THE ADVENT OF MURDER by Martha Ockley

Faith Morgan, former policewoman and vicar of Little Worthy, visits Oliver Markham's farm in the run up to Christmas, only to discover the house surrounded by police cars. A body has been found in the local River Itchen, which turns out to be that of Lucas Kemp, a local boy and chorister.

Markham is charged with his murder. Through her connections with Winchester Cathedral Faith is drawn into the investigation, discovering that Lucas had dropped out of college and that his mother had died a few months previously. There is a question of drugs, and a rivalry over Lucas's distraught girlfriend - the choir is a hotbed of tensions. Lucas's unsavoury uncle, and a local drug dealer, both come under suspicion, and Ben, Faith's police inspector ex-boyfriend, has to rescue her when the drug dealer turns nasty. But the actual murderer is none of the above ...

My thoughts...

A cozy mystery set in an english village during the Christmas season. Vicar Faith Morgan is a former cop that must get involved when one of their choir members is murdered and the suspect is another member of her church. I loved the village and the church members in this parish, a perfect setting. Being a cozy mystery there isn't much left to the imagination but I did enjoy reading this book. The characters are like old friends... well, some of them are. It's a nice simple tale that anyone would enjoy.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

ONE IMPERFECT CHRISTMAS

Graphic designer Natalie Pearce faces the most difficult Christmas of her life. For almost a year, her mother has lain in a nursing home, the victim of a massive stroke, and Natalie blames herself for not being there when it happened. Worse, she’s allowed the monstrous load of guilt to drive a wedge between her and everyone she loves—most of all her husband Daniel. Her marriage is on the verge of dissolving, her prayer life is suffering, and she’s one Christmas away from hitting rock bottom.

Junior-high basketball coach Daniel Pearce is at his wit’s end. Nothing he’s done has been able to break through the wall Natalie has erected between them. And their daughter Lissa’s adolescent rebellion isn’t helping matters. As Daniel’s hope reaches its lowest ebb, he wonders if this Christmas will spell the end of his marriage and the loss of everything he holds dear.

My thoughts...

The title fits well, this is definitely an imperfect Christmas. I realize things like this happen but when I read a Christmas story I like something heartwarming that leaves you with a good feeling. This is a good book but pretty depressing for a holiday tale, some of the storylines were a bit unbelievable. I couldn't connect with the main character and wished she could see herself for what she's become.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

STONES FOR BREAD by Christa Parrish

A solitary artisan. A legacy of bread-baking. And one secret that could collapse her entire identity.

Liesl McNamara's life can be described in one word: bread. From her earliest memory, her mother and grandmother passed down the mystery of baking and the importance of this deceptively simple food. And now, as the owner of Wild Rise bake house, Liesl spends every day up to her elbows in dough, nourishing and perfecting her craft.

But the simple life she has cultivated is becoming quite complicated. Her head baker brings his troubled grandson into the bakeshop as an apprentice. Her waitress submits her recipes to a popular cable cooking show. And the man who delivers her flour --- a single father with strange culinary habits --- seems determined to win Liesl's affection.

When Wild Rise is featured on television, her quiet existence appears a thing of the past. And then a phone call from a woman claiming to be her half-sister forces Liesl to confront long-hidden secrets in her family's past. With her precious heritage crumbling around her, the baker must make a choice: allow herself to be buried in detachment and remorse, or take a leap of faith into a new life.



My thoughts...

Liesl is the owner of Wild Rose Bake House, bread baking has passed down generations in her family. It helps her work out her anger and grief and celebrate joys. Things are good until her assistant enters a reality show bake off and family secrets are no longer secret.

This is a book filled with the love of bread baking along with recipes, a story of love. I enjoyed it.

I received an copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Christa Parrish is the award-winning author of three novels, including the 2009 ECPA Fiction Book of the Year "Watch Over Me." When she's not writing, she's a homeschool mother of three wonderful children. Married to author and pastor Chris Coppernoll, Christa serves with him as co-leader of their church's youth ministry as well as serving as a facilitator for a divorce recovery ministry. She is now also slightly obsessed with the art of baking bread.

BLAME IT ON THE MISTLETOE

Is There Really a Fountain of Youth in Paradise?

Welcome back to Bright 's Pond, where strange happenings are afoot at the Greenbrier Nursing Home. Strange even for Bright 's Pond. The residents suddenly act like kids again riding trikes, climbing trees, and of all things falling in love. Some of the townsfolk blame it on the crooked new gazebo, or its builder, a quirky little man who quotes Don Quixote, collects water from the fountain at the Paradise trailer park, and disappears on a regular basis.

While Chief of Police Mildred Blessing investigates the mystery, Griselda and her friends deal with a luau Thanksgiving, preparations for the Christmas pageant, and maybe even an upcoming wedding. Only, in Bright 's Pond, nothing ever really goes as planned . . .

My thoughts...

Joyce Magnin writes stories that will make you feel good, always a good laugh with her quirky characters. I totally loved this book! If you can imagine nursing home residents riding tricycles down the hallway you'll get a kick out of these folks. Throw in a good mystery and you have the perfect Christmas read. This series is fun and heartwarming.

I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

MERRY HUMBUG CHRISTMAS

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Merry Humbug Christmas B&H Books (October 15, 2013) by Sandra D. Bricker

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

The author says that it was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer. "I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost," she says. "So it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch the Love Finds You line."

Sandie's real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is Not), the author has stipulated that a portion of each contributor's proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.


"Being allowed to combine my faith and my humor with raising funds for my pet projects ... and still pursue my writing dream," says Bricker, "well, that's the best of all worlds, as far as I'm concerned!"

And one of the author's pet projects is animal rescue, evidenced by the special bond she has created with one particular formerly-abandoned puppy -- a red-haired collie with "killer brown eyes and the heart of the class clown."

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

 In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Merry Humbug Christmas, go HERE.

My thoughts...

A great holiday story with humor thrown in make this a delightfully fun read. The two friends who always spend Christmas together to avoid all the hoopla end up being apart this year and their holiday is filled with all the frills of the season. The author has written another winner, her books are enjoyable and leave you feeling warm inside.

I received an copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

AN AMISH CHRISTMAS

Annie Weaver always planned to return home, but the 20-year old RN has lived in Philadelphia for three years now. As her time of rumschpringe is about to come to an abrupt end, bringing for Annie an overwhelming sense of loneliness. She returns home and finds herself face-to-face with a budding romance with an Amish farmer and Annie has several important choices to make.

My thoughts...

A sweet Christmas romance with a touch of humor. I've given this one 3.5 stars because it is predictable and parts of the storyline didn't seem real. Also, several things were happening that were left unfinished. The main character became a nurse during her rumpringa and doesn't tell anyone in the community. The whole story just didn't appeal to me. I received a copy of this book free from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

THE CHRISTMAS STAR

Can the broken heart of a child be healed by an unexpected Christmas letter?Robert Reed gave his life for his country in the early days of World War II. His sacrifice was honored when his widow and son were presented with the Congressional Medal of Honor. At Christmas, the final decoration Marge Reed hangs on the family’s tree is that medal. Rather than being a symbol of honor for young Jimmy Reed that shining star represents loss, pain, and suffering.

Yet a message delivered by one of Robert’s fellow soldiers and a mystery letter found in a Bible put a father’s sacrifice and faith into perspective and bring new meaning to not just the star hanging on the Christmas tree but the events of the very first Christmas. Then, when least expected, a Christmas miracle turns a final bit of holiday sadness into a joy that Jimmy has never known.

My thoughts...

Jimmy lost his father in the war and is having a hard time coping with the loss. He falls in with the wrong crowd and his behavior goes downhill fast. Even to the point of illegal activities which puts his family in harm's way. Memories of Jimmy's father surface through things people around him do helping him to do the right thing.

A well written story, you feel Jimmy's pain as he deals with his father's death and you feel his joy as this Christmas becomes one of his best instead of the worst he was expecting. Loved this book. I've read all of Collins books and enjoyed them very much.

I received a copy of this book free from Abingdon Press in exchange for an honest review.