While many bloggers are posting their top ten reads of the year, I thought I'd do something a bit different and mention my top reads from fellow writers in the blogging community.
Month: December 2020
#BookReview- The Smallest Part by Amy Harmon #Romance @aharmon_author
“In the end, only three things matter. How much you loved, how gently you lived, and how gracefully you let go of things not meant for you.” - Unknown
#BookReview- Enjoy the View @SEmorgenthaler #RomCom #amreading
A grouchy mountaineer, a Hollywood starlet And miles of untamed wilderness... What could possibly go wrong?
#CoverReveal- Legally Blind Luck by @JamesCudney4 #CozyMystery #Read
I'm thrilled to share the cover for fellow blogger and friend, James (Jay) J. Cudney's upcoming release, Legally Blind Luck!
“Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Claus.”
Not believe in Santa Claus! You might as well not believe in fairies! A wonderful #holiday post by @SharonWray on the Word by Word #blog.
Many years ago, I worked as an archivist for the Newspaper Association of America. Basically, it’s the national association for all newspaper publishers/owners. One of the great things about working at NAA’s library was the fabulous special collection of original newspapers and other documents that dated back to the 18th century and were once personally owned by publishers like Joseph Pulitzer.
But this time a year, our reference desk was inundated with information about one of the most famous editorial letters ever written–the response to an eight year old girl’s question about whether or not Santa Claus exists. Our special collection had one the last remaining original copies of this letter which ran in the New York’s Sun newspaper, and every year we sent out copies to whoever requested one.
The letter, reprinted below (it’s now in the public domain) was published on September 21, 1897 by veteran newsman Francis…
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My Christmas Gift to You- #VirtuallyGone #Suspense #ReadersCommunity
Virtually Gone is a police procedural suspense novel with engaging characters and enough twists and turns to keep mystery lovers happily turning the pages.
Finding the Joy in #HolidayLights- #SundayStills #Photography
This week's Sunday Stills Challenge is LIGHTS! You can check out our host, Terri Webster Schrandt's post here Maybe it's due to the warmer temperatures (at least for Canada) and the rarity of snow, but Victoria goes all out for Christmas. Here's a few of the lights we've seen in previous years. We hope to … Continue reading Finding the Joy in #HolidayLights- #SundayStills #Photography
Sunday Lines: Sunday, December 20
Beautiful, inspirational quotes with the theme- Searching for Joy- on the Word by Word #blog
Here are a few encouraging #SundayLines provided by our #WordbyWord authors with the theme SEARCHING FOR JOY
Interested in learning more? Click on the pictures below to gain more insight into each author.
Really look at the joyfulness of a child, then try it back on yourself.
Kathryn Jane
“For somehow, not only for Christmas but all the long year through, the joy that you give to others is the joy that comes back to you.”~Mary Elizabeth Sangster
S.A. Taylor
“Joy does not just simply happen to us. We have to choose joy and keep choosing it every day. ” Henri J. M. Nouwen
Marsha West
“The essence of life is not in the great victories and grand failures, but in the simple joys.” ~ Jonathan Lockwood Huie
Sharon Wray
You can’t hoard joy, stock it away for a better moment. It arrives on a thought, an insight, and spreads…
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December Book Reviews, Part II
Diana Peach shares a wonderful review for Perfectly Imperfect and other must-read books as she finishes her 60 book Autumn Reading Challenge- congrats, Diana!
My 60-book Autumn Reading Challenge was a success, finishing with 5 days to spare!!
Here are final 6 reviews and a snapshot of all the wonderful books.
December’s Part II book reviews include my 4 and 5 star reads of YA fantasy, a paranormal anthology, short stories, and poetry! I hope you enjoy the browse.
Click on the covers for Amazon global links.
*****
Life is like a Bowl of Cherries: Sometimes Bitter, Sometimes Sweet by Sally Cronin
I’m a fan of Cronin’s short stories and snagged this anthology the day it came out. The author describes it as a collection of short tales that reflect “the complexities of life, love, and loss.” That’s a fit description. There are stories of kindness, family, grief, courage, and second chances. The characters are ordinary and relatable, but they’re also extraordinary in those moments that define who they are as people.
The first story…
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#BookReview- The Law of Moses by Amy Harmon #Romance #Suspense @aharmon_author
This story broke my heart in so many ways.
#NewRelease- Bailed Out by Rebecca Zanetti Suspense #Reading
The Past Never Stays Buried
#BookReview- The Culmination by Gwen Plano #Military #Suspense @gmplano
Blurb from Amazon.com The Culmination, a new beginning is the third book in The Contract thriller series. After an assassination attempt on an Air Force base in northern California, tensions mount. Heads of state meet to craft a denuclearization agreement. The meetings between these nuclear powers take a murderous turn. A nefarious conspiracy re-emerges and … Continue reading #BookReview- The Culmination by Gwen Plano #Military #Suspense @gmplano
Snowy Days- #SundayStills #Photography
Terri Webster Schrandt is traveling to her new home this week, so the Sunday Stills Photography Challenge is hosted on Cats and Trails and Garden Tales. Stop by to see the pictures and join in here. We don't see a lot of snow (except from a distance!) on southern Vancouver Island, but every now and … Continue reading Snowy Days- #SundayStills #Photography
Home For the Holidays #Giveaway #HolidayRomance #Reading
HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS GIVEAWAY
Want Family Drama? Read Jacquie Biggar’s The Sister Pact
I’m thrilled, THRILLED with this awesome review of The Sister Pact from @JacquiMurray- thank you so much!
A big shout out to efriend, fellow blogger, and USA Best Selling author, Jacquie Biggar. I’ve read about a gazillion of Jacquie Biggar’s novels (see my reviews of Maggie’s Revenge and The Sheriff Meets His Match). They’re always quick, fun, and thrilling–though how varies a lot. This one, The Sister Pact: Home is Where the Heart is no exception. There’s a reason why it has 4.8/5 stars on Amazon–it’s excellent. Here’s my review:
If you think your family is a dysfunctional hot mess, Holly’s beats it. She escaped five years ago, finally returned to celebrate the Christmas spirit with her parents and siblings, and within minutes, wishes she hadn’t. Her parents are as vitriolic as ever, her sister is still angry with her, and no one cares that she’s become a successful violinist–something few manage. Sure, there is the issue that her sister’s husband used to be Holly’s…
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New Book Release – #Shortstories – Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries: Sometimes Bitter, Sometimes Sweet by Sally Cronin
Congrats to Sally Cronin and her new release, Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries- I love that title!
I wasn’t sure if I would make it before Christmas, but thanks to David who pulled out all the stops as always, my new short story collection, with a sprinkling of poetry is now available.
About the collection
Life is Like a Bowl of Cherries: Sometimes Bitter, Sometimes Sweet is a collection of short stories with scattered poetry, reflecting the complexities of life, love and loss.
The stories in the collection dip into the lives of men and women who are faced with an ‘event’ that is challenging and in some cases life changing.
Even something as straightforward as grocery shopping online can be frustrating, and a DNA test produces surprise results, the past reaches out to embrace the present, and a gardening assistant is an unlikely grief counsellor. Romance is not always for the faint-hearted and you are never too old for love. Random acts of kindness have far…
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Smorgasbord Book Reviews – #Romance – Perfectly Imperfect by Jacquie Biggar
Sally Cronin shares a lovely review of Perfectly Imperfect on her Smorgasbord #blog. Thank you, Sally!
I was delightfully distracted from getting my Christmas book promotions scheduled this week by a lovely dose of romance from USA Today Bestselling author Jacquie Biggar with her latest release Perfectly Imperfect.
About the book
What happens when Miss Perfection clashes with Mr. Casual?
Chaos!
Georgina’s in trouble. The startup money she borrowed from her parents’ retirement fund is long gone and her dream of owning the next big thing in market-to-table cuisine disappeared with it.
Her only choice? Merge her company into the corporate giant, CLO, and hope she isn’t making a huge mistake.
Rhys Turner is his father’s progeny, born and raised to take over the empire when his dad deems him ready. Rhys doesn’t mind the fast-paced lifestyle, though he detests the coldblooded mantra of the corporation- Buy from the weak and sell at a profit.
It’s made his family millions. But now, just when CLO’s reins…
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And They’re Off- #FlashFiction #AmWriting #WritingCommunity
It was only a quarter mile, what could go wrong?
Sommerville Holidays Too by @VickiBatman #HolidayRomance #Reading
Book Title & Genre: Sommerville holidays too, romantic comedy holiday stories Release Date: November 1, 2020 Author: Vicki Batman Publisher: VLMBatman Word Count: Page Count: 142 ISBN: NA ASIN: B08JQN19L6/digital Price: $2.99 Tagline: Love blossoms in the small town of Sommerville in these heartwarming holiday tales, filled with fun and forever possibilities. The Great Fruitcake … Continue reading Sommerville Holidays Too by @VickiBatman #HolidayRomance #Reading
Smorgasbord Blog Magazine – Christmas Archives – #ShortStory – The Snow Globe by D. Wallace Peach
A beautiful holiday story from Diana Peach and shared on Sally Cronin’s Smorgasbord #blog.
Over the last seven years there have been some amazing guests in the run up to Christmas who have shared stories about their own memories of this time of year or their festive fiction. In the next four weeks I will be repeating some of those posts, updated with the authors recent books and reviews.
A fabulous story by D.Wallace Peach to bring some romance and mystical magic to Christmas. I know you will love it.
Pixabay image composition.
The Snow Globe by D. Wallace Peach
Delores perches at the scuffed counter of Dee’s Diner on Christmas Eve, keeping one bespectacled eye on Angie as the waitress mops the linoleum floor. The sign on the front door has already flipped from “Open” to “Closed,” and the crimson Panhandle sky fades to a duller shade of rose, a single bright star glimmering on the eastern horizon.
“Thanks for closing early, Dee,” the…
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Jacquie Biggar-USA Today Best-selling author 
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