About the Book
Book: Home for Christmas
Authors: Chautona Havig, Toni Shiloh, Cathe Swanson, Jaycee Weaver
Genre: Contemporary Christian Christmas Romance
Release date: October 21, 2021
Settle in with your favorite beverage, a Christmassy snack, and get ready for all the feels with these four heart-warming, military-honoring Christmas novellas.
The Christmas Lights Collection is back, and this year’s collection is better than ever. Full of love, joy, and hope, this year’s collection offers the celebration of freedom, sacrifice, and the greatest Gift ever given.
These novella features two veterans and two active servicemen and their stories.
The Stars of New Cheltenham (Chautona Havig): When a woman arrives at the Marine recruiting center, livid that her brother is ready to sign up tomorrow, the recruiter takes her on a journey through Rockland in hopes of showing her why her brother wants to serve.
Most Wonderful Time– Gabe loves Christmas, so when he discovers that his new co-worker Shanée wants nothing to do with the season, he makes it his mission to show her the true meaning. But he never expected feelings to develop for the Air Force veteran. Will he take a chance that she feels the same way or miss the best gift of all?
The Road Home: ally has tried to leave her military history far in the past, but she’s not ready to go back to her former life, either. Can an old army buddy help her find a new road home?
Now and Forever Christmas: The past eight years as a professional musician for the US Army prepared Tobin McGhee for his new job as high school band teacher. They didn’t prepare him for how he’d feel seeing an old girlfriend again. This time, though, he won’t make the same mistakes. Can they make holiday music together and rekindle the friendship they once had, or will romance ruin everything… again?
Click here to get your copy!
MY THOUGHTS: This collection of novellas is a wonderful tribute to those who serve in the military while also being the perfect reminder of God’s love and faithfulness as expressed during the Christmas season. From family members dealing with the prospect of loved ones entering service to veteran’s navigating the sometimes heartbreaking reality of trying to find a new normal after experiencing the horrors of war, this series of stories covers each stage of military service with sensitivity and grace. It’s obvious each of the authors appreciate those in service to our country and the sacrifices they make. Joys and trials of military service and the effects it can have on those returning to civilian life are not glossed over or made to look hopeless. It feels true to life, though I cannot say this for sure since I have no experience with the subject.
And setting these stories with the backdrop of Christmas is perfect. A time dedicated to God’s message of love and hope is what each of the characters need. And just in case you think a series of novellas about those who chose to serve our country is going to be a heavy, emotional read, I can assure you it is not. There are touching scenes, but there is plenty of traditional Christmas fun included in each story. I give Home for Christmas five stars.
About the Author
Authors Chautona Havig, Toni Shiloh, Cathe Swanson, and Jaycee Weaver are about as different geographically and personally as you can get—except where they’re not. What they all share is a love of books, writing, and Jesus. Their great diversity is what makes their books so complementary and what makes the Christmas Lights Collection an eagerly-anticipated set each year.
More from Chautona
Picture it. Sweaters, fuzzy socks, a gas fireplace, and laptops. Cathe Swanson and I had been invited to join author Brenda Anderson for a writing retreat at her timeshare in the Wisconsin Dells. So, I flew out (and arrived in Minneapolis in the middle of riots! EEEP!) and we drove over to the Dells. There we were both determined to get a ton of writing done. And we did.
While Cathe worked on Home Run, (and I sneaked peeks at her recent release, Long Shadows), I finished up Penelope’s Pursuit and wrote a significant amount of Adoring April.
I also had a genius idea while I was there. I kind of freaked out poor Cathe a bit, running into the room where she was working and blurting out all the idea-ness (for a video of that, go HERE), but still… guys! Military! Woohoo! Here’s a video of us brainstorming:
It was perfect on so many levels. So, Cathe zipped messages off to Jaycee and Toni, and we all began planning what we’d do to honor our military in this collection.
Look, it’s been a hard year for our military families. Folks are grieving and there’s just so much uncertainty. So, all of the authors of the Christmas Lights Collection would like to dedicate this collection not just to the men and women who have and are currently serving in our armed forces, but also to the families who make their own sacrifices in giving up time (often years) with their service men and women.
In this collection, you’ll find a Marine recruiter, a struggling veteran, an Army musician, and an Air Force veteran now working a nice prosaic bank job! See how each author ties Christmas and these heroes together!
Blog Stops
Debbie’s Dusty Deliberations, December 8
Texas Book-aholic, December 9
Locks, Hooks and Books, December 10
Batya’s Bits, December 10
Inklings and notions, December 11
Musings of a Sassy Bookish Mama, December 12
A Modern Day Fairy Tale, December 13 (Spotlight)
Joanne Markey, December 13
Older & Smarter?, December 14
For Him and My Family, December 14
deb’s Book Review, December 15
Blossoms and Blessings, December 15
Kayem Reads, December 16
Ashley’s Clean Book Reviews, December 16
By the Book, December 17
Because I said so — and other adventures in Parenting, December 17
lakesidelivingsite, December 18
Blogging With Carol, December 19
Cultivating Us, December 19
She Lives To Read, December 20
Happily Managing a Household of Boys, December 21
Mary Hake, December 21
Giveaway
To celebrate their tour, the Christmas Lights Authors are giving away the grand prize of a $50 Amazon gift card!!
Be sure to comment on the blog stops for nine extra entries into the giveaway! Click the link below to enter.
https://promosimple.com/ps/1482c/home-for-christmas-celebration-tour-giveaway
The Conversation
Thanks for sharing!
Thanks for stopping by!