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/
 

Manicures and Murder!

Manicures and Murder by Keri Lynn releases October 31, 2023. This is the third book in a series by Lynn. 

Moonlight and Mystery by Karen Malley

Recently, I interviewed Karen Malley. I hope you enjoy getting to know Karen better and learning more about her upcoming release, Moonlight and Mystery. 

What are your hobbies (besides writing)?

Playing board games, camping, hiking, and cooking!

When my husband and I were first married, we were in grad school. We lived far from our families and didn’t have much money, so we got into playing board games. Now, over two decades and two kids later, our family has spent countless hours playing games. It’s a great way to enjoy time together. When we’re not home playing games, we love to camp and hike. I especially enjoy visiting National Parks. They’re such treasures and there’s always something amazing to see. When I’m not off in a park or playing games, I also enjoy experimenting with new recipes. There’s lots to keep me busy when I’m not sitting in front of my computer making up stories!

 

How/when did you learn about Christ and become a Christian?

I was blessed to grow up in a Christian home, so I learned about Christ at an early age. My parents were active in our church and I attended Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and when I reached middle and high school, went to youth group. My Sunday school teacher had me write the date in my Bible when I asked Jesus into my heart. I still have that Bible, many, many years later.

I used to think I didn’t have much of a testimony since I didn’t have a dramatic conversion story. In most of my books, one (or more) of the characters becomes a Christian, and I write about the changes in their lives. In the second book of my latest series (Recipes and Redemption, which will come out in the spring), I tell the story of Erin, who has been a Christian for as long as she can remember, and she struggles with not having a testimony. Her friend Rusty tells her God doesn’t judge how good we are as Christians by how bad we were before.

Even though I’ve been a Christian a long time, God still works in my life, since I still have a long way to go!

 

What do you enjoy most about writing books?

I love bringing characters to life. I have stories in my head, and I get to put them down on paper and decide what happens next. So much of life is about what you’re supposed to do, or what you have to do. I love writing what I want to write. And what I want to write are stories that honor God. I only have so much time in the day, so if I’m going to invest a lot of time into writing, I want it to be something that pleases God. One of the greatest blessings about writing Christian fiction is when a reader tells me that something I’ve written has spoken to their heart.

 

Bio:

Karen lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two sons and is, by far, the shortest person in the house. A perfect weekend would be spent hiking and camping with her three guys. She loves God, her family, playing games, and has a goal to visit as many National Parks as possible! When not in the great outdoors, she’s either at work as a scientist or at home writing stories in her pajamas.

 

Blurb:

Beth Tarrington has it all: a gorgeous fiancé, a lucrative career, the latest model car, and a high-priced condo. On top of that, the Tarrington name opens every door in town. So why is she so discontent? When everything falls apart in Beth’s life, will she finally find the strength to stand on her own two feet? Is God really willing to stand by her side, even after ignoring Him for so long?

 

When Jason Brooks meets Beth, his head tells him to run in the opposite direction. Beth is a high-society snob engaged to another man, and he’s not sure where she stands with God. So why does God keep bringing the two of them together? Can these two find love, in spite of everything that stands in their way?

 

Purchase link:

 https://www.amazon.com/Moonlight-Mystery-Chester-County-Couples-ebook/dp/B0CG9TWDS5/ref=sr_1_1?qid=1695175500&refinements=p_27%3AKaren+Malley&s=books&sr=1-1

 

Social Media links:

Amazon author page

https://www.amazon.com/Karen-Malley/e/B08HRDQ4QW/ref=dp_byline_cont_pop_ebooks_1

Website (with short-story blog posts)

www.KarenMalley.com

Twitter

https://twitter.com/KarenLMalley

Goodreads

https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/20700661.Karen_Malley

Facebook

Karen Malley Books | Facebook

BookBub

https://www.bookbub.com/authors/karen-malley

 

My review of Moonlight and Mystery:

Beth Tarrington comes from a wealthy family with high expectations. Beth is engaged to Blaine, who hopes to make partner with Beth's father's company.

Jason Brooks is a science teacher at a Christian school. He does a magic show for Beth's brother's children and gives Beth a carnation. Beth goes against her family's expectations to participate in a local theater production, where Jason also happens to be an actor. Beth has to struggle with the weight of her parent's expectations versus how God is leading her. This book is a sweet romance with a strong faith element. The story has a powerful message about finding one's worth in Christ rather than perfectionism or people pleasing. I like the secondary character, Erin. I also like how the author shows that Erin's life doesn't turn out perfectly, but she follows God anyway. I received a free copy of this story from the author. This did not influence my review.