It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas (Reads) GIVEAWAY: All’s Fair in Love and Christmas

today’s 2nd book: All’s Fair in Love and Christmas

Last week, we kicked off this year’s blog series spotlighting (over 70 this year) new and recently-released Christmas reads! This is the 7th year for the Christmas Reads Giveaway series, and I think I get more excited about it every year 🙂

Christmas is still 35 days away, according to Google, BUT it’s never too early for Christmas stories. Beginning now and continuing through just after Christmas, I’m going to spotlight several Christmasy releases from 2023. So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage (wassail anyone?) and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your bookish Christmas list! And no doubt you know the drill by now – there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)

ALL’S FAIR IN LOVE AND CHRISTMAS by Sarah Monzon
GENRE: Contemporary Romance (Christian)
PUBLISHER: Bethany House
RELEASE DATE: September 5, 2023
PAGES: 247

Two workplace rivals. One festive competition. And a romance that upends it all.

Every December two things are guaranteed for graphic designer Mackenzie Graham–Christmas celebrations and the annual promotion at her workplace. Those two things are by no means mutually exclusive. In fact, the better an employee is at harnessing the Christmas spirit, the more likely they’ll win the new job. With her social anxiety, Mackenzie never thought she’d be a contender in her company’s holiday competition, so how exactly has she found herself dueling her workplace crush with wrapping paper tubes and using tinsel as her weapon of choice for a much-needed raise?

Jeremy Fletcher’s life is meticulously planned out, including how to win this year’s promotion at work. Not only will the new position fulfill some of his career goals, but as a single guardian to his twin niece and nephew, he needs the salary increase to support his family. Jeremy has barely noticed Mackenzie Graham around the office, but now that she’s his rival, he can’t stop thinking about her. Her quirkiness intrigues him, and he’s afraid that if he can’t get his head on straight, the promotion isn’t the only thing he’ll end up losing to Mackenzie.

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You can read my review of All’s Fair in Love and Christmas HERE.

christmas traditions around the world

by Sarah Monzon, author of All’s Fair in Love and Christmas

I think one of the reasons Christmas ranks top of favorite holidays is because of the memories of cherished traditions interwoven into the fabric of each one of us. Whether that be baking Christmas cookies with our grandmothers or cutting down the perfect tree at a Christmas tree farm, we can revisit the nostalgia and experience the warmth those times bring again and again every year. Highlighting these traditions was one of my favorite parts of writing All’s Fair in Love and Christmas. However, I always love to put a little twist or spin on a beloved theme or trope, so instead of holiday traditions we all may be familiar with in the United States, I had fun diving into discovering and sharing treasured traditions from around the world. For instance, did you know…

Christmas Traditions Around the World

Mexico: We’re familiar with building little houses out of gingerbread and candy, but in Oaxaca, Mexico, on December 23, they hold The Night of the Radishes where contestants carve nativity scenes into the skins of radishes then display the creations at a Christmas market for everyone to see.

Scandinavia: December 13 is the start of the Christmas season in countries such as Denmark and Sweden—St. Lucia Day. A festival is held where the oldest daughter of each family dresses in a white gown and wears a crown made up of greenery and nine candles.

Venezuela: In the capitol city of Venezuela, Caracas, people roller skate to Christmas mass instead of walking or taking a car.

Austria: You’ve heard of Santa Clause, but do you know of his evil accomplice, Krampus? In Austrian tradition, St. Nicholas rewards the good little boys and girls while Krampas captures naughty kids in his sack. During the first week of December, some people dress up at Krampus and frighten children with clanging bells and chains.

Czech Republic: What is Christmas without a feast? Fried carp is the tradition offering in a Christmas Czech Republic meal. Many people buy the fish weeks before Christmas and keep it in their bathtub as a pet until it’s time to feast (although recently it’s become popular to release the fish into a river on Christmas eve).

Iceland: In Iceland, there is a tradition called Jolabokaflod. On Christmas Eve, books are exchanged and people spend the rest of the evening reading them and eating chocolate.

Colombia: On December 8, The Day of the Little Candles is celebrated in Colombia. For the night, candles and paper lanterns are lit in homes, streets, balconies, and parks to honor the immaculate conception of the virgin Mary.

These are only a few examples of the amazing array of ways the world celebrates the holiday. What do you think? Are there any international Christmas traditions you’d like to incorporate in your celebrations this year?

HOLT Medallion and Selah Award-winner, Carol Award finalist and Christy Award finalist, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her. Learn more at sarahmonzonwrites.com.

Sarah Monzon is offering a print copy of All’s Fair in Love and Christmas to one of my readers! (US only. 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.

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What about you? What makes you want to read All’s Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon?