Synopsis

 

Andrew and his older brother Nicholas were separated as children.

 

Nicholas had been snatched away by the Prince of Darkness, and Andrew had all but given up hope, but now their mother is ill, and he’s determined to reunite them before she passes – despite her objections.

With his dog Jenny by his side, Andrew sets out on an epic and perilous crusade well beyond his wildest imagination, facing evil protectors, giant wolves, dark magic, Sorcerers, Goblins, and even the Prince of Darkness himself.

Then there’s The Great Tree.

It’s enormous, with a presence that’s nearly impossible to describe…

And it’s clearly the heart of the kingdom of the wicked Sorcerer.

 

This is the setting for the adventure story that changed Christmas forever!

 

 

Amazon

 

Read for Free via Kindle Unlimited

 

All proceeds from the sale of The Great Tree go to The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary to rescue unadoptable dogs, cats, and horses, an approved 501 (c)(3) Animal Public Welfare Charity that greatly appreciates the ongoing support of readers like you!

 

Excerpt

 

The room at the inn had a window that faced the Great Tree with the castle by its side. As Andrew gazed through the window at the castle, his mind wandered back to his mother, who was at home sick with the deadly fever. Although she wanted to see her lost son one more time before she passed, she insisted that Andrew not look for him, for it was much too dangerous. She made Andrew promise that he would not venture off and search for his brother. Andrew agreed not to.

Andrew was now looking for his brother, Nicholas, in defiance of his mother’s wishes. He had made up his mind that he could not live with himself if he did not try. He understood his mother’s concern, but he felt he had to do what he thought was right. He lied to his mother out of love for her and because he did not want her worrying about him on his quest. Right or wrong, it was the way he felt about it. Nicholas had been abducted by an evil Sorcerer, an evil wizard of sorts, when they were both very young. Nicholas was his older brother. Andrew had been searching for Nicholas for weeks; he was now at a small mountain village where he had hoped to find Nicholas and bring him back to his mother before she died.

With Jenny at his side, Andrew, weary from his lengthy travels, fell soundly asleep while gazing at the castle in the distance.

 

 

About the Author

 

Able Barrett is a former Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and U.S. Department of Justice Organized Crime Strike Force Prosecutor who shamelessly admits he loves animals more than most people, and he’s the manager of The Last Road Dog Animal Sanctuary.

 

Website * Twitter * Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the editors at Southern Living, warm and welcoming holiday recipes and creative ideas for decorating, entertaining, and handmade giftsDiscover fun and creative new ways to decorate, entertain, and handcraft gifts for the holidays. Sparkling menus and easy décor ideas, along with more than 100 brand-new recipes from the professionals of the South’s most trusted kitchen, make entertaining a breeze for celebrations of all sizes. Inside, the editors of Southern Living reveal their favorite cooking tips and make-ahead secrets that take the pressure off hosting and put the focus on family and friends. There is also a special gifts-from-the-kitchen section with recipes for treats to wrap and share. More than 200 photographs show off dazzling holiday decorations and table settings to try, plus inspired designs for holiday wreaths, trees, centerpieces, and mantel arrangements. Christmas with Southern Living is the go-to resource for everything you need to make your holiday bright.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Abrams Books

 

 

This is the second year I have been given a copy from Abrams Books as part of Abrams Dinner Party.

I always enjoy looking at the decorating photos because lord knows my house will never inspire any images for their magazine! We don’t go all out for Christmas, but we do a few small things here and there, and that is one aspect I enjoyed about this book was discovering the small touches if you don’t want to decorate fully.

My favorite part is the recipes. I always find a few keeper recipes in the cookbooks I receive. I am especially intrigued by the cookie recipes since my book club does a sweet treat exchange every December. One of these might make it into the mix, like the Gingerbread Cookies, which is a variation on the Iced Sugar cookie recipe.

One recipe I’d love to try is the Fudge Cake with Caramel Bourbon Buttercream. This is one of those decadent desserts you only need a small piece to enjoy. While I would love to try it, I probably won’t unless I can find a way to pawn most of it off to someone else! I don’t need that sort of temptation in my house. But now I’m wondering if I can par it down or make cupcakes out of it in a smaller batch. Something to consider.

One recipe that is getting rave reviews from the other members of the Abrams Dinner Party is the Flaky Skillet Pot Pie. I think a majority have made this dish, and they all loved it. I think that will have to go into the rotation soon.

If you are looking for some twists on traditional dishes for Thanksgiving or Christmas, there is the New School Green Bean Casserole and Oyster Casserole.

One last dish that has caught my eye is the Kalediscope Salad. It is colorful and even somewhat healthy if you don’t think about the bacon drippings used to saute the onions. Mmmmm

This book may not be for everyone, but I enjoy looking through it and planning some potential meals from the recipes included.

 

Wishing all of my family, friends, and followers a very Merry Christmas or whatever holiday you celebrate at this time of the year.

 

 

 

 

Book Title: Keeping Christmas Magic by Anna and Gunnar Counselman

Category: Middle-Grade Fiction (Ages 8-12), 38 pages

Genre: Children’s Book

Publisher: Mascot

Release Date: August 2021

 

 

Synopsis

​
​Shhhh, don’t tell! Keeping Christmas Magic reveals the true story of Santa Claus, asking you to become a Christmas Magic-Keeper.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Mascot

 

 

Review

 

This unassuming cover is for a reason, or at least that is what I believe. Because this book imparts the truth about Christmas and Santa to a child that is growing out of that phase, the secrets to be shared must be done in secret and with the child in full agreement. I liked how the story draws in the young child and has them sign an agreement to not reveal the truth to those that still believe.

I enjoyed how the story was spun that the parents were doing this to help St Nick because there were so many children in the world and he was tired and needed help. It still keeps some of the magic alive for the older children.

It is a great book for older siblings and brings them into the mystery of Santa and encourages them to be good stewards of the Christmas Magic and be a Magic Keeper.

I would suggest not reading this book to the younger children that do still believe until they are ready to become Christmas Magic Keepers too. The page for signatures has many lines and it would be a great tradition and they could see that their older siblings had done this too.

We give the book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

About the Authors

 

Anna and Gunnar are the husband-and-wife team behind Keeping Christmas Magic. Anna immigrated from Russia at age 12 and began her American journey in Swampscott, MA, attending Boston University before moving out to California to pursue her entrepreneurial career which has culminated in her co-founding Upstart, an AI lending platform. A third-generation Marine, Gunnar grew up pretty much everywhere there’s a Marine base before going to Cornell for undergrad, deploying as a Human Intelligence Officer to Iraq, the Horn of Africa, and Bosnia before attending Harvard for business school. Gunnar’s entrepreneurial career has focused on education software and services where he’s founded and invested in a handful of companies including his most recent company, Array. When their then-six-year-old son Tristan started asking hard questions about Santa, they didn’t have a good answer. Wanting to keep Christmas as magical as possible for as long as possible they looked for a children’s book to help and when they couldn’t find one, they wrote it. Originally, the poem was just for Tristan and his baby sister Sasha, but some close friends convinced them to submit it for publishing, and the more they worked on the story, the more they felt like it needed to be told. They hope that the book does for parents around the world, what’s it’s done for them, help make an otherwise difficult conversation a beautiful experience instead.

 

Website * Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

Enter to win a signed copy of KEEPING CHRISTMAS MAGIC (one winner/USA only) (ends Dec 13)

 

KEEPING CHRISTMAS MAGIC Book Tour Giveaway

 

 

 

 

 

 

Title: A CHRISTMAS KINDNESS

Author: Cheryl C. Malandrinos

Publisher: 4RV Publishing

Pages: 52

Genre: First Chapter Reader

 

 

Synopsis

 

Eight-year-old Robert is eager to share his wish list with Santa at the mall on Christmas Eve. When he meets Glenn, who only has one request for Santa, Robert is confused about what he should do. Can he cast aside what he wants and ask Santa to bring his new friend a special gift?

 

 

Amazon * 4RV Publishing * B&N * IndieBound

 

 

Praise

 

It is not often that a simple children’s book can nearly bring me to tears, but this one succeeded. There is nothing better than reading a story at Christmastime that reminds you that there are still good people and good kids in the world. This is one heartwarming Christmas story that you and your kids can read and enjoy. It will remind you of the true meaning of Christmas, and I believe that the author’s purpose is accomplished. – Ruth, Amazon Reviewer

 

Robert can’t wait to see Santa. He’s got a pile of stuff he wants to ask for. Then he meets Glenn in line, and Robert himself gets to play Santa. I was touched by the main character’s transformation after he came in contact with someone in real need. The glow he walks away with can’t be bought, and he’ll never find it under the Christmas tree, but it’s the heart of the season that he’s found. Nicely illustrated, enjoyable story for readers of all ages. – Jude, Amazon Reviewer

 

 

 

 

 

Excerpt

 

“Oh, when will we get there?” whispered Robert from the backseat of his mother’s car. He fiddled with the pull on his coat. The wipers brushed aside the snow falling on the windshield.

As they arrived, lines of cars streamed in and out of the mall parking lot. Robert peered over his mother’s shoulder and saw her white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. She huffed as she scanned the parking lot for an empty space. He wiggled around, but his seat belt kept him secure.

Inside the mall, Christmas music and the tinkling of jingle bells tickled Robert’s ears. With his mother, Robert weaved through the crowd of shoppers. He smelled fried food from Burger Mart. The sweet scent of warm chocolate chip cookies from the bakery made his mouth water.

Robert’s shoulders drooped when he saw how many kids waited to see Santa. There were babies, some crying and struggling to get out of their mother’s arms. Little kids, many younger than eight-year-old Robert, clung to their father’s pants or jumped up and down as they waited their turn.

“This is going to take forever!”

 

 

Review

 

This book is the perfect way to teach kindness to young children in a way they can understand.

Robert is like most kids and has big dreams for Christmas gifts. That is until he meets another kid in line that doesn’t want anything except a photo with his brother. That gave me pause to think about how many things I have wanted over the years and it humbles me to think about those that have less than most of us do in life.

Outside of the story, the book is chock full of ideas for projects, crafts, discussion questions, and even history about Christmas in other parts of the world.

The illustrations depict the story well and depending on the age of the reader/listener, could have used a few more.

This book makes a great interactive tool for parents to use with their children to teach them how to be kind and giving, especially during the holidays. Although, we should be kind and give year-round because those in need have the need for assistance throughout the year.

I would recommend this book for readers age 7 and up and for parents to read it to younger children.

We give this book 5 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

Cheryl C. Malandrinos is a freelance writer and editor. She is the author of four children’s books including, A Christmas Kindness, released by 4RV Publishing. A member of SCBWI, she is blogger and book reviewer. She lives in Massachusetts with her husband and two daughters. She also has a son who is married.

 

Website * Children’s Book Blog * Twitter * Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

From the editors at Southern Living, warm and welcoming holiday recipes and creative ideas for decorating, entertaining, and handmade gifts

Discover fun and creative new ways to decorate, entertain, and handcraft gifts for the holidays. Sparkling menus and easy décor ideas, along with more than 100 brand-new recipes from the professionals of the South’s most trusted kitchen, make entertaining a breeze for celebrations of all sizes. Inside, the editors of Southern Living reveal their favorite cooking tips and make-ahead secrets that take the pressure off hosting and put the focus on family and friends. There is also a special gifts-from-the-kitchen section with recipes for treats to wrap and share. More than 200 photographs show off dazzling holiday decorations and table settings to try, plus inspired designs for holiday wreaths, trees, centerpieces, and mantel arrangements. Christmas with Southern Living is the go-to resource for everything you need to make your holiday bright.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Abrams

 

If you are a Christmas fanatic, then you need to pick this book up for a variety of ideas from decoration to food. This is my second year to receive this book as part of the Abrams Dinner Party (new book each year, not the same one each year!) and I love the colorful photos, decor ideas, menu ideas, and the notes section at the back for gift ideas, space for notes on what worked or didn’t work, and a party planning guide.

Each photo is accompanied by notes on how they created the look or the history of some of the ideas. It looks like this year’s ideas are blue and rustic with a few other things thrown into the mix.

Of course, anytime I receive a book I have to look at the food portion first. There are so many delectable recipes and I have only just begun to dive into the various dishes. I have made two so far and they were from different menu suggestions, but they worked well together in my opinion. I made the Chicken Thighs with Parsnips and Oranges and the Goat Cheese Grits. Both were delicious and dishes I would make again. I did cut the grits recipe down since there are just two of us at home, and it was still a lot of food. But who doesn’t love leftovers?

For the chicken recipe, I did also add in some carrots with the parsnips for a little color and possibly a vegetable my husband would eat…yeah that didn’t happen. The recipe calls to serve over mashed potatoes or rice, this is where the grits came in and I served it alongside and not under the chicken.

There are several restaurants in town that serve a jalapeno cheese grit side dish that I order every single time. This was my first time making grits at home and it really wasn’t as hard as I thought. There were a few things I realized later on that affected the recipe such as my chicken stock was unsalted. I couldn’t figure why I needed to add so much salt until I read the packaging a couple of days later and it was light a lightbulb went off. I do have a tip for reheating these grits that made them even better – I added a little half and half to the amount I was reheating and the grits tasted even creamier. I didn’t add a lot, maybe 1/4 at the most. Next time, I might add some diced jalapenos for a little kick to the dish. This is definitely going into my rotation.

Each year my book club has a sweet treat exchange. I have noted several recipes that I might just try out such as the Mighty Mint Pinwheels, the Raspberry Palmiers, Mocha-Mint Sables, and the Fruit-and-Nut Icebox Cookies. The last one even has alternate combinations should there be any specific nut allergies.

This book is definitely geared toward those that love the holidays and go all out. But I think anyone could find a few ideas and recipes here that would put a whole new spin and might impress your friends and family.

We give this book 4 paws up.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Second chances start when a hardened criminal crosses paths with a precocious little girl who is helped by an angel to change hearts during the holiday season.

 

I was asked to watch and review this movie. What they should have said, is to have a box of tissue by your side because you will be blubbering like a baby.  This story is gut-wrenching and touching all at the same time. It is a perfect movie for the holidays because it reminds us that life is about faith and where that faith can take you if you will only believe.

The actress that plays Lucy Shimmer is darling and she is full of faith that her parents have taught her. Her faith is incredibly strong and she sees only the good in people and wants them to know that they are loved.  This is especially true of Edgar, the prisoner in the hospital with failing kidneys.

Lucy is loved by her family but they don’t always believe her especially when she tells them she can see Grandpa Jackson who died the previous year. He is definitely an angel watching over Lucy. He is even her partner in crime when she is hospitalized with pneumonia and Lucy realizes that the sad man in her dreams is none other than Edgar. Grandpa Jackson helps create diversions so that Lucy can get into his room and talk to him and encourage him to not give up on life, even though she doesn’t realize that is what she is doing.

While I suspected how the movie would end, it still didn’t stop the onslaught of tears running down my face.

Definitely, a must-watch for the holiday season, or really any time of the year.

We give this movie 5 paws up!

 

 

 

 

IMDB

 

Free to watch on Amazon Prime

 

Purchase the DVD on Amazon

 

 

 

 

Press Release

 

ROB DIAMOND’S NEW FEATURE FILM LUCY SHIMMERS & THE PRINCE OF PEACE ANNOUNCES RELEASE

-Film debuts on Amazon Prime on Black Friday, Nov. 27 and Living Scriptures on Dec. 4

 

Salt Lake City – Writer, Director, and Producer Rob Diamond announced today that his new film, LUCY SHIMMERS & THE PRINCE OF PEACE will be released on Amazon Prime on Black Friday, November 27, and then on Living Scriptures on Friday, December 4.

LUCY SHIMMERS & THE PRINCE OF PEACE is Diamond’s 15^th feature film and was produced completely in Utah early in 2020. “I can truly say that this is my favorite film I’ve ever made,” said Diamond. “The inspiration for the film came from a dream I had and then the story and the entire production came together absolutely seamlessly.”

LUCY SHIMMERS tells the story of five-year-old Lucy and the incredible influence she has on those around her, especially hardened criminal Edgar. Lucy, with the help of her guardian angel, create miracles that change his heart and inspire a second chance in his life.

The film features mostly local talent, including Shawn Stevens as Grandpa Jackson, Adam Hightower as James Shimmers, and Florencia Stevens as Isabelle Shimmers. In addition, the film stars well-known actor Vincent Vargas (THE MAYANS) and newcomer Scarlett Diamond in the title role of Lucy.

Scarlett Diamond just so happens to be the granddaughter of filmmaker Rob Diamond.
“Granted I’m biased, but Scarlett was absolutely incredible. She is only five-years-old and this was her first major speaking role and she proved she’s a natural!” proclaimed Diamond.

In addition to writing, directing, and producing, Diamond also operates an acting studio and many of the actors in the film are current and former Diamond students. The film was shot entirely on location in Salt Lake City and Heber, Utah early in 2020. “Our last day of filming was literally the day before Utah shut down in March because of the pandemic,” said Diamond.

 

 

Giveaway

 

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The Best Cowboy Christmas Ever

 

by June Faver

 

Publication Date: 9/29/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Enjoy a down-home Texas cowboy Christmas!

 

When handsome town sheriff Derrick Shelton meets Angelique Guillory and her young daughter at the Garrett ranch, he is immediately drawn to the woman who seems to desperately need a true family Christmas. Determined to erase the shadows from her eyes, he decides to give her the best holiday she’s ever had.

Angelique Guillory is a woman with a past, haunted by violence and searching for the family she never knew. When she and her little daughter find their way to the Garrett family and meet Derrick, she hopes to have finally found a safe haven.

But Angelique is still looking over her shoulder. Despite her doubts, with a little Christmas magic and the warmth of the Garretts, Angelique may find more love and acceptance than she ever thought possible.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Apple * Kobo

 

Bookshop * BAM * Walmart

 

 

 

 

I am so happy to share one of my favorite cookie recipes. I wrote a cookbook for my family to preserve several generations of our favorite family recipes. I usually make the cookies at night and wake up to this great fragrance throughout the house. You mix them up, pop in the oven, turn off the oven and leave them until morning. Enjoy.

~June Faver

 

Forgotten Cookies

 

3 egg whites

3/4 teaspoon cream of tartar

1/4 teaspoon salt

1-1/2 cups white sugar

3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

 

Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. Cover 2 cookie sheets with aluminum foil.

Beat egg whites until very frothy. Add cream of tartar and salt. Beat until very stiff.

Add sugar slowly by teaspoonfuls. Beat until glossy.

Fold in vanilla and chocolate chips. (chopped nuts, if desired)

Drop by spoonfuls onto foil covered baking sheets. Place in the oven and TURN OFF HEAT. DO NOT OPEN THE DOOR TO PEEK.

Next day-peel away foil and place in an airtight container.

 

 

 

About the Author

 

June Faver loves Texas, from the Gulf coast to the panhandle, from the Mexican border to the Piney Woods. Her novels embrace the heart and soul of the state and the larger-than-life Texans who romp across her pages. A former teacher and healthcare professional, she lives and writes in the Texas Hill Country.

 

 Website * Facebook * Twitter

 

Giveaway

 

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Blue Sky Cowboy Christmas

 

by Joanne Kennedy

 

Publication Date: 9/29/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

There’s no place like home…

 

Weary from a long deployment, Griff Bailey has been dreaming of a quiet Christmas on his father’s ranch. But all his hopes of peace are upended when he finds his one-time fling, Riley James, has moved in.

Riley swore off dark, dangerous men a long time ago, but Griff’s emotional scars pull at her heartstrings, and she desperately wants to help him heal despite their complicated past.

It’ll take a miracle for these two stubborn former lovers to open themselves up again, but isn’t that what Christmas is all about?

 

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Kobo * Apple

 

Bookshop * BAM * Walmart

 

 

Excerpt

 

The snow globe on the dashboard rocked and sloshed as Griff Bailey’s Jeep dropped off the pavement onto the dirt road that led to his father’s ranch. The music-­box base tinkled out a few hesitant notes, but they were lost in the racket of icy flakes clattering on the windshield.

Griff had picked up the globe at an airport gift shop, remembering how his sister loved Christmas kitsch. He’d set it on the dashboard in an effort to inspire his own Christmas spirit, but it was just making him sad. There was Santa, the most senior of senior citizens, frozen forever with one foot in a chimney and a heavy pack slung over one shoulder while phony snowflakes swirled around him. It was obvious the bag wasn’t going to fit down the chute, and the jaunty, tinkling rendition of “Here Comes Santa Claus” was just plain rude. This Santa wasn’t going anywhere.

Neither was Griff, in the long run. Like Santa, he’d flown halfway around the world only to find his life shaken and stirred by unseen forces.

As the wipers thwacked out their restless rhythm, he saw a light burning in the distance.

Almost home.

He was surprised to find his heart lifting at the thought. His sole ambition from boyhood had been to escape the everyday sameness of ranch life, with its early mornings, late nights, and chores that were never done well enough, soon enough, or fast enough.

So why was he coming home?

Simple. The last place he wanted to go was now the only place that would have him.

At least, he thought they would. As far as his family knew, he was still deployed. His dad and stepmom were on an RV trip in the Southwest, while his sister was honeymooning in California. He wasn’t sure how long they’d be gone, but he was hoping for a couple weeks of solitude so he could shake off the dark memories that had smudged his bright military future. Bit by bit, day by day, he would become the man he’d been before.

Before what?

Ghosts of the past rattled their chains in the back of his brain, threatening to rise and walk, but he knocked his head with the heel of his hand and sent them skittering back to their caves. He’d deal with them later. Right now, he needed to concentrate on the road.

As he nudged the Jeep around an icy curve, he laid eyes on his father’s house for the first time in four years—­and slammed on the brakes, sliding sideways, feeling the tug of a snowdrift hauling him into the ditch. White-­knuckling the wheel, he spun right, then left, and lurched to a sudden stop that slammed his chest against the shoulder harness.

Breathing hard, he stared at his childhood home. He’d expected to feel reluctance, nostalgia, even a surge of relief at the sight of it—­but all he felt was shock.

The entire front wall of the house was demolished, with beams and boards scattered like matchsticks in the snow. He might not be a fan of ranch life, but the Diamond Jack was the one safe, unchanging place in his world. And it had exploded.

Unbuckling, he opened the door and fell to his knees. A low buzzing began inside him, blind bees bumbling for a way out. They were with him every day, simmering beneath any emotion he dared to feel, pushing for release in a roar of rage, a howl of fear, a savage strike at something, anything. But releasing them would make the outside world match the darkness inside him, so he held them in.

The docs ought to give him some credit for that. They ought to let him go back. They would if he could control it, so he followed their advice.

Breathe.

As he drank in the cold air, the buzzing faded and died.

Surprised, oddly empty, he rose to his feet and trudged toward the house through snow up to his thighs. It was slow going, but that gave him time to assess the situation.

There were lights on in the upstairs bathroom, his sister’s bedroom, and the kitchen. That was all wrong. Nobody was supposed to be home. And what was that weird shape in the wreckage? Had it moved?

Holy crap. What is that?

It looked like an animal—­one with beaming yellow eyes that reflected the Jeep’s headlights. Had he started hallucinating now?

Apparently not. The creature proved itself disturbingly real by launching itself from the wreckage and loping toward him with an awkward, lolloping gait. Feet like paddles flung snow all around, and its drooling jowls flapped as it ran, revealing long, white teeth that gleamed in the starlight. Those teeth were the last thing he saw before it leapt up and knocked him to the ground.

Pressing Griff’s shoulders into the snow with paws the size of dinner plates, the beast dripped a cold string of drool onto his cheek as its amber eyes burned into his with a passion for…

For pats, probably. Because it was just a dog. A big, weird-­looking dog, but a friendly one. As a goofy grin spread across its slobbery face, Griff heaved it off his chest.

“Who the heck are you?”

The dog sat back and presented its paw as if introducing itself. Confused, Griff shook it, glancing around, and noticed a pickup in front of the barn.

“Shoot,” he mumbled. “I didn’t think there’d be anybody here.”

The dog shimmied close and leaned hard against him, tossing its head back and almost clonking Griff in the nose. It gazed adoringly into his face, and he suddenly felt better than he had in a year.

It might be nice to have a dog around. Trouble was, dogs generally came with people, and he wasn’t ready for people.

 

 

About the Author

 

Joanne Kennedy is the RITA-nominated author of ten contemporary Western romance novels. The first book in her Decker Ranch trilogy, How to Handle a Cowboy, was named one of Booklist’s “Best Romances of the Decade.” She lives with her retired fighter pilot husband in a secret mountain hideout on the Wyoming border.

 

Website * Facebook * Goodreads

 

 

Giveaway

 

 

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Joy to the Wolves

 

by Terry Spear

 

Publication Date: 9/29/2020

 

 

Synopsis

 

Meet the shifters of the Red Wolf pack…

Close quarters make for a cozy Christmas…

 

As Christmas approaches, red wolf shifter Brooke Cerise unexpectedly inherits an antique shop in Portland, Oregon. But when a missing reindeer calf turns up on her property, she becomes embroiled in a kidnapping case and the primary suspect of far-too-intriguing shifter Detective Josh Wilding.

Josh doesn’t intend to fall for the mysterious new woman in town, but Brooke gets under his skin from the moment they meet, and he can’t help his instinct to protect her. These red wolves are both on the hunt for love, but there’s a mystery to solve before they can enjoy their holiday happy-ever-after.

 

 

Amazon * B&N * Apple * Kobo

 

Bookshop * BAM * Walmart

 

 

Excerpt

 

Brooke called the first reindeer ranch she could find the number for while she hurried to leave the boxes outside for the recyclable trash. When she returned to the shop, someone from the ranch picked up the call.

“Hi, I’m Brooke Cerise, and a reindeer calf showed up—­” She quit speaking when she saw a tall, dark, and handsome man walk into her shop wearing a suit, a parka, and a badge. He’d better not be the bozo at the police bureau who had hung up on her!

The man glanced at the reindeer calf and then moved through the customers taking pictures of him. He reached Brooke, his posture saying he was in charge and going to get to the bottom of this. “This deer belongs to Wilding Reindeer Ranch. Do you care to explain why he’s in your shop?” He raised a dark brow. He had an Indiana Jones-­type build—­muscled enough to swing across caverns and climb tall peaks, nice broad shoulders, physically fit, not like he sat around in an office eating too many doughnuts. “This is your shop, correct?”

“Yes. I’m Brooke Cerise, the owner.”

That was when she smelled the officer’s scent and realized he was a red wolf like her. Wild, wolfish, and an Ivory fragrance. A red-­wolf pack was located outside Portland, but on her visits to see her great-­aunt, she hadn’t had time to meet anyone. She hoped it wouldn’t be a problem for her to move into the area without contacting the pack leaders first. Did he belong to the pack? Not that she could ask him in front of her human customers.

She said to the man on the phone, “Uh, sorry, it looks like I just found where the calf belongs.”

“No problem. Thanks for calling and checking with us.”

“You’re welcome. Have a great day.” She ended the call. “I called it in, but the officer I spoke to thought it was a crank call. The reindeer just walked into my courtyard.”

“I’m Detective Wilding, an investigator with the Portland Police Bureau. I’ve called the ranch, and someone’s coming to pick him up.” He had a nice, manly voice, warm and sexy like one of her favorite narrators of the romance audiobooks that she enjoyed listening to. He took a deep breath of her scent too. She wondered if he’d known her great-­aunt.

Brooke realized she was getting so much publicity that the police must have seen the news that the reindeer was at her open house and sent an investigator to investigate.

“I need to get your statement,” he said, all official-­like.

As if she were at fault for the reindeer calf being here! Hopefully, the other local wolves were a lot more welcoming than he was. That was all she needed though. To be considered a rogue wolf who committed crimes!

“By the way, you don’t leave anything important in your trash, do you? Like credit-­card or bank-­account information without shredding it?”

“No, why?”

“Someone was looking at your boxes.”

“Maybe to use for packing boxes?”

“Maybe.”

More people crowded into her shop. Brooke sure hoped people were going to purchase something and not just come to see the reindeer. Though she had to admit the little fellow made for a great marketing tool with all the social network shares that were going on. It was putting her shop on the map. He was adorable, and he seemed to be enjoying all the company.

Several of the customers were still texting about the reindeer and posting about her shop, and a few people had migrated to the drinks and food and begun to enjoy them. Then a couple of customers brought items over to her checkout counter. Yes!

“Sorry, why don’t you do your police-­officer duty and take care of the reindeer? I’ll give you a statement when things slow down, Officer,” she told Detective Wilding. She didn’t expect him to do anything with the reindeer, but she hoped he’d leave her alone while she was checking out her customers.

“Detective,” he corrected her. He situated himself right next to the checkout counter, waiting for her to finish ringing up her sales.

How annoying!

The ladies thanked her and smiled at the detective, who smiled back at them with a little lift to one corner of his mouth, giving him a charmingly handsome appearance. The ladies took their packages and left. Brooke glanced in the direction of the other people in her shop, wishing a whole bunch of customers would inundate her with merchandise to ring up so she could ignore the detective further, but nope. That meant she was at the detective’s mercy. Again. Darn it.

“Okay, give me your statement now.” He stood there tall and imposing, his dark hair windswept, his dark-­brown eyes capturing her gaze, powerful, demanding. There was no smile for her.

“He was eating holly berries off my shrub. Someone had left the gate open.”

“Not you, of course.”

“Of course not. I always close it.” Brooke folded her arms across her chest. She knew that was a defensive posture when she had nothing to be defensive about. She had nothing to do with stealing the reindeer!

“But you didn’t lock it.”

“Usually, I do.” She let out her breath. “I must have forgotten.”

“But you didn’t forget to close the gate.”

He might be gorgeous to look at, but he was annoying her to pieces. She was a law-­abiding citizen, and she wasn’t in the market for a reindeer calf. How could he make her feel like she was guilty of a crime just because she must not have locked her gate last night?

“The latch needs to be replaced.” She hated having to concede that to the detective.

“Faulty latch, hmm,” he said, writing it down.

Oh, for heaven’s sake. You’d think she’d committed the crime of the century!

 

 

 

 

About the Author

 

USA Today bestselling author Terry Spear has written over forty paranormal romances. Heart of the Wolf was named a Publishers Weekly Best Book of the Year and Billionaire in Wolf’s Clothing was a Romantic Times Top Pick. A retired officer of the U.S. Army Reserves, Terry also creates award-winning teddy bears. She lives in Spring, Texas.

 

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