Birthdays: Jane Austen (1775), George Santayana (1863), Marie Hall Ets (1895), Noel Coward (1899), V.S. Pritchett (1900), Margaret Mead (1901), Arthur C. Clarke (1917), Nicolas Sidjakov (1924), Philip K. Dick (1928), Bill Brittain (1930), E.B. Lewis (1956), Sylvia Brownrigg (1964),

George Santayana is known for aphorisms such as “Those who cannot remember the past are doomed to repeat it.” And “Only the dead have seen the end of war.”

Marie Hall Ets won the 1960 Caldecott Medal for her illustrations of “Nine Days to Christmas”

Arthur C. Clarke is best known for his science fiction that sometimes led to real-world scientific discoveries.

Nicolas Sidjakov won the 1961 Caldecott Medal for “Baboushka and the Three Kings”

Bill Brittain’s book “The Wish Giver” was a 1984 Newbery Honor book.

E.B. Lewis was a two-time winner of the Caldecott Medal for his illustrations.

Quotes: Jane Austen: There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.

Margaret Mead: Children must be taught how to think, not what to think.

Arthur C. Clarke: Any sufficiently advance technology is indistinguishable from magic.

Philip K. Dick: I am basically analytical, not creative; my writing is simply a creative way of handling analysis.

Tip: When writing dialogue among multiple characters, be sure to use tags and action to show who is talking.

Jumpstart: “When would you like to go to?”

“What do you mean ‘when’”?

“I mean…this is a time machine. So…when do you want to go to?”

I had to think hard, but knew there was only one choice…

HEART OF CHRISTMAS COOKIES AND DREAMS by Wendy Kendall

Fiction, Contemporary Romance, Novella (98 pages), 

5*****

Blurb: Liz buried her hopes three years ago when she buried her husband. Her dream to run her own bakery? Shelved, along with dreams of love. She hides behind a corporate desk, struggling for time with her young son and his grandmother, Violet.George is chef at the assisted living facility where Violet recovers from an accident. His adopted beagle, Phil is George’s only family, and a therapy dog for the residents. Violet plays matchmaker, plotting a cookie bake at the facility kitchen. Her plans put George’s job at risk. When tail-wagger Phil suddenly disappears, George is desperate to find him. The search leads George into a surprising twist of fate, and accidentally pulls Liz along with him. Together can they discover the heart of Christmas, and find the ribbons of love that run through it?

Thoughts: This is a really sweet holiday story about family and dreams. The characters—and their issues—are very realistic. Liz lost almost everything when her husband died three years ago. Everything except her son. But she buried herself in a corporate job, telling herself it is for both their sakes. She buries her dream of one day owning her own bakery. Unfortunately, the job takes her away from her son more than she’d like. But Matt likes spending time with his grandmother Violet at the home where she is recuperating. Plus, he gets to have fun with Phil, a therapy dog owned by the home’s chef, George. 

George, a product of the foster system, has never had a real home. Phil is his family. But when Violet and Matt pull him into their circle, he discovers that family is what you make it. 

I loved this story. If I had anything negative to say at all, it would be that it’s too short. I’d like to see the novella expanded into a full-length book. One where the cops find the SUV that caused the accident, and maybe where Violet and George open that bakery. That would definitely be a plus for me. 

Recommendation: for a sweet story (and a good recipe!), pick this one up. You won’t be disappointed.

Disclaimer: Thanks to the author for providing this ARC. I received a final and/or advanced reader copy of this book with the hope that I will leave my unbiased opinion. I was not required to leave a review, positive or otherwise, and my opinions are just that… My Opinions. I am posting this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”

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WISHES UNDER A HIGHLAND STAR by Mary Morgan

Fiction, Historical Paranormal Romance, 214 pages

5*****

Blurb: As chieftain for his clan, Alex MacFhearguis struggles with the burden of an unwanted responsibility. With the midwinter feast approaching, he flees his castle to find comfort and solitude within the forest. Yet on his quest, Alex stumbles into a world filled with magic, mysteries, and a woman with beguiling eyes who could capture his heart. When half-Fae Aine Fraser makes a powerful wish, her simple request unlocks the magic she possesses and brings forth a Highlander into her world. Though the man has lost all his memories, she finds her attraction growing for this brooding warrior with each passing day. Unable to deny her feelings, Aine risks everything when she confesses her greatest secret. Can a beauty who wished for a champion tame the beast of Leòmhann Castle?

Thoughts: I have not read this author before so was not familiar with the background of the brothers, but I know I will be reading more. The I did not know the previous stories, the author gave me enough information throughout to know what was going on so I wasn’t lost. 

The hero, Alex, Is a character that comes across as gruff and cold-hearted, but when he loves, he loves hard. As chieftain of the clan, he’s interested in making alliances, but not in marriage. He wants nothing to do with that. Fortunately, the fates have a different future in store for him. 

Aine is half-human, half-fae and lives in the secret and secluded glen of Taloch castle where she is a blacksmith. Her skills at the smith and with the harp far exceed her skills at “womanly” pastimes like cooking and sewing. Lonely for love, she makes a wish one starry night—and meets the warrior of her dreams. 

Alex and Aine endure a lot of trials and tribululations before things right themselves. This is a sweet story steeped in magic and romance with a HEA ending that makes you smile and wish for a warrior of your own.

Recommended. But I do suggest you buy all the books in the series and start with the first one in order to understand everything that is going on. You won’t be sorry.

Disclaimer: thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this story. All thoughts and opinions are my own and not influenced by anyone. 

Competitive, work-obsessed Bella Simonetti has just been fired from her high-paying job at a Manhattan law firm. At an all-time low, she returns home and helps her parents at their small-town gift shop, but the business is failing and may not make it past the Christmas holidays. Successful landscape architect Dean Jackson is like a son to Bella’s parents. But he’s a persistent annoyance to her—he seems to have forgotten his unforgivable blunder thirteen years earlier. When Bella transforms her parents’ gift shop into a cookie cottage, Dean’s generosity and magnetic smile are hard to resist, and those feelings of unrequited adolescent love come rushing back. But can Bella let go of the past and accept Dean for the man he is today?

The Wild Rose Press

Amazon (Note: This is on sale here at $.99 for the month of December).

All these stories are available from The Wild Rose Press as well as other outlets.

Hannah loves her accounting job, the condo that she purchased herself, and her best friend Melinda. What she doesn’t love is baking. To be fair, she’s never tried. But when her cousin shames her into bringing homemade cookies to the family Christmas Eve celebration, she begins a quest to make the perfect holiday cookie. Paramedic Josh also occasionally teaches kids’ cookie baking classes at his family’s bakery. When a beautiful accountant mistakenly signs up for a children’s holiday baking class, he realizes immediately that she’s in the right place. Can this local hero help to save Hannah’s Christmas? Or will it all go up in smoke?

Harmony Stewart has the ingredients for a perfect life: a precocious daughter, substantial wealth, and a supportive family. The only potential improvement would be a second shot at love. Since she’s always had a thing for doctors, Harmony’s determined to meet Mr. Right at the hospital’s Holiday Cookie Bazaar and recruits cantankerous German baker Abelard Durchdenwald with a simple deal: his cookies for her assistance in landing him his dream job. Abel adds unexpected—and much-needed—spice to Harmony’s days, so when issues arise with Abel’s visa, she impulsively offers a fake engagement that stirs up trouble with her well-connected ex-husband, Chance. If her ex uncovers Abel and Harmony’s deception, the consequences could be catastrophic. She should scrap the plan and start from scratch, but that would mean letting go of the baker who’s turning out to be sweeter than his desserts.

Rona Murray, owner of Linn House Bakery, enters the town’s charity Christmas cookie auction, never expecting the evening to end in the death of last year’s winner. Had someone baked to kill Angela, or had she just been sick? Curious, Rona turns up the heat when questioning people with ties to Angela. It’s then she realizes her ex-husband, Johnny, is still in love with her. But will his love be enough to save her from a cookie crafter with a penchant for murder?

These books all contain three or more stories and are available as paperbacks. They can be found at The Wild Rose Press as well as other outlets.

These books are available as paperback books. Each contains at least three stories. All are available from The Wild Rose Press as well as other sellers.

The Wild Rose Press

Madelyn Sherman is looking for some direction—It’s just weeks before Christmas and her home went up in flames, her ex turned out to be a creep, and her safe job no longer excites her. On impulse she buys a food truck. It isn’t the bakery she dreams of, but it’s a start. Peyton Davis is proud of the Artisan Village he’s built. Home to vendors of all kinds, it offers a lifestyle that suits him, but he longs for someone to share his dream. When Madelyn arrives to take the last spot at the village, she crashes her bakery on wheels right into his prized vintage truck…and his heart. Can the magic of the season turn dented fenders to romance? Only time, and a signature cookie, will tell!

The Wild Rose Press

Caterer Lorelei Warner juggles her fledging Southern California business and raising young twins with the help of her mother and sister. Handling a three-day wedding event stretches her limits…and then her old beau walks in and threatens the delicate balance. Stained glass restorer Wynn Tatum hopes to cross paths with the woman he left behind to pursue his dreams. What he doesn’t expect is that seeing Lorelei again sparks the feelings from six years ago. Now that he’s held her in his arms again, and learned he’s the father to five-year-old twins, he will do anything to stay in touch. How can his family be whole if he and Lorelei live on two different continents?

The Wild Rose Press

Margot Beaufort is out of a job. Soon she’ll be out of a home. If she doesn’t find a place, she’ll be sharing a couch with a friend’s territorial cat. And it can’t be just anywhere, not if she wants to see her opinionated grandmother, Marguerite. But it’s the season for miracles, right? To save historic Renfrew House from demolition, Trent Talbot converted the property into apartments. But nobody stays in the “crazy” carriage house unit for long. If Trent can’t solve the problem, he’ll be back under Daddy dearest’s thumb. Then a chance encounter with a sweet redhead, plus an old book, inspire an insane idea… Margot quickly discovers why everyone flees the carriage house apartment. It’s haunted! With Marguerite’s help, Margot’s determined to free an unhappy spirit. But can she and Trent have a future that’s merry and bright?

The Wild Rose Press

First grade teacher Desiree Tucker is on the brink of winter holidays with her new, romantic boyfriend when danger encroaches on her joy. Ominous, untraceable texts buzz on her cell phone. Terrifying secret Santa gifts show up for her in the classroom. As the stalker moves closer to the prey, Desiree doesn’t know who she can trust. Her charming new man is a prime suspect. Is he a deadly stalker? If not him, who? What can she learn from the legend of the snow kiss cookie? Just when she’s starting to believe in magic again, she finds herself fighting for her life.

THE WILD ROSE PRESS

Before she can let up and enjoy some holiday cheer, real estate agent Alana Drake has work to do. With Christmas moving in fast, she has clients to meet with, houses to show, and cookies to bake. Every open house deserves her special touch—homemade and hand-decorated sugar cookies for a warm welcome. And she needs several dozen for upcoming holiday events and open houses. But a poorly timed stop at the grocery store could upend more than her bag of groceries. Running into Doctor Justin Teague—literally—shakes up Alana’s tidy world. The chance encounter leaves her with a bum ankle, forces her to reconsider some dating ideals, and reveals new information about a longtime nemesis. When all she wanted was to bake some cookies…

TWRP