Tuesday, December 31, 2013

Best Reads of 2013

This was a big reading year for me. I read 270 books, which I'm pretty sure is my record. I had not kept track until this year so it made it fun for me. 
After reviewing all of the books I have read this year I narrowed it down to 33 favorites. I thought that would be too long of a list so I attempted to just keep it at the top eighteen. These are in no particular order. Thanks to all of these authors for writing such wonderful stories!

Happy New Year!
I wish you all a blessed 2014!




16113005
My Review


18357923
My Review

17384591
My Review

17586441
My Review


17703150
My Review

17950571
My Review

17262588
My Review



13529208
My Review

16110337
My Review



15760508
My Review

15945948
My Review


12963146
More Info


15713049
My Review

12882349
More Info


13511401
More Info



11942627
More Info




18056606 

11439058
My Review          



Thursday, December 26, 2013

Praying for Your Husband From Head to Toe



17834882
via
 About the Book
As a wife, you have been given the privilege of serving as a mighty prayer warrior for your husband. Yet sometimes, even when poised with the best of intentions, you may find the task overwhelming. You wonder: What should I pray? How should I pray? What prayers does he need right now? In Praying for Your Husband from Head to Toe, Sharon Jaynes maps out sixteen landmarks to help you consistently and effectively cover your husband in prayer. From his mind and the thoughts he thinks, to his eyes and the images he sees, all the way down to his feet and the path he takes, Sharon teaches you how to pray for your husband in ways that are powerful, practical, and life-changing. The 30-day prayer guide provides Scriptures for each day along with corresponding prayers to target the crucial areas of every man’s life. You’ll be equipped and empowered to establish the habit of purposeful prayer in just a few dedicated minutes each day. Perfect for group use or individual reflection, this book maps out a memorable and reproducible pattern of prayer to strengthen your marriage, deepen your personal prayer life, and cover your husband from head to toe—in ways that will lift not only his spirit, but yours as well.(Goodreads) 


 My Review

 This is a great book! I am always looking for books or ideas on how to help my husband spiritually. Sometimes prayer is the best so this book is really helpful in finding the right verses to go along with what you want to pray about. The author has broken each thing down from what your husband sees, his strength, etc. Then she incorporates all of these things into 30 prayers. I think the part that I have liked the most is how she talks about how sometimes prayer is all you can do and that it really does change how you think about your husband. I know that God is powerful and I know that talking to Him about my husband is one of the best things I can do for him and our marriage. I highly recommend this book, it's easy to use and even if you don't use the prayers exactely you can get the idea. 



 "I received this book for free from WaterBrook Multnomah in exchange for an honest review."

Wednesday, December 25, 2013

Butterfly Pavilion

 Sister, newphew, and mom.








The last picture my man took so really it should say "My Man's Photography". 
We took a short trip to the big city to visit the Butterfly Pavilion and see my sister, nephew, and my mom. It was fun, I love the owl butterflies. We got to hold Rosie which is always fun, none us were going to do it but in the end we all held her.


Friday, December 20, 2013

Getting Ready For Christmas

 Boys will be boys.
 Four hours later from the first picture......
 Little Remi had a bath!
 Tree with gifts for friends and family.
It's too bad Christmas has turned into such a stressful event. It seems the more people I talk to I get a more stressed negative attitude. I hate how the two months before one day of the year are full of debt, guilt (should I spend this much, what do I get this person, what if it's not enough?), and pressure. Does anyone actually get an "ideal Christmas"? 
I used to love Christmas when I was little. I loved getting cards in the mail and seeing people and making goodies. But every year as I get older I see more sad, depressed, and worried people during this time of year. This seems to bog me down and touch upon my own mood. I don't want to conform to this attitude, so I choose to try and make other people's holiday season better! 


I with you all a wonderful holiday season!!







Thursday, December 19, 2013

The Song Joyful-Have You Heard It?





brenton_brown_joyful
via





Have you heard this wonderful song? I just heard it for the first time at church and had to get home to download it! Check it out!


Monday, December 16, 2013

Torn Blood Book Review



18682561
via

About the Book
Three weeks before officially reporting for duty at the U.S. Embassy in Tel Aviv, Addison Deverell arrives in Israel determined to find an answer to a question buried for nearly four thousand years.

Bound to an escort by the embassy, he is unable to begin his search as time is running out. Mere days before he must report for duty, Addison is freed from his forced escort, Hafiz IbnMansur, as a female escort, Elizabeth Daniels, takes his place.

Addison issues an ultimatum to Elizabeth that he must go into Palestinian territory for answers he can’t find in Israel. But, as Addison races to uncover a long buried truth that promises to establish a career, he faces peril from those he seeks to understand and finds himself a pawn in an international plot to drive Israel’s Jews into the sea.

Nearly seven thousand miles away in Oregon, Dr. Janelle Henning confronts a past that threatens to destroy the only family she’s ever known. A search for understanding thrusts her into a foreign world long buried to confront a birthright hidden by the passage of time. With no place—or no one—to turn to, Janelle tries to put the pieces of her life back together.

An ill-boding call shreds the little of Janelle’s world that is left, compelling her to leave her home and fly to Israel in search of Addison. But terrorists stand in Janelle’s way of reaching him, the one person that might unlock hidden identities in a relationship that has spanned a lifetime. But will Addison live, or will death, the master of all, once again keep its secret buried?(Goodreads)

Learn more about the book here. 

My Review

What a read! Bain has taken this mystery from the past that has been an ongoing battle. The politics get tangled within the middle east and Addison Deverell is thrown into a new world.This book is very long 562 pages followed by an excellent glossary for the words I was no where near pronouncing properly. The book started off a bit confusing and was difficult for me to follow. Though there is a nice back history included this is not an easy book to read. While I enjoyed the story line I didn't really enjoy the characters and overall this was simply not my favorite book. I know a few people who will love this book, my grandmother included. 

"I received this book from the publisher for free in exchange for an honest review."







Wednesday, December 11, 2013

Lean Body Fat Wallet Book Review


via



 About the Book
What’s good for the wallet is good for the body—an innovative approach to improving both your wealth and your health.
What would you do if you finally lost that weight and had energy to burn? How different would your life be if you were completely out of debt and in control of your finances? And what if you could do both at the same time with just a few simple, sustainable lifestyle changes? It can happen for you—without drastic dieting or austerity budgets, and even if you’ve tried and failed in the past.
Ellie Kay and Danna Demetre are life experts in two seemingly different fields—finance and fitness. Working together, they realized the principles and habits that help you balance your budget are the same ones that help you lose weight and keep it off. The result is an innovative “two for one” approach that can literally transform your life. Here’s just a sampling of what you’ll find in Lean Body, Fat Wallet:
  • Four essential habits for satisfying, sustainable change—and how to make them part of your life
  • Ten “failure factors” that trip us up—and how to steer clear of them
  • The single key that makes it all work: “renewing the mind”
  • Proven strategies to overcome emotional eating and spending
  • An all-purpose investment principle to keep you moving forward in hope
  • A wealth of stress busters that don’t rely on food or money
  • A game plan for raising fit and frugal kids
  • Why giving is an essential part of achieving physical and financial health
 My Review

I have read a few Ellie Kay which I usually gain tidbits of advice on finances. I thought this book would be interesting because it combines money and health. The biggest thing I got out of this book is in the beginning. They write about how your mind effects what you do. If you think you will fail you probably will. If you think something will never happen and tell yourself that then it probably won't happen. 
 
A person is limited only by the thoughts that he chooses. - James Allen

In order to gain a healthier lifestyle you have to make that choice and have it set in your mind if you want to accomplish the goal. Also, the book really says be realistic, you might loose fifty pounds but how will you keep it off? Are you willing to change your eating habits to remain healthy for years not days? 

Honestly I really liked the health aspect of this book more so than the money. Ellie Kay is smart with money and kids, but it was all things I had read previously in her books. 

For those who want a little pep talk in finances and health this is a good book!

"I received this book from Booksneeze for free in exchange for an honest review."














Tuesday, December 10, 2013

Violet Vox Box from Influenster!







Aren't these awesome little gifts! I was so excited to get this in the mail. The Soyjoy was not my favorite but everything else is great! The headband is super comfy! I've been wanting to try the dry shampoo for awhile and I really like it!
Check out Influenster-who doesn't love free stuff?!

"I received these items free from Influenster."

Friday, December 6, 2013

Bound to A Promise Book Review








SHORT BOOK DESCRIPTION:

Bound to a Promise tells the amazing true story of God's faithfulness in the face of unimaginable loss. Bonnie Floyd's father and stepmother had been living a dream life-serving as caretakers of a private tropical island and traveling the world in a sailboat. That life was cut short when three young men boarded their yacht as it was anchored off the coast of Antigua. Determined that there should be "no witnesses" of their theft and brutality, the assailants shot all four people on board. Bound to a Promise includes the fascinating account of the Antiguan trial that brought her parents' killers to justice, featuring some dashing Scotland Yard detectives, a criminal in search of redemption, and many other memorable characters from the island. Bonnie's colorful descriptions of her parents' adventures abroad and her time in Antigua lighten the mood and add a touch of travelogue to the true crime drama. In a truly inspirational twist, Bonnie arranges a meeting with one of the confessed attackers, a man who would eventually claim her as family.


Product Details:
List Price: $22.99
Paperback: 336 pages
Publisher: Creative Enterprises Studio; 1ST edition (2013)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 098905215X
ISBN-13: 978-0989052153


My Review

Bound to a Promise is unique because it is a story about a real murder and real people. The author does an excellent job writing her story and it was easy to follow along. Starting back when she is little the author pushes forward to the phone call from the U.S. Embassy. She does a good job and revealing who is murdered or why until the late part of the book, which of course is what the reader wants to know! I thought it would be slightly more complicated but it's not, though very sad. The best part is near the end, when the truth comes out, Bonnie proves how powerful God's love and forgiveness are. Truly touching how she reacts to life being flipped upside down.
This is a book about murder, there are details and it's not pretty. It's not gory as some books get but the reader goes through the whole scene and whatnot. Just a warning for fellow readers. This did not stop me in any way of reading it, it is very good!
For being a true story, Bonnie is a great writer and really someone to look up to. Her character shines and I highly recommend this twisting read!!

"I received this book from FIRST for free in exchange for an honest review."


It is time for a FIRST Wild Card Tour book review! If you wish to join the FIRST blog alliance, just click the button. We are a group of reviewers who tour Christian books. A Wild Card post includes a brief bio of the author and a full chapter from each book toured. The reason it is called a FIRST Wild Card Tour is that you never know if the book will be fiction, non~fiction, for young, or for old...or for somewhere in between! Enjoy your free peek into the book!

You never know when I might play a wild card on you!



Today's Wild Card author is:


and the book:

Creative Enterprises Studio; 1ST edition (2013)

***Special thanks to Rick Roberson for sending me a review copy.***

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Real, relatable and refreshing are words often used to describe Bonnie L. Floyd. Perhaps it is because she could easily be a next door neighbor to any of us. Bound to a Promise is a true story of tragedy and redemption that unexpectedly resulted in the opportunity to share that story with others and ultimately, the birth of Bonnie Floyd Ministries.

For more than seventeen years, Bonnie has taken her contagious zeal for the Lord and her authentic love for people to various conferences, retreats and churches throughout the United States and beyond. Her powerful and dynamic messages bring the Scriptures alive to audiences of all ages and offer useful and practical ways to apply them to everyday living. For several years, Bonnie served in various capacities with Women of Faith and is currently an administrator for Barry & Sheila Walsh. More importantly, she has a deep love and respect for God's Word that is born out of her service as a teacher and small group leader for over 23 years.

Bonnie has been married to "her Donnie" since 1987. Both California natives, they now make their home in Celina, TX - a home which provides a perfect setting to delight children and to share Bonnie's passion for cooking by entertaining family and friends. They make their church home at Genesis Metro Church in Frisco, TX where Donnie serves as an elder and Bonnie, who was ordained a Minister of the Gospel in 2010, is an active member in women's ministries.

Visit the author's website.



AND NOW...THE FIRST CHAPTER:

Prologue
February 1, 1994: It was six o’clock in the morning on what seemed a normal, cold, foggy day in Fresno, California. Then the phone rang. Donnie was already up and in the shower, so I sprang up in bed, cleared my throat, and answered the phone with my cheery, “Good morning!” as though I had been up for hours.
“Is this Mrs. Bonnie Clever-Floyd?”
I suddenly froze as a cold chill of fear crawled up my spine.
The voice on the other end of the phone was unfamiliar, his question strange, and it sent a shiver through me. For the first time in my thirty-three years, the last person I wanted to be was Bill Clever’s daughter.
“Mrs. Floyd, my name is Paul Howard, and I’m calling from the United States embassy in Antigua. I’m sorry, ma’am, but I need to ask you again, are you Bonnie Clever-Floyd?”
I stood motionless, still confused about why I was afraid to admit to this man who I was. I knew his question must pertain to my dad. Why else would he have been asking if I was Bonnie Clever-Floyd? I had never hyphenated my name, and as hard as it was to give up the name Clever, when I married Don Floyd, I became a Floyd through and through.
After a long pause, I firmly replied with a cracking voice, “No!”
By that time, I was sure Mr. Howard had discerned that the phone call was not going to go well. But then again, do those types of calls ever go well? “Mrs. Clever-Floyd, are you the daughter of William Norman Clever?”
He asked for the third time.
I simply could not reply. I was pacing the floor; dread had filled the room, fear had taken up residency, and confusion had consumed my mind. I heard Mr. Howard say, “Mrs. Floyd, Mrs. Floyd, are you still there?”
I knew I had to answer this Mr. Howard. I could not hang up and pre- tend the phone had never rung; it was far too late for that now.
“Yes, Mr. Howard, I am still here.”
With relief in his voice, he asked for the last time, “Mrs. Floyd, are you the daughter of William Norman Clever?”
After a long silence, I answered solemnly, “Yes, Mr. Howard, I am.”
So now the inevitable was about to be spoken. My life was about to change in ways no one in their wildest imaginations could have ever dreamed. But it was not a dream; it was a nightmare, and I was wide awake!




Chapter 1
Growing Up In Two Different Eras
As I stood paralyzed in time by the dread of what was coming next, highlights of my life that led to this terrifying moment played through my mind like a B-rated movie trailer in the old theater on a Saturday afternoon.
I grew up in Columbia, California, which is a historic state park in the Mother Lode Country. Columbia was founded during the gold rush days back in 1850 by a small party of prospectors who discovered the lode or main vein of gold in that region, the mother lode. News of their discovery spread, and a flood of miners soon joined them.
Unlike many settlements that have changed with the times, Columbia seems to be frozen in the 1800s. Growing up there was wonderful! How many kids get to grow up in two different eras at the same time?
Within the state park my family owned two popular saloons and the Columbia House restaurant, which was opened by my grandpop in 1958. Then in 1960 Dad took it over after moving to California from New Jersey with Mom and my two sisters, Susan and Linda. I came along in December of 1961, so unlike the rest of my family, I am a native Californian.
The Columbia House was a favorite place among the locals as well as visiting tourists. Everything on the menu was scrumptious, and all our recipes were originals and made from scratch. Dad’s navy bean soup actually made him a local celebrity—so much so that the townspeople called him “Billy Bean Soup.”
Dad began calling me “Bonnie Bean Soup” after himself, and eventually I became just “Bean.” I loved being called Bean better than Bonnie. Every time Dad called me Bean, I heard him say, “I love you.” Since it was my dad who nicknamed me Bean, it was the same honor to me as a son who is named after his father. After all, I secretly wished I had been born a boy so I could be even more like my daddy!
One of my favorite spots in town was the stagecoach. You could always find me at the counter selling tickets, riding shotgun with the driver or on horseback with the stagecoach bandit. Robbing those unsuspecting tourists was so much fun. It’s a good thing I had to wear a bandana over my face because I couldn’t keep myself from laughing.
I had a great life as a child, and I cherish my memories of those days. I would not trade one moment of my childhood. I felt secure in my parents’ love for me and for each other. But the climate soon began to change.
To think their fighting could possibly lead to a divorce was definitely not a place I wanted to go in my mind. I had seen too many of my friends go through that, and the end result was always the same—the parents hated each other, and my friends wound up spending every other weekend with their dads. I was determined that was not going to happen to this “daddy’s girl.”
Don’t get me wrong; I love my mom. She is a wonderful mother who was always about her family and found her fulfillment in just being Mom. There has never been a time when Mom was not there for my two sisters and me. My dad was adventurous, handsome, intelligent, and successful. He was determined to live life to the fullest, and unlike my mom, he didn’t seem content with just being a dad. He was eternally yearning, trying new things.
To keep himself content, Dad began accumulating businesses. He also started buying “toys,” such as boats and motorcycles. His first purchase was a ski boat, and then a twenty-four-foot pleasure boat he and Mom named the Bonnie Sue Lin. One thing was becoming apparent—Dad was never content for long. Soon the Bonnie Sue Lin was not enough. He had to go for something bigger.
The Sarsaparilla was a beautiful, thirty-six-foot Grand Banks yacht, and because it was an ocean-going vessel, Dad started making plans for the big trip he always talked about taking. His dream was to go out hundreds, even thousands of miles beyond the Golden Gate Bridge. And what he really wanted to do was stay out for a few months, instead of a few days. His plan was to sail the coast of California into Baja, Mexico, down and around the tip of Cabo San Lucas, and up to La Paz into the Sea of Cortez.
And that is exactly what we did.

Our Mexico trip was more wonderful than any of us could have imagined. Even my sister Linda, who was in the prime of her teens and not one bit happy about taking an extended vacation, had the time of her life. We grew close as a family in ways we had never experienced before. All we had was each other, and we found that each other was all we needed. Laughter always filled the sea life air. I believe one of the greatest things children can experience is watching their parents laugh together and love on each other. Within just a few short months after returning home, our close-knit family started unraveling. How I wish we could have just returned to the sea.

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Seeking Christmas Book Review

SeekingChristmasLargeCover
via

 About the Book

Do you wonder if the commercialization or hectic pace of the Christmas season is making it harder each year to celebrate what really matters? Do you wonder if the real message of Christmas is getting lost in the shuffle between parties, gift exchanges, and pageants?
Seeking Christmas is a series of family devotions and guided, hands-on activities that give your family meaningful traditions, rich experiences, and treasured memories.
More than just another Christmas devotion, Seeking Christmas is an experience. One that will grow with your family, that you will treasure for generations to come.
Seek the true meaning of Christmas, find the gift that is waiting to be unwrapped by you.

 My Review

This is a wonderful book for Christmas time. I was very surprised at how interactive this book is for families. At the start of the book it says: How to Use Seeking Christmas, so clearly it is meant to be interactive. To get the full experience the author has made fun additions to the book including the Seeking Christmas Journal and Ornaments.  At the end of each chapter is a section where you can make it more personal and realistic, it's also broken down by the age of children. The ages are split up as follows: 9 and under, 10-14, and 15 and older. This way each child gets a better perspective based upon their age. The book is separated into seven days, each day you do something different, leading up to Christmas day. She also gives you additional Bible verses to read that go along with the topic. My favorite parts of this book are the fun history facts about things such as candy canes and why we have trees in our homes with lights on them. We have so many traditions but why and when did they come about? I also think this book helps families understand that the holidays can have more meaning. It does not have to be a holiday focused on self. 


I highly recommend to families with children of any age.


Learn more about the author. 

"I received this book from the publisher through BookCrash for free in exchange for an honest review."









Tuesday, December 3, 2013

Cloak of the Light Book Review




Cloak of the Light
via

About the Book
Drew is caught in a world of light - just inches away from the dark What if...there was a world beyond our vision, a world just fingertips beyond our reach? What if...our world wasn’t beyond their influence? Tragedy and heartache seem to be waiting for Drew Carter at every turn, but college offers Drew a chance to start over—until an accident during a physics experiment leaves him blind and his genius friend, Benjamin Berg, missing. As his sight miraculously returns, Drew discovers that the accident has heightened his neuron activity, giving him skills and sight beyond the normal man. When he begins to observe fierce invaders that no one else can see, he questions his own sanity, and so do others. But is he insane or do the invaders truly exist? With help from Sydney Carlyle, a mysterious and elusive girl who offers encouragement through her faith, Drew searches for his missing friend, Ben, who seems to hold the key to unlocking this mystery. As the dark invaders close in, will he find the truth in time?(Waterbrook Multnomah)



My Review
What a great book!! After reading what the book was about I thought it could either be great or awful. To my delight this is an excellent read! Chuck Black is a new author to me, though he has written numerous books. The start of the book starts off slow, as he is leading up to the main point and giving a good background into the main character's life. The rest of the book flowed and I couldn't stop reading. This is definitely about spiritual warfare, hence the series is called Wars of the Realm. Cloak of the Light is the first book and the ending does rather leave the reader hanging. This is a book about a different world and Drew is able to see these "aliens" (I interpret angels and demons) when a terrible accident changes his eye sight. Honestly, the story line might sound a little crazy but it really is very good. 
I highly recommend to fans of Ted Dekker and those who enjoy reading about spiritual warfare. 



"I received this ARC book from WaterBrook Multnomah for free in exchange for an honest review."

Find out more at this site.


 More about Chuck Black here.

Please rate my review! Thanks for reading!

Monday, December 2, 2013

Merry Humbug Christmas Book Review

17414659
Picture Credit


 About the Book

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future.(Goodreads)


My Review
What a fun book to read for the holidays. Sandra Bricker is a great story teller and her humor is fun to read. This book is two novellas about two friends during the holidays. One girl, Joss hates Christmas and makes a point to avoid the holiday "stuff". A romance is created and her story follows her on a hilarious cruise. Reese's story is the more amusing of the two in my opinion. She is engaged and goes to meet her in laws for the holidays. Many random but possible antics ensue and make for a hilarious visit.
If you are in need of a laugh and want to get into the holiday mood this book is for you!

"I received this book from CFBA for free in exchange for an honest review."






This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Merry Humbug Christmas
B&H Books (October 15, 2013)
by
Sandra D. Bricker


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

The author says that it was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer. "I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost," she says. "So it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch the Love Finds You line."

Sandie's real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is Not), the author has stipulated that a portion of each contributor's proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.


"Being allowed to combine my faith and my humor with raising funds for my pet projects ... and still pursue my writing dream," says Bricker, "well, that's the best of all worlds, as far as I'm concerned!"

And one of the author's pet projects is animal rescue, evidenced by the special bond she has created with one particular formerly-abandoned puppy -- a red-haired collie with "killer brown eyes and the heart of the class clown."

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Merry Humbug Christmas, go HERE.