Tuesday, November 5, 2013

Home For Christmas - Review, Q&A and Giveaway

Review by Marlene Engel

The snow was beautiful, but being dressed in a parka, hat and gloves was something that Rachel wasn’t used to.  Born and raised in Arizona, Rachel was used to warmer weather.  However, she agreed to spend this Christmas in Montana with her brother, Ty.  Rachel has had a rough few months and could use a getaway.  Trained in culinary arts, Rachel embarked on a business with a couple who she thought were her friends.  It turned out that they were just out to take advantage of her.  Rachel has since developed thick skin and is hesitant to trust people.  But when Ty suggests that she make gingerbread houses replicating some of the landmark businesses in Marietta to advertise her skill, she thinks it may be a good idea.  If she can make enough money selling her gingerbread to put down as a deposit for a new business, then her efforts would be worth it.  But when she meets Nate, the owner of Bar V5 and the ranch where her brother works, his interest in her baking and business makes her question his motives.  Although he is genuine with wanting to help her build her business, he’s selfishly hoping that she’ll also fall in love with Marietta and decide to stay.  That’s when he puts together Operation: Hansel & Gretel.  As the sales of Rachel’s gingerbread heats up, so does her thoughts and feelings for Nate.  Will she be able to let down her guard and trust Nate?  And will Nate succeed in getting Rachel to make Marietta her permanent home? 

Home For Christmas by Melissa McClone is as inviting as a roaring fireplace on a cold winter’s day!  From the first page to the last, I was captivated!  The closeness of family, the joy of living in a small town, the excitement of new romance to bonding over the deliciousness of gingerbread, this book has all of the elements that I look for in a great book!  Home For Christmas is a must read.  Grab a hot mug of cocoa, curl up in your coziest blanket and enjoy this festive read!


Q&A with the Author:

When did you know you wanted to become an author?
It wasn't one specific moment, but a few which got me to that point. Growing up I kept a journal and rewrote the ending of TV shows and movies so they'd be more to my liking. When I read my first category romance my senior year of high school, a friend and I decided to write a romance novel together. I was seventeen at the time, and my freshman year of college I bought a how to write a romance novel book. I never got beyond the first line. But a couple years after I graduated college, I read a book and thought "I could do this." Of course, I didn't have a clue what was involved, but I committed myself to write a book. A little while after that the roommate of my then-boyfriend saw a flier for the Desert Dreams RWA conference (I was living in Arizona at the time) at a bookstore and that's how I discovered RWA.

What gets you in the mood to write?
I'll be honest. I'm often not in the mood to write. I have three active kids and a husband who's gone a lot, but I have deadlines to meet and must write whenever I have the time no matter what's going on or how I feel. I learned when my kids were babies to pick a song or two for each book. I listen to those songs to put myself into the story fast.

Describe your book in three words.
Sweet, Heartwarming, Christmassy.

What can your readers expect next from you?
Nothing has a firm release date yet, but I've pitched another novella to Tule Publishing for their new Holiday Imprint. I'm plotting sequels with the cowboys who work at the Bar V5 Ranch in Home for Christmas. I recently sold two projects to Harlequin Special Edition. 

A big thank you to Melissa for stopping by Book Mama Blog!

About the author:
Melissa McClone has published over twenty-five novels with Harlequin and been nominated for Romance Writers of America's RITA award. She lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband, three school-aged children, two spoiled Norwegian Elkhounds and cats who think they rule the house. 

Connect with the author at:

Learn more about Montana Born Books at:

Melissa has kindly offered to give one lucky winner a $10 Amazon gift card!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

4 comments:

  1. Thanks so much for the awesome review and having me on your blog today! I really appreciate it!

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    1. My pleasure, Melissa. Feel free to stop by any time!

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  2. Love Christmas Stories any time of the year

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