I spent the evening hanging a ridiculous number of lights in my flat—including in the kitchen, the hallway, the bathroom, and a spiral of blue lights down the banister of the building’s front stairs, with blue sparkling lights entwined in the iron security gate—while playing How the Grinch Stole Christmas on the DVD player.
I’m a sucker for the season. So when I heard about the Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop, I couldn’t resist. I especially love buying and wrapping presents.
Enter here for a chance to win the grand prize: a Nook Color loaded with ebooks from 33 authors, including a copy of my debut novel, The Fallen Queen.
My own giveaway includes a signed cover flat of The Fallen Queen, along with two of my favorite Russian things: a DVD of Russian Ark, and the Russian Tarot of St. Petersburg (with companion book). Giveaway is open to international entrants.
What’s the best present you’ve ever received? Tell me in the comments to enter, and be sure to stop by each of the blogs below for chances to win more fabulous prizes. Contest and blog hop ends December 23.
Comments
44 responses to “Mistletoe Madness Blog Hop!”
Hi Jane,Thanks Jane for the giveaway and the chance. Do we fill out the grand prize form once or on every Author’s site ?
Carol L
Lucky4750 (at) aol (dot) com
You just need to enter for the grand prize once. (As far as I know, multiple entries don’t count, but there’s no specific information about that on the contest page, so I suppose it couldn’t hurt to try.)
the best Christmas present i’ve received… is a stuffed rabbit brom a manga i really love ( fruits basket) goodies like that are really hard to find in my country. i was writing a fanfics on this manga with a friend from abroad and i had the surprise to receive this gift with a note ” so he can give you confort when i’m not there ” it was cute and a very thoughful present, i love it dearly
thanks you for this international giveaway
all the best
isabelle(dot)frisch(at)gmail(dot)com
The best present is when I get to actually spend Christmas with my family/loved ones. Being very financially strapped raising 3 kids, it isn’t every year that I get to make it across the miles to be with my own parents and siblings.
My favorite Christmas present was from my husband. It was a necklace with a wedding and engagement ring on it. It was beautiful and meant so much to me.
The best gift that I ever received was when my mother decided to let my sisters and I keep a stray cat we’d taken in!!!
melissaseclecticbookshelf (at) gmail (dot) com
♥ Melissa @ Melissa’s Eclectic Bookshelf
Thanks for the giveaway and for opening it to worldwide entries.
Please enter me.
My favorite gift was from my husband a number of years ago.
I have always loved horses and grew up riding and competing in horse-jumping shows. When my first child was born I gave up but always dreamed of someday going on a journey in a horse-drawn Gypsey caravan.
That year I got an elaborate envelope and when I opened it I found air tickets and a booking confirmation for a weeks rental of a horse drawn caravan in Ireland. I was over the moon.
We spend a happy week plodding down Irish country lanes, stopping each night at a different small farm. Later we hired a car and spent 10 days travelling all along the coast from Galway Bay to Dublin.
MY husband had saved for 4 years to be able to give me this.
Thanks
Carol T
buddytho {at} gmail DOT com
What an amazing gift. This actually made me tear up. :)
My best Christmas present was my laptop. My mom got if for me a few years ago when I got sick so I would have something to occupy my time at the drs.
Thanks for the giveaway the prizes look lovely!
aimeelavalle (at) gmail (dot) com
Oooh… I usually avoid contests, but these are all things I want!
The most fantastic present I received wasn’t really a present… it was the fact that hubby and I were able to attend the college’s trip to Paris & Barcelona. We were in Paris for Valentine’s Day!
But the best present I ever got was a simple cut & glued paper card from my older daughter. She was twelve, and with her special needs, she had never before given me or anyone a birthday card or present or anything without an adult standing over her, telling her what she could do. But last Mother’s Day, all by herself, with no urging from any adult, she made me a card, and it was ready when I came downstairs that morning.
Aww, man, everyone’s best presents are making me tear up. Thanks for sharing that!
My favorite present was my dog, I picked her up after Christmas, ’93, she has been gone now a few years, but I remember that December like it was yesterday.Happy Holidays!
skpetal at hotmail dot com
I know you mean Christmas, but presents altogether would be when my husband regifted me my wedding band after it had been repaired. He got on one knee, too! :D That was in september, though.
For christmas, I’d have to say either my Nook, given to me by my writing group, having my husband home, OR the birth of my Lord in the year of 0. LOL they all rank up there at number one.
Merry Christmas!
My best present was one my husband at the time made me which was a wooden dvd shelf (3 shelves) with a cherry finish. It was so beautiful and the fact he made it made it more special. Also all the gifts my son has made me over the years hold a special place in my heart.
vampiremistress2010(at)gmail(dot)com
My best present ever was the one I got the second christmas my husband and I spent together a metal detector I had told him I thought it would be a fun hobby and he surprised me with one .We have gone out locally and on vacation with it and though we’ve never found much other than change and junk its alot of fun and we do it together
flanagan@mebtel.net
Wow, I have had some wonderful presents over the last 48 years of my life and the one that stands out the most is this year I got my christmas present early from my two daughters.
One day my youngest daughter came over and was telling me about this christmas orchestra album that I have to hear. So she pulls up YouTube and shows me the video and I absolutely fall in love with them. Mean while the oldest daughter calls while we are listening to the YouTube video and I decide to buy the digital album for us all to share. so as I am purchasing the album off line the girls are talking on the phone in whispers, I pay not attention to the conversation because I am purchasing the albums.
Later that day I went to go check my email and I had an email from my oldest daughter that said check attachment. LOL, when I opened it up it was two tickets to go see that Orchestra i had just bought the album to.
So on Dec 21st, hubby and I will be going to see Trans-Siberian Orchestra in Austin Texas. What a surprise, them girls totally filled me out, I am so excited and I love their music. I highly recommend everyone to watch their videos on Youtube and then go buy their albums.
Merry Christmas
Ronda Tutt
mrsqueentutt@yahoo.com
The present that always comes to mind when someone asks what the best present I’ve ever received is a stuff dog, wearing striped overalls and a cap, all a little worse for wear.
I taught in a preschool at the time, and had a little girl in my class who actually lived on my street with her grandma. She and her sister had recently been removed from their mother’s “care” because mom (who I knew from elementary school through high school) was a drug addict, and wound up in jail. Those two little girls had seen more in their short years of the underbelly of life than I had. My class was always full of the “problem” children… and the reason for the quotes is they were struggling to make sense out of this world and no one that young should be labelled that way. As you might imagine, this little girl was fiercely protective of her independence, didn’t trust adults, and would BASH anyone who she perceived as hurting her little sister. I happened to be in the office one afternoon when the grandma brought her in, on a day when she wasn’t supposed to come because the girl insisted she had to give me a gift. And wrapped in newspaper, twisted at the ends to keep the present inside, was this stuffed toy. Well-loved, and much played with. And to this day, that stuffed dog symbolizes to me the meaning of the spirit of Christmas.
No more making me cry! Seriously, though, I love this story. Thanks so much for sharing it. :) ~sniffle~
I got a set of chests that looked like something off a pirate ship. I still have them and love them.
My favorite present is the Karaoke machine my mom got me a few years ago. I had it on my list for several years, but she always told me that it was dumb & she got me stuff I needed, not what I wanted. Dad finally convinced her that wants are important too.
drainbamaged.gyzmo at gmail.com
Its probably going to sound sappy but having christmas with my other half. She’s always thoughtful and the gifts are usually set that way. Last year we adopted a cat in a shelter and helped keep him going. A few months later he was adopted by a new Mum and Dad and went to thier home.
It was a special moment as helping out a little gave the little guy a home for life, which had we not done, may not have happened. Sometimes the best gifts aren’t for yourself, they’re for others.
The best present I ever received was when I was about 7 years old and I got a purple, corvette with push pedals!! My mom still talks about it every Christmas!
books4me67 at ymail dot com
The best christmas present I ever received was my engagement ring. It came two years after we were married. It’s not huge by any means but I love it to death.
Mary
mary_reiss @ hotmail.com
I think I was ten when I was first gifted with story books of Harry Potter, at that moment I fell in love with books.
I’m sorry I forgot to thanked you for the giveaway, it’s really amazing gifts your giving, would love to read your book. Happy Holidays & Have a warm Christmas!
Thanks for the giveaway! My favorite Christmas gift was a doll that my parents gave me when I was about 13 or 14 that was the same doll I had when I was younger and then lost.
insanityisnormal(at)gmail(dot)com
I pretty much always get books as presents, which to me is one of the best things you can get XD, but the best present I’ve ever gotten? Okay I have no idea, but one of the best presents I got recently, and can actually remember is a really pretty handbag from one of my friends. Thanks!
Hi, Jess! I’m not sure if you saw my comment below, but you’re the winner of the giveaway! Congrats!
Email me at jane(at)janekindred(dot)com with your mailing address and I’ll send your prize on its way. :)
My sedu flat iron because it is the only thing that has ever tamed my hair.
The best present I ever received…hmm. Probably my leather jacket when I was in high school because it was the first one I ever got and I still have it (even though it’s worn out). My parents know how much I still love it :)
My best present was an ereader 2 years ago. I am a bibliophile, so I new another one!
mcv111@hotmail.com
correction-I need a new one.
The best Christmas present I ever received was a new coat that I got from my ex. I hadn’t had a new coat in about 10 years so it was very welcome. Unfortunately we were staying at his parents for the holidays and they had a fire and there went my coat. I did get to wear it once though. I hope you have a safe and joyous holiday season.
seriousreader at live dot com
Best present ever was my first teddy bear which happened to be Grumpy Bear the only Care Bear that my mother could find that year :)
My favorite gift would have been a Care Bear when I was a kid. This was when they first came out in the 80’s and I was crazy about them. I actually still have it over 25 years later, lol.Happy holidays!
June M.
manning_j2004 at yahoo dot com
I can’t say I’ve had a best present, not even sure I remember what I got last year or any other year, what I remember most are the Christmas’ I’ve been able to spend with my family. Them being there are the best presents!
pypercharmed@yahoo.com
My favorite gift was a tote signed by Nora Roberts. I have been reading her since she was first published.Merry Christmas!!
koonie2888 at yahoo dot com
My favorite gift was a giant, pink canopied bed – when I was a little girl, of course. Mostly I was impressed that my parents set it up in the wee hours of the morning and that it was taller than the Christmas tree.
Hillary
Impudent Hatchlings – http://hillaryjacques.blogspot.com/
killary AT gmail DOT com
“What’s the best present you’ve ever received?”
Don’t tell my husband because I’m sure he thinks something HE gave me was the best… but I received a Kindle from our friends last Christmas and it ranks as #1. As an eager reader I love print books but the space saving quality of an ereader has saved me so much headache. ;)
Happy Christmas Jane!
— Rhianna
always.and.never AT gmail DOT com
The best gift I ever received– and you will totally be able to relate to me on this one– was the Writing on the Waves cruise. ;) I received the ticket from my mother-in-law to be at dinner a day or two before Christmas. I about squealed myself to death in the restaurant. :)
Happy holidays, lady!
Thank you for the great giveaway! The best present that i ever recieved was a laptop. So much fun!shadowluvs2read(at)gmail(dot)com
The best gift I’ve ever received was a remote car starter! Mmmm, nothing like a warm car with clean windows when you are in the frozen tundra!! ;)
Happy Holidays to all!!
thewildtwo {@} sbcglobal {DOT} net
And the winner of the prize pack is JessS! Congrats! Email me at jane(at)janekindred(dot)com with your mailing address and I’ll send your prize on its way.
A very Merry Holiday and a Happy New Year to everyone! Thanks for participating! :)
Well, I haven’t heard from Jess, and she didn’t leave an email address, so I’ve drawn an alternate winner:
JeanP, you are now the winner of the prize pack! I have your email address, so I’ll be notifying you there as well. Congrats, and S Novym Godom! (That’s “Happy New Year” in Russian.) :)