Tag: giveaway

Love in the Kitchen (+giveaway)
Giveaway · Romance Tropes · Special Occasions

Love in the Kitchen (+giveaway)

Jaycee Weaver48 Comments

Did you know September 10-16 is Chef Appreciation Week this year? How exciting is that?!

I know, I know, it’s back-to-school season, but I’ve already written a back-to-school post. Yeah, I’ve already written a food post too, but this time I thought it would be fun to talk about those who fulfill our fictional food fantasies, CHEF characters!

Romance is FULL of chef heroes and heroines. There’s just something about being in the kitchen surrounded by food that creates the perfect setting for love… or loathing. Chef heroes and heroines add a whole lot of extra flavor to typical romance tropes (pun totally intended). So in honor of Chef Appreciation Week, let’s explore how those tropes are so much tastier with chefs at the helm as we show our appreciation for those who heat up the kitchen.

One of my favorite tropes is loathe-to-love (aka hate-to-love and/or enemies-to-lovers), and when it takes place in the kitchen? Count. Me. In. What a place for cooks to clash! Egos flare, attraction sparks, passions ignite, and love fans into a flame. A perfect example of this is Jenny Proctor’s third Hawthorne brother book, How to Kiss Your Enemy All that friction between chefs Lennox and Tatum is so fun. Our very own Jan Thompson also has chef rivals in her Savannah Sweethearts series, Call You Home. Bonus, Jan’s title features a deaf heroine! (I love seeing diverse representation in Christian fiction. Isn’t it beautiful to explore God’s wide world through the eyes of others whose experience vary from our own?) Let’s give a shout out to Piper and Isaac! And one of my all-time favorite rival chef romances is Hadley Beckett’s Next Dish from rom-com queen Bethany Turner with chefs Hadley and Max battling it out for reality television glory.

If grumpy/sunshine romances are more your thing, what’s more fun than a broody, crabby chef? Valerie Comer’s chef Levi Esteban from Better Than a Crown is a prime example of hard-headed and brooding hero (and I adored him).

Billionaire, widower, and single dad romances are market staples, and you can find all three in Jan Thompson’s His Morning Kiss, where we meet a personal chef Skye.

See what I mean about putting chefs into all sorts of romance tropes? What a *perfect* way to add a little forced proximity, caregivers, or any number of other sub-tropes we love.

And I’ve got a few more personal chef books for you!  Lavished with Lavender from Valerie Comer features both a nurse and a personal chef, which is doubly fab in my book (cheers for Chef Tony!). And I can’t forget my dear friend Teresa Tysinger’s personal chef Leah Spencer in Say It’s For Good, which also combines the tropes of second chances and a fake relationship with Teresa’s signature Southern flavor and gorgeous backdrops.

Speaking of forced proximity (and workplace romance!), Sarah Monzon’s Freedom’s Kiss is full of sparks between food truck owner Adam and chef-hopeful Olivia.  Lindi Peterson’s Chef Grant reconnects with his childhood sweetheart and friend in Sweet Love of Mine, and you’ll have fun with Paige’s unique and tasty offerings in Elizabeth Maddrey’s opposites attract tale, A Splash of Substance while learning about sustainable food!

We’ve covered a lot of tropes already, but I can’t leave without appreciating the chef of at least one marriage of convenience book. Dwight Williams, chef of the legendary Maple Pit in Toni Shiloh’s Buying Love, is just the sort of hero worth appreciating. (Come on, maple barbecue and all the other maple goodness? Stop. I’m drooling.)

While it’s still fairly early in the back-to-school season, a lot of us are looking forward to Christmas books!! If that’s your favorite, Carolyn Miller’s upcoming holiday release will feature TWO chefs, Alphonse and Camille. Plus it’s a collection of short romances, so you know I’m down for that. (This tall girl LOVES her short books LOL!) You can pre-order Muskoka Holiday Morsels for auto-download on 11/2/23.

I also happen to have a holiday romance featuring a chef heroine. CJ Sinclair is visiting her sister this Christmas as she sorts out her life after breaking free of a traumatic relationship. There, CJ reconnects with her former best friend and first love, ex-military musician Tobin, in Now and Forever Christmas, a friends-to-more second chance tale with a wacky, lovable family lightening the serious moments. There are plenty of those, since CJ walked away from God for a while and yearns for redemption and forgiveness with her fresh start.

Whew! We covered a lot of ground today! LOL! I hope our chef characters feel appreciated. 😉 Wouldn’t you agree the passion, artistry, and dedication of chefs make the most overdone of tropes more palatable?

Since all of our chefs here are fictional, I’d like to offer my own personal appreciation gift to one lucky reader! To enter the random drawing for an eBook edition of Now and Forever Christmas, be sure to comment with your favorite fictional chef, the title of the book they’re in, and/or which of YOUR favorite tropes I missed! Remember, until tomorrow 9/12, your comments are ALSO your entries into the 2023 Back-to-School Bash!

Until next time, happy reading!

From Fury to Feelings (+giveaway)
Giveaway · New Releases

From Fury to Feelings (+giveaway)

Jaycee Weaver30 Comments

I LOVE hate-to-love, enemies-to-lovers, whatever you prefer to call the trope. For me, it comes second only to friends-to-more as my favorite! There’s something about the fury, the chemistry, the potential for so much emotional entanglement.

It’s funny, since I’m not a huge fan of drama. Those books where a misconception and/or refusal to talk makes you want to throttle them both… yeah, not my favorite. Maybe it’s because I don’t mind a little confrontation. I’m a firm believer in airing your grievances (with love and grace and tempering that tongue) and not leaving things unsaid for too long because then they fester. But I LOVE me some infuriated characters who get annoyed easily or drive each other nuts—especially if one of the characters gets a kick out of poking the bear. Maybe I’m a little twisted… LOL!

It can be a tough trope, though. In fact, we talked about it in detail on an episode of the StoryChats @InspyRomance Podcast a while back. It’s worth a listen if you love or hate this trope!

After writing two more emotionally intense stories in my Sinclair Sisters trilogy, I knew Cindy’s story was going to be a lot more fun and less dramatic for my newest book, Not Another Christmas. Which is HILARIOUSLY ironic, considering she is by far the most dramatic of the three sisters. I knew right away that she lived apart from her Christmas-obsessed family, and that in her past she was enemies with her love interest. That was about it for the longest time.

Cindy Lou Sinclair, so named by her fanatical parents for that adorable little Who, has grown into a highly organized, independent young woman who’s worked her way up to hotel concierge and has her sights set on being top dog at the Coconut Springs Hotel in sunny Fort Lauderdale, FL. Her plans are thwarted by the arrival of the hotel owner’s nephew, who just happens to be an all too familiar (and dang it, handsome) face. The boy-next-door; her teenage nemesis, constant competitor, and irritating prankster.

Now that Nick Hoover has gained some experience to go with his degree, he’s ready to return to the place he grew up and reconnect with his Florida family after his workaholic father moved him across the country from them fifteen years ago. The last person he expects to see in Florida is the New Mexico girl he loved to infuriate most, but he’s not complaining.

Tension, irritation, and attraction unfold, and soon they fall into familiar old patterns (read: PRANK WARS) until her fury evolves into friendship, which gives way to feelings. It was such a BLAST writing their pranks, both in their history and in the present. I did a TON of research and had so many laughs reading blogs, anecdotes, and my own family’s devious ideas. Pranks have never come naturally to me, so being able step into Nick and Cindy’s shoes for a bit was a hoot.

What do you think about books with the enemies-to-more or hate-to-love trope? How about pranks? Tell me WHY or WHY NOT below in the comments!

I’ve collected quite a list of reader-recommended titles featuring pranks, so if, like me, you find these books to be a perfect escape for an afternoon of laughs, here you are:

(Disclaimer: I have not read all of the titles in this list, but the authors are known for writing clean books.)

I would LOVE more recommendations on CONTEMPORARY titles with pranksters and jokesters, especially if you can find Christian and/or inspirational titles! I’ll even go for enemies-to-more or hate-to-love. Anyone who comments with their remarks on the tropes, what you think about Cindy and Nick’s book, and/or title recommendations will be entered into a giveaway for a FREE EBOOK of Destination Christmas, out now on Amazon (which you could buy instead for 99¢ or read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited)! Void where prohibited.

*I may receive a tiny commission from purchases made via provided links.

Until next month, my friends!

The Black Moment
Devotional Thought · Real Life

The Black Moment

Jaycee Weaver40 Comments

The Black MomentLast week, our own Lindi Peterson touched briefly on the topic of black moments framed from the perspective of The Storm Before the Rainbow. Many of you know I’ve experienced my own storm this past year, and I’ve clung to the hope of seeing the rainbow with everything I’ve had. Today I’d like to go deeper on the topic, and maybe even get a little personal.

If you’re still not clear on the term “black moment,” it’s that pivotal point between the second and third act when all hope seems lost. The main character is faced with losing what their heart longs for most—what they’ve been fighting for or against the whole story—and must face internal conflict that’s driven them to or from their goal all along.

Generally, it’s a false belief (i.e. I’ll never love again, I can’t be with him/her) or fear (i.e. everyone leaves, I’m unworthy of love) or both. Whatever it is, that thing holds them back from moving forward toward their happy ending until they confront it and accept the truth.

It’s especially beautiful in Christian fiction because we know the Source of all hope, freedom, and love, so when the hero or heroine faces their darkest moment, there’s a natural opportunity for them to be free of it in Christ. Obviously, that doesn’t always require a profound salvation moment on the pages. Many times it’s simply applying what they know to be true because of their faith and finally surrendering it to the Lord. Christian characters, like real-life Christians, naturally go through storms that require us to surrender.

To be completely honest, I don’t always love black moments in fiction.

I’ve been known to choose books by authors who don’t write them at all (like Brooke St. James), simply because I’ve had enough black moments in my life or in my loved one’s lives that I just need something completely happy to escape into. A romance where the relationships are easy. There’s conflict, obviously, because conflict always drives any story, but that conflict doesn’t always come from an internal issue or tension between hero and heroine. Sometimes it’s a circumstance or inconvenience that they deal with, without a lot of drama, and everything ends well.

girl hugging a bookBut while I thrive on those books, they aren’t typically the ones that stick with us. The books that leave a profound mark—when we close the cover with a sigh and simply hold it in our arms, savoring that deliciously satisfying feeling—give us that satisfaction by putting us through the wringer. By putting the characters through the wringer. The deeper the lows, the more gratifying the highs.

It’s been two years of black (at at least dark and bleak) moments for most everyone I know, but this is where the power of story really hits home for me. Where story translates from fictional escape to real-world application. The victories we read on the pages give us hope that in our own black moments, God will be there for us, too, speaking love and truth and peace into our storms and reminding us that He made the rainbow to come after as a promise.rainbow and raindrops

Sometimes I write my own personal black moments into my characters.

For instance, Ada in More Than Enough battles perfectionism and feelings she’ll never be enough no matter how much she does and does and does for other people. It was hard to knock her down in the length of a novella, but I know all too well how those feelings can be a tripping hazard and get in the way of surrendering all to the Father. I sat in that theater with her, knowing intimately that no amount of doing and helping and fixing will ever be enough to silence the lies that I AM NOT enough. But HE is.

Jenna from Whatever Happens Next cries out to God because she used to hear His voice so naturally. She sees the dust on her Bible and opens its pages and wonders why He no longer speaks to her that way. Does He still love her? Why can’t she hear Him anymore? Feel His presence? Oh, how I cried with her because I was going through my own dry spell spiritually and I ACHED to feel His embrace again.

And while I’ve never personally endured what Gina in Whatever Comes Our Way did, I’ve had panic attacks. I’ve felt the slithers of anxiety crawling under my skin and keeping me from trusting the Lord completely.

For these characters, their black moments had the potential to keep them separated from the loves of their lives, from finding romance and happily ever afters. That may not be the risk we face in our own black moments, of course, but that doesn’t mean fictional black moments don’t still translate into our own realities.

Every time I’ve faced my own darkest moments, knowing God was there, that He saw me, CHANGED ME permanently. He took something that was crushing me and keeping me from Him and performed open heart surgery, removing that issue and replacing it with a story of victory that I can walk in each day. I can remember MY story and help impact someone else’s by sharing it in some way.

Next month, I’ll be speaking at a women’s conference on my very blackest, capital letters Black Moment. Reliving it all as I put together my message—looking at the pictures of what I looked like at my worst in the hospital as I fought for my life, re-reading texts and posts from those weeks—has been HARD. It’s putting me through the wringer all over again. But I can’t wait to tell this story. I can’t wait for the opportunity to write those feelings into future characters.

All because of the power of story; the power of testimony. The power of the black moment to move us from our stuck place, our worst place, into HIS best for us. The line between fiction and reality is often a thin one. And praise God for that. Because isn’t it wonderful to have hope? To know that after the darkest of night comes the dawn?

So tell me in the comments—what fictional black moment resonated deeply within you? What character’s pivotal moment left an impact on you because you understood it and felt understood yourself? (Titles/authors without spoilers, please.)

Remember, we’re in the middle of the Back to School Bash, so your comments become entries into our many, many amazing giveaways! I can’t wait to see what inspirational romance titles you suggest. And if you have some go-to authors for escaping black moments entirely, well, I’m totally open to those as well. We need a bit of balance in our lives, don’t we? Ha ha!

Until next time,

Jaycee

Tragedy and Romance (+giveaway)
Author Thoughts · Giveaway

Tragedy and Romance (+giveaway)

Jaycee Weaver44 Comments

I’ll be the first to admit I tend to lean toward uncomplicated, happy romances by default. Like bacon and cheese, such books make up the majority of my dietary preferences, literarily speaking. However, these aren’t the books I savor. They aren’t the ones to win awards and acclaim and get talked about nonstop.

I could be way off base, but it seems to me those spaces in our hearts tend to be reserved for the tragic tales. Now, since we here at Inspy Romance focus on CCR, we’ll stick to that genre, which means certain rules apply to our tragedies. They still require romantic love that ends happily and threads of faith (whether overt or subtle) that lead to characters overcoming whatever tragedy or trauma stands in the way of that happy romantic ending.

Now that the parameters are in place, let’s talk about why we love sad stories. We could get technical and talk about catharsis and endorphins and bio-chemical responses, but that might bore you to tears. Instead, let’s talk about it purely from a human experience standpoint.

As readers, we all know how books make us feel things, how reading makes us more empathetic. There’s no avoiding tragedy as part of the human experience. We all experience it on some level at some point in our lives. Considering we were created for connection, it makes sense that reading others’ experiences builds that connection as it allows us to see through someone else’s point of view.

Why am I thinking about all of this?

A few reasons. If you’re part of my email list, you’ll know we’ve faced several losses recently both in my family and in the reading community (including the heartbreaking loss of fellow author and former IR blogger Marion Ueckermann). I also read a few posts recently comparing people’s reading tastes pre-covid, height of covid, to now. It’s been interesting to see how many chose primarily comedies versus how many actually preferred tragic stories. I read one person’s comment that she walked away from tragic stories, specifically romances with an HEA, with a fresh outlook and appreciation for life.

What do you think? Do you ever go through phases where you just need to read something sad? Do you still want the tale to end happily?

I’m curious about your answers, truly!

Last week I reread one of my novellas from last year, This and Every Christmas, (which I’ll be releasing individually here in a couple of months) in preparation for writing its follow-on book for this year’s Christmas Lights Collection. I set out to write a story that was light and happy and Hallmark worthy, but as it progressed, I was hit with loss after loss for my poor hero. I never would’ve imagined readers would connect with a story in which three key people in his life die within the span of a few chapters, yet I’ve been hearing over and over again it’s one of their favorites. (You can’t see my shoulders shrugging, but trust me, they are.) It made me wonder.

And then there’s a major tragedy that sets the foundation for my entire novella Braver With You in the upcoming Save the Date collection. I had no idea when I started writing Ashlyn and Conrad’s childhood sweethearts story that such heartache would be the basis of not only her backstory, but his! I won’t spoil the details (though I do hope you’ll pre-order your copy of the collection for only 99¢ and then leave us a review with your thoughts) but writing the trauma she experienced as a little girl and understanding how it impacted every significant person in her life was eye-opening for me as a writer.

Life is hard, loss even harder. Perhaps that’s why we connect so well to characters who’ve faced things we have or worse. Maybe it’s finding hope for ourselves in the hard times, even when our only example of coming out the other side is a fictional character. I’m not exactly sure, but it’s definitely worth spending some time contemplating.

So I’ll let you contemplate, then you can leave a comment below to share about whether or not you connect best to characters who’ve faced tragedy or trauma and why you think that might be. I’d love to read your responses to my above questions. And then just to lighten things up, I’ll choose one random commenter to receive an advance review e-copy of Braver With You OR This and Every Christmas, winner’s choice. Also, if you have any great book suggestions for CCR titles in which characters face and overcome tragedy, I’ll give you an extra entry into the giveaway!

Until next time, happy reading (or not)!

Where To Next?
Real Life · Real Life Romance

Where To Next?

Jaycee Weaver34 Comments

I find myself fantasizing about locations lately—specifically getaways. See, this August marks my twentieth wedding anniversary. We haven’t gone anywhere without the kids for longer than a weekend, but this year we decided to plan a *real* vacation, just the two of us. And after being cooped up for over a year with hardly more than a date or two, we’re beyond ready to see some sights beyond New Mexico and get a little *us* time.

We’ve been dreaming and searching and building a budget, reading blogs, oohing and ahhing over pictures. Trouble is, we have a few ideas where we don’t want to go (ahem, a cruise, no can do for this girl), we just haven’t been able to decide where we do.

I’m asking you to help us figure out where to go!

The options are limited to mainland USA (at least this year) and neither of us want to visit anywhere too people-y. I adore beach and mountain retreats equally, and while we want to spend some quality time relaxing sans kids, I know we’ll also want to do a little sightseeing. After all, this shutterbug just got a new phone with a ridiculously awesome camera, so you know I’ve got the itch to go somewhere Instagram-worthy LOL!

My research endeavors so far have filled up a bucket list it’ll take two lifetimes to complete (and you should see my outside-the-US list!). So far the top contenders are somewhere in the Florida Keys or the Couer d’Alene/Yellowstone area. We’ve also drooled over places such as Glacier National Park, islands off the coast of Georgia, Cannon Beach in Oregon (with a tour of the Goonies sites!), and of course, Hawaii (which is sadly out of budget ha ha). As you can see, our tastes are all over the map.

I’ve been traveling virtually the past year to some wonderful places via Christian and Inspy romances, but so far nothing has leapt off the page as a getaway locale I’m just dying to see. What about you? Have you traveled anywhere recently, either in reality or in fiction, that stands out as an ideal romantic getaway? I’d love to hear your thoughts and suggestions!

You can bet I’ll be doing my research after I scour your comments for new ideas, and chances are very, very high that if I can’t visit in real life, I just might have to take a virtual trip. So be sure to leave the title if you suggest a spot you read about even if you haven’t been there in person! I might even send future characters off to a fantasy locale based on your suggestions! I mean, what else is a girl who writes supposed to do?

Thanks in advance for all the amazing suggestions I know you’re sure to come up with, I’ll be responding throughout the day. And though I’m limiting the number of giveaways I’ll be doing this year, I’ll make an exception if YOUR suggestion ends up being our anniversary getaway destination! Winner will be notified via email as soon as we make a reservation. You can follow me on Instagram to find out where we chose to go this summer! Are you planning to go anywhere exciting after the restrictions lift? I’d love to hear about your plans as well.

Series Boxed Sets: Yea or Nay? + giveaway
Giveaway · New Releases

Series Boxed Sets: Yea or Nay? + giveaway

Jaycee Weaver62 Comments

Series Boxed Sets: yea or nay?In recent years we’ve seen a huge uptick in the sales of boxed sets for books, especially eBooks. I’ve been part of half a dozen MABS—that’s multi-author box sets—over the last few years myself, and as a reader I love those because I can get to sample new-to-me names. But today, I’m talking about single author boxed sets. You may have heard the term omnibus edition to describe them.

There’s the series boxed set, like mine launching March 9, which is an entire series bundled up together in one file for a slightly discounted purchase price. Some authors prefer to box up a longer series into 2-3 smaller sets (i.e. books 1-3 separately from 4-6, and so forth).

I love series boxed sets, personally. It’s nice to have a complete collection knowing I haven’t missed one of the books in the series. And, you know, sometimes we’re waiting months or even years for an author to add a new book, so getting the complete series all at once eliminates that painful angst of waiting between books or *gasp* forgetting what happened previously.

Then there’s one trend I’ve been seeing recently in which a prolific author takes series starters (books 1) from multiple series and putting them together. Or they build a set around a certain theme or trope, regardless of series (beach, snow, holiday, career field, etc.). In my forays as a reader, I’ve discovered a few pros and cons to these different kinds of sets.

Pros: Getting to sample a variety of an author’s work, enjoying a common theme while exploring new characters, usually some form of discounted price and/or bonus material

Cons: Sometimes you’ve already read one of the books in the set, can be confusing

What say you? I’d love to hear your pros/cons to boxed sets from a single author. Do you usually buy them (and if so, what went into your decision)? What kind of boxes appeal to you most?

All commenters will be entered into a drawing for one eBook edition of my upcoming Everyday Love series boxed set, complete with bonus materials. Winner will be chosen at random by the end of this week.

Be sure to check out some of these boxed sets from our other awesome InspyRomance authors:

I did have one more question for you before I sign off and make myself another pot of coffee before settling in to write. What kinds of things do you like to see in a series boxed set? Do you expect just the books themselves, or are you interested in exclusive bonus material? Timelines? Recipes? Sneak previews of related books? The story-behind-the-story? Something else? I’d LOVE to hear your thoughts on what makes a box extra special.

Be sure to comment so you’ll be entered in that giveaway I mentioned!

Until next time,

A Month of Christmas Books! + Giveaway
Giveaway · Roundup

A Month of Christmas Books! + Giveaway

Jaycee Weaver61 Comments

I have a thing for calendars. There, I’ve admitted it. I love them.

I remember buying my grandmother one for Christmas every year, taking care to choose one with pictures sure to put a smile on her face (usually filled with lots of cats). As an adult, I buy a wide-box calendar for my fridge at the start of a new school year to help manage the family, but I also buy one every December for the upcoming year and hang it in my office. I love to fill it up with ideas and plans and imagine all the things that lie in wait for me.

I like Bible verse flip calendars and funny-quote calendars. We have at least three advent calendars. Then this year, my daughters introduced me to dot journaling (aka bullet journaling). All their pretty Pinterest pins filled with calendars and record keepers and mood trackers, well, bless my calendar loving heart!

So as my holiday gift to you, I’m giving you a calendar of a very different sort—a new Christmas book to read for every day of the month for December 2020! I read a TON of Christmas books every December, so I’m giving you some of my favorites as well as a few new ones on my TBR list. If I haven’t yet read one of the titles on this list, I’ve at least read another (or more) by that author so that you know I’m only recommending titles that meet our Inspy Romance standards.

I hope you enjoy this list of new books, older books, multi-author collections, and more! And above all, I wish you and yours a very blessed holiday season. May the love of Christ be with you, may His life and light infiltrate into the deepest, toughest parts of where you are and bring you joy, peace, and grace in abundance.

And without further ado, I give you:

December 2020

  1.  Mistletoe Kiss by Andrea Boyd. One world record, two best friends, and a ten second kiss that changes everything. A perfect intro to her Spencer family books! (This one on sale and book 2 coming soon!)
  2. A (Kinda) Country Christmas by Krista Phillips. Two (sorta) opposites attract when small-town Christmas shop owner meets a crabby globe trotter. This whole series is a lot of quirky fun!
  3. Nowhere for Christmas by Heather Gray.Two virtual strangers, one teen, and the worst rental car in the history of mankind. Let the road trip begin. I loved this unusual premise!
  4. Something Borrowed by Toni Shiloh, Andrea Boyd, Jaycee Weaver, Mikal Dawn, and Teresa Tysinger. Six friends, five weddings, and one borrowed tiara. Five interconnected stories and SO much wedding fun! (Plus, only 99¢!)
  5. Operation Mistletoe by Elizabeth Maddrey. He raises funds for troops overseas by transforming his acreage into a wonderland and ministry opportunity. Why can’t she trust his intentions are honorable?
  6. Deck the Shelves by Toni Shiloh. Can two people hesitant on second chances find love as they Deck the Shelves? A bookshop owner heroine is just the start of what makes this one a delight.
  7. Ordinary Snowflakes by Jennifer Rodewald. A single mom, a snowy Christmas, and a Secret Santa gift. Perhaps her romance days aren’t over after all. This one’s hero is unlikely but swoony.
  8. Once Upon a Christmas (Christmas Card Series 3) by Amanda Tru. I very much enjoyed all 3 in this series!
    A once upon a Christmas inspires her story. Her ever after changes the world.
  9. A Christmas Romance Collection by Angela Ruth Strong, Kimberly Rose Johnson, Miralee Ferrell, and Vickie McDonough. Six heart-warming holiday romances from best-selling, award-winning authors.
  10. Not Until Christmas Morning by Valerie M. Bodden. She’s a fixer… He’s about as broken as they come… Can they learn to turn to God for healing and hope this Christmas? Again, I ADORE this whole series.
  11. Hearts Aglow (Christmas Lights 2020) by Chautona Havig, Cathe Swanson, Toni Shiloh, and Jaycee Weaver. Okay, so yes, I have a book in this collection. But the other three are worth recommending because they are so very excellent! Trust me. Tons of fun packed into these pages!
  12. Merry Kisses by Valerie Comer. Disillusioned by the over-commercialization of Christmas, the last new job she expects to find is as a mall elf working for the guy who got her fired from the last one.
  13. Second Chance Christmas by Merrillee Wren. I’m a sucker for a second chance marriage romance! This one sounds great (hang on while I add it to my TBR).
  14. A Match Made at Christmas by Courtney Walsh. This one is still on my TBR, but I love Courtney Walsh’s books! So much emotion packed into her pages. In this, years of friendship deepen into something more (squee!).
  15. Enchanted by Melissa Tagg. No one, and I mean NO one writes a novella like Melissa Tagg. And this trio is my FAVORITE. I could read them every year (and I hardly ever re-read anything).
  16. Restoring Christmas by Julie Arduini. Her last name might be Christmas, but she’s not the best example of holiday cheer to his students. Does he have what it takes to help her restore a town legacy and find her Christmas spirit?
  17. Beautiful Storm by Mandi Blake. I haven’t yet read Inspy newcomer Mandi Blake, but I plan to rectify that this Christmas! Two lonely, wounded hearts in need of healing in Christ PLUS that intriguing cover? You betcha!
  18. When Snowflakes Never Cease by Hallee Bridgeman, Amanda Tru, Alana Terry, Chautona Havig, and Jaycee Weaver. Five interconnected stories during a record breaking snowstorm as two doctors risk everything to find a dying girl’s father in this tear-jerker collection from 2019. I also recommend the other Crossroads collections!
  19. Tropical Kiss and Tell by Liwen Y. Ho. After two snowy days, I thought you might appreciate this tropical treat for a reprieve! They’ve been lifelong friends. This Christmas, does he let her marry another man or break up her engagement to make this the most memorable one of their lives?
  20. Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins. After a visit to the tropics, let’s head to Sydney, Australia for a little more Christmas-on-the-beach fun in this heart-warming novella.
  21. A Husband for Holly by Marion Ueckermann. While we’re traveling, let’s pop over to the UK and hang out with the Blume sisters, all of whom are delightful!
  22. Holiday Town by Jenn Faulk. We’ll continue our travels to Namibia and join a missionary family as they adapt to a whole new culture. I’ve read ALL of Jenn’s books and can’t recommend them enough.
  23. First Class Christmas by Katy Eeten. Let’s fly back to the USA with two strangers who find an instant connection on their flight home. This one’s up high on my December TBR list. I always enjoy Katy’s books!
  24. Love, Laughter, and Luminarias by Jaycee Weaver. Yeah, yeah, I’m promoting my own book on your calendar. But seriously, I LOVE these two so much that I made it only 99¢ for the whole month and the paperback’s new this year for only $6.99. It’s so much fun, I would love it even if someone else had written it.
  25. Once Upon a Silent Night by Kimberly Rae Jordan. I haven’t read her in a while, but I do love a good KRJ book. Out of reach dreams, sacrifices, a mob family, and two people trying to build a new life? Sign me up!
  26. Honey For the Holidays by Jessica R. Patch. Again, I LOVE this whole series! He’s got a plan but it requires the help of his ex, who despises him for all the wrong reasons.
  27. Better Than First by Kari Trumbo. I liked this 2018 release a lot! She’s too driven to see past her ice dreams, but her best friend plans to prove there’s more to life…including love.
  28. Winter Wishes by Tara Grace Ericson. Secrets, dreams, and insecurities keep these two friends from seeking more. Can’t wait to dive into this one, either! I just loved the first in the series.
  29. A Merry Miracle in Romance by Melanie Snitker. Haven’t read a book of hers that I haven’t loved. This whole series, each book a different author, looks totally awesome and is connected by their town!
  30. Love and Harmony by Sally Bayless. She’s got something to prove, he just wants to keep his job. There’s a whole lot packed into this one, and I really enjoyed it!
  31. Melodies of Christmas Love by numerous authors. Okay, so there are a LOT of authors I like in this one set. Plus, I mean, Christmas AND music? Definitely in my TBR for this year. At only 99¢ for 7 books, this one is a steal.

Aaaaaand, last but not least, just for fun, here’s one for New Year’s Day, January 1, 2021. A New Year’s Kiss by Delaney Cameron. I liked all of the clean, inspirational books in the Finding Love series. This one was wonderful, with two people coming to terms with life not turning out how they’d envisioned.

Well, there you have it! Thirty two titles that easily work out to closer to 50 actual books. And since it’s Christmas and I feel like giving a few books away, I’m going to choose TWO winners from the comments to receive a copy of Love, Laughter, and Luminarias—WINNER’S CHOICE of format (eBook OR paperback!). What are YOUR favorite Christmas titles? Have you read any of the above (let us know what you thought!)? Winner will be chosen at random and announced in the Sunday edition later in December. Entries close on Friday 12/4 at 11:59pm MST.

Merry Christmas and many blessings!

December 2020 It’s finally DECEMBER, you guys!
books · Uncategorized

It’s finally DECEMBER, you guys!

Jaycee

And boy, what a month it’s going to be. I’ve got a ton of bookish things on my calendar that I want to share with you, and I hope you’ll stop by and participate in some of them! Especially because most of the news I’m sharing involves tons of giveaways for books and Amazon gift cards (and who doesn’t want all that this time of year?)!

If you aren’t already subscribed, I highly recommend joining my email newsletter. Not only will you receive a free book, it’s the best way to get the latest updates. I try to only email 1-2x a month and make it worthwhile and not overly salesy. Yeah, I know, that’s not really a word (though it definitely IS a feeling, am I right?).

Okay, so here you go, with links and all, come join the fun:

December 1 — Becoming Us release day! It’s available NOW in paperback AND eBook, and is FREE to read via Kindle Unlimited. This collaboration with Jenn Faulk is one of my favorite projects of my writing career so far! We’d greatly appreciate your reviews when you’re finished (your honest reviews, however simple, are essential!).

December 2 — I’m blogging over on Inspy Romance! I’ve crafted a post FILLED with excellent reading options to last you the whole month long, and I’ll be choosing one lucky winner from the comments to receive a copy of Love, Laughter, and Luminarias!

Bookish Advent Giveaway

December 1-24 — The Bookish Advent Giveaway by Chautona Havig features 24 days of book giveaways from Christian authors (including ME!) PLUS a $350 Amazon gift card grand prize! Check daily on Instagram, IGTV, Facebook, and HERE to enter.

December 1-31 — A HUGE Christian eBook giveaway happening over here all month long. Discover some great new-to-you Christian authors and get free books, including my newsletter exclusive, Just Say Yes, plus a chance to win a $30 gift card to the eBook retailer of your choice.

December 7-12 — I’ve teamed up with Celebrate Lit for their 2nd Annual Merry Christmas Readers event. Enter for your chance to win 45+ books or a $500 Amazon card to buy a ton of books yourself! The link to enter is HERE, but it won’t be active until the 7th, so check back then.

Christmas Round Robin

December 6-12 — Hallee Bridgeman is hosting her annual Christmas blog scavenger hunt! With 35+ authors participating, we’ll be awarding $350 Amazon gift card for first place, $250 Amazon card for second, and $150 Amazon card for third. The fun begins Sunday the 6th, and all scavenger hunt answers can be found using Amazon’s “Look inside” feature! START HERE on the 6th and follow the links at the bottom to enter and then visit the next post for their clue.

December 7-20 — Something Borrowed goes on tour with the amazing bloggers at Celebrate Lit! This super fun collection will make nearly 30 stops with spotlights and reviews, and for readers, a chance to win a $25 Amazon gift card, a set of 4 jewel pens, and a custom designed box of assorted chocolates from Chocglitz and Cream!

Love, Laughter, and Luminarias cover

December 22 — I’ll be sharing the story-behind-the-story on Love, Laughter, and Luminarias over on Alexis Goring’s Romantic Reads blog and giving away a copy to one lucky recipient! Also, did you see that I FINALLY got this one put into paperback? Yay!

Okay, that’s it. (Whew!) I’m tired already and the fun is just beginning today. But praise the Lord, His mercies are new every morning and He is faithful to sustain me through the season. He’s faithful to sustain YOU, too, if you only turn to Him and ask!

As you enjoy all the blessings (and probably a few hardships) of this holiday season, I pray you will find love, joy, and peace in abundance. I pray you and yours will find grace and mercy when you need it most and expect it least. I pray you will remember the Greatest Gift, that of our Savior Jesus Christ, who loves you infinitely more than you can imagine.

Be blessed and happy reading!

The Perks of Collection Writing + Giveaway (Guest Post by Teresa Tysinger)
Giveaway · Guest Post · Writing Process

The Perks of Collection Writing + Giveaway (Guest Post by Teresa Tysinger)

Jaycee Weaver40 Comments

Hey everybody! I’d like to introduce my dear friend and fellow author Teresa Tysinger. She’s got a great post for you today! As of now, she’s the only author in my collection team I’ve had the privilege to meet in person (though I’m praying that changes before long, because I LOVE these women).
Here’s us having coffee last month:

An author of Southern Contemporary Romance inspired by grace, Teresa writes on the fringes of being a wife, mom, and full-time communications and public relations professional. Her acclaimed debut novel, Someplace Familiar, released in 2017. Teresa is a member of ACFW, the Association for Women in Communications, and the Religion Communicators Council. She loves coffee, traveling, and prides herself in knowing and loving almost every genre of music. Born in Hawaii, raised in Florida, and educated in North Carolina, she now resides in Texas with her husband, daughter, and dog.

And now, without further ado:

Thank you, Jaycee! As a student I dreaded group projects. I would much rather be on my own and not be forced to share the responsibility of earning a good grade with other random classmates. Maybe it’s the introvert in me or the sort-of perfectionist? I also think it’s why writing suits me. Sitting at the computer is a quiet, solitary activity. I don’t have to debate with anyone else what to name my characters. I get to decide what happens. And, as an independently published author, it’s ultimately up to me what I “turn in” to readers.

Things changed when I was invited to contribute a novella for the Something Borrowed: Christmas Weddings Collection, releasing later this month. (See below for more details about this fun collection!) My initial excitement of being included in this amazing group of authors was quickly overshadowed by a little anxiety when the group decided to link the stories by making our heroines old friends. GULP. My story, while mine alone, suddenly felt much more like a group project. What if I didn’t agree with some of the details the others decided on? What if their stories somehow messed up the plans I had for mine? And [insert nail biting], what if they didn’t like my writing?

Spoiler Alert: I had nothing to worry about.

Instead of my “what if” worries coming true, I instead experienced some very real perks of writing as part of a collection.

  • Perk 1: Your voice matters. I went into this first collection experience worried that my opinions would get overshadowed by the others. Instead, every conversation in our private Facebook group was collaborative, open and inviting, and everyone had a voice. I really felt part of a true team. And, oh boy, if only you could see some of the message chains as we tossed ideas around—from the silly to the ridiculous, we had a blast!
  • Perk 2: Five heads are better than one. You’ve heard the saying that it takes a village to raise a child. Well, it takes as many other authors as you let in to “raise” a good book! In my case, five heads were better than one! The other authors on this collection has years more experience and collectively dozens of books under their belts. I gained instant writing mentors the minute I signed on for this project. Using Dropbox to share files, we tweaked synopses, edited manuscripts, helped fix plot issues, and even brainstormed cover design ideas together. My novella wouldn’t be the same without their input!
  • Perk 3: All for one, and one for all! My concern that these authors wouldn’t like my writing, of course, stems from my own insecurities. We all have them, and none of us are perfect. But I was not necessarily expecting to feel so championed by the kind, encouraging women I’ve met on this collection team. In the niche of Christian fiction, I think most authors would agree it’s a very encouraging and competition-free community. Add to that working toward the same goal of putting out a quality project and the support can’t be beat!
  • Perk 4: New friends. I’m extra lucky to say that a major perk for me of joining this collection is gaining new friends. This has not been just a simple business transaction. We’ve shared about life, prayed through hard times, celebrated individual victories, and enjoyed hanging out and laughing over Zoom calls. This perk is hard to beat and the one I’m most grateful for.

Man, this experience has been so fun! As is often the case, my worries were replaced by so many more blessings. I hope if you’ve ever been curious about how these collections come together, this sheds some light on it. Have other questions about it? Leave those in the comments and we’ll get a discussion going.

If you’ve made it this far, thank you for reading! I invite you to also check out Suddenly Forever, my next novel and the second in the Laurel Cove Romance Series. Available on October 6, this poignant and tender story of grief and hope is near and dear to my heart. Learn more about it and my other books at https://teresatysinger.com/books/.

FALL BUNDLE GIVEAWAY!

To celebrate the release of Suddenly Forever I’m hosting a giveaway for a bundle of my fall favorites. I’d like to invite you to join in the fun! Enter HERE (https://forms.gle/764agVnAKjr4rsNd7). The winner will be announced on October 9 during my book launch “bonfire” event on Facebook. Details for that are on the giveaway form.

 

**This giveaway is not sponsored by, affiliated with, or endorsed by Inspy Romance. **

 

Whatever Happens Next (not just a book title) + giveaway
Excerpt · Giveaway · New Releases

Whatever Happens Next (not just a book title) + giveaway

Jaycee Weaver28 Comments

Well, it’s release day today for my fourth novel, Whatever Happens Next. Of the whole series, it’s easily my favorite. Not only because it’s my eighth book now, so I’ve learned more and write better. Nor is it the characters, who I absolutely love and were a joy to write. Those are part of why I love this book and am excited to share it with the world.

But the biggest reason? The title prompts me to think and to trust.

Finishing a series is a bittersweet thing. Both author and reader reflect on the books individually and as a unit. We say goodbye to characters we’ve grown to love.

Authors also reflect on our craft. What did we do well? What could we have done better? When should we turn it into a boxed set? And of course—what’s next? Christian authors have the honor and privilege to bring that question to God, trusting Him to guide our steps for the future. What are His plans? What story has He birthed in our hearts? What spiritual truths can we impart to our readers that will inspire, uplift, encourage? We have a lot of praying and trusting to do when it comes to what’s next.

And trust is hard, isn’t it?

In the novel, Air Force TSgt Dyson receives PCS orders that will send him clear across the country just as he’s beginning to care for Jenna. When should he tell her? Can he trust that God’s in control over their relationship the way he trusts God to order the rest of his life? Jenna has a hard time trusting, mostly herself, after a single bad decision left its mark. Change stirs up her life from every direction, forcing her to let go and realize that even if she doesn’t trust herself, she can trust the Lord. Letting go and allowing Him to order her out-of-control life isn’t easy, but it’ll be the most beautiful thing in the world if she can. And wow, does Dyson partner beside her the whole way (well, most of the way, because he’s not perfect and has a lot to figure out himself).

I find in this uncertain season and the utter insanity that has been 2020 so far, a lot of us are asking, “What’s next?” It’s been one thing after another this year, so what awful thing is awaiting us after COVID? Lots of questions. My anxious heart has been encouraged by remembering those three title words in prayer. I will trust the Lord with whatever happens next, because I know He holds me in the palm of His mighty hand.

Deuteronomy 31:8 reminds us, “Do not be afraid or discouraged, for the Lord will personally go ahead of you. He will be with you, he will neither fail you nor abandon you.” Isaiah 41:10 says, “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.”

So in the midst of all the nuttiness and heartache that has been 2020, I hope these words will be a positive reminder to you. Trust Him with whatever happens next—whether it’s a pandemic, a health crisis, an election year, a job change, fiscal worries, or something else. Be blessed, my friends.

And now, to change the subject a little and celebrate together, how about a quick excerpt from the book?

Excerpt ©2020 Jaycee Weaver (formatting may be wonky or contain errors due to copy/paste issues):

I hope you enjoyed that little tidbit from Whatever Happens Next. Today’s the last day it will be available for the 99¢ pre-order price, so I do hope you’ll take a chance and give the book a try! It’s not necessary to read the previous three books in order to enjoy this one, though there will be some characters whose stories will be clearer if you have.

To celebrate the release, I’ll be giving away one eBook copy to a randomly selected commenter below who answers this question: when in your life did you feel uncertainty and have to trust blindly with whatever happened next? Did everything work out in the end? Winner will be selected by Friday evening, May 15th, 8pm MDT.