Blog Tour: Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection

Carla Kelly Christmas blog tour

Today I am excited to be a part of Carla Kelly's tour for her Christmas Collection!
I want to welcome Carla, who is stopping by
to share a little about the romance in her books.


Ten Things That Make a Great Romance Novel
by Author Carla Kelly
  1. Two people with a story to tell. I start with the “What if?” principle. What if this happens, then this will happen, and so on.
  2. A location that fits the two people above. When I wrote “A Christmas Ornament,” I started with two meddling fathers. Why would they meddle? Perhaps because one of the potential lovers just doesn’t know he’s a lover yet. And the lady in question ought to be someone who just might not find the best man on her own. The man in question ought to be in that English bastion of learning – Oxford. No ladies there, so he’ll need some help (ergo, the two meddling fathers). This all goes back to the “What if?” principle. 
  3. A place I like to write about. I love New Mexico. It’s old, and a bit supernatural. No wonder that my first novel started there, and my most recent one – first of a series – continues there. I’ve been to England and Scotland, but New Mexico is more available; so is Wyoming. 
  4. A time I like to write about. I’m a fan of the Regency period partly because I like to write about the Napoleonic Wars on land and sea. (It’s not because I’m fond of lords and ladies. Sorry.) To me, the Regency is interesting because of how war affects my characters. That’s the case in “Make a Joyful Noise,” and “The Three Kings.”  
  5. Conflict. Even in the fluffiest of stories, there must be conflict. Class differences, as in “Make a Joyful Noise,” have their own role in historical fiction. 
  6. People I enjoy writing about. I like Spaniards because they are reticent, practical and speak a language that is sonorous and playful. I like the Welsh because they sing, are determined, and are kind about their superiority. (They say it is a privilege to be Welsh; don’t doubt them.) 
  7. Good romances to read, to fuel my writerly interest. Jane Austen is always a helpful read. My personal favorite is Persuasion, so dark and cynical. Next up is A Town Like Alice, by Nevil Shute, because it is a ripping good story, told by a master storyteller. 
  8. I like happy endings which don’t always mean everything is rosy and tidy. Life isn’t like that, is it? By the end of Enduring Light, Mr. Otto is well aware that his lovely Julia is lovely to others, too. Never hurts a husband to know he has to watch his back a bit.
  9. The fact that people can change for the better or the worse. In “An Object of Charity,” a captain in the Royal Navy becomes more human and learns that things weren’t what they seemed at the time. In “The Three Kings,” our heroine changes her priorities. 
  10. For me, it’s also the personal pleasure that I can write something that readers enjoy, and maybe gives them something to think about. In the writing process, I am acutely conscious that I am thinking about this “something,” or I never would have written the story or novel in the first place. 
  11. An awareness that while people through the ages have changed, there are some certainties that have not. Love, for instance. (Yes, this is eleven reasons and not ten. Historians like to joke that they went into history because they can’t do math.)



Continue reading to find out more about Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection, Carla, read my review, and enter to win an ebook copy of your own!


  
Carla Kelly's Christmas CollectionCarla Kelly's Christmas Collection
by Carla Kelly
Historical Romance
October 5th 2011 by Cedar Fort/Sweetwater Books

Summary

Come explore Regency London with Carla Kelly! This collection features four stories that will warm your heart with Christmas cheer:

The Christmas Ornament: When the father of his now-deceased best friend hints that he should consider his daughter as a potential wife, Lord James Crandall isn’t sure he can get past the fact that he used to tease her mercilessly when she was just a girl. But once he finds out how brilliant her mind is, he’s not sure he can get past the fact that she’s a woman. Add in the fact that her charms have garnered the attentions of other gentlemen, Lord Crandall is in for quite the roller coaster Christmas.

Make a Joyful Noise: Widower Marquis Peter Chard is grateful for his two children, but not so grateful when his mother gives him the chore of recruiting people for the parish Christmas choir competition. When recently widowed and pregnant Rosie Wheatherby turns up with the voice of an angel and the looks to match, Lord Chard isn’t about to let her get away from the choir . . . or his family.

An Object of Charity: Stuck on land while his ship is being repaired, Captain Michael Lynch is approached by his late first mate’s niece and nephew. Learning they are destitute, he decides to take them home with him for the holidays, returning for the first time in 22 years ago. As he spends more time with them and unburdens his heart to the young woman, she replaces his hurt with love in time for a very special Christmas.

The Three Kings: After her brother is shot by the French in Spain, Lady Sarah Comstock is forced to travel across the war-torn countryside with a Spanish Colonel. As Christmas quickly approaches, Sarah learns about the Three Kings giving gifts to the Christ child and finds a gift of her own that she can share—her heart.

Filled with romance and a touch of humor, these stories are sure to find a place in your heart and remind you that Christmas is a time for love.

You can read an excerpt (and one of my favorite ones) of Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection here.


    




My Review

I was pleasantly surprised by Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection. I really enjoy reading Historical Romance, especially when it is well done, as the stories in this collection are. 

I enjoyed each story. They all are sweet and had me both laughing and sighing. They include lovable characters who find themselves in different circumstances and a chance at love. Even though each story is novella length, I felt that the development of the characters and plot were very well done. I was invested in each of the main characters as their stories progressed and enjoyed finding out how their stories ended. 

The first story, The Christmas Ornament, was my favorite of the four stories included. I just really loved the two main characters and their dialogue and interactions. There was a good amount of humor and wit, which I always enjoy. Having said that, I loved each story and they all had elements of humor, wit, and also some sadness. These characters definitely faced some sort of struggle or hardship in some way and it made me connect with them and cheer for them.

I also liked that each story was influenced by Christmas in some way, but that the holiday portion wasn't the focal point. Each of these stories can be enjoyed at any time of the year. They did also get me thinking more about the holiday season, which is quickly approaching as well.

If you enjoy Historical Fiction, as I do, and are looking for something sweet and seasonal to read, then I would definitely recommend picking this collection up! I loved it!

Content: Clean
Source: Publisher/NetGalley, which did not affect my review in any way.




About the Author
Carla Kelly
Award-winning author Carla Kelly is a veteran of the New York and international publishing world. The author of more than thirty novels and novellas for Donald I. Fine Co., Signet, and Harlequin, Carla is the recipient of two Rita Awards (think Oscars for romance writing) from Romance Writers of America and two Spur Awards (think Oscars for western fiction) from Western Writers of America. She is also a recipient of a Whitney Award for Borrowed Light and My Loving Vigil Keeping.




Giveaway

One ebook copy of Carla Kelly's Christmas Collection (US and INT as long as you can access a Mobi, ePub, or PDF copy).

All my usual requirements apply. Please use the rafflecopter below. Ends 11/1/13.

a Rafflecopter giveaway



Here's today's owl sighting---> 

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