Spotlight & Giveaway: Mistletoe Kisses by Marnie Blue

Posted October 17th, 2018 by in Blog, Spotlight / 45 comments

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Marnie Blue to HJ!
Spotlight&Giveaway

Hi Marnie and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Mistletoe Kisses!

 

Tell us about the book with this fun little challenge using the title of the book:

M is for merry. It’s that time of year!
I is for icing. On your cookies, my dear.
S is for Santa. Down the chimney he’ll come.
T is for twinkle lights that will make your heart hum.
L is for love and for laughter, too.
E is for elf–that’s Lilly’s costume.
T is for tinsel that glistens and gleams.
O is for oats to feed Santa’s team.
E is for Ebenzer. That’s Justin, pre-Lilly.

K is for Kris Kringle, and toys, willy-nilly.
I is for icicles, glistening in the sun.
S is for snow, and for snowmen—how fun!
S is for sleigh bells that ring out so bright.
E is for eating (everything in sight).
S is for singing, in a choir, so right: Merry Christmas to All! And to all…a good night.

(Can I just say…if it wasn’t for my amazing critique partners, I never could have written that “poem”. Ladies—you rock!)
 

Please share the opening lines of this book:

O’Rourke was going to pay for this.
In his five years on the police force, Officer Justin Weaver
had done and seen many things that made his stomach
churn and his skin crawl. He’d endured sleepless nights on
stakeouts, or from nightmares, broken up fights, put up with
verbal abuse, and been caught in cross fire.
He’d even been pepper sprayed.
But none of those things bothered him as much as
this assignment, playing Cop Kringle for Holly Hollow’s annual
Ho-Ho-Ho Patrol, and riding in a pimped-out police car.

 

Please share a few Fun facts about this book…

  • My muy macho cop hero has a real 1950’s pink kitchen (and bathroom) inspired by this article: https://www.littlethings.com/original-1950s-kitchen/6. I had so much fun “shopping” for just the right furniture and accessories for him (on those days when the writing wasn’t flowing and a little virtual retail therapy was in order).
  • To write this book, I sometimes had to listen to Christmas carols to get in the holiday spirit. So people passing by my house in the middle of July this year may have heard Bing Crosby wishing them a white Christmas…
  • I made myself cry when I wrote about the children Justin and Lilly met at the City Hall and had to rein in my desire to pluck all the heartstrings until my readers cried too. After all, this book is supposed to be humorous!
  • To research this book, one night I went on a ride-along with a veteran police officer in an unmarked car. Can I just say, racing through the city (to a call) at 90 miles an hour and having all cars get out of your way is hands-down the best way to travel. I highly recommend it—if you can figure out a way to do it legally, of course.
  • On that ride along, I also learned all about how police and firefighters—at least, in my city—view each other. It’s a friendly rivalry built on respect and brotherly love. One of Justin’s comments about firefighters was taken directly from an overheard conversations. (You know, that T-shirt that reads, “Be careful what you say around me. It might end up in my novel” is telling the truth.) Can you guess which comment Justin says that is a direct quote from my police officer friends?

 

Was there a scene in this book that was harder to write than others?

The scene after Justin and Lilly’s first kiss gave me trouble. Justin wanted to reflect on that kiss, by sitting. And thinking. Nothing is more boring than watching someone else think (especially in a book!). Fortunately, Lilly gave us an out—because she decided she wanted to catch a snowflake.

“I want to catch a snowflake.”
“You’re going to catch pneumonia.”
She pouted at him. “You’re no fun.”
His heart flip-flopped. She looked so pretty. What the heck? He frowned. “No fun? I’m wearing a Santa suit and driving a car with a plastic snowman on top. How much more fun do I need to be?”
“You’re only doing that because your boss made you do it. And you’re only driving this car because you have to.” She lifted her chin and flipped her hair over her shoulder, defiant and flirty.
Justin’s mouth grew dry. Stop that, he told himself. You’re not allowed to feel this way about Lilly. Even if that kiss was like nothing else you’ve ever experienced.
He rolled his eyes and pulled over to the curb. He realized he was grumbling for show; part of him—and he couldn’t believe that there even was one—was enjoying Lilly’s reaction to the white stuff. “Fine. I’ll pull over. How are you going to catch a snowflake?”
“On my tongue,” she said, and hopped out of the car. “Catching one of the first snowflakes brings good luck.” She slammed the door behind her and started dancing along the sidewalk with her mouth open and her head tilted back.
Justin turned to look at Cisco; as usual, he was filming. “It’s just snow, right?” The cameraman didn’t answer, he just gave a slight noncommittal shrug, then climbed out as Lilly opened his door.
“Forget I asked,” Justin said, getting out of the car just as a sudden wind whistled past. “It’s freezing out here. Wait. Cisco—get my coat from the back seat. Lilly, put this on.”
He grabbed the coat from the cameraman’s hand and thrust it at her.
She took the coat and slipped it on but didn’t zip it; it hung off her like a black sleeping bag with a badge attached. She was going to freeze to death. Silly Lilly never takes care of herself. He resisted the urge to move closer to zip it up. There are other ways to keep her warm. Justin frowned at his own thoughts and grumbled at her instead. “Come on. Haven’t you caught one yet?”
“Yes! Come try it, Justin. Come catch a snowflake.” She began hopping around like a deranged…well…elf, her bells ringing merrily. “The first snow of the year is lucky snow, so catching it on your tongue means you’ll have lots of luck.”
Justin didn’t have the heart to tell her that while this was the first snow of the new winter season, it wasn’t the first snow of the year. It was just snow. It was
always just snow, and it caused traffic accidents, burst pipes, and all kinds of
chaos for a cop on the job.
She hopped-danced over to Justin and grabbed his hand. “Come on!”
He looked over to Cisco for some support. Nothing. The man was a single-eyed robot. “Lilly.”
“Come on.” She tugged him to the grass just coated with a thin layer of white. The snow that had barely been there moments ago was now falling in earnest. “Try it.”
He stood there, watching her spinning about with her face to the sky. Her silky red curls spilled down her back, her arms spread out to the side, his jacket hanging off her like wings…she was beautiful. He’d always thought so, even
when they were just kids. But it was more than that. She was happy, full of the joy that Justin hadn’t felt in so very long…it made her glow. And it made him want her with every dark and bitter part of his heart and soul. He didn’t know how to
tell her so without sounding like a lovesick twit. He never had known how. Besides, it was probably better for her to not know his true feelings.
Heck, he wished he didn’t even know his true feelings.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

Ultimately, I just wanted to make readers laugh and hopefully escape from the holiday stress we place on ourselves. As women especially, we try so very hard to be merry and to create perfect holiday memories for everyone else that we forget the importance of the simple, not-available-in-stores things: loving each other, letting go of hurts of the past, enjoying the present (but not the presents…) and trusting that the future will be the happily ever after we want it to be.

 

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

 

Giveaway: A Digital copy of Mistletoe Kisses and a melamine trinket tray created by Anne Taintor, featuring one of my favorite snarky ‘50’s women:

https://annetaintor.com/products/kitchen-and-bar/trinkettrays/sku80062/

 

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: For my family, Christmas means baking, and that means cookies! I’ve baked up to fourteen different varieties of cookies some years, but we have several special, hand-me-down family recipes that are a must-have tradition, because it wouldn’t be Christmas without them. What are some of your family’s favorite must-have traditional treats for the winter holidays?

(If you sign up for my newsletter, I promise to send you one of my family’s very favorite cookie recipes—easy to make, delicious to eat!)

 
a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Book Info:

For Officer Justin Weaver, Christmas is the most hideous time of the year. To improve his “holiday cheer,” he’s been put on Officer Kringle duty, collecting toys for the Ho-Ho-Patrol.

It’s a week in holiday hell.

Worse, it comes with an elf—his little sister’s gorgeous best friend—but Lilly Maddox isn’t so little anymore. And as an annoyingly festive reporter looking to make her mark, she’s there to document his every move.

Justin’s always had a thing for Lilly, but he refuses to go there with her. Ever. Not after watching what his mom went through as a cop’s wife. But now that they’re trapped in his squad car, avoiding her just got a lot more complicated…
 
 

Meet the Author:

Marnie Blue met her husband twenty-seven years ago, when he was playing Santa and she was still in college. Currently, he’s an actual law enforcement officer. They have three children, three dogs, two guinea pigs and one cat.

When she’s not scaling Laundry Mountain, Marnie attends to the voices of the people who live in her head, demanding she let them out and tell their stories.
One of her very favorite things are the snarky, sarcastic memes feature 1950’s housewives; she aspires to glamour while acting as a slave to her home and family. Marnie also enjoys lonely walks on the RI beaches (when she’s able to escape), binging on bad television (when she can’t escape), and coffee. Lots and lots (and lots!) of coffee.

She loves to hear from her readers and promises to write back.

Please, don’t forget to subscribe to Snarkasm, her newsletter, at www.marnieblue.com.
 
 
 

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45 Responses to “Spotlight & Giveaway: Mistletoe Kisses by Marnie Blue”

  1. John Smith

    We’re probably pretty boring–for us Christmas cookies are decorated sugar cookies and nothing else!

    • marniebluebooks

      They all look the same in your tummy. 😉 As long as they taste delicious–that’s what counts!

    • marniebluebooks

      Delicious! Do you know, we don’t make these? But we should. In fact…we will! GREAT idea! 🙂

    • marniebluebooks

      Peanut butter whirls? Ooh. DO share the recipe! Sounds amazing!!

  4. janinecatmom

    My mother always bakes cookies too. She has slowed down a bit over the years, but I can remember when she would start a month ahead of time and have all kinds of cookies made and frozen until Christmas. But this year, I doubt she will do much. She is having back surgery next month and it’s a long recovery.

    • marniebluebooks

      🙁 You’re going to miss those cookies for sure, this year. Surprise her while she’s recuperating by making some for her! 😉 She’ll think you’re awesome and you won’t have to buy her a gift, either. (Moms are like that…)

  5. Bewitching Brews

    We don’t really have any must-have Christmas treats. But, we HAVE to see Christmas decorations at the local parks and we HAVE to see Grinchmas at Universal Orlando – my favorite Christmas show. Last year, we also loved their Christmas display on Hogwarts castle – we’re looking forward to seeing it again this year!

  6. laurieg72

    We bake my M-I-L’s spritz cookie recipe. They’re addicting! I also bake a chocolate angel food cake with chocolate whipped cream frosting for baby Jesus’ birthday.

    • marniebluebooks

      We make spritz cookies too, with an old fashioned (manual) cookie press. 🙂 I love that you make a cake for baby Jesus; we’ve done that, and sung the song too. The kids think it’s weird, but I know that sharing the joy of our savior’s birth is a gift they will carry into adulthood–and give to their children, so it’s worth a few moments of eye-rolling from the tweens. <3

  7. Kathleen O

    Our Family has a recipe for shortbread cookies that has been handed down through the generations. My great-great grandmother Campbell brought with her from Scotland. I have tweaked it a bit. but it’s still the same ingredients.

  8. Kim

    We don’t have must have treats. The last two years I started making Gingerbread French Toast Casserole for Christmas morning, but that’s it.

    • marniebluebooks

      That sounds fabulous! I just toss some pre-made cinnamon rolls in the oven (you know, the kind from a tube). Your idea sounds much better. 🙂

    • marniebluebooks

      Yes! This is where I got my recipes. I have all of my mom’s recipes in her old tin recipe box. It’s a treasure chest of family recipes and memories… <3

    • marniebluebooks

      What kind of cookies? I love family recipes; it’s like the person you love (who is no longer here) is with you as you bake their favorite.

  11. clickclickmycat

    We always have a Christmas cookie baking party. The whole family gets together and cooks and decorates.

    • marniebluebooks

      My daughter’s boyfriend’s family does this every year and I always wanted to start the same tradition. They make gingerbread people and they always have so much fun. What an awesome memory you’re creating. I love it!

    • marniebluebooks

      Delish! I’ve never had a chocolate chip pie, but I’m going to hunt the recipe down now. 🙂

  14. lraines78

    I love to bake and decorate Christmas cookies and my family always enjoys how I decorate them. I really add details. My sister no longer comes home for Christmas since she lives 650 miles away but she still talks about my cookies.

    • marniebluebooks

      That’s so far! 🙁 Send her some in a care package. It will be the best present she gets. I bet they’re beautiful, edible labors of love. <3

    • marniebluebooks

      Fudge is the best! I don’t make candy, mostly because it’s bad enough I make cookies. 🙂 My mom used to make it, though. The best!

  16. ndluebke

    My hubby makes some awesome fudge. other things depend on if the grandkids are visiting.

    • marniebluebooks

      I know–if there aren’t enough other people to eat the treats, they all end up on my thighs and hips. Company is a necessity for sure! <3 Plus–grandkids make the holidays special.

  17. evilauthor

    Growing up in Germany, with a gran how loved baking, you get to eat a LOT of cookies.
    And Stollen. (Yes, I can make traditional German Christmas Stollen.)
    Washed down with Glühwein. 🙂

    • snarkatude

      Whenever I see Stollen at Aldi’s at Christmas, I think of you. 😉 (Because I know who you are! LOL) If only you lived closer; I’d like to taste the real thing and not the supermarket kind.

  18. Nicole (Nicky) Ortiz

    The must haves are Oreo Balls, my aunt’s fudge and toffee
    Thanks for the chance!

    • marniebluebooks

      Yum! It wouldn’t be Christmas Eve without Chex Mix in a paperbowl, with M&M cookies on the side. For sure! <3

  23. Cherie J.

    I love to bake cookies as well. However, I am not as ambitious you are. The most I have made are 5 types of cookies in one year. Now, if I do 4 varieties it is a lot. I am slowing down as I am getting older. I love to experiment and try something new. Besides cookies, we have a German recipe passed down in my husbands family that is traditional for Christmas Dessert. It is called cherry torte. My hubby and kids expect to eat it every Christmas. Even my mom looks forward to it.

  24. Glenda

    Fudge. Specifically, Chocolate Raspberry Walnut fudge for the last 15 years or so. We do a lot of other baking, but those thing always vary.

  26. BookLady

    Home baked cookies, especially walnut chocolate chip and peanut butter kisses