Christmas Shopping When You Don't Know What the Heck to Buy

My biggest problem every Christmas is not getting the shopping done. It's figuring out what in the world to get everyone.

It took me a while, but I've come up with a few ideas that I want to share. And perhaps they might help you through this holiday conundrum as well.

Friends: I've started picking a "theme" for each of my friends, and then buying items that match that theme. For instance, one girlfriend loves owls, so I've gotten her owl socks, an owl necklace, an owl t-shirt, and a cute owl coin purse. Another friend is into horses, so ditto for her (including a travel mug with a horse on it, etc.) Each successive year I've assigned a new theme for each of them, and extended that to include their birthdays.

Male Family Members: You can never go wrong if they're into sports. Anything with their favorite teams logo on it will work.

Female Family Members: Themes work well here, too. What also helps is knowing their favorite color, and finding items in that color.

What to avoid: Unless specifically requested, don't buy anyone underwear, cooking appliances, or cleaning appliances. Learn from my mistakes.

Of course, if all else fails, gift cards to either their favorite stores or restaurants are never wrong.

So, how's it going for you? Have you started yet? Or are you one of those who finished up before Thanksgiving?

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Now Available In Its Original Format!

BEAUTY'S ALIEN BEAST
(Formerly released as Captive Surrender)
Erotic Sci-fi Romance
by Linda Mooney
Word Count: 62K 
$3.99 e / $9.99 p

As an intergalactic cop gifted with psionic abilities, Maurra instinctively went to the Ellinod's defense when she saw the immense and bestial-looking alien being attacked by a group of vicious Kronners. Little did she know what the Kronners had planned for her and the Ellinod until she woke up naked in a cell inside their ship. And it wasn't long before she found out a translation device had been implanted against her spine, debilitating her and making her helpless with pain whenever she tried to use her psi powers.

Neither she nor the Ellinod had any idea how twisted their captors were, but they soon discovered that she and the beast were at the mercy of someone who expected them to "entertain" his "customers", and entertain them well regardless of the consequences.

Warning: Contains moral degradation, public sex, self sacrifice, unexpected tenderness, sadistic little aliens, banishment, exorbitant Pay Per View charges, and sweet revenge served cold.

(Note: This book was previously released by Carina Press/Harlequin as Captive Surrender. It has been restored to its original content, including more than 7K additional words, and re-edited.)

Excerpt and buy links