Who now will confess breaking into your Christmas reads? LOL! If you won’t, I will!
A Wreath of Snow by best selling author Liz Cutis Higgs, is a favorite that I wish to read each and every year! I had planned on starting this tradition last year but didn’t make it! Busy just gets in the way. But though this is already pre-Thanksgiving Day—I’m on it like a duck on a June bug! LOL, this novella is a quick and satisfying read that I hope you will allow yourself to enjoy this year! 
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So, curiosity has me wondering what your next favorite Christmas read will be?  

To find Liz Cutris Higgs: 
https://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/
https://www.lizcurtishiggs.com/category/podcasts/

I'm borrowing this from her beautiful website! 
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For eight Sunday evenings, October 11 through November 29, I’ll be teaching The Women of Christmas Sundays@Seven on Facebook LIVE at 7pm ET/6pm CT/5pm MT/4pm PT. Thousands of women joined us the first night. We’d love to see next week!

Regina had me at the rainbow-colored mud pots—and then again at Alberta’s pies! NOTHING SHORT OF WONDROUS is a feast for my imagination. Just the mention of the craggy rocks, Fairy Falls, Grand Prismatic Spring, and the numerous geysers spiked my interest and put me squarely in every scene. These are places I’ve never seen except for occasional photographs. Oh, what a lush experience to visit—via novel—this diverse and comely land with a tale mixed with romance and suspense during an interesting period of time in American history.

Regina is particularly talented with her many characters. There are young, old, and in-between age groups placed in challenging situations that make the story hum. Mixing a notorious poacher, US Calvary, and big business interests along with a struggling smaller hotel owner and you have a backdrop to the action and suspense these characters must navigate through! 

Yes, I was given this book by Regina Scott and Revell Publishing House to read for an honest review if I’d like to provide one! Well, as you can see, I was thrilled to give a review on NOTHING SHORT OF WONDEROUS, American Wonders Collection, Book 2 by Regina Scott! Thank you, Regina, for another wonder-filled tale that kept me turning pages and wishing and hoping I can visit Yellowstone Park for myself! I highly recommend NOTHING SHORT OF WONDEROUS! And just think dear reader—Christmas is coming! Do you want to bless a relation or friend with adventuresome romance? 

Here is my link for my review for Regina's first novel in this series! A DISTANCE TOO GRAND, American Wonders Collection.
http://www.susanmarlene.com/book-review--author-interview/archives/10-2019

On Regina's website, I enjoyed historical elements posted on her blog page. http://www.reginascott.com/

Regina Scott's bio:
Regina Scott is the author of more than 45 historical romances set in Regency, England; pioneer Seattle; and the Old West. A stickler for getting it right, she’s sailed on a tall ship, driven four-in-hand, and learned to fence, all in the name of research. She and her husband of more than 30 years live in the South Puget Sound area, on the way to Mt. Rainier.

FINDING WINGS is an engaging story centered around the youngest of the Chandler sisters, Britt Chandler. Rafe Stuart is a hero with an unforgiven past. He serves penance by saving lives as a first responder, but that just doesn’t take away the pain. I love the humor and banter shared between these 3D characters. There are serious concerns that rock their story-world pages just as such situations and trials would upend ours.  So much responsibility is draped over Britt’s shoulders, and she is about to discover if she is strong enough to carry the load. Every mention of Mark Twain catches my attention and causes my heart to say, "Yeah!" But I don't believe in taking away the next reader's fun by telling exactly what you will find between the pages!

I can picture the cozy Cottages on Poplar Brook Road with the glistening river in the background. I can hear the laughter and good-natured jabs and feel the concerns and worry that these two main characters experience.
 
Deborah Raney again succeeds in writing engaging characters who I naturally wish to root for! Deb is an author who writes about lives and challenges that most people can relate to! The events captured on her pages tug at the heartstrings and stir a desire to read more to discover how the characters will find their way through tough and emotionally-triggered situations.

I want to thank Deb and KREGEL PUBLICATIONS for sending this fine read for me to evalauate! I absolutely enjoyed this book and recommend FINDING WINGS highly! Besides, I'm the youngest of my siblings and really enjoyed Britt's growth as the challenges rolled in! I believe you will also if you give Deborah Raney's novels a try! 

​How do you want your readers to connect with you?

I LOVE social media and have many ways for readers to connect:
http://www.deborahraney.com
http://tinyurl.com/DRreadergroup
http://instagram.com/deborahraney
http://www.pinterest.com/deborahraney/
https://twitter.com/authordebraney
http://amazon.com/author/deborahraney
http://tinyurl.com/DRGoodReads
http://novelgarden.blogspot.com
http://inspiredbylifeandfiction.com/
 
My review for CHASING DREAMS, Book 2 in A CHANDLER SISTERS NOVEL series:
​http://www.susanmarlene.com/book-review--author-interview/archives/01-2020

Such exciting news—Regina Scott’s 2nd novel in the American Wonders Collection, Nothing Short of Wonderous, will be available on October 20, 2020 (Revell).

I was so thrilled with book 1 in this series called A Distance Too Grand, that I am super excited about book 2! 

Find the details about Regina’s American Wonders Collection at http://www.reginascott.com/ and enjoy the wonder of this 1886 story!

​And there is an excellent perk for those who pre-ordering this novel. Look at the preordeer goodies below!
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The Paper book is out! Yeah! I love Kindle books because of the convince of being read to during busy times in my schedule but there is nothing like a hardcover or paperback!

​DiAnn Mills' book is timely and doesn’t disappoint. This is an exciting novel that nearly flips the pages on its own accord! It’s Rife with authenticity and tension, Airborne is a story that will earn your respect and attention. DiAnn submerges herself into factual information that medical experts, FBI, and other professionals provide. Then she pours out the story of her heart, which amazingly commands the ability to reach into this reader's imagination. Could that be because DiAnn is so familiar with the situations and people involved that her computer keys naturally reveal the essence that makes stories great? Yes, I think that is why!
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FBI Special Agent Heather Lawrence, Dr. Chad Lawrence, Special Agent Laura Tobias and Special Agent Javier Rivera and many other characters kept me guessing and interested and concerned! The characters DiAnn introduced in Airborne made this reader feel as though she’d known them for years! The hero and heroine are complicated, engaging, and hamstrung with issues to overcome, which pulled me into this story so powerfully that I didn’t want to leave. I’m not naturally one to read about pandemics, earthquakes, or even watch Godzilla movies. Sorry, Godzilla! But this story’s layers were intriguing, meaning, and hopeful, so much so that I had to trail through until the very end! I must say that I finished this story in record time. I love suspense that twists with unexpected turns and causes me to care for more than the situation. This is a highly recommended read that offers more than entertainment. It provides hope in times that try our souls.

DiAnn Mills is an award-winning spunky writer who I am honored to recommend! Find out more about this very author-reader engaged writer on her website, https://diannmills.com/.

Jocelyn writes historical fiction at its finest. I’ve read outstanding novels about the Chicago Fire, but none have placed me so vividly on those panicked streets with ash falling from the sky and fear leading my blood. The author is quite familiar with this1871 tragedy, and exacting details fit into her story like snug puzzle pieces. Her characters respond to or rebel against restraints of customs and social expectations with a natural flow or knee jerk reaction. Very exciting and page-turning for me!
 
Meg and Sylvie Townsend are sisters who grieve the loss of their mother’s early passing. Life is hard, and they work in their family bookshop while worrying about their father, Stephen. Townsend had returned home to his family after being imprisoned during the Civil War. He’s broken in spirit, emotions, and body.  But this isn’t the worst of their situations to come that will challenge the very fiber of their being. Jocelyn plunges her readers into the mystery and darkness that this tragedy brought to Chicago’s residents. Mistakes and motives and clashes between selfishness and unselfishness make this a memorable reread for me! Here are some questions for Jocelyn, and I hope that you will enjoy the novel too!
 
Questions for Jocelyn:

The details you painted with words that the characters witnessed during the fire were extraordinary! Is there a detail that you didn’t get to include that you wish that you could have?
 
JG: Thank you! I had so much wonderful material to work with, and I included most of the details I wanted to. However, I did read of some touching scenes where people were looking through what was essentially a lost-and-found collection of household goods after the fire. These were things people had discarded in the streets during their flight from the flames. Sometimes people did find what they’d assumed they’d lost forever in these collections, and I can only imagine what an amazing feeling that must have been to reclaim a family heirloom.
 
You captured Stephen’s difficulties perfectly. His reaction to the atrocities of the Civil War gave me a wake-up call. Would you like to share another facet of information about the emotional struggles of men surviving the abuse of war with your readers?
 
JG: There’s certainly a lot to say on this topic. I think what was most tragic about Civil War veterans was how misunderstood any psychological trauma was. There’s far more to discuss than I can offer here, so I’ll just say, for anyone who is interested at all in this subject, I would highly recommend the book Shook over Hell: Post-Traumatic Stress, Vietnam, and the Civil War, by Eric T. Dean, Jr.
 
What do you want your readers to benefit from while they read Veiled in Smoke?
 
JG: As with all my other books, I want my readers to benefit from walking with characters through hardships and coming out on the other side renewed. That doesn’t mean that everything will go “back to normal” after trials. It does mean that God is with us in the valleys as much as he is with us on the mountaintop, and He’ll bring us to the place He wants for us. There is a conversation in Veiled in Smoke between Nate and Meg which sums this up pretty well. Meg is sharing her concerns about her veteran father, and how he has changed since the war wounded his mind and spirit. Nate says something like, “Instead of praying for the Father you knew, pray instead for a father made new.” God doesn’t waste our hurts and scars. He uses them to make us better reflections of who He is, if we’ll let Him.
 

The Pre-order for Shadows of the White City, The Windy City Sage, Book 2 can be found on Amazon for a reduced price. This novel will be available on February 2, 2021!  I'm placing my order soon!  :) 
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The Most Recent Awards for Jocelyn:

• 2020 Golden Scroll Award (1st Place, Historical Novel of the Year), Advanced Writers & Speakers Association: Veiled in Smoke
• 2020 Golden Scroll Award (2nd Place, Historical Novel of the Year), Advanced Writers & Speakers Association: Between Two Shores
• 2017 Christy Award Winner (historical fiction): The Mark of the King
• 2015 Silver Medal, Military Writers Society of America (historical fiction category): Yankee in Atlanta

Jocelyn's Bio:
Jocelyn Green inspires faith and courage as the award-winning and bestselling author of numerous fiction and nonfiction books, including The Mark of the King; Wedded to War; and The 5 Love Languages Military Edition, which she coauthored with bestselling author Dr. Gary Chapman. Her books have garnered starred reviews from Booklist and Publishers Weekly, and have been honored with the Christy Award, the gold medal from the Military Writers Society of America, and the Golden Scroll Award from the Advanced Writers & Speakers Association. She graduated from Taylor University in Upland, Indiana, with a B.A. in English, concentration in writing. She loves Mexican food, Broadway musicals, strawberry rhubarb pie, the color red, and reading with a cup of tea. Jocelyn lives with her husband Rob and two children in Cedar Falls, Iowa. Visit her at www.jocelyngreen.com.

BUSHWHACKED, Mystery at Point Beach, Book Four by Award-Winning Authors, Kate Jungwirth and Deborah Erdmann
 
What an adventure! Just when I think that Dominic, Forest, and Sailor have solved all—they discover another mysterious situation that only they can investigate. I loved this book. I believe it’s tops! I must confess that every time I read a Mystery at Point Beach book, I think I’ve found my new in the series favorite!

This book kept me interested—no shocker there! The characters were lifelike in attitude and goals yet very different from one another! The mystery began with a 1939 local lumberjack and a secret map that leads to an artifact. Dominic, Forest, and Sailor are contemporary kids who discovered that someone has recently messed with clues that were hidden long ago. Who could that be? I’m not telling. I loved learning more about the past linked with Point Beach. Keep your tissues ready—to pat your brow—Kate and Debby, you had me worried for the characters a couple of major times! But that’s fine. You have me yearning for the next offering in this series! No wonder that you are award winners! The codes and danger that these courageous characters are challenged with make this novel shine.

I look forward to the summer camping that Dominic, Forest, and Sailor experience. This book had many familiar characters revisit, and I’m grateful for that. I’ve come to enjoy the kid’s families and the bothersome Ranger Rick. Sally is new to this series, and she made me smile! Well done, Kate and Debby! Did you hear that applaud? 

If you like engaging characters, suspense, humor, mystery, a touch of history (not too much—just enough), and a well written and paced novel, then BUSHWACKED is your next read! I bet you could guess that I highly recommend this youth book. 

 
You may find Kate and Debby and their books on their website http://www.mysteryatpointbeach.com/ and on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/MysteryatPointBeach

Sudan, July 2005
This novel continues the suspense from A LONG WALK HOME. DiAnn transports readers into the conflicts simmering and afflicting Sudanese, Muslims, and Christians in Sudan. As a reader, I’m able to imagine the heat and beauty of this untamed land occupied by people fighting to survive lack, war, and religious conflicts. There are so many needs, yet courage and faithfulness abound.

Despite dangerous wild animals and limited resources, the characters, Doctor Larson, Paul Farid, Colonel Ben Alier press on. They overcome extreme circumstances and trials, both personal and situational. I couldn’t stop turning pages.

The love and admiration that DiAnn Mills has for the Sudanese are apparent in this novel. The writing was lovely and inviting. I admit it, I’d stop—though I wanted to page through quickly to see what was going to happen next—to reread. Not because the story was confusing. I knew who I was with and what was happening at all times. It’s just that the story world is so intense, and I wanted to stay. My hope is that there will be a book 3 in this series! This series is only on eBook.  


I want to thank you, DiAnn, for loving well and writing strong as you brought the struggles of Sudan and the beautiful people there to light! I highly recommend this eBook novel and encourage those who do to read DiAnn’s Acknowledgments and A Note from the Author.

DiAnn Mills is an author to pay attention to and follow!  Here is her author bio!


DiAnn Mills is a bestselling author who believes her readers should expect an adventure. She combines unforgettable characters with unpredictable plots to create action-packed, suspense-filled novels. DiAnn believes every breath of life is someone’s story, so why not capture those moments and create a thrilling adventure?

Her titles have appeared on the CBA and ECPA bestseller lists; won two Christy Awards; and been finalists for the RITA, Daphne Du Maurier, Inspirational Readers’ Choice, and Carol award contests. You can download a list of her published titles by clicking here.

DiAnn is a founding board member of the American Christian Fiction Writers, a member of Advanced Writers and Speakers Association, Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime, and International Thriller Writers. She is Director of The Blue Ridge Mountain Christian Writers Conference, Mountainside Marketing Retreat, and the Mountainside Novelist Retreat with social media specialist Edie Melson where she continues her passion of helping other writers be successful. She speaks to various groups and teaches writing workshops around the country.

DiAnn has been termed a coffee snob and roasts her own coffee beans. She’s an avid reader, loves to cook, and believes her grandchildren are the smartest kids in the universe. She and her husband live in sunny Houston, Texas.
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DiAnn is very active online and would love to connect with readers on any of the social media platforms listed at www.diannmills.com.

Here are some of her recent awards:
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2019 Golden Scroll Novel of the Year – High Treason
2018 ACFW Member Service Award
2018 Rank #6 on July CBA Best-sellers for Fiction Romance – Deadly Encounter
2018 Rank #3 on June CBA Best-sellers for Fiction Romance – Deadly Encounter
2018 Rank #3 on May CBA Best-sellers for Fiction Romance – Deadly Encounter
2018 Rank #7 on February CBA Best-sellers for Fiction Romance – High Treason