Merry Christmas, Diverse Fiction Fans!
The contributors of Diversity Between the Pages are taking a blogging break. We’ll see you in 2021!
Be safe and blessings!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year
Month: December 2020
Book Review: All I Want
Happy Wednesday, friends! Today I’m thrilled to share with you my review of All I Want by Toni Shiloh! Be sure to check out this awesome story that will give you all the feels!
About the Book
When Angel Lewis is tasked to decorate Bishop Allen’s place, she longs to be seen for the woman she’s become.
Bishop just wants to get through the Christmas season with his daughter and get on with his perfectly ordered life.
Time together changes everything as Angel’s heart unexpectedly touches Bishop’s life.
Also available in ebook and paperback as part of the Hearts Aglow collection! (Cover links to Amazon!)
My Thoughts:
What an absolutely lovely story! Toni Shiloh is one of my very favorite authors and she has hit it out of the park yet again! I will admit that for a good portion of I’ll Be Home I didn’t like Angel very much, but by the end of it she had won me over and I was so excited when I heard she would be getting her own story! All I Want did not disappoint! Every time Toni releases a new book I gain a new book boyfriend and Bishop was no exception, he is such an amazing hero, and I loved him so much! Bishop and Angel were perfect for each other and it was an absolute joy to watch their romance bloom! And Bishop’s daughter Marvel, oh my word, what an adorable sweetheart! Her obsession with Marvel superheroes was so much fun, and she never failed to make me smile and laugh, I loved her so much and I would love to read a story about her as an adult (pretty please, Toni?!) This excellent story gave me all the feels and I loved every single minute I spent reading it! I adore the entire Lewis family and I’m hoping for future books in this series, I’d love it if Eve, Gabe, and Noel each get their own book! All I Want is a must read that I most highly recommend!
(5 Stars!)
About the Author
Toni Shiloh is a wife, mom, and multi-published Christian contemporary romance author. She writes to bring Him glory and to learn more about His goodness. Her novel, Grace Restored, was a 2019 Holt Medallion finalist and Risking Love is a 2020 Selah Award finalist. A member of the American Christian Fiction Writers (ACFW) and of the Virginia Chapter, Toni seeks to help readers find authors. She loves connecting with readers and authors alike via social media. You can learn more about her writing at www.tonishiloh.com
Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest | Instagram | Goodreads | Bookbub | Newsletter
Post by contributor Caitlyn Santi
Book Review: Holiday Stalker
Happy Monday reader friends! Today’s book review is Holiday Stalker by Laura Scott. Holiday Stalker is the first story of the True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn Christmas, 2 novellas in 1 book.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Their mission: saving Christmas
Two exciting new True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn novellas
In Holiday Stalker by Laura Scott, Max Santelli and his furry partner protect the team’s tech guru, Eden Chang, when she becomes the target of deadly attention. And in Gift-Wrapped Danger by Maggie K. Black, army veteran Adam Jolly teams up with Noelle Orton and her keen-nosed K-9 to take down someone smuggling drugs using toys donated to the single dad’s Christmas charity.
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Laura Scott
MY THOUGHTS
I love romantic suspense books, and Holiday Stalker by Laura Scott is an awesome read. Laura Scott is a wonderful author and I love reading her books. Eden Chang, a Chinese-American, is the tech guru for the K-9 unit team in Brooklyn, New York. when attempts are made on her life, Max and his partner help protect her. This story drew me in right away and is filled with suspense and romance. I enjoyed the interaction between Max’s K-9 partner Sam and Eden’s roommate’s cat Charlie whenever the two met.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’m often asked when I started writing and I have to be honest, I can’t remember when I wasn’t writing. I loved books as a kid and like many authors I ran out of stories that I liked to read so I began to make up my own. I wrote my first teen novel when I was thirteen and my first romance when I was seventeen. Of course neither manuscript was very good, but I never gave up and after I finished Graduate school I decided to take some time for myself and get back to my writing. I’m so glad I did!
I grew up reading faith based books by Grace Livingston Hill so writing for Love Inspired Suspense is a dream come true. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
I currently live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with my husband of thirty-three years. My daughter Nicole is married to a wonderful man named Mike and my son Jonathan is a Registered Nurse at the same hospital where I work. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family.
I’m a dog lover and had to put my Westie named Mac down a year or so ago. I still miss him but now have a chance to dog sit for my sisters and brother. I try to incorporate pets in my my stories as much as possible
In May of 2017 I was the humble recipient of the Wisconsin Romance Writers Lifetime Achievement Award. I’m blessed to be a member of such an amazing group!
Post by Contributor: Allyson Anthony
First Line Friday. The Church Girl.
Happy Friday!
Welcome to First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books. Grab the book nearest to you and share the first line!
And the first line is…
Mary was rounding up her Sunday School class with the Youth Club.
ABOUT THE BOOK.
As a child, Mary Uwanna believed in the power of faith and love, and loved to tell stories of Princes. Everything changes when she loses her parents in one night, and is left to care for her three brothers. In a climate of corruption and immorality, even the Church was not a safe refuge for sixteen year old, Mary. She makes a decision that threatens to steal her destiny, until she meets her Prince.
Ifeanyi Chukwueke is not the Prince Mary had envisioned. He is a bad boy, with a reputation for breaking hearts. But his heart is set on Mary. Faced with her haunting past, he makes a decision to love her regardless… Until his own past comes to threaten their happily ever after – time and again!
The Church Girl is a story about a love that was destined, but tried in every way. Mary and Ifeanyi must learn that in order to live, they must first die to self, as their love and faith is tested through many trials and temptations.
Follow this roller-coaster ride about a love that overcomes all, that will grow your faith, or lead you to the One who holds the keys of Life.
Let me know the first line of the book closest to you & then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!
Throwback Thursday — The Angel Tree
About the Book
A heartwarming Christmas mystery and friendship story!
Every Christmas in the small town of Pine River, a tree appears in the town square–the Angel Tree. Some people tie wishes to the tree, while others make those wishes come true. Nobody’s ever known where the tree comes from, but the mystery has always been part of the tradition’s charm.
This year, however, four kids who have been helped–Lucy, Joe, Max, and Cami–are determined to solve the mystery and find out the true identity of the town’s guardian angel, so that Pine River can finally thank the person who brought the Angel Tree to their town.
This is a heartwarming Christmas mystery, full of friendship, discovery, and loads of holiday cheer!
‘PUBLISHER’S WEEKLY’ REVIEW:
“Full of the type of warmth and good cheer found in favorite holiday movies, author and PW reviewer Benedis-Grab’s lively tale spotlights the time-honored tradition—and can-do citizens—that make a small town great, even in the face of financial struggle. Nobody is certain who is behind the stately Angel Tree that appears in the Pine River town square each year, but everyone knows that when people tie notes containing their Christmas wishes to the tree, the wishes are granted. This year, middle-schoolers Cami, Max, Lucy, and Joe (all of whom have benefitted from the Angel Tree’s bounty) try to uncover the tree’s benefactor and thank him or her. As the kids puzzle through clues, they discover things that bring them closer to their families, neighbors, and each other—all in time for a satisfying, celebratory reveal. Ages 8–12.”
My Thoughts About This Book:
I saw this book on the fiction shelf in the children’s section of the local public library a couple of weeks after Christmas last year. Since I love to read holiday fiction and non-fiction year round, I grabbed it, checked it out, and took it home.
This is a heartwarming story about four diverse middle-schoolers who make it their common goal to discover who the beneficent organizer and underwriter of the town’s Angel Tree and annual charitable holiday acts is. The person’s identity has been a mystery for over three decades, and these children want to do something wonderful to celebrate this person’s generosity.
The group of four–five if you count Lucy’s guide dog, Valentine, who is helpful in discovering some important clues–is made up of Cami, an talented African-American musician who is being raised by her grandmother because she is an orphan; Lucy, a blind Chinese girl adopted by her American parents when she was a baby; Valentine, Lucy’s guide dog that is facing a serious health challenge of her own; Joe, the new kid in town who has a bad attitude and a secret; and Max, the class clown who has some serious family problems on his plate. Of note, Joe and Max are living in poverty due to familial circumstances; their relationship did not get off to a good start when Joe came to town.
Despite their differences, under the leadership of Cami the four of them work through their issues with each other and pull together to solve the mystery of the Angel Tree.
The story includes several instances where each character is facing an individual challenge. This was one of the things I liked the most about this book — it wasn’t a fairy tale with a happily ever after ending. The main characters dealt with realistic problems and obstacles on the pathway of life in order to improve their lives and the lives of their family members and the community. The group’s dynamics were also believable and enjoyable.
Oh, did I mention the cover? The magical Christmas tree with the silhouetted main characters on the cover perfectly portrays the inner beauty revealed throughout this story.
I look forward to reading more of this author’s work in the future.
Highly-recommended as a family, classroom, and youth group/church group read-aloud book.
I borrowed this book from the local public library.
About the Author
Daphne is the author of middle grade books Army Brats, (nominated for the Louisiana Reader’s Choice Award) Clementine for Christmas, The Chocolate Challenge and The Angel Tree (nominated for the Triple Crown Children’s Book Award), and the young adult books The Girl in the Wall (an ALA Quick Pick) and Alive and Well in Prague, New York (a Bank Street Best Children’s Book of 2008). Her short stories have appeared in American Girl Magazine. She earned an MFA at The New School and is an adjunct professor at The New School and McDaniel College, as well as a former high school history teacher. She lives in New York City with her husband, kids and cat, and is currently studying at to become a librarian.
Book Review: The Love Clause
Happy Wednesday, friends! Have you started reading Christmas books yet? I just read an awesome one, The Love Clause by Liwen Y. Ho! I’m thrilled to share my review with you! Be sure to check this one out!
About the Book
He needs a fake girlfriend to advance his career. She needs a pretend date to appease her mom. The solution for both? A contractual relationship with one clause: neither party can fall in love.
Divorce attorney Phillip Wong is on his way to making partner in his law firm. His only obstacle? He must show his boss he has a support system—namely, a devoted woman—to aid his work-life balance.
Vanessa Lim needs to find a date to her cousin’s wedding, before her mom arranges one for her. She agrees to accompany her colleague, Phil, to their company’s Christmas party on one condition. He acts as her doting boyfriend for a day.
Romance is forbidden in this contractual relationship, a clause Phil and Vanessa are sure they can keep. He thinks she’s ditzy, she finds him overbearing, and they’re both married to their jobs. However, their time together reveals that hearts don’t always follow the rules.
This novella was originally published in the Amazon bestselling Sweet Christmas Kisses 5 boxed set.
My Thoughts:
What a delightful story! I’ve been loving this author’s books and slowly making my way through her backlist. I was so looking forward to reading The Love Clause and it did not disappoint! We first met Philip in Liwen’s other romantic comedy, Puppy Dog Tales, in which he wasn’t the most likable character, but it was so great to get his backstory and see him grow as a character, and I totally grew to love him! Vanessa was an excellent heroine, I admired her determination and generous heart, and I was rooting for her from the start! I also loved Vanessa’s mom, she was such a hoot!
The Love Clause is a super cute and fun Christmas story that is the perfect escape from the holiday craziness. Grab your cozy blanket, cookies, and warm beverage of choice and snuggle up next to the Christmas tree with this adorable story that is sure to brighten your day!
I loved this story and can’t wait to read more of this author’s books!
Highly recommended!
About the Author
Liwen Y. Ho works as a chauffeur and referee by day (AKA being a stay at home mom) and a writer by night. She writes sweet and inspirational romance infused with heart, humor, and a taste of home (her Asian roots).
In her pre-author life, she received a Masters degree in Marriage and Family Therapy from Western Seminary. She loves makeovers of all kinds, especially those of the heart and mind. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her techie husband and their two children.
Website | Instagram | Goodreads
Post by contributor Caitlyn Santi
Top Ten Tuesday: Holiday Cover Love
For Top Ten Tuesday, hosted by That Artsy Reader Girl, today is a Holiday/Seasonal topic featuring snowy, wintery, cozy cover scenes. I scanned the backlist of several authors we’ve featured here on Diversity Between the Pages to bring you a Wintery Cover Collage.
Don’t those covers make you want to curl up with a good book? Do you have a book with a favorite winter/Christmas scene? Visit That Artsy Reader Girl to join the conversation!
Book Review: The Doctor’s Nanny
Happy Monday, friends! Today I am thrilled to share my thoughts about The Doctor’s Nanny, the first book in Rose Fresquez’s new Caregivers series.
Have you read any books by Rose Fresquez yet?
ABOUT THE BOOK
He’s about to propose to the woman of his dreams when he meets the love of his life.
As a successful neurosurgeon about to propose to his gorgeous girlfriend, Ryan Harper has the perfect life. When his sister and brother-in-law die in a tragic car accident, he suddenly becomes a single dad to his orphaned niece and nephews. A sixty-hour workweek with a houseful of children is a lot to juggle, and he desperately needs help.
When Destiny Brown finds herself out of work, she takes a job as a temporary live-in nanny. Despite her lack of experience, she’s certain she can handle four kids. Fighting her attraction to her handsome boss, however, is going to require some extra training.
While all his spare time should be on connecting with his girlfriend, Destiny’s love and devotion to his family is working its way into his heart. Every conversation, every interaction, every heated glance across the table, might be a step closer to his destiny—until his best friend starts pursuing Destiny.
Ryan can do one of two things: confess his feelings to his employee, or suffer in silence and let fate take its course.
This is the first standalone book in the caregiver series. Each book can be read in any order.
Books in the series
1. The Doctor’s Nanny
2. The Entrepreneur’s Nurse
3. The CEO’s Companion
4. The Physician’s Helper
5. The Soldier’s Therapist
6. The Investor’s Attendant
MY THOUGHTS
With a realistic storyline and charming characters, author Rose Fresquez creates a wonderful contemporary romance novel that is sure to delight readers. The Doctor’s Nanny, the first book in her new Caregivers series, will appeal to a wide range of readers and includes diverse characters that they can easily relate to. I just love Rose Fresquez’s books, and I think The Doctor’s Nanny is my new favorite book of hers.
After the unexpected death of his sister and brother-in-law, Dr. Ryan Harper is suddenly the legal guardian of their four children. Ryan quickly realizes he needs assistance with children, and the new nanny, Destiny Brown, is a breath of fresh air to the entire family. Readers will love getting to know Destiny and Ryan in this heartwarming tale of finding true love.
The Doctor’s Nanny is recommended for readers of inspirational contemporary romance. I am definitely looking forward to reading more books from this series.
I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM THE AUTHOR/PUBLISHER AND WAS NOT REQUIRED TO WRITE A POSITIVE REVIEW. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MINE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Rose Fresquez is a stay-at-home mom, with a husband and four kids. In her free time, she likes to spend time outdoors with the family, sing gospel music and plotting her next writing project.
Rose’s writing projects include both Christian non-fiction and Christian fiction.
WEBSITE | FACEBOOK | TWITTER | INSTAGRAM | GOODREADS | BOOKBUB
First Line Friday: Holiday Stalker
Happy Friday friends! It’s time for First Line Friday, hosted by Hoarding Books. Grab the book nearest to you and share the first line.
Today we’re featuring the first line from Holiday Stalker by Laura Scott. Holiday Stalker is the first story of the True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn Christmas, 2 novellas in 1 book. And the first line is…
Eden Chang hunched her shoulders and tucked her chin beneath the neckline of her bright red winter coat.
ABOUT THE BOOK
Their mission: saving Christmas
Two exciting new True Blue K-9 Unit: Brooklyn novellas
In Holiday Stalker by Laura Scott, Max Santelli and his furry partner protect the team’s tech guru, Eden Chang, when she becomes the target of deadly attention. And in Gift-Wrapped Danger by Maggie K. Black, army veteran Adam Jolly teams up with Noelle Orton and her keen-nosed K-9 to take down someone smuggling drugs using toys donated to the single dad’s Christmas charity.
USA TODAY Bestselling Author Laura Scott
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
I’m often asked when I started writing and I have to be honest, I can’t remember when I wasn’t writing. I loved books as a kid and like many authors I ran out of stories that I liked to read so I began to make up my own. I wrote my first teen novel when I was thirteen and my first romance when I was seventeen. Of course neither manuscript was very good, but I never gave up and after I finished Graduate school I decided to take some time for myself and get back to my writing. I’m so glad I did!
I grew up reading faith based books by Grace Livingston Hill so writing for Love Inspired Suspense is a dream come true. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoy writing them.
I currently live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with my husband of thirty-three years. My daughter Nicole is married to a wonderful man named Mike and my son Jonathan is a Registered Nurse at the same hospital where I work. I’m so blessed to have such a wonderful family.
I’m a dog lover and had to put my Westie named Mac down a year or so ago. I still miss him but now have a chance to dog sit for my sisters and brother. I try to incorporate pets in my my stories as much as possible
In May of 2017 I was the humble recipient of the Wisconsin Romance Writers Lifetime Achievement Award. I’m blessed to be a member of such an amazing group!
Let us know the first line of the book closest to you and then head over to Hoarding Books to see who else is participating!
Posted by contributor: Allyson Anthony
Book Review: The Dress Shop on King Street
Happy Wednesday, friends! Today I am thrilled to share my thoughts about The Dress Shop on King Street by Ashley Clark, which released yesterday December 1st. Fans of time slip novels, get ready for a fantastic new book to add to your TBR lists.
Have you read any time slip (dual timeline) novels yet?
ABOUT THE BOOK
Harper Dupree has pinned all her hopes on a future in fashion design. But when it comes crashing down around her, she returns home to Fairhope, Alabama, and to Millie, the woman who first taught her how to sew. As Harper rethinks her own future, long-hidden secrets about Millie’s past are brought to light.
In 1946, Millie Middleton–the daughter of an Italian man and a Black woman–boarded a train and left Charleston to keep half of her heritage hidden. She carried with her two heirloom buttons and the dream of owning a dress store. She never expected to meet a charming train jumper who changed her life forever . . . and led her yet again to a heartbreaking choice about which heritage would define her future.
Now, together, Harper and Millie return to Charleston to find the man who may hold the answers they seek … and a chance at the dress shop they’ve both dreamed of. But it’s not until all appears lost that they see the unexpected ways to mend what frayed between the seams.
MY THOUGHTS
The Dress Shop on King Street is the first book in author Ashley Clark’s Heirloom Secrets series. This time slip novel is filled with deep emotion, heartbreaking moments, and hope for the future. Ashley Clark intricately weaves the past and present together in this compelling tale of following our dreams, while incorporating beautiful messages of God’s faithfulness and purpose in our lives.
The Dress Shop on King Street focuses on the present-day storyline and the historical storyline beginning in 1946. However, the brief glimpse back to 1860 in Charleston completely broke my heart, with the anguish that Rose, a young slave and mother, experienced. In 1946, dark moments in the past led to the difficult decision of hiding part of her heritage as Millie Middleton struggled with the implications of her racial identity in Charleston. Both storylines were well written, but the historical storyline definitely captured my interest. I look forward to reading more from this author in the future.
The Dress Shop on King Street is recommended for readers of romantic women’s fiction.
I RECEIVED A COMPLIMENTARY COPY OF THIS BOOK FROM BETHANY HOUSE AND WAS NOT REQUIRED TO WRITE A POSITIVE REVIEW. ALL OPINIONS EXPRESSED ARE MINE.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ashley Clark (www.ashleyclarkbooks.com) writes romantic women’s fiction set in the South. With a master’s degree in creative writing, Ashley teaches literature and writing courses at the University of West Florida. Ashley has been an active member of American Christian Fiction Writers for almost a decade. She lives with her husband, son, and two rescued Cocker Spaniels off Florida’s Gulf Coast. When she’s not writing, she’s rescuing stray animals, dreaming of Charleston, and drinking all the English breakfast tea she can get her hands on.
Diversity Between the Pages 