Love, Laughter, and Merrily Ever Afters Collection
Publication date: November 25th 2014
Genres: Romance
Synopsis
TEN fun, romantic holiday novellas by ten New York Times & USA Today bestselling authors
An all-star gathering of some of today's most popular NYT and USA Today bestselling romance authors in a fun-filled collection...holiday style! With the overwhelming response to the chart-topping summer boxed set, we've brought together even MORE of your favorite authors for a winter compilation, and this time, we've giftwrapped TEN stories for you all. From the funny & sweet, to the STEAMY & heartfelt, each novella is packed with a whole lot of romance, and hand-picked to infuse perfectly-portioned holiday cheer into your busy days this season...along with hot bursts of holiday steam for those winter nights.
And at just ***99 CENTS USD*** that's a huge savings of over 95% off retail for the individual books sold separately! This is an extremely limited edition bundle available for just 5 weeks so get your copy today!
THE BOXED SET INCLUDES
IF I RETURN -- by USA Today bestselling author Sawyer Bennett
WILD IRISH CHRISTMAS -- by New York Times bestselling author Mari Carr
SEDUCING SANTA -- by New York Times bestselling author Janelle Denison (aka Erika Wilde)
DECKING DREW -- by New York Times bestselling author Violet Duke
FAIRIES & WISHES -- by USA Today bestselling author Karen Erickson (aka Monica Murphy)
TWELVE DATES OF CHRISTMAS -- by New York Times bestselling author Jessie Evans (aka J. Evans)
HOLIDAY SPIRIT -- by New York Times bestselling author Cathryn Fox
UNWRAPPED -- by New York Times bestselling author Melody Grace
A CHRISTMAS HEAT WAVE -- by New York Times bestselling author Alannah Lynne
HIS CHRISTMAS WISH -- by New York Times bestselling author Marquita Valentine
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If I Return Excerpt
Pushing away from the elevator wall I had been leaning against, I walk up to Jack, bringing my body close into his. Looking into his face, I see his nostrils flare and unbidden desire leap into his eyes. It's all the encouragement I need before I smooth my hands up over his chest, winding them behind his neck. My fingers graze over the stubble of his short haircut. I'm pleased when his arms wrap around my waist to draw me in closer. I waste no further time before pulling his head down to me, until our lips meet softly.
Despite the fact my inhibitions are lowered, despite the fact I boldly put myself in Jack's arms, and despite the fact that his eyes were heated as our lips moved toward one another, the kiss is surprisingly sweet. It's nothing more than a gentle meeting of our lips. Our mouths are slightly parted as we move against one another, tilting our heads first to one side, and then another as we explore.
Even though the kiss is soft and sweet, I still feel a warmth spreading through my body. It causes me to want more... to experience Jack on the next level. Tentatively, my tongue pushes forward into his mouth and at first he stills. I can feel his fingers flex into my lower back, and I push my tongue in just a little farther, taking a swipe at his.
He answers me with a groan and then he's gripping my head, holding me in place so his tongue can take charge.
And I let him.
Letting go, for once in my life, I let Jack have his way with my mouth. He deepens the kiss and I can't help the sigh that escapes me. He eats it up, pleading for more by the insistent way his lips move against mine.
Even though we seem to both be drowning in the kiss, I find myself wanting to submerge further into him. Desire floods my senses and my body moves without thinking. I push myself closer to him, our bodies connecting. My breasts mash into chest and I can feel his hardness against my stomach. I push closer yet, wanting—no, needing—the contact.
This kiss... this amazing kiss. It's like nothing I've ever experienced. It's full of passion and fire. I realize that my prior kisses have been lukewarm at best. Energy courses through me at the thought of what else I've been missing. The shy introvert is gone and I can feel my inner sex kitten awakening.
And I’m ready... ready to let her prowl because the passion that flows between us has firmly shut boring Hope Camden away.
Sawyer’s Favorite Holiday Recipe
This one’s my absolute favorite holiday recipe!
Pumpkin Roll
Ingredients
3 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
2/3 cup canned pumpkin
1 teaspoon lemonjuice
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 cup pecans, finely chopped
1 cup confectioners' sugar, plus more for sprinkling
Two 3 ounce packages cream cheese, room temperature
1 stick butter (1/2 cup), room temperature
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Directions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 17 1/2 by 12 1/2 inch jellyroll pan.With an electric mixer, beat the eggs, granulated sugar, pumpkin and lemon juice until smooth. Sift together the flour, ginger, salt, baking powder and cinnamon. Add the sifted ingredients to the egg mixture and blend until fully combined. Spread the batter in the jellyroll pan. Sprinkle the dough with the chopped pecans. Bake until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 14 minutes. Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes.Invert the cake onto a wire rack. Sprinkle some of the confectioner' sugar on a large tea towel and carefully transfer the warm cake to the towel, folding the sides of the towel over the cake. Roll the cake up in the towel and cool in the refrigerator thoroughly for about 45 minutes.With an electric mixer, combine the confectioners' sugar, cream cheese, butter and vanilla and beat until smooth. Carefully unroll the cooled cake and spread the mixture on top of the cake. Gently reroll the cake up and refrigerate it until you're ready to slice and serve. Dust with confectioners' sugar just before serving.
Fairies and Wishes Excerpt
“I’ve never been kissed like that before,” she said, her voice tinged with wonder, quaking fingers still pressed to her mouth.
Tim frowned. What did she mean by that? Surely she’d been kissed before. At least he hoped.
Her other hand still clutching at the front of his jacket, she shifted, bringing her body closer to his. Amazing, he thought, considering the cramped quarters of his sports car. “I want you to kiss me again.”
He started to protest, but she shushed him with a single finger pressed against his lips. “Please?” She drifted the tip of her index finger across his lower lip in the subtlest of caresses.
Tim felt that touch as if she’d stroked the tip of his cock.
His lips met hers and this time he took it slower. Brushing her mouth again and again with his own, until he heard a tiny sound of frustration come from her. Her lips opened beneath his, and he slipped his tongue tentatively between them, her luscious taste filling his head, heating his skin.
“Mmm,” she murmured, her mouth opening even wider, her shy tongue brushing against his. Her fingers fumbled with the zipper on his leather jacket, and then she lowered it, hands diving inside to press against his chest.
Tim slid his hands into her hair, cupping her head, drinking from her lips. She tasted sinfully sweet, her tongue twining with his, hands greedily sliding up and down his chest. She seemed to want to get closer to him, her lower body shifting restlessly as she squirmed in her seat. He grabbed the lever at his side and slid his seat back, then cupped her shoulders and hauled her onto his lap, his mouth never leaving hers.
A coo of delight escaped from her, and she pressed her chest to his, her breasts soft and tempting nestled against him. Her hands moved up to wrap around his neck, clutching at him as if she couldn’t get enough and he could relate. Little moans sounded low her throat as she thrust her pelvis against his, driving him out of his mind with lust.
“Goodness, you’re a wonderful kisser,” she murmured against his mouth.
He chuckled, skimmed fingers across her soft cheeks. “Thanks. You’re not so bad yourself.”
“I don’t want you to stop.” She pressed another lingering kiss to his lips and sighed. “I want you to keep doing it.”
“Lily, we’re in my car in the driveway in front of my house. I can think of somewhere a lot more comfortable to continue this. Like inside the house, on the couch.” His couch would be a hell of a lot more comfortable than the front seat of his too small car.
She smiled, her little pink tongue darting out to lick at the corners of his lips. “I don’t care where we are as long as you keep on kissing me.”
Well hell, he couldn’t resist that. He pressed his open mouth to hers, their tongues sliding lazily against each other’s, hands roaming. If he allowed himself, he soon wouldn’t care where they were either, as long as they were still lip locked.
Karen’s Favorite Holiday Recipe
Okay, I'm a total cheater. When I make sugar cookies with my kids, I use the Betty Crocker sugar cookie pouches. It's just so much easier! We can bust those cookies out in no time. But I do make homemade frosting and the secret I learned from my grandma to make the frosting taste extra delicious? Include a splash of coffee. Yes, coffee! Sadly, she doesn't make sugar cookies during the holidays anymore but I do. Trying to keep up the tradition!
Frosting recipe:
2 cups powdered sugar
1 stick salted butter
12 tablespoons of milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Splash of coffee
Stir until desired thickness/consistency. Taste test to make sure it's sweet enough to your liking! Then get to frosting all those cookies. ;)
Here's a link to a photo from a couple of years ago me making all the cookies and various holiday goodies and the mess I leave behind (note the diet Coke in the photo, too funny): http://karenwritesromance.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/12/misc-010.jpg
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