Cranberries and Spice Blog Hop

*waves like a lunatic*

This is my first blog hop and am so excited that you've stopped by. So many of you may not know me and I'd love to rectify that. I'm a new author with a romantic suspense debut coming out in late January 2015. I'll tell you more about that later on but for now let's talk about Allyn's Thanksgiving traditions.

Being from another country, even though I've lived in the United States from over twenty odd years, the festivities surrounding Thanksgiving continues to leave me in amazement. The family I've married into are Southerners and whenever we go to my in-laws' home to celebrate this day, the decorations, bright colors, and wonderful scents inside their homes are what I look forward to the most. My family traditionally eats around 5PMish EST. Dinner gets underway after my grandfather-in-law prays and without fail, my mother-in-law hogs the cranberry sauce. Two years ago, she finally convinced me to stop bypassing the cranberry sauce in favor of the gravy she makes from scratch. To say I was blown away would be an understatement. I'm glad that I tried it but ever since that time, boy is it hard to pry that decorative holder from my mother-in-law's grasp away :).

Once dinner is consumed, we play games (again, we're a loud and rambunctious bunch; also, my family is filled with cheaters so you know how that goes lol) and just hang around. Most times, I'm with the younger children, playing Wii or Uno. To be honest, I'm usually knocked out on a couch while they are playing. 

Next up is one of my absolute favorite time: dessert. 

I love desserts. All kinds (hold the nuts and minced fruits please) but especially pumpkin pie. My mouth waters just thinking about it. And the last thing my family does: we take turns, EVERYONE, in sharing what we're most thankful for and the night ends with a prayer for continued growth in our family, forgiveness, love, and safe traveling (for those who won't be spending the night).

So those are some of the Thanksgiving traditions I happily participate in every year and I will be looking forward to doing this year. The giveaway below asks for your comment to qualify for a chance to win the giveaway item, please share what you're looking forward to during this Thanksgiving season. If you're not celebrating or living in a country that doesn't celebrate this holiday, please still share what you're thankful for in 2014.

Okay, remember how up top I told you I'd share more later? Well this is the later part :).

I have a novel that will be part of The Deeper Chronicles. Here's the trailer: 

If you liked what you saw, come hang out at the release party with myself, a bunch of fabulous authors and bloggers.

Post by Author Allyn Lesley

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Make sure you hop on over to the other participating bloggers' and authors' sites.

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