Holiday Jinx by Abbey Macinnis {review-giveaway-guest post}

Today I am excited to be a part of Lit' Connects Holiday Jinx Blog Tour. Please enjoy my review of this holiday romance and Abbey's delightful guest post and giveaway:

Guest Post 

Thank you so much to Kimba for having me here today! I’m happy to be here!

It’s hard to believe another year has flown by and we’re in the thick of another holiday season. I don’t know where the time went. I’m very busy this time of year. I sing in two local choirs, and I have dozens of cookies and goodies to bake and presents to rap. I have last minute shopping to take care of. I’m not as horrible this year as in the past. LOL I actually got an early start on my holiday shopping this year. Yay!

My most favorite thing to do during the holiday season is to spend time with my family. Growing up, it seemed like my family was always getting together for one cousin’s birthday or a holiday. Now that we’re all older and with lives of our own, we don’t get to spend as much time together as we used to. I really miss that. Thanksgiving and Christmas are two times of the year where we all sit and eat and catch up.

As a kid, it was so much fun receiving presents. The anticipation of seeing what Santa left me kept me up for hours. And as an adult, I still love receiving presents. *g* The holidays mean much more to me now though. I tend to reflect on my life and just give thanks for all I have. And part of that thankful spirit is participating in buying gifts for children and giving them anonymously. Though I don’t get to see their reactions when they open their presents, it feels so wonderful to play even a small part in bringing them happiness.

In one sentimental and pivotal scene in my latest book, Holiday Jinx, my hero and heroine are invited to share their neighbor’s Thanksgiving dinner. To my hero Chris, they haven’t done anything to warrant such generosity. They simply cleared their walkway. But their elderly neighbor doesn’t’ know of any better way to show her thanks. Her grandchildrens’ parents are trapped in town, but are on their way. Chris and Natalie did a job that would give her more time with her precious family. Thanksgiving is all about being grateful for what you have and for those in your life. I wanted to include this element in my story because to me, sharing and letting others know you care, doing good deeds, and bonding with others can enrich your experience of the holidays.

Of course, there are toys and plenty of mistletoe to go around in my story too. LOL Not to mention a mischievous matchmaking elf, after all, the holidays wouldn’t be the holidays without a lot of love and some magic. *g*

How about you? What’s your favorite part of the holidays? What do you enjoy most about this time of year? Leave me a comment below and you could win either a $5 gift card to buy either a Kindle or Nook book. Don’t forget to leave your email address so I can contact you. Only one comment per person necessary to enter. I’ll draw the winner with random.org.

If you want to get in touch with me, check out my links below or send me an email at:

abbeymacinnis@gmail.com

I’m always happy to chat.

Good luck and happy holidays!

My Review:

Holiday Jinx
by Abbey MacInnis
Publication date: November 12, 2012
Genre: Adult Contemporary Holiday Romance
Purchase: Barnes and Noble/Amazon


*contains mature content

It’s the most wonderful time of the year…unless you’re single and lonely.
Jinx—one of Santa’s elves—is in trouble with the Big Guy. She’s been charged with bringing holiday happiness to Christopher Ragan, CEO of Wondrous Toys. It’s a big job especially when he’s more attached to the bottom of a bottle than helping his fellow man. 
She’s got enough trouble without spilling the secrets of the North Pole, but then along comes Natalie Burnes, a newbie CEO of Enchanted Toys and in trouble of a hostile takeover from Christopher’s company. The woman literally crashes Christopher’s vacation plans in a tucked away Michigan cabin---and the sparks start flying. As if Jinx’s job of matchmaking the toy makers isn’t hard enough, she’s got to stay one step ahead of the North Pole patrol and keep out of sight of the humans. No way is she gonna screw up and lose her magic again. If the humans can’t find happiness and love by Christmas, Jinx forfeits her chance of seeing her true love too. What’s an elf to do?

When I joined Lit’ Connects' blog tour of Holiday Jinx I could not resist reading the novel. I am a sucker for holiday themed books. Truly! Put a Christmas cover on anything and I immediately need to read it. I am so glad I did because Macinnis offered up a heartwarming, funny, made for Hallmark Christmas romance that definitely put me in the holiday mood.

The tale begins when we meet Jinx. She is one of Santa’s elves and boy is she in a heap of trouble with the Jolly old elf.  To avoid being sentence, Santa charges her with bringing holiday happiness to the CEO of Wondrous Toys, Christopher Ragan. Somehow she needs to bring Chris together with Natalie Burnes, the new CEO of Enchanted Toys. Her task make them fall in love, and not just love but true love. This will prove to be a difficulty task as Chris has already begun a hostile takeover of Enchanted Toys. Santa gave her strict rules not to use her magic. The tale that unfolds is sweet, funny, and full of twists and some very sizzling hot moments.

Christopher comes off as arrogant, and as cutthroat businessmen that is until you peel back the layers and find a damaged romantic. I really liked Christopher despite the mess he finds himself in. I found myself wanting to hug the little boy in him while swooning over the smexy man he has become. Natalie is full of hope, loyal to the core and has been seriously burned in the love department. She needs Chris’s help to save her company more then she even realizes, but can she learn to trust her heart. Jinx is a meddlesome little elf and her antics made me laugh, especially when they backfired. Other characters added to the tale and help shape my opinions of the hero and heroine in this tale.

The addition of an elf to this classic storyline made it amusing and in the beginning a little corny, but the tale comes into its own and I quickly got caught up in seeking a happily ever after. The sexual tension between Chris and Natalie felt real and gave way to some steamy scenes. The thread regarding their two toy companies was compelling and I got caught up in saving Enchanted Toys. This was a fun, easy read and I read it in a single sitting.

I recommend Holiday Jinx to those seeking a fun, romantic holiday escape. Macinnis also writes contemporary western romances, historical and paranormal romances. I will definitely read more of her work.

I want to thank Lit Connect and the author for providing this ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

Three peppermint flavored coffees out of five

Giveaway

Abbey is gifting one randomly drawn commenter from each tour stop a $5 electronic gift certificate to either Amazon.com or Barnes & Noble.com; Winners’ choice. Additionally, Abbey is gifting a Grand Prize tour wide giveaway of a zip file filled with various author digital book donations. The winner can only win ONCE during the entire tour. Please leave a comment with your broken up email addy and follow the Rafflecopter directions. The giveaway is open internationally and the winners will be notified via email after the close of the tour.

Zip file:

Selfs Blossom by David Russell

A Night of Southern Comfort and Secret Santa Baby by Robin Covington

To Kiss An Angel and He’s the One by Jane Beckenham

Checking It Twice by Jodi Redford

Romancing Wisconsin Holiday Box set by Stacey Joy Netzel

Holiday Jinx by Abbey MacInnis

a Rafflecopter giveaway

About the Author 

Abbey MacInnis is a published author of Contemporary Western romance. Along with Contemporary, she  writes Historical, Paranormal and erotic romance. Whether she’s being swept off her feet by a Medieval knight, regency rake, or cowboy or cop, her heroes are always strong men who’ll love their women unconditionally. On most days, Abbey can be found at her computer, penning her latest tale. A tale where love, respect, and passion combine to create a satisfying and happy ending. She invites you to step in to the pages of her romances, to leave your worries behind and get swept up in her world.

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