If Only In My Dreams

Sometimes our best laid plans can often times come up too short. To say that Quinn Hollister and Caleb McKenzie were high school sweethearts would be an understatement. Sometimes you just know you are meant to be with someone despite how others around you may think they know what is best. So it came as quite a surprise when both Quinn and Caleb announced that they wanted to get married just after high school. It was the answer of Quinn's parents that cause them off guard. They felt she was simply too young and immature to understand the complexities of what she was getting into and they felt that she would give up on college simply to be Caleb's new wife. They asked her to wait two years at least before making that decision.

But Caleb and Quinn had other plans. They knew what true love knows deep down inside, that they were truly meant to be. Caleb wanted everything perfect for Quinn, to be able to keep her close to her family, to support her dreams and be able to provide for her as a husband should. He had it all laid out perfectly and they agreed to meet together at the cabin without anyone knowing and simply elope before anyone could change their minds. However, heartbreak, tears and more came from that plan and soon they went their own separate ways, knowing that someone in their heart, they were never quite complete again.

Christmas has come again to Montana and with it the expectations for the family to gather around and be together. Quinn just didn't expect that Caleb would also be returning home to spend the holiday with his sister Valerie at the McKenzie cabin now that it has been renovated, along with his twin boys. Will a ghost from Christmas past, find a way to unite the two hearts once again and give them the possibility of having their dreams come true?

I received If Only In My Dreams by Mariah Stewart compliments of Pocket Star, a division of Simon and Schuster Publishers for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of the book, in exchange for my honest review. At just under 98 pages, this is the perfect short story that feels like so much more. I only wish it was longer because I have been a huge fan of Mariah Stewarts novels. What a true classic story of love that endures, never dies and always hopes and for that reason I give this one a 4 out of 5 stars.

For more information about If Only In My Dreams, Mariah Stewart or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

If Only In My Dreams by Mariah Stewart

You can find Mariah Stewart on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest novels.

For more reviews on If Only In My Dreams, please visit Simon and Schuster's website. 

Christmas on Candy Cane Lane

I don't know about you, but in our city we have places where it has become a bit of a Christmas tradition in that particular neighborhood to really go all out in decorating for Christmas. You know those places, where people will drive miles just to share the Christmas displays with their friends and family. This is just what Candy Cane Lane is famous for and each year, the entire neighborhood gets into the Spirit of not only going all out on the decorating, but even dressing up and passing out candy canes to those who drive through the neighborhood. In fact Maddy Donaldson is considered by her neighbors and even family as being the Queen of Candy Cane Lane's Christmas festivities. She ensures that everyone is up to par on making sure they are participating, having their light displays up and if there are any lights out, she is the one to let them know. However, she has been neglecting her husband Alan and her daughter Jordan in the process and they are trying hard to convince her to let some of that responsibility go.

Tilda Morrison, has just bought the run down house on Candy Cane Lane with plans of fixing it up, but her lack of home economic skills are lacking severely. Between her job at the Icicle Falls Police Force, and trying to figure out her own love life, she isn't quite sure she is ready to battle Maddy's spirited insistence that she participate in the Christmas light display. But when someone begins to vandalize the lighted candy canes, Tilda will have to get involved. Unfortunately as well, her family is insisting that they all celebrate the holiday at her new home with the dinner being cooked by Tilda. The only thing she knows how to do when it comes to planning a meal is stopping at the local Safeway deli and picking up something to go.

Ivy Bohn is struggling to find a way to hold down her busy family business as well as raising her two young children after her husband Rob decided that he wanted to go it alone. Not dealing with the implications of running into him during his time of visitation, she can't help but seem quite a bit grinchy towards him. The last thing she wants to do is rely on him to help do things like fix her broken washing machine, help catch her ever escaping dog, Gizmo or figure out a way to put up her Christmas lights on the house while dealing with her fear of heights. To top it off, her new neighbor Tilda, is a friend from school that she didn't not get along with at all. How can she find a way to get into the true Christmas spirit? Oh if only things didn't turn out the way they did.

I received Christmas on Candy Cane Lane by Shelia Roberts compliments of Mira Books and Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation, aside from a free copy of this book, in exchange for my honest review. This is a great contemporary Christmas fiction, that you can find yourself relating to at least one of the many characters in the book. While this novel is clean to some degree, some implied ideas such as the thoughts Tilda considered when thinking of possible men she'd like to do more than simply date, might not be the subject matter some might wish to see in a book. However, that is about as far as it goes. In my opinion, I'd rate this one a 4 out of 5 stars and loved the laughter and friendship that is formed in a wonderful neighborhood like Icicle Falls! This is the 8th book in the Life in Icicle Falls Series!

For more information about Christmas on Candy Cane Lane, Shelia Roberts, or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Christmas on Candy Cane Lane by Shelia Roberts

You can find Shelia Robert's on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Christmas on Candy Cane Lane, please visit Pump Up Your Books Tour Page. 

Quilted by Christmas

Each of the Quilts of Love novels are perfect for a little romance with a quilt as the setting around which the story itself revolves. Any of them can be read in any order even though they all belong in the series. Quilted by Christmas from Jodie Bailey takes an Irish Chain Quilt and weaves a story of high school romance that is given an opportunity for a second chance. After reading this one, it makes me want to break out my quilting supplies again while my daughters are still single.

Taryn McKenna and Justin Callahan grew up as best friends who fell in love before they turned eighteen. Through a series of arguments that dealt with the differences in how each of them were raised, they soon parted ways. Now that Taryn has turned 30, she is wonders if all those secrets from her past will keep them apart when she learns that Justin has come home after serving in the Army. If she can only find a way to tell him the one thing she should have 12 years ago that may or may not have changed where they find themselves today.

Jemma, Taryn's feisty grandmother is in the process of passing down a time honored tradition of hand sewing an Irish Chain quilt for Rachel, her niece since both girls have lost their mothers, Jemma is all they have left to ensure that the family tradition of handing down the quilt as a marriage gift continues on. She also knows how much Taryn has loved Justin and the circumstances that have kept them apart. In fact, she knows just how to make all the necessary arrangements to ensure they spend time together as Christmas nears and she has so much to do.

I received Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey compliments of Litfuse Publicity and Abingdon Press for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions expressed here are strictly my own. This is the story of redemption, forgiveness and second chances which I believe the author expressed beautifully in the characters of Taryn, Justin and Jemma. It outlines in a carefully constructed way the consequences of keeping some secrets that should never be kept. In the conclusion of the novel the author exemplifies the true meaning of unconditional love through Justin's actions towards not only Jemma but also in dealing with Taryn's secret. "It also exposes that love isn't something you earn. It's not something you have to be good enough for. Real love is freely given, not taken away because you don't do what someone else wants." (99). Such a perfect way to spend a cold crisp December evening, curled up by the fire and reading an exceptional romance such as this. A well deserved 5 out of 5 stars. There is a sneak peek of Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven  and a Reader's Discussion Guide at the conclusion of this novel as well.

For more information about Quilted by Christmas, Jodie Bailey, or where to pick up a copy of this novel today, please click on the links below:

Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey

You can find Jodie Bailey on Facebook to stay up to date on all her latest novels.

For more reviews on Quilted for Christmas, please visit Litfuse Publicity's book tour page.

BLOG CODE: Don’t miss the newest Quilts of Love book, Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey. October’s QOL release is a warm Christmas tale of God's steadfast love.

Enter to win a Kindle HDX, and RSVP for the “Merry Quilted” Quilts of Love Facebook party on December 9th.

One winner will receive:

• A Kindle Fire
• Two copies of Quilted by Christmas by Jodie Bailey (One for you and one to give away as a gift!)
• Hidden in the Stars by Robin Caroll
• Swept Away by Laura V. Hilton and Cindy Loven

Enter today by clicking the button below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 16th. Winner will be announced November 17th at the Quilts of Love blog.

Wait! There's more! RSVP for the "Merry Quilted" Quilts of Love Christmas Book Chat Party on December 9th and connect with some of the Quilts of Love authors. Jodie Bailey, Laura V. Hilton, Cindy Loven, Cathy Elliott, and Gina Welborn will be hosting a "merry" evening of book chat, Christmas traditions, prizes, and more!

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RSVP today and spread the word—tell your friends about the giveaway via FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on December 9th!

Maggie's Miracle

 For those of you that have ever loved so much at one time but had to watch that time in your life slip by, there is hope that you will one day find it again. Best-selling author Karen Kingsbury takes readers into the hearts of Maggie and Jordan Wright who are finding themselves trying to find a way to get through the death of her husband and Jordan's father due to a sudden heart attack. Jordan is dealing with it much harder as an eight-year-old boy who was loved dearly by his father, but the love Maggie shared with him was simply a business transaction in the marriage. She only had that perfect love once in her life as a young girl searching for answers and finding it on the shores of a lake one summer.

Maggie has since resolved to give up on love forever and find a way to move forward in her life as a busy district attorney. But she can see that Jordan needs more time than she can find to give him. His grades are suffering and he has now taken his problems directly to God in a letter. Knowing his mother always has the right answers, Jordan believes that his special prayer for a new daddy must be written out and mailed by his mother. He knows beyond a doubt that God will hear him and answer his prayers.

Casey Cummins understands that level of grief that Maggie and Jordan are feeling. He too, lost his wife Amy and his unborn son due to delivery complications. He knew that he would never find a love like that again, but there is still an empty place in his heart for helping others. He learns about Healing Hearts, a program that places grieving children with single adults as a way of helping them through their struggles and that feels like the perfect answer for managing his own grief. Now he prays that God will provide him with just the right child for him and hopes he won't have to wait too long.

I received Maggie's Miracle by Karen Kingsbury compliments of Faith Words, a division of Hachette Book Groups for my honest review. I did not receive any monetary compensation for a favorable review and the opinions here are strictly my own. This is the second book in the Red Glove Series and is bound to ignite a spirit of love and hope in your heart this Christmas season. It is about believing not only in miracles but the power of prayer to restore those broken places in our hearts and find hope once again. There is also a list of activities to inspire you to incorporate them into your Christmas season and give back some hope and love to those that are hurting. I love the idea of reading this book a chapter a day starting at Thanksgiving as a way of encouraging and inspiring us all to be better people. I easily give this one a 5 out of 5 stars. While these are part of a series, they can be read as a stand alone and in any order.

For more information about Maggie's Miracle, Karen Kingsbury or where you can pick up a copy of this book today, please click on the links below:

Maggie's Miracle by Karen Kingsbury

You can also find Karen Kingsbury on Facebook to stay up to date with all her latest books.

To read more reviews on Maggie's Miracle, please visit Faith Word's website. 

The Nine Lives of Christmas

When a guy is in trouble, he starts making deals with his Creator…and Ambrose the cat is no exception. In danger of losing his ninth and final life, Ambrose makes a desperate plea. He’ll do anything—anything!—if he can just survive and enjoy a nice long, final life. His prayer is answered when a stranger comes along and saves him, and now it looks like he has to hold up his end of the bargain.

The stranger turns out to be a fire fighter named Zach, the quintessential commitment- phobe who’s in need of some serious romantic help. If Ambrose can just bring Zach together with Merilee, the nice lady who works at Pet Palace, it’s bound to earn him a healthy ninth life. Unfortunately for Ambrose, his mission is a lot harder than he ever anticipated. Now it’s going to take all his feline wiles—and a healthy dose of Christmas magic—to bring them all together in time for the holidays.

The story is told from three different points of view from the residents of Angel Falls, first is Ambrose, the cat who fears that he is on his last of nine lives and wishes for one more opportunity at his last life, as long as it's relaxing and a very LONG one. He silently makes a vow to his maker that if he can just have one more try, he promises that he will do better at if given just this last chance. He has spent most of his other eight lives searching for a permanent place to live, dodging dogs, and trying to find a warm meal. Now if he can only find someone to save him from the tree he managed to climb up in with a vicious dog waiting for him at the bottom. Lucky for him, he's about to get his wish!

Zachery Stone, a firefighter in search of something besides just working. He liked helping people and fixing up his old Victorian home but not to fill it with a family much to the suggestion of his mother and his sister. Even though they had both attempted to set him up with online dating services and even the Bachelor, he had hoped they figured out that he wasn't interested in marriage. No worries, no stress, no "Honey Do" lists, just good times being a single guy. But his life is about to change when a stray orange cat shows up unexpectedly on his front porch with a chewed up ear and a flea collar. He hoped to hold on to him long enough for his owner to come pick him up. Yet Ambrose has other plans.

Merilee White, our heroine who works at Pet Palace and runs into Zach when he heads there to find some cat food for the stray that has now found a home with him. She provides him with advice on what to feed cats, even though she is cute and reminds Zach of an elf-ette with curls! She thought she may have connected with Zach but when he takes her advice and just buys the cat food, she feels rejected. She keeps questioning what she said or did wrong. Even though her sisters seem to have no problem finding guys. They keep telling her she's sending out the wrong signals. If only she could the right guy, someone like the guy who she gave advice about the cat food. He was a Viking and the plus side, was that he liked animals too. The insecurity she held onto since middle school along with the recent weight loss keep holding her back. She kept thinking she was a failure. If only seems to be her Christmas wish this year.

Each one takes an opportunity at sharing their version of how their lives all combine to make for a heart warming, romantic Christmas story! I received The Nine Lives of Christmas by Shelia Roberts, compliments of Pump Up Your Book Tours for my honest review and was more than delighted. It's like a version of It's A Wonderful Life from a cat's point of view with a surprising blend of a romantic matchmaker thrown in. Just what you need to get in the spirit for Christmas and well worth every one of 5 out of 5 stars.

For more information about this book, the author and where to pick up a copy of this book, please click on the links below:

The Nine Lives of Christmas by Shelia Roberts

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