SIT DOWN SATURDAY with RULA SINARA

IS IT CHRISTMAS IN JULY…OR JULY AT CHRISTMAS? 

What about both?

Can we talk about the ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM? (For those who’ve read my books…pun totally intended lol.)

You all know about Christmas in July, right? In the Southern Hemisphere, the weather is actually summer-like during Christmas. In the Northern Hemisphere, it’s the opposite. Our classic Christmas scene is full of snow, sleigh rides and hot cocoa by the fireplace. That is, unless we’re celebrating Christmas in July…smack in the middle of summer! Yep, July hits and suddenly we’re having store holiday sales and Hallmark Channel Christmas movie marathons.

(Courtesy Prism Book Tours)
So, when my fellow December Heartwarming release sisters and I got together to set up both a Facebook party and a December blog giveaway to celebrate our releases we were looking at all of our December covers and I had to laugh. Out of the four covers, three (Catherine, Beth and Liz’s) are gorgeous Christmas themed covers for holiday themed stories…and mine is a clearly set during the summer (though I think it’s also gorgeous and romantic, if I might say so myself ;). I remember saying, ‘Mine’s a July at Christmas book!’ LOL!

Seriously. Take a look at our covers. Now first, I want you to sing the famous Sesame Street ‘One of these things is not like the others’ song in your head (Don’t know it? Here’s a link https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rsRjQDrDnY8):

Amazon
Can you guess which one is my July at Christmas cover?

Ah, but I have a little secret. There’s actually a holiday backstory to EVERY SERENGETI SUNRISE. You see, it’s not the first time readers are meeting the heroine, Maddie Corallis. Everyone got a glimpse of her as a little girl (cousin to little Pippa) in THE PROMISE OF RAIN, which was my debut and first book in my From Kenya, With Love series for Harlequin Heartwarming. But she played a huge role in the second book of the series, AFTER THE SILENCE, which is in fact a (drumroll…) HOLIDAY STORY. And it is was a March 2015 release lol…not quite July, but it wasn’t December ;). 



In AFTER THE SILENCE, Maddie is a ten-year-old girl who suffers from selective mutism after the sudden, tragic loss of her mother in an accident…the very day her father, a marine, returns home from duty. The story is about a widowed marine, Ben Corallis, who is struggling to raise 3 kids in small town America and a young doctor from Nairobi, Hope Alwanga, who has been pushing herself so hard she’s overwhelmed and depleted. She ends up visiting America (because of the two families being connected by friends) and staying with Ben Corallis to help him out with the kids, while she has a chance to take a desperately needed break. Her visit falls during the holiday season but Ben is reluctant to celebrate anything since his wife’s death. It’s Hope’s influence that brings love and joy back to the family…and helps Maddie find her voice again. And of course, Ben and his children help Hope find joy in her life too.


Does following her passion mean losing her way?

Marine Ben Corallis is an expert at facing death, but nothing comes close to the terror that grounds him when his wife is killed in a car accident the day he returns from duty. He's left to raise an infant, a toddler and a ten-year-old girl who hasn't uttered a word since her mother's death.

It's hard not to care for the widowed marine with three young children. Yet he's still grieving, too burdened with guilt to fall in love again. And Hope Alwanga's future as a doctor awaits her on the other side of the world, in Nairobi. If two such opposites can't agree on a common country, how can they ever create a safe place to call home?


Now in, book 3, THROUGH THE STORM, Ben reappears in the story and we see a little bit of Maddie toward the end. They’re not main characters in this one, but it’s a story I love that, like most in the series, includes an anti-poaching/save elephants theme. Fast-forward to EVERY SERENGETI SUNRISE and Maddie is now the heroine! This book is the first of three more in which we see the kids from books 1-3 all grown up. Haki (the hero) and Pippa from THE PROMISE OF RAIN also star in this love triangle story. Sound messy? Is love ever not messy? Don’t worry though. It has a happy ending…at least for two of the characters. As for the 3rd…she’s getting her happy ending too, when THE TWIN TEST, releases in May (and already up for pre-order)!

So, you see, Maddie Corallis got her first major role in a holiday book and is now starring in a book during the holidays ;)! I hope you enjoy my From Kenya, With Love series! All the books can stand alone, but if you’d like to follow the entire family ‘saga’, you can catch up on the first 3 books too. Print copies are not available for long, so if you prefer print, grab your copy of EVERY SERENGETI SUNRISE and the other December books soon! Books in general make wonderful holiday gifts!


Elephants, Africa’s wild savannah and three best friends…

When attorney Maddie Corallis returns to Kenya to fight a humanitarian vs animal rights case, the last thing she expects is for her childhood friend, wildlife veterinarian Haki Odaba, to be the very man she’s up against. Loyal and protective, Haki would never turn his back on the elephants he’s devoted to saving, any more than Maddie could abandon the native tribes she’s come to protect. An impossible battle…but nothing compared to the fight they face when old feelings surface and the soul-deep connection they’ve always shared threatens the worst kind of betrayal...that of their dearest friend Pippa. The one Haki is expected to marry.

Denying their feelings is torture, but giving in is not an option. Not with the suffering it would cause. Besides, Maddie left Kenya once and she’ll be leaving again soon. An ocean, a case and a friend between them. Maybe love can’t always find a way…or can it?

AMAZON  HARLEQUIN  BN  IBOOKS



And don’t forget about the huge holiday giveaway hosted by the December Heartwarming authors! There’s only a week left! Here’s the link to our launch page where you can find out more about the prizes and enter for a chance to win: GIVEAWAY


Happy Holidays! 

Rula Sinara

Comments

  1. With all of those beautiful covers, I'll need to snatch up the print copies. Your latest story sounds wonderful, Rula. Congratulations!

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    1. Thanks, Jill! I hope you get to enjoy all the December reads!

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  2. I love that the little girl who lost her mom grew up to be such a strong and giving person. And the cover is beautiful.

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    1. Thanks, Beth! I tell you, getting to explore Maddie's psychology and growth from childhood to adulthood was amazing. I felt like I was her mom, watching her grow up. But then for an author...all these characters are our children in a way lol ;). We love and understand each one on a personal level.

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  3. You, Catherine, Liz and Beth all have releases this month!?! I'm clearly going to have some fantastic Christmas season reading! Congratulations and best wishes to all four of you with your latest releases!!

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    1. You're so sweet, Kate :). I think between all the Heartwarming books that released in Oct/Nov/Dec, readers have their Christmas vacation covered lol!

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  4. Missed coming on yesterday as I had an all day meeting. But have loved, loved, loved all of your books and so looking forward to the next in the series.

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    1. Roz, thank you so much! I have so much respect for you and hearing you say that means the world to me. Sending you hugs!

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  5. Rula, sorry I missed yesterday but I was at a funeral with family in town all day...during the blizzard. Then by the time I got home, the weather got worse and worse. Truly, I was dreaming about July and no shoveling! I absolutely LOVED "Every Serengeti Sunrise". I felt so sad for Pippa, that un-requied love is a tough experience for all of us. At the same time, I felt Maddie's pain and Haki's confusion. That scene at the end in the SUV and taxi...YOU GOT ME! A string of stars. A fabulous read any time of year.

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    1. I'm so sorry to hear about the funeral, Catherine. My heartfelt condolences. And I hope everyone made it through the blizzard safely too.

      I'm so glad you loved Every Serengeti Sunrise!! Your comment made my day! :) I definitely hope it brought some sunshine to your snowy days :). And have no fear, Pippa's story is next!!

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  6. Rula, I'm so looking forward to reading this one. I love everything about your books. And I wish I could go to Africa with you and save all the elephants. :)

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    1. OMG, Carol, can we! We have to form a girlfriend group and go do that!!

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