holiday traditions

Hello, friends! Today I continue a series of holiday guest posts featuring talented authors who will share a little about themselves and their books. I asked them each to answer some holiday-related questions. Let’s get to know author Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy. Welcome, Lee Ann!

–What’s your favorite holiday tradition and why? I love all the traditions but one of my favorites is choosing an ornament each year. Over the years, thanks to my mom’s idea the year I was born, I have a lovely collection of unique and special Christmas ornaments. I’ve continued the tradition with my children as well.

–What’s your holiday “specialty?” Cookies! I always bake several flavors of cookies. The tradition began one year when my mom was at a loss what to get my grandfather, Pop, for Christmas. She decided I could help bake cookies, including sugar cookie cutouts. Snickerdoodles are another favorite!

Food always figures into my novels. In The Scarred Santa, Rafe’s mom bakes snickerdoodles, one of my favorite cookies. Here’s the recipe to enjoy!

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup shortening

2 eggs

2 3/4 cups All Purpose Flour

2 teaspoons cream of tartar

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 cup sugar

2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Heat oven to 400°F.

Mix 1 1/2 cups sugar, the butter, shortening and eggs in large bowl.

Stir in flour, cream of tartar, baking soda and salt.

Mix 1/4 cup sugar and the cinnamon.

Shape dough into 1 1/4-inch balls. Roll balls in cinnamon-sugar mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased cookie sheet.

Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until set. Remove from cookie sheet to wire rack.

Lee Ann Sontheimer Murphy, author bio: I am a native of St. Joseph, Missouri, the former frontier town where the Pony Express began and outlaw Jesse James met his end. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood as a third-generation American in a close-knit family. I am a widow with three grown children and spent much of my career in media, first in broadcast media (radio) and then newspapers. My first novel appeared in 2010 . I write primarily romance in all flavors from sweet to heat, from paranormal to suspense, from contemporary to historical.

scarred santa cover

Book blurb: Once handsome Rafe Sullivan is left scarred, injured, and with PTSD from his Marine Corps service in Afghanistan, returning to civilian life is far from smooth, and the burn scars on his right side are extensive. Although he lives close to family, he lives a solitary life and changes jobs more often than most people change their socks. A temporary job as Santa at the mall is presented, but Rafe first rebels, then relents. His Santa gig affects his PTSD. Then he meets Sheena Dunmore. When she doesn’t run from his scars or issues, she intrigues him. An unmasking by some rowdy children is a test of his stamina and spirit. His greatest fear is fire. Will Rafe conquer the fear so he can move forward into the new life he desires?

A favorite quote from the book: “You’re my hero and I love you, Angel Face,” Mike said when he released Rafe.

As soon as Mike spoke the nickname, the one their dad had put an end to long ago, his expression changed as he realized his error.

“Oh, man. I shouldn’t have used the old nickname. Rafe, I’m so sorry. I know it’s a sore spot now and…”

Rafe laughed. “It’s fine, Mike. I probably look more like a singed devil.”

Connect with Lee Ann: https://leeannsontheimer.blogspot.com/

https://www.amazon.com/Scarred-Santa-Lee-Sontheimer-Murphy-ebook/dp/B0CHG2JPKX

Thanks for being here, Lee Ann! Your book sounds heartwarming and the cookies sound amazing! I love snickerdoodles, but frosted sugar cookies are my specialty. Readers, what foods or desserts do you make for the holidays?

Darlene

Hello, friends! Today we have another guest visiting the blog. Throughout the next couple of weeks I’ll feature a series of holiday posts from authors who will share a little about themselves and their books. I asked them each to answer a few holiday-related questions. Let’s meet author Jana Richards. Welcome, Jana!

–What’s your favorite holiday movie and why? I love the old black and white version of A Christmas Carol from 1951. The special effects are cheesy, but for me, Alastair Sim is the quintessential Ebenezer Scrooge. He makes me believe he really is that character. He’s ruined me for all other Ebenezers!

–What’s your holiday “specialty?” I’ve got a couple of holiday specialties. Every year I make butter tarts, which are a sweet concoction of butter, brown sugar and raisins. I make them mostly because they’re my favorite and just so darn good. The other thing I make every year is a salad with cranberries, mandarin oranges, and pineapple, set in raspberry Jell-o. When I was a kid, jellied salads were very popular and we ate them all year long. Nowadays, this is the only jellied salad I make, and only at Christmas. It was my Mom’s recipe, and I guess it’s my way of paying tribute to her now that she’s gone.

Jana Richards writes romantic suspense, historicals set during WW2, and contemporary romance, including small town romance and romantic comedy. She loves to create characters with a sense of humor, but also a serious side. She believes there’s nothing better than peeling back the layers to see what makes a character tick.

When she’s not writing or keeping the dust bunnies at bay, she can be found reading a book. Jana lives in Western Canada with her husband Warren.

ChristmasAtSolaceLake_V1 (1) (2)

Book blurb: CHRISTMAS AT SOLACE LAKE

An emergency brings Drew Barnes to Solace Lake Lodge, an inn deep in the Minnesota woods owned by his aunt and uncle. He’s sure desperation is the only reason they’d allow him to fill in as their bookkeeper. No one in his family has believed in him since his mistake got him fired from his previous job. Soon after he arrives, Drew is disheartened to discover thefts and financial irregularities. The last thing he wants is to be put in the middle of another crime.

Sous chef Celeste Bishop has made a good life for herself and her nine-year-old daughter in the three years she’s worked, and lived, at Solace Lake Lodge. After being unfairly fired, this was the only job she could get, and she’s grateful her gamble on the lodge paid off. The only sticking point is the isolation since she never learned to drive. How can she show her daughter independence when she’s always relying on others?

Drew sees Celeste’s frustration and offers to teach her to drive. A powerful attraction ignites between them, and soon deeper, stronger emotions blossom. Drew is all in, but Celeste resists her feelings. She’s nine years older than Drew. An interracial relationship didn’t work for her parents. And loving Drew feels like a betrayal of her deceased husband.

As Christmas approaches, the thefts escalate. Can Drew stop the thief and redeem himself in his family’s eyes—and his own? And can he convince Celeste they deserve the gift of a happily ever after this Christmas?

A favorite quote from the book:

The wonder in her eyes, the relief and joy, made him smile. Though he’d promised himself not to touch her today, he simply couldn’t resist. He pulled off his glove and, leaning across the console, laid his hand on her soft cheek. Drew stared into her beautiful dark eyes. The intoxicating combination of her warm, welcoming scent and the silky feel of her skin made his heart soar and his body catch fire. The need to kiss her nearly overpowered him, but he held back, knowing it wasn’t what she wanted.

Connect with Jana: https://www.janarichards.com

https://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Solace-Lake-Love-Romance-ebook/dp/B0CH5DTYNS

Thanks for joining us, Jana. The book sounds amazing, and so does that Jell-o salad! Hey, readers, do you have a favorite holiday tradition? Please share!

Happy reading!