Robyn Carr: On the second day of Christmas …

Twelve romance authors are celebrating the 12 days of Christmas here at HEA with cheer and gifts. Yesterday, we welcomed Molly O'Keefe for the first day of Christmas. Today, we have Robyn Carr, whose My Kind of Christmas (A Virgin River Novel) came out at the end of October. (Stick around until the end to find out how you can win a special gift from Robyn.)

Robyn: My all-time favorite holiday movie is It's a Wonderful Life. James Stewart and Donna Reed have never lost their charm for me, but there's so much more than that. It should be required viewing because of its overpowering message of hope. No story better illustrates what the smallest act of kindness or responsibility or friendship can do to create huge, cosmic responses throughout the world. That shopping cart you took back to the store? That prevented a grocery store fender bender in the parking lot. That purse you returned — that was an elderly woman's last $10 until the Social Security check came. That dollar you put in the bell ringer's bucket helped feed a hungry family. There is no stronger message of community than showing kindness to your fellow man. And what a better way to illustrate this message than in showing a man — James Stewart as George — how different the world would be had he not been alive to make his contributions, small acts of kindness that he never thought twice about, that he never thought would have the impact they did.

But there's so much more to It's a Wonderful Life. It's a story of how love can find even the most reluctant man. There is a message that community is also family, it's not only about blood relatives. We are a global community. Maybe we should all watch that movie again before writing that check on April 15. In the movie there was a run on the Savings and Loan and George was faced with a mob of angry customers demanding their money, right now! And what did he say? "Your money isn't in the Savings and Loan — it's in Burt's cab, in Joe's house, in the restaurant on the corner!" What we give — it has the capacity to grow.

I have seen this movie a hundred times and I still can't get through the end without crying — George is in trouble, big trouble, and there appears to be no way out. Except this man who has all his life tried to do the right thing, cared about his friends and neighbors, performed random acts of kindness without thinking or expecting anything in return, appears to be sinking fast. But if there was ever evidence that his good works have not gone unnoticed — the entire town shows up with a huge collection of money, filling a laundry basket. They're singing and laughing and finding the most enormous pleasure in just being able to help a friend!

I don't just want to watch this movie every Christmas. I want to live this movie every day.

Visit the contest page on RobynCarr.com for a chance to win two beautiful crystal and silver champagne flutes. And Happy Holidays, one and all!

(You can enter the contest through midnight ET Sunday, Nov. 25. Winner will be announced on Monday, Nov. 26.)

And be sure to come back to HEA every day this week (and beyond) to catch posts and giveaways by your favorite authors. Up next: Leah Braemel.