Christmas Book Recommendations

So, we're a whisper away from the start of December and I'm in the mood for a Christmas story. I've already read and loved the stories in the LoveCats box set, Hot Christmas Nights, and now I need some recommendations!

In exchange, I offer two suggestions from me - an old favourite and a brand new story.

Jennifer Crusie's Hot Toy was originally in a print anthology with two other authors, but this year they've released an eBook version of just her story. It's fast paced, sexy, and laugh out loud funny.

From the back cover: Mayhem ensues under the mistletoe as a determined shopper grabs the very last hot toy action figure off the shelf, only to find herself plunged into the middle of a real-life spy game–in the arms of a sexy secret agent. . .


A new for me story this year will be Anna Campbell's A Pirate For Christmas and I can't wait for December to hit so I can dive into this one.

How much fun does this back cover sound?

There’s a pirate in the manor house!

What is vicar’s daughter Bess Farrar to do when the dashing new earl, the man gossip paints as a ruthless pirate, kisses her the day they meet? Why, kiss him right back, of course! Now Lord Channing vows to claim the lovely firebrand, despite interfering villagers, a snowstorm, scandal, and a rascally donkey. The gallant naval captain’s first landlocked Christmas promises mayhem – and a lifetime of breathtaking passion. 



So over to you. I'd love some recommendations for Christmas reading!

Raindrops on roses...

2014 snuck up on me. Big time. So now that the champagne has been drunk and the party streamers cleaned away, I want to look back on some of the things that made 2013 what it was and take all of it’s crunchy goodness into 2014 with me.

So, here’s a list of some of my favourite things from 2013.

Favourite category romance: Kelly Hunter’s The One That Got Away. The honesty in this book blew me away—the story is so raw and emotional. I have a thing for secondary characters too and they played such an important role in the story.

Favourite single title romance: This is a draw. The first is Charlaine Harris’s Dead Until Dark. This was my introduction to the Sookie Stackhouse series and I LOVED it. Glommed the lot. The other is Jennifer Crusie’s Faking It. Really, do I need to say more? ;-)

Favourite non-romance book read: The Fault in Our Stars by John Green. This features a romance too. I love the voice of this character. I loved the issues it explored. This made me feel the world was a good place even when bad things happen.

Favourite new experience: Munich!!! Visiting Munich was amazing. Seriously, travel is the best.

Favourite new song: Look this is an old song, but I haven’t been able to listen to it often enough. King of the Road by Roger Miller

Favourite new recipe: Tater Tot Casserole. Click here if you want the recipe.

Favourite movie: This wasn’t a 2013 release but I didn’t catch it until this year—The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. So much heart and soul.

Favourite (new to me) TV program: Buffy, the Vampire Slayer. Series 1 was a bit of a slow burn, but Series 2 has hooked me.

Favourite piece of materialistic nonsense: These sneakers. Aren't they the best? I snaffled these in Munich. They make me smile whenever I look at them. :-)

Favourite highlight: 2013 was really good to me. I had lots of highlights. I enrolled in a PhD (OMG! Am I crazy?), The Nanny who Saved Christmas won the Book Sellers Best Award, but there are two other things that really stand out for me. The first is meeting my editor face-to-face when I was in London and being taken out for a very swish lunch at Rocks and Roses where my very generous editor introduced me to mojitos (oh, dear lord, yum). The other was meeting some of the UK Romance/Sweet authors for lunch in Covent Garden. We had the BEST time. :)

From L-R (ie, down the table and back): Sophie Pembroke, me, Fiona Harper, Liz Fielding, Jessica Hart,  Caroline Anderson, Nina Harrington and Kate Hardy

So what about you? Any highlights for the previous year? Marvellous books read or materialistic pieces of nonsense that made your heart sing? Any crunchy pieces of goodness you're taking with you into 2014?

Whiskers On Kittens...

It’s that time of year when I start to look back on 2012 and think about the things that made this year unique—things that made it good and glorious and worthwhile.

I like to do this in the lead up to Christmas because it reminds me there’s more to life than a frenzy of shopping (though, mind you, I don’t mind the odd bout of that every now and again either). So, in the interests of spreading the love, I thought I’d share my list with you. And, I’ll give away a copy of my December release—The Nanny Who Saved Christmas—to one lucky commenter who plays along and lists one or two of their favourite things for 2012…or who adds a category that I forgot! :-)

These Are a Few Of My Favourite Things for 2012 by Michelle Douglas:

Favourite category romance read: Doukakis’s Apprentice by Sarah Morgan

Favourite single title romance read: Sorry, it’s a tie (I just couldn’t choose!)—The Ugly Duchess by Eloisa James and Welcome to Temptation by Jennifer Crusie

Favourite non-romance book read: The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruis Zafon

Favourite romance written: This is a cheat because it’s always the one I’ve just handed in. But, for today at least, it’s The Cattleman’s Ready-Made Family (Book 1 of the Bellaroo Creek series with Barbara Hannay and Soraya Lane, slotted for a July 2013 release)

Favourite new experience: Visiting Tasmania for 2 weeks in October

Second-favourite new experience (because new experiences should never be under-rated): Buying a sewing machine and trying my hand at sewing (I'm going to take a class next year)

Favourite new song: Taylor Swift’s ‘We are never ever ever getting back together.’ This was on the radio all the time when the dh and I were driving around Tasmania and I became addicted.

Favourite new recipe: Nigella Lawson’s Sweet and Salty Crunchy Nut Bars. OMG!!! Don’t click the link if you’re at all concerned about your health or your weight .

Favourite movie: I didn’t go to the movies once this year. Not once! But I am planning on seeing The Hobbit and I have high expectations.

Favourite (new to me) television program: The Big C with Laura Linney. Oh, how I love this program. Oh, how flawed the characters are! Oh, how could they make something so funny and so heart wrenching at the same time?

Favourite materialistic piece of nonsense: A pink and black Alannah Hill dress that I bought to wear to the RWAust Conference. I love this dress! I think I’ll wear it to every conference I attend from now until it falls to pieces. :)

So what about you? What’s made it to your list? And don’t forget to leave a comment, if you want to be in the running to win a copy of The Nanny Who Saved Christmas.