Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Spotlight and Giveaway: A Wish for Winter

Today we are celebrating the publication of Viola Shipman's latest novel, A Wish for Winter. Melissa really enjoyed this cozy Christmas rom-com and is excited for everyone to check it out. (Preferably in front of a fire with a mug of hot cocoa, but anywhere will do...) Check out her review. Thanks to Harlequin, we have one copy for a lucky reader!

Despite losing her parents in a tragic accident just before her fourteenth Christmas, Susan Norcross has had it better than most, with loving grandparents to raise her and a gang of quirky, devoted friends to support her. Now a successful bookstore owner in a tight-knit Michigan lakeside community, Susan is facing down forty—the same age as her mother when she died—and she can’t help but see everything she hasn’t achieved, including finding a love match of her own. To add to the pressure, everyone in her small town believes it’s Susan’s destiny to meet and marry a man dressed as Santa, just like her mother and grandmother before her. So it seems cosmically unfair that the man she makes an instant connection with at an annual Santa Run is lost in the crowd before she can get his name.

What follows is Susan and her friends’ hilarious and heartwarming search for the mystery Santa—covering twelve months of social media snafus, authors behaving badly and dating fails—as well as a poignant look at family, friendship and what defines a well-lived and well-loved life. (Synopsis courtesy of Viola's website.)

“I love this book—funny, perfect and wonderfully good. A not-to-be-missed delight.” 
New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery

“Viola Shipman has written a captivating story for anyone whose memories run deep… This book keeps faith and hope alive!” 
New York Times bestselling author Sherryl Woods


Wade Rouse is the USA TODAY, Publishers Weekly, and internationally bestselling author of 15 books, including five memoirs and ten novels. Wade chose his grandmother’s name, Viola Shipman, as a pen name to honor the woman whose heirlooms and family stories inspire his fiction.

Wade’s novels include The Charm Bracelet, a 2017 Michigan Notable Book of the Year; The Hope ChestThe Recipe Box, The Summer Cottage, The Heirloom Garden, The Clover Girls, The Secret of Snow, and The Edge of Summer.

Library Journal writes that Wade has “hit upon the perfect formula to tell heartwarming, intergenerational family stories by weaving together the lives, loves and history of family through cherished heirlooms.” 

Wade's books have been selected multiple times as Must-Reads by NBC’s Today Show, featured in the New York Times and on Chelsea Lately and chosen three times as Indie Next Picks by the nation’s independent booksellers. His writing has appeared in a diverse range of publications and media, including Coastal Living, Time, All Things Considered, People, Good Housekeeping, Salon, Forbes, The Washington Post, Writer’s Digest and Publisher’s Weekly.

Also a noted humorist of four memoirs, Wade was a finalist for the Goodreads Choice Awards in Humor (he lost to Tina Fey) and was named by Writer’s Digest as “The #2 Writer, Dead or Alive, We’d Like to Have Drinks With” (Wade was sandwiched between Ernest Hemingway and Hunter Thompson).

Wade earned his B.A. from Drury University and his master’s in journalism from Northwestern University. He divides his time between Saugatuck, Michigan, and Palm Springs, California, and is also an acclaimed writing teacher who has mentored numerous students to become published authors. (Bio adapted from Viola's website.)

Visit Viola online:
Website * Wade's website * Facebook * Twitter * Instagram


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

Giveaway ends November 20th at midnight EST.

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19 comments:

Padmini Rao said...

I like to make snowmen in winter

Anonymous said...

My grandsons and I love to build snowmen in there backyard. This book looks amazing. Thanks for your great generosity. Linda May

Suburban prep said...

After the late Christmas Eve (Midnight Mass) my siblings and I would make cookies to leave out for "Santa". Now my siblings do so with their children.

traveler said...

When I was young we used to make latkes and have a beautiful family Chanukah gettogether. Now my grandchildren are involved with this and it warms my heart.

Carla S. said...

I enjoy making special holiday dinners on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Eve.

Jess R said...

I love to go snow skiing with my family in the mountains!!!

Anita Yancey said...

We don't get much snow here, so I just like to go for long walks.

Rita Wray said...

Love to visit the snow.

Bonnie K. said...

I love advent calendars. I have at least 6 for my grandson to open daily when he's here. We always have Christmas crackers and plum pudding for Christmas.

dstoutholcomb said...

hot chocolate on a cold or snowy winter's day

denise

diannekc said...

Making Christmas cookies with my Sister.

Mary C said...

Baking cookies with my nieces

Emily Catan said...

We used to drive about 5 to 6 hours to La Crescenta to spend Christmas eve, then Christmas day with my in-laws and my sister-in-law. My mother in law would hang her personalized Christmas socks with presents by the fireplace. We all would open our presents on Christmas day..Since both my in-laws have passed away, we keep that tradition in our hearts and minds and embrace those memories..and we still have the socks...

Mary Preston said...

Baking pies for us.

Anonymous said...

From susieqlaw: I love to go iceskating. It’s been awhile though!

Mary Patricia Bird said...

I go on a tropical vacation. Sorry, but my health is eased 100% when I am in the tropics. I get one week a year of relief from chronic pain, athritis, sleep deprivation.

Annmarie Weeks said...

It used to be going to find our Christmas tree. But now that the kids are grown & gone, my new favorite winter tradition is decorating the lobby of our condo for the holidays!

Lelandlee said...

Sledding and skiing

Xia Lee said...

Baking cookies