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Christmas For The Cowboy
If you are looking for a cozy feel-good novel for the holiday season, Christmas For The Cowboy by C.H. Eryl is for you. This holiday romance has all the special ingredients needed for a Hallmark Christmas movie. First, we have Rowdy, a now famous bronc rider, who left the town of Clover Spring ten years ago. We also have Dee, a strong and independent real estate agent who doesn’t let a man slow her down. But when Rowdy returns to town, Dee suddenly remembers what love felt like all those years ago. From heart-wrenching subplots to adorable romances, Christmas For The Cowboy is a must-read this Christmas season.
Christmas For The Cowboy is a simple feel-good romance that touches on subjects we have all gone through. However, this is an emotionally-charged melodrama that doesn’t try to be anything more than a cozy romance. Ultimately, it wraps it up in a cute little holiday bow. With this, I felt that grief was one of this story’s central themes, and it was handled with grace.
I enjoyed the relationship between Dakota and Rowdy, but I would have enjoyed their banter more if the dialogue had been a bit deeper and more flowing. Rowdy’s love for his profession is evident, and I enjoyed that dimension of his character, as I felt it is a unique one within the romance genre, but I would have loved to have dived a little deeper into that. I can understand why things are kept at a surface level, though; this ensures readers that are not familiar with it can understand what he’s talking about, so don’t worry, you don’t need to be an expert to follow along. Dee is also a strong character, and I think she brought a good balance to the story. Setting aside a few clichés, because what romance novel doesn’t have them, I think her character fits the archetype nicely, and long-time fans of the romance genre will feel at home with her character. Finally, rowdy’s parents were lovable side characters; it would be nice to read a story just about them and their young romance. I could see it being like Nicholas Sparks’ The Notebook.
I enjoyed Christmas For The Cowboy and would recommend it to readers looking for a light romance novel to get them into the Christmas spirit. It’s the perfect love story for curling up with a cup of hot chocolate and spending an afternoon by the fire.
Pages: 225 | ASIN: B0BDBFK24R
Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree
Needles is a wispy little Christmas tree with high hopes for the holiday. He’s so eager to get to the Christmas tree lot to fulfill his dream of being a beautiful Christmas tree that brings joy to people. Unfortunately for Needles, no one wants a lean tree. Will Needles find the perfect family, one that will cherish him? Find out in Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree.
Author Richard Wagner has created a charming Christmas picture book that will inspire children to never give up hope. This is also a highly relatable story as well. I’m sure that many people have gone to the tree lot looking for a big beautiful tree, snickering or ignoring the small meager trees. This beautiful book sheds light on those lonely trees, and will certainly make you want to buy one for yourself.
The illustrations by Sydni Kruger are absolutely gorgeous. Each page is illustrated from edge to edge. Each piece looks like it could have been painted by Bob Ross. I was especially drawn to the scene where Emily finds Needles on the side of the road. The deep purples on this page really set the mood.
Needles, the Forgotten Christmas Tree is an inspiring children’s book that is filled with vibrant illustrators that kids will be looking at long after the story is over. This is the perfect kid’s book for the holiday season, or for any parent or teacher who wants to educate young readers on the importance of perseverance.
Pages: 38 | ASIN: B0BNLWZP2T
The Lost Smile
Mr. Jingles is a jolly Snowman who dwells in the picturesque village of Pinetree. Mr. Jingles’ big, bright smile brings cheer to everyone, as he greets the animals and villagers of his quaint village home. He and his friends, Mr. Pringles, Mr. Candy, Rusty the Robin, and all the children of the village simply adore the holiday season. Every year, Mr. Jingles is tasked with decorating the Christmas Tree for the annual Carol Service. But this year, things take a turn for the worst, as Mr. Jingles encounters a terrible winter storm, and loses his beautiful smile. Feeling hopeless and alone, Mr. Jingles wanders far from home, the grief in his heart weighing down the once-cheerful Snowman. Can Mr. Jingles hope to regain his lost smile in time, or will Christmas forever be ruined for the village of Pinetree?
It is rare to find a book that draws the reader in, presenting such a magnificently enchanting world that it is easy to forget that you are reading. The Lost Smile by Lizzie Jayne is one of those books. Each page creates a glorious atmosphere of winter splendor, as the story of happy snowman Mr. Jingles unfolds. Each detail of the little village is presented so perfectly it feels almost as if you are right there beside Mr. Jingles. And when tragedy strikes, pages turn even faster as Mr. Jingles’ adventure takes him far from home.
Each lovely illustration is hand-painted, and adds a special touch of magic as each brushstroke exudes the love and warmth that went into creating this captivating children’s book. Each character is full of life, and I couldn’t wait to see what happened next. Coming to a perfect conclusion, this charming tale not only recounts the story of Mr. Jingles, but has a poignant and beautiful message for all who read it.
I highly recommend The Lost Smile for storytelling excellence and gorgeous illustrations. This delightful picture book is suitable for ages seven and up, and all who love a heartfelt holiday tale. This book is superb for independent as well as group reading. This book shares a story of hope in spite of tragedy, and finding the true treasure within. The Lost Smile is certain to become a family favorite this Christmas season.
Hope’s Broken Snow Globe
Hope’s Broken Snow Globe by Kelly Chang Rickert is a heartfelt and honest story about a young girl named Hope, who is learning to cope with her parent’s divorce. It’s a story about love, family, and how difficult it can be for kids when their parents decide they can no longer live together.
Since Hope is young, she doesn’t fully grasp the full reasoning behind her parents’ divorce and believes the actual reason is because she broke her family’s snow globe last Christmas. With this in mind, Hope sets out on a personal quest to repair the broken snow globe, with the expectation that this will also repair her family.
I really enjoyed this book, and especially loved the physical representation of Hope’s parents’ divorce as “broken,” like the snow globe. The story offers a great comparison for children, so they visually understand the message of the book in the most relatable way. The book’s illustrations were warm and comforting, which I found to reflect the overall spirit of the story.
Hope’s Broken Snow Globe is an exceptional holiday story. It’s an emotional but important read for children and a great way to start the conversation about separating families. This book is a wonderful way of facilitating helpful and healing communication about a difficult topic, and I think it will be a great addition to your home library.
Pages 34 | ASIN 173526184X
Sled With Me: I Love You to the North Pole and Beyond
Sled With Me is an enchanting children’s book that takes readers on an imaginative journey to the North Pole. Readers will see a cozy village, visit the workshop where elves are busy making toys, and see Santa and his reindeer all in one fun-filled night.
In this charming kid’s book author Sharon Purtill tells a magical holiday adventure all through rhyme. Each rhyme is short, cute, and perfect for the season. The language is perfect for parents to read to their young children, or for early readers to read on their own.
Every page of this picture book is illustrated from edge to edge with vibrant and sharp illustrations that bring each scene to life. There is so much detail on every page that children will surely spend several minutes on each page picking out all the different things, especially when they get to the North Pole and see the cute polar bears on skates.
This is a wonderfully detailed children’s book that brings together all of your favorite holiday characters. This book is so much more than a Christmas story. It shows children how to use their imagination to take them wherever they want to go. Sled With Me is a delightful children’s book that will inspire your child’s next dream adventure.
Pages: 37 | ASIN: B0BMVYS1LF
Family History Is Important
The Christmas Keepsake follows a young woman who must decide what’s more important, her dream job or her boyfriend, and seeks advice from her wise grandmother. What was the inspiration for the setup to your story?
Years ago, my grandmother shared with me a few events from her youth. As a teenager, Grandma had begun to sing at a local theater in her small town. But when her mother was diagnosed with kidney failure (a death sentence in those days), my grandmother was shocked by the advice her mother gave to her—advice destined to change the course of Grandma’s life. I won’t give any spoilers, but around these tidbits I wove a story.
What were the morals you were trying to capture while creating your characters?
I look back on time I spent with my grandmother, and wish I’d asked her more questions. Seniors, whether family or friends, are a wealth of fascinating stories, and the truth is, family history is important. The past is important. If we take time to pay attention, it can teach us a lot.
What were some themes that were important for you to explore in this short story?
Decisions often require courage. Especially when it means leaving a “safe” path to take a chance on what seems like an uncertain and scary future.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m very excited about my next novel, scheduled for release in February 2023. The Rose of Washington Square: A Novel of Rose O’Neill, Creator of the Kewpie Doll, is the story of the woman who wowed the world with her iconic creation. But Rose did much more than invent her magical elves. She was also a respected illustrator, artist, sculptor, novelist, poet, philanthropist, and passionate suffragist. I can’t wait to share her story!
Author Links: GoodReads | Twitter | Facebook | Website
2005 – Just before Christmas, Janelle Young accepts her dream job which means a move from the Midwest to California. When the man she loves insists that she decline the offer or risk the end of their relationship, Janelle is stunned. Torn over what to do, she seeks advice from her octogenarian grandmother, who shares a long-ago dilemma of her own; one that took place in 1938.
1938 – During the final years of the Great Depression, Peggy Norwood is a promising soprano who yearns for a career on stage. She ignores the attentions of a handsome young stranger to stay focused on her dream. But when her mother receives a dire diagnosis, the future is no longer clear, and Peggy is forced to make an impossible choice.
Can a tale from the past, a treasured Christmas ornament, and a touch of magic, guide Janelle’s future?
This is an inspirational small-town story filled with the healing spirit of the holiday season.
This Has Been A Mind-blowing Journey
Christmas Begins with Christ is a beautiful picture book explaining the meaning of Christmas and the role that Christ plays in the season. What was the inspiration for your story?
It’s a wild backstory. I wrote this book last year when I was pregnant with my 2nd child. I was determined to write an adult fantasy trilogy that I’d plotted, but life got in the way. I was moving out of state, juggling a toddler, pregnant, and knew I had many sleepless nights ahead of me. I had to shelve the series in my head that I desperately wanted to put on a bookshelf. It crushed my soul a little bit.
So one night I said a prayer to Jesus asking for help with my writing aspirations. Apparently He heard me, because out of nowhere an idea for a picture book fell into my head upon waking up from a pregnant-woman nap. The story was about Him.
I asked, and He definitely answered. I didn’t have time to write an adult novel, but I could write a poem for kids.
I never set out to become a children’s book author, so this has been a mind-blowing journey for me. I’m incredibly grateful that my prayer was answered in the most unexpected way.
What were some educational aspects that were important for you to include in this children’s book?
There were three key points I wanted to teach kids. The first is that even though you can’t see Jesus, He’s always with us. I’ve seen a lot of children’s books insert Jesus physically alongside kids into a modern-day scene. I wanted to have a more realistic depiction. I emphasized that Jesus is invisible, but we can still feel Him, talk to Him, and see His guidance.
The second educational aspect was to teach that Jesus’s love lives in us. When we share our love through acts of kindness, it creates a ripple effect of joy.
That segues into my third teaching point, which was incorporating counting to ten. Using numbers was a simple way to demonstrate how love grows.
The art in this book is fantastic. What was the art collaboration process like with illustrator Marissa Napolitano?
We talked in-depth on the phone about my vision for the book before she started illustrating. It was important for me to represent Jesus’s presence through the usage of light. It’s one of the main reasons why I chose her to be my illustrator. I thought she was incredibly gifted at drawing light that looked divine and otherworldly.
I sent her a document in the beginning of the project with art notes for each page to communicate what I envisioned. If I didn’t have a specific idea, I gave her a generalized concept and let her run with it. Often I would draw detailed, ugly sketches of what I wanted and emailed them to her. She always turned it into something magical.
What is the next book that you are working on and when will it be available?
I’m currently writing another rhyming book about Jesus for children that I’m extremely excited about. It’s not a holiday book, so you can read it any time of the year. Without giving too much away, the theme is to “let go, let God” and trust in His plan. What excites me the most is that it hasn’t been done before and has the potential to impact both children and adults.
I can’t wait to get it illustrated! Hopefully I’ll publish it in the fall of 2023 or early 2024. I also plan to write my adult fantasy series. It’s alive and breathing in my head, so I have to write it. That will definitely take me longer, but I’m determined to do it.
Author Links: GoodReads | Website | Instagram | Website
This rhyming concept book introduces how Jesus is always in our lives. Beautiful illustrations show Christ’s supportive spiritual light around us. When we share God’s light through acts of love and joy, it creates a ripple effect. Children will learn their numbers by counting how happiness grows from the true spirit of Christmas.
Both children and adults are reminded through lyrical prose to pause and connect with Jesus. Christmas Begins With Christ is the perfect gift for the holiday season that’s sure to inspire families for years to come.
LITERARY TITAN 