Blame it on the Mistletoe by Joyce Magnin

Blame it on the Mistletoe by Joyce Magnin

Welcome back to Bright's Pond where the residents make even your strangest relatives seem normal.
What's going on at the Greenbriar Nursing home?  Resident's riding trikes down the halls? Seniors making out in the gazebo?  This is strange even by Bright's Pond standards.  Who or what could be responsible?  Is it the fault of the new gazeebo, or the strange elusive man who built it for the residents?  Maybe it's drugs or something in the water.  Police chief Mildred Blessing has her hands full trying to solve this one.
Meanwhile elsewhere in Bright's Pond folks must contend with a luau thanksgiving, a Christmas pageant with live camels and the on again off again romance between Griselda and Zeb.  Do I hear wedding bells?
Though lighthearted, this book is no ball of fluff.  It is well written and entertaining.  It will leave you laughing, and feeling just a little bit better about your own life. The delightfuly quirky characters, like none you've ever imagined, are so real you'll feel like you've always known them.
As with the first three books in this series, this is a 5 star read.  If you haven't read the others (The Prayers of Agnes Sparrow, Charlotte Figg Takes Over Paradise, and Griselda Takes Flight), you must do so.  You'r life will be fuller from having read them.
I received this book from the publisher through NetGalley.  All opinions rendered are my own.

Where the Power Lies--or Sits

The Chair by James L. Rubart

James Rubart has done it again.  The Chair is a magnificient creation, a definite "edge of my seat" (pun intended) read.  Unpredictable up to the very end, this book deserves a very strong 5 star rating.
Corin Roscoe thinks the old lady who dropped off an even older chair at his antique shop is nuts.  Though he tries to refuse the chair, she insists he take it--claiming that it was meant to go to him.
Taking a closer look after she leaves, he realizes the chair is very well made in it's simplicity.  Putting it off to the side, since he has an overabundance of furniture in his store right now, he figures it's something he might take a look at later, if he has the time.
When a young boy is miraculously healed in his store after sitting in the chair, and word of it spreads, Corin realizes that maybe he has come across something special.  Could this chair possibly heal his brother--and his guilt?
When a well known mega-church pastor begins to manipulate Corin into selling the chair, he decides to lock it up for safekeeping.  Corrin, needing advice, confides in an old trusted friend, a college professor, who shares with him the history and legend behind the mysterious chair.
Does the chair really posses  power?  There are those who will stop at nothing to get it--and that puts Corin, and those he loves at the center of their cross-hairs.
I received this book from the publisher through Netgalley.  All opinions rendered are my own.

Fairer Than Morning

Ann dreams of a marriage proposal from her poetic suitor, Eli-until Will Hanby shows her that nobility is more than fine words.
On a small farm in 19th-century Ohio, young Ann Miller is pursued by the gallant Eli Bowen, son of a prominent family. Eli is the suitor of Ann's dreams. Like her, he enjoys poetry and beautiful things and soon, he will move to the city to become a doctor.
Ann travels to Pittsburgh, accompanying her father on business. There she meets Will Hanby, a saddle-maker's apprentice. Will has spent years eking out an existence under a cruel master and his spirit is nearly broken. But Ann's compassion lights a long-dark part of his soul. Through his encounters with Ann's father, a master saddler, Will discovers new hope and courage in the midst of tremendous adversity.
When the Millers must return to Ohio and their ministry there, Will resolves to find them, at any cost. If Will can make it back to Ann, will she be waiting?
Read an excerpt here: http://www.rosslynelliott.com/books.php
This book is a wonderful debut novel from Rosslyn Elliott.  It is well written and researched and makes for a delightful read.  If you enjoy historical romance, you will love this book.  5 Stars

About Rosslyn:  Rosslyn Elliott grew up in a military family and relocated so often that she attended nine schools before her high school graduation. With the help of excellent teachers, she qualified to attend Yale University, where she earned a BA in English and Theater. She worked in business and as a schoolteacher before returning to study at Emory University, where she earned a Ph.D. in English in 2006. Her study of American literature and history inspired her to pursue her lifelong dream of writing fiction. She lives in the Southwest, where she homeschools her daughter and teaches in children's ministry. For more about Rosslyn, visit her website: http://rosslynelliott.com

KINDLE GIVEAWAY! --plus $200 toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dressfrom Recollections

To celebrate the release of her debut novel, Fairer Than Morning, Rosslyn Elliott is giving away two fabulous prize packages. The first is brand new KINDLE in her Fairer Than Morning Kindle Giveaway. Then on September 20th she's giving away a $200 gift certificate toward a Custom-Made Historical Reproduction Dress (from Recollections) during the Fairer Than Morning Book Club Chat Party on Facebook! Sigh...romantic.
Fairer Than Morning is receiving wonderful reviews - Library Journal said, "A well-written historical series debut…". Read more reviews here.
Be sure to join the fun and enter the Kindle contest - 
One winner will receive:
* Kindle with Wi-Fi
* Fairer Than Morning (for Kindle)
To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, giveaway ends on 9/19. Winner will be announced on 9/20 at Rosslyn's Book Club Facebook Party. Details and official rules can be found when entering the contest.
Then be sure to RSVP for Rosslyn's Facebook Party! During the party Rosslyn will be chatting with guests, hosting a book chat about Fairer Than Morning (don't worry if you haven't read the book yet - you could win a copy!) & historical Fiction, testing your trivia skills. She'll also be giving away that $200 gift certificate toward a FABULOUS custom-made period dress from Recollections!