So what's your candle brand of choice? Yankee Candle or Party Lite? I love each for different reasons. Party Lite burns clean (There's no dirty wicks or black smoke) but I love the variety and ambience of Yankee Candles and quite honestly, Yankee Candles remind me of home.
I've loved candles ever since I was a little girl growing up in the 1970's. I recall many a night when I went to sleep over my grandmother's house. She'd tuck me and my sister into bed in the spare room, leave the door open, and light a candle, placing it on the kitchen table. The light would filter into the room and it made me feel secure.
In the 1990's, my aunt who lived in Vermont, took me to the Yankee Candle shop in Massachusetts for the first time and I fell in love. The building houses an old fashioned colonial tapered candle making room, various themed rooms and the whole catalog is for sale. There's a Christmas all year round room and the outside is often decorated to fit the season. The Yankee Candle estate also houses "Chandler's Tavern," a restaurant with plenty of ambience and some of the best tasting New England themed food I've ever tasted – including the clam chowder.
Last year when I was researching my 2011 Christmas story I came upon a Danish tradition where candles were important during their Christmas customs and I'd knew I found the inspiration I'd wanted. What's more romantic than a candle? It offers soft light and warmth in the cold and darkness and helps one to find their way.
So what's your favorite candle or brand? I'd love to hear your thoughts.
Feast of Candles is a 99 cent spicy contemporary romance.
Blurb: Can Drake's Feast of Candles help Lily find her way out of her loneliness?
5 Stars, Amazon Review: Loves Romance
"The ending with the feast of candles is so romantic, you'll want your own."
Small Excerpt:
He drew close, pressing the length of his body against hers. Her pulse quickened even as a sense of caution flooded through her. She opened her eyes and placed her hand over his, while placing her other hand over his chest to stop him from drawing closer. Despite her attraction, she wasn't quite ready to allow a kiss.
He stared into her eyes, keeping his hand on her waist. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing." She hesitated. "Everything. You..." her voice trailed off. Silence grew between them. God, what had she been thinking? Was it possible to have a future with him?
Buy Link: http://amzn.com/B008NXELPG
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I love candles, too, Steph. My favorite Yankee candle got discontinued early on and I haven't looked recently to see if the fragrance got reinstated. I forget the exact name, but it smelled like the best suntan lotion ever - very much coconut, a hint of tropical flowers and a lot seabreeze. Sigh. I wish I had one right now.
ReplyDeleteI love scented candles. At Christmas time, I'd go with cinnamon or pot-pourri, in summer with pine or lavender. Now candles are forbidden in my building for safety reasons.
ReplyDeleteVery nice excerpt.
Hi Steph, I will have to say that any scented candle will do, but if pressed to name a favorite I'd say anything with a citrus scent. Candles are all over my house and I like to burn them in the evenings.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE Yankee Candles. But there is a little shop in Indiana that makes the most amazing candles. Warm Glow Candles and they have the most amazing scents like Maple butter. Love the excerpt, Steph!
ReplyDeleteI love Party Lite! Their tea lights burn completely, leaving no residue!
ReplyDeleteGreat tie-in to Feast of Candles.
My Wife is the candle expert in the house and even made her own scented candles. Like any subject, it's amazingly complex for the true aficionado: soy wax versus parafin, what new scents are on the market now, and the whole aromatherapy thing.
ReplyDeleteIt drives her up the wall when she spends a half hour smelling candles at a store, shows me her choice, and all I say is, "Yeah, that one smells nice."
Maggie, I'm sorry your Yankee Candle got discontinued like that. I notice with Yankee they update and change off. It can be annoying especially if you've found a scent you really enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMona, I love to buy scents that reflect the season. It helps to establish the mood of the season. Christmas is tough since it doesn't snow here in CA so having those warm scents helps it feel like Christmas.
Linda, my all time scented favorite is lilac. Reminds me of home. While Lilacs grow in CA, they are rare and are "off" season.
Linda, I really a good "mom and pop" candle store. I guess that's another reason I like Yankee Candle. They may be a bigger chain but for me they retain that mom and pop feel.
Joan, that's why I absolutely love Party Lite. Give me a catalog and I buy their stuff.
Gerry, I chuckle. It's really fun to get into my husband doesn't want to linger either. Blows out his noise he says.
Steph