Snippet Sunday: 99 cent Christmas Contemporary Romance: Christmas in Bayeux #snippetsunday

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my Christmas Romances. You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:

About this excerpt:  Noel reflects on her feelings for Aiden.

ENJOY THIS SNIPPET: 

 Noel was surprised to hear Aiden Seward's voice over the phone. She had been an exchange student with his family years ago, and even back then, she had a crush on him, but she was young and he, while the same age, found her no more attractive than his sister, or so she thought. Now he was a man, tall and well built. His dark ebony hair fell in neat waves and curved against the nape of his neck. His sweet hazel eyes harbored such sadness, it almost broke her heart. She wanted to hold him, touch him, drive away those demons that haunted him, but she knew now was not the time. He had to be the one to reach out to her. He had not been so daring years ago. What could she expect from him now?

BLURB: 

The ravages of war have taken their toll on Aiden. Seeking peace, he has traveled to Bayeux, France, on a pilgrimage of sorts. Noel, a former exchange student who spent time with his family years before, provides him a place to stay at the old manor she has turned into an inn.
The attraction they felt nine years before at the tender age of sixteen flares to life as they spend time together and prepare the inn for Christmas. But there has been so much loss and grief for Aiden. Will Noel be able to help him feel again and can Aiden find what he is searching for? 

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B005BTLSI8

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-in-bayeux-stephanie-burkhart/1104401603?ean=2940011371806

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72100

Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/christmas-in-bayeux

REVIEWS:

5 Stars, Diane Craver, Amazon Reviewer:  "Christmas in Bayeux" is the perfect short romance to enjoy during the holiday season or any time during the year, and I highly recommend it.

5 Stars, Karen Michelle Nutt, Amazon Reviewer:  Christmas in Bayeux is a tender romance sure to warm your hearts for anytime of the year. I highly recommend it.

5 Stars, Markee Anderson: This was just a wonderful and heart warming read.


BOOK TRAILER:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-muZ0dhOvSE

Happy Thanksgiving! A Photo Essay

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! 2015 is almost done and I wanted to share what I was thankful for. I thought I'd take a different approach, using a photo essay and some facts about the holiday.

Of course the #1 thing I'm thankful for:  Turkey!

If it wasn't for turkey, what would the holiday be like?  The first Thanksgiving in 1621 between the Wampanoag Native American Indians and the Piligrims included venison, fish, lobster, clams, squash, berries, fruit and pumpkin.  Turkeys were plenty, but can you imagine the main feast with venison? 

Of course I'm thankful for pie. Blueberry is my favorite. 

I'm thankful for my family. They're a bunch of fun. 

Yankee Candles.  They remind me of home and I got my killer clam chowder recipe from them.

which leads me to Clam Chowder.  This is from the Splash Cafe in Pismo Beach!

I'm thankful for my New England Patriots.  Gronkowski is a my favorite player. :)  Next to Julian Edelman. Thanksgiving wouldn't be the same without football. 

I'm thankful for having some really great friends!  

I'm thankful for coffee and starting my day off right.

I'm thankful that my writing, including my children's stories have been published.

I'm thankful for Grumpy Cat.  Grumpy Cat always makes me laugh! 

Castaic Lake. I always enjoy taking a walk around the lake.

For being involved in Cub Scouts and helping the boys see the world through another lens.

Work friends.  They make the load lighter.

Walking for Alzheimers with some great people!

What are you thankful for? 

New Release: In time for Christmas: Joseph's Cradle, children's Christmas book

Availiable in Hardback! 


COVER BLURB FOR Joseph’s Cradle:

Joseph and his wife, Mary, expect a baby. With all that is happening, including the government requiring a census, Joseph feels a little overwhelmed and a bit left out of the preparations for the baby. Is there something he can do?

5 SHORT QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS FOR STEPHANIE:

#1: What inspired you to write the story?

STEPHANIE: I wanted to write the Christmas story from the view of being expectant parents.  I wanted to show how Joseph grew into fatherhood. I think these are all aspects of life we all can identify with. 

#2: How long did it take? 

STEPHANIE: The story took about a day to write.  After editing, I’d say it took about a week.

#3: Did you pick the illustrator?

STEPHANIE: No, I did not.  4RV Publishing selected the illustrator.  I think Matthew Hughes did a fantastic job with the illustrations.  They have a very soft hearted feel and compliment the story well. 

#4: What makes this book special?

STEPHANIE: It’s a look at the Christmas story from a different perspective. 

#5: How long have you been writing children's books?

STEPHANIE: About 5 years now. My first children's book, "The Giving Meadow" was published with 4RV Publishing in 2010. It has a great message about sharing and caring for young children as well as telling about Caterpillar's transformation into a butterfly. It's perfect for Easter as it helps young children understand Jesus' story.

*****

Question for you: What gift would you give Jesus for Christmas? 

*****

Reviews: 

Patricia Karwatowicz, 4 stars, Amazon Reviewer: 

“Artist Mathew Hughes' soft, time-friendly paintings take us back to Biblical times. This is a sweet Christmas book that could start a discussion about what a young child might like to give the Christ Child for Christmas.” 

Rising Star Reviews, 5 Stars, Amazon Reviewer:

Joseph's Cradle is a wonderful story about Joseph, who wanted to do something special for the coming baby. Because he was a carpenter, he gave the best gift he could think of--something made by his own two hands. Children will understand this story.

Suzanne C., 4 Stars, Amazon Reviewer:

This beautifully illustrated picture book with its gentle, sweet story will enliven discussion with the young people in your life about each person's special place in the story we thought we knew.

*****

Author Bio:

Stephanie Burkhart was born and raised in Manchester, New Hampshire, but now calls California her home. She currently works for LAPD as a 911 Dispatcher. Stephanie has been writing since she was five, when she crafted homemade comic books on the kitchen table. Her previous books with 4RV Publishing include: The Giving Meadow, and First Flag of New Hampshire.  Stephanie enjoys coffee, adores chocolate and is currently the Den Leader for her son's Cub Scout Den.

JOSEPH’S CRADLE:  is available in print from 4RV Publishing.

BUY LINKS:

4RV PUBLISHING BOOKSTORE: http://www.4rvpublishingcatalog.com/burkhart.php

AMAZON: http://www.amazon.com/Josephs-Cradle-Stephanie-Burkhart/dp/1940310342/ref=sr_1_18?ie=UTF8&qid=1446519672&sr=8-18&keywords=stephanie+burkhart

FIND ME ON THE WEB LINKS:

FIND ME ON THE WEB AT:

WEBSITE:

http://www.stephanieburkhart.com

TWITTER:

http://twitter.com/StephBurkhart

FACEBOOK: 

https://www.facebook.com/StephanieBurkhartAuthor

GOOD READS:

http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/4031660.Stephanie_Burkhart

YOU TUBE CHANNEL:

http://www.youtube.com/user/botrina?feature=mhee

PINTEREST:

http://pinterest.com/sgburkhart/

Young Witchcraft is a 2015 3rd Place IDA Contest Winner! 99 cent ebook!

The International Digital Awards is a contest sponsored by Oklahoma Romance Writers of America and is open to all works of fiction in digital format, regardless of their romantic content. 

Young Witchcraft, my 99 cent story earned 3rd Place in the Short Story, Young/New Adult Category! 

BLURB:Rachel's secret would have Cotton Mather rolling over in his grave. She's been raised from an early age to use magic for good, despite her temptation to cast a spell against Phil the bully who can't stop teasing her. 

Joe thinks Rachel is cool, especially when she weaves her healing magic spells on him, but he's got his own problems. It's not easy keeping Rachel safe from Phil's constant threats. 

When Phil poisons Rachel, can love and little young witchcraft bring Rachel and Joe together or have years of Phil's bullying ruined their relationship for good? 

ENJOY THIS EXCERPT: 

Suzie bumped into Rachel's shoulder. Rachel nearly lost her balance, extended her leg, and regained her bearing.  Thank the broomsticks Suzie's contact didn't start a bleeding episode. 

"I'd be careful if I were you. Don't cross me."

"What you did was mean and you know it." Rachel squared her shoulders, despite the knots in her stomach.

Suzie narrowed her eyes.

"Is there a problem?" Joe approached, his arms crossed.

"You two losers deserve each other." Suzie rolled her eyes and walked off.

Rachel swallowed hard, pushing the hurt from Suzie's comment aside for now. Rachel glanced at Joe. "Anna's ankle is swollen. Can you help her out to her car?"

"Sure."

Rachel smiled her appreciation at Joe. He'd grown tall, over six feet and his green eyes sparkled like gems when the light caught them a certain way.  His blond hair had darkened a bit to sandy blond, but he kept his hair in a nice neat cut. He often had a five o'clock shadow that she found incredibly attractive on him. Joe was lean and with thin muscles, and not an ounce of fat on him. He could tear up a refrigerator. Fruit, pizza, and celery were his favorite foods. He was as picky as a black cat about what he ate since he had a peanut allergy. Joe played on the football team as a tight end or a running back. His practice must have gotten over early tonight.

A part of her wanted to reach out for his hand like she did when they were kids, back when life wasn't so complicated, but something held her back. Hurt? Doubt? Lack of courage? She sighed. Her self-esteem had taken a big hit today, but she wanted to be a good friend to Anna so she brushed aside her anxiety. Now that Joe was here, Rachel could do anything. 

BUY LINKS:

AMAZON:  http://amzn.com/B00YJW0YMO

B&N: http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/young-witchcraft-stephanie-burkhart/1122051463?ean=2940151946490

SMASHWORDS:http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/546938

KOBO: https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/young-witchcraft

***If you would like to review the book, please send me a request at botrina_buchanan@yahoo.com with Young Witchcraft Reiew in the subject line.** 

Snippet Sunday: 99 cent Christmas Contemporary romance: Christmas in Bayeux

Hi all, I'm participating in the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday. This month, I'll be taking snippets from my Christmas Romances. You can find the Weekend Warriors Snippet Sunday list at:

About this excerpt:  Aiden is glad to see Noel. 

ENJOY THIS SNIPPET: 

Her eyes swept over him and then sparked with recognition. "Aiden!"

"Bonjour, Noel!"

She wrapped her arms around him and gave him a quick hug. "Bonjour!"

Her warm glow infused him with hope, cracking his battlements even further.  Her genuine embrace was what he needed, but he wasn't here for her. He needed to set his heart and his mind straight and she would be a big part of that. Taking a step back, Aiden feathered his eyes over her. "It's good to see you again, Noel. You've changed…"

BLURB: 

The ravages of war have taken their toll on Aiden. Seeking peace, he has traveled to Bayeux, France, on a pilgrimage of sorts. Noel, a former exchange student who spent time with his family years before, provides him a place to stay at the old manor she has turned into an inn.
The attraction they felt nine years before at the tender age of sixteen flares to life as they spend time together and prepare the inn for Christmas. But there has been so much loss and grief for Aiden. Will Noel be able to help him feel again and can Aiden find what he is searching for? 

BUY LINKS: 

Amazon: http://amzn.com/B005BTLSI8

B&N:  http://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/christmas-in-bayeux-stephanie-burkhart/1104401603?ean=2940011371806

Smashwords: http://www.smashwords.com/books/view/72100

Kobo:  https://store.kobobooks.com/en-us/ebook/christmas-in-bayeux

REVIEWS:

5 Stars, Diane Craver, Amazon Reviewer:  "Christmas in Bayeux" is the perfect short romance to enjoy during the holiday season or any time during the year, and I highly recommend it.

5 Stars, Karen Michelle Nutt, Amazon Reviewer:  Christmas in Bayeux is a tender romance sure to warm your hearts for anytime of the year. I highly recommend it.

5 Stars, Markee Anderson: This was just a wonderful and heart warming read.


BOOK TRAILER:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-muZ0dhOvSE