December 10, 2012

Holiday Cheer - What's Your Favorite Holiday Movies and Books


By R.T. Wolfe
Happy Holidays, readers and Anna Kathryn. I’m honored to be here today and will be giving away a free digital copy of my romantic suspense, Black Creek Burning to one commenter.
Do you get caught up in the romance of the holidays? Not just the romance romance, but the romance of the sights and smells and sounds? As an author, I find it’s hard not to.
I think I’ve rented the movie The Holiday with Jack Black, Cameron Diaz, Jude Law and Kate Winselet each year since its release and am looking forward to Playing for Keeps with Gerald Butler and Jessica Biel. I also find myself diving into Nora Roberts book, Northern Lights, around this time not because it has a holiday theme but because it’s set in majestic snow covered Alaska…and because it’s Nora.
Book one in my romantic suspense trilogy, Black Creek Burning, begins right before the holidays in scenic upstate New York. Black Creek is not only the land form that separates the main characters but a metaphor referring to many of the scenes that happen in and around it. The dark water of the creek crawls around exposed rocks topped with snow like marshmallows floating in dark mocha. Mallards huddle near the part of the spillway that never seems to freeze as Nathan Reed’s new neighbor tussles with her golden retriever in her back yard. He came back to this place to learn to be a better father to his nephews, not fall in love and solve a murder. His unruly, adolescent Labrador has other ideas. It leaves a trail of muddy creek paw prints all through Brie Chapman’s kitchen. He discovers her curt, quirky and incredibly alluring. Sparks ignite during neighborly festivities but when he discovers the dead animals that have shown up on her porch and deck and the dozen of slashes in each of her tires the sparks turn into a protective need. The trick for Nathan is that Brie doesn’t want to be protected.
The powdery white of the winter season turns into the new growth of spring. Simultaneously, he finds new growth with both his nephews and his icy new neighbor. As the mystery unfolds, he helps Brie learn to trust as a passionate lover and as a mother to two boys who couldn’t make it without her.

As a debut author, I’ve been honored to step into the #1 spot on the Goodread’s New Authors to Read list and have earned a 4.8 star average on Amazon. The Black Creek Burning book trailer passed 800 hits in just over two months. I hope you find time to curl up in your coziest spot with a glass of your favorite drink in one hand and Black Creek Burning in the other. If you’re looking for a comfy holiday drink, here is my recipe for homemade Irish Crème:

Irish Crème
In a blender, mix…

1 ½ cups Canadian Club Whiskey (or rum)
3T Hershey’s chocolate syrup
¼ tsp. coconut extract
1 can Eagle Brand (14 oz.)
2-8 oz. whipping cream

Serve on the rocks, in hot coffee or blend with crushed ice for a smoothie.
 
 
 

Here’s a Black Creek Burning excerpt:

“Don’t talk about him like that,” Nathan growled.

“You should know I’m not above doing that. I can take care of my own car.” Brie turned as she thought of just how she was going to do that and reached to pull out a single tea bag and mug. “And there is no you and me. It was just a kiss. Now, we have to move backward for your nephew’s sake.” And mine, she thought.

He made his way to her in three long strides, picked her up by the shoulders and plopped her on the kitchen counter, smashing his mouth to hers. Framing the side of her face with one hand, Nathan laced his rough fingers in her pinned hair with the other.

She couldn’t think and for the first time in her life let go. Slipping away from her blessed control, she blocked out the possible consequences and surrendered to the now. Her skin nearly ignited from the feel of his body as she pulled him in closer. His toned lanky back, his strong arms, the feeling of his hands on her face, in her hair. His mouth and his tongue emptied her mind. She clamped her eyes shut and wanted to stay right there.

As he’d done at the midnight hour in her basement, he pulled away as quickly as he took her.

Nathan whispered close to her face, “Just a kiss my ass.”
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~  

You can find the first chapter to Black Creek Burning on these purchase links:

Amazon/Kindle buy link: http://amzn.to/PqO2gE

Barnes and Nobel buy link: http://bit.ly/UsXZKD

iTunes buy link: http://bit.ly/UrUUHc

Google Plus/Android buy link: http://bit.ly/NMiHn1

R.T. Wolfe is the author of the Black Creek Trilogy. She enjoys creating diverse characters and twining them together in the midst of an intelligent mystery and a heart encompassing romance.
It’s not uncommon to find dark chocolate squares in R.T.’s candy dish, her Golden Retriever at her feet and a few caterpillars spinning their cocoons in their terrariums on her counters. R.T. loves her family, gardening, eagle-watching and can occasionally be found viewing a flyover of migrating whoooping cranes.
I’d love to join up with you on any of these sites:

The R.T. Wolfe website: http://www.rtwolfe.com
R.T. Wolfe’s Official Author Facebook Page: http://on.fb.me/OBG2HD
R.T. Wolfe on Twitter: http://bit.ly/N2a2uo
R.T. Wolfe’s Pinterest Pages http://bit.ly/NbfIA7
And
R.T. Wolfe’s Goodreads Page: http://bit.ly/RFrK5A

16 comments:

RT Wolfe said...

Good day, Anna Kathryn. Thank you for having me today.
-R.T. Wolfe

Danica Winters said...

Oh I loved The Holiday! And Irish Creme? How does life get any better. Your book looks great :)

RT Wolfe said...

Danica,
Thank you for the kind words. I am definitely putting the The Holiday and a warm glass of Irish Creme on my list for this weekend!
-R.T.

Becky Lower said...

Hi RT! Returning the favor. The holidays are much anticipated in the Lower household, even though my dog is objecting to her bandanna with the candy cane print on it. She'll just have to get over it. It's staying on her until after Christmas because she looks so cute!

Lynn said...

Such a nice post to read at the holidays, R.T. You deserve the acknowledgements Black Creek Burning is getting!

Anna Kathryn Lanier said...

Hi, RT. Thanks for being my guest today. Love the blurb about the book. Sounds very intriguing. My favorite movies are A CHRISTMAS STORY, too funny and IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE....how can you not like that movie? I love Mary Balogh and she has several holiday stories out, "Under the Mistletoe" is an anthology I enjoy reading.

Deborah O'Neill Cordes said...

What a wonderful post, R.T. Your novel is in my Kindle, awaiting a quiet, rainy day. I can't wait to read it. And the Irish Creme looks wonderful! I think I'll read and sip and enjoy! Hugs, D

Liv Rancourt said...

It just wouldn't be the holidays without certain books, movies and...in my case peppermint schnapps and hot chocolate.
;)
Congrats on how well your book is doing.

RT Wolfe said...

Becky,
I expect when the holidays are over, your dog won't want you take the bandana off. :)
-R.T.

RT Wolfe said...

Lynn,
I appreciate the kind words about my work! I have been fortunate with recognition thus far.
-R.T.

RT Wolfe said...

Anna Kathryn,
Such classics! Ah yes :)
-R.T.

M.J. Schiller, Romance Author said...

Love that excerpt. Could read it a thousand times! And I love your description of Black Creek. You are such a talented author, R.T.! Once word gets out you're gonna have to figure out all kinds of ways to spend all of your earnings.

Hi, Anna Kathryn! Love the holiday look of your blog. I also love the movies you mention, but would have to add "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas." As a word junkie myself, I love what Seuss did with this story! I'm one of those obnoxious people who love to recite the words along with the movie. And who doesn't love when Max (the dog) ends up on the back of the sled and waves at the Grinch? Totally classic!

Ally Broadfield said...

What a wonderful excerpt. I'm going to have to watch The Holiday now, and maybe Love, Actually after that...

RT Wolfe said...

Ally,
I'm glad you liked the excerpt. I have a free chapter on my website and, of course, Kindle and BN have the first chapter on their links, too.
-R.T.

RT Wolfe said...

Thank you for having me, Anna Kathryn! I'm looking forward to more recipes this months. :)
-R.T. Wolfe

Karen Michelle Nutt said...

The Holiday sounds great and thanks for the Irish Creme recipe!

Happy Holidays. Cheers!

kmnbooks at yahoo dot com