Cozy Christmas Reads: JoAnn's story

Interview with JoAnn Durgin, author of A Serendipity Christmas:

Alexis: What does your story’s title, “A Serendipity Christmas” mean? Is there a special significance for it as related to your story? Explain. 

JoAnn: Serendipity is the name of the novel’s setting, a charming small town outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The town was introduced in the first book in the series, The Christmas Challenge (released last Christmas). The word serendipity is whimsical and means “finding something valuable or delightful when you’re not looking for it and least expect it.” Isn’t that fun?

Alexis: Victoria (Tori) Harper is the female lead in this story. What is she like? Describe her looks, personality and heart. 

JoAnn: Introduced in the first book of this series (sister of Donovan Harper, the hero in The Christmas Challenge), Tori works as a paralegal in a criminal defense firm in Philadelphia (a source of concern for her family and others), but she’s taking a month of accrued/paid vacation time. After living on her own for almost a decade, she’s back in her parents’ home in Serendipity and “solid” (her term) with God. The reasons behind the move back home are gradually revealed throughout the book.

Although smart and quick with a comeback, Tori’s sarcasm hides a very tender yet wounded heart. Physically, Tori is 5’8” tall, blue-eyed with dimpled cheeks and long dark hair. After battling image and body issues when she was younger, Tori still doesn’t feel quite “worthy” in some ways. She’s not one to sit still, so she’s helping out at HarperMorgan, her brother and sister-in-law’s advertising agency in Serendipity. Donovan asks her to join the HarperMorgan team for The Christmas Challenge, but then she finds out Donovan also asked the irritatingly handsome Henry Adams to join the team…

Alexis: Henry Adams is the male lead in this story. What is he like? Describe his looks, personality and outlook on life. 

JoAnn: Henry is American, but born to English parents, so he speaks with the proper “Queen’s English” accent (think Colin Firth and Hugh Grant) and prefers calling her by her given name. He is six feet tall, athletic, with warm brown eyes and wavy dark hair. A graduate of NYU and Columbia Law School, Henry practiced for several years in a Manhattan firm. For reasons stemming from becoming a Christian, he left New York and settled in Serendipity. Although he spars with Tori, Henry’s true generosity, compassion, and gentlemanly qualities become readily apparent.

Alexis: Why is Tori resistant to Henry’s charms? 

JoAnn: After a string of failed relationships—and after her most recent boyfriend, Quint, took off for Mexico with his tattoo artist—Tori’s had a moratorium on dating for the past year. Henry had also briefly dated her now sister-in-law, Claire (the heroine in The Christmas Challenge). Tori thought of Henry as somewhat arrogant and pompous, partly because of his English formality and wry sense of humor. Now that she’s home in Serendipity for the month, and as Tori spends more time getting to know the man she’s nicknamed “Snooty Scrooge,” she discovers they have much more in common than she could have imagined. Let the fun begin!

Alexis: The Coffee Nook sounds neat. What is it like? Describe its significance. 

JoAnn: In many of my books, particularly those set in a small town, a coffee shop, café, or diner, is a central meeting place for the town’s residents—including Tori and Henry. It’s the place where everyone meets, greets, and catches up on the news from their neighbors and friends. One of the sweet senior citizens (Mary, introduced in the first book), starts a new ministry in The Coffee Nook, and you can find out what that ministry is in the book!

Alexis: What about writing this book brought joy to your heart? 

JoAnn: In many ways, writing my books is a way I dig deep into God’s word, and A Serendipity Christmas is no exception. As my characters grow and learn biblical truths in their story, I never fail to learn, as well. One of the highest compliments a reader can pay me is that she either gleans a nugget of truth or wisdom from God’s word or that she’s convicted to examine, evaluate, or change something in her own life as a result of reading my book. What a blessing!

Alexis: Did you have a holiday song playlist when writing this story? If so, share some of your favorite songs on it. 

JoAnn: Most definitely! I still listen to CDs, and I recently visited my local Lifeway store to stock up! I listen to the WOW Christmas CDs, Jordan Smith, Danny Gokey, Casting Crowns, Chris Tomlin, and many other Christian artists. Depending on what I’m writing, I sometimes prefer instrumental music, so I’ve also been listening to Lindsey Stirling’s new holiday CD, as well as the amazing Piano Guys. “O Holy Night” is one of my all-time favorite Christmas songs, and it’s featured in a pivotal moment in this novel.

Alexis: What do you want your readers to remember most about this book? 

JoAnn: There are events, often in our childhood—both good and bad—that can shape or even change our lives in some way. In recent days, these types of life events have been referred to as “watershed moments.” Many of these moments come from our relationships with our families. Forgiveness plays a large factor in Henry’s story. Feeling worthy has always been a struggle for Tori. I’d like for the stories of the two main characters to give readers hope—and isn’t the Christmas season all about hope?—that no matter where they’ve been, where they are now, and the struggles they’ve faced, God is there, He listens, and He walks beside them. Accepting that Christ paid the price for the sins of man is truly the greatest gift of all, no matter the season.

Alexis: Thanks for the interview, JoAnn! Do you have closing thoughts to share? 

JoAnn: Thank you so much for allowing me to visit with you and your readers today, Alexis! I’ve enjoyed sharing about Tori and Henry’s story. The book is only 99 cents and releases on December 3rd. Why a Sunday, you might ask? Well, that’s my birthday, and I started a fun tradition last year with The Christmas Challenge (also only 99 cents!) of releasing a Christmas-themed, full-length novel on that day as my holiday gift to readers (although they can be read at any point in the year!).

Blessings to all for a happy, healthy, and joyous Christmas season!

~*~
Author Bio:

A Serendipity Christmas is the second in USA Today Bestselling Author JoAnn Durgin’s Serendipity Christmas Series, following The Christmas Challenge (2016). 

JoAnn is also the author of the beloved Lewis Legacy Series as well as Prelude, the prequel to the series. 

Her other works include the Amazon bestselling Catching Serenity, Heart’s Design and its sequel Gentle Like the Rain, The Wondrous Love Series, Echoes of Edinburgh, Perchance to Dream, Whisper to My Heart, The Valentine Verse, Thee Will I Cherish, and the popular Starlight Christmas Series.

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Blurb for JoAnn Durgin's book, A Serendipity Christmas: The holiday season has rolled around once again, and the townspeople of quaint Serendipity, Pennsylvania, are preparing for their annual Christmas Challenge. This year, the funds raised from the various events and activities will benefit the continuing relief efforts in the aftermath of a brutal hurricane season. 

Victoria (Tori) Harper agrees to participate in the more physically demanding sporting events of The Christmas Challenge alongside her brother and new father, Donovan, on behalf of his HarperMorgan Advertising Agency. But why has Donovan invited the insufferable and irritatingly appealing Henry Adams to join their team? The man seems determined to drive her to distraction, but Tori’s not about to fall under the charms of another handsome man with a smooth line, even delivered with Henry’s smooth-as-silk British accent.

As the youngest attorney in town, Henry has grown to love little Serendipity, and especially his verbal sparring sessions with Victoria Harper in The Coffee Nook and elsewhere around town. She might call him a Snooty Scrooge, but he’s determined to win her heart. If he can’t win that personal challenge by the end of the holiday season, he might as well move on and accept a tempting job offer from a New York law firm.

The second in The Serendipity Christmas Series, following The Christmas Challenge (2016), join Henry as he seeks to win Tori’s love and they’re both reminded of how God is always faithful in His promises. A Serendipity Christmas celebrates the very best of the holiday season—love, faith, family, small-town charm, and the true miracles of the Christmas season.

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Connect with JoAnn:
Website - www.joanndurgin.com
Facebook - www.facebook.com/authorjoanndurgin
Twitter - https://twitter.com/gr8treads

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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: 

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25 Days of Christmas Stories: Interview with Amanda Cabot, author of The Christmas Star Bride

Let's welcome our featured author today, Amanda Joy Cabot! She's a former director of Information Technology who now is blessed to be able to write stories on a full-time basis. 

Amanda is here to talk about her contribution to The 12 Brides of Christmas Collection of stories, featuring her novella "The Christmas Star Bride." Here's the cover of Amanda's book:

Here's the book blurb for The Christmas Star Bride: 

Because love isn’t limited to the very young. 

Esther Hathaway lost her one true love at Gettysburg twenty years ago, but that doesn’t stop her from celebrating her niece’s wedding by commissioning Jeremy Snyder to paint her portrait. 

Will Esther's prayers for God to ease her loneliness be answered by a wounded vet?

"The Christmas Star Bride" is part of The 12 Brides of Christmas, twelve historical novellas that celebrate the joy of love at the most wonderful time of the year. 

 Each novella is available for download for only 99 cents.

Now on to the interview about this lovely book! *Words from Alexis are in bold, words by Amanda are not in bold...

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Alexis: Tell us about The 12 Brides of Christmas story collection. How did you first hear about it? Who invited you contribute a story? What were your reasons for accepting the invitation?

Amanda: I’ve always loved reading – and writing – Christmas novellas, in part because it’s the season of miracles. For me, that makes the stories extra special, so when my agent told me Barbour was looking for Christmas novellas, I knew I wanted to send them a proposal. I feel blessed to have had my story chosen, because I understand that they received an exceptionally large number of proposals for this particular collection.

What can you tell us about your story, “The Christmas Star Bride,” (book #10 in the collection) without giving away the plot?

Stories of second chances have always appealed to me. That made writing The Christmas Star Bride a delight, since it provided the opportunity to give both my hero and my heroine a second chance. Prior to the outbreak of the Civil War, each of them was close to being married, but the war changed all that. Esther’s fiancé was killed and Jeremy’s fiancée – well, let’s just say she decided that marriage to him wasn’t in her plan. My heart ached for both Esther and Jeremy, especially since the wounds the war inflicted were slow to heal, but being able to give them a happy ending made me sigh with pleasure.

How did you create the characters for your story? Tell us how you chose their names, decided on their appearance, made their traits and flaws.

The most important thing to me when I created Esther and Jeremy was the fact that they’re older than the typical hero and heroine. I wanted to tell a story of second chances and to show readers that love isn’t only for the very young.

Esther Hathaway is your heroine in “The Christmas Star Bride.” What inspired you when writing her part in the story?

Esther’s a giver. All her life, she’s been the one who’s taken care of others – first her parents, then her orphaned niece. She reminds me of several women I know who put everyone else ahead of themselves. While those women didn’t necessarily find a happily-ever-after, I wanted Esther to have one.

What does Esther love most about her fictional life? What are her unique challenges, hopes and dreams? Does she have any regrets? Explain.

As I mentioned before, Esther’s a giver, but for the first time in her life, she has a home she can call her own, and she’s unwilling to leave it, even to stay with her niece. Her primary regret is that her fiancé was killed during the Civil War, taking her dreams of marriage and children with him.

Jeremy Snyder is the hero of this story, whom Esther hires to paint her niece’s portrait. What is Jeremy’s first impression of Esther? Does it prove to be a lasting impression? Explain.

Poor Jeremy! Though he desperately needs the commission Esther is offering him, he’s reluctant to accept it, because she reminds him of the woman he once loved. But, fortunately for both him and Esther, he’s able to look beyond the surface to see the real Esther.

Tell us about Jeremy as the hero. Describe his looks and share his dreams. What’s his backstory?

Though he’d once thought he’d spend his life as a farmer, the war changed all that. While it took many things from Jeremy, including his dream of marriage and children, it gave him a new dream: painting.

What role does your characters’ faith in God play in this fictional story?

Both Esther and Jeremy’s faith sustains them through the most difficult times of their lives and gives them the strength to face each day.

What’s the moral of the story?

That God’s plans for us are always good. His timing is not ours, but it’s always perfect.

As an author, what do you love most about writing Christmas stories?

I love the fact that, for most of us, this is the happiest time of the year. I also love knowing that for those who least expect it, it can be the season of miracles, a time to find peace and joy. It’s a pleasure to share those aspects of Christmas with readers.

Thanks for the interview, Amanda! Would you like to share any closing thoughts?

I’ve enjoyed our conversation so much, Alexis. Thanks for inviting me to be part of your blog and for introducing readers to my story. I wish you and them the most joyous of Christmases as we celebrate the true reason for the season.

~*~ 

Author bio:

Amanda Cabot is the bestselling author of more than thirty novels including the Texas Dreams trilogy, the Westward Winds series, and Christmas Roses. 

A former director of Information Technology, she has written everything from technical books and articles for IT professionals to mysteries for teenagers and romances for all ages. 

Amanda is delighted to now be a full-time writer of Christian romances, living happily ever after with her husband in Wyoming. 

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Buy Amanda's Christmas books:

The Christmas Star Bride on Amazon, B&N, and CBD

Christmas Roses on Amazon, B&N, and CBD

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Connect with Amanda:
Website -  www.amandacabot.com 

Blog - http://amandajoycabot.blogspot.com/ 
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/amanda.j.cabot
Twitter - https://twitter.com/AmandaJoyCabot/ 

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Amanda would like to give away one copy of her other Christmas book, Christmas Roses to one resident of the United States of America. Here's the cover of the book:

If you want to have a chance to WIN this book, fill out the entry form on the Rafflecopter widget below which will qualify you to enter this book giveaway contest:

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Love is in the Air: Island Refuge book review and excerpt

Author Kimberly Rose Johnson returns to the blog today to share a review of and excerpt from her book Island Refuge.

Enjoy! 

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Blurb for Island Refuge:

Five-Star-Chef Zoe Griffin walked away from her dream job. Did she make a mistake? 

Her engagement off, Zoe Griffin retreats to tiny Wildflower Island in the Puget Sound. Hiding out as a cook and maid at a shabby bed-and-breakfast seems crazy for a chef who’s used to running her own five-star kitchen. And just as she starts to feel at home, her klutzy mishaps make Zoe fear her handsome new boss will fire her. 

Dr. Nick Jackson is done with medicine, and owning a B&B is as far from doctoring as he can get. He needs help, but his only employee’s mistakes give him doubts. As Zoe lets her defenses down, Nick begins to see a competent and caring woman. One whose wounds are as deep as his own. But as they fall for each other, Nick and Zoe must learn the hardest lesson of all—to forgive. Only then can they heal the past and embrace the future . . . together. 

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Review of Kimberly’s book, Island Refuge:

This is a sweet romance set on Wildflower Island in the Puget Sound. Leaving his past behind, Nick Jackson is starting a new chapter in his life as the owner of an old B&B. Heartbroken Zoe Griffin leaves her past behind and is now the chef/housekeeper at a B&B. As they work together, can they really leave their pasts behind, or will it follow them to Wildflower Island? Will they open their hearts to forgive and allow healing of their past hurts?

I enjoyed Nick and Zoe's story showing their struggles as they deal with past hurts. The other characters staying at the B&B capture your heart as well. I like the way the author showed the characters vulnerability and their struggles with life-challenges much like the ones we all have faced in our own lives.

I received a proof e-copy by the author for my honest review

~ Review written by Tina Rice on GoodReads

Source - https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/25175903-island-refuge

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Kimberly says, “The excerpt is taken from chapter 11 and found on page 94-96” (of the novel Island Refuge):

From his place at the reception desk, Nick looked out the window beside the front door and breathed a little easier. Zoe was home! The day hadn’t been a disaster, but it could have gone more smoothly. The front door swung open, and he smiled. “Welcome back. How was your day?”

“Interesting. Yours?”

“The same.” He stood and walked around the reception desk.

She glanced from side to side, obviously trying to see if Olivia had destroyed the house. She had more than made her opinion clear about her lack of faith in the new girl, and unfortunately Zoe had been at least partially correct. Olivia did not know her way around a kitchen.

“But I’m glad you’re back.”

A smug smile rested on her face, and a gleam lit her eyes.

This was a side of Zoe he hadn’t witnessed. “The couple staying in your room checked out early, and I forgot to have Olivia clean it.”

Zoe shrugged. “I’ll take care of it. Why’d they leave after making such a fuss about staying until Monday?”

“Some work emergency.” He stepped past her and ambled into the kitchen.

Zoe followed and caught her breath. “What happened in here?”

“Olivia tried to make scones. I sent her home and told her I’d clean up. Kind of reminds me of your first morning here.”

Zoe crossed her arms. “That was an accident. This is—”

“A disaster zone. I’m still not sure how egg got on the ceiling.”

“Looks like she used an electric mixer instead of stirring by hand.” She turned to him with a sweet smile. “I’m glad you’re cleaning this and not me.”

“I’ll get right on that, but first I need to make sure everything in your room is intact. You can’t be too careful.” Nick slid the key into the lock and pushed her bedroom door open. He walked around the room. “Looks like everything is here.”

“I should hope so. I can’t imagine people running off with your stuff. Then again, things disappeared from the restaurant all the time.”

“Exactly. When you’re free, would you mind making up a checklist for Olivia? She’s insecure, and I think a list would help her.”

“Sure.” She strode to the bed and yanked the covers back. In the process, a decorative pillow flew up and smacked Nick in the side of the head, making him jump. She giggled. “Oops.”

He waggled his brows, grabbed the pillow from the floor, and tossed it at her hitting her on the back. “Oops.”

Her eyes widened, and her lips tipped up. She gripped a bed pillow in her hands. “You asked for it.”

He ran around to the other side of the bed and snatched up the other pillow. “I’m armed and dangerous.” He chuckled, unable to hide his pleasure in their game. Zoe looked ready to pounce.

She darted around the bed and swung the pillow, hitting his shoulder.

“Is that the best you can do?” He wiggled his fingers, egging her on.

“Nope.” She belted his head, laughing.

He whipped a pillow to the side and swung, hitting her across the back as she bolted to the foot of the bed. “You can dish it out, but you can’t take it, huh?” He knew the woman was feisty, but she had a competitive streak too.

“Bring it on.” Zoe flashed white teeth.

A frenzy ensued that ended in fits of laughter and Zoe waving the white pillow case. “I surrender. I’m sorry I started it, even if it was accidental.”

He caught his breath and stopped mid-swing, struck by how beautiful she was when she smiled. Her entire face glowed. Granted the pillow fight had turned her cheeks pink, but it was more than that. She was gorgeous. He stepped closer and tucked a loose hair behind her ear, stopping himself barely in time from cradling her cheek in the palm of his hand.

Zoe’s questioning eyes searched his, her strawberry red lips parted.

He couldn’t take his eyes from her mouth. It begged to be kissed. He titled his head and inched toward her.

Stop!

He sobered and straightened. He ran his hand over his face. What was he thinking?

~*~

Author bio:

Kimberly Rose Johnson, soon to be empty-nester, lives in the Pacific Northwest with her husband and their yellow lab. Island Refuge is her sixth published book and the first in a series of three. Kimberly enjoys long walks, chocolate, and mochas, not necessarily in that order. 

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Buy Kimberly’s book:
Amazon - http://amzn.to/1IlZqmD
Barnes & Noble - http://bit.ly/1F1RmGC

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Connect with Kimberly:
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/KimberlyRoseJohnson
Pinterest - https://www.pinterest.com/krose1990/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/kimberlyrosejoh
Website - http://kimberlyrjohnson.com/