December is I :::Heart::: the Holidays month at my blog. During these next twenty-two days, besides the usual blog posts, I’m featuring authors who write holiday romance. Today, I have Sadira Stone in the interview chair. We’re discussing Christmas Rekindled: A Banger Tavern Romance. Be sure to check out the excerpt.
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1. What draws you to writing holiday romance?
Sadira: What’s not to love about the holidays? Found family is a favorite theme in my books, and I love the way the holidays draw friends and family together for joyful celebrations. Plus, ya know, mistletoe!
2. How many holiday romances have you written so far? And which one would you recommend for readers to try, besides the one you are featuring? Feel free to leave a link.
Sadira: This is my first and only Christmas romance, but Opposites Ignite, Bangers Romance 2, centers around Valentine’s Day, and so does my free reader magnet, Cupid’s Silver Spark, available exclusively to my newsletter subscribers.
3. What do you like most about writing holiday romance?
Sadira: Did I mention the mistletoe? Centering a story around a holiday celebration lets me create the perfect family/friend gathering without having to actually cook/clean/decorate/buy gifts.
4. What do you like least about writing holiday romance?
Sadira: Sorry, drawing a blank on this one.
5. What inspired you to write your featured holiday story?
Sadira: I wanted to set a romance series in a neighborhood tavern, and holiday parties in casual bars can be so much fun!
6. If a reader asked you why they should read your holiday romance, what would you tell them?
Sadira: Steam, snark, and holiday cocktails!
7. Lastly, how are you going to spend the holidays?
Sadira: We’ve just moved to Las Vegas, so we’ll be celebrating Christmas with my daughter-in-law’s family. Her dad’s a gifted chef and always cooks enough to feed an army.
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Title: Christmas Rekindled: A Bangers Tavern Romance
Series: Bangers Tavern Romance, Book 1
Genre: Steamy Contemporary Romance
Length: 296 pages, 74,624 words
Heat Rating: 4 Flames
Publication Date: October 5, 2020
Publisher: Sadira Stone
When two Scrooges unite to save a bar in trouble, a kiss under the mistletoe sparks the sexiest Christmas miracle ever.
Blurb: Bartender River Lundqvist has a damn good reason for hating Christmas. Bangers Tavern is the perfect place to lay low over the holidays—until Charlie walks in. His first encounter with the saucy server nine years ago was utter humiliation. Her reappearance stirs up powerful desires and hopes for a new start. But the timing is all wrong.
Back in Tacoma to care for her estranged dad over the holidays, freelance web designer Charlie Khoury braces herself for the suckiest Christmas ever. A temporary job at Bangers Tavern gives her a chance to escape Dad’s criticism and blow off some steam. But why does the hunky bartender seem to hate her?
A pretend girlfriend is just what River needs to keep his family off his back—until a kiss under the mistletoe flares hot enough to melt the North Pole. When greedy developers threaten Bangers Tavern, River and Charlie must team up to save it. Their sizzling chemistry feels like the real thing—but everyone knows rebound relationships don’t last.
Come to Bangers Tavern for an enemies-to-lovers tale of reconciliation, found family, holiday cocktails, and the steamiest Christmas miracle ever.
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Her low, throaty chuckle made him want to kiss her again. Though he pretty much wanted to kiss her anytime she was within range.
She laid her hand palm-up on the center console. “The thing is, I’m not looking for a relationship.”
Remembering a bit of Dawn’s wisdom, he nestled his hand into hers. “You never find a relationship when you’re looking for one.”
Her gaze softened, open and vulnerable. “Are you looking?”
Warning sirens blared inside his head. This was a question to answer very carefully. “If you’d asked me a month ago, I’d say, ‘No way.’ But then, I kissed this girl under the mistletoe, and…”
She closed her eyes, lifted his hand, and pressed it to her sternum. Beneath his palm, her heart thudded fast. His pulse sped to match hers. He held his breath.
“I like you, River.” Her whisper matched the brush of snowflakes against the windows.
“I like you too.”
She inhaled deeply, then met his gaze. “Enough to be my friend?”
He nodded, mesmerized.
“Because my life is a mess right now, and I have no idea what the fuck I’m doing.”
Her coarse language stirred up a heady swirl of laughter, sympathy, and arousal. He scooted as near as the center console allowed and placed his lips close to her ear. “I’ll tell you a secret. Me neither.”
Fire flickered in her eyes’ inky depths. Her lips parted. A golden thread wound around his heart and tugged him toward her. His thumb stroked the delicate line of her jaw as he closed the distance.
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Ever since her first kiss, Sadira’s been spinning steamy tales in her head. After leaving her teaching career in Germany, she finally tried her hand at writing one. Now she’s a happy citizen of Romancelandia, penning contemporary romance and cozy mysteries from her home in Washington State. When not writing, which is seldom, she explores the Pacific Northwest with her charming husband, enjoys the local music scene, plays guitar badly, and gobbles all the books.
Find Sadira: Web Site | Facebook Page | Twitter | Goodreads | Instagram | BookBub | Amazon | Newsletter Sign-Up
Maggie Blackbird 
Since I loved Opposites Ignite so much, I’ve got to read this one! I’m currently not reviewing on any site other than my own, and Goodreads. But I love to yell from the treetops about books I enjoy.
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