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 

 

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:

Amazon 

Barnes&Noble

Kobo

Apple

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 

Barnes&Noble

Kobo

Apple

Guest Post: ALWAYS AND ONLY by Carol James

My guest today is Carol James. She was raised as an Air Force brat, the longest she 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-three years ago, they stayed.

 

Wife, mother, grandmother, and dog-mama to Zoe, Carol loves writing stories of redemptive romance. When asked the difference between redemptive romance and standard romance, she replied, “A standard romance has two main characters––a hero and a heroine. A redemptive romance adds a third. God.”

 

Follow her on Facebook, Instagram, and X

 

Follow Zoe and her friends on Facebook or Instagram at: 3DogsandtheirAuthors 

 

Carol's latest release is ALWAYS AND ONLY.  In this book, Caleb Daniels returns home to Texas after his wife has an affair and asks him for a divorce. When he temporarily goes to work for an ex-fraternity brother, he’s assigned to share an office with Aurora Prentiss. There’s only one problem: Rory and Caleb were high school sweethearts, but to please her father, Rory ended her relationship with Caleb soon after graduation.

Aurora Prentiss never stopped loving Caleb, but has always felt a filial respect to her father that makes her bend to his will. When Caleb returns, Rory thinks this may be her chance to make things right with him. The only problem? She's engaged to a man chosen by her father.

Will Caleb be able to forgive the woman who broke his heart years ago? And if he does, will Rory be willing to risk her relationship with her father, cancel the wedding to the fiancé she doesn't love, and finally make a life with the only man she’s always loved?

🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟 🌟

 

EXCERPT: 

Aurora Prentiss stared at the image on her laptop’s screen. Only one word came to mind. Ugly. No…two words. Unbelievably ugly. Her stomach churned. Never in a million years would she have chosen this design. The gold, silver, and pearl embossed lilies, hearts, and doves made the invitation look like something better suited to a funeral or a Las Vegas wedding rather than one at First Redeemer Presbyterian in Dallas. 

 

She leaned her head in her hands and closed her eyes. Burton was right. Letting his mom choose their wedding invitation was a small concession, if it made her happy. Plus, after the ceremony was over, who would remember a piece of paper they’d received weeks earlier? Aurora could live with this…as long as his parents didn’t frame one and expect she and Burton to hang it in their new house. It was so ugly. 

 

The alarm on her phone sounded. Time to gather her stuff and head to work.

***

Caleb Daniels didn’t even open the menu. He hadn’t had Tex-Mex in over a year, and he knew exactly what he wanted. Cheese and onion enchiladas…topped with tons of chili. None of that red sauce stuff.

 

He turned as the bell above the restaurant door sounded. Jason waved. When he reached the table, Caleb stood and pulled his friend into a hug.

 

Jason grinned. “Great to see you, man. Almost didn’t recognize you with the beard. Plus you’re skinny. Been on a diet?”

 

“Yeah. The missionary diet.” They slid into the booth. “But I’m getting ready to change that.” He raised his hand and motioned to the server.

 

They ordered, and then Jason leaned back in his chair. “Glad you called me. I can always find room for a fraternity brother. Especially one who’s a hard worker, and who just happens to have an MBA. We’ll take you on as contract labor until you figure out if this is going to be a good fit. I’d love for it to be permanent, though, to have you hop on the bus.”

 

“Thanks. I owe you one.” Caleb dunked a tortilla chip into the salsa and shoved it in his mouth. He’d missed this.

 

“Nobody’s keeping score. Besides…you’re the only reason I passed that final in Econ. Staying up all night helping me cram.”

 

            ***

Stuffed with enchiladas, Caleb’s stomach approached the bursting stage. But the Tex-Mex was worth the pain. He followed Jason down the hall toward the last office on the right. 

            

Jason stopped and leaned toward him. “So…you’ll be sharing an office with Rory. Her strength lies in carrying out—meticulously, I might add—any ideas given to her. If you provide her with the germ of a thought, she’ll race ahead and take the gold.”

            

The two stepped through the door. A huge flower arrangement provided the backdrop as a beautiful brunette stood and smiled. 

            

“Cale, this is Rory Prentiss. And Rory this is—”

            

Caleb’s gaze locked onto the chocolate eyes of his office mate. His heart plummeted. “Been a long time, Aurora.”

 

 

Purchase Links:

 

Amazon: Always&Only

 

Google Books: Always&OnlyGoogle

 

Barnes & Noble: Always&Only   

 

Pelican Book Group

 

Website: https://www.carol-james.com

 

Book Video on Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ofo79e9Vcs

 

💗 💗 💗 💗 💗

My Review of ALWAYS AND ONLY:

Aurora Prentiss is having pre-wedding jitters. She will soon be married to Burton, a man her father hand-picked for her. However, her future mother-in-law is choosing the wedding invitations, the flowers, and even the furnishing for her house. Burton is a wealthy businessman and Aurora loves him but when her former high school sweetheart turns up working at her office, newly divorced, Aurora begins to seriously question everyone else’s plans for her life. She knows that once she’s married, her father will be happy and her fiancé and his family will be happy. But what about her?

Her long ago love, Caleb, is a perfect gentleman even when they must travel out of town together to a sales conference. Aurora broke his heart in high school, and now his wife has betrayed him, though he admits some of the problems with his wife were his fault. Then Aurora’s father offers him a job, which involves going to another country.

There’s so much going on in this story! I couldn’t stop turning the pages to see what would happen next. Faith and trust in God are woven in gently as Aurora and Caleb question God’s will. I loved this story.

🎵 🎶 🎵 🎶 🎵

 

 

An Excerpt from LOVE'S GIFT

 Love's Gift is now available with Kindle Unlimited! Go to Amazon and read the reviews. Then enjoy this excerpt. 

    

    As they wandered along the path through the garden, they came upon a bench beneath an arbor.
Pink roses climbed up the wooden framework, forming a shady haven from the hot sun overhead.
    "If you don’t mind, I would like to sit for a while," William said.

    "The sun is quite intense today.‛ Amaranth sat on the opposite site of the bench.
    "Why didn’t you like the escargot at lunch?" William asked. "It is a delicacy and quite delicious."
    "It was like eating rubber." Amaranth admitted. "The garlic butter sauce was very tasty, but it would be
nicer served on noodles."
    "Noodles are ordinary."
    Amaranth thought she heard a touch of arrogance in his tone. "I like them very much."
    You seemed to like the pudding more than anything." William noted.

    "I adore pudding." Amaranth clasped her hands together and drew in a great breath. "I helped Mrs.

Devine make pudding many times, and I never let the pudding burn on the bottom of the pot."
    "A very specific talent, I’m sure."
    Amaranth frowned. Was he being sarcastic? But due to the tilt of his chin and his exasperated sigh, he
was undoubtedly bored. "Have you ever cooked anything?"
    He turned his head and frowned at her. "My grandfather and I pan fried the fish we caught."
    She nodded. "I am glad to know you haven’t always been waited on."
    He gave her a fierce glare.
    "Frying fish is different from making pudding." She explained. "It takes a great deal of care to be sure
the pudding doesn’t burn on the bottom of the pot. Patience is needed for you must stir the pudding as it
thickens."
    "And you have that kind of patience." He lifted one eyebrow in speculation.
    "For pudding, yes." Amaranth’s stomach remained quite full after that meal. Perhaps she overindulged. She put a hand on her stomach. Maybe she would not need to eat for several days.
     "You do seem to possess in infinite amount of persistence in typing my mother’s endless letters." He
crossed his arms and leaned back as a cooling breeze rustled the leaves surrounding them in the arbor.
    "Typing is not difficult for me." She remained proficient in avoiding errors, an important distinction
when it came to skill. However, in life, when she let her emotions and dreams get in the way, she made
mistakes. Like picking the hydrangea and longing to put her feet into the ocean. Regrets assailed her. She
hated making mistakes.
    "Is there anything you find challenging?" he asked.
    Amaranth’s pulse sped up. Had he read her mind? She couldn’t tell him about her emotions and foolish
ideas. She swallowed hard. 

    "I am tempted to eat all of Mrs. Herpin’s cookies." That was true enough.
    William let out a hearty laugh. "What? And not slip a few to Tulip?"
    Amaranth’s heart lifted hearing the joy in his voice. "I most certainly would share some with Tulip.
After all, our friendship is based on Mrs. Herpin’s cookies."
    "What is our friendship based on?" he asked.
    Amaranth froze for several seconds before she stuttered. "Y-You’re the son of my employer."
    "That sounds rather dull." He twisted up one side of his mouth.
    "It…it is true though." Momentary panic washed through her, and she twisted her hands. All the sweet
residue of pudding in her mouth turned sour. "We can’t be friends after all."
    "Yes, best to keep things cut and dry." He stood. "We should be getting back soon." He went off in
search of his mother.
    Amaranth stayed in the arbor. A cold chill gripped her when William walked away, and it wasn’t due to
the shady interior. She didn’t want to make William mad, but he acted as if he were. She didn’t think he
liked her much at all. Sometimes, he seemed kind and concerned, but often his moods were mercurial. Also, it bothered her that he wouldn’t forgive his father as he should.
    Sister Felicia would have been very upset with his attitude on that score.

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Guest Post: CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MOONLIT NIGHTS by Carol James

     My guest today is Carol James, an author of inspirational fiction. She loves creating Redemptive Romance. She lives in a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.
     Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. She’s a Frappuccino and soccer aficionado.
     Her father was a career Air Force officer, and she grew up sitting on the arm of his recliner, watching old military and war movies, reading military fiction. So there’s a special place in her heart for “guy stories.”
     And from those moments, Christmas Lights and Moonlit Nights was born. It’s a second-chance story about two people who met as teenagers, but meet again years later when she’s a successful business woman, and he’s a handsome Navy SEAL. Who wouldn’t like that?

What's it about?

     All Leah Davidson wants is to spend a quiet Christmas with her parents on Palm Island. Her father’s recovering from surgery, so she’s volunteered to take over his decorating responsibilities. Plus, it’s a good excuse to get away from her ex-boyfriend. But then she discovers her neighbors have a Christmas visitor, too. One she has a history with.

     Navy SEAL Jed  Price is spending Christmas with his aunt and uncle on Palm Island. He wants a relaxing time away from the pressures of his work, and the secluded island seems like the perfect escape. Until he sees his aunt and uncle’s neighbor.

     Jed remembers Leah as the snobby girl next door. And Leah remembers Jed as the immature boy who was afraid of the water. But they’ve both changed.

     Can Leah and Jed move past their earlier issues and work together to make Christmas a joyous time of love and forgiveness?

Read the excerpt!
(Leah is returning home to spend a quiet Christmas with her parents. Their neighbors have come for dinner, and they’re bringing their nephew, Jed, whom Leah hasn’t seen since they were kids.)
 
            When the bell rang right at six, Leah opened the front door. The Cobbs stood there smiling. Leah peeked around the doorjamb. No Jed. Mrs. Cobb clasped Leah’s hand and winked. “Jed’ll be along in a minute. His flight got in late, and he’s just about finished cleaning up.”
            As the Cobbs made their way inside, Leah was left to be the welcoming committee of one. She dropped into one of the wicker chairs on the porch and waited. Eventually, footsteps crunched against the gravel roadway, and then she saw him. Her breath caught. He looked nothing like he had fifteen years ago. Certainly, taller than she was. His orange hair had morphed into a rich auburn color, and he sported a scruffy beard. Normally, she wasn’t a beard-girl, but something about his attracted her. It enhanced his jawline and gave his boyish face an air of maturity and mystery. He might have been forty. He might have been eighteen. He would have made a good spy.
            She stood and offered her hand. “You must be Jed. I’m Leah Davidson. Welcome.”
            “Jed Price.” He shook her hand. “I think we’ve met before…maybe in an earlier life?” He grinned.
            “If you consider childhood an earlier life, then, yes.” 
            Jed nodded. “Well, it sure feels like a different life. A lot can change after those years.”
            That was true, especially in his case. “Well, it’s good to see you again.”
            “Good to see you, too.”
            She doubted he truly meant that…unless he’d forgotten how nasty she and her girlfriends had been to him that summer. How they’d teased him about not being able to swim or even enjoy wading out into the water. Kids could be so cruel. An apology loomed in their near future. But now wasn’t the time.
            She sat, and he followed suit. She watched him out of the corners of her eyes.
            He placed his hands behind his head and, leaning back in the rocker, eased backward and forward.  “Nice evening. Hard to believe it’s December.”
            “I know. It feels more like spring.”
            He nodded. “One thing I love about this part of Texas.”
            “Me, too.” She turned to face him. “So where do you live now?”
            “Virginia.”
            “Does it get cold up there? Get any snow in the winter?”
            “Pretty moderate where I am. We might get a dusting of snow in January or February, but it doesn’t usually last. Melts, and then it’s warm again.”
            “And what is it you do in Virginia?”
            Avoiding her eyes, he stared over her shoulder. “I’m in the Navy.”
            “On a ship?”
            He shrugged. “Sometimes.”
            She nodded. “Sounds interesting. Travel much?”
            “All the time.” He jumped up and held out a hand. “Hey, I’ll bet the others are wondering where we are. Better not hold up dinner any longer.”
            As she grasped his hand and stood, she studied his face. Definitely boy-down-the-block cute, but his broad shoulders and muscled arms confirmed he was no longer a boy. His eyes were the rich, golden brown of maple syrup, but instead of being warm and enticing, they were walled off. Distant. Despite his relaxed manner and easy conversation, his words seemed to be carefully chosen. Rehearsed. Almost as if he’d practiced what to say. And his face was unreadable. If he didn’t want to be a spy, he’d make a great actor.

🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄 🎄

Purchase Links:
Amazon:  https://amzn.to/3BKHaIB

Pelican Book Group:  https://bit.ly/3NxBqEL

Barnes and Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-lights-and-moonlit-nights-carol-james/1146222910?ean=9781522304883

Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/christmas-lights-and-moonlit-nights

 

Reviews for Christmas Holiday Extravaganza Books

Pelican Book Group offers new Christmas novellas every year. They call it their Christmas Holiday Extravaganza.  I wrote one this year, Making Christmas Again, but I also read many of the ARCs of other Pelican Book Group's authors. I haven't finished reading all the ARCs, but here are a few. I loved them all. 💗

JUST ANOTHER WINTER'S TALE by Clare Revell

I find it fun to read a book by an English author. The differences in American English and British English are interesting. For instance, a jumper in England is a sweater in America. What the British refer to as a biscuit is actually a cookie in America. It almost gives me the sense I have traveled far across the sea while reading.

     In Just Another Winter’s Tale, Vere Idowu is still mourning the loss of his sister who died in an accident in London. Vere took over his father’s greengrocer business in the small town of Wychwood Cross. It has always been his family’s tradition to give newcomers to the town a basket of produce from his shop. So, Robyn Yardley, an author, finds a basket on her doorstep from Vere. When he learns her oven isn’t working, he offers to fix it for her. He invites her to join the choral society and soon a tender romance grows between them. Robyn’s dog likes him, too. With Robyn suffering from a long bout of writer’s block, Vere even gives her some great ideas to help her with the development of her heroine. Everything looks hopeful until Robyn reveals a story from her past. It is at that point Ms. Revell’s talent for Christian storytelling grabbed me and made this tale a Christmas treasure. 

     I received this book as an advanced reading copy from the author though my opinion is my own. 

     Find it at Amazon.

A KRINGLE FAMILY CHRISTMAS by Miriam Thor

 Bethany Kringle has not celebrated Christmas since her mother died. Then her brother, who is in the Navy, comes home for the holiday with his friend Jay. Her brother expects the full Kringle Christmas experience for his friend. 

     Bethany’s mom made everything from scratch and Bethany struggles to do it all alone. Serving bottled dressing at dinner makes her feel inadequate. But she believes she is easing her brother and father’s grief by doing everything as her mother used to do. 

     Jay grew up a foster child. The Navy is the first place where he felt he belonged, but he isn’t sure about enlisting again. Bethany’s brother is the one who brought him to Jesus and now Jay is quite sure Jesus is leading him to leave the Navy. As a cook in the Navy, he sees the strain all the cooking is taking on Bethany, something her brother doesn’t understand. Jay volunteers to help in the kitchen. Then one day he takes her ice skating. 

Bethany appreciates Jay’s help and the two begin to enjoy each other’s company. Jay understands Bethany is still suffering from  her mother’s death. For himself, Jay fears leaving the Navy. To him it’s like jumping off a cliff.

Filled with conflicting emotions, this is a gentle, but sweet drama showing how a family can grow beyond a loss with the help of faith.

                                                   Find it at Amazon.

CHRISTMAS LIGHTS & MOONLIT NIGHTS by Carol James

   The last time Leah saw Jed, he was a pudgy, pale boy. She and her friends teased him mercilessly. But when she goes home for Christmas to put up her father’s lavish Christmas light display, she finds Jed is now a very handsome Navy SEAL whose job takes precedence over everything else. 

     Jed promised to make shelves for his uncle. So, he comes and goes depending upon when he is needed at work. Still, he helps Leah hang the Christmas lights. Leah enjoys his company but he can never tell her where he’s been and it unnerves her to know he carries a gun all the time. When he gives a talk to a classroom of students, Leah realizes how enthusiastic he is about the work he does.

     But as much as Jed enjoys Leah’s company, he plans never to marry because he has seen what happens when other SEALS die and the pain they leave behind for their families. 

Carol James has penned a tender tale about true courage bolstered by faith, a perfect Christmas story.

Find it at Amazon.

THE LADY WITH THE ALLIGATOR CASE by Anita Klumpers

     Anita Klumpers has a knack for drawing a reader into her story. So when Jemma wakes up in a hospital bed, handcuffed to the bedrail, I could not stop reading. Jemma’s car went into a ditch during a snowstorm, but in her car was a suitcase covered with alligator skin in which there were rare illegal orchids. Her grandmother asked her to drop them off to a buyer in northern Wisconsin since Jemma was on her way to reconcile with her former boyfriend in that area.

     Instead, Jemma is stuck in Cadwallader with a non-working vehicle,  no money, no ID, not even shoes. However, the police chief of the small town, Elihu, buys her shoes. In fact, Elihu buys a meal for her, too.

     Jemma’s grandmother comes to her aid as well as a family friend who originally had that alligator case in his attic. Someone tries to take the case away from the family friend by force. As the story moves along, it turns out that not everyone is entirely truthful. 

This is an engaging mystery with interesting characters and lots of snow. Well worth reading in my opinion on a snowy day this Christmas. 

Find it at Amazon.

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