“Oh look, yet another Christmas TV special! How touching to have the meaning of Christmas brought to us by cola, fast food, and beer.... Who'd have ever guessed that product consumption, popular entertainment, and spirituality would mix so harmoniously? ”
― Bill Watterson, The Essential Calvin and Hobbes
Hello Readers,
Despite the somewhat cynical quote, I do love the holiday season and hope that all of you who celebrate enjoy your Christmas and Hanukkah festivities this year. My daughters and I were watching Christmas movies before Thanksgiving. My husband is so sick of hearing Christmas music, I can feel his eyes roll every time we turn it on in the car. We are currently in the middle of our annual Christmas cookie baking. We give a bunch out but always have way too many. By New Year's, no one in my family wants to see another cookie until next Christmas. But, these are the things I love about Christmas.
That being said, as I get older and try to make sure my daughters understand the reason we celebrate this holiday, it is hard not to become a bit cynical about this season. At least in the United States. Perhaps my readers in other parts of the world could share with me some of the ways you celebrate. If you don't learn to tune it out, in the U.S., it can seem like one long shopping spree. We used to have Black Friday as the major shopping day. Then stores decided they would make their employees work on Thanksgiving because opening at 5am on Friday wasn't early enough. Now we have pre-Black Friday sales starting long before the actual Black Friday sales. And Cyber Monday deals. And endless emails, texts, ads, and commercials about deals after that. My sister-in-law works for the post office and it is madness for them, and I'm sure any other employees responsible for getting everything where it needs to be before the big day. I really don't know how any of them like Christmas at all.
I do love this season and giving gifts but I wish it wasn't so commercialized to the point of utter ridiculousness. That is all. My short rant is over. I may sound very Grinchy but I'm not. I hope that all of you enjoy your holidays this year with family, friends, good food, and fun.
To my Christian readers, I wish you a very Merry Christmas! And, to Jesus Christ for whom we celebrate, I wish him a very Happy Birthday.
As Hanukkah starts on December 25th this year, to my Jewish readers, I wish you a Happy Hanukkah. May your menorahs burn bright.
As we close out this year and get ready for the next, I hope all of you have time to relax and enjoy these moments while you are in them. All too soon, they will be memories and we will be starting 2025.
The Bookshelf
Please help support my fellow indie authors. The Hoot is featuring the books below which could make a great holiday read or be a wonderful gift to someone in your life. You will find a variety of books featured, some naughty, some nice, some action and adventure, some mystery, all of them created by authors working hard to get their stories out there for readers like you to enjoy.
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Every Christmas, Red Hart Ranch opens their doors, and Montana provides the perfect backdrop for good company and better food. But this year, the table won’t be as full.
Eve Beaumont is a twin heir to Red Hart Ranch. She loves the land, loves the people, and will do anything for them. Christmas sees most of the ranch hands return to their own homes to celebrate. Only a few long term cowboys remain with the family.
When Eve and her brother Trav go into town to collect supplies, they each bring home a drifter for Christmas. Rhys Archer and Simon Haldon are as different as two cowpokes can be. One rough edged who can work the land and animals with a firm hand; the other a smooth talker with a devilish charm. Eve finds both men attractive against her better judgement, but when tragedy hits the ranch, romance is the last thing on her mind.
Vandalisms happen around the ranch, and Eve isn’t sure who she can trust. She knows neither man is who he pretends to be — but when no one listens to her, she has to prove her suspicions on her own.
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***An Enemies to Lovers Romance***
Callum King
He may go by Callum, but across the pond,
he's known as the Prom King.
He's suave, power hungry and
one night with him
leaves women aching
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Jamie had everything where she wanted it,
and most of all she finally had Sam.
She thought the only thing she had to worry about
was planning her dream wedding,
that is until she's stuck with collaborating
with the hotshot media prodigy from London - Callum King.
Foolhardy and brash, Callum only wanted things his way
which always left Jamie seething with anger.
Desperate to find a solution,
Jamie decided to find a woman who's sly enough to try
and tame the cocky bastard.
AUTHOR NOTE: This is an HEA story with no cliffhangers! For mature audiences only, must be over 18 years of age!
This is Book 3 of a three-part series. Please look for the other titles in the Serendipity Series:
- Twelve Miles (Book One)
- Twelve Weeks (Book Two)
- Twelve Nights (Book Three)
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Crossroads Diner Menu
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Created by Whitney Bond
We used to go to a friend's house every Christmas Eve and he would make the most wonderful prime rib. But, we moved and don't have that option now. I miss it! So, for Christmas this year, I decided to do a prime rib.
In full disclosure, I've only ever made a prime rib once or twice before, so I've been searching for recipes. I'm going with the Roasted Prime Rib Recipe created by Whitney Bond and posted on her website, Quick & Easy Recipes with Fresh Ingredients - Whitney Bond. It looks delicious and (thankfully!) pretty straightforward. Wish me luck!
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