My Blog's 10th Year Birthday Bash: Cathe Swanson's book giveaway

Welcome to the fifth day of my blog's birthday bash!

Please welcome my author friend Cathe Swanson.

She's here to give away two of her books!

Enter the book giveaway contest via the Rafflecopter widget the end of this blog post. Only residents of the USA are eligible to receive a signed paperback copy of this author's books. International residents will only receive ebook copies due to costs of mailing books outside of the USA.

Let's learn a little bit more about Cathe and her books ...

Author Bio:

After 40 years of wandering (but always in lovely places and not in a desert), Cathe Swanson has recently returned home to her childhood home and family in Minnesota. It’s changed a lot in that time, and making the transition from rural to urban life is challenging, especially in this time of quarantine. But God is good! 

In the summer, she and her husband enjoy spending time with their grandchildren and being outdoors, gardening, hiking, birdwatching, and kayaking. The long winters are perfect for playing games, reading, and indoor hobbies. Cathe's been a quilter and teacher of quiltmaking for over 25 years and enjoys just about any kind of creative work, especially those involving fiber or paper. 

Everything inspires new books! A lifelong love of quilting, Cathe’s Swedish heritage and an interest in genealogy led to The Glory Quilts series, and The Great Lakes series is based on her life in the Midwest and experiences with the elderly, the military, and inner-city ministry. As a child of the 60’s, she’s having fun writing about hippies and the Jesus People movement in the Serenity Hill series. 

Cathe writes books with creative plots and engaging characters of all ages, to glorify God and entertain and bless readers. Her heartwarming stories will make you laugh and make you cry - and then make you laugh again.

~*~

Back Cover Blurb for Baggage Claim:

Who can he trust?

Ben Taylor, widower and father of four lively children, enjoys his easy, uncomplicated life. He likes his work and has a competent nanny to manage his household. Everything is good until he decides to seek out his biological parents and discovers a family tree with tangled roots and broken branches.

His comfortable life crumbles when he gets caught up in a criminal network of fraud and conspiracy at his new job. When Ben is forced into a dangerous alliance, he scrambles to find a safe situation and protection for his children before setting out to clear his name—all without getting himself killed in the process.

A nanny with a past…

Becoming a nanny was the perfect solution when Teresa Cooper needed a place to hide ten years ago, but now that she’s no longer in danger, she’s ready to move on and make a new life for herself. When Ben asks her to take the children to an unknown relative in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, she finds herself in hiding again, this time with four children in tow.

As the children explore the wilderness of the Upper Peninsula, Teresa begins to wonder about God’s plan for her future. Who is this stranger Ben trusts with his children? Why here? Can a city-bred nanny find joy in this wild corner of God’s creation?

~*~

Back Cover Blurb for Season of Change:

Peace, Love and Poinsettias

Charlea Evans was a flower child on Serenity Hill when her hippie mother joined the Jesus People movement, changing their world forever. Thirty years later, Charlea’s a widow with a college-age daughter, finally building a respectable career for herself. When a house fire forces her to return to the old commune, she finds herself reluctantly milking goats and caring for a greenhouse full of poinsettias, trying to persuade her incorrigible mother to sell the farm and retire.

But her mom and daughter have big plans – plans that don’t include Charlea – and Drew Wallace is back in town, fifteen years after their dream date ended in disaster and embarrassment, helping them turn Serenity Hill into a tourist attraction, complete with sleigh rides, a gift shop, poinsettias and Christmas trees.

Is there room for a Christmas miracle on Serenity Hill? When snowflakes fall and the sleigh bells ring, can Drew and Charlea find a second chance for their own happily ever after?

Season of Change is the first book in the Serenity Hill series.

~*~

Connect with Cathe:

Newsletter signup: http://www.catheswanson.com/newsletter

Website: http://catheswanson.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatheSwanson 

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/catheswanson

Instagram: http://instagram.com/CatheSwanson

Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CatheSwanson

BookBub Author Page: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathe-swanson

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/catheswanson

~*~

Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 Days of Christmas Book Giveaways: Cathe Swanson's Christmas story

Let's welcome my author friend Cathe Swanson to the blog today!

Cathe is here to give away one copy of her Christmas story, Hope for the Holidays.

First, here's a bit about Cathe:

Author Bio:

Cathe and her husband like spending time with their grandchildren and being outdoors – birdwatching, gardening, hiking and kayaking on the beautiful Wisconsin rivers, but summer is short in Wisconsin, so it’s important to have indoor hobbies, too. Cathe enjoys just about any kind of creative work, especially those involving fiber or paper. 

The long winters are perfect for writing and reading books. Cathe’s been teaching quiltmaking for over 25 years, focusing on retreat workshops, ministry events and bridal quilt bees, and recently brought that experience and enthusiasm to her Glory Quilts series. As a child of the 1960’s, she’s having fun writing about hippies and the Jesus People movement in her new Serenity Hill series.

Cathe Swanson enjoys writing stories with creative plots and eccentric characters of all ages. Her books will make you laugh and make you cry – and then make you laugh again.

~*~

Here's the blurb and cover for Cathe's book, Hope for the Holidays:

Newly arrived from her home in the Congo and armed with a brand-new degree in nonprofit management, Carrie Strough is eager to organize and improve the Unity Plenkiss Community Center.

Unfortunately, no one wants to be organized, and only Micah Neresen, the charming and handsome pastor of the local church, is interested in her plans. Or is he just interested in her? 

With a cast of lively and eccentric characters including a homeless vet with PTSD, a con man, an elderly couple with an over-the-top Christmas display, a feisty committeewoman with a past of her own, and a police investigation, Micah and Carrie wonder if there is any hope for the holidays this year!

~*~

Connect with Cathe:

Newsletter signup: http://catheswanson.com/newsletter

Website: http://catheswanson.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatheSwanson 

Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/catheswanson

Instagram: http://instagram.com/CatheSwanson

Goodreads: http://goodreads.com/CatheSwanson

Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/catheswanson

~*~

Enter this e-book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN Cathe Swanson's book, Hope for the Holidays, by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

When Love Inspires: Amanda Tru and her author friends (Part 2 of 2)

Note from Alexis: We're doing things a bit different in "When Love Inspires" for today (Feb. 10). As I said yesterday (Feb. 9), I'm hosting ALL of the six authors from their boxed set "Betwixt Two Hearts."

So in order to accommodate the authors and not give you information overload, I've divided this book promo feature into two parts (Part 1 = yesterday and Part 2 = today). Enjoy visiting with the boxed set coordinator Amanda Tru's author friends Cathe Swanson, Carol Moncado and Chautona Havig!

~*~

When Love Inspires: Cathe's story

I love writing sweet, clean romance novels because the world needs that kind of light-hearted, hopeful story. 

Christian romances aren’t just about a man and a woman who fall in love. The spiritual component of Christian marriage – and relationships of every kind – is often left out of contemporary love stories, but our faith adds a deeper dimension to our relationships.

I want to show the full, rich, beautiful love that can only be found when we love God first, more than we love the other person. That’s the only way to have a truly Happy Ever After.

--
Cathe's Author Bio:

Cathe Swanson, the author of the Great Lakes and Glory Quilts series, enjoys gardening, sewing, papercrafting, and kayaking on the beautiful Wisconsin rivers. 

She’s been teaching quiltmaking for over 25 years, focusing on retreat workshops, ministry events and bridal quilt bees, and is finally bringing that experience and enthusiasm to her newest series, The Glory Quilts.

--
Blurb for Cathe's novella, "The Swedehearts":

Eleanor Nielson always dreamed of following in her distinguished parents’ footsteps, becoming a teacher and living a life of selfless community service – until she tried it. Now, happily working at her uncle’s construction company, she’s finding fulfillment in her work and discovering a family heritage she never knew.

She can resist her parents’ pressure and manipulation from a hundred miles away, but she can’t skip their anniversary party. Eleanor isn’t interested in a relationship, but she doesn’t want to go to the party alone. Can a matchmaking agency find her a date who will impress her parents?

Like any good engineer, David Reid has his life all planned out. He’s finished college and established a career he enjoys. The next thing on his timeline is marriage and starting a family, but good wives are hard to find. He wants the right kind of woman – one who’s ready to start a family, who will share his faith and work at his side when he becomes a pastor. Someone he can trust. 

Like any good engineer, David turns the project over to experts: the Betwixt Two Hearts matchmaking agency.

Is this a match made in heaven?

--
Connect with Cathe:
Website: http://catheswanson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatheSwanson
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/catheswanson
Instagram: http://instagram.com/CatheSwanson
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CatheSwanson
BookBub Author Page: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathe-swanson
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/catheswansonNewsletter signup: http://www.catheswanson.com/newsletter

~*~

When Love Inspires: Carol's story

I write romance because I love the happy endings. I don’t like stories that make me sad at the end. Crying in the middle is one thing. Crying because they all die or end up with the wrong people, is something else entirely! 

I write clean/sweet because I don’t need to see what goes on behind closed doors or “hear” cursing or “see” gore and violence. It’s not something I enjoy and not something I enjoy writing. I think there’s a lot of other people out there like me, and they just want to read something they can share with other generations – their moms or grandmas and their teen daughters.

I spend far more time than I probably should watching Hallmark movies. They get criticized, sometimes rightfully so, for their formulaic nature, perfect hair and clothes, quaint towns where there’s always piles of snow but clear roads and sidewalks, etc. Sometimes it’s fun to poke fun at them. 

I often watch royalty or writing related ones “live” in my reader group, posting commentary as I do. There’s usually a fair bit of snark involved, but underneath is that happy, waffy sigh at the end when their worlds all end up the way they should.

That’s what I like to write.

My characters have real issues (even if finances aren’t one of them for most of them). They struggle with the same thing we all do: Am I good enough? Do people really like me for me or because of (fill in the blank - for many of my characters, it has to do with their titles and tiaras)? Where do I find my self-worth? How do I reconcile what I should do with what I want to do or can I? And if I can’t, which do I choose?

Everyone answers those questions differently, even characters in the same book. But sometimes in those characters, we see little bits of ourselves and maybe learn a little bit about how we can change our own outlooks on who we are.

And do it without the cursing or sex scenes or violence that can be so prevalent in other genres.

We have enough drama and sadness in the world. I like bringing at least a little bit of sweetness and light into that and giving readers a bit of an escape from the real world into a fictional land where everyone eventually ends up with a happily ever after. (Except the bad guys of course. They get eaten by sharks).

--
Carol's Author Bio:

When she's not writing about her imaginary friends, USA Today Bestselling Author Carol Moncado prefers binge watching pretty much anything to working out. She believes peanut butter M&Ms are the perfect food and Dr. Pepper should come in an IV. 

When not hanging out with her hubby, four kids, and two dogs who weigh less than most hardcover books, she's probably reading in her Southwest Missouri home.

Summers find her at the local aquatic center with her four fish, er, kids. Fall finds her doing the band mom thing. Winters find her snuggled into a blanket in front of a fire with the dogs. Spring finds her sneezing and recovering from the rest of the year.

She used to teach American Government at a community college, but her indie career, now with over thirty titles, has allowed her to write full time. She's a founding member, former President, and current vice president of MozArks ACFW, blogger at InspyRomance, and is represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of the Steve Laube Agency.

--
Blurb for Carol's novella, "Guardian of Her Heart":

When Mark’s boss, the queen of Montevaro, signs him up for the dating app Betwixt Two Hearts, he grudgingly goes along.

Casey is signed up by her best friend, before her best friend moves thousands of miles away.

When Casey attends the Serenity Landing Craft Convention, a stowaway cat means she’s desperate for help and her only option is the new match from her Betwixt app. 

As Mark and Casey get to know each other, their apparent incompatibilities could prove to be too much to overcome – or could prove that sometimes opposites attract.

--
Connect with Carol:
Carol Moncado Books: www.facebook.com/CarolMoncadoBooks
Serenity Landing Book Club (reader group): bit.ly/MoncadoReaderGroup
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CarolMoncado/
Website: http://www.carolmoncado.com

~*~

When Love Inspires: Chautona's story

I've had lots of people ask me why I write "romance" over the years. I  put romance in quotes because a true romance author would laugh at the idea of my romance "counting" as far as genre goes.

But I put romance in books because it's obviously important to the Lord. He didn't just tell us He serves us and takes care of us. He showed us in so many metaphors, parables, and allegories that He cherishes us. He woos us to Him. And regardless of my personal comfort
with the whole thing, that means something to me.

I try to allude to that picture He paints every time I interject a romantic element into one of my novels as both a reminder to the reader and as one to me. We are loved, cherished, adored. Wow.

--
Chautona's Author Bio:

Chautona Havig lives in an oxymoron, escapes into imaginary worlds that look startlingly similar to ours and writes the stories that emerge. 

An irrepressible optimist, Chautona sees everything through a kaleidoscope of It’s a Wonderful Life sprinkled with fairy tales. 

Find her on the web and say howdy—if you can remember how to spell her name.

--
Blurb for Chautona's novella, "Random Acts of Shyness":

“That man is going to be single for the rest of his life!”

What began as a coping mechanism as a little boy became highly-effective date repellent as a man. He knows girls don’t care about the life cycle of a dung beetle, but Heath can’t help but spew facts like a docent at the zoo anytime he’s on one of his many first and only dates.

His sister is determined to fix that. So, she signs him up for the new matchmaking service. Her plan: simple. Just let him practice on a bunch of girls until it becomes second nature. Simple, right?

But Heath can’t get one girl out of his mind. So, with his boss’ help, and a little creativity, he embarks on a sorta-secret admirer scheme to induce her into giving him a second chance.

He’s a good guy… and someday he’ll figure out how to show it.

--
Connect with Chautona:
Website: https://chautona.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/justhewriteescape
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chautona
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chautonahavig/
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/chautonahavig/

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of the "Betwixt Two Hearts" boxed set of books by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget from yesterday's blog post. You can find it here. 

Christmas on My Heart: The Christmas Glory Quilt by Cathe Swanson

Personal Essay by Cathe Swanson about her book,
The Christmas Glory Quilt:

I had so much fun writing The Christmas Glory Quilt! It’s a classic “write what you know” book. To start with, I’m a quiltmaker. I started sewing garments and other projects when I was a young child, but it wasn’t until I was in my 20’s that I made my first real quilt. I was hooked. That was beginning of a long career as a quilter, designer, and teacher of quiltmaking.

A writer friend urged me to write books with quilts in them, but I resisted, certain that market was already overcrowded. Then I came up with a brilliant idea: I would write books and design quilts for each one, offering the pattern as a bonus for early purchasers and then selling it separately later. I still think it’s a brilliant idea, but I hadn’t thought it through. Designing and making quilts, as well as drafting patterns, takes as long as writing books! Still, I’m happy with the results, and I have the whole Glory Quilts series mapped out!

The Christmas Glory Quilt is about a large, homeschooling family in Minnesota, with a strong Swedish heritage, an old family farm, and an avid genealogist great aunt. Oh, yeah... got all that. The settings and seasons are familiar from my childhood. Now, having migrated all the way to Wisconsin, I enjoy visiting my family who (all) still live there.

Family – the extended, multigenerational family – is important to me. As the Glory Quilts series progresses, there will be more of the Andersons’ family history woven into the contemporary plots. Great Aunt Violet has been chronicling their stories in quilts, like scrapbooks, and she’s come across a new family mystery – a family heirloom, buried long ago, and no one is left to tell her why it was hidden!

I especially enjoy celebrating my ethnic heritage at Christmas, with so many Scandinavian traditions and foods, and I included several of them in this book. I even included some of my personal opinions of the St. Lucy processions – not only dangerous, but extremely gruesome and odd!

The one part of this book that required extensive research is the heroine’s dyslexia. In addition to the usual online research, I had an invaluable advisor, a specialist in remediating dyslexia in children and adults. I learned so much!

We are blessed to live in an age where dyslexia is diagnosed early and can be remediated. Previous generations, like Great Uncle Olof, were just labeled illiterate, too dumb to learn to read.

Penny Anderson is smart, creative and ambitious. She just has trouble reading. Determined to make a success of her business, designing bridal gowns, she’s not going to let dyslexia define or limit her.

The Christmas Glory Quilt is the first in the Glory Quilts series. The next one, The Swedehearts Glory Quilt, will appear in the Betwixt Two Hearts collection in February.

The Christmas Glory Quilt is available now in paperback, but you can only get the Kindle version in the 2018 Christmas Lights collection: Comfort & Joy. The collection features inspirational Christmas stories from Toni Shiloh, Alana Terry and Chautona Havig – and me! It’s available exclusively on Amazon, for just 99 cents, and – as always – free for Kindle Unlimited subscribers. 

*You can learn more about my quilting at www.gloryquilts.com. 

~*~
Author Bio: 

Cathe Swanson, the author of the Great Lakes series, enjoys gardening, sewing, papercrafting and kayaking on the beautiful Wisconsin rivers. 

She’s been teaching quiltmaking for over 25 years, focusing on retreat workshops, ministry events and bridal quilt bees, and is finally bringing that experience and enthusiasm to her newest series, the Glory Quilts.

~*~
Book Blurb for The Christmas Glory Quilt:

Scrap quilts, bridal gowns, an old Swedish farmhouse and a hidden family heirloom. What more you could you want in a Minnesota Christmas romance?

Penny Anderson has a dream – she’s going to be an exclusive bridal gown designer, and she won’t held back by dyslexia, a rural location or the doubts of others.

Brian Michaels has waited seven years for Penny to see him as man instead of just a childhood friend. Can he work up the courage to speak before the tall, dark and handsome business consultant sweeps her off her feet?

Aunt Violet is interested in only two things: Genealogy and quilting. As she chronicles the family history in a series of patchwork quilts, she comes to peace with her own past.

~*~
Buy Comfort & Joy (boxed set) on Amazon

~*~
Connect with Cathe:
Website: http://catheswanson.com
Twitter: https://twitter.com/CatheSwanson
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson
Pinterest: http://www.pinterest.com/catheswanson
Instagram: http://instagram.com/CatheSwanson
Goodreads: http://www.goodreads.com/CatheSwanson
BookBub Author Page: http://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathe-swanson
Amazon Author Page: http://www.amazon.com/author/catheswanson

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of this book by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below:

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Cozy Christmas Reads: Cathe's story

Story Excerpt: Hope for the Holidays by Cathe Swanson 

Chapter 1

At the Unity Plenkiss Community Center

“It was nice to meet you, Dearie. I hope you like it here.”

The elderly woman patted Carrie’s hand, slid the candy into her purse, and headed toward the door.

Carrie started. “Hey!”

The old lady quickened her pace.

“That’s mine!” Indignant, Carrie hoisted her bag onto her shoulder before giving chase. No point in getting anything else stolen. “Wait!”

Even with the head start, Carrie would have caught up with her if it hadn’t been for the man holding the door open.

“Hello, Mary.”

His friendly greeting was cut off as she ducked under his arm and bolted down the sidewalk. He turned to stare after her.

“Stop that woman!” Carrie tried to push the man out of the way. “She took something that belongs to me.”

The man let the door close but stayed in front of it, blocking her pursuit.

“Excuse me!”

“What did she take?”

Carrie raised her chin and repeated, “She took something that belonged to me.”

He waited.

“She took my peanut butter cups.”

His brows shot up behind his glasses and a dimple creased his cheek. “Your peanut butter cups.”

“She knew they were mine.” Great. She sounded like a petulant child. She tried to slide past him, but he stepped back against the door.

“Please don’t chase her down. It’s just candy.”

“It’s not about the candy,” lied Carrie. It was all about the candy. She’d been anticipating the treat since boarding the airplane in Kinshasa nearly 24 hours ago and paid an extortionate price for it at the O’Hare airport, stuffing it into her bag so Roy wouldn’t tease her. She’d planned to eat it in her new office, as some sort of symbolic ritual, but she’d only made it as far as the unattended reception desk before stopping to chat with the old woman.

“I’ll buy you a new one.”

She narrowed her eyes at him. Was he patronizing her? She hated being patronized. Roy had already patted her on the head today, asking if she had achieved a full five feet yet, but Roy was her brother. This guy was a stranger.

“Why should you? It wasn’t your fault, unless she’s your mother or something.”

“Well,” he said, “I…”

The man was blushing. Her interest piqued, Carrie waited for him to continue.

“I’m the pastor of her church.”

She hadn’t expected that. “You’re her pastor? Have you ever mentioned to her that stealing is a sin? Because it’s one of the big ones, you know. Number eight on the top ten list.”

He scowled. “Yes, she knows that. We try to keep an eye on her. She doesn’t steal from stores or anything like that.”

“No bank robbery?” Carrie asked. If being the youngest of eight children had taught her anything useful, it was the old cliché: the best defense is a good offense. She wasn’t going to put up with ribbing about the candy. “What does she say when you confront her?”

“The last time someone tried to talk to her about it, she was so embarrassed that she stayed home from church and the community center for three days. When someone went out to check on her, they found she’d fallen and cracked a rib.”

“Ouch.” Carrie sighed. “Don’t worry about the candy. I’ll pick up another one tomorrow.”

“No, really, I’ll get you one.” He stuck out his hand. “I’m Micah Neresen. Interim pastor at the Blessed Church of The Holy Lamb and Sacred Lion.”

“The Blessed Church of the… really?”

“Most people call it the Lamb ‘n Lion,” he said. “You’re welcome to join us. Worship at nine and Sunday school at 10:45.” He pointed. “Two blocks down. You can see it from here when there aren’t any leaves on the trees.”

“The Blessed Church of the Sacred Lamb…”

“No,” he interrupted. “Holy Lamb and Sacred Lion.”

“Ah. Got it. I’m Carrie Strough.”

“Oh!” The man appeared surprised. “I didn’t… I know your brother, and I knew you were coming. I didn’t realize…”

“That I’m white? Is that a problem?”

“No, not at all. Nice to meet you.” He looked around. “Isn’t anyone here to meet you?”

“Roy picked me up at the airport. We stopped at his apartment to drop off my luggage, and then he had to do something here, so I came along. I thought I could poke around before I officially get started.”

“Spying out the land?”

“Just looking around.”

Roy emerged from the hallway. Carrie had forgotten that about him—for such a big man, he could be remarkably quiet.

“Micah!” He shook hands with the pastor. “I haven’t seen you in a while. How’ve you been?”

“Good! I came by to pick up some Thanksgiving dinner fliers, and I met your sister.”

Carrie slipped away before Roy could ruffle her hair and say something annoying. She roamed the lobby as they chatted, impatiently waiting for Roy to free himself so he could give her a tour. Mostly, though, she wanted to see her new office. Would it be big? With a window? Roy said it had been a teacher’s office before they converted the old school into the women’s shelter and community center. It had a desk and two chairs, he said, and a file cabinet and computer. She could put up pictures and get some plants to make it homey.

No, she thought, not homey. Home was a low, rambly building half a world away, behind concrete block walls that didn’t completely shut out the noise of the city. She had a new home now, with Roy, in an apartment on a quiet street near the community center, shaded with leaves that were just starting to turn colors. She had expected commuter trains, crowded city traffic thick with exhaust fumes, slums and modern skyscrapers; she hadn’t realized that a Chicago neighborhood might feel like a small town, with respectable houses and tidy lawns. It was still foreign to her.

~*~
Author bio: 

Cathe Swanson lives in Wisconsin with her husband of 32 years. They enjoy spending time with their family and being outdoors, kayaking, hiking, birdwatching and fishing, but summer is short in Wisconsin, so it’s important to have indoor hobbies, too. 

Cathe has been a quilter and teacher of quiltmaking for over 25 years, and she enjoys just about any kind of creative work, especially those involving fiber or paper.

Her family is growing steadily; she and her husband had three sons, and those boys all grew up and married delightful women and started producing grandchildren: four boys and three girls so far! The long Wisconsin winters are perfect for writing and reading books! 

Cathe enjoys writing stories with eccentric characters of all ages. Her books will make you laugh and make you cry – and then make you laugh again.

~*~
Connect with Cathe:
Newsletter signup - http://www.catheswanson.com/newsletter
Website - http://catheswanson.com
Twitter - https://twitter.com/CatheSwanson 
Facebook - http://www.facebook.com/CatheSwanson
Pinterest - http://www.pinterest.com/catheswanson 
Instagram - http://instagram.com/CatheSwanson 
Goodreads - http://www.goodreads.com/CatheSwanson 
BookBub Author Page - http://www.bookbub.com/authors/cathe-swanson 
Amazon Author Page - http://www.amazon.com/author/catheswanson

~*~
Hope for the Holidays book blurb: Newly arrived from her home in the Congo and armed with a brand-new degree in nonprofit management, Carrie Strough is eager to organize and improve the Unity Plenkiss Community Center. 

Unfortunately, no one wants to be organized, and only Micah Neresen, the charming and handsome pastor of the local church, is interested in her plans. Or is he just interested in Carrie?

With a cast of lively and eccentric characters including a homeless vet with PTSD, a con man, an elderly couple with an over-the-top Christmas display, a feisty committeewoman with a past of her own, and a police investigation, Micah and Carrie wonder if there is any hope for the holidays this year!

~*~

Hope for the Holidays book review: "Readers of Cathe’s first Christmas novella Snow Angels will enjoy revisiting their old friends in Maly Park, but Hope for the Holidays is a stand-alone book sure to please lovers of light mystery and suspense. Cathe’s willingness to tackle life’s deeper questions head-on sets her apart from other authors in this genre. Why does God allow some people to live in desperate circumstances while others live in abundance? Where is God in suffering, tragedy, and PTSD? Cathe’s skillful storytelling in answering these questions brings the reader to a place of hope and trust in the goodness of God." ~Reviewed by Anne E. Phillips

~*~

Info for buying the book: Hope for the Holidays is exclusively available in Making Spirits Bright, a collection of Christmas novellas from Cathe Swanson, Chautona Havig, April Hayman and Toni Shiloh. 

"The Christmas Lights Collection returns with four new, never-before-released novellas in Making Spirits Bright! From romance to cozy mystery, this collection features contemporary novellas sure to get you in the Christmas spirit."

Book purchase link - http://amzn.to/2jVndU9

~*~
Enter this book giveaway contest for your chance to WIN a copy of Cathe's book and the boxed set in which it is included, by filling out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below: 

SaveSavea Rafflecopter giveaway