Holiday Read Mistletoe MixUp

Mistletoe Mix-Up

Jody Day

From White Rose, an imprint of Pelican Ventures LLC

A Christmas Holiday Extravaganza novella

$2.99

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About the Book

Mistletoe Mix-up - Evan Edwards faces another lonely Christmas in the dorm. His mom is on her fourth, or maybe it's her fifth, honeymoon. A rain-soaked ad promises free room and board in exchange for holiday decorating. Evan jumps at the chance to spend Christmas in a cozy home. The owners won't even be there until Christmas Day, so he'll have plenty of time to practice their piano for his graduation recital. He heads for Candle, Tx. Across the street, Rise' Larkin, also home from college for the holidays, has some bad news for her widowed father.

As Evan and Rise's friendship grows, Evan wonders if he might have a future with a family of his own. Evan realizes, nearly too late, that he's been living in, and decorating the wrong house! Will this crazy mistletoe mix-up ruin his Christmas, or possibly, even his future?

From the Author

Tell us why Mistletoe is part of your Christmas story.

Honestly, the theme of this story is a super crazy mix-up at Christmas time, and with a hint of romance, Mistletoe was the logical choice.

What would you like your readers to know about Christmas after reading your story?

Evan has retreated into his music to hide from his sad life. Music is the only thing that has never let him down. His one experience with church was a disaster. I hope readers will learn through Evan's experience in this book that God loved him all time, even when Evan didn't know him, and that God has a purpose for his life.

What is your favorite Christmas tradition?

Our family has a tradition of coming over to decorate my tree. Even though all six children have their own households now, they still come, along with 14 grandchildren, to deck the halls. My husband serves his special red hot punch, and jalapeno cheese roll. One day we'll have decorations above the bottom half of the tree, but in the meantime, it's so much fun.

About the Author

Jody Bailey Day writes inspirational fiction from her home in West Texas. She is the author of the

Washout Series from The Pelican Book Group. She enjoys her job at the local library, and when not working or writing, can be found crocheting candy corn action figures to go with her children's book Yellow Bottom Bob, spending time with her grandchildren, or watching silent movies with her husband of 33 years.

Christmas Passed Holiday Read with Anita Klumpers

About the Book

Dinah loves Christmas. She loves history, the old Wagner House, and the elderly women working to preserve its heritage. She loves almost everything except Mick Wagner, her childhood nemesis.

But if they want to save the Wagner House and solve a mystery that's been hiding in the attic for almost eighty years, they'll have to join forces. And they have to do it quickly, before one of them dies trying.

$2.99

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A brief interview with the Author:

Introduce us to the Christmas holiday tradition/festival in your book’s community.

            The Wagner House Winter Wonderland celebration is at the center of “Christmas Passed.” Meant as a fundraiser for a neighborhood historical society in Milwaukee, the extravaganza takes place in the Wagner House, a catalogue home built the early 20th century.

            As Dinah, our bookish heroine says, “Everyone does Victorian Christmas, but I’ve never seen one decorated as it would have been in the thirties.”

            The opening night party features foods that would have been popular in those years just before World War Two. Plum pudding and stuffed olives, sweet potato puffs and spiced applesauce, marmalades and mince pies—does that make your mouth water? I’m in the fence

            Dinah has grand ideas to pipe pre-war Christmas carols through the old kitchen radio, let guests string popcorn and cranberries to decorate the enormously spindly tree, and outfit the wait staff in serving uniforms from the 1930s.

            Dinah’s grand ideas don’t always turn out as she planned. Will the Winter Wonderland celebration be another failure? Maybe…

My Review:

The bane of Dinah Braun’s childhood holds the keys-literally-to a fascinating neighborhood secret two generations old.

Combining two of her passions, Dinah agrees to photograph her favorite local historic home being outfitted for a rare Christmas open house fundraiser. Along the way, she and the grandson of the neighbors she knew, now grown-up college professor Mickey Wagner, realize their teenage misconceptions of each other and maybe themselves are easily overcome by simply taking a step back and not jumping to outlandish convictions.

Mick is in for big surprises, both internal and familial, as he reacquaints himself with his family heritage through the eyes of the girl he once considered an annoying Miss Know-it-all. Realizing Dinah has some rather important qualities he lacks is humbling.

This short, sweet holiday read has a lot of twists amid the sweet sense of discovery. Fun especially for those who enjoy romances and mystery and a little history, Christmas Passed is a single point-of-view tale for the reader of quirky, believable Midwestern sensibilities.

About the Author

            Anita Klumpers is Midwest born and bred, except for a brief and exhilarating few years in Denver when she was small. She received a teaching degree sometime in the previous millennium and used it mostly to homeschool her three sons. These days Anita chases her grandchildren around, waving books at them and suggesting everyone cuddle up for a good story.

            Good stories are her passion, especially if they are well-written, have a dose of humor, just a tickle of romance, and a decidedly non-gory mystery. On the other hand, she lists “Frankenstein” and “Fahrenheit 451” as two of her favorite books. Go figure.

            Creating skits was Anita’s first foray into writing. Always up for a challenge and a reason to postpone defrosting the freezer, she tried her hand at a full-length novel. It only took five years, but she did it!

            Daily (honestly) she marvels at how much she loves coffee and her husband; her family, friends and church. Even more, she is astonished at how much she is loved by her Lord and Savior.

            Her blog is “The Tuesday Prude” and she’s had two books published by Pelican/Prism Books (“Winter Watch” and “Hounded.”)

“Christmas Passed” is due December 2018 and “Buttonholed” is contracted with Pelican/Prism Books.

Lillian Duncan I LOVE CHRISTMAS 12 days giveaway

It's Holiday Extravaganza Week

Welcome Lillian Duncan!

*******

I Love Christmas!

I love Christmas!

At my house, we clear off the enclosed porch and put up Christmas trees and other decorations. We’ve had as many as 14, but never fewer than 8 or 9. It’s a lot of work but it’s also a lot of fun.

I love Christmas!

Which is probably why I have published several Christmas novels. It’s so much fun to come up with a plot that involves romance, suspense, and Christmas along with a Christmas message. This year, I got really inspired and actually have two new Christmas stories available—A Rock & Roll Christmas and A Christmas Stolen.

A Rock & Roll Christmas features a rock & roll star, of course. Someone wants megastar, Johnny Rocker, dead. It’s Maddie Cotton’s job to make sure that doesn’t happen. Even under Maddie’s protection the threats continue. As Christmas approaches the danger escalates. This was a really fun story to write.

On a more serious note, A Christmas Stolen is about a newborn baby that’s abducted and the search to find the baby. But don’t worry too much—I believe in happy endings, especially at Christmas!

Twelve Days of Christmas Giveaway!

To celebrate Christmas, I’m having A Twelve Days of Christmas celebration on my blog, Tiaras & Tennis Shoes at www.lillian-duncan.com. On 12 different days during December, I’ll be giving away a gift. Leave a comment for each day to win that day’s gift as well as be entered for the grand prize. If you leave a comment each day, that gives you 12 entries for the grand prize!

Grand prize will be a $25 Amazon gift card plus your choice of one of my e-books! So hop on over to www.lillian-duncan.com for your chance to win.

A Christmas Stolen 

Christmas is the best time of the year until evil comes knocking.

Danica Jordan's is looking forward to her first Christmas with her newborn niece, but when she arrives home, she finds an open door and an empty crib. Searching the house, she discovers her sister asleep in her room. Panic sets in when the two sisters realize Baby Angelica’s been abducted. 

With the baby abducted, Christmas stolen, and an investigation in full swing, Danica comes face to face with the two men who ruined her life. 

This Christmas could be ruined, or Danica could realize that Christmas isn’t a thing but a symbol of God’s love that can never be stolen—no matter the circumstances.

Review by Lisa Lickel:

Lilian Duncan’s contemporary Christmas romance showcases the best and worst of people. Forgiveness has been long withheld between Danica Jordan and her high school love, Connor McDonald. When Danica returns to her Ohio hometown years after a graduation night fiasco, she finds life has gone on without her, and shockingly for the very-much better. She’s come home reluctantly from Florida to meet her miracle niece, only to find her sister Leah and darling Angelica have been victimized.

Worse yet, in her nightmare reality, all the bad guys from high school have turned into super knights in shining armor—bearing the armor of God. And she thought she’d left all that behind her.

On a personal hunt to help her sister, Danica realizes she’s not the only one who’s been fleeing from her past. While she’s run physically across the county, Connor has stayed to work out his own demons. When the two of them unite to help Leah and her family, old sparks are reignited…but for the best? Or worst?

Bad guys, babies, and Santas make this Christmas the most memorable miraculous Christmas ever for the Jordan sisters. Readers of bite-size inspirational holiday romance will adore this tale of true love, faithfully changed lives, and forgiveness.

$3.99

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A Rock & Roll Christmas

Someone wants mega rock & roll star, Johnny Rocker, dead. It’s Maddie Cotton’s job to make sure that doesn’t happen.

Johnny Rocker believes he’s doesn’t need anyone or anything—especially God because after all he is a rock & roll god. When the floor beneath his feet crumbles—literally—he hurtles toward a different truth.

Since the death of Maddie Cotton’s family, she’s run from life and love. With God’s help, she’s ready to step out of her comfort zone and into a different life. But when her boss asks—no begs—her to take on one last job, she finds it hard to refuse.

Even under Maddie’s protection the threats continue. As Christmas approaches the danger escalates—someone doesn’t want Johnny Rocker to celebrate A Rock & Roll Christmas.

$2.99

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About Lil

Lillian Duncan…turning faith into fiction.

Even though her books cross genres, they have one thing in common, faith-based stories that show God’s love and lots of action. OK—that’s two things. She believes in the power of words to change lives, especially God’s Word.

Holiday Extravaganza read The Doctors Daughter

The Doctor's Daughter

Susan M. Baganz

A White Rose Holiday Extravaganza novella

December 1, 2018

About the Book

Miss Silvia Burnett is left without home after her father, a local physician, passes away unexpectedly. She appeals to a friend from boarding school, Mrs. Katrina Tidley, who resides in the same area where her father’s mentee set up practice. With a calf-love on her part, they’d once agreed to wed each other if she remained unattached at a certain age. But are youthful promises meant to be kept? Would the handsome physician want her now?

Dr. Bruce Miller has watched all his friends from university marry and begin their families. Living in the village of Didcot did not provide him with a wife. When a letter from the daughter of the doctor he interned with in Bristol arrives at his door, hope soars within that maybe this woman is the answer to his lonely nights. 

As influenza spreads and Silvia uses her talents in medicine to aid the doctor, will he find her competition or a viable companion? With Christmas dawning, will dreams be shattered or fulfilled?

$2.99

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About the Author: 

Susan M. Baganz chases after three Hobbits and is a native of Wisconsin. She is an Editor with Pelican Book Group specializing in bringing great romance novels and novellas to publication. Susan writes adventurous historical and contemporary romances with a biblical world-view.

You can learn more by following her blog www.susanbaganz.com, her twitter feed @susanbaganz or her fan page,www.facebook.com/susanmbaganz

Mistletoe Mania! and book launch

Celebrating release day for our Christmas Holiday Extravaganza 2018!

Today, the three Happy Holiday stories featuring Mistletoe are highlighted below!

But first, a little about mistletoe.

TODAY - DECEMBER 1 - ONLY
FACEBOOK LAUNCH AND GIVEAWAY
FACEBOOK 10:30-Noon EST, 9:30-11 AM CST

Mistletoe—it puts a picture in everyone’s mind, doesn’t it? Mostly we think of this little plant as a cute holiday decoration put up in doorways or other passageways to encourage a kiss. It’s an ancient plant with over 13,000 species worldwide, many of which are endangered. North America has over 30 different species alone.

So, what is it? Would it change your mind about the cute kissing Christmas decoration if I told you that it’s partially a parasite? It can grow on its own and makes its own food through photosynthesis; it just prefers the easy way out by attaching itself to some kind of tree and eating from it. Those thousands of species come in several shapes and sizes, with different berries. Some types are shrubby with little flowers and white berries that are poisonous; some prefer growing on oak trees, most on apple trees.

Naturally such an ancient plant has many legends associated with it. Celtic people of northern Europe, Greeks, Germans, and Scandinavians stories have been passed down through the eons. Mistletoe is revered as a symbol of fertility and emasculation, depending on what part of a king’s reign he finds himself in. The ancient Druids used it in their cult ceremonies. We’re trying to keep it upbeat here, so that’s as far as I’ll go. You can look up more if you want. In various cultures it was considered to ward off evil spirits, put out fires, and bring about peace. Enemies could make peace treaties underneath a ball of mistletoe; in Scandinavia, embattled spouses could make up and kiss under the mistletoe. In France, kissing under mistletoe was once considered a New Year’s Day custom.

In Scandinavian mythology "the Death of Baldur", the plant was sacred to Frigga. She was the mother of Balder, who dreamed that if he died, all life on earth would end. Frigga went to all the elements, air, fire, water and earth, as well as the animals and plants and exacted a promise that nothing on earth or under the earth would harm her son and thus end all life. Unfortunately, she overlooked mistletoe, which grows neither on nor under earth, but in the trees. Loki had an arrow made of mistletoe and gave it to Hoder who killed Balder. Frigga’s tears for her son became the white berries on the plant. Balder was restored to life three days later. Frigga kissed everyone under the mistletoe who came to offer help. Can you relate this tale to the Christian story of Jesus?

Mistletoe’s mythical healing powers are beginning to be studied in modern medicine as a cancer treatment. Although mistletoe parasite growths affects the life cycle of the trees it “infests,” the growth harbors nesting birds, including endangered species such as the spotted owl, as well as small nesting mammals, and butterflies such as various hairstreaks, and bees. The berries are poisonous to humans, but many creatures rely on them during times of scarcity.

So—mistletoe the misunderstood? Mistletoe the romantic? Which side are you on?

Come back and check in on THURSDAY DECEMBER 6 to see the post and review here.
$2.99 eBook
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Mistletoe Mix-up - Evan Edwards faces another lonely Christmas in the dorm. His mom is on her fourth, or maybe it's her fifth, honeymoon. A rain-soaked ad promises free room and board in exchange for holiday decorating. Evan jumps at the chance to spend Christmas in a cozy home. The owners won't even be there until Christmas Day, so he'll have plenty of time to practice their piano for his graduation recital. He heads for Candle, Tx. Across the street, Rise' Larkin, also home from college for the holidays, has some bad news for her widowed father.

As Evan and Rise's friendship grows, Evan wonders if he might have a future with a family of his own. Evan realizes, nearly too late, that he's been living in, and decorating the wrong house! Will this crazy mistletoe mix-up ruin his Christmas, or possibly, even his future?

Come back SATURDAY DECEMBER  8 to read the full post and review here.
$2.99 eBook
Buy on Amazon
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A 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 fiancé and thrust her life into a grand pause. Will her heart 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 love song.

$2.99 eBook

Purchase links:

AMAZON UK 

AMAZON US 

BARNES AND NOBLE 

Ivy has just cause to be wary of men. Her long-time fiancé backed out of their wedding. The slow fizzle of their undramatic relationship leaves her wondering if romance is a myth. Then, Adam, an intriguing new member of her pet organization, catches Ivy’s attention. Unfortunately, his cat Isis, a beautiful purebred Egyptian Mau, prefers to pick on her cat, Memnet. Ivy would like to get to know Adam better, but with her self-esteem in the gutter and feline fights at every turn, she wonders how to proceed.

When Ivy agrees to help a clingy friend find her missing pet, she learns that true love doesn’t need theatrics. There’s hope for Adam and Ivy, if only their cats would approve.

Satisfy your reading Frenzy with CHRISTMAS EXTRAVAGANZA!

Pelican Book Group LLC is pleased to announce 2018 Christmas Holiday Extravaganza releases

All of these novelettes release tomorrow December 1, 2018 from your favorite retailer, and through the publisher directly: Pelican Book Group. They are currently in eBook format only and the Kindle links are included below, but check out Nook or other sites. Enjoy handfuls of these little bites of perfect holiday reading, from romance to suspense to mystery, all clean and wholesome. Great as gifts! Fill that e-Reader for your favorite book lover!

Starting on December 1, I will showcase a number of these titles, along with a review. Join us! You might even walk away with a surprise. Tomorrow's Post: All about MISTLETOE!

Hope in My Heart Holiday Stories with Alexis Goring

Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories

Alexis A. Goring

About the Book

Hope in My Heart is a collection of short, heartwarming stories with characters in need of hope.

In Love Unexpected, a car crash brings commitment-wary Sebastian and career woman Chandra together. Neither is looking for romance, but those around them see the potential, and Sebastian and Chandra discover that sometimes love shows up unexpectedly.

Christmastime is the setting for the middle story, The Best Gift. Christina desires to lose ten pounds so she can fit into her dress for her sister's wedding. Jordan wishes her mom would stop trying to marry her off. And Joshua hopes to be reunited with his ex-girlfriend but eventually learns that the best gift this Christmas will be the restoration of his relationship with God.

In Peace and Love, three characters living in a metropolitan area are desperately searching. Elle, a starving artist, aspires to become a paid professional. Eric, a divorce attorney, wants to resolve his issues concerning his parents' divorce. Kristine anticipates finding her birth mom before she marries Derek. All characters pray their searches will conclude this holiday season and fill their hearts with peace and love.

Westbow Press

November 2015

eBook .99

Print $13.95

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A Brief interview with the Author

Alexis, what do you love about this book?

I love that this was my first book, a collection of short stories featuring diverse characters from various backgrounds and cultures with the shared theme of hope.

Introduce us to your most challenging character.

My most challenging character to write in this book was Eric from “Peace and Love” which is the third and final story in this collection. He’s a divorce attorney who even as an adult, is still negatively affected by his parents’ dramatic divorce that took place at Christmastime when he was a child. What’s different is that this Christmas (in the story), Eric realizes that he needs to get over his issues, so he reaches out in hopes of reconciling with his parents.

Eric’s character was challenging to write because I’m not a lawyer and at the time that I wrote this story, it didn’t dawn on me to do story research by reaching out to an attorney in real-life. I was an aspiring author who did not have any books published prior to this one and I honestly didn’t know that research should be part of the story writing process.

However, with God’s grace and my active imagination along with drawing on some of my favorite TV shows and movies that feature lawyers, I was able to get a good handle on my character Eric without reaching out to a real-life attorney for advice about making his scenes believable and true to real-life. I haven’t received any complaints yet about how I portrayed Eric at work in this fictional story, so that makes me happy!

What do you hope readers will tell others when they’re finished with the book?

I hope that readers will tell others that this book warmed their heart and gave them a healthy dose of hope!

What are you reading now?

I just finished reading Deck the Shelves by Toni Shiloh and loved it! It is a novella in a boxed set of books called Comfort & Joy: The Christmas Lights Collection.

What’s next for you?

I’m writing my answers to these questions in November 2018, which is about five years after my first book (Hope in My Heart: A Collection of Heartwarming Stories) was published. So what was “next” for me back in the year 2013, was actually my second book A Second Chance that, after a few re-writes, was published in January 2017.

       About the Author

Alexis A. Goring is a passionate writer with a degree in Print Journalism and an MFA in Creative Writing. She loves the art of storytelling and hopes that her stories will connect readers with the enduring, forever love of Jesus Christ.

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

Twitter: https://twitter.com/PennedbyAlex

Website: https://alexisagoring.jimdo.com

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/capturingidea/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7260528.Alexis_A_Goring

“God is Love” blog: http://capturingtheidea.blogspot.com