today’s book: Christmas Up in Flames
Welcome to another post in my annual blog series spotlighting new and recently-released Christmas reads! (Over 50 this year – And I’m SO EXCITED about it!)
Christmas is only FOUR DAYS away – and only two days left of the Christmas Reads Giveaway after today. I hope y’all have enjoyed this year’s book spotlights and guest posts! And we’re not quite done yet! So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your bookish Christmas list! Oh… and did I mention there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)
Today’s book is a riveting romantic suspense with a firefighter hero (yes please!) – plus author Lisa Harris shares about her suspense writing journey.
CHRISTMAS UP IN FLAMES
SERIES: O’Callaghan series #4
GENRE: Inspirational Romantic Suspense
PUBLISHER: Love Inspired Suspense
RELEASE DATE: December 1, 2020
PAGES: 180
Targeted by an arsonist…
Can she survive the holidays?
Back in her ex’s hometown to investigate an arson, fire inspector Claire Holiday plans to do her job and be home by Christmas…until her B&B is set on fire while she’s sleeping. She escapes only with the help of firefighter Reid O’Callaghan—her secret son’s father. As Claire and Reid team up to catch a serial arsonist, will Claire’s lie be the blaze that destroys them both?
by Lisa Harris, author of Christmas Up in Flames
When I started writing my first novel, I remember imagining what it would be like to spend my days writing full time in a secluded cabin in the mountains. That was going to be my life one day. I’d be surrounded by mountain air, thick evergreen forests, and a trickling stream, where there’d be no distractions in the quiet, picturesque space where I worked. I’d have nothing to do beyond penning one bestseller after another. I have no idea who I thought would do the cooking and keeping up with the laundry, but all I’d do was spend my days dreaming up characters and writing witty dialogue.
In reality—yes, you guessed it—that day still hasn’t come, and I’m pretty sure it never will.
Instead, I somehow managed to finish that first novel while I was a new mom juggling middle of the night feedings and running a home daycare that kept me on the go at least twelve hours a day. I wrote whenever I could, squeezing time to write early in the morning, late at night, and every minute of the kids’ naptime. Snippets of time somehow became scenes, and those scenes became chapters and eventually complete stories.
That was two decades ago. My kids are older and pretty much on their own, but there is no secluded cabin in the mountains next to a trickling stream. Shoot. . .I don’t even have an office.
Which is okay, because one of the first things I learned on this writing journey is that I can’t wait for that perfect setting or right moment to be inspired to write. If I’d done that, I’d probably still be writing chapter one of that first book. Instead, I’ve had to learn to use the time I do have to the very best of my ability. And while I still struggle with this, I’ve learned to set reasonable goals I can manage to meet everyday—or at least most days. It’s amazing how fast writing only a thousand words a day can add up even while juggling other responsibilities.
In the end, I’ve learned that my writing career is so much more than simply putting words to a page. It truly is a journey. A journey that’s been full of ups and downs, rejections and contracts. There have been seasons when my creativity has dried up and other times when the well has seemed to be overflowing. There have been times when I had to put a story aside for family reasons, and times when I’ve had to lock myself away for awhile to get back on track with a deadline. I’ve felt isolated and challenged. I’ve made life-long friends, and have been given the chance to travel and research fascinating places and time periods. Writing has stretched me, given me reasons to celebrate, and sometimes even brought me to my knees.
I’ve always loved writing suspense for a number of reasons. I love the fight for justice and the assurance that the good guys will win. I love taking a real-world situation, and then show men and women taking risks to make a difference in the lives of people. In a world where there are not always happy endings, I also love the ability to create that happy ending for my characters.
Christmas Up in Flames is book four in my O’Callaghan series. I loved creating this series that follows four brother who definitely are in the fight for justice in each story. Reid is a local fireman from Timber Falls, Colorado, who works to hide his fractured heart after the woman he planned to marry him walked out on him. Fire inspector Claire Holiday is back in her ex’s hometown to investigate an arson. She plans to do her job and be home by Christmas…until her B&B is set on fire while she’s sleeping, and she escapes only with the help of firefighter Reid O’Callaghan—her secret son’s father.
As Claire and Reid team up to catch a serial arsonist, will Claire’s lie be the blaze that destroys them both?
You can jump into book four, or start back at the beginning of the series with Sheltered by the Soldier. And as always, happy reading!
Lisa Harris
LISA HARRIS is a best-selling author, a Christy Award, and two time winner of the Best Inspirational Suspense Novel from Romantic Times. She and her family have spent fourteen years working as missionaries in Africa. She loves hanging out with her family, cooking different ethnic dishes, photography, and heading into the African bush. Visit her website at lisaharriswrites.com
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Lisa Harris is offering a print copy of Christmas Up in Flames to TWO of my readers! (US only for print. Ebook if international winners. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) 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 makes you want to read Christmas Up in Flames by Lisa Harris?
Thanks for letting me stop by!!
Love the cover and this sounds like such a great book! Thanks for sharing!
I always enjoy Lisa’s books so I know this one is another great suspense with interesting characters and the setting is appealing.
Christmas Up In Flames sounds exciting! I look forward to reading it.
I love Christmas stories.
The book sounds very intriguing.
Lisa’s books are so good!!!
The reason I want to read ‘Christmas Up in Flames’ is because Lisa Harris is hands down, no questions asked, one of the best Christian suspense authors I’ve ever read. I also enjoy reading Love Inspired Suspense novels, and Christmas stories are high on my list of preferences, too. Thanks for the chance to win this book! :0}
I enjoy this type of read and a new author for me!
A fire inspector’s B&B being set on fire while she is asleep seems like an indication that someone is working to prevent the results of that inspection. Claire’s keeping their son secret from Reid is also a puzzle. There are lots of interesting threads in Christmas Up in Flames.
The storyline intrigues me and the characters sound interesting.
I love Lisa’s books and this one sounds great!
A secret child sounds like a good read. I live the cover. The blurb sounds good. Thanks for the chance.
What happens to the B & B? What happens when Reid finds out he has a child!?
The cover makes me want to dive in.
I liked the blurb. It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
I love suspense!!!
interesting book
Loved reading through the comments and seeing both familiar readers and new ones! Happy reading all. . .and Merry Christmas!!
I would love to read this book.
Really love reading Love Inspired Suspense novels! An arson fire at an arson inspector’s place is kind of ironic! Will be interesting to see who’s targeting her & to see how long she keeps her secret from her baby’s father.
I would like to read this because I enjoy suspense and the book sounds so good!
The cover is very nice and who can resist a story that includes firefighters.