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.

Christmas in New York! Four Holiday Stories, five #bookgiveaways Day 2 YULETIDE HEARTS by Ruth Logan Herne

Yuletide Hearts by Ruth Logan Herne

Men of Allegeny County book 4

I received this book as part of a gift basket from Seekerville.com. It was the large print edition, and the first thing that caught my attention was the lovely cover image. But what made me jump right in and read is the fact that it is set in upstate NY towns I have known well, such as Houghton, Wellsville, and Olean. Ms Herne's writing is a departure from my typical read of historical romance, and her style is straightforward and yet artful, easy and yet containing more depth than meets the eye. 

When a stoic Iraqi war veteran and single mom meets the man who has taken over the development her father has lost to foreclosure, she promises her heart to keep a safe distance. The contractor, a young marine with a past that needs the same finishing work as the housing development he seeks to complete, has anything but love on his mind. When Matt Cavanaugh meets Callie Burdick, even his tough marine training hasn't prepared him for the siege she stages on his heart. 

With themes of redemption, forgiveness, commitment, and determination, this sweet contemporary romance packs a big story in a small package. Besides a lovely glimpse at charming small town life in upstate NY, the Christmas story plays out in modern terms as mother and child find shelter under the covering of an adoptive father, and love conquers sin and debt. 

Lovely on so many levels, this book makes me want to read more from this talented and insightful author.

Ruth Logan Herne loves Charlie Brown Christmas trees, rooting for the underdog and people who go the distance while others see the path as too long or broken! She loves God, chocolate, writing, dogs and is blessed by a sprawling family, oodles of grandkids and a sweet old farmhouse in constant need of work. She's sure that clean rooms are over-rated, snakes and possums should mind their own business and buy their own farm and puppies and kittens and babies are about the cutest things on Earth. A "pull-up-your-big-girl-panties-and-move-on" kind of gal, she is blessed to be married to her high school sweetheart (although it wasn't as if THEY WERE KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR to challenge him for her!!!), work with young families who allow her to exploit their sweet children on blogs, and rock babies on a regular basis. An author for Love Inspired Books and Summerside Press, she lives in upstate New York.

See yesterday's post for another chance to win one of Ruth's Christmas in Upstate NY books from the Men of Allegany County Series. Tune in tomorrow for another giveaway of a New York State Christmas story, It Really is a Wonderful Life by Linda Rondeau.

To enter, leave a comment about a prayer God answered for you in an unexpected way. For extra entries, tell me if you shared this post on Fb, twitter, google+ or pinterest, and if you follow this blog. Good luck! 

Christmas in New York! Four holiday stories, five #bookgiveaway Day 1 HIS MISTLETOE FAMILY by Ruth Logan Herne

Ruth Logan Herne's His Mistletoe Family 
from the Men Of Allegany County series

I really enjoyed this sweet story about a retired Army Colonel and a young entrepreneur in Upstate NY who find romance and comfort in one another's arms. Haley Jennings loves a challenge in business--she has started a co-op in her grandfather's old factory right during the Christmas rush, which would be a daunting task for the most focused among us. But then, a monkey wrench is thrown into her life--her brother has left his two young sons into her care.

With a five and a three year old in the back seat of her convertible, Haley must find time, food, and resources on a cold Thanksgiving night when her search lands her at a church meal, locking eyes with a handsome and mysterious man--Brett Stanton. Brett hides his pain by hiding from the world. He has lost family in the war and has shut himself off from relationships--until something about the beautiful lady and her two young wards tug at his heartstrings.

As a resident of upstate NY who has traversed these same small towns--Bolivar, Jamison, Wellsville, Olean. . . I found this book to be a delightful trip through my memories of beautiful countryside and warm-hearted people. This writer captures small town hospitality and the rugged, pull-together aspect of these communities. Her characters are believable and sympathetic, and their stories resonate in the heart.

Even though Christmas is past, the snow is still white on the ground, and I thoroughly enjoyed reading this holiday happily ever after.

Ruth Logan Herne loves Charlie Brown Christmas trees, rooting for the underdog and people who go the distance while others see the path as too long or broken! She loves God, chocolate, writing, dogs and is blessed by a sprawling family, oodles of grandkids and a sweet old farmhouse in constant need of work. She's sure that clean rooms are over-rated, snakes and possums should mind their own business and buy their own farm and puppies and kittens and babies are about the cutest things on Earth. A "pull-up-your-big-girl-panties-and-move-on" kind of gal, she is blessed to be married to her high school sweetheart (although it wasn't as if THEY WERE KNOCKING DOWN THE DOOR to challenge him for her!!!), work with young families who allow her to exploit their sweet children on blogs, and rock babies on a regular basis. An author for Love Inspired Books and Summerside Press, she lives in upstate New York.

Tune in tomorrow to hear about another of Ruth Logan Herne's Upstate New York Christmas stories, Yuletide Hearts.

Leave comment below with your favorite Christmas memory. One winner for each book this week will be chosen on Friday, November 22. You can earn extra entries by sharing on FB, twitter, pinterest, and google+, (see upper right corner of blog for easy buttons) and for subscribing to this blog via email or feedburner. Let me know what you did for your extra entries. Good luck!