mistake, we see them all there; Jamie and Edward, Scott and Adam (though they are a bit more floating) and the last couple is a hetero (don’t get all snippy already) Liam and Tasha, Lukas’ sister. Dominique escaped us as he just met and said goodbye to us since the beginning of the story, leaving Adam to take care of the Christmas food.
Now, as I said this is not your typical Christmas story. It starts with a big, big fight. One that quite surprised me to be honest, not so much with the fact that Lucas would have done what he did, nor with how Dylan reacted, but it did surprise me with the events that took place. Explained the blurb too, what with unearthing long-lost memories. At some point I feared the story would take a turn that would not entice me at all, however the authors managed to snap the events and incidents together, taking you from point A to point B and so on in a movie-like scenario. I could see the images and the going from couple to couple just as well as if I was watching them in a movie. I loved that effect. I don’t know if it is just me or more readers will feel that, but for me it was near perfect.
The surprises continue and a new member is introduced to our bunch of hot men. A dog! Yes, you heard right. Mutt is this new terror that joined the Cay only to drive Lucas and Edward crazy. I had the most fun time reading the parts where Edward nearly had a panic attack with dog poops, and Lucas verging between letting the Mutt go and indulging Dylan yet again. I think this dog brought light to some hidden sides of some characters. I’d never thought they existed, as in the end even out snippy Brit caved to his charm.
There are also some emotional parts in the story as Dylan manages to face some long due demons of his own, and Lucas gets to yet again help fixing something and he gets a new status by the end of the book, or was it two new statuses? Oh yeh, by the end of this New Year Lucas is going to be so much more than just a fiancé.
Overall, I enjoyed book for of the Sapphire Cay series. I think it was just the perfect addition and I loved the fact that I got to spend Christmas with all three couples of the Cay. It was fun, funny, emotional, and erotic. It was a story different from other and one I don’t hesitate to recommend even at readers that hasn’t read the series before. Thinking about it, you can easily read this as a stand-alone. Enjoy!
Blurb:Zephariel, the Angel of Vengeance, Nick Klauson, nephew to Santa, Christmas magic, zombies in the school and a necromancer causing chaos…and at the centre of it all—Mal.
Zephariel is the Angel of Vengeance and is tracking down his cousin Danjal for misuse of brimstone. When he walks into a bar and finds Nick Klauson drowning his sorrows, he is instantly drawn to him. Could this be his fated mate?
When Nick and Zeph join forces to deal with zombies in Mal’s school, sparks fly. Add in a demon, a wolf, and a necromancer, and Sam and Bob have a hunt on their hands.
Review:This story is part of a series and must be read in order. Zeph, the Angel of Vengeance, is on his way to see his cousin Danjal when he feels a pull and he comes across his mate, but claiming his mate isn’t easy when he is suddenly called upon to deal with some zombies. Nick is trying to drown is sorrows as he contemplates his life, not being a full Klauson has him being looked down on by the rest of the family but he continues to do his work seeking out the dread and dark pockets and wiping out the cause. Together, Zeph and Nick face more than just zombies and to be together one of them might just have to give up everything.
This is a great addition to the series bringing us some answers but also opening up new ones as one case closes and a discovery is made. Nick is a great character who has had his confidence knocked repeatedly by members of his own family, he has no clue why Zeph would want him, but Nick has a lot to offer. Zeph’s character is perfect for Nick because he sees the true worth of Nick, he doesn’t see anything wrong with Nick being half-human and appreciates the gifts that Nick has. They have instant chemistry and are fated to be together but they face opposition when Zeph’s people interfere.
The storyline continues on smoothly from The Case of the Dragon’s Dilemma with the zombie’s at Mal’s school, it also brings Danjal and Hart back into the story and Smudge starts bringing in the familiar’s for Sam to place. We see how Sam and Bob are doing and how Sam is still in denial, we discover the truth about the necromancer with Nick saving the day with Christmas magic and we see a new relationship being forged between Zeph and Nick that didn’t start out perfectly but picks up speed quickly.
I really do enjoy this series and how it’s progressing. You never know what we will face next, what interesting characters we will be introduced to, or what new problems will arise. And we can’t help but wonder when poor Sam will get an actual paying case that doesn’t end up involving him, Bob or Mal in some way. Zeph and Nick make interesting additions to the little group of friends and they bring that extra angst as they face down those uppity Angels and they get a surprise visit.
I recommend this to those who adore the paranormal, love great characters, love perving on not one but two couples, getting pulled into interesting and different storylines and having great happy endings.
Publisher: Totally Bound (13th December 2013) Available for early download from 15th November 2013
Heat Level: Moderate
Heart Rating: ♥♥♥♥4 Hearts
Reviewer: Pixie
Blurb:Nate Todd knows things have to change for Crooked Tree to survive. He just doesn’t know how much of an effect Jay Sullivan will have on his life.
On the spur of the moment, with his life collapsing around him, Jay Sullivan answers an ad for a marketing expert on a dude ranch in Montana. With his small family, he moves lock, stock, and barrel from New York to Montana to start a new life.
Foreman and owner of a third of the ranch, ex rodeo star Nathaniel ‘Nate’ Todd has been running Crooked Tree Ranch. His partners in the business convince him that he needs to get an expert in to help the ranch survive. He knows things have to change, but when the new guy turns up, with a troubled family in tow, he just isn’t prepared for how much.
Review: Nate discovers the ranch he part owns isn’t doing as well as he thought, so on the advice of his partners he agrees to get a marketing expert in to turn the ranch around, but he isn’t prepared for the hot city guy who turns up with his family in tow. Jay snatches the chance of a new beginning for himself and his family when he loses his job and his sister’s violent ex turns up, but he never accounted for his sexy new cowboy boss. Settling his family comes first for Jay but he can’t ignore his longing for Nate, Nate has ideas of his own, but will Jay be willing to stay at Crooked Tree Ranch and will Nate tell Jay how he really feels?
R.J. Scott has done it again. She has produced another series with fabulous characters, incredible settings and with the added bonus of family drama. Both Nate and Jay are introduced in their own settings, Nate on the ranch with the hidden problems coming to light and Jay in the city office as his world crumbles around him. We then see both of them finding solutions to their problems and their first meeting isn’t exactly sunshine and roses. We discover a lot about the characters of both men, in their past and continued actions and they are both men that are honorable and family orientated, but are both tough and determined in their own ways.
The relationship between Nate and Jay is a slow evolving one but the attraction and sparks between them let you know it will be an incredible one. There’s plenty of background stories playing out involving both Nate’s two brother’s and Jay’s sister and niece, as well as cute little sweet Josh (Jay’s nephew) settling easily into his new life. Along with the normal tension and worries of moving to a new State and the horrible tension of an abuser refusing to let go, it has the hopes and fears of a new relationship and the hotness of sexy men taking a chance on love. There is also a mystery lurking in the background involving the disappearance of two young boys and the ongoing relations between the three partners of the ranch.
I loved this story, it had just the right amount of everything to keep me turning the pages and having me scouring the internet for hints about future books, it had me secretly grinning that it had sexy cowboys and I’d snatched the book right out from under Cat’s nose *raspberry*. It got my mind flying off wondering what happened to the young teenagers who had disappeared… *R.J. I want to know… NOW*, it had me sighing over family and the changes that security and a fresh start can bring. It’s a very fulfilling story that doesn’t have a miss, it hits the spot from every aspect, and I am really hoping that R.J. coughs up the next in the series pretty quickly.
I recommend this story if you love cowboys, city guys, sexy men, family drama, a lingering mystery, some hot sex, a great story, brilliant characters, and some brilliant writing. Oh and if you can read! LOL, R.J. I am expecting you to write like the wind and have sore fingers in the near future 🙂
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