Monthly Archives: December 2018

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blast! Day 6: “For the Love of Christmas”

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12 Days of Christmas

Welcome to The 12  Days of Christmas Book Blast! Each day through January 6th I’m featuring a Christmas-themed book from an author at Clean Indie Reads. All titles are considered “flinch-free,” meaning you don’t have to worry about overt sexuality, violence, and questionable language, and can feel comfortable sharing them with your friends and family. You’re sure to find enough new titles to fill your Kindle for winter or use up that Amazon gift card Santa left in your stocking. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any posts! Merry Christmas!

Today’s Featured Book

for the love of chirstmas

For the Love of Christmas

By Starla Huchton

Meri Klaus has one job: choose the next Santa. The problem? No one in the northern climes is suitable for the title. As the daughter of Santa Claus, it’s up to her to keep the family business going. When Dad comes down with a case of polar flu, the whole world needs a stand-in, or Christmas won’t be coming this year. So what’s a gal to do?

Brett Dunning lost his holiday spirit seven years ago when childbirth took his wife on Christmas Eve. His daughter Holly might light up his life, but no amount of begging will get him to deck the halls.

With three short weeks to go, Meri doesn’t have much time to find a Mr. Claus, but when an old college friend requires a helping hand, she meets a man who needs a dose of holiday hope as much as she does. Meri finds herself set on Brett, but how much mistletoe will it take to thaw his frozen heart?

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The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blast! Day 5: “Mistletoe & Magic: A YA Books Central Holiday Anthology”

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12 Days of ChristmasWelcome to The 12  Days of Christmas Book Blast! Each day through January 6th I’m featuring a Christmas-themed book from an author at Clean Indie Reads. All titles are considered “flinch-free,” meaning you don’t have to worry about overt sexuality, violence, and questionable language, and can feel comfortable sharing them with your friends and family. You’re sure to find enough new titles to fill your Kindle for winter or use up that Amazon gift card Santa left in your stocking. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any posts! Merry Christmas!

Today’s Featured Book

Mistletoe and Magic

Mistletoe & Magic: A YA Books Central Holiday Anthology

YA Books Central presents 12 heartwarming, bone chilling, and magically enchanting stories from the award-winning, New York Times & USA Today Bestselling authors of the YABC Staff.  YABooksCentral.com is one of the leading children’s and adolescent literature sites on the web today.  With much love our staff of volunteers bring our readers this collection of YA stories representing the genres we love at the most wonderful time of the year.

Includes:

The K Word: Peyton: A Contemporary Romance by Award Winning and Amazon Bestselling author, Melissa A. Craven (YABC Indie Manager & Staff Reviewer)

A Christmas Eve party just might be the night Peyton and Cameron find themselves under the mistletoe and out of excuses. Continue reading →

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blast! Day 4: “A Very Austen Christmas: Austen Anthologies, Book 1”

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12 Days of ChristmasWelcome to The 12  Days of Christmas Book Blast! Each day through January 6th I’m featuring a Christmas-themed book from an author at Clean Indie Reads. All titles are considered “flinch-free,” meaning you don’t have to worry about overt sexuality, violence, and questionable language, and can feel comfortable sharing them with your friends and family. You’re sure to find enough new titles to fill your Kindle for winter or use up that Amazon gift card Santa left in your stocking. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any posts! Merry Christmas!

Today’s Featured Book

Austen Chtistmas

A Very Austen Christmas: Austen Anthologies, Book 1

Four favorite authors, four heartwarming stories set in Jane Austen’s Regency world. 

Robin Helm, Laura Hile, Wendi Sotis, and Barbara Cornthwaite revisit Pride and Prejudice, Emma, and Mansfield Park to deliver the uplifting holiday storytelling you’re looking for.

Her Christmas Gift by Robin Helm

Elizabeth Bennet finds herself snowbound at Rosings with two rejected, but highly eligible, suitors. Does either man have a chance? Will her childhood friend, Meryton’s golden boy, win her affection, or will she accept the master of Pemberley? Perhaps she will refuse them both a second time. Her Christmas Gift deftly combines tension and emotion with humor and romance.

The Christmas Matchmaker by Laura Hile

It’s raining; it’s pouring – and what could be better than a little Christmas matchmaking? So says Emma Woodhouse who is unexpectedly stranded at Netherfield Park. Mr. Darcy disagrees, for she has someone else in mind for adorable Elizabeth Bennet. Amid meddling, misunderstanding, and an unwelcome proposal or two, will True Love find a way?

No Better Gift by Wendi Sotis

On his way to Derbyshire to spend Christmas with his family, Mr. Fitzwilliam Darcy plans to retrieve an item he left behind during his rushed escape from Netherfield—and the country miss who touched his heart. Finding Meryton practically deserted, he fears the worst. What fate could have fallen upon this once-thriving village in only three weeks? More importantly, was Miss Elizabeth Bennet in danger?

Mistletoe at Thornton Lacey by Barbara Cornthwaite

When Edmund Bertram realizes that Fanny is the perfect wife for him, he wants to propose without delay. What better time than at Christmas? Ah, but the course of true love never does run smooth …

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The Story Behind “Ino’s Love,” BookWorks Featured Book of the Week

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I was both thrilled and surprised to learn that BookWorks, the Self-Publishers Association, named my short story “Ino’s Love” their Book of the Week.

I was surprised it was selected because it’s not a new or current release. It was  published on Amazon in 2013,* and, although it has gotten excellent reviews, it doesn’t get much traction. I promote it during Christmas, obviously, and also during my annual Christmas in July events.  But it’s a niche story so it spends a lot of dormant time in the basement of the Amazon bookstore. Still, Ino is a treasured character of mine and her story is one of my favorites.

Book description:iPhone Ino

Sometimes the people who love us best are not family.

Elderly Ino prepares a delicious Italian Christmas  feast for her successful CEO son, but when he’s too busy to spend the holiday with his mother she shares her dinner and gifts with her home health aide. A heartwarming story about giving and forgiveness.

21 pages. Rated 4.7 out of 5 stars.

I don’t remember what inspired me to create the characters of Ino and Ruby, but it must have been work-related because I was working as a hospital case manager at the time. My days were filled helping patients and their families find ways to remain comfortable and cared for at home when faced with long-term illness or disability. I have a soft spot for patients like Ino, and respect those who care for them with integrity and help them to maintain their dignity. I wanted to share their story, the story millions of our elderly citizens and their home health aides live each day. Continue reading →

The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blast! Day 3: “A Season For Hope”

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12 Days of ChristmasWelcome to The 12  Days of Christmas Book Blast! Each day through January 6th I’m featuring a Christmas-themed book from an author at Clean Indie Reads. All titles are considered “flinch-free,” meaning you don’t have to worry about overt sexuality, violence, and questionable language, and can feel comfortable sharing them with your friends and family. You’re sure to find enough new titles to fill your Kindle for winter or use up that Amazon gift card Santa left in your stocking. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any posts! Merry Christmas!

Today’s Featured Book

Season for Hope

A Season for Hope

By Tammy L. Grace

When their car breaks down, Hope and her young son, Jake, are stranded in Silver Falls the week before Thanksgiving. A woman who runs a guesthouse offers them a place to stay for a few days. The cost of the repairs is beyond Hope’s means, forcing her to stay in the tiny mountain town for an extended period.

Frightened and broke, Hope finds a part-time job, thanks to the family who owns the guesthouse. Hidden beneath her strong work ethic and cheerful demeanor, Hope conceals a private mystery. A secret she can’t reveal.

As the Christmas season nears, the charming town and its annual holiday festival captivate Hope. She fantasizes about staying in Silver Falls, where life is idyllic. As she goes about her daily routine, the family at the guesthouse suspects there’s something she’s hiding. In a moment of weakness, she divulges her secret.

A special man offers his support and works to help Hope see that romance can be more than heartaches and shattered dreams. Will an offer of help destroy her life and all she cherishes, or will it be the gift she needs to triumph over her past?

A Season for Hope is a charming story about the kindness of strangers and finding hope where you never expected it. Cozy up with a holiday read sure to warm your heart.

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The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blast! Day 2: “Nutcracker Sweets at Moonglow”

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12 Days of ChristmasWelcome to The 12  Days of Christmas Book Blast! Each day through January 6th I’m featuring a Christmas-themed book from an author at Clean Indie Reads. All titles are considered “flinch-free,” meaning you don’t have to worry about overt sexuality, violence, and questionable language, and can feel comfortable sharing them with your friends and family. You’re sure to find enough new titles to fill your Kindle for winter or use up that Amazon gift card Santa left in your stocking. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any posts! Merry Christmas!

Today’s Featured Book

Nutcracker Sweets

Nutcracker Sweets at Moonglow

By Deborah Garner

The small Montana town of Timberton tends to bring magic to the holidays, especially for guests of the local hotel. Resident artist and chef Mist has a way of touching people’s lives with exquisite cuisine, imaginative art, and her own ethereal nature.

When a nearby theatre burns down just before Christmas, cast members of The Nutcracker arrive at the Timberton Hotel with only a sliver of holiday joy. Camaraderie, compassion, and shared inspiration combine to help at least one hidden dream come true. As with every Christmas season in Timberton, this year’s guests will face the New Year with a renewed sense of hope.

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The 12 Days of Christmas Book Blast! Day 1: “Wish Upon a Christmas Star: A Boxed Set of 6 Fairy Tale Inspired, Sweet Novellas”

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12 Days of ChristmasWelcome to The 12  Days of Christmas Book Blast! Each day through January 6th I’m featuring a Christmas-themed book from an author at Clean Indie Reads. All titles are considered “flinch-free,” meaning you don’t have to worry about overt sexuality, violence, and questionable language, and can feel comfortable sharing them with your friends and family. You’re sure to find enough new titles to fill your Kindle for winter or use up that Amazon gift card Santa left in your stocking. And be sure to subscribe to the blog so you don’t miss any posts! Merry Christmas!

Today’s Featured Book

Happily Ever After

Wish Upon a Christmas Star: A Boxed Set of 6 Fairy Tale Inspired, Sweet Novellas

To help you celebrate this holiday season, six authors have joined together to bring you a box set of stories filled with the Christmas spirit. Each story is a clean, contemporary romance, inspired by a beloved fairy tale.

This box set, new for the 2018 Christmas season, includes stories from best-selling, long-time favorite, and new authors: Kit Morgan, Danielle Thorne, Allie Pleiter, K.D. Garcia, Rachel A. Andersen, and Jessica L. Elliott.

Snuggle up next to a warm fire, grab a mug of cocoa, and enjoy:

The Way You Look at Me (A Sweet City Hearts Novella):  When Anna learns the identity of Charleston’s infamous food critic, they both discover about how love reveals true beauty–inside and out. Inspired by The Ugly Duckling.

A Mermaid Under the Mistletoe: When Leilani Hale’s morning workout is interrupted by an attempted burglary, it’s going to take all of her faith and a few Christmas miracles to get her life back on track. Inspired by The Little Mermaid.

Giant Love: Best-selling author Kit Morgan’s Jack and the Beanstalk inspired romance.

The Leprechaun of Christmas Present: A leprechaun gives a young man lessons about business and love just in time for Christmas. Inspired by A Christmas Carol.

A Little Christmas Pretense: Cindy Ashby thinks her life is as good as it’s going to get until a handsome stranger comes and turns her world upside down. Inspired by Cinderella.

Henry’s Holiday Charade: Henry must find a girlfriend in time for his family’s company Christmas party, so the cute but chatty and accident-prone, Amanda Hill, will have to do. Inspired by A Frog Prince.

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From the AlzAuthors Blog: Meet Vanessa Williams-Harvey, and “I Remember”

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Harvey, Vanessa

by Vanessa Williams-Harvey

It took years of silence for me to come to terms and let it all out.  Everything came to an abrupt halt in August of 2015.  On that painful and dark day, our mother was ultimately placed in a nursing facility.  We continue to struggle with that painful decision.  My personal guilt, frustrations and regret plagued my soul to the point of endless days and restless nights.  I was able to find relief when I pulled out my tablet and began to jot down everything that had been swirling around in my head.

I started writing about the good times; there were a few. The more I wrote, the more I relaxed and I could finally exhale. I used words to breathe life into the dark reality I suppressed for far too long, finding a voice in writing that I wasn’t quite comfortable with verbalizing. I felt incapable of being accountable to myself, let alone anyone else.

I Remember Mockup“I Remember” is a candid and brutally honest glimpse of what my family and I experienced on our journey with Alzheimer’s.  My writing is a deep dive with frank details about some tough and challenging times, as we struggled to communicate and collaborate with one another.  It took a lot of time for me to realize that I wasn’t the only one hurting. The very same pain that was ripping at my heart and head was also wreaking havoc on each and every member of our family in a very distinctive way. Continue reading →

Christmas is for Making Memories

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The tree is lit and laden with treasured ornaments. The cookies are baked, their delicious aroma wafting through the house. The gifts are wrapped and ribboned. It’s beginning to look a lot like –

Uh, sorry, but no. At least, not yet. Perhaps by the time you read this I will have everything under control. It seems there are a million things to do, tiny but important details to take care of in preparation for the Big Day, the celebration of the birth of Jesus. It was so much simpler when we were children, wasn’t it?

When I look back upon my childhood I tend to focus on what was best. I grew up in a blue-collar neighborhood in Brockton, Massachusetts, specifically Campello. My father was a cabinet maker and my mother was a data entry operator. I am the eldest of their four children. Christmas was important to us because we were Catholics and my parents raised us in the faith. Each year they made sure to give us a memorable holiday, and my recollections of these special times taught me how to create memorable holidays for my own child. Our Christmas memories are a reflection of our past and a blueprint for our future.

I remember Christmas as a magical time, full of wonder and delight, dreams and wishes. My parents did everything for us, and made sure we had all the fixings of the holiday: the fresh-cut pine tree glittering with lights, tinsel and garland, surrounded by piles of gifts wrapped in shiny paper and bedecked with pretty bows, a feast of roast turkey or ham with all the accompaniments, lasagna, meatballs, and desserts to last a week.

Each holiday was special, filled with love and laughter, the door open to friends and family who shared the holiday with us. We made memories, fuel for the future for when we grew up and spread apart due to marriage and jobs. These memories also helped to buffer the loss of too many of our loved ones who departed this world, including my precious dad. So many of these memories warm my heart, and bring my family closer to me in spirit. I’ll share a few. Continue reading →