Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Christmas in New York! Four Stories, five #bookgiveaways DAY 3 IT REALLY IS A WONDERFUL LIFE by Linda Rondeau

It Really is a Wonderful Life by Linda Wood Rondeau

I just finished this quick read at 3 AM--it was a page turner and a twisty-turny journey to happily ever after for two young people at a crossroads in their lives. Dorie Fitzgerald is left to raise her two young children after her husband Captain Devon Fitzgerald dies in the Iraqi war. She moves to be near her parents' home in upstate NY, and rents a house from her father while her mother provides daycare. She struggles to find a job, and decides to get to know the community through a local theater production of "It's a Wonderful Life". There she meets two eligible bachelors and is swept from one romance to another, but her heart is drawn to the quiet and unassuming Jamey Sullivan.

Jamey is an aspiring and agented actor on the cusp of his dream, but has laid aside his personal ambitions for a season to see to his dying father's affairs. The last thing on his mind is romance and family when the Broadway lights beckon. But something about Dorie makes it harder than ever to leave the small town behind. It isn't Bedford Falls, but he is a doppelganger for George Bailey, and there is a Mr. Potter type of monopoly threatening to take over the town of Midville in the form of Junior Harwood.

In this contemporary Christmas classic redeaux, everyone finds a happily ever after--even Junior Harwood and Dorie's spurned love interest. Jamey gives up his Broadway debut for the quiet small town life and settles down with Dorie, her son Josh and daughter Emma, and a dog named Boomer. The town is spared from a monopoly and welcomes back their hometown boy scout leader and erstwhile hero. And the struggling characters find through faith and budding romance that it really is a wonderful life.

Linda Wood Rondeau: Born in Syracuse, New York, I graduated from North Syracuse High School and went on to Houghton College, majoring in English and education. As often happens, I changed to a social work career working in various human services fields for nearly thirty years. As my heroine in It Really IS a Wonderful Life, I met my wonderful husband doing Community Theater. Three children and nine grandchildren later, we moved from Northern New York to enjoy the benefits of the sunshine state, mainly golf and daily walks. I published my first book-length manuscript in 2011, The Other Side of Darkness, a Selah Award winner for best new novel. Then came I Prayed for Patience God Gave Me Children, a devotional book, in 2012, It Really IS a Wonderful Life, a Christmas novella, in 2012 and Days of Vines and Roses, a contemporary suspense with paranormal elements, in 2013. Coming soon: two Christmas novellas: Joy Comes to Dinsmore Street (HHP) and A Christmas Prayer (LPC),a novel, Songs in the Valley (HHP) and a Jolly Angels, a contribution to HHP's romance anthology, Blue Heaven. You may learn more about me on my website, http://www.lindarondeau.com, or on facebook, twitter, Pinterest, Google Plus, and Linkedin.

Enter to win one of two copies of this delightful retelling in today's comments. Winners drawn Friday, Nov 22. See Monday's and Tuesday's posts for two other chances to win a unique New York Christmas story. Tune in tomorrow for a chance to win a collection of Christmas romances set in New York City's Central Park.

To enter today, tell us about your favorite Christmas movie. For extra entries, tell me if you shared this post on fb, twitter, google+ pinterest, and if you are a follower of this blog.

30 comments:

  1. Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer! O.K. I love all Hallmark and Lifetime Happy Holiday movies to make me sob - but my first favorite was Rudoph. I'm almost 54 and this was a big time cartoon in my day and scarey with a happy ending!

    missionwife AT hotmail DOT com

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    1. We love Rudolph, too, Melody. I was the youngest of five, and my older bros and sisters grew up when this movie was new. But my all time fave is Charlie Brown. Followed closely by Elf. :D

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    2. As I kid I remember the cartoon vividly...seemed so unfair.

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  2. I love It's a Wonderful Life! I am also a new follower!

    bookwormgal2011(at)yahoo(dot)com

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    1. thanks so much, Michelle! Great to have you here. Good luck on the giveaways

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  3. Favorite Christmas movie probably is the Rudolph with Bumble in it. I adore Bumble. But I also love the Charlie Brown movie.
    Great review - it sounds like a wonderful story!
    lattebooks at hotmail dot com
    follower

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    1. heehee, Susan, I love Bumble, too! I gave my baby grandson a stuffed Abominable Snowman toy this year. :D

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  4. My all time favorite is the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. I enjoyed this post:)

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    1. thanks, Jody. Me, too. Charlie Brown and Schroeder and Linus and Snoopy always make Christmas official in my house. :D

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  5. My favorite Christmas movie has always been It's A Wonderful Life. {I'm a huge Jimmy Stewart fan} I watch it every year, as close to Christmas as I possibly can. I laugh and cry at all the same parts as I did the first time I watched with my mom when I was a little girl :)

    I also shared this giveaway on
    Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/pin/61431982390946126/
    and on Twitter: https://twitter.com/micaela_419/status/403278410463457282

    Sounds like a great book!
    ~Micaela :)

    bookworm9404(at)gmail(dot)com

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    1. Thank you Micaela. Most folks seem to agree. A little autobiographical in some parts...but then don't all us fiction writers draw from real life?

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  6. Thanks for sharing, Micaela! I love Jimmy Stewart, and that movie has spoken so much truth to me and my family. Great pic! Good luck on the giveaway.

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  7. My favorite Christmas show has always been Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer. Thank you for the chance to win this giveaway.
    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. I shared on Facebook and Twitter! Also, I'm a follower of this blog!

    Barbara Thompson
    barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  9. Little Women would be my all time favorite Christmas time movie. So Sad at points but when the Father comes home for Christmas and they give Beth a piano, its it touching and tender sweet. Linda I didn't know you grew up here in NY, I live in Red Creek about 45 mins from Syracuse ! I would love to win this !
    Thanks Kathleen for sharing Linda today !
    Linda Finn
    faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com

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    1. Hey, Linda, meet Linda! LOL I love Little Women. Do you prefer the June Allison version or the newer one made in the 90's? Good luck on the giveaway.

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  10. Christmas stories are some of my very favorites and this one sounds very special!

    We love to watch Christmas movies and one of our household favorites is Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer!

    I am a blog follower.
    texaggs2000 at gmail dot com

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    1. Thanks, Britney! I am finidng out I have about 20 favorites. LOL Every time someone mentions one, I say Me TOO! LOL

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  11. I love to watch the elf at Christmas.
    sonflower277 at gmail dot com

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    1. me, too! I always laugh like its my first time watching, though I can quote most of the lines. :D

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  12. It came upon a midnight clear with Mickey Rooney! a_stonecipher@yahoo.com

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  13. Frosty the Snowman is pretty hard to beat! I love all the Hallmark Christmas movies too.

    I am a follower.
    mauback55 at gmail dot com

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  14. White Christmas would be my favorite but most of all this comment is here to encourage you
    Have a terrific day God bless you
    Chris Granville
    Im a follower and Im about to post this on facebook
    granvilleATfrontiernetDOTnet

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  15. Hello Kathleen and Linda. This was good and I'd love to have the book. It is so hard to pick favorites when there are so may good ones. I do say a favorite is It's a Wonderful Christmas. Has always been popular. One people say is a must every year. Also, Miracle on 34th street. I watched a new one tonight(to me anyway). It is "It's A Merry Mix-up" Check it out. I will definitely have to see it again. Sounds weird by the name but is great. Thanks for this chance to visit and win a book.
    Maxie mac262(at)me(dot)com

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  16. For comedy relief I would say Home Alone, was a favorite holiday movie and of course, Chevy Chase's Christmas Vacation, however, on a more spiritual level I would say Mr. Kruger's Christmas also gets my vote. Decisions, decisions!

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    1. we love Chevy Chase's Christmas movie, too--one of our faves. I haven't seen Mr. Kruger's. I'll have to check that one out. One nobody mentioned that we enjoy is Christmas with the Kranks. Becoming one of our classics.

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  17. Just got done drawing names through random.org, and I would like to thank everyone for coming by this week! you all have made my Christmas in NY giveaway week very special. The two winners for Linda Rondeau's book are Michelle bookwormgal2011, and Melanie Backus. I will be contacting you both shortly for your info.

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