Showing posts with label holiday romance. Show all posts
Showing posts with label holiday romance. Show all posts

Thursday, November 10, 2016

Guidelines for a Teacher

by Shanna Hatfield




When I was looking for some fun historical tidbits to add to my latest sweet historical romance, I happened upon a book of Victorian morals and manners.

There was a whole section of guidelines, rules, and tips for teachers.

Perfect!

In The Christmas Quandary (which releases today!), Tom Grove returns to the town of Hardman to recuperate after an injury prevents him from doing his job until his broken arm heals. It just so happens the regular schoolteacher has taken quite ill. With nothing better to do, Tom agrees to fill in as the teacher through the holidays.

The regular teacher gives him a booklet that details all the do's and don'ts of teaching.

Here is the list:

Do not lose your head or your temper.
Do not appear meek to your students.
Do enter the classroom with a purposeful gait and gaze lifted with a steady eye.
Do decide exactly what you will and will not allow in your classroom.
Do make your standards perfectly clear from the start.
Do appear to take it for granted that you will get what you want from the students.
Do state your plans in a clear manner and under no circumstances change your mind.
Do not allow a wayward child to escape punishment from kindness of heart.
Do not threaten vaguely or offer general declarations.
Do not grumble or nag.
Do not make exceptions to your rules, once established.
Do not allow a child to argue about a punishment.

While he takes the advice with a grain of salt, he does find some of the suggestions to be helpful.

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The Christmas Quandary, book five in the Hardman Holidays series releases today!
 Holiday surprises await two lonely hearts in Hardman…
christmas-quandary-coverTom Grove just needs to survive a month at home while he recovers from a work injury. How bad can it be to return to Hardman for the holiday season?  He arrives to discover his middle-aged parents acting like newlyweds, the school in need of a teacher, and the girl of his dreams already engaged.
After the loss of her parents and her fiancĂ© abandoning her to spend a year abroad, Lila Granger needs a change of scenery. She leaves her home in New York to spend a few months with relatives in Hardman, Oregon. The idea of stepping off the train into a place that gives her a true sense of coming home never entered her mind. Neither did the notion of falling in love with a man who clearly can’t wait to get away from the small town.
The Christmas Quandary is a sweet Victorian romance, full of laughter and heartwarming moments.
And you can order it now on Amazon!
christmas-quandary

Oh, and you are invited to party with us today, too!

Just come to the Cowboys and Christmas Party at http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasFB3 to get in on the fun!
And don't forget to sign up for the chance to win a $50 Amazon gift card! http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasform3

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USA Today Bestselling Author Shanna Hatfield writes character-driven romances with relatable heroes and heroines. Her historical westerns have been described as “reminiscent of the era captured by Bonanza and The Virginian” while her contemporary works have been called “laugh-out-loud funny, and a little heart-pumping sexy without being explicit in any way.”
Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, this hopeless romantic is out to make it happen one story at a time. When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.

Find Shanna’s books at:

Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:

Friday, November 27, 2015

Holiday Foods Enrich Your Stories


Part of the fun in writing stories centered around a holiday is the research into specialty foods. For historical stories, this is a bit more difficult than going to my shelf of recipe books. In real life, I look upon foods that are served only at holiday times as culinary delights that help me cement those memories. My older sister has carried on our mom’s tradition of Christmas cookie platters and includes childhood favorites that are enjoyed by new generations.

While writing western historical, The Ring That Binds, I researched food connected with both the Irish and Basque heritages.  Because Celina had been poor as a child before coming to America and was left with debts when her husband was killed seeking his fortune in the silver mines, she is thrifty. She’s hesitant to spend her seamstress wages on frivolous items, even for her beloved 4-year-old daughter, Keena. A holiday treat for the two of them might be gingerbread cookies or molasses cake (personal favorites of mine)—the only extravagance other than the normal baking ingredients regularly found in her kitchen might be the pinch of spices.

In this holiday story, the general store in 1886 Aspen is owned by Basque brothers, Mikel and Danel Toussaint. They receive packages from their family in the home country with the foods they cannot get in America, and the dishes they were raised on. Mikel embraces the melting pot that is America in the 1800s and insists on speaking English, even if his was a bit rough. He’s generous and outgoing and full of good cheer. My goal was to have Mikel woo Irish widow Celina with items from his store, luxuries that she couldn’t herself afford—gumdrops or licorice for her daughter, treats like Basque Cake (cookie-like crust and top with rum-soaked raisins or figs in center) or homemade cider for her. Because both were raised in countries by the sea, they share a special reminisce about eating eel in their homeland.

The sharing of food in a story makes the characters seem like they could be in your own kitchen. If you’re an author, I encourage you to be sure to include food items that expand on the characters’ heritage or give another glimpse into the characters’ personalities. If you’re a reader, pay attention to the details provided in a food scene. Close your eyes, take a sniff and get lost in the author’s creativity at making the story more real.
To purchase The Ring That Binds, click here for Kindle OR Nook OR iBooks.
Learn more about Linda's other published works on her website  www.lindacarroll-bradd.com
Leave a comment detailing a favorite holiday dish for a chance at winning an audio copy of The Ring That Binds.

Thursday, November 12, 2015

The Strength of Vows

by Shanna Hatfield 

I have a new book releasing today called The Christmas Vow. The story, set in the 1890s, is about a man who returns to his hometown to bury his best friend and encounters the woman who broke his heart when they were both eighteen.
Although Adam is determined to stay away from her, he can no more leave her alone than he can stop needing air to breathe.
Tia is a widow with a four-year-old son, Toby, and came back to the town where she grew up to regroup and get a fresh start.
When her former father-in-law threatens to take her son away,  Adam vows to keep both Tia and Toby safe. They wed immediately, a marriage of convenience (or so they both try to convince themselves), for Toby's sake.
As I was writing the story, it really got me thinking about vows.
Did they hold more weight back then than they do now? Do vows still mean something to people?
I like to think they do.
What, exactly, is a vow?
There are any number of ways to define it, but in its most simple form, a vow is a solemn promise.
Vows are most often associated with love and marriage.


In the story, Adam takes his vows quite seriously.



The ceremony was simple and brief, but Adam took each word to heart. He didn’t lightly make a vow to Tia. For as long as she’d allow, he would cherish and protect her.

After all, a vow was much more than a promise, far deeper than a commitment. It was a pledge, a troth to another, and Adam intended to honor every word.

Even if Tia never felt another ounce of love for him, he would shelter her from life’s storms, encourage her dreams, and offer her a safe haven in his arms.

Just the idea of making a promise you intend to keep for a lifetime holds a bit of romance.



One of my favorite vows is from The Vow by Nicholas Sparks.



Married for almost twenty-two years, I recall the vows I exchanged with Captain Cavedweller like it was just yesterday. Humor and love are two threads that have been woven through our relationship from the start.

Which is why this vow is particularly fitting:

 What are your thoughts on vows?


The Christmas Vow CoverThe Christmas Vow is the fourth book in the Hardman Holidays sweet Victorian romance series.
Columbia River Pilot Adam Guthry returns to his hometown of Hardman, Oregon, after the sudden death of his best friend. Emotions he can’t contain bubble to the surface the moment he sees the girl who shattered his heart eleven years ago.
Widow Tia Devereux escapes her restrictive life in Portland, returning to the home she knew and adored as a girl in Hardman. She and her four-year-old son, Toby, settle into the small Eastern Oregon community, eager for the holiday season. Unfortunately, the only man she’s ever loved shows up, stirring the embers of a long-dead romance into a blazing flame. When her former father-in-law, a corrupt judge, decides he wants to raise Toby, Adam may be the only hope she has of keeping her son.
You can order your copy today for only $2.99 on Amazon! http://amzn.to/1KQHhvI

Teaser

“I believe that’s exactly the point.” Adam’s lopsided grin revealed his dimples and made her mouth water for want of his kiss.
Aggravated with herself, Tia aimed her fury at Adam. “The point is your recklessness might get you or someone else horribly injured.” She turned around and strode toward the kitchen door. “I insist you…”
A snowball caught her square in the back. Mouth hanging open in surprise, she spun around and glared at him.
Adam worked to form another snowball, ignoring her scowl.
Incensed, Tia surrendered to the need to stamp her foot. “How dare you!”
“Just like this.” He grinned and lobbed another snowball at her, catching her on the shoulder. Bits of snow sprayed into her face and hair.
“Oh! You are in for it now, Adam Guthry!” Tia bent down and hastily formed a snowball. With unmistakable precision, she threw it at Adam, hitting him on the chin.
He spluttered and returned fire, barely grazing her arm as she twisted away at the last second.
Peals of her laughter filled the quiet December afternoon and drew Toby outside as she and Adam continued to throw snow at each other.
“Mama?” The little boy’s lip quivered. “Did you send me inside so you could play without me?”


    
Hardman-Holidays-block for web 
Don't miss out on the Hardman Holidays series!


Guest Author Sign

You’re Invited to PARTY!

You’re invited to join in the online Cowboys & Christmas Facebook Party, today from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. (PST). Drop in anytime during those four hours to enter to win great prizes, chat with guest authors, and more (many of the giveaways will stay open until the following morning)!
Here’s the link to the party: http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasparty2
The talented guest authors joining in the celebration include: 
10 a.m. - Carmen Peone 
12:30 - Rachel Rossano 
1:30 - Dani Harper

Grand Prize Photo

Enter to Win Prizes!

To enter the drawing for an Amazon gift card, Wrangler Tote Bag, Rock & Roll Cowgirl T-shirt, autographed books, chocolates, and more fun goodies, fill out this form. Winners will be randomly drawn and announced Nov. 16. http://tinyurl.com/cowboychristmasprizes2


Ring in the Holidays with a Helping Hand

JCCF logoNovember 1 through December 24, ten percent of the net proceeds from all Shanna Hatfield book sales will be donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period. Every book purchased during this promotional period adds to the donation total. Don't forget to add books to your Christmas lists!
 

About Shanna Hatfield

Shanna Hatfield 2Convinced everyone deserves a happy ending, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield is out to make it happen, one story at a time. Her sweet historical and contemporary romances combine humor and heart-pumping moments with characters that seem incredibly real.
When she isn’t writing or indulging in chocolate (dark and decadent, please), Shanna hangs out with her husband, lovingly known as Captain Cavedweller.
This USA Today bestselling author is a member of Western Writers of America, Women Writing the West, Romance Writers of America, Sweet Romance Reads, and Pioneer Hearts.
Find Shanna’s books at:
Shanna loves to hear from readers! Follow her online:
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