#SaturdaySpotlight is on Judythe Morgan & Christmas Prom Rerun!

Good Morning and Welcome to another edition of our All Christmas thru Christmas Saturday spotlight feature. Our guest today is brand new to our blog so let's roll out the carpet for... Judythe Morgan and her book, Christmas Prom Rerun.

SO happy you could join us, Judythe! Please tell us about yourself and why you wrote, Christmas Prom Rerun...

Thanks for having me, Pam. Proms were always the highlight of my high school years. I loved everything about them—the weeks of planning with the decorating committees, the thrill of transforming a gym into something magical, and the pure excitement of dancing the night away to DJs and live bands. Those nights were night filled with promise and possibility.

Christmas has always been my favorite season, too. The lights, the music, the sense of nostalgia and hope—it all inspires me. So, when I started thinking about a new holiday story, I blended those two joyful worlds together in Christmas Prom Rerun. 

A prom wrapped in holiday sparkle gave me the perfect backdrop for a second-chance romance filled with warmth, memories, and just a little bit of small-town magic.

OH, I hear you! I LOVE the magic of the holiday season! Please share your blurb and excerpt and where we can find Christmas Prom Rerun...

Sure! Here you go...

Blurb: 

Her dreams pulled her to the big city.

His dreams kept him in their small town.

They walked away years ago…

But did their story ever truly end?

Broke, divorced, and back where she started, Shannon O’Leary is quietly rebuilding her life. But her high-school sweetheart, now famous artist Tyler Evans, never left their hometown. Coordinating the Christmas Prom decorations together forces a challenging walk down Memory Lane. As they untangle old lights and tinsel, old feelings sparkle. Will Shannon risk her fragile heart on a second chance with the man she once walked away from?

Excerpt: The next song ended with Holly and Brock standing in front of their table. “I bet Mr. Evans would dance if you asked him, Ms. O’Leary.” Holly gave an exaggerated wink. 

“Or you could dance with me.” Brock held out his hand.

“I’d love to, Brock. Thanks for asking.” Anything to get away from Tyler and the memories. 

“This is an oldie special for all you alumni here tonight. Debbie Gibson’s “Lost in Your Eyes,” the DJ announced. 

The first couple of notes sent a chill down Shannon’s spine. Of all the songs. 

Before she and Brock took a step, Tyler tapped on Brock’s shoulder. “Mind if I cut in? This song’s an old favorite of ours.” 

“No, sir, not at all. I’d hate to waste a slow one on a teacher.” Brock answered.

Tyler tugged Shannon into his embrace. “I’m glad they’ve patched up their differences.” 

His hand tightened around her waist. How could he make small talk while her world just shifted on its axis? 

She had to get a grip on her emotions. 

“They do make a handsome couple, but does anyone truly know what they want at seventeen or eighteen?”

“I did,” he whispered and executed a perfect dip then pulled her even closer.

Her cheeks flamed. She couldn’t see them, but her face sure burned with fire. Without thinking, she burrowed her nose into his chest so no one could see. 

Tyler slid his hand to the middle of her back, squeezing her even tighter. That sent another rush of unwelcome heat. 

What was he doing? No way could he still have feelings for her after all that she’d put him through. Not wanting to make a scene, she pushed away slowly, gently. “I don’t think this sets a very good example,” she said in her best teacher’s voice.

“I’m not doing anything that half the guys on the floor aren’t doing.” He flashed a lethal smile that made her nearly swallow her tongue. 

Shannon looked around. He was right. “Well, we all need a cool down.” She straightened her shoulders and arched to face him. “Isn’t it time to announce the Winter King and Queen? You ready to MC?” 

Anything so he wasn’t touching her.

“Ready.” His cheeks rose in the proverbial cat swallowed the canary grin. She could almost see the yellow feather between his lips. 

What was he up to? 

Christmas Prom Rerun is available at AmazonUS for Kindle (also in KU!) and in Paperback, AmazonUK, AmazonCA, AmazonAU, GoodReads and BookBub

BEAUTIFUL! Now please give us the 'low down' on you 😊

Of course, LOL! Here you go again...

Judythe Morgan is an award-winning, multi-published author who believes stories should offer escape from real life, with strong characters and engaging plots, and satisfying endings, without explicit content.

A lifelong wanderer as an Air Force daughter then an Army wife, Judythe now lives in a small Texas town north of Houston with her husband and their Old English Sheepdog, Finnegan MacCool. They enjoy a busy life with three grown children, eleven grandchildren, four great-grandchildren, and nine granddogs who keep their lives filled with fun and laughter. 

When she isn’t writing, you’ll likely find her on the porch swing with a glass of sweet tea, reading a book.

Stay connected by subscribing to her free newsletter with subscriber-only sneak peeks at https://judythemorgan.com/contact/ or her blog at https://judythewriter.com 

Follow Judythe at: Amazon, Facebook, BookBub and GoodReads.

Wonderful! Thanks again, Judythe for visiting us and sharing your book in our All Christmas thru Christmas feature here on Saturday Spotlight. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings on ALL of your work!

Hope you enjoyed Judythe's visit as much as I did, friends and that you'll check back every week for another episode of Satuday Spotlight.

Until then, take care and God Bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on D.V. Stone & A Christmas Storm!

 

Good Morning and Welcome to the final installment of All Christmas thru Christmas for this holiday season!

Today we'll visit with D.V. Stone and find out all about her book, A Christmas Storm. Take it away DV!

In the spirit of Dickens, a delightfully sweet holiday story about family love and the opportunity for second chances. A Christmas Storm is a small town Christmas romance.

Blurb: An early storm is brewing in Upstate New York, and military wife Lacey Prescott is caught unprepared when it turns into a blizzard. Defeated by her own lack of preparation and the recall of her husband’s Christmas holiday leave, her joy in the season is replaced by bitterness and anger. In an unexpected turn of events, Lieutenant Matthew Prescott’s leave is reinstated. But the journey home is not an easy one since a Nor’easter stands between him and his family.

Amidst the storm’s fury, Lacey gets a glimpse of the past, present, and possible future, while Matt gets assistance from a mysterious stranger.

In a heartwarming story of determination, the resilience of the human spirit, and the unexpected kindness of strangers, the possibility of a Christmas reunion brings a sense of hope with a message of love and support from friends and family that embodies the true spirit of Christmas.

Excerpt: “Why me?” Lacey Prescott wailed to the sky as she lay sprawled on the icy path leading to the shed.

Snow started to replace the sleet and fluttered down from the starless sky. 

Christmas was only three days away. Even with her dad, Nathan, and Gloriana installed in the guest room, it wasn’t the holiday she’d hoped for since getting the call. Matt wasn’t going to make it home. She’d put on her game face when she’d greeted Dad and his new wife at the door earlier, but her heart was no longer into celebrating the holiday. 

“I miss you so much.” She rubbed her eyes before struggling to get traction on the slippery surface. Finally, her foot found the gravel under the snow on the path’s edge.

Her heart broke when her husband called the previous month to let her know plans had changed. This was to be the first time they’d spend the holidays together since getting married.

He would’ve spent the season with her and little Adele. But duty called, and Lt. Matthew Prescott’s deployment had been extended—indefinitely.

Now, here she was without him and with a house full of company. To top it off, what had been expected to be light snow was now being reported by the weather stations as a storm of epic proportions. And she’d neglected to lay in supplies.

She’d lived in Upstate New York long enough to know storms could quickly morph from forecasts of flurries to blizzards in a heartbeat.

While gingerly making her way to the shed where the ice melt was, she’d wanted to kick her own butt. Until she slipped and fell. Okay, ice kicked her instead. 

“Argh.” She yanked on the frozen-shut door and then slammed her hand against the wood slats.

Done, she was done. Toast. No, burnt toast. 

Turning around, she slid down the rough door and buried her head in her arms while wet seeped into her jeans. She didn’t even care. Banging her head on her knees, she wondered yet again, why her?

“Lacey! Are you okay?”

Alita Marshall’s fur-edged snow boots appeared in front of her.

“Did you fall?”

Lacey looked up when her friend, another military wife, stooped to her level. The light from over the shed door washed over the woman’s warm brown complexion and reflected in her concerned chestnut-colored eyes.

“I’m okay. On the outside anyway.” Lacey sighed and sniffed. “Just having a pity party for myself.”

“Oh, honey.” A red-mittened hand bedazzled with silver snowflakes grasped Lacey’s bare one and helped her to her feet. “I get it.”

“You seem to have it all together.” Lacey shivered and plucked at her wet bottom. Her hand stung with cold when she grabbed the door handle again and tugged to no avail. And she wasn’t okay. Her lower back was starting to ache.

After a few bangs around the edge, they pulled together, and finally, she could get into the shed. 

Lacey grabbed the bucket of salt while Alita took the shovel off the hook.

“I have my meltdowns too, you know.” Alita hooked her arm through Lacey’s as they slipped and slid their way back toward the house. “I’m just not sitting in the slush when it happens. Usually, it’s in a locked bathroom with the shower running, so the boys don’t hear.”

The back door opened, and Lacey’s stepmom, Gloriana, hurried across the porch, then slowed and walked like a penguin toward them. “Here, give me that.” She took the bucket from Lacey and started sprinkling salt on the steps. “I was just about to send out a search party.”

“The shed door wouldn’t open.” Alita made no mention of Lacey’s breakdown.

“So, you decided to make snow angels instead?”

“What do you mean?” Lacey glanced over her shoulder.

Gloriana eyed her wet behind. “Your tush is soaking wet.”

“Ha, I wish it were snow angels.” Lacey rubbed her aching lower back. It was going to be sore. “I slipped and went down like a ton of bricks.”

“Oh honey, are you all right?” Gloriana started mother-henning.

“I’ll be fine.” Lacey limped up the steps while hanging on to the railing. “Can you finish salting while I go change? I’m also going to take a shower to warm up.” 

“Sure.” Gloriana spread a thick layer of salt on the steps.

Lacey glanced at Alita’s raised eyebrow and then hobbled into the house. 

It looked like a day care. The presence of not only Cyclone Adele but now the boys, toys, and juice boxes, the shrapnel of life lay scattered across tables, floors, and furniture. Sounds of cartoons came from the den, accompanied by giggles. 

She peeked in and sighed, a sound coming from her too often.

What A Christmas Storm means to me.

I adore my Lake Unami characters. This fictional small town in New Jersey is one of my favorite places. Though I took several of my characters out of town for the holidays, the spirit of the town went with them. In Rainbow Sprinkles, several readers commented they loved the character of Lacey. She and her dad had a special relationship and wanted to know more about her. I wasn’t sure how it would play out until I began writing, and the muse took over. The story became cathartic to me. Since then, readers have let me know how, like me, Lacey’s story has helped them with issues they, too, have struggled with.

In 1977, I lived on a dairy farm in Minnesota. I was the oldest of four. My dad, who was only 38 years old, died in our living room after a long struggle with heart disease. At seventeen I became the caretaker of the home. My mom was devastated and withdrew. The kids were twelve and under. The character Lacey has many of the attributes I took on. I don’t need anyone’s help. I can do it on my own. It’s taken almost fifty years but I’ve learned, no, I don’t have to and don’t expect to. I’ve realized that allowing others to help is often a blessing for them. Think of how it makes you feel when you reach out to others. I still struggle with ingrained habits of going it alone, but I’m a work in progress you know.  

Besides Amazon, A Christmas Storm can be found at B&N; Apple Books; GoodReads and other Online Retailers.

D. V. Stone is known for her engaging and captivating storytelling, often weaving elements of romance, fantasy, and adventure into her novels. Her official website, dvstoneauthor.com, serves as a central hub for fans and new readers alike to explore her literary works, learn about upcoming book releases, and gain insights into her creative process. The site typically features detailed book descriptions, author blogs, and exclusive content such as interviews and behind-the-scenes looks at her writing journey. Additionally, visitors can find information on where to purchase her books, sign up for newsletters, and connect with DV Stone on social media. Whether you’re a long-time follower or new to her stories, dvstoneauthor.com offers a comprehensive and inviting space to immerse yourself in the world of DV Stone’s imagination.

 

“My greatest pleasures are spending time outside with friends and family, cooking over the open fire, sipping a glass of wine, and reading.”

 

Hali, her rescue dog, always reminds her to let readers know, “Woof, woof.” Which loosely translates to “support your local animal rescue.”

 

You can learn more about D. V. by following her on Social Media.

 

Link tree for one-stop connections Link Tree

https://www.dvstoneauthor.com/

https://mailchi.mp/18125bb60cc5/dv-stones-news-bulletin

https://t.co/MUVW91E2iB

https://www.instagram.com/d.v.stone/

https://twitter.com/donnavstone

https://www.facebook.com/dv.stone.1

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/16344100.D_V_Stone

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/d-v-stone

https://www.amazon.com/D.-V.-Stone/e/B01N154Y9U

https://www.tiktok.com/@dvstoneauthor

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoWqGJB3WxpUCV2OUE2VN_w

Aww, DV so sorry to hear about your dad. So young! But your growth is inspiring. Thank You for sharing. And yes, we know we're all a work in progress. 

Hope you enjoyed DV's post friends. Next week we begin normal Saturday Spotlights with Joie Lesin and her book, The Passenger.

Until then, happy reading!

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight All Christmas thru Christmas 2024

 

I've considered reinstating the Saturday Spotlight feature here for quite a while now and what better time to do so than Christmas?! 

So, every Saturday through early-mid Jan., I'll be sharing great Christmas books with you, beginning with my very own, Keri's Christmas Wish.

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.

Excerpt: She awoke in another dimension. Keri had no idea if she was in Heaven, but neither did she fear Hell. Her surroundings were reminiscent of a dense forest at dusk. Shadows danced against a sunset where brilliant colors bled from the sky. A light shone in the distance but as she moved toward it, Keri felt as though she plowed through molasses. Unease pricked her skin. The sound of water drew her deeper into the woods until she stood at the base of a vast waterfall and rapids so swift she dared not attempt to cross the river.

The light grew stronger, brighter. Beckoning.

I need to get to the light.

* * * *

I am 100% panster so when I sat at the computer with one scene in mind, Keri scrolling through her newsfeed and grumbling “bah humbug” over the ‘Christmas in July’ propaganda, I had absolutely NO idea where the story was going or what would happen. 

I was introduced to Energy Medicine a several years ago and find the whole concept of healing the body – or actually the body healing itself by correcting energy imbalance–fascinating. Along with EM, I’ve discovered the power of positive thoughts and prayers (see: You can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay). Add to that, my belief in the afterlife and the books & movies affirming those beliefs, and well, this story practically wrote itself. 

What is still amazing for me is that Keri’s Christmas Wish (published in 2016) was the first romantic story I wrote in its entirety after my husband passed away in 2009. Oh, I had things published that were already in the works, but other than a couple NF pieces, it was the first thing written from start to finish. 

Thankfully, I’m in a much better place emotionally and other books/novellas/stories have and will continue to follow.

Keri's Christmas Wish finaled in OKRWA's 2017 IDA (International Digital Awards) contest and is available @Amazon in Print, Audio and Kindle and through other Online Retailers (Kobo, Apple, B&N, etc) HERE: https://books2read.com/KerisChristmasWish

Hope you enjoyed this peek into Keri's Christmas Wish and that you'll drop by each week for another edition of Saturday Spotlight.

PamT

#WednesdayWordswithFriends Welcomes Carol James @CarolJamesAuth & Choosing Christmas!

Good Morning,

Today's guest is not new to our blog but please welcome Carol James back as she shares with us her newest Christmas book, Choosing Christmas as part of Pelican Book Group's Christmas Extravaganza and our All Christmas thru Christmas feature!

Take it away, Carol....

My mother used to always talk about the “Spirit of Christmas.” She made certain my brother and I knew Christmas was not about what we got, but about what we gave and what Christ gave for us. So much of life is formed by what we choose. Even when we have no choice in what happens to us, we do have a choice in how we react. In Choosing Christmas, both Angie and Adam have suffered painful pasts which could have crippled them, but they have chosen to rise above the circumstances. Adam’s story is inspired by a true event that occurred when a tragic accident struck a mission team from some churches in our area. And while Adam could have stayed mired in self-pity, he makes the choice to trust in the love and sacrifice embodied in Christ and his coming at Christmas. He chooses the Spirit of Christmas.

Blurb: 

Heartbroken over the unfair loss of a position in the school where she teaches, Angela Taylor is determined to find an assistant principal position. 

Adam Thornton has struggled for years to overcome the physical and emotional effects of a devastating accident that occurred when he was a teenager. A successful real estate attorney and part-time handyman, Adam uses his gifts and talents to serve others.

When Angela is hired as an AP at the school where Adam's mother is the principal, Angela and Adam find they share a past... an unexpected connection. And they must choose whether to surrender to the pain of that past or find hope for the future in the spirit of Christmas.

Excerpt: Static crackled from the old intercom box on the wall above the whiteboard. “Ms. Taylor, Dr. Jernigan would like to see you in his office.”

“Thank you. Please tell him I’ll be right there.” Angie pulled her make-up bag out of the bottom desk drawer and ran her brush through her hair. She refreshed her lipgloss and powdered her nose. Then she stood and slipped on her suit jacket. Her students had teased her about being dressed up today, but they’d just have to get used to it. 

Excitement fluttered her stomach as she headed down the hall. The school board had met last night and made their decision. She drew in a calming breath and forced back the tears. Grammy and Poppy would have been so proud. 

As Angie entered the main office, Mary Jo winked from behind the front desk and then nodded toward the door behind her. “They’re waiting on you.”

Smiling, Angie walked across the office and rapped on the door. When Will opened it, she stepped inside. He nodded toward the sofa behind her. “Ms. Taylor, you remember John Carlton.”

Not a surprise that the president of the school board would be here, too. She turned and offered her hand. “So very nice to see you again, Mr. Carlton.”

“And you, as well.” He grasped her hand and then gestured toward the sofa. “Won’t you please have a seat?”

She perched on the edge of the cushion and folded her hands in her lap. Will dropped into the chair across from them.

Mr. Carlton smiled. “As you’re probably aware, the board met last night to consider filling the position of assistant principal.”

Angie nodded, her heart skipping with excitement.

“Thank you for your application. Your résumé’s quite impressive. You’re an excellent teacher and have been a faithful employee.”

So far, so good. 

“Unfortunately, we’re unable to offer you the assistant principal position at this time. The school needs a candidate who has more experience in personnel management. Someone with an advanced degree.”

She shot a glance toward Will. His eyes were fixed on his lap. Turning her attention back to Mr. Carlton, she countered, “I appreciate your position, however, my master’s will be completed before this school year ends.”

He nodded. “Dr. Jernigan reminded us, and for that reason, we’d like to offer you the newly created position of upper elementary Lead Teacher. It would mean a ten percent increase in salary beginning in January. I’ll have the job description and salary information sent to Dr. Jernigan before the end of the semester. With an updated contract, of course.” He stood and shook her hand. “Pray about it.” 

Then the two men shook hands and Mr. Carlton left.

This had not gone at all the way she’d expected.

Will slipped onto the sofa beside her and grasped her hand. “Angie… I’m so sorry. I tried.”

Tears threatened.

“Say something.” He sandwiched her hand between both of his.

“You know I’m qualified for that position, even if I don’t have my degree yet. I have the right experience. I know the curriculum backward and forward. I even helped write some of it.” She would not cry. “You shouldn’t have had to ‘try’ anything.”

“I know.” He rubbed the backs of her hands with his thumbs. “Baby, the board felt…they thought the offer of the lead teacher position would be a good compromise. And maybe in a few years…”

“Good? For who?” She pulled her hands away. “And ‘personnel management,’ really? Do they not realize exactly how many ‘personnel’ I manage every day?”

“The board knows you’re an excellent teacher…. That’s why they’re creating this position for you. They don’t want to lose you.”

“They’ve already hired someone, haven’t they?”

“Angie…” He shook his head. “I really can’t say.”

“Can’t or won’t?”

“Shouldn’t.” He broke eye contact. “Let’s just say, the board really didn’t have much of a choice.”

“People always have a choice.”

He huffed. “It’s the nephew of one of the church elders. He just got his master’s in admin and wants to move back here to be close to his mom. She’s sick, and he needs to take care of her.” He shook his head. “I’ve told you more than I should’ve.”

Angie’s heart ached for the nameless young man. “I am sorry.” She drew her hands away and stood. “But I’ll have to think about things. I’m not sure this is the future I want.”

“Angie, don’t make it any harder.” Will stood and rested his hands on her shoulders. “I pushed all I could without making them suspicious. I understand you’re hurt, but you should be grateful they created a new position for you.”

Grateful? If she looked at it from his perspective, maybe. But from hers? It stung like a slap in the face. “I’m qualified. You shouldn’t have had to push.”

“In a perfect world…yes.” He drew her close. “Go home. Take the rest of the week off and pray about it. I’ll have Mary Jo get a sub.” He whispered across the top of her hair. “Neither the school nor I want to lose you.”

Raised 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 over forty years ago, they stayed put.

The author of five full-length novels and five Christmas novellas, Carol loves creating stories of Redemptive Romance—intriguing, transformative tales with happy endings.

Visit her website to sign up for her newsletter and receive a free short story: https://www.carol-james.com

Get your copy of Choosing Christmas at Amazon, B&N, PBG, GoodReads, Kobo or BookBub and check out Carol's previous visits HERE.

Wow, Carol your excerpt ended on a great hook! Thanks for sharing Choosing Christmas with us. We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with your new book and of course, a Merry Christmas & Happy New Year!

Hope you enjoyed Carol's post, friends and that you'll check back each Wednesday and Saturday for more All Christmas thru Christmas.

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 Cara North!

Good Morning!

It is always a pleasure to introduce to you a brand new-to-me author so please give Cara North a huge, SWLA W-E-L-C-O-M-E as she talks to us about Holiday Prep.....

It’s that time of the year when the Halloween decorations start to go on sale and all the bright lights and ornaments begin to appear. My decorating timeline is probably a bit earlier than most. I take Halloween down (mostly) and put Christmas up at the start of November. I’ve considered leaving the tree up year-round and just decorating it for the various holidays. I’m a bargain shopper. This means if you get a holiday card from me, it is from last year’s batch when they went on clearance. You see how my holiday planning is not as much before the holiday as it will be for after the holidays, all holidays. Right now, October 25th, I have my eye on a Zero decoration. I will be stalking the Halloween section at that store in hopes I will get it when it goes 50-75% off, whichever they do the day after. If I miss it, that is totally fine. I don’t NEED it. I just WANT it, which is why I will not pay full price for it. 

My personal planning is simple, I usually mail out cookies to the various households since most of my nieces and nephews are of an age they just want a gift card anyway and the ones who are younger are already going to get too many toys and such, so I tend to send a hat, glove, scarf combo for them. 

My author planning is far from simple. The first week in December, I send out my Patreon supporter 4th quarter mailings. Because it is the holiday season, it is what I call “the big mailing” because other authors send me goodies to ship out to them. My high tier patrons get a box, low tier get an envelop but they are both filled with a variety of stuff. In addition to the Patreon mailer, I send out cards every year and not just to my family. I have been mailing cards every year for a while, so I have about a hundred people I send cards to. I will continue to do that because I never know who isn’t getting anything for the holidays, especially in these crazy times. This is the link to sing up for my snail mail mailing list:  https://forms.gle/Vn729gAqTbYM7Xhc6

Essentially, for author holiday planning it looks like this:

1. August, put the call out to all authors I know if they would like to get their promo and books in front of my Patrons, to send that before the end of Nov. as I mail 1st week in Dec.

2. Keep an eye out ALL year long for great sales in low quantities. Journals, pens, adult coloring books, and more. Pick those up and save them for the 4th Q mailing.

3. Use Cricut to customize some things for them. (This can take 8-16 hours, so I space it out starting in November. 1 day cutting, 1 day weeding, 2 days ironing or transferring)

4. Add new addresses to the label list

5. About 15 November, begin batching cards for mailing: signing, adding stickers (holiday and my promo ones). Once all the cards are signed and sealed, I put the labels on them and then drop them in the mail either the last week in Nov or 1st week in Dec. 

Then I wait for the holidays to be over…and do it all again! 

Look for Cara North in the upcoming Limited Edition Box Set: Holly Jolly Rom Com this 2021 Christmas! Available at Amazon in Kindle Unlimited or only pick it up for only $2.99!

Find out more about Cara’s other books by visiting her Amazon Author Page 

All GREAT advice, Carol! THANKS for sharing.

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

Until next time take care and God bless.

PamT

#SaturdaySpotlight is on Barbara Bettis & A Winter Knight

Good Morning!

Before I introduce our brand new to me/our blog guest, PLEASE join me in wishing my beautiful daughter, Karol a Blessed and Happy Birthday!

Thank you friends.

Award-winning author Barbara Bettis has always loved history and English. As a college freshman, she considered becoming an archeologist until she realized there likely would be bugs and snakes involved. And math. Through careers as a newspaper reporter and editor, then a college journalism and English professor, she’s retained her fascination with history. Give her a research book and a pot of tea, and she’s happy for hours. But what really makes her smile is working on a new story. Now retired, she lives in Missouri where she edits for others and spins her own tales of heroines to die for—and heroes to live for.

Find Barb Here: 

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Welcome Barbara! Please give us a peek into your book, A Winter Knight.....

He’s running from his past; she’s running from her future. But on a snowy winter night, they find each other and the surprising gift of love.

Sir Nicholas has given up on marriage. These days he’s content to captain his friend’s troops and avoid entanglements—until one winter night when he rescues a half-frozen woman from a snowstorm. Her irrepressible spirit and kindness to others reminds him that all ladies aren’t like his former intended, who wed his brother while Nick was on crusade. But he can’t open his heart to Lady Clare. She’s bound to another, and Nick won’t forfeit his honor. Even if she were free, he has nothing to offer but love, and this lady deserves everything.

Lady Clare’s dying grandfather has arranged her betrothal, but the arrival of the man she’s to wed sends her fleeing into a snowstorm. Injured when her horse stumbles, she’s rescued by a mysterious knight. She recovers at his run-down manor, safe at last—until her betrothed tracks her down two days before Christmas. Trapped at home with the wedding imminent, she longs for the winter knight she’s come to love.

Only a miracle can bring Clare and Nick together. But at Christmas, anything is possible.

Excerpt:

Who was she? And why in Satan’s name was she out here alone? Maybe she’d lost her wits and took flight in a disordered panic. He’d seen women—men too—lose their reason and go wild with grief. Or loneliness. Had she been confined to the same place for weeks on end, with no voice to hear but her own? Had she finally set out alone to find someone—anyone— else alive in the world?  His shoulders stiffened. Where in Hades did that thought come from?

He glanced at the soft bundle he held and tightened his arms. Answers would have to wait until she woke. Giving Solomon a touch of heel to pick up the gait, Nick followed his earlier tracks and made it back to the manor quickly.

“Send for the healer,” he called to the guard as he rode through the gate.

“Don’t got one,” came the answer.

Of course not. Someone sure as Hades was needed to care for this unwanted guest.

Tom waited at the stable door.

“Take care of Solomon, then come to the hall. I have an errand for you.”  Surely a woman lived somewhere close and could help out on the morrow. Provided the lady lived so long.

# # #

Sound came to Clare first. Why was there such noise? Her eyes ached behind closed lids, and her head pounded like a kitchen mallet on boar’s meat. She was so cold. Except, her fingers burned—and tingled, as if a score of needles stuck there. Her toes—she didn’t feel them. Where were her toes?

The noises increased and she tried to turn her head to escape the din, but she couldn’t seem to move. Where was she? The loud clatter settled into voices. Deep voices. Men. Panic clogged her throat. Sweet Mother Mary, he’d found her and brought her home.

She’d failed.

Wow, sounds like a wonderful read! We certainly wish you the best of luck and God's blessings with it.

Hope you enjoyed the excerpt as much as I did friends. Get your copy of A Winter Knight at Amazon. Be sure and leave a comment so you'll be entered into my monthly gift card giveaway drawing!

Until next time, take care and God Bless.
PamT

Christmas Extravaganza Continues @ Pelican Book Group

Hey Friends,

It's that time again - time when I spotlight another great book. This week I'm continuing to spotlight the latest in Pelican Book Group's Christmas Extravaganza with Christmas in Coyote County by Mary L. Briggs.

 In Coyote County, Christmas means festive lights, the town parade, hot coffee and cinnamon rolls...not creatures from another planet. While a glowing green Peeping Tom with two antennae is a little hard to buy, Libby Hawkins doesn’t believe her former school teacher suffers from either dementia or a runaway imagination. There’s a logical explanation, and she intends to discover it before older woman is placed in a nursing home.

After a twelve year absence, Sheriff Jackson Carter returns to Coyote County to clear his father’s name. He never expected to be waylaid in his quest by alien sightings, and it doesn’t help that stubborn Libby Hawkins--his former girlfriend--is determined to meddle in the investigation. He hurt Libby when he left town after his father’s death, but it was for her protection. Now Libby’s stumbled on something dangerous. Can he keep her from harm this time? He doesn’t know, but one thing is certain Christmas in Coyote County has never been so interesting.

Christmas in Coyote County is available for only $1.00! 

Want all of the Christmas stories + a special free book? Check out the Extravaganza Bundle and while you're at it, check out the other Holiday Specials from Pelican Book Group.

Well friends, if you're like me, a great short read is the perfect break from all the holiday madness so enjoy!

Until later...take care & God Bless.

PamT

Holiday Reads Continue....

By the grace of God and with the love and support of my family and friends, I made it through Christmas - not without tears but with my sanity intact.

Christmas may be over but the holiday romances will continue through this week and end Sat. with a New Year story.

Today's guest is Amber Polo with her book, Christmas on Wherever Island.

Amber Polo lives on a mesa in Arizona the setting of her most recent romance Flying Free, but has spent more than one Christmas on a Caribbean island. She writes about places she’s lived and places that don’t quite exist. Amber is passionate about writing, books, and libraries.

A Magic Santa brings Caribbean Christmas Joy

Marti Bell is facing the prospect of a very unmerry Christmas. Reluctantly, leaving her married lover she travels toward ice, snow, and judgmental family until a magic Santa sends her to a surprise destination in the warm waters of the Caribbean.

Wherever Island would be a winter paradise except the only place to stay is the beachside cottage of romantic globetrotting photographer Cliff Holmes. Cliff wants to unwind and treat Marti to a little romantic Caribbean Christmas fun but she’s determined to stay in the warm ocean and out of hot water.

Excerpt

The plane landed. What had she done? A shiver of apprehension shook Marti’s body. She’d never acted irresponsibly. She collected her luggage and followed her seatmate to the doorway. A blast of warm, heady sea air settled over her. Where was she? Wherever she was, she felt her body relax. Her face softened. Nobody knew her. Or where she was. She felt lighter.

She walked down the steps of the only plane on an airfield ringed by palm trees and crossed the tarmac to the lone building. Under the heat of a tropical sun, carrying belongings intended for a trip to a very cold place, she entered the open door marked WI BVI Customs.

“Welcome to Wherever Island!” A black man in a blue and white uniform handed her a form and asked for her passport. Grateful to be the obsessively organized person who always traveled with a passport, she held it out. After a quick inspection, he handed it back, smiled, and pointed to a woman at a table. “Please take your things there, Ma’am.”

The customs clerk quickly checked Marti’s purse and carry-on and frowned at the wrapped gifts. “Visiting family here?”

“No, Ma’am. Last-minute trip.”

The clerk raised her eyebrows. “Hotel?”

“Any recommendations?” Marti smiled with what she hoped looked like a dumb tourist grin.
The woman frowned again. “Ma’am, you must have a hotel reservation. Can’t have Americans sleeping all over our beaches, now can we.”

“May I call a hotel?”

“All hotels and the resort are filled. It’s Christmas.” The woman’s eyebrows arched.

“What am I supposed to do? Get back on the plane?” The noise of her plane taking off drowned out her words. Welcome to paradise, now go home? She felt a movement behind her and the customs officer’s eyes looked up. A male voice said, “Perhaps I could help?”

Marti turned and looked into Cliff Holmes’ broad chest. Cliff smiled his world traveler soldier of fortune smile. He’d changed from those attention-grabbing tight jeans into khaki shorts and a perfectly wrinkled white shirt. His camera cases sat on a cart next to a huge canvas duffle.

“Ms. Bell and I work for the same company.” He removed folded papers from his passport case. “I’m here to film your beautiful island. This letter from the Ministry of Tourism will explain. I have reserved a two bedroom cottage at the resort. I was expecting Sonja Holmes on this flight. Perhaps she missed the connection. In any case, I would be happy to share my lodgings with Ms. Bell.”

Christmas on Wherever Island is available now at The Wild Rose Press. Find out more about Amber at her website.

Well friends, hope you're continuing to enjoy these holiday romances. Check back often.

Until later Be Blessed!

PamT

Holiday Romances by Stacy Dawn!

Well Friends....it's over - all the anticipation, the rush and chaos is finished. Hope you didn't forget the REAL reason for the season and I pray you found time for peace and reflection during the holiday.

No better way to relax and savor on the joy of Christmas than with THREE holiday romances by one talented lady.

Stacy Dawn - the author of Fun Romance! lives in Southern Ontario, Canada with her own true love and two young sons. She enjoys spending time with her family, good music and writing on the humorous side of love. Visit her website: http://stacydawn.com

Welcome back to Noelle, Alberta, home of the infamous Reindeer Games, Santa Claus Holloran, and a fifteen foot Rudolph monument welcoming you to town—that was, before Deke Halls ran his semi into it. Even though it was an accident, thanks to the beautiful but annoying judge, instead of heading to Bermuda for a holiday vacation, he's spending Christmas on parole.

Laney McGovern wasn't about to let the good-for-nothing trucker get away with reckless driving and decapitating the town's historical monument. She'd divorced his arrogant type before—all good old boy smiles but selfish as the Grinch. Sentencing him to community service with each of the six founding families seemed like a just punishment, but when the eccentric townsfolk begin to embrace the handsome cowboy, this judge slowly discovers not all offenders of the heart are the same. Only problem is, she doesn't know if she wants to deck the Halls or shove him under the mistletoe.

Her mother's ridiculous idea to gift her with 'a man' for Christmas is driving Angie Bellini insane! Every bachelor and his brother in Noelle are asking her to save them a dance at the upcoming wedding of Santa Claus Holloran's daughter. What's a girl to do to keep her sanity and thwart a scheming mother? Date the one man in town her mother despises, of course.

Wes O'Connor doesn't like the plan Angie has coerced him into for two reasons: 1) He's still paying for the last time those big brown eyes made him do something stupid and 2) He doesn't want to 'pretend' to date the beautiful baker, he wants the fairytale to turn into a real happily-ever-after.

Their ending may not be so happy, though, when they discover they aren't the only players in their little game of make-believe.

The annual Reindeer Games between the Holloran and the Nickles families is legendary in their little town of Noelle, Alberta. This year, however, the competition gets kicked up a notch when Jess Holloran discovers winning the games may just mean losing her heart.

All books are available from The Wild Rose Press

Can you believe we've only 1 more week of this year!

I'll continue the Holiday Reads through Jan 2nd but until then....take care and be Blessed!

Do You Hear What I Hear? by Teri Wilson

Merry Christmas!!

How appropriate is THIS title for today?

Teri's son once wrote in a third-grade paper, "My Mom loves dogs and Jesus." He may have gotten the order reversed, but the sentiment was right on target. Her romance stories are often filled with happy endings, splashes of humor and a loveable critter or two. After all, Cinderella never would have lived happily ever after without a little help from her animal friends! Visit Teri at her website: http://www.freewebs.com/teriwilson/

As a child, Simone Littleton adores the European folktale that animals are given the gift of speech at midnight on Christmas Eve. She makes a wish to talk to animals “forever and ever” and, when her pet Dalmatian asks her for a biscuit, she discovers her wish has been granted. Now Simone is all grown up and she uses her unique gift to rehabilitate unwanted horses. When race horse trainer Chet Wallace rolls into San Antonio, with chocolate eyes and dimples blazing beneath his black Stetson, romantic sparks fly. He is immediately drawn to the beautiful woman who has a mesmerizing affect on both his horses and his dog, but his less than enthusiastic response to Simone’s claims threatens their budding romance. It takes a scheming Jack Russell terrier and a fresh batch of rescue horses to convince Chet she just may be telling the truth.

Excerpt:

“So this is why all your animals are named after artists.” Her gentle voice washed over him, soothing his nerves.

He turned and there she was, hair full of hay like always. She looked particularly welcoming today, though, wearing a soft pink sweater that hugged her curves. Her hair was on top of her head in a ponytail rather than her usual braid. He had to press down the urge to loosen the fastener and let it tumble over her shoulders in thick, blonde waves.

He gulped. Hard. Just looking at her was almost enough to take his breath away. “Happy Thanksgiving, Simone.”

She came closer, ponytail swinging, and stood next to him. Close enough so he felt almost intoxicated by the orchid fragrance. “Happy Thanksgiving. I can’t believe you painted this. It’s breathtaking. When I close my eyes and picture Buttercup in my mind, she looks exactly like this.”

It was a nice compliment. The special gleam in Chet’s eye came not from her kind words, but from the fact Simone stood close to him and looked at him in the way Ted had observed in the kitchen the night before. Yes, there was something between them all right. He felt it in every nerve ending in his body. “Thanks. It’s just a hobby really.”

“You are quite the Renaissance Man, Chet.” She punched him playfully in the shoulder. “You’re just one surprise after another. What am I going to find out about you next?”

“Well, if I told you it wouldn’t be a surprise now, would it?” His gazed locked with hers and he winked.

Do You Hear? is available in Ebook and Print from The Wild Rose Press.

Well Friends, that wraps up another holiday romance.

Hope your Christmas is BLESSED and Merry!