November New Release Tea Party with Jennifer Hudson Taylor, Kelly Long, Roseanna White, and Carla Olson Gade

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Welcome to tea party to celebrate the releases of Jennifer Hudson Taylor's third book in the MacGregor Legacy, For Love or Liberty, Carla Olson Gade's Christmas short story, "The Memory Shop" in volume 3 of the 2014 two book set of A Cup of Christmas Cheer, and Roseanna M. White's A Soft Breath of Wind, the long-anticipated sequel to her debut biblical novel.

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We are serving some Scottish tea and  shortbread and a cup of Christmas cheer to get you ready for the holiday season! So please do come in and join us and be sure to leave a comment to enter our giveaways.

A Cup of Christmas Cheer (volumes 3 & 4) is a two book, hard-cover gift set of sixteen Christmas tales offered exclusively from Guideposts Books. "The Memory Shop" is featured in volume four, Heartwarming Tales of Christmas Present. Carla also had a story in last year's A Cup of Christmas Cheer (volumes 1 & 2) along with CQ founder Carrie Fancett Pagels.

Carla takes a turn from her historical writing to pen her first contemporary story, albeit with a nostalgic twist. "The Memory Shop" takes place in present day Woodbine, Iowa. The proprietor of a revitalized downtown Main Street memorabilia shop finds his own cherished memories rekindled and relationships renewed at Christmastime.

 

Carla Olson Gade is the author of Pattern for Romance (Abingdon Fiction) and The Shadow Catcher's Daughter. Her novellas "Carving a Future" and "'Tis the Season" appear in Colonial Courtships and best-selling Mistletoe Memories and forthcoming novella "Proving Up" in Homestead Brides (2/15). She lives amidst the tall pines and plentiful lakes of rural Maine. Carla loves to connect with her readers socially and on her website.

Carla is offering one copy of the new A Cup of Christmas Cheer, volume 4, as a giveaway.

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Jennifer here - Hope you are enjoying the tea party, and please, have another piece of shortbread! I love the festivities of the holidays. It's such a joyous time of the year for so many people, and since joy is contagious, it eventually catches up with the rest of us.

For Love or Liberty

She wants to live in the past. He wants to step into the future. 

Will either of them recognize the love between them now?

Coast of NC to Lake Erie, Ohio (1813)

Grieving over her sister’s death, Charlotte Morgan leaves the Carolina coast for the shores of Lake Erie, Ohio, to help care for her niece and nephew. Conrad Deaton is also there to assist his brother after this devastating loss. Soon, Conrad and Charlotte are locked in a battle of wills as the War of 1812 rages around them.

While Conrad criticizes Charlotte for her interest in politics, lectures, and lack of domestic skills, she faults him for his insensitivity, rigid schedules, and harsh discipline. The two just can’t seem to get along. But could all their bickering be a sign of something more—an attraction between the two? Afraid of loving a man duty-bound to war, she ignores the growing affection between them.

Battle breaks out on Lake Erie. As U.S. Naval officers, Conrad and his brother attend their posts. Charlotte turns to fervent prayer and wills her faith to grow strong as she learns to wait upon the Lord. When neither returns, Charlotte fears the worst. 

"Taylor channels Jane Austen as Conrad's and Charlotte's bickering fuels their attraction to each other, in a manner reminiscent of Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth Bennet. Charlotte struggles with trusting the man who left her for the sea, and Conrad fights to show his affection without further alienating the woman he loves."  Publishers Weekly

Jennifer Hudson Taylor is an award winning author of inspirational fiction set in historical Europe & the Carolinas. She provides keynotes and presentations on the publishing industry, the craft of writing, building an author platform & digital marketing.

Both her debut novel, Highland Blessings and Highland Sanctuary, received a 4 1/2 star review from RT Book Reviews. Highland Blessings won the Holt Medallion Award for Best First Book and she has had reviews appear in USA Today, Publisher's Weekly & the Library Journal. Jennifer's work has appeared in national publications, such as Guideposts, Heritage Quest Magazine, RT Book Reviews, and The Military Trader. Jennifer graduated from Elon University with a B.A. in Communications/Journalism. When she isn't writing, Jennifer enjoys spending time with her family, traveling, visiting historical sites, parasailing, horseback riding, cycling, long walks, genealogy and reading. 

Jennifer will be giving away one package of all 3 MacGregor Legacy novels, includes "For Love or Loyalty" book 1, "For Love or Country" book 2, "For Love or Liberty" book 3. 

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Thanks so much to everyone for coming! My characters wouldn't likely know what shortbread is...but they'd invite you to try one of Dinah's famous honey cakes! And oh, would they have some traditions to tell you about, that they celebrate with the Church of Rome at their Italian villa...

A Soft Breath of Wind

A gift that has branded her for life

Zipporah is thirteen when the Spirit descends upon her, opening her eyes to a world beyond the physical goings-on of the villa outside Rome she has always called home. Within hours, she learns what serving the Lord can cost. Forever scarred after a vicious attack, she knows her call is to use this discernment to protect the Way. She knows she must serve the rest of her life at Tutelos, where the growing Roman church has congregated. She knows her lot is set.

Yet is it so wrong to wish that her master, the kind and handsome young Benjamin Visibullis, will eventually see her as something more than a sister in Christ?

Samuel Asinius, adoptive son of a wealthy Roman, has always called Benjamin brother. When their travels take them to Jerusalem for Passover, the last thing he expects is to cross paths with the woman who sold him into slavery as a child the mother he long ago purged from his heart. His sister, Dara, quickly catches Benjamin s eye, but Samuel suspects there is something dark at work.

When Dara, a fortune-teller seeking the will of a shadowy master determined to undermine the Way, comes into the path of Zipporah, a whirlwind descends upon them all.

Only the soft wind of the Spirit can heal their scars...with a love neither divination nor discernment could foresee. 

Roseanna is offering winner's choice of paperback or digital copy of A Soft Breath of Wind (US addresses only for paperback, but everyone is eligible for the digital).

Roseanna M. White pens her novels beneath her Betsy Ross flag, with her Jane Austen action figure watching over her. When not writing fiction, she’s homeschooling her two small children, editing and designing, and pretending her house will clean itself. Roseanna is the author of 9 historical novels and novellas. You can learn more about her and her stories at www.RoseannaMWhite.com.

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Kelly Marie Long's new releases are the novella "A Christmas on Ice Mountain" in  An Amish Christmas Quilt and The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain. Both are part of a series set in Pennsylvania. The story line in the series revolves around the natural marvel/phenomenon of Ice Mountain.  Amish Mennonite live there and some of their customs are different from other American Amish.

This novella collection is published by Zebra, a Kensington imprint. All of Kelly's books have been published by Christian publishing houses up until now and this is her first foray into the secular market.

The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain by Kelly Long

Here are the blurbs:

The Amish Bride of Ice Mountain

Like most Mountain Amish girls, Mary King has always dreamed of her wedding day. But she never imagined that a sudden, irresistible kiss would result in marriage to the handsome Englischer professor studying her unique community. Or that doing the truly honorable thing means keeping their relationship chaste so both she and Dr. Jude Lyons can someday go their separate ways.
But when Mary accompanies her husband-in-name-only to Atlanta to meet his wealthy, overbearing family, she's tempted more than ever by Jude's kindness, humor--and vulnerability. And when a wrenching misunderstanding causes her to return heartbroken to her remote Appalachian home, she's certain she's lost the real love they have found...and the shared future she's come to want so much. But a crisis of more than faith will work surprising miracles--and show Mary that love is strong enough to make the impossible come true.

A Christmas On Ice Mountain
By Kelly Long

Matthew Beider and Laurel Lapp's secret wish to marry is a gift their feuding fathers definitely won't accept. And trying to settle their dats' long-standing quarrel is making their holiday anything but merry. Can rediscovering the joys and friendships of Christmas past finally turn their families' futures bright?



Bio:
Kelly Long is an award winning multi-published best selling Christian fiction author.  She is giving away a copy of the Christmas book An Amish Christmas Quilt, which contains her novella.



Do you have any family traditions that come from your family heritage? What are they?