Short Story Review: Jingles by D.F. Jones

 

"Jingles" by D. F. Jones is a delightful short story filled with romance, magic, and destiny. 

The quaint town of HollyHaven holds a secret so mysterious and magical that most of its residents remain unaware. But Nick, the charming but reluctant heir to the Claus legacy knows the town's beloved Christmas shop, Jingles, which is owned by his family, is the heart of Christmas magic. As he approaches his destiny, Nick learns the magic is fading, and he must race against time before it is lost forever.  

When Nick meets Clara, the owner of the local cafe, he sees the key to restoring Christmas. Clara, however, is still recovering from past betrayals. As sparks fly between them, Clara is forced to confront what she has tried to avoid: belief in magic, love, and herself. Can Nick convince her to trust in the magic they share before it fades forever?

I cannot tell you how much I loved "Jingles." You know what makes a romance story even better for me is to set it during Christmas. But "Jingles" has more than just the perfect setting. It is the story of a young man, facing a huge responsibility he feels unprepared for, who is thrown an unexpected snowy curveball: the key to saving the magic of Christmas rests not only with him, but with a young woman who is determined to distance herself from everything needed to fulfill that destiny. 

Jones has a keen eye for detail and description, and considering the location of the story and the season, that makes for a charming read outside of the unfolding romance. Close ties to family and community also play a role.

If you love seasonal romance, Santa Claus stories, and stories surrounding the magic of Christmas, "Jingles" is a must read.

• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0DJDQLY66
• Publication date ‏ : ‎ November 1, 2024
• Language ‏ : ‎ English
• File size ‏ : ‎ 2988 KB
• Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
• Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
• Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
• Print length ‏ : ‎ 96 pages

I received a free digital copy from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Website ➜ http://www.dfjonesauthor.com 

Twitter ➜ https://twitter.com/Author_DFJones 

Facebook ➜ https://www.facebook.com/DFJones.author 

Instagram ➜ https://instagram.com/D.F.Jones

Author Goodreads ➜ https://www.goodreads.com/GoodreadscomdfjonesAuthor

Short Story Review: Mistletoe and Miracles by Wendy Davy

Looking for a tender inspirational romance for this holiday season? Pick up this free short story from Wendy Davy.

Noelle Barkley is planning to catch the attention of a man at her upcoming Christmas party. When she lands in the arms of a stranger, she soon discovers that patiently waiting for God's plans to be revealed is much better than trying to rush things along.

Mistletoe and Miracles is the perfect short romance to snuggle up with in front of the fire. Filled with humor and tenderness, it will warm your heart as you watch Noelle learn a very important lesson about God's timing.

This is a story you won't get tired of reading over and again.

Title:  Mistletoe and Miracles
Author: Wendy Davy
Publisher: Pelican Book Group
Current price: FREE

I downloaded a free e-copy of this book from the publisher's website. I received no monetary compensation to provide this review.

Short Story Review: Evergreen A Christmas Tale by Richard Taylor

An elderly man remembers the year his dying grandfather told his family the story of the first Evergreen tree.

In this touching tale of the season, readers are treated to a short story of a family coping with issues whose lives are transformed by a loving grandfather's telling of a story about the first Evergreen tree.

I wish the narrative had been a bit more polished and engaging, but overall this is a sweet story that will have you holding your loved ones a little closer this season.

Title:  Evergreen A Christmas Tale
Author: Richard Taylor
Publisher: Ransom Greene Press
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services
ASIN: B004EHZSES
Current price: FREE for Kindle

I downloaded a free copy of this book from Amazon. I received no monetary compensation of any kind for this review.

Occupy The North Pole by Joel Andre

Horror and dark comedy author Joel Andre has come out with a seasonal short story that is sure to give you a few giggles.

Reporters gather in a small conference room awaiting a major announcement from the North Pole. Sick and tired of doing all the work while the fat man in the red suit gets all the credit, the elves decide to take a stand.

This is the first piece of fiction I've read by Joel Andre, but it won't be my last. Occupy the North Pole gets its premise from the Occupy movements that have been sweeping across the nation. This is a clever, darkly funny and slightly warped short story with a neat twist at the end.

If you're looking for an unusual seasonal offering, this is definitely it.

Title:  Occupy The North Pole

Author:  Joel Andre

Sold by: Amazon Digital Services

ASIN: B006IDVG1A
Current price: 99 cents

Book Review: A Christmas Crossing (short story) by Lynn Hubbard

I love historicals and I love free books, so when author Lynn Hubbard offered her short story, A Christmas Crossing up for free on Smashwords in exchange for feedback, I took her up on that offer.

Sarah Fanum is thrust into the middle of the Revolutionary War. Having lost both her parents, she ends up volunteering for the Continental Army. More tragedy awaits her, but perhaps it will also lead to a new future.

This is a moving story of one woman's journey to find where she belongs after her life is turned upside down. Hubbard's attention to historical detail is outstanding. This short story also includes historical photos and maps. The cover is both beautiful and unique.

What I stumbled upon in A Christmas Crossing is all the grammar and typographical errors. Verb tenses would change in the middle of a chapter. Words were misspelled. I found that aspect distracting. A good editor would easily have caught these errors, making this a stronger story.

Overall, I'm glad I read it and I would consider another of Hubbard's stories in the future. She paints an excellent picture for the reader when it comes to setting, fashion, and other historical details, which will be appreciated by any lover of this genre.


Title: A Christmas Crossing
Author: Lynn Hubbard
ASIN: B00629J4VY

SRP:  $.99 on Kindle and Smashwords

I downloaded a FREE copy of this short story in exchange for providing my honest opinions. I received no monetary compensation of any kind for this review.

Eight Seconds by Sherry James Featured in the Ellora's Cave Flavors of Ecstasy Volume 3 Anthology--Short Story Review

I've been away for a few days, busy working on virtual book tours and planning for Christmas. My shopping is officially done and the big tree in the living room is decorated. Now I just have to start wrapping and get my cards out. I love this time of year.


Today's review should make it worth the wait. Author Sherry James, whose Stud for Hire books we've reviewed here and here, turns her attention back to her roots and comes up with another sexy and funny story, this time about a professional bull rider and a writer of erotic romance.

Taylor Westfall has hit a dry spell in her writing. Left to spend a lonely season alone at the family ranch, she is in desperate need of some sexual inspiration to help her writing along. When she hears handsome Devlin McCord is coming back to town, she hopes to hire him as her "research assistant".

What Taylor doesn't know is that Devlin has had a thing for her since high school. Now tired of one-night stands and life on the road, he's ready to pursue the one he wants; so Taylor's request for sex is one he is more than eager to oblige.

While based upon my meager description, the reader might easily dismiss this short story as not having a lot of depth--that would be a huge mistake. As with all of James's work, "Eight Seconds" is not only sexy and fun, it is filled with characters dealing with conflicting emotions; real characters who struggle against what they want versus what they perceive as the truth.

I don't want to give too much away, but when Devlin first shows up at the ranch, he is eager to find out why Taylor has been asking when he is coming back. An incident from their past has left both of them with unresolved issues, so this obstacle helps to create the necessary conflict to move this story along. And as with all stories in this genre, the sex is as hot as the branding iron that tattoos a bull's backside.

I've missed Sherry James's writing, so I was glad to be asked to review "Eight Seconds". While I have yet to read the entire anthology, you can find information about the rest of the stories at the Ellora's Cave website.

You can also stay in touch with Sherry James through her website and blog. I hope we see more from her soon.