Happy Christmas in July! Welcome to the first blog in the 2022 Christmas in July Reader Blog Tour & Giveaway, which runs July 15-22, 2022 (contest closes at 8 p.m. Eastern on 7/22). At the bottom of each author’s blog post, you will find the name of a Christmas song. Write them all down and provide all song titles (26 in total) on this Google form. Click here for all participating authors and their links.
Note: You must grab all the song titles from every author in the 2022 Christmas in July Reader Blog Tour & Giveaway to be eligible to win the grand prize of a $520 Amazon gift card, plus a copy of each participating author’s book OR first place prize of a copy of each participating author’s book. At the end of this blog post is a link to the next blog, and so on, to the final blog post (26 authors in all).
He needs a wife. She needs money. Is their modern-day marriage an answer to their prayers or a disaster waiting to happen?
Confirmed bachelor, Nathan Rutledge shut his heart to romance when he was forced to break the heart of the only woman he ever truly loved. Now, with his father’s retirement from the family conglomerate, the torch has been passed to him. But there are two problems—first, he needs a wife in order to take over the family business. Second, someone has been embezzling company funds. With the pressure mounting, and time expiring to find both a wife he can trust and the thief, Nate needs a Christmas miracle.
Forensic Accountant, Meredith Mitchell’s life is a shambles. Her mother needs a lifesaving transplant, Mom’s medical bills have bankrupted Meredith’s meager savings, and she’s sold everything of value, but it’s still not enough. To make matters worse, she’s now tasked with discovering accounting errors for a new client—none other than Nathan Rutledge—the same man who gave her a broken heart for Christmas eight years ago.
Meredith wants to run. Nate wants the chance to right his wrongs. So, naturally, when he proposes a modern-day marriage of convenience, she balks at the idea. But he desperately needs a wife, and she really needs the money he offers. Is this the answer to her prayers? Or will this mutually beneficial arrangement re-open old wounds that can’t be healed?
I love all things Christmas – it’s my favorite time of the year. Christmas traditions, new and old play a huge part in The Mistletoe Contract. Nate has a lot of them and is basically a big kid during the Christmas holiday. One tradition in particular here in the Charlotte, NC area, is to visit McAdenville, NC. They don’t call it “Christmas Town USA” for nothing! I’ve included several pictures below
On the other hand, Meredith’s life and experiences have been totally different. She never was able to experience the joy and wonder of Christmas growing up. It’s no wonder they call her the office Scrooge! Nate makes it his personal mission to help her enjoy the holidays but also win over her heart.
What kind of traditions did you have growing up? Do you still celebrate those traditions with your family? Children? Grandchildren?
I’d love to hear about one of your favorite family traditions. Simply reply in the comments section below.
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NOW, IT’S TIME FOR MY CHRISTMAS SONG TITLE: “It Came Upon a Midnight Clear”
Save the holiday song titles from each blog stop, and when you reach the final blog, enter all the song titles on this form for a chance to win the grand prize of a $520 Amazon gift card and a copy of each participating author’s featured book OR first prize of a copy of each participating author’s featured book.
Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Louise M. Gouge and her Christmas book The Cowboy Lawman’s Christmas Reunion. You can find it at this link. Remember, the 2022 Christmas in July Reader Blog Tour & Giveaway ends July 22 at 8 PM EST!
We love to drive around and look at Christmas lights each year.
Us too!
My family has a tradition for Christmas Eve. We always stay up late playing board games, eating Christmas cookies and cheeses with crackers. We sometimes watch Christmas movies but the later we stay up the more laughter we seem to share.
I love this!
One of our family traditions was filling the Christmas tree with presents on Christmas Eve. Each person would have a turn to get their presents they were giving to others and put them under the tree while everyone else hid their eyes. It was such fun to open your eyes to see all the new gifts added!
That is really neat!
Yes, I do still try to stick to certain traditions! Like leaving cookies & milk out. Driving around to see the Christmas lights, listening to Christmas music, and watching Christmas movies.
I love Christmas music – it just puts me in the holiday mood! I’ve always loved looking at the Christmas lights too.
Thanks for stopping by and leaving a comment. I love hearing about Christmas traditions!
Good luck with the giveaway!
On Christmas I always made to to bake a birthday cake for Jesus and celebrated His birth. My children loved this tradition and still carry it on today with their children.
That is so sweet. I know a lot of families that do this. Because the birth of Jesus is what Christmas is all about, isn’t it?
Thank you for sharing and stopping by! Jennifer
Your book sounds great! I love holiday-set books so much. I married into a wonderful tradition of an indoor “picnic” dinner on the floor in front of the fireplace on Christmas Eve. My mother in law makes a big Christmas Day dinner, so she started the easy and low key Christmas Eve picnic when her children were little. With those 3 kids married and a total of 7 grandchildren, we’ve added a few more blankets to the living room floor, but it’s a wonderful time!
Ooh, I’m jealous! Just kidding – what a great tradition to have with all your family present. I’m sure y’all have made wonderful memories over the years. We usually would eat snacks as we called it when we were kids but it was really just finger foods and fondu on Christmas Eve since we would all go to my grandmother’s house for a big family Christmas dinner.
Thanks for sharing – these are all great!
Good luck with the giveaway.
Jennifer
It’s so nice to meet you Jennifer! One of my favorite traditions growing up was when me and my dad would go to the woods to cut a tree. We always had to find the one that was just right! Unfortunately that is not a tradition that has been carried over…sadly.
Growing up in New York State, we would always go cut down our own tree. I loved doing that every year, picking the “right” tree. The smell of pine in the air. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I’m loving all these traditions!
Good luck with the giveaway!
Jennifer
My mom would leave the Christmas tree lights on all night long Christmas Eve all through Christmas night. We were 6 kiddos growing up , so Santa would leave our main gifts under the tree and Santa would leave our clothes, shoes, and our stocking on the couch where each of us 6 kids would have a row each of our clothing and shoes and stocking, our toys and other gifts would be under the Christmas tree. I used to do that for our 2 kiddos when they were growing up at home.
Oh that sounds like a lovely Christmas! I love leaving the lights on at night, and if its cold enough, having a fire going in the fireplace. The glow from the Christmas lights makes it so special. Thanks for leaving a comment! Good luck with the giveaway. Jennifer
Christmas traditions are the sweetest. We gather together on Christmas eve for our family gathering. We sing Christmas songs and open gifts. Then we come home and place the cookie plate with glass of milk and carrots for Santa and reindeers. Christmas morning we open all the gifts and see Christmas movies all day long. We enjoy going and seeing all the Christmas lights almost every night a different route, we sing Christmas songs as we go to the new routes of lights. We see the Christmas Nativity movies. And is just a beautiful month of baking and Christmas carols all day long all month long.
Keren,
Yes! I love to bake Christmas cookies and I still do to this day, even if we don’t have any kids at home. Christmas is really the only time I get to slow down and indulge in baking. And Christmas movies – I start watching them on Thanksgiving evening.
Thank you for sharing your Christmas traditions.
Good luck with the giveaway!
Jennifer
Our holiday tradition has always been opening a gift of new pajamas on Christmas Eve. A 60 year tradition still going strong!
Merry Christmas in July! Thank you for sharing about your book and for offering this giveaway opportunity!
Mary,
That is so sweet! Family traditions are the best.
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your tradition with us.
Good luck with the giveaway!
Jennifer
Riding around looking at Christmas lights on houses and pretend to see Santa so the kids get excited 😊
It’s always so special to see kids and their excitement at Christmas, isn’t it?
Thanks for joining the blog tour.
Good luck with the giveaway!
Jennifer
Taking the grandchildren and looking at all the lights and decoration’s!
I used to love driving around and looking at the lights when I was a kid – still do! Guess I’m still a big kid at heart.
Thanks for sharing.
Good luck with the giveaway!
Jennifer
We always had a Christmas tree decorating party, it was so much fun! Now that my parents are gone we haven’t had the annual party. We’ve talked about starting it back up
Oh you should! I’m sure it would bring back a lot of sweet memories. Thanks for sharing.
Good luck with the giveaway!
Jennifer
A family tradition is to wear new holiday PJ’s on Christmas Eve and everyone gets to open one present while we sit around talking and eating snacks.
Thank you for participating in this fun, thoughtful and generous Giveaway.
I’m enjoying learning about everyone’s Christmas traditions. Your family tradition sounds like so much fun!
Thank you for sharing – good luck with the giveaway!
I made a fabric Advent calendar when our oldest child was born. That calendar still hangs in my home every Christmas.
That is so neat that you still have the Advent calendar you made.
Thank you for sharing and good luck with the giveaway!
Jennifer