The 12 Books of Christmas Day 2

Well, are you getting the hang of how this works? So far, you've had two days to get your name tossed in the giveaway hat. Today, I'm announcing the second winner, randomly selected from all of the comments so far.

And the second choice in books goes to...

ROSE MCCAULEY!

Congrats, Rose! You get second pick from all of these fabulous books! I will be in touch soon.


And now for the blurbs and author bios for the second half of the titles included in THE 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS:

Falling in Love With You anthology by Susan Miura


Falling in Love with You, an anthology released by OakTara this past October, offers up 41 sweet stories reflecting the crazy, unexpected, and poignant ways the authors met their spouses. It’s a book that is guaranteed to bring a smile, and would make a great gift for anyone who has fallen, or hope to falls, under the spell of cupid’s arrow. Susan’s story, “The Perfect Crime,” opens with:

A cop once told me to listen to your instincts. The prickle crawling up your spine is sending you a message, and you better listen. As I pulled into the parking lot of my apartment complex, that prickle was shouting loud and clear. Danger. Evil. Drive away. But when I looked at the stranger walking aimlessly around the lot at ten-thirty on an autumn night, I ignored the warning.

 About the author:  Susan is married to a police sergeant and is both a soccer mom and rock band mom, with a daughter in high school and son in college. She works full time in public relations, and part time as a travel presenter and book reviewer. Additionally, she is an author with three published short stories. The most recent, “The Perfect Crime,” can be found in Falling in Love with You. Her debut novel, Show Me a Sign,” will be released sometime in 2013.

Travel, baking, and photography are among her passions, so it’s no surprise that her “Taste the World” presentations combine all three. She uses photos from her travels to give 90-minute PowerPoint shows highlighting fun travel spots in the U.S. and abroad. The best part is, she does the shows, and even some of the traveling, with her sister. Their next adventure? The Greek Islands next spring. In summer, she’ll be heading for the Smoky mountains with her husband and kids. Imagery from her travels is often infused in her writing.

Susan is a member of Willow Creek Community Church and the American Christian Fiction Writers. She and her family live on a small lake in a suburb of Chicago.
 

Hailee by Penny Zeller

For years, orphan Hailee Annigan was just a ragamuffin in the Cincinnati streets, stealing food to keep her two younger brothers fed. Her thievery landed her in a home for delinquent youngsters, where her life was changed, thanks to her teachers. Now, nineteen-year-old Hailee excitedly heads to Montana to be a teacher, yet she's still plagued by her shameful past and the fear of never seeing her brothers again.

Based on his upbringing in high-society Boston, no one would have guessed that Nate Adams would attend seminary and become a church pastor in rugged Montana. Even now, Nate's parents refuse to put aside their own plans for his future and accept his calling.

When their paths converge, an immediate attraction draws Hailee and Nate together, even as the pressures and demands of others pull them apart. Can the unlikely pair come to terms with their pasts and face the future together?

The book trailer for Hailee can be seen here http://youtu.be/LEGoM43jtwA

About the author:  Penny Zeller is the author of several books and numerous magazine articles. She is also the author of the blog "A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, and Author" www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com where she also provides weekly doses of inspiration and humor, along with movie reviews from a Christian worldview, and interviews with some of her favorite author friends.

Among other books, Penny is the author of McKenzie, Kaydie, and Hailee in her Montana Skies Historical Romance Series (Whitaker House) and 77 Ways Your Family Can Make a Difference: Ideas and Activities for Serving Others (Beacon Hill).

Penny is an active volunteer in her community, devoting her time to assisting and nurturing women and children into a closer relationship with Christ. When she's not writing, Penny enjoys spending time with her family and camping, hiking, canoeing, and playing volleyball. While she is generally a health nut, Penny does have one small weakness: hot tamales (yes, the little red candy kind!)

  Connect with Penny on the web: www.pennyzeller.com (Website), www.pennyzeller.wordpress.com (A Day in the Life of a Wife, Mom, & Author Blog), www.facebook.com/pennyzellerbooks (Facebook), http://twitter.com/pennyzeller (Twitter), and http://pinterest.com/zellerpenny/ (Pinterest)

 Winds of Wyoming by Rebecca Carey Lyles

Fresh out of a Pennsylvania penitentiary armed with a marketing degree, Kate Neilson heads to Wyoming anticipating an anonymous new beginning as a guest-ranch employee. A typical twenty-five-year-old woman might be looking to lasso a cowboy, but her only desire is to get on with life on the outside—despite her growing interest in the ranch owner. When she discovers a violent ex-lover followed her west, she fears the past she hoped to hide will trail as close as a shadow and imprison her once again. 

 About the author: Becky Lyles is a freelance writer and editor whose articles and stories have appeared in magazines, books and compilations. Her nonfiction books include “It’s a God Thing!” and "On a Wing and a Prayer," and her first novel, “Winds of Wyoming,” was published in January of 2012. The sequel, “Winds of Freedom,” is scheduled for release early next spring. She lives with her husband of many years in beautiful Boise, Idaho. Learn more about Becky on her website: http://beckylyles.com//

 That Summer by Jo Huddleston

 A Southern historical novel

The Great Depression brings devastation to
The Southern Appalachians but love’s triangle survives.

To escape his poppa’s physical abuse and their dirt-poor farm life, Jim flees to an imagined prosperous city life where he can make his own choices, ignoring God patiently knocking on his heart’s door. Settled in town, Jim strays from God and the way of faith his momma taught him.

He meets a girl and loses his heart … and meets another girl and loses his willpower. Jim wrestles with social and moral dilemmas as he makes a choice beside Caney Creek that will alter the lives of five people. 

About the author: Jo Huddleston is a multi-published author of books, articles, and short stories. She is a member of American Christian Fiction Writers and a member of the Literary Hall of Fame at Lincoln Memorial University (TN). She holds a M.Ed. degree from Mississippi State University. Meet Jo at www.johuddleston.com. While there sign up for her newsletter and read her blog.

Rockapocalypse: Disharmony of Justice by Byron Suggs
1974 - It started out as a typical summer in a small southern town for 15-yr old Pete Travers and his friends, until the real rock stars showed up.

Real dead that is.

When bizarre occurrences, unexplained disappearances, and outpourings of prejudice become frequent in Harper’s Mill, the four friends discover they’ve been destined for a gig far more challenging than anything they ever imagined. The rockers join forces with the four teens to rid the town of a hatred so intense, it has bred its own evil in the most unlikely of places. But will they succeed?

2011 - Thirty-seven years later, record industry mogul Peter Travers lies in a coma as the result of a horrific auto accident. As he teeters between life and death, he relives the life-changing events from the past in his mind. When his friends reunite to stand watch and offer their support, they realize Peter's auto crash was no accident. They also discover that the powers that saved them all those years ago have returned. But the question that burns in their hearts is: Why?

The power of music’s timeless message, the bonds of friendship, and a gift from God culminate in a cataclysmic battle that reaches to the gates of heaven. Is their faith strong enough to protect Peter and his family from the evil force that struggles to claim what he deems rightfully his - Peter's very soul

About the author: Primarily a writer of southern fiction, Byron's first novel,Rockapocalypse: Disharmony of Justice, is a tale of youthful dreams, adult peril, and Divine intervention by a few deceased rock icons. His second novel, Cold Currents, a southern literary mystery/thriller, is in the hands of his agent. He is currently working on his third novel, Bone Whispers, (a follow-up to Cold Currents), and a collection of short stories for future publication.

His short works of fiction have appeared in publications such as Aries: A Journal of Arts and Literature and Black Heart Magazine (e-zine).

A child of the sixties, his first viewing of The Wizard of Oz shaped his outlook of the world and erased any boundaries that could have stunted his imagination. He believes that a good tale should take you on an exhilarating adventure and leave you a bit more enchanted after you turn the last page.

*Byron is represented by Joyce Holland of The D4EO Literary Agency. Visit Byron's website at http://www.byronsuggs.com

The Road to Mercy by Kathy Harris

Tragedy, love, and secrets meet on a journey of faith.

Dr. Ben Abrams, rescued as an infant from a fiery crash that killed his family, turned his adversities into success but lost his heritage of faith. Fifty years later, Josh and Bethany Harrison face a difficult decision that also tests their faith. A rupture in Beth's carotid artery leaves her on the brink of death, even as she's pregnant with their first child. While Dr. Abrams urges her to abort the baby to save her own life, she and Josh step out on faith and continue the pregnancy.

During the next few months, Josh, a contemporary Christian singer, struggles with his faith while Beth hides a secret that may destroy their marriage. She also discovers a decades-old connection to Dr. Abrams that could change his life forever.

About the author: Kathy Harris is an author by way of a divine detour into the Nashville entertainment business. She graduated with a B.S. in Communications from Southern Illinois University and has spent the past two decades employed as a marketing director in the Nashville music industry.

An active member of American Christian Fiction Writers and the publicity officer for Middle Tennessee Christian Writers, Kathy lives near Nashville with her husband and their two Shiloh Shepherd dogs. Her fiction debut, The Road to Mercy, released this fall.

Kathy regularly interviews literary and music guests on her blog at www.DivineDetour.com. Her author site is www.kathyharrisbooks.com. You can find her on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/KathyHarrisAuthor or regularly on Twitter as @DivineDetour.

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