Winter Comes to Texas by @JoanReeves #SmartGirlsReadRomance

With these reminders, how did I forget to blog?

When I was a kid, if I didn't move fast enough, my grandparents would say, "You're as slow as Christmas!"

Well, that's me lately. I've been crazy busy for about 2 weeks so it was inevitable that something important—like writing my monthly post—should fall through the cracks.

Even worse, I realized I hadn't written my Smart Girls Blog about 4 hours ago, but I was handling another crucial issue so I couldn't drop everything and write it.

Until now. So let's talk about Winter in Texas. If you have to have a winter, then the ones we have in Texas are tolerable.

Winter? Brrr!

Yep. I don't care much for winter. I spent a year living in South Dakota, and I spent a couple of winter weeks many years ago in South Korea—truly one of the colder places on the planet. Both those experiences left me with a lasting disregard for cold weather.

Bronze mums with still-blooming lantana.

Still there are some pleasant aspects of this less desirable season. Mums spring immediately to mind.
I love chrysanthemums of every hue.

When I lived in Japan, the flower lady came by every week with a dishpan full of pom pom mums on her head. I bought from her every week even though the flowers lasted for several weeks.

For years, I've bought a pot of mums from my local supermarket at least once a month. They grace my living room coffee table until they begin to fade. Then I cut them back and plant them in my yard.

I have just about every color of mum growing in the yards of both of my houses. They defy the Texas winter.

Holiday Books and Box Sets

Winter brings the wonderful holiday romances and box sets that I love to read and to which I love to contribute.

First up this season is a brand new box set, Christmas Shorts, a collection of 18 holiday short stories.

I totally love this cover. Isn't it  adorable?

Stories in Christmas Shorts

Christmas Runaway by Mimi Barbour, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

The Captain's Christmas Leave by  Mona Risk, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Christmas Games by Stephanie Queen, USA Today bestselling author.

Second Chance Christmas by Jen Talty, USA Today bestselling author.

Meeting Sam Klaus by Melinda De Ross, USA Today bestselling author.

Stuck On The Naughty List by Joan Reeves, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author: Can the new Police Chief mend Cassie's broken heart?

I love this cover too!!

A Match Made in Mistletoe by Leanne Banks, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author.

Candy's Christmas Rescue by Cynthia Cooke, USA Today bestselling author.

A Christmas Creek Caper by Rachelle Ayala, USA Today bestselling author.

Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairies by Taylor Lee, USA Today bestselling author.

Peter Elph by Dani Haviland by USA Today bestselling author.

Christmas Cupid by Nancy Radke by USA Today bestselling author.

A Love on the Edge by Jennifer St. Giles by USA Today bestselling author.

Because We're Snowflakes by Susan Jean Ricci, USA Today bestselling author.

A Magical Christmas by Jacquie Biggar, USA Today bestselling author.

A Chance of Snow by Alyssa Bailey, USA Today bestselling author.

Holiday Pickup By The Sea by Traci Hall, USA Today bestselling author.

A Chocolate-Box Christmas by Josie Riviera, USA Today bestselling author.

See Capitola in the northwest corner of Mason County?

About STUCK ON THE NAUGHTY LIST

I wrote this story and set it in Capitola, Texas, a town which exists only in memory now.

Capitola is one of more than a thousand ghost towns in Texas. I seem to have formed the habit of creating fictional towns from these ghost towns.

I loved the characters so much that I could not say goodbye when I finished the story.

So I decided to make this story the beginning of a series about this town that was named by the town's postmistress for the heroine of her favorite novel, Capitola the Madcap.

Add Christmas Shorts To Your Romance Library

For only 99cents, you get 18 holiday romance short stories, including mine. You're bound to find some stories you love!

JOAN REEVES—Keeping Romance Alive...One Sexy Book at a Time!

Joan Reeves is a NY Times and USA Today bestselling author of Contemporary Romance. Joan lives her happily-ever-after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State. They divide their time between a book-cluttered home in Houston and a quiet house at the foot of the Texas Hill Country where they sit on the porch at night, look up at the star-studded sky, and listen to the coyotes howl.

Sign up for Joan's Newsletter and be the first to know about new books and giveaways plus receive a free ebook after you confirm and opt-in.

Christmas Books Now? by @JoanReeves #SmartGirlsReadRomance

Yes, indeedy! We are already marketing our huge Christmas box set. Huge as in 25 novellas for only 99cents!

Love, Christmas 2: Movies You Love is up for pre-order now.

Sprinkle a little Christmas magic into your life with 25 new, never before published, romances.

Each title - exclusive to this set - is inspired by a favorite holiday movie, spun into a fantastic love story by a NY Times, USA Today, and/or award-winning, bestselling author. The result is a wonderful romance collection full of good cheer for the upcoming holiday season.

This romance collection is a sequel to our first book in The Holiday Series: Love, Christmas 1: Songs of the Heart which was published in 2016 and continues to sell every single month since it was first published.

That collection used the title of an author's favorite holiday song for the title of the novella she wrote for the box set.

Love, Christmas 2: Movies You Love

This holiday romance collection pays homage to the author's favorite holiday movie. 

Mimi Barbour – A Wonderful Life - Though Rylee works with troubled teens, can she and an angel help a man living a nightmare?

Leanne Banks – A Royal White Christmas - Can a secret prince be a Christmas wish-come-true for a small-town girl?

Joan Reeves – Brianna’s Season For Miracles - Her seductive persona hides what she's ashamed of... What will happen if the man she's fallen for discovers her secret?

Mona Risk – Jingle With My Princess - The doc and the princess... He saves lives, but she may save his heart.

Rebecca York – Can She Get Home for Christmas? - Will a killer stop her from getting home for Christmas?

Jacquie Biggar – Mistletoe Inn - A grieving man finds the greatest gift is love.

Alicia Street – Miracle on Christmas Tree Street - A single mom discovers her business partner is more than he seems.

Nancy Radke – The Holiday (Christmas) - Jodi's house-swap to Maui came with a small dog and a shipwrecked sailor.

Katy Walters –Letters from the Snowman – The snow revealed a precious love.

Stephanie Queen – Holiday Affair - Melissa goes from riches to rags but will she find gold in a holiday affair?

Aileen Fish – Christmas in Connecticut - Can a wounded warrior learn to trust her celebrity chef crush after discovering his secret?

Rachelle Ayala – A Christmas Creek Carol - A reclusive writer is given a one-star review on her life by characters from her past, present, and future.

Dani Haviland – The Polar Xpress - She prefers dogs to men…until she rescues the doctor.

Traci Hall – Love, Actually (By the Sea) - Two strangers. One intimate night. Reunited a year later, can it actually be love?

Taylor Lee – The Ref-er-ee - With a family this discombobulated, it will take a referee to save their Christmas.

Donna Fasano – Her Mr. Miracle - It’s Christmas Eve and Veronica is stuck in a nearly deserted seaside town... She needs a miracle.

Cynthia Cooke – A Christmas to Remember - A Christmas storm. Wedding plans in peril. Has a lost love been found?

Susan Jean Ricci – A Joyous Holiday Inn - Can Twigg restore the joy of Christmas to Chloe’s indifferent heart?

Tamara Ferguson – Two Hearts Home for Christmas - Can a long ago promise of love bring two lonely wounded warriors home for Christmas?

Suzanne Jenkins – Christmas with the Clouds - Tracy isn’t interested in love until an unexpected Christmas visitor changes her heart.

Natalie Ann – How Gavin Stole Christmas - Can Jolene help Gavin find the Christmas spirit when he’s the epitome of Mr. Bah Humbug?

Ev Bishop – A Sharla Brown Christmas - For single parents Sharla and Jake, Christmas is the loneliest time of the year…until it’s not.

Alyssa Bailey – In the Spirit of Christmas - Chase can protect Tara from danger, but can he protect his heart?

Stacy Eaton – Finding Love on Christmas Vacation - Christmas isn't the same for Lucy without her father...until she meets his friend Maverick.

Jen Talty – The Christmas Getaway - A mix-up in reservations leaves a mother and her son to share a cabin with a broken-hearted stranger.

Win Our Contest

To celebrate this new collection of holiday romances, we're having a contest!

The winner gets one of the author's romance novels in the collection dedicated to her or him.

To enter the Love, Christmas 2: Movies You Love Contest and get a book dedicated to you and receive a gift copy of the box set, just click here.

Pre-Order Love, Christmas 2: Movies You Love

Love, Christmas 2: Movies You Love is available at these ebook sellers:

Amazon US: http://bit.ly/2LuvC2
Amazon UK: http://bit.ly/2LC2UK
B&N Nook: http://bit.ly/2LC2BN
iBooks: http://bit.ly/2LoveC2
Kobo: http://bit.ly/2LC2Kobo

FOLLOW or VISIT JOAN ONLINE

Joan Reeves lives her Happily Ever After with her Hero, her husband, in a book-cluttered home in Texas. Visit Joan online at any of these locations: Amazon Author Page * BookBub Author Page * Facebook Fan Page * Twitter * YouTube * Joan's Website.

Be the first to know about Giveaways, Bargains, and New Books, sign up for Joan's Mailing List.

Crazy Busy: Love, Christmas Release by @JoanReeves

Life has been crazy busy for the last 2 weeks. I was up until 1am last night which is why my post is late today.

My friends and I are gearing up for the release of our Love, Christmas Romance Collection.

This holiday romance collection with each novella bearing the title of a popular Christmas song was first conceived in January of this year.

We've been working on it one way or another since then, and now we're in the agonies of promotion because the box set publishes Tuesday, October 18.

With 20 all-new novellas by New York Times, USA Today, and national bestselling authors, we have high hopes that the collection will please readers immensely.

Titles, Authors & Blurbs

We Need a Little Christmas by Leanne Banks – Can a handsome cynic become a Christmas believer?
Frosty the Snowman by Mimi Barbour – Stranded in an Alaskan snowstorm, strangers Hali and Terry are forced to rely on each other for survival.
Last Christmas by Joan Reeves – Annabelle gave him her heart, but Rick threw it away. He wants redemption, she wants revenge.
Holly Jolly Christmas by Mona Risk – Pregnant at 18. Adoption would save the baby’s future but may cost her the man she loves.
Do You Hear What I Hear? by Patricia Rosemoor – Live-in-lovers Shelley and Jake are now in a cold war of their own over Christmas.
White Christmas by Rebecca York – Was she in a coma, or was she in a Christmas fantasy?
So This is Christmas by Denise Devine – He was her child nemesis, now he’s her best friend forever.

Grown Up Christmas List by Donna Fasano – All she wants for Christmas is to feel safe… then she meets her guardian angel.
Blue Christmas by the Sea by Traci Hall – Alone for Christmas, Tamsyn helps mystery writer Evan find his mojo–love is a gift neither can refuse.
Santa Baby by Taylor Lee – Lily’s only hope was that this time, he wouldn’t be able to find her.
Let It Snow by Stephanie Queen – A stranger and a snow storm on Christmas Eve create the ultimate test for Dane & Shana.
Merry, Did You Know? by Jennifer St. Giles – Can a Christmas Miracle change the future of a woman who doesn’t believe in love and a man who can’t love again?
O Christmas Tree by Alicia Street – Can Piper convince Cody to let go of his painful past and embrace the hope of Christmas and possibly love?
Sleigh Ride by Katy Walters – Miss Sophia Vale faces poverty. Enter the Earl of Breconbridge, renowned as a rake hell with a conscience.
Deck the Hearts by Rachelle Ayala – Can Holly’s jolly Christmas spirit help Grinch Gordon Gills save the town of Christmas Creek?
Silver Bells by Jacquie Biggar – Can a Christmas wish bring two stubborn souls together and give a little girl the gift she wants?

Hark the Herald Angel Falls by Michele Hauf – To earn her halo, angel Merit must convince the person who holds her earthly soul in limbo–her husband–to stop loving her.
Little Drummer Boy by Dani Haviland – How could a mere drummer boy help those stranded in the worst winter storm of the 18th century?
I’ll Be Home For Christmas by Nancy Radke – When former a former Navy SEAL plucks a woman from the Mediterranean Sea, he discovers a fighter tougher than he.
Santa Claus is Coming to Town by Cynthia Cooke – A big city girl reunites with a small town boy–magic. A Santa in need of an elf–Christmas magic.
Rafflecopter Giveaway

Enter today for fabulous prizes in our Rafflecopter giveaway

But Wait There's More

We created a Sampler Book for Love, Christmas--the perfect way to "try before you buy" so you know you'll be happy with a book. I'm happy to offer you a free copy of Book Bites 7: 20 Holiday Samplers.

Buy Links for Book Bites 7: Holiday Sampler Amazon * Kobo * Nook.

One benefit of getting the free book is that it contains the answers you need to play the Love, Christmas Treasure Hunt.


I don't know if you've done a treasure hunt online before, but it's a lot of fun. Authors post clues or questions, and players follow the clues/answer the questions.

There's a very nice prize for the winner so I hope you'll pop over to the Treasure Hunt page and check out the action.

My Holiday Romance

My novella in the Love, Christmas Collection is Last Christmas. Here's a short blurb.

Last Christmas, Annabelle fell in love at first sight with a mysterious stranger. After a week of unforgettable passion, he walked out of her life.

A year of heartache accompanied by the dirty tricks life can serve up finds her back in her hometown, determined to forget the man who still haunts her dreams.

Who should walk into her grandmother’s Christmas party? Why the man who seduced her, lied to her, and betrayed her! He has a new name and a new identity, but his effect on her is as old as time.

Rick Lassiter thinks he can woo Annabelle back to him—and his bed. But, he didn’t count on the passionate sweet-tempered woman he remembered as having a will as strong as his and a desire to make him pay for breaking her heart.

Only 99cents!

Parties and Prizes Recap

This week there will be many events: Facebook parties with prizes, the Treasure Hunt, and the  Rafflecopter prizes. Here are the important links again.

Buy Love, Christmas Romance Collection from: Amazon * Kobo * Nook * iBooks.



Join the Love, Christmas Treasure Hunt.

Enter the Rafflecopter Giveaway (see above) which started Oct. 1 and runs through Oct. 25.

Best of all, join us Oct. 17 and 18 for the Facebook Parties thrown by Book Partners. All authors are giving away prizes. I'll be hosting at 4:30 Easter time on October 18,

I hope to see you there!

About Joan


Joan Reeves writes Sassy, Sexy Contemporary Romance. Her books are available at all major Amazon, Audible.com, and iTunes.

All of Joan's books have the same underlying theme: It's never too late to live happily ever after. Joan lives her happily ever after with her hero, her husband, in the Lone Star State.

Subscribe to Joan's free newsletters: Writing Hacks, tips about the art, craft, and business of writing, and WordPlay, her email list and book chat for readers. Find Joan online: Blog, Website, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube.
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