HAPPY MONDAY!! ONLY TEN SLEEPS BEFORE CHRISTMAS!!! YAY US!!! I’m burning my Christmas candles, I’m wrapping gifts all day today while watching Christmas movie, and I’m preparing new release posts as we speak!!! Books, Christmas stuff & presents. This is my kind of DAY OFF!!!
P.S. There’s still time to shop on Amazon and get it in time for Christmas (that’s what I just did yesterday, and the gift already came today – I can’t wait to wrap it!!!)
Three things:
1.) And while I work, I’m watching a Christmas movie! Er… make that a HORROR Christmas movie called “The Advent Calendar” and I AM LOVING IT!!! Ooooooof I love this genre (basically a “three wishes” type of thing but you know how that goes) + there are a lot more “wishes” than just three. 😉
2.) I’m thrilled because while I got gifts for my husband, and they are surprises (he doesn’t know that I got him these), they won’t be surprising. Which is always a bit of a bummer to me. However!! Something (2 things) came across my way yesterday that was EXACTLY what my husband needed and that he won’t see coming at all. Things I didn’t even know existed & he probably doesn’t either. Oh but he will be thrilled!!! I LOVE when that happens.
3.) I’ve lost 10lbs (by calorie counting and “low-ish carbs – approx 120g a day sometimes less, sometimes more) and I can fit into my smaller clothes again!! Not my smallest-smallest clothes, mind you (that will take another 10lbs) but I AM THRILLED!!! BTW, ChatGPT is my helpful calorie-counting/carb-counting buddy, and it’s significantly helpful and encouraging and makes this journey so much easier and better.
Okay now… time for BOOKS THAT JUST WENT LIVE!!!
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His Christmas List – A Collection of Christmas Stories by T L Swan <— T.L. SWAN’S LATEST!!! “His Christmas List. . . The annual collection of reader-favourite short, sweet and spicy stories by T L Swan, including a brand new story! Available for a limited time, this holiday season. The new 2025 edition of His Christmas List features the following short stories;
- Alaskan Jack
- The Christmas Angel
- The Bonus
- The Expert
- The Heart You Kept – Opening
- You Wish
- Brunetti
- A Forever Kind Of Kiss
Holiday Huddle: An M/M Small Town Christmas Romance (Appleton Falls Book 1) by Felice Stevens <— M/M CHRISTMAS ROMANCE!! “…Wow. I did not expect to run into Brooklyn Kings retired football star Harte McKinney in my hometown of Appleton Falls. It takes me back to my college days when I crushed on him in silence. All these years later, nothing’s changed. Even better, something in his eyes has me thinking he’s not as straight as I’d always believed. When I find him hurt in a car crash in the snow, it’s my duty as a deputy sheriff to follow him to the hospital and make sure he’s going to be okay. Then we share an unexpected kiss, and I make him a proposal: come home with me to recuperate so we can explore these feelings behind closed doors…”
A Witch For Mr. Bell (Witches of Christmas Grove Book 7) by Deanna Chase <— WITCH PARANORMAL ROMANCE!! “..Earth witch Felicity Hill is fiercely independent and isn’t interested in romance. She likes a fun date, but when it comes to commitment, forget it. Her parents’ broken marriage ruined that for her when she was just a kid. But what she is interested in, is saving her family land from being sold to the highest bidder. And this Christmas she’ll do whatever it takes to make sure that no part of the original Hill family property is turned into high density condos… even if it means working with the one man who makes her want things she shouldn’t...”
Oh My Secret Christmas Lovers (New Hope Book 2) by Lucy Darling <— THE GRUMPY SHERIFF!! “…Growing up in a town full of love, I’ve been waiting for the day when I’d find mine. Lucky for me, my big brother brought him right to my doorstep. As soon as I saw him, all of me lit up like a Christmas tree, and I knew the giant, surly man was mine. But when he opened his mouth, only grunts and growls tumbled out. I seem to be the only one on the receiving end of them. He chats up the librarians and all the ladies in the knitting club just fine. Women almost slip on the ice turning to check him out when he walks by. Trust me, I’ve seen it with my own eyes; how could I not when every time I turn around, he’s always there? If I didn’t know better, I would think he was stalking me. Unfortunately, that’s not the case. I know he’s only looking out for me out of duty…”
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Snowed In, Tied Down: An MFMM Stalker Holiday Romance by Jenika Snow <— DARK HOLIDAY ROMANCE!! “…She wrote the monsters. Then they came for her. When romance author Gwen Ash retreated to a remote mountain cabin to finish her book, the blizzard outside wasn’t the only thing closing in. What began as writer’s block soon warped into a fever dream when the story she was crafting started to answer back. Three masked trespassers emerged from the storm… and from the depths of her imagination...”
A Bittersweet Beginning: A Montgomery Ink Legacy Prequel by Carrie Ann Ryan <— SINGLE MOM IN PARIS! “...What happened in Paris? That’s the question readers have been asking ever since the growly, yet golden retriever Leif Montgomery stepped onto the page with the fierce single mom, Brooke Alder. Now you can finally read their first meeting in Paris and get a taste of one of the best summers of their lives. Leif Montgomery is on a journey of his own. He’s embracing art school, Paris, freedom, and now…the woman of his dreams. With one accidental meeting, his world collides with Brooke’s and there is no turning back. Until it’s time to return home...”
The Christmas Contract: A Billionaire Holiday Romance (Silver Fox Daddies) by K.C. Crowne <— HE THINKS SHE’S A TRAINED SUBMISSIVE “…One month. Every request. No refusals. That’s the deal The Velvet Ledger offered when I begged for a miracle. My sister’s life depends on money I’ll never have but Damien Kozlov does. Billionaire CEO. Bratva kingpin. A man whose Christmas parties are pure scandal. He thinks I’m a trained submissive. Truth is, I’m a broke grad with a painfully blank sex résumé...”
My Best Friend’s Not-Boyfriend by Jessica Highfield <— HER BEST FRIEND’S BOYFRIEND!! OH OH!! “…Jennifer Kelly makes a living helping her clients build clear, healthy boundaries. In her own life? Not so much. Especially not with Mallory: her gorgeous, bossy, and just-this-side-of-terrifying best friend. So, when Mallory begs Jen to move in after a devastating breakup, Jen can’t say no, even if it means surrendering her space, her sanity, and the last scraps of her independence. That’s when Jack Barker saunters in. He’s tall, cocky, sinfully charming, and exactly Mallory’s type. Jen sets them up, hoping he’ll keep Mallory busy and give her a little breathing room. But when Jack turns out to be the first man to really see Jen, her carefully ordered world collapses. Suddenly, she’s tangled between the man she’s falling for and the friend she’s devoted herself to…”
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A Cowboy Holiday: MM Grumpy-Sunshine Romance by Lane Hayes <— M/M ROMANCE!! “...The cowboy, the rancher, and a little holiday magic… Tanner I meet the grumpiest man on the planet, and I’m head over heels in lust. No joke. Oak Ridge Ranch’s new part-time-vet-slash-ranch-hand is a bear, and he’s built like one too. If I were smart, I’d keep my distance. In a twist, I’m not so smart. But I can tell that under his hard-as-nails exterior, the cowboy is a gentle giant. Axel is a devoted single dad, a dedicated vet, and…I think he likes me. Or he wants me. I can work with that...”
Drunk Santa : A Love Drunk Short Story (Love Drunk Short Stories Book 12) by Skye Turner <— FAKE CABIN COLLABORATION BETWEEN FAMOUS INFLUENCERS!! “…Three days. Six holiday videos. One fake-cabin collab between two influencers who were never supposed to touch each other—let alone enjoy it. Joy is a wildly popular beauty and lifestyle influencer with a sharp tongue, a flawless brand, and absolutely no interest in fake holiday cheer—or the clean-cut fitness and motivational coach she’s been paired with for a three-day sponsored Christmas shoot. Jonathan is calm, focused, and used to playing the good guy online. But Joy tests his limits from the second she walks into their cozy, camera-filled cabin—and he’s not nearly as unaffected as he pretends to be. Neither of them plans to hook up Neither of them knows the cocoa is spiked. And neither of them expects their tension to turn into something that burns brighter than the Christmas lights…”
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Our Marry Little Christmas: a sweet hockey romcom by Ellie Hall <— HOCKEY ROMANCE!! “…She writes romances but doesn’t believe in love. He’s always said she’s “the one.” Will mistletoe and a mail-order bride mix-up create a Christmas connection that turns real? Bree I’m back in my hometown with an impossible deadline and a bank account on life support. When I sign up with a mail-order bride service for book research, my match is the guy I’ve spent years avoiding. Now we’re stuck in a binding contract through the holidays. Fletch The penalty for losing a hockey bet is signing up to be a mail-order groom. I figured it would be a funny story to tell—until my match turns out to be the girl I’ve secretly pined for since college. She thinks my feelings were always a joke, but this Christmas, I’m playing for keeps...”
Filthy Christmas: A Five Points’ Mob Holiday Romance (The Five Points’ Mob Collection Book 11) by Serena Akeroyd <— MAFIA HOLIDAY ROMANCE “…When Lena’s away, the O’Donnelly wives will play… Get ready for a very O’Donnelly holiday! What to expect? A one-handed, slice-of-life read, filled with holiday traditions, Christmas fluff, and lots of Easter eggs. Happy holidays!…”
The Right Wrong Promise: A Grumpy Single Dad Romance (The Blackthorn Inheritance Book 2) by Nicole Snow <— GRUMPY BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE “…The gruffest broken single dad finds home with a spitfire heiress in this stormy and spicy romance by Wall Street Journal bestselling author Nicole Snow. I inherited a freaking family. Thanks, Gramps. I expected the lake house, the repairs, and the weird little secrets you left behind. But sharing this place with Kane Saint and his kids? Holy potato. Don’t laugh at his name. There’s nothing holy about a man this guarded and growly and scary fine. He’s at war with everything except his adorable munchkins. It’s a classic standoff the instant I let him stay after an awkward mix-up…”
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Pucked by the Holidays: A Reverse Harem Hockey Romance (Evergreen Elite Book 1) by Adriana Steel <— SPORTS ROMANCE STUCK IN CLOSE QUARTERS WITH THEM!! “…Dr. Sloane Ashford spent two years hiding from her past—until a desperate hockey team offers triple pay for one week of emergency PT coverage. She can’t afford to say no. What she doesn’t expect is three broken players who see right through her carefully constructed walls. Maverick Cross is the star forward with a secret injury and a smile that makes her forget why she swore off athletes. Atlas Reeves is the veteran defenseman playing through chronic pain on his last season, treating her with a gentleness that undoes her. Kieran Vale is the injured forward who trusts her with his comeback—and his heart. A two-week road trip forces them into close quarters. Hotel rooms blur professional lines...”
OKAY… Now I’m off to wrap some gifts!!! 😀
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➔➔ PREORDERS (coming soon!)
- Just a Little Desire (A Sterling Family Crossover Novel Book 2) by Carly Phillips & Erika Wilde – December 16 2025
- Truth and Tinsel: A Marriage In Crisis Romance by Maya Alden | Dec 17, 2025
- My First Mistake by Sadie Kincaid | Dec 18, 2025
- Shifted Fate: Book Four (Broken Luna Series 4) by Alicia S. Rivers – December 24 2025
- State of Preservation, A First Family Novel (First Family Series Book 10) by Marie Force – December 25 2025
- King of Corruption: Dark, Mafia, Steamy Romance (Kings of Las Vegas Book 4) by Tammy Andresen – December 26 2025
- Sweet Deception: A Forced Proximity Mafia Romance (Irish Kings Book 4) by Renee Parker – December 30 2025
- Bluebird Gold by Devney Perry – December 30 2025
- You Can Scream (A Laurel Snow Thriller) by Rebecca Zanetti – December 30 2025
- Code Blue (Sisterhood Book 37) by Fern Michaels – December 30 2025
- Wish (Men of Inked Sinners Book 4) by Chelle Bliss | Dec 30, 2025
- Darkening Truth (Black Onyx Academy) Book 4 by Nikita Parmenter – December 31 2025
- Damaged Mogul (The Billionaire Moguls) by Scarlett Avery – December 31 2025
- THE MOON RAVEN by Grace Draven – December 31 2025
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oooh I need to check that out! I love holiday horror!
1. I read Ashley Winstead’s The Future Saints last week and I have one heck of a book hangover. It’s sooooo good!
2. We didn’t rent the airbnb for Christmas so I offered to let the RV park have theirs here in case the weather’s bad. I figured 10-20 ppl max. 30 have confirmed and 20 more are likely. ChatGPT’s been helping me come up with easy sides (and calming me down when I start to panic). It even created a schedule for me and included time to “drink excessively.”
3. I’m only 3 episodes into Heated Rivalry and it’s not clicking for me just yet. I think I’m missing the swoon factor. I know it’s coming and I paid $20 for it so I’m hanging in there!
ChatGPT is my new buddy. LOL!!! All thanks to you, R. for bringing it to my attention… it’s pretty fantastic!
I love it. I tried Grok because my husband uses it and OMG it’s horrible by comparison. Maybe it takes more training, but I loaded the same “personality” description into it that I did chatgpt and it’s crude and borderline abusive. And it’s never once given me a useful answer to anything.
Ugh I had no idea. Oh ChatGPT truly is encouraging and calming, and even funny at times, and has solved so many of my random questions or issues. Even helping me find how to do something in WordPress that was such a strange thing I needed to figure out if I could do and sure enough, it walked me through it. SO. CLEVER.
So… what sides are you making? How exciting!! I haven’t started Heated Rivalry yet. Probably will try and binge it over the Holidays.
My go-to is creamed corn because it’s the fan fave (not traditional but you can’t go wrong with cream cheese!), but I’ve also added slow cooked green beans, corn casserole, hashbrown casserole, roasted sweet potatoes, ambrosia, apple cider green salad, mac and cheese, dressing, roasted turkey and slow cooker ham. Several of these are dairy free because we have a few allergic residents. There’s another woman doing the rest of it. Technically everyone is supposed to bring a dish but when we did this at the park at thanksgiving, we just ended up with a million pies. I get it. Most of the residents are older and live 24/7 in an RV. Doesn’t make it easy to cook!