I hope you’re all enjoying a blessed Christmas week. I’m on holidays from my day job, and I’m enjoying the Christmas and New Year holiday break. The big event that immediately follows Christmas in Australia are our Boxing Day sales. These sales are the equivalent to the Black Friday sales in the US. Boxing Day on December 26 is a public holiday here, and the Boxing Day sales start in-store on either December 26 or 27 (depending on where you live).
December 26 is traditionally the first day of a Boxing Day cricket test match game in Melbourne. The Sydney to Hobart yacht race starts on Boxing Day in Sydney Harbour. Last year I was out on the harbour in Sydney to watch the start of the race.
Winners this Week
If you’re a winner, you should have received an email from the author in charge of the giveaway. If not, please email us at: prizes at inspyromance dot com.
Alexa Verde’s winner is Kelley B!
Shannon Taylor Vannatter’s winner is Katie A!
Congratulations!
Don’t forget… every comment you make qualifies you to win one of the monthly Amazon card giveaways!
Reader Gathering
Did you know Inspy Romance hosts a Christian Romance Reader Gathering group on Facebook? Join us… but don’t forget to answer the questions for admittance!
Last Week on Inspy Romance
On Monday, Staci Stalling talked about how Process is Not Just Destination.
On Tuesday, Inspy Romance was closed for Christmas Day.
On Wednesday, Melanie Snitker shared her thoughts on As One Year Closes.
On Thursday, Jackie Castle talked about her book releases in Making Winter Merry.
On Friday, Marion Ueckermann invited guest blogger Ashley Winter to talk about Love in South Africa plus 2 book giveaway.
On Saturday, Heather Gray asked the question: What is Love?
Next Week on Inspy Romance
Monday: Janet Ferguson (Becky Wade ~ Book of the Year and Giveaway!)
Tuesday: Inspy Romance is closed for New Years Day.
Wednesday: Cecelia Dowdy
Thursday: Ginger Solomon (A New Year, A New Me)
Friday: Krista Phillips
Saturday: Julie Arduini (The Way to A Reader’s Heart…)
New Releases
December 2018
The Spare and the Heir (Crowns & Courtships 6) by Carol Moncado
The Cowboy’s Mixed-Up Matchmaker (Montana Ranches Christian Romance 2) by Valerie Comer
November 2018
A Christmas Baby for the Cowboy (Cowboy Country 9) by Deb Kastner
The Twins’ Family Christmas (Redemption Ranch) by Lee Tobin McClain
Pathway to Peace (Grant Us Grace 5) by Elizabeth Maddrey
I Still Do (Second Chance With You 6) by Melanie D. Snitker
Blessed Gifts (Lavender Vale Farm 3) by Jackie Castle
Recovering Hope (The Potters House Books 14) by Marion Ueckermann
A Reservation for Romance (Homegrown Love 3) (Arcadia Valley Romance 19) by Annalisa Daughety
Simply Smitten (Brides of Seattle 2) by Kimberly Rose Johnson
Fall in Love at the Miss Snowflake Pageant (Christmas in Montana Romances 1-3) by Valerie Comer
A complete list of Inspy Romance books by our authors is always available on our BOOKS tab. Find our audiobooks, our permanently free e-books, and our thank-you gifts for newsletter subscribers there as well!
A fun loving Aussie girl at heart, Narelle Atkins was born and raised on the beautiful northern beaches in Sydney, Australia. She has settled in Canberra with her husband and children. A lifelong romance reader, she found the perfect genre to write when she discovered inspirational romance. Narelle's contemporary stories of faith and romance are set in Australia and international locations.
Hi Narelle, enjoy your holidays:) We have just returned from a delightful time up on the high plains camping and hiking so missed the shopping queues:)
We were fortunate to be in Hobart a few years ago as the last of the yachts were coming in to Constitution Dock. Very cool that you could be out on the harbour to watch the start.
Cricket is a little depressing to talk about these days :(
Blessings:)
Hi Narelle and Happy New Year! Thanks for sharing about cricket and yacht races. Best wishes.
Happy New Year, Narelle! Thank you so much for sharing about the traditions in Australia! That is somewhere I have always wished to visit!
Happy New Year! Hope you have a blessed break before returning to work.
Happy New Year! Enjoy the rest of your time off work!
Have a blessed and Happy New Year ?
Wemble I so agree about the cricket! I was so exhausted partly from meds, the weather and I think I picked up a bug so slept through most of the first 2 days of the test. I have been to 3 Boxing Day tests and had a wonderful time there.
Here we don’t have as many sales (in my town) we do have supermarkets dropping Christmas items and I did pick up a few things for next year. We have a number of shops close between Christmas and New year.
I do often by online in the sales but this year I don’t have the money to do it and as they say if you don’t need it its not really a bargain.
Enjoy your time off! I do have to work on New Years Eve, but then have a few days off.
Hi Wemble, I’m glad you enjoyed your camping trip. I did most of my post-Christmas shopping online and avoided the queues. Happy New Year :)
Hi Renate, you’re very welcome. Happy New Year :)
Hi Paula, I hope you’ll have a chance to visit Australia! Happy New Year :)
Hi Paula, I’m making the most of my break. Happy New Year :)
Hi Jackie, I will! Happy New Year. :)
Hi Lucy, Happy New Year. :)
Hi Jenny, yes, the cricket’s fine if you ignore the scores, lol. I’m sorry you’re unwell and pray you’ll feel better soon. I agree – it’s not a shopping bargain if you don’t need the item. Happy New Year. :)
Hi Patty, Happy New Year & enjoy your time off from work. :)
I love good Christian romance books. Thanks for the contest. I love Becky Wades books.
HAPPY NEW YEAR NARELLE! HOPY YOU HAD A GREAT CHRISTMAS!
Happy New Year Sarah! :)
I am so greatful to Ashley bringing out the better of my beautiful country. Books written about SA today are full of sadness. Thank you.