Tag: Christmas

But if the Lord gave Jahleel the talent to play football, wouldn't he be doing Him a disservice not to use that talent?

Book Review | The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh

Yet again, Toni Shiloh has produced a near-perfect Christian romance with The Christmas Catch.

Teacher Lucille “Bebe” Gordon is the solo mom of seven-year-old Hope. She’s happy with her life, and her main regret is that her ex-husband refuses to have anything to do with their daughter.

Her peaceful world is rocked when wide receiver Jahleel Walker, the boy next door who was her childhood best friend and high school boyfriend, returns home to recover from a football injury. They haven’t seen each other in twelve years, but sparks soon fly.

The Christmas Catch was originally published in 2017 as A Sidelined Christmas. The author’s note at the end makes it clear there have been some changes–I get the impression this version has more of a Christmas flavour.

The writing was excellent. There were some great lines, and I loved the voice. If I “hear” the character’s voices when I read, I usually hear them in a Kiwi accent. Yes, even when I know the book is set in the USA. But something about Toni Shiloh’s writing ha me hearing the characters in a Southern accent that sounded a lot like Georgia.

But the best part was this was a Christian romance with the emphasis on Christian. Bebe is making every effort to live out her Christian faith, particularly when it comes to her daughter. Jay has a few challenges, not least his father (the pastor of the only Protestant church in their small town), and there’s no question his faith is important to him.

Overall, The Christmas Catch is yet another fun Christian romance from Toni Shiloh. Recommended for fans of small-town Christian romance and sports romance.

Thanks to Bethany House and NetGalley for providing a free ebook for review.

About Toni Shiloh

tonishiloh_highresToni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and Christian fiction writer. Once she understood the powerful saving grace of the love of Christ, she was moved to honor her Savior.

She writes soulfully romantic novels to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness.

Before pursuing her dream as a writer, Toni served in the United States Air Force. It was there she met her husband. After countless moves, they ended up in Virginia, where they are raising their two boys.

When she’s not typing in imagination land, Toni enjoys reading, playing video games, ​making jewelry, and spending time with ​her family.

Find Toni Shiloh online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram | Pinterest | Twitter

About The Christmas Catch

Sidelined with a career-ending injury, NFL wide receiver Jahleel Walker is forced to return to his hometown of Peachwood Bay, Georgia, to heal, despite his rocky relationship with his father. Nothing shocks him more than running into his high-school sweetheart, Lucille “Bebe” Gordon.
Bebe Gordon came home to Peachwood Bay three years ago with a divorce certificate and her daughter, Hope. When Jahleel returns–for the first time in eight years–all the memories of the past come rushing back.
The connection between them is still strong, but Jahleel has no plans to stay in Peachwood Bay, and Bebe can’t risk him leaving her again. Will Jahleel and Bebe take a chance on love or let life sideline them at Christmas?

Find The Christmas Catch online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

 

What Christmas books or novel do you recommend?

Bookish Question #307 | What Christmas books or novels do you recommend?

The obvious nonfiction pick here is the Bible 🙂

Fiction is a little harder to pick, partly because there is so much fiction (especially Christian fiction) featuring Christmas. Some authors feature Christmas in all their stories because it’s popular all the time.

I can see the appeal, although I prefer summer stories. Lots of authors combine to produce Christmas collections. My favourite was the An Aussie Summer Christmas collection, where all the novellas were set in Australia. As a Kiwi, I loved the summer Christmas stories 🙂

I have read a couple of Christmas stories in recent months, although some are more “Christmas” than others (if that makes sense). My favourite was You Make It Feel Like Christmas by Toni Shiloh, which is an expanded and republished version of I’ll Be Home. Click here to read my review.

I’ve also recently read and enjoyed All Fair in Love and Christmas by Sarah Monzon. While it centers around Christmas, I read it during the New Zealand winter to get the seasonal feeling. But it’s still centered around Christmas, with a neurodivergent main character and a fun workplace rivalry. Click here to read my review.

What about you? What Christmas books or novels do you recommend?

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #294 | The Christmas Box by Jessica Wakefield

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line. I’ve just bought The Christmas Box by debut Australian author Jessica Wakefield. It’s three novellas featuring three of my favourite tropes: friends to more, forced proximity, and fake relationship. Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Change was coming. Amy Franklin hated change.

I only have to read that much to know I’m going to love Amy 🙂

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

About The Christmas Box

Three Christmas Novellas: Can Christmas be saved by a mysterious box? Join three couples across three decades as they find love in places they least expected it.

1995: Braving Christmas

Amy Franklin is in love with her best friend. Years of family rejection have left her unable to tell Chris Lawrence how she feels for fear of history repeating itself. But as she becomes the key to saving his family’s Christmas tree farm, she realizes teaming up with Chris permanently might just be worth being brave after all.

2005: Risking Christmas

Holed up in a cabin in Connecticut during a blizzard, chef Josh Keller is looking to finish a proposal for his new restaurant. But he didn’t count on getting snowed in with Nicole Abbot, the very food critic who derailed his career faster than you can say master chef. As the days drift by, Josh and Nicole form a tentative truce that might just turn into more.

2015: Faking Christmas

Antonia Katsaros needs a fake boyfriend to attend her sister’s Christmas-themed engagement party, or she’ll never hear the end of it from her meddling family. In the mall, she meets Dylan Matthews, a guy more than ready to help the woman who helped his niece. Can their fake relationship turn real just in time for the holidays?

Find The Christmas Box online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #270 | The Hearts of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line.

Today I’m sharing from The Hearts of New Cheltenham by Chautona Havig, part of the Destination Christmas novella collection.

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Procrastination would get her stuck with a life sentence - married to her best friend.

 

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About The Hearts of New Cheltenham

♥ The only way not to break her best friend’s heart is to get someone else to steal it. ♥

It wasn’t a marriage pact exactly, but Crystal and Jarod had agreed to discuss the idea if neither of them had found anyone during the ten years post-college graduation. Just a conversation—no pressure or obligation.

But as the discussion date looms, Crystal knows she wants more from life than a nice existence with a best friend she isn’t in love with. Begin “Operation Find Jarod a Girl.” Phase one—well, she owes his boss thanks for that. A month off work should just about do it…if she can get him to agree to a month in New Cheltenham.

Jarod doesn’t see the point, but he’s willing to make the trip if it keeps him away from his family’s drama this Christmas. He didn’t expect to find someone like Ellie there, and he definitely didn’t expect to fall for her.

But with Ellie and Jarod hitting it off so well and Jarod becoming exactly what she’d been looking for, Crystal wonders if she’s made a colossal mistake.

A novella of love and friendship that defies a love triangle to interfere.

Find The Hearts of New Cheltenham online at:

Amazon | BookBub | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

Liam doesn’t need to change or conform. He shouldn’t have to mask who is he to be accepted, and those who love him shouldn’t try to ‘fix’ him.

Book Review | Kiss Me on Christmas by Sarah Monzon

Kaitlyn Stafford is the solo mother of ten-year-old Liam. Liam has been diagnosed with General Anxiety Disorder, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, and Autism Spectrum Disorder (GAD, ADHD, and ASD). Kaitlyn’s sister announces she’s getting married at Christmas, which is going to be a big and possibly difficult disruption to Liam’s Christmas routines.

What could have been a difficult trip is made easier when Liam recognises his favourite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, as they are about to board the plane. Beckett turns out to be the best man at the wedding they are about to plan.

Yes, that’s totally the setup for every Hallmark Christmas movie ever: an unlikely couple thrown together in a small town for a white Christmas.

The romance between Kaitlyn and Beckett develops quickly (well, this is a novella so it kind of has to), but it never feels rushed. That’s quite an achievement. It’s also based on an attraction to the inner person, which is something I like in romance. The developing relationship was perfectly paced and had all the feels.

What sets this story apart is Liam. Stories with sole parents (usually mothers) aren’t unusual, but stories with characters with ADHD or ASD are rare to non-existent. (If you can think of any, let me know.) It wasn’t just that Liam was a neurodiverse chararacter. It was that he was such an endearing and likeable character and was portrayed so realistically.

Kaitlyn and Beckett were inspiringly patient with Liam and their willingness to engage with him on his terms. They also taught him how to engage with other people. Kaitlyn’s interactions with her mother were particularly touching in this area.

Sarah Monzon has partly based Liam on her son, Elijah (with his permission). This is why Liam comes across as such a believable and well-rounded character. However, Monzon also points out in her Author’s Note that Liam is unique:

“If you’ve met one person with autism, you’ve met exactly one person with autism.”

It’s been a long time since I’ve read a novel (or novella) I want to re-read, but this is definitely on the list.

Recommended for fans of Christmas romance, or those looking for Christian fiction with neurodiverse characters.

About Sarah Monzon

Sarah MonzonA Carol award finalist and Selah award winner, Sarah Monzon is a stay-at-home mom who makes up imaginary friends to have adult conversations with (otherwise known as writing novels). As a navy chaplain’s wife, she resides wherever the military happens to station her family and enjoys exploring the beauty of the world around her.

Find Sarah online at:

Website | Facebook | Instagram  | Pinterest | Twitter

About Kiss Me on Christmas

Single mom Kaitlyn Stafford has never considered Christmas a balancing act, but when her sister calls with the news that she’s getting married in less than two weeks—on Christmas Day—that’s exactly what the holiday looks like becoming. Helping with the out-of-state wedding will be fun. The challenge will be doing so while accommodating her neurodivergent son’s need to keep every single one of their Christmas traditions while they’re away from home. It’ll be tricky, but she can do it.

At least, that’s what she thinks before her son’s favorite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, shows up on the scene, knocking her world off-kilter with his speaking glances and knowing smiles. How on earth is she supposed to pull off her balancing act when her world’s just tilted on its axis?

Kiss Me on Christmas was published as part of the multi-author Destination Christmas novella collection.

Find Kiss Me on Christmas online at:

Amazon (Novella) | Amazon (Collection) | BookBub

First Line Friday

First Line Friday #267 | Kiss Me at Christmas by Sarah Monzon

It’s First Line Friday! That means it’s time to pick up the nearest book and quote the first line.

Today I’m sharing the first line from Kiss Me at Christmas, a novella by Sarah Monzon. Yes, I know most people read Christmas novels and novellas in December, but they are the kind of lighthearted holiday reading that I prefer to read when I’m on holiday … and that’s after Christmas. So now I’m reading the Destination Christmas novella collection I bought in October (and which is currently on sale for around a dollar for the ebook version).

Here’s the first line from the Chapter One:

Confession: I'm thirty-four years old, and I still make a Christmas list every year.

What’s the book nearest you, and what’s the first line?

 

About Kiss Me on Christmas

Single mom Kaitlyn Stafford has never considered Christmas a balancing act, but when her sister calls with the news that she’s getting married in less than two weeks—on Christmas Day—that’s exactly what the holiday looks like becoming.

Helping with the out-of-state wedding will be fun. The challenge will be doing so while accommodating her neurodivergent son’s need to keep every single one of their Christmas traditions while they’re away from home. It’ll be tricky, but she can do it.

At least, that’s what she thinks before her son’s favorite YouTuber, Beckett Walsh, shows up on the scene, knocking her world off-kilter with his speaking glances and knowing smiles. How on earth is she supposed to pull off her balancing act when her world’s just tilted on its axis?

Find Kiss Me on Christmas online at:

Amazon | Goodreads

Click here to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Don’t forget to click here to check out my Amazon shop for my top picks in Christian fiction!

What book do you hope to receive for Christmas?

Bookish Question #135 | What book do you hope to receive for Christmas?

This might sound awful, but I actually don’t want to receive any books for Christmas.

Despite reading around 150 books this year and slightly reducing the size of my to-read pile, I already have more than enough books to read for the next year, and probably the next decade.

I also have a slight case of Tsundoku, the affliction of not being able to stop buying books even though logic says I don’t need any more books. But that’s ridiculous. I do need more. I especially need the sequels to books I’ve already read, and the debut novels from authors I follow online, and … the list goes on. And my bank account goes down.

Then there are review copies.

Publishers keep listing books from my favourite authors on NetGalley. It would be rude not to download and review them. Authors email me and ask me to review their books. It would be rude to say no, especially when I really want to read the book. I even got sent a hardcover novel this year, all the way from the USA. There wasn’t an actual review request inside, but it would be rude not to read it …

Also, if I’m honest, I’d rather choose my own books.

When people do buy me books, they’re often the books they want to read, not the books I want to read … so I’d rather they gave me an Amazon voucher.

What about you? What book (or books) do you hope to receive for Christmas?

Do you read seasonal-themed books?

Bookish Question #70 | Do You Read Seasonal Themed Books?

Lots of books have seasonal themes. Christmas-themed books (and movies) are probably the most popular, but I’ve come across others.

Summer-themed books seem more popular than winter-themed books.

But that could be because Christmas comes in the middle of winter in the northern hemisphere, so Christmas books are winter books. Or vice versa. I’m not a big reader of either summer or winter books, and I think that’s because I live in New Zealand. I see summer book advertisements when I’m cuddled up by the roaring winter fire, so a “beach read” isn’t exactly a selling point. Equally, when I’m looking for a summer beach read, all the books show snow scenes and big red mugs of hot chocolate. Yeah, no.

I’ve also seen romance novels with a Valentine’s Day theme, but I have to admit I’m not a big Valentine’s Day fan. It wasn’t a big part of the Kiwi culture when I was growing up, and not it seems mostly commercial. Anyway, it always strikes me that we don’t have to wait for a specific day to buy flowers or chocolates for the ones we love. Any day the shops are open is a good day to buy flowers and chocolate. And books.

What about you? Do you read seasonal-themed books? Does your answer have anything to do with where you live?

Join the conversation below.

First Line Friday

First Line Friday | Week 22 | All is Bright

It’s First Line Friday, which means it’s time to open the book nearest you and share the first line. Today I’m sharing from All is Bright by Australian author Andrea Grigg:

All is Bright

I know most of my #FirstLineFriday friends are choosing Christmas novels or novellas this week. Mine is also a Christmas novella, but it’s set in Australia, which means it’s the kind of Christmas I know and love: a summer Christmas. Sun, sand, beaches and barbecues.

Merry Christmas, everyone!

About All Is Bright

Amy Kirkwood is resigned to accept her destiny as a single woman. No one can measure up to Josh McMillan, her secret crush of fourteen years, and the man who was married to her late sister. But when Josh spends the weekend with Amy and her family on the anniversary of Tess’s death, everything changes.

A widower for five years, Josh McMillan is ready to love again, but he never expected to fall so fast for his sister-in-law, Amy Kirkwood. Then Josh receives a letter that rocks his world, and he knows he must show the letter to Amy, even though it may shatter their growing relationship.

Is their love strong enough to weather the storm unleashed from the secrets in their past?

A contemporary Christian romance novella, a spin-off story from ‘A Simple Mistake’.

Amazon | Goodreads

Click the button to check out what my fabulous fellow FirstLineFriday bloggers are sharing today:

First Line Fridays hosted by Hoarding Books

You can then click on the link which will take you to the master page, which holds all this week’s #FirstLineFriday posts.

And you can click here to check out my previous FirstLineFriday posts.

Share your first line in the comments, and happy reading!

Do you enjoy reading Christmas stories?

Bookish Question #37 | Do you enjoy reading Christmas stories?

I have to admit that I’m not the biggest fan of Christmas stories.

That’s mostly because I live in the Southern Hemisphere, which means our Christmas celebration marks the beginning of our summer holidays. Christmas is different Down Under.

I know a lot of people enjoy reading Christmas novels, perhaps because it gets them into the spirit of the Christmas season.

We don’t have snow. We have sand. At the beach.

We don’t have roaring log fires. Instead, we have the air con going full blast.

We don’t drink mulled wine (whether the alcoholic or non-alcoholic version). Who wants hot spiced wine in the middle of summer? Instead, we drink iced soft drinks—although it’s more likely to be Coca-cola or L&P than iced tea.

We might have the traditional Christmas dinner: roast turkey, ham, potatoes, kumera (the Maori name for sweet potatoes). And fresh asparagus—it’s in season. But we might also have a barbecue at home or on the beach. After all, it’s summer. Who wants to spend the day in a hot, steamy kitchen?

So I hope you can see why the traditional Christmas story doesn’t really appeal to me.

The one Christmas collection I did enjoy was the Aussie Summer Christmas novella collection. It’s no longer available as a collection, but the individual novellas are for sale on Kindle. They are:

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins
A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee
All is Bright by Andrea Grigg
Falling for Maddie Grace by Meredith Resce (I’m not a sports fan, but this was one of my favourites)
Melbourne Memories by Marion Ueckermann
Santa Next Door by Lacy Williams

What about you? Do you enjoy reading Christmas stories?