Book Blitz: Excerpt, Review & Giveaway: Italian Christmas Proposal (Sweet Italian Christmas #1) by Helen Scott Taylor

Italian Christmas Proposal

by Helen Scott Taylor

Series: Sweet Italian Christmas, #1

Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance/Holiday Romance

Release Date: September 29, 2014

Travel to Italy this Christmas and fall in love...

First in a Christmas trilogy set in Naples and the Amalfi coast 

Desperate to forget her controlling ex fiancé and have a fresh start, Claire goes to Italy to write about how the Italians celebrate Christmas. Leo has his own troubled past to overcome, but when he rescues Claire from the rain and takes her home to meet his daughter, the magical Italian Christmas offers them both a second chance at happiness.

Leo paused and rested a hand on a pockmarked block of stone in the doorway of a building that had once been a family home. "It's frightening to imagine what it must have been like when the volcano erupted."

Claire's gaze rose to the looming presence of the sleeping volcano silhouetted against the blue sky. The Romans who'd lived here must have thought their way of life was permanent, but Vesuvius had swept away everything they knew and destroyed a thriving port city and the surrounding towns in a matter of hours. It was a sobering thought.

Leo squeezed her shoulder and leaned closer. "Don't be sad. It happened a long time ago."

She lifted a hand and touched his fingers. Here, where the echoes of the past whispered around them, reality felt fluid, unfixed. Anything seemed possible. If life could be swept away so easily, she should grab what she wanted while she could. She'd been raised to be ultra cautious and obey the rules. Jonathan had tried to keep her on that track, but so far that had only made her miserable.

She turned in the enclosed space and rested her palms on Leo's chest, feeling the steady beat of his heart.

"Why do you still wear a wedding ring, Leo?"

"It protects me."

He must have women come on to him all the time because of his looks and his money. "I don't expect anything from you." She didn't want him to think she was just interested in what she could get out of him.

She trailed her fingertips along his jaw, the slight roughness sending streaks of sensation up her arm.

His fingers slid into her hair and she turned her face up to him. His breath brushed her lips, then the warm press of his mouth made her eyelids fall as she lost herself in the kiss.

If she could have one wish this Christmas, it would be to swap her troubled life for this enchanted existence with Leo.

This was an absolutely charming novella!  From the very first page, it was so easy to fall in love with Claire and Leo.  The setting is romantic (I mean, it's Italy!), and the scenario reads like a perfect Hollywood script.  It's beautiful, sweet and the kind of Christmas story that warms your heart.  Claire and Leo have a deep, swoon-worthy kind of chemistry that leaves you desperately waiting for their happily ever after. 

This was a great, quick read - perfect for the holidays!  I can't wait to read what the author has in store for the next book in this series. 

Rating: 4.5 stars

I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.  All conclusions reached are my own.  

Book 1: Italian Christmas Proposal

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Buy the other books in the Sweet Italian Christmas series!

Book 2: Italian Christmas Baby

Release Date: October 5, 2014

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Amazon CA ~ Amazon AU

Emily has everything ready for the birth of her baby—the only thing left to do is tell the father! 

It was love at first sight for Emily when she met gorgeous Italian businessman, Savino Marin. She was sure he felt the same, until he walked away from her without a backward glance. But he left something behind and eight months later Emily decides she must tell him she's pregnant before his baby is born. She prays he'll want to be a father to his child, but she has no intention of renewing their relationship. He broke her heart once and she won't let him close enough to cause her pain again. But Savino knows exactly what he wants, and he's used to getting his own way.

Coming Soon!
Book 3: Italian Christmas Wedding

Release Date: Mid-November

One phone call and the threat that has hung over Gina Marin's head for six years becomes reality. Her mafia ex is out of prison and on the hunt for her. She has to get out of Naples for a few weeks, and gorgeous Seth Trevathan offers her sanctuary at his farm.

Gina entrances Seth. She is beautiful, vivacious and totally not his type. He's a country boy, ex-military, and used to getting his hands dirty. A fashionable, high-maintenance girlfriend is the last thing he wants. But he soon realizes Gina is not who he thought, and he's in danger of losing his heart.

Helen Scott Taylor's first novel, The Magic Knot, won the American Title contest in 2008, was a Golden Heart® finalist, and was chosen as one of Booklist's top ten romances of 2009. Since then, she has published other novels, novellas, and short stories in both the UK and USA. Her published works have been finalists in a number of contests including the Holt Medallion, the Lories, the Prism Contest, the Write Touch Award and the Maggies.

Helen lives in South West England near Plymouth in Devon between the windswept expanse of Dartmoor and the rocky Atlantic coast. As well as her wonderful long-suffering husband, she shares her home with a Westie and an aristocratic chocolate-shaded-silver-burmilla cat who rules the household with a velvet paw. She believes that deep within everyone there's a little magic. www.helenscotttaylor.com

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Release Day Blitz & Giveaway: Ten Christmas Brides (Ten Christmas Romances) by Various Authors

Ten Christmas Brides

by: Ruth Cardello, Nina Bruhns, Donna Fasano, Rebecca York, Helen Scott Taylor, Patrice Wilton, Mona Risk, Annie Jones, Alicia Street, and Mimi Barbour

Genre: Holiday Romance

Release Date: October 21, 2014

Join ten New York Times, USA Today and National best-selling authors to celebrate the holiday season with a boxed set of stories brimming with emotion, holiday spirit and happy ever afters. From sweet to sexy, suspense to small town drama, travel from Belarus to Africa to the snowy Highlands of Scotland as Santa delivers our gift to you--love, laughter and happiness this Christmas!

Recipe for Love
by Ruth Cardello, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

All Madison Andrade wants for Christmas is a place to hide and she finds it in the home of a lusty French chef. Richard D'Argenson's recipes are famous, but they lack one necessary ingredient--love.

Must Love Santa
by Nina Bruhns, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author

Detective Nick Palladin just needs to close one last case in Vice--going undercover as Santa--before getting his Christmas transfer to the K-9 Unit. But when a cute little fluffball and the knockout holding her leash stumble into the op and are attacked, Santa and his faithful dog come running to the rescue!

An Almost Perfect Christmas
by Donna Fasano, USA Today bestselling author
Aaron Chase is desperate to give his daughter a perfect Christmas and elicits the help of Pediatric Nurse Christy Cooper to do it. When Aaron's impish eight-year-old talks them into a make-believe wedding, can the magic of Christmas make the vows stick?

Christmas Captive (The Decorah Security Series)
by Rebecca York, New York Times and USA Today best-selling author

How did hard-driving businessman Jordan Campbell end up in a coma? And can nurse Hannah Andrews use her psychic talent to connect with him and trap his would-be killer? As she and Jordan work together, she knows she's putting her own life--and her heart--at risk.

The Army Doctor's Honeymoon Baby (The Army Doctor's Series)
by Helen Scott Taylor, Award-winning and National bestselling author

Army doctor, Blair Mackenzie, secretly loves his childhood friend, Lorna, and protects her in the African refugee camp where they work. Lorna depends on Blair--he's her best friend, the only man she's ever loved. She longs to admit her feelings but a family secret from their past prevents her.

Kiss Me Santa
by Patrice Wilton, National bestselling author

Widowed schoolteacher, Cindy Harris meets Brad Williams--posing as Santa--when she takes her young son to the mall. Imagine her surprise when he shows up as the hot-shot realtor selling her family home. Sparks fly between them. Can the magic of Christmas give them the best gift of all -- love?

An Unusual Christmas
by Mona Risk, Award-winning and National bestselling author

Running away from Christmas celebrations and the demons of her past, Dr. Jillian has dedicated her life to saving third-world children. In Belarus, a baby girl, four little boys, and a handsome doctor may teach her the true meaning of Christmas.

A Cowboy for Christmas
by Annie Jones, Award-winning and National bestselling author

A single mom who has pinned all her hopes on reviving a popular tourist dude ranch gets a Christmas surprise that may change everything when her son asks Santa for a new dad. And that very night a Christmas-skipping cowboy shows up at their door.

The Christmas Honeymoon
by Alicia Street, Award-winning and National bestselling author

Quiet librarian Serena always loved Christmas, until she was jilted before her December wedding. A year later, while trying to rekindle her tarnished holiday spirit, she meets Damien, handsome daredevil--and a total Scrooge. Their unlikely mutual attraction brings on a challenge that leads to one very romantic Christmas.

She's Not You
by Mimi Barbour, National bestselling author

Sick and widowed, running scared from a man who insists she belongs to him, Belle is forced to let the charmer down the hall help out. Not just for her sake, but it's Christmas, she's in trouble and her little girl has decided their sympathetic neighbor is her special hero.

Amazon US ~ Amazon UK ~ Barnes & Noble

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A Special Gift From the Ten Brides Authors!

A book full of delicious cookie recipes to share with the family this Christmas!

In this book you’ll find favorite cookies of the heroes and heroines in the Ten Christmas Brides romance-novel boxed set. Some are the treats our characters remember fondly from their childhoods. Others are the ones they enjoy today—or make to give as gifts. Here you’ll find everything from Almond Crescents, Coffee Pecan Delights, and Swedish Teacake Cookies to Rocks, Butterscotch Brownies and Scottish Shortbread. And each recipe comes with a note explaining how it fits into the author’s story, so you’ll have a little more insight into her characters and plot.

The recipes are the authors' gifts to you this holiday season. Enjoy these special goodies and have a wonderful Christmas. Best wishes from the authors of Ten Christmas Brides!

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(Note: Favorite Christmas Cookies should be free on all platforms, but please check the price before purchasing since Amazon and Barnes & Noble sometimes do not update their pricing on a timely basis.)

Ruth Cardello
Ruth Cardello is a New York Times bestselling author.  She writes fast-paced, fun, sexy romances with hot alpha heroes and the strong women who tame them.  She writes about Billionaires, Cowboys, and she is also getting into some spicier story lines.  She likes to consider what she writes as bathtub reads.  Sheer escapism.
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Nina Bruhns
New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Nina Bruhns decided it was time to change careers and pursue her longtime dream of writing when fieldwork in Egyptology became too dangerous. Since then, Nina has achieved international bestsellerdom writing for Berkley, Harlequin and Silhouette, various epublishers, and now as an indie author with Cajun Hot Press. Nina has earned numerous awards for her thirty-plus books to date, including three Daphne du Maurier Awards for Best Overall Mystery-Suspense Book of the Year, three Rita nominations, four RT Bookclub Reviewers Choice Awards, a National Readers Choice Award, five Dorothy Parker Awards of Excellence, and two Golden Hearts.
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Donna Fasano
USA Today Bestselling Author Donna Fasano is the author of over 30 romance and women's fiction titles. Her award-winning books have been described as "emotional," "heartwarming," and "simply wonderful!" Over the course of her 25 year career, she has sold 4 million books worldwide. BigAl from BooksAndPals.com says, "Donna Fasano is a keen observer of human nature and creates characters that ring true to life."
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Rebecca York
New York Times, USA Today, and Publishers Weekly best-selling and award-winning author, Rebecca has written over 145 books and novellas. In 2011 she became the dozenth author to receive the Romance Writers of America Centennial Award for having written 100 romantic novels. Her Killing Moon was a launch title for Berkley’s Sensation imprint in June 2003. Five more books in the series have followed.

Rebecca has authored or co-authored over 65 romantic thrillers, many for Harlequin Intrigue’s very popular 43 Light Street series, set in Baltimore, and many with paranormal elements.

Her many awards include two Rita finalist books. She has two Career Achievement awards from Romantic Times: for Series Romantic Suspense and for Series Romantic Mystery. And her Peregrine Connection series won a Lifetime Achievement Award for Romantic Suspense Series.
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Helen Scott Taylor
Award-winning author, Helen Scott Taylor is an award-winne, writes sweet contemporary romance set in the UK and Europe. Her contribution to Ten Christmas Brides is The Army Doctor's Honeymoon Baby, part of her Army Doctor series.
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Patrice Wilton
Patrice Wilton is a National best selling author of more than 20 books. Her best known series include The Candy Bar Series, Serendipity Falls series, and her returning war hero series, A HERO LIES WITHIN, HANDLE WITH CARE and AT FIRST SIGHT.

She lives in West Palm Beach with her retired PGA golf pro husband, and plays tennis and golf when she's not writing fun, sexy romance stories. She loves emails and will answer everyone the same day.
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Mona Risk
From Best Romance Novel of the Year at Preditors & Editors Readers Poll, to Best Contemporary Romance of the Year at READERS FAVORITE with two Gold Medals, and EPPIE award finalist, Mona Risk’s name was posted on Amazon.com in the 100 most Popular Authors in Romance list for several months and she recently received an OUTSTANDING ACHIEVER Award at Affaire de Coeur Magazine.
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Annie Jones
Award winning author Annie Jones loves Romance, Christmas and Route 66 so it seemed natural to combine them in A Cowboy for Christmas. The author of 40 books including romance and women's fiction, she lives in Kentucky with a houseful of family and a head full of ideas for more books.
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Alicia Street
Alicia Street is an award-winning author who often writes in collaboration with her husband, Roy. Her years as a dancer, choreographer and teacher are the inspiration behind her Dance 'n' Luv contemporary romance series. Many of her characters from this series cross over into her Holiday Luv series, which includes her sweet romance novella featured in Ten Christmas Brides.
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Mimi Barbour
Mimi Barbour is an Amazon best-selling author who's sold over 500,000 copies of her books world-wide. Her five romance series: The Vicarage Bench/ time travel at it's best, Angels with Attitudes / angels love romance, Vegas / fast-paced plotting, Elvis / make a song a book and her newest, Undercover FBI / with sizzling conflicts and lots of humor.

Mimi's been heard to say: "I'm an author who loves to read uplifting stories about romance. Add in some time travel, or maybe an angel, or even a little romantic suspense and it makes the story more fascinating because of the incredible possibilities."

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