About the Book
Book: All Is Bright (Christmas Lights Collection 2019)
Author: Kari Trumbo, Toni Shiloh, Cathe Swanson, & Chautona Havig
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Release Date: October 17, 2019
Four of your favorite contemporary romance authors join festive forces to bring you the fourth-annual Christmas Lights Collection.
Kari Trumbo- Merry and Dashing: Merry hates Christmas corporate greed. Jacob loves finding the perfect gift for everyone. When Scrooge and Santa volunteer at a local thrift store together, will the mix be Holly Jolly?
Toni Shiloh- I’ll Be Home: What could be worse than being laid off right before the holidays? For Starr Lewis that would include returning home jobless, single, and, oh yeah, just in time to attend her sister’s wedding on Christmas Eve… to Starr’s ex-boyfriend. In the midst of it all, her brother’s best friend soon has her wondering if she can take another chance on love.
Cathe Swanson- Season of Change: Charlea’s ready to sell Serenity Hill, but Drew is back in town, 15 years after their dream date ended in disaster, helping her mother and daughter turn the old commune into a commercial Christmas wonderland. Between poinsettias and sleigh rides, angst and romance collide in this Christmas second-chance romance!
Chautona Havig- The 12 Dates of Christmas : When Reagan runs into Alex, her high school nemesis, he is stunned to discover that’s how she saw him. It’ll take twelve dates and a lot of forgiveness on both sides to even hope for a Christmassy-ever-after.
Brighten your day with these four heart-warming novellas today!
Click here to get your copy!
About the Author
Kari Trumbo: Kari Trumbo writes swoony heroes and places that become characters with detail and heart. Kari loves reading, listening to music, singing when no one’s listening, and curling up with a fuzzy blanket, a book, and a hot cup of tea by the wood stove. She loves her make-believe people almost as much as the real thing. You can find out more about her and her worlds at karitrumbo.com
Toni Shiloh: Toni Shiloh writes ethnically diverse characters that could be your best friend. She writes to understand the Lord more and shares her lessons with her readers. Visit her at www.tonishiloh.com.
Cathe Swanson: Cathe Swanson, the author of the Great Lakes and Glory Quilts series, enjoys gardening, sewing, papercrafting, and kayaking on the beautiful Wisconsin rivers. As a child of the 60’s, she’s having fun writing about hippies and the Jesus People movement in her new Serenity Hill series.
Chautona Havig: Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. Find her at chautona.com
More From Chautona
Christmas in “The Christmas City”
I wrote most of 12 Dates of Christmas in Noel, Missouri, otherwise known as “The Christmas City.” That’s kind of funny, because Noel isn’t pronounced No-ell. It’s “Nole”—rhymes with pole. As in North. 😉
By the time I’d finished, it was almost time to leave the little town and head home after nearly six weeks with old and new friends. I had to say goodbye to memories I might never visit in person again, and it was difficult to imagine.
So, I did the only thing I knew to do. I wrote a super-short story. It’s just over seven thousand words (including a bit of history behind different people, places, and things in the story), but it captured things near and dear to my heart—my mother’s house, the church I’ve loved for so many years, town traditions, and now characters I’m not sure I can let go of.
In fact, I am considering writing a full-length novella next year for the fifth-annual Christmas Lights Collection next year! I think Rob and Lissa deserve to have their full story told.
As my thanks to readers who purchase or read the collection on Kindle Unlimited, I’m offering this short story, “A Noel Christmas,” FREE. Just send me your receipt or a screenshot showing you’ve completed the collection and it’s yours. Visit https://chautona.com/bonus for more information or just zip an email to any of the authors in the collection. We’re all happy to send it on.
We all hope you have a very meaningful Christmas this year—one that offers bright spots in your days. May God richly bless you now and in the new year.
Kari Trumbo, Toni Shiloh, Cathe Swanson, and Chautona Havig
P.S. If you read the short story, do let me know if you think I should turn it into a full-length novella/novel. I’d love to know your opinion.
I love reading Christmas stories and could read them year round. This collection is perfect for enjoying love, faith and family. Each author has a unique style of writing that shows as they deliver stories that made me smile , laugh and cry. Settle back, get comfy, relax and have fun reading stories that will get you in the Christmas spirit.
Merry and Dashing by Kari Trumbo
From the moment I started reading this story I fell in love with Merry. She isn't so happy this year as she finds herself all alone for the holidays. I had to laugh when she found out her parents had made other plans. Her mother's suggestion to volunteer has Merry thinking maybe it would be nice and maybe not. The Thrifty Pumpkin is a perfect place for Merry to share some holiday cheer. Merry has a lot of cheering up to do if she expects to help people at the shop.
Jacob is a wonderful character who is cheery and encourages Merry to volunteer. He has been doing it for ten years and knows the reward you get from being there. I loved reading about the thrift store and all it had to offer. The author reminds us that Christmas is about giving and being a blessing. I don't think I have really taken the time to think about those without warm coats or even a place to keep warm much. This story excites me to go volunteer and that is just what I will do for the holidays. I need cheering up and what better way than to help others. It's a lovely story that helps one person understand the true meaning of Christmas while finding joy and love.
I'll Be Home by Toni Shiloh
Going home for the holidays should be exciting, but for Starr it was bitter sweet. She has a big secret she is trying to hide and there is that little matter of her sister marrying her ex-boyfriend. This is going to be a holiday Starr will never forget. I felt a twinge of sadness for Starr as she has always felt left out in her family. I loved how the author writes Starr with compassion and a need to feel wanted. I know what it is like to feel unwanted by your family. The feeling of rejection is deep and only God can heal that wound.
I loved the author sharing the lighting of the National Christmas Tree. What a beautiful sight that would be. Starr is with her family and an old friend named Waylon enjoying the festivities. I'm not to sure that I liked Angel very much. She is so focused on her wedding that she hasn't really made Starr feel welcomed. There is tension between them that could cause a big problem. I loved reading about how Starr and Waylon started to have feelings for each other. The author writes a wonderful story with a look at sibling rivalry, forgiveness and a bright future.
Season of Change by Cathe Swanson
Losing everything in a fire has to be devastating. For Charlea she now has to live with her mother while she figures out what to do after the tragic fire. I can't imagine what it would be like to stand there and see your home as a pile of ashes. I was intrigued where the author would go with this story and see if Charlea could have a better relationship with her mother. I must say Charlea's mother is quite unique and a bit eccentric in many ways. She has a carefree attitude and I wasn't sure if she was happy to share her home with Charlea.
I absolutely loved the line Charlea's mother said; " You don't have to go to church to be a Christian." I have said that many times to people. Just because you carry a bible doesn't make you a Christian. All these sayings are true. Your actions show if you are a Christian. I am starting to like Charlea's mom a little more. I found Charlea's job very fascinating. Helping senior citizens downsize to a better living environment can have its rewards. It also can be heartbreaking seeing people have to give up their home and special items .
I loved reading about Woodstock and thought the author did a great job of including it in the story to remind us of a time in history that will never be forgotten . The story is filled with wonderful information about running a farm and it made me think of my granddad's farm in Oklahoma. There are wonderful characters in the story and a beautiful example of family coming together in a crisis. The faith element is good and really highlights the importance of trusting God. There are a few surprises in the story and unexpected romances that make this story so inspiring.
12 Dates of Christmas
Reagan has come home for the holidays hoping for relaxation. Thanks to her mother Reagan now has a speaking engagement at the school she attended years ago. I laughed when she ran into her old nemesis Alex. Reagan sure can hold a grudge. She is not the least bit happy to see Alex and demands an apology for the way he treated her in school. I wanted to tell her to get over herself. Has she ever heard the word forgive?
The interactions between Reagan and Alex are classic. I loved reading their banter and especially liked how Alex encouraged Reagan to get out of her comfort zone. She may seem to have it all together, but deep inside is a person screaming with insecurity. The story is fun to read as each date between Alex and Reagan is filled with an apology. Reagan begins to see a different side of Alex as he becomes more important to her. I loved their dates and how the author blends faith into the story that delivers a message about forgiving and believing in yourself. I have to say this story would be perfect as a made for TV movie.
I received a copy of this book from Celebrate Lit. The review is my own opinion.
Blog Stops
Among the Reads, December 6
Texas Book-aholic, December 7
janicesbookreviews, December 8
Through the Fire Blogs, December 9
Mary Hake, December 9
Genesis 5020, December 10
Inklings and notions, December 11
Blossoms and Blessings, December 12
CarpeDiem, December 13
Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, December 14
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 15
Batya’s Bits, December 16
She Lives To Read, December 17
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 17
Lots of Helpers, December 18
Simple Harvest Reads, December 19
Giveaway
To celebrate their tour, The Christmas Lights Authors are giving away the grand prize of a six-month Kindle Unlimited Subscription!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
This sequel is set in the late 1920s Appalachia, where granny witches and spiritualism often show the path for wanderers to take, especially in matters of the heart.
More about Tonya Jewel Blessing: Growing up Tonya spent numerous vacations and holidays in the Appalachian Mountains of West Virginia. Most of her adult life has been spent in full time ministry with a focus on helping women. She has traveled nationally and internationally as a conference speaker. For a number of years, Tonya and her husband operated a retreat facility in Colorado for pastors and missionaries. She and her husband currently live in South Africa. They are the founders and directors of Strong Cross Ministries, a non-profit organization that assists local churches, pastors, cross-cultural workers, and others in Christian leadership in providing spiritual reconciliation and humanitarian relief to the poorest in the world. Tonya writes monthly devotionals for women in ministry. She is the award-winning novelist of The Whispering of the Willows, which is Book 1 of the Big Creek Series. She is the co-author of Soothing Rain, a discussion starter handbook/devotional that provides women with important tools for sharing biblical truth.
Sleep often eludes. We try this and we try that. Still, the night gives a wake up call we’d rather not answer. “Having Tried Everything” is the story of a terminally lonely insomniac who does answer. Stepping from the rut of routines and rituals, moving from the known to the unknown, she discovers not only mercy and abundance but who she is and the travesty and redemption of what it means to be human. “Having Tried Everything” is at once actual, metaphorical, providential and inexplicably true. The “YOU” in the story is both the reader and the writer. The very act of embracing this narrative provides the first step toward the wonderland of connection, acceptance and gratitude. Where words abbreviate the astonishment of God’s signature on creature and creatures, the illustrations enhance and annotate. Suitable for all dreamers and courageous pragmatists.
The String Theory Beginning With Me
While I was still feeble in my selfness and narrow in my horizons, I became a collector of words. Words often come and go all on their own. I do my best to arrange them in beautiful order. This particular arrangement is called Having Tried Everything: An exploration of redemption, hope and possibility through the eyes of a terminally lonely insomniac. It is at once actual, metaphorical, providential and inexplicable. The “YOU” in the story is both the reader and myself as the writer/artist. Thank You for stepping into this with me. The weight of this truth is surprisingly heavy and less accessible than I would like it to be. Divine Love and His intervention is the hope I often forget to cling. The Lie: You are alone and will end alone, has subtly confused me without my knowledge or consent for a very long time. My ability to escape its debilitating effects is in direct proportion to name it as a lie. The miracle of being designed for relationship with the living God despite my frailties continues to astound me. My value as a human being is not predicated on my good behaviors or bright countenance, but rather by God’s compassion and mercy. The unshakeable truth of my wealth given freely to me by nature of my design and God’s generosity is not mine alone. Thus, the You in the story is ours together. God bless you as you consider with me the miracle of God’s unmerited favor towards us based on nothing we’ve worked for or earned.