Guest Post and Giveaway with Marina Adair

I just finished watching Love Actually, and now I am all mushy and in the Christmas spirit—and all I can think about, besides Hugh Grant shaking his cute bum to Jump by the pointer sisters, is that kiss that between Colin Firth’s character and Aurelia, I mean, it comes in at swoon-tastic on my BestHoliday Kisses scale! And since my latest release is KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE, I thought that a Best HollywoodHoliday Kiss Countdown was in order!

After some long and hard consideration, I have finallynarrowed it down to my top #5 Best Hollywood Holiday Kisses ever...

 #5 Serendipity comes in at the top of my list. I know this movie doesn’t all take place around the holidays, but

what’s more romantic than two people brought together by chance, separated by fate with the knowledge that they are meant for each other, only to find one another again years later to finally get their second chance at true love.

#4 Love Actually. Every time I watch this movie, my heart breaks though this entire scene. Juliet is engaged to Mark’s best friend, but Mark is in love with Juliet. He lays it all on the line, in the most amazing way and then quietly walks away…  

Only, Juliet chases him down the block and gives him what should be a send-off kiss, but the moment is so perfect and heloves her with such intensity that this one kiss, and her happiness, will be enough.

#3 While you were Sleeping. This movie has it all: love-it-at-first-sight, mistaken identity, forbidden love, love triangle, a crazy family. It would have been so easy to have Bill Pullman’s character show up alone at the end and declare his feelings. But this story is about love and belonging and family, so of course the entire Callaghan family shows up and proposes to her.

And then the kiss…sheer brilliance. Look at how he is looking at her.

#2 Love Actually hits my list again, this time with the kiss that started it all. This story line has all of the trappings of brilliant romance: two people who don’t share the same language, country of residence, or culture, and yet they overcome everything for love. But the part that gets me is when Colin’s character, Jamie, takes the time to learn Portuguese, only tobotch up his declaration of love fabulously, in front of the entire restaurant and her family… sigh…

#1 Bridget Jones’s Diary has to be at number one for me. First off, it is an adaptation of my favorite romance novel, Pride and Prejudice, and regardless of the setting, contemporary or historical, Colin Firth is by far the best Mr. Darcy ever. And Bridget is my kind of heroines. I mean, the poor girl is a hot mess, sprinting through the snow in her underwear and running shoes to apologize…in the most confusing way….only Mr. Darcy already knows that diaries are full of crap and he has bought her a new one…and when the old ladies harrumph at her choice of wardrobe, Darcy doesn’t cover her up with his coat, he kisses her, right there on the street corner, accepting her for exactly who she is…

Oh, and I  couldn’t end without giving and honorable mention to A Christmas Story…A “Best Christmas” list of any kind has to have this movie on it or it can’t qualify as a Christmas List. So even though Flick technically isn’t “kissing” the pole, there is some serious tongue action going on.

 

You can find Marina at these locations: 

 Facebook  |  Goodreads  | Twitter: @MarinaEAdair

********* GIVEAWAY *********

 Marina is generously offering up a paperback ARC of Kissing Under the Mistletoe to one lucky commenter. Just fill out the rafflecopter below to be entered. US Only this time. I will like to say i have read and reviewed this book and absolutely loved it .

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Review for Kissing Under the Mistletoe by Marina Adair

Title: Kissing Under the Mistletoe
Author : Marina Adair

Description: Regan Martin stopped believing in Christmas miracles six years ago when she lost everything—her house, her job, and her impeccable reputation in the wine industry—after she fell in love with a man she had no idea was married. Then Regan gets a chance for a fresh start in the Napa Valley. With her dream job, dream home, and her daughter enrolled in a wonderful new school, she starts wondering if holiday wishes really do come true.

But she soon tumbles back down to earth when she learns that her new boss is none other than Gabe DeLuca, the scorned wife’s brother. Gabe wants nothing more than home-wrecking Regan Martin out of his life, his sister’s world, and his family’s business. Mostly, he wants the lush beauty out of his head. Yet his attempts to run her out of town have him thinking twice, especially when he sees that Regan may hold the key to tracking down his sister’s stolen start-up capital. Even worse for Gabe, Regan might just be his Christmas wish and hold the key to his heart

My Thoughts: At a young age Regan made a mistake of falling for an older man named Richard. Whom she believed loved her back. In the process she got pregnant and found out it was all a sham when they were caught by Gabe DeLuca. Gabe ends up making the next six years of her life hell by blocking every job prospect . Finally, with hope on the horizon for her young daughter and herself she picks up and moves. After applying and getting a job at a winery, said to be ran by all women. Finally thinking she is able to put the past behind her; and raise her daughter comfortably. Only she gets a nice surprise her first day in the new town by running into Gabe. Gabe has always protected his family to any means. Isn't he surprised to see her in his territory. Making sure that Regan and his sister never run into each other, while trying to see if Regan will lead him to Richard was a task he didn't mind . Even if he always found her attractive and she made him smile. So, he plays nice and calls a truce. He soon realizes though that he might have made a big mistake where Regan was .

It's like Christmas in October when i read this. I did not want to put this book down. Adair drew me in with lovable characters and non-stop laughter not to mention plenty of um holiday cheer and mourning for a beloved Randolf. I enjoy it when an author not only makes you love the main characters, but the background characters as well. Each person in the town added something to the story and you couldn't help but be fond of each if them.

Regan is a strong woman with a whole lot of spirit and a side of vulnerability. Who wouldn't let anything or anyone prevent her from trying to give her daughter the happiness she deserves. It doesn't hurt that she had me laughing so hard within the first five pages with her antics. Already so misjudged from past deeds that weren't her fault. Instead of giving the De Luca family the edge over her she would rather hold her head high. This doesn't explain why she can't get past her Gabe who is a smexy man beast who makes her nether regions come to life like no man has since Richard.

Gabe is smexy and loyal to his family. Sure he feels a strong attraction to Regan he always has it's part of the reasons he enjoys the banter back and forth with her. However, when it comes to his family he always tries to protect them.

The attraction between them is visible from the beginning. Adair creates a slow burn building us up to the fireworks that go off when both Regan and Gabe finally give in to their feelings for each other. The wit and antics between them had me dying laughing. Heck, the antics of half the people Adair created in the town had me wishing I lived there myself. This is my first book by Adair I will definitely be looking for the next in the series. I do believe my Christmas season started two months early thanks to this cute spunky Christmas romance.

5 out of 5 Stars 

You can purchase it here : Amazon 

You can find Marina here : Facebook  / Goodreads  / Twitter