Kissing Santa Claus
October 14, 2009 | Filed under: Stuff
I forgot to mention that KISSING SANTA CLAUS has hit the shelves! The only thing more fun than writing a holiday story was writing it with good friends Donna and Helenkay.
Here’s an excerpt from my story, the second in the collection:
Danny let out a shuddery breath. Shuddery because he was a minute away from freezing his nuts off. When he’d flown out of Los Angeles that morning, it’d been sunny and a slightly chilly sixty-eight degrees.
Ha. He hadn’t known chilly. He hadn’t known a lot of things, such as how bad the rental car would be, or the depths of Hope’s worry and fear. He wrapped his coat tighter around him and pulled his hood back up before once again knocking on the door.
She didn’t answer, but he would have sworn he could hear her breathing through the wood. Hope, of the pretty strawberry blonde hair that was slipping out of its ponytail and into her eyes, which were so blue he could have drowned in them. Hope, of the petite, willowy frame that hid an inner strength of steel. That strength shouldn’t have surprised him, after all she was an O’Brien. “Come on, Hope. Let me in.”
More of her loaded nothing, and he sighed, shoving his hands in his pockets, hunching his shoulders against the wind as if that would help. Christ, why would anyone choose to live here? “Look, I should have called first, okay? But if I had, you wouldn’t have agreed to see me.”
As proven by the loaded silence.
“I realize you’d like me to just leave,” he said. And he’d love to do that. Hell, he missed LA already. He was wet and cold and hungry, and as far as he could tell there was no food in his immediate future. No four-star hotels either. Nothing but wide open spaces and the utter lack of civilization.
He was on a whole other planet. “I’ll freeze to death out here, Hope, you know that. You don’t want my death on your hands, do you?” Okay, stupid question. She’d welcome his death and stomp on his grave.
The stories aren’t actually connected at all, so you can read them in any order. Hope you enjoy!
But while we’re here and talking 
, what’s your favorite holiday story, movie, show, anything?
Posted by Jill @ 1:00 am | Make a Comment
Judy F says:
I love Christmas movies. Favorites are: A muppets Christmas, The Christmas Toy and Scrooged.
I just bought Kissing Santa Claus can’t wait to read it.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 3:06 amJenel Looney says:
This looks like a really cute book! My favorite recent Christmas movie was Elf with Will Ferrell. Of all time? It’s a Wonderful Life.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 3:27 amTweets that mention Kissing Santa Claus | Author Jill Shalvis -- Topsy.com says:
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jill Shalvis and Susan Mallery, Marissa (DM). Marissa (DM) said: RT @JillShalvis: New blog post: Kissing Santa Claus http://bit.ly/2jCuk [...]
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 3:28 amStacy ~ says:
Oh, I’m not ready to think about the holidays! Too early. But I do like Little Women (June Allyson version) and A Christmas Carol.
Now let’s talk about somewhere warm….
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 3:32 amCheryl S. says:
My favorite is The Year Without a Santa Claus. I love Heat Miser and Snow Miser. If I’m not careful I’m going to have that song stuck in my head.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 4:48 amPat L. says:
Steam Heat I think it was called in one of the first Christmas anthologies by Susan Donovan I think.
As for movies: Miracle on 34th St, Susan Lucci’s version of Scrooge, called Eppie and of course It’s a Wonderful Life.
Looking forward to new anthol – it is finally out – YAY!
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 5:05 amKelly B says:
Hey Ms. Blog Queen
Our favorite Christmas Movie is A Christmas Story…you know, “you’ll shoot your eye out”. My husband and I watch that movie every year. We still laugh in the same places and we know exactly which parts the other one will mimic. “Don’t anybody Move!” (You have to be a a die hard fan on this trust me.) Still cracks me up after all of these years. Thanks for making me smile this morning thinking about it. Bt the way which one is yours…come on and tell us, I triple dog dare ya!
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 5:13 amKelly B says:
Hey Ms. Blog Queen
Our favorite Christmas Movie is A Christmas Story…you know, “you’ll shoot your eye out”. My husband and I watch that movie every year. We still laugh in the same places and we know exactly which parts the other one will mimic. “Don’t anybody Move!” (You have to be a a die hard fan on this trust me.) Still cracks me up after all of these years. Thanks for making me smile this morning thinking about it. Bt the way which one is yours…come on and tell us, I triple dog dare ya!
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 5:19 amOH! You’re my new favorite blogger fyi
tennismom says:
Any version of Miracle on 34th Street, Elf & National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 5:33 amSabrina says:
The Ref with Denis Leary is our holiday movie of choice. My husband’s family and my family get together to watch it every time we celebrate Christmas. It’s not exactly your traditional Christmas movie, but our family is a little psycho anyways so it’s perfect for us. My husband also likes to have a Die Hard marathan.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 5:40 amD says:
Not a huge Christmas movie fan, but love Elf.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 6:45 amJulia says:
2 must-see movies every season for me:
-A Charlie Brown Christmas (I still get tears when the tree wilts)
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 6:49 am-A Christmas Carol, but only the one with Alastair Sim.
(it looks like it was filmed in the 1920s but it was actually filmed 1951)
Amber says:
It doesn’t get better than christmas with the Oswalds from National Lampoon. Best holiday movie ever! haha.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 8:07 amlimecello says:
I’m so with Julia – a Charlie Brown Christmas. <3
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 8:12 amNicole S says:
I love all the old animation movies, like Rudolph and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. But I pretty much like any Holiday movie, watch them all December long.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 9:06 amNicole Laurent says:
For family movies, I’d have to say A Christmas Story and Elf.
For a ‘grown up’ Christmas movie, and one of my favorite movies of all time, I’d have to say Love Actually.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 9:23 amMelissa says:
‘A Muppet Christmas Carole’ does it for me. That, and It’s a Beautiful Life’.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 11:18 amBrandy says:
Emmet Otter’s Jugband Christmas. And National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation. *G* I’m also a fan of The Ref. Too funny! Especially when the kids tape Grandmas mouth shut.*G*
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 2:13 pmDonna M says:
Favorite Christmas movie is Miracle on 34th Street, the one made in 1947 with Maureen O’Hara & Natalie Wood. Such a good movie. I do also like It’s a Wonderful Life although I haven’t watched it in awhile.
I’m reading Double Play (finally!) with the yummy Pace Martin, pitcher. So far so good, I haven’t had a chance to read much of it yet.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 2:19 pmCelise says:
It’s in my TBR pile. Not that it’s a big pile or anything. LOL.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 4:10 pmKarin says:
This sounds like it’ll be a fun holiday read.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 5:07 pmWendyS says:
Santa and Pete is a must see movie for me every holiday season.
Posted on October 14th, 2009 at 7:49 pmDiana says:
Not sure if this movie is really considered a holiday movie (a pivotal scene does take place on Christmas day), but I’m quite fond of the movie While You Were Sleeping starring Sandra Bullock and Bill Pullman.
Posted on October 15th, 2009 at 8:50 pmJL says:
I’m with Diana…”While You Were Sleeping” is a favorite. But my all-time favorite, and I’ll watch it at any time of year, is “White Christmas.”
Posted on October 18th, 2009 at 9:37 amMichele says:
One of my favorites is “Miracle on 34th Street” with Dylan McDermott. YUM! We alos have to watch “Santa Claus: The Movie” with Dudley Moore. Saw it at the theatre one Christmas Eve when I was about 12. My mom took my sisters and I. Dad was working second shift. I was aghast about going to a movie on Christmas Eve, but it turned out to be a really magical experience. My “Kissing Santa Claus” has arrived through Amazon at my sister’s house in the US and she is mailing it to me today! It will be Christmas here in Switzerland when I get that box of goodies. Thanks for all the great books, Jill. Can’t wait for Slow Heat to come out. Loved, loved Double Play!!
Posted on October 19th, 2009 at 12:22 amThe Wonder of Christmas says:
Looks like a great book! Well done!
I really love Home Alone (first and second)
Posted on October 20th, 2009 at 5:50 am