by admin | Nov 23, 2020 | Anthology, Books, Christmas, England, Historical, Regency, Romance
MY REVIEW:
Lovers of Regency romance novels and/or Christmas should find this Regency Christmas Collection a perfect companion for those long, cold evenings of the holiday season. Inside the gorgeous cover is a compilation of three individual novellas by three of my favorite Regency authors. Each novella is based on a line from longtime favorite Christmas hymn Joy to the World, thus the name of the collection. Each one easily stands on its own and can be easily be read in one evening by many readers. I enjoyed getting a head start on the season with this amazing book.
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
Due to certain family circumstances Edith had turned down George’s proposal a year ago and was perplexed to learn that he would also be a guest at the Christmas house party she was attending. With their hostess attempting to play cupid at every turn, Edith found it difficult to avoid George while longing for his presence at the same time. I thoroughly enjoyed reading the vivid descriptions of Christmas activities and decor during that historical period. Entertaining dialogue and interesting characters made this novella a fun read. I particularly liked the interest in music shared by the couple. I thoroughly enjoyed reading something new by Carolyn Miller and look forward to a full-length novel in the near future.
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
Dwight Inglewood, Earl of Amberly was not only alone in the world but had further isolated himself due to grievous injuries suffered during the war. When he crossed paths with a critically ill young woman and her sick baby during one of his nightly strolls, he instinctively took them home to care for them. Hating to send her back out on her own after she recovered, he hired her as a maid for his family estate where her joyful spirit brings life to the once somber home. At times this story made me think of Beauty and the Beast or Phantom of the Opera but the tale was infused with a hope, love, and faith that offered such encouragement.
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
The story of a young widow who is totally dominated by her demanding mother-in-law who obviously has plans for her life, Wonders of His Love features Lady Priscilla whose sister-in-law has become the Duchess. An artist has been hired to paint portraits of the new Duke and Duchess and Priscilla is inappropriately more attracted to him than the man her mother-in-law wishes her to marry. As always, this author has applied her own delightful twist to the story and I enjoyed every minute of it. I found it such fun to observe as Cilla became less compliant under the influence of Hamish and grew into the strong and capable woman she was meant to be. I also enjoyed spending time with a few characters from previous books by this author. 
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Kregel Publications. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Inspirational Regency romance with a Christmas twist from three best-selling authors
In Joy to the World, three popular authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas in one book have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness.
“Heaven and Nature Sing” by Carolyn Miller
Two music lovers, deeply devoted to each other, were on the brink of engagement when family circumstances drove them apart. How can they ever overcome their obligations and fears to find their way back into each other’s arms?
“Far as the Curse is Found” by Amanda Barratt
One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?
“Wonders of His Love” by Erica Vetsch
A Scots portrait painter with a hidden identity finds work at a noble manor house over the holidays. He never imagined he’d fall in love with the emotionally frozen widow there. Now he wants nothing more than to thaw her heart.
Read an excerpt HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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Carolyn Miller lives in New South Wales, Australia, with her husband and four children. A longtime lover of Regency romance, Carolyn’s novels have won a number of RWA and ACFW contests. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Australasian Christian Writers. Check her out at www.carolynmillerauthor.com. |
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Amanda Barratt is the ECPA best-selling author of several novels and novellas, including My Dearest Dietrich. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a two-time FHL Reader’s Choice Award finalist. She and her family live in northern Michigan. Visit her at amandabarratt.net. |
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Erica Vetsch is a New York Times best-selling author and ACFW Carol Award winner, and has been a Romantic Times top pick for her previous books. She loves Jesus, history, romance, and watching sports. This transplanted Kansan now makes her home in Rochester, Minnesota. Learn more about Erica at ericavetsch.com. |
by admin | Oct 27, 2019 | Anthology, Books, Romance, Second Chance Romance
MY REVIEW:
I received a copy of the First Love Forever Romance Collection from one of the authors, Carrie Fancett Pagels courtesy of Just Read Tours Blind Read tour. It was requested that I read and review her novella, His Anchor in particular as well as any or all of the other titles. Each of the novellas feature a couple who were in love at one time (or at least one of them was) and have received a second chance at renewing that love. Due to a family health crisis, time restraints have prevented me from reading all the included stories other than His Anchor at this time. I hope to find more time later to read the others.
His Anchor is set in the late 1800s on Mackinac Island in Michigan. Sadie has always loved Robert Swaine, the young uncle of one of her best friends. When he returns to Mackinac Island, Robert learns of the dire circumstances Sadie and her sisters have found themselves in after the death of their mother and the disappearance of their father. Always a caring and generous man, Robert endeavors to do everything he can to make life easier for Sadie and her family. Of course in a story of this type readers know to expect a sweet romance to develop.
Both Sadie and Robert were strong and likeable characters who deserved a chance at happiness. The setting was vividly described and the plot contained just enough action to keep things interesting. My only complaint would be that the short length necessary for a novella left me wanting to know more about the characters than time allowed. I hope that reading the companion novel will satisfy that desire. If the other novellas included in this collection as as good, it will definitely be a satisfying read.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book provided by Just Read Tours. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
A first love is never easily forgotten…
and coming face to face with that person again can be awkward when the heartstrings are still holding on to the “what ifs.”
In settings from 1865 to 1910, nine couples are thrown back on the same path by life’s changes and challenges. A neighbor returns from law school. An heiress seeks a quick marriage. A soldier’s homecoming is painful. A family needs help. A prodigal son returns. A rogue aeronaut drops from the sky. A runaway bridegroom comes home. A letter for aid is sent. A doctor needs a nurse. Can love rekindle despite the separation of time and space?
First Things First by Susanne Dietze
1877 – South Texas: Texas rancher’s daughter Georgie Bridge mourned when her first love, Ward Harper, left town to study the law, but now he’s back—as opposing counsel in a case against her father.
A Most Reluctant Bride by Cynthia Hickey
1880 – Ozark foothill ranch: Maggie Spoonmore marries her father’s former foreman, Zach Colton in order to salvage her reputation, yet struggles to believe he married her for love and not her inheritance.
Weeping Willow by Marcia Gruver
May of 1861 – Port Royal, Virginia: In Civil War Virginia, tables are turned for Willow Bates when Julian Finney, her childhood crush and steadfast defender, returns from the war a broken man in need of rescue.
His Anchor by Carrie Fancett Pagels
1894 – Mackinac Island, Michigan: Robert Swaine, a ship captain, returns to Mackinac Island where his first love, Sadie Duvall struggles to support her siblings. Will she anchor him to the island he has vowed to leave behind?
After the Ball by Martha Rogers
1910 – Dallas, Texas: Chase Thornton, a wealthy oil man yearns for the life of a cowboy and his first love, Susannah King, but can she trust him to keep his word to leave the city and stay on the ranch?
Lighter Than Air by Lorna Seilstad
1900 – St. Louis, Missouri: After Titus Knott crashes his hot air balloon behind Ella Mason’s boarding school, he must convince his former sweetheart that his words are true and not full of hot air.
In Due Season by Connie Stevens
1901 – Whitley, Kansas: Leah Brown accepts her role of town spinster until Gareth Shepherd unexpectedly steps back into her life. Now she’s faced with a choice. Can she forgive the man who jilted her?
Heartfelt Echoes by Jennifer Uhlarik
1875—Virginia City, Nevada: A short, urgent letter mentioning his childhood love, Millie Gordon, forces deaf Travis McCaffrey to turn to his estranged birth father for help rescuing the woman he can’t forget.
Prescription for Love by Erica Vestch
1905 – New Orleans: Erstwhile fiancée Natalie Morrison is the last person Dr. Mackenzie wants as his new nurse, but when an epidemic hits, Phin finds she’s come back into his life at the perfect time.
by admin | May 21, 2018 | Anthology, Books, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
“Cowboys of Summer” is a collection of six novellas featuring cowboys. Perfect for reading on the beach or any vacation spot as well as on long summer evenings along with a tall glass of lemonade or iced tea, this book should please the cowboy lovers among us. Featuring favorite authors such as Mary Connealy and Lorna Seilstad, this collection also introduced me to some other unfamiliar authors.
Different settings and time frames for each novella helped keep things interesting. It might even be a bit of a stretch to consider the heroes of a couple of the tales cowboys but that did not hinder my enjoyment of the stories at all. Some stories are laced with humor while others are a bit more serious yet the common thread among them is a strong dose of romance. Well worth the read if time is at a premium.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Just Read Publicity. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Title: Cowboys of Summer
Authors: Mary Connealy, Lorna Seilstad, Cheryl St. John, Missy Tippens, Tina Radcliffe & Sherri Shackelford
Release Date: May 1, 2018
Genre: Sweet Contemporary Romance
As the summer weather sizzles, relax by the pool with stirring tales of handsome cowboys and the spirited ladies who wrangle them into romance. Six of Christian fiction’s most beloved authors join forces to bring you a collection of humorous, romantic and heartfelt novellas set against the sultry heat of summer.
In Mary Connealy’s, “Dr. Tess and the Cowboy”, sparks fly when Dr. Tessa Rhoades discovers dinosaur bones on Joe Holt’s ranch and decides to excavate—even if that means kicking Joe off his own land.
In “Hometown Girl” by Cheryl St.John, injured rodeo champion Justin Cooper returns to the sleepy Oklahoma town he escaped for fame and fortune–and takes his biggest tumble yet–straight into the arms of Stevie Marshall, his first love who soon has him questioning his life choices.
In Tina Radcliffe’s, “Lake Effect”, cynical cowboy Tucker Jackson knows he’s in trouble when he starts counting the days until the end of summer and praying ‘summer girl’ Jessica Richards will find a home for her heart in Paradise.
In “His Lone Star Heart” by Missy Tippens, rancher Zeb West tries hard not to fall for Beecher Brown, the feisty but off-limits sister of his best friend. As she tries to prove she’s capable of running her family’s ranch–the one he’s trying to buy–he might just find he’s met his match…for life.
Will Lorna Seilstad’s characters make “Great Strides” when Dana Etherton, the owner of a horse therapy ranch, must choose between the kids she serves and Adam Malone, the embezzler who’s been assigned to do community service there?
When Paige Monroe agrees to draw the press away from a country star’s wedding by pretending to be the look-alike bride, she wasn’t counting on having very real feeling for her decoy fiancé, Sterling Tanner. In Sherri Shackelford’s, “The Decoy Bride”, two people feigning love forget they’re acting.
PURCHASE A COPY: Goodreads | Amazon
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
 Photo courtesy of Ginger Murray Photography |
Mary Connealy writes “romantic comedies with cowboys” and is celebrated for her fun, zany, action-packed style. She has more than half a million books in print. She is the author of the popular series Wild at Heart, Kincaid Brides, Trouble in Texas, Lassoed in Texas, Sophie’s Daughters, and many other books. Mary lives on a ranch in eastern Nebraska with her very own romantic cowboy hero.
TO CONNECT WITH MARY:
website, facebook, twitter, instagram
You can also find Mary at these sites: Seekerville and Petticoats & Pistols |
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Lorna Seilstad has called Iowa home her whole life. She received her B.S. in education from Lubbock Christian University. After her first child was born, she stopped teaching and became a professional wiper. “I wiped noses, tears, skinned knees, baby’s bottoms, and countertops every day. But at naptime, I wrote.” Today, she writes historical fiction with a generous dash of humor.
TO CONNECT WITH LORNA: website?facebook |
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Cheryl St. John is the award-winning author of more than fifty Harlequin and Silhouette books, as well as several independently published books. Her book Writing With Emotion, Tension & Conflict by Writer’s Digest is a popular seller. Cheryl has always loved the exciting and diverse worlds available between the covers of books. As a child Cheryl wrote stories and drew covers, then stapled them into little books. She cut all the tiny book images from the book club advertisements in the Sunday paper and glued them to bits of cardboard so Barbie® had a full library.
Cheryl believes in paying it forward, and her some of her most rewarding experiences have been sharing in the successes of writers she has coached over the years.
Cheryl loves hearing from readers. You can email her at StJohn[at]aol[dot]com.
TO CONNECT WITH CHERYL: website, facebook, pinterest |
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Born and raised in Kentucky, Missy Tippens has lived in Georgia for the last 25+ years. She is a pastor’s wife and mom of three. A former microbiologist and teacher, she now focuses on her writing.
After more than ten years of working toward publication, Missy finally made her first sale of a novel in 2007. She feels very blessed to be working at home in her dream job!
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Tina Radcliffe is a two-time RWA Golden Heart finalist, a 2012 ACFW Carol Award finalist, a 2014 ACFW Mentor of the Year finalist, a 2014 Golden Quill finalist and a 2014 ACFW Carol Award winner. She has won first place in over twenty RWA chapter affiliated contests in her career. Tina is also a short story writer and has sold over twenty-five short stories to Woman’s World Magazine. She currently resides in Arizona where she writes fun, heartwarming romance. Find her at http://www.tinaradcliffe.com where you can sign up for her newsletter so you don’t miss her fun giveaways and bad jokes.
TO CONNECT WITH TINA: website, facebook, twitter, pinterest, instagram |
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Sherri Shackelford is an award-winning author of inspirational, Christian romance novels for Harlequin/HarperCollins Publishers.
A wife and mother of three, Sherri’s hobbies include collecting mismatched socks, discovering new ways to avoid cleaning, and standing in the middle of the room while thinking, “Why did I just come in here?” A reformed pessimist and recent hopeful romantic, Sherri has a passion for writing. Her books are fun and fast-paced, with plenty of heart and soul. Look for her new adventure in Love Inspired Suspense, No Safe Place, in stores January of 2019.
TO CONNECT WITH SHERRI: website, facebook, twitter |
GIVEAWAY:
The authors of Cowboys of Summer is giving (1) winner:
Prize:
- (1) $25 Amazon Gift Card
- (1) ‘I Trust in God’s Unfailing’ Mug
- (1) Reading at the Cafe Candle from Frostbeard Studios
Enter via the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Giveaway will begin at midnight May 21, 2018 and last through 11:59 PM on May 28, 2018. Winners will be notified within a week of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize.
Giveaway is subject to the policies found here.
ENTER the RAFFLECOPTER Giveaway Form HERE
Be sure to stop at a stop each day for extra entries!
JustRead Publicity Tour Landing Page
by admin | Jul 5, 2017 | Anthology, Books, Contemporary Fiction, Oregon, Romance
MY REVIEW:
I was intrigued by the setting of this book because my daughter and her husband recently spent nearly a year working as traveling physical therapy assistants in a small town on the Oregon Coast. Other than some scenic photos and a few conversations about the nursing home where she worked, my daughter didn’t supply me with much information to help me imagine their life there. Through the pages of “Finding Love at the Oregon Coast” I was able to get a bit more insight into life in a small town in coastal Oregon.
The short prologue to the book set the stage with bride Christina who realized at the last minute that she had made a mistake and walked out on her wedding. Each of the following novellas features one of Christina’s bridesmaids and their activities shortly after the derailed wedding, ending with Christina’s own story after she decided to spend her honeymoon alone.
I enjoyed each and every one of the novellas as I read about Christina, Liz, Anabeth, and Kadence and the different men who quickly became important to them. Each story was fun and romantic with plenty of humor and drama that kept those pages turning. In my opinion, all the stories ended perfectly as every young woman found the man God had intended for her. I particularly loved the contrast between Christina’s original intended husband and the man the Lord led her to.
Happy endings for all the young women – now you will have to read for yourself to find out who God had waiting for each of them and all the details of how they got together. “Finding Love at the Oregon Coast” is a perfect book to take along on your vacation, even if it’s only in your own backyard.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by the author.
A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
When a wedding is cancelled, three bridesmaids and a runaway bride contemplate the true meaning of love in four related romance novellas.
By Heather Woodhaven–Finding Love in Lincoln City: Liz feels stuck at her little beach magazine until a handsome rival sparks more than just friendly competition.
By Lisa Phillips–Finding Love in Oceanside: Anabeth is looking to get out of her rut when a fender bender and a bizarre date with a former marine leads her to a life of love she could never have imagined.
By Christina Coryell–Finding Love in Cannon Beach: Kadence feels the pressure to write a perfect love song, but an unexpected meeting with a musician will have her living one instead.
By Angela Ruth Strong–Finding Love in Seaside: Christina plans to spend her honeymoon alone, but when the bed and breakfast owner offers her a position as cook, she starts to feel at home in his kitchen…and in his arms.
Read the prologue HERE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
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Angela Ruth Strong writes light-hearted and life-changing love stories. The “light-hearted” part comes from her ability to get into interesting situations–such as a hamster ball race or riding on the shoulders of a unicyclist. The “life-changing” part comes from the power of God’s love and the beauty of her very own romance. The “story” part comes from her passion for books that she got from her writer mama. And there’s nothing else she’d rather do than share these stories with you. Find out more (than you ever wanted to know) at www.angelaruthstrong.com. |
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Heather Woodhaven earned her pilot’s license, rode a hot air balloon over the safari lands of Kenya, assisted an engineer with a medical laser in a Haitian mission, parasailed over Caribbean seas, lived through an accidental detour onto a black diamond ski trail in the Aspens and snorkeled among sting rays before becoming a mother of three and wife of one. Now Heather spends her days celebrating laughter, adding to her impressive list of embarrassing moments, and raising a family of aspiring comedians who perform nightly at her table. She channels her love for adventure into writing characters who find themselves in extraordinary circumstances–whether running for their lives or battling the insanities of life. |
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USA Today bestselling author Christina Coryell was born and raised in southwest Missouri, where she lives with her husband and children. She had plenty of people tell her that her degree in English with an emphasis on Creative Writing would be useless. They were probably right. Added to her dual major in History, she became the least likely candidate for nearly every career on the planet, save being a writer. That suits her just fine.
Christina has written from the back hatch of an SUV, in a lawn chair while at soccer practice, in the front seat of her car, with kids climbing on her, and often with extremely loud noise in the background. At least half of her books have been written during baseball games.
She believes great fiction mirrors life, and great life contains a little humor, so it’s difficult not to sprinkle a little funny business throughout her work. Oh…and character is everything.
She loves hearing from readers. You can find all the ways to connect with her at www.christinacoryell.com. |
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A British ex-pat who grew up an hour outside of London, Lisa attended Calvary Chapel Bible College where she met her husband. He’s from California, but nobody’s perfect. It wasn’t until her Bible College graduation that she figured out she was a writer (someone told her). Since then she’s discovered a penchant for high-stakes stories of mayhem and disaster where you can find made-for-each-other love that always ends in happily ever after.
Lisa can be found in Idaho wearing either flip-flops or cowgirl boots, depending on the season. She leads worship with her husband at their local church. Together they have two children–a sparkly Little Princess and a Mini Daddy–and an all-black Airedale known as The Dark Lord Elevator. Find out more at www.authorlisaphillips.com |
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by admin | Nov 19, 2016 | Anthology, Books, Christmas, Romance
MY REVIEW:
“Christmas Lights” was a delightful collection of Christmas stories. I really liked the variety of styles and settings between the stories while each kept to the meaning of Christmas. Each story was so unique and enjoyable that it would be difficult for me to choose a favorite. I actually have not read previous novels by any of these authors but I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for their books in the future.
The Heart of Joy seems to be a follow-up to a previous novel and features Joy, a grieving widow and her late husband’s best friend. I enjoyed this historical Christmas romance, especially the happy ending. I do hope that there will be another companion story to clear up the one mystery that remained unsolved.
Snow Angels was a more modern story that was rife with misunderstandings, especially concerning the true identity of one of the characters. What a fun but romantically sweet story! I felt like I got to know the characters quickly and would love to read more about them and their mission center.
Trip the Light Fantastic was not what I would consider a romance but that didn’t stop it from being entertaining. I loved the good-hearted yet bumbling Trip and all his exploits. What fun! I loved him and the three elderly characters featured in this story and how they all discovered the true meaning of the season. Yes, I would love to read more stories about Trip. Maybe he too might discover love in the future!
And then there was Christmas Stalkings! The crazy cat lady on steroids with a themed Christmas tree for each of her well-loved felines was another fun read. With an attractive but shy male neighbor on one side and a pretty grouchy single guy on the other, Wendy had hope that romance might develop between herself and the shy fellow but he ran every time she tried to strike up a conversation. On the other hand, cantankerous Neal always seemed to be underfoot and making Wendy feel inferior. As Christmas approached, it became evident that someone was entering her house while she was away but very little evidence was left behind. I enjoyed this one so much and although I had an inkling of how it would end, I still loved it.
I am delighted that I agreed to review this Christmas collection. I discovered some new authors and had a good time reading while being reminded of the real reason for the season. This would be great for those long winter evenings leading up to Christmas after the shopping and baking are done and the gifts wrapped. Take a well deserved break and treat yourself to “Christmas Lights”.
I voluntarily reviewed a copy of this book that was provided by Celebrate Lit Publicity Group. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Four novellas in a variety of genres—that’s all they are. Just four stories to quiet your heart and soul as you embrace the beauty of the Christmas season. Inside, you’ll find Vikki Kestell’s historical romance and a reminder that the Lord’s plans are always just what we need. You’ll be introduced to Cathe Swanson’s unlikely romance about a woman who sets out to do one good deed and is drawn into the lives of a cast of eccentric elderly people. You’ll meet April Hayman and her southern madcap mystery featuring an FBI agent, a con artist or two, and a few eccentric elderly people of her own. And you’ll find Chautona Havig’s Christian fiction novella that blends comedy, suspense, with a garnish of romance.
In the hope that through these Christmas stories your heart will be lightened and brightened, we offer you this collection. Merry Christmas! And a happy, light read!
To purchase your copy, click here.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
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Vikki Kestell is the author of the acclaimed inspirational series, A Prairie Heritage—a compelling saga of family, faith, and great courage. Vikki’s contribution to this collection, The Heart of Joy, asks, “Can true, enduring love happen twice in a lifetime? |
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Cathe Swanson: Author of contemporary mystery and romantic suspense, Cathe brings us Snow Angels – an entertaining companion novella and introduction to her upcoming Great Lakes series. |
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April Hayman: Author of Heirlooms of Deception series, debuts with a novella featuring mystery, humor, and “divine intervention.” |
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Chautona Havig: Author of the Amazon bestselling Aggie’s Inheritance, Past Forward, and HearthLand series, Chautona brings humor, stalkings, and stockings to this collection. |
GUEST POSTS FROM THE AUTHORS:
The Christmas Lights Collection formed in the spring of 2016 with the idea of bringing four novellas together with one unifying theme: light. After all, each author in this collection has one primary focus in life: Jesus. And in the book of John, He is called the “Light of Men.”
We thought we’d share what inspired our novellas and pray that these books are a delight and encouragement to all.
The Heart of Joy: This novella is a spin-off story from Vikki Kestell’s Prairie Heritage series and features one of her most beloved characters, Joy Thoresen, from book three, Joy on This Mountain. After three years of widowhood, Joy mourns not only the loss of her husband but the child someone has kidnapped as well. Only her faith sustains her through difficult days.
Vikki’s goal in writing is to provide FaithFilledFiction to Christians, and this novella is no exception. She worked to show that even amid our sorrow, the Lord brings good, hope-filled gifts to us even when we think we’re not ready for them. She also desired to fill in small, time-veiled gaps in Joy’s story. The Heart of Joy puts the finishing touches on Joy’s story.
Snow Angels: The idea for Snow Angels came to Cathe in slow increments. The idea of using homeless veterans originally prompted research into homeless shelters and programs, but the scope of those became too much for a novella. Still, those characters had stories Cathe wanted to tell, so she continued her research and became increasingly concerned with the plight of homeless veterans—particularly the women. For some reason, we often forget that women serve, get PTSD, and end up on the streets just like the men.
Cathe wanted to combine those realities with other misconceptions that often blind us to the person behind the façade. She wanted to demonstrate how people in otherwise normal lives also can be thrust into situations that trigger PTSD and how those people work through it. Of course, with such a heavy topic, Cathe chose to write the story with a liberal dusting of humor to lighten the mood as you read.
As her debut novel, Cathe introduces readers to characters we’ll see more of in her Great Lakes series and paves the way for her upcoming novel, Baggage Claim, releasing in early 2017.
Trip the Light Fantastic: April has been working on a mystery surrounding, of all things, Shakespeare’s inkwell! So, when she was invited to be a part of the Christmas Lights Collection, April decided to do an introductory novel to her Heirlooms of Deception series and Lance “Trip” Devereaux was “born.”
April admits to loving another character, Landry, just a little bit more than the others. Yet, he could never be a main character. He’s too much of a rascal and a mastermind, so he works best from the shadows. While this book wasn’t about him directly, it could be about someone similar—someone who works in the light but has lost his way and needs help from God and some new friends. Trip the Light Fantastic is a sideways introduction into a character that April hopes will entertain readers for more books to come.
April set her series in Mississippi where her grandparents lived, so the books are rich in southern manners, mannerisms, and manors! Well, there’s one plantation belonging to her irascible but charming con-artist. Watch for a book set at the Crawford house in Spilled Ink, releasing in December 2016.
Christmas Stalkings: A couple of years ago, Chautona was on a Facebook group and a young woman admitted to having seven Christmas trees. Intrigued, she named it the “Seven Tree Obsession” and wondered what kind of character would have seven trees—and why. Well, the more she thought about it, the more interesting it became. After all, what would happen if ornaments got moved around when she wasn’t looking? Who would do that? Why? And what could she add to complicate it?
So, when the opportunity to do the Christmas Lights Collection came, Chautona decided she wanted to do that story. It seemed easy enough to contain into forty-thousand words. HA! But she got in her car, turned on her trusty voice recorder, and in the three-hour trek to her ACFW meeting, she schemed, plotted, and laughed until her sides ached at the ideas she came up with. Half never made it into the book, of course, but that’s okay. Chautona has a prequel/sequel planned for it. Lord willing, New Year’s Revolutions will release on December 31. It’s the “Paul Harvey” version—the “rest of the story.”
While Christmas Stalkings does stand alone, Chautona wanted to explore Neal’s side of things a bit. So she is. It’ll be the fastest “write-to-publication” she’s ever done, but she just had to try. So, for NaNoWriMo, Chautona is off to try to figure out what’s up with Neal and why he’s such a crusty curmudgeon. He’s too young for that! And maybe, just maybe, he’ll embrace a “new life” in the New Year.
BLOG STOPS:
November 15: Bibliophile Reviews
November 16: blogging it out
November 16: God’s Little Bookworm
November 17: A Reader’s Brain
November 17: Blogging With Carol
November 18: Reading Is My SuperPower
November 18: Proud to be an Autism Mom
November 19: Daysong Reflections
November 19: Splashes of Joy
November 20: D’S QUILTS & BOOKS
November 20: Christian Bookaholic
November 21: Bigreadersite
November 22: A Baker’s Perspective
November 22: A Greater Yes
November 23: Back Porch Reads
November 24: Blossoms and Blessings
November 25: Reviewing Novels Online
November 25: A Path of Joy
November 26: Bukwurmzzz
November 27: Raining Butterfly Kisses
November 27: Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations
November 28: Once upon a time
November 28: Carpe Diem
GIVEAWAY:
To celebrate their tour, the authors are giving away a $25 Amazon gift card! Click the link
below to enter. Be sure to comment on this blog post to claim nine extra entries in the giveaway!
https://promosimple.com/ps/a8ae
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by admin | Jun 19, 2014 | Anthology, Books, Historical, Romance, Western
MY REVIEW:
“Four Weddings & a Kiss” is a collection of novellas by four of my favorite authors of western romance that features couples who appear to be unsuitable for each other. Novella collections such as this are perfect for those hot summer afternoons when one needs a cool break under the air conditioner, by the pool, on the beach or in the backyard under a shade tree.
Each novella stood on its own with strong feminine characters and men who were able to meet them as equals. Humor was plentiful in all of the stories yet there was adequate serious material and strong themes of faith as well. The short format allowed the authors little space to develop a romance but I felt that each one of them did a bang-up job. I thoroughly enjoyed the entire book and would be hard pressed to choose a favorite from among the four. I how the prologue set things up and I also liked learning what happened to that particular preacher at the end.
“Four Weddings & a Kiss” is the perfect book for your vacation or even a “staycation”. Be sure and pick up a copy soon.
This book was provided for review by LitFuse Publicity.
ABOUT THE BOOK:
Spitfire Sweetheart by Mary Connealy
Maisy MacGregor’s reckless ways injured rancher Rylan Carstens, endangering his livelihood. So she signs on as his caregiver – but just until he’s well enough to run his ranch. Maisy’s tender care soon has Ryan falling hard and fast. Can these two willfull souls give up their solitary ways to embrace love?
A Love Letter to the Editor by Robin Lee Hatcher
Molly Everton writes the most popular features in her town’s newspaper. When newcomer Jack Ludgrove is named the new editor, Molly is flabbergasted. She wants the position for herself and will do what it takes to get it. But Jack is not easily intimidated. He’s determined to change Molly’s mind about him – and win her heart too.
A Cowboy for Katie by Debra Clopton
Katie Pearl must rebuild her ranch after the tornado, but she can’t do it on her own. Treb Rayburn is a cowboy with a serious case of wanderlust. He signs on to help Katie so he can afford a new horse. But once Treb gets to know Katie, will his desire to stay drown out the call of the open road?
Courting Trouble by Margaret Brownley
Grace Davenport is a young widow in a heap of trouble. When her son asks attorney Brock Daniels to take on her case, Brock wants to say no, but then he meets the lovely Grace. As Brock and the boy work to free Grace, Brock discovers that her arrest may be the best thing that’s ever happened to him.
Learn more and purchase a copy here.
ABOUT THE AUTHORS:
Margaret Brownley is a NEW YORK TIMES best-selling author and has penned more than thirty novels. Her books have won numerous awards and has written for a TV soap opera. @margaretbrownley
Robin Lee Hatcher is a Christy and RITA award-winning author. She is the author of over seventy novels and her work often appear on bestseller lists. @robinleehatcher
Mary Connealy is an award-winning author of romantic comedy with cowboys. Mary and her Nebraska rancher husband have four grown daughters and two spectacular grandchildren. @MaryConnealy
Debra Clopton is an award winning author of sweet, heartfelt, western romance that face life with a smile. With over 2 million books in print, Debra’s first book-to-movie aired on ABC Family and starred LeAnn Rimes. @debraclopton
Find out more about Brownley, Hatcher, Connealy, Clopton at http://amzn.to/118aiwL.
FOUR WEDDINGS AND A KISS – Win an iPad Mini & rip-roarin’ Facebook Party!
Four best-selling romance novelists bring tales of feisty heroines, stubborn heroes, and unlikely love in the Wild West in Four Weddings and a Kiss. Don’t miss the latest from the Western Brides Collection from Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton.
The authors are celebrating with a “Sweet on Love” iPad Mini Giveaway and rip-roarin’ Facebook party.
One winner will receive:
- An iPad Mini
- A Bride for All Seasons and Four Weddings and a Kiss
Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on July 8th. Winner will be announced at the Four Weddings and a Kiss Facebook Author Chat Party. Connect with Western Brides Collection authors Margaret Brownley, Robin Lee Hatcher, Mary Connealy, and Debra Clopton for an evening of fun book chat, western-themed trivia, and prizes. The authors will also be answering audience questions and giving an exclusive look at the next book in the collection!
So grab your copy of Four Weddings and a Kiss and join the authors on the evening of July 8th for a chance to connect and make some new friends. (If you haven’t read the book, don’t let that stop you from coming!)
Don’t miss a moment of the fun; RSVP today. Tell your friends via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.
Hope to see you on the 8th!
