CONTEST!!! 6 lucky commenting Bellas will win a copy of either "A Very Merry Christmas," Wildest Dreams," "Suite Fantasy," "Night Before Christmas," "Santa Baby," or "Who Loves Ya, Baby?"Lori Foster and Janice Maynard are two of my favorite people, two more women who deserve every bit of success they own because they work hard and are really good folk. I'm looking forward to e-meeting Gemma Bruce today, cause if she hangs with these two, she's gotta be somethin special. So, if we have to get in the holiday spirit (ugh) let's do it in a fun Bella way, as Janice suggests, and give the girls a welcome while we're at it...
Good morning, all! Lori, Gemma and I are happy to be GuestBlogging with the wonderful Michelle today! Because our anthology “A Very Merry Christmas” has hit the shelves, we thought we’d talk about one of our favorite subjects – the upcoming Christmas season. J
Lori and Gemma will both weigh in on the subject, but here’s today’s discussion topic…
What is your very favorite “thing” about the month of December?
We love to hear about everyone’s experiences – funny, serious, entertaining… so… “Ho, Ho, Ho”, and bring on the egg nog! (Which I loathe, by the way…) And don’t forget, we have many Jewish friends on our various loops, so Hanukkah is fair game as well!
Now, for “moi”, the Thanksgiving to Christmas rush is a wonderful thing. I am one of those “Monk” – type detail fanatics, so I do stuff way in advance, cards, gifts, wrapping, etc. T
his keeps me organized and happy, but it also eliminates that awful stressed feeling that interferes with enjoying sacred and secular activities and events.
I am a firm believer in living the Christmas spirit year-round, but it is wonderful to see people being generous and kind and thoughtful under the influence of that invisible holiday magic.
So here’s the bottom line… my Christmas CD’s are too many to count, “The Muppets Christmas Carol” is required viewing in our house, my twenty-something daughters think we “must” make iced cookies, and despite the mess, hubby and I opt for a live tree.
My name is Janice and I love Christmas. J
And now a word from the lovely Ms. Lori Foster… J

Smells. Sights. Sounds. Attitudes. I love everything about Christmas – except the cold, but hey, I can tolerate that for the warmth the season brings.
Everything about Christmas fills me with that giddy, special, thankful feeling. But the thing I love most is the spirit.
I don’t know if everyone feels it or not, but I do. In spades. It permeates the air, like the scent of baking cookies or cinnamon sticks or fresh cut evergreen. It brings hope, and it reminds us to be
grateful while spurring us to generosity.
Everything else, the family gatherings and the festivities and bright lights and special gifts, are all a plus.
But for me, the pulsebeat of Christmas is the spirit.
I feel it building already, and I hope you do, too.

Ever feel like Christmas came and went and you missed it? After EBay, Amazon and trips to the mall. When the teenagers are fed and holed up in their rooms, I pour a glass of mulled wine and sit down with my tree.
I sip and breathe in spices and pine. I watch how the needles catch the light. How halos form behind the ornaments. No music, television, cell phone, or deadlines. Just me and my tree. Christmas is a ti
me of fellowship, a time to share with family and friends and with those less fortunate than ourselves. For me, it’s also a quiet time, for listening, watching, and seeing.
Anyone else have a special Christmas ritual?
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Encore! Grazie, Pamela Clare, for spending the weekend with us! We really enjoyed your take on romance, freedom of the press, snaxy Nathan Kamp, and "Hard Evidence." Please come back soon!