Monday Morning Book Report

Well, it's the Monday Morning Book Report! I'm still reading A.L. Sowards Beyond the Crescent Sky. 

This series is amazing! The detail of the time period, the richness of the characters, the background of war and intrigue--they all pull together seamlessly to keep readers riveted to the page. Usually I can get through a book pretty quickly, but this one is full of secrets and intrigues during the Balkan wars in the 1300s--a time period I don't know very much about. There are changing loyalties and lots of treachery, as well as some romance, and the author does such a great job setting the scene, I've been taking it all in and really absorbing the story. I think Beyond the Crescent Sky will have readers feeling all the emotions of love and separation, war and anguish. It's beautifully woven into an epic unputdownable series I'm sure you won't want to miss.

Do you ever have books do that to you? When you just can't rush through it? What did you read this past weekend?

Growing Up in the 80s

 I loved growing up in the 80s. I love the 80s music (maybe not the fashions so much, haha. Leg warmers anyone?) But it just seemed like a really great time to grow up in. As a mom, though, when I talk about growing up in the 80s, my kids look at me like I've lived through something awful (no cell phone? no internet? No laptops? How did you SURVIVE?)

It sort of feels like this. LOL

Anyone else feel this way?

Monday Morning Book Report

It's so hard to get back to real life now that the Christmas break is over. I did do a lot of reading over the break, though, and I loved that. There's just something about snuggling up in a soft blanket on a cold day with a great book, am I right?

So, for today's Monday morning book report, what book did you read over the weekend/break? I just started A.L. Sowards Beyond the Crescent Sky. I am loving her Balkan Legends series and so far, this one is amazing. 

Now tell me what YOU'RE reading!

Do You Do This?

There is just something about a new year that makes me want to declutter! I've been working on paper piles today (do you have those?) and just getting things put away that I've been procrastinating. 

Do you ever get into a decluttering mood?

It's 2025!

Happy New Year! I hope 2025 is filled with so much happiness and lots of great books to read!

Free Christmas Stories!

Can you believe the holidays are just around the corner? Are you looking for some sweet stories to put you in the holiday spirit? Under the Mistletoe novella collection is free for the next few days! (I have a story in there, too!) 

Download your free copy HERE

Here's the back copy:

Six Award-Winning Authors have contributed new stories to A Timeless Romance Anthology: Under the Mistletoe Collection. Six contemporary novellas, all adding sweet romance to the Christmas season.

FORGOTTEN KISSES by Cindy Roland Anderson: Costume designer Madison Taylor has no love lost when the male lead playing Sir Lancelot in a TV series is fired. She couldn’t stand working with him anyway. But when she discovers who his replacement is, her heart nearly stops. Caleb Matthews is one of the hottest male actors ever… and not to mention Madison’s former boyfriend. When things got too serious between them, everything fell apart. And now, Madison must play nice or lose her job. She just has to forget all of the reasons she’d fallen for him in the first place.

THE LAST CHRISTMAS by Annette Lyon: Meredith only has to make it through the Christmas holiday pretending that she and her husband Eric aren’t on the verge of divorce. She doesn’t want to ruin the holiday for her two grown daughters and their boyfriends. But when Eric hurries home after weeks of living in a motel to unpack before their daughters arrive, he starts pressing Meredith with questions about why she filed for divorce. The last thing Meredith wants to do it give Eric a second chance, but it seems that Eric is not willing to let her go without trying to win her back.

TRUTH OR DARE by Julie Bellon: After a year of recovery, wounded war veteran Jonah Harrison comes home for Christmas. No longer the outgoing high school track star, he just wants to be left alone, away from well-meaning friends and neighbors. But when a blizzard strands him with Cami Jackson—the girl who once knew him best—he can’t hide anything from her, no matter how much he wants to. Cami has a wounded heart of her own, though, and it might take a Christmas miracle for them to find the healing they both long for and the courage to reach for a chance at love.

HOLIDAY BUCKET LIST by Sarah M. Eden: Celeste Lagorio has officially given up on Christmas. A single mother, with her children grown and unable to return for the holiday, Celeste determines to take a break from everything. When her single neighbor and almost-best-friend, Mike Durham, discovers her non-plans, they discuss things they’ve always wanted to do, but never had time. Mike and Celeste put together a friendly competition of checking off the things on their bucket list, all the while drawing closer and discovering they have more in common than they thought.

CHRISTMAS EVERY DAY by Heather B. Moore: Monica is on the verge of buying her dream store, but when she tells her boyfriend, he turns it into an embarrassing public argument. Heartbroken, but determined to follow her dream, she goes to her employer’s Christmas party to play Mrs. Claus, only to be paired with someone unexpected. A young Mr. Claus who is the complete opposite of her ex-boyfriend in all the most important ways. Yet, Monica is not sure she can risk opening her heart again.

FIRST (AND LAST) CHRISTMAS DATE by Jennifer Griffith: Pilot Juliet Law has been in a holding pattern, dating the wrong guy, until she gets a holiday shake-up: old flame Tag McClintock e-mails her to ask for second date—after ten years. Their first date, back in high school, had been an unmitigated disaster culminating with Pepto Bismol and the police. Still, Juliet would have gone out with Tag again the next day—and the next—had he asked. So now that he’s finally popping up in her in-box again, Juliet must decide whether to say yes to the date, even if it puts her at risk of another decade of carrying a torch for Tag McClintock. Will their second date be their last?

A Giveaway!

It is my birthday month! Woohoo! And to celebrate I'm giving away a signed copy of my romantic suspense, Second Guess! It's part of my Griffin Force series, but can definitely be read standalone. To enter, tell me one thing you love about winter!