Posts Tagged ‘Christmas’

 

 

From USA TODAY bestselling author Sheila Roberts comes a story of family, second chances and holiday do-overs, brimming with warmth and Christmas charm.

 

 

 

The Twelve Months of Christmas

By Author: Sheila Roberts

Publication Date: October 3, 2023

Pages: 400

Genre: Women’s Fiction/Romance



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Sunny,
Arianna and Molly are having three different but equally terrible
Christmases. Sunny is a newlywed with two new stepkids who want nothing
to do with her; Arianna is newly divorced and hates having to send her
daughter off to spend the holiday with her dad; for Molly, nothing is
new, but her job at the post office is getting very, very old. The whole
Christmas season has been a bust all around. 

But
Sunny and Arianna have a wild idea: What if they had a Christmas
do-over in January? February? On Saint Patrick’s Day? Christmas all year
long – what could that look like?    As these three determined women
chase the perfect holiday through twelve months of cooking disasters,
over-the-top festivity, and lots of laughter and tears, they’ll discover
perfection is way overrated.

Buy Links

Amazon | B&N | HarperCollins | Target | Harlequin | Walmart

And More!

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MY REVIEW

The minute I read the synopsis, I knew I had to read this. I love Christmas. It doesn’t always go the way I want though. Sometimes circumstances get in the way. But, I can always hope it will be better next year. These three women say, why wait. Let’s have 12 months of Christmas. One of them has to be perfect, right?

I found myself easily relating to Arianna, Molly and Sunny. Each of the women were trying to find a balance in their lives. They each had some big hurdles to jump. And yet, they remained hopeful. The concept of celebrating Christmas every month of the year had me curious what they would come up with.  I had a sneaky suspicion other characters in this book didn’t get the message and might foil their plans. Or, perhaps, they would be part of the solution.

At times sad. At times frustrating. At times hilarious. And always hopeful. These were women after my own heart. The Twelve Months Of Christmas was a joy to read. And it was all wrapped up in a pretty cover.

4 STARS

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Book Excerpt  

Sunny Hollowell had planned a perfect day for her first Christmas as a wife and stepmom and it was a fail. Who was it that said something about the best-laid plans getting screwed up? Whoever it was, her mom liked to quote him a lot.

“The best-laid plans of mice and men,” her mom had begun when Sunny told her about the latest development as she and Dad walked in the door, presents in tow.

“And women,” Sunny had added before Mom could finish. Women who were trying their best to be a good wife and mother, women who only wanted to bring two families together for a memorable day.

The day was memorable all right, but not in the way Sunny had intended.

It all began at eight in the morning. Sunny had found a recipe online for a crescent roll breakfast pastry with a cherry filling shaped like a candy cane and, to her surprise and glee, it had actually turned out like the picture, ready for the kids to be dropped off by their mom at nine o’clock. She was laying it out on the family room coffee table for everyone to enjoy while they opened presents when the Weed called Travis to let him know that she wasn’t going to bring the kids over for the big day.

“What do you mean you’re still stuck in Spokane?” Travis had growled into his cell phone.

Sunny had watched the anger roll over his features like a breaking storm. Scratch two kids from the guest list. Tansy strikes again.

“You did this on purpose,” he’d accused.

Of course, Tansy would deny it. That was how she rolled. Mess with the ex and his new wife as much as possible but never let it look like you meant to. Was Tansy’s mother psychic when she named her daughter after a noxious weed?

“Well, thanks a lot,” Travis had growled. “Way to screw up Christmas for the kids.”

“Okay, what happened?” Sunny had asked after he ended the call and dumped his phone on the coffee table.

“She did it again, managed to screw us over,” he’d said, and slumped on the sofa. “She and Jared accidentally—” he held up exaggerated air quotes “—missed their flight home last night and are stuck at his parents’ place.”

“Can’t they get another flight out? There has to be something going out today.” Of course, by the time they got to Bremerton, Washington, breakfast and Christmas dinner would long be over.

“Not until tomorrow.”

Sunny had made a superhuman effort to blink back tears. Poor Travis was already upset about not getting to be with his kids. She didn’t need to make things worse by having a holiday meltdown. But darn, she’d sure wanted to.

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About the Author
 

 

USA
Today and Publishers Weekly best-selling author Sheila Roberts has
written over fifty books under various names, ranging from romance to
self-improvement. Over three million copies of her novels have been sold
to date. Her humor and heart have won her a legion of fans and her
holiday novels have been turned into movies for the Lifetime and
Hallmark and Great American Family channels. When she’s not out dancing
with her husband or hanging out with her girlfriends, she can be found
writing about those things near and dear to women’s hearts: family,
friends and chocolate.  

Author Links 

Website | Facebook | Instagram | BookBub | Goodreads

 

 

 

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

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MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Posted: December 25, 2021 in Holidays
Tags:

christmas bulbs beach photo: Christmas abulb22.gif

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For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

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moon,fantasy,silhouette,sky,snow,people,light,art

YOU asked for it!

Christmas Horror Movies

Merry Christmas To ALL!

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What’s Christmas without William Shatner! LOL

A Christmas Horror Story

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And a slasher…

Black Christmas

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or two….

Silent Night

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And one I haven’t seen yet..

Once Upon A Time At Christmas

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I’m curious about this one.

Lake Alice

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Got this one waiting for me on Netflix. Watching it tonight. Dee Wallace stars and I’m sure you’ll recognize her. We’ll see how it goes.

Red Christmas

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Can’t forget killer snowmen can we? Here’s an oldie but a goodie. LOL

Jack Frost

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And I liked the second one a whole lot more. It’s got killer snowballs!

These movies are so bad yet so fun. LOL

Jack Frost 2

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Now, here’s….

Krampus

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And now for ACT II.

Krampus 2: The Devil Returns

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And how about this one. Haven’t seen it yet.

Mother Krampus

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Now, I feel these guys haunt me all year round, always causing mayhem. LOL

Gremlins

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Maybe not officially a Christmas movie but….

The Snowman

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Almost forgot this one.

The Elf

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And coming in 2018….

Elf On A Shelf

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And so you’ll forgive me for a bloody Christmas….. KITTENS

Santa Claws

Have you seen any of these? Do you have some favorites?

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew!

For a list of my reviews go HERE.

For a list of free eBooks updated daily go HERE

To see all of my giveaways go HERE.

Home and Away (1) Blog Tour Schedule

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Home and AwayHome and Away: A World War II Christmas Story by Dean Hughes

Norma Hayes has always tried to make Christmas special for her family, but this year it is going to be difficult. Money is tight, and wartime rationing is taking its toll as well. Harder still, her oldest son, Glen, is on the front lines of the battle in Europe.

Glen Hayes wants nothing more than to be home for Christmas. He holds a sprig of lavender in his pocket. The scent reminds him of his mother. The memory of home may be the only thing that is keeping him alive and sane during the horrors of war.

Dennis Hayes is sixteen and longs to see his older brother again. He also longs to have a relationship with his father, but most important, Dennis is determined to buy something special for his mother this Christmas–the one gift he feels certain she deserves.

So many families have had their hopes dashed in World War II. Will the Hayes family make it through?

Amazon * Deseret Book

Praise for Home and Away
”It’s 1944 and teenager Dennis Hayes longs to join his older brother Glen, who is fighting in Europe..When his family receives word that Glen has been wounded, Dennis realizes that going to war is not so glamorous. Christmas isn’t the same without Glen, but the Hayes family members hope and pray that they’ll be reunited soon. Hughes’s faith-filled, old-fashioned story feels like it could have been written during the period in which it takes place.” –Library Journal

”Home and Away is far and away the best story I have read this year. Awesome and moving.” –bestselling author, Obert Skye

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Author Dean Hughes
Dean Hughes is a bestselling and prolific writer who published his hundredth book in 2014. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Weber State College and master’s degree and PhD from the University of Washington. He has attended post-doctoral seminars at Stanford and Yale Universities and taught English at Central Missouri State University and Brigham Young University.

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$25 Blog Tour giveaway

Blog Tour Giveaway

$25 Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash

Ends 11/30/15

Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the author. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Good Luck!

To see all of my giveaways click on the lucky horseshoe below!

horseshoe photo: Horseshoe horseshoe.jpg

Wishing You A Merry Southern Christmas!

I’m so excited!

Anthony Renfro is going to have all of his books available as free downloads!

I’ve read his Zombie Holiday Trilogy and I’m reviewing each story to coincide with each holiday.

You can find the link to my A Zombie Thanksgiving review further into this post.

Today I’ll be reviewing A Zombie Christmas and A Vampire At Christmas!

So check out the dates, mark your calendar or save this post, and get your books FREE!

Here’s what Anthony Renfro has to say!

I plan to start running my stories for free over the next couple of weeks. This is what I hope will be an attempt to capture some readers who need something to read over the holidays and capture readers eager to snatch up free stories for the ebook readers they get as gifts. Most of my stories are thriller and suspense like horror stories. I hope to also capture readers who are a bit run down with all the Christmas stuff and want to read something just a bit different this holiday season.

If want to you can re-blog this on to your site, like it on Facebook, Tweet it out, Google Plus it, whatever. Just get the word out for me if you can.

Feel free to drop your links to your free stories into the comment section below. I will have this post stuck to the front page of my blog for a couple of weeks, so feel free to come by anytime and leave me a link to your stories. Maybe together we can generate some buzz about the writing we so love to share with the world, and if something grabs my attention I might just put up a post about it.

Click on this link to connect with Anthony.

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Click on the covers to see the books on Amazon and get your free copies on the specified dates.

Here’s the schedule for when the Zombie Holiday Stories will be free.

A Zombie Thanksgiving: December 9 – 13

You can read my review HERE.

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A Zombie Christmas: December 17 – 18

My Review

He waited until the zombie messed with Rudolph to take him out. No one messed with his Christmas display. The loud crack of his gun brought more and he took care of them too. Then all was quiet again.

Relaxing in his living room, enjoying the lighted Christmas tree, the silence is shattered by the doorbell. Mike can’t believe his eyes. It’s four zombie carolers, singing songs. Or grunting them. Once he quits laughing he quickly dispatches them too. Their noise would bring others.

The loud knocking on his door is welcome. He’s been waiting for Jim and Fred. He needs them if his plan is to succeed.

The plan. Fight a way through the zombies to reach the mall. There, they will grab goodies for the kids in their neighborhood.  Everyone is struggling to make it through the apocalypse and the winter is brutal. A little something on Christmas morning for each child would bring smiles to their sweet faces. Would help them forget, for a time, what was happening outside.

Fred and Jim had taken some convincing, but when Mike explained his plan and they realized he’d do it alone if he had to, they were in one hundred percent.

As gruesome as this story got, it also cracked me up. Those zombie carolers were too funny. And the zombie shoppers, shuffling in and out of the mall with their packages, I could just imagine that scene, and laughed out loud. Nobody told the zombies they couldn’t have a Christmas.

I really liked Mike. He didn’t hesitate to take out the zombies yet kept his sense of humor. And by selecting the only other single men in the neighborhood, he didn’t risk leaving a family without a father and provider.

I think these three gents got as much joy as the children from their plan. It must have brought a small measure of hope and joy to them, playing Santa when the world was falling apart.

While I was writing my review, I happened to glance up at my Christmas tree, and what I saw cracked me up again. Sitting nestled on a branch was a little zombie mummy I had been given. I swear it winked at me.

5 Stars

Synopsis

In a Zombie Apocalypse, three men risk life and limb to bring happiness to surviving kids on Christmas morning.

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My Review

The story opens in a tomb. All is calm. All is bright. The little Christmas tree in the corner casts a dazzling display reflecting off of the large coffin.

If you put your ear right up against the coffin, you might hear Jimmy Buffet singing Margaritaville. This handsome vampire loves being a vampire, loves Christmas, and is a fan of the southern artist and has been to many of his concerts. His powers enable him to fly to any location and blend into the shadows to enjoy the the shows.

He’s been waiting 364 days for this night and he grabs his bag of goodies and heads out. But first he must feed.

When he was a new vampire he killed at random. But after many years and witnessing the miracle of Christmas, the warmth and cheer of it, he became more selective. Only killing those who deserved it.

I am amazed at the power of this character with the story being just over 20 pages.

He coldly stalks and consumes his prey, yet he’s also gleeful and excited, like a child. He really gets into the Christmas spirit and spreads hope and joy. Not to his prey, of course, but to those who are in need.

I live in the south and have seen Jimmy Buffet in concert. Been to his restaurant. Met him a few times.  While I was reading this story, I hummed Margaritaville and thought, this vampire would like it here.

5 Stars

Synopsis

This short story is about a Vampire who uses his riches and skills to bring joy to those in need during the Christmas season.

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A Zombie New Year: December 12 and December 20 – 21

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A Zombie Holiday Trilogy: December 19th

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December 7 – 8

Killer Treads

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December 9 – 10

A Haunted House Tale

A short story about five students on Halloween night who discover the secrets and terrors of the town's most infamous haunted house.

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December 11 – 12

Daylight Vampires and Sunrise Werewolves

A Western short story about a town called Saltwater Junction besieged by creatures of the night who now do their stalking in the bright light of day.

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December 13 – 14

Terror Ride

A short story about the evil that consumes two guys who decide to steal a car and take a joyride late one night.

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December 15 – 16

Evil Beach

A short story about two boys who discover a hidden beach and the evil deadly secrets that lie within its soft white grains of sand.

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And Anthony has a brand new release.

AWOL – A Character Lost

My wish has been granted. A full length story by Anthony!

Synopsis

Imagine that you are a character in a story.

You have a home.

You have a life.

You have it all.

Then suddenly you wake up alone and afraid in a cold, dark place. Somehow you find your courage and your voice. When you ask for help, words light up on a wall in the darkness. You read them and realize you are in the creative center of your author’s mind. Instead of rescuing you, the author asks you for help.

This book is about the journey of that character, as he moves from story to story desperately trying to find his home.

Click on the cover to learn more.

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Author Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro

Anthony Renfro lives in Apex, North Carolina. He is a reader, writer, runner, husband, father, and stay at home dad – one of the toughest jobs anyone could ever do. He was born in Bristol, Tennessee, and is a graduate of UNC-Greensboro.

You can find him at many spots on the web, but if you really need to find his center in the social media storm it would be at his blog, apoetryjourney.wordpress.com.

Now reach out, just beyond the light, right into that big black space, and let him take your hand on a journey into cold dark places. You will be scared, and you may even be terrified, but in the end you might just find you liked the ride.

Find him on:

Amazon ~ Goodreads

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Thanks so much for visiting fuonlyknew and Merry Christmas!

For all of my giveaways click on Zombie Santa below.

zombie santa photo: Zombie Santa Zombie_Santa_by_cool_slayer.jpg

To join in, copy and paste these rules and the above banner into your Fanged Mania post and add your link to this week’s Fanged Mania post at Elisabeth Wheatley’s Blog. Fanged Mania is a Friday meme counting down to the release of Fanged Princess and displaying all things vampire and awesome. Fanged Mania posts can be a review of a vampire book, a quote from the latest Vampire Diaries episode, a showcase of a cool vampire book’s cover, or whatever you like so long as it is vampire related. Don’t forget, participants will be entered in the drawing to win a fanged-abulous prize pack!

The prize pack I mentioned includes Vampire Diaries and Breaking Dawn posters as well as a paperback copy of Erica Steven’s Captured (my review here) and the complete collection of The Vampire Hunter’s Daughter stories by Jennifer Malone Wright, in paperback, too! =D

Oh, and the contest is international. And the more Fanged Mania posts you have, the more entries you get! So what are you waiting for? Hop on the bandwagon!

Santa’s Vampire Christmas

Vampire Wish List

1) For everybody to stop trying to kill them.

2) To be able to move around in the daytime.

3) A drought to kill all garlic.

4) To be able to see themselves in the mirror.

5) An endless supply of blood.

6) To need an alarm clock.

7) A ban on wooden stakes.

8) A holiday for vampires.

9) A leash law for werewolves.

10) Equal rights for vampires.

If you were(or are) a vampire, what would you wish for?

Would you like to give a friend a free copy of Tiger Paw?

HERE’S HOW:

1) Post a NEW review of Tiger Paw on any of these sites:

Amazon’s Kindle Store

Barnes & Noble’s Nook Books

Apple’s iBookstore

Smashwords

Diesel eBooks

2) Email the link of your review to:   

author@charlesacornell.com

and specify the format you want:   mobi or epub

3) I will send you another copy of Tiger Paw!

Gift  it to your spouse or friend!

If you have Tiger Paw but haven’t read it yet, now’s the time to start!

Don’t have Tiger Paw yet?

Buy a Copy, review it & I’ll send you another one FREE!

(The above is reblogged from Charles A. Cornell’s Website)

Check out my 5 STAR Review here .

Check out another 5 STAR Review at fundinmental HERE.

To get your copy of Tiger Paw, click on the cover.

As a serial killer wreaks havoc on Wall Street, dismantling a corrupt financier’s empire one body at a time, FBI profiler Scott Forrester uncovers the deadly secret of a demon-worshipping Hindu cult that is determined to change the very fabric of society. Firmly in their assassin’s crosshairs, Scott Forrester is forced underground to stop the killing spree. But will he survive the deal he must make with the Devil to thwart their satanic plan?

Royal Palm Literary Award Winner for Best Thriller of 2012 –from the Florida Writers Association
Best Indie Thriller Nominee – Kindle Book Reviews

Merry Christmas from fuonlyknew

I love Christmas movies! Here are just a few of my favorites I’ll be watching.

next up

and

plus

also

and of course these!

and Jim Carrey

and last but not least!

What are you going to be watching this Christmas?