Spotlight & Giveaway: Christmas Town Homecoming by Anna J Stewart (et al)

Posted November 1st, 2021 by in Blog, Spotlight / 51 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Anna J Stewart (et al) to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Anna  (et al) and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Christmas Town Homecoming!

 
Hi there and hello! As always, great to be back here on HJ!
 

Please summarize the book for the readers here:

Christmas Town Homecoming is the latest boxed collection of novellas in the Christmas Town, Maine, series. This year, we’ve written ten connected, consecutive stories that all take place over a 10th high school reunion weekend. These are sweet romances, packed with emotion and fun and, for fans of Christmas Town, lots of familiar faces showing up.
 

Please share your favorite line(s) or quote from this book:

Her tenth high school reunion was over. And so, Delta Fuller’s throat burned with unshed tears, was her marriage.

It’s the opening line and honestly, I think it’s the perfect setup for the entire story.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • WITH THIS RING, my contribution to CHRISTMAS TOWN HOMECOMING, is the final book in the collection. I love getting to wrap things up and featuring not only my characters’ HEAs, but most of them from the set.
  • This is the seventh collection of Christmas Town stories, which began back in 2014 with the Harlequin Heartwarming anthology, CHRISTMAS ACTUALLY (my first sale to Harlequin!) written by myself, Melinda Curtis, and Anna Adams.
  • All of the stories are written by Harlequin Heartwarming authors.
  • This year’s collection also features a time capsule that, when it’s opened, creates a bit of a kerfuffle when a ring is found–and no one knows where it came from!

 

What first attracts your Hero to the Heroine and vice versa?

WITH THIS RING is actually a marriage in trouble story. Delta and Miles were voted couple most likely to live happily ever after and well, that really isn’t what’s happened. Life has definitely gotten in the way of these two and Miles, in trying to live up to his own expectations, has in a lot of ways neglected Delta and their marriage. As the story opens, she’s given him an ultimatum–to put her first for once and come to their reunion with her, or she’s done.

I think Miles’s drive from the moment they met is part of what Delta fell for. Funny how one of the things that attract us can also end up hurting us on the other side of things. In Delta, Miles found an unending source of support and encouragement–a partner, who he unwittingly takes advantage of.

 

Did any scene have you blushing, crying or laughing while writing it? And Why?

Miles’ realization that he is about to lose the only thing that truly matters in his life is probably my favorite part of the story. I got teary, because he’s a man who is going to start fighting and isn’t that what we love about romances?

After the past few days it was clear Miles Fuller had offended not only Karma, but he’d somehow managed to tick off every single deity in the cosmic Parthenon.
He wouldn’t have thought it possible. A delayed, then diverted flight. A rental car shortage, a snow-storm induced highway closure, black ice, an unforgiving, harder than brick snow bank along a two-year old cell phone that chose to die an unnatural death when he was thirty thousand feet in the air had all added up to one, simple silent suggestion: give up, turn around, and go home.
“Not an option.”
Not because he didn’t give up; for the record he didn’t.
Not because he couldn’t catch the next flight home: his black AMEX could get him anywhere he needed to go.
He wasn’t giving up and going home for one simple reason.
There was no home without Delta.

 

Readers should read this book….

This collection of stories is perfect for those who love holiday romances, small town romances, sweet romances, continuity series (all in one collection), and enjoy a lovely town where everyone gets along (for the most part) and things are just… nice. Personally, nice really appeals to me these days.

 

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have in the works?

I’m currently writing the first book in a new Blackwell Family series for Harlequin Heartwarming and pretty soon I’ll be starting on my very first single title romantic suspense for Arc Manor. That story will be a Women’s Murder Club meets LA Confidential type story.

In December, the next Butterfly Harbor, WORTH THE RISK, for Heartwarming will be out, quickly followed by a romantic suspense at the end of January. PRISON BREAK HOSTAGE might be my favorite book yet as it’s a serious roller coaster of action and emotion. And one seriously hot hero.
 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: 1-$15 Amazon Gift Card
3 digital copies of HIS CHRISTMAS CAROUSEL BABY (winners’ choice of Kindle or ePub format)

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: I know high school reunions can be tricky subjects for people (but not in Christmas Town!). Have you ever been to one of yours? Would you go? Spill!

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 
 

Excerpt from Christmas Town Homecoming:

Round tables were still set up around the space, long buffet tables along the back wall. The chairs had been stacked and placed in one area. Other than a stray bit of glitter, he didn’t see a hint of festivity. A loud bang sounded from the back of the building, followed by a familiar burst of cursing, another bang and crash, then the decided sound of a door slamming shut.
“Delta?” Miles hurried toward the sound, darting around the erected stage just as she rounded the corner and came into sight. “Delta.” The relief at seeing her, the utter bliss that surged through him as she came to a sharp halt just a few feet away, had him sagging. And maybe breathing for the first time in days. She stood there, looking at him, her gaze foggy as if she wasn’t quite believing what she was seeing. “Better late than never, right?”
It wasn’t at all what he’d rehearsed. What he’d planned to say, but when he started, it call came rushing out in an avalanche of regret.
“I couldn’t call. My cell.” He pulled it out of his pocket, held it up so she could see the blank screen. “It died on me after I got on the plane. The flight… well, it was a disaster, and we had to land in Massachusetts and I couldn’t get a rental…” he trailed off. “No excuses,” he corrected himself and earned a silent arched brow from his wife. “I tried to get here, Delta. I swear, from the second I opened that envelope—”
“That isn’t what you told me on the phone on Friday.” Her voice was clipped, detached. So unlike his warm, friendly, loving wife. “Or did you decide to forget that conversation happened?” She strode past him as if he were nothing more than vapor.
“Delta.” Her name sounded almost like a plea, even to his own ears. “Delta, I know I said some stupid things.”
“You don’t say stupid things, Miles.” She shoved her feet into her shoes and grabbed her coat, yanked it on. “You never have. You’ve always said precisely what you mean and you made it clear the other day that your new client was more important than saving your marriage.”
“I was wrong.” What he wouldn’t give to go back a few days and make different decisions. “And stupid,” he added, hoping the attempt at a joke would earn him some points. “I shouldn’t have tried to—”
“To what?” She whipped her wavy, blonde hair out from under her long, brown coat. “To convince me my feelings weren’t valid? That I hadn’t experienced the last ten years the way I know I have? To beg me to give you another chance? That you can change? You can’t. I know because I’ve tried to change you for ten years.”

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

This holiday season works its romantic magic during Christmas Town High School’s ten year class reunion.

It’s going to be a jam-packed holiday weekend for the returning class, beginning with preparations for the two day event – where a mysterious promise ring has been found in their time capsule – and culminating in a Reunion Ball – where something lost finally finds its home. No one’s expecting to discover love, but this is Christmas Town, where happily-ever-afters are delivered with holiday traditions, glowing twinkle lights, and tinsel.

Consider this your invitation to the reunion where you’ll have a front row seat next to some of the class’s most memorable members – the prom queen, the jock, the mean girl, the drama kid, the teacher’s pet, the bad boy, the math nerd, the girl most likely to succeed, and some of your favorite administrators. From start to finish, this collection of connected, sweet romances from Harlequin Heartwarming authors will warm your heart.

Compare this read to The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Inside, you’ll find stories featuring best friend to lovers, best friend’s older brother, teen crush, enemies to lovers, second chance, reunion, medical, and later in life romances.
Book Links: Amazon | B&N | iTunes | kobo | Google |
 
 

Meet the Author:

Anna J Stewart is the USA Today bestselling author of more than forty sweet to spicy romances. Primarily writing for Harlequin’s Heartwarming (sweet romance) and Romantic Suspense (spicy) lines, Anna also writes for Arc Manor’s Caezik Romance. A former Daphne duMaurier and National Readers’ Choice finalist, Anna loves writing big community stories where family found is always the theme. Anna lives in Northern California where (at the best times) she loves going to the movies, attending fan conventions, and heading to Disneyland, her favorite place on earth. When she’s not writing, she is usually cooking, baking, binge-watching her newest TV addiction, re-watching her all-time favorite show, Supernatural, and wrangling two monstrous cats named Rosie and Sherlock. You can read more about Anna, her books, and her workshops for authors at www.AuthorAnnaStewart.com.
Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | GoodReads |
 
 
 

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51 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Christmas Town Homecoming by Anna J Stewart (et al)”

    • Allison

      I never went to my 10 year one now it is 20 year one and because of covid seems like nobody making plans for it. I don’t miss high school though. Lol But I wish I was young again and had the energy I had back then.

  2. Nicole (Nicky) Ortiz

    Never went to one
    My high school ended up closing down

    Thanks for the chance!

  5. Mary Preston

    My high school has never had a reunion. Not something I’d attend anyway. After all these years I doubt I would recognise anyone.

  6. Audrey Stewart

    I was the new girl in my high school because we had to move. I hardly knew anybody. I graduated and never even went to my graduation. So…no…I wouldn’t attend.

  9. Marcy Meyer

    My high school class gets together every 5 years. We were a very small class, and we all got along really good. I love getting together with them to see how their lives are going.

  14. Glenda M

    It’s been many, many years since I’ve been to a reunion. It was our 10th and very few people had changed much.

  15. Diana Tidlund

    We only had a 5th reunion. It was ok. Haven’t had one since because all the officers live across country

  17. Debbie P

    No I have never been to my high school reunion and i have zero desire to ever go.

  18. anna nguyen

    i would not because i was never close with anyone in high school except 2 really good friends. i would only go if i knew the 2 of them would go. i was only acquaintances with most people because i was introverted,

  19. Merry

    I have never been to a high school reunion as I live in another state now.

  22. Shanna Johnson

    I haven’t been to a high school reunion haha I don’t plan to ever go to mine either 🙂

  26. Mary C.

    I did go to my tenth high school reunion – unfortunately, the classmates I knew well were unable to attend. What I remember most about the reunion is a classmate’s talk about her move to Alaska (she was back for a family wedding).

  28. Anna Adams

    I hope to go to my next reunion! Just saw the pics from this year’s, and I’m envying the fun and the chat and the food!

  29. Amber

    No havent had one yet and I dont see myself going. Just not my thing. I keep in touch with who I wanted to from then.

  30. lizkflaherty

    A gazillion years after graduation, we still gather once a year–as many of us who can–just to catch up and laugh a lot. I love your story, Anna!

  35. Patricia B.

    We have been to several high school reunions. Sadly, there hasn’t been one in quite a few years. We are getting older, much older, and I don’t think anyone in the old home town wants to take on the project. The last one planned, the organizer decided a Bahama cruise was the way to go . It was not a realistic idea. It was unfair for those who couldn’t afford it and many of us decided not to participate for that reason. It was a bust. I really wish there would be another one. I would work on organizing it, but live much too far away to do anything.

  36. Eva Millien

    I have never been and I really don’t know if I would go or not. I guess it would depend on how I felt about it at the time but I am leaning toward probable not. High school was too long ago for me to care!

  38. Kimberly

    I have been to all of them, and I do not even live close. I am hoping we have a 35th. I enjoyed most of them.

  39. Nina Lewis

    I went to my 10 year reunion and had a great time catching up with everyone. Then moved away from my hometown so I haven’t gone to one since then. 🙂

  42. Jeanna Massman

    I’ve been to 3 or 4 but now we live far away from my hometown. They were fun but I’m not really comfortable in party settings.

  48. Karina Angeles

    Hell no! There were too many bullies. Mean girls, rude jocks, and stuck up smarties made my life hell in high school. I’d never go.

  50. Terrill R.

    Yes, I’ve gone and I loved it. It was actually an alumni banquet where any alumni could attend. Small town, small school.