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Skipping Winter: Stories of Light in a Dark World
What happens when the troubles you leave behind—along with the winter weather—tag along on your journey like sneaky little stowaways?
Whether the women and men in these stories are abandoning the warmth of the south to head into a blizzard or escaping cold and snow to seek solace in desert or tropical paradise, what awaits them is definitely not what they expect.
But could it be exactly what they need?
❁ Valor Passage – Candace West
❁ Only the Ocean Knows – Sara Davison
❁ Pause That Thought – Angela D. Meyer
❁ Adrift – Deb Elkink
❁ L’il Trip to Paradise – Eleanor Bertin
❁ The Butterfly Sisters – Stacy Monson
Skipping Winter is a collection of six stories about wandering through darkness and finding light in the most surprising of places.
Whether the women and men in these stories are abandoning the warmth of the south to head into a blizzard or escaping cold and snow to seek solace in desert or tropical paradise, what awaits them is definitely not what they expect.
But could it be exactly what they need?
❁ Valor Passage – Candace West
❁ Only the Ocean Knows – Sara Davison
❁ Pause That Thought – Angela D. Meyer
❁ Adrift – Deb Elkink
❁ L’il Trip to Paradise – Eleanor Bertin
❁ The Butterfly Sisters – Stacy Monson
Skipping Winter is a collection of six stories about wandering through darkness and finding light in the most surprising of places.
- GenresChristian Fiction
394 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 5, 2025
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Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
November 9, 2025
❁ Valor Passage by Candace West. I so enjoyed this escape TO winter story. I loved the sweet story about facing your past wrapped around a story with a historical fact I never knew about! The Dickin Medal that was awarded to animals during WWII. From google: "The first recipients of the award, in December 1943, were three pigeons serving with the Royal Air Force who contributed to the recovery of aircrews from ditched aircraft."
"During the long hours to Valor Pass, I discovered the problem with solitary road trips. The past crawls into the passenger seat and wears out its welcome." Chelsea Thatcher's grandpa had left her "Mon Petit Chou, an "81-year-old stuffed racing pigeon, telling her in a note, "you get to know her, you’ll discover you’re both a lot alike." Beautiful story by one of my favorites!
❁ Only the Ocean Knows – Sara Davison
Loved this story! "Have you ever tried running away and leaving all your problems behind? How did that work out for you?" (from the author's notes).
Beautiful story of discovering God's love, new family, and second chances. I loved the travel, the culture, and unexpected surprises, the spiritual journey, and the truths Alain learns that dispel the lies he's believed. Loved how all the threads were beautifully woven in the end into a hopeful and satisfying ending!
❁ Pause That Thought by Angela D. Meyer. Betsy is having major issue with "the change" (menopause). She goes on a trip with her girlfriend Lillian to Hawaii. She goes on many adventures outside her comfort zone. My favorite was the one that went viral! There's a little mystery at the hotel too. A change of scenery helps Betsy see things in a new way.
❁ Adrift – Deb Elkink
"The people here need spiritual truth.” "Is this how a person died, with random thoughts chaotic in the head and wreaking havoc in the heart?" A story of good intentions, but failing at meeting people where they're at. Knowing better but not loving as God would want him to, and a pastor's daughter with a secret. Will they learn lessons before it's too late? Kallum learns that knowledge of God is not love of God.
❁ L’il Trip to Paradise – Eleanor Bertin
"But what difference did it make? Religion was all the same ridiculous nonsense."
"“Can I ask, what is your husband’s faith affiliation?” Holly’s neck stiffened considering this. “None”. After being happily married and on the same page for many years, a medical emergency on an anniversary trip and a request for a chaplain changes everything.
From the author's notes: that "those we continue to pray for will be drawn to Jesus by His powerful Spirit. May we never give up hope."
❁ The Butterfly Sisters by Stacy Monson is a beautiful, funny, and tearful journey for two widows who reluctantly join others at a “Christian Widows Restorative Retreat”. I loved it! Beautiful helpful words at the retreat help these women tremendously. Friendships are made, fear and grief give way to placing their faith in the God who still loves them. Beginnings of wanting to live again, and thinking about how that might look.
“Enjoy” would be a stretch. Not run screaming out of the retreat center when all the embroidered hankies came out would be success, but it was doubtful she’d enjoy any part of this four-day “retreat.” If both kids hadn’t ganged up on her, she could have held her ground."
"All of these women had lost their husbands. No, the men weren’t lost; they were healed and whole in heaven. It was the women who were lost. Especially her."
I enjoyed all these different stories! "Skipping Winter is a collection of six stories about wandering through darkness and finding light in the most surprising of places."
"During the long hours to Valor Pass, I discovered the problem with solitary road trips. The past crawls into the passenger seat and wears out its welcome." Chelsea Thatcher's grandpa had left her "Mon Petit Chou, an "81-year-old stuffed racing pigeon, telling her in a note, "you get to know her, you’ll discover you’re both a lot alike." Beautiful story by one of my favorites!
❁ Only the Ocean Knows – Sara Davison
Loved this story! "Have you ever tried running away and leaving all your problems behind? How did that work out for you?" (from the author's notes).
Beautiful story of discovering God's love, new family, and second chances. I loved the travel, the culture, and unexpected surprises, the spiritual journey, and the truths Alain learns that dispel the lies he's believed. Loved how all the threads were beautifully woven in the end into a hopeful and satisfying ending!
❁ Pause That Thought by Angela D. Meyer. Betsy is having major issue with "the change" (menopause). She goes on a trip with her girlfriend Lillian to Hawaii. She goes on many adventures outside her comfort zone. My favorite was the one that went viral! There's a little mystery at the hotel too. A change of scenery helps Betsy see things in a new way.
❁ Adrift – Deb Elkink
"The people here need spiritual truth.” "Is this how a person died, with random thoughts chaotic in the head and wreaking havoc in the heart?" A story of good intentions, but failing at meeting people where they're at. Knowing better but not loving as God would want him to, and a pastor's daughter with a secret. Will they learn lessons before it's too late? Kallum learns that knowledge of God is not love of God.
❁ L’il Trip to Paradise – Eleanor Bertin
"But what difference did it make? Religion was all the same ridiculous nonsense."
"“Can I ask, what is your husband’s faith affiliation?” Holly’s neck stiffened considering this. “None”. After being happily married and on the same page for many years, a medical emergency on an anniversary trip and a request for a chaplain changes everything.
From the author's notes: that "those we continue to pray for will be drawn to Jesus by His powerful Spirit. May we never give up hope."
❁ The Butterfly Sisters by Stacy Monson is a beautiful, funny, and tearful journey for two widows who reluctantly join others at a “Christian Widows Restorative Retreat”. I loved it! Beautiful helpful words at the retreat help these women tremendously. Friendships are made, fear and grief give way to placing their faith in the God who still loves them. Beginnings of wanting to live again, and thinking about how that might look.
“Enjoy” would be a stretch. Not run screaming out of the retreat center when all the embroidered hankies came out would be success, but it was doubtful she’d enjoy any part of this four-day “retreat.” If both kids hadn’t ganged up on her, she could have held her ground."
"All of these women had lost their husbands. No, the men weren’t lost; they were healed and whole in heaven. It was the women who were lost. Especially her."
I enjoyed all these different stories! "Skipping Winter is a collection of six stories about wandering through darkness and finding light in the most surprising of places."
October 25, 2025
Though I generally shy away from anthologies, the Mosaic collections are typically ones that I thoroughly enjoy regardless. Though this one was still mostly enjoyable, I didn't fully delight in all of the stories this go around. I did completely enjoy Sara Davison's contribution as well as Stacy Monson's. But the others felt either rushed or incomplete. Here's a quick breakdown:
Valor Passage by Candace West was the one book where someone in a warmer climate went on a trip in order to be snowed in. In so doing, she learned the story of her grandfather's prized possession that had been left to her in his will. This one was based on actual history. I would have liked to have seen the story fleshed out a bit more.
Only the Ocean Knows by Sara Davison follows Alain after a recent breakup with a long-term girlfriend, as he seeks the peace that his brother Rav found in Tahiti. In so doing, he finds a lot more than he bargained for. Having enjoyed Rav's story in an earlier collection and Tane's story (the eldest brother) in The Color of Stone and Sky, this brought some good closure for this whole family.
Pause that Thought by Angela Meyer follows Betsy, a woman going through "the change" as she and her bestie take a trip to escape the snow and ice and meet some friends along the way. In this one, I would have enjoyed a bit more character development and the "mystery" element to be fleshed out a bit more.
Adrift by Deb Elkink follows Kallum doing a teaching stint at a Christian school in the Bahamas. When he is wowed by the principal's gorgeous daughter, he finds himself in a bit of trouble. Not being young anymore and never having been gorgeous, I struggled to relate to the characters in this story, but it was a good coming of age/coming to faith again story.
L'il Trip to Paradise by Eleanor Bertin was about a married couple celebrating their 25th anniversary with a beach trip when something goes horribly awry. This one had the most extreme of the faith journeys represented, but the story felt very incomplete.
The Butterfly Sisters by Stacy Monson had me both laughing and crying. Following 2 widows who were coerced by their children to attend a widows' conference in Arizona, they found they were more alike than different by the end. I loved this story of sisterhood/female friendships.
Though I had expected Christmas to be a big piece of these stories, it really didn't play a part of any of them; however, the cooling temperatures created a great time to read these winter stories. All of them had a solid faith thread and most had excellent character development. In spite of some of the stories feeling like they needed "more", this was an enjoyable collection of stories - all a bit different in genre and voice - and one I would recommend to readers looking for uplifting stories with mostly warmer settings set during winter. Special thanks to the authors for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
Valor Passage by Candace West was the one book where someone in a warmer climate went on a trip in order to be snowed in. In so doing, she learned the story of her grandfather's prized possession that had been left to her in his will. This one was based on actual history. I would have liked to have seen the story fleshed out a bit more.
Only the Ocean Knows by Sara Davison follows Alain after a recent breakup with a long-term girlfriend, as he seeks the peace that his brother Rav found in Tahiti. In so doing, he finds a lot more than he bargained for. Having enjoyed Rav's story in an earlier collection and Tane's story (the eldest brother) in The Color of Stone and Sky, this brought some good closure for this whole family.
Pause that Thought by Angela Meyer follows Betsy, a woman going through "the change" as she and her bestie take a trip to escape the snow and ice and meet some friends along the way. In this one, I would have enjoyed a bit more character development and the "mystery" element to be fleshed out a bit more.
Adrift by Deb Elkink follows Kallum doing a teaching stint at a Christian school in the Bahamas. When he is wowed by the principal's gorgeous daughter, he finds himself in a bit of trouble. Not being young anymore and never having been gorgeous, I struggled to relate to the characters in this story, but it was a good coming of age/coming to faith again story.
L'il Trip to Paradise by Eleanor Bertin was about a married couple celebrating their 25th anniversary with a beach trip when something goes horribly awry. This one had the most extreme of the faith journeys represented, but the story felt very incomplete.
The Butterfly Sisters by Stacy Monson had me both laughing and crying. Following 2 widows who were coerced by their children to attend a widows' conference in Arizona, they found they were more alike than different by the end. I loved this story of sisterhood/female friendships.
Though I had expected Christmas to be a big piece of these stories, it really didn't play a part of any of them; however, the cooling temperatures created a great time to read these winter stories. All of them had a solid faith thread and most had excellent character development. In spite of some of the stories feeling like they needed "more", this was an enjoyable collection of stories - all a bit different in genre and voice - and one I would recommend to readers looking for uplifting stories with mostly warmer settings set during winter. Special thanks to the authors for an advance e-copy of this book. I was under no obligation to provide a review and the thoughts contained herein are my own.
November 13, 2025
❁ Valor Passage – Candace West I wanted more time with the characters with this one. I did enjoy the characters and the item in the pillow case ;)
❁ Only the Ocean Knows – Sara Davison This one was probably my favorite from the collection. I appreciated how the more family secrets the main character discovered, the more he realized he needs the Creator of the world in his life. Davison packed a lot in ~100 pages.
❁ Pause That Thought – Angela D. Meyer I enjoyed the potential mystery with this one. The main character experienced personal growth in a time of change.
❁ Adrift – Deb Elkink I probably connected with this one the least. However, I appreciated how the characters repented of their poor choices by the end.
❁ L’il Trip to Paradise – Eleanor Bertin The ending left me with a lot of hope for the characters. I wish to see a follow-up with this story.
❁ The Butterfly Sisters – Stacy Monson This story showed two widows making friends and learning who they want to be while moving through the grief process.
While I did not necessarily connect with all of the stories, I admire how all of the authors wove in faith and the need for our Savior in all of the stories. We need God to make it through the difficult parts of life, whether that is temptation, loss, or other things we cannot imagine making it through on our own. This anthology is a great way to try out six amazing authors.
❁ Only the Ocean Knows – Sara Davison This one was probably my favorite from the collection. I appreciated how the more family secrets the main character discovered, the more he realized he needs the Creator of the world in his life. Davison packed a lot in ~100 pages.
❁ Pause That Thought – Angela D. Meyer I enjoyed the potential mystery with this one. The main character experienced personal growth in a time of change.
❁ Adrift – Deb Elkink I probably connected with this one the least. However, I appreciated how the characters repented of their poor choices by the end.
❁ L’il Trip to Paradise – Eleanor Bertin The ending left me with a lot of hope for the characters. I wish to see a follow-up with this story.
❁ The Butterfly Sisters – Stacy Monson This story showed two widows making friends and learning who they want to be while moving through the grief process.
While I did not necessarily connect with all of the stories, I admire how all of the authors wove in faith and the need for our Savior in all of the stories. We need God to make it through the difficult parts of life, whether that is temptation, loss, or other things we cannot imagine making it through on our own. This anthology is a great way to try out six amazing authors.
October 24, 2025
This year's theme for Mosaic's winter anthology is skipping winter. In all cases, the characters are literally skipping winter and going somewhere warm. There's also the spiritual aspect of wanting to "skip winter" or a dark time in one's life. With some of the stories, the spiritual attempts to "skip winter" are more obvious. The characters are working through a variety of issues: grief, forgiveness, reconciliation of past with present. Some stories are stand-alone, while others deal with side characters mentioned in other anthologies or novels. Each story is beautifully written and enjoyable to read.
November 6, 2025
This book included different stories from several different Christian fiction authors. I enjoyed the stories and wished a couple of them were a complete book. I laughed out loud and cried.
October 20, 2025
This book is a well written book of six novellas, all expertly crafted to bring these characters to life as you read their stories. All the stories are different, some about young adults, some about middle-aged characters, others older. And all the trials they went through, subjects they dealt with, and their faith and the way they handled things are all different. I loved getting a chance to meet these characters and the author’s hearts that flow through them! I think everybody should be able to find at least one favorite story in this collection, if not all of them! I would recommend this book to everyone wanting to escape and skip winter, even if only through reading a book!
October 13, 2025
A wonderful anthology of stories by different talented authors. Mosaic always has the best stories. I loved these stories of people living and learning in life.
November 1, 2025
In the first book, Valor Passage by Candace West, we meet Chelsea and Wyatt. Wyatt follows Chelsea from Arkansas to North Carolina, where they've been assured by Chelsea's cousin that they'll be snowed in. Wyatt follows Chelsea because she's sold something she inherited from her grandfather, and he thinks she needs to know the whole story behind it. She's always refused to hear it before. Now, when she finds out the significance, and since Wyatt actually followed her, she figures out that she is worth something to someone, and not just to Wyatt and her family, but also to God. We're all worthy of love, no matter what has happened in our past. God created us and loves us, and is always with us.
In Only the Ocean Knows by Sara Davison, we meet Alain and Carly. Alain decides on a whim to go to Tahiti, just like his brother Rav did last year. Rav and his fiancee Annie are there again, but Alain hasn't told them he's going, he only told Tane and Xavier. Alain ends up getting quite a few surprises when he gets to Tahiti, and also learns some things about himself. One thing that he does while in Tahiti is finally realize that God is real, and that He cares for everyone, Alain included. Love how things work out for Alain!!!
In Pause that Thought by Andrea D Meyer, we meet Betsy, her friend Lillian, and Betsy's love interest, Samuel. The only thing is, Samuel has put the brakes on their relationship, telling her they need to pause it for a bit. Betsy then decides she needs to spend some of the money her deceased husband left her, so she takes Lillian with her to Hawaii for a vacation close to Christmas. While there, Betsy steps out of her comfort zone, thinks to Lillian, and discovers some things she's been missing out on. And, while there, they make friends with some other people. Betsy also feels like she's getting part of herself back that she'd lost for awhile. She also realizes just how much she likes Samuel, and how much she misses him. This is such a cute story!! Can't say more, I'll give too much away!!
In Adrift by Deb Elkink, we meet Kallum, Samara, and Samara's family. Kallum has gone to the Bahamas to teach for a month. He's staying with the Hanson family, which consists of Samara, her three younger brothers, and her parents. Kallum learns that the best of intentions don't matter, unless you really live out those intentions. Samara learns that she's not as "wonderful" or as smart as she thinks she is. Both learn that no matter what they do, God is waiting for them to repentant and turn back to Him, and He can and will redeem what they've done. I have to admit, I did NOT like Samara from the first time she appeared in the book. She was definitely trouble with a capitol T!!! The book is really good, and I love how both of them learned and grew!
In Li'l Trip to Paradise, we meet married couple Holly and Shawn. They're going to Costa Rica for their anniversary trip, and looking forward to what they'll be doing there. That is, until they get there and Shawn has a medical emergency. When he decides to make a huge change in his life, Holly's not at all happy. The rest of their trip, she gives him the cold shoulder, and it's not until they're on their way home from the airport that she sees she has a choice to make, and that she needs to make it sooner rather than later. Loved this story, as it shows how each of us could do the same thing. Maybe not for the same reasons, or the same way, but we let other things take priority over what should be our top priority. Can't say more, as I don't want to give anything away!
In The Butterfly Sisters, we meet Dorothea "Dixie" and Trixie. At first, the only thing you'd think they had in common was being widows. But like with most women, they found more common ground than that while at a retreat for widows. Neither had wanted to go, were pushed to do so by their children, and yet, once there, they made new friends, they shared some great experiences, and helped others on their own journeys in widowhood. Honestly, I didn't think I'd have a favorite story in this set, and they are all great! However, I do have a favorite, and it's this one.
This is yet another great set of books from the authors in the Mosaic Collection!!
I received a complimentary copy of this set, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
In Only the Ocean Knows by Sara Davison, we meet Alain and Carly. Alain decides on a whim to go to Tahiti, just like his brother Rav did last year. Rav and his fiancee Annie are there again, but Alain hasn't told them he's going, he only told Tane and Xavier. Alain ends up getting quite a few surprises when he gets to Tahiti, and also learns some things about himself. One thing that he does while in Tahiti is finally realize that God is real, and that He cares for everyone, Alain included. Love how things work out for Alain!!!
In Pause that Thought by Andrea D Meyer, we meet Betsy, her friend Lillian, and Betsy's love interest, Samuel. The only thing is, Samuel has put the brakes on their relationship, telling her they need to pause it for a bit. Betsy then decides she needs to spend some of the money her deceased husband left her, so she takes Lillian with her to Hawaii for a vacation close to Christmas. While there, Betsy steps out of her comfort zone, thinks to Lillian, and discovers some things she's been missing out on. And, while there, they make friends with some other people. Betsy also feels like she's getting part of herself back that she'd lost for awhile. She also realizes just how much she likes Samuel, and how much she misses him. This is such a cute story!! Can't say more, I'll give too much away!!
In Adrift by Deb Elkink, we meet Kallum, Samara, and Samara's family. Kallum has gone to the Bahamas to teach for a month. He's staying with the Hanson family, which consists of Samara, her three younger brothers, and her parents. Kallum learns that the best of intentions don't matter, unless you really live out those intentions. Samara learns that she's not as "wonderful" or as smart as she thinks she is. Both learn that no matter what they do, God is waiting for them to repentant and turn back to Him, and He can and will redeem what they've done. I have to admit, I did NOT like Samara from the first time she appeared in the book. She was definitely trouble with a capitol T!!! The book is really good, and I love how both of them learned and grew!
In Li'l Trip to Paradise, we meet married couple Holly and Shawn. They're going to Costa Rica for their anniversary trip, and looking forward to what they'll be doing there. That is, until they get there and Shawn has a medical emergency. When he decides to make a huge change in his life, Holly's not at all happy. The rest of their trip, she gives him the cold shoulder, and it's not until they're on their way home from the airport that she sees she has a choice to make, and that she needs to make it sooner rather than later. Loved this story, as it shows how each of us could do the same thing. Maybe not for the same reasons, or the same way, but we let other things take priority over what should be our top priority. Can't say more, as I don't want to give anything away!
In The Butterfly Sisters, we meet Dorothea "Dixie" and Trixie. At first, the only thing you'd think they had in common was being widows. But like with most women, they found more common ground than that while at a retreat for widows. Neither had wanted to go, were pushed to do so by their children, and yet, once there, they made new friends, they shared some great experiences, and helped others on their own journeys in widowhood. Honestly, I didn't think I'd have a favorite story in this set, and they are all great! However, I do have a favorite, and it's this one.
This is yet another great set of books from the authors in the Mosaic Collection!!
I received a complimentary copy of this set, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
November 10, 2025
One of the things I enjoy about these anthologies from the Mosaic Collection authors is that they often use these stories to expand the stories of minor characters in previous books or introduce new characters you end up wanting to know more about.
Another thing I enjoy is that there is usually at least one story in the anthology that I can directly relate to or entices me to try something different. This time they re-ignited my desire to travel to new destinations. They introuced me to Tahiti, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Hawaii as destinations I’ve never been to. I have been to North Carolina but not for many years. Arizona - well, I live in New Mexico so I do get to Arizona on occasion. I do love the thought of traveling to warm destinations when it is cold outside.
The stories are all well-written. I love that all the authors had a different spin on skipping winter - including some surprising ones. All of the stories left me wanting to have another story about the characters.
The Mosaic Collection authors always create stories that I enjoy - I look forward to reading whatever they have coming next.
This anthology is written for the adult audience. The stories are appropriate for the K-12 Christian school library but not all the themes will appeal to that audience.
I received a complimentary copy of Skipping Winter. This is my honest review.
Another thing I enjoy is that there is usually at least one story in the anthology that I can directly relate to or entices me to try something different. This time they re-ignited my desire to travel to new destinations. They introuced me to Tahiti, Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Hawaii as destinations I’ve never been to. I have been to North Carolina but not for many years. Arizona - well, I live in New Mexico so I do get to Arizona on occasion. I do love the thought of traveling to warm destinations when it is cold outside.
The stories are all well-written. I love that all the authors had a different spin on skipping winter - including some surprising ones. All of the stories left me wanting to have another story about the characters.
The Mosaic Collection authors always create stories that I enjoy - I look forward to reading whatever they have coming next.
This anthology is written for the adult audience. The stories are appropriate for the K-12 Christian school library but not all the themes will appeal to that audience.
I received a complimentary copy of Skipping Winter. This is my honest review.
October 29, 2025
As usual this Mosaic anthology is a definite keeper. Every story is filled with heart, beautiful life lessons and faith that sees us through. I might have to skip a little winter myself.
I love how the authors create authentic characters I can relate to. Their lives might be different than mine but the struggles and emotions they deal with touch areas of my own life.
From a stuffed pigeon to a butterfly each story was equally uniquely its own and yet carried a thread of faith and encouragement throughout the book.
Thank you Mosaic authors for giving me an advance copy of this anthology. I will be returning to these stories.
This is my honest opinion of one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to be reminded of the One who sees us through and lifts us above our circumstances.
I love how the authors create authentic characters I can relate to. Their lives might be different than mine but the struggles and emotions they deal with touch areas of my own life.
From a stuffed pigeon to a butterfly each story was equally uniquely its own and yet carried a thread of faith and encouragement throughout the book.
Thank you Mosaic authors for giving me an advance copy of this anthology. I will be returning to these stories.
This is my honest opinion of one of the best books I’ve read in a while. I highly recommend it for anyone who needs to be reminded of the One who sees us through and lifts us above our circumstances.
November 7, 2025
I like reading Mosaic anthologies because of the different authors and the way they write. I enjoyed this one in that it was about people that were going somewhere else during the winter. Some went to where there was snow others far away from it. Each story had people facing some kind of trial. They filled with faith and hope. I could tell that the some of the authors have gone through the same trials.
I received a complimentary copy of this set, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
I received a complimentary copy of this set, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
November 4, 2025
I always enjoy the anthologies from the Mosaic Collection as I know I will be reading encouraging and uplifting stories, and this one is no exception. These are stories of people who don't have perfect lives, rather have problems and pain but find that going through dark times, with the help of friends and loved ones leads to hope and restored relationships with both God and others. I received an ARC but this review is my own.
November 7, 2025
Skipping Winter is a beautiful anthology from The Mosaic Collection, weaving together stories of hope, healing, and unexpected grace. Each author brings a unique voice to the theme, and I truly enjoyed them all. But the one that stayed with me the most was Candace West’s contribution—her characters felt so real, and their journey resonated deeply. If you're looking for a read that brings comfort and reflection, this collection is a lovely winter companion.
November 4, 2025
This is a diverse collection of stories that are well worth the reader's time! I enjoyed Valor Passage by Candace West. The information she found when researching the story is very touching. Be sure to read A Note From The Author.
Sara Davison's Only the Ocean Knows is excellent! I loved reading about Alain's journey to Tahiti where he finds family, God, and truth.
Angela D. Meyer packs in old and new friends, mystery and danger, travel, humor, and romance into Pause That Thought to make it a delight to read.
ADRIFT by Deb Elkink contrasts pride and living in the light in a moving story featuring an undergrad doing a short-term mission and the problems that he creates for himself.
Li'l Trip to Paradise by Eleanor Bertin displays how God can work in lives through hard circumstances.
The Butterfly Sisters by Stacy Monson features two women that have been widowed. They are as different as can be. One was the "model pastor's wife" and sought to raise "model pastor's children." She never put herself in the spotlight. The other is flamboyant in dress and personality. They meet at a retreat for widows that neither wants to be at. What they learn there and from each other is uplifting. Although I'm not in that stage of life, I learned much from this short story and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I would recommend this collection of short stories and would definitely read more from these authors.
I received a complimentary copy and am sharing my opinion of these touching and well-written stories.
Sara Davison's Only the Ocean Knows is excellent! I loved reading about Alain's journey to Tahiti where he finds family, God, and truth.
Angela D. Meyer packs in old and new friends, mystery and danger, travel, humor, and romance into Pause That Thought to make it a delight to read.
ADRIFT by Deb Elkink contrasts pride and living in the light in a moving story featuring an undergrad doing a short-term mission and the problems that he creates for himself.
Li'l Trip to Paradise by Eleanor Bertin displays how God can work in lives through hard circumstances.
The Butterfly Sisters by Stacy Monson features two women that have been widowed. They are as different as can be. One was the "model pastor's wife" and sought to raise "model pastor's children." She never put herself in the spotlight. The other is flamboyant in dress and personality. They meet at a retreat for widows that neither wants to be at. What they learn there and from each other is uplifting. Although I'm not in that stage of life, I learned much from this short story and thoroughly enjoyed reading it.
I would recommend this collection of short stories and would definitely read more from these authors.
I received a complimentary copy and am sharing my opinion of these touching and well-written stories.
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