Tag: Seasonal

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‘Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season by Chris Posti

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Book: ’Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season (Next Act Series: Book Three)

Author: Chris Posti

Genre: Women’s Fiction with Elements of Faith & Later-in-Life Romance

Release date: October, 2024

Welcome to tiny Port Mariette, Pennsylvania, where three women in their late fifties reunite at Christmastime, facing tangled relationships with one another and the men in their lives.

Marla rushes from Manhattan to her daughter’s side in a quiet Port Mariette hospital,  determined to strengthen their relationship by backing her daughter’s dream project, no matter the cost. She wins support from the town’s general contractor, but fierce local opposition arises, spearheaded by her longtime friend Rachel.

Meanwhile, newlywed Suzanne, scarred by fears and heartbreaks, returns to Port Mariette from California, where the earth subsiding beneath her home threatens both her retirement savings and her marriage. Seeking refuge in the familiar embrace of friends, Suzanne finds herself boxed into a financial corner while navigating the delicate dynamics of friendship and rivalry.

Amidst the holiday cheer and twinkling lights, Rachel stands as a pillar of the community, deeply rooted in the small town she’s never left. Yet her steadfastness falters as she grapples with her own insecurities and desires. Unwittingly, she stirs a pot of conflict that strains her relationships with everyone who matters to her.

In this small town tale of love, friendship, faith, and forgiveness, these women will discover growth can emerge from the ashes of the past and that change is possible at any age.

Click here to get your copy!

About the Author

Chris Postiwrites award-winning fiction about real-life women experiencing the joys and challenges of friendships, families, careers, and later-in-life romances. Before pivoting to novels, she was a self-employed career & executive coach, newspaper columnist, and nonfiction author.

More from Chris

I wrote “’Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season” (third book in the “Next Act” series) for women in the second half of their lives – age 50 to 100 – who want characters they can relate to, women who are facing challenges and overcoming them – along with a mix of faith, fun, and later-in-life romance.

When the Lord gave me the idea for the first book in this series, I had no idea it would morph into a trilogy. That’s the way it is with our Lord. He lights our path, we keep walking. Now, He has directed me to write a pilot for a TV series, and that’s what I’m working on right now. I pray one day you will see these characters come to life on your television screen. If you have a moment, would you offer up a prayer right now for that to happen? Thank you so much.

My Impressions

“Give up your life to gain everything that’s important. God will guide you all the way, if you just give up control.”

While these words are spoken to only one of the three *mature* friends in Chris Posti’s novel, ‘Tis the Time, ‘Tis the Season, they could have been spoken to any of them. Marla seeks to gain her biological daughter’s love by using her great wealth and business acumen. Suzanne and her new husband are having financial difficulties that are causing Suzanne to worry, fret, and scheme.  And Rachel? As the new president of Port Mariette’s Business Association, she is busy schmoozing with the local business owners and townspeople, becoming quite self- important in her own eyes. How will the women’s life bumps affect their friendship and their separate romances? 

Mitch gets my vote for fave secondary character. He is so patient and wise. He is quiet, yet strong, able to put life to Marla’s construction needs. He gently probes with his questions, but is not accusatory. He seems a very comfortable person to be around, one with whom you can be yourself without being judged.

I especially enjoyed this story because I read it within a month of reading its predecessor, Maybe Now, Maybe Never. Maybe this series should be binge-read, but it certainly would avoid spoilers if read in order!

I received a copy of the book from Celebrate Lit. I also bought my own copy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own. 

Notable Quotables:

“dishonesty is like weaving a spider web. Eventually, you get caught in your own lies.”– Penny

“Words come from the heart,” -Mitch

“God has a way of taking care of everything. Even our mistakes.”-Grace

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I loved seeing the friends’ initial reactions to negative life events and was anxious to see if they would grow or implode on their life journey.

Blog Stops

Book Reviews From an Avid Reader, November 23

Truth and Grace Homeschool Academy, November 24

Babbling Becky L’s Book Impressions, November 25

Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, November 26

Stories By Gina, November 27 (Author Interview)

Lots of Helpers, November 27

Artistic Nobody, November 28 (Author Interview)

Texas Book-aholic, November 29

Karen Baney Reviews, November 30

Locks, Hooks and Books, December 1

For Him and My Family, December 2

The Avid Reader, December 3

Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 4

Jodie Wolfe – Stories Where Hope and Quirky Meet, December 5 (Author Interview)

For the Love of Literature, December 6 (Author Interview)

Leslie’s Library Escape, December 6

Giveaway

To celebrate her tour, Chris is giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card, a copy of the book, and bookmarks!!

Be sure to comment on the blog stops for extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/00adcf54106

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A Small Town Fourth of July by Janice Carter Review

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

Title: A Small Town Fourth of July

Series: Home to Maple Glen, Bk 1

Author: Janice Carter

Publisher: Harlequin Heartwarming

Genre: Contemporary Clean Romance

Released: June 25, 2024

A Small Town Fourth of July by Janice Carter

His return sets off fireworks…

But will it blow up her dreams?

When Theo Danby returns to Maple Glen to sell his inherited land, Maura Stuart panics. Selling the land could endanger Maura’s beloved donkey therapy business…and expose her secrets. Her only hope is to rope Theo into helping with the Fourth of July festival and make Theo fall in love with their small town. But if she trusts him with the truth, will he stay…or will she lose everything?

From Harlequin Heartwarming: Wholesome stories of love, compassion and belonging.

Home to Maple Glen

Book 1: A Small Town Fourth of July
Book 2: Rescued at Christmas

About the Author

Janice Carter

Janice Carter has been writing romance novels, in particular Harlequin romances, for a very long time. What began as a hobby when she was working full-time and helping to raise two daughters continues in retirement as a wonderfully satisfying hobby! When she isn’t writing, she is playing with her granddaughter, enjoying cottage life, traveling and always reading!

My Impressions

“One day at a time and no analyzing or predicting as we go along.” “I see you already know things about me,” she quipped. “Some things, but my goal is everything.”

A Small Town Fourth of July by Janice Carter has so much to recommend it. Grown-ups Maura, her twin, Maddie, and Theo have all individually moved back to the small town of their youth, at least temporarily. Plus more of the old gang seems to keep popping up. And there are some really interesting supporting characters like Walter. After all, Walter takes Luke under his wing and introduces the donkey farm to Roger and Shep. Priceless!

Therapy animals? Yes, please! And donkeys?! Double yes! Tweens and teens with an attitude who discover the value of hard work, neighbors, and animal love? Perfection.

Plus, we are fed bits of the Theo’s past and his relationship with Maddie and Maura until it all makes sense. And a bit of a mystery and a secret.

The one thing I didn’t care for, was the inclusion of a palm reader and tarot card reader. She presents what she does as perfectly innocent, and the characters never disagree. Most people won’t be bothered by this, but it goes against what I prefer to include in my reads. A clean read, but be aware if this is a trigger point for you.

A very feel-good story of former friends and neighbors coming together to re-commit to the town they once loved, then hated, and now are falling in love with again. Also includes a few romances.

I received a copy of this book from Just Read Tours. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“Not much we can do about the past, but we don’t have to make the same mistakes again.”

“It didn’t seem fair that his return here should raise so many conflicting emotions, the strongest being a desire to stay.”

“I know what the word community means, but I don’t really know how it feels.”

“surely painful emotions were long gone…Was there an expiry date on a broken heart?”

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The Baby and the Guardian by Danielle Grandinetti Just Reads Review Blitz

Babbling Becky L

About the Book

The Baby and the Guardian by Danielle Grandinetti

Series: Christmas Cabin
Author: Danielle Grandinetti
Publisher: Hearth Spot Press
Release Date:July 16, 2024
Genre: Christian Historical Romance (with Suspense)

The Baby and the Guardian by Danielle Grandinetti

A baby in danger, a man in turmoil, and a woman determined to save them both.


Wisconsin, 1929—When her best friend is murdered, Eira Mae Pryce gains guardianship over her friend’s baby. A baby in danger. Charged with the child’s protection, she must outrun a snowstorm, her grief, and a killer to seek refuge with the man who saved her life last Christmas.
All ex-sheriff Casper Yarwood wants for Christmas is to be left alone. With failure ringing in his ears, he retreated to his family’s cabin in the densely wooded portion of his former jurisdiction. But when his uncle’s secretary–and the woman he believes he failed–arrives on his doorstep with an endangered child, Casper cannot turn them away.
Casper and Eira Mae face impossible odds that require facing their pasts, sacrificing their futures, and ignoring their growing feelings for one another. But they’ll do so if it means they keep their charge alive long enough to experience his first Christmas.
One cabin in the Northwoods … a decade of Christmas miracles.

Get your copy below !

https://daniellegrandinetti.com/the-baby-and-the-guardian/ #ad

About the Author

Danielle Grandinetti is an inspirational romance author fueled by tea and books, and the occasional nature walk. A 2023 Finalist in the FHLCW Reader’s Choice Award, she has also won the UNW Distinguished Faith in Writing Award and the CROW National Excellence in Story Telling Award. Originally from the Chicagoland area, she now lives along Lake Michigan’s Wisconsin shoreline with her husband and their two young sons. Find her online at daniellegrandinetti.com.

My Impressions

“God put Lewis in my charge and then he sent us to you. Yes, it is a weighty responsibility, to keep Lewis safe… But you and I have the means. Together. And in the end, each of us—me, Lewis, you—we are ultimately in God’s hands.”

I think this line pretty much sums up the gist of The Baby and the Guardian by Danielle Grandinetti. Two individuals, one ( Eira Mae Pryce), a judge’s transcriptionist, and one (Casper Yarwood), the judge’s reclusive nephew, are charged with keeping a young orphan baby safe after the baby’s parents are murdered. It takes a lot of thinking, praying, and discussion for the two to realize that God has given them what they need to keep little Lewis safe. Both Eira Mae and Casper feel unqualified for good reason, but God uses them to strengthen each other’s emotions for the job.

I loved the Christmas vibe created by the snowstorm, the Christmas decorations, and the connections the young couple made to God assigning human guardians ( parents) to protect and guide the baby Jesus.

I also loved the fact that Grandinetti quickly starts the novella out and we understand the conflict within the first minutes of the story. The suspense and tension starts up almost immediately!Bravo!!

A well-written story with a good twist, themes of two people who love God learning to work together, plus learning to give God their cares, and learning that God is in ultimate control. The Christmas-y feeling, the suspense, the cold blizzard all make it seem like I could have been a part of it. Definitely recommended!

I received a copy of this book from the author through Just Read Tours. I also bought my own ecopy. No positive review was required, and all opinions are my own.

Notable Quotables:

“This is why he’d given up being a sheriff. Why he’d left any manner of civilization behind. Caring cost so much.”

“…into his self-inflicted monasticism, God brought the very thing he feared most. And with it, hope?”

“Casper had grown comfortable recognizing God’s Still Small Voice.”

My Rating

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Magnificent! I need to go back and read the pre-quel to this story, The Sheriff and the Outlaw.