Happily Ever After Thursday

We are so excited for our first annual 

Have Yourself a Very Swoony Christmas event,

hosted by KJ's Book Nook, Bookworm Nation, and Katie's Clean Book Collection.

Many book characters seem to become a part of our lives.

Sometimes we really want to get to know them better

and enjoy their romance for just a little bit longer.

Each Thursday, we will be spotlighting 

one of our swoony Christmas couples.

This week, we'll be getting to know

Lane and Logan

from Christene Houston's book Hot Cocoa Wars.

What do you like to do on a romantic date? 

For Lane, it’s anything one on one. She’s not big on crowds when it comes to dating, but she loves a reason to snuggle up or play with her sweetheart. A game night with a few friends would be fun, but her dream date would be grabbing a hot cocoa at the shop and then strolling to the local bookstore. She and Logan would choose books for each other, then read a few lines together. They’d stop into the kid’s section and read a picture book together. 

Logan would issue a challenge to recreate cover poses. Hilarity would ensue. The pictures would be epic! 

What do you like most about each other? 

Of course Lane loves how handsome Logan is, but she’s most drawn to his good heart. People say nice guys finish last, but this time, Logan’s kindness and humor totally do it for Lane. 

For Logan, her bright optimism is a beacon for him. After his rough history, he’s looking for someone who is happy in her life. When he meets Lane, she isn’t demanding anything from him, she’s busy doing amazing things. Secretly, he really loves the way she blushes when she’s embarrassed and how she’s willing to try anything if it means helping someone in the process. 

What is your favorite way to spend time together? 

This couple are pretty low key. You won’t be surprised that most of their fun is coupled with helping people. Serving the homeless in soup kitchens, playing bingo at an assisted living center, shopping for families in need, etc. When they’re ready to unwind, their favorite place to be is snuggling up to a good movie, with a side of kissing. 

What are three things on your bucket list? 

Lane wants to travel to Europe (anywhere not involving extensive shots!), she wants to write a best selling romance novel, and find a way to use her writing talents to help the world in some way. 

Logan: 
➢ Graduate from dental school. 
➢ Marry Lane and make her happy every single day. 
➢ Run a marathon. 

What is “your song”? 

Perfect by Ed Shearan 

What is the craziest date you’ve been on? 

Lane doesn’t date a ton. Her craziest date was hitting the drive thru with her high school prom date. Yes. It was more lame than crazy. 

What is your favorite holiday tradition? 

For Lane, it’s decorating her home every year. She loves setting up the tree and placing each ornament with care. 

For Logan, it would be caroling. The guy has a smooth voice and he loves to sing. He’ll be using that sweet skill on Lane quite a bit! 

How would you describe each other to someone else in three words? 

Logan describing Lane: Bright, smokin’, mine. 

Lane describing Logan: Funny, swoony, noble 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Whispering Wednesday

We are so excited for our first annual 

Have Yourself a Very Swoony Christmas event,

hosted by KJ's Book Nook, Bookworm Nation, and Katie's Clean Book Collection.

We're so excited about Whispering Wednesday!

Each Wednesday, we will be having a different author

answering some of our burning questions.

For the last Wednesday of this event,

we have with us Author Christene Houston!

1. What gives you inspiration for your characters and story lines? 

I am constantly inspired by the world around me, people I know, people I don’t, random stories in the news, personal conversations … I just feel like everything is a great story waiting to happen. 

2. Which are your top five favorite kissing scenes from your books? 

1. Hmm…I really love the first kiss that Jenna and Cooper share in A Heart So Broken. It is so anticipated and when they finally connect, it’s amazing! 

2. Greyson and Molly have the best kisses. Their first kiss in the forest is awesome, but no 

3. will be their follow up kiss in the kitchen. He just can’t get enough of her! 

4. When Journey and Cody kiss in the meadow for the first time, that is a great one. She has just decided she’s going to go for it and it is super steamy! 

5. This last one is short and sweet but oh so memorable: Lane and Logan’s quick kiss under the mistletoe in Hot Cocoa Wars. Logan is his hilarious self, helping Lane forget the awkwardness of the moment and boy does he make an impression. 

3. What has been your favorite book to write? 

I love the book I’m in. I love being there with the characters. I love laughing at their jokes and cringing with their embarrassment. Each of characters have been so fun to get to know. Their struggles are real and tender and I totally feel them as I discover who they are. I do have a major fondness in my heart for When Fireflies Sing. I absolutely loved writing Ruby. Her antics still make me smile whenever I think of her, and I’ll be honest, I’m a sucker for a good country song. 

4. Which of your heroes and heroines would you most like to meet in person? 

Okay, all those guys are dreamy! But since I have my own hunky husband I think I’d enjoy meeting Lane. We’re both writers. We would have a lot in common and hopefully have a wonderful conversation over a nice hot cup of cocoa.

5. What three words would you use to describe your books? 

Fun, bold and swoony.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Tradition Tuesday

We are so excited for our first annual

Have Yourself a Very Swoony Christmas event,

hosted by KJ's Book Nook, Bookworm Nation, and Katie's Clean Book Collection.

Traditions are what really make the holidays memorable!

Each Tuesday we will be posting about some of our

favorite Christmas traditions.

Katie will be posting about one of her family's

favorite traditions for Week 4.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

This is a newer tradition for many families

and maybe somewhat controversial,

but my grandma started something with her kids over 65 years ago

and it's stuck with us.

We do an "old-fashioned" version of the Elf on the Shelf.

Each night, the elf hides in a new spot to watch for naughty and nice behavior

in the children who live in the house.

It's always fun to go looking for the elf each morning.

He doesn't do wild and crazy things, he just quietly watches.

It's also fun to leave a little Christmas note with the elf.
The elf that comes to our home on the day after Thanksgiving

is named Sparky and he goes back to the North Pole with Santa

on Christmas Eve night. It's such a fun tradition for all of us!

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Sweet Morsels Mondays

We are so excited for our first annual 

Have Yourself a Very Swoony Christmas event,

hosted by KJ's Book Nook, Bookworm Nation, and Katie's Clean Book Collection.

Welcome to Sweet Morsels Monday!

Mondays can be rough, but nothing can make it better than something sweet.

Each Monday, we'll be sharing a Christmas treat recipe.

Aren't Christmas treats the best?!

For the last week,

Katie will be sharing another one of her favorite Christmas treats.

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Snowy Pretzels

Ingredients: 6 ozs of vanilla almond bark or white chocolate
1 (15 ounce) package mini twist pretzels
red and green candy sprinkles

Step 1: Melt the almond bark in the top of a double boiler sitting constantly until smooth. You can also put it into a microwave safe dish and microwave until the it has melted, stirring every 30 seconds.
Step 2: Dip each pretzel halfway into the almond bark completely covering at least half of it. Sprinkle the candy sprinkles on top and lay each pretzel on a sheet of wax paper. Repeat until all of the bark is gone. Place in the fridge for 10-15 minutes or until it is set. Store in an airtight container.

 

*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Happily Ever After Thursday

We are so excited for our first annual 

Have Yourself a Very Swoony Christmas event,

hosted by KJ's Book Nook, Bookworm Nation, and Katie's Clean Book Collection.

Many book characters seem to become a part of our lives.

Sometimes we really want to get to know them better

and enjoy their romance for just a little bit longer.

Each Thursday, we will be spotlighting 

one of our swoony Christmas couples.

This week, we'll be getting to know

Clay & Miriam from

How to Kiss a Billionaire by Cami Checketts

1. What do you like to do on a romantic date?

We like to have fun so a romantic date for us would probably be going snow skiing then sneaking in some time to kiss by the fire. 

2. What do you like most about each other?

Miriam: He makes me laugh and I absolutely love his smile.

Clay: She is so sassy. I love her spice and her big brown eyes.

Miriam: I am not sassy!

Clay with that eyebrow arched: See what I mean?

3. What is your favorite way to spend time together?

We love to do anything active: hiking, biking, swimming. 

4. What are three things on your bucket list?

Clay: 1. Take Miriam home to Mama. 2. Take Miriam to Costa Rica on our honeymoon. 3. Kiss Miriam all night long.

Miriam: I’m blushing and can’t think straight right now.

5. What is “your song”?

Clay: Brown-eyed Girl.

Miriam: No, you goofball it’s: Oh, Baby You, You Got What I Need.

Clay: Yes the screaming love song. And she claims she’s not sassy.

6. What is the craziest date you’ve been on?

Miriam: When Clay took me crabbing and dumped me in the freezing cold ocean. 
Clay: Oh, yeah, that was fun.

7. What is your favorite holiday tradition?

Clay: Ice skating and kissing every time I crash.

Miriam: Being with our families.

8. How would you describe each other to someone else in three words?

Miriam about Clay: Strong, brave, tease.
Clay about Miriam: Sassy, unpredictable, beautiful.

a Rafflecopter giveaway