Wednesday Words – Erin Unger (GIVEAWAY)

Please welcome author Erin Unger to The West Corner! She’s here today talking about books. Giveaway details are at the end of her post!

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Thanks so much for having me today!

Books are powerful. Whole other worlds unfold in a few well-stated sentences. There’s nothing like that feeling a reader gets when the perfect book is open on their lap and it pulls them in on the first page. It’s like a gift. Sometimes they make us rethink long held ideas. At times they mirror what we’re going through. And sometimes they remind us of areas in our lives we haven’t worked on.

But not every book is for every person. Sometimes it’s not the best seller that struck the right cord or the book everyone’s reading, it’s the one you stumbled upon on a special or heard of from a friend. It’s a God-ordained tool to show us His ways and plans.

As Christian writers, the power to transform is even more in our hands. We have the ability to show how great our God is and how he works in the most unusual ways at times. We use our gift to do more than only entertain, we want to make Him more real to our readers. We want to show them how to grow and change as our characters do. And it’s amazing that we can use fiction to do so.

Next time you pick up a book, see if you can find the message hidden in the character’s struggles. Maybe God used a writer to put it there just for you to learn from.

Comment below for a chance to win an eBook of Practicing Murder, and leave your email. Five people must comment for a prize to be given.

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About the Author

Erin Unger was raised in the hills of Virginia, exploring abandoned houses and reading the scariest books she could find. After marrying so young it would make a great romance novel, she has enjoyed an exciting life with her hubby. But her fast-paced life sometimes rivals the suspense in her books thanks to all her mostly grown children and a couple grandkids. Her novel, Practicing Murder, releases March 29, 2019.

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Book Description

Graduate student Maddie Clare is never talking to her ex-boyfriend Joze Evans or God again. Broken from her past and Joze’s betrayal, she must go home for her Aunt Lonna’s funeral. But after a run-in with a stalker, who insists Maddie knows the secret that had Aunt Lonna investigating him, she’s afraid for her life and must accept Joze’s protection.

As the stalker draws closer, how will Maddie and Joze face the past and their love that never died? And will Maddie stay out of the stalker’s grip long enough to figure out what secret he possesses?

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Practicing Murder is available from Amazon and Pelican Book Group.

Read a Romance for Valentine’s Day

Happy Valentine’s Day! Since today is all about love, it’s the perfect time to read a romance. Here are a few of mine for you to check out.

Escaping the Past

True love never dies, but can it overcome mistakes of the past?

When Felicia Coronado’s soon-to-be ex-husband kidnaps her daughter on a remote mountain road, she must rely on the assistance of a group of soldiers in the area for a training exercise. She’s stunned to discover the soldier in charge is the high school sweetheart she never thought she would see again.

Lieutenant Mark Benson never stopped loving Felicia, even after she dumped him before their senior prom. Now, six years later, he learns the truth behind why she left him. Can he forgive her for the past and give her a chance for the future once her divorce is final, or will he help find her missing daughter and leave Felicia behind?

This short romance was originally published in Second Chances: A Love Anthology.

Read an excerpt HERE.

Redeeming Honor

Meghan Carpenter loves God, her yarn business, and her twin brother Ryan — a former marine who currently lives with her. When she agrees to let his wounded buddy live with them on her small Indiana alpaca farm, she expects an American marine. What she gets is a former Afghan interpreter who’s painfully shy around women.

Scarred from the war, both physically and emotionally, Basir Hamidi is grateful for a place to live. But his attraction to Meghan is a problem. With his honor destroyed by events in his homeland, and nothing to offer her but his broken, scarred self, he vows to avoid her and protect her reputation. Yet he is drawn to her with a strength that can only be God’s leading. For a man who has lost everything, letting go of the past is a difficult process. When he must also redeem his honor, his only chance of success is to rely on God.

Read an excerpt HERE.

Bogota Blessings

Bogota Blessings

When Kayla Shaw travels to Bogotá to help renovate a house for a mission to street children, nothing can prepare her for the ever-present mission employee Mateo Luis. He looks like he could be one of the rebels who have caused so much fear throughout Colombia. Then she begins to see him with her heart instead of only her eyes.

Mateo Luis Gómez Días has dedicated his life to the mission, and he’s determined to help as many street children as he can. Unfortunately, he can’t keep his thoughts off the beautiful American helping renovate the new children’s home. Although he would love to have a relationship with Kayla, his past and the bad neighborhood God has called him to serve in prevent him from pursuing her.

Has God truly led Kayla and Mateo to each other, or does He have something else in mind for their lives?

Read an excerpt HERE.

Finding the Way Back

A field agent betrayed, tortured, and broken. Can the gentle love of his nurse heal his wounds?

Ian Grant withstood captivity and ruthless torture on his latest mission. Now home, his body slowly heals from the deep physical injuries. His mind, though, refuses to mend — and his voice refuses to return. Unable to answer the persistent questions of his superior agents, Ian grows despondent. Until he meets beautiful nurse practitioner, Hazel Baker.

Hazel’s job is to treat bodies, but compassion calls her to heal Ian’s deeper wounds. Agreeing to care for him long-term from her home, Hazel sees how PTSD unravels Ian’s thoughts and behavior. He seems a mental mess, but the warmth in his eyes shows promise, and when he interacts with her four-year-old daughter, the single mother catches a vision of resiliency even Ian doesn’t see any longer.

As Hazel and Ian work on his recovery together, Agency corruption threatens his peace. His trauma can be put to rest only by regaining his voice and speaking against the brutality. Can Hazel’s sweet love help him find the way back to the man he used to be?

Read an excerpt HERE.

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Share a romance book in the comments for others to enjoy!

Monday Mentions – The Waiting by Carol James

Please welcome Carol James to The West Corner! She’s here today with her brand new inspirational romance, The Waiting.

Book Description

When Katherine Herrington was a teenager, she made “The List” and believed God would bring her the husband she desired. That faith helped her to keep life under control just the way she likes it. But then Katherine loses her mother, her job, and her boyfriend, and after years of praying, she accepts the probability that God’s answer is, “No.”

A professional soccer player, Sam Tucker has lived the life of a celebrity in the UK only to discover that, despite all the wealth and fame he has acquired, his life is empty. He returns to the one place where life last had meaning, and goes in search of the one woman he’s loved since he was a teenager—Katherine. He wonders if she’ll remember him after all these years… And fears she just might.

As God weaves together a rejected proposal, a mission trip, and a devastating storm to turn their hearts toward Him and toward each other, Katherine and Sam will have to let go of their fears, find forgiveness and trust, and realize that their future together was worth the wait.

Excerpt

As a gust of wind blew rain into the small cave, Katherine shivered again, and Sam turned his back to the doorway in the rock to shelter her from the cold. He held her close, and while habit told her to pull away, she refused to obey as the old Katherine would have done. Instead, she placed her head back on his shoulder, and he began slowly swaying back and forth as if they were dancing. Stepping out of the boat meant taking risks she’d never taken before. And yet something about him felt safe.

“Hey.” Barely audible above the splatting of the rain against the river rocks, his whisper warmed her hair.

In response, she turned her face up toward his. They were eyelashes apart.

“Whatcha thinking?”

How close you are.“Nothing.”

“Nothing?” His eyes probed hers until he had to be able to read her thoughts. “I’m pretty sure that’s impossible.”

How close you are. And how much I like it. “Nothing…really.”

“Sorry, but I’m not buying.” He gently rested his forehead against hers. “Let me see if I can pick up some telepathic communications here. Look into my eyes.”

She was floating in the ocean, the sunlight sparkling on the gentle, cerulean waves. Kiss me. “Sam, I—”

“Quiet, please. I need total silence to ensure accurate results.” As she continued to stare into the blue pools, tiny lines crinkled at the outer edges, and he drew his head away. “I got it.”

“You have, have you?” For some ridiculous reason her voice quivered.

“Yes. You have a question you want to ask me.”

“Oh, I do? And what would that be?”

“You’re wondering why I haven’t tried to kiss you.”

Her face was on fire as she moved away. There’s no way he could have possibly known her thoughts.

“And you think it might be because I’m not attracted to you.” He entwined his fingers with hers and then raised their clasped hands to draw her back to him. “But you’re wrong.”

The rain had slowed to a gentle sprinkle as the storm marched on downstream. In minutes, the two of them would exit the cave, and these moments of forced intimacy would be gone as quickly as they had come. She needed to take advantage of the little time they had left. “Why haven’t you then? Every other man I’ve ever dated would have at least tried by now.”

“I’m not every other man.”

He was right about that.

~~

The Waiting is available from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Kobo, and Pelican Book Group.

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About the Author

Carol James is an author of inspirational fiction. She lives in a small town outside of Atlanta, Georgia with her husband, Jim, and a perky Jack Russell “Terrorist,” Zoe.

Having always loved intriguing stories with happy endings, she was moved to begin writing to encourage others as she’d been encouraged by the works of other authors of inspirational fiction.

Carol enjoys spending time with her husband, children, and grandchildren, traveling with friends, and serving in the production department at her church. And, most days in the late hours of the night or the wee hours of the morning, she can be found bringing her newest novel to life.

Connect with Carol James online

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Wednesday Words – Nancy Shew Bolton

Please welcome author Nancy Shew Bolton to The West Corner!

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I’ve really pondered over what I should write for this guest blog. I keep coming back to the event which has been my biggest challenge this last year. After 44 years of marriage to my high school sweetheart, my husband John died suddenly in September of 2017. Both of us had struggled with health issues for the last decade or more, but through these challenges had learned to work on diet and lifestyle changes that we hoped would make our approaching senior years into ones strengthened by increased health. After 11 years of being unable to work and living on disability, John had started a job, and was delighted at the prospect of greater income every month than what we were used to living on. He had so many plans, and was happier than he had been in years. He always said he wanted to live his life with all his might, and leave it with, as he put it, “nothing left in the tank.” And he wanted to die working. And his hopes and prayers were realized, as he died at work, suddenly and quickly, after a life lived on his terms, and one devoted to God and his family.

I never thought I’d really have to live without him. Though he had so many health problems, he always fought through them and prevailed, and so I guess I thought he was somehow as indestructible as a person could be. And to be honest, I figured God would make sure to keep him here because I didn’t want to imagine living without him. Deep inside, I was afraid it would destroy me, or make me mad at God, and compromise my faith. I felt ashamed for having these fears, but had to face the fact that they existed.

The first few months of my bereavement passed in a kind of cushioned blur, where I knew God was carrying me through the worst part of the crushing pain, and I could literally feel the support of many prayers lifted up for me. I held tight to God, and gradually began to face some of my disappointment, anger and discouragement, and to pour these out before God. I stopped being embarrassed about what I thought of as my shortcomings of faith, and realized I could lay these in front of God, too. He already knew they were in my heart, and I needed to trust His love enough to be honest with myself. This is still an ongoing process as I walk forward, doing my best to figure out my life without my husband. There are so many layers to this difficult journey, most of them painful, some beautiful and inexpressibly comforting. What I do know so far, is that I truly can cast all my cares upon Him, and He will sustain me, even when I doubt, or crumble, or question His ways. He won’t leave me because of my shortcomings, doubts or fears. No, He will walk me through all of it, because He cares for me. What a comfort it is to know that. God’s love never fails! Never.

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About the Author

Nancy Shew Bolton is a wife of 43 years, mother of five grown sons, and grandmother to a boy and girl. Ever since she learned to write, she would jot down her thoughts and impressions in little snippets of inspiration in the form of poetry, song lyrics, or short essays. About six years ago, she decided to try her hand at writing a full length book. She’s since written five works of fiction, two non-fiction, and is working on an idea for a children’s book, as well as more fiction manuscripts.

Writing a full-length work is much more challenging than she thought, and she has received so much valuable assistance from other writers, especially from the ACFW critique groups. Her husband has been supportive of her long hours spent at the keyboard. Many thanks to her beloved Johnny! And now she’s under contract with Prism Book Group with a novel set to be released in September 2014! What a journey!

Nancy loves to write character-driven stories about relationships of love and faith, since she is fascinated by the complexities within this emotional terrain. She thanks God and His Son for her life, her loved ones and the spark of creativity inside every person. She believes each person is a unique creation, with their own special voice and place in this amazing universe. God’s handiwork amazes her every day!

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Book Description

In the unsettled days of 1972, music is the steady focus of Ruth’s life and the high point of each college day. But when her happiness derails in the span of a few seconds time, Ruth is left to piece together a life that becomes fraught with confusion and emotional turmoil.

Paul has worked hard to school his stormy personality into a career that satisfies his love of music and a desire to teach. Yet his own actions threaten to rob him of his vocation, his reputation, and his view of himself. Confronting his own shortcomings was not part of his plans. But when he meets Ruth, everything changes.

Amid the challenges of life in the politically and socially turbulent 1970s, both must find comfort and support through the music they love and each other.

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The Flip Side of Love is available from Amazon.

Monday Mentions – Running from Christmas by E.A. West

In today’s spotlight is Running from Christmas, my newly re-released Christmas romance.

Book Description

She’s frozen by fear.

He wants to warm her heart.

Can he succeed before Christmas?

Army veteran Alessandra Castillo just wants to be left alone. Life has been tough since her deployment in Afghanistan, and the holiday season makes it even more difficult. Unemployed and homeless, she’s currently living with her brother, who refuses to let her avoid all things social.

Enter Brad Kovac, youth pastor and good friend of Alessandra’s brother. He’s tall, gorgeous, and outgoing, three things guaranteed to catch Alessandra’s interest — or they would have before she survived an assault by a fellow soldier. Now all she wants to do is run from Brad and avoid anything resembling a relationship.

Will God provide a miracle in time for Christmas, or will Alessandra lose her chance for romance?

Excerpt

Boxes in their arms, they headed for the entrance to the small church. She had been there only a handful of times since her brother moved to Prairie Heights a few years ago, but each time she came a sense of peace permeated her soul. Perhaps if she stayed in town long enough, that peace would stick with her when she left…assuming she could ever get a job to replace the one she’d lost at the beginning of November when the factory downsized two months after they hired her.

Shrugging off the thought, she stepped through the glass-and-wood door her brother held open. She had plenty of time to worry about finding a new job later. She’d only moved in with Tony three days ago—barely enough time to unpack and get settled into his guest room. Since he had been encouraging her to come stay with him since she left the army last spring, she figured she had until at least February or March before he started hinting that she might want to find her own place. She planned to be out of his house long before then, but finding a job hadn’t proven as easy as she’d hoped.

Her pondering crashed to a halt when a man in his late twenties or early thirties stepped into the hall. Several inches taller than her, broad shoulders, trim waist… As much as she had protested her brother’s attempts to introduce her to people, this was one man she wouldn’t mind meeting. Her heart thumped in anticipation as she took in his light brown hair and friendly green eyes.

Slow down, girl. You don’t want a relationship, remember?

Alessandra inhaled deeply, hoping oxygen would encourage her to think clearly. So what if this guy was gorgeous? She didn’t need a boyfriend for Christmas—or at all. Not when she had enough other stuff to keep her occupied. Although she had to admit a boyfriend would probably be much more pleasant than her annual visit to her best friend’s grave. But a boyfriend meant obligatory time alone with a guy…

“Hey, man! It’s about time you got here.” A warm male voice broke into the memories threatening to drag her down, and she looked up to see the gorgeous guy greeting her brother with a slap on the back. “The natives are getting restless.”

Tony laughed. “We’re early, so any restless natives aren’t our problem yet.”

“And there’s the operative word—yet.” He turned to Alessandra and reached for the box of craft supplies. “Let me take that for you.”

“It’s all yours,” she said, relinquishing the box.

Tony set his burden on the floor and put his arm around her shoulders. “Alessandra, meet Brad Kovac, youth pastor and your cohort in crime tonight.”

Brad’s eyes lit up and sent a little shiver down Alessandra’s spine as he gave her a once-over. “Ah, so you’re Tony’s sister. I’m glad to finally meet you.”

She studied him, suspicion taking the place of some of her interest. “Finally?”

“Yes, your brother’s been telling me about you for quite some time.” Brad winked and leaned closer. “Is it true that you went to Afghanistan to play in the snow?”

~~

Running from Christmas is available from Amazon. Read it for free with Kindle Unlimited!

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About the Author

E.A. West, award-winning author of sweet and inspirational romance, is a lifelong lover of books and storytelling. In high school, she picked up her pen in a creative writing class and hasn’t laid it down yet. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys reading, knitting, and crocheting. She lives in Indiana with her family and a small zoo of pets.

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Book Spotlight – A Williamsburg Christmas by Anne Greene

Today in the spotlight we have Anne Greene’s holiday romance, A Williamsburg Christmas.

Book Description

Christmas 1955 – Trent jilted Holly. Should she give him a second chance? Has too much time elapsed and is too much fire quenched for this romance to rekindle?

Holly falls in love with the sights, sounds, and scents of Christmas in Colonial Williamsburg during her first months living there. She’s a widowed mother raising 8-year-old twin boys by working as a waitress in a famous Colonial Williamsburg Inn.

Trent disappeared from Holly’s life ten years ago. Now he’s back and wants to marry her. Santa’s matchmakers complicate Holly’s decisions by bringing new men into her life. Will the competition prove too much for Trent?

Excerpt

1955, Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia

Holly and Shirley trudged down Duke of Gloucester Street toward the buildings where each of them rented an apartment.

“What’s buzzin, cuzzin? Saw a ghost? You looked like something the cat dragged in this evening at work.”

Holly nodded. She needed to talk to help clarify this new situation in her mind. “It’s a long story. And not very pretty.”

“Those are the best kinds. Hit me with it.”

Holly drew a belly-up breath. Tonight, even the Christmas lights failed to cheer her. “You noticed the quartet that played this evening?”

“Sure. Their name’s Radioactive. Bunch of cool-looking cats with their pegged jeans, their black-striped shirts, and their ducktails. Played good too.” Shirley gave a thumbs-up, then winked. “Did you see that dreamy one who played that big brass horn? I could go for him in a big way.”

“Feel free. His name’s Trent Conway. We went steady during our senior year of high school.”

“Cool beans!” Shirley gazed at Holly’s face. “But no way I’d go out with one of your old flames.” She tugged at Holly’s red wool coat sleeve. “You saw a ghost from the past. I’m all ears.”

Holly walked a short distance. Why not? They had time before they reached their apartments. “Okay, you asked for it.” She forced a smile. “Start with two years after high school. My broken heart had almost healed when I met Vince. Haven’t thought about these high school memories in years.”

“That horn player broke your heart?”

“He did. I’d been expecting a proposal and a ring the summer I got a job and before Trent left our small town to attend Ohio State. He promised to write.” Holly tried to sound light-hearted. “But he didn’t. At all. I tried to contact him, but he’d left no address. After a year of mourning and moping, I left my job in West Liberty and found work in Columbus. I rented a room at the YWCA near Ohio State.” Holly gave a rueful grin. “Since we lived in the same city now, I started each day expecting to run into or hear from Trent.” She shook her head. “Neither happened. Like he’d fallen off the face of the earth.”

“Why would Trent do that?” Shirley’s blue eyes sparkled tears.

“I don’t know.” Holly smiled. “Then Vince exploded into my life like a superhero with a whirlwind romance and marriage. I almost forgot Trent.”

“Way to go!”

“I thought I’d forgotten Trent, right? Does a girl ever forget her first love?”

“You never saw Trent again—until now?”

“Right. The last time I saw him was the day he climbed into his 1941 Ford and left for college. He kissed me and said, ‘I’ll always love you, Christmas Girl.’”

Shirley’s blue eyes opened so wide she resembled an astonished child. “He called you that? How romantic!” She took several steps then stopped. “I wish a boy would call me something sweet.”

“Trent had several nicknames for me, but that’s the one he used the last time we saw each other.”

“Oh, Holly, you’re so lucky a boyfriend cared so much for you.”

The pain certainly hadn’t felt lucky. Or the years of wondering. Or the shock of running into him again with him looking even more attractive than he had in high school. “Nowheresville! I never want to see Trent again. Not now. Not ever.”

“Well, you’re lucky. Dream Boat Trent is not the one I set you up with.”

“Yuck!” Holly stopped dead and grabbed Shirley’s arm. “No!”

Shirley’s face sported a huge grin. “Yep. Mr. Clarinet Player…and all the guys…are used to girls asking them for dates after their gigs. Groupies they call us. Anyway,” Shirley’s bright smile dimmed for a second, “he turned me down at first…until I pointed you out. Then he asked, ‘When and where?’”

“You didn’t, please say you didn’t.”

“Honey, you need to get out of that apartment and see some nightlife. Santa’s bringing Mr. Clarinet Player to pick you up at seven. I’m babysitting.” Shirley flashed a genuine this-will-be-so-good-for-you smile. “His name’s Bob Robinson.”

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A Williamsburg Christmas is available from Amazon. Read it for free with Kindle Unlimited!

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About the Author

Anne lives in the quaint antiquing town of McKinney, Texas, a few miles north of Dallas. Her husband is a retired Colonel, Army Special Forces. Her little brown and white Shih Tzu, Lily Valentine, shares her writing space, curled at her feet.

Besides her first love, writing, she enjoys family, friends, travel, reading, and way too many other things to mention. Life is good. Jesus said, “I am come that you might have life and that you might have it more abundantly.”

Anne’s an award-winning author of twenty-three books. She loves writing about alpha heroes who aren’t afraid to fall on their knees in prayer, and about gutsy heroines. She hopes her stories transport you to awesome new worlds and touch your heart.

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Monday Mentions – Mistletoe Kiss by Andrea Boyd

Please welcome Andrea Boyd to The West Corner! She’s here today with her Christmas romance, Mistletoe Kiss.

Book Description

Calling All Couples!
Sign up now. Help us set a record!
On December 10 at 5:00 pm,
we need your help setting a
Guinness World Record
for the most couples
kissing under the mistletoe!

Chase Spencer had been firmly planted in the friend-zone ever since he first met Rachel Anthony back when they were in grade school and it looks like that’s where he’s destined to remain. And her latest scheme is bound to be torture. She wants them to help break the Guinness World Record for the most couples kissing under the mistletoe at one time. How should he handle this? Should the kiss be a chaste, friendly kiss like she envisions? Or should he do it in a way that leaves Rachel without a doubt that he wants to be more than friends?

It had always been Rachel’s dream to break a world record, and who better to do it with than her best friend Chase? And it wasn’t as if they hadn’t kissed before—sixth grade, spin-the-bottle at Iona Puckett’s party—a peck of the lips and it’d be over. Except she missed the part where they had to hold the kiss for ten seconds. And no one warned her of how she would feel afterwards—confused and longing for more. How can she convince Chase to change her status from friend to girlfriend?

Excerpt

“Chase, you have got to see this!”

The way Rachel Anthony practically danced into his office reminded Chase of the day they met—the first day of first grade. She had skipped right up to him on the playground and asked if they could be friends. If he’d known he would be permanently relegated to the friend-zone, he would’ve said no.

She leaned against his arm as she stretched over his desk. As her fingers tapped across his keyboard, her familiar floral scent surrounded him. He leaned closer and inhaled deeply.

“Chase Spencer, did you just sniff me?”

“Hey, I paid a lot for that overpriced, scented water.” Worth every penny. It had been over a year ago, but he still remembered the way she had jumped into his arms with an exuberant squeal when she opened the coveted birthday gift.

“Yeah, and I’m about out. You know, Christmas is right around the corner.” Rae tapped him on the knee. “Scoot back.”

“I was trying to work here.”

She plopped right down into his lap. The woman drove him crazy, and she didn’t even have a clue.

“This is more important than work. I figured out how we can get into the Guinness Book of World Records, and…” She tucked her light brown hair behind her ear as she glanced back to add emphasis to her point. “And, we can strike another amusement park from our list.” She lifted two slender fingers in the air and then let one drop. “Two birds, one stone.”

The summer they each turned ten years old, Rae’s parents had taken the two of them on a Disney vacation. After that, they made a pact to visit every amusement park in America. They had managed fifteen by the time they entered college. He hadn’t given it a thought since then.

And the Guinness World Records thing—that had always been her dream. They had poured over the book after coming across it in the library one year. It hadn’t taken long for him to realize they would never be record-breakers, but Rae would never let go of the idea.

“I heard about it on the radio just now. It’s all happening at Six Flags, and as you know, the one in Georgia is not that far away. We could so do this. Don’t you think?”

Rae leaned to the left so he could look at the website she had pulled up on his monitor. Chase couldn’t get past the title at the top of the screen. He sat frozen in place until she elbowed him in the gut.

“Can you see the screen? What do you think?”

Calling All Couples!
Sign up now. Help us set a record!
On December 10 at 5:00 pm,
we need your help setting a
Guinness World Record
for the most couples
kissing under the mistletoe!

“So, you think we could do this?” His voice came out in a higher pitched tone. Chase swallowed hard and tried again. “I mean, do you think we can both get off work at the same time?”

They began working at Windsor Designs right after college ended, just under seven months ago. No one at the advertising agency was actually scheduled to work on Saturdays, but if you planned on going anywhere in this business, you had better be there. And the last couple of months had been brutal. None of it mattered. As always, he’d do whatever it took to be able to do this with her.

Rae bounced against his knees. “According to Sandy, all this work we’ve been doing will drop off dramatically come the first of December. We should be free by then. It’ll be my treat. The park opens at 3:30. We can leave early on Saturday and get there in plenty of time. I’ll find us a place to crash that night, and we’ll be back in time for Sunday night church services. What do you think?”

Chase rubbed his chin and stared at the screen as if he had to take a moment to think it over, but in reality he was already picturing that kiss. Had she really thought this through? His gaze shifted from the computer screen to her face.

Her brows rose in question. “Well?”

He allowed the corners of his lips to turn upward. “Let’s do it.”

~~
Mistletoe Kiss is available from Amazon.
~~

About the Author

Each of Andrea Boyd’s series represents a different genre but all fall into the category of romance. All offer an element of her own brand of humor. And all are a tribute to God.

Besides writing, she loves spending time with her family, quilting, going to car shows, and driving around in her 1968 Barracuda convertible.

Andrea lives with her husband, Tommy, and at least a couple of cats in York County, SC.

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BookBub

Monday Mentions – Comfort & Joy: The Christmas Lights Collection 2018

Today’s spotlight is a Christmas themed box set with heartwarming stories from four lovely authors: Toni Shiloh, Cathe Swanson, Chautona Havig, and Alana Terry.

Book Description

Four heartwarming stories to fill this Christmas season with comfort and joy.

Toni Shiloh- Can a bookstore owner looking for swoon-worthy romance and a mechanic hesitant to trust his heart find love that will last?

Cathe Swanson- Scrap quilts, bridal gowns, an old Swedish homestead, and a family mystery. What more could you want from a Minnesota Christmas romance?

Chautona Havig- When Mitchell Bogaert’s inheritance involves a ghost story, that’s bad enough. His Christmas is looking ghastly on more than one score, though.

Alana Terry- A missing child. A single mom. An Alaskan trooper. There’s more to fear this winter than just the cold.

For more about each book, read below for each title’s synopsis.

Toni Shiloh: Deck the Shelves —
Kendall Jackson is the proud owner of Heartfalls’ bookstore, The Cozy Shelf. Her life is one straight out of the pages, except she’s missing that leading man. Although she has a crush on the handsome auto mechanic, Quinton Hendricks, Kendall wants an old-fashioned type of romance—the stuff swoon-worthy romance books are made of. But Quinton seems to need a little prodding.

Something about Kendall sparks hope in Quinton Hendricks that love could be his again. Only being abandoned by his ex-wife has made him cautious to the point of non-moving.

Can two people hesitant on second chances find love as they Deck the Shelves?

Cathe Swanson: The Christmas Glory Quilt —
Scrap quilts, bridal gowns, an old Swedish farmhouse and a hidden family heirloom. What more you could you want in a Minnesota Christmas romance?

Penny Anderson has a dream – she’s going to be an exclusive bridal gown designer, and she won’t held back by dyslexia, a rural location or the doubts of others.

Brian Michaels has waited seven years for Penny to see him as man instead of just a childhood friend. Can he work up the courage to speak before the tall, dark and handsome business consultant sweeps her off her feet?

Aunt Violet is interested in only two things: Genealogy and quilting. As she chronicles the family history in a series of patchwork quilts, she comes to peace with her own past.

Chautona Havig: The Ghosts of New Cheltenham—
Mitchell Bogaert hasn’t done much with his life in the four years since college, to which his negative-digits bank account and credit score will attest. So when news of an inheritance from a man he hasn’t seen in years arrives on the same day as his eviction notice, Mitchell considers the odd terms of the will to be a no-brainer.

Sure, he’ll move into a building in the tourist village of New Cheltenham. Of course, he’d be happy to live there for a year as a condition of inheritance. And yes, he’ll suffer the humiliation of creating, entering, and presenting at the annual Dickens Ghost Story Competition. Free room and board for a year plus a rather substantial inheritance to boot? Who wouldn’t?

But someone either doesn’t want him in New Cheltenham or doesn’t want him to receive that inheritance, because the more he works on his story, the more convinced he is that a ghost resides in the narrow building he now calls home.

What’s a guy to do when the ghosts of his past converge on his Christmas present?

Alana Terry:Frost Heaves—
A single mom. An Alaska state trooper. And more to fear than just the cold …

When Jade’s daughter turns up missing, all suspicions point to the cult Jade escaped from when she was just a teen.

Are members of Morning Glory retaliating against Jade’s child? Or are their intentions even more sinister than simply revenge?

A fast-paced thriller set in the heart of the Alaskan wilderness from award-winning Christian suspense author Alana Terry.

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Comfort & Joy is available from Amazon. Read it for free with Kindle Unlimited!

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About the Authors

Pastor’s wife Alana Terry is a homeschooling mom, self-diagnosed chicken lady, and Christian suspense author. Her novels have won awards from Women of Faith, Book Club Network, Grace Awards, Readers’ Favorite, and more. Alana’s passion for social justice, human rights, and religious freedom shines through her writing, and her books are known for raising tough questions without preaching. She and her family live in rural Alaska where the northern lights in the winter and midnight sun in the summer make hauling water, surviving the annual mosquito apocalypse, and cleaning goat stalls in negative forty degrees worth every second. You can find her at alanaterry.com

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Cathe Swanson lives in Wisconsin with her husband of 33 years. They enjoy spending time with their family and being outdoors, kayaking, hiking, birdwatching and fishing, but summer is short in Wisconsin, so it’s important to have indoor hobbies, too. Cathe has been a quilter and teacher of quiltmaking for over 25 years, and she enjoys just about any kind of creative work, especially those involving fiber or paper. The long winters are perfect for writing and reading books! Cathe enjoys writing stories with creative plots and eccentric characters of all ages. Her books will make you laugh and make you cry – and then make you laugh again.

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Amazon bestselling author of the Aggie books and Past Forward, Chautona Havig lives and writes in California’s Mojave desert where she uses story to connect readers to the Master Storyteller.  You can find her as Chautona or ChautonaHavig on all social media or at her website chautona.com.

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Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace thanks to the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. You can find her at tonishiloh.wordpress.com.

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New Release – Out of Her Element by E.A. West

I’m so exited to share this with you! Out of Her Element has just released on Amazon! *happy dances* Check out an exclusive excerpt below. Or read the first chapter on my website.

Book Description

Living a life of luxury isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

Twenty-year-old Palestinian immigrant Mira Hassan is dirt-poor and homeless when wealthy family friends give her the chance of a lifetime. The Montaigne family invites her stay with them in their mansion on a twenty-five acre estate in Dayton, Ohio.

The transition from the hills of rural West Virginia to high society is anything but easy. As Mira deals with prejudice and struggles to understand America’s class system she must find a way to fit in with her hosts without losing herself.

Excerpt

Unable to find a reason to stall any longer, Mira gave the hound in her lap one last scratch. “Sorry, buddy. I have to grab my stuff and go back inside. Maybe I’ll see you again later.”

She gave him a gentle shove, and he rolled off her with a groan. Despite all three dogs begging for attention, or maybe jerky, she collected her pack and sleeping bag and returned to the cabin.

She stole a peek at the room while she set her things on the floor by the door and hung her coat on the empty peg. Richard still sat at the table, but James stood at the counter, knife in hand, with the rabbits in front of him. Bill was conspicuously absent.

The way Richard kept assessing her made her nervous, so she joined James.

“What are you making?”

“I was thinking about rabbit stew.” He glanced at her. “If I put it on now, it should be perfect by lunch.”

Maybe she could help him out to repay him for breakfast. “You want me to skin and cut up the rabbits for you?”

“If you’d like.”

He handed her the knife and joined Richard at the table. Mira quickly skinned both rabbits and set the pelts aside. She could trade them at the store after she cured them, unless one of the men wanted to keep them.

Working with practiced fingers, she soon had one rabbit boned and cut into bite-sized pieces. Bill came into the kitchen as she started on the second.

“Hey, Mira, I have a proposition for you.”

“What is it?” If he wanted to offer her a job, she would give it serious consideration.

“How would you like to come live with my wife and me?”

She almost cut herself. He wanted her to live with them?

Stilling her hands for a moment, she took a breath to compose herself. Her mind raced faster than her pulse. Moving into his house was a far cry from working for him.

She went back to work on the rabbit. “Is Mrs. Montaigne okay with this idea?”

“She’s hoping you’ll say yes. I just got off the phone with her, and she made me promise to call her back just as soon as I have your answer.”

Mira finished butchering the rabbit while she thought. Why did they want her to live with them? Did she even want to live there?

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Out of Her Element is available on Amazon. Read for free with Kindle Unlimited.

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Right now, Out of Her Element is available as an ebook only. A paperback version is coming soon, so stay tuned for more information!

Wednesday Words – Marilyn Leach

Please welcome author Marilyn Leach to The West Corner! She’s here today to talk about Christmas shopping in England.

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I took a deep inhale of the scent that was a midday English mist and fingered the floral inspired book mark in my hand. A deluge of muted pinks, blues, and purples, it was a gift from an artist’s heart, crafted by hand, on offer in a tiny shop some would consider far too narrow and cramped to be successful. Three people plus the shop clerk nearly filled this humble place. I was Christmas shopping in the village of Lacock, Wiltshire, England.

My mind flashed to the mall near my Colorado home where over-crowded bustling, bright lights, and expensive shopping lists reigned.

My gift-buying in the tiny shop was an introduction to the fact that Christmas in England is a calmer, truly heart-warming, and much less commercialized affair.

Done with our shopping task, my English friends and I walked to the Carpenter Arms pub where we had a yummy lunch. The sizable blackboard, where menu offerings were posted, invited all to enjoy free mince pies and a caroling sing-song with the local church choir to be held that evening in the pub. The warmth of the fireplace added an extra tug to the event, but we had to make our way back to Berkshire and the Harris family home where we would continue preparations for friends dropping round for aperitifs.

Our celebration of Christ’s birth included visits to family in London and Hertfordshire, a midnight candle light service on Christmas Eve, lamb roast for Christmas dinner, the panto, and trips to decorated manor houses. But, I will forever remember Christmas shopping in a small English village.

About the Author

Though Marilyn Leach grew up in the Western United States, she became a dyed-in-the-wool British enthusiast after exploring the UK and making friends there. Her travels throughout England color her life and written works. Her most recent work includes the Berdie Elliott Mystery series a series of English whodunits that tickle the brain and add a giggle or two. Marilyn lives lakeside on the Front Range of Colorado.

Amazon | Website | Pelican Book Group

 

Book Description

Candle for a Corpse: A Berdie Elliott Advent Mystery by Marilyn Leach is a Christmas whodunit with plot twists, shifty suspects, and loving villagers. All of it’s sprinkled with English grace and humor. Who would believe an advent wreath could solve a murder? It can when Berdie Elliott’s at hand, a vicar’s wife and sleuth extraordinaire. Fresh brewed tea, and high adventure with a spoonful of romance make the season bright.

Candle for a Corpse is available from Amazon.