Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop - Win prizes!

Welcome to my Hop Stop

When I was growing up, my dad used to play Santa Clause for the neighbors around the lake, and after he was done, he'd come by our house to take pictures. It was always a treat when we'd hear the jingle bells outside the door and his hearty, "Ho, Ho, Ho!"

He inspired the character of Santa Butch in my Romancing Wisconsin series, and I had a blast writing scenes with him. I plan to expand the series and continue cameos by Santa Butch, but in the meantime, you can read all about him and his matchmaking schemes in my brand new Holiday Boxed Set:

The Romancing Wisconsin Volume I (Holiday Boxed Set) includes the 2010 Write Touch Award-winning stories Mistletoe Mischief, Mistletoe Magic, Mistletoe Match-Up, and the brand-new exclusive bonus short story, Mistletoe Rules.

Christmas recipe for love—combine a matchmaking Santa, lots of mistletoe, one iron-clad rule, fated hearts; mix and stir. The Riley siblings don't stand a chance. 

MISTLETOE MISCHIEF: Christmas in July at the zoo is the last place single parents Eric Riley and Marissa Wilder expect to find love. Thanks to some mistletoe mischief in the form of their two young daughters and Santa, they discover mistletoe rules were not made to be broken.

MISTLETOE MAGIC: Major Mark Riley plays Court Jester to Janelle Walsh's Snow Queen at the Christmas Parade and is instantly captivated by the cute redhead whose grandpa just happens to be Santa. When Mark learns she's the tenant he evicted from his newly purchased property, it's going to take a little bit of Santa's mistletoe magic to save their romance.

MISTLETOE MATCH-UP: When Lisa Riley comes home for her brother Mark's Christmas Eve wedding, her high school rivalry with his wife Janelle's cousin, Derek Walsh, picks up right where it left off, only this time Derek has the upper hand. Santa bides his time as they battle it out because he's waited a whole year for this mistletoe match-up.

Exclusive holiday bonus story, MISTLETOE RULES: When Benedict Riley first meets Susan Whitcomb at a college holiday dance, she’s engaged to be married to another man. In this story where mistletoe rules, you’ll learn how the Riley Family Mistletoe Rules all began one fateful Christmas, not too long ago…

EXCERPT with Santa Butch from Mistletoe Mischief:

Eric braced a hand on each girl’s shoulder, waiting until the crowd thinned. “Thank Santa for the ride.”

Reese and Heather sounded a chorus of thanks before taking off across the asphalt path toward Marissa. Eric made sure they reached the tree before turning around to face the older man.

“This was great. Thanks.”

“You’re welcome.” Butch shifted his gaze toward Marissa and the girls. “So, I expect you’ll be taking the lady and her daughter home?”

“Ah…” Eric frowned, wondering where the man would get that idea.

Butch backhanded him on the arm. “Open your eyes, boy. She can’t drive with her foot all wrapped up like that.”

Eric absently flexed his shoulder as Butch climbed back up to the driver’s bench. The old guy might be…old, but he still packed a wallop. Then his words registered. Eric’s gaze went straight to where Marissa sat, smiling up at the girls, her foot extended in front of her. He started to smile, too, unconsciously straightening.

Santa was absolutely right.

Butch gave a merry chuckle. “Got ya thinking, now, don’t I?”

Eric reached up to clasp the man’s hand with a grin of appreciation. He’d been dreading the end of the field trip without even realizing it. Now he didn’t have to figure out a clever way to see her again to collect on the invitation from earlier. When he started to back away from the wagon, Butch tossed a handful of leaves down toward him. Eric caught them, then laughed.

Mistletoe. Santa was handing out presents early this year. Eric eased the green sprig into one of his pockets, careful not to crush the precious gift.

Santa Butch winked at him before lifting the reins to urge the reindeer forward. Over his shoulder he called, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night!”

~~~

You can get your copy of the Boxed Set here:

Amazon, BN, Kobo

• Leave a comment telling me if you prefer SNOWMEN or SANTAS in your Christmas decorations (don't forget  your email address!)
• use the Rafflecopter to enter the contest
• and have a Merry Christmas!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Don't forget to visit the other blogs for chances to win TONS more individual prizes, plus...

Holiday Gifts of Love Blog Hop Prizes:

1st Grand Prize: Kindle Fire or Nook Tablet

2nd Grand Prize: $200 Amazon or BN Gift Card

3rd Grand Prize: Swag Pack that contains paperbacks, ebooks, 50+ bookmarks, cover flats, magnets, pens, coffee cozies, and more!

Merry Christmas!

Stacey Joy Netzel

(who loves her Santa Butch, but collects snowmen because they're so cute!)