It's Beginning to Look a lot like Christmas.....

I know, I know. We're just into October and I'm just as bad as Wal Mart and all the other stores :)  So sue me.

On second thought, don't. I'm broke as it is. :)

It was a year ago on this date that I introduced to the world my very first cover for a book that was set to be my debut romance.  You all remember The Secret Santa Wishing Well, right? With that FABULOUS cover done by the talented Carey Abbott?

Well, a few books later, I'm going to be releasing the 'sequel' This is a story about a secondary character from Secret Santa. This is Robin's story. 

I'm in awe at how much has happened in a year! On the 12th Date of Christmas will be my fourth release.  I'm two books into a series of possibly seven books (The Love and Music in Texas series) and I have so many book ideas planned out.  

It's been a blast. A learning experience. Ups and downs. Low sales, amazing sales. 

But this is only the beginning for me. I plan to stay around for awhile. 

I, once again, have to thank Carey Abbott for another beautiful cover. She nailed it right on the head with this cover. She's easy to work with, and she's a great friend. She comes highly recommended by me. 

So, without further ado, I'm going to shut up now and show you this amazing cover, give you the blurb, a little excerpt, oh and there's a little giveaway going on, too. 

Ready?

BLURB: After being mugged, Robin Sorenson is left shaken and her spirit in humanity broken. Worse, she’s not sure how to deal with the new anxieties or who to confide in since she’s always preached to pick oneself up and move on. Yeah, she’s been the go to girl when anyone’s had problems.
Christmas is coming, and her belief in magic and miracles has faded.

Then Jonas comes back.

Jonas Aimes made a mistake. A big one, when he walked away from Robin a year earlier. He’d loved her, always had and still does, but his desire to please his aging and strict parents took precedence. Back from the overseas internship they’d struggled to get him in, he plans on winning Robin back. What he didn’t count on was discovering the shell of the vivacious woman he’d loved.

Broken.

Remembering her love of Christmas, Jonas pulls the holiday heartstrings. What? All is fair and love and war. Right?

Twelve days, Twelve Dates.

Robin is speechless when Jonas not only refuses to leave her alone, but dares her to accept his cheesy holiday themed challenge. Twelve dates to give him a chance to prove he loves her and is never leaving her again.

But in the season known for miracles can Robin find the magic needed to open her heart and faith once more...or will she forever wonder about the ghost of the Christmas past that could have been?

Goodreads Link: http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/18483703-on-the-12th-date-of-christmas

Excerpt:



The hostess walked up to the table and took their order. After she disappeared, Jonas reached for her hand again. “I'm not sure where to begin. I could apologize profusely, but does it do any good? I should never have let my family pressure me into the choice, but I can't change what I did. It took being so far away to realize just what I'd missed. You put up with a heck of a lot of immaturity from me last year and I can't imagine what you were feeling.”
“Jonas-”
“Please, let me get this out. The experience from the internship was great, but there were a few things that I saw that really gave me a whole new perspective. I missed you, and even though I knew I would, I missed you far more than I ever imagined.”  His hands covered hers, sending a chill down her back.
“I can't just pick up where we left off and think things would be okay.” She said simply, not trying to be mean, but honest. “Cant and won't.”
He nodded. “I get that. I'm not expecting anything. I just had to tell you what I felt. I would be an idiot to think we could pick up and that everything would be fine, because I know that would never be the case.”
The sincerity in his voice was something she never expected. He watched her with those dark eyes that never turned away from her face, and she knew he meant business.
A smile lit up his face. “Give me twelve dates.”
Robin raised a brow. “Twelve dates? What are you talking about?” Now he was just acting strange. Kind of cute, but definitely strange.
“Twelve dates to show you just how much you mean to me. On the twelfth date, if you don't feel like we could at least try to work things out, I'll leave you alone. If I don't at least give this a shot, then I'm going to have a lot of regrets.”
“Twelve dates. You seriously sound like someone from one of those cheesy films they air this time of the year.”
He feigned hurt. “Cheesy? Ouch. That's a blow to the heart.”
“Twelve dates isn't a long time to decide.” God, he was being serious about this, wasn't he? Twelve dates? How in the world did he plan to try and show her anything with only twelve dates? The idea sounded cute, charming and sweet, it really did, but how did he plan  to pull it off?
“Maybe for people who don't have our history, true. But we've known each other since high school. Come on, what could it hurt?”
A lot, actually. She kept the words to herself.
“Of course, we can talk and spend time together outside of the twelve dates, so it's not like we're limited.” Jonas continued. He circled her palm with his thumb.  “And right now doesn't count as one of the dates.”
Robin laughed. Butterflies danced around in her belly.  Oh, good grief. What happened to her promise just a few hours ago? To focus on her own life and not get wrapped up in a man?
  Okay, just because you agree to this doesn't mean you're changing your mind.  They're just dates. Sure, dates with a man I loved, but they're still just dates regardless.
“What about your family? What will they say?”
A storm of anger built up in his eyes as they darkened. “I don't care what they say anymore, Robin. My family shouldn't have so much sway on how I feel about you. I should have realized that a long time ago. They don't get to choose anymore.”





As a giveaway, I'm offering up 3 copies of the book that began it all for me. The Secret Santa Wishing Well.

I want to thank those of you who have supported me- bought my books, left reviews, given me feedback, had me on your blog, anything. It's been appreciated and it doesn't go unnoticed. Here's to another year for success!

-Nikki Lynn Barrett

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