It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas (Reads) GIVEAWAY: An Awestruck Christmas Medley (+ guest post)

today’s book: An Awestruck Christmas Medley

It may not be winter yet, but it’s time for our annual blog series spotlighting (over 60 this year) new and recently-released Christmas reads! This is our largest year yet, with the most authors & books, and we’re back with an all-new look, too.

Christmas is still 35 days away, though, 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 first featured book is a Christmas novella following the men of Awestruck, and author Emily Conrad talks about meaningful gifts!

AN AWESTRUCK CHRISTMAS MEDLEY by Emily Conrad
SERIES: Rhythms of Redemption Romances #1.5
GENRE: Inspirational Contemporary Romance
PUBLISHER: Hope Anchor LLC
RELEASE DATE: November 1, 2021
PAGES: 140

Four hundred miles of snow-covered terrain stand between the men of Awestruck and a Christmas with loved ones.

A blizzard grounds flights and obscures highways across the Midwest, stranding the band at their latest tour stop in Chicago. But lead singer Gannon made a promise he’s determined to keep—to join Adeline, the woman he loves, in northern Wisconsin for Christmas.

Bassist Philip isn’t quite as eager for the holiday. The tour will end shortly after, and then his kids will have to leave their grandparents to stay with him full-time. He loves his children, but he’s not sure he can pull off a memorable Christmas. Does he have what it takes to be a single dad year-round?

When John caught his girlfriend in a lie earlier in the year, he gave her the benefit of the doubt. The drummer plans to introduce her to his family over Christmas, but before they manage to leave Chicago, he discovers more troubling truths. Was he wrong to trust her?

A Christmas filled with peace, joy, and loved ones? That’ll take a Christmas miracle.

An Awestruck Christmas Medley is a novella that falls between books 1 and 2 in the Rhythms of Redemption Romance series. Read To Bring You Back, the first in the series, to avoid spoilers, and then cozy up with a cup of hot cocoa and escape with the band into a northern Christmas with this romantic, hope-filled story about family, redemption, and love.

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by Emily Conrad, author of An Awestruck Christmas Medley

Depending on who you ask (and what day you happen upon this post!), the Christmas season is either already upon us or right around the corner, waiting patiently for us first to celebrate all we’re thankful for.

Near the very top of my list of blessings are the people God has placed in my life. The holidays abound with opportunities to show just how grateful we are for our loved ones. We host meals and attend events and mention our family and friends around the Thanksgiving table.

And then, we start Christmas shopping.

This is where my Christmas Novella, An Awestruck Christmas Medley, picks up—with a couple of the heroes from the Rhythms of Redemption Romance series scouring Chicago’s Michigan Avenue for gifts.

These guys are members of a rock band and have made it big in the music industry. They can afford extravagant gifts, and in fact, the hero from the first book, Gannon, has already purchased something over-the-top for the woman he loves. Yet, he’s not satisfied.

Gannon wants a gift that shows his love, not his ability to spend money.

Shopping with a similar mindset can relieve the pressure on our bank accounts, but wow, does it add pressure to the gifts we choose! Fast food or gas gift cards have their place, but will they really leave the recipient feeling the love?

In some cases, the answer is yes! But if you need other ideas, here are some categories to consider:

Something only you can give – These are the handmade (or home-cooked) gifts. Consider where your special skills overlap with their wants or needs. Some ideas include a painting, a handmade card, a heartfelt letter, a DIY bookshelf, a batch of homemade caramels, or a coupon for a home cooked meal delivered when the recipient chooses.

The gift of service – If your loved one has voiced to you that they’ve been procrastinating on a household project, volunteer to either help or do it for them – and then set a date to follow through. This could be painting a room, cleaning out the basement, planting new flowers, or decluttering the kitchen.

An experience – What does your friend like to do? Or what might they enjoy trying? From pottery studios to massages, go-carting to that fancy new restaurant, movie tickets to museum admission, there are lots of activities to choose from. You can buy them a certificate or set at date to go together on your dime.

Classes and memberships – This fall, I treated myself to an online watercolor class. For less than $30, I found a fun way to unwind, and I’ve picked up skills that I can now use to make cards for people. Plus, I plan to use watercolor in my next cover reveal. As ridiculously excited as I am about that, I admit hobbies vary widely, so a watercolor class isn’t a sure winner for everyone. What interests does your loved one harbor that you might be able to support? From writing magazine subscriptions to gym memberships, watercolor classes to a pet first aid course, the options are endless.

A small gift that shows you were listening – Passing comments and minor frustrations are gift idea gold mines. This is the type of gift Gannon ends up choosing in An Awestruck Christmas Medley, based on a brief conversation he and his now-girlfriend, Adeline, had in the first book, To Bring You Back. Since this post is getting a little long, I’ll leave off the examples, but if you’re curious, you can read the novella – it’s for sale, but my email subscribers can currently download an ecopy as a gift! Though if you want all the context, you might want to treat yourself To Bring You Back first… Because who says all the gifts have to be for other people, right? 😉

What is the most fitting gift someone’s given you?

Emily Conrad is offering this awesome prize pack to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.)

– 3 Christmas cookie cutters inspired by the novella

This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.

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What about you? What makes you want to read An Awestruck Christmas Medley by Emily Conrad? What is the most fitting gift someone’s given you?