Thursday, December 18, 2014

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year (A Jingle Bell Book Hop post)




If you look Christmas up in the dictionary, you are bound to find a picture of my face. Christmas is the time of the year I look forward to the most.  I count down the days until the season rolls around again, excitement building furiously until the day I can finally pull out box after box of decorations.  My husband says I have a "problem" and is still trying to convince me that there is no way I "need" a full-sized tree in every room of the house.  I keep trying to tell him a happy wife makes a happy life.  Truth be told, he just shakes his head at me and smiles.  After all, I do all of the putting up and taking down of the Christmas décor.  I find joy in trimming my house from top to bottom with festive cheer.  All the husband is required to do is bring in the boxes. 



I really would've bought a full-sized tree for my upstairs foyer if we weren't going to move again in a year.  That is the only downside to moving so much with the Army.  The decorations you buy for one house don't always fit the layout of the next one.  That's okay, in ten years the husband will retire, and I will start buying full-sized trees for every room.  I can be satisfied with the two big ones and two mini ones I have..... for now.



Truth be told, I don't quite know where my enduring love of this festive season comes from.  Perhaps it is because I was born in December or maybe it is growing up in Germany where Kris Kringle Markts abound.  Whatever the reason, I know one thing is for sure, I adore every single thing about the Christmas season.  The lights, the decorations, the music, the food, the smells, everything!  Somehow people are a little nicer to one another, even in the hustle and bustle of things.  Families come together, friends reunite, and time seems to stand still for a little while.  It is like being trapped in a Norman Rockwell painting or a snowglobe where things are perfect, just for a while.  The cares of the world seem to slip away and the truly important things are all that really matter. 



The day after Christmas, when all is said and done, I find myself adrift.  Every year, this happens.  I don't really know why, all I know is that I feel an emptiness when the season is complete and I start my countdown all over again.



So, this holiday season, I implore you to take a moment's pause when the stress of shopping gets to you, or the thought of traveling, whatever the stressor may be.... take a second and reflect on your many blessings this year.  Look back on everything joyous and be thankful for the wonderful gift this life can be! 



Speaking of gifts.... for everyone that comments, you will be getting an ebook copy of See How She Fights!  Huzzah (Mostly because the first book in the series is free.... so really, you are getting to read half of the series for free :) ).

FREE RIGHT NOW!!!


AMAZON: http://amzn.com/B00DWJ6BBS

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/.../see-how.../1116010546......
...
SMASHWORDS: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/414078

ITUNES: https://itunes.apple.com/.../see-how-she-runs/id840265532...


And here is the cover for See How She Fights..... because I love it!!!




Also..... out of everyone that comments, I will be using Random.Org to pick one lucky winner who will be getting the entire series in EBook as well as the first novella of my new RomCom series!  WHAT!?!?!?!?!  Exciting!



Let's see..... here is the link to the AMAZING Rafflecopter giveaway:






a Rafflecopter giveaway






Want to know who else is involved with this amazing giveaway?  Look no further!






Be sure to leave your name and email address in the comment as well as what format you prefer to read on.... that way I can get your books to you without delay! 



May all of your Christmas wishes come true!

xoxo,

Michelle Graves

P.S. I hear this guy prefers nice girls :D