Cindy C. Bennett's Blog, page 16

February 8, 2015

Bacon!


Who doesn't love bacon, right? Okay, maybe vegetarians . . . But seriously, almost everyone else does. It's become especially popular in the past few years after spending centuries as the underappreciated side to eggs. (I blame Jim Gaffigan, personally.)

Christina Dymock, whose written several amazing cookbooks, has come out with The Bacon Lover's Cookbook . I received a review copy, so this is what I think:

[image error] There are some fantastic recipes in here. Bacon and egg salad sandwiches. I love egg salad, never thought of adding bacon to it. Inside out egg muffins. Easy and tasty. Chicken bacon salad sandwich, baked beans, honey mustard bacon drumsticks, twice baked potatoes. Yum. There are plenty more, too.

I'm not a fan of bacon mixed with sweet. There's a whole section of sweets using bacon that I can guarantee I'll never try. To me bacon and sweet just do not mix. But that's me. I'm sure there are plenty of people who love it.

The book is well organized, and has a picture for every single recipe which I love. I hate it when I'm trying something new and don't have a photo for reference when it comes to recipes. So while mine might not be as pretty as hers, I still at least have an idea of what it's supposed to look like.

Purchase your copy here.






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Published on February 08, 2015 05:00

February 3, 2015

Ready for Unleashed? Buckle Your Seatbelt and Hold on Tight!

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Enjoy Happy Geek Media’s debut virtual tour of Unleashed by Author Rachel McClellan

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author-rachel-mcclellan-unleashed-6 Unleashed by Rachel McClellan Genres: Romance, Thriller, Science Fiction 355 pages Release Date: September 9, 2014
Seventeen-year-old Claire Williams’ tough upbringing has taught her how to throw a punch or two to survive, especially when it involves a man’s unwanted attention. But her strength waivers when she visits Bodian Dynamics, a medical research facility, and stumbles upon classified information—someone has stolen a drug that not only changes a person's appearance, but will also unleash a dark and evil alter ego. After an intimidating security guard threatens the lives of her friends if she speaks to anyone about the incident, Claire pretends the drug never existed. That is until she meets Gage, a teenage boy who doesn’t seem to have a conscience and who is hell-bent on making her just like him by unleashing her dark side. But Claire knows a secret—he can only die while in his normal state. And since Gage knows personal information about her, Claire thinks she knows who it is: either her best friend or her recent boyfriend. And once she figures out which boy Gage is hiding behind, she’s going to kill him, even if it breaks her heart.

MY REVIEW:  Unleashed is an original, edge-of-your-seat take on Jekyll and Hyde. McClellan weaves a tale of love and pain, and fighting for what you believe in, with characters you won't easily forget. Claire has had more than her share of pain and loss, only to find herself the obsession of “Gage” (the “Hyde” persona). I had no idea who "Gage" was until it was revealed due to McClellan's skillful storytelling. Seriously, this is a tale that will leave you breathless until the last page! And probably beyond. I highly recommend this book to anyone who likes a good story.

EXCERPT: 
   Gage found her facing the ocean, staring into the heavy fog, a hood pulled over her head. Long dark hair escaped from the covering only to be caught up in the wind, twisting around her face like Medusa’s exquisite snakes. He'd never seen Claire so beautiful. She remained still, like a sea glass sculpture frozen in time by the power of a lightning bolt sent down by Zeus.    He crept up behind her. She remained oblivious to his presence; any sounds he made were muffled by the crashing waves hidden within the fog. He inhaled deeply and reached his hand forward, tracing the back of her head with his fingers, but not touching. His tongue danced in his mouth and his eyes rolled back. Gage moaned, the sound igniting millions of nerves just beneath his skin.

author-rachel-mcclellan-unleashed-1 Buy Unleashed on Amazon US, UK, and CANADA/B&N author-rachel-mcclellan-unleashed-3 Follow the tour schedule here author-rachel-mcclellan-unleashed-5 author-rachel-mcclellan-unleashed
Rachel McClellan, author of Unleashed and many others, was born and raised in Idaho, a place secretly known for its supernatural creatures. When she’s not in her writing lair, she’s partying with her husband and four crazy, yet lovable, children. Rachel’s love for storytelling began as a child when the moon first possessed the night. For when the lights went out, her imagination painted a whole new world. And what a scary world it was… author-rachel-mcclellan-unleashed WebsiteBlogTwitterFacebookGoodreads author-rachel-mcclellan-unleashed-2
Ready for the Unleashed Giveaway? Enter below via the Giveaway Tools form!
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Good luck, and happy reading and winning!Unleashed Virtual Book tour presented by... Happy-Geek-Media
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Published on February 03, 2015 07:00

February 2, 2015

Release: Honorable Disgrace by Stephanie N. Pitman

Creative Prose Publishing is proud to announce the release of the heartbreaking debut novel from Stephanie N. Pitman:  Honorable Disgrace .


Angie Adams joins the powerlifting team her junior year, but she has more in mind than just toning up—like getting closer to her crush, football star Cory Jacob, who, as luck would have it, is assigned as her spotting partner. When Angie’s feelings are unexpectedly returned, her life is suddenly filled with the giddy electricity of first love. But why, then, does Angie get a little flutter when her older and very hot boss, Brad, looks at her?
Angie seems to have everything going her way until her world is torn apart by her sister’s betrayal which leads to a brutal rape.  Heartbroken and reeling in the aftermath, Angie has to find an internal strength to rival her record-breaking power lifts if she ever wants to feel worthy of love again.
MY THOUGHTS: While I had something to do with the publication of this book as co-owner of Creative Prose Publishing, I can tell you we wouldn't have published it if we didn't like it. And I really like this novel. Stephanie has taken a difficult subject, rape, and given us an honest, unflinching, heartbreaking version that is still appropriate to be read by teens. Based in part on her own experience with rape, Angie's reaction and emotional aftermath is pure and absolutely disarming in its truth. However, she also shows us that one can heal from this violent assault and learn to not only live with it but also love again. This is a tough subject, but one dealt with excellently by Stephanie. Read an excerpt below.
Buy your copy today at any of these online retailers:
AmazonBarnes & NobleiBooksKoboScribdDraft2Digital
EXCERPT:Lorraine gasped, her eyes growing wide, mouth agape in horror. She grabbed my arm, the ugly mottled bruises stark against my pale skin, a myriad of color on a white canvas. “What happened?”“Noth—” I tried to jerk away, but she held fast.“Don’t you say nothing.” Her teeth were clenched, her eyes smoldered, the intensity of her gaze too strong. Afraid of the emotion, I looked away. “Those bruises aren’t nothing. What happened?”“It’s nothing!” I yanked my arm away, angry tears seeping out of the corners of my eyes. I fled to the corner of the bed.I didn’t have to tell her anything, I didn’t owe her anything. She hadn’t cared enough about me last night to see if I was alright, abandoning me for Dave, just like the other night with Hobbs. I wanted to scream at her, ask her why she hadn’t come, why she hadn’t saved me, why she had put me in that situation in the first place.I could see the question in her eyes, “Angie—”“Just get out of here.” Quietly, I cut her off.She stepped toward me and put a hand on my bed. I clamped my mouth closed in an angry line and shook my head. She ignored my warning, her knee pressing down the bed.“Angie, who did that to you?” Her voice was full of worry.I clenched my hands so tightly I felt what was left of my jagged nails dig into my palms. Why hadn’t she come back to check on me? Why?Flying at her, I screamed, “I said get out. Leave me alone.” I shoved her, knocking her through the door, slamming it in her stunned face. I locked it and leaned against it. My knees gave out and I slid to the floor. I stared at my arm, transfixed by the dot to dot of discoloration, remembering the cruel feel of his fingers.The handle rattled above my head and then Lorraine knocked. “Angie, let me in.” The knob rattled again. And then the door shook against my back when she slammed into it. “Fine.”Her footsteps retreated. Shortly after, I heard the distant open and close of the front door.I pulled a blanket off the foot of my bed, draping it around my shoulders, pressing the heels of my hands to my eyes in a vain effort to staunch the flow of tears. I could have told her. I should have told her.

Join the Facebook launch party tomorrow night. Click here to join, and then from wherever you're at you can play the games to win all kinds of fun prizes - including a copy of my own The End of Feeling in audiobook.
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Published on February 02, 2015 07:00

January 27, 2015

Release Day! Who wants a Kindle?

A few days ago I announced that The End of Feeling has been picked up by Skyscape and today is the official re-release of the new version! To celebrate, I'm giving away a Kindle Paperwhite. 


Not just any old Kindle, either, but a one of only three Kindles that include a special cover not available anywhere else, featuring the cover of the paperback version of The End of Feeling
And it's preloaded with The End of Feeling . How much more can you ask for? Alright, fine, I'll also throw in an audiobook version for a lucky second winner, available as either CD's or an MP3 version.



















Enter using the Rafflecopter below. Lots of chances to win. You can enter daily with a Tweet or Facebook share.
Order your own copy of The End of Feeling  today!
Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all: great looks, incredible football skills, and smooth moves that have won—and broken—the hearts of countless girls at his high school. But his hellish home life has left him feeling empty inside, unable to experience real feelings. He thinks he’s fine being this way forever…until he meets a beautiful and witty seventeen-year-old girl named Charlotte “Charlie” Austin. She may be new in town, but she’s already been warned about Benjamin’s reputation, so it’s easy for her to shoot down his advances. Like him, she’s happier keeping people at a distance, especially since she, too, has secrets she’s not ready to share with anyone. But as the tentative friendship between the charismatic football captain and the new girl grows, Charlie finds herself feeling closer to Benjamin than she’s ever felt with anyone—and he wonders if he’s really capable of loving after all. Can they drop their guard, or is this so-called romance just another game?

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Published on January 27, 2015 07:00

January 24, 2015

A Little Valentine's Day Love

Loving for love this Valentines? Check out "Of Love and Magic"! Five romantic tales wrapped in magic  coming out on February 1st. I've read Sherry Gammon's story and I adore it. It's such a cute story about an angel who answers prayers and gets a little more than she bargained for on her new assignment. I haven't read the others, but I have read some of Cami Checketts' other book and enjoyed them, so I'm guessing this one is also good.

Here are the blurbs for all the books and a link to preorder your copy!

Available for preorder on AmazoniTunesKoboBarnes and Noble
Five intriguing romances wrapped in love and magicAngel in a Black Fedora, by Sherry Gammon: Ciel Björk died a tragic death...but she got over it. Now she works as an undercover angel, answering people’s prayers. She’s sent to the sleepy little town of Port Fare, New York to help turn Chloe’s dreams into reality. As secrets are revealed, Ciel soon learns that things are not as simple as they seem.
 Wish in Her Hand, by Amberlee Day: Professor Miri Keeler's life is perfect, and she knows just the sort of man she wants to share it with. When she meets a genie who's willing to grant her a favor, she uses her wish to get the attention of her crush, poet Jamison Arbor. But has the genie's magic missed its target? Miri suddenly has the attention of not only Jamison, but also of Alex, an attractive maintenance man. How will she know which is the right match for her, or what's real and what's magic?
Reality Ever After, by Cami Checkett: Pregnant at eighteen, Sydney Richland's happily ever after is in serious peril. Her grandmother's ghost can work miracles, but she also might ruin Sydney's chances with the man of her dreams.
Prom Diaries, by Taylor Hart: Sixteen-year-old Lacy O’Donnell discovers her best friend has cast a spell, putting everyone in a time loop, forcing them to relive the same four days before prom over and over. The good thing—Lacy doesn’t remember the loop. The bad thing—Drake Davis, the guy she’s been stalking, does. Only true love’s kiss can break the spell, but true love’s kiss has to happen at a precise moment. It’s not exact science…it’s exact magic.
The What If Wish, by Lucy McConnell: Morana is doomed to a life cataloging spells deep below the palace unless she can make her magic bloom. If her deepest wish comes true, it would open up all sorts of possibilities. The whispers that she was a fluke of nature would hush. The King would stop stalking her. Her parents would no longer live under a cloud of shame. And, Adam could look at her as more than a friend. Despite the promises magic holds, Morana will quickly learn that the thing she wishes for most, could quickly be her undoing.
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Published on January 24, 2015 05:00

January 23, 2015

An Announcement to Start the Weekend

Last summer I published my 8th full-length novel, The End of Feeling . Shortly after its release I was contacted by an editor at Skyscape, a division of Amazon Publishing. (Who knew Amazon had a publishing house? I didn't!) They expressed interest in acquiring the rights. I was hesitant, preferring to self-publish over traditional publishing. But, after talking to some authors who've published with them, and after a phone conference with Vivian and Courtney, I was convinced they'd be a great option. I've kept it a bit on the quiet side because we decided to leave the book out there, available for purchase since I'd already released it, with a re-release date set for January 27, 2015.
Well, we're just a few days away from that, so I feel like it's a good time for the announcement, and, even better, a reveal of the redesigned cover! Add to that announcement another one: it will now also be available as an audiobook!!! Yay!!! (I promise you won't find the overuse of exclamation points in the book itself.) So, here it is, with the blurb and a purchasing link as well. If you continue to the bottom of the post, there's a link to a Goodreads giveaway being run by Skyscape where you can enter to win your own copy. They are offering 20 copies for the giveaway!

Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nefer seems to have it all: great looks, incredible football skills, and smooth moves that have won—and broken—the hearts of countless girls at his high school. But his hellish home life has left him feeling empty inside, unable to experience real feelings. He thinks he’s fine being this way forever…until he meets a beautiful and witty seventeen-year-old girl named Charlotte “Charlie” Austin. She may be new in town, but she’s already been warned about Benjamin’s reputation, so it’s easy for her to shoot down his advances. Like him, she’s happier keeping people at a distance, especially since she, too, has secrets she’s not ready to share with anyone. But as the tentative friendship between the charismatic football captain and the new girl grows, Charlie finds herself feeling closer to Benjamin than she’s ever felt with anyone—and he wonders if he’s really capable of loving after all. Can they drop their guard, or is this so-called romance just another game?
BUY IT NOW BY CLICKING HERE
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Published on January 23, 2015 07:00

January 15, 2015

Haven Waiting: A New Release That Comes with a Party!

Hey, everyone, I'd like to announce the release of Haven Waiting by Tifani Clark. This is the sequel to Shadow of a Life , though honestly you don't necessarily need to read that one to read this - but you'll want to, just because it's a great book. And as great as it is, I think Haven Waiting  is even better! Witches who are ghosts and soul savers? What more do you need?

You can read about it below, and be sure to stop by the Facebook Launch Party today from 6:00-7:30 p.m. MST. Lots of fun games and prizes to be had! You can find that here.



HAVEN WAITING by Tifani Clark
Soul Saver: Book Two
Available January 12, 2015

Fifteen-year-old Jamie Peters is a Soul Saver. She helps ghosts finish their business and move on. When a mysterious map comes into her possession, she knows a new adventure is waiting. With the help of her friends, Peter and Camille, she follows the map. Her friends hope to find treasure, but Jamie suspects there is more to the map than riches. She never imagined the map would lead her to Haven—and a book of spells.
Haven Mills was accused of practicing witchcraft during the Salem Witch Trials. Unlike the other women hung during the trials, Haven wasn’t as innocent as she claimed to be. In one moment of weakness and desperation, she did something sinister—something that has been bringing evil to the world for centuries.
Jamie promises to help Haven, but the reality of what that promise entails comes back to haunt her as she fights not only for Haven’s soul, but for her own as well.   
Pre-order your copy of HAVEN WAITING today at:
Amazon




SHADOW OF A LIFE by Tifani Clark
Soul Saver: Book One


Jamie Peters plans to spend the summer before her junior year with her nose stuck in a book—not saving lost souls. Usually the girl that blends into the crowd, Jamie’s world is turned upside down when a mysterious ghost begins to follow her.But Sophia isn’t just any ghost. A hundred years earlier, Sophia’s disappearance sparked a national mystery that remained unsolved. Jamie knows the legends surrounding Sophia’s disappearance, but she never dreamed she would find out what really happened . . . or that her family might have had something to do with Sophia’s disappearance. Determined to set Sophia free, Jamie blows the dust off her family’s past and unearths clues to discover what she must do to save Sophia’s soul. She enlists the help of childhood friend—and secret crush—Peter Ashby as she sets off on a dangerous quest to find a missing map. Spending the night in a graveyard, crawling through a dilapidated barn, and staring down the barrel of a gun aren’t enough to deter Jamie from helping Sophia. But can she find the answers she needs before another ghost gets revenge on her and Sophia?
Find Shadow of a Life at these retailers:
Amazon Barnes & Noble Smashwords CreateSpace
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Published on January 15, 2015 15:45

January 6, 2015

The Awakening Blog Tour

Awakening
Blog Tour Schedule
The Awakening by Dorine White The Awakening by Dorine White Nightmares really do come true, and for fifteen-year-old Kyler Birkwood, they are just beginning. Raised on a farm by his Aunt Martha, Kyler has no clue about the magical heritage swimming through his blood. When he discovers evidence of a mythical creature, a terrifying beast thought only to exist in fairy tales, his safe world shatters. Left at a school of magic to hunt for clues, he is overwhelmed and disbelieved. As loved ones begin disappearing and Orcs roam the land, Kyler must undergo a journey that takes him from the High Courts of the King to the unknown forests of the East. His magic just awakening, Kyler is the lone hope for a world that will not listen.

Purchase Your CopyAmazon Kindle * Amazon * Barnes & Noble
Praise for The Awakening "Dorine White delivers twists and turns to the plot that will keep you turning the pages." ~ Melanie Mason, author of the YA historical, The Line That Divides
"The Awakening is a clever blend of folklore and fantasy, perfect for fans of Harry Potter and Percy Jackson. A furiously fun read!" ~ Laurisa Reyes, author of the YA thriller, Contact

Dorine   Author Dorine White My name is Dorine White. I am a children's fantasy author and a book reviewer. I grew up back East in Maryland and attended BYU in Utah. I have a BA in Humanities with an interest in Art History and French. Currently I live in the beautiful, yet rainy Northwest with my husband and 6 children. My first novel was published in 2012 and is the beginning of the Cleopatra's Legacy series. The first two books are out, The Emerald Ring and The Ruby Pendant. Look for the third book, The Diamond Looking Glass in the summer of 2015.

Website * Blog * Facebook * Twitter

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$25 Blog Tour Giveaway Enter to win an Amazon Gift Card or Paypal Cash Ends 1/29/15 Open only to those who can legally enter, receive and use an Amazon.com Gift Code or Paypal Cash. Winning Entry will be verified prior to prize being awarded. No purchase necessary. You must be 18 or older to enter or have your parent enter for you. The winner will be chosen by rafflecopter and announced here as well as emailed and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be chosen. This giveaway is in no way associated with Facebook, Twitter, Rafflecopter or any other entity unless otherwise specified. The number of eligible entries received determines the odds of winning. Giveaway was organized by Kathy from I Am A Reader and sponsored by readinglight.com. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED BY LAW.  
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Published on January 06, 2015 03:00

December 23, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Day 12



For unto you is born this day . . . a Savior, which is Christ the Lord.       ~ Luke 2:11
For me, Christmas is 100% about Christ.  It’s in the name.  And you can’t have Christmas without the joy of music.  As a teen, I dreamed of one day making it big as a singer.  That did not happen, but my love for music and singing has not changed.  Narrowing down only twelve Christmas songs was quite difficult, as I could sing Christmas songs for hours, until I go hoarse, but the following twelve songs reflect my most favorite and the reasons why.  And the order has no bearing on which is the top, as that can change on any given day.
1. Away in a Manger
This was one of the first Christmas songs I remember learning as a child and I remember lovingly swaddling my own baby doll as was the Christ child. Our Lord and Savior came to this earth in the humblest of circumstances, as the song states “…no crib for a bed,” and it is this reason I place this one first on the list.
2. The First Noel
Noel is an Old French word meaning Christmas.  It can also refer to a carol or hymn sung in honor of The First Noel sings of the shepherd, also in humble circumstances, that recognized right away the magnificent meaning of the star “..Shining in the East beyond them far.”Christ’s birth. 

3. What Child is This?
Set to the familiar tune of Greensleeves, this is one I sing and hum throughout the year.  I recently was blessed to sing this for members of my church Sunday, the  14th with a good friend of mine.  I sang the melody, the soprano part while she sang the alto.  The arrangement was slightly different than standard, and it was a great joy to sing it and feel the spirit deep in my heart.  You can listen to and download this version for yourself by following this link.
4. Oh, Come All Ye Faithful
Meant to be sung majestically and joyfully, this hymn is in reference to verses in Luke chapter 2.  In verse 9 and 10 it says, “And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them. . . and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.”  And those tidings were the birth of Christ, an event people had been awaiting for some time.  I can only imagine the joy of being a part of that, and I am grateful I have the light of Christ in my life today.
5. Joy to the World One of the 53 arias in Handel’s Messiah, which he wrote in only 24 days, this is one sung annually in home and church, and one I look forward to each year.

6. Handel’s Dream This is a beautifully arranged piece, composed by Michael Mclean, that tells a poignant fictional story of Handel.  It is a dream, and perhaps Handel had such a dream as his inspiration for the Messiah.  It is partly sang and partly narrated.  Young Handel is auditioning for the choir of angels to sing at Christ’s birth.  But he doesn’t make it.  Told he has a different voice, one that will be brought to the world in his own time, and that more orchestras and choirs than he can now imagine will be giving voice to his feelings leaves me with tears in my eyes every time I listen to it.  One you must hear, if you haven’t already.  And if you have, give it a listen again.  
7. Were You There? Composed by Natalie Sleeth, this is a treasured song.  I have sang this many times for others since I was a teenager and played my flute as well.  With many thought provoking questions throughout.  Were you there on that first Christmas night? Were you there when the wonder foretold came to earth? Did you hear how the choirs of angels sang?  Did you see how they bowed?  Did you know if was God’s own son, the salvation of the world begun?  Did you know it was love that was sent from above to the earth?  These are but a few of the glad, powerful messages in this song.  To learn more about this great American composer, follow this link.

8. Jingle Bells & 9. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer You have to have the classics.  And though the focal point of these songs is not the Savior, they are about Santa Claus and what a great example of goodness was Saint Nicholas.  If we all spread the goodness and cheer, the true spirit of Christmas, like St. Nick does, the world would be a fantastically better place to be.  I believe in Santa Claus.  In the goodness and cheer and love and service of his name.

10. Angels We Have Heard on High Gloria in excelsis Deo. Gloria in excelsis Deo. Latin for “glory to God in the highest,” in this French carol, the single word ‘Gloria’ is carried through four full measures, for a total count of sixteen beats, with the rest less than half that.  Beautifully arranged and fun to sing the ups and downs of the Gloria, is why this is on my top 12 most loved Christmas songs.
11. It Could Happen Again Part of Colin Raye’s Christmas CD The Gift, this song has touch me from the first time I listened to it.  Even during the devastation of war, this is a retelling of the well known story during WWI when opposing sides came together to celebrate Christmas, only returning to fight against each other after they were ordered to.  This portrays the true meaning of Christ-like love, that men could put up their arms, share what little they had, sing Christmas carols and bring the spirit to an otherwise bleak time.  Find the CD here. This CD also happens to be the giveaway item for today. Don’t forget to enter below.

12. O Holy Night Many, many versions of this song are out there.  Rearrangements, numerous singers, wonderful song.  Cantique De Noel, or as we know it O Holy Night, was composed by Adolphe Adam in 1847 and later the words were added, written by Placide Cappeau, a wine merchant and poet who was also a professed atheist. Over 150 years later this song is still bringing joy to those who know Christ.
As we seek Christ, as we find Him, as we follow Him, we shall have the Christmas spirit, not for one fleeting day each year, but as a companion always.~Thomas S. Monson
I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and I hope you enjoyed reading this as much as I enjoyed writing it. May we remember to keep Christ the center of our Christmas celebrations and try to bring the feelings and actions surrounding Christmas throughout the year.

Written by Stephanie N. PitmanAuthor of Honorable Disgrace due out Feb 2, 2015
Available for pre-order http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00QPCYIIC
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Published on December 23, 2014 01:00

December 22, 2014

12 Days of Christmas: Day 11



Every year my house as a kid was visited by elves. The sneaky Santa helpers would leave tokens, gifts, candies, and oral hygiene treasures in our homemade stockings, the 12 days leading up to Christmas.

The highlight of any cold December morning would be to reach my grubby little hands into my stocking and pull out the delivered bounty.

One gift per day would be the norm. However, sometimes the elves would be lost in a blizzard, slept-in, or just down right forgetful and our stockings would be bare.  This tragic occurrence would be promptly echoed in the house, as all five of us kids would voice our let down to our loving parents. Double gifts would find their way into our empty stockings the next day, a king’s loot, and joy would be established once more.


This tradition has remained forever endeared in my heart. When first married, I tried to surprise my husband with such elfish tokens. Jerky, chips, soda, all made their loving way into his stocking, mine, however, remained bare. Sadness, and self-present-giving soon replaced tradition. Bahumbug!

With luck and joyous renew, the arrival of my first born, Christian, the elves have found their way through the blizzard and gifts will be given once more. Hazaah!

I am excited to start this tradition with my babe, for many Christmas’ to come. Merry Christmas!
Candace's humorous short story, Train Station: 3:00 p.m. can be found in the Beginnings anthology.


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Thank you for stopping by,
Creative Prose Publishing
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Published on December 22, 2014 01:00