Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads–The Texan’s Surprise Return by Jolene Navarro

Tags

Christmas reads, Christmas traditions, Jolene Navarro, Tamales, The Texan's Surprise Return, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers.

Christmas is coming and there’s nothing I like better during the holiday season than a good Christmas romance (or movie). So, on Wednesdays and Thursdays I’m filling out the year with a variety of Christmas romance book posts. Today’s guest is Jolene Navarro. She’ll be sharing her book The Texan’s Surprise Return and a bit about her family’s Christmas tradition.

BTW, Jolene, you’re talking about one of my favorite foods–TAMALES!

Hola from the Texas Hill Country. I’m Jolene Navarro and I’m honored to be visiting today. As a writer I love pulling from family traditions. My stories are a celebration of family. In my current release, The Texan’s Surprise Return, not only do they eat tamales on Christmas Eve, they make dozens upon dozens on the Friday after Thanksgiving.

It’s one of my favorite scenes. The hero is trying to reconnect with his family after a near death experience that created a brain injury.

Four generations (including his triple sons) gather in the kitchen to create an assembly line as they make each tamale. This is a common holiday event in the Navarro house.

Growing up my family didn’t make our own tamales, but when we gathered for Christmas Eve the main attraction was the tamales. Growing up, I thought everyone celebrated Christmas Eve with tamales.

Since then I learned it was more of a Texas thing. But I still take our traditions and customs for granted. That was brought home recently when I created a potluck list for my writing group, I included tamales (by the dozen) to sign up to bring. They are listed as such: Tamales doz.

One of our new members asked what that meant. She is from far up the east coast. This is the answer she received from another member: “1 dozen tamales…it’s considered a holiday food around here. Forget drugs. A good tamale maker/supplier is worth their weight in gold. LOL (Although, HEB works in a pinch).”

This is true. The best tamales I’ve ever eaten were made by my husband’s family, led by his mother. She made spreading the masa onto the corn husk look easy (it’s not). They made them with a mix of beef and pork (Fresh from the ranch). They can come stuffed with chicken and bean too.

The best and the most fun way to make them is with generations working as a team and lots of laughter.

Do you have a custom or tradition that you family celebrates that the rest of the country is not aware of? Maybe you are from Texas. Do you celebrate with tamales?

 

The Texan’s Surprise Return.

by Jolene Navarro

His greatest Christmas gifts…
“Is that you? You’re…you’re alive.” An unforgettable family reunion for the holidays.
For three years, Xavier De La Rosa’s family thought he was dead. Now Xavier is back home in Texas for Christmas and finds a wife he can’t remember and adorable triplets he never knew existed. Can Xavier reclaim his memories and the love he left behind…before he returns to the job that nearly killed him?

 

 

 

You can find Jolene’s book at Amazon

 

About the Author

Jolene, a seventh-generation Texan, knows, as much as the world changes, people stay the same. Good and evil. Vow-keepers and heart breakers. Jolene married a vow-keeper who showed her that dancing in the rain never gets old.
Her life, much like her stories, is filled with faith, family, laughter, dirty dishes and all of life’s wonderful messiness. She loves spending time with her four kids, and can be found at jolenenavarrowriter.com

https://business.facebook.com/jolenenavarrowriter

https://www.instagram.com/jolenenavarro

Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads– Icicles to Moonbeams ~ Christmas Eve Blessings by Sharon K Connell

Tags

Christian Romantic Suspense, Christmas romance, clean romance, Icicles to Moonbeams, Sharon K Connell, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads

Welcome to Wednesday Writers. Christmas is coming and there’s nothing I like better during the holiday season than a good Christmas romance (or movie). So, on Wednesdays and Thursdays I’m filling out the year with a variety of Christmas romance book posts. Today’s guest is Sharon K Connell. Sharon will be sharing about her Christian Romance Suspense Icicles to Moonbeams ~ Christmas Eve Blessings. Welcome, Sharon.

 

Thanks, Catherine.

Several people have asked me how the story Icicles to Moonbeams~Christmas Eve Blessings came to me. All I can say is, God put it in my mind. I’ve never been a grieving widow like Alanna McCarthy, but I know what it feels like to ache for true happiness after a heartbreak. I think all of us know that feeling.

Alana’s Grief

Maybe God had me write this story for a reader who has gone through, or is going through, the same experience Alanna faces. If my story helps a reader, I sincerely hope they’ll let me know.

Details for the setting of the medical office came easy in this story, as I worked in that field before I retired to write full-time. And who hasn’t dreamed of a dashing doctor like Christopher Maguire? Hmmm? He reminded me a little the Mr. Darcy played by Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice (at least, the Mr. Darcy in the end of that movie). But then, I based a character in one of my other books on Mr. Darcy as well. You don’t think I have a crush on Colin Firth, do you? (snicker)

Adding animals to my story is something I’ve been doing for some time now, thanks to my friend and fellow-author, Jackie Zack. She suggested adding them to the first story she read of mine, because people love furbabies. I learned that to be true after I wrote them in. Why I didn’t think of it before is a mystery to me. I love them myself. In Icicles to Moonbeams, the animals play a major part. Will you fall in love with them as did my critiquers?

Susie and Marmalade wait for Alanna

The on-the-edge-of-your-seat suspense and mystery in my stories of love, fear, and the testing of faith is something I love to develop through the tale. After all, I do write Christian Romance Suspense. I try to include “Will they,” “how will they,” and “but what happened to”, among other questions. One of my critiquers got so wound up in the tension of another book of mine that she nearly flew off the chair when a phone rang beside her. I almost died laughing when she told me. I guess I’m kind of a tease in that respect. But I also like to add a twist or two, and maybe a surprise ending.

In Icicles to Moonbeams, I want the reader to wonder if the new love in Alanna’s life really is responsible for what happens, or could the obsessed former co-worker who wants Alanna all to himself be the culprit. And is the former co-worker really obsessed, or just in love. I hope my readers will have fun trying to figure it out and be satisfied at the end when they find out if they were right…or wrong.

Who will win the heart of Alanna?

 

Icicles to Moonbeams ~ Christmas Eve Blessings

by Sharon K Connell

 

Would life ever be the same for Alanna after the only man she’d ever loved died? A dog, a cat, and a handsome doctor cross her path and fill the void…at least for a while. The pets go missing, and she wonders about the doctor when he does too. But not until after he’s kissed her like no other man had ever kissed her, setting her heart on fire.

A former coworker who is determined to win her adds more stress.

Should she give up her dream of a happy life in America, leave the home her husband and she shared for ten years, and go back to Ireland?

 

Excerpt (from Chapter 1, a little from all three scenes)

 

A chill traveled through Alanna McCarthy as though icicles dripped down her spine. “How do I get over this pain?”

She pushed her bedroom window lace curtains aside and gazed out at the green and partially yellow leaves carpeting her front yard from one side to the other. Last night’s storm sure had ravaged the trees and plants. Houston trees didn’t usually lose so many leaves the first of September, not to mention several branches. But the damage matched her shattered heart. Since December twenty-second, the first day of winter last year, sharp pain like piercing icicles had replaced the warmth of Jake’s love.

…

The cell rang. She reached for her purse, yanked it onto the passenger seat, and fumbled for the phone. She pulled it from the purse and checked the caller ID. Steve again. Alanna shoved the cell back into the bottom of her bag and started the engine. “Why can’t that man leave me alone?” She’d told him over and over she wasn’t ready to start seeing anyone. Yet, he continued to ask. “Who on earth gave him my number?” So far, no one had owned up to it.

…

Prepare to ace the interview. Right! Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea. Her spirit and desire shriveled. All she could think of at the moment was making a big cup of hot chocolate, cutting a huge slice of chocolate cake, and dousing both with the entire can of whipped cream she had in the refrigerator from—when had she bought that? Probably too old.

What she needed was a pet to keep her company. People with pets always seemed happy. An animal would give her something to take care of, to talk to. She could handle that, couldn’t she?

But first, chocolate.

Want to read more? You can find Icicles to Moonbeams at Amazon

 

About the Author:

Author, Sharon K. Connell lives in Houston, Texas from where she writes Christian Romance Suspense, containing a bit of mystery and as much humor as she can get into a story.

Her education through college was received mostly in Illinois, and later she graduated from the Pensacola Bible Institute in Florida. Sharon holds a certificate in fiction writing from the International Writing Program through the University of Iowa. She is a member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, Houston Writers Guild, Authors Marketing Guild, Texas Authors, and CyFair Writers.

Connect with Sharon at her Website: http://www.authorsharonkconnell.com/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ChristianRomanceSuspense/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/SharonKConnell

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads–The Love Letter Series by Suzanne G. Rogers

Tags

A Gift for Fiona, A Gift for Lara, A Regency Christmas Collection, Christmas romance, Suzanne G. Rogers, Sweet romance, The Love Letter Series

Christmas is coming, and with that holiday season comes more Christmas romances. If you don’t now, I love Christmas and Christmas romances. So, to fill out the rest of the Wednesdays this year, I’m hosting fellow authors and their Christmas novels. Today you get a double treat. Suzanne G. Rogers, who is one of my favorite sweet regency authors, is talking about her Love Letter Series Christmas Romances, one of which is free! Welcome, Suzanne!

Thanks, Catherine.

In A Gift for Lara, I wanted to write a story about the true meaning of Christmas, particularly when it comes to presents. The best sort of gift sparks joy and happiness…but selecting just the right gift can be tricky. In the Victorian era, the Christmas season was far less materialistic than it is today, and the gifts exchanged were often made by hand. In A Gift for Lara, Miles decides a certain course of action will be far more significant to Lara than anything else…yet an unlikely antagonist seems determined to defeat him at every turn

A Gift for Lara became one of my most popular ebooks, but when I sat down to write the sequel, A Gift for Fiona, the challenge became how to make readers root for a character who had been the antagonist in Book One. Fiona is essentially the black sheep of the family…but can this unconventional heroine be redeemed? Of course she can, but she must fully appreciate what she has done and be willing to change from within.

Together, A Gift for Lara and A Gift for Fiona became the Love Letters Series, two stories of twin sisters whose letters go astray.

A Gift for Lara: The man to whom Lara gave her heart four years ago will visit Blythe Manor for Christmas. How can she enjoy the holidays knowing he must despise her for revealing her feelings in such an unguarded fashion?

Excerpt (A Gift for Lara):

 

“Lara likes taking care of people,” Fiona said. “She’s always doing charity work in Blythe Village, but the poor are determined to stay poor. What is your opinion, Mr. Greystoke? Do you believe ministering to the downtrodden is a worthwhile activity?”

“The human condition cannot be changed,” Miles replied.

Lara peered at him, aghast. “Should those who are more fortunate than others turn a blind eye to poverty?”

“Not at all. However, I’ve noticed some men who inherit great fortunes fritter it all away in frivolous pastimes. Conversely, others of humble birth manage to create enormous wealth for themselves. There will always be inequality and poverty, no matter what any of us do.”

“I couldn’t agree more,” Fiona said. “I believe the poor secretly despise us for our assistance. Let the church minister to the wretches and leave the rest of us alone.”

“The church can do nothing without its congregation,” Lara said. “We are the church.”

“I’m not expressing myself particularly well,” Miles said. “I simply believe that much of our efforts toward the poor are wasted.”

“Exactly!” Fiona exclaimed.

A sense of disappointment made Lara’s food taste like sawdust. Mr. Greystoke used to have a far bigger heart.

• •••

 Gift for Fiona: Worried she’ll be on the shelf, Fiona pins her hopes on a handsome viscount. Unfortunately, his unexpected proposal to another girl hands her a stinging defeat. A new acquaintance awakens all her senses—until she realizes he’s related to the girl who stole her beau.

Excerpt (A Gift for Fiona):

She’d met many handsome and debonair gentlemen during her time in London, but she’d never seen one quite so…manly. He moved with athletic grace, his gaze scanning young women like a lion on the prowl. When his eyes found hers, the resulting shock made her jump. Her pulse began to race, and as he and Miles approached, she prayed she could speak without mangling her words. The man’s eyes rested on Lara momentarily, but returned almost immediately to Fiona. She was so flustered by his frank admiration, she barely listened to Miles’s introduction.

“Miss Lara Robinson, and Miss Fiona Robinson, I’m pleased to introduce Rory Braithwaite,” Miles said. “Rory, these are the Misses Robinson I’ve been telling you about. My brother William is married to their elder sister, Angelica.”

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir,” Fiona managed.

“Likewise.” His voice had a deep, purring quality that weakened her knees.

Lara gave the man a warm smile. “Are you any relation to Miss Iris Braithwaite, perchance?”

“Iris is my twin sister.”

“Another pair of twins, then,” Lara said. “We’re in good company.”

As if the man had cracked a whip next to her ear, Fiona snapped out of whatever momentary emotional stupor she’d fallen into. Indeed, she could see the family resemblance now, although the strong nose, square jaw and chiseled cheekbones found more favor on Rory’s face than his sister’s. Nevertheless, the man might as well have sprouted hair from his ears and clusters of warts from his chin for all the appeal he held for her now.

• •••

Buy Links:

A Gift for Lara is free at your favorite bookstore: https://books2read.com/u/4NG6nJ

A Gift for Fiona is available at Amazon: https://tinyurl.com/yy4ybe9d or your favorite bookstore: https://books2read.com/u/mBPdyO

The Love Letters duology is available at your favorite bookstore: https://books2read.com/u/b5rVRw or you can purchase it in paperback format here: https://tinyurl.com/y692fd44

 

About the Author:

Bestselling author Suzanne G. Rogers is a California native, but she changed coastlines and now lives in romantic Savannah, Georgia, on an island populated by deer, exotic birds, turtles, otters, and gators. She’s owned by a Sphynx cat named Houdini. Writing blush-free, young adult fiction is her passion.

Follow Suzanne G. Rogers on Twitter: https://twitter.com/suzannegrogers • Her blog: https://suzannegrogers.com/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SuzanneGRogers/

 

Wednesday Writers–The Hope of Christmas/A Doctor in the House by Linda Shenton Matchett

Tags

Christmas romance, clean romance, Doctor in the House, historical romance, Linda Shenton Matchett, Sweet romance, The Hope of Christmas Collection, Wednesday Writers, WWII romance

 

Welcome to Wednesday Writers. Christmas is coming and there’s nothing I like better during the holiday season than a good Christmas romance (or movie). So, on Wednesdays and Thursdays I’m filling out the year with a variety of Christmas romance book posts. On Fridays look for some free Christmas romance book promotions. Today’s guest is Linda Shenton Matchett who’ll be sharing her Historical Romance from the The Hope of Christmas Collection. Welcome Linda!

 

 

A Doctor in the House: The Story Behind the Story

While investigating the various areas American women served during WWII, I discovered Margaret Craighill. No slouch, Margaret got her BA and MS degrees from the University of Wisconsin (graduating Phi Beta Kappa), then received her Doctor of Medicine from Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. An impressive career followed, and by 1940, she was the Dean of the Women’s Medical College of Pennsylvania. However, as soon as President Roosevelt signed the Sparkman-Johnson Bill which allowed women to enlist in the Army and Navy Medical Corps, she signed up and became the first female doctor in the Army Medical Corps, and a third generation officer.

Dr. Craighill traveled more than 56,000 miles visiting war zones around the globe where she reported on the condition of the 160,000 Army nurses and WAC personnel. She successfully challenged the persistent idea that American women were unsuited to military roles. At the end of her service she was awarded the Legion of Merit.

I knew I had my heroine, or at least the inspiration for one.

Now, for my hero…I decided to make him highly uncomfortable. (Rubs hands together gleefully.)

Many of the English felt the American troops were “late to the last war, and late to this one.” In addition, feelings still ran high between the Irish and the British, so to give my heroine Irish ancestry with an appropriate surname would get under my hero’s skin. Last but not least, I took away my hero’s home.

Throughout the war in England, countless stately homes were requisitioned, acquired by, or lent to the war effort for all sorts of purposes: military command centers, barracks, hospitals, storage facilities for the nation’s art collections, listening, and monitoring centers, schools, orphanages, and even prisoner of war camps. Owners had no choice as to whether they would give up their home, and were often stuck in servant quarters or caretakers’ cottages. To add insult to injury, a considerable number of the homes suffered irreparable damage by their occupants.

This will be a Christmas Archie and Emma won’t forget.

 

A Doctor in the House (Part of the Hope of Christmas collection)

By Linda Shenton Matchett

Emma O’Sullivan is one of the first female doctors to enlist after President Franklin Roosevelt signs the order allowing women in the Army and Navy medical corps. Within weeks, Emma is assigned to England to set up a convalescent hospital, and she leaves behind everything that is familiar. When the handsome widower of the requisitioned property claims she’s incompetent and tries to get her transferred, she must prove to her superiors she’s more than capable. But she’s soon drawn to the good-looking, grieving owner. Will she have to choose between her job and her heart?

Archibald “Archie” Heron is the last survivor of the Heron dynasty, his two older brothers having been lost at Dunkirk and Trondheim and his parents in the Blitz. After his wife is killed in a bombing raid while visiting Brighton, he begins to feel like a modern-day Job. To add insult to injury, the British government requisitions his country estate, Heron Hall, for the U.S. Army to use as a hospital. The last straw is when the hospital administrator turns out to be a fiery, ginger-haired American woman. She’s got to go. Or does she?

 

Excerpt:

Chapter One

Squaring her shoulders, Emma O’Sullivan set off toward the nearest railroad car. It straddled the tracks and listed at a thirty-degree angle. Careful of the glass shards and twisted metal, she hiked across the uneven ground, her two-inch pumps sinking into the grass. When would the Army devise a woman’s uniform that was actually practical?

The bottom step was missing, so she grabbed the handrail and tried to hoist herself to the next tread. Her narrow skirt trapped her legs, and she grimaced. Glancing right and left, she confirmed no one seemed to be watching her, so she tugged the garment above her knees and pulled herself inside the train nearly losing a shoe in the process. Despite the chill in the air, perspiration broke out along her hairline.

Her gaze searched the dim interior. At the far end of the car a large, bearded man moved among the dozen or so passengers. His white shirt was torn in several places, and blood saturated his right sleeve. Gray tweed slacks that looked as if they were hand-tailored to fit were rumpled, and his highly-polished, black wingtips bore scuffs and gouges. Smudges of dirt on his swarthy face gave him an air of piracy. He knelt and examined the cut on a small boy.

There were other people to tend to, but the man seemed to be losing blood at an alarming rate. She threaded her way to his side and held up her bag. “Sir, it appears you may need stitching. I’ve got supplies here and could do that for you.”

He swung in her direction, and the gaze from his cobalt-blue eyes pierced her face. His forehead wrinkled, and his mouth was a thin slash. “I’m fine. I don’t need some nurse practicing her sewing skills on me. There are others more seriously wounded. See if you can do anything for them.”

She faltered. Why did every man she met assume she was a nurse? Not that there was anything wrong with nursing, but she was a full-fledged doctor and had the credentials to prove it. Graduating almost at the top of her class at Johns Hopkins Medical School had proved her detractors wrong.

“Sir, your arm needs to be tended to, and I’m quite capable–”

Looking her up and down, he sneered. “An American, are you? Listen, girlie, I don’t take orders from a woman, even if she is wearing a uniform.” He shook his head. “What was Roosevelt thinking when he agreed to allow you women in his Army and Navy?”

“He was thinking we could get the job done.” She stamped her foot and reached for his sleeve.

Batting her hand away, he rose to his full height. “Let me make myself clear. Push off and go do your nursing in another car. I do not need some upstart, Johnny-come-lately American girl to treat me or my fellow passengers.” He turned away and bent over an elderly man who held a scrap of blood-stained cloth against his forehead.

Emma pressed her lips together. Fine. Mr. Upper Crust was on his own. If he bled to death, it’d be his own fault. With any luck, the rest of England’s men wouldn’t be as infuriating. But without a doubt, few would be as good-looking.

Want to read more? You can find Linda’s story at  https://amzn.to/2ptGZga

 

About the Author:

Linda Shenton Matchett is an author, speaker, and history geek. A native of Baltimore, MD, she was born a stone’s throw from Fort McHenry and has lived in historic places all her life. Linda is a member of ACFW, RWA, and Sisters in Crime. She is a volunteer docent and archivist at the Wright Museum of WWII and a trustee for her local public library.

Website/blog: http://www.lindashentonmatchett.com/

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/LindaShentonMatchettAuthor

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/lindasmatchett

 

Wednesday Writers Christmas Books–Christmas Angels by Nancy Naigle

Tags

Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers, Christmas Angels, Christmas reads, clean romance, Nancy Naigle

 

Welcome to Wednesday Writers. Christmas is coming and there’s nothing I like better during the holiday season than a good Christmas romance (or movie). So, on Wednesdays and Thursdays I’m filling out the year with a variety of Christmas romance book posts. On Fridays look for some free Christmas romance book promotions. Today’s offering is Christmas Angels, by Nancy Naigle. Welcome, Nancy!

 

 

Hey, y’all,

Nancy Naigle here. I write small-town love stories that are appropriate for any age readers. Calling all teenagers, moms and grandmas. You can all read CHRISTMAS ANGELS this holiday season. This novel is getting lots of great reviews. Liz and Matt are wonderful together, hurdling bad news and finding ways to bring Liz’s dream to life. The town of Antler Creek, and its quirky residents, will beckon you to visit. Too bad it’s a fictional place.

But one other character is getting attention too. Elvis. He’s Matt’s 90-pound six-month-old puppy. Named for his wiggling hips, that stub of a tail just never stops, and his right lip that gets hung up on his teeth in an adorable smirk of a smile. A little inside scoop…Elvis is based on my own dog, Sarge.

Actually, we call him Large Sarge, because this cute little Pyrenean Mastiff now weighs over 180-pounds. If you’re a dog-lover you are going to enjoy what Elvis brings to this story. He’ll leave puppy paws on your heart.

Hugs and happy holiday reading, Nancy

 

Christmas Angels

by Nancy Naigle

Growing up, Liz Westmoreland dreamed of taking over her grandparents’ inn located in the small mountain town of Antler Creek only for it to be sold before she ever got the chance. While browsing the internet, she stumbles upon a listing for what looks to be the picturesque inn and it’s set to go to auction. Liz places a bid, and by a miracle, wins the auction. But when she gets there, she finds the property in significant disrepair.

When Matt Hardy narrowly lost the inn and property that butted his land, he just hoped it wasn’t another city slicker coming to make matters worse after the previous owners gutted the place for an art gallery. But the minute he recognized the sweet, freckle-faced girl from his childhood and heard her plans to reopen the inn, he jumps at the chance to help his childhood crush restore a place where he made so many fond memories.

While working on repairs, Liz and Matt discover her grandmother’s collection of angels in one of the cabins. When the angels start mysteriously showing up all over the inn, she begins to look at them as reassurance—that restoring the inn is what she’s meant to do. But when an accident leaves Liz feeling like she made a mistake, will Matt—and the residents of Antler Creek—be able to show Liz that she’s found a home? And possibly true love as well?

 

Excerpt:

“I’ve been waiting for this my whole life. Angels Rest is practically mine.” Excitement forced Liz’s words out in a flurry. “So, how do I do this auction thing?”

“You don’t.” Her best friend Dan closed the top of the computer. “Not without going to see the condition of the house and checking to make sure you’re not also buying old liens against the place.”

“There’s no time. It goes up for auction in the morning. I’ve read through the FAQ’s; it doesn’t look that complicated. I need to get a proof of funds letter from my banker before I can bid though.”

“You’re going to bid on this place sight unseen? I have to advise against it, Liz. That’s just plain crazy.” Dan ran a hand through his hair. “You’re always talking about situations being a ‘sign’; well, maybe this is a sign that you should let this crazy idea go once and for all.”

“No. It’s not a sign to let it go. Finding out the day before Angels Rest goes up for auction is a sign it’s meant to be.” She scooted closer to him and opened the laptop again. “Look at these. The pictures don’t look so bad. Okay, so it’s overgrown, but that’s cosmetic.”

“Pictures can hide a multitude of problems. Very expensive ones, and the fact that there are only three pictures total is a red flag, especially since only one shows the house. The other is an aerial. You have no idea what it looks like inside.”

Liz wasn’t about to let her dream slip through her fingers. “It’s rustic. It’s a timber home, what could go wrong?”

 

About the Author:

USA Today bestselling author NANCY NAIGLE whips up small-town love stories with a dash of suspense and a whole lot of heart. Now happily retired, she devotes her time to writing, antiquing, and the occasional spa day with friends. A native of Virginia Beach, she currently calls North Carolina home.

 DOWNLOAD free book list with series order: https://www.nancynaigle.com/post/novels-by-nancy-naigle-checklist

 

Where can you get your copy today?

Amazon – https://amzn.to/2qY3Z7t

B&N – http://bit.ly/2N0QoEW

BAM! – http://bit.ly/2PqJ8E7

IndieBound – https://www.indiebound.org/book/9781250312624

iBooks – https://books.apple.com/us/book/christmas-angels/id1455108902

Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-angels-7

Audio – https://adbl.co/2kN4Hlo

 

Social Media Links

Website and newsletter: http://www.nancynaigle.com/

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/NancyNaigleAuthor/

Twitter    https://twitter.com/nancynaigle

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers Christmas Books–Silent Knight by Joi Copeland

Tags

Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers, Christmas romances, clean romance, Joi Copeland, Silent Knight

Welcome to Wednesday Writers. Christmas is coming and there’s nothing I like better during the holiday season than a good Christmas romance (or movie). So, on Wednesdays and Thursdays I’m filling out the year with a variety of Christmas romance book posts. On Fridays look for some free Christmas romance book promotions. Today’s offering is Silent Knight, a Christian fiction story for women with a touch of romance, by Joi Copeland. She’s also offering a giveaway. Welcome, Joi!

Thanks, Catherine.

Do you have a bucket list? Things you want to do, places you want to go, and destinations you long to see? When I was in high school, a friend of mine was going to Germany. I was surprised because he hadn’t seen much of the United States. He had asked me where I would go in all the world, if I could. My response? MONTANA! Since that day, I’ve longed to see and experience Montana.

Fast forward 25 years. My family and I went on a two-month trip to raise support (we’re missionaries headed overseas to plant churches, build disciples of Christ, etc.) As the good Lord would have it, He opened the door for us to travel for three weeks to Montana! As we drove through Wyoming, my heart pounded with excitement, knowing in just a few hours, we would cross the border into Montana. I could hardly wait!

Visiting pastors and churches in Montana, meeting people, seeing the beauty of Montana did not disappoint. I loved Bozeman! I enjoyed driving through the mountains and hills, seeing God’s beauty of the Big Sky Country melted my heart and caused a deep love for one of my favorite states.

And so, Silent Knight was born. How could I not write about Montana, the place my heart longed to see for decades? How could I not write about a small-town community stmasembracing one of its own, even in the midst of trying to figure out how to do just that? Quite simply, I had to write about it. And I had to share a piece of my heart: the deaf community.

No, I’m not deaf, no one in my family was born deaf (though my brother in law was born partially deaf). My sister works with deaf students and some of the comments she’d heard from people broke my heart. Because the deaf are intelligent people. They have so much to share, if only they have a way to communicate with the outside world.

If you haven’t read Silent Knight, leave a comment on your favorite place to visit, and you’ll be entered in for the giveaway!

 

Silent Knight

By Joi Copeland

Struggling to take care of his deaf son in a town with no resources, Ethan Knight’s at the end of his rope. When his son is kicked out of preschool, he feels he’s out of options and prays for a miracle. A newcomer to Snow Globe, Montana may be his answer to prayer, or is it the possibility of an old love?

London Meriwether leaves her home after the passing of her grandmother, the woman who raised her. She falls in love with Snow Globe, Montana. Right after arriving to the small town, she comes face to face with her learning what it means to truly forgive someone.

Can Ethan help London in her quest of forgiveness? Will London be the help Ethan needs for his deaf son?

Excerpt:

Landon’s eyelids pulled open in a sleepy manner. His tear streaked face lit with a smile. Ethan’s heart lifted a notch. His son’s sweet smile and trusting eyes bore into his heart. No way would he send the joy of his life away to school. There had to be another way. He’d search high and low for an answer. God would just have to provide a miracle. He’d done it before. He could do it again.

Buy link for Silent Knight

About the Author:

Joi Copeland is married to a wonderful man, Chris, and has three amazing boys. She is living the dream in beautiful Denver, Colorado. Joi loves being a wife and mom and also enjoys spending time with friends over a good cup of coffee or tea. She’s been a Christian for over twenty years. God has called her and her family overseas, and she hopes to make her home in Ireland by 2019.

 

Joi’s Social media: http://www.joicopeland.com/ : Instagram: Facebook:

 

Wednesday Writers–A Halloween Party by Tina Ruiz

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A Halloween Party, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Children's books, Halloween book, Tina Ruiz

Wednesday Writers welcomes Tina Ruiz and her delightful children’s book A Halloween Party to the blog today. This is definitely a treat. Tina Ruiz’s new children’s book is out just in time for Halloween! The amazing illustrations are done by Ishika Sharma. I had to tap into my inner child to hear the double meanings in the character names. Once I figured it out I got a great big giggle .

The pictures are bright and the story is fun. It was written not only to entertain kids, but also to challenge their minds.

Every character has a name with a double meaning. Such as: Mr. Noah Lott, Mrs. Faye Ding, Mrs. Frieda Livery, Upton O’Goode, Adam Zapel, and Ella Vader, to name but a few.

Here’s a hint to help you solve the puzzle, Ed Zortails is his name really heads or is it tails? You’ll have to buy the book to find out.

Solving the double meaning of the words will be delightful for children and adults alike. On the off chance someone can’t unravel a name, Tina supplied a cheat sheet at the back of the book.

As with all of her children’s stories, there’s a moral at the end.

BUY LINK

About the Author

Tina Ruiz was born in Germany, but her family moved to Canada when she was in grammar school. She began writing children’s stories when her own were little. Through the years Ruiz wrote twenty-seven books. Most of those stories went into readers for the Canada Board of Education. Two did not. Mayor Shadoe Markley is a story about a ten-year-old girl who becomes Mayor for a Day through a contest at school.

Little did Ruiz know that story would “change the world.” The book came out at early January 1988. By the end of that same month, everyone was calling the mayor’s office at City Hall, trying to get the forms to fill out so their children could participate in the contest. Thirty years later that same contest is still runs at full speed. And not only in Calgary, but all across Canada. The Mayor’s Youth Council is now in charge of the celebrated contest and invites Ruiz to attend and meet the lucky winner. It’s usually followed by a hand-written thank you card from the mayor himself. Recently Ruiz was invited to be part of the Grand Opening of Calgary’s New Library where the mayor shook her hand and introduced her to the attendees.

Tina has worked in television and radio as well as being a professional clown at the Children’s Hospital. She lives in Calgary with her husband who encourages her to write her passion be it high-quality children’s books or intriguing romance.

Stay connected with Tina Ruiz on her Facebook group Tina Speaks Out.

Wednesday Writers–A NaNoWriMo Challenge Revealed by Kathy McKinsey

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animals in fiction, Catherine Castle's Wednesday Writers blog series, children's Christmas fiction, Christmas fiction, Kathy McKinsey, Millie's Christmas, NaNoWriMo

 

Wednesday Writers’ guest today is Kathy McKinsey. She’ll be sharing an excerpt from her NaNoWriMo children’s Christmas story Millie’s Christmas. Welcome, Kathy.

 

Thanks, Catherine.

This story was a delightful surprise to me.

I had heard about NaNoWriMo, a challenge many writers take in November to write an entire novel. I didn’t feel ready for that, but I decided in December to see what kind of Christmas story I could come up with.

I normally write women’s fiction. When my kids were little, I did love reading and making up stories for them, but I only remember ever writing one children’s story.

This month I had the idea of writing a story told from the point of view of a kitten with two best friends—a six year old girl and the family dog.

Though I never work out a fully detailed outline for my stories, I usually have a basic idea of how the plot will go. Not this time. I started out just to see what I could come up with each day.

It was a gift to me that opened up more each day. Fun dog and cat activity, and a happy, fun-loving, energetic little girl.

I named the story for my daughter Rebecca’s cat Millie, and Millie gave me a fun addition to the story. Rebecca put up a Christmas tree, decorated it, and woke in the morning to find that Millie had knocked it down and scattered everything.

I enjoyed the family as they opened up in the story, and I found they had problems as families usually do.

But, through their faith and fun and love, not to mention the behaviors of the cats and dog, they came through with a joyful Christmas.

What started out as just an exercise to get me to write every day turned into a story I grew to smile with every day I worked on it.

 

millie’s christmas

by Kathy McKinsey

 

Ruthie says Millie will love Christmas. Ruthie is Millie’s best friend, so she’s sure Ruthie’s right, but why does Millie keep finding Ruthie and her brother Jake crying?

Millie, an orange kitten, shares about her first Christmas. Her best friend Ruthie, six years old, teaches Millie about Christmas—food, decorations, music, presents, and Jesus!

Millie’s friend Bruce, the family dog, also helps her celebrate Christmas, and sometimes gets her in trouble.

When Ruthie’s big brother Jake breaks his ankle, Millie learns about sad things, like divorce, when Jake can’t visit his mommy for Christmas. Millie watches Ruthie’s family love each other through the sadness, and find joy in Christmas.

EXCERPT:

Something exciting happened today. Ruthie picked me up, squeezed me, and ran all over the house yelling, “It’s Christmas time. It’s Christmas time. Millie, you’re going to love Christmas.”

“Meow, meow,” I yelled back. I didn’t know what Christmas was, but Ruthie was excited, so I was too. “Meow.”

Ruthie kissed my face and whirled through the house, making me dizzy. “At Christmas we have lots of fun food, and candles, and decorations, and visiting, and candy.” She rubbed my ribs. “You’ll love it, Millie.”

I didn’t know what most of that stuff was, but it made Ruthie happy, so I knew it would be great.

Daddy and Jake brought home what Ruthie called a Christmas tree. It didn’t look like any of the trees out in the yard, with long sticks on them. This tree was bushy all over and really sharp and prickly, and they pulled it out of the ground from somewhere. Strange. But it sure smelled good.

“Now, Millie.” Ruthie carried me over to the Christmas tree. “We’re going to hang ornaments all over this tree. Please don’t bother them.”

Hmmm. I wonder what ornaments are. They must be something fun to play with.

In the middle of the night, Mama and I went to the Christmas tree and nibbled some of the branches. That was fun, and yummy, but Mama said we shouldn’t do it much, or the parents might get mad. I’d never seen them get mad, but Mama’d been around for Christmas before and knew what she was talking about. Mama was really smart.

Ruthie’s mommy started playing Christmas music. Daddy said, “Already?” Mommy just laughed and sang along with the music.

The music did sound fun—bouncy and happy. Many of the songs were about Jesus. Ruthie told me, “Jesus is the most important part of Christmas.” I didn’t know who Jesus was, but Ruthie was excited about him, so I was too. I hoped I would get to meet him.

Other Christmas songs were about snowmen and reindeer and silver bells and sleigh rides and presents and more about snow. Everything sounded like so much fun. I ran around the house with Ruthie, jumping on and off furniture. Christmas was great!

Want to read more? You can find Millie’s Christmas here

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kathy McKinsey grew up on a pig farm in Missouri, and although she’s lived in cities for nearly 40 years, she still considers herself a farm girl.

She’s been married to Murray for 32 years, and they have five adult children.

She’s had two careers before writing—stay-at-home-Mom and rehabilitation teacher for the blind.

She lives in Lakewood, Ohio with her husband and two of her children. Besides writing, she enjoys activities with her church, editing for other writers, braille transcribing, crocheting, knitting, and playing with the cat and dog.

Connect with Kathy at:

https://www.kathymckinsey.com/

Check out Kathy’s Women’s Fiction novel All My Tears at Amazon

 

Wednesday Writers–Hiding from Christmas by Alice K. Arenz

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Alice K. Arenz, Christmas reads, sweet clean romance, Wednesday Writers

Today’s Wednesday Writer’s guest is author Alice K Arenz. She’s going to be starting the Wednesday Writer’s Christmas season off early with a peek at the research she did for her Christmas book Hiding from Christmas, clean, fun, light romance with humor, and recipes. I love Christmas stories, and Alice’s book hits all the buttons for me. So, without further ado, here’s Alice and her excerpt from Hiding from Christmas!

Thanks, Catherine.

Writing Hiding from Christmas was a true “labor of love.” Not only is one of my granddaughters on the cover, but the book itself is something I never thought possible for me to write. Every time I turned around, I was doing more researching, checking and rechecking to make certain things were not just possible but believable—that’s what you get when God gives you a story about a non-existent company and then you have to learn different things to “populate” the company. He gave me the name of the company—Ornamental—and then helped my imagination to soar! All this when He knows how much I hate research! And, boy was there a lot of it!!

The most exciting aspect to all the research came one Saturday when my husband and I took a field trip to Bonner Springs, Kansas, to visit The Moon Marble Company—a wonderful, old fashioned store with everything marbles and glass blown pieces for sale. AND, a demonstration of lampworking with the end result—wait for it—a marble formed right before our eyes!

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak with David (that’s all he’d give me) before the demonstration. He confirmed the information I’d already gathered plus added a few more gems that helped breathe more life into the glassblowing tour Maddie takes in the book.

All in all, it was a difficult, albeit an exciting book to watch take shape. As a seat-of-the-pants writer, there were plenty of discoveries and surprises around every corner. I’m always amazed how God leads me when writing, and love the journeys he takes me on.

 

HIDING FROM CHRISTMAS

by Alice K. Arenz

 No matter how hard she tries, Maddie Kelley can’t seem to fit in at Ornamental, a company founded by her great grandfather and his best friend. Now, after yet another screw-up, she’s been sent into the “enemy’s” camp—two hours away from home for the next two months.

A punishment or a blessing?

Her life is turned upside down when the mundane turns unexpected, and she finally discovers where her heart truly lies.

Though not part of a series—yet—this is the fourth novel set in the fictional Missouri community of Tarryton—others include The Case of the Bouncing Grandma, The Case of the Mystified M.D., and The Wedding Barter. Come visit old friends and make some new ones!

EXCERPT:

Here’s a little something to tease you. This excerpt is from Chapter 5—a little introspection from Maddie that you just might find amusing!

Daddy used to say I’d been born under a lucky star, blessed by the Lord with a kind heart, pleasant personality, beauty, and intelligence. When I was little, I’d believed him. Mostly about the intelligence. School had always been easy for me, and I’d been fortunate to make a few good friends along the way who’d stuck with me through thick and thin. Until I was a sophomore and deemed a jinx. Then, they’d nicknamed me the Master of Disaster!

Trying to convince superstitious people that I wasn’t responsible for accidents which appeared to occur whenever I was around hadn’t worked. Coincidences didn’t happen in “their” world. They even claimed to have tested it—at their peril—and had undeniable proof. I’d been promptly kicked out of the pep squad because my presence around the cheerleaders invariably caused their routines to go horribly wrong. Pyramids toppled over into a mass of arms and legs, jumps and splits created injuries, and the list went on. The same thing happened when I attempted to participate in flags and majorettes. The school’s marching band was never the same after that fiasco. Since another dog pile of students was too great a risk, banning me from games became a consideration—though quickly overturned for obvious reasons.

It was suggested I try alternate extracurricular activities, which was fine by me. I loved singing and thought choir and glee club a perfect fit… until some risers collapsed in the middle of a performance. And, when two members of the drama club actually broke their legs on stage, I was gently but firmly asked to refrain from group participation projects. On behalf of the students and their parents, I agreed, and stayed as far from the action as possible—yet still remain in the school itself.

I didn’t believe any of it was my fault—I never fell or was even part of the strange incidents. Mass hysteria and the general clumsiness of my schoolmates was the more likely explanation. After all, many of the people involved in cheer and flags were also members of the drama club and choir, so it stood to reason that if they couldn’t stay on their feet in one activity they’d be unlikely to do so in another. Besides, if their assessment of me was actually true, why had each of these groups continued to request I supply them with baked goodies long after I was kicked out? The candy and cookies were welcomed; I was not.

To be honest, I’d only tried the activities because my mom and teachers had encouraged me to do so. I’d always been confident when it came to my studies but extremely shy and introverted in front of a lot of people. I didn’t like the spotlight and would never have sought it on my own. When it came to classroom group projects, however, I was a take-charge kind of person. There were always fellow students vying to be on my team—and it wasn’t just the baked goods I supplied during our work sessions. They knew my reputation when it came to school; an A was practically guaranteed when I was involved. And, if more proof of my innocence was needed, the “accidents” hadn’t followed me after high school. Other than my inability to find the field of study that would propel me into the future, nothing out of the ordinary happened.

Want to read more? You can find Hiding from Christmas on Amazon 

About the Author:

Alice K. Arenz has been writing since she was a child. Her earliest publications were in the small, family-owned newspaper where her articles, essays, and poems were frequently included. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Arenz is a Carol Award winner and two-time finalist. She writes “clean” fiction as well as Christian fiction in a variety of genres and lengths. Hiding From Christmas is her fourth book to be set in the small, fictional community of Tarryton, Missouri.

Visit her at her web site: http://www.akawriter.com/

 

 

 

 

Wednesday Writers–A Life Without Water by Marci Bolden

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A life without Water, Catherine Castle Wednesday Writers series, Marci Bolden, women's fiction

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is Marci Bolden talking about her new emotional-to-write women’s fiction release, A Life Without Water.

Welcome, Marci

Thanks, Catherine.

For authors, our books are like our children and we aren’t supposed to pick favorites. Apparently I’m a terrible book mama because I absolutely have a favorite, and it was released August 13. I don’t even feel ashamed saying that.

A Life Without Water is easily the most emotional book I’ve ever written. Despite all the re-reads, re-writes, and rounds of editing, I still cry reading this heartfelt story. This is women’s fiction, a break from my usual genre of romance, and I poured my entire heart and soul into the journey these characters take.

We all have ghosts in our past that we have to face eventually. Whether we face them on our own or stare down that one person who we feel betrayed us, we have to deal with past pain in order to truly forgive and move forward.

That reckoning of the past is what this book is about and it is definitely a roller coaster ride.

Carol Denman divorced her husband over twenty years ago and has never looked back. But on the day before their daughter’s thirtieth birthday, John barges back into Carol’s life with a request that threatens the fragile stability she has built.

John Bowman is sick. Very sick. While he still can, he has some amends to make and some promises to fulfill. But to do that, he not only needs his ex-wife’s agreement…he needs her.

With the past hovering between them like a ghost, Carol and John embark on a decades-overdue road trip. Together they plunge back into a life without water…but which may ultimately set them free.

EXCERPT
Carol Denman blinked. The long and slow kind that gave the brain a moment to process unexpected information. When she lifted her lids, her assistant still stood on the other side of her desk. Tiana’s near-black eyes filled with a million questions. The rich umber skin above her nose crinkled as she drew her brows together.

The words she’d spoken lingered in the air between them.

There was a man standing outside Carol’s office asking to see her. Not just any man. Her ex-husband.

“You were married before Tobias?”

Tiana’s voice was low enough that no one outside the office could possibly hear, but to Carol’s ears, the words sounded as if they had been announced through a bullhorn. The question spun her tightly held emotions out of control. The skin above her brow prickled with the first signs of nervous sweat. Clenching her fists, digging white acrylic tips into her palm, she took a breath to calm herself before the telltale sign of anxiety—bright red creeping up her pale neck until it settled over her face—could start.

She blinked again. This time the rapid, mind-clearing kind. She dislodged the knot in her throat before finding her voice. “Yes. A long time ago.” A lifetime ago. “Did he say what he wants?”

“No.” Confusion faded to what appeared to be concern. “He looks nervous. Should I tell him to leave or…I can call security.”

Security was a seventy-three-year-old overweight retired police officer who was far more invested in completing the Houston Chronicle’s crossword puzzle than he ever was in doing his job. Carol suspected even if she did need help, old Charlie Turner would call 911 and offer crowd control long before he’d intervene with some kind of physical altercation in her office. Not that she was worried about what her ex would do to her.

Just the opposite.

She was more concerned she’d grab the sterling silver scissors from her desk drawer and shove them repeatedly into his chest.

Outside her window, early summer sunlight reflected in a blinding starburst off the man-made pond where geese liked to gather as they migrated. This time of year the water was smooth. Still. Deceptively calm. As she stared at the water, memories of her life with John flashed through her mind like an old 8-mm film on a loop.

Laughter, singing, playing.

Screaming. Crying. Begging.

Tiana’s quiet voice cut into Carol’s thoughts. “Should I tell him to leave?”

“Um… No.” God, I’m going to regret this. “It’s fine. Show him in.”

Read all of Chapter One here.

Purchase A Life Without Water here.

Netgalley Reviews
This story will push your emotions to the limit, make you realize how much damage you do to yourself by holding onto anger and refusing to let go and help you to walk through the process of learning who you really are and what life has done to make you that person. – cindy r.

This book was everything. It made me FEEL so much. I cried so very much at times. Beautifully and realistically written. Life is fickle and here and gone in a minute. Learn to forgive and remember to live! –Dineen M.

This book – A Life Without Water – basically ripped my heart out – smashed it into a million pieces and put it back together again. – Beth S.

About the Author:

As a teen, Marci Bolden skipped over young adult books and jumped right into reading romance novels. She never left.

Marci lives in the Midwest with her husband, two teenaged kiddos, and numerous rescue pets. If she had an ounce of will power, Marci would embrace healthy living but until cupcakes and wine are no longer available at the local grocery store, she’ll put that ambition on hold and appease her guilt by reading self-help books and promising to join a gym “soon.”

Learn more about Marci Bolden on her website. Stay connected on Facebook and Twitter.