Happy Saturday, everyone! I hope you're planning to have a little fun this weekend! Here at i blog 4 books, I'm excited to have a busy day of Counting Down to Christmas. :) We're starting off with an interview with Mia Ross and a giveaway of her new book, Jingle Bell Romance!
(You can find other stops along the way—and lots of giveaways—here. Later today, I'm sharing some great gifts that help others (even though I said I was going to post this yesterday ... oops!). And author Ann Gabhart will be stopping by for a chat!)
i blog 4 books; Hi, Mia! Welcome to i blog 4 books! What is your most memorable Christmas and why?
Mia Ross: The first one with both of the kids. We have an adorable studio picture from that year, and I still hang it at Christmastime because it's one of my faves. Watching them enjoy all the trappings of the season—decorating, visiting Santa, making cookies and a gingerbread house—was the absolute best!
ib4b: Name three words that you associate with Christmas.
MR: Family, love, and tradition.
ib4b: How will your family celebrate Christmas this year?
MR: Because my husband and daughter both work in restaurants, we'll spread our Christmas out over the 25th and 26th to make sure we get to spend time with both sides of the family and at home. It's tiring, but I wouldn't have it any other way.
ib4b: We spread our celebrations out over a week (or more sometimes). You're right ... it can be really tiring, but this is the only way we get to see everyone, which makes it worth it! What is the best gift you’ve ever given?
MR: Probably the best received was the Deluxe Scrabble set I gave my mother-in-law a few years ago. It's the spinning kind done up in burgundy with gold letters on the tiles—gorgeous! We give it a real workout when I visit :)
ib4b: Who gave you the best Christmas gift you’ve ever received? What was it?
MR: I adore Disney World, and I always watch those Disney Holidays specials on the Travel Channel, wishing I could see it for myself. Last Christmas, my parents announced they were taking the four of us there this November when it's all decorated for Christmas. I can't wait!
ib4b: Ooh ... sounds like a great trip! Hope you guys had fun! Tell me about the Christmas tradition that means the most to you.
MR: Decorating, definitely. The kids' ornament collections start with those Baby's First Christmas balls and I add another every year, so they have quite a few. It's fun to pull them from the bins and hang them on the tree. When they move out on their own, they'll take those along to give them a head start on building their own Christmas traditions.
ib4b: How do you keep your focus on Christ during this hectic but wondrous time of year?
MR: By taking the time to remember how blessed we are and sharing that with people in the area. We buy new toys for Angel Trees, contribute food to local cupboards, and donate money to the Salvation Army. Someday, I'd love to be one of those folks who anonymously pays off a stranger's holiday layaway account :)
What is your favorite ...
- Christmas movie? White Christmas
- Christmas song? It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year
- Christmas treat? cut-out cookies with LOTS of frosting
- Christmas smell? gingerbread
- Christmas children’s book? The Night Before Christmas
About Jingle Bell Romance
Falling For Scrooge
Julia Stanton loves Christmas—almost as much
as she loves the home she's made in Holiday Harbor. So when her beloved
pastor's prodigal son returns for a brief visit, she hatches a plan to
keep Nick McHenry in town. Growing up as an ambassador's daughter, she's
charmed countless dignitaries and surely she can get the brooding
bachelor to see how much joy there is in a family-filled holiday. Julia
never expects to feel the spark of something more for Nick. But it will
take more than attraction to turn this handsome scrooge into her
hometown hero.
Holiday Harbor: Where love is just around the bend.
Sound good? Yeah, that's what I thought ... I can't wait to read it either! Here's an excerpt to whet your appetite. :)
About Mia Ross
Mia Ross loves great stories. She enjoys reading about fascinating people, long-ago times, and exotic places. But only for a little while, because her reality is pretty sweet. Married to her college sweetheart, she's the proud mom of two amazing kids whose schedules keep her hopping. Busy as she is, she can't imagine trading her life for anyone else's—and she has a pretty good imagination. You can visit her online at www.miaross.com.
Connect with Mia Ross Online
Giveaway
Mia is giving away TWO copies of Jingle Bell Romance, so that means TWO winners! Giveaway is open to residents of the US and Canada and ends December 12. Enter using the Rafflecopter widget below.
a Rafflecopter giveaway
*** All participants must be 18 years or older. The winner will be contacted
via email. Once contacted the winner has 72 hours to respond with the
required information. If the winner does not respond within the
timeframe specified, another winner will be chosen. I am not responsible
for shipping mishaps. Void where prohibited. ***
My dad used to make homemade candy when I was a child and I loved the homemade heath bar he would make and store in the freezer.
ReplyDeleteBrittany McEuen
Sounds yummy, Brittany! Thanks for coming by and good luck in the drawing :)
ReplyDeleteMia
MIA!!!!! How fun to have you over here! It's almost as good as having supper together!!!! :) Brooke, don't enter me, I've got this lovely book in paperback and KINDLE!!!!! Because Mia was bundled at Christmas, just like me!!!! Wishing you both a lovely and merry Christmas and I love, love, love Jingle Bell Romance!
ReplyDeleteMy Mom's fudge, yum!
ReplyDeleteI'm a fudge fan myself, Merry! The more chocolate, the better :D
ReplyDeleteChristmas Wreath Cookies, made like Rice Krispie treats, but with cornflakes, green food coloring and redhots as decorations. Yum!
ReplyDeleteVery inventive, Heather! Pretty and delicious all at once.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a good book!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Sharon! Good luck in the drawing :)
ReplyDeleteI love chocolate fudge, but I get it more than once a year. One thing I love that I only have at Christmas is Divinity. It's so good!!
ReplyDeleteBarbara Thompson
barbmaci61(at)yahoo(dot)com
My earlier comment got lost, Ruth. Thanks so much for coming by!
ReplyDeleteSpritz cookies!
ReplyDeleteFudge !
ReplyDeleteLinda Finn
faithfulacresbooks@gmail.com
My favorite Christmas treat is Buckeyes. Yum!
ReplyDeleteMy favorite treat for Christmas is eggnog, low fat, of course. Love to win your book. sharon, CA wileygreen1(at)yahoo(dot)com
ReplyDeleteI enjoy homemade peanut clusters!
ReplyDeletetexaggs2000 at gmail dot com
My favorite kind of cookie are the egg nog cookies. So yummy and soft!
ReplyDeleteoh.hello.hiya@gmail.com
I love cake balls!
ReplyDeleteThis is the hardest question you've asked!
ReplyDeleteI guess I will say pecan pie with vanilla icecream. But I'll miss my fudge if I don't get it, too!
I love pumpkin roll. I love making them also.
ReplyDeleteBlessings
joeym11@frontier.com
There are unlimited options for favorites but candy and cookies are my weakness.
ReplyDeleteI have started making these wonderful peanut clusters. Pretty hard to beat!
ReplyDeletemauback55 at gmail dot com
Anything Red Velvet
ReplyDeleteMy aunts apple spice cake is my favorite
ReplyDeletemarypopmom (at) yahoo (dot) com
would enjoy reading this book eating chocolate covered cherries
ReplyDelete