An Endless Christmas by Cynthia Ruchti

I love Christmas and I love stories set during Christmas. When I decided to request Cynthia Ruchti's An Endless Christmas to read for review I wasn't aware of the impact this small little book would have on me. Let me tell you, I cried, I laughed, I cried some more and when I turned the last page I felt such a peace come over me. 

This book is powerful to say the least. The characters walk right off the page and into the readers heart. I was pulled into the story by Katie Vale and Micah Binder and to be perfectly honest, I didn't want to leave. While these two characters share the leading roles, I also fell in love with Dodie and Wilson Binder, Micah's grandparents. The Binder family is quirky and full of love for each other. 

Micah brings his girlfriend Katie with him when he leaves Florida to spend Christmas with his family at his grandparents house in Minnesota. Upon arrival, Micah proposes only to receive an answer of "no" from Katie. While this could make Katie's visit quite uncomfortable, the family engulfs her with love and a wonderful story begins to develop.

An Endless Christmas is a story of family traditions, friendships and love. It's a book that can teach all of us the true meaning of the season. It will make you smile, laugh and even shed some tears, but it will, more than anything else, give you an insight of what a true gift love is.

I can't say enough for this book. This is definitely a book to read, savor and read again, year after year. My copy is a hard back about 5 by 7 and filled with 227 pages of pure pleasure. I would highly recommend it to anyone who loves a good book.

On a 5-Star Scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Litfuse Publicity Group and Worthy Inspired for my copy of An Endless Christmas. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

Keeping Christmas by Dan Walsh

I truly enjoy any book with the name of Dan Walsh on the cover. His newest book Keeping Christmas pulled at all my emotions, as most of his books do.

Keeping Christmas is the story of 'empty-nesters'. Stan and Judith Winters find themselves all alone at Thanksgiving as all three of their children and their families have moved to other states and can't afford to come home for the holidays. To make things worse, they tell their mom that they won't be able to come home for Christmas either. This was the catalyst for this story.

Judith can hardly believe she won't see any of her kids during the holidays. The feelings she starts to have take her into a deep depression and Stan and Betty, the wife of Stan's best friend Barney, try just about everything to help Judith get through this difficult time. Are they successful? You'll have to read the book to find out.

I will say that the love displayed in this book was almost tangible. I felt it. I believed it. I loved it.

Mr. Walsh, has a talent of creating characters that could be your neighbor, your best friend or a family member. While they are fiction, they are real. They could easily walk right off the page into your life. I always feel like I become part of his stories. They are just that good.

I would highly recommend Keeping Christmas to anyone who loves stories set during Christmas and stories that have answers to everyday problems. This is good for all ages.

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing, for my copy of Keeping Christmas. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

The Christmas Joy Ride by Melody Carlson

If you love to read fun books set during Christmas, you must pick up a copy of Melody Carlson's book The Christmas Joy Ride. This is a fairly short hardcover book, a mere 168 pages, but the lesson learned within it's pages packs a wallop!

Imagine an 85 year old woman wanting to drive a motor home across country from Chicago to Phoenix. That is exactly what Joy Jorgenson plans on doing. You see, she has sold her home in Chicago and is supposed to be flying to Phoenix to live in an assisted living apartment near her two sons. But Joy has other plans. She gets her RV out of storage and plans to drive to Phoenix, making several important stops along the way. 

Joy's young friend, Miranda Fortner, is about to lose her home in February to foreclosure. She doesn't like the idea of Joy driving by herself so she decides to join Joy in traveling the old Route 66. What she doesn't know is that while she is blessing Joy by being a travel companion, she will be blessed by Joy and all those she comes in contact with.

I truly loved this book. While I did shed a few tears along their journey I also found myself laughing out loud at other times. Imagine seeing an RV driving down the road totally decked out in Christmas decorations. What a sight that would be!

Ms. Carlson has written some sweet Christmas stories over the years but I believe this may just be her best yet. I loved her characters and it was almost as though there were several stories packed into one. 

I would highly recommend picking up a copy of this very sweet and heart touching book. Maybe pick up a couple as Christmas gifts.

On a 5 Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group, for my copy of The Christmas Joy Ride. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest review, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,

CFBA - A Father's Second Chance by Mindy Obenhaus

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

A Father's Second Chance

Love Inspired (July 21, 2015)

by

Mindy Oberhaus

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: 

A Word from the Author: To steal a line from Donny and Marie, I’m a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll. I’m trapped in the city, but prefer the country or the mountains.

I love Jesus, my family, and just about anything sweet.

I believe Jesus died for my sins, rose three days later, and will one day return. He has carried me through some of my darkest hours. Without faith in Him, I would be nowhere.

I have a penchant for chocolate, clothes, and shoes. When I’m not penning romance novels, I enjoy cooking, decorating and shopping.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Businesswoman Celeste Thompson has one goal: to make her restaurant and hotel a success. She doesn't need any distractions, even from handsome contractor Gage Purcell and his two adorable little girls. Besides, single dad Gage is just biding his time before a big job at the mines comes through. But as Celeste's project springs to life, their arguments transform into attraction. Gage isn't looking for romance, especially not with another career-driven woman like his ex-wife. But openhearted Celeste is more than just another work-consumed client. She might just be his happily-ever-after.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Father's Second Chance, go HERE.

My Thoughts:

I have to say, this was my first experience in reading a book by Mindy Obenhaus and that makes me quite sad. You see, she has a wonderful fresh voice and I have missed out on her previous Love Inspired books. But not to worry, I can purchase them online and plan to do just that.

A Father's Second Chance is the wonderful story of Celeste Thompson who owns a restaurant in Ouray, Colorado, named "Granny's Kitchen". She inherited it from her grandmother and now has great plans to develop the upstairs area. This brings in our hero, Gage Purcell, who is currently working in construction until a job in the mining industry opens up for him. Gage is a single father raising two young daughters who just happen to love Celeste. The question is, will their father take their lead and do the same?

This a story of second chances for not only Gage and Celeste, but also Celeste and her mother. What transpires through this wonderful story touched my heart. Ms. Obenhaus created such wonderful, believable, flawed characters and set them into the beautiful town of Ouray. The town, Granny's Kitchen, and the Golden Girl Mine are also characters within the book and embrace the reader to become one with the story. I loved it!

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a sweet love story. 

On a 5-Star scale - 5 Stars!!!!!

I would like to thank Christian Fiction Blog Alliance and Mindy Obenhaus for my copy of A Father's Second Chance. I received my copy for free in order to read it and give my honest opinion, which I have done.

Smiles & Blessings,