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Tuesday, December 31, 2019

ADDRESS For MURDER by TONYA KAPPES

I am so glad to be back with Bernie and her friends. One of the things I love about this series is the sassy characters. Everyone knows each other and it makes for a fun and intriguing story. The author has really developed the characters more in this book and they start to grow on you.

I love how Bernie always finds time to visit while delivering the mail. In this adventure we have Carla who is obsessed with beautifying the community. It was easy to visualize her carrying around weed killer and spraying it around  town .

When one of the townspeople turn up dead, Bernie is on the job figuring out who the killer is. It may seem obvious who is guilty, but with the excellent writing skills of the author, she keeps us guessing till the end. The book is filled with laughs, twists and and intrigue. Get ready for a roller coaster ride with Bernie on the job  as amateur detective.

I received a copy of this book from the author. The review is my own opinion.


About the Books

Book:  Mistletoe Melody and Mistletoe Mission
Author: Stacey Weeks
Genre: Contemporary inspirational romance
Release Date: Book 1 (December 1, 2018) Book 2 (December 1, 2019)
MistletoeMelody_w12697_750Mistletoe Melody:
Former musician, Melody Staff, spends Christmas at a bed and breakfast in the village of Mistletoe Meadows. While everyone sings familiar carols of Christ drawing near, Melody stumbles over misplaced notes. Her recent diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis has scared off her fiancĂ© and thrust her life into a grand pause. She’s not sure her heart will ever sing again.
Quentin Oxford has endured a devastating year. His preteen daughter suffered a stroke, and they’ve grieved his wife’s sudden death, but the Lord coaxes a surprising refrain from Quentin’s heart as God rewrites his and Melody’s score into a holiday love song that will last for Christmases to come.
Mistletoe Mission: MistletoeMission_w12873_750
While her own relationships always end up doomed, Emily Colt is still determined to create happily-ever-afters through her wedding and event planning business. In hopes of expanding her business, she enters her latest project–staging the Christmas wedding of the year–into a town-wide contest. But between crossing paths with the first man to break her heart and dodging a saboteur, she doubts even career success is within her grasp.
Jilted pastor, Luca Wilson, fled to the mission field to escape a broken heart. All the hurt rushes back when he returns home to officiate his cousin’s wedding, and he finds Emily, the girl to whom he once promised forever, organizing the celebration. Despite his lost faith in love, their unforeseen reunion rekindles a spark, and Luca vows to help her save her struggling business. But to succeed, they will have to learn what it means to trust each other and believe in the God of Christmas miracles.

Click here to purchase Mistletoe Melody and here to purchase Mistletoe Mission.


About the Author

Stacey Weeks is the multi-award-winning author of Glorious Surrender (2016) and Chasing Holiness(2020), inspirational romances The Builder’s Reluctant Bride (2016), Mistletoe Melody (2018), Mistletoe Mission (Dec 2019) and inspirational romantic suspense novels In Too Deep (2017), and Fatal Homecoming (2019). Stacey lives in Ontario where she speaks at women’s conferences, teaches writing and bible study workshops, and writes about the things of the Lord. www.staceyweeks.com

More from Stacey

It is strange, sometimes, what inspires a story. At the time of writing Mistletoe Melody, the ten-year-old daughter of a good friend was on the recovery side of a massive stroke. This young girl inspired Janie, and she gave the character her contagious smile, a mischievous pre-teen sense of humor, and a fierce love for family. You don’t read all of Janie’s story in Mistletoe Melody, but perhaps you will in a later novella.
Melody was the result of my lovely twenty-something niece receiving a shocking diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis. She endured painful tests, had hopes raised and dashed, and was blessed when the Lord saw fit to work through a drug trial to ease her suffering. Watching her life, her plans, and the things she assumed were a given for her future get shaken to their core sent me to the Scriptures.
Not too long before drafting Mistletoe Mission (book two set in Mistletoe Meadows), my husband and I travelled to Haiti. As our driver transported us from the airport to the compound on which we stayed for the duration of our trip, he pointed in the general direction of the beach that receives cruise ships and tourists. He said that portion of Haiti is separated from the rest and is considered by some to be the most beautiful section of Haiti. I disagree.
To be fair, I didn’t visit the cleaned-up beach just around the other side of the mountain, but I saw something most tourists do not get to see. I met the people and visited several in their homes. I witnessed the determination and hard work that life requires from them. I observed a light in their eyes, fueled by a love for Jesus. There is nothing more beautiful than a person on fire for the Lord, a person who is ready to be a light in a dark land.
Luca’s character is loosely based on the Director of Missions and Compassion at Hope Bible Church in Oakville, Ontario. He arranged our trip – my first overseas mission trip – and it changed my life. I have huge respect for the work he is doing, and I am thrilled to see how God is blessing the work.
Another real-life connection that made its way into Mistletoe Mission is a business that inspired the fictional start-up I called One Village. Little by Little is a business for mission committed to empowering Haitian parents. Little by Little sells the Morse Code bracelet featured in Mistletoe Mission. I fell in love with the concept of this business, and it was my delight to write a fictional version into the story. You can visit Little by Little’s website and order a bracelet like the one featured in the book (or maybe you’ll win the one I am giving away on this tour!). http://www.littlebylittle.ca/store/p326/morse-code-bracelet.html
Be blessed this holiday as you seek the Lord who has done and is doing great things.
Stacey

Gift From Stacey

Here are a few fun coloring items from Stacey!

Get your copy of Under the Summer Mistletoe for free here. (For Canada, click here)




Mistletoe Mission Coloring page



Review.jpg

Mistletoe Melody

Melody has a lot going on in her life. It made me think of how life throws us curves and God is watching to see what we do with those curves. Sometimes we can get angry at our circumstances and close ourselves off from everyone. I think Melody was trying to do that so people wouldn't find out about her diagnosis of MS. She is so afraid that Quentin will reject her that she keeps her distance from him. It is sad how she feels that she can't trust him enough to tell him how she feels or about her illness.

I did like learning about mistletoe and all the different kinds there were. I had no idea you could make tea from mistletoe. All I knew about it was when you stand under one, you are suppose to kiss the person standing under it with you. The author really did her research on mistletoe and it intrigued me to study more about it. 

Quentin is a wonderful character who is raising his daughter by himself. She has health issues as well that is hard to deal with. I was surprised at  how young his daughter was to have such intense health problems. His back story about his ex-wife helps readers understand why he is so protective of his heart. His faith has carried him through some difficult days and made him stronger to face whatever comes his way.

Their story is filled with trust, secrets and learning to let go and allow God to heal wounds. I loved how each character found their strength in faith and it makes for a great lesson in being set free from things that hold you back from God's blessings and to remember our hope is in the Lord.

Mistletoe Mission

One of the things I liked about this story was getting to know more details about the town. I would jump at the chance to visit a town like this and tour each shop. I loved that the author included characters from Mistletoe Melody in this story. Emily is determined to get her shop off the ground. All she needs is to win the contest and get a shop on Mission Main Street.

It is a bit ironic that Emily has a business dealing with weddings and event planning. After all, she is doesn't have the best track record in the marriage department. Okay maybe she doesn't have the best record in the love department either. Everything is riding on the Christmas Eve wedding she is in charge of.  Not everyone in the town wants her to win so she has to really trust God to open doors for her. 

I laughed when her ex fiance Luca shows up to perform the wedding Emily is in charge of.  I have heard that brides can be difficult,  but in this story it is the brides mother. What a handful this lady is with all her superstitions and nasty attitude. I think I would have to tell her to go away and show up only on the day of the wedding. It is hard to believe that Emily hasn't pulled her hair out with all the chaos going on. 

Emily and Luca are both having trust issues and it makes for a great story. Luca feels like he may have wandered from God a bit and it was interesting to read how he deals with it. I loved learning about Morse code bracelets. What a unique gift to give someone or get one for yourself.  The author does a great job of giving us a look into Luca's mission work. His overwhelming feeling of failure is written all over his face. 

The story is a reminder to not run away from our problems but to trust God in everything.  The ending is wonderful and I loved how Emily and Luca find a way to work together. The details of the wedding Emily has been in charge of is inspiring and shows how God knits people together . 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.


Blog Stops

Just the Write Escape, December 20
Blogging With Carol , December 22
A Reader’s Brain, December 23
Emily Yager, December 24
Genesis 5020, December 26
Remembrancy, December 28
Inklings and notions, December 28
Quiet Quilter, December 29
Texas Book-aholic, December 31
janicesbookreviews, January 1
Batya’s Bits, January 2

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Stacey is giving away the grand prize of the winner’s choice of a Morse Code Bracelet!! (found here: http://www.littlebylittle.ca/store/p326/morse-code-bracelet.html)
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

Monday, December 30, 2019

Looking for something to buy with your Amazon Gift Cards? 
Featured on my blog today is Love at Christmas by Anne Greene





A CHRISTMAS BELLE Amanda Jeffrey, mail-order bride, arrives in the Wild West expecting to wed a cowboy. Frank Calloway, Sheriff of Angel Vale needs a mother for the baby left on his doorstep. But can the delicate Southern belle with the disappointed expression accept a Southern man, rather than a cowboy, after another Southern groom jilted her at the altar? And is the delicate southern belle strong enough to handle life in the rugged western boom town?A WILLIAMSBURG CHRISTMAS1955 -Trent jilted Holly. Has too much time Elapsed for this romance to rekindle? Holly’s a widowed mother raising 8-year-old twin boys by working as a waitress in a famous ColonialWilliamsburg Inn. Trent disappeared from her life ten years ago. Now he’s back and wants to marry her. Santa’s matchmakers complicate Holly’s decision by bringing new men into her life. AVOIDING THE MISTLETOE 1865 -Olivia Rose Baker abandons her dying hometown in Massachusetts to become a mail-order bride in male-dominated Seattle, Washington. Her abusive husband died in the Civil War and left Olivia wary of marriage, so she hopes to take a teaching position rather than become a bride.But Stark Macaulay, former Confederate soldier and now Sheriff of Seattle, purchased her ticket and insists she fulfil her contract and marry. Stark is smitten with Olivia. Unlike all the rich men in Seattle, he has nothing to offer Olivia but his love. But Olivia hates anything to do with the Confederacy. Fighting demons of his own, Sheriff Stark sees a second chance for love. This widower vows to win the widow or die trying…and almost does. THE CHOICEFelicity’s father dies, leaving her stranded at Ft. Laramie, Wyoming, one-third the way to homestead 640 acres in the Oregon Territory. She has money and supplies to continue her journey, but a woman alone cannot claim the free land. So, she advertises for a husband. Ben’s got massive debt and Gold Rush fever and heads to California. But in Ft. Laramie he’s robbed of everything he owns, including his horse. His only recourse seems to strike a bargain with Felicity. At the fork in the trail, will he trek to Oregon to help her homestead or will she accompany him to dig for gold in California? Can these two stubborn people with very different goals make the right choice?





Anne Greene delights in writing about wounded heroes and gutsy heroines. She writes both historical and suspense novels. Anne graduated from the University of Texas, Dallas, cum laude, with a degree in Literary Studies. She's freshly back from Seoul, Korea with her very recently retired Army Special Forces Colonel husband. Anne loves to travel and has visited twenty-nine countries, including three communist ones. Anne set a few of her books in exotic locations such as the American Virgin Islands and Istanbul, Turkey. A visit to the Scottish Highlands and Lowlands resulted in her book, MASQUERADE MARRIAGE. Her book A TEXAS CHRISTMAS MYSTERY is set in Anne's home town.Looke for her newest release from B & H Publishing, ANGEL WITH STEEL WINGS coming soon. Anne's love of sailing, horseback riding, history and art, as well as her Plano Police Academy training and her military life, often show up in her books. Anne's highest hope is that her stories transport the reader to awesome new worlds and touch their hearts. To learn more of Anne and to view her art as well as pictures from her extensive travel, visit her at AnneGreeneAuthor.com. Order her books and see reviews on Amazon.


Looking for something to buy with your Amazon Gift Cards? 
Featured on my blog today is Silent Night Deadly Night by Richard Mabry , M.D.






The colored lights on the snow gave it a holiday appearance, but the dead woman’s body in the yard added a grisly touch. How did Ina Bell Patrick die?
Who killed her? And why?

The dead woman had no direct heirs, so two nephews and a niece stood to inherit. Dr. Laura Morris was left to make all the arrangements, attorney Roger Morris could certainly use the money, and Zack Morris had disappeared two years earlier. Then there was neighbor and “best friend” Fay Autrey, who was certain the woman intended to leave her some money—a great deal of money.

The police were still looking for the killer who left the frozen body in the snow when it became apparent someone was trying to pick off the heirs, one by one. Who would win the race—the police or the killer?



I'm a retired physician who, in addition to writing, is a husband and grandfather, plays (and enjoys) golf, and does the hundred-and-one other things that retired people do.

I got into non-medical writing after the death of my first wife with my book, THE TENDER SCAR: LIFE AFTER THE DEATH OF A SPOUSE. I'm gratified that it continues to help those who have lost a loved one.

Now I'm writing what I call "medical suspense with heart." My novels have been finalists for the ACFW Carol Award, Romantic Times' Best Inspirational Novel and their Reviewer's Choice Award, have won the Selah award, and been named by Christian Retailing as the best in the mystery/suspense/thriller category. My latest novel is GUARDED PROGNOSIS. I've also published fivenovellas, the latest one EMERGENCY CASE.

You can follow me on my blog (rmabry.blogspot.com) and my web page (rmabry.com), as well as Facebook (rmabrybooks) and Twitter (RichardMabry).





Sunday, December 29, 2019

The Wedding Dress FB Banner About the Book

Book:  The Wedding Dress Christmas
Author: Rachel Hauck
Genre: Romance, Christmas
Release Date: October 22, 2019
The Wedding Dress Christmas CoverDecember covers quaint Heart’s Bend, Tennessee with a blanket of white and the glitter of Christmas lights.
For JoJo Castle there’s no place like home. It’s her safe place. Her one-time love of adventure ended when life in the big city shattered her hopes and dreams. Now that she’s returned to Hearts Bend, she never wants to leave again.
Buck Mathews, the biggest country singing sensation in decades, has the world on a string – his guitar strings, to be exact. However, when news of his mother’s illness sends him back to Hearts Bend for the holiday season, he remembers how good it can be to live among family and friends.
Working with her cousin Haley in The Wedding Shop, JoJo has no aspirations of love. Leaving home, surrendering her heart again, is just too risky.
When she runs into her friend and high school crush Buck Mathews, she discovers Love might have other plans for her[BV1] .
Buck’s career is on the verge of an momentous leap. But seeing JoJo awakens feelings he’d buried long ago. Falling in love is easy, but winning her heart will take more than one of his melodic tunes and clever lyrics.
JoJo and Buck want opposite things for their lives, leaving no room for compromise. Can love, especially the kind that touches hearts at Christmastime, overcome her fears andhis quest for greatness?
When a very special gown – the wedding dress – begins to make its presence known, JoJo and Buck’s hearts bend in a way neither ever thought possible.

Click here to get your copy.

About the Author

rachel-hauck-HR-5Rachel Hauck is an award winning, New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author.
Her book The Wedding Dress was named Inspirational Novel of the Year by Romantic Times Book Reviews. She is a double RITA finalist, and a Christy and Carol Award Winner.
Her book, Once Upon A Prince, first in the Royal Wedding Series, was filmed for an Original Hallmark movie.
Rachel has been awarded the prestigious Career Achievement Award for her body of original work by Romantic Times Book Reviews.
A member of the Executive Board for American Christian Fiction Writers, she teaches workshops and leads worship at the annual conference. She is a past Mentor of The Year.
At home, she’s a wife, writer, worship leader and works out at the gym semi-enthusiastically.
A graduate of Ohio State University (Go Bucks!) with a degree in Journalism, she’s a former sorority girl and a devoted Ohio State football fan. Her bucket list is to stand on the sidelines with Ryan Day.
She lives in sunny central Florida with her husband and ornery cat.

More From Rachel

Hello Royal Rockstar Readers!
I’m thrilled to share The Wedding Dress Christmas with you. I’ve heard from so many how much The Wedding Dress has touched them, and as I noodled over new story ideas, my thoughts drifted toward the wedding dress and Christmas. What’s more romantic than a Christmas wedding?
This novella is set in Hearts Bend, Tennessee, the fictional town ofThe Wedding Chapel and The Wedding Shop. Even if you’ve never read one of books inThe Wedding Collection, you’ll enjoy this story, the mystery of the dress, and the women whose lives it changed.
I love weddings. They remind us of the purity and the hope of love, the power of commitment. Something powerful is released when two people pledge to spend their lives together, loving and serving one another in both good and bad times. Every wedding I attend reminds me of the vows I made to my husband and I sign up all over again.
Stories are a powerful reflection of life. Yes, fictional stories are often told with wild hyperbole, but that’s what makes them fun to read.
I also love wedding stories because they remind us of God’s love for us, and that one day there will be the grandest wedding of them all. Isn’t it wonderful that God planned a wedding before He created the earth?
In The Wedding Dress Christmas, JoJo and Buck have their issues, but love proves strong enough to conquer them all.
Thanks for going on this little tour with me and The Wedding Dress Christmas.
Yours,
Rachel


Review.jpg


This has been such a nice clean and easy to read story. The characters are flawed but in their weakness, we see God holding them up and giving them strength. Jo was such an inspirational character. It was nice to see her come home to the quaint little town of Hearts Bend, Tennessee. The description of the town makes me want to live there and enjoy all the shops and friendly people. I wondered why Jo had left a great job to come back and work at the  Wedding Shop. The author gives us snippets of why she came home, but we don't find out for awhile. I thought it was nice how the author didn't rush into Jo's past .

The only thing I can say for Buck is wow. He stole my heart with his charm and humble spirit. He comes home for a reason that is hard for him to accept. The flow of his story was good and there wasn't too much emphasis on his celebrity status while he visited his hometown.  I was cheering for him to win Jo's heart but she has put up a wall that is hard to get through. Her fears have taken over her life and she has lost a little of her faith in God. Can Buck break through her barrier and show her how to trust again?

The Wedding Shop is wonderful and the introduction in the story of the wedding dress was enchanting. The dress is very special and I couldn't wait to see who the next bride would be to wear it. The dress mysteriously keeps going on display in the shop and I have a feeling that the dress has picked its next owner. 

I enjoyed reading how Jo struggles with her anxiety and fear. It is a battle many of us deal with daily.  Will Jo find a way to overcome her fear? The ending is perfect and reminds us that love does conquer all. 

I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.

Blog Stops

The Avid Reader, December 18
Livin’ Lit, December 18
Robin’s Nest, December 18
By The Book, December 19
Wishful Endings, December 19
All-of-a-kind Mom, December 19
Among the Reads, December 20
Genesis 5020, December 20
Life as Lanhams, December 20
Daysong Reflections, December 21
Bigreadersite, December 21
Simple Harvest Reads, December 22 (Guest Review from Mindy Houng)
Remembrancy, December 22
Britt Reads Fiction, December 22
She Lives to Read, December 23
Empowermoms, December 23
Inside the Wong Mind, December 23
Mia Reads Blog, December 23
Splashes of Joy, December 24
Christian Bookaholic, December 24
Hallie Reads, December 24
Jeanette’s Thoughts, December 25
Blogging With Carol, December 25
For Him and My Family, December 26
Hebrews 12 Endurance, December 26
Mamma Loves Books, December 27
Betti Mace, December 28
Batya’s Bits, December 28
Quiet Quilter, December 29
janicesbookreviews, December 29
A Reader’s Brain, December 30
Inklings and notions, December 30
Texas Book-aholic, December 30
Carla Loves to Read, December 30
Back Porch Reads, December 31
CarpeDiem, December 31

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Rachel is giving away a print copy of the book and a Visa gift card for $25. Swag!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.