"A Marriage in Middlebury" by Anita Higman (Review & Giveaway)

ISBN: 9781426733871
Paperback $14.99
Abingdon Press

About the book: What happens when the matchmaker finds a match for herself?Charlotte Rose Hill has been serving up country delicacies, uniquely blended teas, and matchmaking advice for her quirky but beloved customers for more than 10 years. But for her, marriage seems like an elusive butterfly, always out of reach. At 18, Charlotte fell in love with a young man, Sam Wilder, but his family convinced her to walk away from their relationship. She did, and then became engaged to another man, who later died before they were married. Now, more than a decade later, Charlotte finds that she still has feelings for her first love. Initially thrilled to learn that Sam has come home to Middlebury, Texas, Charlotte is devastated to learn that he’s brought someone with him: his fiancée. But all is not lost when the townsfolk decide to get involved. Will Charlotte and Sam find their way back to each other?

My thoughts:  Anita Higman is one of my favorite authors. Well, I have many I enjoy. But I do count Ms. Higman as a favorite. I have reviewed several of her books and look forward to more in the future.

Today we’re looking at A Marriage in Middlebury which takes place in a small town and primarily at the local Tea Shop owned by spinster (in her 30s) Charlotte who is also the sweetheart of the small town.  Charlotte seems to have a special way of making life just a little better for each and every person she knows.  Open the book, turn the pages, and fall in love with Charlotte. The question is, “Why isn’t Charlotte married?”

Another you’ll love is young Obie who is from a fractured family and whose troubles only begin once the book starts. So be prepared to open your heart a bit to him.

As you meet each character, you discover bits and pieces about them and find that there are missed opportunities, secrets, and broken spirits that need healing.  As Anita Higman crafts her characters and weaves their stories toward the book's ending, you will most likely be surprised at just how it does end and at the secrets revealed.

Friends, this is another Higman book I can recommend to you.

GIVEAWAY: Thanks to the generosity of Anita Higman, one of Chat With Vera's readers has the opportunity to win their own copy A Marriage in Middlebury.  Begins November 26 & ENDS December 19 @ 12:01 a.m. Open to those in USA mainland addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway 

About the author: Best-selling and award-winning author, Anita Higman, has over thirty books published (several coauthored) for adults and children. She’s been a Barnes & Noble “Author of the Month” for Houston and has a BA degree, combining speech communication, psychology, and art. Anita loves good movies, exotic teas, and brunch with her friends.

DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of A Marriage in Middlebury in exchange for my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

"Silver Bells" by Deborah Raney

About the book: Michelle Penn has dropped out of college to work as a reporter for a tiny weekly newspaper. The boss's son, Robert Merrick III, is quickly making her forget all about her former sweetheart, Kevin, who has shipped out to Vietnam. Rob loves the newspaper business but feels trapped working for his father. He dreams of having his own newspaper, but now that he's met Michelle, she is what he wants most of all. Rob is forbidden by office policy to date Michelle, but if he were to quit his job, he'd have nothing to offer her.

As snow blankets the town, it seems that the gifts Rob and Michelle most desire -- each other -- are out of reach. But then, they didn't count on a small Christmas miracle.

My thoughts:  When the book started out, I thought, "Oh my, a cute contemporary silly-girl-meets-handsome-boy" story," and while that is right, it also develops a bit of meat as the story progresses.

Michelle is breaking into the world of newspaper journalism and meets the son of the newspaper's owner. But rules are "hands off." Michelle goes out with said handsome son on a story run and becomes engrossed with sadness at the plight of the young mother and her child. A friendship eventually develops between Michelle and the young mother and that is where the meat of the story begins to show forth.

Deborah Raney has written an entertaining and good story. She has developed characters who seem like folks you'd like to know.  Also, she has brought forth social issues (abuse) that need to be told.

DISCLOSURE: I won this book on a blog giveaway and the review is complimentary to the blogger and the author. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

"A Perfect Square" by Vannetta Chapman

ISBN:  9780310330448
Paperback $12.99

About the book:  There's more to the quaint northern Indiana town of Shipshewana than handcrafted quilts, Amish-made furniture, immaculate farms and close-knit families. When a dead girl is found floating in a local pond, murder is also afoot. And Reuben Fisher is in jail as the suspect! Reuben refuses to divulge any information, even to clear himself of a crime Deborah is certain he didn't commit. So, with her English friend, Callie---fellow sleuth and owner of Daisy's Quilt Shop---Deborah sets out to uncover the truth. But the mystery deepens when an elderly man seeks Callie's help in finding his long-lost daughter, missing since the days of the 1965 Palm Sunday Tornadoes. An old man who has lost his past. A young man who may lose his future. Once again Deborah and Callie find themselves trying to piece together a crazy quilt of lives and events---one that can bring unexpected touches of God's grace and resolve the tragedy that has shaken this quiet Amish community.

My thoughts:  When Vannetta Chapman writes, she brings her characters vividly to life for the reader and weaves a story of mystery, family, commitment, devotion, devastation, and faith filled lives. Her cozy mysteries depict the Amish in their communities and their relationships with the outside world in a believable way, and I think she truly writes as faithfully about the true side of the Amish as any author published.

In A Perfect Square, which is book 2 in the series, a body is found on an Amish farm and the local law enforcement ends up taking Reuben into custody. While circumstances seem to point to Reuben as the culprit, other forces are at play that indicate differently.

Again, Vannetta Chapman has brought surprise to the story and she has woven it into the very fabric of the Amish community. Along with the details of the mystery, she has focused on the very important quality of Amish quilt making and how they strive for perfection and take such pride in their handcrafted quilts.

I recommend Vannetta Chapman’s books for faith filled reads for anyone seeking a quality read.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a gift copy of the book by the author and not required to render a review. The review is my gift to her. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

"Carol - A Story for Christmas" by Bob Hartman

About the book:  Jack O'Malley hates shopping, snow, and even Christmas. All three at once is Jack's idea of a very bad day. Storming into a Starbucks seeking escape, Jack runs smack into a beautiful and mysterious stranger, almost knocking her over and unintentionally changing his life forever. In this one moment his entire life—who he once was, who he is, and who he has the potential to become—flashes before his eyes. In this humorous rendering of Charles Dickens' classic tale, timeless lessons are reexamined through the lens of modern society. The result is funny, moving, and ultimately thought-provoking

My Thoughts:  A nice little Christmas novella read that is a re-take or even a spoof on A Christmas Carol by Dickens.  While it is virtually impossible to re-tell such a classic, Hartman does a nifty job of bringing a modern, funny slant to the story. It rolls along with the lovely Carol and the lecherous Jack zipping along time and space to show Jack what he could have been.

While the book focuses on the need for Jack to revisit his earlier life when he was more inclined to want to do something good in the world, I felt at times that all we needed was to give a  “name” to the charity for the little book to actually be a PR piece for some specific charity.  

The story has a nice ending and it is a warm, fuzzy read as most Christmas novellas are.

DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary copy by Kregel  for the purpose of giving my honest review. Opinions expressed are solely my own. No compensation was received for this review.

Garden Botanika Twinkle Toes Sweet Mint Foot Care Gift Collection (Review & Giveaway)

 

Twinkle Toes Sweet Mint
Foot Care Gift Collection

Sometimes we just simply neglect to care for our feet. How many of Chat With Vera's readers truly realize the load our feet carry around all day, every day. Sure we "hear" them when they complain by aching or when we rub a blister on them or stress them with those really cute shoes we just had to have! But what do we do about it besides sit down and maybe prop them up awhile.

Just as our face needs moisturizers and care, just as our chapped, winter-reddened hands need therapeutic lotions, our feet need loving care and attention. This is especially true if you are diabetic. However, you don't have to have special health care needs to need to take care of your feet.  You just simply need to to take care of them.

The Garden Botanika collection of Sweet Mint foot care products brings instant relief to tired, overworked tootsies. It is perfect to give to yourself or someone on your gifting list.  It comes ready to give in a clear, vinyl tote. Just look at what this vinyl tote holds.... 

• Foot Polish 4 oz. - The Sweet Mint Foot Polish cools tired feet and whisks away dry skin with finely ground, gently exfoliating, Walnut shells and Tea Tree Oil. Invigorating Peppermint Leaf Extract is softened with a touch of Vanilla. Leaves skin softer, smoother and deliciously scented.
• Foot Treatment 4 oz. - Rich lotion is a real treat for tired feet! Revitalizing Peppermint Leaf Extract and Apple-derived AHA’s increase cell turnover, and Shea and Cacao Seed Butters provide superior moisture to instantly relieve dry, cracked skin. Delicious vanilla and peppermint scent. 
• Foot Spray 4 oz. - Instantly revive tired, overworked feet with our new Sweet Mint Foot Spray. Peppermint, Aloe and Tea Tree Extracts refresh and deodorize while Vanilla adds a note of softness. Stash one in your gym bag for a post-workout pick-me-up.
• Moisture Socks

Now just what does Vera think of these products? Well, first of all the fragrance is light, refreshing, and minty. When I used the cream on my feet, they felt an immediate "lift" and refreshed. They immediately felt softer and relieved. I can only imagine what frequent use of these products will bring to my feet. You know, even Southern ladies "of-a-certain-age" must admit to abusing our tootsies. Well, I have to admit that as a child growing up in the coastal city of Wilmington, North Carolina, there was a lot of running barefooted and then, of course, those wonderful beach trips! Well, that starts the soles of our feet on a rough 'n tough road and in our later years we see the wear and tear. But products like Garden Botanika's Twinkle Toes Sweet Mint Foot Care Collection can sooth the roughness for you.

GIVEAWAY:  Just in time to rescue those  tired, shopping, decorating, partying, cooking feet of yours or for you to give to someone as a special gift, Garden Botanika has set aside one of these gift sets for one of Chat With Vera's readers to vie for. Begins November 25 & ENDS December 16 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to USA mainland addresses only. (Note: We can not count on the winner receiving the prize by Christmas.)

a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I was provided a complimentary gift set as described above to facilitate this review. No compensation was paid me. Opinions expressed are solely my own. Product information was retrieved from the Garden Botanika website.

"Stolen Legacy" by Diane & David Munson (Review & Giveaway)

• ISBN-13: 978-0983559047
  Paperback $14.99

About the book:  In Stolen Legacy, ExFeds Diane and David Munson (former Federal Prosecutor and NCIS Agent) ratchet up suspense when Federal agent Eva Montanna is dragged into a dark conflict threatening her family. WWII history comes alive for her, but secrets from Grandpa Marty’s past in the Dutch Resistance expose a relentless enemy fixed on revenge. New light shines on Marty’s bravery in hiding Jewish families from the Gestapo, but what is he concealing? The Munsons’ eighth thriller unveils priceless relics and a stolen legacy, forever changing Eva’s life and her faith.

My thoughts:  Drawing from their personal experiences as a federal prosecutor and a NCIS special agent, Diane and David Munson are able to craft believable, exciting spy and thriller stories that will entertain but will also make the reader feel as though the plot was torn from the pages of the latest newspaper copy.

In Stolen Legacy we again meet Eva Montanna, but this time she is vacationing with her family at the home in which she grew up and her grandfather still lives there. But things begin to happen that are strange indeed and they seem centered around Grandfather Marty.  The danger emanates  from old, deadly tentacles that are stretched from the darkness of WWII history and the Dutch resistance. Just what was Grandpa Marty involved in? How does that affect the lives of people even today? Can Eva Montanna get her family to safe place and keep them from harm’s way?

While the story is a thriller and an adventure, you will learn about WWII and the part played by brave men and women during the war as the Dutch resisted the Germans and saved many Jewish families and individuals from the sure death they would face at the hand of the Germans.

You will love Grandpa Marty and his sweet and funny ways - watch out for him to endear himself to you! The ending is exciting and  heart warming. I challenge you to grab a copy and get reading. You can count on the books written by this dynamic team to always be clean and safe reads to share with the family.

GIVEAWAY: I am so pleased to announce that authors Diane & David Munson are providing a copy of  Stolen Legacy for one of Chat With Vera's readers. So enter using the Rafflecopter form below.  Begins November 22 & ENDS December 12 @ 12:01 ET. Open for USA "lower 48" addresses only.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Other books I have reviewed of the Munson's:

Joshua Covenant

Night Flight

DISCLOSURE:  A complimentary copy was provided to me by the authors for the purpose of this review. No compensation was given. Opinions expressed are solely my own.

"The First Noel - Press the button and sing along" Illustrated by Nathalie Beauvois (Review & Giveaway)

Candy Cane Press / 2013
Board/Hardcover $12.99
ISBN-13: 9780824919122

The traditional Christmas carol, The First Noel, has been published in many, many forms throughout the years. Various artists have performed the song. Countless have illustrated it. The story is that of the good news of the birth of Jesus. How the shepherds and the wise men heard the tidings of the angelic song. 

The shepherds looked up and saw a star shining in the east.The song's text is given verse by verse, and since the child will have pushed the button, they can sing along learning as they sing this classic carol.

Nathalie Beauvois has crafted strong scenes that have a softness to them that sweetly brings to life for the child the scenes of the birth of Jesus. The fields, the sheep, the shepherds, the star, the sleeping baby with adoring wise men.

This study board book will be carried and loved by the young boy or girl to whom you present it. I envision a child going to sleep at night cuddling his or her favorite sleep toy and pushing the button of The First Noel once, twice, and - oh, they are asleep.

Now, just in case you don't want to wait to see if you win a copy, you purchase a copy at you favorite bookseller or at Christianbook.com

GIVEAWAY: Just in time for Christmas. Candy Cane Press, an imprint of Ideals Publications is providing one of Chat With Vera's readers the opportunity to win a copy for that special child in their life. There is no promise that the winner will receive the book in time for Christmas gifting, but the publisher will try to make that miracle happen. Begins November 20 & ENDS December 4 @ 12:01 a.m. ET. Open to USA mainland addresses only
a Rafflecopter giveaway
DISCLOSURE: I received a complimentary copy of The First Noel from Ideals Publications in exchange for my honest review. Opinions are solely my own. No compensation was received.