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Catherine Castle

~ Romance for the Ages

Catherine Castle

Tag Archives: clean romance

Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads–Texas Heirloom Ornament Christmas Anthology

24 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in Blog, books, Christmas Reads, Guest Authors, Romance, romance author, Wednesday Writers

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Christmas Anthology, Christmas reads, clean romance, Jessica White, Paula Peckham, Sara-Meg Seese, Texas Heirloom Ornament, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads!

Today’s feature, Texas Heirloom Ornament, is a Christmas anthology from authors Jessica White, Sara-Meg Seese and Paula Peckham that spans the early 1900s to early 21st century. You won’t want to miss this one. Welcome, ladies!

Enjoy three generations of Texas women finding love at Christmas.



In Small Things Liberty by Jessica White


A parking spot. An almost kiss. An ornament.
1923—The only thing war widow Hattie Freemont wants for Christmas is liberty for all. As president of the Fort Worth Women’s Club, she’s determined to see them exercise their new right to vote and oust the current representative. But his assistant keeps showing up at the most inconvenient times, challenging her convictions even though she has the statistics to back them up. First, Mr. Fancy Car tries to steal her parking spot, then her heart. Will he choose love and fight for freedom alongside her? And can she trust in true love twice in a lifetime?

In Large Things Unity by Sara-Meg Seese

A tree. An electric kiss. A radio proposal.
1972—Single mom Tricia Little inherited Grandma Hattie’s knack for numbers, but not her knack for love. With money tight and Christmas around the corner, she’s determined to prove to her boss and her next-door neighbor she can take care of herself and her daughter on her own. Radio DJ Mr. Wright can’t help but admire the hard-working woman and her spunky kid on the other side of the fence. When he offers to help them light up their Christmas with a tree, she pushes back. Can they work together to make the holidays brighter? Can he convince Ms. Independent that he’s Mr. Right?

In All Things Charity by Paula Peckham

A bell. A whirlwind kiss. A storm.
2015—High school teacher Alexis Baxter loves Christmas and her family traditions, like the handmade ornament passed down through five generations. But the final bell before the holiday break doesn’t release her from coaching duties. When the handsome basketball coach confesses he’s spending Christmas alone, she invites him to join her family for a fun-filled night. Joyful bells turn to warning sirens when his biggest regret walks into the party, casting a dark cloud over their budding romance. Is their love strong enough to withstand the truth? And can love truly cover a multitude of sins?

Want to read more? You can find Texas Heirloom Ornament on Amazon

Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads–Grace-Brides of New Hope by Jo-Ann Roberts

17 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in Blog, Book excerpts, books, Christmas Reads, clean romance, Guest Authors, historical romance, Holiday Reads, romance author, Wednesday Writers

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book excerpt from Grace-Brides of New Hope, Christmas romance, clean romance, Grace-Brides of New Hope, historical Christmas romance, Jo-Ann Roberts, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today’s guest author is Jo-Ann Roberts who will be sharing an excerpt from her Historical Romance Grace—Brides of New Hope. Welcome, Jo-Ann!

Grace-Brides of New Hope

By Jo-Ann Roberts

Widow Grace Donegan is no stranger to hardships. With winter coming on, and with the impending loss of her home as well as her job at the café in New Hope, Kansas, she has three options. Yet, she won’t give up her two children, refuses to join Miss Jennie’s girls at the Rhinestone Saloon, or condemn herself to a second loveless marriage. When an opportunity to save her home arises, she agrees, never imagining her salvation would arrive with a set of broad shoulders, a charming smile, a kind heart, and a pair of blue eyes making her wish for things long forgotten.

As skilled as he is with a gun, Pinkerton Agent Tripp Walker has spent the last ten years undercover, spying on Confederate informants, interrogating witnesses, and chasing outlaws. Sent to New Hope to infiltrate a gang of bank robbers, he intends to focus solely on his job. But when a woman with arresting hazel eyes flecked with gold and hair the color of summer wheat turns out to be the widow he’ll be boarding with, keeping his resolve may prove more difficult than tracking the elusive gang.

As Christmas approaches, will Grace accept Tripp’s offer of marriage just to save her home and give the children a father? Or is his proposal genuine, offering her a forever-kind-of-love? 

Excerpt:

Caleb pushed back his chair, heading for the tree. He chose a branch and slipped the loop through the needle-like leaves, just in front of a cluster of gray-blue berries. Grace joined him, looking for a spot to hang her ornament. When she bent down, her eye spotted something among the dense foliage which made her smile.

“Fiona, come look at this,” she called. As her daughter approached, Grace lifted and separated the branches.

“It’s a birdie’s nest,” Fiona breathed, a note of awe in her voice.

“Well, will you look at that,” Tripp said, hunkering down next to Fiona. He reached in, bringing the nest closer for Fiona’s inspection.

Fiona went up on her toes. “Where are all the baby birdies?”

“I guess they got old enough to fly away to start their own family, kinda like Mr. Tripp wants to do with us,” Caleb said, fingering the star he’d put on the tree.

Tripp looked up at Grace and reached for her hand. “You know, princess, there’s an old German tale which says if you find a bird nest in the tree you harvest for Christmas, you will have an entire year of health and happiness.” He squeezed her fingers tighter. “And that’s what I want with you and Caleb and your mama . . . but I want a whole lifetime of it.”

Caleb’s insight, as well as Tripp’s repeated confirmation he wanted to make them a family deepened Grace’s belief that marrying Tripp Walker would help lay to rest the ghosts of her past. When Grace was able to speak around the lump in her throat, she asked, “Is there more to the story?”

Tripp nodded. “At the very first Christmas, as the legend says, all the world’s birds burst into song when Jesus was born.”

“That’s a lovely story, Tripp,” Grace said, a wistful note in her voice. While she had no memories or stories of growing up in a loving family, Tripp’s youth had been shaped by the blending of his German ancestors and his stepfather’s Texas roots. A warm glow filled her heart knowing that when she married Tripp, Fiona and Caleb might benefit from this melding of love, faith, hard work, and commitment to family.

“Can I have the birdie’s nest?” Fiona lifted hopeful eyes to Grace then to Tripp.

Just as Grace started to object, Tripp’s gaze collided with hers, his unspoken warning taunting her. If you want the honey . . .

But it was Caleb who intuitively knew how to handle his sister. “I’ll make a deal with you, Fee. If we keep the nest in the tree like Mama and Mr. Tripp wants until Christmas then you and me will take it to the woods and leave it in another tree. That way maybe another mama bird might use it for her babies. What do you say?”

Fiona twisted her lips to one side and frowned, a sure sign to Grace she was pondering her brother’s suggestion.

“Deal!” she cried, thrusting her little hand towards her brother.

While Caleb just rolled his eyes, Grace and Tripped laughed aloud. “Are you sure you know what you’re getting yourself into, Tripp?”

Swinging Fiona into his arm, he gathered her close to his heart. “A lifetime of kisses and more love than any man could ever hope for.”

~ ~ ~

Want to read more? You can find  Grace-Brides of New Hope at Amazon

About the Author:

Born and raised in western Massachusetts, Jo-Ann Roberts was fascinated by America’s Old West  and always felt she was destined to travel on a wagon train following the Oregon Trail. With her love of history and reading, she began reading historical romance during high school and college. Victoria Holt, Jude Deveraux, and Roseanne Bittner were among her favorites. Influenced by her father, she fell in love with John Wayne, James Garner, and her all-time favorite, James Stewart and grew up watching Wagon Train, Bonanza and Rawhide.

A firm believer in HEA with a healthy dose of realism, Jo-Ann strives to give her readers a sweet historical romance while imparting carefully researched historical facts, personalities, and experiences relative to the time period. Her romances take her readers back to a simpler time to escape the stress of modern life by living in a small town where families and friends help one another find love and happiness.

When she isn’t creating believable plots and relatable heroes and heroines, Jo-Ann enjoys spending time with her husband, children and grandson. She also enjoys baking, quilting and eating way too much chocolate.

After 38 years in public education in Connecticut and Maryland, she’s now calls North Carolina home. She is the 2018 Winner (Historical Category) of NEORWA’s Cleveland Rocks Romance Contest. Her debut romance, Lessie-Brides of New Hope Book One, is a 2020 RONE Award Nominee.

Contact Links:  Website:  Facebook:   Instagram:  Newsletter:

A Writer’s Garden–Perfect Gifts by Sally Brandle

11 Thursday Nov 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in A Writer's Garden, Blog, books, clean romance, garden blog series, Guest Authors, historical romance, Romance, romance author, Sweet romance

≈ 5 Comments

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A Writer's Garden, clean romance, Garden blog, garden tools, historical romance, Sally Brandle

Welcome to A Writer’s Garden where writers who are gardeners or just love gardens will be sharing their garden and flower stories, as well as a bit about their writing. Today’s writer/gardener guest is Sally Brandle talking about garden gifts, the kind you use in the garden. Welcome, Sally!

My family knows my love of gardening and they respond with perfect gifts. Over the years I’ve received a swell pair of shovels from my youngest son, a garden cart, and endless tools. For my birthday in October this year, my two sons sourced a lite, battery powered chopper’s delight. I now can prune bushes without my shoulders complaining.

The Garden Claws were my husband’s idea. I don’t think my collection of ‘fingerless’ gloves are unique. Long nails aren’t the issue. The Claws are great for semi-detail weeding and are about $8 a pair. Rain has prevented my determination on durability. So far, they appear sturdy and my nails are clean!

My latest book, the enhanced memoir of a dear friend, launched in May. We self-published, so the garden took second place on the chore list this spring and summer. My guilt receded after a neighbor remarked on the beauty of the butterflies hovering over the flowering shrubs and blooms. I turned the ingrained weed-alert in my brain into choosing to notice what others appreciate—the beauty of the plants, how many birds, bees, and butterflies are present, and the peaceful setting. When I look out from the windows of my office with that thought in mind, I smile and realize how very blessed I am to steward and share this beautiful piece of earth.

  • Looking Down from sugar peas
  • Looking up from sugar peas

The young woman featured in my latest book, Sapphire Promise, is now 98 and no longer the avid gardener whom I met thirty years ago. When I tire of pulling weeds, I think to myself, “Iris would love to be doing this.” That mindset can change a task to a privilege most days. I must admit, I still find morning glory and horsetail to be garden enemies!

May all your plants prosper and your back stay strong!

About the Writer/Gardener:

I grew up gardening with Mom and never lost an admiration for nature’s colors, textures, and scents. Trying to convert our tiered, half-acre plot to be senior friendly presents an ongoing challenge. I try to intersperse gardening, riding, and writing.

My series of three books published by Soulmate Publishing are contemporary, clean, romantic suspense.

iSapphire Promise is a World War II inspirational memoir beginning in 1939 Batavia, Java, Indonesia. This is a clean old-fashioned romance.

Social Media Link:   www.Sallybrandle.com

Sapphire Promise

By Sally Brandle

Loyalty to family. Trusting instincts. The will to survive. These virtues are deeply embedded in a mature Dutch teenager, Annika Wolter. Her attributes prove useful as she navigates typical coming-of-age insecurities and a blossoming romance with a handsome lieutenant in 1939 Batavia, Java.

Nothing prepares her for the distress of Hitler’s attacks on European countries followed by Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor, toppling her idyllic life in the Dutch East Indies colonial society and separating her from the man she loves. Uplifting events from a true story showcase how determination, nursing basics, and language skills keep a young woman and her mother alive in the worst Japanese internment camp in the Pacific. If you admire clever women and unfailing love in a tropical wartime setting, you will be captivated by Sapphire Promise.

You can find Sapphire Promise on Amazon: and Barnes & Noble

Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads– Christmas Love Through the Ages with author Gail Kittleson

03 Wednesday Nov 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in Blog, Book excerpts, Christmas Reads, clean romance, Guest Authors, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

≈ 6 Comments

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book excerpt from Christmas Love Through the Ages, Christmas Anthology, Christmas Love Through the Ages, Christmas reads, clean romance, Gail Kittleson, Goldmine Christmas, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers Christmas Reads! Today’s guest is Gail Kittleson who is highlighting a delightful Christmas Anthology called Christmas Love Through the Ages. I don’t know about you, but I love Christmas stories, and movies, and, well, anything Christmas. So let’s welcome Gail as she tells us a bit about this unique anthology and then she’ll share an excerpt from her story in the anthology . Welcome, Gail!

Thanks, Catherine.

Ready to get into the Christmas spirit?

Light the Yule log in your fireplace, grab a snuggly blanket and a mug of hot chocolate, and settle in for a long winter’s read of stories celebrating the season.

This festive collection honors your beloved traditions, reminds you of your moorings, and warms your heart. The authors include short stories and novellas that take you on a journey from the 19th century to today. You’ll travel from Bethlehem with the angel Gabriel to Korea with abandoned orphans, then back to the Midwest where you see old friends fall in love and new loves become best friends, then to Texas where you witness acts of selflessness in an airport.

Lena Nelson Dooley, Lisa Bell, Gail Kittleson, Cleo Lampos, and Paula Peckham offer these tales to you during this wonderful season of hope and possibility.

Welcome to Christmas Love Through the Ages.

And here’s an excerpt from my book in the collection Goldmine Christmas

Excerpt from Goldmine Christmas

By Gail Kittleson

The flashlight flickered. “Oh, drat, just a paragraph left.” The fickle mechanism finally obeyed Nel’s prodding, and the final sentences of Aunt Eileen’s letter invaded her consciousness.

This could be your opportunity to make a difference for the war effort, and to follow your own star. You would make a superb USO volunteer, and my friend says you would be welcome to stay with her parents.

Just think of it! Thousands of GIs from all over the States pass through the USOs Washington, D.C. each day, and they can get awfully homesick. A cheery word can mean so much.

What do you say? Hop on the bus and we can take the train out there together. I will await your response.

As ever,

Eileen

P.S. You have done your time with your family, dearie. You’re nearly twenty-two and deserve a life beyond Payson.

Aware of the wind strengthening, Nel stashed the letter in her sweater pocket and hurried to the house. All was quiet, with Linda still hard at work—that girl would make something of herself, for sure.

Pulling on her nightgown and settling into her corner refuge, a narrow mattress in the kitchen’s far corner, that dreadful sound still prevailed.

Slap…bang…slap… Blasted shutters. Ah well, she couldn’t sleep anyway, with visions of the nation’s Capitol dancing through her mind.

Picturing Aunt Eileen handing out donuts and steaming cups of coffee, chatting with the fellows and giving them a taste of home was easy. She’d always been so strong.

But visualizing herself in a great metropolis created quite the challenge. The very thought led to a perennial question: How on earth had Eileen and Mama ended up such opposites? Mama cared about one thing—pleasing Dad. And all he cared about was the Gold Mine Saloon and drinking.

Want to read more? You can find Goldmine Christmas and the other Christmas stories on Amazon

About the Author:

A former college writing instructor, Gail lives with her retired Army chaplain husband in Northern Iowa and writes Women’s Historical Fiction, memoir and non-fiction. She enjoys grandchildren, gardening, and learning about history. In winter, she writes from Arizona’s beautiful Mogollon Rim Country.

No matter how dire the circumstances, you can count on Gail’s make-do World War II characters to discover new strength and move forward under duress. Facilitating writing workshops and retreats provides Gail’s “teaching fix” and a chance to cheer on other writers. 

Follow Gail on social media at:

Gail Kittleson: Facebook: Twitter @GailGkittleson: @gailkittlesonauthor (Instagram)

Tasty Tuesdays–Iris’s Batavian favorite Gado-Gado from Sally Brandle

08 Tuesday Jun 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, clean romance, food, Guest Authors, historical romance, Recipes, Sweet romance

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

clean romance, enhanced memoir, food blog, Gado-gado, Indonesian recipe, peanut sauce, Sally Brandle, Sapphire Promise, Tasty Tuesdays, vegetable dish, WWII romance

Iris’s Batavian favorite: Gado-Gado (Mix-mix in Malayan)

My Dutch-American friend, Iris (Annika in the story), grew up in Indonesia in the 1930’s. Their Indonesian cook knew gado-gado was her favorite dish and cooked it frequently using vegetables from their garden behind Mansion Iris. We often went to a Thai restaurant in Seattle where Iris could order something similar. The aroma, texture, and taste of food takes us back to favorite (in her case) memories. Iris’s story, Sapphire Promise, begins eighty years ago, where Gado-gado is mentioned several times. I hope you find the recipe timelessly appealing!

Yummy Peanut SAUCE ingredients

2/3 cup natural peanut butter, smooth or crunchy

1 TBL Soy sauce

2 tsp honey

½ to 1 tsp chili paste or substitute ¼ to ½ tsp cayenne pepper mixed in 1 TBL catsup

2 large garlic cloves diced very fine

1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice 

1 cup water

2 TBL brown sugar

Veggies to steam/Blanch

2 bunches cleaned spinach-thoroughly washed and roots removed (reserve about ¼ of a bunch)

4 cups beansprouts*

2 cups green beans

3 red potatoes sliced thin (as if you were making fried potatoes) 

1 sweet potato sliced thin and cut into bite-sized pieces

Add ins from your refrigerator: sliced mushrooms, yellow snap beans, bok choy, Swiss chard

Fresh Garnish possibilities

4 or 5 boiled eggs, peeled and halved or quartered

1 cucumber, sliced thin on an angle

1 bunch of green onions, washed and diced from the white up an inch or so into the green stem.

Reserved fresh spinach, sliced radishes, tomato wedges or cherry tomatoes

Instructions for a meal that will serve four (ish)

PEANUT SAUCE made easy

Mix all the ingredients in a small saucepan over low heat. Stir regularly and don’t let it come to a boil or it will break. Cook for ten minutes while you clean, chop, and dice. You should be able to drizzle it, so if it thickens, add little dabs of water or coconut milk. Keep it warm on the lowest heat.

BLANCHED VEGETABLES with one pot

Fill a kettle of water big enough to put a six-inch-wide metal strainer/colander in it to a depth of four inches. Bring the water to a boil. You are going to blanche the veggies in it and the colander helps.

Cook the potatoes for about six minutes or until tender but not mushy. Lift them with the colander, shake off most of the water, and transfer them to a platter. Broccoli, mushrooms, asparagus, and thinly sliced carrot will take about three minutes, green beans a bit less. Test them to not overcook.

Cook the beansprouts in the same manner for 3 minutes or until just wilted. While still in the colander, press out excess water. *Our local stores do not have sprouts at this time….hopefully in the future.

Add spinach and push the leaves under to submerge them – they will instantly wilt. Remove them, leave in the colander and press out excess water. Bok choy, swiss chard, cabbage, and other greens cook in the same manner.

Dumplings

I pan-fried and then steamed Tofu Vegetable Dumplings (Organic -Vegan). The packaged voluntarily appeared in my Imperfect Produce box. The two resident carnivores liked them alongside the above meal! My son wonders if peanut sauce is the ranch dressing in other parts of the world!   Enjoy a taste of Java!

Sapphire Promise

By Sally Brandle

Loyalty to family. Trusting instincts. The will to survive. These virtues are deeply embedded in a mature Dutch teenager, Annika Wolter. Her attributes prove useful as she navigates typical coming-of-age insecurities and a blossoming romance with a handsome lieutenant in 1939 Batavia, Java.

Nothing prepares her for the distress of Hitler’s attacks on European countries followed by Japan’s bombing of Pearl Harbor, toppling her idyllic life in the Dutch East Indies colonial society and separating her from the man she loves. Uplifting events from a true story showcase how determination, nursing basics, and language skills keep a young woman and her mother alive in the worst Japanese internment camp in the Pacific. If you admire clever women and unfailing love in a tropical wartime setting, you will be captivated by Sapphire Promise.

Available from Amazon in eBook, paperback, and Large Print  

About the Author:

Multiple-award winning author Sally Brandle weaves slow-burning romance into edgy suspense, motivating readers to trust their instincts. Growing up as a tomboy alongside brothers prepared her to work in a male-centric industry, raise sons, and create action-packed stories featuring strong women. She thrives on creating unintentional heroines who conquer their vulnerabilities and partner with heroes to outwit cunning villains. Penning Iris’s enhanced memoir presented a challenge to stay true to her life while portraying the colonial aspect of Sapphire Promise in a sensitive manner. Research and consultations with a variety of experts proved invaluable. Sally’s rescued Tuxedo cat, Shepherd dog, and Blue Heeler are her companions during long spells of writing or bouts of tormenting weeds in her garden. Afternoons she often spends riding on the wind with her thirty-one years young Quarter Horse.

Connect with Sally on her Website (EVENTS tab-offers for free Book Club zoom appearances): Facebook: Blog link

Tasty Tuesdays–Pumpkin Bundt Cake from Amanda Cabot

16 Tuesday Mar 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Catherine Castle’s food blog, Christian fiction, food, historical romance, Recipes, Sweet romance, Tasty Tuesdays

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Amanda Cabot, clean romance, Dessert, Dreams Rekindled-Historical Christian Romance, food blog, low-fat cake, Pumpkin Bundt Cake, recipe, Sweet romance, Tasty Tuesdays

Once upon a time, many long years ago, I found a Kellogg’s recipe called Choco-Dot Pumpkin Cake which soon became a family favorite. As the years passed and I adopted a lower fat diet, I stopped making it. This past Thanksgiving, I remembered how much we’d enjoyed the original recipe and wondered if I could tweak it to make it a bit healthier. I reduced the sugar, substituted applesauce for oil, eliminated the chocolate chips, and substituted GrapeNuts for the walnuts. Here’s the result, which we found to be absolutely delicious.

Please note that, as is the case with most lower fat baked goods, it’s important to do all mixing by hand.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Grease and flour large Bundt pan. (I use a floured spray like Pam or Baker’s Joy.)

Beat well:      

4 eggs

Add and mix well:

2 cups canned pumpkin, not pumpkin pie filling

1 ½ cups sugar

Stir in:

1 cup unsweetened applesauce

1 cup Kellog’s All-Bran

1 cup Grapenuts

Mix and fold in:

2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

¼ tsp allspice

1 ½ tsp cinnamon

½ tsp cloves

¼ tsp ginger

Pour into prepared pan and bake for 50 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn onto cooling rack to complete the cooling.

Enjoy!

While you’re waiting for the cake to bake, check out Amanda’s Historical Christian Romance Dreams Rekindled.

Available at Amazon  Barnes & Noble  Christian Book Distributors

Dreams Rekindled

By Amanda Cabot

He’s bound and determined to find peace . . . but she’s about to stir things up.

Dorothy Clark dreams of writing something that will challenge people as much as Harriet Beecher Stowe’s Uncle Tom’s Cabin seems to have. But in 1850s Mesquite Springs, there are few opportunities for writers—until newspaperman Brandon Holloway arrives, that is.

Brandon Holloway has seen firsthand the disastrous effects of challenging others. He has no intention of repeating that mistake. Instead of following his dreams, he’s committed to making a new—and completely uncontroversial—start in the Hill Country.

As Dorothy’s involvement in the fledgling newspaper grows from convenient to essential, the same change seems to be happening in Brandon’s heart. But before romance can bloom, Dorothy and Brandon must work together to discover who’s determined to divide the town and destroy Brandon’s livelihood.

About the Author:

Amanda Cabot’s dream of selling a book before her thirtieth birthday came true, and she’s now the author of more than thirty-five novels as well as eight novellas, four non-fiction books, and what she describes as enough technical articles to cure insomnia in a medium-sized city. Her inspirational romances have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists, have garnered a starred review from Publishers Weekly, and have been nominated for the ACFW Carol, the HOLT Medallion, and the Booksellers Best awards. A popular workshop presenter, Amanda takes pleasure in helping other writers achieve their dreams of publication.

Connect with Amanda on  her Website: Facebook: Twitter @AmandaJoyCabot: and her Blog

Wednesday Writers–Together For Good by Penelope Powell

03 Wednesday Mar 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in Book excerpts, Christian fiction, clean romance, Guest Authors, Romance, romance author, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

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Book Excerpt from Together For Good, clean romance, Contemporary Christian Romance, Penelope Powell, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is author Penelope Powell who will be sharing an excerpt from her Contemporary Christian Romance Together For Good as well as a bit about how the book idea came about. Welcome, Penelope!

Thanks, Catherine.

 The idea for Together For Good started forming before I finished A Powerful Voice. The character, Laney, first appeared in that story as Gloria’s friend. As a contrast to Gloria’s character, Laney was good-natured and optimistic, though she was no stranger to loss. Readers of A Powerful Voice might’ve picked up on hints of Laney’s romantic interests, which comes forefront in Laney and Matthew’s love story in Together For Good. Because Laney’s character is a teacher, and Matthew practices family law, I wanted to bring in some of the issues either could face working with children, and that gives their story depth.

Together For Good

By Penelope Powell

Having lost her mother in a tragic drunk driving accident, Laney Spence is no stranger to grief and loss. Despite this tragedy touching her life at such a young age, Laney has maintained her belief that God brings good out of even the most difficult circumstances. For her, that good came in the form of her older brother’s best friend, Matthew Jordan. Kind and compassionate, Matthew helped her grieve—and she’s been harboring a crush on him ever since.   

Years later, when tragedy shatters Matthew’s life, Laney is there for him the same way he’d been there for her all those years ago. But they’re not kids anymore. She’s a teacher with little life experience, and he’s a jaded divorce lawyer with a past he’d rather keep secret. Neither of them can ignore the attraction that blooms, though, leaving them both wondering—is attraction, history, and a shared faith in God enough to keep them together for good, or will circumstances beyond their control drive them apart?  

Here’s an excerpt of their first meeting after years of not seeing one another.

“So…it’s been a while.” Matthew examined Laney. The gold flecks in her brown eyes lightened them to a warm hazel. “You look so… grown up,” he said, trying to connect her to the little girl that had followed him and Jason around that summer. Other images—a gangly teen, then a skinny young adult—flashed in his memory. If he’d seen her since, he didn’t recall her looking anything like the woman standing before him now, especially considering how her dress clung.

            “We all have to grow up sometime.” Laney fingered the wisps of short hair curling around her ear.

            “That’s it!” Matthew snapped his fingers, then pointed at her. “That’s what’s different. You’ve cut off all your hair.”

            “I didn’t cut it all off.” Laney touched the back of it and frowned, as if he’d insulted her. “It’s just short.”

The style was complimentary. He tugged on the strands she’d been trying to tuck away. “Very short.”

Laughing, she knocked his hand away. “Stop.”

Scanning down to her heeled feet again, he shook his head. “You look… so different.”

A small crease formed between her brows. “Thanks?”

He averted his gaze to the people coming and going around them. “I meant it as a compliment,” he said, swinging his attention back to her. “Have you forgotten your nickname?” He leaned forward. “Button.” Matthew was smart enough to not mention the knobby knees and skinny arms he remembered.

“That’s because of what your mom said.”

“I remember my mom shaking her head, saying you were cute as a button because of something you’d say or do.” He also remembered the main reason he had high-jacked his mom’s observation, turning it into a nickname. “The nickname suited you.”

Laney cocked a brow, giving him a saucy smirk. “So, you thought I was cute?”

Finding her response mildly fascinating, he laughed. “Out of everything I said, that’s the only thing you heard?”

“Got to take what I can get these days.” A teasing smile led to her examination of him. “You haven’t changed much, except for those.” She pointed at the frames on his face. “Are those reading glasses?”

“No.” Matthew pushed them up, her question pricking his ego. “I have a slight astigmatism.” He pocketed his hands and slacked a hip, giving her a languid smile. “Most women tell me I look intellectual.”

Laney pursed her lips. “You do have that scholarly thing going on.”

When she grinned, his gaze dipped to her mouth, and a jolt of attraction ran through him. Taken aback by the direction of his thoughts, he straightened and adjusted his tie. “Enough about me.”

“But you’re such an interesting subject.”

Want to read more? Together For Good is available on Amazon

About the Author:

Penelope grew up in Tennessee, but has lived in various states and a few countries outside the United States. She holds a BS in Business/Political Science and a MS in Multinational Commerce from Boston University. After working in the field of banking and finance, she left to invest her time with her children. Now that they are grown, she is pursing the life of a writer. As an avid reader of fiction and a student of Biblical truth, she combines what she learns into stories of redemption.  A Powerful Voice and A Furrow So Deep and A Powerful Voice are full length romances published through Anaiah Press, LLC, as well as, her Christmas novella, My Christmas Hope. 

Connect with Penelope on her website: Facebook: Twitter @penpowell89: BookBub

Wednesday Writers–The Inn at Cranberry Cove by June Foster

10 Wednesday Feb 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Christian fiction, clean romance, mystery, suspsense, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

≈ 5 Comments

Tags

Christian mystery and suspense, clean romance, June Foster, Sweet romance, The Inn at Cranberry Cover, Wednesday Writers

Welcome to Wednesday Writers! Today’s guest is June Foster. June will be sharing a bit about the setting of her novel The Inn at Cranberry Cove. Welcome, June!

Thanks, Catherine.

Twenty years ago, my husband and I lived in Washington state – in Olympia, the capitol. I love the Pacific Northwest and frequently set my stories there. In fact, the first five or so were inspired by the forests of Douglas fir, majestic mountains, and lakes and streams that are perfect for fishing.

One weekend during our time in Washington, we decided to travel west as far as we could go until we reached the ocean. Our trip brought us to a delightful B&B in Ilwaco on the south end of Long Beach Peninsula in the southwest corner of the state, between the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. I hadn’t realized that a sleepy, historic fishing town nestled there.

The B&B was once an old place of worship, and today boasts of guest rooms, lush gardens, and a large meeting room where the sanctuary used to stand. At the time we were there, I hadn’t written my first book, but years later, upon thinking back to the lovely inn, my imagination began to percolate and The Inn at Cranberry Cove was born.

Today the B&B is owned by a sweet couple by the name of Leanna and Kevin Moos and is now called the Inn at Harbor Village. The picture on the cover of my book is the real inn that the Moos graciously allowed me to use.

The Inn at Cranberry Cove

By June Foster

After her boss fires her on unfounded grounds, twenty-nine-year-old Ashton Price leaves Denver for Cranberry Cove, Washington. She’s inherited her aunt’s B&B and is determined to carry on her legacy. Upon preparing for guests, she learns of a century-old tale of treasure within the inn. Many have searched for the illusive gems but to no avail. She discovers a man working on the inn’s grounds, but is he the gardener Gina Price hired? Perhaps he’s searching for the hidden treasure.

James Atwood, corporate executive, works in the Atwood’s thriving cranberry business. Tragedy strikes, and he’s numb and riddled with guilt. Befriended by Gina Price, he finds solace working evening and weekends in the fresh earth, fescue grass, and aromatic blossoms of the inn’s gardens, helping to divert his mind from his dishonest cousin Robert, bent on destroying the Atwood business. He continues tending the grounds after Gina passes, and the new owner believes he’s a gardener. After she calls late one night upon hearing a prowler, James races to her rescue and discovers his feelings are more than protective.

Ashton’s first guests, the Claxton’s, appear out of nowhere saying they’ve had reservations for a year though she finds no record of a deposit. She chalks the failure up to faulty accounting before she arrived. When an elusive intruder continues to make frightening midnight visits, Ashton fears for her own safety and that of the Claxtons. But then, their odd comings and goings cause Ashton to wonder. Are they really vacationing visitors from California, or do they have other motives for staying at the inn?

Can two people allow the majestic northwest and fragrant coastal air heal their wounded hearts? Will they discover the secret of The Inn at Cranberry Cove?

Want to read more? You can find The Inn at Cranberry Cove at Amazon

About the Author:

An award-winning author, June Foster is also a retired teacher with a BA in Education and a MA in counseling. She is the mother of two and grandmother of ten. June began writing Christian romance in 2010. She penned her first novel on her Toshiba laptop as she and her husband traveled the US in their RV. Her adventures provide a rich source of information for her novels. She brags about visiting a location before it becomes the setting in her next book.

To date, June has written over twenty contemporary romance and romantic suspense novels and novellas. She loves to compose stories about characters who overcome the circumstances in their lives by the power of God and His Word. June uses her training in counseling and her Christian beliefs in creating characters who find freedom to live godly lives. She’s published with Winged Publications. Visit June at www.junefoster.com to see a complete list of her books.

Wednesday Writers–Forever Under Blue Skies by Valerie Massey Goree

27 Wednesday Jan 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in Book excerpts, books, clean romance, Guest blogging, Sweet romance, Wednesday Writers

≈ Comments Off on Wednesday Writers–Forever Under Blue Skies by Valerie Massey Goree

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Australia, clean romance, Forever Under Blue Skies, Sweet romance, Valerie Massey Goree, Wednesday Writers

Today’s Wednesday Writers guest is author Valerie Massey Goree with the Story Behind the Story and an excerpt of her latest release, Forever Under Blue Skies. Welcome Valerie.

Thanks, Catherine.

My latest release, Forever Under Blue Skies, is very close to my heart. It is based on the first novel I ever wrote, way back before everyone had a computer. Not to give away my age, but I bought a word processor back then and decided to write a story using details of my mother’s family roots in Australia.

I’m not sure how long it took, but I slogged away while teaching fulltime and raising two teenaged kids. Although I had participated in a few mini workshops on writing, I didn’t attend a full-fledged conference until my book was finished. I chose Mt. Hermon Writers Conference as the venue to present my masterpiece.

Needless to say, my novel was not a hit. Although a multi-published author told me the story had good bones, I had a lot to learn about the craft of writing fiction. My first sentence had three adjectives describing the weather!

I set aside that novel, but kept on writing and attended as many workshops as I could. I also joined American Christian Fiction Writers, probably my best writing related decision.

Fast forward. After publishing five novels, I decided to go back to my first. Oh, my. I read my printed copy and understood why the novel was rejected at Mt. Hermon. But I stuck with the basic premise and found that my original research from library books was spot-on as compared to recent internet information and details gathered when my husband and I visited Australia.

I grew up in Rhodesia, a former British Colony in central Africa, and I speculated that since Australia was also a former colony in the Southern Hemisphere, the architecture might be similar as well as the vernacular. I was right, even down to the bullnose roofs shading verandahs.

 I didn’t have to change much in that respect, although I completely revamped my plot. As far as the time period goes, I kept the story set in 1983 as the Australian Government changed their immigration laws in 1985. My story as written now, couldn’t take place after those laws were enacted.

I relied on details from my great-great-grandparents’ family tree for my story, even to using the town of Bendigo. Now, my family never lived on a sheep station, but that’s the joy of writing fiction.

Forever Under Blue Skies

By Valerie Massey Goree

Travel to Australia to solve a family mystery? Sure, Marlow could do that. But she didn’t take into consideration the vast outback, nor the owner of the sheep station. Widower, Jake Barclay, is everything her late husband was not—honorable, considerate, a pure gentleman. She came prepared with sunscreen, but hadn’t built a high enough screen around her heart.

Jake was dubious about Marlow’s reason for visiting his station and thwarts her plan at every turn. Until he sees how she interacts with his vulnerable, young daughter.

If they solve the coded message, can Marlow return to Texas, or will Jake offer her a forever home in the outback?

Excerpt:

Jake picked up his hat and ran his fingers along the brim. He studied Marlow as she returned the documents to the file in her fancy handbag. Attractive, confident, and way too fascinating for his peace of mind.

She turned a bright smile upon him. “Well?”

“Well what?”

“May I come home with you?”

There’d been no hint of flirtation in her tone, yet Jake’s neck warmed. This American woman with smoky gray eyes—whom he had known for an hour at most—had come into his world like a flash of lightning and was going to bring refreshing showers or destructive storms. Maybe both.

“No.”

Her eyes widened. “Why not?”

“This quest of yours can be resolved through the post.” He began to stand, then sat again. “How long were you in Melbourne?”

“Two weeks.”

“Why didn’t you write and ask me to locate Graham’s letter? Milton obviously told you a lot about me and has my address.”

She cleared her throat. “He, uh, said you weren’t interested in genealogy and suggested I arrive unannounced. That way you’d be more likely to hear me out.”

“Well, dear old Milton got that wrong.” He glanced at his watch again. “It’s been…interesting, but I have to complete my business before dark. Leave your contact details at the hotel.” Jake placed cash on the table and called a farewell to Annie.

Marlow hurried outside after him. “We’re not done.”

“Yes, we are.” He started to shake her hand but decided against another reminder of her soft skin. Muttering, “G-day,” he turned on his heel. His destination was a block down from the hotel, but common sense told him to take the long way. Alone.

Want to read more? You can find Forever Under Blue Skies Amazon

About the Author:

American Christian Fiction Writers Genesis Award winner Valerie Massey Goree resides with her husband on the beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.

After serving as missionaries in her home country of Zimbabwe and raising two children, Glenn and Valerie moved to Texas. She worked in the public school system for many years, focusing on students with special needs. Now retired in Washington, Valerie spends her time writing, and spoiling her grandchildren.

Novels include: Deceive Me Once; Colors of Deceit; The Stolen Lives Trilogy, Weep in the Night; Day of Reckoning; and Justice at Dawn, to be released soon. Valerie’s latest novel Forever Under Blue Skies, is now available from Amazon.

Valerie loves to hear from her readers.

Check Valerie’s website to learn more about her books. Connect with Valerie on Facebook

Catherine’s Comment–A Winter Wonderland Table Setting from Catherine Castle

08 Friday Jan 2021

Posted by Catherine Castle in books, Catherine's Comments, Catherine's Crafts, clean romance, Holidays

≈ 4 Comments

Tags

Catherine Castle, Catherine's Comments, clean romance, essay, Holiday table settings, inspirational romantic suspense, The Nun and the Narc, Winter wonderland

.

Christmas is over, but don’t put your Christmas village away just yet or those special winter themed dishes you may have lying around, like these adorable Norman Rockwell tumblers pictured below.

Instead, use these selected pieces to create a winter wonderland table setting and this charming centerpiece.

For this table setting you’ll need

  • Your winter village accessories. I used my skating rink, the snow covered trees and bushes, and as many village figurines I could find that showed people playing in the snow. If you don’t have a skating rink, don’t worry. Just add some more of your snow covered village buildings to make up for the lack.  The point is to create a winter scene. And who doesn’t think a Christmas village isn’t wintery?
  • Some cotton batting for the snow
  •  A white tablecloth.
  • 4 blue plates. I had 4 turquoise blue plates that looked great on the table. If you don’t have 4 colored plates, mix with white, or use all white plates against a blue tablecloth. The point is to make a striking contrast between the dishes and the tablecloth.
  • Cute wintery napkins. I pulled some darling snowmen out of my stash.
  • Clear bowls. I had some with snowflakes on them.
  • 2 white candle in glass holders
Snowman napkin and snowflake bowl

Since I was using a smaller 48” diameter table, I set my skating rink at an angle to give more room for the village pieces.  If you have longer table you could spread the figurines out along the length of the table.

Honestly, the pictures I took did not do the table setting justice. It was so darned cute I wanted to leave it up all winter. But since that’s the table we eat at all the time, hubby would not have been happy.

snowman salt and pepper shakers

I hope you’ve enjoyed this Winter Wonderland table setting. If you don’t have a village, look at your Christmas decorations and see what you do have that represents winter. Some other options could include crocheted or plastic snowflakes, set on angles, in a snow bank of white cotton. Or maybe you have some snow-flocked small evergreen trees you could place in a cotton snowbank. Do you have a snowman collection? Use them. Let this setting inspire you.

Have a Happy New Year!

How about starting off your new year with a new read? Check out Catherine’s multi-award winning book The Nun and the Narc.

The Nun and the Narc

by Catherine Castle

Where novice Sister Margaret Mary goes, trouble follows. When she barges into a drug deal the local Mexican drug lord captures her. To escape she must depend on undercover DEA agent Jed Bond. Jed’s attitude toward her is exasperating, but when she finds herself inexplicable attracted to him he becomes more dangerous than the men who have captured them, because he is making her doubt her decision to take her final vows. Escape back to the nunnery is imperative, but life at the convent, if she can still take her final vows, will never be the same.

Nuns shouldn’t look, talk, act, or kiss like Sister Margaret Mary O’Connor—at least that’s what Jed Bond thinks. She hampers his escape plans with her compulsiveness and compassion and in the process makes Jed question his own beliefs. After years of walling up his emotions in an attempt to become the best agent possible, Sister Margaret is crumbling Jed’s defenses and opening his heart. To lure her away from the church would be unforgivable—to lose her unbearable.

About the Author:

Multi-award winning author Catherine Castle loves writing. Before beginning her career as a romance writer she worked part-time as a freelance writer. She has over 600 articles and photographs to her credit, under her real name, in the Christian and secular market. She also lays claim to over 300 internet articles written on a variety of subjects and several hundred poems. In addition to writing she loves reading, traveling, singing, theatre, quilting and gardening. She’s a passionate gardener whose garden won a “Best Hillside Garden” award from the local gardening club. She writes sweet and inspirational romances. You can find her award-winning Soul Mate books The Nun and the Narc and A Groom for Mama, on Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Follow her on Twitter @AuthorCCastle, FB or her blog.

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