Eggstravaganza with Miss. PattyCake

 

Just in time for Easter.  Check it out.  Miss. PattyCake has a new Resurrection package.  Wow!  So much energy in this video.  This video features 9 Easter songs.  They tell the truth of Easter in rhyming fun lyrics.  We must get God's truth into their hearts while they are still young.  Watching this video and using the companion book is a wonderful start.  The activity book is full of fun worksheets, games and coloring activities.  These activities will teach your child new skills, as well as help them use their creativity laying a Biblical foundation in your child's life.  The age group this is geared toward is toddlers to 2nd grade.  Full of Biblical Truths and Bible verses using activities and songs.  Along with 2 bonus pages of Easter celebration ideas to use.  This bundle has hours of fun with a lifetime of benefits for young lives.  What better way to learn then through rhyme, songs and scripture verses.  

************

Check out this NEW Miss PattyCake bundle for a FUN, musical, age-appropriate
telling of the Easter story. Don’t have a DVD player? Check out Miss PattyCake’s streaming channel
for all her content. https://misspattycake.vhx.tv

Giveaway

I have  giveaway link offer to one of my readers. A free digital download of the Coloring & Activity Book and exclusive link to the video (online-only).  Leave a way for me you contact you in a comment.  I'll draw a winner for this giveaway on Friday, March 19th.  

Disclosure: Many thanks to Miss PattyCake for providing this product/product information for review.  Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Cleo Can Tie a Bow: A Rabbit and Fox Story by Sybrina Durant

 

Title: CLEO CAN TIE A BOW: A RABBIT AND FOX STORY
Author: Sybrina Durant
Publisher: Sybrina Publishing
Pages: 38
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

Cleo can tie a bow. She learned what she knows from a rabbit and a fox. They can teach your child how to tie a bow, too. This fun picture book is intended to be a family bonding parent-child activity. It’s a great way to learn to tie shoe laces.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3emYL9V

 Barnes & Noble → https://bit.ly/37ZVhsM

My Review:  What a fun way to teach how to tie a bow.  One skill that is missing in this day and age is teaching your child how to tie.  As a teacher, I speak from experience.  I remember this use to be a required skill to even get to go to kindergarten back in my childhood days.  Who would of thought of a rabbit and fox friendship to teach this skill.  The illustrations are bright and colorful as well.  Little girls would love the pink, butterflies, and bows what a combination. Little boys my fill little out with the first half of the book.  Maybe future book would be geared toward a boy camping theme, etc.  However, Cloe Can Tie a Bow is a very needed book and very well written.   

Meet The Author

Sybrina Durant is the author of The Rabbit and The Fox Learn To Tie Series of Books which include Learn To Tie A Neck Tie With The Rabbit and the Fox in English, Spanish and Tagalog; Ned Can Knot A Neck Tie; Nellie Can Knot A Neck Scarf and the newest addition, Cleo Can Tie  A Bow. She also the author of The Blue Unicorn Series of books and has an online book store which features, unicorns, rabbits, foxes, and how to tie books plus gift items related to those things plus lots of bow-themed gifts.

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: https://sybrinapublishing.wordpress.com/cleo-can-tie-a-bow-book/

Blog: https://sybrinapublishing.wordpress.com/cleo-can-tie-a-bow-book/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/Sybrina_spt

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NedandNellieKnowKnots

 

GIVEAWAY!

One entrant will be selected to win a Cleo Can Tie A Bow Soft Cover Book plus a $25.00 Gift Card plus “My Unicorn Is Kinda Bow Crazy” tee shirt! ($100 including tax and shipping) from Sybrina Publishing in the Rafflecopter giveaway below. Open for entry in the Continental US, 18 years and older from 1/08/21 thru 1/30/2021 at 12:01am EST. Winner will have 24 hours to respond to notification email to claim their prize or a new winner will be selected. See Rafflecopter for official rules. Void where prohibited. No purchase necessary.

http://www.rafflecopter.com/rafl/display/b09096fa30/

 

 

 

Baby Bear's Spaghetti Misadventure by Linda Karimo

Title: Baby Bear’s Spaghetti Misadventures
Author: Linda Karimo
Publisher: Independent
Pages: 42
Genre: Children’s Picture Book

BOOK BLURB:

Meet Mama Bear and her sweet little bear child, Baby Bear.

Sometimes he doesn’t do what Mama Bear says, sound familiar?

This one particular day when Mama Bear was cooking spaghetti and meatballs, Baby

Bear bounced his ball against the cave wall.

Baby Bear knew it was on the forbidden list.

He did it anyway.

Mama Bear gave him the look.

He did it again.

Find out what happened to Mama Bear’s spaghetti dinner and naughty Baby Bear.

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/3nQtP6s

 This book caught my attention cause Spaghetti is one of my favorite foods.  As a mom, it is usually my emergency go to meal.  It is a quick and easy meal to make.  As a teacher, I loved the thinking question that were asked throughout the story...What do you think will happen next...Keeping your child engaged in the story.  The illustrations are very colorful as well.  A very delightful book. 

 

                   Meet The Author

Back in the Stone Age, well maybe not that far back…

When Linda Karimo was very young, she learned to read at the knee of her Irish immigrant grandmother. Nannie, as she was known to the family, was just learning English herself.

They read all the classic children’s stories together. There was one in particular that became the inspiration for Linda’s current series of children’s books.

Moving forward, Linda was always a ravenous reader. She would often read all the books by a given author and then go onto yet another great fiction author. Espionage, legal, medical, suspense, and some “who done it” were her game.

Her day job as a Copywriter paid the bills while she dreamed of writing an extraordinary series of children’s books.

So, what childhood story prompted Linda to write a series about those characters?

It was Goldilocks and the Three Bears. Linda’s nickname was always Goldilocks.

She transports her readers into the world of bears whose lives are not much different than humans, just bear style.

She has a conversational style of writing and wants her readers to feel a part of the action taking place, not just looking through the window watching it all going by.

A Lifetime full of love and compassion!

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: www.lindakarimo.com

Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/KarimoLinda

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Linda-Karimo-Author-

106429491161549/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/linda-odubayo-thompson-56743445/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/accounts/onetap/?next=%2F

Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/business/hub/

 

 

THE CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS CONDITION by: Scott Rankin

Title: THE CHRISTIAN CHRISTMAS CONDITION
Author: Scott Rankin
Publisher: Scott Rankin Publishing
Pages: 196
Genre: Christian Nonfiction

BOOK BLURB:

Our Lord desires that we become more Christ-like every day (1 Corinthians 11:1). To accomplish this goal, He tells us to rene our minds (Romans 12:2).  But how do the Christmas holidays help accomplish this goal when all the busyness and stress makes it hard to focus all our attention on Christ and rest in His peace?  In an easy-to-read format, The Christian Christmas Condition asks the question, “How does our Lord feel about Christmas today?” encouraging Christians of all ages to examine Christmas-time traditions from God’s perspective.  Filled with bible references, this study will boost your faith, increase your knowledge, and strengthen you to fully honor Jesus in the midst of Christmas, traditions, and busy holiday activities.  This powerful book further encourages all Christians to become more Christ-like in our thinking and our actions each, and every day of the year… not just in the winter holidays!

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2XKzS06

_____________________

Have you ever thought of what God might think of the way we celebrate Jesus birth/Christmas?  Well in his book author, Scott Rankin helps to give a glimpse into this very thought.  Does God's Word/Scripture actually address this very thing?  Does it tell us the way God wants us to worship Him?  Rankin actually will take you through these question in this book.  As well as:  How you can celebrate the goodness of God and Jesus' birth throughout December and all year long for that matter. Can you as a Christian family redefine your Christmas spirit?  while passing on your beliefs and traditions to your children and extended family? 

If you are willing to make Christmas 2020 and beyond a Christmas that truly glorifies God and the birth of Jesus then you need to really read Scott Rankin's book The Christian Christmas Condition.  You need to read with an open mind and open Bible as Rankin gives his defense backed by Scriptures.  I loved how he said in his opening Introduction he says, "I recommend you use your Bible frequently rather than take my views as gospel truth.  God's Word is the living spoken truth that always guides un in the direction He wants us to go."  

The author uses Gideon as a guide.  He gives a brief history of the account of how Christmas as we know it has come to be today.  He gives you arguments that people use for celebrating Christmas as well as provides you with Bible based information/Scriptures to rebut the arguments. There are also 3 family Bible studies provided for you to use with your family to help you to come to your decision on how to celebrate Christmas as a family.  In the book there are also ideas for new family time traditions that you can use to replace your old traditions. 

So if you are really serious about learning how God views the way we celebrate the birth of Jesus then this would be an awesome tool to read and have in your library. 

Meet The Author

Scott Rankin graduated with a degree in music education and spent his 20’s and 30’s as a successful music director, visual designer for marching groups, and a professional clinician for high school and college music programs.
In 2009 he was injured in a bicycle accident where he was instantly paralyzed. Today as a healing quadriplegic, Scott’s passion for teaching has been re-focused from music to writing Christian books and public speaking.
Scott Rankin is a gifted educator and effective public speaker. His ability to take complex subject matter, break it into bite-size pieces, and re-assemble those through simple, logical, and enjoyable teaching techniques makes his material easy to understand and hard to forget!

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website:  https://www.ScottRankin.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ChristianCondition

___________________________

Hadley Beckett's Next Dish by Bethany Turner

Get ready for a heaping helping of humor, romance, and second chances

Celebrity chef Maxwell Cavanagh is known for many things: his multiple Michelin stars, his top-rated Culinary Channel show, To the Max, and most of all his horrible temper. Hadley Beckett, host of the Culinary Channel's other top-rated show, At Home with Hadley, is beloved for her Southern charm and for making her viewers feel like family.

When Max experiences a very public temper tantrum and is sent packing, his only chance to get back on TV and in the public's good graces is to work alongside Hadley. As these polar-opposite celeb chefs begin to peel away the layers of public persona and reputation, they will not only discover the key ingredients for getting along but also learn the secret recipe for unexpected forgiveness . . . and maybe even love.

In the meantime, hide the knives.

What an exciting read Ms. Turner has written.  A page turner that is hard to put down.  It's hard to know if Max and Hadley are on or off in their relationship.  One page it is good and the next it is off.  I haven't gotten all the way through the book I have about 5 more chapters to go and I'm wondering how it will end that is for sure. How many second chances can a person get?  Will they be able to pull it off right now it isn't looking to hopeful.  It has been a delightful read.  Stick it in your summer to-be-read pile for sure.  I haven't read any of Ms Turner's books before, but will be on the look out for more that is for sure.  

HOME by Author: Alison Neuman

BOOK BLURB:

Fluffy, the cat, knew the minute she met Levi that he would become fast friends with the friendly mouse using a special wheelchair. In the third installment of their adventures, join Fluffy, Levi, and his family on their final leg of adventure to find their forever homes together.

Meet The Author

Alison Neuman is a writer, author, choreographer, and dance artist, who is passionate about sharing underrepresented voices. She holds a Bachelor’s of Applied Communications Degree, a diploma in Professional Writing, and a Master of Arts degree with a focus on Educational Studies.

Ms. Neuman has given us a good book about friendship, kindness, and good deeds.  As Fluffy the cat helps transport his friend Levi the mouse and his family to a new home, his home.  There are some obstacles along the way as they head to their new home. Charlie the sparrow helps with lookout and Oscar the friendly bus driver also helps with a kindly deed.  When Fluffy finally, gets his friends home will the human accept them?  Guess you'll have to read the book to find out. 

ORDER YOUR COPY

Amazon → https://amzn.to/2Va96Ox

Smashwords → https://www.smashwords.com/books/view/1015552

WEBSITE & SOCIAL LINKS:

Website: www.alisonneuman.ca
Blog: http://www.alisonneuman.ca/blog/
Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/Alison_Neuman
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/alisonneuman.ca
Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4375290.Alison_Neuman

Christmas In Newfoundland by: Mike Martin

inside the book

Title: CHRISTMAS IN NEWFOUNDLAND: MEMORIES AND MYSTERIES
Author: Mike Martin
Publisher: Ottawa Press and Publishing
Pages: 113
Genre: Mystery/Memoir

From the author of the award-winning Sgt. Windflower Mysteries comes “Christmas in Newfoundland: Memories and Mysteries,” a welcome addition to the Sgt. Windflower family of books.
Christmas in Newfoundland is a special time. In the depths of long winter nights memories are made and stories are told. Of Christmas by candlelight and horse and buggy rides to church. Of shopping on Water Street in St. John’s before malls and the Internet.
In later years, Sgt. Windflower came to work and then to stay in the quiet town of Grand Bank by the Atlantic Ocean where the salt air froze in the wind and the Mounties were welcomed to warm themselves by every fire.
Come and warm yourself by the fire and hear their stories. Some memories and some mysteries. Enjoy some holiday time with Sgt. Windflower and all the familiar characters that you’d come to know and love. Good food, good friends and always another chair at the table.

order your copy below

Amazon → https://amzn.to/32hC9zY

____________

My Review:
I loved the Christmas feeling that was given by the author and his words and stories that he included in this memoir.  It was a very nostalgic.  I love Christmas time and reading about it.  Each chapter is a story so it was a fairly easy read.  Read a short chapter when you had a few minutes to read and then come back to the book and not have to remember where you left the characters.  The stories held my attention.  

meet the author

Mike Martin was born in Newfoundland on the East Coast of Canada and now lives and works in Ottawa, Ontario. The Walker on the Cape was his first full fiction book and the premiere of the Sgt. Windflower Mystery Series. Other books in the series include The Body on the T, Beneath the Surface, A Twist of Fortune and A Long Ways from Home, which was shortlisted for the Bony Blithe Light Mystery Award as the best light mystery of the year. A Tangled Web was released in 2017 and the newest book in the series.is Darkest Before the Dawn which won the Bony Blithe Award in 2019. A new book in the series, Fire, Fog and Water is being released in October.
Mike is currently Chair of the Board of Crime Writers of Canada, a national organization promoting Canadian crime and mystery writers.

website & social links

Website → www.sgtwindflowermysteries.com

Twitter Link: → http://ww.twitter.com/mike54martin

Facebook→https://www.facebook.com/TheWalkerOnTheCapeReviewsAndMore/

____________________________________________

 

Christmas in Winter Hill by Melody Carlson

Sept. 17- Oct. 8



Krista Galloway didn’t usually second- guess herself, but as she slowed down the U- Haul truck on the out-skirts of Winter Hill, she was assaulted with some serious doubts. Was this new job a mistake? Should she have researched this move more carefully? Had she agreed to the contract too easily? Too hastily? Being hired as a city manager would definitely improve her résumé, but the small- town salary was a let down. And what about her daughter’s new school? With less than two hundred students, what if its academic standards were disappointing? Why hadn’t Krista given this whole thing more consideration?

 “Look, Mama!” Emily pointed to the Welcome to Winter Hill billboard. “That sign says Home of Christmasville— what does that mean? Does Santa Claus live here?” Emily giggled like she knew better.

 “What do you think?” Krista grimaced at the plywood Christmas tree alongside the welcome sign. It could use a new coat of paint.

 “I know, Santa isn’t really real. But are we near the North Pole now? You said it snowed a lot here.” Emily peered eagerly out the window, almost as if she expected to see snowflakes flying. 

“It does snow here,” Krista confirmed. “But it’s still late autumn, Emily.” She pointed to where some orange and gold leaves still clung to a large tree, vibrating in the afternoon breeze.

 “But why did that sign say Home of Christmasville?” Emily persisted.

 “I’m not sure.” Krista vaguely remembered someone mentioning a Christmas festival during her second Skype interview with the hiring committee, but she’d been so caught up in impressing them that she’d barely registered the information. And, naturally, she didn’t admit that she had a general aversion to Christmas. What did that have to do with managing a small town anyway?

 “Where is Christmasville? What is it?

”Krista felt a mixture of amusement and aggravation at her eight-year-old’s dogged determination. Her little apple hadn’t fallen far from the tree when it came to questioning things.

 “I’m not completely sure what Christmasville is,” Krista admitted as she drove past a suburb on the edge of town. “But I do know that Winter Hill has an annual Christmas festival. That must be what Christmasville is. I suppose it could be related to the town’s name.”

 “Winter Hill,” Emily said dreamily. “That does sound like a Christmassy place. I’m so glad we’re moving here.

”Krista turned the bulky truck onto a quiet side street, pausing to check the little hand-drawn map that Pauline Harris, a city assistant, had mailed her last week, along with a brass key. “It looks like our house is only a few blocks from here,” she told Emily. “We’re almost home.” 

 “We get to live in a real house,” Emily happily declared. “With a real backyard. And when it snows—because you said it’ll snow—I can go outside and make a real s n o w m a n .”

 “This is going to be very different from Arizona.” Krista hadn’t been sorry to leave Phoenix or their high-rise apart-ment behind. Really, she was ready for a change. And although Winter Hill was very small, Krista was glad that Emily could walk to school from their house. Pauline had assured Krista that it was only three blocks away—with crossing guards. Not only that, but Krista could walk to work too. Perfect since she hadn’t owned a car for the last five years.

 Like Emily, Krista was looking forward to a new life in the quaint eastern Washington town. She’d never lived anywhere but Phoenix, and the idea of snow and seasons was rather exciting. Krista slowed down the truck, looking for the right address. But seeing the numerals on a small sign in front of what appeared to be an apartment complex was not encouraging. Krista pulled over with a disappointed sigh.

 “What’s wrong, Mama?”

 She pointed at the dismal concrete building. “I think that’s our new home.

”Emily leaned over to see it better. “It’s not a house?”

 “Looks like it’s an apartment.” Krista surveyed the concrete one- story complex, trying to insert some hopefulness into her voice. “But it’s not very big. It looks like only about a dozen units. That’s sort of like a house.” She picked up the map that Pauline had mailed, noticing that next to the address was an-other number. “I think we must be in unit eight.”

 “Eight?” Emily’s mouth twisted to one side. “Well, that’s a good number. I’m eight too. Maybe it won’t be so bad.”

 “Maybe not.” Krista eased the big truck into the parking spot in front of unit eight, relieved to be finally done with this grueling journey. “At least we won’t have to lug our stuff up a bunch of stairs.” She turned off the engine. “Hopefully we can get the truck unloaded before dark and sleep in our own beds tonight.” She stepped outside the truck and stretched. After two nights in cheap roadside motels, she would welcome her own bed and nice sheets tonight.

 “It’s cold.” Emily shivered with wide eyes. “Do you think it’s going to snow?”

 “I don’t know. Why don’t you put on your new parka?” Krista reached for her phone, searching for the number Pauline had told her to text upon arrival. Apparently Pauline’s son had promised to be available to help unload the U-Haul. Krista shot off a text then held up the brass key. “Ready to see our new home?” She tried to sound more enthused than she felt as she led the way to the apartment.

 Pauline Harris had told Krista that available housing was an issue in Winter Hill. “That’s because people keep moving here from California,” she’d explained, promising to find something within Krista’s budget and near the grade school. But for some reason, when Pauline had sent the key and brief description of the small two-bedroom abode, Krista had assumed it was a house. She slid the key into the lock then opened the door.

 “Welcome home,” she said brightly, trying not to frown at the stark white walls and dingy beige carpet. “I’m sure it’ll look better when we get our things in here.” She went through the living room into the compact kitchen and flipped on the overhead light to see shabby wood cabinets, mismatched appliances, and plastic countertops. Nothing like their sleek, modern Phoenix apartment with granite and stainless. Well, hopefully they wouldn’t be stuck here for too long. Although she regretted the six-month lease she’d signed.

 “Which is my room?” Emily called from down the hallway. 

Krista joined her to discover two identical bedrooms with a clean but dull-looking bathroom between them. “I don’t know.” She pursed her lips, trying to disguise her dismay. “You choose, honey.” 

Emily ran from room to room, finally deciding. “I can see big trees from this window,” she declared. “Do you think they’re in our backyard?”

 Krista wondered if they even had a backyard but then remembered a door in the kitchen. “Let’s go find out.” She was disappointed to find the door opened to a windowless laundry room. Although appliances were in place, they were probably older than she was. Hopefully they worked. 

Krista wrapped an arm around Emily. “Well, we’ll just have to consider this a big adventure.” She gave her a squeeze. “We will make the best of it.”

 “Hello?” a male voice called out. “Help has arrived.”

 “That must be Pauline’s boy.” Krista returned to the living room, expecting to find a teenager. But there was a man standing in the open doorway. Tall and sturdy looking, he wore jeans and a flannel shirt and was smiling. “Who are you?” she asked cautiously.

 “I’m Conner Harris.” His dark eyes brightened as he stuck out his hand. “My mom is Pauline Harris. You just texted me that—”

 “Yes, yes.” Krista shook his hand. “I’m Krista Galloway. For some reason I thought you’d be a kid. I mean Pauline said her boy would help me and I just assumed you’d—” 

“Yes, I’ll always be my mom’s little boy.” He chuckled, then smiled at Emily. “And who is this young lady?”

 “I’m Emily Galloway.” She politely extended her hand. 

“It’s a pleasure to meet you, Emily Galloway.” He nodded toward the front door. “My daughter, Anna, is out there.”

 “Is she my size?” Emily’s eyes lit up. She’d been obsessed with the idea of making new friends these past few days.

 “Not anymore.” Conner sighed. “Anna’s fourteen now, but it seems like just yesterday she was your size.”

 “Fourteen?” Emily’s eyes grew wide. “That’s old.”

 “Anyway, we’re here to help.” He smiled at Krista. “Ready to get started?”

 “Yes, I’m hoping to get it all unloaded before dark. We don’t have a lot of stuff. But some of it is bulky.”

 As they went outside, a slender girl with thick dark hair and brown eyes climbed out of a big white pickup. “This is Anna.” Conner introduced the rest of them. Anna shyly greeted them, staying close to her father. “She might look delicate, but believe me, she’s strong as a horse.”

 “You’re pretty.” Emily took Anna’s hand. “I like your tennis shoes.”

 Anna glanced down at her red high-topped Converse shoes then smiled. “Thanks. They’re kind of old and beat up, but I like them too.” 

“Do you wanna see my room?” Emily asked hopefully.

 “Sure.” Anna nodded.

 “Good idea,” Conner told Anna. “You go check out the lay of the land, and we’ll put together a plan for unloading.”

 Before long, with Conner directing, all four of them were busily carrying furnishings, boxes, and bags into the apartment, trying to get the larger pieces into the right rooms. “It’s a good thing we don’t have too much stuff,” Krista told him as the last load came in. “We wouldn’t have room for it in this place.” 

“My mom was sorry she couldn’t find you guys better accommodations,” Conner said. “But good housing is scarce these days.”

 “Yes, I understand the town is growing.” Krista pushed a strand of golden hair away from her eyes. She could hear the girls chattering in Emily’s bedroom. It sounded like Anna was helping Emily make her bed. “That’s probably why they decided to hire a city manager.”

 “I must admit that I’m surprised they hired such a young one.” Conner studied her. “Have you had much experience?

”Krista stood up straighter, looking him directly in the eyes and realizing he was nearly a foot taller than her. Just one challenge of being petite. The biggest challenge was being treated like a child by some people. But she was used to it. “Apparently the hiring committee felt my experience was adequate. I went to work for the City of Phoenix straight out of college. After seven years, I was appointed to assist the city manager. I held the assistant position these past three years. And, in case you haven’t heard, Phoenix has a population of more than one and a half million. It was a fairly demanding job, but I learned a lot.”

 “Well, that does sound impressive. I guess Winter Hill was lucky to get you.” He looked amused. “And I hope you and Emily are happy here in our little town.”

 “Dad?” Anna called from Emily’s room. “Can they come to the house moving with us?” 

“House moving?” Krista frowned. “What’s that?” 

“We’re relocating an old house to a new location,” he explained. “It has to be done on a Sunday evening because there’s less traffic.” He checked his watch. “We’re scheduled to start the move in about half an hour. And I need to be there.” 

“You’re moving a house?” she asked. “A whole house?” 

“I’m not actually moving it myself,” he told her. “A moving crew is handling it. I just need to supervise.”

 Emily came out, tugging on Krista’s arm. “Can we go see it? Anna said it’s a Christmas House.” Emily looked up with wide-eyed enthusiasm. “Please, Mama. I’ve never seen a Christmas House before.”

 “And I’ve never seen anyone move a house before,” Krista admitted. “It sounds like fun.”

 “Then let’s go.” Conner pulled out his keys. “I promised Anna we’d swing by Comet’s Drive-In to grab something to eat while we watch. You ladies care to join us for dinner and a show?” 

As Emily jumped up and down, squealing with delight, Krista turned to Conner. “It does sound like fun, but I need to turn in the U-Haul truck before they close—”

 “That’s right down the street from Comet’s,” he told her. “We can meet up with you there.” He explained that the U-Haul place would already be closed, but that she could park the truck and put the keys into a drop box by the door. “Just follow me and we’ll pick you up there.” 

It took less than ten minutes to drop off the truck. Then Krista and Emily climbed into Conner’s big white pickup. “Emily can sit with me.” Anna helped Emily into the back.

 “Your truck is awesome,” Emily declared sweetly. “Lots nicer than our moving truck. And it even has a backseat. Your family is lucky.” 

As Krista fastened her seat belt, she wondered about Anna’s mother . . . Conner’s wife. She’d discreetly observed the plain gold band on Conner’s left hand. What would Mrs. Harris think of him taking a divorcée and her daughter to “dinner and a show”? Not that this was a date—it certainly was not— but some wives could get rather irate over something like this. Krista had been upset when her husband had stepped out with another woman several years ago. Of course, that was different. This was perfectly innocent. It was silly to even think like that. 

As Conner pulled into a brightly lit drive-in restaurant that looked straight out of an old fifties movie, Krista bristled at being reminded of her ex just now. Why give him a second thought? Garth Galloway, currently living a carefree life with his new wife on the other side of the country, didn’t deserve that kind of attention.

My Review:  
I was so totally taken by Melody Carlson's Christmas in Winter Hill. It is a page turner and one you don't want to put down.  It is also a fairly quick read. I loved the good clean Christian read.  They are so hard to come by to find an author that doesn't use cursing in their writing. Nice job to Carlson for no curse words in the book.  Not to give any spoilers, but it didn't end as I thought it would.