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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!

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I’m excited to announce that I’m in the process of finishing up my 3-book romantic suspense series, Targeted for Elimination!

These books have been challenging but also fun to write. The first story is about an undercover ATF agent, Jack Spencer. His cover is blown, he’s injured and he can’t trust anyone.

Maggie Coleman is an ex-Army medic who’s seen too many tours of duty. When an injured man shows up at the airport, she treats his wounds. But some wounds are too deep to be repaired. Including her own.

I’ll announce publication dates soon – I hope! Thanks for stopping by.

Targeted for Elimination – Romantic Suspense Series

Book 1: Lethal Intentions

I’m excited to announce that I’ve signed a contract with Anaiah Press for a 3-book romantic suspense series titled “Targeted for Elimination.”

Books 1 & 2 are already at the publisher and I’m currently working on book 3.

Back Cover Blurb: Lethal Intention

He’s a man on the run.

Undercover ATF agent Jack Spencer has been running away his entire life. His last assignment has him questioning who he really is, and what he believes. When his cover is compromised, and he’s injured, he must disappear in order to survive.

She wants a fresh start.

Ex-Army medic Maggie Coleman is fighting demons of her own. After her 5 tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan, she wants to be left alone and work. Her wounds are invisible but debilitating. The peace and serenity of the Hawaiian Islands are just what the doctor ordered. When Jack crashes into her life, she’s taken on a rollercoaster ride into the unknown.  

Now they’re running for their lives.

Maggie and Jack flee the Islands only to find their every move is anticipated. As the days wear on, they form a bond that transcends their situation. On the run, they must not only depend on each other but on God.

When they finally reach the safe house in the mountains of Montana, Jack and Maggie hunker down and wait for reinforcements. Before help arrives, Maggie is kidnapped, and Jack has only one option: offer himself in exchange.

Will they allow themselves to fall in love again? Or will their budding romance perish in the wilds of Montana at the hands of evil men?

This book will tug at your heartstrings as Matt is trying to find his footing after a devastating loss. Tara is also dealing with her own personal demons and she feels that drawn to Matt, even though he’s completely isolated himself from others and turned his back on church and God. Anchor My Heart was also a Selah Finalist at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference 2022. All I can say is wow – you’ll want to read this book!

About the book

In the aftermath of tragic loss, worship leader Matt Lawson is grappling with debilitating anxiety. The blessings he’d taken for granted—a dream job, a woman he couldn’t wait to spend the rest of his life with, and his God-given musical talent—have crumbled at his feet, leaving him reeling in despair, unable to face the wreckage of the life he’d envisioned for himself.

Tara Pierce is ready to put past hurts behind her as she prepares to graduate college and take a leap of faith in her career. When Matt’s grief causes him to isolate himself from everyone he knows, she refuses to stand idly by and do nothing. She has traversed similar terrain before. No one deserves to travel that road alone.

Unexpected attraction flares as Tara reaches into the sea of Matt’s grief and helps ground him in reality. But Matt’s not ready to give himself away again. Can Tara risk her heart and their friendship and let God step in to heal where she can’t?

Sara Beth Williams is a wife, mother of two daughters, and temporary caretaker of a lovable old lady pit and a spunky Pomeranian-Shih Tzu mix. She lives in Northern California. When she’s not held hostage by the keyboard, she enjoys music, teaching, reading and spending time with her family. She is all about connecting with readers! Find her on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Goodreads and Bookbub.

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Welcome to the next stop in the Christmas 2021 Round Robin Giveaway!

Here’s how it works: At each author’s blog post, you will find a question that can be answered by checking out the free Amazon preview of their book. Provide the answer on the entry form. Note: You must answer the questions for every author in the round-robin to be considered to win. First place is a $250 Amazon gift card, second place is a $150 Amazon gift card, third place is a $100 Amazon gift card! Giveaway closes December 12, 2021, at 11:59 PM EST. [Note: these prizes are USD values. If you are not a U.S. resident, you will get a gift card from the Amazon store for your country; however, it will be valued at these USD amounts.) At the end of my post is a link to the next blog, who will provide a link to the next blog, etc., to the very end.

The Mistletoe Contract is my debut novel. I had so much fun writing Nate and Meredith’s story and hope you’ll enjoy it, too. Here’s a quick summary of my Christmas romance novel: Nate Rutledge is acting CEO of his family’s company but he needs a Christmas miracle. When Meredith Mitchell walks in his door to conduct a forensic audit, he firmly believes that God sent her as an answer to his desperate prayer. But Nate and Meredith have history. Eight years ago, Meredith fell in love with Nate but the only thing he gave her for Christmas was a broken heart.

When Nate proposes a marriage of convenience, she refuses. At first. But Meredith is in need of her own Christmas miracle. At first, they are at constant odds. But the more time they spend more time together, old feelings are rekindled. As Nate slowly breaks down the walls Meredith has built around her heart, she slowly learns to trust again. Is their modern-day marriage an answer to both their prayers or is it a disaster waiting to happen?

My Christmas romance, The Mistletoe Contract, is based on a lot of my personal experiences growing up in a small town in New York State. I miss the snow on Christmas day, the roaring fireplace, and all the baking we did with Mom.

In one of the scenes, Nate takes Meredith to McAdenville, NC. This is an actual town about 20 miles south of Charlotte. Every Christmas season, the entire town is decked out with Christmas lights and decorations. People turn off their headlights, roll down their windows and kids stick heads out the cars to look at all the Christmas lights. Christmas carols blast from loudspeakers scattered around town. Small shops are in the main square, selling hot chocolate and pastries or you can stroll through the center of town and do some Christmas shopping. It’s very Hallmark!

Meredith doesn’t like Christmas and Nate makes it his mission to change her mind not only about Christmas but about him. Their relationship starts off on shaky ground because of their history. As Meredith and Nate navigate their way through the potholes of the past, they both have a lot to learn about forgiveness and second chances.

McAdenville is a North Carolina regional tradition for thousands of families every year. What are some of the traditions your family participates in? Food, ornaments, favorite movies, matching Christmas pajamas?

Here are a few pictures of McAdenville – if you’re in the Charlotte region during the holidays, you really need to stop by!

For every one that comments on this post, you will be entered to win a copy of The Mistletoe Contract. The winner will receive their choice of a signed paperback or a digital version. Sorry, only US addresses are eligible to receive the paperback copy.

Let’s begin this scavenger hunt! Go to the book on Amazon at this link. You will be taken to The Mistletoe Contract and will have no problem finding the answer to the question in the Look Inside.

Find the answer to this question:

What is Meredith’s occupation?

When you have the answer, FILL OUT THIS FORM and head on to the next blog!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Linda Brooks Davis, who is telling us all about her Christmas book A Sojourner Christmas. You can find it at this link. Remember that the round-robin will end on December 12th at 11:59 PM EST!

Today, I’m turning over my blog to Deena Adams. As a newly published author, I like to support and encourage other up-and-coming authors. Let’s welcome her!

Hi, everyone! And thanks so much, Jennifer, for the opportunity to share about what I’m working on and how readers can connect with the Hope Collective Community.

Where did your writing journey start and are you published yet? Since starting my journey toward Christian Fiction publication in 2018, I’ve completed two manuscripts and recently completed a novelette, which I offer free as a thank you to newsletter subscribers. If you’re asking, “What is a novelette,” it’s longer than a short story and shorter than a novella.

My novelette introduces Clayton Richards, the hero in the novel I’m currently polishing and planning to pitch to agents and editors in hopes of representation. The novelette tells his childhood story of abandonment and adoption.

When dreams disintegrate, is God really working behind the scenes for good? 

Mississippi Delta missionaries Camille and Raymond Richards are heartbroken over the impoverished people they encounter daily. Having grown up poor in South Alabama, they understand that lifestyle, which compels them to serve families struggling with perpetual poverty.

At age seven, left to fend for himself, Clayton Jenkins longs to be part of a loving family. A family where his parents never leave him home alone. Where his Mama showers him with attention and his daddy plays with him.

From the moment she meets Clayton, Camille envisions the waif as their son. But that was ridiculous. The boy had parents. And she was pregnant. Did compassion for the child skew her perspective?

Or was God working behind the scenes, formulating a plan far greater than they could imagine?

Give us a short synopsis of what the novel is about: In the novel, Clayton is a twenty-eight-year-old behavioral psychologist and homeless shelter manager. When he meets a guilt-ridden young widow turned court-appointed special advocate, a carved angel keepsake uncovers a link between the woman and a shelter resident, sending the trio down a path of discovery none of them could have imagined.

How did you arrive at the idea for your novel? The idea for the novel came from my three-and-a-half years as a court-appointed special advocate volunteer. The circumstances many children live in are heartbreaking and my prayer is that my story will inspire readers to step out and help abused children in some way and encourage those living with overwhelming guilt and shame to find freedom in Christ.

Where can we find out more about you and your writing journey? As I mentioned, subscribers to the Hope Collective can download my novelette free as a thank you. Each month you’ll also receive my newsletter filled with book recommendations, reviews, giveaways, updates on my publishing journey, and other bookish news.

If you’re interested in meeting other inspirational authors and weekly opportunities to win Christian novels, you can subscribe to Deena’s blog.

To find out more about Deena and her writing and subscribe to the newsletter and/or blog, you can visit Deena’swebsite, or simply click here for the subscribe link.

Happy Christmas in July! Welcome to the 6th blog in this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway, which runs July 12-23, 2021. At the bottom of each author’s blog post, you will find the secret words. Write them all down and provide the entire answer on this Google form.

Note: You must grab all the secret words from every author in the Christmas in July Reader Giveaway to be eligible to win a $400 Amazon gift card. At the end of this blog post is a link to the next blog, and so on, to the final blog post (20 in all). At each blog stop, the author will also give away a copy or copies of their featured Christmas book.

Growing up in rural New York State, Christmas was always a magical time of the year for me. From going to the tree farm, picking a fresh tree, and cutting it down to snowy days spent outdoors sledding down the neighbors’ steep hill. At the end of the day, we’d collapse in front of the fireplace, a mug of hot chocolate in hand, anticipating the Christmas holidays.

All these childhood experiences, and more, influenced me as I plotted The Mistletoe Contract. Well, that, and a lot of Hallmark Christmas movies!

I’ve always loved marriage of convenience stories. Most of the ones I’ve read are historical with a few modern-day marriages of convenience thrown in. I started to notice, however, the majority of the time, the characters don’t know each other when they decide to get married After watching the reality show, Married at First Sight, the idea hit me, “what if this couple, Meredith and Nate, actually knew each other before they were married?” What if they actually dated and then broke up? The more “what if” questions I asked, the more the story just seemed to take shape in my mind.

In my novel, I reference McAdenville, NC as Christmas Town USA. This is an actual town in North Carolina, located about 20 miles south of Charlotte. Over the years, I’ve visited this tiny hamlet, which always gets me in the Christmas spirit. I also wanted my fictional couple to experience this special town, too. There’s just something special about seeing Christmas lights, on a cold winter’s night, illuminating the night sky. If you’re ever in North Carolina during the Christmas season, check it out!

Nate and Meredith encounter numerous obstacles and misunderstandings along the way to their happily ever after. Throw in a nosy sister, an ex-fiancé, business executives with their own agenda, and a heroine who doesn’t like Christmas and you pretty much have a recipe for disaster. In the end, both Nate and Meredith have to forgive each other and let go of past hurts.

I will be giving away one digital copy to one lucky winner after the giveaway ends. I hope you enjoy The Mistletoe Contract as much as I did writing it. Oh, and it’s free on Kindle Unlimited right now, too. Sign up for my newsletter HERE and receive a free short story!

Now, it’s time to for the secret words: Naked, forgive

Save the secret word(s), and when you reach the final blog, enter all the secret words on this form for a chance to win a $400 Amazon gift card!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Laurie Wood and her Christmas book Northern Hearts. You can find it at this link. Remember, this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway will end on July 23 at 8 PM EST!

Happy New Year! I don’t know about you, but I am certainly glad to put 2020 behind us.

2020 started off with a bang for me. I received my first book contract for The Mistletoe Contract, and from January 7th through December 31, 2020, it was quite the whirlwind for me.

I learned a lot of valuable lessons, the first one being flexibility. If you know me, I like to keep to a schedule. I list my daily tasks at work and I do the same thing for projects around the house. Of course, if I’m honest, the house projects fell to the wayside. First, it was editing deadlines and then , around the middle of March, I had to start working from home. I admit, I loved working at home-for the first couple of months. But at the year dragged on, so did my optimism.

I had to mentally take a step back, and meditate on all the good things that happened to me this year. So, here is my list:

1. I received a book contract from Anaiah Press on January 7, 2020.
2. I learned a LOT about the publishing industry – from terminology to what editors are looking for in a manuscript and what I needed to cut.
3. My husband didn’t lose his job, like so many I know did.
4. I still have my job.
5. A short commute from the bedroom to the dining room!
6. I was available for my parents.
7. I could almost go a month without filling my tank up with gas – that was a huge savings.
8. I gained readers for my newsletter.
9. I participated in the Christmas Round Robin.
10. A book signing at my church.
11. I was able to worship with my church family. First at home, and now in person, even though we are socially distanced, there is just something special about corporate worship with fellow believers.
12. I finished editing my second manuscript and had a couple of requests for it to be sent for consideration.
13. My critique group – we switched from in-person to Zooming once a month.
14. My Huddle group from Novel Academy – these ladies are my encouragers and prayer warriors.

And the list could go on! Mostly, I’m thankful for my family and my health. It is important to reflect on all our blessings, even the small ones. One of my favorite worship songs is “We Will Remember”. We Will Remember – Tommy Walker / From “Break Through” (2006) – YouTube

What are you thankful for? What are you looking forward to in this new year?

May this be your best year yet, with unexpected blessings!