Book Tour Grand Finale for
His Frontier Christmas Family
By Regina Scott
We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
Launch – Note from the Author
Snow, homemade ornaments on the tree, family gathered round in faith—what better way to celebrate the Christmas season! Family and Christmas form the heart of my December release, His Frontier Christmas Family, part of my Frontier Bachelors series from Love Inspired, set in pioneer Seattle…
I hope you have a wonderful holiday this year. Be sure to enter the giveaway for a chance to win a signed copy of His Frontier Christmas Family and a set of rustic Christmas decorations.
Merry Christmas!
Regina Scott
underneath the covers – Excerpt
The forest was still, as if everything was waiting. In defiance, she bent and picked up another diaper, hanging it alongside the others. It didn’t matter who was watching or why. She had one goal: to keep her, Frisco, Sutter and Mica safe until Adam returned. She’d protected her family most of her life, starting with her younger twin brothers after her mother had died of influenza, now with them and Mica. She knew what she was doing.
Still, this feeling was too much like the last time she’d lived on the gold fields, five years ago at the Vital Creek strike in the British Territories. At fifteen then, she’d just started getting her womanly curves. Most of the miners had noticed.
“You don’t strike it rich, Murphy,” one had told her father, “you let me know. I’ll buy your daughter off you.”
Becky on Books – Review
“…Callie and Levi’s story in His Frontier Christmas Family is a feel-good story that both puts you in the holiday spirit and inspires you to want to hold your own family members just a little bit closer–a perfect read for this time of year! Callie, Levi, Sutter, Frisco, and Mica are all highly likable characters who it’s easy to root and cheer for (even when those twins are getting into mischief!)”
“This story was a slow, steady burn. It didn’t hurry me through, but it didn’t put me to sleep either. The characters were unique, sweet, and unpredictable enough to maintain my interest in what happened next in their lives.”
Now Callie frowned. “You were at Vital Creek?”
“To my sorrow,” he admitted. “Scout Rankin and I had a claim at the opposite end of town from yours. I met Adam in a card game at Gillis’s. He cleaned me out.”
Just when she wanted to trust him! “Now I know you’re lying. Preachers don’t gamble.”
He smiled, and something inside her bubbled up as warm as a hot spring. “I wasn’t a preacher then.”
The handsome stranger moved closer yet, carefully, as if unsure whether she’d hit him or snatch up the baby and run. She considered doing both, but he was close enough that she could see the lines fanning out from the corners of his eyes. Worry lines, Ma had called them, and she’d had her share. What worried this man?
“That’s a heavy burden,” he murmured. “I can see why your brother Adam wanted me to help.”
“This has been a wonderful series and I’ve enjoyed following the Wallin family as each member finds love. Levi’s story is one of redemption as he tries to make up for the mistakes of his past and learns about forgiveness. His match with Callie is perfect as he partners with her to care for her brothers and baby niece, and they grow to depend on each other emotionally as well.”
Even if he’d been a minister eight years instead of eight months, Levi thought he’d have stumbled telling Callie Murphy what had happened to her brother. Adam had been so alive, so feisty, so determined to strike it rich. It was hard for Levi to believe all that energy had been snuffed out.
“Are you sure?” he’d asked the two grizzled miners who’d stopped by Wallin Landing with the news and to bring him Adam’s belongings and the note to the Murphys.
They’d hung their heads, avoided his gaze.
Callie Murphy was either the most suspicious woman he’d ever met, or the wisest. She was also plenty brave, ready to lay into him with that stick. Having been raised in the gold camps and now living so far out, she probably had to take precautions. He hadn’t intended to look dangerous, but then, he’d used his boyish charm too many times in the past to think that danger couldn’t look pleasing.
“Your sister has done a good job,” he said, gaze moving from face to face. “But even Callie has to get tired once in a while.”
How did he know? She’d been so careful not to let her brothers see it. Neither of them knew the nights she broke down and cried, trying to think of a way to change their circumstances. She was up before they were, in bed long after they climbed to the loft. There weren’t enough hours in the day for tending to the claim let alone all the washing and cooking and cleaning.
Adam and Pa had both promised better things.
He took a step closer and spread his hands, as if intent on making his case. He had nice hands, strong-looking and not too soft, like he could wield a pick or shovel if he needed to. He was slender for a man, but those broad shoulders and long legs seemed made to crouch beside a stream for hours panning.
And when had she started judging men by their ability to hunt for gold!
“His Frontier Christmas Family is delightful in every way. It will hit you in all the feels and leave your heart cozy warm and Christmasy. Swoony romance, adorable kids, and a large lovable family make this the ideal wintry weekend reaad!”
“I remember how it felt to lose my pa,” Levi said, in a quiet, thoughtful voice that was respectful of what they were feeling. “I was eight when he was killed in a logging accident.”
So maybe he knew a little about loss. Her little brother Frisco didn’t respond, but his twin Sutter raised his head. “What did you do?”
“I relied on my family and friends,” he said.
Now Frisco looked up at Callie. “You’re family, Callie. What do you think we should do?”
“I love the characters in His Frontier Christmas Family as well as the story. Like I said, Christmas books are my favorites. They make you feel warm and cozy inside. I definitely recommend this to all sweet romance lovers.”
Callie took a step closer to Levi. Her hair was parted down the middle and plaited to hang on either side of her face, making her look sad and worn. But even if it had been pinned up like most ladies wore it these days, he thought she’d still look sad. She certainly had reason.
“Did they give him a good burial?” she asked.
If someone from Seattle had asked him that question, he would have extolled the wisdom of the minister who delivered the eulogy, numbered the attendees who had honored the deceased with their presence and described the casket and the flowers. After watching men die in the northern wilderness, he was fairly sure what Callie was really asking.
“His Frontier Christmas Family was such a sweet historical romance and a totally fun read! Regina Scott has crafted a delightful tale of love and family, of finding forgiveness and finding a place to call home. I truly fell in love with the heroine’s precocious little brothers as they provided some real laugh-out-loud moments with their crazy antics.”
“A man I knew at Vital Creek was fond of saying that life is for the living,” he murmured. “What do you want to do with your life, Miss Murphy?”
She made a face. “Not so much a matter of wanting as what must be done. Frisco and Sutter need to go to school, learn a trade. I won’t have them dying with a pan in their hands, too. And someone has to raise Mica.”
“His Frontier Christmas Family is book seven from Regina Scott’s Frontier Bachelors series. I have read several of the books in this series and I believe this one is my favorite. It is a sweet and heartwarming story. I do have to admit I was like Callie and not sure what I thought of Levi at first but that quickly changed when I kept reading. I enjoyed watching Levi and Callie grow throughout. “
“You don’t believe I’ll take care of you all,” he said aloud.
She shrugged as if she didn’t believe much of anything.
He released her shoulders. “I want to help you, Miss Murphy. Adam supported me when no one else would. I want to honor his wishes.”
“The book kept getting better and better the more I read of it. Love the children in the book, especially the twins. . . . Loved his family, his sister trying to play matchmaker for Callie to different ones. Loved that there was a Christmas play in the book.”
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…
His Frontier Christmas Family
(Frontier Bachelors #7)
by Regina Scott
Christian Historical Romance
Paperback & ebook, 288 pages
December 1st 2017 by Love Inspired Historicals
A Family Made at Christmas
After taking guardianship of his late friend’s siblings and baby daughter, minister Levi Wallin hopes to atone for his troubled past on the gold fields. But it won’t be easy to convince the children’s wary elder sister to trust him. The more he learns about her, though, the more he believes Callie Murphy’s prickly manner masks a vulnerable heart…one he’s starting to wish he was worthy of.
Every man in Callie’s life chose chasing gold over responsibilities. Levi—and the large, loving Wallin family—might just be different. But she can tell he’s hiding something from her, and she refuses to risk her heart with secrets between them. Even as they grow closer, will their pasts keep them from claiming this unexpected new beginning?
Other Books in the Series
Regina Scott started writing novels in the third grade. Thankfully for literature as we know it, she didn’t actually sell her first novel until she had learned a bit more about writing such as vocabulary, sentence structure, and plot. After numerous short stories and articles in magazines and trade journals, she got serious about her novel writing. The Unflappable Miss Fairchild was her first novel to be published (March 1998).
Besides her novels, Regina Scott has had published three Regency novellas (“The June Bride Conspiracy” in His Blushing Bride, “Sweeter Than Candy” in A Match for Mother, and “A Place by the Fire” in Mistletoe Kittens). Two of her novels, A Dangerous Dalliance and The Twelve Days of Christmas, have been translated into German. A Dangerous Dalliance and The Incomparable Miss Compton have been translated into Italian. Starstruck and Perfection have been translated into Dutch.
Regina Scott and her husband are the parents of two sons. They reside in the Tri-Cities of southeast Washington State and are members of the Church of the Nazarene. Born in 1959 and raised in the Seattle area, Regina Scott is a graduate of the University of Washington. She comes by her writing talent naturally–both her parents are excellent writers in their vocations as teacher and electrical technician. Her mother envisioned the plot for “Sweeter Than Candy,” the novella which was written as a tribute to her.
Regina Scott is a devout Christian and a decent fencer; owns a historical, fantasy, and science fiction costume collection that currently takes up over a third of her large closet; and has been known to impersonate an independent consultant specializing in risk communication.
Tour Giveaway
1 winner will win an autographed print copy of His Frontier Christmas Family along with a set of rustic burnt-wood Christmas decorations the Wallin family would be pleased to own.
Today I welcome fantasy author Lorilyn Roberts to my blog for an interview. Make sure you check out her books – the first one is FREE, and the latest one is on sale right now for just 99 cents. They would make great Christmas presents!
Do you only write or do you have another full-time profession?I have a full-time profession providing closed caption for television. I worked as a court reporter for twenty years before I became a broadcast captioner. I have captioned many stations your readers have probably watched—Fox News, CNN, ESPN, Fox Sports, NBA, MLB, NHL, Golf, QVC, and dozens of local news channels in the United States. I’ve also captioned tons of sports, particularly soccer, from all over the world—Australia, Europe, New Zealand, and South America, as well as the Olympics.
Where do you like to write?
I write in my chair with my back to my desk with my legs propped up on my bed. I make that distinction because when I’m captioning, I face my desk. When writing stories, I deliberately turn away from my desk, turn on Pandora, and whisk myself to other worlds.
Is writing everything you thought it would be?
That’s a difficult question to answer. It’s not what I thought it would be, but I think it’s better. I don’t submit my work to publishers. I’m strictly Indy. At first, many years ago, the only way was the traditional route, submitting and being rejected. That didn’t work for me. Now that that’s no longer required, I love it. Instead of submitting articles, I write on my blog. I write books and can market them the way I want. I find that very freeing and challenging.
I love being in the “driver’s seat.” I’ve made mistakes and learned from them. Since I have a full-time job, I don’t have the stress of meeting publisher deadlines. I write when I can and trust God to help me carve out the hours to finish whatever I start. It’s in the process of working out our calling that we are refined and shown to be who we are. I’ve come to realize, this is my passion. I don’t write for money, prestige, or fame. I write because that’s the way God made me. And because I write for an audience of one, my books must be the absolute best that I can make them. So is it everything I thought it would be? It’s more.
Who is/was your favorite character to write about?Shale Snyder, one of the two protagonists in the Seventh Dimension Series. In many ways, she’s like me, although not in every way. But in some ways, her life journey mirrors mine.
Who was your last book boyfriend/girlfriend?
Many years ago I read The Exodus by Leon Uris, and there was a male protagonist in that book that I fell in love with. After all these years, that character is the one that comes to mind.
Do you like warm or cold days?
Warm days. I live in Florida—so I hate cold weather. I also love to swim and have scuba dove all over the world—including Australia’s Great Barrier Reef and the Red Sea in Eilat, Israel.
Tea, coffee or rum?
My favorite is a Starbucks latte, extra hot. I’ve been longing for one all day. Your question has prompted me to get one as soon as I finish your interview.
Do you like scary movies/stories?
If they end well and don’t have blood.
Do you write in one sitting or in bursts?
I tend to write in bursts. Finding the time is always, always difficult.
Thank you for hosting me on your blog. Be sure and let your readers know they can pick up the first ebook in the
Seventh Dimension Series, The Door, for free at their favorite book website. My new book
The Prescience will be 99c until Christmas, so I am encouraging readers to pick it up now while it’s on sale and read books one through four first. The story builds on each book, so it’s best to read the
Seventh Dimension Series in order. To learn more about The Prescience, visit
http://bit.ly/LPThuWebPrescienceThe first book in the series, The Door, is free. Click here to get your copy! I recommend people read the series in order. Pick up The Prescience while it’s on sale, though!
Book Tour Grand Finale for
The Happiness Pact
By Liz Flaherty
We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
Thank you so much for joining me on the tour for THE HAPPINESS PACT. I am embarrassingly excited about and proud of this book.
Born twenty-seven minutes apart in the same hospital, Tucker and Libby are each other’s first roommates and lifelong best friends. At their thirty-fourth birthday party, Tucker admits that it’s time—he’s ready to settle down with a wife, some kids, and a four-bedroom, two-bath house. Libby’s a little horrified by that, since her wish is for adventure without encumbrance. They decide to devote six months to helping each other fulfill their dreams, and THE HAPPINESS PACT is born.
—Liz
Seventeen and a half years ago, on prom night, she’d been in an automobile accident that killed three people and forever changed the lives of the other nine in the church van they’d used for transport. The losses had caused ripples in the small community of Lake Miniagua that could still be felt all this time later. The wreck had come almost exactly a year after Libby’s mother’s death from cancer, and a year before her father’s suicide.
Everything had changed with that painful string of events, naturally enough, but she’d made a life for herself in its aftermath. Although that life was mostly uneventful, she never lost the feeling that any minute now, the other shoe would drop.
“I loved this book. It has a lot of things going on in the story. I could relate to many of the issues the characters experienced.
The characters are well-developed and I enjoyed getting to know them all and it was easy to feel their emotions. . . .
I would highly recommend this book to other readers.”
– Vickie
“This is a steady moving, well-written story. . . .
I enjoyed the writing skill of the author in masking strong language, keeping the read’s interest and in creating the characters , along with scenes, which draws the reader “into” the tale.
The only thing I found unsettling was it was slightly dragged out, yet done so very well.”
– LAWonder10
I think it was a pact. Between Louisa May Alcott, Dorothy Canfield Fisher, Kate Douglas Wiggin, Lucy Maud Montgomery, and a whole host of other writers who wrote exclusively for young people. I think they wanted to fill gaps in lives, incite laughter where there wasn’t enough, and provide a psychological hankie to dry tears no one else knew were being shed.
I am still happy when I’m reading.
In The Happiness Pact, Libby and Tucker are best friends from the time they were born twenty-seven minutes apart in the same hospital. They fill in the gaps, laugh together long and loud, and ease each other’s pain as they grow up. On their thirty-fourth birthdays, however, when they would have thought they’d learned all the words in each other’s life books, they find out just how wrong they were. Libby wants adventure and Tucker wants a family.
How they find their answers, and make their dreams come true, is what The Happiness Pact is about. I hope you like their story. I hope reading it makes you happy.
“Do you want to take Jack some coffee?”
But Tucker didn’t answer her. His attention had already strayed. He went to greet Marie with a hug, seeming not to be in a hurry anymore. Libby shook her head, ignoring a ribbon of sadness the couple’s seemingly mutual attraction created at the back of her mind. She liked being single, always had, but sometimes it would be nice if someone looked at her the way Tuck was looking at Marie.
I loved writing this book. Tucker is gorgeous—he’s also a klutz. Libby is so ordinary that she fears wearing brown will make her disappear altogether. They made my heart ache, but even before they started down the path of “more,” I loved their relationship.
And I think more is the wrong word. Because there is nothing more or better than friendship. And there’s nothing deeper than the friendship between two people who love each other. While it’s wonderful and desirable to have friends who aren’t lovers, who would want a lover who wasn’t also a friend? I think that’s why, when writers talk about tropes and which ones are our favorites, I jump right onto the friends-to-lovers train.
He blinked again. “You have very pretty eyes. Did you know that?”
She rolled them. At least, she was fairly certain she did. They didn’t seem to be stopping quite where she wanted them to. “They’re battleship gray.”
“No.” He leaned closer to stare into them. “They have little blue sparkles around the edges of—what is it you call the colored part?”
“I call it Iris in my right eye and Georgina in my left. And there isn’t any blue there, unless bourbon and Mollie’s secret ingredient interfere with your vision. Which could well be,” she conceded and peered into their mugs. “These are empty.”
“I love stories in the friends to more trope. Know what’s even better? BFFs who have been friends since birth who fall in love with each other, and Liz Flaherty hits it out of the park with The Happiness Pact.”
“You won’t believe me.”
“Try me.”
He shrugged. “Okay. But I’ve never told anyone this.” He raised a peremptory finger. “Don’t laugh, either. You know how easily I cry.”
She snorted. She could count on one hand the times she’d seen him cry, not counting when they were in the same room in nearby Sawyer Hospital’s newborn nursery—and anything she said about that would be pure conjecture. The last time had been at Arlie and Jack’s impromptu engagement party only a few days before. Libby had been the one who brought him to tears, and she’d loved it. “Let’s hear it, big boy. Your secret will be safe with me.”
After clearing his throat, finishing his coffee and clearing his throat again, he said, “I want to get married. I want to have a kid. I want to buy a house that’s just a house—you know, four bedrooms, two baths and a basketball hoop in the driveway. With a garage that’s too full of sports equipment and garden tools to get the cars in it.”
“The Happiness Pact by Liz Flaherty is romantic and swoony and sassy and sweet. Tucker and Libby may not think they have any chemistry, but they do! I loved their shared moments, their shared memories, and their shared kisses.
A great read with a great message!”
Since the title of my book is The Happiness Pact, my mind has gone to all things happy, including the books I’ve read. Choosing a few is a little like picking a favorite child, but I’m going for ten in no particular order. We’ll see how it works out. Let me know how alike—or how drastically different!—our favorites are.
“Huge Dynamite 5 Stars for The Happiness Pact by Liz Flaherty. This was the first book I’ve read by Ms. Flaherty and I absolutely loved it! Such a wonderfully sweet, heart-warming tale.”
He had been her friend her whole life. When no one asked her to dance in the seventh grade, he had—and he’d seen to it his friends followed suit. When she’d had her appendix removed during freshman year, he’d brought her homework and helped her do it. Her mother died when she was fifteen, and he’d supported her through all the stages of grief—over and over again—until she could bear it. Her father’s suicide a few years later had thrown her right back into the maelstrom of mourning, and Tucker had been there for her again even though life had dealt him some hurts of his own.
He’d bought her the telescope that time. “See the stars?” he’d said. “They’re still there. Wish on them if you want, but they’re their own reward. No matter what happens, the stars will guide you to a safe place. You’ll be able to see Venus up close and talk to her whenever you like.” He’d never laughed at her assertion that Venus was indeed her guardian planet—and feminine in the bargain.
“The Happiness Pact is an enjoyable romance from Liz Flaherty. . . .
The Happiness Pact pretty much has Hallmark movie (or series!) written all over it (they would, of course, take out the depression thread, or tone it down). It’s an enjoyable read, and I wouldn’t hesitate to return to this world that Flaherty has created.”
When Tucker and Libby go looking for happiness in The Happiness Pact, they find it in unexpected places, such as helping a calf be born in a barn during a blizzard.
Although that wouldn’t be my first choice for how to spend a romantic evening, I do have a soft spot for the unexpected. For instance, I grew up on a small farm in the middle of the cornfields of Central Indiana. All I wanted was to move to a city and write books…
“My favorite part was when Libby calls Tucker. She’s in a bad place and doesn’t say anything when he picks up. His answer? “Oh, hi. I’ll be right there.” That right there is friendship. And that right there? That’s love.
I enjoyed this book although there were some slow parts. The characters were great and the ending was perfect.”
“Hey, if I know anything, it’s adventure. That’s why when Jack and I divided up the CEO job at Llewellyn’s Lures, I got all the travel parts. Even when I headquartered at the Tennessee plant, I traveled to Michigan at least a half dozen times a year. That meant I stopped at all points in between just in case I’d missed something along the way.”
“I can’t travel. I can’t afford it, for one thing, and I have the tearoom, for another—which I’m going to enlarge this year by making the carriage house into a smallish event center. I need my adventures to be of the cheap, two-hour variety.”
“You have Sundays and Mondays off and an assistant manager who’d love to have some time in there without her micromanaging boss.”
“The happiness pact by liz Flaherty is a great read about friends who become more. . . . This book is so amazing. It touches on some very real emotional issues that may hit a little to close to home for some. I am so glad I got the opportunity to read this one. I can not wait for more from Liz Flaherty.”
Since I’m not much of a movie person—other than Hallmark Christmas movies, which could be several blogs unto themselves—a friend suggested a list of the movies that made me smile. The catch is, #One, I’m not a movie watcher and #Two, in order to be entered to win a Christmas stocking with a book in it, you need to post with a movie that makes you happy. Or more than one will be fine, too, but just one entry. I’m sorry, but the drawing will be US only, although if the name selected is from outside the country, I’ll be happy to send a download.
So, here’s my list. In no particular order, because I’m way too linear as it is—I’m going to be a little wild and crazy.
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…
The Happiness Pact
by Liz Flaherty
Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
December 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming
The fine line between BFF and happily-ever-after…
Tucker Llewellyn and Libby Worth—strictly platonic!—realize they’re each at a crossroads. Tucker is successful, but he wants a wife and kids: the whole package. Libby knows that small-town life has her set in her ways; the tearoom owner needs to get out more.
So they form a pact: Libby will play matchmaker and Tucker will lead her on the adventure she desperately needs. But the electricity Libby feels when they shake on it should be a warning sign. Soon the matchmaking mishaps pile up, and a personal crisis tests Libby’s limits. Will Tucker be there for her as a best friend…or something more?
Liz Flaherty was a little nervous about retiring from her day job, but making quilts, more family time, traveling at the mere mention of “why don’t we go…” and becoming a Harlequin Heartwarming author have made the past years more fun and exciting than she could ever have imagined.
5 winners will receive a signed copy of EVERY TIME WE SAY GOODBYE and a Christmas stocking
Book Tour Grand Finale for
His Baby Dilemma
By Catherine Lanigan
We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
…Grace has longed for the day when Mica would love her. Mica only sees Grace as trying to unload the burden of his son on him. The rift between them is wider than the Atlantic Ocean that separates Europe from North America. The jolts and surprises they give each other will keep you guessing.
I hope you enjoy my story and that you fall in love with baby Jules as much as I did!
Happy reading!
— Catherine
“I thought that this was a sweet second chance story for these two characters. I also thought the secondary characters were enjoyable. I thought there was just the right amount of sweetness and just the right amount of humor. “
MICA HEARD IT from his sister-in-law, Maddie, who heard it from Mrs. Beabots, who got it straight from Louise Railton.
Grace Railton was back in town.
He didn’t know which emotion to pick first. Anger came to mind right off the bat, but it was quickly replaced with disappointment, hurt and curiosity.
“What’s she doing here?” Grace had made it pretty clear when she left town last year that Paris was the only universe she’d inhabit on a long-term basis. Indian Lake was too small for Grace, the beauty-pageant queen.
“A delightfully sweet story of never settling for less than “the one”! A surprise arrival leads to life altering news! Mica had been afloat trying to put the pieces of his life back together when a short-lived visit from his old friend Grace gave him a lot to think about before she returned to Paris. Now she’s suddenly back with a change that will knock him for a loop! The characters were easy to connect with, and the plot had me hoping she would be able to get it through his hard head that she could love him regardless of what he believed of himself! Always a joy to visit Catherine Lanigan’s fictional world of Indian Lake!”
Mrs. Beabots’s tree is decorated in a different theme every year. This year in HIS BABY DILEMMA, it’s decorated in aqua, pink and gold ornaments. You see these things in some of the catalogues this year. But back in the early 1960’s these were the colors on Jacqueline Kennedy’s White House Christmas Tree. I loved that tree.
During my research for this and many other books, I’ve read that blue and gold ribbons, ornaments and decorations are common in French homes. Blue candles.
“As Grace struggles with her unrequited love for Mica and he works through feelings of inadequacy (and a little jealousy), these two discover what they want most out of life looks different than it did before little Jules entered the picture. Tragedies happen and dreams change, but someone standing beside you makes life’s twists and turns worth the journey.”
She dropped her forehead to the steering wheel. “I’m out of my mind.” She balled her fist on her thigh. She had to do this. Had to. Tears stung her eyes, but she pressed her fingertips to the corners. She couldn’t let anyone see her crying. Especially not Mica.
She had to pull it together. She’d felt brave over the past year, but that didn’t come close to how heartrendingly brave she was going to need to be once she came face-to-face with Mica.
I’m fascinated by Christmas traditions from just about every country, but having a bit of French heritage myself, and since Grace Railson in HIS BABY DILEMMA lives in Paris, I wanted to bring some French Christmas Traditions to you.
We all know our own Christmas shopping regimens, chores, duties and delights.
All French Christmas markets find their origins in Alsace. No doubt, the proximity of the region to Germany gives Alsatian and French Christmas markets a distinctly Germanic touch. (My ancestors were from Alsace Lorraine.)
THE WALLS OF Mica’s apartment were closing in on him. His heart was racing as if he’d just lifted the John Deere tractor off its tires with both hands. He couldn’t catch his breath.
A son?
When Grace had pulled up, he’d been caught between elation and shock. For a brief moment, he’d actually thought she’d come to back to see him. That she was back in town to stay. Back in his life.
He’d been a fool.
I’m amazed that a lot of our American traditions that we cling to so tightly and we think are original to us, are actually hybrids of traditions that have been around for centuries.
Take the Christmas Flower. Poinsettia? Right? It’s a tropical plant. The story must be from a warm country, you’d think.
Well, it’s from France.
Luckily, Mrs. Beabots hadn’t rented her upstairs apartment to anyone and she was delighted to have Grace and the baby staying with her.
Once Grace had unpacked and settled in, Mrs. Beabots invited her for afternoon tea. She’d already invited Louise, as well as Sarah, who lived next door. Sarah had given birth to a baby girl, Charlotte, only three days after Jules was born on July 1, and Grace was looking forward to having her friend so close by.
Jules was still napping when Grace headed downstairs at four, but because he was used to being transported from her Paris apartment to her studio, where designers shouted at each other over the cutting tables and sewing machines whirred, he could just about sleep through anything.
“I kept wandering how it was going to end up with her job being in Paris but you will have to read the book to see. Love his family and her aunt and the ice cream shop. I definitely will have to read more of this series.”
“If you love babies, second chance romances, and challenges this book is for you! Catherine Lanigan sure knows how to throw that secret baby on us and the father for that matter. . . . I adored this read. I can’t help it a baby gets me every time.”
“I really like this story. It is interesting to watch the changes in the characters and to see how they dealt with the different life circumstances that they were faced with.
I think Catherine did a fabulous job again with this story.”
When the Cathedral bells toll and the choirs within Notre Dame sing, the vibration of those reverent echoes drift straight to heaven.
Sacred and solemn, joyous and hope-filled, Christmas Eve night in Paris will waft through one’s memory like no other Christmas.
“There is a long road towards redemption and the grace of second chances – where each party has to come to terms with their own baggage before they can move forward. At the centre of it all is this beautiful baby boy who gives their parents a run for their money. And rightly so! He is just the ‘unexpected’ bundle to bridge a family back together whilst finding a way to heal two hearts who never realised how fractured they had become when they stopped themselves feel love and embracing the blessings which come from being loved.”
MICA WAS SPEECHLESS as Grace rose from her chair, clearly bent on escorting him from her apartment. He couldn’t possibly have heard her right. She was turning him down? Was she out of her mind? What kind of game was she playing?
He bolted to his feet and grabbed her arm. “Wait a minute.”
“No, you wait a minute. I came to Indian Lake to get your help with our son. Granted, I didn’t go about any of this the right way. I should have told you about him when I discovered I was pregnant. I didn’t want to burden you because you were going through all kinds of—of…personal things. I thought I was sparing you from more trauma. I screwed up. I made a mistake. I see that now. But I’m not going to marry you. I only need your help for a while.”
“Okay, I’m just going to say it. This is Ms. Lanigan’s best book. Yes, best book. If you can get past the awesome cuteness on the cover, the inside is pretty spectacular also. Don’t get me wrong, all of her books are good but this one stands out; especially for the line that it is written for. “
When it comes to nostalgia, no one does it better than Americans. We can weep at the sight of a wreath on our mother’s front door, despite the fact that the wreath is plastic and a decade or more older. It is the love within that house that brings us home, time and again, holiday after holiday. It is love that shoves us out the door to buy more gifts, bake our bread for the kids, sew another stocking, weave a scarf for Uncle Jerry and take poinsettia’s to the nursing home. Americans are known throughout the world for their generosity. Show me a natural disaster and I’ll show you Americans who band together, help each other and literally give the shirts off our backs. We donate food, clothing and money, lots of money to the needy and helpless and homeless.
And at Christmas, we do more.
Mica glanced in the rearview mirror as a truck passed him.
He checked his speed. Ordinarily, this was about the spot where he’d hit the gas and tear up some asphalt.
Not anymore. He had precious cargo on board.
He had his son.
Mica inhaled deeply. “I’m a father.”
“And fathers have serious obligations and responsibilities to their children. Grace was right about what she wants for you, buddy. She’s got it all together. Smart.”
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…
His Baby Dilemma
(Shores of Indian Lake #9)
Catherine Lanigan
Adult Contemporary Romance
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
December 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Must they always be continents apart?
Nobody expects Paris fashion designer Grace Railton to settle down in her Indiana town, least of all Mica Barzonni. Fifteen months ago, he turned to her for comfort and compassion following a farming accident that left him permanently injured. Then she returned to France and went silent on him.
Until, suddenly, Grace shows up on his doorstep with life-altering news. Mica, a father? He’s barely learned to navigate his postaccident life. But this could be his chance to become the man he’s always wanted to be—the husband and father Grace and their baby son need. Now Mica just has to convince her to stay.
About the Author
Catherine Lanigan is the international bestselling and award-winning author of forty published titles in both fiction and non-fiction, including the novelizations of Romancing the Stone and The Jewel of the Nile, as well as over half a dozen anthologies, including “Chicken Soup for the Soul: Living your Dream”, “Chicken Soup for the Writer’s Soul”, and more. Ms. Lanigan’s novels have been translated into dozens of languages including German, French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, Chinese, and Japanese. Ms. Lanigan’s novels are also available in E-books on Amazon.com and Barnes and Noble.com, Apple Store, Mobi and Kobo. Several of her titles have been chosen for The Literary Guild and Doubleday Book Clubs. Her Vietnam war-based novel, The Christmas Star, won the Gold Medal Award Top Pick from Romantic Times Magazine and has also won Book of the Year Romance Gold Award from ForeWord Magazine as well as Book of the Year Romance from Reader’s Preference.
Lanigan is the author of a trilogy of non- fiction books regarding angelic intervention in human life:
Angel Watch, Divine Nudges and Angel Tales published by HCI and Cedar Fort. Skyhorse published Lanigan’s “how-to” book on writing:
Writing the Great American Romance Novel. Lanigan was tasked by the NotMYkid Foundation to write a non-fiction book addressing teen addictions. Ms. Lanigan’s first Young Adult adventure novel,
The Adventures of Lillie and Zane: The Golden Flute, was published by Cedar Fort.
Currently, she has published eight novels in the Shores of Indian Lake series for Harlequin Heartwarming: Love Shadows, Heart’s Desire, A Fine Year for Love, Katia’s Promise, Fear of Falling, Sophie’s Path and Protecting the Single Mom. Family of His Own pubs July, 2016. She has recently contracted for one more in the series: His Baby Dilemma.
As a cancer survivor, Ms. Lanigan is a frequent speaker at literary functions and book conventions as well as inspiring audiences with her real stories of angelic intervention from her Angel Tales series of books. She is an outspoken advocate for domestic violence and abuse and was honored by The National Domestic Violence Hotline in Washington, D.C. (
THE EVOLVING WOMAN). She has been a guest on numerous radio programs including “Coast to Coast” and on television interview and talk show programs as well as blogs, podcasts and online radio interview programs.
Tour Giveaway
– 1 winner will receive a $50 Amazon eGift Card and a Prize Pack that includes: autographed copies of Family of His Own and Katia’s Promise, a gold edged Paris latte mug, and hand soap in a pretty pump bottle (prize pack to US only, if international winner then gift card only)
– 1 winner will receive an ebook of Family of His Own (open internationally)
Thank you so much for offering the opportunity to be your guest today, Annie. 
Read a Book, Help a Cowboy!
Now through December 24, ten percent of the net proceeds from all my book sales are donated to the Justin Cowboy Crisis Fund. The JCCF is a non-profit organization that assists rodeo athletes who’ve sustained catastrophic injuries and are unable to work for an extended period. Every book purchased during this promotional period adds to the donation total. Don’t forget to include books on your Christmas lists! Back in 2013, I was researching details for The Christmas Cowboy, the first book in the Rodeo Romance series. I wanted to know how much medical care an injured cowboy would receive at a rodeo versus going to the hospital. In the story, the hero is a saddle bronc rider named Tate who sustains an injury at a rodeo. In an attempt to get my facts straight for the story, I reached out to the Justin Sportsmedicine Team®. Through mobile medical centers, they provide care at more than 125 PRCA rodeos annually. Their responses to my questions were extremely helpful and I was so impressed with them, I wanted to do a little something in return. So I launched a campaign to donate a portion of my book sales to the JCCF during the month of December. Two years ago, I added the month of November to my promotion, giving two months to raise funds for JCCF. If you enjoy rodeos and the cowboys who make them possible (or reading about them in books), I hope you’ll take a look at the JCCF. It’s a great organization that really does make a difference when these cowboys are injured. 
You can find my books at:
~ Giveaway ~
Make sure you enter this drawing for a chance to win a box of Christmas goodies!
~ Meet the Author ~
After spending her formative years on a farm in Eastern Oregon, hopeless romantic Shanna Hatfield turns her rural experiences into sweet historical and contemporary romances filled with sarcasm, humor, and hunky heroes. When this USA Today bestselling author isn’t writing or covertly hiding decadent chocolate from the other occupants of her home, Shanna hangs out with her beloved husband, Captain Cavedweller. Shanna loves to hear from readers. Follow her online at:
ShannaHatfield | Facebook | Newsletter | BookBub | Pinterest
Do you like winter? There are a lot of people who don’t. Just remember, summer is coming. Yes, it’s about seven months away, but we can still celebrate it. And today, Amy Schliser is on the blog telling us all about her new book, Summer’s Squall.
About the Book
Summer’s Squall begins in Baltimore where Baltimore City Police Detective, Abe (Lank) Lankton, assumes he’ll be helping his cousin solve a minor problem when she calls and asks him to fly west. When he learns that he’s been called out there to aid in capturing an elusive stalker, his first instinct is go straight back to Maryland. However, when he meets the alluring victim, Summer Cooper, all bets are off. With his future, and his own life, in jeopardy, Lank must choose between going back to the life he knows in America’s Charm City or staying out west to help Summer. But Lank’s not sure that Summer is all that she claims to be or that the stalker even exists. One thing he knows for sure, Summer is guilty… of stealing his heart. Summer’s Squall is published by Chesapeake Sunrise Publishing and will be available in local book stores. It may be ordered through Amazon, Barnes and Noble, iBooks, and most other online sellers.
Excerpt
“I’m sorry to see you go,” Summer said after Lank told her that he was heading home.
He studied her and tried to find some hint that she felt something for him; that she wanted him to stay.
Her expression was unreadable once again, and Lank realized how good she was at masking whatever
feelings she may have had for him, if she had any at all.
“I wish I could do more,” Lank said. “I’m sorry.”
“I understand,” she said. “It was a long shot anyway. I really appreciate you coming out here.”
“It’s strange,” Lank began.
“What is?”
He shook his head. “The method of stalking, the lack of communication, the random series of events.
There’s no pattern, no rhyme or reason.”
“Which is exactly why there’s nothing to go on,” Summer sighed.
“None of it makes sense,” Lank said. “It’s almost as if…” He stopped and looked away, unwilling to
voice his thoughts.
“As if I’m making it up,” Summer finished the thought for him.
Lank was surprised that she knew what he was thinking and at her frankness.
“Yeah.” He shook his head. “I’m sorry, Summer. I don’t want to make accusations. I really want to
believe you, but the cop in me can’t help but consider all the angles.”
She raised her eyes without moving her head. “Gee, thanks for your vote of confidence.”
“Look, I’m not saying you aren’t telling the truth. I’m just saying that-” The buzzing of Lank’s phone
made them both jump.
“Excuse me,” he said as he looked at the screen. Summer motioned for him to go ahead.
“Hello, Lankton here.” Their eyes met as he listened to the call. “Sorry, boss. Yeah, I’ll take the case.
I’ll be back in the office tomorrow.”
Lank ended the call and looked at Summer.
“So, that’s it,” Summer said. “You ride in on your white horse, decide I’m just some crazy, attention-
seeking maniac, so you just say goodbye and head home.”
“First, I never said that. And second, what else am I supposed to do, Summer? I don’t have any
reason to stay. Do I?” He leveled his gaze on her, waiting for her to answer.
They stared each other down for a moment, but Summer never let her wall down. She held his gaze
without taking the bait.
“I guess not,” she told him in an even tone. “You’re right. It’s time for you to leave.”
“I think that’s a good idea,” Lank said as he stood, downed the rest of his tea, and headed toward the
front door.
“Aren’t you going to tell me not to leave town?” Summer said coldly. He turned back to face her.
“Isn’t that what you’re supposed to say to a suspect?”
“I’m not accusing you of anything, Summer,” Lank said, his tone evenly measured. Why was she
angry all of a sudden? He had simply told her the truth. Even she admitted that nothing added up. She had
to see the absurdity of the whole thing.
She stood and looked at him, her jaw set and her eyes shooting daggers.
“But you don’t believe me, either,” she challenged.
“It’s not that I don’t want to believe you. I don’t know what to believe.”
“You son of a…” She shook her head. “I thought you came out here to help me.”
“I did, but there’s nothing more I can do. I’ve looked at every angle, analyzed every possibility. You
said yourself that it’s time for me to leave.”
“Yes, but I’d rather you leave without thinking I’m crazy or a criminal.”
“Summer, I can’t pull clues out of the air or decide you’re telling the truth just because,” he stopped
and looked away.
“Just because, what?” she demanded, taking a step toward him and placing her hands on her hips.
When he turned back, her green eyes were filled with such intensity that he couldn’t look away.
“Let’s not go there, Summer. We just agreed that it’s time for me to go home.”
“You’re right,” she said, her voice low and challenging, and…sexy. “Just go home. I never asked you
to come here to begin with.”
Lank held her gaze a moment longer as he fought an inner battle between his mind and his body. Heat
and desire radiated from Summer, and Lank heard himself make a low, instinctual noise akin to a growl.
Without thinking, he grabbed Summer and pulled her to him. His mouth crushed hers, and her mouth
opened to his. Her hands went to the back of his neck, and he enfolded her into his embrace, kissing her
mouth, her chin, the hollow of her throat, until she groaned with the same primal urge that he felt himself.
Suddenly, Summer’s eyes opened, and she pushed him away. She stood, staring at him, her eyes wide
and filled with passion. As if awaking from a dream, she suddenly looked panicked and wrapped her arms
around her chest, her hand going to her mouth to cover it, her eyes closing.
“Oh God, I, Lank,” she shook her head and turned away. “I don’t know why I did that. I, I don’t know
what to say. Please, you need to go.”
“Is that what you really want, Summer?” Lank said quietly, coming up behind her.
Without turning around, Summer shook her head. But she didn’t change her mind.
“Yes,” she said quietly. “I want you to go.”
“I’m sorry, Summer,” Lank said as he turned to leave. He glanced back once more, but Summer
refused to face him. He hurried from the house and started to walk down the driveway before he realized
he didn’t have a car. He stopped, closed his eyes, and shook his head, resigning himself to a long, lonely
walk back to Megan’s.
About the Author
Award-winning author, Amy MacWilliams Schisler, grew up in Maryland, not far from Washington, DC. She graduated from Salisbury University with a Bachelor’s Degree in History and Political Science and from the University of Maryland with a Masters of Library and Information Science. Amy began writing as a child and spent fifteen years working as a librarian, a job she dearly loved, before becoming a full-time author. Her debut book was the beloved children’s book, Crabbing With Granddad, an autobiographical book about spending the day with her grandfather that us used throughout the state of Maryland as part of its Maryland history unit. Amy’s first novel, A Place to Call Home, was published in 2014 by Sarah Book Publishing. Her books, Picture Me and Whispering Vines, received 2016 and 2017 Illumination Book Awards, which recognize the best Christian themed books published both in the traditional book form as well as the ebook industry. Whispering Vines received a 2017 LYRA Award for the best romance of 2016. She followed up her success with the acclaimed, Island of Miracles in 2017. Amy’s weekly blog currently has over 1000 subscribers, and topics vary from current events to her home life with her husband, Ken, and their three daughters, Rebecca, Katie, and Morgan as well as their two dogs, Rosie and Misty.
Schisler delights in speaking to groups, and more information may be found at her website: http://www.amyschislerauthor.com.
You may follow Amy online at the following places:
http://amyschislerauthor.com
http://amyschisler.wordpress.com
http://facebook.com/amyschislerauthor
https://www.goodreads.com/amyschisler
https://www.bookbub.com/authors/amy-schisler
Twitter @AmySchislerAuth
Giveaway
Amy is generously giving one lucky person two signed paperbacks. One copy is for you and the other for your friend. You can enter here:
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Tour Schedule
December 4
December 5
December 6
December 7
December 8
December 9
Book Tour Grand Finale for
A Gift for Santa
By Beth Carpenter
We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
Launch – Note from the Author
This book was a lot of fun to research, especially the parts about the reindeer. To celebrate the launch on December 5th, we’ll be focusing on reindeer all week in our visits to these wonderful book blogs. There will be excerpts from the book, reviews, and special reindeer-themed posts and prizes. Hope you can join us.
— Beth
Paulette’s Papers – Research also known as Playing with Reindeer
Any writer will tell you research is vital, and if my research for A GIFT FOR SANTA happened to require a visit to the reindeer farm in Palmer, Alaska, well that was just part of the job. (I love this job.) The most interesting part of the tour came when it was time to feed the four-month-old reindeer calves alfalfa pellets. Notice that at four months, they’re already growing impressive antlers. According to our guide, having strangers in their pen hand-feeding them helps condition the young reindeer to be comfortable around all kinds of people.
Hearts & Scribbles – Excerpt
The joy on the boy’s face when Snowflake nuzzled him, hoping for another crabapple, had Marissa pulling out her cell phone to take a picture. She’d just planned to have Ryan feed the animals and let Becky stuff him with cookies, but he was so fascinated, she ended up showing him how to harness one of the reindeer and hitch it up to a little red wagon. He led the reindeer in a loop around the barn and toward the house, as confidently as any of their teenage elf helpers.
Heidi Reads… – Review
“I loved the Alaskan setting in this book, especially at a reindeer farm! The author wrote with authority of the various aspects of Alaskan life and I loved the details that opened my eyes to the realities of living in snow… or without it when it’s needed. . . It was great to read the story of Dana’s brother and she and Sam from the first book in the series were incorporated into this story seamlessly. You don’t need to read them in order, but I loved The Alaskan Catch so don’t miss it!”
A Night’s Dream of Books – Interview
Beth: We’ve lived in Anchorage for twenty-seven years now, although for the last three we’ve spent part of the year in Arizona. We’re in Alaska now to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas. Most of those descriptions are of places I’ve been and seen many times. I love Alaska, and it makes me happy to share the beauty of my state, especially at Christmas.
Celluloid Diaries – The Story Behind Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
When I was growing up, my favorite Christmas special was always
Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer. I can still picture it on my parents’ big console television, with commercials showing electric razors gliding across the snow and Burl Ives as the singing snowman.
You all know the story of Rudolph, the reindeer that didn’t fit in because of his red nose. Rudolph struggled, but in the end, he was able to take his place on Santa’s team and become a great success. But do you know the story of Rudolph’s creator? He has some struggles of his own before he became a success.
Book Lover in Florida – Excerpt
Friday afternoon, Chris was carrying his Santa suit to his truck when Ryan showed up. Good thing he had it in a bag. He’d hate to have to explain it to Ryan.
“Hi. What’s new?”
The boy dragged his foot along the ground. “I gave my Granny the reindeer sandwich.”
“Uh-huh?” Chris hung the bag on the hook in his truck and slammed the door. “What did she say?”
“She thought it was funny.” But Ryan didn’t seem happy about it. “She forgot my name.”
Reading Is My SuperPower – Review
“A Gift for Santa by Beth Carpenter really must be read with a plate of yummy Christmas goodies and a steaming mug of hot cocoa. It is a Hallmark Channel worthy story of love and family and Christmas. The characters quickly feel like old friends, and the setting is vivid and intriguing. There’s a bit of suspense thrown in to round out the mix, and overall this is just a perfect story for the holiday season!”
Nicole’s Book Musings – Excerpt
Volunteering at the assisted-living home:
The residents behaved themselves for the rest of the gift distribution, but as soon as the Brownies left, the teasing began anew.
“Are you telling me you and that handsome Santa aren’t an item?” A lady dressed in a purple-and-green caftan clucked her tongue. “What’s wrong with you, girl?”
Marissa gave an exaggerated sigh. “You know what they say about dating the boss. It only leads to trouble.”
It’s All About the Romance – Character Interview with Oliver
Today, we’re talking with Oliver Gray, owner of a reindeer farm in Alaska. Oliver, how do you make a living as a reindeer farmer?
Tourism, mostly. In the summer, people come out to visit the farm. We have goats, rabbits, chickens, and a pig as well as the reindeer for the children to interact with, and we have a nice picnic area over by the barn.
This time of year, we do Christmas parties, with reindeer rides and an appearance by Santa Claus.
underneath the covers – Excerpt
By the time he returned, three girls and a boy had gathered. Marissa handed him Peppermint’s lead rope and led Dazzle a few steps away. The trio of girls tagged after her. The boy hanging around Chris seemed to be more interested in petting the reindeer than talking, so Chris was able to eavesdrop on Marissa’s conversation.
“Are you really an elf?” The smallest girl gazed up at her with wide eyes.
“Of course I am. You have to have the right qualifications to get onto Santa’s team.”
Inside the Mind of an Avid Reader – Review
“Another amazing read by Beth Carpenter! . . . The love and history in this book is complicated but is absolutely outstanding. If you want a book that you absolutely can not put down. This book is for you!”
Teatime and Books – Interview
2. Can you tell us about your current work-in-progress?
This is another book in the Northern Lights series, about a fashionista who lost her job as an upscale department store buyer and talked her way into a job in an outdoor outfitters store. After a public disaster at a company team builder, she turns to a survival instructor to teach her to be “outdoorsy.”
Brooke Blogs – 6 Things You Might Not Know about Reindeer
1. Reindeer and caribou are the same animal. In North America, we usually refer to the Eurasian ones, especially if they’re domesticated, as reindeer and the wild herds as caribou. Male reindeer are called bulls, females cows, and babies are calves.
The Bookworm Chronicles – Excerpt
“Why don’t these reindeer fly?”
“They haven’t had their special flying food yet. Flying takes a lot of energy, so I don’t give them the food until we have the sleigh all loaded and ready to go.”
“How can you go to every house in one night?” The boy who asked was maybe three or four years older than Ryan. He’d obviously been drilled not to spoil it for the younger kids, but he couldn’t resist poking holes in the theory.
Deal Sharing Aunt – Promo
Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang! – Easy Pinecone Reindeer Ornament Craft
Since A GIFT FOR SANTA takes place on an Alaskan reindeer farm, we’re all about reindeer this week. Here’s a fun and easy Christmas ornament to make. Hint: If you can find some pinecones that are a little tighter than mine, it will be easier to place the eyes.
I Am A Reader – Excerpt
Chris’s first foray into babysitting:
The first hour was a piece of cake. Ryan dragged out all his dinosaur paraphernalia, including the balsa wood model they’d made together, and they set up a dinosaur colony on the living room floor. Then he brought a tub of blocks and built walls for the dinosaurs to knock down. It was edging toward ten and Chris was thinking of starting cleanup when a cry sounded from the baby monitor.
Chris waited to see if April might just have cried out in her sleep, but a furious wail convinced him she meant business.
Janices Book Reviews – Review
“I really enjoyed this book, loved how Chris did such a good job playing Santa. . . . This is a 2nd in the series so I really enjoyed seeing some characters from the first book. I found myself getting attached to the characters and they seem so real.”
Rockin’ Book Reviews – Reviews
“This is a bittersweet story of lost love, regret, true friendship, and building new relationships. . .
The characters are very individual and endearing. The scenes “play out” in a way one can feel he/she is experiencing the beauty and intrigue of Alaska.” – LAWonder10
I really like this story. There is a lot of life’s realities in it. Hard choices we all have to make at some point in our lives. It was fun to see how things played out for the characters in this story… I highly recommend this book to other readers.” – Vickie
And don’t forget to enter the giveaway below, if you haven’t already…
A Gift for Santa
(Northern Lights #2)
by Beth Carpenter
Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
December 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming
It’s the season for giving…and starting over?
A reindeer farm without Santa wouldn’t be Christmas in Marissa Gray’s Alaskan hometown. Luckily Chris Allen’s there to pinch-hit, although for Marissa, seeing her ex-fiancé again brings back memories of what might have been.
Ten years after their breakup, the feelings between the wildlife biologist and blue-eyed fisherman are stronger than ever. Only now there’s a foster kid in the mix, as well as the shocking crime that cost Marissa her job and her family’s security. She and Chris need to find their way to a meeting of minds and hearts to make this truly a season for second chances…
Other Books in the Series
The Alaskan Catch
(Northern Lights #1)
by Beth Carpenter
Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 368 pages
August 1st 2017 by Harlequin Heartwarming
Where life’s currents take you…
Dana Raynott just traveled 3,600 miles to reunite with the brother who changed his name and fled to Alaska nineteen years ago. It’s impossible not to be moved by this wild, breathtaking state, even if Dana’s no closer to finding the answers she came here for.
Her brother’s best friend, Anchorage engineer Sam MacKettrick, might be able to help her. He’s strong and kind—a six-foot, irresistible blend of diverse cultures. He’s also haunted by a tragic family history with a startling connection to Dana’s past…
About the Author
Once upon a time …
when
Beth Carpenter was a little girl, she read everything she could get her hands on, and entertained herself on the school bus by making up stories in her head. Not a lot has changed. She’s still consuming books like M&Ms, and spends her days creating happily-ever-afters for her imaginary friends.
She lives in Alaska and Arizona with her husband and an aggressively affectionate fifty-pound lap dog. She loves to hear from readers.
Tour Giveaway
Reindeer Prize Pack (US only), which includes:
- Large handcrafted quilted reindeer tote bag
- Signed Copy of The Alaskan Catch
- Reindeer Cookie Cutters
- Inflatable Reindeer Antler Ring-toss Game
$25 Amazon Gift Card (open internationally)
Announcing the Epic Conclusion to the Keepers of the Wellsprings Series!
Author/illustrator Missy Sheldrake has fairies dancing in her head–but these aren’t like any fairies you know. Her young adult fantasy books will sweep you into a rich, magical world, following the adventures of teen-aged swordswoman Azi, her best friend Rian, the Mage, and her colorful fairy companion, Flit, as they battle to unravel a wicked curse threatening the age-old peace in their world. Sheldrake’s books are written for a broad audience, and rated PG by My Book Cave. Her themes revolve around redemption, trust, and the love of family and friends. Today, she’s so excited to announce the release of Call of Elespen, the fifth and epic conclusion to her Keepers of the Wellsprings series, she’s offering the first four books in the series FREE November 29th only! You read that right, you can essentially get the entire epic series for just $3.99 if you grab all four books today!
In Call of Elespen:
“Four offerings claimed. Two left. One, I can easily get. Ceras’lain. The other, Elespen. I don’t know much about that place. Only what I saw from the ship while I escaped from Sunteri. A jungle on either side of a wide river. A city I was forbidden to enter. Forbidden, even though I didn’t even realize it at the time…” -Tib, Dreamstalker, escaped slave
“They know our victory is nearing. They know we’re the Champions of Light. They’d rather keep us here, trapped in their lair, distracted from our quest to restore Brindelier and claim the Wellsprings.” -Flitt, fairy companion to Sir Azi Hammerfel
A vindictive Sorcerer King with a century-old grudge has spent decades gathering an army obsessed with claiming what their master feels he’s owed. Threatened by his dark dealings and sinister followers, will the Champions of Light succeed in claiming Brindelier’s Wellspring for the Dawn, or will its vast power fall forever into the hands of the unforgiving Dusk?
Make the choice: Dawn, or Dusk, and ally yourself with dragons, fairies, mages, knights, and muses in the epic conclusion to the Keepers of the Wellsprings series.
What reviewers are saying about the Keepers of the Wellsprings series:
“…this book had nice readability and should appeal to a wide range of audiences. Too often fantasy is written far too mature, or too childish. The author does a good job of not talking down to her audience, which leads to this readability range.” Fatho, Amazon Reviewer
“Azaeli is an awesome young lady; one to watch in the role model stakes.” -T.L. Clark, Author
“…an enchanting read from start to finish.” J. Ortiz, Amazon Reviewer
“Epic, Epic, Epic, wow what an incredible book, story and entry to a fantasy realm. This has movie possibilities written all over it. Magnificent writing, adventure with good and evil and some that are in between the two. Dark forces and forces of light. It simply doesn’t get any better.” -Kindle Reviewer
About the Author:
Missy Sheldrake is an author/illustrator who has been conjuring images of fairies in one form or another for as long as she can remember. The wind in the trees and the rich scent of forest earth are her most treasured sources of inspiration, and on most mornings you will find her wandering the wooded paths of her neighborhood, dreaming of the next adventure she hopes to put to the page. She published her first novel, Call of Kythshire, in March of 2015 and intends to keep writing as long as the fairies in her dreams allow it.
Galleries of illustrations and excerpts from the Keepers of the Wellsprings series can be viewed on her website and blog.
Welcome to Realm Explorers! In this weekly series, we visit a variety of unique worlds created by talented science fiction and fantasy authors. Enjoy your travels! And don’t forget to read to the bottom of the post to find out more about each author and see how to purchase the featured book.
Author’s name: Juli D. Revezzo
Title of book and/or series: Frigga’s Lost Army
Brief summary of the story:
An Army cook is taken prisoner in the second world war, only to find a divine benefactor he never thought to encounter.
Brief description of the world or location you created for this story:
Frigga’s Lost Army takes place mainly in and around a POW camp in Naples, Italy after the Battle of Tunisia that happened in 1942. Though this is an “alternate Italy”, so to speak, tried to create the look and feel of the Naples area as much as I could. Some parts of the story also take place in Frigga’s castle, Fensalir, and that was easier to play with. So Ben (the main character) shifts between the world of WWII to the more Medieval-type world of her castle of Fensalir when she summons him.
If we were to visit Fensalir as tourists, what would you recommend that we see or do there?
I would look for the cats. Frigga’s cats can be very helpful and generous. Also, she has this magical music room you won’t want to miss. J Oh! And if you head down to Ben’s pow camp in Naples, Italy, check out the umbrella trees (a.k.a. stone pines). Weird, fascinating things. They really do resemble umbrellas! Man are they cool.
What dangers should we avoid in Fensalir and Ben’s real world?
In Frigga’s world, the forest leading up to Fensalir can be tricky to navigate. Also, back in the “real world” Ben is under the thumb of the Fascist army so, yeah, with them, you’d want to be careful what you say and do around them. You (or he, rather) wouldn’t want to anger them, when they’re basically holding the power of life and death over him.
Is there a distinct or unusual type of food or meal that we might be served in this world?
Being as Benjamin’s “real life” takes place in Italy, and he’s the platoon cook, he’s become very proficient at all types of Italian food. In Frigga’s world, she shows him how to make big fat cheeseburgers that are to die for. Definitely, we’d want to try those out. J
What types of weaponry or fighting styles are common here?
Being in the Army, Benjamin was taught to handle an M1 machine gun, but… throughout his captivity, he’s denied that. Until he meets a guard (who, like him, has ties to Frigga) who teaches him a little more about hand-to-hand and fighting with any available weapon. I have a brother who teaches Self-defense so referred to him when necessary.
What types of vehicles, animals, technology, etc. are used to travel in or to the area?
Oh, well, in Italy, it’s the usual Jeeps and transport trucks. Ben gets around Fensalir by good old foot power. As for animals, Frigga’s cats are able to help him hide things when necessary, and can fetch and deliver, more than your average cat will. 😉
What types of plants, animals, or sentient races might we encounter in alternate Italy that we don’t see on Earth?
Oh, let’s see…Even though we’re on Earth, here in Italy, there are Frigga’s cats, which as I’ve said can cross the realms easily enough at her behest. They also pull her chariot in battle. She also has Valkyries and berserkers in her army and a few assorted other mythical creatures.
What role, if any, does magic or the supernatural play in the lives of people in alternate Italy? If there is magic, please give some examples of what it involves or how it’s used.
Huge. While Frigga can’t do everything here, like free Ben and his friends, she sends her cats, like I said, to our realm to assist him, and she uses her to ease Ben’s pain, when it’s necessary. She also amasses an army when it’s necessary.
Is there any advanced or unusual technology in alternate Italy? If you haven’t described it already, please give some examples.
Not specifically, but 1942-43 was the first use of Sherman tanks in battle. And Ben and his comrades in the POW camp fashion stoves and working radios out bits and pieces, (that’s actual period; POW’s in WW2, did just that.)
Tell us about any sports, games, or activities that are available for entertainment in alternate Italy.
One of Ben’s colleagues in the camp builds a radio out of scraps that they listen to to keep informed and pass the time.
Are the days of the week and months of the year the same in alternate Italy as in our world? What holidays or special events are celebrated regularly there?
The same. M-F, Easter, July 4th, Christmas, etc.
Is there a particular religion practiced in alternate Italy? Please describe what it involves.
For the most part, the usual you’d find in our world. With a touch of paganism.
What is the political or government structure in alternate Italy? Who is in charge there at the moment, and what kind of leader is he/she?
Mussolini and the Fascists, oh, boy (Which, though this is an alternate version of Italian/world history, he/they really were in charge during the time period). Whole books have been written about them! They took over after World War I and Mussolini decided he was going to restore the glory of Ancient Rome. Unfortunately, a lot of young men followed his beliefs, right into war. *grumble* Luckily, they ended up coming to their senses, and dispatching Mussolini.
Are there any other unique cultural practices that we should be aware of if we visit Ben’s world?
For the most part, the Italians are Catholic, but… The guard I mentioned above who befriends Ben shows him that one local church is a portal into Valhalla.
Has anything in your actual life inspired the locations, cultures, etc. in your book?
My family is from Naples, Italy, originally, the same city-state the book takes place in. So when I saw that one of the prison camps was built there, I couldn’t resist setting Frigga’s Lost Army in Naples. I also had two grandfathers and a grandmother (a nurse) involved with the Army and Navy in WWII.
What, if any, “hot-button” or controversial topics do you touch on in your book?
*thinks* Outside maybe the treatment of POW’s at the time, or how the Italians felt about Mussolini, I don’t think there are many.
Juli D. Revezzo loves fantasy and Celtic mythology and writing stories with all kinds of fantastical elements. She is the author of the Antique Magic series and the Paranormal Romance Celtic Stewards Chronicles series, historical fantasy Frigga’s Lost Army, as well as the Victorian romances House of Dark Envy and Watchmaker’s Heart, the Gothic fantasy romance, Lady of the Tarot, and more. She is also a member of the Independent Author Network and the Magic Appreciation Tour.
Where, and in what formats, can we purchase your book?
Where can readers connect with you online?
I hope you all enjoyed the trip to alternate Italy. Questions about the world or the book? Ask them in the comments and the author will get back to you!
Click here to read other posts in the Realm Explorers series.
Please join us again next Monday for a trip to another world in next week’s edition of Realm Explorers!
-Annie Douglass Lima
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Book Tour Grand Finale for
A Family for Christmas
By Tara Taylor Quinn
We hope you enjoyed the tour! If you missed any of the stops
you can see snippets, as well as the link to each full post, below:
Welcome to a very very special story in my Where Secrets Are Safe series. If you’ve never been to The Lemonade Stand – please, come in. Visitors to the Stand are transitory so you’ll fit right in with the rest of the current batch of residents, who are also new here. If you’ve been here before, buckle your seat belts because you’re in for a double treat…
“Oh my goodness, this book…
A Family for Christmas brings together so many threads, both in this series on the whole and this book in particular. There are two main romantic relationships–Cara with Simon and Lila (finally!) with Edward–and two families coming together for Christmas, families that include parents, children, and grandchildren that have been apart for far too long. . .
Once again the romances here are very slow moving, because the characters have so much more to deal with than just finding their ways to romantic HEAs and there aren’t easy fixes for what they have to do–but that just means that when they do get there everything will be that much sweeter.”
Please tell us a little about the characters in your book. As you wrote your protagonist was there anything about them that surprised you?
This story has two heroines and two heroes and that kind of surprised me. I knew the older couple, have known the older heroine for all 16 books in this series, and she surprised me most of all. I’ve always known she had issues, but I didn’t understand them until this book. She showed them to me and made me cry.
The younger heroine – she took me on a journey I did not intend to take, with a topic I had no intention of exploring. But there you go…welcome to my world.
“A healing opportunity! If you read the previous book in this series (For Joy’s Sake), you will quickly pick up on the fact that this is a direct continuation of the on-going plot of that story. . . . None-the-less, I was happy read the completion of this mystery, and I enjoyed Simon & Cara’s relationship a lot!”
“A FAMILY FOR CHRISTMAS is a moving story about characters who are trying to rise above their fears and abuse to find love and fulfillment in their lives. Heartbreaking and raw in places, sweet and intimate in others, it is a story that will draw on the reader’s heart and drive them to hope for a happily-ever-after ending. Highly recommended to those who like their characters to rise victorious over their struggles—to find that happiness can be for everyone, even those with deep scars.”
“I really enjoyed this book. It pulled me in from start to finish. I laughed at times, I found I had tears in my eyes at times. I found myself being pulled into these characters lifes and cheering them on. I will definitely be going back and reading other books from this series.”
“A family for Christmas is the thirteenth book in the Where Secrets Are Safe series by Tara Taylor Quinn. . . . Cara and Simon needed more focus on them and not what was happening with Cara’s daughter. Overall I enjoyed the read.”
“When I read the synopsis of this book, I knew I had to read it. . . . This book provides the true meaning of blood being thicker than water – no matter what, your family will be there for you. An enticing story to be read in front of the fireplace with a cozy blanket.”
“The reason why this book is pure perfection is the way Ms. Quinn wrapped up all the loose threads that we didn’t know where there. . .
Again, I’m so very sad if this is the last book in the series. I’ve come to love The Lemonade Stand and everything that it stands for. Ms. Quinn has written that rare series that is relevant, relatable, emotional, swoon-worthy, at times raw but in the end of so satisfying.”
Don’t forget to contribute to a local shelter near you and enter the giveaways
below, if you haven’t already. They’ll be running until the end of November…
A Family for Christmas
(Where Secrets Are Safe #13)by Tara Taylor QuinnAdult Contemporary Romance
Mass Market Paperback & ebook, 384 pages
November 1st 2017 by Harlequin Superromance
A second chance for Joy
While recovering at a remote cabin, Dr. Simon Walsh stumbles across Cara Amos. Injured and left for dead, Cara is harboring dark secrets. Yet Simon can’t help falling for his mysterious patient. As her memory returns and her injuries fade under his gentle care, he vows to help her find her missing daughter.
At The Lemonade Stand shelter, managing director Lila McDaniels is helping Cara’s estranged father, Edward Mantle, bond with his traumatized granddaughter, Joy. And his feelings extend well beyond gratitude.
Bringing this family together seems impossible… Luckily, Christmas is the season of miracles.
About the Author
The author of more than 70 original novels, in twenty languages, Tara Taylor Quinn is a USA Today bestseller with over six million copies sold. A 2015 RITA finalist Tara appears frequently on bestseller lists, including #1 placement on Amazon lists, and multiple showings on the Publisher’s Weekly Bestseller list. She has appeared on national and local TV across the country, including CBS Sunday Morning.
Tara is a supporter of the National Domestic Violence Hotline. If you or someone you know might be a victim of domestic violence in the United States, please contact 1-800-799-7233.
Domestic Violence Shelter Drive
As Tara supports speaking out against domestic violence and supporting those who have been abused, both through her books and in her community, she would love for you to join her in donating items to a shelter in your area. Find out more here.
Tour Giveaways
1ST RAFFLECOPTER:
1 winner will receive ebooks of Where Secrets are Safe series books 1 – 13 (open internationally)
1 winner (per the four tour segments) will receive a $10 Amazon eGift Card (open internationally)
2ND RAFFLECOPTER:
1 winner will receive 25,000 Harelquin My Rewards Points, equivalent to 5 books (US and CAN only)
1 winner will receive 5,000 Harelquin My Rewards Points, equivalent to 1 book (US and CAN only)
Both Rafflecopter giveaways end November 30th, 2017
His Frontier Christmas Family
Do you only write or do you have another full-time profession?
Who is/was your favorite character to write about?
The Happiness Pact
Paulette’s Papers – Research also known as Playing with Reindeer
It’s All About the Romance – Character Interview with Oliver
Brooke Blogs – 6 Things You Might Not Know about Reindeer
Mello & June, It’s a Book Thang! – Easy Pinecone Reindeer Ornament Craft
The Alaskan Catch
