Category Archives: Fiction

Picnics and Promises – Coming July 2017

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Image may contain: one or more people and text

Picnics and Promises – a pie-loving boxed set is coming next month! Each tasty story features a romantic picnic and a delicious pie! Each story features a pie recipe at the end!

Sweet Dreams – The Bakery Romance Series (Book 6) will be featured in this wonderful collection!

Patty-Lynn Palmer loves creating mouth-watering pies in her bakery, Patty’s Pie Palace. She’s recently won the prestigious French International Pie Competition for her banana cream pie, and now she’s determined to save up enough money to buy the nostalgic house of her dreams.

She’s stunned when she runs into her wealthy ex-boyfriend, Sam Richardson. Sam has recently relocated to her hometown, Crystal Spring, to open a new office for his family’s food distribution company, Richardson Enterprises. Running into Sam awakens both wonderful and painful memories. Sam’s upper-class family never accepted her. Their contempt of her poor, country, foster-care upbringing caused her great pain, leading to Sam’s earth-shattering breakup with her seven years ago.

Sam is shocked when he encounters Patty-Lynn. He feels awful about their painful breakup, and he now longs to fix their broken relationship. Recently widowed, he desperately longs for his father’s approval on his new business venture. He’s unhappy working for his dad and seeing Patty-Lynn, happy in her pie shop, gives him hope. By using her prize-winning pie recipe, it appears that Patty-Lynn may be able to help him with his quest to gain his father’s approval. Can he find the courage to rekindle their romance and finally stand up to his domineering dad?

The Writing Desk

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The Writing Desk by Rachel Hauck

Have you ever been estranged from your parent(s)? So estranged that you barely spoke to one another for years?

This book focuses on two women, Tenley’s story takes place during modern times. Birdie’s story is a historical.

Tenley is floored, literally, when she receives a marriage proposal right before she receives a prestigious writing award. Suffering from writers’ block, she struggles with making decisions – should she go to Paris with her boyfriend or travel to Florida to care for her estranged mom. Isn’t it too late to try and fix their broken familial relationship?

Birdie wants to publish her romance novel. But, her parents aren’t aware of her writing aspirations. They want her to marry a well-to-do man that they’ve chosen. I almost felt as if Birdie had been born 100 years too early – she seemed like a modern woman.

Both Birdie’s and Tenley’s stories are related in a unique and appealing way. This was a light, enjoyable summer read.

So, have you ever been estranged from your parent(s) – so estranged that you barely spoke to one another for years? What did you do about it? Did you reconcile?

 

 

Like A Brother

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Like A Brother by Maurice M. Gray, Jr.

Have you ever loaned money to a family member? Did they pay you back?

Jeremiah (Jay) is always there to support his family. His support is so strong that his family takes advantage of his kindness – putting his life at a major disadvantage. His dating life is also somewhat complicated since he has a crush on Jenisse, a woman to whom he’s been connected for years. He wants to move forward with his life and date others, but, something is holding him back.

This book shows how complicated familial relationships can be. It’s hard to make the family dynamic work, especially when folks have a lot of issues from which to overcome. God has the answers to our problems and it’s important for folks to own up to their insecurities and issues. Overall, this was a good, insightful read.

This is a unique romance novel told totally from the male point-of-view, which was refreshing. It tells of the struggles that a good, intelligent man can face while trying to date. I think it’s hard for some women to realize that there are good men out there, good men that are struggling to find a good woman. So, when women complain about not being able to find a good man, then they should read this book, see how it is from the other side (the man’s point of view).

So, have you ever loaned money to a family member? If so, did they ever pay you back?

 

A Husband For Holly

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A Husband For Holly by Marion Ueckermann

Have you ever hired an interior decorator? Was it expensive? Were you pleased with the results?

When Holly is hired to decorate the office of the new parish priest, she gives the project her best effort, using her talents to make the office look wonderful. However, Christopher (the new Scottish priest) has much on his mind. He’s still reeling over his broken heart, plus, he has a wandering father who suffers from Alzheimer’s.

Holly is not interested in romance right now. Her decorating business takes up most of her time. But, for some reason, she can’t ignore the deep attraction she has for handsome Christopher.

I enjoyed this light, wonderful holiday story. This story also shows how hard it is to deal with an ailing parent.

So, have you ever hired an interior decorator? Was it expensive? Were you pleased with the results?

Wish You Joy by Jan Thompson

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Wish You Joy by Jan Thompson

Have you ever disliked your co-worker or business partner? If so, what did you do about it?

Cyrus owns 51 percent of Christmastown, a company that provides Christmas decoration services. Amy, who owns 49 percent of the company, must work with Chris.

She can’t stand him. They start off on the wrong foot, and it’s hard for them to get along. But, Amy has a photography business, and she’s out of the country a lot. She has to time to spend running the business with Cyrus.

But, Amy discovers that her past is not what it seems. She finds she needs to overcome pain from the past before she can move forward with her life.

Overall, a light, good read.

So, have you ever disliked your co-worker or business partner? What did you do to improve your business relationship?

Heavenly Peace by Lesley Ann McDaniel

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Heavenly Peace

Have you ever chose a gift tag from a Christmas tree for a needy child? What did that child request as a gift?

When widowed Valerie and her son Ethan visit a coffee shop, they choose a gift tag for a child in need. Ethan is excited, and he spots a man removing the gifts from the tree. “Is that man the Grinch?” Ethan asks his mommy…

Jake is not the Grinch, he’s a man who works with disadvantaged folks, collecting gift donations from under the tree to distribute to needy children.

Valerie is attracted to handsome Jake, but, although her husband is deceased, shouldn’t she remain faithful to him forever, never to marry?

Jake is smitten with Valerie, but, she’s wearing a wedding ring – so, she’s married, isn’t she?

Valerie is shocked when she finally reads the tag she’s removed from the tree. This child has requested a miracle, she doesn’t know how she can give this child her requested gift. Can Jake help her to fulfill the wish for this needy child?

This was a sweet, heartwarming short Christmas story. It was a good, light read.

So, have you ever chose a gift tag for a needy child? If so, what did that child request as a gift?

Calm And Bright

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Calm And Bright by Autumn Macarthur

Have you ever had a workaholic spouse?

Maddie Hughes is highly upset with her husband, Brad. Recently divorced, she’s never been able to forgive her ex for upsetting her “perfect” life. She’s left her home and followed him to the city. She was unhappy with her new environment – unhappy and alone. A new mom, she felt Brad had failed her since he spent ALL of his time at work. Now he wants to reunite this Christmas. Is there hope for them?

Brad only worked long hours so that he could provide a nice life for his family. Why can’t Maddie understand that? His father has convinced Brad that making lots of money, moving up the corporate ladder, is what he needs to do to be successful in life.

But, why can’t he have both, a successful career and his family, too?

I really enjoyed this story. I thought it was highly realistic. It’s a nice, sweet Christmas story.

Have you ever been upset with your spouse, because he was a workaholic? Did you divorce or were you able to work out your differences? Did you pray for guidance?

 

 

The Wonder of His Love

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The Wonder Of His Love by Kimberly Rae Jordan

Did you ever have negative experiences with finances when you were growing up?

Abandoned by her mom, Noella Crawford is sent to a foster home. Her mom was terrible with their finances, and she’s seen her mother be taken advantage of, financially, by men. Noella is determined not to repeat her mother’s mistakes. When she meets Scotsman Finlay Kinnaird she’s attracted to him. However, Finlay is only a mechanic, plus he lives in a trailer park, and Noella is the successful owner of a bakery. No way does she want to lose her heart to a financially unstable man, but, there’s just something warm and caring about Finlay…what should she do?

This is a nice, engaging Christmas read. I loved reading how Noella struggled with her issues with finances and romance.

So, have you ever have negative experiences with finances when you were growing up? How did you cope? Did your experience affect your romantic relationships?

Deadly Night, Silent Night

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Deadly Night, Silent Night by Margaret Daley

Have you ever found it hard to move forward with your life after losing a spouse?

Widow Rebecca Howard is a workaholic, covering her grief by making her store a success. Her father had always wanted her to be a success, so, she’s determined to make their family sporting goods store lucrative business. But, trouble has been brewing. Someone has been hacking their computer system and making threats on their store.

Alex Kincaid has ghosts from his own past to overcome. He’s good friends with Rebecca’s twin brother and he’s secretly had a crush on Rebecca when they were kids. Rebecca needs to rely on Alex’s expertise to catch the criminal who is targeting her business. As they work together, their attraction deepens.

I enjoyed this highly-charged, suspenseful novella. You’ll be sitting on the edge of your seat as you read this story, and it will keep you guessing until the very end. A good Christmas read.

So, have you ever found it hard to move forward with your life after losing a spouse?

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful!

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Oh, The Weather Outside is Frightful (Montana Fire Christmas novella)

Oh, The Weather Outside Is Frightful by Susan May Warren

Have you ever suffered from a tragic or traumatic experience, and the backlash of that incident made you fearful – too fearful to move on with your life?

Hannah and CJ have been through a traumatic experience. Smoke jumpers, they’ve almost lost their lives and since CJ is still recovering, he doesn’t feel ready for a relationship. He takes prescription drugs to deaden the physical pain that still haunts him from the incident. He speaks to his buddy Hannah online via the game that they play. How can he find the courage to tell Hannah his true feelings?

Hannah is determined to set things right. Scared, she’s haunted by a past experience. She doesn’t trust herself NOT to make a mistake as a nurse. Can she learn to overcome her fears?

An invitation to a mutual friend’s wedding put Hannah and CJ into direct contact with one another. A big snowstorm and a stranded stranger are just two of many elements that make this book a satisfying Christmas read. If you like short, snowbound, holiday stories then you should give this one a try. It’s a slightly suspenseful and quick read.

Have you ever been too scared to move forward with your life after a tragic experience? How did you overcome your fear?