Interview with Gina Holder

 

This month, I interviewed Gina Holder.

Bio: Gina Holder is an indie author and stay-at-home mom. She’s had an infatuation with books for as long as she can remember. She loves sharing uplifting messages from God’s Word and introducing readers to new and new-to-them authors on her blog. When she’s not writing, Gina enjoys playing the piano, cooking, reading, watching Hallmark mysteries, and solving “escape room” puzzles. She loves growing in her craft as an author. She published her debut novel in 2017. Gina lives in Wyoming with her husband and daughter.             

 

How many books have you written?

I have written eleven books since 2015. One historical missionary drama, a romantic suspense trilogy, two cozy mysteries, one suspense novella, three children’s books, and the first book in a new romantic suspense series releasing in June with Scrivenings Press.

What do you enjoy most about writing books?

I’ve been creating imaginary worlds and telling stories as far back as I can remember. My favorite part of writing books has to be creating something that entertains readers and inspires them in their walk with God. The greatest blessing I have ever received is a note from a reader sharing how God used my book to touch their heart and change their life.

What is your latest release?

My latest release is Home Baked Bribery, book 2 of my Addie Masters Mysteries. Home Baked Bribery is a cozy mystery set in a coastal town in Massachusetts and centered on a local baking competition where a guest celebrity judge dies suddenly of what appears to be anaphylactic shock. Full of lovable pets and quirky characters,

Are you a pantser or a plotter?

I am a 100% pantser. I have some general idea how I want a story to go—I’ve fleshed out my characters, and I see a few vital scenes in my head that I need to aim for, but otherwise, I just start typing and see what happens.

 

 

Blurb: The annual Rockport bake sale and competition is underway. The stakes are higher than ever for the coveted Golden Whisk Award when a high-profile celebrity chef is brought in as a surprise guest judge.

The competition takes a deadly turn when the celebrity suffers an allergic reaction.

When Addie’s nemesis, Kennedy Graves is banned from the competition for using almond extract, Addie volunteers to prove Kennedy innocent. As Addie investigates the death, she learns each of the local bakers had a motive to dislike the celebrity. But did one of them kill him?

Meanwhile, hundred-year-old twins, Poppy and Marigold, keep Addie hopping, looking for their missing dogs.

Will Addie be able to uncover the truth behind the celebrity judge’s death, or will she become the next victim of the mysterious shenanigans going on in Rockport?

 

Purchase link: https://www.amazon.com/Baked-Bribery-Addie-Masters-Mysteries-ebook/dp/B0DJSJ3HC9

 

Gina’s social media links: 

http://amazon.com/author/ginaholder

http://storiesbygina.com (website and blog)

http://facebook.com/storiesbygina

http://twitter.com/storiesbygina

http://instagram.com/storiesbygina

https://www.bookbub.com/profile/gina-holder

Interview with J.L. Burrows

 BIO:

Jennifer Burrows has a message in her heart about God's love, and she’s shared that when she was a musician in her father's church, as a missionary to underprivileged children in a third world country, and as a wife who stood by her husband through terminal brain cancer that God miraculously healed.

Now, she’s sharing God's powerful love through the art of fiction, pouring herself into edifying and helping other writers, and teaching others how to use faith in the face of adversity. Jennifer teaches in the greater Nashville area where she lives with her husband and their two children. Get to know Jennifer better at jlburrows.com, or connect with her on social media at www.facebook.com/jenniferlynnburrows or www.instagram.com/jlburrowsauthor . 

INTERVIEW QUESTIONS:

1. What is your latest release?

FreeFalling just released January 14th 2025, and it’s the first Christian Futuristic Fiction novel in The Reconditioned trilogy.

With threads of …

●      enemies-to-love interests romance

●      science fiction including a snarky but illegal AI embedded as a chip in the brain

●      a beautiful German Shepherd named Sasha

Serenity Knowles (Sere) is living one hundred and eighty years in the future. The Dome government banned history education because of its inflammatory nature, deeming it a source of violent ideas among its citizens. Religion disappeared after they declared it created division in community and judgement between people groups. Government controls most aspects of life under the Dome, placing citizens under constant surveillance. After a wild event at the school Sere teaches at, she finds herself and her ragtag group pitted against a government with cutting-edge technology and genetically modified bio-weapons. The odds are stacked against them, but the Truth needs to rise out of the deception. Will Sere find a hero within herself and face down a future on the brink of oblivion?

The first book in The Reconditioned Series explores the role of an absolute truth and God’s love for us even as we bumble about trying to make our way through this world. Serenity faces a lot of trials and tribulation, and often she doesn’t know what to do in the face of forging a very different path from the people around her. I pray her story of courage and seeking the truth encourages readers to embrace their journey on the path less traveled as each of us are called to grow and stand firm in the places God calls us to. 

For Serenity, her grandfather whispered sweet truths at night before bedtime when no one was listening, defying government mandates. He taught her that God exists and loves her more than she’d ever understand. Throughout the story, we discover with Serenity how God pursues her, cares for her even when she isn’t completely aware of who He is. He speaks to her heart and reminds her of the things she learned with her grandfather when she was so young, and He inspires her to do what is right even when it might cost her everything: her future, her security, her own sense of self. There are people in our lives who need for us to be the change, to stand out when everyone else is falling in line, and to make a way just like Serenity’s grandfather did.

Alongside her, I pray readers discover the power of our Almighty God who loves us more than we’ll ever understand and cares for the details we don’t even know to be worried about.

2. What advice do you have for aspiring writers?

I have a couple of pieces of advice for new authors. After writing and publishing seven books, six indie and one traditional, I’ve learned a ton about this writing journey. Network is so important! And a year ago I met a wonderful friend and sister in Christ who asked if there was a local Christian Writers Group. There were writers groups near us, but no local Smyrna Christian group, so together we started Charis, a local Christian author’s group in Smyrna, TN, and I’ve been blessed to walk alongside several new authors as they brought their short stories and books to publication.

Below are some paradigm shifts that helped me on my journey:

1. It’s a lifestyle, not a destination vacation. If you think you are writing to finish the book, you’ll find that there’s just another book, another revision, another edit, another something that you have to do for your book. Writing the book is simply the first step in a journey of steps. When I was younger and dieting, I used to hear all over the place. I’m changing my lifestyle–not dieting. Writing a book is much the same way. It’s a lifestyle, so create systems that support your writing consistently, while also leaving adequate time for life and family, giving you balance.
2. One step has more power than huge chunks. When my husband was going through brain cancer—an entire story in itself—I learned I had to just make the next step through life. I couldn’t think about the big picture or end results. I put on blinders and disciplined myself to take the next step, no matter how much it scared me. In that, I found the journey went more quickly, each step grew a touch easier, and I could accomplish incredible things in brief periods of time.
3. Work with yourself, not against yourself. If you are a morning person, write in the morning. But if you are a night person, write in the night. Don’t try to be something God didn’t create you to be. God made you on purpose the way you are. He loves you the way you are. There’s enough in this world to fight against. Don’t let your war be against yourself.
4. Learn! Learn! Learn! The minute you think you’ve arrived, you will grow stale. In my writer’s group, we try to study a book a year. This year’s book is Susan May Warren’s The Story Equation. Other books I’ve learned from and loved are Hawker’s 17 step method, unfortunately named “Take off your Pants” referring to pantsers learning to plan; Story Genius by Larry Brooks; John Truby’s “The Anatomy of Story”; “Break into Fiction” by Mary Buckham and Dianna Love; “The Emotional Wound Thesaurus and that entire series by Angela Ackerman & Becca Puglisi. And I have at least fifty more on my TBR that I can’t wait to dig into.
5. Work to the end. So many newer authors get lost in the spiral of starting a book, writing to chapter four or five, then having a new idea or learning something or any other distraction, and then they go back to the beginning and revise, cut, edit, get to chapter four or five, then have a … You get the idea. It’s essential to learn to persevere to the end of each phase of writing. So when you start a rough draft, work until you’ve finished that first rough draft. Allow yourself to make a note of things you want to revise, keep a notebook or an app with notes, but finish to the end.

If I had to pick the two most impactful of the above five, I would say “One Step” and “Work to the End.” I teach High School English at a local public school, and in that course we cover the writing process. Consider the following steps in the writing process: planning, rough draft, revision, critique & revision, developmental edit, line edit, proofread, publish. I encourage you to work to the end one step at a time through each of these steps. Blessings on your writing journey!

3. How does your “real job” influence your writing?

“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”—John 8:32 (NIV)

As a public school teacher, I work with students who struggle with very real-world problems, but in that capacity, I can’t share with students the real solution and Truth that God loves them and has a plan for their lives—that they matter and are loved more than they’ll ever know. I can’t tell them about the scriptures that hold me together in my worst moments and drive me to do better in my best moments. So, I write.

FreeFalling was born straight out of my classrooms from over eighteen years of experience over nine schools, three districts, and two countries. I started asking what if questions and FreeFalling blossomed from that. What will come of schools and students if the teacher shortage continues? What is the long term impact on education as news segments continue to emphasize the “Crisis in the Classroom,” a segment on our local news that airs every night at ten pm. Just hearing that phrase has an impact on any local listener and especially any teacher or mother who has a child in a local classroom. What might be the far-reaching repercussions of the vast spreading of everyones thoughts toward education and teachers that are now propagated at will on social media? ​

FreeFalling is about the potential damage society might suffer if we continue in this direction. As it is, we are seeing incredible shortages in teaching, and I believe it’s because no one chooses to become the villain of the story. Teachers are heroes, but the longer our society labels them the villain, the longer we cry out how awful they are, the less young people will want to become a teacher.​ Our local state college used to graduate over six hundred teachers a year, feeding many local public schools. This number is now under one hundred.

Serenity isn’t a Christian and she is serving her four years of government-mandated community service as a teacher before she has access to the future pathways for her career under the Dome. Because, under the dome religions and history do not exist, weaving in scripture as the backbone of this story had to be done carefully through a still small whisper that speaks to Serenity, guiding and teaching her just as the Holy Spirit guides and teaches me. After a terrible fight between the girls, Serenity risks everything to try and save her two favorite students from reconditioning—a chemical brain washing procedure that rectifies the argumentative part of the brain. By stepping out and fighting for these two girls, Serenity risks everything: her future potential, her place in society, even her sense of self if she gets reconditioned.

I was recently asked if I’ve ever had to risk my life for a student. About four years ago, at the end of a tough school year at a school I wasn’t returning to, a student of mine brought a gun to school, and we were in code red, lockdown.

I turned the lights off, and the students cowered in the least visible corner of the room with textbooks covering their chest, and we waited. Would my student round the corner and fire on us?

My nerves were on fire.

I didn’t want to leave my family motherless.

But no matter what, I knew I would not let any of the students in my room get hurt if I had the power to stop it.

If the shooter came through that door, I would stand between him and the students.

Training didn’t touch the truth at that moment.

Nothing hits like knowing the kid carrying the gun.

What if I’d triggered him?

Swallowing back fear and choosing to stand in a courage that simply wasn’t there.

Time slowed.

It felt like hours had passed. I don’t know how long it took for them to apprehend the student, but I know I learned something about myself that day.

In the soul-searching, mettle-testing darkness of that classroom, I imagined myself between a bullet and my students.

I’ve thought about shootings, especially after those that happen close to home. I still held the firm belief that it would never happen to me, my classroom, or my students.

After that situation, I learned I’d fight for the students under my responsibility.

Since moving schools, I’ve had the honor of teaching Advanced Honors and Honors English II to sophomores at our local magnet school. So, God has blessed me to spend the daylight hours teaching others to write and exploring the writing of talented authors, and then I come home in the evenings, and tell the stories God writes on my heart.

The students love to have a teacher who’s actively using what she teaches. They are so curious about what I write and about how to become writers. I’m the Creative Writing Club Sponsor at the high school, and I’m a mentor to a couple of aspiring writers that are doing great. One of my students, Lynnea Mileusnich, published her first middle-grade, Christian Fantasy book, Heir of Promise. I’m so proud of her and excited to see where God takes her next.

God gave me a gift, and it is my responsibility as a member of God’s kingdom to give that gift back to God. For every book I write, I pray it reaches the readers that will be most impacted, edified, and encouraged by it. I pray readers feel seen and inspired to keep hoping when it seems all hope is lost, to keep walking when it seems all is futile, to keep loving when it seems the world is full of hate and loss.

There is a beautiful hope and joy despite the difficult world we live in, and we have a heavenly father that loves us more than we will ever be able to understand. I want to help others remain focused on God’s love for them. Use everything God has given me to share this truth and my experiences both in and out of school. God has an incredible plan for the books he gives us, and I’m thrilled to be writing the next part of The Reconditioned Series journey—Awakening.

And of course, I’d love to have readers join me in any of the following social places:

BOOK LINKS:

Good Reads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/222350373-freefalling

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DPTFGM8S

 

SOCIAL MEDIA LINKS:

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

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@jenniferlynnburrows

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/jlburrowsauthor

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/jenniferlynnburrows/freefalling-book-1-in-the-reconditioned-series/

 

Website: www.jlburrows.com

BookBub: https://www.bookbub.com/books/freefalling-the-reconditioned-book-1-by-j-l-burrows

 

LINK FOR NEWSLETTER JOINING:

https://BookHip.com/TTZQCBA - Includes a freebie Prequel Anthology - Invading Darkness the origin stories to my Balance Keepers main characters. 

BOOK BLURB:

One hundred and eighty years in the future, the U.S. government eradicates warfare and violence.

Serenity should feel safe, but she doesn’t.

Serenity Knowles knows two things for certain. Finishing her government assigned community service as a teacher is mandatory in order to start her adult life. And stopping those in power from reconditioning two of her favorite students will ruin her chances at a future and a life.

Everything she thought she once knew to be true, suddenly is now in question after her typically peaceful girls fight in plain view of everyone at school. The Federal Bureau of Acceptance storms in and collects them both for reconditioning—chemical brain washing. With no one to help, Serenity is driven into a wild rescue and escape plan. The girls can’t be made into shadow children, brainwashed and limited to a menial future.

All that stands between the overreaching government and her girls is Serenity’s budding faith, a furry beast companion, her modified illegal AI, and a ragtag group of men and women set against the use of cutting edge technology and genetically modified bio-weapons on citizens under the Dome. If any of them get caught, they will be reconditioned. If they don’t move fast enough, the girls will be lost. If she doesn’t become a hero, any hope of a real future will be forfeit.

In her transformation from a teacher with a broken family to a radical defector leading a team of rebels, Sere discovers America’s deadliest threat—its own government.

In January, Ellen E. Withers released a new book related to winning writing contests, entitled Magic Words: How to Enchant Judges & Conjure Contest Wins. This book was inspired by her column related to contests. For the past five years, Ellen has had a featured column, Writing for Contests, for Writers Monthly PDF, a digital magazine dedicated solely to writing. This book is published by Scrivenings Press.

Ellen is a multiple award-winning fiction writer, and freelance writer and retired insurance fraud investigator. Her mystery dual-time series, Show Me Mysteries, published by Scrivenings Press, is set in her picturesque hometown of Mexico, Missouri.

Show Me Betrayal, the first book of the series, was voted Scrivenings Press Book of the Year, Best Mystery/Suspense and Best Debut Novel in 2023 in the Reader’s Choice Awards. The book was also a dual finalist for the American Christian Fiction Writer's 2024 Carol Awards in the Debut Novel and Mystery/Suspense/Thriller categories. Show Me Deceit, published in May 2024, has received rave reviews. The third book in the series, Show Me Skullduggery, will be out May of 2025.

Ellen was one of three contributors to a Christmas novella collection titled A Gift for All Time, released in 2023 by Scrivenings Press.  Her novella in the collection, Carving Out Love, was voted Best Short Fiction in 2023 in the Reader’s Choice Awards.

She is currently working on a dual-time mystery set in Hot Springs, Arkansas. The series will be called Spa City Mysteries.

Ellen is a member of White County Creative Writers, American Christian Fiction Writers, OWFI, and the national organization of Sisters in Crime. Ellen has been a member of the Tornado Alley Chapter of SinC since its inception. She is also a member of the Upstate South Carolina SinC.

She is the mother of two children, grandmother of seven grandsons, and lives in Conway, Arkansas.  Besides singing acapella (barbershop style) in a chorus and quartet, she loves to travel.

Website: https://ellenewithers.com/

Author Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100071728886831

Amazon profile: https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B0BWZ1G7JS

Instagram profile: https://instagram.com/lnwithers?igshid=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

Goodreads: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-e-withers?list=about

Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/profile/ellen-e-withers?list=about

To enter a giveaway to win a Kindle copy of Magic Words, click here - https://kingsumo.com/g/3eok5wm/magic-words-kindle-giveaway

Ellen has graciously provided a paperback copy of Magic Words for a second giveaway. Please click here to enter that giveaway - https://kingsumo.com/g/10pykv3/magic-words-paperback-giveaway

Christian fiction 12-ebook giveaway

I'm giving away two of my ebooks as part of a 12-ebook giveaway! 

The giveaway includes one ebook copy of each of the following:

• Hidden Danger

• Dog Tags

• Portal Watchers and Wrestle the Stars

• A Kringle Family Christmas

• Escape to Whispering Creek

• Flowers from Afghanistan

• Hold for Release

• Love Stumbled In 

• The Heart of Liberty: Hearts of the West

• Moonlight and Mystery

• No Longer a Captive

• A Love Restored

https://shorturl.at/yUZvG

Ends Feb 3, 2025!

Over $65 worth of ebooks!

CHRISTMAS FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT, STOP #9

WELCOME TO THE CHRISTMAS FICTION SCAVENGER HUNT

If you’ve just discovered the hunt, be sure to collect the clues through all the stops, in order (beginning here at Stop #1), so you can enter to win  our grand prize!

The hunt begins on Friday, 12/8 right here on this page!

There is NO RUSH to complete the hunt--you have all weekend. So take your time, reading the unique posts along the way; our hope is that you discover new authors/new books and learn new things about them. The hunt ends on Monday, 12/11 at midnight EST.

Submit your entry for the grand prizes by collecting the CLUE on each author’s scavenger hunt post and submitting your answer in the Rafflecopter format the final stop. Many authors are offering additional prizes along the way!

Bio:

Heidi Glick has a B.A. in biology from Cedarville University, a Master of Technical Communication from Utah State University, and a passion for writing Christian fiction. Additionally, she is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and Faith, Hope, and Love Christian Writers and has written two articles for Intercom. Before becoming a suspense writer, Heidi taught science to middle and high school students and edited science documents. Heidi resides in rural Northwest Ohio with her husband, two children, and six pets.

Inspiration for my Christmas novella:

Several years ago, I moved from the greater Cincinnati area to rural Northwest Ohio. Though I set my latest novel in Cincinnati Ohio, I decided to set 12 Days, my Christmas romantic suspense novella, in a fictional setting based on my current county. Last fall, I had the privilege to attend my local sheriff's office's citizen's academy and learn more about law enforcement in my county.

 

I would recommend this type of event to other suspense authors and readers. Many counties offer such an experience. The sheriff’s office held the event at the local justice center and lasted several weeks. Each week, a deputy would cover a different topic. While there, I visited the communications room where dispatchers answer 9-1-1 calls; toured the corrections/jail area, including the intake area near the sally port; met a local K9 dog before he retired;  and used a police LIDAR gun to check the speed of a vehicle. I had fun meeting other attendees and getting to know more about my local sheriff's office.

 

Later, I decided to make the hero of 12 Days a former employee of the local sheriff's office. Also, I invented local folklore surrounding the disappearance of county residents years earlier and wove that into the story.

 

12 Days is available through all major online retailers and is currently on sale at Amazon.com and pelicanbookgroup.com for 99 cents (as of 11/28/23). Please check pricing before purchasing.

 

Blurb:

Scott Newton retires from the sheriff's office after a fellow officer is killed. Wracked by sorrow and the need for justice, Scott grows distant from his girlfriend, aspiring crime writer, Lindsay Billings. But, when Lindsay goes missing, and Scott discovers her research on the missing person cases thought to be the work of a serial murderer known as the Christmas Killer, Scott vows to find her at all costs. Police have never found the bodies of the people who went missing many Christmases ago, and Lindsay won't become just another statistic.

Then, someone kills again in Blanchardville. Police locate a corpse atop one of seven inflatable swans on a pond, and another body in a pear tree. Scott receives odd texts from Lindsay's phone and deduces they're from the killer.

In order to save Lindsay, Scott agrees to meet the madman and play his game. As time runs out, Scott must learn to trust in God again, no matter what.

Here are the Stop #9 basics:

The novella is available from Amazon, Pelican Book Group, Barnes and Noble, Google Play, and Kobo.

Clue to write down: is the reason for the season.

Link to stop #10, the Next Stop on the Loop:

form at the final stop

2023 Pelican Book Group Christmas Holiday Extravaganza Titles by Various Authors

This year, I wanted to feature several of Pelican Book Group's 2023 Christmas Holiday Extravaganza releases. The titles will be released through Amazon and pelicanbookgroup.com on November 1st. 
 
Romantic Suspense:

Carole of the Bells by Clare Revell

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/7A0056L

Blurb:

Carole Quelch's secret must remain hidden at all costs. The price so far has been her home and her career. Terrified it' ll cost her even more, she hasn' t left town or been home in years.
Idris Owen teaches at the same school as Carole. When he finds her in the music room playing the hand bells after school, he nicknames her Carole of the bells and convinces his reclusive co-worker to help teach his class a piece for the school Christmas concert.

There is something about Carole that Idris finds intriguing, but she is hiding something. While he feels an undeniable attraction, he isn't willing to allow love to enter the equation when she obviously doesn't trust him enough to share her past.

But, secrets never stay hidden for long. When this one comes to light, everything will change.

Author bio:

Clare is a British author. She lives in a small town in England with her husband, whom she married in 1992, and some of her now grownup children. Writing from a early childhood and encouraged by her teachers, she graduated from rewriting fairy stories through fanfiction to using her own original characters and enjoys writing an eclectic mix of romance, crime fiction and children's stories. When she's not writing, she can be found reading, crocheting or doing the many piles of laundry the occupants of her house manage to make. Or being annoyed by the cat and dog.

Her books are based in the UK, with a couple of exceptions, thus, although the spelling may be American, the books contain British language and terminology.

The first draft of every novel is hand written.

She can be found at:

http://clarerevell.com
https://www.facebook.com/ClareRevellAuthor
https://twitter.com/ClareRevell
http://telscha.blogspot.co.uk/

My review:

I enjoyed this romantic suspense story about two teachers. My husband and I watch several shows on BritBox, so as I read along, I pictured British actors saying the dialogue. British author Clare Revell did a good job of equally balancing suspense with romance in this story involving two teachers—Carole Quelch and Idris Owen. I liked that the characters were imperfect and relatable. Revell fans will appreciate the Easter eggs (from her Ellery and York series) that she includes in this story.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

 
Underneath the Christmas Tree by Clare Revell

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/2uIU1C0

Blurb:

When Violet Noble begins her new job as council events planner in Winkfield Green, she' s horrified to learn she has twenty days to organize the, as yet unplanned, Christmas Fayre— and it won't be easy. All the files regarding previous events have disappeared, along with most of the decorations. She needs a miracle, but what she gets instead the council' s maintenance man, carpenter and all-around fix-it guy— Derek Xenon.

When Violet turns to Derek for help with the Christmas Fayre, his first instinct is to say no. His regular job is demanding enough without adding the resident damsel in distress to his workload. However, he' s never one to turn down a challenge— even one from Christmas obsessed out-of-towner, and especially when someone seems to want Violet's plans to fail.
Will Violet' s vision of Christmas ever come to fruition, or will she throw in the stocking?

My review: 

This is a cute and humorous romantic suspense tale involving Violet Noble, an events planner, and Derek Xenon, carpenter and maintenance man. Poor Violet is new in town, and bad things mysteriously keep happening to her as she tries to plan a Christmas fayre. Are the incidences coincidence or something more? Once again, Revell fans will appreciate the Easter eggs (from her Ellery and York series) that she includes in this story.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

12 Days by Heidi Glick

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/4Hy0tAw

Blurb:

Scott Newton retires from the sheriff' s office after a fellow officer is killed. Wracked by sorrow and the need for justice, Scott grows distant from his girlfriend, aspiring crime writer, Lindsay Billings. But, when Lindsay goes missing, and Scott discovers her research on the missing person cases thought to be the work of a serial murderer known as the Christmas Killer, Scott vows to find her at all costs. Police have never found the bodies of the people who went missing many Christmases ago, and Lindsay won't become just another statistic.

Then, someone kills again in Blanchardville. Police locate a corpse atop one of seven inflatable swans on a pond, and another body in a pear tree. Scott receives odd texts from Lindsay's phone and deduces they're from the killer.

In order to save Lindsay, Scott agrees to meet the madman and play his game. As time runs out, Scott must learn to trust in God again, no matter what.

 
Romance:

Cactus for Christmas by Karen Malley

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/amhbmYx

Blurb:

Lucy loves her familiar Christmas traditions. But this year, they' re all thrown out the window when she drops everything to drive across the country to care for her sister in Phoenix, Arizona. So much for a white Christmas!

Between her anxious dog, her sister' s thieving kitten, and a way too attractive ice cream truck driver, will she learn that trying something new might just be what God has planned?

Author bio:

Karen is an author of Christian fiction. She lives in Southeastern Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons. She works full time as a scientist, but enjoys writing in her spare time. When not writing (with her left hand), she enjoys camping, hiking, playing board games, and especially reading! She loves reading faith-based stories, because we can all use a happy ending.

Karen loves to hear from her readers. You can connect with her on her website:

 www.KarenMalley.com.

My review:

I liked that this delightful, faith-filled, Christmas-themed romance contained lead characters who were older, proving that romance isn’t just for young people. Lucy is a widow who lives in Pennsylvania. Eventually, she ends up in Arizona for the holidays, where she meets Noah, an ice cream truck driver.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

Christmas in Vermont by Regina Andrews

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/fbJazi2

Blurb:

Returning home to Holly Berry Village and beginning her career as an Estate gemologist, puts Christal Birchwood completely in her comfort zone. But when she meets the new town physician, Cole Townsend, the barriers she has created around herself quickly begin to shatter and fall.

Will she trust her faith enough to carry her into a sparkling, new beginning? And will Cole be able to trust his heart to love again?

Author Bio:

Award-winning author Regina Andrews, a resident of Providence, RI, grew up in the nearby seaside village of Barrington. After graduating from Providence College she attended the University of Delaware, eventually earning her master's Degree in American Civilization from Brown University. The author of numerous works, Regina is currently working on the Sterling Lakes Series. In November 2010, Destiny's Designs won the AKW Books 2010 eBook of the Year award for Fiction. Her hobbies include travel, museums, theater, reading, music singing and gardening.

Regina is involved in numerous community organizations, and is a radio host for In-Sight, an association for the visually impaired. She and her husband share their home with a semi-feral cat named Queen Tiana, whom they rescued from a shelter.

My review: 

I really liked the original characters in this sweet, Christmas-themed romance set in Holly Berry Village, Vermont. The female main character, Christal Birchwood, is a gemologist who studied in Switzerland, and doesn’t like to step outside her comfort zone. The male main character, Cole Townsend, is a doctor who was formerly a pastor and missionary, who is trying to get over personal heartbreak.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

Christmas in Garland by LoRee Peery

Purchase link: https://a.co/d/ibxNAtg

Blurb:

Pepper Rainwater is thriving in newfound faith, blooming love, and her own Christmas house. But the appearance of her mother brings back all the ugliness of growing up in a storage unit. Can she face family issues from a new perspective and forgive her parents for the past?

The discovery of Foxx Haven' s true beginnings shatter his sense of security. For the first time, he questions his father' s love and deals with getting to know his birth mother. Did God really plan this mess for his life? He' s such a wreck inside, how can he be the man of faith Pepper deserves?
Their mothers bring challenges and time constraints on Pepper and Foxx. He longs to show his love, she yearns to bask in his attention. How will they help their widowed mothers, make life easier for one another, heal appropriately, and look toward a brighter future?

About the author:

I am thankful my mother read to me, enabling me to read at age four. Life is as hard as it is pleasurable and I love to read stories about true-to-life characters. The desire to write should never be ignored, I am so glad I kept returning to the blank page. I am blessed to live under God's redeeming grace, and to experience Nebraska's sense of place.

My review:

I liked how the characters (Pepper Rainwater and Foxx Haven) in this sweet, Christmas-themed romance were imperfect, and yet, they still followed God. This is a cute holiday romance with a strong faith message about forgiveness and reconciliation.

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

The Hope of Christmas by Carol James 

Purchase link:

https://a.co/d/gZnpFlx

Blurb:

Cameron Blake has everything a man could want. Or so it appears. But in the dark of night, the contents of an old manila envelope remind him that the one thing he truly wants is beyond his reach.
Kristin Hansen returns home after a messy break-up. While her parents think she' s returned to recuperate after surgery on a broken arm, she' s actually escaping from an abusive relationship.
When the pastor of a local church recruits Kristin and Cameron to supervise the building of the church' s float for the upcoming Christmas parade, their hidden secrets are exposed. Cam sees in Kristin what he truly desires... but knows he can never have.

As Christmas nears, can Kristin help him find the thing that' s eluded him all these years? The one thing his heart truly desires? Hope.

Author bio:

Streams in the Wasteland, Redemptive Romance by Carol James:
Carol is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in Lilburn, Georgia, a small town outside of Atlanta, with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell "Terrorist," Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she'd been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.
Retired from her "real" job, she enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, volunteering at a nearby school, and serving in the production department at her church.

She is also a soccer fan extraordinaire and keeps her DVR busy recording Atlanta United and English Premier League games.

And, most days in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

Follow her on social media: 

www.carol-james.com
Facebook.com/CarolJamesAuthor
https://www.instagram.com/caroljamesauthor
https://twitter.com/CarolJamesAuth
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/19149238.Carol_James
Bookbub: https://www.bookbub.com/authors/carol-james
Visit her website at: www.carol-james.com Sign up for her newsletter and receive a free short story.

My review:

I liked the premise of this hope-filled romance set in Texas—the notion of someone receiving the same gift for ten years in a row. I also enjoyed the meet cute between Kristin Hansen and Cameron Blake. Romance fans who are looking for a holiday-themed read should enjoy this story!

I received a digital ARC of this book with no expectation in return. The opinions and comments above are mine alone.

 
To view all of the covers for the Christmas titles, visit my Pinterest board: 
https://www.pinterest.com/sheglick/christmas-extravaganza-2023/