12 Days of Christmas || Day 5 || Favorite Christmas Stories of 2020

Only a week until Christmas... what a lovely season, eh? :)  Today I'm sharing four lovely Christmas books that I've enjoyed so far this Christmas season. And then we have oodles of posts by everyone else, linked below!

Don't forget to enter the giveaway! 

Tin Can Serenade by Amanda Dykes

Two homes in the mountains 

Snowed in for winter’s keep; 

A river in between them, 

A rope tight o’er the deep 

… 

So begins the plucky correspondence of Timothy and Genevieve, two children about to uncover a story long-buried... one filled with love, with loss, and with hope. An enchanting Christmas story laced with joy, God's healing hand in the broken places of life weaves through each letter passed over the river in that tin-can strung from the rusted pulley. 

This one was just too cute. I loved the epistolary style, and the kids' personalities were shone very well. Somewhat predictable, but that didn't subtract from the loveliness. <3

Go Tell It by Rebekah Morris

When an alleged shortcut leads Frank passed a group of mountain homes on Christmas Day, he discovers something shocking– No one celebrates Christmas. The children doesn't even know what Christmas is about. Is Frank's shortcut a chance to "go tell it on the mountain"?

A heartwarming short story about sharing the gospel of Christ at Christmas time! The characters were sweet and charming and I loved the heart of the story. <3

Far as the Curse is Found (Joy to the World) by Amanda Barratt

In Joy to the World, three popular romance authors come together to offer a heartwarming collection of holiday Regency romance. Based on lines from a beloved Christmas carol, these three novellas have depth, faith, and satisfying stories all packed into the perfect length for readers to curl up and take a brief break from their holiday busyness. 

Far as the Curse is Found: One winter night, a woman struggling to provide for her illegitimate child encounters a scarred veteran of the Napoleonic Wars on the streets of London. Can love conquer the darkness of two broken pasts?

What a beautiful story. I didn't start reading this until late one night and stayed up until wee mornings hours to finish it. So precious, so lovely. It's broken hearts healed and lives mended and love conquering evil. It was neat to see how the title tied into the storyline, too. 

A truly beautiful story, definitely my favorite Christmas tale so far this year. <3

 

(Out of this collection, I've only read the middle story—Far as the Curse as Found. I'll probably go back and read the others soon.) 

A December Bride by Denise Hunter

What started as a whim turned into an accidental—and very public—engagement. Can Layla and Seth keep up the façade in Chapel Springs this holiday season—for the sake of her career...and his heart?

Under normal circumstances, Seth Murphy—the best friend of Layla O’Reilly’s ex-fiancé—would be the last person she’d marry. But the news of their upcoming (and phony) nuptials convinces a big client that Layla may be high-society enough to work for his agency—a coup that would put her fledgling home-staging business on the map.

Seth has secretly loved Layla for years, even when she was dating his best friend. Maybe she’ll never forgive him for the way he hurt her back then, but he has to try. And Layla is willing to keep up their engagement farce until she’s landed her client.

For Layla, it’s the chance to save her career. But for Seth, it’s his last chance to win her heart.

Having watched the Hallmark movie adaption of this story (several times, actually), I knew the basic storyline. Still, it was fun to read and catch the differences and similarities between book and movie. Not an all-time favorite, but a cute story. 

(Apologies for the late posting—everything *should* be on schedule after today. <3)

|| 12 Days of Christmas

8 Christmas Activities @ Little Blossoms for Jesus

12 Days of Christmas — Day Five @ Soldier Girl Stories

Book Review: The Bridge by Karen Kingsbury @ Reviews from the Stacks

Christmas Books @ Maidens of Modesty

Christmas Favorites: A Story @ Towers in the Plains

Christmas Story: Expected End, pt.3 @ Life of Heritage

A Christmasy Story @ Farm Life: Autumn's Adventures

Circle C Christmas - Book Review @ RebekahAshleigh

Eli Eli Lama Sabachthani @ Angela Watts, Author

My Must-Watch Christmas Movies @ Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors

Pictures/Aesthetics @ Faith on the Farm

have you read any of these? 

what new favorite Christmas story have you discovered recently?

12 Days of Christmas || Day 4 || Favorite Christmas Movies of 2020

Good morning, lovelies! 

Can you believe it's only eight days until Christmas? School is officially finished and after I take care of some work things today + mail Christmas goodies, it's time for full-on Christmas baking. ;) 

Today, I'm sharing three of the few Christmas movies I've seen this year! 

USS Christmas 

Maddie, a reporter for a Norfolk newspaper, embarks on a Tiger Cruise during Christmastime where she meets a handsome naval officer and stumbles upon a mystery in the ship's archive room.

Having been aboard the USS Yorktown (where much of this movie was filmed), my bestie and I knew we had to watch this movie as soon as it was announced. It ended up being a lot sweeter than I expected, and I adored the "mystery" story. <3 

Angel of Christmas

Susan gets a chance at her first real article, writing about the family angel, which were handcrafted by her great-grandfather. It is said to have a history of bringing people together. Working hard to get the article done on time, she is torn between the handsome, successful Derek and the free-spirited artist Brady.

I watched this one with a friend too, and it also had a background/mystery story! It was really sweet and had some laughable moments as well. Susan's friend was my favorite. 

Hitched for the Holidays

An attractive pair agrees to be each other's supposed significant other throughout the holidays to keep their meddling families at bay.

This one was...almost totally comedy. Not an all-time favorite, for sure, but it was funny and amusing. I wouldn't recommend it if you're looking for a sweet Christmas movie with a lot of heart, but if you need a laugh and something entertaining, this isn't a bad choice. :)

|| 12 Days of Christmas

9 Christmas Writing Prompts @ Little Blossoms for Jesus

12 Days of Christmas — Day Four @ Soldier Girl Stories

“The Birds’ Christmas Carol” by Mrs. Kate Douglas Smith Wiggins @ Old-Fashioned Book Love

Book Review: The Christmas Blessing by Melody Carlson @ Kaitlyn Krispense, Author

Movie Review @ Life of Heritage

Movie Review: Christmas Oranges @ Farm Life: Autumn's Adventures

Top 10 Songs on My 2020 Christmas Playlist @ Reviews from the Stacks

Word Study on "Gift" @ Faith on the Farm

have you seen any of these? 

what's the best Christmas movie you've seen so far this year? 

12 Days of Christmas || Day 3 || Once Upon a Dickens Christmas - Series Review

Good morning, lovelies! 

I had hopes of getting this up earlier, but after Christmas shopping most of yesterday and then doing homework all evening/night, I didn't get my post written and readied ahead of time. So here we are. ;) 

I had the joy of diving into some darling books by Michelle Griep in the not-too-decent past. And now, I will attempt to scream about my love for them enough to convince you to read them while also refraining from divulging spoilers. Also can we talk about these covers??

When Clara Chapman receives an intriguing invitation to spend Christmas 1850 at an English manor home, she is hesitant yet compelled to attend—for if she remains the duration of the twelve-day celebration, she is promised a sum of five hundred pounds. That’s enough money to bring her brother back from America and reinstate their stolen family fortune. But is she walking into danger? It appears so, especially when she comes face to face with one of the other guests—her former fiancé, Benjamin Lane.

Imprisoned unjustly, Ben wants revenge on the unknown person who stole his honor. When he’s given the chance to gain his freedom, he jumps at it—and is blindsided by the anger of the woman he left at the altar.

Brought together under mysterious circumstances for the 12 Days of Christmas, Clara and Ben discover that what they've been striving for isn't what ultimately matters. What matters most is what Christmas is all about . . . love.

• Started reading last Christmas and finished shortly into January. The beginning was slow, but the rest of the book made up for it. 

• A group of strangers (except two and that wasn't planned) trapped in a dark creepy mansion, all uncertain what they're doing there and why? Mysteries and adventures and secrets abound! 

• Clara and Ben were my favorites until I read book #2 and loved those people just as much... But I dunno, these two might still be my favs... I loved the full-circle effect of their past history and the way it shaped their futures. 

• The Victorian style (in relation to literally everything) was so well done. 

• THE PROSE. So beautiful. So amazing. 

London, 1853: Innkeeper’s daughter Mina Scott will do anything to escape the drudgery of her life, for there’s nothing more mundane than serving customers day after day. Every minute she can, she reads lovely stories and dreams of someday becoming a real lady—and catching the eye of William Barlow, a frequent guest at the inn.

William is a gentleman’s son, a charming-but-penniless rogue. However, his bachelor uncle will soon name an heir—either William or his scheming cousin Percy. In an effort to secure the inheritance, William gives his uncle the impression he’s married—a perfect plan until Uncle invites William to bring his wife for a visit.

William asks Mina to be his pretend bride, only until his uncle names an heir on Christmas Day. Mina is flattered and frustrated by the offer, for she wants a true relationship with William. Yet, she agrees. . .then wishes she hadn’t. So does William. Deceiving the old man may mean that more than just money is lost. 

• There is something about let's-pretend-to-be-a-couple plots that always draw me in. Whether it's a Hallmark movie or a book like this one, something about the trope always draws me in. Sometimes I end up enjoying the story that follows and sometimes not, but this was definitely one of the good ones. 

• Will and Fitz's relationship <333

• Can we talk about the beautiful prose again?? I will most assuredly be reading more of Michelle Griep's eloquent words. 

• Alllll the Dickens references and connections. <3

• I listened to most of this one on audiobook driving to and from school, and I absolutely adored it. The narrator did such a fantastic job with the accents—it was a true delight. 

• May or may not be lowkey crushing on William Barlow. 

• Miss Whymsy. Miss Whymsy. Miss Whymsy. <3

I've just started reading book #3, The Old Lace Shop, and I'm hoping I enjoy it was much as these two! <3

|| 12 Days of Christmas

10 Songs From my Christmas Playlist @ Little Blossoms for Jesus

12 Days of Christmas — Day Three @ Soldier Girl Stories

The Best of Hallmark Take 2 @ Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors

Book Review: Yesterday's Christmas by A.M. Heath @ Reviews from the Stacks

The Carpenter @ Maidens of Modesty

Christmas Favorites: A Song @ Tower in the Plains

Christmas Recipes @ Faith on the Farm

Christmas Story: Expected End, Pt.2 @ Life of Heritage

DIY Christmas Cards @ Farm Life: Autumn's Adventures

Christmas Book Recommendations @ RebekahAshleigh

have you read this series?

don't forget to enter the giveaway! 

12 Days of Christmas || Day 2 || 20 Little Christmas Lovelies

Because this year has been a continual lesson in learning to find the good among the bad, savor the moments while you have them, and remember what's truly important in life, I thought I would share 20 things that I've found a fuller appreciation for during Christmas 2020. 

• christmas lights everywhere on my drive home •

• peppermint everything •

• a lighted and decorated tree gracing the living room • 

(even if it took us nearly three days to get around to getting it finished)

• discovering new books <3 • 

• the fact that I had many more ideas for this post before I actually sat down to write it •

• the two light snows we've already had + a chance of snow later this week • 

(winter weather is my JIVE)

• christmas movie nights with special people • 

• speciality coffees + drinks •

• the need for coats and scarves and leggings and sweaters and boots and the like • 

(warm comfy clothes make me happy)

• christmas-y church services + hymns • 

• those people who go all out and even attach christmas decor to their vehicles • 

(saw an adorable decorated jeep last night and I'm kinda diggin' it)

• planning + picking out gifts for my people •

• christmas music on every. single. station. • 

(is it just me or does it seem like even the country stations started playing Christmas music earlier this year?)

• looping christmas lights through my bookshelf and giving my space a sweet glow •

• sales. sales. sales. • 

(this totally counts)

• Zach William's version of Go Tell It on the Mountain • 

• hugging people •

(do not yell at me. I miss the days when no one frowned at hugging people randomly and fully and without judgement)

• the fact that there's not actually twenty things on this list, but you wouldn't have noticed if I hadn't told you • 

• this blog party and all it means to me <3 • 

|| 12 Days of Christmas

11 Favourite Indie Christmas Books @ Little Blossoms for Jesus

12 Days of Christmas: Day 2 @ Soldier Girl Stories

12 Days of Christmas: Day 2 @ Read Review Rejoice

“As In Olden Days” by Jesseca Wheaton @ Old-Fashioned Book Love

Bing Crosby Christmas Songs @ Life of Heritage

Book Review: A Storybook for Advent Series @ Farm Life: Autumn's Adventures

Christmas Books @ Faith on the Farm

Christmas Movies @ RebekahAshleigh

Spell the Month in (Christmas!) Books // December 2020 @ Reviews from the Stacks

Wake Up @ Kaitlyn Krispense, Author

what's making the Christmas season special for you this year? <3

(please say a prayer for some friends of ours today—they got the worst kind of news.) 

12 Days of Christmas || Day 1 || Intro + Flash Fiction Challenge

 

Happy Monday, friends and acquaintances! Welcome to the first day of the sixth year of the 12 Days of Christmas blog party <33

It's a bit difficult for me to realize that this party has been a sweet part of my Christmases for that long. I'm so happy that, in spite of some challenges and difficulties to work through, it's happening again this year. We have a bigger group of bloggers than I originally expected, several excited newbies, and I couldn't be more pleased. <33

If you're familiar with how the party works, feel free to buzz on ahead and enjoy all the posts for today. If you're new to 12DoC, let me just explain what's going on. Every day, today through Christmas, I'll be posting something Christmas-related. At the end of each of my posts will be a list of links to direct you to the blog of every other participant who's sharing Christmasy joy on that day. Sound fun, huh? :)

You'll get to know some possibly new-to-you bloggers, add to your TBR, read Christmas stories and devotionals, and be bombarded with Christmas joy. It's an absolute treat. <3

Alright, moving on... 

|| Flash Fiction Challenge

Allow me to be completely honest here. 

I haven't written anything in over a month. I haven't written anything worth reading in months. I haven't completed a whole story in over a year. 

(And she still calls herself a writer? I know, such irony.) 

BUT, I've always loved writing Christmas stories. Even though I still don't have a lot of free time, and it's now 11 days until Christmas, I want to make sure I work in some time to spin a new Christmas story. 

So here's the deal. Maybe you haven't been writing a lot lately either. Or maybe you have but you want to try something new. Maybe you're stuck with your current project and need a fresh batch of characters to work with. 

Whatever the case, I've got an idea—flash fiction. If you want to write some Christmas flash fiction with me, go for it and share it on your blog because I'd love to see what you came up with! Don't have a blog or already have your 12DoC posts planned and your blog fully-loaded through Christmas? Shoot me an email and I'll share your flash fiction here on Day 9 (the 22nd) if you'd like! 

I'm adding below some prompts I found Pinterest, but you don't have to work from a prompt. You could start with literally anything. These already have my mind whirling... :D

|| Giveaway

This year's 12DoC giveaway is a bit different than previous years, in that I'm not going to tell you all that's in the prize pack. I have several Christmasy items set aside—books, candles, hair ties, ornaments, things like that. But in hopes of making it a little more special for the winner, I'll alter the exact items to hopefully accommodate the winners likes/dislikes a little bit. And we'll probably do a first and second place winner, so go ahead and get all your entries. ;)

a Rafflecopter giveaway 

International friends... I'm sorry, loves. Shipping is unjustly expensive. If an international entrant winners, they will receive 3-4 Christmas ebooks, including Coffee Shop Christmas by Ryana Lynn Miller (a 12DoC-er!). <3 Then, the second place winner with receive the other goodies. 

|| 12 Days of Christmas

12 Christmas Traditions @ Little Blossoms for Jesus

12 Days of Christmas Blog Party: Day 1 @ Read Review Rejoice

12 Days of Christmas — Day One @ Soldier Girl Stories

Christmas Favorites: A Book @ Tower in the Plains

Christmas Story: Expected End, Pt.1 @ Life of Heritage

Hope was Born @ Maidens for Modesty

The Joy of Christmas Book Tag @ Novels, Dragons, and Wardrobe Doors

My Christmas Playlist @ Farm Life: Autumn's Adventures

My Christmas TBR @ RebekahAshleigh

Tackling the TBR Super Special: Christmas 2020 Edition @ Review from the Stacks

Word Study on "Lamb" @ Faith on the Farm

anyone writing flash fiction with me?! 

which blog are you scampering off to first? 

12 Days of Christmas... 2020?

Hello, lovely souls! 

I hope you’re all doing well and hanging in there as we welcome in the holiday season at the close of a long, tiresome, worrisome year. 

This hasn’t been the best year for many of us. Between a pandemic, civil and political unrest, and a wacked-out election (for my US homies, anyway). Due majorly to this fact plus a hectic schedule, I’ve been debating lately whether or not we should have the 12 Days of Christmas blog party again this year. 

And God promptly smacked me upside the head for continuing down this thought-track. 

“You’re not going to celebrate the birth of my Son because it’s inconvenient for you? You’re skipping the Christmas festivities you love so much because you ‘just don’t feel like it’?” 

(Talk about a dose of humility.) 

And then He proceeded to knock all other possible excuses out from under me. Work? The business I work at closes for the season a few days before the party begins. No reasoning there. School? I have finals the first two days of the parties, but that’s not a legitimate excuse. Even professional-procrastinators like me study before the day of the test...usually. 

All that to say... 

We're doing this. I got over myself. It’s happening—assuming at least a few of y’all are game. (Can’t do it all by my lonesome… that would be boring... I asked on Instagram the other day and got an almost 100% positive response, so like... where y'all at...) 

But hey! The party will run December 14th through the 25th, just like it was every year since 2015. (Please don't go back at look at our sad beginnings—I cringe just thinking about it.) Sixth year in a row, woot woot! I'm excited. :P 

If you're interested in joining, we would LOVE to have you. Legit all you've got to do to get involved is 1) email/message/comment and let me know you want to take part and 2) start planning/prepping your posts. This is later than I used to start planning, but we still have like 26 days, so we totally got this. 

Back to what I said about Instagram—if you have social media but not a blog and still want to participate, you're totally welcome. Just message me or something so we can work out details and figure out the best way for me to direct readers to your content.

I'll be posting every morning through the 12 consecutive days, and you're all welcome to post as many or as few times as you like. Remember that this is about Christmas, but beyond that, you can post whatever Christmasyness you want... If you need inspiration, you can find all the previous 12DoC posts here or a list of popular ideas for post topics in the past here. 

So uh,... yeah, I think that's all I need to say right now. Any questions?

who's in?!

Stop the Rain by Kassie Angle | release

Annddddd I'm back. With the other Veterans Day indie release. I love this spirit of patriotism we've got going on around here. Stinkin' amazing. ;)  

My friend Kassie's newest novel is centered around PTSD. These stories matter SO much. And I have total confidence that this gal has poured her whole heart into this story, and it'll rock your world. So, uh, go get it and read it, mmkay? 

(I'm not very far into it and my heart is already breaking. Accepting chocolate donations. </3 ) 

"...he said all I ask is that you don't forget, 'cause the war's not over when the fighting ends..." 

Synopsis

He left his entire world in Iraq. So why did the war follow him home?

Harley Keane and his best friend Nigel were just kids when 9/11 rocked their world and changed their lives forever. When they're finally old enough to join the Army, all their childhood dreams seem about to come true. But war wasn't supposed to be like this. A kid's dream isn't supposed to become a living nightmare. Fellow soldiers aren't supposed to bleed out in front of your eyes.

Back home, safe and unwounded, Harley feels anything but. Why would God spare him when so many others were taken? Why won't the nightmares stop, even when he's awake? And how long can he hide the truth that threatens everything he has left? When Harley's invisible scars refuse to stay hidden, will he let anyone close enough to help? And how do you go on with life when "okay" isn't okay at all?

Author Bio

Kassie Angle is a teenaged Christian author, cowgirl, therapy dog trainer, stereotypical INFJ, and Army girl to the core. Her first love, i.e. debut novel, O to be Like Thee, swept her unexpectedly into the world of indie authors. She tries to use her stories to fill the silences in literature, helping more people understand the world of the Army and showing how God heals the broken-hearted. You can find her and more of her writing at SoldierGirlStories.com.

Kindle + Paperback + Goodreads + Soldier Girl Stories

have you read anything by Kassie Angle?!