#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes Kathleen Neely @NeelyKneely3628

Good Morning!

I pray your Christmas weekend was blessed. We're rushing headlong into the new year but before we get there, please welcome Kathleen Neely back to our blog with some very interesting and sweet information about tea. Take it away Kathy...

A Cup of New Year’s Tea

There are very few things as delightful as a tea party. Porcelain cups on delicate saucers. A decanter of loose-leaf Darjeeling. Sugar cubes and demitasse spoons. Lemon scones and clotted cream. 

When I retired a few years ago, I had a tea party for my staff. We talked about many tea words (…ty) that would serve them well in the face of change. Today, as we usher the old year out and transition to a new calendar year, many of those same words are applicable to writers. 

Eternity – Psalm 90 says to establish the work of our hands. Whether you write fiction or non-fiction, all words that Christian writer’s pen should be God honoring. 

Authority – As I worked through edits for my upcoming novel, a friend asked me how it makes me feel to have others change my work. I responded by sharing my respect for those with more experience and my willingness to glean from their knowledge. Edits aren’t mandates from a power-wielding authority, but are suggestions from someone who has a high level of mastery over the craft. I appreciate them. 

Unity – I’m currently mentoring a high school student as she pursues writing. I’ve discovered the helpful, sharing, and supportive nature of writers. It’s easy to make connections and industry friends. I have a dear colleague and prayer friend whom I’ve never met in person. We’re determined to span the geographic difference and someday meet for tea. 

 Tenacity – The world of publishing can be difficult. Most authors experience a plethora of rejections before meeting success. If that’s where you are right now, remember that doesn’t mean your manuscript isn’t good enough. It just hasn’t found the right publishing house. Don’t give up. 

Humility – When you do find that publishing house that loves your work, step into success with a humble and grateful heart. John 15 says that apart from God, we can do nothing. 

I hope you have enjoyed this tea party. The word list is not exhaustive. Pour yourself one more cup of tea and share another …ty word with us. 

Kathleen Neely is the author of The Street Singer, Beauty for Ashes, The Least of These, In Search of True North, and Arms of Freedom. She was awarded first place in the 2015 Fresh Voices contest through Almost an Author. She has numerous devotions published through ChristianDevotions.com. Kathleen is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the local chapter, ACFW Upstate SC.  

Kathleen is a retired teacher and elementary principal. She continues to speak to students about writing. 

Website – www.KathleenNeely.com 

Facebook – www.facebook.com/kathy.neely.98

Twitter - https://twitter.com/NeelyKneely3628

Instagram – www.Instagram.com/KathleenNeelyAuthor 

Goodreads - https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/14602744.Kathleen_Neely 

BookBub -- https://www.bookbub.com/profile/kathleen-neely

Her latest release, Arms of Freedom can be found at
Amazon and where Christian books are found. Get a sneak peek at Arms of Freedom by visiting Kathleen's Saturday Spotlight post last month and check out her other posts HERE.

Hope you enjoyed Kathy's visit today friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Jesus

 May We ALL remember the real reason for this day and take a moment to wish Jesus a Happy Birthday and thank Him for all He's done for us.

Until next time take care and God Bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes LoRee Peery @LoreePeery

Good Morning!

My heart is so full this morning I might burst. I am so happy and grateful for my life and excited about the year to come. I know I'm getting ahead of myself because 2022 is a week away, but I can't help it. God is SO GOOD! He constantly amazes me. No, I can't recount a "big" miracle that happened this week or since I last shared with you here or in my newsletter. What I can say is this....

Because my Redeemer lives, I can face tomorrow.

The miracle is simply the joy of His Presence in my life - heart, mind, soul, quickening my mortal body. The miracle of every breath I take. The miracle of sunshine to warm my soul and rain to moisten the parched areas of my life. The miracle of family and friends (like YOU) and loved ones.

God is SO Good and as we celebrate His birth this weekend, let us vow to remember and celebrate Him every day, every moment of our lives.

Today's guest is not new but it has been a long while since she visited so please welcome my friend and fellow Pelican Book Group author, LoRee Peery back to our blog...Take it away LoRee!

Words Matter

Readers and writers live in a world of words. Words matter. The most important words are in the Bible, from God’s heart to our hearts and minds. Words can build up and words can tear down. Words help overcome fear by their truth. Encouraging words are precious.

Multiple words came to me from July 2020 through September 2021. I wrote just under 900 modern-day psalms. Most often, it seemed those words didn’t penetrate my brain, they just poured from pen onto paper. Since then, I have cherished and soaked them in.

Words make me think about my brain, which God made fearfully and wonderfully along with my body. Does our Creator see words written through brain matter? Such imagination is beyond me. As a child I learned about the telegraph and that Alexander Graham Bell gained a patent for the telephone in the early 1800s, enabling people to talk to one another from a distance. How can words travel through wire?

I also never “got” the essence of electricity. Words have told me there is electrical-like power in our bodies. On the job, my introduction to computers included Ram and Rom. They were mere words to me. The first computers were the size of a closet. Modern-day computer chips are small enough to wear in a wristwatch and many minuscule devices. Those scientific discoveries are mind-boggling.

Around 1990, again on the job, I was introduced to the word-wide web. Cyberspace is as far as outer, outer space to me when it comes to comprehension. But I love reading info at the click of a mouse. Recently, I could only access my country internet a handful of times in a six-week period. I relied on reading and writing for my word fix. And I admit how frustrating it was. But God worked it out and I’m up to speed now (pun intended).

Also recently, I had reason to be humbled and embarrassed over the misplacement of words. Those modern-day psalms I mentioned? They fill four journals. I decided to give the last one, Worship through Verse, as gifts to those I love. I had them printed and spiral bound. I used one of my nice winter pictures as a cover, and then wrapped up around 20 before I realized the mistakes. Every writer needs a proofreader before words go out in print. I could beat myself up, but why should I? The two typos, one omission, and another correction can be easily explained with a few words. 

Words matter. With words, I express my hope for the Lord to shine upon each and every one of you, and that you glorify Him with the words you read, speak, and write. Pam, thank you for Words with Friends.

Jeremiah 31:3

The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying:

“I have loved you with an everlasting love;

I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.”

Never Ending Story

The story of Jesus

Is a never-ending story

His love surrounds us

As high as highest heaven

As deep as ocean waters

From the east to the west

His story never ends

He came before me

Love that defies comprehension

Is the wonderful truth

The world is in His hands

Yet, He encompasses me

Jesus is never ending

His love is never ending.

Nebraska country girl LoRee Peery writes fiction that hopefully appeals to adult readers who enjoy stories written from a Christian perspective, focusing on the romance. These include novels and novellas for women and men in the Contemporary, Romance, Historical, Time Travel, and Mystery/Suspense categories. She writes of redeeming grace with a sense of place. Her Frivolities Series launched her releases, and the book based on her father’s unsolved homicide, Touches of Time, was a personal relief. She is who she is by the grace of God: Christian, country girl, wife, mother, grandmother and great-, sister, friend, and author. Connect with LoRee: www.loreepeery.com  and/or

https://www.facebook.com/LoReePeery   Find her publications at Pelican http://tinyurl.com/kwz9enk 

And Amazon https://www.amazon.com/LoRee-Peery/e/B004UAGL2W/ref 

LoRee's newest Christmas book is available now as part of PBG's annual Christmas Extravaganza!

Cautious observer Nicasia is at the Wilber Hotel for a wedding. She is careful when it comes to small spaces due to an attack as a teen, but intrigued by the antique phone booth, she steps inside to investigate.  

A just man with a star, Logan grew up at the end of the nineteenth century in a very religious home. But his reverend father led two lives and left Logan believing there was something wrong with him. 

Boom!  

Nicasia is bowled over and knocked to the floor by a force that comes out of nowhere. Where had the man been hiding? 

Logan is drawn to the 21st century maiden, but will he stay in the future?  

Get your copy of Christmas Phone Booth at Amazon, B&N and PBG!

Check out LoRee's previous visits HERE.

Thank you SO much LoRee for sharing your heart and words with us! 

I hope you enjoyed LoRee's post as much as I did, friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight!

Until next time take care, God bless and remember.... A grateful heart is a magnet for miracles

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on The Visionary

Hello There Friends,

My scheduled guest could not be here today and I don't have a substitute author so I'm going to share with you the new cover and blurb for The Visionary.

Let's start with current cover and blurb....

A visionary is someone who sees into the future Taylor Forrestier sees into the past but only as it pertains to her work. Hailed by her peers as “a visionary with an instinct for beauty and an eye for the unique” Taylor is undoubtedly a brilliant architect and gifted designer. But she and twin brother Trevor, share more than a successful business. The two share a childhood wrought with lies and deceit and the kind of abuse that’s disturbingly prevalent in today’s society.  Can the love of God and the awesome healing power of His grace and mercy free the twins from their past and open their hearts to the good plan and the future He has for their lives?  Find out in…The Visionary ~ Where the power of God's love heals the most wounded of souls.

Here's the new....

Will the ugly secret haunting the twins keep them from finding true love?

While most visionaries see into the future, Taylor sees the past. but only as it pertains to her work. Hailed by her peers as “a visionary with an instinct for beauty and an eye for the unique” Taylor is undoubtedly a brilliant architect and gifted designer. But she and twin brother Trevor, share more than a successful business. The two share a childhood wrought with lies and deceit and the kind of abuse that’s disturbingly prevalent in today’s society. 

Can the love of God and the awesome healing power of His grace and mercy free the twins from their past and open their hearts to the good plan and the future He has for their lives?

Don't you just love it?!?

I do too.

Hope to see you again soon for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes Lynn Austin @LynnNAustin

Good Morning!

Please take a moment to join me in prayer for those affected by the tornadoes last week. We know from experience how devastating natural disasters can be but the loss of life due to these is just awful. Thanks Friends.

Last month, Lynn shared with us her Christmas book so today we're getting a look behind the scenes of Lynn's writing of The Wish Book Christmas.

1. What prompted you to write a Christmas novella?

I love Christmas stories and the Christmas movies that our family watches year after year. (My favorite is How the Grinch Stole Christmas.) I have always wanted to write a Christmas-themed book but never had time—until the pandemic struck and all of our travel plans, family get-togethers, church events, and other fun activities were canceled, giving me plenty of extra time. My idea was to write a Christmas novella that was a mini sequel to one of my full-length novels, giving readers an enjoyable update on some of their favorite characters. The Wish Book Christmas brings readers back to the people and setting they first met in my novel If I Were You.

2. In The Wish Book Christmas, what message do you hope to convey about Christmas? 

Christmas is about the greatest gift of all, Jesus Christ, given to us in love by our heavenly Father. He should be the focus of all that we do to celebrate. Christmas shouldn’t be just a spending spree with long lists of all the presents we need to buy and the gifts we hope to receive. Instead, it’s a time to return God’s love by freely giving ourselves, our time, and our talents to others, expecting nothing in return. This is the best way to glorify God and celebrate His Son’s birth at Christmas.

3. Please tell us a bit about the setting of your novella. 

The Wish Book Christmas takes place in a small Connecticut town in December of 1951. Christmas is one month away, World War II is in the rearview mirror, and Americans are enjoying renewed prosperity along with a “baby boom.” The main characters, Eve Dawson and Audrey Barrett, are British war brides who are struggling to raise their fatherless sons in the postwar bungalow they share. Readers first met Eve and Audrey and their five-year-old sons, Harry and Bobby, in my novel If I Were You, but this novella also reads very well as a stand-alone story.

4. Can you provide a brief backstory of your characters? 

Eve Dawson and Audrey Clarkson Barrett were childhood friends in England, where they grew up. Audrey and her wealthy family owned Wellingford Hall, a huge estate where Eve and her mother worked as servants. Their friendship flourishes in spite of their differences, and when World War II begins, the women enlist in the British army together, driving ambulances. They each fall in love with an American soldier and give birth to a son. But Audrey marries her son’s father and Eve does not. Audrey prepares to join her husband in America, but her plans end in tragedy when her husband dies suddenly. She decides to remain in England. Eve, who has no way to support her son and herself, decides to steal Audrey’s identity and move to America in her place. Eve’s deception is uncovered four years later when Audrey and her son arrive in America unannounced. Unscrambling the mess and restoring the friendship provides the plot for If I Were You.

5. Your novella is set in 1951. Why do you feel the themes of this story are so relevant, both then and now? 

I think 1951 and 2021 are both times of great change and also prosperity. In both eras, the values and traditions of the past are being questioned and, in many cases, discarded for something new and modern. This is especially true of biblical values. As suburban life becomes busier and more secular in both time periods, the true meaning of Christmas as Christ’s birth is lost as the holiday becomes commercialized. In both 1951 and 2021, we long to recover the simple beauty and meaning of the holiday.

6. This story is a nostalgic harkening back to the iconic Sears Wish Book catalogue. Was this catalogue part of your childhood Christmases? Please explain. 

Oh yes! The Sears Wish Book was something my two sisters and I looked forward to every season. I remember the three of us poring over it together the way the two boys in my novella do, choosing among page after page of toys and dreaming of finding them all beneath the tree on Christmas morning. Like the mothers in the novella, our mother also made us limit our choices—which was often difficult to do! The catalogue would be limp and dog-eared by the time we gave Santa our final lists.

When I was researching this novella, I was surprised and pleased to find back issues of the original Sears Wish Book online, dating back to the 1940s and ’50s. It was great fun to be reminded of all the toys from my childhood. And although the prices seemed ridiculously cheap by today’s standards, parents probably found them costly at the time.

7. If someone is standing in a bookstore considering your novella, what might you say to them to encourage them to read it? 

We all need a reminder now and then that Christmas isn’t about creating the perfect “Hallmark Christmas” with all the trappings and trimmings—and exhausting ourselves and our credit card limits in the process. The Wish Book Christmas offers inspiration for keeping the true meaning of Christmas at the forefront as we celebrate Christ’s birth. Readers with children and grandchildren will find some ideas for managing their kids’ expectations and teaching them to give.

8. What is your hope for this novella? 

My hope is that The Wish Book Christmas will rekindle the joy of giving and inspire creativity in shaping our Christmas traditions. The beauty of Jesus’ birth can be celebrated in simplicity and should be shared with neighbors who don’t know Him. I think most children are naturally generous, and I hope the story inspires parents to teach their children new ways to give at Christmas.

9. What lessons from this story do you hope will resonate with your readers? 

One of the characters in the novella, Eve Dawson, has a difficult time accepting God’s forgiveness for her past mistakes, feeling that she has to do something to earn it. I hope the message is clear that Jesus is God’s gift of grace to us so that our past can be forgiven. Like Eve, we can have a new life and a new beginning in Christ. 

10. How did writing this story change you and your own perspective of Christmas? 

I love to lavish presents on my children and grandchildren, but writing this story reminded me that it’s more important to teach them, by my example, how to give generously to others. I want to reach out to my neighbors in new ways this Christmas and pare down all the expectations of what makes a “perfect” holiday.

Lynn Austin has sold more than one and a half million copies of her books worldwide. A former teacher who now writes and speaks full-time, she has won eight Christy Awards for her historical fiction and was one of the first inductees into the Christy Award Hall of Fame. One of her novels, Hidden Places, was made into a Hallmark Channel Original Movie. Lynn and her husband have three grown children and make their home in western Michigan. Visit her online at lynnaustin.org or on Facebook, Twitter @LynnNAustin, 

Pinterest and GoodReads.

Check our Lynn's previous visits to our blog HERE.

Thank you, so much, Lynn for sharing the story behind The Wish Book Christmas. Wishing you and yours a Blessed Holiday season!

Well friends, only 4 more posts this year. I hope you'll join me for each of them!

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Katy Eeten @KatyEeten & Wrong Turn Christmas!

Good Morning,

Have you finished your Christmas shopping yet? Only 1 person left to buy for and then I'm done! Still have wrapping and some mailing to do but the biggest part is over. I am NOT a shopper so being this close to being finished is a great thing for me LOL!

Today we have another Christmas book to feature in our spotlight so please welcome Katy Eeten back with her latest Christmas Extravaganza release, Wrong Turn Christmas. Take it away Katy...

April is desperate to eliminate her dad’s cancer bills so her family can enjoy the holidays. But, on her way to get legal assistance, she ends up at the wrong house. There, she finds a warm and caring soul… but a boyfriend won’t solve her family’s financial issues.

Jake is surprised to find a beautiful woman on his doorstep asking for help. It’s a case of mistaken identity, but after spending just a little time with April, he knows they are perfect for each other—even if she does have bad taste in football teams. Except April is facing an uphill battle, and he believes he has nothing of real value to offer. Or does he?

One wrong turn might just end up turning a Christmas crisis into a Christmas miracle.

Excerpt:

Jake glanced at his watch. “Do you want me to text Mel? See how long she’ll be?”

Oops. Had her expression given him the impression she was uncomfortable? Hopefully not. Even though she was out of her comfort zone, Jake was a gracious host. Especially seeing that he hadn’t been expecting any visitors. “Um… if you want to. Or we can just jump right into it if you want. I don’t want to waste your time.”

He waved a dismissive hand in the air as he pulled his phone from his back pocket with his free hand. His thumbs moved on the screen as he spoke. “No worries. I didn’t have any plans tonight anyway. Other than watching Thursday night football, even though our team isn’t playing. Are you a fan?”

She lifted an eyebrow. Fan was an understatement. Though she didn’t root for the home team. She was a Chicago girl at heart. “I love football. But my team’s not playing tonight either.”

He tossed his phone next to the remote on the coffee table and glanced up. “Your team? You mean, you don’t back the green and gold?”

She gave her head a slow shake, trying to suppress the smile pulling at her lips.

He opened his mouth in shock. “Then who?”

She swallowed. “Don’t be mad.”

He tilted his head. “Don’t say it.”

Knowing how Wisconsinites reacted to football rivalries, she pressed her eyes shut and bit her lower lip, anticipating his response. “Chicago.”

“No!!!! I told you not to say it.”

April opened her eyes and shrugged. “But there are no rivalries tonight, so I’ll root for whoever you want between Pittsburgh and Dallas.”

Jake let out a hearty laugh, then grabbed the remote. “Deal.” He unmuted the television and set the remote down on the table. “Let me grab some chips. Want a soda?”

“Sure, whatever you’re having is fine.” When he left, she walked to the entryway to grab her phone from her purse, then sat back on the couch to check for messages. Five minutes wasn’t all that late considering Mel’s normal lack of punctuality, but she’d at least expected a text by now. A few notifications illuminated her screen but nothing from Mel. And her phone battery was about to die. Great. At least Jake had reached out to her as well. Hopefully everything was all right.

She tossed her dying phone on the coffee table and reclined against the couch waiting for Jake to bring the snacks. A smile threatened to surface. What was happening here? She’d come over for legal advice, and now she was watching a football game with a guy she’d just met. Oh Mel, you’re never going to believe this. Where was that woman, anyway?

Katy Eeten lives in southeast Wisconsin with her husband, Jason, and their two sons. She works full-time crunching numbers and analyzing data, but her true passion is writing. She has five contemporary Christian romances, three of which are Christmas novellas. When she's not working or writing, she enjoys taking walks or bike rides, baking goodies, and spending time with her family. Learn more about Katy at her website — https://katyeeten.wordpress.com/

Connect with Katy on the following Social Media Platforms:

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

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KatyEeten 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/KatyEeten/ 

Amazon Author Page: https://www.amazon.com/Katy-Eeten/e/B0796L1CVK

Get your copy of Wrong Turn Christmas at Amazon and check out Katy's previous visits HERE.

Congrats on your new release, Katy! We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it and your other books and a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Thanks for dropping by, friends. See you next week for another edition of Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care, God bless and happy shopping!

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes Diana Rubino @DianaLRubino

Good Morning!

As we get closer and closer to Christmas, it is my pleasure to share holiday stories and inspiration from fellow authors. Today's guest has been here before, so please give Diana a huge W-E-L-C-O-M-E!

Take it away, Diana....

Can an Italian sweatshop worker and an Irish cop fall in love on Manhattan’s Lower East Side in 1894? The answer is a big YES, and once they’re enjoying wedded bliss in their Greenwich Village brownstone, they spend their first Christmas together feasting on her strufoli (Italian for honey balls).

 

In FROM HERE TO FOURTEENTH STREET it's 1894 on New York's Lower East Side. Irish cop Tom McGlory and Italian immigrant Vita Caputo fall in love despite their different upbringings. They know their love can survive poverty, hatred, and corruption. 

getBook.at/NewYorkSagaBookOne

Here’s Vita’s Honey Balls recipe: 

When my grandparents came from Naples and landed at Ellis Island in the early 1900s they brought many recipes with them, but only in their heads. No one brought cookbooks or recipes along with their possessions. A favorite Christmas treat is Struffoli, better known as Honey Balls. One Christmas when I was a kid, I watched my grandmother make them and scribbled down the ingredients as she sifted and mixed and baked and drizzled. Here's an accurate recipe in English!

Ingredients
Dough:
•2 cups flour, plus extra for dusting
•1 large lemon, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
•1/2 large orange, zested (about 2 teaspoons)
•3 tablespoons sugar
•1/2 teaspoon fine sea salt
•1/4 teaspoon baking powder
•1/2 stick (2 ounces) unsalted butter, cut into 1/2-inch pieces, at room temperature
•3 large eggs
•1 tablespoon white wine, such as pinot grigio
•1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
•Canola oil, for frying
•1 cup honey
•1/2 cup sugar
•1 tablespoon lemon juice
•1 1/2 cups hazelnuts, toasted (see Cook's Note)
•Vegetable oil cooking spray
•Sugar sprinkles, for decoration
•Powdered sugar for dusting, optional

Directions

For dough: In the bowl of a food processor, pulse together 2 cups of flour, lemon zest, orange zest, sugar, salt, and baking powder. Add the butter and pulse until the mixture resembles a coarse meal. Add the eggs, wine, and vanilla. Pulse until the mixture forms into a ball. Wrap the dough in plastic wrap and refrigerate for 30 minutes.

Cut the dough into 4 equal pieces. On a lightly floured surface, roll out each piece of dough until 1/4-inch thick. Cut each piece into 1/2-inch wide strips. Cut each strip of pastry into 1/2-inch pieces. Roll each piece of dough into a small ball the size of a hazelnut. Lightly dredge the dough balls in flour, shaking off any excess. In a large heavy-bottomed saucepan, pour enough oil to fill the pan about a third of the way. Heat over medium heat until a deep-frying thermometer inserted in the oil reaches 375 degrees F. (If you don't have a thermometer a cube of bread will brown in about 3 minutes.). In batches, fry the dough until lightly golden, about 2 to 3 minutes. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain. (The rested and quartered dough can also be rolled on a floured work surface into 1/2-inch thick logs and cut into equal-sized 1/2-inch pieces. The dough pieces can then be rolled into small balls and fried as above).

In a large saucepan, combine the honey, sugar, and lemon juice over medium heat. Bring to a boil, stirring occasionally, until the sugar is dissolved, about 3 minutes. Remove the pan from the heat. Add the fried dough and hazelnuts and stir until coated in the honey mixture. Allow the mixture to cool in the pan for 2 minutes.
Spray the outside of a small, straight-sided water glass with vegetable oil cooking spray and place in the center of a round platter. Using a spoon or damp hands, arrange struffoli and hazelnuts around the glass to form a wreath shape. Drizzle remaining honey mixture over the struffoli. Allow to set for 2 hours (can be made 1 day in advance). Decorate with sprinkles and dust with powdered sugar.

Remove the glass from the center of the platter and serve.

Note: To toast the hazelnuts, arrange in a single layer on a baking sheet. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees F oven 8 to 10 minutes. Cool before using.

Total Time: 4 hr 12 min
Prep: 1 hr 30 min
Yield: 8 to 10 servings

Here's a little more about Diana in her own words....

My passion for history and travel has taken me to every locale of my stories, set in Medieval and Renaissance England, Egypt, the Mediterranean, colonial Virginia, New England, and New York. My urban fantasy romance, FAKIN’ IT, won a Top Pick award from Romantic Times. 

I’m a member of Romance Writers of America, the Richard III Society and the Aaron Burr Association. I live on Cape Cod with my husband Chris. In my spare time, I bicycle, golf, play my piano and devour books of any genre.

Connect with me at the following locations... My Website  My Blog  Facebook  Twitter  Goodreads  My Facebook page “Chat and Promote ... Fans of Historical Fiction and Nonfiction”  http://bit.ly/2HrCOEQ

Check out Diana's Previous Visits HERE.

Wow, Diana, those Honey Balls sound delicious! Thanks for sharing,

Hope you enjoyed today's post friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Carol James & Covert Cowboy Christmas!

Good Morning!

We're in the Most Wonderful Time of the Year and we're starting off this Holiday Season by featuring Christmas books! Today's guest has visited many times so please welcome Carol James back with her new release, Covert Cowboy Christmas. Take it away Carol....

A December ice storm destroys Rebekah Kingston’s Christmas plans. With the power out and the West Texas roads closed indefinitely, she’s forced to spend Christmas at her brother Braden’s ranch instead of at home with her parents. 

But Rebekah and Braden are not alone. Also stranded is an annoyingly chatty ranch hand, Dirk Sims. While Rebekah is certain she’s met him before, Dirk insists she’s mistaken.  

However, when Rebekah inadvertently eavesdrops on one of Dirk’s phone conversations, she discovers his lie. Dirk is not who he seems. This Christmas just got interesting.

Excerpt:

Rebekah stepped into her fuzzy slippers and then hung the black-sequined bridesmaid’s gown on a padded hanger. 

Never wear all white or all black to a wedding. 

Granny’s twenty-five-year-old admonition still resounded in her memory. 

In white, you might look like you’re trying to upstage the bride, and in black, people will think you’re mourning her decision. 

"Yeah, well, what if black’s the bride’s choice?” she muttered. “What if she wanted black for her bridesmaids? Solid black.” She grabbed the pink Cinderella’s Formals garment bag and jammed the dress into it. Granny and her generation might have thought red a better choice for a December wedding, but black showed off the red roses in the bridesmaids’ bouquets…exactly as Lizzie had wanted. 

The zipper buzzed, its pitch rising as Rebekah jerked it upward, hiding the evidence. After all, Granny might be looking down and shaking her head. Black, white, red. People didn’t really pay attention to those outdated social conventions nowadays, anyway.

Jackson had sweetly, yet firmly, insisted she spend tonight in his house rather than having to make the long drive home after the wedding. Between Braden and him, he’d always been the more thoughtful brother. But Jen and the kids had certainly sweetened up Braden. 

She stepped into the living room and draped the garment bag over the back of one of the four leather recliners. Stacked boxes of Lizzie’s stuff lined the dining room walls. A smile tugged at Rebekah’s lips. Once the happy couple returned from their honeymoon, Lizzie would spend the first few months of their marriage redecorating this man cave. 

Rebekah walked back to the hall and headed toward the guest room. Marilyn jumped off one of the chairs and padded along behind her. The cream-colored golden retriever whined. Rebekah sat on the guest bed, and the dog jumped up beside her, whined again, and snuggled close. 

“I know.” Rebekah scratched behind the dog’s ears and spoke in the singsong voice she reserved for babies and dogs. “You miss Jackson already. Don’t you, sweet girl?” 

Marilyn placed a paw of confirmation on Rebekah’s thigh. 

“Well, don’t you worry. I’ll take good care of you while your daddy’s on his honeymoon.” 

The Texas December wind howled outside. Rebekah drew back the covers and slipped between the sheets. Marilyn snuggled at her feet. The temperature had already started dropping from the unseasonable warmth they’d been having the last couple of weeks. Maybe having a furry foot-warmer wouldn’t be so bad tonight. 

She rolled over to turn off the lamp on the nightstand, but instead, grabbed her phone. She scrolled through her photos until she found the picture of the six of them standing under the lilac arbor at church camp the summer after their senior year. The memory of the flowers’ smothering, sweet perfume transported her back twenty years, awakening the past within her as if the picture had been taken yesterday. The summer they’d formed the Happily-Never-After Club. 

The six of them had always been known as the brainy girls—the ones who took advanced calculus and had more time for schoolwork and each other than boys. They’d hugged and cried and vowed to the sisterhood that they’d never get married. They had too much to do. Too much to achieve. They’d be best friends for life, traveling the world together seeking fun and adventure. And for about ten years that had been the case. 

But then, time passed and circumstances changed. Special men came into their lives, and one by one, they withdrew their vows to their friends and transferred them to their husbands. Jackson and Lizzie’s wedding tonight left Rebekah alone. The sole surviving member of the sisterhood, the death-knell being sounded by her own brother.

The photo blurred as Rebekah fought unbidden tears. For years, she’d been happy, content. She’d earned every degree, achieved every goal, reached every milestone she’d set out to attain. But those achievements no longer filled the hole in her heart. She wanted something more. Something she never thought she’d want. She placed her phone on the nightstand and turned off the lamp. Snuggling into the pillow, she closed her eyes as the tears escaped. In six months, she would celebrate her thirty-ninth birthday.

As an Air Force brat, the longest Carol James 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 a town outside of Atlanta, GA with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell Terrier, Zoe.

Loving intriguing stories with happy endings, she writes Redemptive Romance. Her debut novel, Rescuing Faith, was a number one Amazon best-seller. Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter and learn about new releases: www.carol-james.com

Recently, Carol allowed Zoe to establish Instagram and Facebook pages with two of her dog friends, Sandy, and Brody. Follow them at 3 Dogs and Their Authors to discover the behind the scenes info about being a writer’s dog. 

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.

Connect with Carol at the following online places...

CarolJamesWebsite  FacebookCarolJame  InstagramCarolJamesAuth TwitterCarolJamesAuth

GoodreadsCarolJames  BookbubCarolJames  AmazonCarolJames

Newsletter Sign-up  Instagram3DogsandtheirAuthors  Facebook3DogsandtheirAuthors

Get your copy of Covert Cowboy Christmas at Pelican: A Covert Cowboy Christmas Pelican  Amazon: A Covert Cowboy Christmas Amazon Barnes & Noble: A Covert Cowboy Christmas B&N  & KOBO: A Covert Cowboy Chcristmas KOBO

Check out Carol's previous visits HERE.

Sounds like another great book, Carol. Wishing you the best of luck and God's blessings with it, and a Blessed & Merry Christmas!

Hope you'll stay tuned all month friends, for more Christmas books and stories on Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends ~ A Royal Mixup

Good Morning Friends,

Well, mix-ups happen all the time and I've got one now. My dear friend, Anne Greene was supposed to be here today and I failed to let her know in time that the info she sent was already featured right here on September 22nd. Therefore, she was unable to get new material to me in time for today's post.

PLEASE check out her September post and her book, Trail of Tears.

As for my news...

I have a new cover and blurb for My Heart Weeps AND Keri's Christmas Wish! Check 'em out....

Controversy and Inconsistencies are thieves of holiday joy for Keri...is there any hope for a happy holiday season?

For as long as she can remember, Keri Jackson has despised the hype and commercialism around Christmas—especially with the controversy over the time of Jesus’s birth. Will she get her wish and be free of the angst to truly enjoy Christmas this year?

Jeremy Hinton thinks Keri is a highly intelligent, deeply emotional, and intensely complex woman and he’s as fascinated by her aversion to Christmas as he is of the woman herself. A devout Christian at heart, he’s studied all of the world’s religions and homeopathic healing modalities. But when a rare bacterial infection threatens her life, will all of his faith and training be for naught?

 Fans of near death experiences will enjoy this woman’s mystical journey into spiritual Truth.

When life takes everything, your world stops. Can a retreat heal the broken lives of two wounded souls? 

Melena Rhyker’s world shattered the day her husband died. Lost without the man of her dreams, she digs deep to find a path out of her sorrow. Discovering an artistic retreat, she vows to find a reason to carry on and focus her life in a new direction. Can she heal her own heart, and find her new beginning?

Garrett Saunders knows pain. He’s spent most of his life hiding from his past. Regrets and lies haunt him, but he longs to leave them behind and embrace his true self. Will Melena’s efforts to rebuild her life in the face of such grief encourage him to exorcise his own demons of guilt and shame?

Will two hurting people find peace, wholeness and perhaps love in the heart of Texas?

Get Pamela Thibodeaux's second chance women’s fiction novel today and see how love and faith conquers all.

Hope you love them as much as I do!

Thanks for dropping by friends and again, PLEASE check out Anne's Sept. post and find out about her book.

Appreciate ya!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Kathleen Neely @NeelyKneely3628 & Arms of Freedom!

Good Morning!

I pray your Thanksgiving was Blessed and you're not too worn out from Black Friday shopping to welcome our spotlight guest. Kathleen Neely has visited before but today she's sharing with us her latest release, Arms of Freedom.

Welcome back Kathleen...

With each page of the age-old journals, Annie discovers all that unites her with a woman who once lived in her farmhouse. One lived with wealth and one with poverty, but both knew captivity. Both longed to be free. 

Miriam yearns to escape her life as a super model. She drops the pseudonym and uses the name she gave up years ago—Annie Gentry. Then she alters her appearance and moves to rural South Carolina to care for her grandmother. Can she live a simple life without recognition? Can she hide a net worth valued in the millions? Love is nowhere in her plans until she meets a man who wants nothing more than Annie Gentry and the simple life he lives.

Charlotte lived in the same farmhouse in the tumultuous 1860’s. The Civil War was over, but for a bi-racial girl, freedom remained elusive. She coveted a life where she wouldn’t bring shame to her family. A life where she could make a difference. As she experiences hope, will it be wrested from her?

The journals stop abruptly with a climactic event, leaving Annie to search for information. What happened to Charlotte? Did her life make a difference?  Did she ever find freedom?

EXCERPT:

The key turned in the lock, but the attic door still required a strong arm to open it. Years of dried paint scraped the door jamb. The bottom rebelled against the threshold, clearly in need of a carpenter to sand it down or re-align it. She propped it open, hit the light switch and immediately met years of stagnant air. A musty smell caught in her throat activating a gag reflex. She coughed, then hoisted the cardboard boxes to shield her nose and mouth. As the still air began to dance in its new freedom, the disturbed dust mites floated in dull light beams. She’d have to deal with this sometime. She’d take the boxes and drop them upstairs. The attic needed a good airing out before she could look around. With the boxes held high in her arms, Annie climbed the steep wooden stairs.

The dim light cast shadows, enough to know that the room wasn’t empty. Annie plopped the boxes down and felt along the wall for another light. Instead, she found a string dangling from a single bulb mounted on the ceiling. She tugged the string and the room came to life revealing a lightly-cluttered attic. Sheets covered surfaces in their attempt to protect them from years of dust. Her initial inclination was to leave this for another day. Or another year. Low priority with all she had to do.

Yet something compelled her to stay. A few boxes and a storage chest. You would expect those in an attic. But a large section of the room held an air of familiarity. Children’s furniture had been stacked against one wall. A wooden table, four chairs, two turned upside down to nest on the other two, and a bookshelf. A carpet, about six-foot square, spread out on the floor in front of the furniture. Why was everything so familiar? She had only visited here twice when she was around five years old. And she was certain she’d never been in the attic. Eleanor would not have allowed it.

Annie opened an old chest that sat on the carpet. She lifted the dusty lid and saw the toys, mostly wood and metal. A toy tea set, a sorry looking stuffed teddy bear, and wooden building blocks with faded alphabet letters. A smaller chest sat beside it. She picked up a yo-yo, the string discolored and stiff, marbles in a cardboard box, a metal spinning top, void of color. These were definitely old, perhaps antiques. She lowered the lid, puzzling over this discovery. Another box held two items, both wrapped in cloth. She lifted one and removed the flannel to discover a baby doll. An image formed in her mind. She had seen this doll. She was certain of it. She could see a vision of the doll sitting on one of the wooden chairs. She knew she’d find another when she unwrapped the other flannel—one with red, curly hair.

As she unpacked the second doll, it all came back to her. A picture. She’d seen the items in a painting at Nana’s home, the home she had in Pittsburgh before she moved to Roswell House Assisted Living. The painting mirrored Andrew Wyeth’s style of down-home realism with rustic details. The table and chairs on the same carpet where Annie stood today, the tea set in the center, and two dolls seated with teacups before them. The gritty window in the background of the picture with its yellow-gold curtains matched the window a few feet away. The gold had faded to a drab shade and held years of dust, but it was the same curtain. The same window. That meant a child’s play area had been in this attic. Why would anyone set up a playroom in an attic? Or perhaps this space served as an artist studio, the dolls and tea set staged for a picture. But another thought marched to her brain. Her grandmother’s words. Those walls hold secrets.

Annie turned and pulled the string, extinguishing the upstairs light, then made her way back down the steps to the other light switch. She shoved the scraping door closed, still baffled about the set up. Who had painted the picture that hung in her grandmother’s kitchen? The locked door and separated key indicated that renters had no access. Had her grandmother locked this area away when she left over two decades ago?

Kathleen Neely is a retired elementary principal, and enjoys time with family, visiting her two grandsons, traveling, and reading.

She is the author of The Street Singer, Beauty for Ashes, The Least of These, Arms of Freedom, and In Search of True North. Kathleen won second place in a short story contest through ACFW-VA for her short story “The Missing Piece” and an honorable mention for her story “The Dance”. Both were published in a Christmas anthology. Her novel, The Least of These, was awarded first place in the 2015 Fresh Voices contest through Almost an Author. She has numerous devotions published through Christian Devotions.

Kathleen continues to speak to students about writing and publication processes. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers. 

Find out more about Kathleen by visiting her Website or connecting with her on  Facebook, Twitter  & Instagram.

Check out Kathleen's previous visits to our blog HERE!

Get your copy of Arms of Freedom at Amazon.

Congrats on your new book, Kathleen, it sounds amazing! We wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it and all of your writing.

Hope you enjoyed Kathy's spotlight friends and that you'll check back weekly for Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight. 

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes @KarenMalley Karen Malley!

Good Morning and HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

I pray your TG week has been going well. I'm making potato salad and banana pudding to go with Gumbo for family meals this week. Yeah, I know, Gumbo is not traditional Thanksgiving meals but it's what everyone wants. Except me. I'll eat it but Gumbo is not my favorite food. No worries though, just being with family makes any meal wonderful.

Speaking of wonderful, it's such a pleasure to introduces today's guest. Karen visited in April so please welcome her back.

Psalm 118:1

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

 

 

Last year I wrote a devotional about how Thanksgiving was different in 2020. No big family gatherings, no mismatched tables strewn end to end across the dining room with aunts and uncles and cousins. A year later, we’re in a different place. Still not back to where we were in 2019, but not where we were last year, either. We all have nostalgia from Thanksgivings past. Many of those we’ve celebrated with in past years are no longer with us. Our reasons to be grateful are still present, however. God is faithful, and is in control, and deserves our gratitude for the blessings we still enjoy.

 

Gratitude has been scientifically proven to make us happier, increase our self-esteem, improve our relationships – with family, friends, and even make us more effective at work. In addition, gratitude improves our health – reducing depressive symptoms, reducing blood pressure, and improving our sleep! With all these benefits, God certainly knew what he was talking about when he said:

 

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

 

No matter what your Thanksgiving looks like this year, take the time to be grateful.

 

 As the apostle Paul said in 1 Colossians 3:15-17, help us to remember the following:

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts. And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

 

Praying you have a blessed Thanksgiving, no matter what it looks like!

 

Here’s a short Thanksgiving excerpt from my latest novel, Sunflowers and Suspicions:

Thanksgiving morning, Julie packed up the pies she baked the previous evening and made the thirty-minute drive to her parent’s house. Yes, Matt’s family invited her, as Mia foretold, but today represented a turning point in her family, and she couldn’t miss it. When was the last holiday Amy was home? It was hard to remember.

When she opened the front door, the smell of roasted turkey greeted her. Her father rose from his recliner and squeezed her tight. “It’s so good to have all my girls here.” Julie hugged him back and peered over his shoulder into the kitchen beyond.

“Amy’s already here?”

“She came last night. Said she wanted to help out.” Harold nodded at the ladies in the kitchen. “She and your mother worked together all morning.”

A twinge of guilt flitted through Julie’s stomach. “I’m sorry. I should’ve come earlier.”

“Nonsense,” Harold said. “This is good for them.”

He was right. Amy never spent time in the kitchen with their mother. Julie carried the bag with the pies into the kitchen and hugged her mother and sister. “It smells great, you two. What can I do to help?”

Soon Julie was peeling potatoes and the small family started reminiscing about Thanksgivings when the girls were growing up. Even Harold left his recliner to help, despite the close quarters of the kitchen.

When the meal preparations were over, the Wagners carried the food to the dining room table and Harold asked the blessing.

“Dear Heavenly Father, thank you for this bounty of food, and thank you for surrounding me with these three lovely ladies. Thank you for bringing our girls home. Amen.”

 

Blurb for Sunflowers and Suspicions

A Deception Revealed ...

When Julie Wagner's identical twin Jade goes missing, Julie travels to New York pretending to be her sister so she can discover the truth. There, she meets the only person who has ever been able to tell them apart. Together, can she and her sister's neighbor unravel a shady restaurant owner's mysteries and find Jade?

A Fractured Family Healed ...
Matt Callahan has lived across the hall from Jade Wagner for a year, but never understood the pain behind her eyes. When her sister appears in his apartment building, he is amazed at the differences he sees in the twins. As he helps Julie find her twin, he discovers she just might be the answer to helping his own fractured family.

Sunflowers and Suspicions is the third book of the Pine Springs Series, but all the books can be read as standalone novels. Get your copy at Pelican Book Group or Amazon.

Karen lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. She works full time as a scientist, but enjoys writing in her spare time whenever she can find some! When not writing (with her left hand), she enjoys baking, volunteering at her church, camping, hiking, playing board games, and reading. She loves reading faith-based stories, because we can all use a happy ending.

Find out more about Karen by visiting her Website and connecting with her on Twitter, FaceBook, GoodReads and BookBub.

Thank you for the lovely post and excerpt Karen. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings in all things.

And, Thank You, Friends for stopping by. Oh, btw, Keri's Christmas Wish is available in audio! I have free codes for anyone who will review the book. Comment here or email me.

Until next time, take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Izzy James & Garrett

Good Morning and Welcome!

As we head into Thanksgiving week, let's take an extra few moments each day to meditate on what we're grateful for. For me, dear friends, that's YOU! 

Today's guest have been in our spotlight a few times and now Izzy James returns with a sneak peek into her latest release Garrett ~ a Yorktown Christmas Time Travel Novella. Take it away Izzy!

Garrett Tyler thought he was leaving Ballard House for home, secure in the knowledge that love had finally won-out for his long-time friend Olivia. He steps out the door and into the past, 1769 to be exact. While finding his bearings Garrett stumbles upon a beautiful woman being attacked. He makes sure she gets home and because of his kindness, she allows him to stay in an outbuilding—even believing his time travel story—while he figures out how he will get back to his life in the future. The more time they spend together, the deeper friendship they build, but one thing is going to rip her world apart.

Mercy Hansford is a confidant, independent woman running her own tailor shoppe. Her world is shaken when she is brutally attacked after delivering one of her sought-after shirts. The consequences of this night could be more far-reaching than either of them can guess.

Should Mercy trust a man she barely knows?

Excerpt:

Max shimmered by him as Garrett stepped down from the back steps into what should have been the back yard. His foot landed on a polished wooden floor instead of the grass he’d helped plant at the Ballard House. A room took shape around him. The chamber was as Olivia’s grandmother had described. Windows on three sides. A piano decked one wall. It must be Max’s conservatory. Max must have come back through time once again to meet Olivia. Garrett spun to follow Max, to see the look on Olivia’s face. It was only, what, an hour ago she’d told him she’d despaired of ever seeing Max again? One look into the adjoining room stopped him cold. 

It was all wrong. The room was full. Furniture. Papers. Books. Stu. All the historic houses he knew were basically empty accept for a few well chosen period pieces. He grabbed his head to ground the floating. 

An Elizabethan voice sounded from somewhere beyond the door. Garrett dodged back into the conservatory. 

A lurch in his stomach told Garrett his organs were all in place. He flattened palms against his middle and decided then and there that beaming around the universe was definitely not for him. 

Garrett dropped to get as far below the wall of windows facing him as he could. He slipped into a corner next to a table with long legs to gather his thoughts. He ducked under the table as a man dressed in breeches and large white shirt stepped into the room. 

“He’s not here.” The man called back. Spun on his heel and left. 

Garrett slid moist palms down his cotton pants and tried to calm his breathing. At least he’d arrived at whatever time this was in his docent costume. He pulled out his phone. 

No bars. Full battery . 

He rolled his eyes. Of course there were no bars. He didn’t know what year it was, but by the looks and sounds of things it had to be the seventeen somethings. 

Fear clenched his stomach. What would they do if they found him with a phone? 

Izzy James is the pen name of Elizabeth Chevalier Hull. Elizabeth grew up in coastal Virginia surrounded by the history of the founding of our nation. She still lives there with her fabulous husband in a house brimming with books.

Connect with Izzy via her Website, FaceBook, Instagram  izzy.james, Gab @izzy_james, or by signing up to receive her Newsletter.

Get your copy of Garrett at Amazon.

Thanks for stopping by friends! Hope to see you next week for another edition of Wednesday Words with Friends and Saturday Spotlight.

Until then, take care and God bless.

PamT