Fuzzy Blankets, Warm Drinks and Novels

by Jill Kemerer

In northern Ohio the leaves have changed, the furnace is running, and I’m ready to snuggle inside. I love this time of year!

I kick off every morning with a nice, hot pot of coffee. While I watch the local news, I wrap up in a comfy throw and sip my creamy caffeine. I have a collection of fuzzy blankets, and my current favorite was a gift from my sister-in-law from last Christmas. It’s dove gray and so soft. My little doxie always curls up on my lap underneath the blanket! She’s silly.

This won’t shock you, but my T-shirts and shorts have been packed away. In their place are jeans and sweaters. I’m always cold, so in the afternoon, I fill my electric tea kettle with water and sip hot tea while I write.

Sometimes my husband and I will take a long walk before it gets dark out. We try to take advantage of the daylight as much as possible because it won’t be long until it grows dark before dinner time. Having less sunlight makes me sad. I’m not a fan of short days. I actually have a Happy Light, which is an LED light therapy lamp. It’s supposed to ease low moods due to lack of sunlight. Even my dog loves it. She stretches out in front of it whenever I turn it on.

My reading habits change this time of year. I read more cozy fiction—inspirational contemporary romance novels, cozy mysteries, and historical romances. Oh, and Christmas stories! I love holiday books this time of year. The only novels I steer clear of in autumn are heavy women’s fiction and thrillers. With winter approaching, I need reading material guaranteed to make me smile.

Here are a few books I’ve read recently and highly recommend.

Walk It Out: The Radical Result of Living God’s Word One Step at a Time by Tricia Goyer

First of all, I love the cover of this one. More importantly, the message is powerful. I was inspired by Tricia’s story, and I love the Bible truths in this book. Living God’s word isn’t always comfortable, but it’s worth it.

Rescue Me by Susan May Warren

This is the second book in the Montana Rescue series, and I loved it! It’s a romantic adventure and follows multiple characters. I highly recommend it.

Speaking of books... My new series, Wyoming Cowboys, launched this month with the release of The Rancher’s Mistletoe Bride! It’s a Christmas romance set on a ranch in Wyoming. The book is available in supermarkets and online at all major book retailers. See below for more information.

To celebrate, I’m giving away three copies of my new release, The Rancher’s Mistletoe Bride, on my Facebook page. US residents are eligible to win a paperback or ebook. International readers are eligible to win an ebook! Stop by and scroll until you see the post titled Giveaway Time 10/10/17. CLICK HERE to go to Jill’s Facebook page!

I’d love to hear your fall habits. Hot drinks? Fuzzy blankets? Or is it hot year-round where you live? And what are you reading?

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Jill Kemerer writes Christian fiction and nonfiction. She is a multi-published author of Christian romance novels for Harlequin Love Inspired. Her essentials include coffee, M&Ms, a stack of books, her miniature-dachshund and taking long nature walks. She resides in Ohio with her husband and two almost-grown children. Jill loves connecting with readers, so please visit her website, jillkemerer.com, and sign up for her newsletter.

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The Rancher's Mistletoe Bride

Coming Home for Christmas 

Wedding planner Lexi Harrington needs a manager for her inherited Wyoming ranch. Clint Romine is the perfect man for the job, but the ruggedly handsome cowboy soon presents a new dilemma—distraction. Lexi can't fall for a small-town rancher when she's planning to return to her big-city career after the holidays. Home has always been elusive for former foster kid Clint. Working alongside Lexi at Rock Step Ranch feels too cozy—and too risky. Opening up to her means revealing a secret about his past that could jeopardize everything he holds dear. This Christmas, can Clint learn to trust Lexi with the truth…and with his heart?

Amazon  |  Barnes & Noble  | iBooks

Oh Christmas Tree, Er, Oh Christmas Books

Above is a picture of a Christmas tree.  Granted, it's a bit funny looking. And, what do we see?  Names!  Names of Love Inspired authors.

What does this mean?

Well, next Friday, there will be photos of real trees, straight from these authors homes (and maybe one from a front yard - how cool is that!)

By each tree will be a clue.

Below all the trees will be a list of LI author names.  

You will get the chance to read the clue, look at the tree, and try to match the tree to the author it belongs to.

Whoever gets the most right by ten Mountain Time (if there's a tie, we'll do a drawing), will get a book from each participating author.

If you have questions, feel free to comment.

The Forest Ranger's Christmas - October 2014

Leigh Bale here. I've got a new book coming out in October titled THE FOREST RANGER'S CHRISTMAS. This delightful story is centered around a woman who is concerned about her ailing grandfather. She has just a few weeks to persuade him to leave his small town and move closer to her Las Vegas home. But after seventy-five happy years in his house, Gramps isn’t going anywhere. Josie can’t imagine what’s so great about Camlin. When she meets single dad and forest ranger Clint Hamilton, she quickly begins to see the appeal. Clint shows Josie the joys of living in a close-knit community, especially at Christmas. She’s soon falling for the town, Clint’s charm and his adorable daughter.

This book makes a great holiday gift. AND...I'd love to giveaway a couple of autographed copies of the book right here today! Can you tell me what state in the U.S. this story takes place?  I'll send books to the first two people to get it right. Enjoy! :)

A Christmas to Remember - vignette by Lacy Williams

A Christmas to Remember - by Lacy Williams

This vignette/scene takes place between chapter twenty-one and twenty-two of COUNTERFEIT COWBOY (December 2012 from Love Inspired Historical). Enjoy!

December 24, 1891

Pete had lived in Boston his whole life—twelve years—except for part of a year he’d spent in Wyoming with his adopted older brother, Jesse. But he’d never seen a Boston Christmas like this.
He pulled at the choking necktie Jesse’s fiancée, Erin O’Grady had insisted he wear. Beneath the jacket and starched shirt, he was sweating. Or maybe it was because of all of the highfalutin people in sparkly outfits that kept staring at him.
Probably wondering how he’d ended up here in this fancy, sparkly, stuffy ballroom. Kind of the same way he did most days. He’d never expected to find a family again. Even if it wasn’t a conventional family, he was proud to be Jesse’s brother. And Jesse’s fiancée was the daughter of a Boston shipping magnate… and had asked them both to attend this fancy-schmancy Christmas party at her parents’ home.
“Doing all right?” asked a kind voice, and he turned to see Erin in a dark blue ballgown, with her black hair swept up behind her head. He was a little surprised Jesse had let her out of his sight looking so nice.
“I’m fine.”
She brushed her fingers across his brow, probably swiping at that one lock of hair that always flopped down where it wasn’t supposed to be. “There are some other children in the parlor if you want to go back there…”
He knew. He’d been in there earlier, but some of the other children had snubbed him, talking in whispers as if he couldn’t hear what they said about him.
“I’m okay,” he told her, looking back at the crowd of people chatting and mingling. “It’s only another hour until we can leave.” Jesse had given his word. And as long as Pete kept his coat and tie on, Jesse had promised to let him sneak a treat from the sock hung beneath the windowsill in the small apartment they shared.
Erin’s forehead wrinkled. Was she worried he would slip back into old habits—namely pickpocketing from the fine partygoers—and that’s why she’d suggested he return to the kids’ parlor?
Before he could get good and offended, Jesse approached and stole a quick kiss from her. Erin flushed prettily.
“My father is waving me over,” she said on an apologetic sigh. “Excuse me.”
When she left, Jesse remained at Pete’s side. They both watched the crowd. It made Pete feel a little better that his adoptive brother didn’t seem to fit in with the rich partygoers either.
“You okay?” Jesse asked.
“Yep. Fine, just fine. Why’s ever’body so worried about me?”
Pete caught Jesse’s raised brow from the corner of his eye. He crossed his arms over his chest. “Sorry,” he muttered.
“I know this kind of party isn’t what either of us wants to be doing tonight.” Jesse shifted his feet, tugging at his tie the same way Pete had been doing moments ago. The action reminded Pete of the ways they were the same.
“If Erin said anything to offend you—”
“She didn’t,” Pete interrupted. Feeling a little like a heel now. Erin was the kindest person he knew—she even put up with her awful father—and she wouldn’t have thought the worst of Pete.
“She just cares about you. We both do. She’s actually asked me how I’m doing about six times already tonight.”
Pete nodded, grinning. After being on his own for close to two years, being cared for took a little getting used to. But he wouldn’t trade Jesse or Erin for anything—they were family now.
This Christmas would be much better than the last one.

I hope you enjoyed this glimpse into the life of these characters. Here's the blurb for COUNTERFEIT COWBOY:

A con man with a conscience…
From the moment Jesse Baker collides with Erin O’Grady on a Boston train platform, he faces a dilemma. For once, Jesse doesn’t want to lie about who and what he is. Yet if she learns he’s a con artist, not a cowboy—and the urchin with him is certainly not his brother—she’ll never give him a chance.
Erin suspects there’s more to the enigmatic cowboy than meets the eye. But the sheltered socialite is certain his deep compassion is real. On the long Christmastime train ride to Wyoming, hearts and courage are tested and true motives revealed. And the journey than began in a charade may end with redemption—and a very real love.

By day, Lacy Williams is a stay-at-home mom battling dirty diapers and dog-hair dust-bunnies. By night, she is a novelist with two books nominated for RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Awards (2011 & 2012). Her current projects include more books for Harlequin’s Love Inspired Historical line (cowboys!) and a screenplay.

Smile on my Face

Pamela Tracy here,
  Yes, I'm excited.  Last week Harlequin put together a book trailer and they chose one of my books to feature.  Terri Reed dashed off and email letting us know.  I smiled so much when I watched it that I damaged my left cheek.  Take a look.  Click on the lnk below.


                   Margaret Daley and I have been featured! Too Cool! Take a look