today’s book: once upon a christmas by mikal dawn
Christmas is only 21 days away according to Google (if we get to Dec 25th and we have days left over, blame Google, not me lol.), BUT now ’tis the season when I start craving cozy Christmas reads. (Okay – I crave them all year round but now’s when I can get away with talking about them LOL) This year I’m continuing my annual blog series spotlighting new and recently-released Christmas reads, and I’m super excited! Christmas books make me happy!
So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your own bookish Christmas list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)
Today’s next featured book is a super-cute novella collection of contemporary romance fairytale retellings + author Mikal Dawn (my DUCKY!!) interviews each of the main characters about their Christmas favorites!
ONCE UPON A CHRISTMAS
GENRE: Inspirational Christmas Romance / Retellings
RELEASE DATE: September 26, 2019
PAGES: 435
Embrace the magic of the Christmas season with these contemporary twists on timeless tales.
Upon a Dream — A rare sleeping disorder keeps Talia from performing, but when Philip recognizes her gift, he’ll do whatever it takes to see her onstage.
Claim My Heart — Li Na and Colin Wen face off in a Mulan-esque courtroom battle where the real win might be losing their hearts.
A Snow White Christmas — Sheltered heiress Amala White flees her conniving stepmother’s plans and finds refuge with a handsome orchard owner and his seven quirky uncles.
Christmas Ella — Reality TV meets Cinderella story when a location director is swept off her feet by a rising star.
A Splash of Love — Las Vegas glitz meets Land of Enchantment culture in A Splash of Love, a modern twist on the Little Mermaid.
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Also available to read for FREE with Kindle Unlimited
If you don’t know me personally, let me let you in on a not-so-secret fact: I happen to love Christmas. And winter. And especially snow. But mostly Christmas. Shocked? If you are, then we’ve never talked. Ha! Because I don’t think there’s one person, even on social media, who doesn’t know about my love for Christmas (and snow). And I have NO shame in it! 🙂
One of the things I love about Christmas is the stories that surround it, whether that story is in the form of a Hallmark movie or a paperback that I can curl up on my couch under a blanket with a hot cup of coffee in-hand, or the Story of Christ’s birth, death, and resurrection all for our salvation. I just love stories! And this year, I had the opportunity to join four other amazing women/authors to write a collection of fairy tale retellings with a twist. Enter Once Upon a Christmas. The main characters in these stories are so much fun, sweet, and are characters I wish were real. So I’m going to pretend they are (because I’m an author and pretending is something I do best). It’ll be a short interview, just one question, but will hopefully give you some insight into their personalities.
What is your Christmas favourite? Whether it’s a gift, recipe, ornament, book, or something else.
Talia from Upon a Dream: Goodness, I have several, but I do have a favorite gift. It’s a “My boyfriend is a theatre geek” t-shirt! Which fits, because he really is.
Your heart-eyes are showing, Talia. And it’s sweet.
Li Na from Claim My Heart: Ooo. I have several favorites! But I’ll go with my favorite ornament. When Colin and I had our almost-first-kiss, there was the obligatory mistletoe involved. So to commemorate that, the next Christmas he made me—yes, MADE, ladies! I have a winner!—a small stained glass mistletoe ornament. It almost topped the gift he gave me a few minutes before the mistletoe.
That is romantic. And since I know the first gift, I’m with you. It almost topped it.
Amala from A Snow White Christmas: My favorite gift is people to do life with. I have to be honest, spending time with Marcus and the uncles was more than I could dream of.
I think that’s the sweetest thing. I’m so happy for you, Amala!
Ella from Christmas Ella: Well, I love to travel. On one of my trips, I visited the Netherlands where Santa is known to stuff gifts into wooden shoes rather than stockings, like in our culture. So, I brought back a wooden shoe! I love that shoe.
I love that idea!
Brie from A Splash of Love: I’m a little stuck on this one. But…my favorite is probably an ornament. It’s the tackiest “Welcome to Las Vegas” ornament! And it sits right in the center front of my Christmas tree. I love it.
LOL!!!
So, what about you? What’s your Christmas favourite? I’d love to hear it!
Thank you so much, readers, for indulging my imagination! Merry Christmas!
Born and raised just outside of Vancouver, Canada, Mikal has lived throughout the southern and Midwest United States, currently residing in Oklahoma (and hoping it’s their last move!) with her husband, two of her three kids, and one ferocious feline.
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Other Authors Featured in This Collection
Mikal Dawn is offering one of my readers a print copy of Once Upon a Christmas! (US only) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What interests you most about Once Upon a Christmas by Mikal Dawn, et al? What is your Christmas favorite?
Can’t wait to read this book.
Thank you, Susan! I hope you enjoy it!!
Awesome! Can’t wait to read!
Thank you so much for stopping by, Veronica! I hope you have fun with the stories!
What a great deal: five different stories!
Thank you for stopping by, Vivian!! <3
My FAVOURITE this year is sharing Christmas with people who have become family! Can’t wait!
Such a fun collection of Christmas stories! I may or may not have read them more than once already ?.
Yes!!!! But also, I have a sneaking suspicion you’re mocking me with that “FAVOURITE.” LOL!!! (Don’t worry, everyone! I know her!! LOL!) I’m SUPER excited to share Christmas with you guys, too!!!! I love our family!!!!
Endearing, not mocking. Truly excited and blessed! Love you all too.
lol!! I know. 😉
I like the idea that they are re-telling fairy tales. It sounds like fun! My Christmas favorite is A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Hi Perrianne!! I have a weakness for fairy tales, so was thrilled to be asked to be part of this collection!! And A Charlie Brown Christmas is definitely a classic!!
Beautiful cover
Beautiful cover. Sounds good.
Thank you so much, Nancy. <3 Our cover designer, Teresa Tysinger (who's also an author!) did a phenomenal job!! Thank you for stopping by!
I would love to win a print copy of this book because I enjoy fairy tale retellings. I bought an ebook copy when it first was available. Last night I tried to open the book to read it but it wouldn’t open. After an hour on chat with Amazon tech support, I had to admit defeat because no matter what we tried, it still wouldn’t open. I’m disappointed!
Oh no!! I’m so sorry it didn’t work, Pam! Were you able to return it? I wonder if returning it and buying a new copy would work? If Amazon tech wasn’t able to help you, they should allow for the return. I hope! Isn’t technology a fun menace? 🙂
I love Christmas stories! Some of my favorites are by Melissa Tagg.
Yes!! Melissa is such a fun author!! I love her stories! And she’s such a sweet person in real life!!
Fun post, Carrie and Mikal–two of my favorite ladies (and cousins)! Love you both! I ordered this book, but I haven’t had a chance to read it yet! Must. read. faster!
WINNIE!!!!! I feel like I haven’t seen or talked to you in AGES!!!!!! Love you much!!
I have wanted to read this book for a long time! I love Christmas stories and this new approach to fairy tale adaptations sound fascinating!
Thank you so much, Janice!! I hope you enjoy it when you have a chance to read it! Merry Christmas!
This book sounds enchanting and special. I love the fairy tale retelling.
Thank you so much, Anne! It was definitely special working on it with Toni, Angela, Andrea, and Jaycee. <3
I like the fairy tale spin on these stories. Thanks for the opportunity to win.
Thank you so much for stopping by, Amy!! Merry Christmas
Can’t wait! This sounds really good!
Thank you so much, Amelia!! And merry Christmas! 🙂
I love retellings! one of my favorite Christmas reads is Christmas Camp by Karen Schaler. Thank you
I’ll have to look that up! Thanks, Linda!
Ooo…I haven’t heard of that one. Off to look it up! 🙂 Merry Christmas, Linda!
I love everything about Christmas! Not so much the cold, but my favorite is time spent with family. It’s a special time of gathering together and sharing a meal, and fellowshipping with one another.
I love the image you created, Jocelyn. <3 I love gathering together and sharing a meal with family and friends, too. But I have to admit–I also LOVE the cold! #gimmeallthesnow Ha!! Merry Christmas!
I just love Christmas reads! And these are some great authors!
I wish GIFs were allowed in the comments! LOL! Because I would be all: https://gph.is/1WE5FeB. 🙂 Thank you for stopping by, Melissa!! And merry Christmas!
What interests you most about this Christmas read? I like the fact they are retellings of fairytales. What a perfect read for Christmas.
Thank you so much for stopping by Debra! I have a serious weakness for fairy tales, so definitely jumped at the chance to join this group of ladies!! 🙂 Merry Christmas!
I love Christmas stories.
me too! 🙂
Me three!! 😀
What interests me most about this read? I have come to absolutely love Christmas reads this year, so there’s that 🙂 I also love retellings and this one sounds fascinating!
yay!!!
Kathryn, me too!! I’m not normally a “holiday” reader, but writing part of this collection has me reading ALL the Christmas stories now! <3