Winter Blogfest: Susan Howell

December 23, 2024 By 1 Comment

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of The Spirit of Vanderlaan.

The Gift

As we enter the holiday season, I’m thinking a lot about my dad who died this time last year. I wonder what he’s experiencing in his new life, while our family adjusts to his absence within our own. I think of Heaven as a place of peace, joy, and the culmination of all we’ve hoped for during our time on Earth. While mansions, streets of gold, and pearly gates come to mind for many, others claim that figurative images can’t begin to capture an afterlife much grander than any of us could dream. Some believe those who have gone before us are with us still, rejoicing in our happiness and comforting us in sorrow; others believe in a separation – albeit temporary – between us and them. Some assume that in Heaven we immediately become all-knowing; others, that our learning will continue throughout eternity.

Like most things faith related, I don’t suppose we can know for certain what the next life holds until we experience it ourselves. I find that frustrating. I would much prefer knowing the specifics. In fact, I really wish Dad would just send me a sign. Maybe a balloon drifting from a cloud with a message inside giving me a hint of what to expect. Or more likely – since this is Lowell Harris we’re talking about – a recording of him strumming a guitar and singing about what he’s seen so far. Oh, how I would love that!

It seems a lot like waiting for Christmas morning to find out what’s inside those packages under the tree. You pick up the one with your name on the tag and examine it. You shake it, consider the size, and try your best to figure out what’s inside – ruling out some ideas and considering new ones based on what you hear shifting around in there. Even when we have no idea what’s under the paper and the bow, if we’re confident in the giver, we anticipate good things. In fact, the anticipation and pondering of possibilities is a big part of the fun.

I believe the same is true of Heaven. Even though we don’t yet know what it holds, we can enjoy the anticipation while pondering the possibilities, knowing the gift of Heaven will reflect the goodness of the giver.

I hope your holidays are filled with the anticipation of good things – both on Christmas morning and in the life to come.

Was it coincidence that brought them together – or a ghost with a purpose?

Susan Harris Howell is a psychologist on faculty at a small university in Kentucky where she has taught and mentored young adults for over thirty years. The Spirit of Vanderlaan draws on that career to capture the camaraderie and warmth between a professor and the assortment of personalities which inhabit her office. While The Spirit of Vanderlaan is her first work of fiction, she has published extensively on equality between men and women. Her first book, Buried Talents, explores gendered socialization and was published in 2022.

Susan is married to Dwayne and has two grown children, a daughter-in-law, one adorable grandson, and an incorrigible beagle, named Doc.

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Winter Blogfest: Kate Damon

December 23, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a digital copy of my book. 

 

My Most Meaningful Christmas Gifts by Kate Damon

At age eight, I received a most meaningful gift. It was a beautiful doll with blond hair and eyes that opened and closed. I had worked hard for that doll. To get on Santa’s “good” list, I cleaned my room and did my chores, along with everyone else’s chores. When I opened the box Christmas morning and saw two big blue eyes staring back at me, I was elated.  I felt as if I could make every dream come true if I wanted it bad enough and was willing to work for it.

At twelve, I received a most meaningful gift.  It was an angora sweater. A year earlier, I had received toys for Christmas. “Graduating” to clothes was a big deal. I remember feeling so grown-up and that gift told me that others saw me that way, too.

At seventeen, I received a most meaningful gift.  It was a heart-shaped necklace from my boyfriend.  I believed at that moment that love would last forever. The chain snapped less than a week later, and we broke up soon after. That gift taught me that some things are meant to last for only a short time, and that we must enjoy them while we can.

In my twenties, I received a most meaningful gift.  Our oldest son was born just before Christmas. It was a gift that both elated and humbled me and I wanted so much to be the perfect mother.  But as I walked the floor that Christmas day with a colicky baby, I realized the futility of that goal. I soon learned that no child ever said that his or her mother was perfect, only that she was the best.  

In my thirties, I received a most meaningful gift.  That Christmas my husband’s company was on strike, and we were down to our last fifty cents.  As I filled our three children’s stockings with nuts and oranges, I dreaded the following morning when they would see how little Santa had left.  Much to my surprise and delight, I never heard one of them complain. If anything, they seemed to be more appreciative of the few gifts they did receive.  That was the year I learned that sometimes less is more.  

I received the most meaningful gift during our saddest year. Our oldest son died a few months before Christmas, and I couldn’t even bring myself to put up a tree.  I cried most of that day and I don’t remember what presents I received, but I do remember one important gift.  For it was that year that I learned that we’re stronger than we think we are, and though we lose so very much with the death of a loved one, we can’t possibly count all the blessings that remain.      

I don’t know what gifts are in store for me this Christmas, but I do know this: the gifts that touch our hearts are the ones that stay with us the longest.

 

The verdict is in; a famed athlete is headed for prison. The jurors have done their job and are free to go back to their lives.

But after being sequestered for three months, life as most jurors knew it, no longer exists. 

HAROLD ASHMAN’s house is almost destroyed when a reporter drives through it. Exotic dancer, CEECEE LAINE, discovers that her boyfriend is two-timing her, and she no longer has a job. Actor ALEX MANNING learns his career is down the tubes, and 72-year-old, HELEN RYDER, discovers her family is plotting to put her in an old folks home.

Then things take a turn for the worse. When jurors start dropping like flies, CeeCee, Helen, Harold and Alex are convinced there’s a killer on the loose. Now the feuding foursome must find the killer before he finds them—or before they save him the trouble by killing each other.

 

When Kate Damon is not writing, she and her husband enjoy RVing, spending time with family and friends, raising Monarch butterflies, and playing a wicked game of bridge. Writing as Margaret Brownley, she has published more than 40 novels and is a New York Times bestselling author. Known for her memorable characters and humor, she is a two-time Romance Writers of America Rita  finalist. Not counting the book she wrote in sixth grade, and the puzzle of the missing socks, this is her first mystery

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Winter Blogfest: Wendi Zwaduk

December 23, 2024 By Leave a Comment

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a bracelet made by the author.

The Great Christmas Tree Hunt

Every year my family goes for our annual Christmas tree hunt. Now, this doesn’t seem like it would be that hard, but it can be. We have a couple of fake trees, but there’s something about the smell of pine, the feel of the real needles and the idea of going out to find just the right one that’s fun.

I know, I know. It’s tree cutting. The thing about where we go is that the tree farm really does plant new trees every year, two for every one cut down. So there’s at least that.

Now this story has to do with a couple years ago. We were hunting for that illusive tree and it was a particularly soggy day. I mean like, it’d been raining most of the day. Yuck. But it’d stopped when we set out and we opted to hunt for the tree because it was one of the few days we could all go together. I mean, why not go together as a family? So we head out and it’s mucky. We start strolling and I find a decent tree. I point it out and as poor DH heads over to it…he found a huge puddle. His boots gave way in the mud and before we know it, he’s down. Now, I’m the type of person that physical comedy makes me laugh. I can’t help it. So, I’m laughing. The tot is laughing. DH? He’s laughing, too. Shrugs. We’re strange. But we decided it was THE tree, so we cut it down and made the sojourn home. Thank goodness the seats in the truck are plastic and we could get the mud off.

What about you? Fake or real trees? Got any good stories about going after that illusive real or fake tree? I want to hear ‘em!

The objective—keep her safe. No one said anything about falling in love.

All she wanted was a pint of ice cream, not to be a witness to a double murder. Good thing Emma’s got not one, but two, sexy men willing to keep her safe. As long as she can keep her hands to herself.

Sam’s mission? To find the man responsible for the murder. He’s not going to rest until the streets are safe, even if it means having his best friend guard his best girl. It’s the best option, right?

Quint never dreamed he’d be attracted to his best friend’s wife…and his best friend. He’s got to keep his hands to himself all while figuring out what he wants from life, even if love equals Emma and Sam in Quint’s bed. Is love in the cards or are they going to go up in flames before they get started?

Wendi Zwaduk is a multi-published, award-winning author of more than one-hundred short stories and novels. She’s been writing since 2008 and published since 2009. Her stories range from the contemporary and paranormal to BDSM and LGBTQ themes. No matter what the length, her works are always hot, but with a lot of heart. She enjoys giving her characters a second chance at love, no matter what the form. She’s been the runner up in the Kink Category at Love Romances Café as well as nominated at the LRC for best contemporary, best ménage and best anthology. Her books have made it to the bestseller lists on Amazon.com and other websites. She also writes under the name of Megan Slayer.

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Winter Blogfest: Randy Overbeck

December 23, 2024 By 1 Comment

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an e-copy of Scarlet at Crystal River, a Christmas Mystery or any of my novels. Winner’s choice.  

Which Giving Reflects the True Meaning of Christmas? by Randy Overbeck

Christians have been celebrating Christ’s birth for more than 2000 years, honoring this event by doing what God did, showering those we love with gifts. According to the Biblical legend, the Magi may have started it with their gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, but by now, the giving of presents to show our love and appreciation of those around us has become an accepted, and expected, part of the holiday celebration. (Some might argue this tradition has simply caused Christmas to become overly secular and super-commercialized, but that’s a discussion for another time.)

But what about the practice of giving to those less fortunate?

It would be logical to think this tradition of generosity is a natural development of the true Christmas spirit. After all, Christians believe God did give the ultimate gift—his only son—to those less fortunate, all of us on earth. Those of us who grew up with Salvation Army Santas manning the kettle and ringing the bell for donations or who participated in school canned food drives or who contributed to the Marine Corps “Toys for Tots” program at Christmas were taught that such altruism was simply an extension of the real Christmas spirit. Lately, even companies and corporations have gotten into the act of philanthropy at Christmas. Not only do they donate to the poor, but companies like Subaru, Amazon, Target and Chick-Fil-a spend millions in advertising each Christmas to promote their efforts to bring families together, to feed the hungry, to help animal shelters—in other words, to give to those less fortunate.

However, according to annuls of history, this practice of altruism has a more recent origin—though 180 years is only recent compared with twenty centuries. In mid-nineteenth century England (and much of the rest of the civilized Christan world) Christmas was celebrated mostly in small towns, where life was close and interactions were personal. In the crowded, major cities of the time, where life was impersonal and interactions often anonymous, Christmas was largely ignored.

One author and one novella changed that. In 1843, Charles Dickens published A Christmas Carol, a runaway bestseller, and it became so popular, its message changed the culture. Before this, the idea of sharing your time and treasure at Christmas with those less fortunate was not a thing. But Dickens’ exposure of the parsimonious and money-hungry Ebeneezer Scrooge struck a chord that still reverberates today. Slowly, in the 1850’s beginning in London and spreading outward, the idea of Christmas started to take on a different, more layered message. Not only was the holiday the time to celebrate those you love and cherish, but it also became the time of year to share your bounty with others in need. (For a more extensive discussion of this transformative Christmas tale, you might want to check out this episode of my podcast, GREAT STORIES ABOUT GREAT STORYTELLERS https://www.authorrandyoverbeck.com/podcast/episode/7f9d3d6e/what-you-didnt-know-about-dickens-a-christmas-carol

It may not have as long a history, but I’d argue this practice comes closer to the true meaning of Christmas than giving your wife another bottle of cologne or gifting your teen son or daughter with another video game. That’s why each Christmas I select several charities who serve those less fortunate and give them a special donation. Now I’m not rich. After all, I’m living on a teacher’s pension and I’m a struggling author, but I do what I can.

In the true spirit of Christmas, I suggest you do the same.

All Darrell Henshaw wanted was to enjoy his honeymoon with his beautiful wife, Erin, in the charming town of Crystal River on the sunny Gulf Coast of Florida during the holidays. Only a pair of ghosts decide to intrude on their celebration. And not just any ghosts, the spirits of two young Latino children. Unwilling at first to derail the honeymoon for yet another ghost hunt, Darrell finally concedes when a painting of the kids comes alive, weeping and pleading for his help. 

When he and Erin track down the artist, they discover the children’s family were migrant workers the next county over. But when they travel there, their questions about the kids gets their car shot up and Erin hospitalized. Torn between fear and rage, Darrell must decide how far he will go to get justice for two young children he never even knew.

Dr. Randy Overbeck is an award-winning educator, author and speaker. As an educator, he served children for more than three decades and has turned this experience into captivating fiction, authoring the bestselling series, the Haunted Shores Mysteries, winner of nine national awards. Last year, the Wild Rose Press released his newest work, an atmospheric amateur sleuth mystery, CRUEL LESSONS, which has captured two more national awards including mystery of the year. He hosts the popular podcast, “Great Stories about Great Storytellers,” which reveals the unusual and sometimes strange backstories of famous authors, directors and poets. He is also a speaker in much demand, sharing his multi-media presentations about ghosts and the world of writing with audiences all over the U.S. As a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Dr. Overbeck is an active member of the literary community, contributing to a writers’ critique group, serving as a mentor to emerging writers and participating in writing conferences. When he’s not researching or writing his next thriller or historical suspense or sharing one of his programs, he’s spending time with his incredible family of wife, three children (and their spouses) and seven wonderful grandchildren.

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Winter Blogfest: Jessica Coulter Smith

December 23, 2024 By 1 Comment

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an Ebook copy and Spotify audio code of Intergalactic Brides book 1 – Brielle and the Alien Geek.

This is one of my favorite times of year.

When I was little, my grandmother on my dad’s side would make both chocolate fudge and peanut butter fudge. My grandmother on my mom’s side would bake a Coa-Cola cake. Since my parent’s weren’t together anymore, I’d spend Christmas Eve with one side of the family and Christmas Day with the other – and it would rotate each year. To some, that may seem hectic or even sad, but I didn’t know the difference. It was just a normal holiday for me.

My grandparents are no longer with us, and I miss them dearly. So this time of year, I think back on all those family gatherings, the yummy desserts and how noisy my family could be. The memories are bittersweet because I wish I had more time with my grandparents.

I’m not a baker, and I’m not the best cook, so sadly my husband and children don’t get to experience those amazing desserts. I think my grandmother’s Coca-Cola cake recipe is long gone. No one in the family ever got it from her, and she didn’t have it written down anywhere. And I’m nowhere near talented enough to make fudge. But there’s one thing I can make – don’t laugh when I tell you. My dad’s mom also made a chocolate pie. But her pie was just chocolate pudding in a premade pie crust and topped with Cool Whip. That’s the extent of my baking skills. But at least it makes me feel like my grandma is still here with us during the holidays.

Most of my characters also find themselves without family during this time of year. Blossom and her young son are an example, but no worries… she meets a sexy alien who takes them into his home and gives them the most magical Christmas ever.

What’s your favorite holiday dessert or memory?

Blossom has struggled all her life, never able to claw her way out of the worst neighborhood in Los Angeles. Her loser ex-boyfriend isn’t who she thought he was, and now she’s in deep trouble — but Christmas is the time for miracles, and Blossom needs one now more than ever. She just doesn’t expect her miracle to arrive in such a sexy, purple package. When the notorious alien actor Brexton knocks on her door, she does what any rational woman would do — she slams it in his face. Wishing for a miracle is one thing, but having the heartthrob of Hollywood on her doorstep isn’t what she had in mind.

Brexton has always wanted a mate and family, though he’s never been blessed with either. When he hears about a single mom who’s in trouble, he knows he can’t leave her to face her fate. Having a door slammed in his face hadn’t factored into his plans, but that one glimpse is enough for Brexton. He’d do anything to get another look at the sexy female with blue hair, and a body that would feature in all his future dreams.

Despite danger lurking around every corner, Brexton is determined to give Blossom and her children a Christmas they’ll always remember. Now that he has the family he’s always wanted, he’ll do whatever it takes to keep them safe, and hopefully share the first of many holidays with his new mate and kids.

Jessica Coulter Smith is an acclaimed romance writer with a passion for storytelling. Her works showcase the power of love and its ability to transcend boundaries, capturing the hearts of audiences worldwide. With a unique writing style and perspective, Jessica continues to inspire and entertain readers from all walks of life.

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Winter Blogfest: Sandra Carmel

December 23, 2024 By 2 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win an ebook copy of Sage Advice, book one of my steamy romantic suspense series, Hearts in Danger. 

Sage Advice Christmas Blog

It’s a scorcher already here in Melbourne and apparently, it’s only going to get hotter! Much to my dismay. I am not a summer person. And although I appreciate sultry, and write steamy romances across a broad range of sub-genres, I’m not a fan of heat or humidity 😉

In the southern hemisphere, we’ve recently ticked over into the start of summer and so I need to wait out the next few months to transition into my favourite season: Autumn. If you ever visit here, I’d recommend April as the best time to come. It’s so damn pretty and the weather is the most stable.

Christmas is a very family-oriented affair for me. I have an Italian heritage with quite a large extended family, who I very much enjoy catching up with over the festive season. Mind you, leading into Christmas tends to be pretty crazy with all sorts of friend and family catch ups!

In terms of festive food, there’s always some sort of pasta, such as gnocchi, pasta al forno (baked penne instead of lasagna sheets) and lasagna; and other delicious savoury treats including arancini (rice balls with a meatball in the centre), and savory donuts, some with anchovies. And, of course, there are multiple desserts, from a fruit platter to cheesecake to apple slice to rum balls and cannoli. Afterward, I swear I won’t be able to eat for ages but can usually still manage several helpings of leftovers the next day 😉

What are your Christmas plans? What are your food traditions? Let me know in the comments.

At present, I’m looking forward to book two of my Hearts in Danger series, Chase my Heart, to be released in May 2025. And in the interim, I’m working on book three, May I Help?

I can’t possibly finish this post without some mention of my passion—writing racy, flirty and downright dirty romance. If you haven’t already, you can check out my work via your preferred e-retailer. And if you enjoy my stories, I’d really appreciate a review or two.

Wishing you and your family a safe and lovely festive season, and happy and prosperous New Year.

 

Two hearts in danger. One destiny…

Sage, a psychologist struggling with a client’s suicide.

Alexander, an ex-military man trying to adapt to civilian life.

A stalker, who has terrorized Sage for months.

Against Sage’s wishes, Chase, her overprotective older brother, recruits his best friend Alexander—her infuriating teenage crush—to help keep her safe. Forced proximity creates a second chance at love—a love neither believed possible.

With danger growing closer, will Sage and Alexander survive the threat to their lives…and hearts?

Sandra Carmel is a bestselling Australian author of racy, flirty and downright dirty romance novels, novellas, short stories and poetry, who enjoys stimulating herself and others with words. An obsession with Jane Eyre, and her infatuation with Mr Rochester, were key motivators in commencing her romance writing journey. So far, she has taken the scenic route from steamy paranormal to sci-fi to contemporary, creating provocative stories that delve beneath the surface of desire. She reads and writes a lot, frequently disrupted by her ever-attentive, cheeky cats, and sinfully amorous array of book boyfriends.

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Winter Blogfest: Barbara Robinson

December 23, 2024 By 3 Comments

This post is part of Long and Short Reviews’ Winter Blogfest. Leave a comment for a chance to win a $25 Amazon E-giftcard.

A Yule Log on the eve of the Winter Solstice

As a Christmas tree farmer’s daughter, I am fonder than most of holiday greenery. I still make my own wreaths and garlands, and I still go out to harvest a Christmas tree from our land each year. My husband and I bought a red pick-up back in April, and in a week or two we’ll be coming down off Folly Mountain looking like a 2023 version of those little trucks that decorate throw pillows and wall plaques in Christmas discount stores this time of year. Finding and decorating a Christmas tree is a cherished tradition, and I could write pages about the history, symbolism and beauty of evergreens, but today I thought I’d write about the yule log, and the part that this lesser-known tradition plays in my own holiday celebrations.

In its earliest guise, a yule log was a massive thing, dragged into a hall at the darkest time of the year, and meant to burn all through the yuletide celebrations. Pre-dating electricity by more than a millennium, the light from the yule log would have been an important reminder that that sun’s strength would soon increase, and light and life return to the land. Many charms and traditions grew up around the log, like saving a small piece from the previous year to light the new yule log, and some of these have survived with variations into modern times. Now, yule logs might be made from confectionary, or they might be ceramic decorations with electric lights, but some people still use an actual log, decorated with candles and greenery.

We use a birch log, in part because the white birch bark is decorative when paired with greenery and red or white candles, but also because it is deeply symbolic. The rune representing birch is Berkana (Beorc), and it is associated with fertility and new beginnings, holding the promise of the new year ahead. We usually decorate our yule log and leave it on display, then remove the greenery on the eve of the winter solstice so we can light the candles without risk of stray spark igniting the tinder-dry boughs and pinecones. We have been using the same piece of birch for many years now, saving the log and replacing the candles and greenery each yuletide.

After supper, I will light the candles, and watch them burn down until they are spent. In early Anglo-Saxon England, the eve of the winter solstice was known as Modranigt , the night of the Mothers, and it was a time to pay homage to the female ancestral guardian spirits who watch over families and are concerned with fate and destiny. I usually leave a small offering of food for these guardian spirits, in gratitude for their care and protection throughout the year. Though not actively scrying, I think about the year to come as I watch the yule log, and ideas will often come to me as I watch the candle flames dance. Once the candles have burned away, the yule log is safely stowed away for the next year’s celebrations. Lecouteaux, Claude. (2016) Encyclopedia of Norse and Germanic Folklore Mythology and Magic. Inner Traditions, Vermont, USA.

For centuries, Gamekeepers have used their magical abilities to create a buffer between the creatures who dwell in the enchanted forest and the sleepy coastal town that sits in its shadow.

When Gamekeeper Stan Ross’s magic begins to fail, he must find out what went wrong, then fix it before the two worlds collide. His hit or miss magic has already led to a few close calls so he journeys to the Sacred Isle searching for answers and advice. Finding a cure proves elusive—until Stan encounters a kitchen witch who captivates him body and soul.

Lynnette Peters is healing from her own wounds, however, and it isn’t clear whether she’s ready to open herself to the possibility—or the peril—of love.

Barbara Robinson is a debut paranormal romance author who writes novels and short stories with an otherworldly flair. She is an unrepentant optimist who believes that lasting love is possible, and her stories feature happily-ever-after endings.

Most of her writing includes an element of magic, rooted in the cultural and spiritual traditions of pre-Christian Europe. She finds inspiration in myths and folktales, poems and ballads, historical sources and academic writing.

She also draws inspiration from nature. Barbara lives in Nova Scotia, Canada, in the shadow of ancient mountains that lie along the Bay of Fundy coast. New Scotland has a magic all its own, with mist covered valleys and wild, windswept shorelines. These rugged vistas shape her story settings, while providing the perfect backdrop for life with her husband, three hounds and a dragon (Pogona Vitticeps).

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