Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Favorite Holiday Romance Movies by Phillipa Ashley (and GIVEAWAY!)





I love holiday romance movies – or should I call them vacation romance movies?
When Laura asked me if I had any favourites, I did a quick poll of my readers and Facebook friends and got some surprising answers. Some of the most popular were Roman Holiday, The Notebook, The Holiday, Grease, Letters to Juliet and Shirley Valentine. Other candidates were Three Coins in the Fountain, French Kiss, Mamma Mia – not all vacation romance films, strictly speaking and I haven’t seen all of them, but I do now have a new To Be Watched list!

My number one holiday romance movie has to be Dirty Dancing. Yes, it’s a classic dance movie but it’s also about a vacation romance between the innocent, idealistic Baby and worldly wise, experienced Johnny. I love this film and have watched it over and over again. Of course it’s a great fun movie and the music and dance scenes are classics. But I think the deeper themes about growing up and not judging people by first impressions, resonate too. Johnny teaches Baby about the realities of life, but she also teaches him about standing up for what you believe in.

I’ll admit to needing a tissue at several moments; especially when Baby stands up to her father. These days, I always want to cry at the uplifting ending, especially since the late great Patrick Swayze is no longer with us.

I got the idea for my own holiday romance book, Wish You Were Here, from a trip to the stunning French island of Corsica. Before the books starts, the heroine, Beth Allen meets Jack Thornfield on a hiking trip. As leader of her tour, Jack seems strong, tender and capable – and he’s also totally gorgeous! Beth falls madly in love with him and is convinced he feels the same. They part, having vowed to stay together forever but then Beth gets home to England and the harsh reality of life. She never hears from Jack again and although she’s devastated, she has to move on.

Wish You Were Here opens eight years after that trip. Since then, Beth has lost her mother to cancer, her father is recovering from a serious accident and her younger sister needs money to take up a place at college. Beth needs a job fast and is thrilled to land an interview for a dream position at a London travel company.

But she’s in for a shock when she finds out who her new CEO is...

Do you have any favourite holiday romance movies or novels? Or do you have a vacation romance story of your own?

Thank-you Phillipa Ashley for the great guest blog! There is nothing I like better than a good holiday romance movie, unless it is a good holiday romance book like Wish You Were Here! Stay tuned for my review of Wish You Were Here which will appear on my blog next week.


Giveaway Details
Beth from Sourcebooks has been kind enough to offer one copy of Wish You Were Here by Phillipa Ashley for a giveaway.

If you would like to win a copy of Wish You Were Here please leave a comment about what intrigues you about the novel, guest blog, or answer Phillipa Ashley's question about your favorite holiday romance movie, novels, or story of your own.

As part of your comment, you must include an email address. If I can't find a way to contact you I will draw another winner.

For an additional entry, blog about this giveaway or post it on your sidebar. Provide a link to this post in your comment.

I will be using random.org (or a monte carlo simulation in excel) to pick the winners from the comments.

This contest is only open to US and Canadian residents (Sorry!).

No P.O. Boxes.

The deadline for entry is midnight, Friday July 8th.

Good luck!

16 comments:

  1. This comment has been removed by the author.

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  2. Sounds like a great movie. Enter me! Donna
    dkmtheriot@yahoo.com

    http://mylife-in-stories.blogspot.com

    I am having a give away. Hope you'll visit and enter! Donna

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  3. Wonderful guest post, Laura and Phillipa! I am intrigued by the idea that this story was inspired by a trip to Corsica, which I imagine is quite beautiful. Please enter me in this giveaway. I'm a follower, and will post this in my blog's sidebar. Thanks!

    suko95(at)gmail(dot)com

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  4. Hi there. I'm just dropping in to say goodnight - before I go to bed. Thanks for making me welcome. Actually, I've got my suitcases out, starting to pack for a trip to another Mediterreanean island soon - but I'll be taking my OH with me!

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  5. A good holiday romance movie is Four Christmases.

    I'm following you on GFC (Darlene), and my email address is darlenesbooknook at gmail dot com.

    Extra entry for tweeting:
    http://twitter.com/#!/DarleneBookNook/status/83677275559706624

    Thanks for the giveaway!

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  6. A good holiday romance movie -- I'm sorry I'm not able to recall one, there was a movie with Sara Jessica Parker, something about the ring?

    Anyway, am a follower by email and gfc.

    Have posted to my blog: http://dancealertreads.blogspot.com/2011/06/httplaurageroldblogspotcom201106favorit.html

    dancealert at aol dot com

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  7. Great post! My favourite holiday romance movie among many is The Sound of Music. It never grows old on me and I love all the musicality.

    I really want to read WISH YOU WERE HERE, I'm interested in seeing how Beth and Jack will reconnect and move forward, what secrets will be revealed and if they have a future together.

    Cambonified(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  8. Holiday Romance Movie: Borrowed Hearts Starring Roma Downey. Also, While You Were Sleeping with Sandra Bullock.

    angelgraham(at)angelthoughts.org

    (waves to Phillipa)

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  9. I love how she gets her inspiration for her story by visiting a French island, wow that would be a wonderful vacation.

    Thank you for hosting this giveaway!

    countrysunset40 (at) aol dot com

    I am a new foloower on gfc as countrysunset40.

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  10. My favorite holiday romantic movie is probably While You Were Sleeping. I can watch that over and over!

    mryward(at)yahoo(dot)com

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  11. The book Moonspinners by Mary Stewart is a favorite, although the film was a major disappointment.

    Loved the film Shirley Valentine.

    Best wishes foe you w/ Wish You Were Here.

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  12. I'm also a big fan of Dirty Dancing. (Maybe because of my age!)

    I'm a follower on GFC.

    o2oole(at)verizon(dot)net

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  13. Hi everyone - waves to Angel. I now have a new list of DVDs to watch. I haven't even see While You Were Sleeping.

    Thanks for all the good wishes about the new book. :)

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  14. I had forgotten that Grease has a vacation romance at the beginning of it. I like the idea of the characters having a previous relationship that didn't work out so there must be a lot of tension.
    mce1011 AT aol DOT com

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  15. i love 'sea change' by aimee friedman, perfect beach romance!

    thanks for the contest!
    inthehammockblog at gmail dot com

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  16. This giveaway has now ended and winners will be posted shortly.

    ReplyDelete