Christmas Delights ~ a new Anthology

CHRISTMAS DELIGHTS

Two more delightful books have been released in the Moments series. Previous ones are Divine Moments, Christmas Moments, and Spoken Moments. These are being widely acclaimed as memorable and life-changing. First of the recent is Precious, Precocious Moments. In this book from 45 authors run the gamut of emotions including laughter, love, loss, acceptance, forgiveness, grief, longing, despair, joy, thankfulness, and courage.

Their stories tell of adults teaching children, children teaching adults and, best of all, the awareness that God does indeed know and care, and if we seek him we find him because he is waiting for us with open arms, ready to show us the beauty in life…often, through a child.

Thanks and gratitude to the contributors, who receive no payment, and all royalties go to Samaritan’s Purse, which provides spiritual and physical aid to hurting people around the world.

Contributors are: Carolyn Barnum, Robin Bayne, Shirley G. Brosius, Elsie H. Brunk, Rob Buck, Mirjam Budarz, Joann Claypoole, Autumn Conley, Tracy Crump, Greg Dodd, Susan Dollyhigh, Susan Engebrecht, Sandra Fischer, Virginia Foreman, Connie Gatlin, Janice Green, Lydia Harris, Judith Hensley, Karen Hessen, Julie Hilton, Helen Hoover, Thomas Kienzle, Ann Knowles, Christina Krost, David Lehman, Yvonne Lehman, Veronica Asay, Emily Marett, Diana Matthews, Beverly McKinney, Vicki Moss, Diana Owens, Carole Anne Pearson, Debbie Presnell, Joey Rudder, Jessica Satterfield, Karen Sawyer, Kevin Spencer, Ann Tatlock, Kevin Thompson, Carol Weeks, Cindy Wilson, Steve Wilson, Jean Wilund, and Felicity Younts.

Today I received this comment, “It’s after midnight and I just got my hands on a copy of More Christmas Moments and can’t stop reading it. I love everything about this book from the cover to the content. So special!”

More special are those who contribute just to share their stories, expecting nothing in return. Well… not expecting, but knowing we just can’t give without God blessing us mightily. What a privilege to touch the hearts and lives of others.

1. Little Foxes, Yvonne Lehman, 2. The Christmas Truce, Dan Balow, 3. Trashing the Christ Child, Sandra Discher, 4. Santa and the Meaning of Christmas, Diana Leagh Matthews, 5. A Fresh New Christmas, Elsie H. Brunk, 6. At Birth, Charlotte Adelsperger, 7. Falling in Love, Linda Landreth Phelps (as told to her by Fran Fahn), 8. A Husband’s Devotion, Rebecca Carpenter, 9. I Heard Him on the Roof, Carole A. Bell, 10. Mustard Seeds and Cheap Perfume, Bernadean J. Gates, 11. Christmas Legacy, Debbie Presnell, 12. Unexpected Guests for Christmas, Geneva Cobb Iijima, 13. An M&M Christmas, Theresa Jenner Garrido, 14. The Sparkling Bow of Joy, Janet Perez Eckles, 15. When the Most Wonderful Time of the Year Isn’t, Julie Arduini, 6. The Light, Larry C. Hoover, 17. Picture Perfect Christmas, Barbara Latta, 18. Year-Round Celebration, Nate Stevens, 19. A Flash of Red, Dee Dee Parker, 20. Poor Baby Jesus, Susan Dollyhigh, 21. Christmas Presence, Annmarie B. Tait, 22. Plug-ins, Carlitta Cole-Kelly, 23. The Story, Sondra Kraak, 24. Christmas Potpourri, Joann Claypoole, 25. An Unexpected Christmas Gift, Joyce Heiser, 26. Gwen’s Silent Night, Susan Simpson, 27. The Christmas Tree Brooch, Joni Vance, 28. What a Gift!, Dianna Derringer, 29. Christmas Came, Charlotte Adelsperger, 30. Counting Southern Treasures through the First Noel, Vicki H. Moss,

31. A Pure and Simple King, Ann Tatlock, 32. Plan a Silent Night, Lydia E. Harris, 33. Provision in a Time of Need, Marybeth Mitcham, 34. Sunshine for Christmas, Lisa Braxton, 35. Christmas Caper, Karen R. Hessen, 36. Healing of a Christmas Memory, Cathy Baker, 37. Jesus in a Barn, Kimberly Rae, 38. Favored by his Death, Cindy Sproles, 39. Steeped in Christmas Tradition, Victoria Hicks, 40. Make Peach with the Past, Sheryl M. Baker, 41. My Favorite Gift, Carol Graham, 42. The Warmth of Christmas, Autumn J. Conley, 43. The Last Doll, Dianne Matthews, 44. The Birth that Saves, Emme Gannon, 45. Finding Baby Jesus, Marybeth Mitcham, 46. Are You There, Lord?, Ann Greenleaf Wirtz, 47. Ghost of Christmas Past, Simon Wilson, 48. Seeking Christmas, Edie Melson, 49. Come Dance with Me, Dr. Rhett Wilson, 50. Am I Good Enough?, Andrea Merrell, 51. Suzy Snowflake and the Blue Christmas Turned White, Vicki H. Moss, 52. From My Heart to Theirs, Esther M. Bailey, 53. You Are Christmas, Joann Claypoole,

54. Setting Goals, Yvonne Lehman

THANKS to each of these for GIVING

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Yvonne Lehman is an award-winning, best-selling author of more than 3,000,000 books in print, who founded and directed the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference for 25 years, is now director of the Blue Ridge “Autumn in the Mountains” Novelist Retreat. She mentors for the Christian Writers Guild. She earned a Master’s Degree in English from Western Carolina University and has taught English and Creative Writing on the college level. Her latest releases include eight ebooks for Barbour’s Truly Yours line and a Harlequin/Heartsong series set in Savannah GA: The Caretaker’s Son, Lessons in Love, Seeking Mr. Perfect, (released in March, August, & November 2013). Her 50^th novel is Hearts that Survive – A Novel of the TITANIC

Erynn Mangum's Paige Alder Series ~ Reviewed

Paige Alder Series

Erynn Mangum

• Age Range: 12 and up 
• Series: Paige Alder (Book 1)
• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: TH1NK (May 15, 2013 thru April 2014)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1612912982

From book one: Page Torn

Paige Alder’s life is suddenly busier than she can handle. With no time for laundry and lucky to grab a cheese stick for dinner, it’s all she can do to get a precious few hours’ sleep. But when she meets attractive and thoughtful Tyler, will there be time for love?

Review: 

This trio of ARCS was sent to me a long time ago from the publicist and I've just been able to get to them. Is a late review better than no review? I'm going to just say yes .

Paige is young. 

At my mid-century mark I am more inclined to think like a mother figure than a girlfriend. But, I enjoyed Paige's coming of age story, broken into three novels, very much. 

Author Erynn Mangum writes with wit and paints very sympathetic and endearing characters. My favorite characters are Layla and Tyler. However, I don't know that I would want to be Layla's maid of honor. Just sayin.

Paige's world is in turmoil over a several month period and she has a lot of growing up and maturing that she is forced to do. The sweet relationship she has with her youth pastor friend is a really excellent picture of the mentoring and discipling that happens when the spiritually mature love, accept and help the ones who are quite there yet. 

If you need a chick-lit type series that is more about spiritual growth and less about fashion, here's a great one to start with. This would also be a safe clean read for teen girls who devour books. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer 

Travis Thrasher's Wonder ~ Reviewed

Wonder

By Travis Thrasher

Dec. 2014

TH1NK

978-1612916248

BACK COVER:

As the town of Appleton is rocked by the death of a teenager, the high school year begins under a dark shadow. Brandon continues to pursue Marvel while trying to discover what she believes will happen to her. It’s easy to fall more in love with her. It’s easy to forget she thinks God told her she will have to sacrifice herself to save others. But Brandon can’t forget about the shapeless evil that seems to watch him around corners and seep through the streets of his town. Strange things start to occur to Brandon. He starts looking for clues about the dead student, thinking this might be related to whatever evil Marvel is talking about. He also continues to battle against the guys picking on a nerdy senior named Seth Belcher. Marvel falls in love with Brandon, and he truly accepts her faith even though he doesn’t understand what to make of it. Something is growing in the darkness. Something is coming. Will Brandon be able to stand up against the malice that draws ever closer? Will he be able to save Marvel from the horrors to come?

MY REVIEW:

Do you love cliffhangers? Like dangling off a five mile sheer rock edge by your fingernails? Oh yeah, and there's a gorilla jumping down on your fingertips, just trying to get you to plummet to your death? Yeah. Well, if that gets your heart racing in anticipation, then this is the book for you. Sheesh. I CANNOT WAIT TO GET MY HANDS ON THE NEXT BOOK IN THIS SERIES! YES, I AM SHOUTING.

Okay, now that my adrenaline rush has leaked out all over you, let's talk Wonder. This is the second book in the Marvella series by author Travis Thrasher and whoa, baby. The building action. The tension. The sweet relationship developments. It's got it all and it's even better than the first book, Marvelous.

The story revolves around the hero, Brandon. He’s a senior in high school who’s dealing with a drunk father who beats him. As if that weren’t enough, there are a few unsolved murders in the area, and his best friend ends up missing. See what I mean about conflict and tension?

As always, Thrasher turns some sweet phrases and makes the reader see the mundane in new and fresh ways. Yes, it's creepy in parts and you won't want to read it in the dark on Halloween, but that's the allure of Wonder. Do it. Buy it. Read it. You know you want to.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Ace Collins's The Fruitcake Murders ~ Reviewed

The Fruitcake Murders by Ace Collins
Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Abingdon Press (October 6, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1426771894

Description:

As Christmas 1946 draws near, thirty-something marine officer-turned-homicide detective Lane Walker has his hands full. Three men with seemingly no relationship to each other have been murdered, including the powerful District Attorney. The only connection between the crimes? The weapons: twenty-year-old unopened fruitcake tins manufactured by a company that is no longer in business.

While some foods may be to die for, fruitcake isn't one of them! This heaping helping of murder will be no easy task for Walker, and he certainly doesn't need the determined and feisty Tiffany Clayton, the political reporter for The Chicago Star, getting in the way.


Employing witty dialogue and historical accuracy, The Fruitcake Murders offers equal parts murder, mystery, and mayhem in a perplexing whodunit set in the days just after World War II.

Review: 

If you like your festive baked goods with a little spice you can cozy up with the Fruitcake Murders for your Christmas holiday read. Told in alternating points of view the story contains hardboiled and crime drama feel blended with classic movie flair. 

A tough femme fatale journalist and haunted detective work together to find the killer who leaves an ancient fruitcake behind at each scene. The unfolding story is tragic and compelling. Definitely a different twist for fruitcakes but an engaging one.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer 

Cynthia Ruchti's An Endless Christmas ~ Reviewed

An Endless Christmas: A Novella

Cynthia Ruchti
Hardcover: 240 pages
Publisher: Worthy Inspired (October 13, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1617955876



Description: 

On the way to Christmas with his family, Micah asks Katie to marry him. She says no, but there is no getting out of Christmas now. The Binder family celebrates every Christmas as if it were their last. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it's Christmas.


Review:


Sometimes Christmas cheese oozes into Christmas movies and books. I mean I get it, the whole point is to give folks that warm rush of feelings that make for peace on earth and glad tidings.

However, Cynthia Ruchti has avoided this common problem. Her novella is full of rich and real characters and warmth and joy that comes from the real heart of the holiday. The basic plot line is a nice little twist of boy meets girl, falls in love, screws up and heads right to happily ever after. We enter into the story as Micah asks Katie to marry him in front of his whole family and Katie's reaction isn't princess perfect. The rest of the holiday goes further south as Katie's fears and insecurities wrestle her into certain future unhappiness.  I think fans of Ruchti, love, and Christmas will delight in Katie's surprise and and joy at discovering that real can be messy but kind, scary but safe and loud but loving.

This novel was provided to me for review purposes. I am in no way obligated to give it a stellar review. I happened to like it quite a bit.

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Eva Marie Everson's Five Brides ~ Reviewed

Five Brides

Eva Marie Everson

Paperback, 453 pages

Tyndale Fiction

May, 2015

ISBN: 978-1414397443

Description:

One dress, five women, a lifetime of memories.

Five single, fiercely independent women live together in a Chicago apartment in the early 1950s but rarely see one another. One Saturday afternoon, as they are serendipitously together downtown, they spy a wedding dress in a storefront window at the famous Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. After trying it on―much to the dismay of the salesclerk and without a single boyfriend or date between the five of them―they decide to pool their money to purchase it. Can one dress forever connect five women who live together only a short time before taking their own journeys to love and whatever comes happily ever after?

Review:

This novel captivated me and created a deep sense of nostalgia—for a time period I’ve never lived in.  I’ve always enjoyed stories that capture a sense of relational connectedness and community, and to me, that’s what made this novel so heart-warming. It takes a gifted writer to craft a novel with five key and distinct characters. Ms. Everson drew me deeply to each character and the time period in which they lived. 

The story begins in a hotel room in London, England in 2015, with a bride waiting for a special wedding dress—a wedding dress with a rather enchanting history. In the following chapter, the story behind this dress begins to unfold. But the greatest stories are not about the dress but instead, the women who purchased it, the growth they experienced, the challenges they overcame, and the bond they shared. 

The novel quickly time-shifts to 1951, Chicago. In this historically rich city, five women roommates, living at a time when women were still fighting for the right to work and receive equal pay, pushed against societal expectations to find independence. I loved experiencing old Chicago, and the author did a great job of fully immersing me in setting. 

As I said previously, all the characters captured my heart, and I’ve been trying to determine which female I enjoyed most. Though they were all memorable, I greatly admired Betty and feel she was the unifying thread of these special female relationships. A strong and confident socialite raised in luxury, she valued her independence so much, she was willing to lose everything in order to be true to herself. She became the voice of reason to the other women in the story and continually, but gently, pointed them toward strength, self-respect, and self-discovery. 

The other women had similar stories of finding themselves, and, of course, true love. Some had to learn the hard way, and it was painful watching them travel down a road of self-destruction. But in the end, their relationship to one another, symbolized by a beautiful and shared wedding gown, remained intact and carried them through, ultimately bringing out the best in each of them. 

I really loved this story, much more than this review indicates because I find myself struggling to explain just what it was that captivated me so.  But I think it was the special bond these women shared. In our fast-paced, technologically driven culture, relationships can be so fleeting and surface level. It was refreshing and endearing to read about relationships that withstood the test of time and distance. And perhaps that’s why this story created such a sense of nostalgia, carrying with it the reminder that relationships matter. 

I’d definitely recommend this book to anyone who loves women’s fiction, historical fiction, and romance.    

Reviewed by: Jennifer Slattery

Dan Walsh's Keeping Christmas ~ Reviewed

Keeping Christmas
Dan Walsh
Hardcover: 224 pages
Publisher: Revell (September 1, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0800721195
Description:

For the first time since their children were born, empty nesters Judith and Stan Winters spent Thanksgiving without the kids, and it's looking like Christmas will be the same. Judith can't bring herself to even start decorating for the holiday; her kids always hung the first ornaments on the tree, ornaments they had made each year since they were toddlers. Sure they were strange-looking--some could be called downright ugly--but they were tradition. A tradition she's heartbroken to miss this year.

With Judith refusing to decorate the bare spruce tree in their living room, Stan knows something must be done. And his only hope for saving the holiday is found in a box of handmade ornaments. 

Fan-favorite Dan Walsh invites readers to enjoy this nostalgic Christmas story that celebrates all of our most cherished seasonal traditions, especially the importance of family. Readers will join in remembering the things that make their own Christmas season so special.

Review: 

Dan Walsh is back doing what he does best, writing sweetly inspirational fiction that touches home with so many folks. 

In Keeping Christmas we go along for the bumpy ride of what to do when what you knew changes drastically.  Judith and Stan have faced their first Thanksgiving alone since becoming a family. All three of their grown children have moved away and, as many families face, the budgets are too tight to head home for the holiday. As Stan enjoys the minimal fuss and bustle, Judith slowly sinks into a depression. 

When they find out none of the kids can afford the trip back for Christmas it's all Stan can do to attempt to pull his wife out of her funk. Fortunately, a few good friends help and slowly Judith begins to feel a small stirring of hope again. 

This is one of those books that will appeal to those who snap up Walsh's books. Those seeking a warm, fuzzy, feel good read will likely adore the story as well. It's short and sweet enough for a cozy weekend read. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Sydney Tooman Betts's A River Too Deep ~ Reviewed

A RIVER TOO DEEP

By Sydney Tooman Betts

October 2013

Stonebridge Publications

0989690466

BACK COVER:

In the spring of 1817, Alcy Callen and her father visit a step-uncle they have long presumed dead; but instead of enjoying a loving reunion, they are plunged into treachery and deceit. Nothing is as they expected and little is what it seems. Even the man who helps her escape is not the reliable suitor he appears. Alcy is caught between gratitude and fear, unable to avoid her rescuer's attentions or understand the responses they stir. Neither can she tell what sort of man he is or what he intends to do with her in the strange place they are going. Will he keep her for himself or will he sell her to the highest bidder? Of one person only is she certain, but will he come for her before it is too late?

MY REVIEW:

This is one sweet read, good enough to keep on my shelf and actually re-read again in a few years, plus I'll look for more from this author. What made it so great?

The relationship between the hero and the heroine. 

Preying Eagle is seriously da man. This is one hero who will set your heart aflutter and not just because of six-pack abs. He's noble, a trait that's not usually seen in today's men.

The story doesn't shy away from tough topics or real issues. 

Murder. Violence. Abuse. These things happen in real life and they happen in the story, but they're all dealt with tastefully if not gut-wrenchingly by the author.

Lots of action.

From an abduction to poisoning, this story really keeps the reader guessing. No cookie cutter romance or adventure here, which makes this a fantastic page turner.

Now then, I should mention, that there were several errors throughout, not enough to bother most people I assume, but enough for me to notice. There were also a few situations that were hard to believe. Don't worry, I won't give any spoilers, but let's just say the heroine's grief disappeared in record time for someone she loved deeply.

But even with those bugaboos, this really is a great read and I give it a thumbs up. So far, it's on my top 5 list for the year.

Reviewed by: Michelle Griep

Carrie Stuart Parks's The Bones Will Speak ~ Reviewed

The Bones Will Speak by Carrie Stuart Parks
Series: A Gwen Marcey Novel (Book 2)
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (August 11, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401690459



Description:

A killer with a penchant for torture has taken notice of forensic expert Gwen Marcey . . . and her daughter.

When Gwen Marcey’s dog comes home with a human skull and then leads her to a cabin in the woods near her Montana home, she realizes there’s a serial killer in her community. And when she finds a tortured young girl clinging to life on the cabin floor, she knows this killer is a lunatic.

Yet what unsettles Gwen most is that the victim looks uncannily like her daughter.

The search for the torturer leads back in time to a neo-Nazi bombing in Washington state—a bombing with only one connection to Montana: Gwen. The group has a race-not-grace model of salvation . . . and they’ve marked Gwen as a race traitor.

When it becomes clear that the killer has a score to settle, Gwen finds herself in a battle against time. She will have to use all of her forensic skills to find the killer before he can carry out his threat to destroy her—and the only family she has left.

Review:

Gwen, a forensic artist, is nearly recovered from a recent health crisis. One day while working in her yard her dog proudly trots over to her with a portion of a human skull. 

One grisly discovery soon leads to more until its certain that there is a serial killer on the loose. And once that chilling truth unfolds there is a similarity to his victims that makes Gwen's blood grow cold. 

Now fully aware that he is hunting her family, Gwen must act to save her life and her daughter from this monster. 

This is a gripping novel that was hard to put down. Not for the faint of heart or feathered friends because there are some seriously intense scenes in this book. I didn't read book one so it took me a few pages to get a feel for Gwen and the authors voice. After that it became a page turner. I do love a good procedural novel so the forensic details were an added bonus. If you love great suspense give this one a shot. 

This book was provided to me in exchange for an honest review. 

Reviewed by: Kelly Klepfer

Kristy Cambron's A Sparrow in Terezin ~ Reviewed

A Sparrow in Terezin 
by Kristy Cambron
Series: A Hidden Masterpiece Novel (Book 2)
Paperback: 368 pages
Publisher: Thomas Nelson (April 7, 2015)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1401690610

Description: 

Bound together across time, two women will discover a powerful connection through one survivor’s story of hope in the darkest days of a war-torn world.

Present Day—With the grand opening of her new art gallery and a fairy–tale wedding just around the corner, Sera James feels like she’s stumbled into a charmed life—until a brutal legal battle against fiancé William Hanover threatens to destroy their future before it even begins.

Now, after an eleventh-hour wedding ceremony and a callous arrest, William faces a decade in prison for a crime he never committed, and Sera must battle the scathing accusations that threaten her family and any hope for a future with the man she loves.

1942—Kája Makovsky narrowly escaped Nazi-occupied Prague in 1939 and was forced to leave behind her half-Jewish family. Now a reporter for The Daily Telegraph in England, Kája discovers the terror has followed her across the Channel in the shadowy form of the London Blitz. When she learns Jews are being exterminated by the thousands on the continent, she has no choice but to return to her mother city, risking her life to smuggle her family to freedom and peace.

Connecting across a century through one little girl, a Holocaust survivor with a foot in each world, these two women will discover a kinship that springs even in the darkest of times. In this tale of hope and survival, Sera and Kája must cling to the faith that sustains them and fight to protect all they hold dear–even if it means placing their own futures on the line.

Review: 

A Sparrow In Terezin weaves together the story of two different women. In the present day, we have Sera James. She is getting ready to open her new art gallery and marry the man of her dreams, William Hanover. However, just as they finish saying their vows on their wedding day, William is arrested due to some legal issues concerning the family estate. Sera now has to fight for their marriage and pray she can trust that her husband has been truthful with her. The second story is about Kaja Makovsky, and takes place in 1942, beginning in Nazi-occupied Prague. Her parents make sure her and her sister get out of the city before anything happens, as Kaja is half Jewish. She begins working in a newspaper office in London. Shortly after beginning her job, she finds out the horrible things that are happening to Jewish people and is determined to go home to rescue her parents.

This story was really well written. It didn't get confusing as it went back and forth between stories. I believe there was a prequel book written, which I would like to read to get some of the backstory of Sera, but overall, I really enjoyed it. The storyline kept building, especially for Kaja, and I had a hard time putting the book down as I wanted to see what happened!

Reviewed by: Sarah Meyers