Saturday 8 November 2014

ANTHOLOGY BOOK PROMOTION & REVIEW - CHRISTMAS IN SNOW VALLEY


Tile: Christmas In Snow Valley
Authors: Cindy Roland Anderson, Jeanette Lewis, Cami Checketts, Taylor Hart,
                    Kimberley Montpetit and Lucy McConell (aka Christina Dymock)
Release Date: 3rd November 2014

BLURBS supplied by Christina Dymock
Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.
Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled  child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.

An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson
Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?

Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis
Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.

Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts
Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn’t pursue him or even seem interested. Ty’s career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.
The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart
When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own.

Risking it all for Love by Award-Winning author, Kimberley Montpetit
Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend’s death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael’s grave, she’s surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell
​ (Christina Dymock)​

As head of Snow Valley hospital’s fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn’t have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She’s been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.

SPECIAL OFFER PRICE!
Christmas In Snow Valley is available at the 
special price of 99c until November the 8th!
Purchase YOUR copy now! 
There really is something for everyone in this amazing anthology!



***GIVEAWAY***
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JEANZ CHATS WITH THE AUTHORS 
ABOUT CHRISTMAS

Cami Checketts

What is your favourite Christmas Tradition?
12 days of Christmas. My boys and I do it every year. They think they're stealthy ninjas and love getting the gifts to the door undetected.

Have you ever had a Christmas romance?
Not that I can remember, but my memory is awful!

What is the best romantic Christmas gift you've ever received?
My husband found out I'd tried on a pair of expensive jeans and hadn't bought them. He tracked the jeans down and hid them under the tree. My boys were disgusted because my husband also gave me an iPad that year. They still talk about how Momma was happier with her jeans and how they should've gotten the iPad.


Janet Haling

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?
In my family, everyone gets new pajamas on Christmas Eve and after we've changed into them, we gather around the tree to sing carols and read the Christmas Story from the Bible. It's cozy and warm and there is such a strong feeling of peace and love. I couldn't imagine spending Christmas Eve any other way.
I grew up on a dairy farm and many of April's experiences are drawn from my own. Snow Valley reminds me a lot of home, so by writing this story, I got to relive many of my favorite memories. Yes, I have wrestled goats!


Taylor Hart

What is your favourite Christmas Tradition?
My favorite Christmas tradition is making Christmas cookies and giving them to neighbors. My mother and grandmother used to do this. As a child, I loved the feeling of dropping cookies at the door and running and then seeing how happy the people receiving the cookies were. Now I do this with my kids and they look forward to it every year.

Have you ever had a Christmas romance?
I have never had a Christmas romance---I really wish I would have!

What is the best romantic Christmas gift you've ever received?
 The best romantic Christmas gift I have ever received was a pair of diamond earrings from my husband.--It was one of the first years we were married and didn't have any money--so the sacrifice made the gift all the more precious to me.


MY REVIEW
Tile: Christmas In Snow Valley
Authors: Cindy Roland Anderson, Jeanette Lewis, Cami Checketts, Taylor Hart,
                    Kimberley Montpetit and Lucy McConell (aka Christina Dymock)
Release Date: 3rd November 2014

BLURBS supplied by Christina Dymock
Christmas in Snow Valley is packed with six wonderful Christmas novellas sure to bring romance into your holiday season.
Snow Valley, Montana, is a small community with the tradition of doing Christmas big. Festivities begin with tree lighting in the town square the day after Thanksgiving and continue until the culminating romantic Christmas Ball. From the Polar Express to a Winter Carnival, there’s something for every wonder-filled  child—and every couple who’s in love—or about to be.

THOUGHTS ON THE ANTHOLOGY AS A WHOLE
I always promise myself every year to read more festive themed book, so when I was asked to Promote this anthology on my blog it was a perfect one to read and review too. I think the last book I read and totally loved with a "Christmassey" theme was Dash And Lily's Book Of Dare's, which I loved. I'm totally looking forward to this anthology as some of the authors are also totally new to me. I think anthologies are a great inexpensive way to try new authors. What am I expecting form this anthology? I'm not sure how to describe, that feeling when something is so perfect and gives you "the warm and fuzzy feeling" when you are reading it.
I like the cover image as to be honest it does actually suit all of the stories within. I really loved the fact that the stories were all set in the same place called Snow Valley. The characters in the stories are both new people to Snow Valley, residents returning to Snow Valley or former residents visiting their Snow Valley families at Christmas.
I also really liked that although the stories were by different authors, that some of the characters also featured in stories by other authors. This anthology is more than a collection of random stories. The stories are all set in the same place Snow Valley so it's more of a serial, than one off stories.
Did I enjoy the Anthology as a whole? I really loved this anthology.
Would I recommend the Anthology? I already have, my mum is now reading it!
Would I like to read more about the characters and Snow Valley as featured in this anthology? I'd love to read more about Snow Valley and it's residents. Maybe another celebration, like Easter, or birthdays, or maybe even weddings. I do want more about the characters too. I'm missing them already!
Would I like to read more by the authors featured? The stories within the book are all a decent novella length, so are a great taster of the individual authors writing styles.
Would I read more Anthologies? Definitely I love a good anthology. Though normally in anthologies you can end up with one or two stories within that you don't like. That really did not happen with this anthology.
Would I want to read more Christmassey themed stories? This anthology has certainly given me a Christmassey taster, so I'd like to read some more Christmas themed books, probably novella or short length so I can fit more in.

An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson
Lucy Phillips doesn’t want to spend her Christmas vacation dodging her ex-boyfriend, so when he turns up at the airport to give her a ride home, Lucy panics and asks a complete stranger to kiss her. Although the kiss is incredible, Lucy never expects to see the guy again. Is it bad luck or destiny when Lucy comes down with a sore throat and the new doctor in Snow Valley is none other than the guy she kissed at the airport?

MY REVIEW
I should start by saying if I had to pick my favourite novella from this anthology it would be this one. I loved the pace of the writing and style of it too. It is a brilliant romantic tale. You immediately empathise with the main female character Lucy. I thought the way all of the people in her immediate family had names beginning with "L". There's also the situation of her mother trying to re-pair her up with a guy she used to date in high school called Lance. It's quite hilarious the lengths that Lucy goes to, to avoid Lance. 
Without giving any spoilers I can't really say much more, though I must add that I loved the character of Cole. I also enjoyed reading about other characters back grounds and lives that were around Lucy.
Snow Valley sounds a fantastic place, and the best ever place to spend Christmas too.
Did I enjoy this novella?Adored it and the characters within it.
Would I recommend the novella? I highly recommend this novella and this author!
Did the novella make me want to read more by this author? Yes, as soon as I get the chance I am going to be looking up more titles by Cindy.

Feels Like Love by Jeanette Lewis
Christmas in Snow Valley is the perfect way for April Winston to introduce her city slicker fiancé, Scott Mecham, to life on a farm. If only Wade Hadley, hometown boy and high school sweetheart, will cooperate! But Wade has no intention of letting April go without a fight. This Christmas, Wade is determined to overcome their painful past and show April that she already has what she’s been seeking all along.

MY REVIEW
When I initially began reading this novella I wasn't as keen on it's characters. I really did take an instant dislike to one of the main male characters called Scott. Though my opinion on Scott didn't improve as I read more and learnt more about the female main character of April and another male character called Wade. April begins this tale in a relationship that she thinks is great until she sees her fiance in the setting of her home town. Once immersed in the novella I ended up really enjoying it a lot. I did like the book much more when the plot came out in full flow. Again I cannot give much more information without giving away spoilers.
Did I enjoy this novella? Yes, though it took a while to get into, I ended up really enjoying it and wanting more about the main characters.
Would I recommend the novella? Yes it is a really good read.
Did the novella make me want to read more by this author? I will be checking out her other titles.

Full Court Devotion by Cami Checketts
Kazlyn is too busy with her schooling and future plans to enjoy life, let alone fall in love with a man who has heartbreak written all over him. Tyrese Hamilton, a college basketball star and major heartthrob, is intrigued when Kazlyn doesn’t pursue him or even seem interested. Ty’s career is in jeopardy, and he needs a miracle and Kazlyn to save him.

MY REVIEW
The main character of this novella is Kazlyn and has actually been previously mentioned in passing in one of the above two novella's, so you kind of think you know a little bit about her already.  Tyrese is a well known college basket ball star, who all the girls seem to be after. So you would immediately jump to the conclusions that he is a bit of a "player". This novella doesn't begin at Snow Valley, initially we are at a college. Then there's a few "co-incidences" and the two main characters are thrown together, then an accident causes a "wobble" in their potential relationship. Will they get together and stay together?
I did enjoy this tale but didn't feel as invested in the characters as I ended up being with the other novella's.
Did I enjoy this novella? Yes I enjoyed it just perhaps not quite as much as some of the others. It felt a little rushed when Tyrese is quite literally at a breaking point within the tale, relationship, and his career.
Would I recommend the novella? Yes. I did feel like I wanted more when this one finished.
Did the novella make me want to read more by this author? I think I have a couple of books by this author on my WTR.
The Christmas Eve Kiss by Taylor Hart
When Molly O’Hare gets a prediction that she will kiss her true love on Christmas Eve, she thinks it’s utterly ridiculous. But when she gets teamed up with Kevin Snow, aka her ex-boyfriend, to decorate a Christmas tree, things start to change. Too bad getting over the past is hard and seeing him kiss another girl is even harder. Now Molly is left with a choice—run away from home and heartbreak or let Christmas work out a miracle all of its own.

MY REVIEW
The female main character in this novella is called Molly and she is quite literally a workaholic and is very determined to progress to running her own jewellery shop. Molly doesn't like Christmas at all, though her room-mate does. This same friend of Molly's predicts that Molly will be kissed by her true love on Christmas Eve. Another great character featured in a few of these novella's is the Pastor. Pastor John has his own ways of taking individuals into helping him and the community. He is a much loved Pastor John who seems to enjoy playing cupid. I love how he "blackmails" some of the characters into doing what he wants them too. It's all done good natured though so its not really "blackmail",  you'll see when you read the novellas! Once again I really enjoyed this novella, you are really pulled into the tales and become invested in the characters quickly. Did I enjoy this novella? I really did love this one too.
Would I recommend the novella? Definitely!
Did the novella make me want to read more by this author? It did yes.

Risking it all for Love by Award-Winning author, Kimberley Montpetit
Succumbing to family pressure, Jessica Mason reluctantly comes home for Christmas. Ever since her high school boyfriend’s death from a car accident three years earlier, Jessica and religion have not been compatible. So, when she visits Michael’s grave, she’s surprised to meet the handsome James Douglas, Pastor John’s nephew, who’s studying for the ministry. James can not only dish back Jessica’s finely-tuned sarcasm but understands grief all too well, turning Jessica’s world upside down. Is she ready to take another risk on love?

MY REVIEW
The main female character is called Jessica. Jessica is a rather sad, depressed woman who is still carrying the guilt around with her for a long past relationship with her childhood sweetheart Michael. Jessica and Michael had always been inseparable as children and as they grew up. Their relationship was friends before becoming boyfriend/girlfriend. To be honest the relationship was fizzling a little. They had been out and been drinking and were on their way home when the car accident happened. Michael was killed and Jessica has been mourning ever since. In fact it's at his graveside that she first meets the pastors nephew, James Douglas. At first Jessica perceives James Douglas as a nuisance and someone to be avoided. In fact she is very sarcastic with him, trying to push him away, but James just returns the sarcasm and keeps bumping into Jessica.
Did I enjoy this novella? I was really hooked in with this one and you feel Jessica's angst for the way Michael died. Jessica feels guilty that she survived.
Would I recommend the novella? Yes, it pulls at the heart strings a bit though, so have the tissues ready.
Did the novella make me want to read more by this author? It really did yes.

Blue Christmas by Lucy McConnell
​ (Christina Dymock)​
:
As head of Snow Valley hospital’s fundraising effort, Paisley Hackett barely has time to organize the craft show, cookie decorating party, and the annual Christmas Ball. What she doesn’t have time for is falling in love with Clay Jett, the incredibly handsome bass player who sweeps into town. She’s been burned by a tourist romance before and, with everything going on, Paisley will have to work overtime to protect her heart from Clay and his swoon-worthy ballads.

MY REVIEW
The main female in this novella is Paisley, she has been mentioned in one or two of the earlier novella's. Paisley's character is very busy fundraising, and organising charity events, and doesn't have time for "fun" never mind a "relationship". Paisley likes everything ordered and it's place. So when Clay Jett, friend and bandmate of Paisley's brother, returns to Snow Valley, and ends up helping out at the cookie decorating party. The cookie party turns to chaos, when Clay Jett gets involved with some rowdy teen boys and turns it into a food fight. Paisley doesn't forgive easily so Clay has a lot of work to do to put himself back in Paisley's good books. Paisley resists Clay's romantic advances as she was hurt by a visitor to Snow Valley, who cast her aside when he left the Valley, so she is wary that Clay may do the same. Clay needs help with a business plan and the "queen of planning" is Paisley, so he asks for her help. I really enjoyed this novella too, it was a final look at Snow Valley and it's residents. I had been looking forward to reading Paisley's story. It was a a brilliant novella to end on.
Did I enjoy this novella? Very much.
Would I recommend the novella? I really would.
Did the novella make me want to read more by this author? I have read a cookery book by the author of this novella under a different name. So I kind of had already. I will definitely be on the lookout for more non fiction by this author.

FINAL NOTES
So though I loved some of the novella's more than others but I did like all the novella's. My favourite of all the novella's has to be the first novella,  An Unexpected Kiss by Cindy Roland Anderson, and I'd love to read more about the characters in this novella, maybe a Wedding?
I recommend this anthology of novella's to encourage you to feel cosy and Christmassey! My initial intention when reading this anthology was to just read one or two of the novella's but when I began reading the novella's I wanted to know more and read more about Snow Valley. It was quite addictive!


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