NEW CHRISTMAS TRADITION
This year there seemed to be more than the usual amount of ugly Christmas sweaters. Our family decided this year to embrace the spirit of the season, by wearing the loudest, ugliest and perhaps most tasteless sweaters we could find.
Of course, beauty is in the eye of the beholder. What my son-in-law bought for my daughter as a gag gift, turns out to actually be something I’d wear. LOL. Yes. I admit it. I like to wear bold colors and sparkly things. It used to embarrass my kids no end, and often they didn’t want me to get out of the car when I picked them up at school, for fear their friends would see me. We had a pink house, too, but that’s another story (my attempt to make our home look like the Sonoma Mission Inn that failed).
So, this is the collection. I bought the one in the upper middle for my husband. My daughter bought the light blue one for her husband. Perhaps you’d like a closer look.
Well, we are a family that reads hot romance, so what do you expect?
I also have a little Christmas cheer for you. Everyone who comments on this blog will be given a free short SEAL Endeavor or SEAL Encounter, Kindle format. Please leave your email in your comment.
Here’s a little blurb from my new release, Fallen SEAL Legacy, book 2 of the SEAL Brotherhood series, just released this month. One commenter will be sent a set of dog tags, as pictured below.
Fallen SEAL Legacy excerpt:
A tall shadow fell through the glass and ornate metal front doors of the Brownlee house. The melodic doorbell chime came all the way from an abandoned abbey in the South of France. Whoever he was, Libby Brownlee thought, he’d not be able to get through the doorway without ducking, or smacking himself in the forehead.
“Yes?” She didn’t remove the brass chain connecting the door to the door frame. It couldn’t really stop anyone, especially someone of his size. What she saw scared her, but not in the way she expected. He was a handsome, very, very tall and fair-haired young man about her age. His piercing blue eyes didn’t stray from hers as he coolly nodded his head, and took inventory of her character, without peeling his gaze from hers.
She felt undressed, yet powerless to cover up. But she didn’t look away.
“Ma’am, I’m looking for the Brownlee family.” He said this as he ducked his head and leaned forward. She observed he was trying to make himself smaller. The effort made him look huge.
“This is the Brownlee residence.” Her response was worthy of a domestic. No need to let him know she was a relative.
“My name is Special Operator Calvin Cooper. I’m…”
“I know what a Special Operator is.”
He smiled but continued, “—currently serving in the Navy. I’ve been asked to reach out to the family of Special Operator William Brownlee.”
“Uncle Will.” She bit her tongue. Too late to take it back. “My father’s brother. I never met him. He’s been dead for many years, before I was born.” Libby looked at the ground, but was soon distracted by the size of the young man’s canvas slip-ons. The light brown hair on his ankles and lower legs, punctuated by light purple scars, blazed in the afternoon sun.
A surfer.
“Yes, ma’am. That’s the reason I’m here.”
“It’s a little late for a color guard. He get awarded a medal posthumously or something?”
The sailor stepped back and put his eyelids at half-mast after a flash of anger. He appeared way calmer than she knew he really was. The control was impressive. No matter how hard she looked, the anger did not surface again. He licked his lips and began to speak, softer this time.
“Look. I don’t want to be here any more than you want me, so let’s just get this over with, so I can tell my Chief I tried to reach out and you guys slammed the door in my face, okay?”
Well, this wasn’t the wrinkle she’d expected. “Fine.” She removed the chain, opened the door and the lumbering giant walked in. He smelled like he’d just figured out how to wear aftershave. Something told her he didn’t do it very often.
He scanned the large two-story living room with the carved wood ceiling done in Spanish florets. His eyes lit on the three-foot tall bouquet of fresh flowers her mother put on the coffee table every day—bounty from her extensive flower garden. Behind the table, a bright red velvet couch was covered with lime and fuchsia-colored silk flowered pillows. No one ever sat there, Libby mused. If they did, they’d be buried in the pillows, and hidden from view by the bouquet.
Rest in Peace.
“My mother takes pride in her flower garden.” She said. He had been staring at the blooms.
He tore his eyes off the display, and, without saying a word, continued to scan the archway that led to the kitchen, then back around to the walls of the foyer and a view of the grand metal staircase leading upstairs to the bedrooms.
His silence made her nervous. She crossed her arms over her chest and waited for him to say something.
“This is about a hundred times the size of my place.” He regarded her with a crooked smile she couldn’t read. “Kinda like living in a church, although not like a church I ever attended.”
Our house looks like a church?
“Where do you live? On base?” she asked.
“No ma’am. I have a motor home I keep parked at the Silverdale Beach.”
“Wow.” A homeless Navy SEAL?
“Exactly. Got the whole ocean as my back yard.”
“Sounds—different.”
“It’s all I need.”
“Okay. Well, what’s this about? Your visit, I mean.”
“Did he have a family, or someone close, other than your family?”
“He is our family. I just never knew him.” She realized she was being short. “My grandparents are both gone, and my father was his only brother, perhaps he would know.” Libby started tracing the grout line of the marble floor with her toe. “Look, I’m going to need some answers here. You have to kind of spell it out for me. We don’t speak military in this house.”
“I can tell.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“You don’t speak military, and I didn’t bring an interpreter.”
“I think you should speak to my father.”
“That would be good.”
“Except he isn’t here. Maybe another time?”
She caught him eyeing the front of her cotton shirt, like he could see right through it without unbuttoning it. With an involuntary jerk, he was focused on her eyes again. It was very odd she didn’t feel afraid of him, like she had every other man who showed interest in her lately. Her heartbeat elevated and her breathing became shallow.
“When will he be here?” His voice sent a tingle down her spine.
“He gets home about four-thirty. But I wouldn’t waste your time unless you can tell me what you want.” She started for the door and he followed behind her. At the front, she stopped, and turned around. “I’m waiting.” She tapped her foot to an invisible drummer.
The giant nodded, but faced his own shoes as he responded to her command, “I’ve been asked to do a little research on S.O. Brownlee. It’s an order from my Chief.”
“And why would the Navy want to contact my family? What purpose would it serve?”
“It’s just what we do. I was given his name when I got my Trident. I’m supposed to know about him. I’m a SEAL as well.”
“After all these years? Why now? Why not let the dead remain dead? Why bother my father?”
The sailor shrugged, looked up at the ceiling, adjusting his stance. With a sigh, he turned his gaze back on Libby. She felt herself melt under the press of his intense study.
Cooper took a deep breath, and continued, “Because, I’ve just lost mine.”
* * * * *
Merry Christmas, everyone. Hope your holiday is very merry and very bright.
Sharon Hamilton
Sharon’s Blog ** Sharon’s Website ** Facebook**Twitter
Accidental SEAL SEAL Encounter Fallen SEAL Legacy SEAL Endeavor all available through Amazon Heavenly Lover (Amazon) (Nook) Underworld Lover (Amazon) (Nook) Honeymoon Bite (Amazon) (Nook)
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the christmas sweater has really taken off here in the U.K. this year, the shops have been full of some of the nicests to the most awful ones you have never seen. really enjoyed the blog. started Fallen SEAL Legacy is really good. wish Sharon all the best.. i have Endeavor thanks
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Great tradition Sharon! It looks like they brings lots of laughter, especially the one your daughter bought for her hubby 😛
Love your sense of humour.
I love Christmas sweaters they are so cheery! I got one one Christmas that was so full of beads that I was competing with the Christmas tree 😆
Love your books and I hope you never stop writing them. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a succesful New Year
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I like what I read so far and I think the sweaters are cute . I had to laugh when I read you had a pink house.bibbiesparks@yahoo.com
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The sweaters are great. I like the stockings too! The excerpt, well, another book for my TBR mountain. Thank you for sharing.
pansyparsons@hotmail.com
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Sharon, you have the most wonderful sense of humour, LOVE IT!! 😆
Love your books, Sharon, have all of them and waiting anxiously for the next one.
I am also a HUGE fan of Delilah’s books as well and have three different series of your books in my collection.
Thank you, Sharon & Delilah.
gayle2b74@gmail.com
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Love your Xmas tradition.. Enjoyed the blog.. 🙂 I have read all your SEAL series to date and loved them.. Can’t wait for more.. Merry Xmas to you and your family and all the best for 2013..
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Thanks Julie. I had no idea the craze was hitting the U.K. We started spotting people at church, wondering if we could buy theirs for $20 or so…Some are so wonderfully bad! Thanks for stopping by. 😈
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Eniko – the Christmas beads! Yes! My SIL threatened to get me the one with the Christmas Trees placed, you know where…with lights!
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Toni, on its way to you now. Thanks for stopping by. Yes, the pink house caused my son (who was 10 at the time) to cry out, “I live in a pink house!” and refused to let his Little League buddies come over for a birthday party. He eventually got over it as it faded. LOL.
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Becky, I hear you on the TBR pile. I’ve said many times over, I will have to live forever like my vamps and angels, to get them all read. To even read the ones I’ve bought!!
Thanks for stopping by today.
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Thanks so much Gayle. Yes, humor, even humor in sex, is a great thing. And I so agree with you about Delilah’s books. They are hawt hawt hawt. And talk about humor!!
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Janice, thank you so much, and Merry Mery Mery Christmas to your family as well. Thanks so much for showing up today.
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Love, love, love SEALS!!! I’m going to get some of your books on my kindle now…Merry Christmas!!! ❗
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Thanks, Ronnie. You can get a freebie if you send me your email. Love the enthusiasm, girl!!
Thanks for stopping by Delilah’s awesome blog.
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What a great gift thank you and Merry Christmas….
velvetbear72@yahoo.com
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That was a great excerpt, nice emotional punch! Thank you so much for sharing, and yes, I had to do a double take when I looked at the second picture of the sweaters…and then I cracked up! Happy Holidays to you and your family and thank you so much for the giveaway.
elewkf1 at yahoo dot com
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Merry Christmas to you too, Merriedth!
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Elf, you must be busy this time of year! Merry Christmas to you too. I’m going to post the pictures on my FB page after Christmas. LOL. It will be fun. I have a feeling there is something else they haven’t told me…
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I don’t have any ugly Christmas sweaters, but I think they are a nice tradition.
janie1215 AT excite DOT com
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That sweater reminds me of the one Anderson showed with the carrots sticking out from the ladies breasts. I only have a good looking sweater. rblerner@ptd.net
Happy Holidays.
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Nice Sweaters. I have seen a few different places here that are having/did the sweater contests. I personally dont wear sweaters. Never really could.
Thanks for sharing them.
I am now adding another book on my need to get list.
I think I need a vacation just to try to get caught up on all the books I would love to get and read. 😉
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Nice Sweaters. I have seen a few different places here that are having/did the sweater contests. I personally dont wear sweaters. Never really could. Thanks for sharing them.
I am now adding another book on my need to get list.
I think I need a vacation just to try to get caught up on all the books I would love to get and read. 😉
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LOL…sorry about the double post… 🙁
My computer is having a mind of it’s own day.
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wow,this sounded so interesting that I think I will buy the first one and get it read just in case I win the short e-book you are giving away because series sometimes tend to have charectors going in and out of the other books even if they are short stories.Ive happened on novella’s before that answered questions from a book I read the year before,so don’t want to take a chance lol And I will be watching for this story to hit Amazon.com to order it. my gmail is zanarigrandma@gmail.com keeping my fingers crossed,Sharon Chalk
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had to add a quick ps, when I first tried for some reason I could not see the sweaters,but when I went back I could and if your daughter can remember where she got the light blue sweater with the snowman,I would so love to know where she got it,My son-in-law would die if we made him wear it in public,but I guarantee that he would wear it around the house and when he and the guys got together to play poker,.it would make him the most popular guy in the room and maybe they would be so distracted he could actually win for once LOL if she can’t thats OK but if she can my gmail is zanarigrandma@gmail.com thank you either way,.Sharon Chalk
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I have been following the SEAL series since it came out. This one sounds like 2 stubborn people who don’t know “Heart” speak.
I have been very involved with the military the last 4 years, sending out 20 packages a month to Iraq, Afghanistan, & Arab Emirates. Our soldiers can’t be forgotten, especially this time of year. I am looking forward to the book, it is a tradition that each SEAL is given the name of a deceased SEAL on his Trident, and should make an effort to find out about them and emulate them, as they gave the greatest gift of life for their country. Merry Christmas and Happy New Year! 😉
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Forgot my e-mail addy suzyrph@charter.net
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I love the sweater idea! I told my hubby about it and he wasn’t impressed until I showed him the picture of your sweaters. Especially the light blue one! LOL!!! I have both Seal Endeavor and Seal Encounter now I need to get Fallen Seal Legacy.
suz2(at)cox(dot)net
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Jane – Well, it will be a fun time tomorrow night.
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Rachelle, I understand they have one that is the entire Nativity Scene in 3-D. We sprung for the cheap ones.
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Melissa,
LOL. I do this all the time. One blog I had a 4-some! Give me your email and I’ll send the short for free, but only if you have time.
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Sharon,
I think it was UglySweaters.com. But I will find out tomorrow and post it when I post the grand prize winner.
The short is on its way to you now. I’m giving you SEAL Encounter, the short to the first book. That way you can start with Accidental SEAL and then go to Fallen SEAL, okay?
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Suzanne, thank you so much for thinking of our men and women overseas. I always wear red on Fridays, and stop to thank them when I see them at airports and other places. You are entirely right. They deserve our support.
Mine you, my characters are fictional, larger than life, but some of these things could really happen…LOL…not that they did. Thanks again for stopping by.
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Susan W – I think we ordered them from UglySweaters.com, or UglyChristmasSweaters.com. I will try to find out. Very funny stuff. You can also get a sweater with a threesome with the reindeer – which is what I thought I ordered. But when it came, it was just plain old doggy style!! LOL.
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Thank you, Delilah, for being a gracious host. I will announce a winner tomorrow here. Everyone who left an email addy got a free short already.
Everyone enjoy your Christmas and hug your families!!
😆
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I got a good laugh from the shirts. I’ve never read one of Sharon Hamilton’s books, but the excerpt made it a sure thing now. 😉
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Great excerpt! Thanks for sharing.
I have to admit Ive never done the Christmas sweater thing.
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Belinda Baker and Donna S – Thanks for stopping by. I’ll let you know if it was enough of a hit to do it again. Like I said, it’s new for us, too. Our thought was to find some really bad ones in the second hand stores. I think we waited too long!
If you want to leave an email addy, I will send you one of the shorts. Merry Christmas.
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LOL! Sharon, what an incredible sweater collection! Mine are much more boring, but I might need to add some pizzazz the next time I shop!
And ooh… I like the sounds of your stories–thanks for the intro and the excerpt!
Happy celebrating to you and yours!
f dot chen at comcast dot net
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That’s the spirit!! I think it’s a lot of fun.
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Welcome back, Fedora. We’re going to have fun tonight. Enjoy your Encounter on its way to you.
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Thanks, Mary. Send me your email for a freebie. Happy Holidays to you and yours as well.
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The winner is:
Sharon Chalk. Thank you everyone for participating. Have a wonderful Christmas and New Year.
Sharon
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Here are a couple sites for the sweaters:
http://www.myuglychristmassweater.com/collections/funny-christmas-sweaters
http://www.rustyzipper.com/uglychristmassweaters/
http://stores.ebay.com/Black-Dog-Sign-Shop_Ugly-Christmas-Sweaters_W0QQ_fsubZ843866011QQ_sidZ197556951QQ_trksidZp4634Q2ec0Q2em322?refid=store
http://www.christmassweaters.ca/feature-xmas-sweaters/excited-snowman-naughty-sweater/
Bondage Santa: http://www.amazon.com/Forum-Naughty-Bondage-Christmas-Sweater/dp/B008EYH3EU
Enjoy, everyone!
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I know this posting is prob closed, but I had to add this… I have heard of the Ugly Sweater Contests around (even heard of Nursing Homes having them to liven things up), but when I was out shopping this year, I came across a new twist on this idea. I was in a second hand store looking for an old book for my sister (out of print/hard to find), when I heard two ladies trying to find the Ugliest dress, hopefully Christmas looking but didn’t have to be. Seems their office or Church (not sure) had taken the Ugly Sweater idea and ran with it. And the ladies were having lots of fun just looking for the ugly dresses, laughing and being silly. It was nice to see people out having fun during the Christmas shopping stress we tend to put ourselves under.
(I already have both shorts offered, so no worries about trying to get back to me or anything. Just wanted to add that we all can be silly and have fun during this stressful time.)
vickykerr(at)sbcglobal.net
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Yesterday was one of those days…
It was funny because I had thought I had hit entered but nothing happend on my screen. Then when I refreshed the page. I noticed that there was two.
Sharon thanks for sharing.
My other half helps out a lot he will help make time for me to sit down and play on the computer or read a few chapters sometimes a whole book.
my email address is :
porter32vasquez@hotmail.com
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The sweaters are great Sharon! Unfortunately, we don’t need then down here. It’s a scorching 104 degrees here at my daughters on Christmas Day, so swimmers are more the attire of the day. Love your books and have heaps on my TBR list. Love the tags too! Enjoy Christmas with your loved ones and have a safe New Year too!
8)