Holidays, Real and Fictional & Everyone Wins - Day 1

I have been asked why I put holidays into my books so often. I guess it's because holidays were happy times for me growing up. Holidays are pivotal times for my characters, drawing them closer together, whether it's a happy time or sharing sadness and loss.

SPECIAL BLOG POSTS

I'm doing a special holiday blog series over the next few weeks. I'll post one real holiday memory of mine, along with a short holiday scene from one of my books. 

Everyone wins! I'm giving away a pdf of CHAMPAGNE FOR CHRISTMAS to everyone who leaves a comment and an email address. I plan to have at least 7 posts. I hope you'll tag along. Here's the first. It's Thanksgiving.
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REAL LIFE MEMORY

     When my parents got older, doing Thanksgiving at their house in Rye became a burden. So we invited them to our small apartment. My mother always baked her fabulous pumpkin pies and brought them along in the trunk of the car.

One year, we had snow for Thanksgiving. Not just a dusting, but a good four inches. I remember my anxiety as I watched out the window and the damn snow kept falling. I enjoyed Thanksgiving with my parents. They were always in a good mood and grateful to be invited to our house. I didn't want to do the holiday without them.

 They called about ten o'clock in the morning. I remember my father saying they couldn't come because they couldn't bring the pies, as driving was out of the question. I told him to come anyway. I could always replace a pumpkin pie, but could never replace him. He chuckled.

     In the end, they did schlep the pies on the train and took a bus almost 40 blocks, each one shepherding a pie in a shopping bag. I remember being so surprised and impressed they were able to handle everything. If I ever wondered whether or not they valued coming to our house, I had my answer. 

Not exactly your typical mother//daughter Thanksgiving moment from THE RENOVATED HEART.

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Snow still floated down from the heavens at eight in the morning on Thanksgiving Day, spreading a quieting blanket of white on the world. Kit awoke to find Tunney asleep with his arm around her. She stretched her legs and arms, feeling deliciously happy. He had declared his love for her, there was snow, and Zoe was here. Soon the great bird would be in the oven. She’d be elbow deep cooking her favorite meal.
She rolled over, snuggling up to him, pushing her breasts against his chest and winding her arms around his neck. He opened his eyes. A grin slowly took over his face, his mussed dark brown hair fell in his eyes. His hand squeezed her shoulder while he nuzzled her neck.
She raked her fingernails down his back, eliciting a moan from him. He rolled over on top of her, pushing the quilt down to his waist. She wrapped one leg around him. They shared a passionate kiss when the door burst open.
“It’s snowing outside!” Zoe announced, standing in the doorway, struck speechless by what she saw.
“Zoe!” Kit exclaimed, sitting up, covering herself with the quilt.
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry,” she said, backing out of the room, closing the door.
“Oh, God,” Kit groaned, falling back on the bed.

A bit about the book 
Can a craving for mint chip ice cream and a passion for the theater spark romance? Hunky Clint is younger than Nina. He’s a budding playwright. Nina, an actress, is a beautiful, lonely, wealthy widow.  Mint chip ice cream brings them together but there is more to life th an ice cream and steamy romance. Can their love of the theater keep them together or will it ultimately drive them apart
 More on the book here

                                                                   
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Don't forget to leave a comment with your email if you want a copy of Champagne for Christmas. Thanks so much for stopping by. Watch for a new post in a few days.

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