Blog Tour: Book Excerpt & Giveaway of A Seal Forever by Anne Elizabeth

A SEAL Forever by Anne Elizabeth

West Coast Navy SEALs, Book 3

ISBN: 9781402268960

Release date: December 1, 2015

Genre: Contemporary Romance

Publisher: Sourcebooks Casablanca

Summary

Even a hero needs someone to believe in him...

Parkour instructor Maura Maxwell has always denied her attraction for her bachelor neighbor because she’s seen his revolving door of women and doesn’t want to become another notch on his belt. But the man who rescues her from a sudden storm isn’t the one she thinks she knows—he’s Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five, and he literally sweeps Maura off her feet.

Just as his teasing and tenderness start to work their way into Maura’s heart, Declan and his team are called in for a dangerous op in the Middle East. The man who returns is facing the toughest fight of his life, and he needs Maura by his side more than ever…

Excerpt

Master Chief Declan Swifton of SEAL Team Five rolled over the side of the Rigid-hulled Inflatable Boat and slid soundlessly into the Pacific Ocean. The RIB took off without even a comment from the operator, leaving Declan to sink farther into the drink.

The temperature cooled as he swam away from the surface. Fish skirted the edges of his thighs, small shimmers of movement against his skin. He scissor-kicked his way forward. The ocean currents caught him, dragging him in the direction they wanted to go, toward shore. He lay with his arms at his sides, frog-kicking only. Above him, he could see the afternoon sunlight glistening and frothy foam chasing away the glassy surface. Down here things were different…calmer. Peaceful, in a way few souls would understand, and yet he knew that even he would have to surface soon.

His lungs would start to ache and burn, his gut would begin to feel as if it would cave in, and that would force him to either head topside or drink in the salt water. But there was still time. This was the water in front of Imperial Beach and the apartment he lived in. He knew it very well.

Scanning the ocean floor, he gauged it would be about thirty seconds until he reached one of the many rocky sandbars out here. He’d have to pull up before then, or the force of the current would smack him against the side.

As his body began to complain, he used both arms and legs to draw himself upward. Breaking the surface, he opened his mouth and drew in air like a thirsty man would gulp water.

The waves bounced him like a buoy. The tide was coming in and the wind was picking up momentum. Looking at the sky to the east, he could see that there would most likely be a storm today. Over his should, to the west, he spied a wave coming his way large enough to take him to shore. It would reach him in about thirty seconds.

Dec took a long, slow breath and appreciated the sun dropping into the horizon. The colors were extraordinary; orange and gold dappled the horizon as the blazing ball of light attempted to sink before the

moon lifted higher in the sky.

His hands flexed, cupping the water. It had been a hot day, and the sun’s rays had heated the top of the ocean, making the surface feel like a warm bath, loosening his muscles. Three months ago, he’d been in waters so frigid, with actual ice caps—the memory still made him cold. But here, the Pacific Ocean off California’s Imperial Beach, was a slice of heaven.

Coming in from the east were some nasty-looking cumulonimbus clouds. Seeing the lightning arc way off toward the distant desert, he decided it was time to go in, and right on cue, here came a perfect wave.

Swimming at top speed, Declan pushed his way through another changing current, one that sought to drag him into faster-moving waters. He went over a higher sandbar, having no intention of going to Mexico today, and increased the reach of his stroke. With single-mindedness he worked his way into the more placid surf as he homed in on a large stretch of beach.

The SEAL felt a few sea lions swimming around him, and one nosed him in the gut and another in his back a few times, assessing whether or not he’d play. Not this time, my friends. He continued swimming without engaging. If he stopped to play, he’d be out there for hours.

Switching to the breaststroke, his arms protested. His platoon had switched their training this month to desert-warfare techniques, and he’d been sweating his balls off in the heat. He managed to learn a thing or two, even now, after all of his years in the Teams. But it felt good to be back in the ocean, his element. He’d live in the deep blue like a Jules Verne character if he could.

A Navy SEALs Fun Fact from Anne Elizabeth

Food is fuel, and fuel is important. Know your body’s needs and limits, so that when you need to push past them you understand what that means.

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Author Bio

New York Times bestselling author Anne Elizabeth is an award-winning romance author and comic creator. With a BS in business and MS in communications from Boston University, she is a regular presenter at conventions as well as a member of The Author’s Guild and Romance Writers of America. Anne lives with her husband, a retired Navy SEAL, in the mountains above San Diego.

Social Networking Links

Website: http://www.anneelizabeth.net/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aeauthorfanpage/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/aeanneelizabeth

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/732316.Anne_Elizabeth

Buy Links

Amazon: http://amzn.to/1MAFrDB

Barnes and Noble: http://bit.ly/1O3JffD

Apple: http://apple.co/1M6H7Dj

Books a Million: http://bit.ly/1M6Hrlt

Indie Bound: http://bit.ly/1O3JEPe

Blog Tour: Without Light or Guide by T. Frohock

Author: T. Frohock

Publisher: Harper Voyager

Date of publication: November 2015

Always holding themselves aloft from the affairs of mortals, Los Nefilim have thrived for eons. But with the Spanish Civil War looming, their fragile independence is shaken by the machinations of angels and daimons… and a half breed caught in between. Although Diago Alvarez has pledged his loyalty to Los Nefilim, there are many who don’t trust his daimonic blood. And with the re-emergence of his father—a Nefil who sold his soul to a daimon—the fear is Diago will soon follow the same path. Yet even as Diago tries to prove his allegiance, events conspire that only fuel the other Nefilim’s suspicions—including the fact that every mortal Diago has known in Barcelona is being brutally murdered.

I'll be honest, very soon into Without Light of Guide, I knew this book wasn't going to be for me.  First, I really had no idea what was going on as it was the second in the series.  It doesn't hold up well as a stand alone.  Since I had been given the first novella, In Midnight's Silence, I decided to start with that one instead.  I still had no idea what was going on.  I was about 3 chapters in and had the feeling I missed something key to the story. I do like to read fantasy, but I also like some world building and I didn't feel like I got any.  I'm not a fan of complex storylines that I am just thrown into with no set up.  

]

In Without Light or Guide, the author does provide a recap of the first book.  I read that in hopes of being able to finish, but it still didn't help. I'm not saying this is a bad series.  It just wasn't my cup of tea.  I looked around and have seen several rave reviews, so I think fans of this genre will like the book.  Check it out and try it for yourself.

About the author:

T. Frohock has turned her love of dark fantasy and horror into tales of deliciously creepy fiction. She currently lives in North Carolina where she has long been accused of telling stories, which is a southern colloquialism for lying. Check out more of her works and news at www.tfrohock.com.

Purchase Links

Amazon | Barnes & Noble

Tour Stops

Tuesday, December 1st: You Can Read Me Anything

Wednesday, December 2nd: Kahakai Kitchen

Thursday, December 3rd: 100 Pages a Day…Stephanie’s Book Reviews

Monday, December 7th: Bibliotica

Tuesday, December 8th: Dreams, Etc.

Wednesday, December 9th: A Book Geek

Thursday, December 10th: A Dream Within a Dream

Monday, December 14th: From the TBR Pile

Tuesday, December 15th: Raven Haired Girl

Wednesday, December 16th: Dwell in Possibility

Thursday, December 17th: Curling Up by the Fire

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Wildest Dream by RC Boldt

Author: RC Boldt
Publisher: Self
Date of publication: December 2015

Taken from his parents and bounced from one foster home to the next, former Navy SEAL turned math teacher, Callum "Mac" Mackenzie had a rough childhood. The only time he's let himself get attached to anyone has been with his military "brothers". He's convinced he doesn't know how to love and certainly doesn't "do" relationships. He's spent fourteen years in the Navy and now he gets to live out his other dream: teaching.

Her thirtieth birthday fast approaching, science teacher, Raine Thompson feels as if her time to find "the one" is running out. She knows life is short, especially after dealing with breast cancer two years ago, and wants to experience her own happily ever after. But is it in the cards for her? 

Finally acting on the simmering attraction they have long ignored, Raine and Mac decide to have a fling and they discover what it's like to have someone who knows you inside out also be the one who makes your body come alive.

But it was only temporary…

My thoughts:

Wildest Dreams is the debut book for this author.  For a debut, I thought it was a very enjoyable read.  The story included a good mix of humor and romance.  It was also rounded out nicely with a great cast of characters with meshed will together.   It was fun getting to know them and I look forward to their stories.  

Mac and Raine are the focal point of this first story.  What I loved about this couple is that they developed a great friendship first.  Their relationship was comfortable and believable.  I could understand their reluctance to not want to move beyond that friendship because it was so good.  The only thing that I felt I was missing was really more in depth discussion about both of their baggage.  I didn't feel like it was enough for me.  I was also frustrated toward the end when they were apart.  When Mac finally tries to tell her he loves her and that he is sorry, Raine tells him it's too late since it was weeks later.  The problem was she never let him get close enough in that time to let him say it.  She spent weeks dodging his efforts.  So that was a little WTF moment for me.  Despite that, this is a cute couple that I was rooting for from the beginning.  I know you will too!

Excerpt:

Mac was sitting across from him with Tina's chair situated flush against his, her mouth close to his ear. Probably whispering gross, sexual things to him. Yuck.

Taking a sip of her drink, ‘Talk Dirty To Me' began playing and she reached out her hand to Zach. "Come on and dance with me," she called out to him. Jokingly, she added, "It's our song!"

He shook his head, giving her a rueful smile. "Next one," he yelled back.

Raine blew him a kiss before she returned to the dance floor. Just as she had resumed dancing on her own, she felt hands strongly grip her hips from behind and a body press flush against her, moving suggestively. Raine froze, certainly not enjoying the sudden invasion of her space by a stranger. Then, a voice spoke in her ear, "Move with me, baby."

No. Just, no.

Before she could remove herself from his grip, Mac appeared in front of her, holding out his hands for her to grasp. He gave a hard glare to the guy behind her that must have communicated something in man-speak to make the creeper let go of her. She mouthed "thank you" to which Mac merely winked.

He pulled her close as he danced with her, looking down with a wide grin on his face, that dimple of his making itself known. Twirling her quickly, he swung her back, close to his body as they continued to dance together.

Usher's ‘Yeah' came on next, causing her to squeal in excitement, making Mac shake his head in laughter, as he watched her begin to dance with vigor. He cast out an imaginary fishing line and she pretended to get hooked, with him reeling her in. They did the ‘lawnmower' and ‘shopping cart' moves, each of them bursting with laughter at each other's antics.

"Now, we're going to slow it down a bit for this next one," came the DJ's voice as the beginning of Ed Sheeran's ‘Thinking Out Loud' began to play.

Mac offered his hand to her. "May I?"

Eyes shining up at him, she took his hand. "You may."

They slow danced together like they had a dozen times before. Like she had done with Zach or Lawson or even Foster.

Suddenly remembering that Mac hadn't arrived alone tonight, she looked in the direction of their table. The guys were sitting there in conversation, but Tina was nowhere to be seen.

Her head swinging back toward Mac, Raine opened her mouth to ask about the absence of his ‘friend' when he simply told her, "She left."

Brows furrowed, Raine looked at him, waiting for further explanation. He simply shook his head. "Just dance with me." He twirled her out and back again, but this time, she stumbled on the return and, off balance, came flush against his chest.

She looked up at him to apologize but suddenly faltered as she met his gaze. The way he was watching her was unlike the usual way in which he looked at her. His gaze was noticeably different; heated and full of interest and with a hint of yearning?

No. That couldn't be. She wasn't even his type.

With her low heels on tonight, the top of her head still barely came up to his chin. She suddenly became aware of his hard body pressed against hers. She knew from when they went running together or to the beach that beneath his clothes was a well-defined chest and abs. But she felt more awareness in the air between them. Raine felt breathless, realizing her breasts were pressed against him, feeling his hardness against her stomach.

Mac leaned in closer, his hooded gaze locked onto her lips as her tongue slid out to wet them. Her breath hitched in anticipation. Just when she thought their lips would meet, she felt Mac press his forehead against hers instead. Raine exhaled slowly, trying to calm her own breathing.

What the hell just happened?

She had almost crossed the line with her friend. Willingly. Wanted to, even. And that was not okay.

"Mac?" she whispered to him with what she knew was a confused look on her face. He released her as the song ended and gave her a forced smile. "I've got to run to the restroom. Guard those hips of yours from creepy guys." With a wink, he was gone.

Which left her to wonder whether she was upset about what had almost happened between them…or disappointed that it hadn't.

***

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About the author:

RC Boldt is the wife of Mr. Boldt, a retired Navy Chief, mother of Little Miss Boldt, and former teacher of many students. She currently lives on the coast of North Carolina but dreams of relocating to a tropical island. When she's not writing, she can be found daydreaming of relocating to a tropical island, at the beach, going running with her family (and contemplating *gently* tossing her daughter out of the jogging stroller to reduce weight resistance), singing karaoke, harassing her husband or relaxing with a good book. And, let's be honest. Most of those activities listed probably include wine or a good microbrew. Except for the running. In that case, the drinks come afterward. :)

Goodreads Author Page Amazon Author Page Facebook Twitter

Purchase Links

Amazon (Kindle) Smashwords BN Kobo iBooks

Joint Review: Winter by Marissa Meyer

Author: Marissa Meyer
Publisher: Feiwel & Friends
Date of publication: November 2015

Princess Winter is admired by the Lunar people for her grace and kindness, and despite the scars that mar her face, her beauty is said to be even more breathtaking than that of her stepmother, Queen Levana.

Winter despises her stepmother, and knows Levana won’t approve of her feelings for her childhood friend—the handsome palace guard, Jacin. But Winter isn’t as weak as Levana believes her to be and she’s been undermining her stepmother’s wishes for years. Together with the cyborg mechanic, Cinder, and her allies, Winter might even have the power to launch a revolution and win a war that’s been raging for far too long.

Can Cinder, Scarlet, Cress, and Winter defeat Levana and find their happily ever afters?

I know Winter is one of the most anticipated books of 2015 for both me and Autumn. The book isn't really totally focused on Winter as all 8 of the main characters get equal time in the over 800 pages of the book. That's right, 800 pages.  I swear when I finished I felt like I had run a marathon.  If I was rating the book I would have to take a half star off for length.  I think there were scenes that could have been cut short or cut out all together.  But, that is just me being nit-picky.

In the end, I loved the story.  I remember when I finished Cress, I spent time  trying to figure out how it would all come together.  I won't give anything away, let's just say the author did a great job of world building and bringing all of  the elements together to make sense.  I have enjoyed the spin the author has put on each of the fairy tales in the series.

If I had to choose, I would say favorite couples are Wolf/Scarlet and Cinder/Kai.  The other two weren't as strong as I would have liked, but they were still enjoyable.  Each of the couples have some very touching scenes throughout the book.  I'm sad to see the series end, but I have to say, I did enjoy the journey immensely!

I agree with Kari, even though I'm so anti-never-ending-YA-book-series, this one was fantastic.  I've enjoyed every single book in this series and I'm sad this is the ending...or is it?  There's an author's interview at the ending of the audiobook that hints at another book or short story to come.  

I also agree with Kari that this book got entirely too long at times.  I felt like it was the author not wanting to let go, which I can understand.  Honestly, most readers probably won't care because at this point they're loyal to the story.  It got tedious and repetitive and could have used at more heavy handed editor.

If you haven't read this series yet, I would start.  If you're looking for a Christmas gift for a reader in your life, get this!!

Blog Tour: Review & Excerpt of Welcome to Forever by Annie Rains

Author: Annie Rains
Publisher: Loveswept
Date of publication: December 2015

In Seaside, North Carolina, there are two kinds of people: Marines, and kids of Marines. Then there’s Kat Chandler. Recently hired as the principal of Seaside Elementary, Kat makes it her mission to turn the school into a place of peace and calm. That’s not going to be easy with hard-liner parents like Micah Peterson storming in, telling her how to do her job—and then kissing her with those gorgeous lips of his and turning her brain into mush.

As a Marine Sergeant and a single dad, Micah Peterson has just two priorities: doing his job better than anyone else, and getting the absolute best for his son, Ben. But when he meets Ben’s beautiful new principal, a different yearning shifts into focus. He wants her, sure, but he’s also moved by the connection Kat forges with her students. So after learning that she refuses to date Marines, Micah sets two more objectives: convincing Kat to give him a chance . . . and then holding on to her forever

My thoughts:

I thought Welcome to Forever was a sweet romance about two people who have major baggage that end up finding a future with each other.   As a story, I did enjoy it.  Kat and Micah were great for each other. .  They are a couple to can't help but root for.   I loved the special bond tat Micah had with this son.  It is always refreshing to read about a father who steps up to the plate and does all he can to provide for his child.  

I do have to admit though, I was bugged by a couple of things.  I was taken aback by the scene when Kat's deceased fiance's mother asked for the ring back so she could give it to her other son for his engagement.  That just made me feel icky.  Who would do that?  I also thought Mayor was little over the top. But the other characters more than made up for those two things.

This is a quick read and something thing that can put you in a good mood.  I look forward to checking out the next one, Welcome Home Cowboy.

Excerpt:

“Have you thought about that kiss?” she asked, as he leaned in close to fasten her seatbelt. She couldn’t control what was coming out of her mouth. “Because I have. A little.” She started laughing again. Val had warned her that she was a horrible drunk, and evidently, it was true.

“What have you thought about it?” he asked, his voice low and bristly. Her buckle snapped into place with a loud click. He could step back now, but he didn’t.

And she didn’t want him to. What was the point of being drunk if you couldn’t say and do what you wanted, and then apologize for it in the morning? No one blamed a drunk, they blamed the drink. “I thought that I liked it. The kiss. It was amazing.” She held her breath as he lingered in front of her, his hand still resting on the seat’s buckle.

“I thought the same thing.”

“You did?” She swallowed thickly, as her heart rode up her throat.

His brow lifted. “You sound surprised.”

“I’m out of practice.” She nibbled on her lower lip, drawing his gaze there. Then his gaze flicked back to her ring. Just the thought squashed the flutterings in her chest, leaving a deep ache that vibrated with the alcohol. “He’s been gone for two years,” she said.

Micah’s brows pinched together softly.

Explaining about John in her state wasn’t a good idea, though. She might start crying, which she didn’t do in front of others anymore, and right now all she wanted to do was forget everything but their kiss. That she wanted to remember. “You could kiss me again,” she said softly.

His smile deepened and, damn, he smelled good.

Leaning in closer to her ear, his hot breath melted her as he whispered, “Kat, you’ve had too much to drink. I’m taking you home now.”

Before she could process what he’d said, he stepped back and shut the Jeep’s door, the sound as offensive as if someone had crashed cymbals in her ears. A moment later, he reappeared on the driver’s side and cranked the engine, another sound that made her wince.

She closed her eyes, unsure of what to do with her drunken emotions.

“If I kiss you again, I want to be one hundred percent sure it’s what you want. Not because my almost ex is walking up and you want to help me out. Not because you’ve had too much to drink and want to escape.”

She suddenly felt very tired, as the Jeep Cherokee headed out of the parking lot. “So, you are going to kiss me again?” she asked. Before she could hear his answer, though, her eyes closed and the sounds of the road and his voice, and the blood thundering in her head, blurred together. She remembered their kiss, the feel of his stubble roughly brushing against her cheek, and the way he had smelled like pine and fudge brownies.

No, wait. His eyes reminded her of fudge brownies. He didn’t smell like them.

Her eyes fluttered open. Yeah, she was definitely going to regret tonight in the morning. 

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About the author:

Annie Rains is a contemporary romance author who writes small town love stories set in fictional towns on the coast of North Carolina. Raised in one of America's largest military communities, Annie often features heroes who fight for their countries, while also fighting for a place to call home and a good woman to love. When Annie isn't writing, she's spending time with her husband and 3 children, or reading a book by one of her favorite authors. Represented by Sarah Younger at Nancy Yost Literary Agency (NYLA).

Author Links:  Website | Facebook | Twitter | GoodReads

Link to Follow Tour:  http://www.tastybooktours.com/2015/11/welcome-to-forever-heros-welcome-1-by.html

Buy Links:  Amazon | B & N | Google Play | iTunes | Kobo

Blog Tour: The Precious One by Marisa de los Santos

Author:Marisa de los Santos
Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks
Date of publication: March 2015

In all her life, Eustacia “Taisy” Cleary has given her heart to only three men: her first love, Ben Ransom; her twin brother, Marcus; and Wilson Cleary—professor, inventor, philanderer, self-made millionaire, brilliant man, breathtaking jerk—her father.

Seventeen years ago, Wilson ditched his first family for Caroline, a beautiful young sculptor. In all that time, Taisy’s family has seen Wilson, Caroline, and their daughter, Willow, only once.

Why then, is Wilson calling Taisy now, inviting her for an extended visit, encouraging her to meet her pretty sister—a teenager who views her with jealousy, mistrust, and grudging admiration? Why, now, does Wilson want Taisy to help him write his memoir?

Told in alternating voices—Taisy’s strong, unsparing observations and Willow’s naive, heartbreakingly earnest yearnings—The Precious One is an unforgettable novel of family secrets, lost love, and dangerous obsession, a captivating tale with the deep characterization, piercing emotional resonance, and heartfelt insight that are the hallmarks of Marisa de los Santos’s beloved works.

I'm really on the fence about The Precious One.  There were parts I loved and parts I really didn't. I really liked Taisy.  I thought that despite how her father treated her and her family, she grew into a responsible and caring adult. I loved her second chance story line with the love of her life, Ben.  In fact, I would have loved if the book focused on them more.  I also ended up liking Willow.  In the beginning, I wasn't warming up to her, but she ended up being the most changed in the end.  It was nice to see her become more of a normal teenager.

What I didn't like about the story was the rest.  The part involving Willow and her teacher made me very uncomfortable.  I was bothered at the lack of action taken by Taisy after she found out.  Why weren't the police called?  Or at least the principal of the school?  That part didn't fly with me. In fact that entire part really didn't need to be a part of the book.  I also found myself laughing at the reveal of Wilson's past and how it shaped him into the man he was. It was kind of a letdown. So, in the end I would say this was good, but not amazing.

About Marisa de los Santos

A New York Times bestselling author and award-winning poet with a PhD in literature and creative writing, Marisa de los Santos lives in Wilmington, Delaware, with her family.

Connect with Marisa on Facebook and Twitter.

Purchase Links

Amazon | IndieBound | Barnes & Noble

Marisa’s Tour Stops

Tuesday, December 1st: The Book Chick

Wednesday, December 2nd: A Bookish Affair

Friday, December 4th: Booksie’s Blog

Monday, December 7th: I’m Shelf-ish

Monday, December 7th: Svetlana’s Reads and Views

Tuesday, December 8th: Sara’s Organized Chaos

Thursday, December 10th: From the TBR Pile

Monday, December 14th: BoundyWords

Tuesday, December 15th: Books and Bindings

Wednesday, December 16th: Novel Escapes

Thursday, December 17th: Imaginary Reads

Thursday, December 17th: Joyfully Retired

TBD: Bloggin’ ‘Bout Books

Throwback Thursday: Body Parts by Vicki Stiefel

Author: Vicki Stiefel
First published in 2004 by Leisure Books

A homicide counselor must find a serial killer to prove one of her patients is innocent.

The synopsis is pretty sparse, but Body Parts is essentially about Tally White.  She is a homicide counselor with the Medical Examiner's office.  She and her colleagues counsel family members of homicide victims.  When one of her friends is murdered and a patient in her grief group is accused, Tally gets drawn into a tangled puzzle that ends up with her as bait.

I almost gave up on this book.  It was too long, with too many characters to keep straight. But I found myself wanting to know who the killer was and why he was doing it.  I was definitely surprised!  That twist was pretty cool. The reveal however wasn't enough to say I loved the book.  I wasn't even all that crazy about the main character.  

This is the first in a series.  I'm not sure I will continue with it though.  If I do, I definitely won't listen to the audiobook if it is the same narrator. The one on this audiobook wasn't very good and some of the voices grated on my nerves.

Blog Tour: Excerpt from The Santa Claus Man by Alex Palmer

Today we are pleased to be a part of Alex Palmer's blog Tour as he promotes his book, The Santa Claus Man: The Rise and Fall of a Jazz Age Con Man and the Invention of Christmas in New York  For our stop, we have excerpt #4 to share with you.  For other excerpts and content, make sure to check out the tour stops below!

Special blog tour Christmas gift: Get a free Santa bookplate signed by the author, plus two vintage Santa Claus Association holiday seals. Just email proof once you buy The Santa Claus Man (online receipt, photo of bookstore receipt, etc.) along with the mailing address where you'd like the gift sent to santaclausmanbook[at]gmail[dot]com. Email before 12/21 to guarantee delivery by Christmas. 

Publisher: Lyons Press

Date of publication: October 2015

Miracle on 34th Street meets The Wolf of Wall Street in this true crime adventure, set in New York City in the Roaring Twenties.

Before the charismatic John Duval Gluck, Jr. came along, letters from New York City children to Santa Claus were destroyed, unopened, by the U.S. Post Office Department. Gluck saw an opportunity, and created the Santa Claus Association. The effort delighted the public, and for 15 years money and gifts flowed to the only group authorized to answer Santa’s mail. Gluck became a Jazz Age celebrity, rubbing shoulders with the era’s movie stars and politicians, and even planned to erect a vast Santa Claus monument in the center of Manhattan — until Gotham’s crusading charity commissioner discovered some dark secrets in Santa’s workshop.

The rise and fall of the Santa Claus Association is a caper both heartwarming and hardboiled, involving stolen art, phony Boy Scouts, a kidnapping, pursuit by the FBI, a Coney Island bullfight, and above all, the thrills and dangers of a wild imagination. It’s also the larger story of how Christmas became the extravagant holiday we celebrate today, from Santa’s early beginnings in New York to the country’s first citywide tree lighting to Macy’s first grand holiday parade. The Santa Claus Man is a holiday tale with a dark underbelly, and an essential read for lovers of Christmas stories, true crime, and New York City history.

Other holiday highlights found in The Santa Clause Man:

•        The secret history of Santa letters, including a trove of original Santa letters and previously unpublished correspondences between the post office and charity groups arguing whether Santa’s mail should be answered.

•        The surprising origins of Christmas as we celebrate it today. From “Twas the Night Before Christmas” to the image of Santa Claus popularized by Coca-Cola, this book outlines how modern Christmas came to be, and includes a standalone timeline of holiday milestones.

•        The rise of modern-day charity— and charity fraud. Unchecked giving exploded after the First World War and this book follows this growth, as well as some of the most egregious exploiters of the country’s goodwill (including the Santa Claus Man himself), and how they were finally exposed.

•        Dozens of original vintage holiday photos, including a sculpture of Santa Claus made of 5,000 pulped letters to Santa, and a detailed sketch of a proposed Santa Claus Building, planned but never built in midtown Manhattan.

Excerpt:

It was Christmas Eve in Madison Square Park, just minutes before 5:30 p.m. and a boy was pulled from the thousands who had congregated in the park over the previous few hours, ushered to a special area, and instructed to press a button when he got the signal.

The onlookers, staying warm thanks to their coats and close quarters to one another (and sips of hot, earthy coffee supplied by the Salvation Army), turned their attention to the clock on the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company Tower, which rose over the park. Since 1909, the structure had been the tallest building in the world, until the opening of the Woolworth eight months earlier reduced it to second best. Yet it remained the heart of New York City and had been the obvious choice the year before when city officials devised the idea of a citywide public celebration of Christmas. It had been the first time any city held a formal Christmas gathering of this type—inviting citizens to get together around a large tree to sing songs and enjoy entertainment. This year, the city officials arranged for a seventy-foot-tall “Tree of Light” in Madison Square Park as the hub of the Christmas Eve celebration, accompanied by a seven-hour concert of carolers, folk musicians, and brass bands. Five hundred boy scouts stood at the ready to assist with crowd control.

As the giant clock struck 5:30, the boy got the signal and pressed the button. A large light burst on top of the pine tree as the Star of Bethlehem ignited. The crowd let out a collective gasp as the rest of the tree—a gift of Isaac Homestead of Westbury, New York, that had taken two teams of horses to pull from Long Island—sparkled as thousands of tiny lights illuminated the clear night. The bells in the nearby churches and Metropolitan Tower chimed. As a squad of trumpeters stood and initiated the program of music in the park, the wide-eyed boy stepped away from the button and returned to his place in the crowd. No reporters caught his name.

At 6:30 the singers of the Oratorio Society performed “Holy Night” and the carol “The Christ Child’s Christmas Tree,” specially written for the event. Its lyrics described a civic celebration of the holiday, where everyone was welcome.

Come, gather. Rich and poor are one,

Parent and child, and the strange lone,

For the heart of the city goes out tonight

In a burst of music, a flood of light;

And the Christ-Child spirit, divinely fair,

That illumined the manger cold and bare

Is born again in the City square!

As attendees drank coffee and snacked on free sausages, the celebration and twinkling lights continued until midnight, when the hundred-member Negro Choral Society closed out the proceedings. “So were lighted the Christmas trees for all those in New York who had no trees of their own,” the Times reported. The celebration was “for all the homeless, the lonely, the folk of the hall bedrooms, the strangers in New York at Christmas time.” Every man, woman, and child in the city could enjoy a glowing Christmas tree, whatever their station in life.

But this type of celebration did not appeal only to those without a tree or a home of their own. Since its launch the year before, the gathering seemed to fill a need for community and connection that many New Yorkers had not been aware they were missing. The Times noted in 1912 that “Many people in the city have given up house parties to go to see the big tree and help swell the choruses.” No matter how many decorations and gifts were piled at home, the excitement of the city beckoned.

Nor was it just New Yorkers who felt this attraction. This civic celebration of Christmas spread throughout the country in 1913. “That the public out of doors Christmas tree is a success was shown again tonight,” the Chicago Tribune commented about New York’s Tree of Light. No wonder Chicago was hailing New York’s Christmas tree—its success led the Second City to erect its own for the first time in 1913. It was a commanding seventy-five footer, lit to the chorus of Chicago’s Grand Opera Company as some of its stars sang Christmas songs through megaphones.

Cincinnati introduced a forty-five-foot-high tree—a first for the city. It was accompanied by ringing chimes, carols from choirboys, and a full flourish of trumpets. Just across the water from Gotham, Jersey City introduced its first public Christmas tree—rising thirty-five feet high and towering over the southeast corner of City Hall. Its lights, which could be seen from blocks away, were lit every night from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Eve. Detroit, Baltimore, and numerous other cities lit up their first municipal Christmas trees in 1913, all following New York’s successful example from the year before. “In all, fifty cities have this year followed New York’s community tree example,” wrote the Tribune. More than any other, this was the year that Christmas went public.

And it stayed that way. The community Christmas celebration that originated in New York would spread not only through newspapers but also pamphlets and instruction books that offered detailed descriptions for a city of any size to introduce its own civic gathering. In 1923, President Calvin Coolidge would light up the United States’ first National Christmas Tree in President’s Park. But as the grand tree-lighting tradition proliferated, the city that did it first continued to do it biggest. The Tree of Light remained for two more decades in Madison Square Park before moving to Rockefeller Center in 1933, where it reigns today as the highest-profile Christmas tree lighting in the country. 

About the author:

Author Alex Palmer has written for Slate, Vulture, Smithsonian Magazine, New York Daily News and many other outlets. The author of previous nonfiction books Weird-o-Pedia and Literary Miscellany, he is also the great-grandnephew of John Duval Gluck, Jr.

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Alex Palmer’s TLC Book Tours TOUR STOPS:

Monday, November 30th: A Chick Who Reads – Excerpt 1

Tuesday, December 1st: Time 2 Read – Excerpt 2

Wednesday, December 2nd: Life by Kristen – review

Thursday, December 3rd: Bibliotica – spotlight

Friday, December 4th: All Roads Lead to the Kitchen – Excerpt 3

Monday, December 7th: No More Grumpy Bookseller – author guest post

Tuesday, December 8th: BookBub – “7 True Holiday Tales to Put You in the Christmas Spirit”

Wednesday, December 9th: From the TBR Pile – Excerpt 4

Wednesday, December 9th: Buried Under Books – author guest post

Thursday, December 10th: Books on the Table – review and guest post

Thursday, December 10th: Broken Teepee – spotlight

Friday, December 11th: A Literary Vacation – author Q&A

Monday, December 14th: Musings of a Bookish Kitty – review

Tuesday, December 15th: Mom in Love with Fiction – Excerpt 5

Thursday, December 17th: Open Book Society – review

Thursday, December 17th: BookNAround – review

Friday, December 18th: Dreams, Etc. – review

Thursday, December 24th: FictionZeal – spotlight