Between The Pages - Holiday Kisses

Holiday Kisses
Anna J. Stewart
April 1, 2019

His family’s honor is at stake… 

And she holds the key 

Calliope Jones, Butterfly Harbor’s free-spirited organic farmer, is the most vocal objector to Xander Costas and his design for the butterfly sanctuary that he hopes will save his family’s architectural firm. Strangely, it’s Calliope who shows him what the town, and he, really need. Calliope makes Xander listen with his heart. And soon his heart may be telling him to stay with this extraordinary woman! 

Between The Pages 
One of the sweetest stories I have read in a while. Calliope has been a favourite character of mine in the past books of the Butterfly Harbor Stories (note: this book stands well on its own) so I was very excited to read her story. She’s such an interesting character. You’ll want to be her best friend. Calliope reminds me of a gypsy. She has intuitions and feelings, she knows how to read people, and boy does she get a feeling toward Xander! It was such fun getting to know the history of Calliope. Her relationship with her sister is endearing and their relationship with their mother is heartbreaking. Xander is the perfect hero for Calliope. He is drawn to Calliope immediately. There are so many great scenes in this story – when Calliope is trying to get Xander to remove the noise from his world – the guys’ poker game – Calliope’s visit with Kendall Davidson (who I am hoping gets a story of her own), and many more. Revisiting the cast of past characters was enjoyable, and I just couldn’t get enough of the butterflies…amazing. To sum up my thoughts and review of Holiday Kisses, I will add an ending quote from the story…“That’s magic. Pure butterfly magic.”

Rating 
4.5 Stars

Fairy Christmas, Darling

Fairy Christmas, Darling 
Christine Arness
December 2014

It’s not every day a guy gets a chance to go from feeling like a zero to being a hero by saving a little girl’s Christmas! 

Delaney struggles with her daughter’s worsening eyesight and their failing farm. She’s got a new neighbor, a veteran who suffers from PTSD, but the “never give up” attitude of Lilly and Delaney brings him back to life. A frightening flashback causes Charlie to retreat, but it’s Lilly’s fascination with fairies that brings them together as a family. 

Between The Pages 
A story of emotional heartbreak and emotional scars. The main cast of Delaney, Charlie, Lilly, and Andrew are entertaining. The introduction of Charlie’s brother and sister ups the emotion. I expected more of a Christmas theme throughout the story other than near the end. While the story is long, there are many scenes that will hold your interest, leading you to the sweet and tender ending.

Rating 
3 Stars

Merry Christmas

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #11

Denysé Bridger: I am a Canadian romance and fantasy author, signed with 8 publishers just now. My passions are my work, Italy, and music - I don't think I could live without any of them. I'm working on at least a dozen projects at any time, and I also currently write a column for an Italian website, mostly for their Entertainment Giornale.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Egg nog all the way!
2. Snow – love it or hate it? LOVE it!!
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? Mid-November, sometimes along the way if I see something that just screams out at me for someone.
4. When do you start decorating? Second week in December
5. Do you decorate outside? Rarely
6. Real or artificial tree? Artificial in recent years.
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? Coloured until last year - new tree came with white/clear.
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? Yes, a brass Victorian Coach
9. What sits on top of your tree? An angel that is 55 years old this Christmas
10. Do you hang mistletoe? No, it's just me and my mom
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Not all of them, usually just one
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? Shortbread!
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Every Christmas Eve I watch the 1951 Alistair Sim version of A Christmas Carol/Scrooge - I just love it!
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? Warm Panetonne
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? In recent years we've gone to my sister's, prior to that, she and her husband used to come here.
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? Sneaking out to see what Santa had left under the tree, my sister and I used to creep out of our beds a dozen times that night!
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? My last Christmas with my dad because he was so happy.
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? They've all been wonderful and cherished!
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? Silver Bells or Sleigh Ride
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? A Christmas Carol, with Alistair Sim.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #10

Colette Cleary: I am a married, mother of two that works as a Utility worker with Halifax Water, I enjoy family time and painting and drawing.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Equally enjoy both egg nog and hot chocolate
2. Snow – love it or hate it? Hate it
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? Mid November
4. When do you start decorating? First week of December
5. Do you decorate outside? Yes decorate outside
6. Real or artificial tree? Real tree
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? White lights on tree
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? No one favourite ornament
9. What sits on top of your tree? Angel on top of tree
10. Do you hang mistletoe? No mistletoe
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? No don't open gifts on christmas eve
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? Shortbread cookies for santa
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Open stockings first, then Big breakfast then, open gifts to help prolong the big morning.
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? Various types of pie
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? I cook Christmas dinner
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? Favourite memory is waking up when all were sleeping and discovering all the presents in the dark and waking up siblings to share the news with them.
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? Favourite memory as an adult is hearing the kids creep into my bedroom to see is we are awake yet, and then their excitement to see we are, so they can share their discoveries.
18.What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? Best gift received, really was watching my kids open the box with Mickey Mouse toys and a picture of an airplane to discover they would be going to Disneyworld that year, and the excitement they had, and the great memories we experienced from that gift.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? O Holy Night!
20.What is your favourite Christmas movie? It's a Wonderful Life, and I still cry everytime, Everytime!

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #9

Bonnie McIsaac

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Egg nog
2. Snow – love it or hate it? Iffy
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? August
4. When do you start decorating? December
5. Do you decorate outside? Definitely
6. Real or artificial tree? Real of course
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? Coloured
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? No - I like them all
9. What sits on top of your tree? A star
10. Do you hang mistletoe? No
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? One each
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? Chocolate Chip
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Spending time with family and friends
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? Home-made plum pudding with rum sauce
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house?
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? Helping my mom do the Christmas baking
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? Seeing the faces of my kids while opening gifts.
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? My daughter gave me a lovely wooden mantle clock.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? Deck the Halls
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #8

Julie Cohen: I'm an author and a mum, an American living in the UK. My latest book is called GETTING AWAY WITH IT and my website is http://www.julie-cohen.com

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? I only like egg nog if it's got a lot of booze in it, so it's probably safer to give me hot chocolate ;-)
2. Snow – love it or hate it? I love snow, though now that I live in England I don't see that much of it! We had several inches this past winter and it shut down the entire country for a week.
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? December 18th, though in most cases it's right up till when the shops shut on Christmas Eve.
4. When do you start decorating? Near the beginning of December.
5. Do you decorate outside? No, though sometimes we put some lights in our windows.
6. Real or artificial tree? We haven't had a tree here for ages, because we go to my parents' in Maine for Christmas, and they always have a gorgeous real tree that they cut themselves from our friends' tree farm.
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? I like coloured lights.
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? My mother made me a pink velvet and rhinestone ornament when I was of an age where I wanted to be a princess. For ironic value, I still love the Star of David I made out of popsicle sticks one year (our family is Jewish, but we celebrate Christmas).
9. What sits on top of your tree? An old-fashioned Father Christmas.
10. Do you hang mistletoe? Whenever I can! I love mistletoe, and they sell it in big bunches in the outdoor market here.
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? We sometimes open one gift.
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? Whatever we've made recently, which is usually a sugar cookie or a ginger nut.
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? My mother's turkey stuffing. It is the food of the gods. I also like driving around my parents' neighbourhood on Christmas eve, giving the lighting displays marks out of ten.
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? Pumpkin pie, though my aunts make something absolutely amazing and different every year.
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? We go to my parents' house, though in the past I've cooked duck or pheasant for Christmas dinner, to be different.
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? When Santa gave me an electric typewriter and I immediately started writing my first novel on it, still in my pyjamas, under the tree!
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? My son was born two days before Christmas, and on his first evening on earth, carollers came into the hospital. They stood around my son's cot and sang him "Silent Night" as he slept. Twelve months before, I'd miscarried on Christmas morning. Listening to the song and gazing at my newborn child was one of the most profound experiences of my life.
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? My son.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? I really love belting out "Hark the Herald Angels Sing".
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? It's a toss-up between The Grinch and The Muppet Christmas Carol.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #7

Pamela Callow
Happy Holidays! I'm a thriller writer by day (and night). I'm also the wife of the most wonderful man, mother of two lovely kids -- and one mischievous pug. I love to drink coffee (although my stomach doesn't), go for walks (although my dog doesn't) and day-dream about travelling all over the world. Thank you to Darlene for putting together this fun questionnaire about Christmas!

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Does a Peppermint Mocha Latte count?
2. Snow – love it or hate it? Love it!
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? In the fall - my daughter's birthday is after Halloween, so while I'm shopping for birthday gifts, I also buy Christmas presents.
4. When do you start decorating? Much too late, according to our kids!
5. Do you decorate outside? Yes - two real wreaths, lights, penguins on our porch...
6. Real or artificial tree? Absolutely real.
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? Coloured.
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? The decorations my children made and the ones I made with my siblings as a child.
9. What sits on top of your tree? An angel.
10. Do you hang mistletoe? Sometimes.
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? The kids open one.
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? Gingerbread.
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Having a leisurely breakfast on Christmas morning with coffee and stollen while opening gifts.
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? I LOVE plum pudding - my mother always made it, and now my lovely mother-in-law does!
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? Cook dinner
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? Baking stollen with my mother and receiving my grandmother's parcels from Germany.
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? Going into the woods last year at a Christmas tree farm to cut our tree -- first time, but not the last!
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? That's too hard! I've received many lovely gifts from the heart.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? The Huron Carol
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? The Polar Express. Although I love Elf, too.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #6

Carole Ball: I'm a Medical Transcriptionist who works from home and loves it. I am married to a wonderful man, my soulmate. I have a step-son and daughter-in-law and a beautiful grandson in Seattle. I also have 2 beautiful nieces and a handsome nephew.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate.
2. Snow – love it or hate it? Hate snow.
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? Start in November.
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? If we have gifts, open them on Yule (Dec. 20, 21, 22 depending on the solstice that year).
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? No Christmas dinner per se. Have Yule dinner.
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? Getting a doll house that my dad and grandad made.
18. DWhat was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? on't know but it would be my husband.
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? A Christmas Story.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #5

Donna Alward has the best job in the world: a combination of stay-at-home mother and romance novelist. In 2001 she penned her first novel, and found herself hooked on writing romance. In 2006 she sold her first manuscript, and now writes for Harlequin's Romance line from her home in Nova Scotia. Donna loves to hear from readers; you can contact her through her website at http://www.donnaalward.com/.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Hot chocolate
2. Snow – love it or hate it? Love it, except when I have to shovel it.
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? January :)
4. When do you start decorating? Last weekend of November
5. Do you decorate outside? YES!
6. Real or artificial tree? Artificial
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? Coloured
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? Every year we put a personalized ornament in the kids’ stockings. Our tree is going to look awfully bare when they grow up and leave, but there are some nice memories on it right now.
9. What sits on top of your tree? An angel
10. Do you hang mistletoe? Yes
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? The kids open one, and it’s always pyjamas
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? Shortbread
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Steak Barbeque on Christmas Eve!
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? Mince Pie
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? Cook it!
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? In a twisted way – the year I had the stomach flu and my sister coddled me. It wasn’t much fun but I did feel loved.
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? And in the same twisted way – one year my mom was visiting for Christmas and we all came down with the stomach flu on Christmas Eve except the kids. They were 100%. We felt like death and had Christmas dinner on Boxing Day!
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? Cross Country Skis when I was a kid – and from Santa, of course!
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? Silent Night
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? White Christmas

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #4

Jeneen Albin is a 43 year old house wife and a mother to an 18 year old. I love to read, go for nice long walks and playing with my 26 toed cat Dante.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Both.
2. Snow – love it or hate it? Depends on how much there is.
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? Hate it.
4. When do you start decorating? As late as possible.
5. Do you decorate outside? Depends on where I am.
6. Real or artificial tree? Artificial.
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? Colored.
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? My motorcycle Taz.
9. What sits on top of your tree? Angel.
10. Do you hang mistletoe? No.
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Sometimes.
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? None.
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Watching "How the Grinch Stole Christmas".
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? Apple pie.
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? Depends.
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? Can't remember any.
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? First Christmas with my daughter.
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? My hubby had a belt made for me with a buckle that I had for years.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? Have A Holly Jolly Christmas by Burl Ives.
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? How the Grinch Stole Christmas.

It’s Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas #3

Catherine Fox is a wife, mom, sister, daughter, and friend. She loves dogs, sunny weather, anything chocolate (she never says no to a brownie) pizza and red wine. She has two teenagers who keep her busy with their never ending activities, and a husband who is convinced he can turn her into a mixed martial arts fan. Catherine can never find balance in her life, is always trying to find time to go to the gym, can never keep up with emails, Facebook or Twitter and tries to write page-turning books that her readers will love. A maritime native and former financial officer, Catherine has lived all over Canada but has finally settled down in her childhood hometown with her family.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? Chocolate
2. Snow – love it or hate it? Love it on Christmas morning, hate it every other day.
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? July
4. When do you start decorating? End November
5. Do you decorate outside? No
6. Real or artificial tree? Artificial
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? White
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? Pickle bulb. I hide it in tree and kids have to find it Christmas morning.
9. What sits on top of your tree? Star
10. Do you hang mistletoe? Yes
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? Yes
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? Chocolate chip, and carrots for the reindeer of course
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? Big family dinner
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? No favorite. LOVE all desserts.
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? Different every year
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? Sneaking downstairs in the middle of the night just to look at tree and the presents underneath it. Beautiful and so peaceful.
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? Sleigh ride Christmas eve with kids and friends.
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? My daughter made me a memory box. She spent weeks on it, and it's beautiful.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? Winter Wonderland.
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? Scrooge

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas - #2

Award-winning humor writer Vicky DeCoster is the author of Husbands, Hot Flashes, and All That Hullabaloo! and The Wacky World of Womanhood. Vicky lives in Nebraska with her husband and two children where she is working on her third book of humorous essays. Visit her at: www.wackywomanhood.com

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? - Hot cocoa
2. Snow – love it or hate it? - It's a love/hate relationship - love it until December 31, hate it every day after.
3. Christmas shopping, when do you start? - After Thanksgiving.
4. When do you start decorating? - Middle of November (outside). Inside, the day after T-giving.
5. Do you decorate outside? - Yes.
6. Real or artificial tree? - Artificial, although we had real for 15 years.
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? - White lights.
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? - Yes.
9. What sits on top of your tree? - An angel.
10. Do you hang mistletoe? - No.
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? - No.
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? - Sugar and snickerdoodle.
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? - The kids dress up and we have a "fancy dinner" in the dining room on Christmas Eve. The kids drink sparkling cider out of champagne glasses and we make the same dinner every year. Then the kids put on a show and we watch "A Christmas Story."
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? - Chocolate cream pie.
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? - Go to the in-law's house.
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? - Opening the box that held the doll I had wanted for so long.
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? - Definitely our Christmas Eve tradition every year.
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? - A pair of diamond earrings by an old boyfriend who I knew could not afford the gift, but saved his money for months to buy it for me.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? - Oh Silent Night.
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? - A Christmas Story.

It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas

Hi, I’m Sarah Morgan and I write sexy, sizzling stories for Harlequin Presents. I like mountains, movies and anything that makes me laugh.

1. Egg nog or hot chocolate? – Hot chocolate.
2. Snow – love it or hate it? – Love it.
3. Christmas shopping – when do you start? – As soon as possible.
4. When do you start decorating? - December.
5. Do you decorate outside? – No.
6. Real or artificial tree? - Real.
7. Coloured or white lights on tree? - White.
8. Do you have a favourite ornament? – A tiny reindeer I bought in Switzerland.
9. What sits on top of your tree? – A battered angel made at school by my youngest child.
10. Do you hang mistletoe? – Yes, huge bunches of it.
11. Do you open gifts on Christmas Eve? – Only when my children can persuade me.
12. What kind of cookies do you set out for Santa? - Chocolate.
13. What is your favourite Christmas tradition? – Family gathering.
14. What is your favourite Christmas dessert? – Christmas pudding.
15. Do you cook Christmas dinner or go to a family member’s house? – Family member. I’m not stupid :)
16. Favourite holiday memory as a child? – Grandma arriving to stay.
17. Favourite holiday memory as an adult? – Skiing at Christmas.
18. What was the best gift you received and who gave it to you? – A beautiful diamond given to me by my man.
19. What is your favourite Christmas carol? – The Shepherds’ Farewell by Berlioz.
20. What is your favourite Christmas movie? – Love Actually.

Christmas Special

Starting tomorrow check out our Christmas Special - It's Beginning to Look a lot Like Christmas!
Every Tuesday and Thursday we'll be posting our Christmas questionnaire that several of our friends we're gracious enough to participate in.
Be sure to stop by and read their answers!

Between The Pages - Montana Mistletoe Marriage

Montana Mistletoe Marriage
By: Patricia Thayer & Donna Alward
Harlequin November 2009

Snowbound Cowboy by Patricia ThayerLone wolf Boone Gifford has spent years standing on the outside. Now he's looking at Christmas-through the window of beautiful Amelia's home. The snow falls hard-the stranded family needs help. It's time for the cowboy to step inside.
A Bride for Rocking H Ranch by Donna AlwardKelley is rancher, housekeeper, doting sister to Amelia, granddaughter and aunt-and the stress of preparing the perfect Christmas at Rocking H ranch is getting to her. But distraction soon arrives in the form of delectable chef Mack Dennison.

Review: I enjoyed both stories about sisters, Amelia and Kelley. Amelia's little boy is a highlight of story #1, hoping Santa will bring him a dad for Christmas. And in story #2 there's more than just cooking heating up this snowy Christmas romance.

Between The Pages of this book, you'll find two romantic Christmas stories perfect for reading on a snowy winter night. It's packed with emotion, tender romances, alpha heroes, believable heroines, and touching story lines.

Rating: 4/5 Stars

Between The Pages - Mistletoe and the Lost Stiletto

Mistletoe and the Lost StilettoBy: Liz Fielding
Harlequin Romance
November 2010

Back Cover: Lucy Bright can’t believe it when she’s plucked from secretarial obscurity and transformed into the pampered fiancée of a slick retail guru. But then she discovers it was all a publicity stunt! Rushing away from the media frenzy, she bumps – literally – into the arms of delicious tycoon, Nathaniel Hart…

Review: There’s a line in this story that I want to quote: Just one look… That’s all it took when this book arrived. I knew with just one look that I was going to enjoy this story. The cover is beautiful and the story is a tender Christmas romance. I thought it was sweet when Lucy opted to call Nat by his full name, Nathaniel. And their chemistry jumps from the pages.

Between the Pages of this story is a fun romp in the snow, tender characters, a believable romance, a cute little elf, and a hero that no woman could resist.

Rating: 5 Stars