Coming October 7: The Christmas Book Flood by Roseanna M. White

 

In this charming World War II historical romance novella inspired by Jolabokaflod, Iceland’s Christmas Book Flood, an author falls in love with a man who doesn’t know he is her editor. 

Iceland. December 1944. Tatiana Eliasdottir is looking forward to welcoming her niece Elea for Christmas. She’s determined to give the little girl a joyful holiday and take her mind off troubles at home. Soon, however, the publishing house where Tatiana works is flooded with orders thanks to the first issue of a seasonal book catalog. With the war causing so many shortages, Icelanders are eager to give their loved ones something that isn’t rationed, and books are the perfect solution to their dilemma.

Anders Johannsson is an editor who shares Tatiana’s love for stories. While he wishes to know her better, he’s never dared pursue more than friendship. They are first and foremost colleagues. But when Tatiana’s attempts to cheer Elea fail, Tatiana recruits him to help, a plea he can’t refuse. He is, after all, not only an editor but a beloved children’s book author and devoted uncle to his adoring nieces and nephews.

As the two creatively bring Icelandic Christmas traditions to life for Elea and frantically work to meet the demands of the publisher’s holiday rush, Tatiana finds herself increasingly drawn to kind, thoughtful Anders. But if a love is to grow between them, she will need to reveal her closely held secret: she is the mysterious author of a popular new novel . . . and Anders is her editor.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0FDJM4K83
• Publisher ‏ : ‎ Tyndale Fiction
• Accessibility ‏ : ‎ Learn more
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 7, 2025
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 5.0 MB
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled 
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 175 pages
• ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 979-8400501883

Pre-order here!

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? and Mailbox Monday

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? is a place to meet up and share what you have been, are, and about to be reading over the week. It's a great post to organize yourself. It's an opportunity to visit, comment, and add to that ever-growing TBR pile! So welcome, everyone. This meme started with J Kaye's Blog and was then taken up by Sheila from Book Journey. Sheila then passed it on to Kathryn at the Book Date.

Happy Monday! Welcome to October!!! Massachusetts hit at least 80 degrees on Sunday. You know why? Because I switched to my fall and winter wardrobe. Every time I switch over my clothes, it gets warm. :) 

Are there any Pampered Chef fans out there? I'm having a Facebook party, Cheryl's Spook-Tacular Halloween Table. Click here to join us. Know what you want to order. Click here.

Here are photos from this week:

HB Real Estate supports local

Travis is watching me from the dining room

Made my first Tourtière (French Canadian meat pie)

Meat pie was a holiday food in my childhood. I also only had meat stuffing on Thanksgiving. I didn't even know bread stuffing existed until I was an adult. Gen X grew up without the Internet. 

In my reading world, I put aside this poetry collection, Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson. This review is due in November, and I need to read two other books first. 

Finished Eleanor Roosevelt's Nightly Prayer by Donn Mitchell, which is a NetGalley download. Not what I expected, but interesting. 

I cracked open The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright this week. This is an October review book.

The Man Next Door, another romantic comedy by Sheila Roberts, is next.

I want to read Old Flames, New Beginnings by Lea Schizas during the holiday season. 

Ms. Pennypickle's Puzzle Quest by Chris Grabenstein and The Curiosities by W.H. Eatons are middle-grade NetGalley downloads I need to read. 

Mailbox Monday is a gathering place for readers to share the books they added to their shelves the previous week. This weekly meme is now hosted by Vicki at I'd Rather Be At The Beach. 

In addition to Jamie Jo Wright's book, I pre-ordered this contemporary Christmas novella collection. 

Four authors, four Christmas novellas of peace, joy, love (and red pickup trucks)

A Christmas Wedding to Die For by Darlene L. Turner

’Tis the season for deadly secrets.
Photographer Adelaide Fox thought she had the perfect assignment—capturing the winning shot at a high-profile Yukon wedding. But when the bride vanishes and a guest is found dead, holiday cheer turns to mystery. As a blizzard approaches, Adelaide teams up with the bride’s rugged brother, tracker Declan Stone. With danger closing in, suspicious guests, and threatening messages, Adelaide must unravel the truth—and maybe open her heart—to find peace on earth this Christmas.

Season of Forever by Helena Smrcek

Past meets present. Two hearts, WWII secrets, and a Christmas of second chances.
Past and present entwine in a story of love, loss, and second chances. In the shadows of WWII, a fragile romance is tested by sacrifice and distance. Decades later, in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Faith helps at her grandmother’s sweater shop, while next door Joseph acquires a charred WWII Bible marked with a red ribbon. Despite their rocky first encounter, will Faith and Joseph give their budding relationship a chance—and uncover the hidden story within the Bible’s pages?

Falling for You by Melanie Stevenson

A broken engagement, a broken rib, and a broken heart.
Author Laurel Bennett hadn’t planned to spend Christmas this way. Her escape to Banff was meant to avoid her ex-fiancé’s wedding, not land her in recovery at the Banff Springs Hotel. But when she crosses paths with Dr. Ethan Pine—the charming stranger who saved her on the slopes—everything changes. A whirlwind of magical days sparks undeniable chemistry, and they must decide if love can bridge both the distance and the wounds that threaten to keep them apart.

Merry Christmas, Mr. Potter by Sara Davison

He thought he knew exactly what he wanted.
Jack Miller is determined to make it big in the Big Apple. So why does he keep getting dragged back to the place—and the woman—he’s trying to leave behind? Playing the lead in his tiny Nova Scotian town’s production of It’s a Wonderful Life gives Jack a glimpse into the life that could have been his. Good thing it’s not the one he wants, since it’s clearly too late for him to get it back.

Upcoming Events

• The Bell Tolls at Traeger Hall by Jaime Jo Wright - Oct 29 (Review)
• One Foot in the Ether: Whispers of the Pendle Witches by Kayleigh Kavanagh - Oct 30 (Spotlight)
• The Man Next Door by Sheila Roberts - Oct 31 (Review)
• Singing the Forge by G. H. Mosson - Nov 25 (Review)

The latest Christmas... in the news post is up at Christmas Year Round. This week's news is about a sea glass Christmas tree, the Salvation Army's increased need to provide assistance this holiday season, and an annual dance troupe holiday show. Check it all out here.

At The Children's and Teens' Book Connection, I shared Halloween picture and board books. You can find them here. 

Nothing new at Laura's Little Houses. My Season 9 rewrite posts are getting lots of attention. Will write the next chapter when I have time. 

Still waiting on two bits of writing-related news. Have an online agent meeting scheduled for next week, and plan to attend a writers conference on October 18. 

That's it in my world. Hope you have a happy day! 

Book Spotlight: Love Across Time by Helena Smrcek

 

A Dual-Timeline Christian Romance Rooted in Faith, Hope, and Lasting Love by Helena Smrcek

A bundle of WWII love letters. A modern-day discovery. Two hearts connected across generations.

When practical real estate investor Nick Mass inherits his grandparents’ home, he stumbles upon a collection of heartfelt letters written during the Second World War. Each page reveals a powerful love story between a young woman waiting at home and the soldier who risked everything for her. Determined to uncover the truth, Nick enlists the help of Joy Christenson, a spirited local historian with a deep love for stories of the past.

As the two work together to trace the legacy hidden in the letters, their journey weaves between past and present—between war-torn love and modern longing. What begins as a historical inquiry soon becomes personal, challenging Nick and Joy to open their hearts to second chances, divine timing, and the possibility that love truly never dies.

ASIN ‏ : B0FKMSR1TC

Publisher ‏ : Independently published

Publication date ‏ : August 5, 2025

Language ‏ : English

Print length ‏ : 184 pages

ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎

Purchase here!

Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge: Books I Would or Wouldn't Reread and Why

 

The Wednesday Weekly Blogging Challenge is hosted by Long and Short Reviews. They offer this blog hop as a weekly prompt to help you gain new friends and visitors. You don't have to participate every week, but if you decide to post and join the blog hop for a week, Long and Short Reviews asks that you share your link on their weekly post on their website (it will be the top post on the home page each Wednesday morning). The link list remains open for new links for 48 hours. Visit the other bloggers participating to see what they discuss that week. Comments are appreciated.  

Happy Wednesday! Welcome to October, the first of the "ber" months. My fall decorations still aren't up. Gasp! But let's forget about all the undone things on our to-do lists and talk about books. 

This week, we are talking about books we would or wouldn't reread and the reasons for those decisions. I'm opting to broaden this prompt to discuss types of books I would or wouldn't read again and why. 

Top Three Books I Wouldn't Reread

Plot-driven novels

What can I say? I am a character-driven reader. Plot-driven fiction will never capture me as fully. Now, a book that is plot-driven with a deep character point of view could work. 

Vampires, fairies, or monsters

With rare exception, books filled with vampires, fairies, or murderous monsters won't make their way into my TBR pile. I've read the occasional great vampire story, but barely tolerate the mention of fairies in novels. I want my monsters as harmless as those found in Scooby Doo! Where Are You? 

Books whose synopses don't match the story/narrative

Don't trick me into thinking I am buying one thing and then give me something totally different. I won't even give those away. They get recycled. 

Top Three Books I Would Reread

A compelling romance with a strong ending

I recall reading one fabulous romantic suspense novel with characters I loved, whose last chapter I read three times. I still remember parts of it. Would read it again if I had the time. 

A book series that builds a community of characters I enjoy getting to know

What draws me to series reading is that they can be set in or around the same location, building a community of characters I enjoy getting to know. I find that when I read a series again, I discover something I didn't catch the first time. 

Nonfiction that gets you thinking

Whether the topic is professional development, historical or current events, theology, or something else, when a nonfiction title gets me thinking or sticks with me a while, I often want to return to it. 

How about you? What are some books you would or wouldn't reread?