Baby Stockton #2 Countdown - Week 25, 15 to Go!

Just 15 weeks left. Almost down to single digits in the weeks. Still doesn't feel real. But as of week 25, here is the update:

For those who haven't tuned in for the past 3 weeks, we had our ultrasound on December 2nd, and.... drum roll...

IT'S A BOY!

That's right. We've got an all-American male growing inside me, and he is an active little bugger. Richard Vaughn Stockton. We'll be calling him Richie.

My boy’s physical proportions are evening out at this point and most of his remaining development will largely be weight gain and lots and lots of nervous system development. Oh joy! More gaining weight. I'm so thrilled. :)

The good news is: if for some reason, my boy is born premature, at this point, he’ll be more likely to survive without too much trauma as his lungs began to produce “surfactant” last week, which means his tiny respiratory system is getting stronger with each passing day. Now’s a good time for a minor sigh of relief and a quick pat on the back. All that hard work and conscientious living is really getting my son prepared for a healthy delivery.

This week he’ll be scootching slowly out of the old breech position and start rotating (already!) into a better position for exit during his birth. His head and feet are slowly rotating so that his head is pointed down toward the birth canal. Time is short (or really long, depending on who you ask)—just (still!) 15 weeks left before I can go back to being a single-resident human. And if you talk to my sister-in-law, she'd say time is LONG! She was due with her boy on Dec. 19th, but baby Michael still hasn't decided to join the air-breathing population just yet. We're all praying for one day this week. That gal is ready to bust!

And now for some words from the wiggle-worm inside me:

Well, I've been enjoying hearing all the muffled sounds on the outside. There's some high-pitched shrieking that I think is coming from something called a "sister." I don't know what that is, but I have a regretful feeling I'll be finding out real soon. If that sister is responsible for all that thumping and pounding on my mommy's tummy, waking me up and disrupting my comfort zone, I might just have to teach her who's boss!

At least it's not all the time, and I have my mommy's voice to soothe me, her warm hand to comfort me, and the methodic rocking of her movements to lull me back to sleep. Oh yeah, and I've given some good healthy kicks to the person my mommy calls "daddy." It sounds like mommy, so he must be just as important. There's so many strange things out there. I look forward to seeing it all for myself. But for now, I'll enjoy this warm, snug, and safe cocoon where I currently live.

Me again. The mama. :) That's it for now. Tune in each week for the latest. And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right.

Thanks for coming along this journey with me...some of you for the second time.

Baby Stockton #2 Countdown - Week 24, 16 to Go!

Wow, just 16 weeks left. I tell ya. Get past that halfway point, and it just flies!

And as of week 24, here is the update:

For those who haven't tuned in for the past 2 weeks, we had our ultrasound last week, on December 2nd, and.... drum roll...

IT'S A BOY!

That's right. We've got an all-American male growing inside me, and he is an active little bugger. Richard Vaughn Stockton.

This is another big week for my magical growing baby! Just take a look at the checklist for this week: 1) ears: done; 2) fingernails: done; 3) testicles: taking their 3-4 day trip from the abdominal wall to the scrotum; and 4) lungs walls: secreting “surfactant”. What’s that? Well, surfactant is sort of what it sounds like: a surface-activated fat whose main purpose is to assist my son's little lungs during inflation (as in, filling with air, not getting more expensive).

Goodness, sure wish I could get that much accomplished in one week. :) To the left is my latest belly shot, week 24.

Just in case you’re curious, my submerged baby is still breathing in amniotic fluid, preparing and rehearsing the lungs an oxygen-filled life outside the womb. By the end of this week, my son will be weighing around 2 lbs and 14 inches long. My cutie-patootie may even be a little more plump, but isn't anywhere near their full baby-fatted cute-self. Most of the “filling out” is coming up in that long awaited (and slightly dreaded?) third trimester. Woo-hoo! I better get ready! It'll be here in just 3 more weeks. Yikes!

And now for some words from the wiggle-worm inside:

All right, so it's finally my turn to say something. My mama's been sharing updates with you for weeks, telling you all about what's happening inside here. But let me tell you, it sure feels far different than the way she describes it. Sure, she's getting kicks and feels the movement, but you have no idea what's it like when she eats something cold or sweet or spicy. Wow! It sure hits ya like a ton of bricks sometimes. And you wonder why I wiggle and squirm!

The other reason is I'm hearing about how much less room I'll have before long, so I'm enjoying moving in the space I have now. Seems like I should get used to it before things get tight and cramped. My legs are already feeling the pinch. But it's all right. I'm warm and cozy and feeling the love. Looking forward to making my debut in a few months. Then, I'm sure mama will share pictures so all of you can see me too. Now, it's back to sleep for me. Zzzzzzz.

Me again. The mama. :) That's it for now. Tune in each week for the latest. And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right.

Thanks for coming along this journey with me...some of you for the second time.

Spotlight on Tammy Barley and Faith's Reward

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

TAMMY BARLEY - I have lived in twenty-seven places in eight states (so far) and have visited nearly all. When I'm not writing? I judge a number of top writing contests and love my work as a manuscript editor and biographer. I am also Mom to two sons, one daughter, a rescued American Eskimo dog, thirteen parakeets, and an aquarium full of fish. The children I home-school; the dog I taught to sit. She also barks at parked cars. In my spare time, you're likely to find me baking, gardening, behind a camera, or hugging a horse.

FAITH'S REWARD
by Tammy Barley
Published by Whitaker House

ABOUT THE BOOK

The year 1865 starts out as a nightmare come true for Jessica Bennett. The cattle she and her husband, Jake, fought to save from drought the summer before now face the threat of freezing to death. Her fears worsen when Jake contracts pneumonia.

Springtime brings trials of a different kind—the snowmelt causes the ranch to thrive so much that Jake must sell off the last of their cattle to make room for their horses and the young foals to be born. In the meantime, Jess endeavors to recover her rightful inheritance, which mysteriously disappeared from the bank. When she discovers a link between the banker and a group of murderous Unionists, who continue to target Southerners even though the war is over, Jake launches an undercover investigation.

The conspiracy runs deeper and wider than either of them could have imagined. Jess must put her life—and the life of her unborn child—at risk to stop the ringleader and save the lives of many others. Yet, Jess refuses to give up hope in the God she serves—a God of love who often provides above and beyond our greatest dreams.

~ Rated four stars, "Compelling. A page-turner" by Romantic Times Book Reviews.

Readers, buy your copy of Faith's Reward today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

The climactic scene. I wondered, “What has never before been done before in a climactic scene?” On-location research in Virginia City, Nevada inspired the answer, and the third book of The Sierra Chronicles grew from the mental image of that one scene.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

You mean Jess’s stubbornness? You think she might have gotten that from me? LOL! Probably, though I try to think of it as certitude and tenacity. :) Neither Jess nor I are wired to quit. Traveling to places I write about grows my real-life experiences and influences my characters, as does reading intriguing historical journals written by people who lived it.

I have Jake and Jess’s love for wild, open places, and I share their love of horses, mountains, streams, and walks in the moonlight. Like them, I’ve ridden horseback over mountains on extended trips, waded in snowmelt streams, and often lose myself in the moonlight, or in watching a fog bank roll in.

Those are the qualities I’ve shared with Jake and Jess. The rest are qualities they have shared with me.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Jess would be mint chocolate chip—fresh and breezy as all outdoors, with a little sweetness and just a bit of kick. :)

4. Are there any themes in Faith's Reward that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

The main theme was inspired by one of my favorite Bible verses, “Faith is being sure of what you hope for and certain of what you do not see” (Hebrews 11:1). Jess’s faith, and her powerful love for Jake, enables her to see “impossible” circumstances as merely obstacles, and it enables her to prevail against all odds.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

Difficult: Twisty plots. As the third book in a complex three-book plot, I had to be certain to tie all loose ends neatly, forgetting nothing.

Favorite: Everything else. This book has tons of unknowns, twists, and suspense, and I loved the romance. It was great fun to write.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

The next trilogy is set in 1873 Wyoming Territory, tentatively titled The Legend of the Wind River Mountains. Three sisters find love, and discover themselves, in a most unexpected place. Release date currently unknown.

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Thank you, Tammy, for being in the spotlight with us.

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of Faith's Reward. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: As indicated above, I wrote a grip-your-seat-suspenseful climactic scene in Faith’s Reward that has never been done before (to my knowledge) in any fictional format. What is your favorite suspenseful climactic scene in a book or movie? Why is it your favorite? All you folks who share your favorite scene will be entered into the drawing to win a personalized, autographed copy of Faith’s Reward.

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

Baby Stockton #2 Countdown - Week 23, 17 to Go!

Ok, just 17 weeks left. And as of week 23, here is the update:

For those who didn't tune in last week, we had our ultrasound on December 2nd, and.... drum roll...

IT'S A BOY!

That's right. Richard Vaughn Stockton is growing inside of me and is quite the wiggle-worm.

At this point I’ve pretty much adjusted to the fact I’ve got a moving little gymnast inside of me, but now he's going to kick up the party a notch because he can hear and react to sounds from the outside world. Sounds from my alarm clock, a thunder roll, or that darned car honking at me across the intersection can actually jar his little ears enough to elicit a kick or violent bout of squirming. Good thing we don't live in New York City or some other big city known for crazy drivers and honkers. My boy would be kicking twice as much!

Of course this also means his little ears are picking up the sounds of my voice and those near me. I've been talking and singing to him for weeks now—and if he starts kicking, I take it as a kick of approval. :)


My boy's tiny taste buds are still growing and his bones are continuing to ossify (harden), his tiny veins are visible through his translucent yet wrinkly skin. He's been swimming in the equivalent of a long hot bath for the past 23 weeks, so can you blame him for being a little prune-like? It'll all stretch out and smooth out by the time he's ready to make his presence on the outside.


That's it for now. Next week, you'll get to hear from Richard himself from the womb. Tune in each week for the latest. And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right.

Thanks for coming along this journey with me...some of you for the second time.

Spotlight on April Gardner and Wounded Spirits

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Please answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

APRIL GARDNER has been a military brat, missionary's kid, and military spouse. After 21 years in various countries overseas, April happily resides in Georgia with her USAF husband. A homeschool mom, she fills her mornings talking fractions and phonics with her two sweet kiddos. In her free time, April enjoys reading, gardening, and DIY. In no particular order, she dreams of owning a horse, visiting all the national parks, and speaking Italian.

Librarian, reviewer, and avid reader, April adores anything books. She writes a weekly column for the joint blog, Reflections in Hindsight, and is the founder and senior editor of the website, Clash of the Titles.

WOUNDED SPIRITS
by April Gardner
Published by Vinspire Publishing

ABOUT THE BOOK

On the frontier, Adela McGirth’s life is simple, rugged, and exactly to her liking. Her greatest concern is whether to marry the settlement’s most eligible young officer. When a distant war among the Natives spills over into a nearby skirmish, life takes a perilous turn. Deep in enemy territory Adela must choose between the man she loves and a baby that has yet to be born; will she be strong enough to wait on God's provision?

A peace-loving yet loyal Creek warrior, Totka is forced to align with the extremist Red Stick faction whose purpose is to eradicate the Whites from Creek soil. In the midst of battle, Totka is assigned to protect those he is expected to hate--and kill. Life was simpler before his enemy became a beautiful face with a quiet strength and dignity he cannot resist.

Having lived a life plagued with death and loss, Zachariah McGirth is a man on a mission - he'll have his revenge or die trying. Blinded by grief, he can't see his way clear of yet another tragedy. Why has God taken everything from him...or has He?

Their lives molded by the course of history, can these Wounded Spirits learn to rely on God's grace during one of the bloodiest conflicts in the South?

Readers, buy your copy of today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. This is your debut novel. Congratulations! What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Thank you! Debut novel. Wow! Never thought I’d see this day. Yesterday was my Amazon Book Launch. Anyone who bought the book yesterday received tons of e-gifts! Just for readers of this blog and for today (Dec.8) only, I’m extending the offer. Buy the book on Amazon, then follow this link http://tinyurl.com/2u8bbj2 to find out how to receive your e-gifts.

My inspiration is my own family history. It’s believe my family is somehow connected to Chief Red Eagle of the book. A great, great (plus quite a few more) uncle on my dad’s side. Curiosity led me to research his life. Then the writer in me took over and demanded it be put into a novel.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

“Write what you know,” is a tried and true saying. What do I know? Spain. I grew up there. And how wonderful for me that Mobile, Alabama belonged to the Spanish during my novel’s time-period. Inserting a Spanish character (Galena) into the novel was me tipping my hat to my Spanish “heritage.” Galena’s fiery temper, however, is hers and hers alone. :)

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Oh, this is a fun one! Let’s see…Adela McGirth, my heroine, would have to be Ben and Jerry’s Banana Split. From page one, she’s torn, split right down the middle between the enemy and her family. Totka, my Creek warrior hero, would be Ben and Jerry’s Imagine Whirled Peace. He’ll fight the white settlers, because to do otherwise would put him and his sister’s family in danger. But what he’d rather is everyone just get along.

4. Are there any themes in Wounded Spirits that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

War brings suffering in all shapes and sizes. My characters have plenty of it. I pray my readers come away encouraged that their own suffering is important to God. He wants us to lean on him, not turn away. I’ve experienced his comfort in my own tribulations and pray the same for my readers.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

It was no easy task to “think” Native American. Starting out, I wasn’t at all familiar with their culture, and I’m sure I, unwittingly, made mistakes along the way. I hope my Native American readers forgive my blunders! My favorite scenes were the action scenes. Those scenes are never boring!

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

Warring Spirits, the sequel is tentatively scheduled for November of next year. Adela’s sister, Lillian, is the heroine in Warring. The war for land might be over, but the battle still rages in her heart.

* * * * *

Thank you, April, for being in the spotlight with us.

April: Thanks for having me today, Tiffany! I love to hear from readers at aprilgardnerwrites@gmail.com.

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments. April is unable to do a giveaway, but go back up and read her answer to Question #1 for some other giveaways and prizes related to her book.

Question: Do you have any well-known historical figures in your family tree?

Thanks for stopping by!

Baby Stockton #2 Countdown - Week 22, 18 to Go!

Seems hard to believe there are just 18 weeks left. 40 weeks or 9 months sounds like such a long time. But once you've made it halfway, it feels like it's going so much faster.

And as of week 22, here is the update:

We had our ultrasound last week, on December 2nd, and.... drum roll...

IT'S A BOY!

That's right. We've got an all-American male growing inside me, and he is an active little bugger. The ultrasound tech kept telling him to stop wiggling and squirming and called him a wiggle-worm several times. Hmm, does that mean we're in trouble when this little guy is on the outside? I don't know. Our daughter is rather active, running a lot and constantly on the move, and she was fairly normal in the womb. Definitely not as active as my son.

Wow, it feels so great to say that. My son. :) It will make it much easier here too in regard to pronouns. No more he/she stuff. God is awesome to give us one of each. And we're done with this one. I'm getting too old for this. (grins)

So, for development of this little tyke, the grow must go on! I'm now housing a wonder-baby who weighs one full pound and measures a foot in length. His perfect little pancreas is now further developed and he's also started producing his own hormones!


My son's future in the circus as a world-famous tight-rope-walker is secure too: his inner ear is now developed to the point he has his own sense of balance. And look at those long legs! Takes after his daddy, for sure. Lucky for my little explorer, balance also promotes physical dexterity, which has him actively feeling out his surroundings where skin, body parts, and the resident umbilical cord are the big sensory experiences.

My foot-long baby is looking a bit like an oversized raisin right now as more and more wrinkles are showing up each week. But all that excessive wrinkling is just his skin's way of planning ahead for the time when he'll start piling on that irresistible baby chub. I can hardy wait to squeeze those cheeks...the ones on the face, that is. :)

That's it for now. Tune in each week for the latest. And if you want to receive an email each time I post an update, subscribe using the form over there at the top right.

Thanks for coming along this journey with me...some of you for the second time.

Spotlight on Elizabeth Goddard and The Camera Never Lies

Don't forget the rules of the spotlights here. Answer the random question associated with this spotlight in the comments in order to be entered in the drawing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

ELIZABETH GODDARD is a 7th generation Texan who lives in East Texas with her husband and four children. She and her family recently spent five years in Oregon, which serves as the setting for several of her novels, but in 2010 they returned to Texas to live near family again. Elizabeth is the author of seven novels and novellas, including Praying for Rayne and The Camera Never Lies, releasing December 2010.

THE CAMERA NEVER LIES
by Elizabeth Goddard
Published by Barbour

ABOUT THE BOOK

Crash the wedding and meet photographer Polly Perkins who zooms in on a murder victim. As she studies an endless line of potential suspects from safely behind her camera, Polly finds love staring back at her. Will her uncanny ability to read emotions through a camera lens help prevent another murder—while exploring her own potential for romance?

Readers, buy your copy of The Camera Never Lies (Hometown Mysteries) today!

AUTHOR INTERVIEW

1. What gave you the inspiration for this story?

Oh that’s easy. My inspiration was Crater Lake National Park. Usually a setting really grabs me and I decided immediately I wanted to set a story there. Then came the idea for a photographer—of course, it’s so beautiful there, how could my character not be a photographer who gets pulled into solving a mystery?Note: I created a fictional national park based on Crater Lake.

2. How much of your own experiences influenced your characters? What aspects became traits that were theirs and theirs alone?

My characters in this story don’t share too many personal experiences with me. For instance, I’ve had several people tell me that I wrote a story about their relationship with their mother. But the relationship Polly shares with her mother in Camera is not the relationship I have with my own mother. Perhaps I’ve witnessed the relationship between others.

3. If your hero/heroine were an ice cream flavor, what would he/she be and why?

Perhaps cookie dough because they still have a few raw places inside them, or rather uncooked, not ready to be served—but yet those places when revealed to the right person can be the best. Did that make ANY sense? Probably as much as the question. :)

4. Are there any themes in The Camera Never Lies that you hope the reader sees? Are there any themes that weren't overt but developed as the story progressed?

Most of the themes developed as the story unfolded—nothing was planned ahead of time. A lot of the themes I didn’t even realize until I had to come up with the discussion questions for CBD. Here’s one thing that stands out. Polly has held a grudge for twenty years and she’s wished that person dead. She sees this person for the first time in years at the beginning of the story and then he ends up murdered. She wonders if God gave her the opportunity to forgive this man, or if she is guilty of a crime of the heart. There are many other spiritual themes that unfolded during the story’s writing.

5. What were your most difficult parts to write? Your favorite?

The most difficult part was getting all the red herrings right, to make sure they all connected and tied in correctly. My favorite part was writing the last third of the story. That’s when stories usually pick up for me and things are moving fast.

6. When is your next book coming out and what is the story?

I have two releases (so far) next year. Freezing Point is my romantic suspense for Love Inspired Suspense and releases in October 2011. Under the Redwood Tree is my contemporary romance for Heartsong Presents—the first book in my Redwood Coast series—and also releases in October 2011.

Blurb for Freezing Point: Investigative reporter Casey Wilkes is willing to fall off the map, having escaped certain death at the hands of a businessman who blames her for destroying his life. But her stay in obscurity lands her smack in the middle of a cash-smuggling ring and a sting operation that could turn deadly. Jesse Mitchell was transferred to a desk job after he nearly blew his last assignment, but now he’s the only man for the job. When a beautiful but nosy reporter starts asking the wrong questions, the situation could turn explosive, and Jesse can’t afford to blow the operation. But one thing he’s learned--working undercover comes with a high price. . .and this time, Jesse isn’t sure he’s willing to pay.

Here’s the blurb for Under the Redwood Tree:

Fascinated by all things Shakespeare, Camille Westover blogs about his works, while she creates a painting for the Redwood Art Association’s contest that she hopes will win her an art scholarship. When her aunt welcomes an ailing friend and then her son into her home, Camille finds inspiration beneath the brooding gaze of the handsome, but scarred, stranger. While Romeo Merete attends to his mother, Camille completes a portrait of him without his scar. Will he allow God to help him forget the past and find love again through Camille’s eyes? When a blog stalker turns physical, can Camille trust God to be her strong tower, rather than taking matters into her own hands?

* * * * *

Thank you, Beth, for being in the spotlight with us.

ENTRY RULES Readers, answer the question associated with the spotlight in the comments, then leave your email address for your chance to win a FREE autographed copy of The Camera Never Lies. If you do not answer the question, you will not be entered.

Question: In The Camera Never Lies, Polly is faced with an intolerable situation, considering those she loves could become murder suspects. Because of circumstantial evidence, she considers the question of their guilt even as she works to prove their innocence. Have you ever been in a situation where you had to trust someone despite what appeared to be the "facts"?

Make sure you also leave your email address (name at domainname dot.com/net). You won't be entered in the drawing without it. If you wish to comment but don't want to be entered, say so when you post.

This week, the contest is open to US/Canada residents only.

December New Releases in Christian Fiction!

Another month, another list of new releases for you to peruse and perhaps purchase. This month, I'm thrilled to see my own newest release (Michigan Brides) among the other great books. Enjoy!

1. Aloha, My Love by Deborah Kinnard -- A Romance from Desert Breeze. A second chance at love mixes with trade winds in a winter vacation.

2.  An Amish Love by Beth Wiseman, Kathleen Fuller, and Kelly Long -- A Romance from Thomas Nelson. Two of today's most popular genres--Romance and Amish fiction--together in one volume.

3. Christmas Bodyguard; Gardians Series, Book 1 by Margaret Daley -- A Romance from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. Slade Caulder, a businessman, hires bodyguard, Elizabeth Walker, to protect his daughter,  but can  Elizabeth save both Slade and his daughter from a killer and keep herself from falling in love with him?

4. Cowboy Daddy by Carolyn Aarsen -- A Romance from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. When a woman calling herself the aunt of his nephews comes to try to take them away, Kip learns a lesson in love and letting go.

5. Driven by Shellie Neumeier -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Risen Books. Robyn can't help but notice the new guy at school, but what she misses could cost her dearly--a demon has been sent to destroy her.

6. Love Finds You in Sun Valley, Idaho by Angela Ruth -- A Romance from Summerside Press. Emily Van Arsdale returns home to film a movie and falls for the rafting consultant who has a grudge against celebrities ever since his fiancee left him for fame and fortune.

7. Maggie and the Maverick; Book 3, Idaho Brides by Erica Vetsch -- A Romance  from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Maggie goes undercover to break up a ring of thieves, but finds herself falling for her prime suspect.

8. Michigan Brides by Amber Stockton -- A historical from Barbour. Relive Michigan's industrial boom alongside three women who must change their way of viewing the world before they can realize love.

9. Mail Order Cowboy; Simpson Creek Brides by Laurie Kingery -- A Romance from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. An enterprising miss in a bachelor-less post-Civil War Texas town organizes the unmarried ladies to bring mail-order grooms to town.

10. Praying for Rayne by Elizabeth Goddard -- A Romance from Barbour Heartsong Presents. Rayne Fleming loves her job designing water fountains, but when Jack Kostner joins the company all her plans for success struggle to survive, including the blossoming love between them.

11. Singing in Babylon by Ann Gaylia O'Barr-Breedlove -- General Fiction from Oak Tara. Life in the "enchanged kingdom" is nothing like she thought.

12. The Camera Never Lies; Hometown Mysteries by Elizabeth Goddard -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Barbour. When Polly Perkins’ camera finds a murder victim, her ability to read emotions through a camera lens could prevent another murder while giving her reason to hope in lasting love.

13. The Lawman’s Christmas Gift; Alaskan Bride Rush, Book 6 by Linda Goodnight -- A Romance from Steeple Hill Love Inspired. Love, faith, and a Christmas miracle come to a dying Alaskan town just in the "Nick" of time.

14. Touched by Mercy by Tina Pinson -- A Romance from Desert Breeze. The west seems to hold all the answers to Samantha Northam's dreams, but is it far enough away to protect her from her nightmares?

15. Wasatch Love by Lauralee Bliss -- A Romance from Barbour Heartsong Presents. The Wasatch Mountains of Utah holds the key to a young woman's unhappiness and a man's desperation.

16. Yuletide Defender by Sandra Robbins -- A Suspense/Mystery/Thriller from Steeple Hill Love Inspired Suspense. A determined reporter, a protective cop, and a threatening gang war are headed for a showdown, just in time for Christmas.