Dangerous Christmas Memories

2022 Christmas Scavenger Hunt Round-Robin: Dangerous Christmas Memories

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Merry Christmas! Welcome to the Christmas Christian Fiction Scavenger Hunt!

Here’s how it works: At each author’s blog post, you will find a question that can be answered by checking out the free Amazon preview of their book. Provide the answer at this form. Note: You must answer the questions for every author in the round-robin to be considered to win the $200 first place, $150 second place or $75 third place Amazon gift cards. These prizes are USD values. (If you are not a U.S. resident, you will get a gift card from the Amazon store for your country; however, it will be valued at these USD amounts.)

At the end of my post is a link to the next blog, who will provide a link to the next blog, etc., to the very end, creating a circle (a round-robin!) visit through all of the participating authors’ blogs.

Let me introduce you to my Christmas romantic suspense, Dangerous Christmas Memories. This story’s genesis has its roots in real life. Many years ago, I read an article about two famous musicians who’d married on a whim in Las Vegas but somehow, thought the marriage wasn’t “real.” The two went their separate ways. Fast-forward twenty years to when the groom became engaged to someone else. Because these are rich and famous people, his lawyer was getting all the paperwork together and discovered he was already married. Naturally, the two quickly divorced so he could marry his fiancée, but the story stuck with me.

I started noodling around with what could be the cause of someone forgetting they were married? What would the other spouse do if their husband or wife suddenly disappeared? The more I thought about it, the more clear the plot for Dangerous Christmas Memories became.

What are some real-life stories you think sound more like fiction?

Here’s more about the plot of Dangerous Christmas Memories:

A witness in jeopardy…

and a killer on the loose.

Hiding in witness protection is the only option for Priscilla Anderson after witnessing a murder. Then Lucas Langsdale shows up claiming to be her husband right when a hit man finds her. With partial amnesia, she has no memory of her marriage or the killer’s identity. Yet she will have to put her faith in Luc if they both want to live to see another day.

Now, it’s time to continue the scavenger hunt! Go to the book on Amazon at this link.

What is Priscilla’s profession?

When you have the answer, fill out this form and head on to the next blog!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Izzy James, who is telling us all about her Christmas book The Woodcarver’s Snow-kissed Christmas. You can find it at this link. Remember, the round-robin will end on December 11th at 11:59 PM EST!

Sarah Hamaker Christmas July 2021 B

Christmas in July Reader Giveaway: Dangerous Christmas Memories

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Happy Christmas in July! Welcome to the first blog in this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway, which runs July 12-23, 2021. At the bottom of each author’s blog post, you will find the secret words. Write them all down and provide the provide the entire answer on this Google form. See below for a list with links of all participating authors!

Note: You must grab all the secret words from every author in the Christmas in July Reader Giveaway to be eligible to win a $400 Amazon gift card. At the end of this blog post is a link to the next blog, and so on, to the final blog post (20 in all). At each blog stop, the author will also give away copy or copies of their featured Christmas book.

What makes Christmas Christmas to you? Is it a decorated tree? The month of December? The sight of presents piled high on Christmas morning? The smell of cinnamon and pine trees? A Christmas song or carol? The sight of a nativity? The gathering of your loved ones? A family tradition?

In Dangerous Christmas Memories, my heroine hasn’t had the opportunity to celebrate Christmas with family for years because she’s in witness protection. That made me sad because celebrating Christmas should be an occasion filled with joy, not sorrow.

But I didn’t start out writing the story with Christmas in mind. My original time period for Dangerous Christmas Memories wasn’t early December—it was early November. So when my editor asked me to “add some Christmas” to the story, at first I was flummoxed on how to give the story a Christmasy flavor while staying true to the characters. I had to really think about how to convey Christmas in a story that didn’t allow for many of those kinds of interactions.

Because of the storyline of a couple constantly on the move, I put in more subtle touches to show it was December. For example, a bus driver wears a Santa hat, while one character admires the holiday light display in a neighborhood. The book ends close to December 25 with the character discussing their own Christmas celebrations.

For me personally, Christmas is the smell of a fresh pine tree (no artificial trees in our house!), the scent of something sweet baking in the oven, and the sound of Christmas songs playing on the radio. I also love a crisp, cold night with the stars shining brightly and the air still with anticipation of celebration of our Savior’s birth. On Christmas morning, I love hearing the story of Jesus’s birth read from the Gospel of Matthew or Luke, and remembering how precious that gift was to us.

Dangerous Christmas Memories
A witness in jeopardy…and a killer on the loose.

Hiding in witness protection is the only option for Priscilla Anderson after witnessing a murder. Then Lucas Langsdale shows up claiming to be her husband right when a hit man finds her. With partial amnesia, she has no memory of her marriage or the killer’s identity. Yet she will have to put her faith in Luc if they both want to live to see another day.

For a chance to win one of three print copies of Dangerous Christmas Memories (US/Canadian addresses only, please), tell me what makes Christmas Christmas to you in the blog comments.

Now, it’s time to for the secret words: Want to keep Christ

Save the secret words, and when you reach the final blog, enter all the secret words on this form for a chance to win a $400 Amazon gift cards!

Thank you so much for visiting! The next author on the tour is Jill Kemerer and her Christmas book The Cowboy’s Christmas Blessings. You can find it at this link. Remember, this Christmas in July Reader Giveaway will end on July 23 at 8 PM EST!

Here’s a list of all participating authors with their links, just in case something goes wonky. Enjoy!

  1. Sarah Hamaker https://sarahhamakerfiction.com/2021/07/10/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway-dangerous-christmas-memories/
  2. Jill Kemerer https://jillkemerer.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  3. Dennis Bailey https://dennisbaileyfiction.com/2021/07/08/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  4. PeggySue Wells https://singlemomcircle.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  5. Terri Weldon https://terriweldon.com/blog/
  6. Jennifer Chastain https://jenniferchastain.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  7. Laurie Wood: https://lauriewoodauthor.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway-northern-hearts-heroes-of-the-tundra-novella/
  8. Carol Stratton https://www.carolgstratton.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  9. Terri Reed http://www.terrireed.com/2021/07/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway.html
  10. Anne Green http://anneswritingupdates.blogspot.com/
  11. Pam Green https://pamgreenwrites.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  12. Izzy James https://enotsilent.wordpress.com/2021/07/11/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  13. Nancy J. Farrier https://nancyjfarrier.com/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  14. Dana Mentink https://dmentink.wordpress.com/2021/07/10/christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/
  15. Hallee Bridgeman https://www.halleebridgeman.com/christmas-in-july
  16. Susan Lyttek https://sajlyttek.com/blog/1526-Christmas-in-July-Reader-Giveaway?sel=1-0
  17. Zoe McCarthy https://zoemmccarthy.com/activities/christmas-in-july-reader-give-away
  18. Sherry Kyle https://www.sherrykyle.com/forever-yours-this-christmas-christmas-in-july-reader-giveaway/

 

 

black-bean-bowl

A One-Pot Meal Inspired by Dangerous Christmas Memories

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What meal would you whip up in a cabin with only some canned and boxed goods?

In Dangerous Christmas Memories, Luc has to come up with something tasty from some cans of black beans, mixed veggies, barbeque sauce packets, and elbow macaroni. Priscilla and Luc find the results quite tasty—even the bad guy has a second helping!

I decided that to see if the dish was as delicious on paper as it was in person. I whipped up a double batch of Luc’s Black Bean Pasta Bowl, and boy was it a hit! Even my kids had second helpings. We added fresh parmesan cheese and sour cream, a luxury not available to Luc and Priscilla, which made the dish even tastier.

In the future, I would probably add some ground beef or turkey, or perhaps kielbasa or other sausage to add a little bit more zing. However, it’s quite good as a vegetarian dish.

Enjoy!

Luc’s Black Bean Pasta Bowl

Makes: 4 to 6 servings

Ingredients

2 15-ounce can black beans, drained and rinsed

1 15-ounce can of mixed veggies, drained

¼ cup barbecue sauce

1 cup water

13 ounces elbow noodles

Mix beans, veggies, water and barbecue sauce in a sauce pan. Cook for 20 to 30 minutes. Cook pasta according to the directions in a separate pot. Drain the noodles, then add the noodles to the bean mixture. Stir and serve hot. Add freshly shredded Parmesan cheese and a dollop of sour cream if you’d like! Hot sauce can also spice things up.