Tuesday, October 18, 2016

Warming up to the winter holidays...plus a book giveaway

Halloween hasn't even begun and we're getting into a winter holiday mood. How about you? To get you started, we have TWO copies each of Winter Storms by Elin Hilderbrand and Christmas in Paris by Anita Hughes to give away, thanks to Little, Brown and St. Martin's Press, respectively.

Winter Storms (may contain spoilers for Winter Street and Winter Stroll)

Gather under the mistletoe for one last round of caroling with the Quinn family in this heartwarming conclusion to Elin Hilderbrand's bestselling Winter Street Trilogy.

Some of the stormy weather of the past few seasons seems to have finally lifted for the Quinns. After a year apart, and an ill-fated affair with the Winter Street Inn's old Santa Claus, Mitzi has returned to rule the roost; Patrick is about to be released from prison; Kevin has a successful new business and is finally ready to tie the knot with Isabelle; and best of all, there's hopeful news about Bart, who has been captured by enemy forces in Afghanistan.

That doesn't mean there aren't a few dark clouds on the horizon. Kelley has recently survived a health scare; Jennifer can't quite shake her addiction to the drugs she used as a crutch while Patrick was in jail; and Ava still can't decide between the two lovers that she's been juggling with limited success. However, if there's one holiday that brings the Quinn family together to give thanks for the good times, it's Christmas. And this year promises to be a celebration unlike any other as the Quinns prepare to host Kevin and Isabelle's wedding at the inn. But as the special day approaches, a historic once-in-a-century blizzard bears down on Nantucket, threatening to keep the Quinns away from the place--and the people--they love most. Before the snow clears, the Quinns will have to survive enough upheavals to send anyone running for the spiked eggnog, in this touching novel that proves that when the holidays roll around, you can always go home again.


Elin Hilderbrand is the bestselling author of Here’s To Us—which debuted at #3 on the New York Times bestseller list and was praised by People Magazine as “just the thing for a day by the sea.” —as well as 17 previous novels. She is a graduate of Johns Hopkins University and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and has lived on Nantucket for over twenty years. WINTER STORMS is Elin Hilderbrand’s eighteenth novel. Visit Elin at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.

Christmas in Paris

Christmas in Paris is a moving and heartwarming story about love, trust, and self-discovery. Set during the most magical week of the year, the glorious foods and fashions of the most romantic city in the world are sure to take your breath away.

Isabel Lawson is standing on the balcony of her suite at the Hotel Crillon as she gazes at the twinkling lights of the Champs Elysee and wonders if she’s made a terrible mistake. She was supposed to be visiting the Christmas tree in the Place de la Concorde, and eating escargots and macaroons with her new husband on their honeymoon. But a week before the wedding, she called it off. Isabel is an ambitious Philadelphia finance woman, and Neil suddenly decided to take over his grandparents’ farm. Isabel wasn’t ready to trade her briefcase for a pair of rubber boots and a saddle.

When Neil suggested she use their honeymoon tickets for herself, she thought it would give her a chance to clear her head. That is until she locks herself out on the balcony in the middle of winter. Thankfully her neighbor Alec, a French children’s illustrator, comes to her rescue. He too is nursing a broken heart at the Crillon for the holidays. With a new friend by her side, Isabel is determined to use her time in the city of lights wisely. After a chance encounter with a fortune teller and a close call with a taxi, she starts to question everything she thought was important.

Photo by Sheri Geoffreys
Anita Hughes is the author of Monarch Beach, Market Street, Lake Como, French Coast, Rome in Love, Island in the Sea, and Santorini Sunsets. She attended UC Berkeley’s Masters in Creative Writing Program, and lives in Dana Point, California, where she is at work on her next novel. For more information visit Anita at her website, Facebook, and Twitter.



How to win: Use Rafflecopter to enter the giveaway. If you have any questions, feel free to contact us. If you have trouble using Rafflecopter on our blog, enter the giveaway here


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Giveaway ends October 25th at midnight EST

27 comments:

Amber K. said...

I am against Christmas at Halloween. Not because I don't like holiday decorations or holiday music but because I don't want to get sick of it. If it starts too early I'll be tired of it by the end of December!

Laurice Mcclung said...

I hate Christmas things being out before Halloween.

Janine said...

It doesn't bother me because I am actually one of those people who starts their holiday shopping around this time of year.

Melissa said...

I'm against it. There is plenty time after Halloween for items to arrive.

Melanie Backus said...

I don't like to see Christmas decorations out before Halloween. It seems like there is too big a rush to get it all out at once.

traveler said...

I don't like Christmas decorations in the stores so early.

ArtemisG said...

I can't really answer your question because We don't celebrate Halloween in my country.
Thank you for the chance!!!!

Raffle name: Artemis Giote

S.Sabia said...

I am against Christmas decorations being sold in stores before Halloween. I love Christmas time but I also love Autumn. I hate that retailers try to rush fall away!

Gena S said...

Thank you for the awesome giveaway!

Linda Kish said...

I really don't see the point in starting Christmas season that early. I remember when it started the day after Thanksgiving and that was fine with me.

Bonnie K. said...

I don't like seeing Christmas things before Halloween. Too soon. I don't consider Christmas things until at least mid-November.

dstoutholcomb said...

I'd love for them to wait, but I'm guilty of purchasing a Christmas item before Halloween, so I can't completely condemn it.

denise

Rita Wray said...

No, I do not like Christmas decorations before Halloween. It seems like everything is rushed. Just let us enjoy one holiday before you bring on the next one.

Karen B said...

Before Halloween - NO! A few days into November is OK as long as all the Halloween stuff is gone. Best time would be the day after Thanksgiving but good luck with that!

Mary Preston said...

No Halloween here, so just bring on Christmas.

Kelly M said...

I prefer it to be after Halloween. Let's separate the holidays a bit!

Wall-to-wall books said...

These books look great! I have read a couple by Elin but have never read Anita Hughes before.

I do not celebrate Halloween. But we celebrate Thanksgiving in a BIG way! So I like to just separate each holiday in its own time, giving it its own space!
So no I don't like when they start putting out Christmas stuff before Halloween - I am just not ready because I am thinking Thanksgiving.

Grandma Cootie said...

Against. All the holidays are so commercialized and items in the stores way too early. What happened to easing into the spirit and enjoying that feeling?

Great authors, would love to win. Thanks.

jpetroroy said...

So against!

Jennifer said...

Totally against!! I don't do anything connected to Christmas until after Remembrance Day on November 11.

Jen said...

I am against Christmas items being out before Halloween. We need to stop being so early and enjoy the moments in front of us.

Tatum Rangel said...

I'm not against it; however, I don't understand why retailers have to rush into it displaying holiday items when Halloween hasn't passed.

susieqlaw said...

I am for it! I especially love when Christmas CDs are released in September, so I can enjoy holiday music all fall and into winter!

Patricia said...

No! I think there shouldn't be any Christmas stuff until Dec. 23.

bn100 said...

neither

Summer said...

I think Christmas can wait until after Halloween.

Unknown said...

I would like if Christmas themed goods started appearing in stores after Halloween and towards the middle of November.