Debbie Macomber’s bestselling novel is now a Hallmark Channel Original Movie starring Doris Roberts and James Van Der Beek! If you are anything like me and can’t resist a holiday love story, then don’t miss the premiere this Saturday, December 5 at 8 PM EST on the Hallmark Channel.


Seth Webster's heart never healed after he lost his adored wife. Now, with Christmas approaching, wild twin boys to raise alone, a home in chaos, and the latest in a long line of exasperated housekeepers quitting in disgust, Seth needs more than help to keep his family together...he needs a miracle.

And, then, a miracle arrives on his doorstep. Her name is Mrs. Merkle, but the kids call her "Mrs. Miracle"--and from the moment the warm, knowing, and very patient nanny appears, everything is different, and Seth may have found the courage to love again.

In the true holiday spirit of MRS. MIRACLE, Avon will be giving away two adorable MRS. MIRACLE aprons paired with a copy of the book to two lucky winners!

To enter the contest, share one of your favorite holiday cookie recipes as a comment to this post. Let the most enticing, mouth watering recipe win!

Romance Radio Event:
THE CARE AND TAMING OF A ROGUE author Suzanne Enoch

Every love story needs a good monkey. Join New York Times bestselling author SUZANNE ENOCH (who will be interviewed by fellow romance luminary/Romance Radio roving reporter Cathy Maxwell), as she talks about her newest bestseller, THE CARE AND TAMING OF A ROGUE. After all, everyone needs a good (furry) sidekick.


Listen today at 2 pm EST on Romance Radio or call in LIVE (347) 826-9686

CLICK HERE

For love of a bad boy:

In her newest sexy, sassy romantic comedy, WHAT I DID FOR LOVE, good girl actress Georgie York has been publicly abandoned by her famous, movie-star husband for an international do-good superstar.

You might think that WHAT I DID FOR LOVE is rooted in a perennial tabloid love triangle...one that's generating more buzz as a certain pouty-lipped actress is sharing steamy shower scenes with the sexiest man alive in an upcoming flick. But this video, will set you straight: in the author's own words, she tells why it's a tale straight from SEP's heart, "where redemption is always possible, and even a fake Hollywood couple trapped in a pretend marriage might find true love." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

So many Avon Books have covers up for the 2009 Best Historical Covers award. Go take a look and cast your vote!! CLICK HERE

I just spent seven days on jury duty. Now, when I got my summons, I was super excited. I've always wanted to be called for jury duty and the few times it happened in the past, I was away at school.

So, after all these years, patiently waiting, it was finally here! Of course, in all of my fantasizing about the joys of jury duty, I forgot that I might have to actually...serve on a jury.

Annoying/scary as it was, I have to say that our justice system is pretty cool. And it works! Plus, the judge was right out of an episode of LAW & ORDER--no-nonsense, witty, and smart. The lawyers were very lawyerly and the cops...well, let's just say the legacy of Lenny Briscoe has nothing to worry about.

Anyway, this all got me thinking about my favorite fictional police officers. Of course, there's the late, great Detective Lenny Briscoe (sidebar: did you all know that Jerry Orbach was a Broadway star? Check him out HERE. The great small-town sheriffs from MURDER, SHE WROTE are hilarious. And, let's not forget Officer Tom Hanson, otherwise known as Johnny Depp's character in 21 JUMP STREET.

My latest favorite is Sheriff Dylan Taber of Gospel, Idaho (and of TRUE CONFESSIONS by Rachel Gibson). I have wanted to live in New York City my whole life and I have no plans of moving, ever. But if all the lawmen in Idaho are like Dylan...I may just have to rethink my life goals.

Any fictional characters you wish would come to life? (No Fitzwilliam Darcys please! Surprise me!)

Today, I'm turning the blog over to a brand new Avon author Sarah MacLean. You may not know her, yet--she has previously written a YA novel called THE SEASON ,available from Scholastic--however, in March, her book will, I predict, burst on the scene. Sarah already has a rave from Eloisa James, and with those sorts of creds, how can she miss?

Like Carrie’s mom, my favorite holiday is also Thanksgiving. It’s absolutely because of the food; there is nothing better than a gravy-soaked plate of turkey with all the trimmings. Nothing, that is, but the Friday afternoon leftovers that make the sandwich of champions!

This year, in the midst of those Friday afternoon leftovers, the holidays are looming--and, with them, dreaded responsibility. Shopping, cooking, entertaining, decorating...as fun as December can be, there seems to be an awful lot of rules that get in the way of the festivities.

So, it seems fitting that (as I bide my time until the new year, and the release of my first Avon romance, NINE RULES TO BREAK WHEN ROMANCING A RAKE) I share my "Nine Rules For Surviving The Holiday Season".

1. Remember that family drama is excellent fodder for that novel you’ve always wanted to write. When it gets to be too much, envision eviscerating that awful aunt in fiction.

2. If you get a chance under the mistletoe, take it. The halls are only decked once a year.

3. Start shopping early and mine those sales, but remember: Just because that puff-painted cardigan is 70% off doesn’t make it a bargain.

4. Make every night of Hanukkah count. Giving gelt on night three is just plain phoning it in.

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for what you want. Twitter tip! From now until December 19th, the elves at Sephora (one of my favorite stores) are granting one beauty wish a day--if that’s not a reason to start tweeting, I don’t know what is!

6. Regifting is bad karma.

7. No stocking is complete without a romance novel. First, they’re the perfect size and, second, they’re an excellent escape from the post-holiday blues. I, for one, am hoping Santa will leave me a copy of Victoria Alexander’s new BELIEVE--it was one of my very favorite romances back in the day (everyone loves a good time-travel, right?), and now it’s updated for a new era.

8. Reconsider waking up at 3 AM to beat the crowds at the mall. Stay in your jammies, cuddle on the couch with the dog, and shop online. I promise you, no gift is worth standing in line...in the dark...in the freezing cold.

9. Nice might be what Santa is looking for...but naughty is way more fun.

So...what are your rules for surviving the holidays?

Thanksgiving is my mother's favorite holiday. I'm not sure if it's because of the food, the fact that it's such an inclusive holiday, or that my grandmother's birthday often fell on Thanksgiving Day.

But, whatever the reason, I too honor the holiday by hosting family and friends every year at my huge table in the country. I honor my grandmother by placing the two little battered pilgrim candles (never lit) that graced her table in the middle of my centerpiece.

This year, my mom decided to go to Colonial Williamsburg to celebrate in a different sort of way, and in order to join her in spirit I've been immersing myself in novels about colonial America. On Friday, I saw THE CRUCIBLE and, over the weekend, I read Brunonia Barry's amazing book THE LACE READER and Kathleen Kent's THE HERETIC'S APPRENTICE. Richly textured, both novels are set in Salem. Enough said.

It made me realize that, last year, I read Nathaniel Philbrick's MAYFLOWER, which I highly recommend and my daughter read one of my all time favorite books: THE WITCH OF BLACKBIRD POND by Elizabeth George Speare (a great essay about this book is in Lizzie Skurnick's SHELF DISCOVERY).

However, all these books feature witches and only the children's book is really a romance novel. This led me to a frightening conclusion--Is THANKSGIVING a horribly unromantic holiday?

Sure we've published books with witches, like CHRISTINA DODD's A WELL FAVORED GENTLEMAN, and we've published Christmas books like MRS MIRACLE and Eloisa James' witty and tear-inducing AN AFFAIR BEFORE CHRISTMAS. But is there a Thanksgiving book? Maybe we should challenge one of our writers to create one for next year. What do you all think?

And, to my mom, enjoying an authentic Williamsburg Thanksgiving: watch out for witches!