Merry Ex-Mas Blog Tour

What would a woman do if she had to share the holiday with her ex-husband?

By Sheila Roberts

I love Christmas. It’s my favorite holiday. But I know that for many of us this time of year can be hectic and crazy.

It can especially get crazy when dealing with family. Although we all want that Norman Rockwell kind of holiday, sometimes family issues can make it more like a Mad Magazine holiday. Throw in dealing with exes and stepfamily and life can become downright stressful. I don’t have an ex (the only way my poor husband is going to escape is if he dies), but I’ve seen how tricky this can be watching other people deal with the challenges of sharing kids. I’ve watched one young family make the rounds on Christmas, eating three dinners in a day. Now, while I love the idea of getting three slices of Red Velvet Cake in one day, I have to admit I think that might be too much even for me. Well, at least for my hips.
 
Thinking about how challenging it can be making peace and goodwill toward men a reality over the holidays when dealing with former spouses inspired me to write “Merry Ex-mas”. I couldn’t help asking myself, what would a woman do if she not only had to share the holiday with her ex husband but if she had to share her house as well? Hosting your ex and his new wife for the holidays? Yikes! Throw in a Christmas wedding and, well, there’s enough chaos for anyone. So, that’s how I came up with one of the story lines for the book.

I also heard about a divorced couple that was stuck sharing their house until it sold. How awkward. How hard. What would happen if I stuck a divorced couple in the same house for the holidays? And what if they were still really in love with each other? How fun!

Needless to say, in this book, my characters have a lot to work out, and I had a great time helping them do it.

Of course, it’s easier to work out the problems of fictional characters than it is real life people. But in real life, I know it can be hard. So, if you’re bracing yourself for holiday stress, here’s my advice. Make sure you make time for lots of stress relief. Plan some silent nights where you can take a bubble bath, watch your favorite holiday movie or read a good book. We women get so busy taking care of everyone else at this time of year we sometimes forget about ourselves. You have my permission to give yourself a merry Christmas, too. I hope Santa brings you a whole sleigh full of chocolate!

ABOUT SHEILA ROBERTS

Sheila Roberts lives in the Pacific Northwest. She’s happily married and has three children. Her books have been printed in several different languages and have been chosen for book clubs such as Doubleday as well as for Readers Digest Condensed books. Her best-selling novel ON STRIKE FOR CHRISTMAS was made into a movie and appeared on the Lifetime Movie Network. Her novel ANGEL LANE was named one of Amazon’s Top Ten Romances for 2009.
When she’s not making public appearances or playing with her friends, she can be found writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family, friends, and chocolate.
Her latest book is Merry Ex-Mas.

You can visit her website at www.sheilasplace.com.
Visit her on Twitter: https://twitter.com/_Sheila_Roberts
Like her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sheila-Roberts/76502579853?ref=ts
Pick up your copy of Merry Ex-Mas at Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Merry-Ex-Mas-Life-Icicle-Falls/dp/0778313921/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1350144430&sr=8-1&keywords=merry+ex-mas

ABOUT MERRY EX-MAS

Cass Wilkes, owner of the Gingerbread Haus bakery, was looking forward to her daughter Danielle’s wedding—until Dani announced that she wants her father, Cass’s ex, to walk her down the aisle. Seriously? Even worse, it appears that he, his trophy wife and their yappy little dog will be staying with Cass….

Her friend Charlene Albach arrives at their weekly chick-flick night in shock. She’s just seen the ghost of Christmas past: her ex-husband, Richard, who left a year ago when he ran off with the hostess from her restaurant, Zelda’s. Now the hostess is history and he wants to kiss and make up. Hide the mistletoe!

And bring out the hot buttered rum, because the holidays aren’t easy for Ella O’Brien, either. Ella, newly divorced, is still sharing the house with her ex while they wait for the place to sell. The love is gone. Isn’t it?

But watch as Christmas brings all kinds of surprises….

Merry Ex-mas, ladies!

Thanks to Dorothy at Pump Up Your Book for coordinating this tour!!!

The Sunday Post #16

The Sunday Post is a weekly meme hosted by Kimba the Caffeinated Book Reviewer ~ It's a chance to share news~ A post to recap the past week on your blog, showcase books and things we have received and share news about what is coming up on our blog for the week ahead.

This week started out pretty badly on Monday when as soon as I got up I had to take Tara to the vet with symptoms of another urinary tract infection. Thankfully so far the antibiotics seem to be working. So since I took a sick day at work, I took the opportunity to start decorating for Christmas!!!

Then on Tuesday one of Amazon's Lightning Deals was the new Kindle Fire discounted another $30, making it only $129. That's less than I paid for my original Kindle Keyboard. I couldn't resist...it'll be in my hot little hands on Monday! Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!!

For Review:
         

Downloaded:
 
* Killer Cupcakes (A Lexy Baker Bakery Mystery) by Leighann Dobbs
* Christmas in High Heels (High Heels Mysteries) by Gemma Halliday
* Forever Christmas by Christine Lynxwiler
* #37 (A Picker Mystery) by Scott Soloff
* Working on Wicked (Sexy Salem Witch Stories) by Lilly Cain
* The Chef Who Died Sauteing (Ariel Quigley Mystery and Cookbook Series) by Susan Smily
* Captive Trail (The Texas Trail Series) by Susan Page Davis
* Come Home to Me (Second Chances Time Travel Romance Series Book 1) by Peggy Henderson

NetGalley:
 

A Christmas Home

Book Description: Todd McCray, hero of A Dog Named Christmas, is now twenty-four years old and working at a local animal shelter, where he meets and quickly becomes best friends with Laura, a young volunteer. Laura, like Todd, has disabilities of her own, but her struggles are more physical than developmental. Their friendship is sealed when Todd—with the help of his trusted companion, the tenacious Labrador retriever named Christmas—trains a beautiful dog named Gracie to help Laura with the day-to-day life tasks that are difficult for her.

Life seems good for Todd, but all is not well in his hometown. Struggling families unable to make ends meet are abandoning more and more dogs, and the shelter is swelling to capacity. The local government is struggling to meet its obligations too, and in early December, on the cusp of another holiday season, Todd’s boss delivers the bad news. Due to funding problems, the shelter will close its doors before the end of the year. But what will happen to all the animals?

As the Christmas holiday approaches, Todd has limited time to find homes for all the dogs. Not to mention that he needs to secure a new job and figure out what to do when his friendship with Laura takes an unexpected romantic turn. All this seems overwhelming unless you’ve got a loving family, dedicated friends, and a couple of very special dogs behind you. In which case, nothing is impossible.

My Review: It's not often that a book has me sobbing, but as I reached the end of this late last night I had to put it down for a bit to pull myself together. This is the final book in a trilogy; the first being A Dog Named Christmas where we are introduced to developmentally disabled Todd and his family on their Kansas farm and Christmas comes into their lives as a foster dog, and the second Christmas with Tucker where we are taken back to Todd's father George's childhood. All three of these books are absolute classics...must reads for the holiday season.

This book is so timely as the animal shelter where Todd has worked and found a bit of independence is forced to shut down because of the state of the economy. This all happens at the same time there is the greatest need, because more and more families are having to give up their cherished pets. While Todd and his friends work to save the animals in time, he also has to face the very real question of where his life is headed now that the security of his shelter work, his sanctuary, is being taken from him.

Over the course of this trilogy I've become so attached to the McCray family, and this was such a beautiful final chapter as Todd falls in love and strikes out on his own to follow his dreams of spending his life working with dogs. It was at the end as Todd is leaving home that the tears started flowing for me. George hestitated to adopt Christmas in the first place because of his prior heartaches with losing his beloved dogs. George realizes he's losing another one as Todd plans to keep Christmas with him in his new life. "As he watched Todd walk away, he held on to the dog for another minute. Christmas was 13 years old, George thought, and there was a chance he would never be back here on the farm again. He held the dog tightly and tried to let his heart express the gratitude he felt for having walked on this planet with such a wonderful dog."  And you'll never believe what happens next...

Please give yourself the gift of these books this Christmas season, and if you haven't watched the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie based on the first book, pick up the DVD or keep an eye on Hallmark Channel's tv listings...it's already aired a few times in the past couple weeks.

I received a copy of this book from NetGalley for review, but I'm going to buy it in hardcover as well to have the entire trilogy on my keeper shelf forever.

Show More

Show Less

Black Lion Tours: "Debra's Bandit" by Julie Lence Book Spotlight (and a giveaway) ends 11/30

 

 

 

 

Book Description:

Forced to flee his home in Chicago, Gage Cantrell shed his greenhorn ways and joined an outlaw band. He’s spent the last six years dodging bullets and a Pinkerton determined to bring him to justice. Now that Gage has settled for a spell in Revolving Point, Texas, hoping to win the heart of the woman he loves, his past is about to catch up to him. Trouble is, Debra doesn’t know about Chicago. If she’ll forgive his cowardice on that fateful night, he’ll finally know peace. That is if he can thwart the Pinkerton and send him packing—for good.

Raised in the St. Louis orphanage, Debra Moore has known more hard times than good. Riding with her brother and Gage as they raided the west brought about a longing for a real home, and for Gage to return her love. She’s found a comfortable haven in Revolving Point and wants Gage to cease to his bandit ways and put down roots with her. But Gage has never been the settling type, and lately he’s been more secretive than usual. Something’s bothering him. She’s going to find out what that something is and convince him there’s more to life than the tomfoolery of outrunning a posse.

Show More

Show Less

 

Quick Facts

Release Date: September 4, 2012

​Genre: Historical Western Romance​

Formats: Paperback and Kindle​​​

​

The Author

I grew up in an average-size city in upstate New York. All through school I enjoyed writing as long as I could choose the topic. I even tried to write a novel length story in middle school, but since I was young I didn't stick with it all that long.

I met my husband during the latter part of 12th grade and married him two years later. He had already enlisted in the Air Force and I enjoyed accompanying him on his twenty years of service. By marrying young and entering the work force full-time, the writing bug didn't bite again until the early 90's when I read Double Standards by Judith McNaught. I was already hooked on the romance genre and family sagas, thanks to Johanna Lindsey's Malory family, and the little critter of a muse dug his teeth in deep. By combining my love for romance, family and the old west, I have settled into a career writing western historical romance.

​

Debra's Bandit is the third book in my Revolving Point, TX Series and features outlaw Gage Cantrell and mercantile overseer Debra Moore as the hero and heroine. Currently, I'm working on my next novel, a short story I hope to have out in time for the holiday season. I'm a stay-at-home mom who enjoys taking care of family and home, reading and anything to do with the American West. I also enjoy meeting other fans of the romance genre, so if you've got time, say hello at: https://at https://www.facebook.com/#!/Julielence.

​

Learn more about Julie at: http://www.julielence.com

​

​

Tour Giveaway!

Two copies of the book to two commenters at the end of the tour.

Gratitude Giveaways Hop

Welcome to my stop on the Gratitude Giveaways Hop!

There will be a different book given away at each of the stops. At the bottom of this post are all the sites participating in the book hop. Make sure to visit (and follow) everyone and enter their giveaways :)

So, on to my part in the hop!

I'm giving away a complete Harlequin mini-series (12 mass market paperbacks.) Hotel Marchand is a multi-author Harlequin series set in post-Katrina New Orleans. As the Marchand women fight to preserve the hotel that is their family legacy, they search for the saboteurs who try to destroy them for revenge and profit, and find love along the way...Simply leave a comment with your email address so I can contact you...and if you choose to follow my blog I'll enter you in my giveaway twice. Good luck and have fun!!!

Tara Interviews A Novel Way to Die's Hamlet the Cat

Tara's latest interview is with Hamlet from Ali Brandon's wonderful new Black Cat Mystery A Novel Way to Die. She hopes you enjoy it! (One lucky commenter will win an autographed copy of A Novel Way to Die...contest runs through Friday, November 16th. Please make sure you leave an email address with your comment!)

1) Hamlet, how did you come to live with Darla?

Hello, Tara, and thank you for having me on your blog. Actually, to answer your questions, Darla came to live with me. My previous caretaker, Darla “Dee” Pettistone, brought me into her house almost ten years ago when I was a feral kitten. (As you can see, I grew into a handsome specimen, indeed). But Dee, like all humans, did not have seven lives, and she finally went to the land of cream and catnip. Her great-niece, Darla, who was named after her—humans are so unoriginal when it comes to names—inherited her building and bookstore. All I got was Darla, MOL (for humans, that means, meow out loud)!

2) What is your day typically like?

My days are quite strenuous. Late at night, I wander from the apartment down to the bookstore and back again (I have my own secret passages in the building), and sometimes even slip outside for a bit of air. Just before the sun rises, I settle down in the apartment for the night. But when Darla wakes up, I get up, myself, and eat some breakfast. Then I take a morning nap, get up after an hour and make sure the bookstore is in order, take a mid-morning nap, wake up and have a snack, take a late morning nap…and it continues that way until it’s time to do my nighttime wandering again. So, as you can see, I have my paws full. When I have time, I check up on Darla and James and Robert to be sure they are doing their jobs in the bookstore properly. One can never be sure about humans.

3) I've heard there is some prejudice out there against black cats...have you experienced any of that?

In my personal life, I have been fortunate to associate with humans who do not judge by the color of one’s fur. But I have heard disturbing tales from other felines of my acquaintance that such prejudice occurs. And so I am happy that various cat rescue organizations will delay adopting out black felines during that odd human holiday known as Halloween. (Odd, in that it appears to actually be a celebration of black cats, and yet we black felines receive no gifts or other tribute on that day. Humans!)

4) Darla isn't exactly what you would call a cat person...how do you cope with that?

I am not one of those boring lap cats (no offense, Tara, if you are), so I prefer a human who does not fawn all over me. Darla has proved a trainable human, and so we get along. She brings out my food and water on schedule, which is about as much as can be expected from a lesser being.

5) Your particular feline sleuthing style is quite unique...can you tell us about it?

I continue to be amazed by the fact that humans have no interspecies communications ability, and so they cannot understand feline speech. That means I have to resort to other ways to communicate information to Darla and her friends. Since we live in a bookstore, I’ve found the easiest way to get my point across is with books. When Darla has a question, I simply pull down a volume from the shelf whose title gives her the answer. It is not my fault that she is not always intelligent enough to understand my meaning, even when I give her numerous book titles by way of explanation. But eventually she manages to figure out what even a kitten would know in a flick of a whisker.

6) What kind of mischief do you get into in A Novel Way to Die?

Mischief is a misnomer. I simply was making sure that the neighborhood was safe from miscreants and was unfortunate enough to witness human on human crime. And it seems that even the police suspected everyone but the actual killer, no matter how many clues I gave them. The one happy event was that Darla hired a new clerk for her store, a young human male named Robert. Like me, he favors black in his wardrobe and is quite clever for not being a cat.

7) What's next for you and Darla?

I suppose I will not be giving away any secrets if I tell you that our next adventure will find yet another human meeting an untimely end. But, even more disturbing, I find myself teaming up with a canine to help solve that mystery. You may keep that last to yourself, Tara.

The Christmas Pony

Book Description: Eight-year-old Lucy Turnbull knew better than to wish for a pony that Christmas in 1937. Her mother had assured her in no uncertain terms that asking for a pony was the same as asking for the moon. Besides, the only extra mouths they needed at their boarding house were the paying kind. But when an interesting pair of strangers comes to town, Lucy starts to believe her Christmas wishes might just come true after all.

My Review: Melody Carlson charms readers once again with her annual Christmas treat, this time introducing us to a precocious little girl whose life changes forever with the arrival of a young couple at her mother's boarding house. Lucy wants a special grey pony from a neighboring farm for Christmas, but there is no way her family can afford such a luxury. She starts wondering if the unexpected boarders could be the answer to her prayers. This is a very special story reflecting the magic of Christmas through the eyes of a very special little girl.

Available Sept 2012 at your favorite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.

FTC Full Disclosure - I requested this book as part of a blog tour and it was sent to me by the publisher with the request for a review.