Unlikely Meetings~Can They Give us Great Gifts?

Sometimes it’s the most unlikely meetings that give us life’s greatest gifts.

1970s, Southern Alabama. Sixty-two-year-old Jeremiah Lewis Taylor, or “Nub,” has spent his whole life listening to those he loves tell him he’s no good—first his ex-wife, now his always-disapproving daughter. Sure, his escapades have made him, along with his cousin and perennial sidekick, Benny, just a smidge too familiar with small-town law enforcement, but he’s never harmed anyone—except perhaps himself.

Nub never meant to change his ways, but when he and fifteen-year-old Waffle House waitress Minnie form an unlikely friendship, he realizes for the first time that there may be some good in him after all. Six-foot-five Minnie has been dealt a full deck of bad luck—her father is a convicted murderer serving a life sentence, her mother is dead and buried, and she has a Grand Ole Opry–worthy singing voice with no place to perform. Oh, and there’s the small fact that she’s unexpectedly pregnant, courtesy of a no-good high-school boy.

Gradually, Nub realizes the gift he’s been given: a second chance to make a difference.

Beloved Southern writer Sean Dietrich, also known as Sean of the South, once again brings people and places to life in this lyrical song-turned-story about found family, second chances, country music, and the poignant power of love and forgiveness.

Heartwarming Southern fiction from Sean of the South

Stand-alone novel

Includes discussion questions for book clubs.

Also by Sean Dietrich: The Incredible Winston Browne, Stars of Alabama, and You Are My Sunshine.

Sean Dietrich is a columnist, novelist, podcaster, and stand-up storyteller known for his commentary on life in the American South. His work has appeared in Newsweek, Southern Living, Reader's Digest, Garden and Gun, The Tallahassee Democrat, the Birmingham News, and his column is syndicated in newspapers throughout the U.S. He has authored fifteen books, and he makes appearances on the Grand Ole Opry.

New Beginnings?

They say a full moon on Christmas Day signals a time of new beginnings...

Everyone knows that Christmas in Holly Pointe, Vermont, the Capital of Christmas Kindness, is a big deal. The Events! The Traditions! The Tourists! This year Melinda Kelly wants to shake things up. She’ll trade snow for sand and spend the holidays in sunny Mexico.

A destination wedding in Mexico is the ultimate Christmas vacation--unless you're Jack McPherson, the groom is your brother, and the bride is your ex-fiancée. While Jack wishes them the best, this holiday has awkward written all over it.

When a system-wide computer snafu cancels all flights, the airport is in chaos. Jack manages to snag the last available rental car and offers Melinda a ride. Unless she wants to wait for Rudolph to swoop in and fly her home, Melinda's best chance to get back to her family for Christmas is Jack.

As she and the most charming Jack McPherson navigate unexpected adventures on the journey home then embrace all that Holly Pointe has to offer, they will discover that sometimes the best gifts are the ones never expected. And that a Christmas moon, one that signals new beginnings, is shining its light directly on them.

Cindy Kirk writes uplifting, charming, and totally heartwarming stories. An eternal optimist, her emotionally satisfying stories are about real people in the context of home and family.

Learn more about Cindy and her heartfelt stories at www.cindykirk.com

Ghosts of Honolulu

Ghosts of Honolulu depicts the incredible high stakes game of naval intelligence and the need to define what is real and what only appears to be real.

A U.S. naval counterintelligence officer working to safeguard Pearl Harbor; a Japanese spy ordered to Hawaii to gather information on the American fleet. On December 7, 1941, their hidden stories are exposed by a morning of bloodshed that would change the world forever. Scrutinizing long-buried historical documents, NCIS star Mark Harmon and co-author Leon Carroll, a former NCIS Special Agent, have brought forth a true-life NCIS story of deception, discovery, and danger.

Hawaii, 1941. War clouds with Japan are gathering and the islands of Hawaii have become battlegrounds of spies, intelligence agents, and military officials - with the island's residents caught between them. Toiling in the shadows are Douglas Wada, the only Japanese American agent in naval intelligence, and Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese spy sent to Pearl Harbor to gather information on the U.S. fleet.

Douglas Wada's experiences in his native Honolulu include posing undercover as a newspaper reporter, translating wiretaps on the Japanese Consulate, and interrogating America's first captured POW of World War II, a submarine officer found on the beach. Takeo Yoshikawa is a Japanese spy operating as a junior diplomat with the consulate who is collecting vital information that goes straight to Admiral Yamamoto. Their dueling stories anchor Ghosts of Honolulu's gripping depiction of the world-changing cat and mouse games played between Japanese and US military intelligence agents (and a mercenary Nazi) in Hawaii before the outbreak of the second world war.

Also caught in the upheaval are Honolulu's innocent residents - including Douglas Wada's father - who endure the war's anti-Japanese fervor and a cadre of intelligence professionals who must prevent Hawaii from adopting the same destructive mass internments as California.

Star of screen, television, and stage, Mark Harmon is now taking on the publishing world with Ghosts of Honolulu. Probably most recognized for his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the hit drama NCIS, which he led for 18 seasons, Harmon is also an executive producer on the show.

Star of screen, television, and stage, Mark Harmon is now taking on the publishing world with Ghosts of Honolulu. Probably most recognized for his role as Leroy Jethro Gibbs on the hit drama NCIS, which he led for 18 seasons, Harmon is also an executive producer on the show.

Born and raised in Southern California, Harmon excelled in sports. He quarterbacked UCLA to multiple winning football seasons and was presented the National Collegiate Football Foundation Award for All Around Excellence. The National Football Foundation recently bestowed Harmon with their highest honor, the Gold Medal, making him the first recipient in their organization to receive both the Scholar Athlete Award and the Gold Medal. He is a cum laude graduate with a degree in communications.

Mark Harmon and Leon Carroll, Jr., a former NCIS Special Agent, bring forth a true-Life NCIS story of deception, discovery and danger.

Leon Carroll Jr. is the technical advisor on the hit drama NCIS. A native of Chicago, Illinois, he attended Lindblom Technical High School and went on to earn a BS degree in business economics from North Dakota State University. Leon was a commissioned officer in the United States Marine Corps, serving on active duty for 6 years and 3 years in the Marine Corps Reserves, attaining the rank of Major. His duty assignments included serving in the Fleet Marine Forces and Sea Duty onboard the USS Ogden (LPD-5). Following his stint in the Marine Corps, Leon began a 20-year career as a Special Agent with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service (NCIS). He served in 7 different locations, including tours as a Special Agent Afloat on the USS Ranger (CV-61) and as the Special Agent in Charge of NCIS offices in the Republic of Panama and the Pacific Northwest. Upon retirement from NCIS, Leon was selected to be the technical advisor for the top-rated drama of the same name, holding that position for 20 seasons. His experience in Foreign Counterintelligence gives him unique insight into the world in which Doug Wada operated.

Presenting Allen Mendenhall on a Southern Story

Suite T presenting Allen Mendenhall, author of A Glooming Peace This Morning

As the former editor of the Southern Literary Review--and now as the author of a debut Southern novel--what elements make for a good "Southern story," in your opinion?

First, thanks for this interview. The obvious answer to your question is setting: The narrative must unfold within the South. How you define that region differs from person to person, but there can be no doubt that A Glooming Peace This Morning, set in the fictional town of Andalusia within the fictional Magnolia County, is thoroughly Southern. In fact, I chose the name Andalusia to evoke Flannery O'Connor. The story recalls the Southern Gothic, and, if we're throwing humility out the window, I'd like to think of it as channeling Faulkner, Tennessee Williams, Carson McCullers, Harper Lee, and Truman Capote. Issues at play in their work appear here as well: violence, racism, poverty, industrialism, and the decline of genteel society.

2). In your own words, what is your new novel A GLOOMING PEACE THIS MORNING about?

It's a morally ambiguous Attic tragedy Southern-styled, or, if you like, a retelling of Romeo and Juliet, from which it borrows its title. The narrator, Cephas, looks back on his childhood and recalls the haunting tale of Sarah and Tommy, who mobilize the town into a frenzied community of purpose. Their illicit love results in a trial that raises philosophical questions about truth and justice. Beware of the dark humor, and don't expect any heroes.

3). You've written a lot of nonfiction, but this is your first work of fiction. Why did you decide to start writing fiction?

Because I just couldn't help myself. I'm a compulsive writer. Actually, I began to plot this story before I ever started writing my nonfiction books. What started as a short story developed into this more complex narrative after I read a case during my first year of law school that inspired the trial involving Sarah and Tommy. If I could make a living just writing novels, that's what I'd do.

4). What did you enjoy most about writing A GLOOMING PEACE THIS MORNING? What did you find the most challenging?

With a novel, I didn't need a logical argument. I wasn't required to present my case, provide substantiating evidence, or research past precedents. I just wrote. That was both fun and challenging. When you engage the ideas of others, you enter into a conversation. You agree or disagree and explain your reasons why. But when you write fiction, you're on your own. Of course, I troped and borrowed, and A Glooming Peace This Morning contains many allusions and genre signals. After all, as a writer, you're never completely alone: you're always plugged into a network of authors and texts. But narratives, plots, dialogue--these require imagination, creation, and invention. The novel demands an originality that nonfiction doesn't.

5). What do you hope readers take away from your novel?

A better sense of their own self.

We were thrilled to have Allen Mendenhall with us today talking about his new book, A Glooming Peace This Morning. It is truly a book you won't want to miss. Opening the book, reading the first sentence pulls you into the story Cephas is recounting about childhood events in the 1970s that retell the story of the improbable, forbidden love between Tommy Cox, who has an intellectual disability, and Sarah Warren, the underage darling of polite society.

Allen Mendenhall is Associate Dean of the Sorrell College of Business at Troy University, where he holds the Grady Rosier Professorship and directs the Manuel H. Johnson Center for Political Economy. Visit his website at AllenMendenhall.com. Allen Mendenhall, a distinguished lawyer and university administrator in Alabama, is a name synonymous with literary excellence and legal scholarship. With a background in editing the esteemed Southern Literary Review for over a decade, Mendenhall brings a unique blend of legal insight and literary craftsmanship to "A Glooming Peace this Morning."
 

Merry Christmas

 Merry Christ to everyone. May you have a safe and healthy holiday.

God Bless You!

Do You Juggle Jesus With St. Nick?

 

The Christmas season is here, and you are once again juggling the story of Jesus with good Ol’ St. Nick…

…but what if you didn’t have to?

This beautifully illustrated bedtime story teaches children the story behind St. Nick and how he was a follower of Jesus too! Children will learn about the birth of Jesus, the importance of giving, and the reason for many of our holiday traditions.

A Beautiful Story: Jesus & St. Nick will quickly become a family favorite. Parents love the values it teaches, and kids love the way it brings the real Christmas story to life! Make this book a Christmas tradition in your household so your kids will grow up understanding why we celebrate Christmas with certain traditions today. And don’t worry! We don’t give away any holiday secrets!

Sarah French is a four-time Emmy Award-winning journalist. She is a broadcast news anchor for the NBC affiliate in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sarah was inspired to write this book for her children to explain the story of Christmas with Jesus and Saint Nick as one cohesive story. The Christmas season is Sarah’s favorite time of year, and she’s overjoyed to share this book with you. Sarah grew up in Arkansas and has a Master of Journalism degree from the University of Missouri School of Journalism. Sarah loves living in the Carolinas with her husband and two children, Blair and CJ. They have two dogs, Buddy and Teddy. Sarah serves in the children’s ministry of her church in Charlotte.

Ever Met Someone Who Impacted Your Life?

Where Christmas once brought joy and happiness for the King family, in recent years, it has been overshadowed by sorrow. As they endeavor to carry on their father’s legacy, the King triplets meet people who impact their lives in ways they never expected.

Since his father tragically passed away four years ago, Hunter King has done his best to step into his shoes. That has included being a support for his triplet siblings, Hayden and Heather, and their mom. Christmas is the hardest time of year for the family since it was their dad’s favorite holiday, and he always threw himself into the festivities, both for his family and for people around them, especially those in need.

As Christmas nears once again, Hunter comes across a single mom and her young daughter, who are tenants in a rundown building that has been earmarked for demolition. Hunter feels responsible for their situation since he had bought the building specifically to tear down, so he and his family try to do what they can to help them.

Carissa Jenkins is near rock bottom and desperate to find a new place for her and her daughter, Rachel, to live. When she finds herself with the attention of Hunter King, owner of the building and uber-rich businessman, she isn’t sure what to think. However, her circumstances mean that she has no choice but to accept the help that the King family offers.

As she and Hunter are drawn into each other’s lives, they discover a shared grief. Though Carissa isn’t convinced that she and Rachel are anything but a charity for the Christmas season for the King family, she finds herself falling for the man. Carissa struggles with her feelings because she feels indebted to Hunter and his family after everything they’ve done for her and Rachel and thinks a relationship would be unequal.

Christmas brings healing and a renewed joy for both families. Will it also bring an unexpected chance at love as they discover that not every gift is wrapped beneath the Christmas tree?

As a daughter to missionary parents, USA Today bestselling author Kimberly Rae Jordan spent the first 18 years of her life in Asia with only periodic visits "home" to Canada. With limited access to television, Kimberly spent many hours reading and creating stories in her head. Thus began her love of the written word! She enjoys reading Christian romance (Inspirational Romance), Romantic Suspense and most anything by Dean Koontz!

The years that followed her high school graduation and subsequent return to Canada involved becoming a wife and a mother to 4 beautiful children. Though the past several years have taken some unexpected twists and turns and have had ups and downs, God continues to work. "Under construction" is the best way to describe Kimberly's life!

Along with writing, Kimberly loves to read, bake and pin craft ideas on Pinterest...and once in a while, she actually tries her hand at one! Living in the cold of central Canada, Kimberly finds winters a great time to hunker down with a good book or spend time getting to know the characters for her next book. She loves to write about the dynamics of faith, family and love in the context of a fiction novel. In addition to entertaining through her stories, Kimberly hopes to inspire and encourage her readers in their own journeys of faith and love.

Visit her webpage at www.kimberlyraejordan.com. You can also follow her on twitter at @KimberlyRJordan and like her author page on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/AuthorKimberlyRaeJordan. Kimberly also writes sweet romance under the name K.R. Jordan.

Have Your Loyalties Ever Been Tested?

Royalty comes to Sidmouth, bringing unexpected danger and the sweet possibility of romance. . . .
When the Duke and Duchess of Kent and their daughter--the future Queen Victoria--rent neighboring Woolbrook Cottage for the winter, the Summers sisters are called upon to host three of the royal family's male staff in their seaside house. But they soon realize they've invited secrets and intrigue into their home.

Meanwhile, Emily Summers longs to become an author. A local publisher offers to consider her novel if she will first write a Sidmouth guidebook for him. Emily agrees and begins researching the area with help from the Duke of Kent's handsome private secretary. But a surprise visitor from her past shows up at Sea View, leaving Emily torn between the desires she's long held dear and her budding dreams for the future.

Return to the Devonshire coast with the Summers sisters, where loyalties are tested, secrets come to light, and new love emerges.

Julie Klassen loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austen. She worked in publishing for sixteen years and now writes full time. Three of her novels have won the Christy Award for Historical Romance. She has also won the Minnesota Book Award, the Midwest Book Award, and Christian Retailing’s BEST Award. Julie is a graduate of the University of Illinois. She and her husband have two sons and live in St. Paul, Minnesota. Visit www.julieklassen.com and talesfromivyhill.com for more information.

Are We Living In The End Times? Many Of Us Wonder!

 

End-Times Prophecy Does Not Need to Be Complicated Or Confusing...
"Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming." --Matthew 24:42

The words of Jesus remind Christians that--even though we do not know the date when He will return--we need to have our finger on the pulse of what is happening morally, spiritually, and politically in our world. And with the increasing chaos, division, and war happening today, it is right to ask, "Are we living in the end times now?" In this book, Dr. Robert Jeffress provides biblical answers to seven frequently asked questions about the future:

1. What Does the Bible Mean by the End Times?
2. What Role Does Israel Play in the End Times?
3. What News Events Signal the End Times?
4. What Are the Major Events of the End Times?
5. What's the Difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming in the End Times?
6. Why Has God Delayed the End Times?
7. How Do I Prepare for the End Times?

Getting answers to these questions--and understanding the phenomenal events that are going to happen before the revelation of the King of kings and Lord of lords--helps believers face the future with hope and confidence.

Robert James Jeffress Jr. is an American Southern Baptist pastor, author, radio host, and televangelist. He is the senior pastor of the First Baptist Church, in Dallas, Texas,

Could God Use Someone Like You?

Ever wonder if you’ve stumbled one too many times for God to use someone like you? Could you benefit from an encounter with God’s unending, unbending, unswerving love and devotion?

If your answer is yes, it’s time for you to see how God’s grace transformed Jacob’s life. And if you feel undeserving of God’s grace, this book will serve as a refresher course on God’s perfect plan to use imperfect people to do great things.

God Never Gives Up on You is for the strugglers among us and the fumbler within us. For those of us who are part saint, part scoundrel; we mean well, but we don’t always do well. We have breakthroughs and breakdowns, often in the same hour. We need no reminder of our failures. But where can we find examples of God’s steadfast grace?

No one is more suited to help assure you of God’s grace than Jacob. He was less a prodigy and more a prodigal. Strong on savvy. Weak on conscience. Jacob took advantage of his famished brother and pulled the wool over the eyes of his dying father, yet God never turned his back on Jacob. And he won’t turn his back on you. If you are ready to start counting on God’s grace and believe he never gives up on you, this book is for you.

Max Lucado is a pastor, speaker, and bestselling author who, in his own words, “writes books for people who don’t read books.” He serves the people of Oak Hills Church in San Antonio, Texas, and his message is for the hurting, the guilty, the lonely, and the discouraged: God loves you; let him.

Max is known for combining poetic storytelling and homespun humor with the heart of a pastor. All of his trade books began as sermon series at Oak Hills Church, and his sermons all begin with Max asking himself this question: “What can I say on Sunday that will still matter on Monday?” He’s been dubbed “America’s Pastor” by Christianity Today, and “The Best Preacher in America” by Reader’s Digest.

Max’s books have sold more than 96 million copies in 56 languages worldwide with more than 145 million total products in print branded with his name and words. Max’s books regularly appear on bestseller lists, including The New York Times. His writing has also been featured in Bible studies, Bible commentaries, songs, greeting cards, and even plush toys.

Max and his wife Denalyn live in San Antonio, Texas and celebrated forty years of marriage in 2021. They have three grown daughters, three sons-in-law, and two grandchildren.

There Were No Elves?

 

Every Christmas, Santa and his Missus, working all by themselves, were getting overwhelmed. Year after year, more and more toys had to be made on time for Christmas for all the world's children. But how could they manage to keep up? Back then, there were no elves to help them.
How and why did the Elves choose to join up every Christmas with Santa and his Missus to meet their yearly challenge?

Find out the secret backstory of how and why the Elves became Santa's reliable band of toy-making volunteers and helped save the day!

Dr. David Charney
Originally, the germ of this song idea came to Dr. Charney when he was a freshman medical student over 50 years ago. However, because of many intervening life events, Dr. Charney did not move forward with his concept until only a few months ago, when he was finally able to turn his attention t­­­o writing the song. Once the lyrics were written, Dr. Charney realized he had also written a children’s book. He decided it would be better to start with the book, which after an enormous amount of work, is now self-published. With that accomplished, he is pivoting to getting the song version produced so that both the book and song get released at the same time to reinforce each other. The hope is that in future Christmas seasons, both book and song will become a valued part of popular culture.

A Christmas Moon? New Beginnings?

They say a full moon on Christmas Day signals a time of new beginnings...

Everyone knows that Christmas in Holly Pointe, Vermont, the Capital of Christmas Kindness, is a big deal. The Events! The Traditions! The Tourists! This year Melinda Kelly wants to shake things up. She’ll trade snow for sand and spend the holidays in sunny Mexico.

A destination wedding in Mexico is the ultimate Christmas vacation--unless you're Jack McPherson, the groom is your brother, and the bride is your ex-fiancée. While Jack wishes them the best, this holiday has awkward written all over it.

When a system-wide computer snafu cancels all flights, the airport is in chaos. Jack manages to snag the last available rental car and offers Melinda a ride. Unless she wants to wait for Rudolph to swoop in and fly her home, Melinda's best chance to get back to her family for Christmas is Jack.

As she and the most charming Jack McPherson navigate unexpected adventures on the journey home then embrace all that Holly Pointe has to offer, they will discover that sometimes the best gifts are the ones never expected. And that a Christmas moon, one that signals new beginnings, is shining its light directly on them.

⭐ USA Today Bestseller ⭐ Kindle Unlimited All-Star ⭐

Cindy Kirk writes uplifting, charming, and totally heartwarming stories. An eternal optimist, her emotionally satisfying stories are about real people in the context of home and family.

Learn more about Cindy and her heartfelt stories at www.cindykirk.com

A Heartwarming Holiday Story and Maybe A New Beginning?

Get cozy with this heartwarming holiday story!
"[Thayne] engages the reader’s heart and emotions, inspiring hope and the belief that miracles are possible." —Debbie Macomber, #1 New York Times bestselling author

Come home to Shelter Springs this Christmas, where hearts are warm and hopes are bright…

Growing up at the Shelter Inn hotel, Natalie Shepherd envied guests who could come and go as they pleased. So when it was time to finally leave for college and put the lush green mountains around Shelter Springs—along with the cloud of loss that seemed to follow her family—behind her, she swore she’d never come back. But now her sister McKenna needs a favor. On pregnancy bed rest at doctor’s orders, McKenna needs a helping hand with her two young daughters and someone to take over the inn during the hectic holiday season, and Nat can’t refuse. And just when things can’t get worse, she runs into her late brother’s best friend, Griffin Taylor…

Griff has mixed feelings about Natalie’s return. She’s just as beautiful and full of life as he remembered, but there’s a secret he’s carried for years about her brother—and the guilt is eating away at him. Still, Christmas in this small town is filled with treasured traditions and new adventures that hold the promise of something sweet and lasting. From matchmaking seniors to rambunctious nieces, it seems everyone is hoping Nat and Griff will put loss behind them and find a happy new beginning…

#1 Publishers Weekly, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author RaeAnne Thayne finds inspiration in the beautiful northern Utah mountains where she lives with her family. Her books have won numerous honors, including seven RITA Award nominations from Romance Writers of America and a Career Achievement Award from RT Book Reviews magazine. RaeAnne loves to hear from readers and can be reached through her website at www.raeannethayne.com.

Heartwarming Celebration of Female Friendship

Friends since high school, four 30-something women reunite for a Christmas ski trip filled with a few unexpected bumps—and lots of laughter – in this humorous, heartwarming celebration of female friendship from #1 New York Times bestselling author Fern Michaels…

When longtime friends Amy, Frankie, Rachael and Nina reunited for a holiday singles cruise, it not only deepened their bond, it changed their lives. Now they’re getting together for another adventure, and what better winter setting than a fabulous ski lodge? Crisp snow and fresh air by day, cozy fires and delicious food by night, capped off by meeting up with their significant others for a New Year’s Eve celebration—it’s perfect.

At least, it’s perfect until Frankie decides to go snowshoeing alone. When she twists her ankle right after losing her phone in the snow, Frankie wonders how she’ll be able to summon help—only to be rescued by a reclusive Grizzly Adams lookalike who lives nearby and introduces himself as Troy Manchester.

Troy saves the day by helping the injured Frankie back to the ski lodge, but in the process, encounters a part of the L.A. life he’s tried to leave behind. Nina, visiting the gift shop to buy magazines for a recuperating Frankie, is similarly shocked to glimpse someone to whom she was once connected.

Even in this unlikely spot, it seems there’s no way to avoid their pasts. And as the mischievous Rachael and her sidekick Amy go to great lengths to patch up old friendships and spread the spirit of the season, the New Year may contain all kinds of new beginnings.

Fern Michaels is the New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of the successful Sisterhood series and the Men of the Sisterhood series and dozens of other novels and novellas. There are over 150 best-selling books with 110 million copies in print. Fern Michaels has built and funded several large day-care centers in her hometown, and is a passionate animal lover who has outfitted police dogs across the country with special bulletproof vests. She shares her home in South Carolina with her four dogs and a resident ghost named Mary Margaret.. .

Heartwarming HolidayTrilogy, Dreamy Winter, and Sweet Romance

The Carolina Christmas Trilogy

The Asheville Christmas Cabin: When the Chambers sisters receive an invitation from their jet-setting aunt to spend the entire month of December at the family’s cabin in Asheville, North Carolina, they have one question -- why? The retreat, tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains, may be the site of many happy childhood holidays and summers but it also holds sad memories. The sisters, and their aunt, have spent twenty-five years avoiding the cabin and renting it to strangers. Why would Aunt Elizabeth want her “dearest darling” nieces to put their busy lives in three different states on hold and spend a month in the mountains?

The Asheville Christmas Gift: With her daughter joining the family at the cabin, Angie faces the fact that her marriage is over, but has no idea how or where to start again. Noelle can no longer deny that the boy she once loved is now a man she could love again…although it would mean giving up her big city life and exciting New York career. Eve and her husband discover an opportunity that would upend their comfortable lives, but might bring them immeasurable joy.

The Asheville Christmas Wedding: As the holidays come to a close, each of the sisters stands at the precipice of a new life. Noelle has fallen in love, but the cost might be more than she’s willing to pay. Eve has an idea that is wild and wonderful, but she’s put her fate in the hands of a complete stranger. And Angie can’t start her new life without somewhere to live, so she is moving heaven and earth to find the proof they need to keep the cabin.

Hope Holloway is an author of charming, heartwarming fiction featuring unforgettable families and friends and the emotional challenges they conquer. After a career in marketing, Hope followed her lifelong dream to become a novelist.

She launched her women's fiction writing career with The Coconut Key Series, set on the sun-washed beaches of the Florida Keys. She writes about women who get second chances at life and love, families that are wonderfully entangled, and places where readers can lose themselves...and still feel at home.

A mother of two adult children, Hope and her husband of thirty years live in Florida. When not writing, she can be found walking the beach with her two rescue dogs, who beg her to include animals in every book. Visit her site and sign up for her newsletter:

Cecelia Scott is an author of light, bright women’s fiction that explores family dynamics, heartfelt romance, and the emotional challenges that women face at all ages and stages of life. Her debut series, Sweeney House, is set on the shores of Cocoa Beach, where she lived for more than twenty years. Her books capture the salt, sand, and spectacular skies of the area and reflect her firm belief that life deserves a happy ending, with enough drama and surprises to keep it interesting. Cece currently resides in north Florida with her husband and beloved kitty. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her at the beach, usually with a good book.

Christmas Magic~Family Ties

 

When fall rolls around, it’s time for Kerry Tolliver to leave her family’s Christmas tree farm in the mountains of North Carolina for the wilds of New York City to help her gruff older brother & his dog, Queenie, sell the trees at the family stand on a corner in Greenwich Village. Sharing a tiny vintage camper and experiencing Manhattan for the first time, Kerry’s ready to try to carve out a new corner for herself.

In the weeks leading into Christmas, Kerry quickly becomes close with the charming neighbors who live near their stand. When an elderly neighbor goes missing, Kerry will need to combine her country know-how with her newly acquired New York knowledge to protect the new friends she’s come to think of as family,

And complicating everything is Patrick, a single dad raising his adorable, dragon-loving son Austin on this quirky block. Kerry and Patrick’s chemistry is undeniable, but what chance does this holiday romance really have?

Filled with family ties, both rekindled and new, and sparkling with Christmas magic, BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG CHRISTMAS delivers everything Mary Kay Andrews fans adore, all tied up in a hilarious, romantic gem of a 

novel.

Reviews:

From Mary Kay Andrews, New York Times bestselling author of The Homewreckers and The Santa Suit, comes a novella celebrating love and the warm, glittering charm of the holiday season.

"Nobody does Christmas like Mary Kay Andrews." ―Debbie Macomber

"Cozy up with Santa's favorite novelist!” ―Adriana Trigiani

MARY KAY ANDREWS is the New York Times bestselling author of 27 novels (including Hello, Summer; Sunset Beach; The High Tide Club; The Weekenders; Beach Town; Save the Date; Christmas Bliss; Ladies' Night; Spring Fever; and Summer Rental, all from St. Martin's Press, as well as Savannah Breeze; Blue Christmas; Hissy Fit; Little Bitty Lies; and Savannah Blues, all Harper Collins), and one cookbook, The Beach House Cookbook.

A native of St. Petersburg, Florida, she earned a B.A. in journalism from The University of Georgia (go Dawgs!). After a 14-year career working as a reporter at newspapers including The Savannah Morning News, The Marietta Journal, and The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, where she spent the final ten years of her career, she left journalism in 1991 to write fiction.

Her first novel, Every Crooked Nanny, was published in 1992 by HarperCollins. She went on to write ten critically acclaimed mysteries, including the Callahan Garrity mystery series, under her real name, Kathy Hogan Trocheck. In 2002, she assumed the pen name Mary Kay Andrews with the publication of Savannah Blues. In 2006, Hissy Fit became her first New York Times bestseller, followed by twelve more New York Times, USA Today and Publisher’s Weekly bestsellers. To date, her novels have been published in German, Italian, Polish, Slovenian, Hungarian, Dutch, Czech and Japanese.

She and her family divide their time between Atlanta and Tybee Island, GA, where they cook up new recipes in two restored beach homes, The Breeze Inn and Ebbtide—both named after fictional places in Mary Kay’s novels, and both available to rent through Tybee Vacation Rentals. In between cooking, spoiling her grandkids, and plotting her next novel, Mary Kay is an intrepid treasure hunter whose favorite pastime is junking and fixing up old houses.

The Story Behind the Story of “BeeBop: The Honeybee Wannabee Hero!”

Truth Bee Told

When my children were young, they expected a new story every night. During story time theywere fully engaged, listening to every detail. Maybe they liked the story, or maybe they just wanted to put off going to sleep. Whatever the reason, we had their attention and found story time to be a great opportunity to impart moral values and teach positive character traits. After all, the Greatest Teacher used parables to teach moral lessons.


BeeBop is one of the stories I told my kids. BeeBop is an orphan bee, adopted by a hive. Like our children, he attended class to learn how to “beecome” a productive member of the hive. While in school he meets Buzz, a much bigger bee, who makes fun of him and points out to everybee, “He’s not one of us.” Everyone who has ever been in school has had to deal with bullies, so our kids quickly identified with BeeBop. He also meets BettyBee, who becomes his best friend.

The hive desperately needs a major nectar find before winter and BeeBop makes a big
discovery. He races to the hive to announce his great find, but Buzz calls him a liar. Nobee beeleaves him, except his one loyal friend.

BettyBee, and a wise old bee named Elderbee convince the hive to take a chance on BeeBop.Elderbee whispers to BeeBop, “Don’t let me down, young bee. Never disappoint the hive.”BeeBop responds, “Thank you sir, I will never let you or the hive down.”

All available forager bees travel a great distance to retrieve the nectar BeeBop described. But, when they arrive, the flowers are gone. Buzz says, “I told you he was lying.” Rejected, and shamed by the hive, BeeBop loses hope, but BettyBee tells him he should “never give up.”

He shakes off his gloom and solves the mystery of the missing flowers, but the hive won’t listen. He’s thrown into BeeJail on a charge of unbeecoming beehavior. If convicted he’ll be expelled from the hive, the most devastating penalty any bee can suffer. Risking everything, BettyBee flies all night to search for evidence to help her friend.

BeeBop must overcome despair, doubt, a bully and even a bear. He must make the best use of all the skills he learned in school if he is to have any chance to solve the mystery of the missing flowers, save the hive, and regain the respect of his best friend. This is a story of loyalty, bravery, determination, and forgiveness written for readers of all ages Our kids loved it, and I hope yours will, too.

James D. Bell is a retired judge and the award-winning author of two legal thrillers, Vampire Defense and Maximilian’s Treasure. Judge Bell and his wife Joanne tell stories at their home next to a bubbling brook near Crystal Springs, Mississippi.

Can This Holiday Dream Come True?

 From #1 New York Times bestselling, award-winning author and illustrator Mo Willems comes a new holiday classic.

It’s the most wonderful time of the year—for driving a sleigh! ’Tis also the season—for driving a sleigh! Oh, and joy to the—driving a sleigh! The Pigeon has made a list and checked it once. Can his holiday dream come true? Or will The Pigeon be left out in the cold?

You’ll share some HO-HO-HOs and HA-HA-HAs finding out in three-time Caldecott Honoree Mo Willems’ ninth Pigeon book, Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Sleigh!

Mo Willems (born February 11, 1968) is an American writer, animator, and creator of children's books.

Cottage Door Press Brings Us This Holiday Keepsake

Join us in this beautifully illustrated telling of the classic Christmas story. This large storybook features thicker pages to allow for reading over and over again without traditional wear and tear, making it a holiday keepsake for years to come. Share a story of Santa's journey on Christmas Eve and celebrate the season with your child. Listening and talking with your child sends a wonderful message of caring and love. Snuggle together on Christmas Eve with this holiday classic again and again.

Check out the wide range of Christmas books for toddlers and hundreds of other Children's titles from Cottage Door Press!This beautifully illustrated edition of the ultimate Christmas classic offers a new take on the nostalgic poem for children and their grownups, following a mouse family as they do stir on the Night Before Christmas
Think, talk, imagine and wish.... all the way to sweet holiday dreams and a world full of love. Reading over and over will become a classic Christmas book tradition for years to come.

Beautiful illustrations throughout for playful color and rich texture. Includes personalization area in the front cover with To/From section to include a memorable gift message.

Thicker pages than a regular storybook to allow for reading over and over again without traditional wear and tear from kids picture book.

The perfect Christmas book gift for your little boy or girl to learn about Santa Claus this holiday season.

Clement Clark Moore: Clement Clarke Moore was a professor of religion and the author of several scholarly works. What he is most remembered for, however, is his poem "An Account of a Visit from St. Nicholas," later called "The Night Before Christmas," and written as a Christmas gift for his six children.

Cottage Door Press: Bring beautiful stories to life, our diverse and talented staff collaborates with authors and illustrators from all backgrounds and nationalities. We have also partnered with multicultural brands and literacy organizations to make sure our books reflect and reach as many little ones as possible.

Hope For The Family

 

A cozy Appalachian town.
An unexpected blessing.
A healing gift of love.

A new heartwarming story in the beloved Spring Valley Series!
Single mom, COURTNEY CLARK feels she’s finally getting her life back on track. She is devoted to her children, Chance and Gracie, and pursuing a nursing career. Recovering from an abusive relationship and the tragic passing of her ex-husband hasn’t been an easy task, but with the help of her father and her faith restored, she now has hope for her family. Her son has proven to be resilient, but she’s worried about Gracie. Her daughter’s heart held the imprint of their troubled past. Gracie laughs and plays, but genuine happiness seems just beyond her reach. Courtney is hoping and praying for a holiday miracle for Gracie.

Assigned to the mobile medical unit, Courtney meets handsome BLAKE BOONE, the traveling nurse practitioner who’s filling in for the NP on maternity leave. Blake is not interested in a romantic relationship since his co-worker fiancé ended their engagement two years ago. Broken-hearted, he declared himself officially off the market, swore he would never date a co-worker again, and redirected his career to traveling NP. Still, he finds it hard to avoid the way he feels when Courtney is in the room. Dare he consider opening his heart again, or will he cast aside his feelings and move on to the next assignment?

The beloved ADA TAYLOR, owner of the Mockingbird Coffee House and Spring Valley’s favorite matchmaker, is determined to find the perfect eligible bachelor for Courtney. Ada has a hunch she’s found the ideal candidate, but bringing them together may require divine intervention. When Ada recruits Blake and Courtney to oversee a Giving Tree wishing ornament mission, they have no idea of the staggering adversities they will encounter, and they definitely didn’t anticipate the unexpected blessings. It will be a Christmas to remember.

Amazon Review: A must read and a perfect Christmas gift!
Santa’s Promising Christmas will transport you into a cozy small town – picture the interior of a snow globe-full of characters you’re rooting for throughout the story. The challenges they face are real, and their victories are that much more satisfying because you identify with these people and their struggles. If you like snuggling up under a blanket on a chilly day and getting into the Christmas spirit, you should read this book!

Born and raised in the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains, Georgia holds dear the three inherent mountain values of faith, family, and the land. Her Spring Valley series, including, The Ornament of Hope, Santa's Promising Christmas, and the latest release, A Christmas Blessing for Gracie are rich with voices from the past, memories of heartwarming stories and traditions of her cherished heritage. She and her husband, Phil, live in central Kentucky, just a few hours' drive from their adult son, Philip and daughter-in-heart, Lauren.

Georgia Curtis Ling is the bestselling author of What's in the Bible for Women, Moms Lead in Love, and In Mom They Trust. Over her career, her work has appeared in numerous periodicals and nine best selling books. https://georgiacurtisling.com/

A New York Times Notable Book

 

In 1972, when workers in Pottstown, Pennsylvania, were digging the foundations for a new development, the last thing they expected to find was a skeleton at the bottom of a well. Who the skeleton was and how it got there were two of the long-held secrets kept by the residents of Chicken Hill, the dilapidated neighborhood where immigrant Jews and African Americans lived side by side and shared ambitions and sorrows. Chicken Hill was where Moshe and Chona Ludlow lived when Moshe integrated his theater and where Chona ran the Heaven & Earth Grocery Store. When the state came looking for a deaf boy to institutionalize him, it was Chona and Nate Timblin, the Black janitor at Moshe’s theater and the unofficial leader of the Black community on Chicken Hill, who worked together to keep the boy safe.

    As these characters’ stories overlap and deepen, it becomes clear how much the people who live on the margins of white, Christian America struggle and what they must do to survive. When the truth is finally revealed about what happened on Chicken Hill and the part the town’s white establishment played in it, McBride shows us that even in dark times, it is love and community—heaven and earth—that sustain us.

    Bringing his masterly storytelling skills and his deep faith in humanity to The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store, James McBride has written a novel as compassionate as Deacon King Kong and as inventive as The Good Lord Bird.

NAMED A BEST BOOK OF THE YEAR BY NPR, WASHINGTON POST, AND TIME MAGAZINE

“A murder mystery locked inside a Great American Novel . . . Charming, smart, heart-blistering, and heart-healing.” —Danez Smith, The New York Times Book Review

“We all need—we all deserve—this vibrant, love-affirming novel that bounds over any difference that claims to separate us.” —Ron Charles, The Washington Post

From James McBride, author of the bestselling Oprah’s Book Club pick Deacon King Kong and the National Book Award–winning The Good Lord Bird, a novel about small-town secrets and the people who keep them.

James McBride is the author of the award-winning New York Times bestseller, The Color of Water. A former reporter for The Washington Post and People magazine, McBride holds a Masters degree in journalism from Columbia University and a B.A. from Oberlin College.