I’d like to welcome everyone to my final blog tour of 2011. And so to properly celebrate, I’ve decided to give a way one copy of the book each week to one of those willing to leave a comment on this blog post.

Easy peasy, right?

But be forewarned, this is not your typical Christmas romance novel.

Although I love many aspects of this novel, my biggest fear is that readers won’t like one of the main characters, Holly, and thus, won’t give her a chance—won’t enjoy the story. When I starting writing this novel I didn’t want to create the same heroine we all know so well. You know, the leading lady who is pretty, but doesn’t know it, meets a hero who finds her attractive but somehow she just doesn’t see it, blah, blah, and blah. I agree and so I did the unconscionable and wrote a pretty character who actually knows she pretty. But I didn’t stop there, she’s also stylish and…OMG…she knows that too. Gasp! She’s snobby and yes, a wee bit shallow.

Holly is the kind of girl we all knew, and maybe even were, in school who was pretty and popular and new it. The same girl who grew up, married the perfect man, and now lives in the perfect house and by all appearances, has the perfect life. Puke! I know, all y’all already hate her.

And so did many of the acquisitions editors I sent this manuscript to. They said things like, “Holly’s too mean, I don’t like her—she’s unsympathetic,” etc and so on while, at the same time, saying that what they really wanted was something different from the usual heroine.

So if Holly’s not “something different” then what kind of character is? A main character who’s unattractive but thinks she’s beautiful? Okay, I’m being facetious. I know what they want—a heroine who is semi-attractive, possessing insecurities other women can identify with, who finds a way around her stumbling blocks, usually by taking down a woman or two very much like Holly in the process. So, if that makes Holly the antagonist, then wouldn’t a story depicting her as the protagonist therefore make her an atypical heroine?

Wouldn’t it? Wouldn’t it?

So why would you want to read about Holly? Because she also has her struggles and as the plot unfolds, goes through some very life-altering changes. In the end, I hope, y’all will like her and see how everyone has the potential for growth, to find what’s truly important in life, and yes, become human. To see that love, happiness and joy can be found in the most unexpected places.

For those of you who are tired of the same old romance characters, I hope you’ll give this one a chance and in the process, fall in love with Brian all over again. After all, pretty people want what the rest of us want: family, love, acceptance and happiness.

No Holly for Christmas GiveAWay!

Make a break from the box, not the usual break, but one with a whole new vision of atypical. If you’re up for the challenge, leave a comment on this blog and you might win a free, signed, copy of this “groundbreaking” novel. If you’re not chosen, come back the week and try again.

Happy Start to the Holidays!

Blog Reviews:

Confessions of a Bibliophile       The Write Stuff       Debbie’s Inkspections     La La’s Books     Cheryl’s Book Nook    Eva’s Sanctuary    Books for Me   Scribbled Scraps   Why Not? Because I Said So!    From the TBR File   Laurie’s Thoughts and Reviews   The Book Bag   The Musings of a Book Addict   Murdock and Pink Nail Polish  Sharon’s Garden of Book Reviews  Write Bravely  Comma Sense  Jeanzbookreadnreview  Books and Needlepoint