LOVE’S GIFT IS A FINALIST!

LOVE’S GIFT is a finalist in the NJ Romance Writers’ Golden Leaf Awards! I am thrilled. 🤩 

https://www.amazon.com/Loves-Gift-Penelope-Marzec-ebook/dp/B0D49BZ5P4 

 

Do You Like Snow?

We are supposed to have a significant snowstorm. We have stocked up on food. We have battery lanterns and wood for the fireplace in case we lose power. I am not looking forward to digging out.

When I was young, I used to love snow. School would close and I could go sledding and make snowmen. I loved ice skating. I'd shovel the snow off the ice and have my personal skating rink. I tried skiing in my twenties, but it was an expensive hobby because more often than not, there wasn't enough snow in this part of NJ.

I don't ever remember being cold.

Then I grew up. Snowstorms create problems. Now I worry. I worry about my nearest and dearest driving in the snow. I worry about heavy ice on tree limbs. I worry about slipping on the ice. 

Nevertheless, falling snow is still pretty to see. I like the quiet that settles on the neighborhood as sound is muffled by the soft coating. I still find it magical to wake up and see a world of glittering diamond dust on all the trees and bushes. 

I always study the snowflakes on the sleeve of my coat and on my mittens to see if each one is really unique. I take photographs of the snow even though I have to put on extra layers of clothing so I don't feel the cold as much. 

Waiting for the snow to stop is also a great time to read books. 

But then the storm ends. The peace of the neighborhood ends, too, as snowblowers, plows, and shovels struggle to move the white stuff out of the way. 

Stay safe everyone. 

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Reflecting

      I took this photo in one of our local parks on a cloudy but mild day. Without any wind, the lake became a mirror, reflecting everything perfectly. I was sitting on a bench opposite the one in the photo and doing some mental reflecting. My oldest daughter gave me a very lovely notebook for Christmas. When I'm writing a book, I usually type out the story. I can type much faster than I can write by hand. However, I decided to use the notebook for reflections of the past. Life was very different in the 1950s when I was a child growing up in a small neighborhood. Maybe someday my granddaughter would be interested in reading about my experiences. Of course, I'll be writing in cursive so I hope she learns how to decipher my flowing script. 😄

     But I'll still be typing out another book, too. I've entered the JeRoWriMo challenge again in hopes of writing out 30,000 words in the month of February. Wish me luck. 

💗 💗 💗 💗 💗

       

      

Guest Post: THE SECRET INGREDIENT by Kirsten Clark

My guest today is Kirsten Clark. She developed a deep and abiding love for stories at a young age, and has been plotting how to become an author ever since. When not writing sweet romances, she can be found in the classroom teaching at her local college, curled up with a cup of coffee and a good book, or baking chocolate cake while listening to podcasts. A graduate of the Universities of Alberta and British Columbia, she lives in Alberta, Canada with her husband and two children, who keep her on her toes.

     Kirsten's latest release is The Secret Ingredient. It's about the Holy Grounds shop which runs on two things: the nutty, caramel scent of coffee and Sebastien Davenport's beloved cranberry-gingerbread muffins.

     When the pastry chef collapses days before Christmas, owner Bridgette Calloway faces an impossible morning rush and an even harder truth: the beloved chef she's leaned on may need her more than ever.
     When a frightening diagnosis upends Seb's independence and he's at his lowest, it's his boss he finds himself calling. Perhaps she's more than a boss after all… Bridgette shows up with a Bible, Chinese takeout, and the solid courage he didn't know he needed. In the hush of winter and a kitchen dusted with flour and light, their friendship warms into something deeper. But fear, pride, and new limitations could cost them more than a holiday menu.
     As carols ring and candlelight glows, Bridgette and Seb are thrust into uncharted territory and must make a choice. Will they retreat into safety, or put their trust in the God who writes love stories in unexpected places like a coffee sleeve, a baker's bench, and prayer whispered over racks of cooling pastries?

Now for an excerpt! Enjoy!

     Bridgette pulled a pan of muffins from the oven before silencing a blaring alarm. “Iris, the tops are pointy. Again.”

     Iris didn't speak but wrinkled her nose as she joined Bridgette in the kitchen, inspecting the latest batch.

     “I must’ve overmixed the batter.” Bridgette sucked in a breath in a futile attempt to hold back the tears pricking at the corners of her eyes. “I, I...I made sure to weigh the flour and to set the oven properly to temperature, and I even used a timer for the stand mixer and these darn muffin tops still came out looking like mountains!”

     “I see that,” Iris said mildly, knotting a forest green apron around her hips before turning to wash her hands in the shiny industrial sink. “Sebastien never overmixes the batter,” she shot over her shoulder.

     Bridgette swallowed a sigh, resigning herself to the incoming tears. Iris was...Iris. A cosmetology student with purple hair. Chunky silver necklaces. Thick eyeliner. And she was also right. Seb’s muffins always came out perfect. What was she going to do?

     Bridgette pulled up the bottom of her apron, wiping her eyes. Crying was OK. She was only human after all. But, she thought, clacking a perfectly manicured nail on the shiny metal counter, she also had a job to do. Bridgette allowed a pause, holding up a hand to admire the sparkles in her latest manicure. The garnet has been a good choice this time. Very Christmassy. She shook her head as if to clear cobwebs. No, no time for pretty things. Focus.

     Because even without Sebastien, Bridgette had to have baking to offer her customers. When the usual crowd walked through her front door they expected to be greeted with the nutty, caramel scent of coffee and—in December—the warm spiciness of Seb’s famous cranberry gingerbread muffins, just as much as they expected catchy worship music playing over the speakers and Bible verses on their drink sleeves. The muffins were an integral part of what made Holy Grounds, well, Holy Grounds.

One reviewer called this story, "...an enjoyable and heartwarming story that proves God still answers prayer."

Visit Kirsten's website at: https://www.kirstenclarkauthor.com/

Get your copy of THE SECRET INGREDIENT now at:

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Pelican Book Group 

Guest Post: Crocuses For Christmas by Carol James

 

      My guest today is Carol James, an Air Force brat. The longest Carol ever lived in one place was a year and a half. Maybe that’s why, when she and her husband bought their first home forty-two years ago, they stayed put. She lives in Lilburn, GA with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.

     Loving intriguing stories with happy endings, she writes Redemptive Romance. She has had five full length novels and five Christmas novellas published. Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was an Amazon number one best-seller. Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter and get a free short story: https://www.carol-james.com
     When she’s not walking Zoe, Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, as well as traveling. On Sundays, she loves serving in the production department at her church. And most days, in the late hours of the night, you’ll find her bringing her newest novel to life.

Carol's latest release is CROCUSES FOR CHRISTMAS. What's it about? Read this: 

     When Matthew Dawson loses his wife in an automobile accident, he struggles to raise his three-year-old daughter, Emma, alone. He decides to hire a live-in nanny to take care of Emma, when he returns to work.

      Matt asks the principal of Emma’s school for recommendations, and she suggests Hannah Collins. Hannah is a highly-experienced nanny who has recently moved to Crescent Bluff from the United Kingdom.

      When Matt interviews Hannah, he knows she’s perfect for the position. But he’s concerned about Emma’s reaction. After Hannah and Emma meet each other, Matt makes Hannah an offer. Not only does Hannah immediately fall in love with Emma, she’s attracted to Matt and hopes to help this sweet family heal from their loss.

     The more Matt and Hannah are around each other, the more they become attracted to one another and must make some difficult choices for their futures. When Christmas nears, the crocuses in Matt’s yard bloom early as a sign of hope, new life, joy, and new beginnings.

 

Now for an excerpt from this wonderful story!

     Matthew Dawson held his wife in his arms and tickled her face and neck with kisses. If he didn’t have to work today, he’d stay here in their haven with the love of his life beside him. The only woman he’d ever loved. The only woman he ever would. He groaned. Any second now, the alarm on his phone would play their song, the singer declaring she would always love her sweetheart. As he would always love his sweet Natalie.

      Their song floated from the radio on his nightstand and filled their room. He slipped his hand to the other side of the bed. The smooth, cool fabric of the sheets met his touch. As reality set in, he opened his eyes and jerked himself up. He’d been dreaming. The space beside him was empty. The sheets unruffled. The pillow smooth. No Natalie. Not today…not last night…not ever again.

      “Matt.” Mom’s voice crept up the stairs, piercing his mournful solitude, reminding him this was not a dream. “Breakfast’ll be ready in a few minutes.” He didn’t want to do this, but he had no choice. He couldn’t spend the rest of his life in bed. 

      After easing back the covers, he struggled to sit up and swung his legs over the side of the bed. He stood, ready to perform his morning ritual, and then trudged to her closet and opened the door. He stepped inside, turned on the light, and buried his face in her pink dress. Her scent still lingered, but as each day passed, its strength faded a little more. Before long, it would be gone. Just like she was.

      He left the closet and padded down the hallway. He paused at Emma’s door and eased it closed until only a crack remained. Large enough to hear her if she cried out, but small enough to muffle most of the morning noise…although she’d never had a problem sleeping. She might look like her mother, but she slept like him. Or at least, the way he used to.

      The bottom stair creaked as he stepped into the entry hall. He’d promised Nat he’d fix it. But he never had. He’d always assumed he’d have time. Later. But time wasn’t a bank account where he could deposit more funds to increase his balance and withdraw some to use when his cache ran low.

      If he’d known then what he knew now, he’d have taken advantage of every moment. He’d have worked less and played more. He’d have travelled less and worked from the office or from home more. He’d learned the hard way that life was about where you invested your time…not your money.

You can find Carol's website at: https://www.carol-james.com/

Crocuses for Christmas can be found at: 

Amazon 

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Kobo 

 

Apple Books

Pelican Book Group

Guest Post: CHESTER'S MIRACLE by M. Jean Pike

My guest today is a New York girl who fell in love with Ohio, M. Jean Pike writes about love and life in small town America. The author of twelve Christian romance and inspirational women’s fiction novels, Jean combines an insatiable curiosity about human nature with her Christian faith to bring readers unforgettable tales of life, love, and the inner workings of the human heart. 

Her latest release is a Christmas novella, CHESTER'S MIRACLE. Here's the blurb: 

What if the wrong turn leads to the love you've always prayed for? Aimee dreams of love, but her small Ohio town offers little hope. Until she meets Max online. His charm sweeps her off her feet, and she agrees to meet him for a Christmas Eve service in the West Virginia mountains. But before she leaves, she rescues Chester, a senior service dog facing euthanasia, and brings him along for the ride. When a blizzard strands her on a mountain road, Aimee's fairytale date turns into a nightmare: Max's number is disconnected, his profile deleted, and her car is buried in snow. Cold, scared, and alone, she prays for a miracle—only to be found by Marty, a kind-hearted mountain man with a heart as warm as the fire in his cabin. Marty's been praying for love. But Aimee's been burned, and trust doesn't come easy, even when Chester works his own kind of magic. As Christmas unfolds, Aimee must decide: Is Marty the answer to prayer, or is she too afraid to take a leap of faith? A heartwarming Christian romance about trust, divine timing, and miracles that find us when we least expect them. Perfect for fans of holiday love stories, rescue dogs, and mountain men who believe in second chances.

 

That sounds wonderful! Now read an excerpt.

She inched up the slippery hill, up and up and up. Dusk had given way to winter dark, and Aimee’s hands and feet felt frozen solid. Removing one hand from the wheel, she nudged up the heat. When her glance returned to the road, she gasped. An animal stood by the shoulder, poised to dart in front of her. A large dog or a small deer. It was too dark to tell. Detecting motion in her headlights, she pressed the brakes. 

It turned out it was neither a dog or a deer, but by the time she made out the outline of the rotted tree, what she’d thought were ears were just small, jagged limbs. Her car was spinning again, sliding off the road and down the side of the hill. She braced for a crash, but heard only a dull thunk, as the car bumped to a stop. 

Chester slid to the floor. 

“Oh, Chester!” She groped for him and pulled him into her lap, cradling him close. “I’m so sorry. Are you OK?” 

He answered with a slobbery kiss on her cheek. 

“I got us stuck, but I know a trick,” Aimee told him. She put the car in reverse and pressed the gas, then eased it into drive. Forward and back, forward and back as she’d been taught in Driver’s Ed class years before. The wheels spun, tossing snow like confetti as the car burrowed deeper into the ground.

 Forward and back, forward and back. The headlights dimmed and went dark. The radio fell silent as the car sputtered and died.

 “I think we’re out of gas.” Tears fell again. “Lord, I’m in a jam, and I don’t know what to do.” 

She fumbled for the phone. Even without a signal she should be able to call 911, wasn’t that how it worked? “OK, Chester. I’m calling for help. Someone will be here any minute.” 

Except the call did not go through. She checked her phone again for signal strength. Not even one bar. Great. 

Lord please help me. You’re the only one who can…

She sat there in the dark, desperately trying to think through her situation. She could get out and walk, but to where? She hadn’t seen civilization in miles. And besides that, it was bitter out and she had no socks or gloves. She and Chester would freeze to death. Or they could freeze in the comfort of the car. 

Lord, I need a miracle. I need an angel…

She’d heard of people dying of hypothermia in situations like this. Simply falling asleep and not waking up. She sang every Christmas carol she could recall, anything to stay awake for just a moment more. After some time had passed, her throat was raw and her teeth chattered nonstop. She felt the calm of sleep overtaking her.

 The whine of an engine broke the silence, and the soft glow of approaching light flashed across her windshield. A pair of snowmobiles slowed, and then stopped on the ridge above her. Two figures disembarked, one very large, the other, very small.

In the light of their headlamps, the larger of the two scrambled down the incline, coming fast toward Aimee’s car. After a moment, the beam of a flashlight lit his path. A man. He was enormous, with a dark beard, his hair dark and wild where it sprang from the sides of his hat. He looked like a mountain man and in her dazed state, Aimee didn’t know whether to be terrified or relieved. His muffled shout drifted to her through the closed window. Her frozen fingers couldn’t manage the door handle. 

Chester growled a warning deep in his throat. 

Aimee wanted to reassure the dog, but her teeth were chattering so hard, she couldn’t speak. 

The man’s face appeared outside her driver’s side window. 

Three things happened simultaneously. 

The man yanked open the door. 

Aimee screamed. 

And Chester bared his teeth, his growl becoming a ferocious bark as he sank his teeth into the man’s outstretched hand.

🎄🎄🎄🎄🎄

This is a story you must read! It's on sale, too, for only $0.99! 

Warm up your holiday with this sweet read. 

Buy it at: 

Amazon 

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Health Care for All

Love is a beautiful thing. As Paul said in 1 Corinthians 13:7, "It bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 

This past weekend, I saw a newly married couple. They were so sweet. They didn't have a big wedding, though they might hold a gathering in the future. However, for now, the handsome groom is basically saving his bride's life because her medications are very expensive. 

I know of another couple who were in similar circumstances. She had cancer. He married her. They are living happily ever after. 

In this country, you don't have to be a knight in shining armor but you do need a decent health care plan. I pray our representatives will work toward getting health care for all in this country. 

💕💖💕💖💕