On the tenth day of Christmas…

Parent Leadership for Today by Clinton McRae

Parent Leadership for Today is written with a special emphasis on educating, empowering, and inspiring parents in the construct of leadership. In the United States, 22 million children go home to one parent, and 83 percent of those parents are moms. Children of one-parent households are generally less supervised, their actions are less monitored, and there is usually a huge communication gap between the child and parent. Parent Leadership provides proven strategies to help parents bridge this gap through useful tools and insight that will allow for better communication with the child.
To do this effectively, Parent Leadership is divided into three sections: (1) The Roles/Phases of Parenting (2) Self-Reinvention, and (3) Communication. In each section, Parent Leadership examines the leadership principles that are experienced in the workplace and implements them through the eyes of parenting.

About Clinton…

Pastor Clinton McRae is a Graduate from Regent University with a Masters in Organizational Leadership (MOL). As a retired Navy Chief Petty Officer, he teaches a variety of leadership courses to naval personnel and enjoys developing training material for New Employees at Norfolk Naval Shipyard. Topics that he is frequently called upon to teach include: Situational Leadership, Emotional Intelligence, Individual Development Plans and Managing Difficult Behaviors.

In the past two years, Pastor McRae, has focused his energies on transforming corporate leadership initiatives into family initiatives in an effort to build strong families in the community. This has allowed him to provide leadership training to leaders and parents at various entities.

Pastor McRae is a volunteer of the Fatherhood Mentoring Program located in the city of Portsmouth. During these sessions he provides counseling to men on a weekly basis in effort to them think differently about themselves so they can become productive citizens in the home and in the community. .

As a published Author he has written two books entitled “Blessed to be Broken” and “Standing with the Dead”. In June 2016 he released his third book entitled, “Parent Leadership… for Today.” This book is written with a special emphasis on educating, empowering and inspiring parents in the construct of leadership. In the United States, 22 million children go home to one parent, and 83 percent of those parents are moms. Children of one-parent households are generally less supervised, their actions are less monitored, and there is usually a huge communication gap between the child and parent. Parent Leadership for Today provides proven strategies to help parents bridge this gap through useful tools and insight that will allow for better communication with the child.

In closing, Pastor Clinton McRae loves God and considers it an honor and a privilege to serve others in the area of biblical teaching, leadership and parenting.

On the ninth day of Christmas…

My Pride, His Prejudice by Jenni James

When Will Darcy proposes out of the blue, Eliza Bennet’s world comes crashing down. Of course she tells him no, but why would he ask her in the first place? Haven’t they always been enemies? For the past year, Eliza has worked for Will’s company, Revolutionary Innovations, as an efficiency expert. Her whole goal has been to raise profits, finish her contract, and then get out. She assumed Will wanted the same, but now she’s not so sure. And more importantly, she has begun to wonder if she made a mistake in telling him no.

Jenni James, author of The Jane Austen Diaries series for teens, does it again! Now she’s creating a whole new series just for adults, Austen in Love. Book #1 is a delightful adaptation of Pride and Prejudice that has all the components of Jane Austen’s amazing love story, sticking true to the original theme, while taking modern liberties to give this a fresh, new twist for the clean romance genre.

About Jenni…

Jenni James is the busy mother of ten kids (7 hers, 3 her hubby’s) and has nearly thirty published book babies. She’s an award-winning, best-selling author, who works full-time from home and dreams about magical things and then writes about what she dreams.

Even though she was born in Arizona, went to high school in New Mexico–and loves Mexican food more than anything–she lived so many years in England that when she and her children finally returned home she couldn’t for the life of her remember how to speak truly American anymore. She gets teased relentlessly on her British accent and connotations–and there are sometimes altogether where she only speaks like a true Englishman for several hours at time without having any idea until someone points it out. Hence the relentless teasing.

Oddly however, when she returns to Britain and no one can tell she’s American, she doesn’t mind it one bit. The weather, the rolling green hills, the incredible architecture, the immaculate cottage gardens, the memories, the many lifelong friends and houses and villages she’s lived in, the balls/galas/parties she hosted while she was there… it’s all a second home to her now and a place that has always and will always capture her heart.

Some of her works include The Jane Austen Diaries (Pride & Popularity, Emmalee, Persuaded…), The Jenni James Faerie Tale Collection (Cinderella, Snow White, Rumplestiltskin, Beauty and the Beast…), the Andy & Annie series for children, Revitalizing Jane: Drowning, My Paranormal Life, Not Cinderella’s Type, and the Austen in Love Series.

When she isn’t writing up a storm, she is chasing her kids around their new cottage and farm in the tops of the southwestern mountains, entertaining friends at home, or kissing her amazingly hunky hubby. Her life is full of laughter, crazy, and sunshine.

Check her out on Facebook: Facebook and  Twitter

On the eighth day of Christmas…

Joe Devlin: At the Enemy’s Hand by James Thomas

In Book Four of the Space Academy Series, the Intergalactic Space Force seeks revenge after being attacked by a mysterious enemy. Have the Tourians joined forces with a new adversary to exact their own vengeance? Should the ISF strike back? Meanwhile, Joe struggles to fight off his wartime demons while preparing to embark upon a clandestine mission in search of his loved ones. With the power of the Black Medallion in his hands, this undertaking may lead to Joe’s own demise—if its influence does not destroy him first. Come join Joe Devlin as he starts his journey, but hurry! Things will get rough fast with paranoia and treachery around every corner.

About James:

James R. Thomas takes young readers into the world of space travel, teaches them the importance of conservation, and also tackles the topic of helping children cope when a parent is deployed in the military. His writing style has been inspired by his military service and the challenges his own family faced with his deployment. He also wants to bring his love of science fiction to life for children and teach them to be socially conscious of our planet. In his books, he addresses a variety of life issues for young readers with his goal being to help children build an awareness of the world around them and to empower them to reach for the stars. Through his character, Joe Devlin, children can explore space travel of the future in the intergalactic world of the Space Academy series. The series was inspired when James was being deployed to Afghanistan and promised to write a story for his son, which Joe Devlin was based upon. James’s conservation series teaches children the importance of keeping our planet healthy and safe while showing them that every single person, including the reader, can make an impact on the planet, good or bad. Included in the eighteen books that James has published thus far are two stand-alones. One covers the importance of telling the truth and the other teaches children about allergies. James also has expanded internationally with a children’s book published in the French language. To round out his versatility as an author, he tapped into his own life experiences and crafted a series to help children cope with the deployment of a loved one. James is a graduate of the United States Naval Academy with a bachelor of science in aerospace engineering, and he holds an advanced degree in business administration. He is married with a son and a daughter and resides in Chesapeake, Virginia. When he is not writing, he enjoys spending time with his family, playing guitar, and flying.

James is available to speak at local functions, schools and libraries, including the Author Skype Network. He also offers quantity discounts to schools and libraries wishing to purchase his books. James hopes that you and the child in your life enjoy his stories.

You’re welcome to follow him on Facebook and Twitter

 

On the seventh day of Christmas…

Beauty Charmed Santa by Shirley Jump

When Cole Benson agrees to play Old Saint Nick at a Boston-area mall, the former actor is desperate to regain his career. What he doesn’t count on is his seeing his ex, Stephanie Taylor, working as one of the elves. The fire that once simmered between them is lit all over again, and Cole begins to wonder if maybe he can bring about a second chance this Christmas.

He doesn’t realize that Stephanie is hiding a big secret, one that will put this Santa in a compromising position, and make him wonder whether he did the right thing leaving town all those years ago. Stephanie takes a chance on falling for the playboy again, even if it means waking up alone on Christmas morning. Is Santa here to stay this time? Will he become the family man Stephanie needs? Or will he hop in his sleigh as soon as the holiday is over?

*Special bonus material: Recipes written by the characters inside!*

 

About Shirley…

New York Times and USA Today bestselling author Shirley Jump spends her days writing romance and women’s fiction to feed her shoe addiction and avoid cleaning the toilets. She cleverly finds writing time by feeding her kids junk food, allowing them to dress in the clothes they find on the floor and encouraging the dogs to double as vacuum cleaners.

Look for her Sweet and Savory Romance series, including the USA Today bestselling book, THE BRIDE WORE CHOCOLATE, and her Sweetheart Club series for Berkley, starting with THE SWEETHEART BARGAIN.

Visit her website or read recipes and life adventures at Eating My Words.

On the sixth day of Christmas…

Snow Globe Reunion by Christina Lorenzen

Stranded by a snowstorm, Carrie Sanders is left holding a bag an old woman she’d been talking to left behind in the airport coffee shop. Mystified by the woman’s disappearance, she sits on the bench staring at the snow globe that was in the bag.

Inside the glittery snowy world it’s Christmas during the 1940s. Fighting sleep, the next thing she knows she’s in the arms of the soldier she last saw skating on the pond in the snow globe. He’s no stranger, but the boy next door who never forgot her.

About Christina:

Christina started writing as a young teen, jotting stories in wire ring composition notebooks. Her first typewriter made it faster to get all those stories out of her head and down on paper. Her love of writing has sustained her through a myriad of jobs that included hairdresser, legal secretary, waitress and door-­to-‑door saleswoman.

Luckily for her, writing proved to be successful and a lot less walking than going door to door. Harvest Blessings, a sweet small town romance, is Christina’s fourth book. She is also the author of A Husband for Danna, its sequel, A Wife for Humphrey and her recent Christmas release, Snow Globe Reunion. She is busy working on a modern retelling of the classic tale, Rapunzel. When she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found walking her dog, talking to her herd of cats and spending time with her family.

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On the fifth day of Christmas…

Song of the Fairy Queen by Valerie Douglas

It’s said of Fairy that if you’re in dire need and you call their name they’ll come. With his castle under siege and his young son in his arms, High King Oryan couldn’t be in more dire need. With only his High Marshal, Morgan, and a handful of Morgan’s men at his back, he has only one direction left to run…up. And only one ally to whom he can turn.
Kyriay, the Queen of the Fairy.

Song of the Fairy Queen is not your parent’s fairy tale. (it’s epic fantasy for adults – it’s not YA)

About Valerie:

Valerie Douglas’s novels reflect her eclectic tastes, a fan of almost every genre she writes high, classic and historical fantasy, thrillers and romance and, as V.J. Devereaux, she also writes erotic romance.

Happily married to the best husband in the world (she says), she’s companion to two coonhounds (Ruby and Ella), four beloved cats (Billie Jo, sweet Pi, tanglefoot Tango, and shy Mendy) and an African clawed frog named Hopper who delights in tormenting Pi and Tango from the safety of his tank.

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On the fourth day of Christmas…

A Day at the Fare by Pamela Covington

Imagine…

You’re living a good life in a grand old house with your family, spending your summer looking out from your veranda onto a picturesque park and enjoying the scent of flowers in the air—until fall arrives and you’re beholding a multi-colored canopy of foliage.

But… by winter you’re stealing toilet tissue from a restaurant restroom and wondering what you’re going to do with your first welfare check that won’t even pay the rent for the ghetto apartment you and your children are now calling home.

The reality is we’re all only living one or two misfortunes away from losing the people or things we’re depending upon, and if and when that happens, you could easily find yourself enduring A Day at the Fare.

What would you be willing to do to survive its grim circumstances?

This memoir depicts the author’s unexpected plunge into, and triumphant emergence from, deep poverty.

 

About Pamela:

As a motivational speaker my goal is to help my audiences renew their self-esteem and faith in their ability to take control of their own lives. I do this by sharing the lessons of my own welfare struggle—and triumph, as well as providing them with practical personal strategies. As a writer I seek to inspire. When advocating I share my personal story as a way to put a face on the issues of poverty.

I chill out with word games, a spooky movie, time at the beach or a drive in my convertible. I socialize a bit, spin an abundance of different types of music and I read—a lot; no room in my home is without a tall stack of books or a packed bookcase.

Lately, I’m especially fond of collecting out of print books. No one will want to help me when it’s time to move!

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On the third Day of Christmas…

Insatiable – Mermaids Curse by Daniele Lanzarotta

Arianna always felt like she didn’t belong in the world where she was born. Ever since she was little, she used to hide behind the rocks in the sea, and watch the human family who spent their summers on that island. Over the years, there was nothing she wished more than to be like them, especially so she could get close to Blake, the human boy who she saw turn into a troubled teenager and then, an unhappy man. Once her dad grew tired of her dreams and hopes for a reality that is not her own, Arianna is thrown into an arranged marriage, and her only way out of it is to make a deal with the power-hungry man who will give her everything that she has ever dreamed of. Dreams that turn into nightmares as she watches Blake’s world fall apart, because of her and Blake’s inability to control their desires for one another.

**Mature Content Warning – Recommended for ages 17+ due to language, violence and sexual content.** 

About Daniele:

Daniele Lanzarotta is the author of paranormal/fantasy novels, including the Imprinted Souls Series and Academy of the Fallen. She has a bachelor’s in business and finance and a MBA. With only a few semesters left in school, Daniele started writing as a hobby, but it didn’t take long for her to be consumed by her stories. That is her passion, and she now has several projects under way. She enjoys reading and writing young adult novels with just about any sort of paranormal or supernatural bent…vampires… ghosts… She also enjoys watching hockey, playing rock band, guitar hero and spending time with the family.

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On the second day of Christmas…

One Foot in the Grave: An Almost Zombie Tale by Shanti Krishnamurty

It’s the summer after graduation, and all Isis wants to do is hang out and party with her friends. Unfortunately, her boyfriend has other plans. When a fun trip to Savannah leaves her with a bite mark on her neck and a strange craving for raw brains, her journey of self-discovery begins in the weirdest place imaginable: a rundown church full of misfits, all struggling to fit in.

About Shanti:

First of all, I dislike writing biographies. I never quite know what to say, and feel like I babble. That being said, let me start with the basics.
I’m a part-time college student, full-time mother of two boys, whom I home-educate, and full-time homebody. I live in Atlanta, Georgia with said kids, my husband and a much spoiled Great Dane.
I write clean fiction – no sex, no rated ‘R’ violence, no language and generally little to no romance. That last is my personal preference, since I like writing novels more focused on my main characters finding their own strength and their own place of belonging.
When I’m not busily losing what is left of my mind, I love gaming. MMORPGs, card games (‘Gloom’ is a fun one!), board games…I’m such a nerd that every two weeks my family and I get together with around five other nerdy families and play games, watch movies, eat…game more…
‘Maid’ is my first novel and I’ve just finished the first draft of my second one…which is entirely cool, when I remember I’ve wanted to do this writing thing since the 4th grade.
I probably have at least ten more books stuck in my head, so I’m pretty sure I’ll be writing for many years to come. At least, that’s the idea! 😀

Shanti Krishnamurty’s Facebook

I decided to do 12 Days of Christmas – only with books!! Don’t forget to stock stuffings (or Kindles!!) with new books!!

Family Recipe by Carma Haley Shoemaker

When Piper Mathis left home to join the New York City Symphony Orchestra, she left behind not only her mother, but Ken, the man who had promised to love her forever. Their paths drifted part as she concentrated on her career, and she had to live with the knowledge that she’d lost him.

However, a tragedy brings her back to her hometown, and her feelings for Ken resurface. So much has happened—so many broken promises, so many forgotten dreams. Is it really over for them, or has fate intervened to give them a second chance?

 

About the Author

While she has hundreds of NF article credits in various publications, Carma has officially made the transition to fiction, writing in multiple genres.

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