Samantha Hunter: On the tenth day of Christmas …
Twelve romance authors are celebrating the 12 days of Christmas here at HEA with cheer and gifts. We've already welcomed seven other authors (links to their posts are at the bottom of this one), and today, we're celebrating with Samantha Hunter, whose Hers for the Holidays came out this week. (Stick around until the end of the post to find out how you can win some special prizes from Samantha. There, you'll also find links to the 12 Days of Christmas posts that have already run.)
Samantha: Confession time: I am not the biggest fan of Christmas. I heartily dislike carols in the stores before Thanksgiving and I don't put a tree up until mid-December. Shopping can be madness and trying to find that perfect thing can drive you crazy. I also dislike snow. So what am I doing writing this blog for the 12 Days of Christmas?
Because what I love about Christmas is love. Christmas can be one of the most complicated, emotionally saturated times of the year, and for romance, that's the bomb. Nothing can amp up the emotion, atmosphere and conflict in a book like setting it at Christmas, because the holiday itself has so much depth to it for everyone. Love, Actually is my favorite holiday movie because it shows all the shades of love, desire, humor, expectation, wanting, complication and even sadness that come with Christmas and romance.
In the movie, Hugh Grant's voice-overs about 9/11 always make me cry — talk about finding the silver lining! The music also rocks. What could be more perfect for Christmas romance than All I Want for Christmas is YOU? If the stores only played that one (and well, maybe Jingle Bell Rock), then I'd probably unplug my ears.
My heart breaks for Emma Thompson and her husband. I cheer for the working-class heroine and the prime minister, and I love widower Colin Firth's second-chance romance with his Portuguese assistant. The sex models crack me up — they add so much spice and humor. There's even a youthful romance in the movie, and a love thwarted. Love, Actually manages to incorporate all of the messy, difficult and wonderful aspects of Christmas and romance, which makes it my perfect Christmas movie.
In my current Christmas Blaze, Hers for the Holidays, I've also tried to write a story that deals with that same messy mix of emotions that abound at this time of year. Ely Berringer is a retired U.S. Marine who's figuring out what's next in life and Lydia Hamilton is just trying to keep her head above water, emotionally and otherwise. They both have a lot to deal with, and Christmas is the perfect backdrop for their struggles and romance.
If you'd like to read an excerpt, please come by my blog and comment to be included in the drawing for a basket of 10 mini-ornaments and a copy of Hers for the Holidays.
Comment here at HEA about the things you love — and maybe don't love so much — about Christmas and I'll be giving away a complete set of Berringer Bodyguards books to a lucky winner. Thanks so much, and Happy Holidays!
To find out more about Samantha and her books, you can visit her website, SamanthaHunter.com.
(All of the 12 Days of Christmas giveaways go through midnight ET Sunday, Nov. 25. Winners will be announced on Monday, Nov. 26.)
And be sure to keep coming back to HEA to catch posts and giveaways by your favorite authors. Up next: Stefanie Sloane on Monday.