Mississippi Brides/Plantation Christmas Weddings

 

About The Book:  Head to Mississippi in a 3-in-1 collection of historical romances. . . . Alexandra Lewis’s life no longer makes sense. After her father’s death in a shootout, she feels pressure to carry out her duty to her family and wed, regardless of love. Abigail LeGrand won’t be hindered by marriage. Until she catches the eye of an itinerate preacher. Caroline Pierce never dreamed someone like Luke Talbot would propose. But the promise of marital bliss quickly turns to civil strife as they disagree on everything from slavery to faith. Can God change hearts before love drifts away with the river?

About The Authors:  Diane T. Ashley is a a “town girl” born and raised in central Mississippi. She has been employed for more than 20 years by the Mississippi House of Representatives, where she currently serves as Deputy Assistant Clerk. When she took over the care of her mother, after the sudden death of her father,she rediscovered a thirst for writing and was led to a class taught by best-selling author, Aaron McCarver. She and Aaron McCarver now collaborate on historical fiction novels set during some of the turning points in American history. Their Tennessee series covers three generations of families who struggle to find or strengthen their faith. The Mississippi series features some of the characters first introduced in our Tennessee series.  She is married to a wonderful man, Gene, who is a constant support in all of her endeavors. She accompanies him on "rockhounding" trips each year and loves wearing the jewelry he produces from the rocks he collects. He in turn allows her to peck away at the keyboard and has even been known to give her a phrase or idea that later appears in her stories.
Aaron McCarver is a transplanted Mississippian who was raised in the mountains near Dunlap, Tennessee. He loves his jobs of teaching at Belhaven University and editing for Barbour Publishing and Summerside Press. A member of ACFW, he is coauthor with Gilbert Morris of the bestselling series, The Spirit of Appalachia. He now coauthors with Diane Ashley on several historical series.

My Thoughts About The Book:  I am a lover of historical romances and I especially love stories that take place in the deep south.  This book was delightful.  From the beginning story about Alexandra Lewis to the final story about her granddaughter, Caroline Pierce each story was an attention getter.   The stories are a mixture of three of my favorite elements:  faith, love, and history.  Each story glorifies God and Christ as the characters find their spiritual way in life.  I am so looking forward to reading more from these two authors. 

 

 

About The Book:  ’Tis the season for romance as four hearts are rekindled with love. Everything a widow felt she knew about her life changes when she meets her daughter’s future father-in-law. A successful novelist seeking peace with her past finds it in a mansion and the eyes of a handsome history buff. The trap is set for a divorced couple to receive the best Christmas present ever—a second chance at love. After being jilted at the altar, a wedding planner gets reacquainted with her heart. Will jingle bells be wedding bells in four Plantation Christmas Weddings? 

 

About The Authors: 

Sylvia Barnes thought after retiring early as a manager for BellSouth, now AT&T, she would sit on a swing and drink coffee. However, she opened a gift shop/tea room for three years, served as a part-time court/deputy city clerk, and worked in her county's after school program before finding a yellow pad on which she formed her first novel. Sylvia teaches a Sunday School class and is active in many church activities. She and her husband, J. W., live in the country outside of Pelahatchie, Mississippi, with numerous dogs, cats, armadillos, and moles. And, of course,there was Fred, the possum, who came by his decease between the teeth of her two dogs. They have two grown daughters and three grandchildren.

Cynthia Leavelle - After a childhood of imagining herself as a writer, Cynthia thought of a story idea one day while rocking her first child. From that rough start, she has written a number of inspirational stories and devotionals and used them with her teaching and church groups. More recently, the idea for a novel about the love story of the Biblical characters of Salmon and Rahab took shape in her mind. That novel, The Cord published by Crossbooks, came out in October of 2010. Meanwhile, she has begun a sequel with the working title of Acsah and Othniel. Married for more than thirty years, her writing draws on lessons learned from raising her three sons and teaching English as a Second Language to international students.

Virginia Vaughan was born and raised in Jackson, Mississippi and has never strayed far beyond those boarders. Blessed to come from a large, Southern family, her fondest memories include listening to stories recounted by family and friends around the large dinner table.  She was a lover of books even from a young age, devouring gothic romance novels and stories of romance, danger, and love. She soon started writing them herself.
​After marriage, two kids, and a bitter divorce, Virginia realized her characters needed the same thing she needed--the loving grace of Jesus Christ. She devoted her life and her writing to His glory and has since watched God swing open doors for her to walk through.  Now a mother of two grown sons and one daughter-in-law, she writes and speaks about the healing grace and restoration power of Jesus Christ.  "If Christ can restore himself from the grave then he can surely restore me from the choices I've made."

Lorraine Beatty was born and raised in Ohio but now calls Mississippi home. She started writing stories for friends in middle school and never stopped.

 

My Thoughts On The Book:  This four-in-one set delighted my senses beginning with CHRISTMAS at DUNLEITH by Sylvia Barnes. Beau Burnham,a large, rugged, handsome, praying "redneck" farmer meets his son's soon to be mother-in-law. Marilyn McLemore is  an also-widowed, swanky, Denver lawyer. Their kids are betrothed, so the two put on the family face and survive the ordeal on Christmas Eve.  Sparks fly as the story unfolds.  What a wonderful story of faith, prayer, love, and history.   Story number two is CHRISTMAS at LONGWOOD by Cynthia Leavelle. Rejections in life can leave lasting hurt. Meredith, a KS bestselling author, and Gary, a history teacher in their old HS, both suffer from school trauma. When the two meet again the reader wonders if their adult Christian lifestyles and faiths  will help them overcome their hurtful past.  Can the history of Longwood be a tie that binds?  This story was one of my most favorite.  The history of Longwood and the mending of hurt feelings really captivated me and touched a nerve hidden deep from my own high school years.  The third story was CHRISTMAS at BRANDON HALL by Virginia Vaughan.
Devon's sister's Christmas wedding at Brandon Hall appeared to be the needed opportunity for Sandra to serve Devon with divorce papers so they could end their twenty year marriage. Weddings are about love, and Sandra struggled with the feelings of LOVE for Devon and anger towards him.  Devon's family and  their college-age twins put on match-maker disguises and try and show the two that they belong together.  This is a touching story of God's intervention in what could be the biggest mistake the two would ever make.    The last story is my other favorite.  CHRISTMAS at MONMOUTH by Lorraine Beatty is about a Wedding Planner with the unusual name of  Wreath.  Our  heroine suffered from a past love wound.  When Micah, a ghost from her past, reenters her world, like changes drastically for Wreath. It is a Monmouth task to put sparkle into the Christmas.

 

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of these books from Barbour Books and Net Galley Publicity Group. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.” Thanks guys for letting me have this chance!