Tag: novella

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Once Upon a Christmas Carol: (A Sweet Christian Fiction Holiday Story with Themes of A Christmas Carol set in Michigan)

176 pages Revell Publisher Publication Date September 2,2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

What will happen when a tropical escape from holiday blues turns into a snowy wonderland filled with joy and cheer?

Carol Langstrom hates Christmas. Growing up in a dysfunctional home, with a birthday on December 25 and too many dashed childhood expectations, she would rather avoid the holiday season. And working in the design industry where she manages seasonal decor for wealthy, entitled clients certainly hasn’t helped!   

So, this year her goal is to flee to the Bahamas–by herself–bah humbug! But bad weather and God’s radically different plan redirect her flight to blustery Michigan, where she gets stuck on her aunt’s farm and discovers a different kind of Christmas–one wrapped in love, family, and holiday spirit.

Melody Carlson’s Christmas novella delivers all the charm of a holiday Hallmark movie, is rooted in Christian faith, woven with sweet romance, and features A Christmas Carol themes.

MY THOUGHTS

Once again, the author writes a lovely Christmas story that tugs on your heartstrings.
Carol Langstrom strongly dislikes Christmas. With a Christmas birthday and way too many disappointing holidays as a child Christmas is something she’d rather avoid at all costs.
A tropical vacation is what she’s planned this year, sun, warmth and relaxation. Others can have Christmas she’ll leave those memories behind though.
Bad weather has other plans for her though as she’s stranded on an aunt’s Michigan farm that she hadn’t ever met. A beautiful example of how changed plans aren’t always a bad thing. Found family, feel good story, unexpected romance and holiday spirit.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

MEET THE AUTHOR

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Have a wonderful Wednesday. Thank you for stopping in.

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The Christmas House: An Amish Christmas Novella by Beverly Lewis

146 pages Publisher Bethany House Publishers Publication date September 2, 2025

ABOUT THE BOOK

Beverly Lewis, the number-one bestselling author of Amish fiction, delivers a delightful Christmas novella of faith, romance, and heartwarming holiday traditions.

With the holidays approaching, Liz Lantz is dedicated to using her Hickory Hollow buggy tour business to share God’s love with the Englisher tourists who visit her Lancaster County community. But when her father and brother are called away for a while, Dat finds a young Amishman to assist her on the tours in her brother’s place, much to Liz’s dismay. Regardless, the popularity of her Christmas House Buggy Tour means she could use the help, so as the countdown to Christmas begins, she works alongside Matthew Yoder, who quickly takes a genuine interest in the tour customers–and Liz.

As an Englisher family in Hickory Hollow expresses their festive spirit with a lavishly decorated house for the second year running, Liz’s Amish community becomes increasingly concerned about attracting unwanted traffic and attention, and Liz wonders if there is any way to bridge the gap to help the new neighbors feel welcome. At the same time, she grapples with her growing feelings for Matt, whose position with her is only temporary. Can she find a way to bring harmony to Hickory Hollow in time for Christmas?

Beverly Lewis’s homespun Amish romance will draw in readers who love family, small towns, and Christmas festivities. This charming holiday novella brings cheer and faith for the winter season.

MY THOUGHTS

I haven’t read a book by the author in several years and I was thrilled to see a new Christmas novella releasing by her this Fall.


The writing was just as I expected, faith filled, fun, and a little romance.
This is Liz Lantz’s story. Liz Lantz gives the Englishers buggy tours in her Lancaster Amish community all the while spreading God’s word while doing so. So, when her father and brother are unexpectedly called away right during the peak Christmas busy season Liz is worried her business will have to be put on hold.

What she doesn’t expect is her father to arrange for a handsome Amish man to go with her as she gives the buggy tours as her brother’s replacement.


Such a beautiful story full of kindness, gentle reminders and it will leave you feeling happy and full of good Christmas cheer.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book. All opinions expressed are my own.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

I’ve had my nose in a book, for as long as I remember. When I was about 9 years old, I started writing my own stories. By sixth grade, I’d hand-written a 66-page semi-autobiographical book titled, “She Shall Have Music.”

After I was married and our three children were in middle school, I began submitting articles and short fiction to various magazines.

My first book (Holly’s First Love) was published in May 1993, the start of a 14-book series for pre-teen girls. Soon after, my first chapter book was published for 7-10-year-old readers (“Big Bad Beans”) which later became part of my 24-book series, The Cul-de-Sac Kids. I wrote another long-running series for girls, titled “SummerHill Secrets,” which was set very close to Neffsville, PA, where I grew up–near the heart of Amish country.

But it was the story of my grandmother Ada Buchwalter’s shunning by her ultra-strict father and subsequently her old order Mennonite community that nudged me toward writing adult fiction. THE SHUNNING was published in 1997 by Bethany House Publishers, and along with its sequels, has touched a nerve in millions of readers intrigued by the Plain tradition of Lancaster County, PA. Many readers have enjoyed the Hallmark Channel’s adaptation of this book and the other books in the Heritage of Lancaster County series.

My passion for Amish-related stories continues to keep me up at night, and I’ve written over three dozen novels for adults set in Lancaster County.

When I’m between writing deadlines, I enjoy hiking in the Rocky Mountains with my husband. Cooking from scratch, playing Mozart at the piano, and making family memory albums, as well as traveling to meet my devoted readers during book tours, are some of my very favorite things. I also adore reading biographies and memoirs, as well as classic literature.

Thank you for stopping in.

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Blog Tour for The Forever Home by Rosie Green

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Forever Home

What happens when a romantic Victorian pile that was meant to be your ‘forever home’ turns out to be a disaster in disguise? One Little Duck Pond Café pair are about to find out. Could the fall-out wreck their relationship? One thing’s for sure – it will take nothing short of a miracle to turn this turkey into the house of their dreams . . .

MY THOUGHTS

The Little Duck Pond Cafe is a series I try very hard not to miss any of the stories in it. I love that we meet new characters in it each story but that some of the regulars are there too.

Definitely a comfort series the whole way. I just love this series and wish I could have a nice sit down with the characters over a cup of tea.
This is a very emotional and special story dealing with love lost and the consequences of that.

I enjoyed reading about the characters passion for painting as a hobby.


There’s so much more I could say about this fabulous book, but I don’t want to give anything away.

My recommendation, just take an afternoon and read this or any of the author’s other books. I know you’ll enjoy them.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Purchase Links

https://www.amazon.com/Forever-Home-Little-Duck-Pond-ebook/dp/B0DHQXSLWZ

Author Bio

Rosie Green burst onto the writing scene at the age of nine, anonymously penning a weekly magazine for her five-year-old brother (mysteriously titled the ‘Willy’ comic) and fooling him completely by posting it through the letterbox every Thursday.

Rosie’s continuing love of writing saw her study English at Dundee University and spend her twenties working on various teenage magazines, including Jackie and Blue Jeans, and meeting pop stars. Then she got serious and worked as a newspaper sub-editor at the Dundee Courier before moving to Surrey and setting up an organic veg box delivery business. 

These days, she lives with her family in the beautiful county of Northumberland and has finally realised a life-long dream of becoming a published author. She currently writes the Little Duck Pond Cafe series of novellas, which is centred around life in a village cafe. Each book can be read as a stand-alone story.

Rosie has also written traditionally-published books under the name Catherine Ferguson. 

Follow Rosie on Twitter – https://twitter.com/Rosie_Green88

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Waiting for Christmas 

280 pages Tyndale Fiction publisher September 3, 2024 publish date

ABOUT THE BOOK

In this hope-filled Gilded Age Christmas novella from bestselling author Lynn Austin, the year is 1901 and the hustle and bustle of the holidays is descending on New York’s Fifth Avenue.

For the first time in her privileged life, Adelaide Forsythe won’t be swept up in it. She couldn’t be happier about the prospect of a quieter Christmas. That’s not to say her transition from Miss to Mrs. has been without challenge. Though she doesn’t regret marrying for love instead of wealth, she can barely light the hearth or cook more than burnt toast. She feels woefully unprepared to run her own household.

Then, on the first Sunday of Advent, winter winds bring change through two unlikely means: a young orphan boy, hiding near Adelaide’s front steps, and a seasoned housekeeper who seems too good to be true.

The boy, Jack, claims he isn’t an orphan at all and is desperate to reunite his family. Adelaide and her husband Howard work tirelessly to solve the riddle of Jack’s story, while Adelaide’s new endeavors open her eyes to a world beyond her past experience—and all the challenge and possibility it holds. As Christmas approaches, small glimmers of wonder light the way toward the answers Adaleide seeks and the most miraculous gift of all.

Includes discussion questions for book clubs

The novella length of this delightful work of Christmas fiction about the true meaning of Christmas makes this a great stocking stuffer or host/hostess gift

Beautiful hardcover, giftable size

Great companion to All My Secrets by Lynn Austin

MY THOUGHTS

While I do enjoy Christmas romance books, I do actually prefer feel good Christmas books of which this one is.


Taking place during the gilded age in 1901, newly married Adelaide Forsythe who grew up in the lap of luxury has had enough of it and just wants to be ordinary and live within her husband’s means. It hasn’t been easy though, growing up with cooks, nannies and maids has left her unable to do the simplest domestic chores but she’s willing to learn.


Coming home one evening hearing a rustling in her bushes she investigates and discovers a ragged street urchin about nine years old. Bringing him in out of the cold he’s cared for.

Now I fell in love with this little boy, though he did have some problems adapting to a new way of life and insecurities plagued him. Though this is novella length it is a beautifully, pull on your heartstring filled story.

A child looking for the rest of his family and can’t rest easily until he does. It’s almost Christmas, will his Christmas hopes be fulfilled or will disappointment once again fill his life?


Poignant read, one that will be remembered for a long time.
Recommended highly!

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

Enjoy your day. Thank you for stopping in.

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Christmas at Sugar Plum Manor: (An Inspirational Historical Holiday Romance Inspired by The Nutcracker Set in Edwardian-era England)

208 pages Bethany House publishers September 3, 2024 publication date

ABOUT THE BOOK

The Nutcracker and Edwardian-Era England combine to weave a magical tale of love and friendship at Christmastime.

As the beloved stepdaughter of the Earl of Castleton, Lady Mariah Lyons cherishes her home at Plumford Manor, but her idyllic world will be threatened when the estate passes to Cyril Lightbourne, a childhood friend she hasn’t seen or heard from in years. Once, Mariah dreamed their friendship would kindle into something more, but that was before she heard Cyril was courting the cruelhearted Lady Pearl. Now Mariah is willing to welcome him as a friend and pray he will be the heir her stepfather needs, but she’ll keep her heart locked safely away from anyone with such poor taste.

Cyril Lightbourne has long avoided returning to Plumford Manor, yet he reluctantly arrives in time for Christmas. When his friendship with Lady Mariah reignites, he finds himself caught between his affection for her and her family’s misunderstanding of his attachment to Lady Pearl. Then, more trouble arrives in the form of a Danish lord on a mission to win Mariah’s hand by Christmas. Will the magic of the holiday season help lead to the discovery of true love, or will duty to country leave all longing for what could have been?

MY THOUGHTS

The author writes with her usual fascinating historical touch from delightful descriptions to scenes you’d love to be in. With the description of the ball gowns to the sumptuous dinners I simply couldn’t get enough.


We all know Christmas books are extra special, and this is one you’ll surely want to read, I loved all the discoveries I made as I read, the extra oomph, it has a magical Christmas appeal sprinkled throughout, an unexpected chance at romance and sugar plums.

Though I’ve never had sugar plums I am now craving them in a pie or some type of pastry. Warm and delightful, a story with well-developed characters that I’m hoping we’ll see more of in future books.

Did you know the author has recipes that go with all of her series. There is a link in the book, and I went scrolling checking out these recipes and wow, they all sound so delicious. I will be checking it out again and trying some of them.

I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

THE AUTHOR

Roseanna M. White is a bestselling, Christy Award winning author who has long claimed that words are the air she breathes. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two kids, editing, designing book covers, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of a slew of historical novels that span several continents and thousands of years. Spies and war and mayhem always seem to find their way into her books…to offset her real life, which is blessedly ordinary. You can learn more about her and her stories at http://www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

I hope you’re having a splendid day. Thank you for stopping in.

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The Christmas Spirit-Heartwarming story from the queen of Christmas fiction, Debbie Macomber-Review

240 pages Ballantine Books October 18, 2022 publication date

About the Book

NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER • Two lifelong friends decide to trade places the week before Christmas and end up finding love along the way in this delightful novel from the queen of holiday stories, #1 New York Times bestselling author Debbie Macomber.

Peter Armstrong and Hank Colfax are best friends, but their lives couldn’t be more different. Peter, the local pastor who is dedicated to his community, spending time visiting the flock, attending meetings, and, with the holiday season approaching, preparing for the Christmas service and live nativity. As a bartender, Hank serves a much different customer base at his family-owned tavern, including a handful of lonely regulars and the local biker gang. 

When Peter scoffs that Hank has it easy compared to him, the two decide to switch jobs until Christmas Eve. To their surprise, the responsibilities of a bartender and a pastor are similar, but taking on the other’s work is more difficult than either Peter or Hank expected. As the two begin to see each other in a new light—and each discovers a new love to cherish—their lives are forever changed.

In The Christmas Spirit, Debbie Macomber celebrates the true meaning of the holidays and the inclusive community spirit that binds us all.

Grab A Copy Here

My Thoughts

A woman while watching her grandchildren one evening, they ask her about baking cookies and after volunteering all that day she is wiped out. They agree to have her tell them a story instead and while drinking hot cocoa and cuddling on the couch she starts, it’s a true story about two men, friends since childhood. One is a pastor, one a bartender, two quite different professions. Each thinks the other’s job is easy peasy, nothing to it and they agree to trade jobs for a bit and prove how easy each other’s job is. With funny and disastrous results, it’s quite the eye-opening experience for them both as they meet new people and come to have a new appreciation for each other. A heartwarming and emotional story. I really enjoy this author’s books and always read her new ones when they release.

18 Oct 2022 publish date.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Debbie Macomber is a #1 New York Times bestselling author and one of today’s most popular writers with more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide. In her novels, Macomber brings to life compelling relationships that embrace family and enduring friendships, uplifting her readers with stories of connection and hope. Macomber’s novels have spent over 1,000 weeks on the New York Times bestseller list. Fifteen of these novels hit the number one spot.

In 2022, Macomber’s all-new hardcover publications include The Best Is Yet to Come (July) and The Christmas Spirit (October). In addition to fiction, Macomber has also published three bestselling cookbooks, two adult coloring books, numerous inspirational and nonfiction works, and two acclaimed children’s books.

Celebrated as “the official storyteller of Christmas”, Macomber’s annual Christmas books are beloved and six have been crafted into original Hallmark Channel movies. Macomber is also the author of the bestselling Cedar Cove Series which the Hallmark Channel chose as the basis for its first dramatic scripted television series. Debuting in 2013, Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove was a ratings favorite for three seasons.

She serves on the Guideposts National Advisory Cabinet, is a YFC National Ambassador, and is World Vision’s international spokesperson for their Knit for Kids charity initiative. A devoted grandmother, Debbie and Wayne live in Port Orchard, Washington, the town which inspired the Cedar Cove series.

Do you have a favorite Debbie Macomber book or series? I’ve loved all of them I’ve read by her.

Thank you for visiting today. I hope your day is wonderful!

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A QUILT FOR CHRISTMAS BY MELODY CARLSON-REVIEW

About The Book

Christmas should be celebrated with family. But for Vera Swanson, that’s not an option this year. Widowed and recently relocated, she is lonely in her condo-for-one–until little Fiona Albright knocks on her door needing help. With her mother seriously ill and her father out of town, Fiona enlists Vera’s help, and when she finds out her new neighbor is a quilter, she has a special request–a Christmas quilt for Mama.

Vera will have to get a ragtag group of women together in order to fulfill the request. Between free-spirited artist Tasha, chatty empty nester Beverly, retired therapist Eleanor, and herself, Vera has hopes that Christmas for the Albright family will be merry, after all–and she may find herself a new family of friends along the way.

Bestselling and award-winning author Melody Carlson invites you to cuddle up this holiday season with this cozy story of giving, forgiving, and a little bit of romance.

My Thoughts

It simply would not be Christmas time without reading the annual Melody Carlson Christmas novella. I always feel such a sense of peace and goodness wash over me after I am finished with it.
In this one there are a group of people, some broken, widowed,sad,lonely or have just lost their way a bit. These people who were once strangers come together as now friends for the betterment of each other and unselfishly help out and boost each other’s spirits. When you help others, it gives you a sense of accomplishment and that warm happy feeling.
This book is such a warm blessing and I recommend it to you.

Pub Date 06 Sep 2022
I was given a complimentary copy of this book.
All opinions expressed are my own.

About The Author

Melody Carlson has written more than 200 books (with sales around 6.5 million) for teens, women and children. That’s a lot of books, but mostly she considers herself a “storyteller.” Her novels range from serious issues like schizophrenia (Finding Alice) to lighter topics like house-flipping (A Mile in My Flip-Flops) but most of the inspiration behind her fiction comes right out of real life. Her young adult novels (Diary of a Teenage Girl, TrueColors etc.) appeal to teenage girls around the world. Her annual Christmas novellas become more popular each year. She’s won a number of awards (including Romantic Time’s Career Achievement Award, the Rita and the Gold Medallion) and some of her books have been optioned for film/TV. Carlson has two grown sons and makes her home in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and yellow Lab dog. To find out more about Melody Carlson, visit her website at http://www.melodycarlson.com/

Will you be reading this book this year?

Thank you for stopping by today. Have a blessed day.