Blog Tour: Guest Post and Giveaway with Candis Terry

WELCOME TO THE BLOG TOUR:

Football? Christmas? And finding love during the holidays? Candis Terry's recent release, ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS, combines all three. I am excited to welcome Candis to the blog today. Let's give her a huge Texas "Howdy!" and let her give us some pointers on how to survive the holidays with our families. I know that those of you who have crazy families may need some tips to make it through the holidays.

HOWDY CANDIS!!!

MEET CANDIS:

Growing up in Southern California, I was too busy reading books, hanging out at the beach, or finding ways to have a good time that wouldn’t land me on restriction to even consider writing a book. Oddly enough, a college drama teacher (who politely discouraged my inept acting abilities) encouraged me to develop the A+ character bio I’d created into a complete story. Right. Years later, in the midst of a bleary-eyed all-nighter (rocking my newborn, that is), I picked up a romance novel and fell in love with more than just the infant in my arms.
The diversities in my life have enhanced (or twisted) my worldview. From working in a Hollywood recording studio to a graphic designer in marketing; from schmoozing with the likes of Charleton Heston and Motley Crüe to giving up my beach bum ways and making the move to an Idaho farm. I’ve designed costumes for 80’s heavy metal videos and scooped up road apples left on the parade route by my daughter’s rodeo queening horse.
Only one thing has remained constant: my passion for writing stories about relationships, the push and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily ever after. Though my stories are set in small towns, my wish is to give each of my characters a great big memorable love story rich with quirky characters, tons of fun, and a happy ending.
I’m married to a wonderful man who takes out the trash without being asked and who puts up with all my crazy ideas. To find inspiration, my family and I often grab our trailer and ATV and venture out to discover the off-road splendor of the Idaho wilderness. And when I need a fun dose of reality, I call upon my daughter and her little Mini-Me or one of our 3 furry troublemakers.
Life is good down on the farm!

Where To Find Candis: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter

GUEST POST:

"Tips for Surviving Christmas with Family" by Candis Terry

Every year I wonder how can a holiday that has so much potential to be warm and cozy, ends up being so wacky? I grew up thinkingChristmas was supposed to be like you saw in the movies. Perfect. Ha!Like Emma Hart, the heroine in ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS, I’m an only child. And like Emma, I always wanted to be wrapped up in thewarmth of the family holiday. I married a man with five siblings. Somehow these tips helped me to survive.

Clark Griswold 101. In my new book the hero, Dean Silverthorne, notices that Emma decorates everything. Even her cat Oscar. I’m also a fiend with slinging the tinsel. I decorate every room in my house. Even the bathroom. However, over the years, I’ve discovered that if I (or you) don’t put the garland on the mantle, no one will notice. Hopefully.

Chaos Cuisine. In the past I’ve tried to get all the baking done ahead of time. Now I know that preparing the dough ahead of time and getting the family involved in the cookie cutting and decorating keeps everyone from complaining. Yeah, there’s a mess to clean up. But crazy Aunt Edna is used to wielding a broom, right?

Snarky McScrooge. Christmas is a time to forgive and forget. So grab a cup of hot buttered rum and give Uncle Elmer a kiss under the mistletoe even though you know at the Christmas dinner, he’s going to bring up that unmentionable subject. Again.

Raising my hot chocolate and wishing you all a very merry!
Thanks Candis for stopping by!

ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS:

GENRE: Contemporary
PUBLISHER: Avon Impulse (November 22,2011)
ISBN:9780062105233

Dean Silverthorne’s mother may be dead, but she still has matchmaking to do.When an injury dashes NFL Quarterback Dean Silverthorne’s Super Bowl dreams, he heads back to Deer Lick, Montana with a chip on his wounded shoulder and more determined than ever to get back in the game. He loves his kooky family, but his trip home is nothing but a very brief Christmas visit.His game plan didn’t include an instant attraction to Emma Hart, a feisty kindergarten teacher who seems to be the only person in Deer Lick not interested in the hometown hero. Or his dearly departed mom popping up with mistletoe in hand and meddling on the mind. Now Dean can’t help but wonder if there’s more to love than life between the goal posts.

Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt | My Review
Other Book in Series(click on cover for an excerpt):

available now

GIVEAWAY: One lucky winner from all stops of the tour will receive a $25 Amazon giftcard provided by HarperCollins and Candis. Here's how to increase your chances on winning that giftcard:

*Leave a comment with you email address (ninja style: yourname at gmail dot com)

*Follow the blog tour (links can be found below)

*Leave comments at all the stops

Easy peasy!

Winner will be announced here.


OTHER TOUR STOPS:
November 21: I Just Wanna Sit Here and Read!
November 22: Among the Muses
November 23: Urban Girl Reader
November 23: REVIEW ONLY: Reviews by Molly
November 24: Romancing Rakes
November 25: Reader Girls


A huge thank you to Candis for taking time to stop by the blog and to HarperCollins and Candis for the generous giveaway prize. Also, thank you to Marianne at Goddess Fish for forwarding the correspondence between Candis and I.

ARC Review: Any Given Christmas by Candis Terry

ANY GIVEN CHRISTMAS by Candis Terry
FORMAT: PDF
GENRE: Contemporary
PUBLISHER: Avon Impulse (November 22,2011)
ISBN: 9780062105233

Dean Silverthorne’s mother may be dead, but she still has matchmaking to do.

When an injury dashes NFL Quarterback Dean Silverthorne’s Super Bowl dreams, he heads back to Deer Lick, Montana with a chip on his wounded shoulder and more determined than ever to get back in the game. He loves his kooky family, but his trip home is nothing but a very brief Christmas visit.

His game plan didn’t include an instant attraction to Emma Hart, a feisty kindergarten teacher who seems to be the only person in Deer Lick not interested in the hometown hero. Or his dearly departed mom popping up with mistletoe in hand and meddling on the mind. Now Dean can’t help but wonder if there’s more to love than life between the goal posts.

Where To Find Candis: Author Site | Facebook | Twitter
Where To Buy: Kindle | Nook
Book Extras: Read an Excerpt

I really loved it!

Other Book in Series(click on cover to learn more):



REVIEW:

Another great Christmas read. This one had me cracking up and rooting for the all star quarterback to be brought to his knees by a small town kindergarten teacher. A story of opposites attract and the magic of the holidays that brings people together. Plus, there's a friendly ghost involved. The quarterback's mother, to be exact.

Dean Silverthone, golden boy quarterback of the Houston Stallions can no longer play due to a hard sack resulting in a torn shoulder. He's in limbo, wondering when he can get back to playing with his team or if he ever would. He's returned home to Deer Lick, Montana for his baby sister's wedding to the local sheriff and to his surprise, find a woman who says no to him.

Emma Hart, kindergarten school teacher with a hussy for a mother, an unknown father and a loving grandmother with dementia, can't believe The Dean Silverthorne has struck up a conversation with her, much less ask her to dance. She's so over guys like him. The love 'em and leave 'em type. She's heard all the gossip and rumors, seen the tabloids with his picture splashed across it, skinny supermodels on his arm. Who was he to assume every woman would fall at his feet, tear off their clothes and beg him to ravish them. Not her.

At eighteen years old, Emma got her heart broken and since then, she's tried to stay away from any sort of relationship. She's focused on teaching, getting her Masters and spending time with her grandma even if she doesn't remember Emma. When Dean comes back into town for his sister's wedding, she wonders why he's paying so much attention to her. She does everything she can to keep him at arms length.

Dean returns to Deer Lick for the holidays since his shoulder is still healing. He hasn't forgotten Emma. Funny that. She's not his type. She's got curves, she's intelligent and she challenges him like no other woman he's know, excluding his sisters and mother. Driving the old clunker that once belonged to his deceased mother, he soon starts receiving A Christmas Carol-like visits from her. (Not as creepy as the ghosts in the original Christmas Carol). Apparently she's appeared to his sister before. At first, he thinks he's gone crazy and tries to rationalize his "hallucinations". Even in death, his mother is trying to play matchmaker with the help of his newlywed sister, Kate.

Emma doesn't want to have any sort of feelings for Dean but as she gets to know him better, there's a giving and compassionate side of him the rest of the world doesn't get to see. He's has a penchant for dealing with kids and is even able to break through to one of her autistic students. Emma keeps telling herself that once Dean's shoulder is healed and the doctor gives him the okay, he'd be on the next flight out. She tries to keep from falling but sometimes Fate has a way of bringing two unlikely people together.

Dean's life has always revolved around football, it's who he is. Now that his shoulder might force him to retire from what he loves, he's at a loss until Emma comes into his life and shows him that there's more to life than football.

FAVORITE QUOTE: "For twenty years he'd played it smart and safe. A guarded heart and reliable condoms. Emma Hart was his first without either." (***quote subject to change in finished copy***)


OVERALL: This book surprised me. I thought Dean was going to be one cocky, all too confident, look at my swagger kind of football player but he's been raised right by his parents and can be knocked down a peg or two by his 2 sisters. I liked Emma. She was never one to back down. Take one injured all star NFL quarterback, a small town kindergarten teacher with a secret and one Christmas they'll never forget. Simmer in a hot tub with a sprinkling of teasing touches and witty banter. Add a few toe curling orgasms and some endearing cartoon pajamas. Heat up until it's too hot. Cool with some time apart. Throw in a meddling ghost mother and newlywed sister and you've got a recipe for a laugh out loud, sigh worthy, heartbreaking holiday read.

***review PDF provided by J.Edwards at HarperCollins in conjunction with Candis's blog tour with Goddess Fish***

W...W...W...(21)

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly meme MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here's my answers:

***click on the covers for excerpts/to learn more***

• What are you currently reading?
Any Given Christmas by Candis Terry. This is the second book in her Sugar Shack series. The title is a play on Any Given Sunday. It involves an injured football player who is going back home to spend time with his crazy family for Christmas. I just started reading it.

Pride and Passion by Charlotte Featherstone. The second book in the Breathren Guardians series. Hmm, do you notice a pattern? I'm reading quite a few series. Anyway, it's got a really cool beginning. Dabbling in the dark arts. This should prove to be a fantastic read. I'm going to have to go back and read the first book in the series.

Lord of the Wolfyn by Jessica Andersen. The third book in the Royal House of Shadows series and I am now dying to get my hands on the first two. This takes the fairy tale of Little Red Riding Hood to the next level. I love a good twist on a classic.


A Love by Any Measure by Killian McRae. I'm still struggling a little with this book. In order for the girl to keep her home, she must submit to the attentions of the lord. He's not longer the boy she knew. I haven't gotten far. :(



• What did you recently finish reading?

Sweet Magik by Penny Watson. In keeping with my holiday book reading theme, this was fun, whimsical read but peppered with danger, dark magic and one angry elf. Hilarious! This is the second book in the Klaus Brothers series. Yes, Santa has five sons who help the family business. Oskar Klaus, the youngest and a totally punk snowboarder has been coasting through life flirting with the snow bunnies. Enter Kiana Grant, dressed down librarian complete with the glasses. Read my review.

If You Give A Girl A Viscount by Kieran Kramer. A fun, laugh out loud conclusion to the Impossible Bachelors series. It's got all the Cinderella elements with a twist. Prince Charming is a viscount, Cinderella is a Highland lass, the stepfamily come from Cheapside, there's a shoemaker named Mr. Glass. If you've got a quirky sense of humor, this book is for you. Read my review.

The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall. This was another fantastic read. Adultery, danger, spies, betrayal, treason and of course, sultry kisses and hot loving. The wife of a traitor to the crown is being watched day and night in hopes of finding the whereabouts of the traitorous husband. There's a coveted flag supposedly a lucky charm of sorts and a dashing hero who must clear his name of treason. 

Forever Mine by Delilah Marvelle. A prequel to Marvelle's new Rumor series. Leaves more questions than answers but has me wanting the first book in the series. Badly.

Lady Northam's Wicked Surrender by Vivienne Westlake. A short, sexy, steamy novella. Lost love, second chances, betrayal and a hero with quite the touch.


Desired by Nicola Cornick. I've read the first 3 books in her Scandalous Women of the Ton series and thoroughly enjoyed it. In this book we revisit Owen Purchase, now a viscount. I love the way the story starts, in a brothel! But not what you're thinking. Tess Darent is hiding in a brothel and she's got some very important papers. Purchase is in pursuit of her.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Marshal of Hel Dorado by Heather Long. This was a review request and the premise looks promising. Badlands, outlaws, a robbery gone wrong, a fiery redheaded heroine, a gun slinging hero in a ten gallon hat. Oh yeah. Maybe I'll dub this guy Captain Tightpants 2.0.

My Ruthless Prince by Gaelen Foley. The fourth in the Inferno Club series. The nobleman and the gamekeepers daughter. Danger, revenge, hatred, conspiracy, betrayal, desire, passion. What more could a girl ask for in a romance book?

Deliver Me From Darkness by Tes Hilaire. Grabbed this off of Netgalley because the cover was abtastic. (Judge me all you want). 

The Lord of Illusion by Kathryne Kennedy. I've the first book in this series and thoroughly enjoyed it. This is the third book in the Elven Lords series. Kennedy has a way of taking magic and combining it with the real wold of London society.



PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!

W...W...W...(20)

W...W...W...Wednesdays is a weekly meme MizB of Should Be Reading. 

To play along, just answer the following three (3) questions…
• What are you currently reading?
• What did you recently finish reading?
• What do you think you’ll read next?

So, here's my answers:

*Click on the covers to read excerpts/learn more.*

• What are you currently reading?

The Price of Temptation by Lecia Cornwall. I just started it and it looks promising. Evelyn Renshaw's husband just up and disappeared after being accused of treason, leaving her behind to take the brunt of whispers and scandal. A handsome ragged soldier comes to her rescue after being attacked in Hyde Park during an early morning ride. Will she ever see him again?

Sweet Magik by Penny Watson. This is the second book in the Klaus Brothers series. Yes, Santa has five sons that help run the family business and this one is about Oskar Klaus. He's lost interest in his job and not even his favorite thing, snowboarding, can keep him interested. He's long overdue for a well deserved vacation.

A Love By Any Measure by Killian McRae. An English lord in love with an Irish girl, can love overcome social boundaries?

• What did you recently finish reading?

A Winter Scandal by Candace Camp. A sweet story for the holidays. A baby found in a manger, a woman bent on making the father claim and take care of the baby and the said father in denial although the child has a striking resemblance.

Avenger's Angel by Heather Killough-Walden. A new take on the archangel myth, four archangels looking for their soulmates and forces on both sides trying to stop them. It was a Netgalley grab and I was totally surprised by how much I liked it. Read my review.

Once Upon A Winter's Eve by Tessa Dare. A novella of the Spindle Cove series. It's a story of The Disappointment, second chances and a pistol packing heroine. No sheep involved this time.

Her Christmas Pleasure by Karen Erickson. What?! Another holiday book you say? Of course! I love this time of year and Karen doesn't disappoint with a sizzling sweet story that's as heady as mulled wine and a stolen kiss under the mistletoe.

• What do you think you’ll read next?

Any Given Christmas by Candis Terry. This is the second book in the Sugar Shack series. An injured NFL quarterback goes back to his hometown for Christmas. He's determined to get back in the game but his time in Deer Lick, Montana pairs him together with a kindergarten teacher. Is there more to life than the game?

Forever Mine by Delilah Marvelle. Squee! Delilah has given me a sneak peek into the novella, hitting your favorite e-book store in December. It's sexy but set in New York City, 1800. A hop and a skip from across the pond where her books have been set.

PLEASE LEAVE A COMMENT with either the link to your own WWW Wednesdays post, or share your answers in a comment here (if you don’t have a blog). Thanks!