Christmas- Fun and Frolicky, Hot and Heavy. Nailed by Desiree Holt.

Only fourteen days left until Christmas! Welcome to A Writer’s Mind’s third annual WHAT EVERY WOMAN WANTS BENEATH HER CHRISTMAS TREE BLOG EVENT. Just popping in for the first time? If so, let me catch you up on what this event's about. Between now and Christmas day, many authors, an editor and cover model will be visiting to share a little bit of their holiday with us. Expect tons of giveaways including three $30 Amazon Gift Cards.

YULETIDE NOTE: I encourage you to leave a comment for a chance to win each featured author's given prize (Include email addy). Their individual winners will be announced in a comment after their post. In addition, be sure to enter the Rafflecopter provided after each post as often as you like for a chance to win the grand prize, three $30 Amazon Gift Cards, 12+ ebooks and over six print novels. Three winners drawn and announced December 26th, 2012. Click on 'Ready to be Served?' at the top of this blog to find the itinerary.

Today it’s my pleasure to welcome over fabulously talented author, Desiree Holt, who will be sharing some of her holiday traditions with us. Desiree is graciously giving away two Christmas stories from her backlist, a $10 gift certificate at a virtual bookstore of your choice and a Set of Christmas ornaments (3). Answer Desiree’s question in a comment for a chance to win. Two winners drawn!

Let’s hear from Desiree…

Christmas-fun and frolicky, hot and heavy

Christmas means a lot of things to a lot of people. For some it’s a time of reflection, for others it means a party every night. For me it means family time and enjoying the treasures I’ve collected over the years, like the gorgeous Dickens Village collection that my children started me on sixteen years ago when my husband was still with me.

 

The little town in Texas where I live has a celebration each year called Dickens on Main where all the shops on Main Street put up special decorations, choral groups sing Christmas carols and drama groups set up in places all over town act out scenes from A Christmas Carol. So my Dickens Village is set up much as things are in town during December.

One of them is each piece in the village has been chosen carefully, from the castle which dominates the scene to the skating pond which reminds me of my childhood. I grew up in a small town (30,000 people) and two blocks down the street from me was a huge public park. In Maine it gets cold early and stays cold so the city always flood a large area for skating, with benches to rest on. Sometimes we’d skate in the afternoon sunk, noses red and the sun making the crystals in the snow glitter. Other times we’d skate at night, with a carefully tended bonfire nearby and hot chocolate courtesy of the city’s civic organizations.

When we were all really young it was a rough and tumble time on the rink, especially tumble as we learned how to balance on our skates. As teenagers it became a romantic setting to skate double with our boy friends and share that hot chocolate with them.

When I married and moved to Michigan skiing took over skating so I have a ski shop in my Dickens Village, with two people waxing their skis.

I have a bakery in my Dickens Village because who hasn’t had freshly baked cookies at Christmas? My favorites were the snickerdoodles my grandmother made but for my kids it was and always has been chocolate chip cookies. Once in a wile I even added oatmeal raison. And Christmas week as a family we’d make sugar cookies in the shape of snowmen and Christmas trees and frost and decorate them.

When we moved to Texas, Christmas became a time for lots of lights outside the house, a roaring fire in the fireplace, and again-hot chocolate. By that time all the kids were adults and in their own homes, but my husband loved decorating for Christmas more than anyone I’ve ever know. The house is on a large piece of property in the Texas Hill Country so we bought a golf cart to get us around to do chores. During Christmas, once the lights were out, we’d get in the golf cart and park in front of the house and share some wine while we watched the lights and talked about holidays and stuff. Those nights are among my best memories.

So what are your holiday traditions? I’d love for you to comment and tell my some of your stories of special memories. And of course I wish everyone the happiest and best holiday season. Sweeten your holiday with the recipe below. Makes 24 cookies.

Ingredients

• 4 cups sifted all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 1/2 cups sugar
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks)
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• Colored Icing, recipe follows

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

In a bowl, stir together flour and baking powder. In another bowl, beat butter with sugar until fluffy and light. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture, a third at a time to make a stiff dough. Divide dough into 4 pieces. Roll out a portion of cookie dough to 1/4 inch thick. Cut out shapes using cookie cutters. Place on lightly greased or nonstick cookie sheets. Bake until lightly golden, about 10 minute, rotating baking sheet halfway through cooking time. Cool completely on pans about 5 minutes, transfer to cooling racks and cool completely before decorating.

Colored Icing:

1/2 cup confectioners’ sugar
1 1/2 tablespoons water
3 to 4 drops food coloring, plus more as needed
Colored sprinkles, optional

In a small bowl, mix sugar and water to form a thick, smooth icing. Stir in food coloring to reach desired shade. Drop icing onto cookies using a small teaspoon and smooth with the back of the spoon. Make additional bowls for additional colors.

Additional multi-colored sprinkles can be added on top of icing before it dries

Sky here. Desiree, thank you so much for sharing some of your holiday traditions with us. I just love how your Dickens Village collection reflects your memories over the years. How absolutely wonderful! And that cookie recipe sounds scrumptious. In fact, I just got out my Santa sleigh cookie jar so I think I think I'll cook up a batch. I’m sure my seven year old will be thanking you! Wishing you and yours a wonderful holiday season.

BLURB- Nailed

Third in the Erector Set series.

Tyler McMann is a Dom looking for a sub in the bedroom who can also match him fire for fire everywhere else. At the private fetish club Finesse, he spots a redhead with a defiant stride and curves that don’t quit. Flame looks like the ultimate Domme, so Tyler’s shocked to discover she’s a switch. Their session together is unexpectedly explosive for both of them.

Tyler comes back night after night to play with Flame. Soon it becomes more than just club scenes but she’s afraid of fallout in her professional life. In her severe business clothes and uptight persona, no one knows about her secret weekend life and she wants to keep it that way. She also can’t risk another destructive relationship with a controlling man like the one who almost destroyed her before. If Tyler finds out who she really is, will he still offer his love and protection and a future together?

Purchase Nailed at Amazon, Jasmine Jade and Bookstrand.

Visit Desiree at www.desireeholt.com and www.desireeholttelsall.com

Twitter @desireeholt ~ FB desireeholtauthor

Readers, don’t forget to respond to Desiree in a comment to win her giveaways! Desiree asked, “So what are your holiday traditions? I’d love for you to comment and tell my some of your stories of special memories.”

Contest ends Friday, December 14th, 6 PM EST.

Then be sure to enter the Rafflecopter below for a chance to win even more!

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