Cindy C. Bennett's Blog

Elyse has lost everything; her parents, her family home, and the village where she is loved and respected. Still grieving, she arrives in a new town where she must prove her skills as a seamstress. Overnight, she creates a gown stunning enough to catch the princess’s eye and win the community’s approval. With every eligible maiden clamoring for her designs, Elyse must do everything in her power to appease them. No one can ever know that in the moments when she doubts her abilities, a mysterious stranger with a talent for tailoring and a penchant for damsels in distress comes to her aid. If anyone ever discovers the truth, her reputation will be ruined.
Golden Gown is a blending of the classic fairy tales Rumpelstiltskinand The Shoemaker and The Elves. The magic of pure love woven through the tale will touch the hearts of all of its readers.

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About the Author:
Sarah E. Boucher is a lover of fairy stories, romance, anything BBC and Marvel, and really, really cute shoes. On weekdays she wears respectable shoes and serves as Miss Boucher, the Queen of Kindergarten. On school holidays she writes stories about romance and adventure. And wears impractical super cute shoes.Sarah is a graduate of Brigham Young University. She lives and works in northern Utah. Midnight Sisters is her second novel. Visit Sarah at SarahEBoucher.com or connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Amazon, or Goodreads.
Golden Gown, Becoming Beauty, and Midnight Sisters are now available on Amazon. During the Blog Tour, Becoming Beauty and Midnight Sisters will be $.99 each on Kindle!

Meet Elyse Morley (aka the miller’s daughter):
The heroine of Golden Gown, Elyse Morely, is based primarily on my Grammy, Elsie Caraway. Secondarily, she’s based on all the Boucher and Caraway women. Like the miller’s daughter in Rumpelstiltskin, Elyse is patient and clever, but she is also talented and hardworking. Though she appears sweet and naïve, when she’s cornered, her temper emerges. And of course, Gilberto De la Vega is just annoying enough to trigger it.
Elyse has lived her whole life in a small town and has always been aware of her station. The women of the community, who see her has nothing more than the daughter of a laundress and a candle maker, have treated her with condescension for as long as she can remember. Though Elyse has taken it all in stride, she’s been waiting for a chance to shine her whole life. Watch her embrace her dreams of becoming a dressmaker:
I tugged on the cracked leather handle and the trunk screeched across the floor. Given the level of dust clinging to its exterior, it hadn’t been disturbed in quite some time.“Right there will do, darling,” Auntie said, pointing to a spot beside her bed.The trunk dropped into place before her. I wiped my palms on my apron, leaving twin patches of grey. Auntie plied a cloth to the top and sides, revealing tarnished bronze hinges and an elaborate monogram on the lid. I barely had time to make out the initials before she heaved it open.“Is that my mother’s?” Somehow the words made it past the lump forming in my throat.Aunt Lydia reached inside to pull forth a grey gown with a lace overlay and draped it over the side of the trunk. “She only wore them once or twice, so the fabric is still good.”I knelt beside her, resting a hand on the trunk almost reverently. Lydia pulled forth dress after dress, beautifully fashioned in soft hues. “They’re terribly outmoded,” she muttered, her brows drawing together. She reached into the bottom of the trunk and drew out a gold brocade gown scattered with a flower pattern.  “No, it’s all wrong. Young women don’t wear such heavy fabrics these days, do they?”I pulled the fabric forward until it fell in a glowing puddle in my lap, releasing the faintest of perfumes. Tears threatened at the back of my eyes.Lydia’s hand settled over mine, as light as a bird. “I miss her too.”Suddenly, tears were rolling down my cheeks as I thought of my mother. I swiped a hand over my damp cheeks. “If she’d have thought of it, she’d have made them over years ago.” I sucked in a shaky breath. “And sold them at a profit.”Lydia let out a chuckle. She fished around in the trunk once more and a lavender-colored gown joined its companions. “See anything inspiring?”I riffled through the fabrics, paying close attention to the weight and texture of each and imagining how light would play over the warp and weft. I piled the grey and lavender gowns into my arms. “You don’t think she’d mind, do you?”“Of course not.” She began to refold the gowns and place them back in the trunk. “Once she chose a life with your father, Rachel never looked back.”I hugged the lavender and grey gowns to my chest and thought of the woman who had once been a debutante. Would she approve of what I was making of my life?

I'm happy to be part of the blog tour spotlighting Freedom Factor. I'm always surprised at how many people are unaware of just exactly what the constitution says. I mean, it's the thing that makes us America. I think it's great that there's a movement making American's more aware of what it says and what it means. Read more at freedomfactor.org.
"We at Freedom Factor have a passion for our American Heritage and
want to share it with the world. The United States Constitution is the centerpiece of this heritage. What makes America unique in world history is the emphasis on local government and written Constitutions. Written Constitutions mark “a momentous advance in civilization and it is especially interesting as being peculiarly American.” 
To keep our civilization advancing we are asking you to do three simple things: READ the U.S. Constitution, get to KNOW it better, and SHARE it with others."






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Today is the first day of the blog tour for The Door Keeper by Steen Jones, and Royal James Publishing couldn't be more excited to have you join them today. They will be hosting a spotlight of the novel which will include: an excerpt, the blurb, pre-order links and information for you to enter the giveaway. Thanks!
About The Door Keeper:Adventure. Love. Destiny.
Single mom Eden Saunders has learned that tragedy is simply a part of life. Her mother died during childbirth, and her husband was killed just three years after they married. On a journey to discover where she comes from, Eden inherits the key to unlocking new worlds from her deceased mother—including the world that should have been her home. The only thing stopping her from exploring them is the fear of leaving her daughter behind. Caught up in the circle of legacy, Eden discovers the mother-daughter bond that even death cannot break.
My Review:  This is a really great book about discovering your roots, your destiny, and deciding what exactly to do with that knowledge when it will completely change your life. Eden is a fascinating character. I love the other worlds created by Steen, who does a great job using descriptive language to make you feel as if you're there with Eden. This is a great book I really recommend.Click here to pre-order your copy on Amazon today!ORClick here to pre-order your copy on Smashwords!Also, don't forget to check it out on Goodreads.Release date: February 20, 2017. About Steen Jones:
WEBSITE/FACEBOOK/TWITTER/INSTAGRAM

Steen was born and raised in Woodstock, Georgia. While she has only recently discovered her passion for writing, she has always been an artist and a storyteller. A couple of years ago, a story idea gripped her and wouldn’t let go until she wrote it all down. The Door Keeper is her debut novel and she can’t wait to pursue all of the other stories that have built up in her over the last three and a half decades. When she isn’t writing, reading, painting, or baking, Steen enjoys spending time Netflixing with her husband and playing in the pool with her two children at their North Georgia home. To read more about Steen, you can visit her on her website.

Excerpt:  Everything welled up inside me. Confusion, fear, overwhelming grief, love, wonderment . . . it was all consuming, like a nightmarish fog filling every square inch inside me, heavy and thick. I'd never met my mother, but over the past thirty minutes, I’d come to love her fiercely. And yet, I was angry, betrayed that she would leave me alone where I apparently didn’t belong—on the other side of her Door. Through the dense fog of emotion, light pierced the darkness—knowledge and information, both of which had eluded me until now. I knew I would likely spend the rest of my life trying to process this information, but some things seemed to fall into place. The puzzle pieces that were isolated from my life now pieced together, and I finally had part of my family tree, giving me roots on which I could stand.
Yet, all of the burning questions still remained. There are two giveaways in celebration of the release of The Door Keeper by Steen Jones. One hosted by Royal James Publishing and one by the author Steen Jones.The first giveaway, hosted by Royal James Publishing, will run from now until the release of the novel.Click here or visit Royal James Publishing’s Facebook page to enter to win a signed copy of The Door Keeper by Steen Jones and a $20 Amazon gift card.The second giveaway will start on the release date, more details about this giveaway to be released soon.

Dreaming of Cash $250 Giveaway January 16th to 30thEnter for your chance to win a $250 Amazon Gift Code or $250 in Paypal Cash!! Thanks to this awesome group of bloggers and authors who have joined with me to bring you one fabulous prize!! Sponsor List I Am A ReaderLori's Reading CornerCarol RossMelanie McFarlane BooksSapphyria's Book ReviewsAuthor Inger IversenT. HammondMia SiegertInspy BooksRockin' Book ReviewsDiana's Book ReviewsAuthor Cindy C BennettKrysten Lindsay HagerA. Gardner - AuthorLaurie Here - Cont Fiction and MOREKonstanz SilverbowHelen SmithMaureen's MusingsLaurie Treacy, authorAubrey Wynne: Timeless LoveGlistering: B's BlogLaurisa White Reyes, AuthorJennifer Faye, Romance AuthorAuthor Felicia StarrAuthor Alecia StoneKelsey KetchMagical Cool Cat MysteriesTalia JagerA Leisure Moment   Giveaway Details $250 in Paypal Cash or a $250 Amazon.com eGift Card Ends 1/30/17 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use money sent via Paypal or gift codes via Amazon.com. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by the authors, bloggers and publishers on the sponsor list. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW. a Rafflecopter giveaway

Welcome to the Midnight Sisters' Blog Tour and Giveaway! Learn all about author Sarah E. Boucher and her exciting new novel based on the classic fairy tale The Twelve Dancing Princesses.
Author Spotlight:

Sarah E. Boucher is a lover of fairy stories, romance, anything BBC and Marvel, and really, really cute shoes. On weekdays she wears respectable shoes and serves as Miss Boucher, the Queen of Kindergarten. On school holidays she writes stories about romance and adventure. And wears impractical super cute shoes.
Sarah is a graduate of Brigham Young University. She lives and works in northern Utah. Midnight Sisters is her second novel. Visit Sarah at SarahEBoucher.com or connect with her on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Amazon, or Goodreads.

About Midnight Sisters:

Do not meddle with the Master's daughters.
The words rattle around Jonas’ head. What is the punishment again? Death? Dismemberment? Jonas, the newest addition to the gardening staff, can’t recall the exact penalty for breaking the rule. What does it matter anyway? He would never dream of meddling with the Earl of Bromhurst’s haughty daughters.
Until he comes face to face with Lady Ariela Spencer, the eldest of the His Lordship’s daughters.
Her elusive smile and open manner cause him to question his convictions. In no time, he’s drawn into Lady Ariela's world of mystery and intrigue, a world where she and her sisters will do anything—including leaving twelve empty beds at midnight—to escape their father’s strict rules.
Only Jonas can uncover the truth and save them from their father’s wrath and their own folly, if he is willing to risk everything he’s ever worked for. 
Midnight Sisters is an imaginative fairy tale retelling that promises to delight and entertain readers. Midnight Sisters is available on Amazon in paperback and Kindle.

Meet Gisella, Hayla, & Isella from Midnight Sisters:
“It’s mine!” Gisella snatched the toy horse from Hayla and bopped her on the head with it. Hard. Hayla began crying at the top of her lungs.“Meanie!” Isella screeched, grabbing at the horse. Gisella yanked back. Isella let go of the toy and it smashed into her sister’s cheek. Gisella erupted into tears. Poor toy horse. Stubby bits hung from its hind end where the tail should be. Did I imagine the pained look on its wooden face? “Markus!” From the sharp edge in her voice, I could tell it wasn’t the first time Mrs. Jenkins had called my name.“Yes, Mrs. Jenkins?”She cradled a blubbering Gisella in her arms. The girl sported a goose egg on her forehead and the beginnings of a nasty bruise on her cheek. The look on Mrs. Jenkins’s face said, When will they hire a proper nanny? “I’m taking Lady Gisella inside to have her seen to. Will you mind the other two, Markus?”My spine went rigid. The thought of being alone with the miniature monsters terrified me to my core. My wooden lips formed the words anyway, “Of course, Mrs. Jenkins.”
Also by Sarah E Boucher:
Becoming Beauty, a retelling of Beauty and the Beast, available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, books & things, iTunes, and Goodreads. For the duration of the blog tour (January 9-20) Becoming Beauty eBook will be 99 cents!


Thank you for dropping in! Don't forget to click below and enter the giveaway for a chance to win an Amazon Gift Card or a signed copy of Midnight Sisters! 


Also, if you don't already have a copy, download Becoming Beauty for 99 cents on Kindle, Nook, iTunes, etc. Click on the links listed above.

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Can a human heart overcome a demon soul?



When soul-eating demons overrun his world, Kaelis, a young seraph warrior, uses the Queen’s ring to open a portal in space and flee with the infant heir to the throne, landing on earth. Unbeknownst to him, the demon leader, Nsark, follows through the portal, determined to devour the soul of every last seraph, especially the Queen’s heir. After Kaelis hides the baby, Nsark creates the ultimate weapon by fathering a half-human, half-demon: a soul-stealer’s child. 


Sixteen years later, an awkward teen named James struggles to fit in with his peers. In a last-ditch effort, he joins the school play, where he meets Lucy. Something deep draws them together, and their friendship reveals their hidden pasts: one is an angel, one is half-demon. Lucy and James find themselves pulled into an age-old war between their peoples. Hunted by relentless enemies, and grappling with deep-seated instincts and strange new powers, they must fight for their lives, their souls, and each other.


~ Amazon ~ Goodreads ~ Amazon UK ~ ~ Amazon Canada ~ Amazon Australia ~


Brandon Gray is the pen name of Braden Bell (Brandon writes YA fiction; Braden writes for middle grades). Braden holds a Ph.D. from New York University. He and his family live on a quiet, wooded lot in Tennessee, where he teaches middle school theatre and music. An experienced performer, Braden enjoys reading, gardening, and long summer afternoons writing in his hammock. His most notable skill is being able to eat a full rack of BBQ ribs with one hand on long drives.



Connect with the Author here: ~ Facebook ~ Website ~ 
 ~ Amazon ~ Twitter ~ 
 ~ Goodreads ~


Snippet:  James looked down at Lucinda’s head resting against his shoulder, her long tresses streaming down his arm and chest like a river of frozen fire. Her small shoulders rose and fell with each breath, but beyond that, she didn’t move. She looked like a sleeping angel fallen to the earth, and he had to fight the sudden urge to touch her hair. How it would feel to let his fingers run riot through those soft strands? 
Author's Top Ten List 1. My wife2. My kids3. My students4. Dr. Pepper5. BBQ ribs6. Amazon gift cards7. Old Christmas movies8. Turner Classic Movies9. My new Amazon Firestick (love this!!!) 10. My job--teaching choir and theatre at a middle school. 

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 


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Hosted By

Laura L. Walker grew up in a large family in the beautiful Gila Valley of southern Arizona. From the time Laura was young, ideas for stories bombarded her brain. She would spend hours drawing her characters on paper and fantasizing about their adventures. Life became more serious, however, when Laura met her own hero while at college in northern Arizona and they later became the parents of six children. In between spurts of grocery shopping, sewing costumes or quilts, transporting kids to practices, and making dinner, Laura still enjoys putting her imagination to good use. Laura is the author of two LDS contemporary romances, Pierced by Love and The Matchup. Caitlyn’s Christmas Wish is her first e-novella.

Q & A With The Author:

1.  Describe yourself in 50 words or less.
To the average person, I might seem quiet and shy. But once you get to know me, you'll discover I have an opinion on most everything. I like solitude and time for reflection. I love creative writing and fun sewing projects. And only my family knows that I like to sing.

2. What do you love most in the world?
My family and faith.


Connect with the Author here: ~ Facebook ~ Pinterest ~ Goodreads ~ Twitter ~




Just when former model and single mother Caitlyn Drevier Reel has finally put her life back on track after a divorce and six-month stint in rehab, she is surprised to receive an invitation from her ex-in-laws to spend Christmas with the family. After all, she reasons, her ex-husband Grant is constantly on the road with his band and it's only fair to allow them to get to know her young son, Brody. What Caitlyn isn't prepared for, however, is the spark of attraction she feels for Ridge, Grant's older brother, or the sense of belonging to their wonderful family once again. Ridge, who is recovering from his own personal heartache, seems to feel the same about her. As they work together to ensure the success of the Winter Festival that his parents have organized for their small Wyoming town, Caityln begins to envision a bright future. But will Grant's unexpected arrival keep her Christmas wish from coming true?




~ Amazon ~ Amazon UK ~ ~ Amazon Australia ~


Snippet:
Glancing over at Caitlyn, Ridge was surprised to see that her smile had faltered. “What’s the frown for?”    “Who said I’m frowning?”She lifted the corners of her mouth again but Ridge wasn’t fooled. “I know what I saw. What’s going on inside that pretty head of yours?” Her silence prompted him to repeat, “Caitlyn?”He hoped by turning his attention back to the interstate that she would feel comfortable enough to answer. He was right.“I don’t mind helping your parents out. They have worked so hard to put this festival together. Last night, I caught a glimpse of the toll it has taken on your mom. And frankly, all of you have helped me so much to conquer my addiction to diet pills and my eating disorder and feel like a normal human being again that I couldn’t possibly refuse.”Ridge silently acknowledged the truth of her statement. Even before Caitlyn had married Grant, she’d been a walking stick. Turned out she was fighting an eating disorder that had developed from her mother’s efforts to control her weight in order to procure top modeling spots through the best agents in the business. “I’m glad my parents got you into rehab when they did. It could have ended badly.” Caitlyn finally hit rock bottom when she discovered that she was pregnant just after she and Grant divorced. That was when his parents decided to intervene.“Yes. It wasn’t an easy road. Without their support, I wouldn’t have a healthy little boy. I might not even have survived much longer. I got down to a horrifying one hundred and three pounds.”Ridge remembered how thin she’d been, remembered warning Grant that she needed help. Grant hadn’t appreciated his interference. Ridge might not know what it was like to go through an addiction on top of an eating disorder, but he knew what it was like to be so mired in guilt that personal care no longer mattered. He’d seen Caitlyn’s destructive tendencies for what they were—a cry for help.Caitlyn had worked hard to become physically and mentally healthy once again, which took the better part of her pregnancy to accomplish. “You should be proud of yourself.”

To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 


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Brenda Novak’s latest “digital box set for a cure,” ALL I WANT FOR CHRISTMAS, is a contemporary romance collection of delightful and romantic Christmas stories. It features Brenda's Rita-nominated novella, “A Dundee Christmas”, as well as stories by some of the biggest romance authors of our time, including #1 New York Times Bestselling Author Debbie Macomber and romance favorites Bella Andre, Melody Anne, Violet Duke, Marie Force, Heather Graham, Laurelin Paige & Kayti McGee, Jane Porter, Melanie Shawn, RaeAnne Thayne, Melinda Curtis, Anna J. Stewart and Scarlett York. The set sells for only $9.99 (less than $1/story) and is up for pre-order now wherever e-books are sold. The box will be released November 1st and will only be available through December 31st.

All the proceeds will go to Boston University to help Dr. Ed Damiano (who also has a son with Type 1) finish engineering the artificial pancreas. Why is his work important? Because the artificial pancreas will go far toward helping insulin-dependent diabetics remain healthy until that elusive biological cure can be found. So, please, pre-order this boxed set today and encourage your friends and family to do the same. You'll get many hours of enjoyable reading in exchange for a small donation that will help a lot of people.

Q & A With The Author:
1.  Describe yourself in 50 words or less.
Determined, hard-working author who loves life, her family, books and travel. 
2. What do you love most in the world?

The beauty that surrounds us and the power of love to heal all wounds.


All the assorted Author's links are on the book's Amazon page:  ~ Amazon ~



“5-B POPPY LANE” by Debbie MacomberCome visit with Helen Shelton, her granddaughter Ruth and Ruth's husband, Paul. They'll offer you a cup of mulled cider and the story of how they met.

“KISSING UNDER THE MISTLETOE” by Bella Andre
For Mary Sullivan Christmas has always been about family. As she hangs her ornaments, she's swept back to the first days of her whirlwind romance with her husband--and the love that would be the foundation on which they built their family.

“FINDING EACH OTHER” by Melody Anne
Brayden Steele gave up his love of Christmas many years ago when he lost his mother and father in a car wreck. But the magic hasn’t given up on him.

“BEFORE THAT PROMISE” by Violet Duke
If anyone can make Drew Lawson believe in the magic of Christmas, it's the girl-next-door he's classified as completely off-limits.

“CELEBRATION AFTER DARK” by Marie Force
On the occasion of their 40th wedding anniversary, Big Mac and Linda McCarthy take a look back at how they came to be, while each of their children confront a new challenge in their own lives. 

“SPIRIT OF THE SEASON” by Heather Graham”
While struggling to raise her newly orphaned nephew, Davey, widow Becky Wexham must deal with the feelings she experiences when she once again comes into contact with Tim Yeagher, an old flame and Davey's Little League coach.

“A DUNDEE CHRISTMAS” by Brenda Novak
Welcome to Dundee, Idaho, where the town is small but the hearts of the people living in it are large. A woman seeking refuge in an unfamiliar town during a snowstorm is taken in by a man who helps her discover a new sense of home. 

“UNMATCHABLE” by Laurelin Paige and Kayti McGee
After Jane Osborne is unceremoniously dumped by a rich man, and then invited to his wedding, on (Christmas Eve no less), she decides to hire a date from Craigslist and pass him off as an upgrade.

“CHRISTMAS MIRACLE FOR DAISY” by Jane Porter
When his goddaughter, Daisy, is orphaned, confirmed bachelor Cormac Sheenan adopts her. All goes well until Marietta's seasonal Santa Claus promises his daughter a mommy for Christmas. 

“CHRISTMAS WISH: A HOPE FALLS HOLIDAY NOVELLA” by Melanie Shawn
For the movie star and the single mom, will a Christmas Wish become their new reality? 

“A COWBOY’S CHRISTMAS MIRACLE” by RaeAnne Thayne
Widow and caterer Jenna Wheeler is determined to spin Christmas into the stuff of magic for her four children, even if that means helping out her new landlord, sexy billionaire Carson McRaven..

"THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS" by Melinda Curtis
Simon Castle' s on his way to a make-or-break meeting unseasonably scheduled for December 25--until the gorgeous redhead subbing for his limo driver takes him on a detour.

“GINGERBREAD DREAMS” by Anna J. Stewart
Can carpenter Hamish MacFadden show free-spirit Essie Goodman how magical family--and Christmas--can be?

“CRUEL INTENTIONS” by Scarlett York
For fans of Pretty Little Liars…It’s hard to be a rhinestone in a diamond world...I was far from living the dream, but now I'm stuck in a nightmare of lies, deceit....and murder. Merry Christmas to me.



~ Amazon ~ Barnes & Noble ~ iBooks ~ ~ Kobo ~ Google Play ~

Snippet:
KEN RETURNED TO THE CABIN relieved and excited. He’d spent most of the morning at his
mother’s place, calling every associate he could think of, searching for a legitimate position
Cierra could fill. And he’d found one. Lawrence Smith, a guy Ken had known in college, was
living in Boise. Recently divorced, he had full custody of his three children and ran an import
company that specialized in plywoods from Ecuador, the Philippines and Guatemala. His current
nanny was getting married and moving to California the first of the year, which meant he needed
a new one. And he didn’t mind that, for the time being, Cierra wasn’t a U.S. citizen.
The only hard part had been convincing Larry to hire Cierra instead of the woman he’d
already interviewed, and to do it sight unseen. But Ken had vouched for her and promised to
compensate Larry if she didn’t work out. Fortunately, Larry had been mollified when he learned
that Cierra spoke English as well as she did. He considered it a bonus that his caregiver would be
able to communicate with his children and teach them Spanish, since he frequently traveled to
Spanish-speaking countries.
Eager to tell Cierra the news, Ken had tried to call the cabin, but she hadn’t picked up. And
now that he was home, he couldn’t get her to answer when he called her name. Where was she?
In the Jacuzzi?
That would surprise him. She wasn’t the type to relax in the middle of the day. It wasn’t like
her to hang out in her room, either, not when there were boxes that needed to be unpacked.
He checked her room—and saw some clothing stacked on her bed. Judging by the tags, all
still attached, these were the clothes his mother had bought. And, of course, he recognized his
shirt and coat.
“Cierra? Hey, you around?” He already knew she wasn’t. That clothing told him as much.
But he looked in the Jacuzzi room. And the gym. And the patio out back. He even unlocked the
old workroom, where Gabe used to build his furniture. She wasn’t anywhere.
It wasn’t until he came back to the living room, however, that he realized she was gone for
good. That was when he spotted the nativity set he’d bought, remembered how much she liked it
and noticed that something was missing.


To view our blog schedule and follow along with this tour visit our Official Event page 


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Ann Acton lives with her husband and children in a tiny town in Washington state. She loves the feeling of Christmas and usually finishes her shopping on Christmas Eve. She is also the author of The Miracle Maker.





Liz Adair, a native of New Mexico and mother of seven, lives in southern Utah with Derrill, her husband of 50 years.

A late bloomer, Liz published her first mystery (The Lodger) just as AARP started sending invitations to join. After writing three in the Spider Latham series, Liz moved into romantic suspense. She feels writing in that genre doing so is a service project. "I remember when I was a young mother with all those kids and a slender budget," she says. "I was so grateful for books that let me go places and meet people who carried on adult conversations That's what I want to write--cheap vacations."
"Amy's Star" brings both Liz and her writing to Kanab, Utah. Look for new Spider Latham mysteries set in Kanab.

Terry Deighton lives in Washington, the state not D.C., with her husband, Al. Their six children are grown and gone, and pets tend to complicate life. When she is not visiting her children and grandchildren, writing and revising, again and again, she works as a substitute teacher. Mr. Goetz in the Tweaks series is wiser and cooler, but he's made up, so it doesn't count. Mrs. Deighton started out to be a high school English teacher, but raising kids turned into a full-time job. During those years, her dream of writing books for young people grew until she had to do something about it. Her Tweaks series is a fulfillment of that dream. Her love of Christmas naturally prompted her to write "Whit's End" in this book and "Just Say No-el," a companion novella to these three stories.

Q & A With  Author Ann Acton:

1.  Describe yourself in 50 words or less. I am a human tornado of crazy energy. I live to be busy (with 5 kids and a daycare in my home, it’s never a problem.) I am a little shy, a loyal friend, and emotional. I will probably grab you and hug you, even if we have just met.
2. What do you love most in the world? I love to laugh. It is my opinion, that if I can laugh at something, even a hard thing, I can handle it. Luckily my family provides hours of free entertainment.
3. What do you fear most? I have an unnatural fear of vomiting. I throw up continually with each of my pregnancies from nearly conception to delivery, so when my kids get the stomach flu I become a bleach-wielding germaphobe that could put crime scene clean-up crews to shame. I am usually a very nice mommy, but the inner battle between compassion and terror is a difficult tightrope for me when they vomit.
4. What is your largest unfulfilled dream, and what are you doing to reach it? I am in the final few months of achieving my Bachelor’s degree. I received my Associates 3 days before my youngest daughter was born. She graduates from high school in the spring, so it has been a long time coming.
5. What is the hardest thing you've ever done? My daughter had to have surgery at two months old. Handing that baby over to the doctors and walking away was horrible.
6. Now that we've gotten to know each other, tell me a story. It can be long or short. From your childhood or last week. Funny, sad, or somewhere in between. Just make sure it's yours. What's your story?  Well, since we’re close friends now I’ll tell you my most horrific mommy moment. When my youngest son was four years old we had some visitors from our church over for dinner. These young men were new to the area, and we had never met them before. Somewhere between, “Pass the gravy,” and “Please have some dessert,” my son decided that he should let our very religious guests know just what was going on in our home. “My mom won’t let us say the F-word,” he blurts out, “but she says it all the time.” I froze, a scoop of potatoes midway to the nearest plate. My face blazed crimson. “I don’t,” I said, desperately looking toward my traitor family to back me up. Nothing but shocked looks. “I swear,” I told our new friends. “I don’t.” “Uh huh,” my son said.Desperately I scanned through my mommy database, trying to figure out what the heck this kid was talking about while toying with the idea of discretely strangling him with the tablecloth. Then salvation popped into my brain. “What do you think the F-word is?” I asked, half afraid he would know and half hoping he had forgotten every alphabet lesson from preschool.My son looked shocked by my question. Carefully, he leaned in and whispered, “friggin,” and it clicked—stinking Napoleon Dynamite. My kids had rewatched the movie that week and wouldn’t stop saying friggin in front of everything. After four days, I banned even the mention of the word, and now my son had found a way, even if he didn’t know it, to make me pay. It’s a funny story now, but I’ll tell you at the time I was sweating.



Connect with the Authors here: ~ Liz Adair blog ~ 
~ Terry Deighton Amazon Page ~ 
~ Ann Acton Amazon Page ~
 ~ Ann Acton Website ~



These three Christmas novellas will get you into the holiday spirit. 
Christmas Gift - Christmas for Amanda Grover is usually a chaotic marathon in search of the perfect gifts. This year, she thinks she's got it all under control—until she's roped into doing service on Christmas Eve. What should be a simple night turns into a series of chaotic events and a gift she never expected. 
Amy’s Star: A Spider Latham Christmas Story - A new star rises above the southern Utah town of Kanab and draws some surprising visitors on Christmas Eve. 
At Whit’s End - When Whitney Saunders and her husband buy their first home, it jump starts her desire to make everything, especially Christmas, perfect. She soon finds out it’s more work than she thought, and she begins to wonder what perfect really is.






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Snippet A Christmas Gift:
I couldn’t do anything but stare, first at the stranger and then my son, waiting for a more rational explanation.“Jeremy,” I began, trying to find a way out, “We don’t. . .”
             “Come on Mom, he’s never been to Pizza Palace, and you already said I could bring someone.”I froze. This couldn’t happen. I could not drive around town with some strange, dirty, homeless man. He looked and smelled like he hadn’t bathed in months. And besides that, putting him in the car with my children definitely didn’t feel safe. Who knew what he might do? It would be rude to tell Glen he couldn’t come, but should I sacrifice our lives because I didn’t want to offend a possible serial killer? I searched desperately for Ethan. He could fix this. He had to fix this.
Ten fun facts about Ann Acton
1.   I love to chew ice, especially when I write. (It drives my family crazy)2.   I once posed for a romance book cover, and the artist drew me with Fabio.3.   I once rode on a parade float in a remote Alaskan village. We threw candy and the crowd, who had never seen this done before, got angry and threw it back at us.4.   My family wagon was a monster truck for about a year.5.   I sometimes pull faces when I am writing. I make the facial expressions of my characters.6.   The worst job I ever had was baking pumpkins pies all night long.7.   I clean when I am angry. My family gets jumpy if I just clean for no reason.8.   When I was in college I was in a bag pipe band.9.   When I was young, my family owned a western themed restaurant where we performed scripted shoot-outs as a family.10.One of my books, The Miracle Maker, was made into a movie.


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Chelsea O'Neal lives in her fantasy world where people can fly, vampires could be real, money is never an issue and the romantic meeting of your true love is a normal happening. When not relaxing in Chelsea-ville, she enjoys talking with animals who talk back and taking long walks with her prince charming.
Actually Chelsea lives in the United States in Nebraska, where she was born and raised, with her black lab Daisey, who hasn't spoken actual words to her but she is pretty sure Daisey understands her. She is yet to meet her prince charming, though she is quite sure he is out there. Chelsea enjoys working in a library as well as a cosmetologist. She is an avid reader and writing has always been her passion. Chelsea has written three novels and a novella, and she is working on her next book now.

Q & A With The Author:

1.  Describe yourself in 50 words or less.Fun and outgoing, love to create crafty things and teach others how to as well.  I also love telling stories and living in my fantasy world. I love to make people laugh and be happy. In my writing I love to shock people, and invoke intense feelings.
2. What do you love most in the world? This is a hard question as love is a very intense emotion.  I love books, and writing, coffee, chocolate, and of course various people and my dog. But what do I love the most? Feeling accomplished, knowing I have done something that has helped someone for the better.
Connect with the Author here: ~ Facebook ~ Website ~ Amazon ~
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Can Trinity control her power?
Trinity is headed home to celebrate Christmas with her Gran. She hasn't been back in nearly ten years staying away from the man she has longed for since she was young. The man who has starred in every one of her fantasies, her Gran's next door neighbor, Travis. As her emotions run high, her inherent magic is let loose.
Can Travis let Trinity in?
Travis never noticed Trinity, but has grown close to her grandmother after the loss of his parents and his uncle. When Trinity comes swirling into the house an attraction flares in him but he fears loosing anyone else in his life.
The more time spent together the attraction grows, so does a new found realization that Trinity has a magic that has captured his heart.
Will this spellbinding Christmas be merry?




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Snippet:



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