A purrfect day - a new release and a purrfect blog hop!

Today is a wonderful day! Not only is it Friday, which in and of itself is pretty good, but today I have my first release with Museit Up Publishing, and it's the start of the Purrfectly Giftastic Christmas Blog Hop! How awesome is that, right?

Although my story doesn't have a Christmas theme, it is about chocolate, and chocolate is an important part of Christmas. At least, to me it is! And I'm sure I'm not alone in that sentiment.  Let me just give you a brief glimpse of my story, The Belgian Chocolate Remedy, show you the cover, give you a link, and move on. I hope you read all the way to the end of this blog post, because that's where the contest info will be!

Also, I'm guest blogging today over at Chris T. Kat's blog, and talking more about chocolate, plus I have another giveaway there, so head on over!

Blurb:  Milan, a Belgian chocolatier, has lost his beloved brother. Yet life goes on, and he must ready his booth for Outfest—Ludolf would have wanted him to carry on. Jesse is a rudderless soul, unable to cope with the rejection of his lover. He comes to Lafayette, Indiana at the request of his best friend, Reggie. She inveigles him into helping her friend Milan… a way to pass the time, or something more?

Excerpt:  The two brothers had come a long way together. Orphaned at an early age, they’d been raised by their aunt and uncle. They’d worked hard for years in order to make the move to the United States, and it seemed as if all their dreams were coming true. Life was very good indeed for these two Belgian brothers.

Six months later, everything changed—every dream they’d shared—shattered by a cruel Fate, a moment of carelessness upon the road, with Ludolf paying the price. Milan watched helplessly as the casket slowly lowered into the ground. He didn’t have to stay for that part of the service, in fact Reggie and Grant had tried to dissuade him. But Milan had insisted. He would not leave Ludolf any sooner than he had to. Tears stained his pale cheeks as he bid his brother a last good-bye.  The house was his alone now, and how very much he hated that.

It's hard to believe Christmas is almost upon us. Where did this year go?  This has been a good year, I'm happy to say. After two years of unemployment and trying to make ends meet, I got a temporary job, and although it's been rocky, it's a whole lot better than it was. 

As I've mentioned before, I'm estranged from my family, other than four of my children, and have been for the past two years. I'm okay with that, because I'd rather be with people who really care than people who feel obligated to act like they care because of some blood connection. Obviously, they're doing fine without me, I wish them well, but I don't have the time or the desire to dwell in the past. I live in the present

That being said, I'm very blessed to have some very good friends, and the best kids ever, as well as two cats that I love.  So, let's talk about Christmas. What are you doing for the holidays? As for us, Sarah and I are going to see The Hobbit this Sunday. Not a holiday film, I know, but still, it will be exciting. I won't be able to see Katie and Michael for Christmas - Katie's in Indiana, and Michael is in Hawaii - and Chris is a maybe, since he's in Columbia, but he doesn't have a car. Sarah and I plan to have a turkey for Christmas dinner, because we prefer it to ham. We'll watch A Christmas Story at least once, or a jillion times, and also It's a Wonderful Life. Sometime over the holidays, I'd like to show her Miracle on 34th Street; she hasn't seen it.

On Christmas Day, we celebrate the birth of Jesus, although it didn't really happen in the winter, but that's another story. I think a lot of people have forgotten the original reason for the holiday, and have become mired in consumerism, so I'd like to get back to the basics, and to the things that count. Family, friends, and above all, love.

This is a time to share that love with everyone, those you know and those you don't. Be good to everyone, and share what you have with those who are less fortunate than you. There is always someone who is worse off than you are. Be grateful for what you have, and for the people in your lives. I know that I am.

Today is the first day of the Purrfectly Giftastic Christmas Blog Hop. All you have to do is tell me something you love about Christmas and you'll be entered in my giveaway. The number of winners will depend on the number of comments. Twenty-five or less, one winner. Fifty or less - two winners. Over fifty and there'll be two winners and two grand prize winners of a $10 Amazon GC. The winners will also receive their choice of my books.

Don't forget to check out all the authors on the hop!  Have fun!