Tag Archives: Christmas

Christmas Puppies: Unwrapping the Pros and Cons

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The holiday season has arrived, and with it comes the irresistible idea of adding a furry bundle of joy to your family. But is getting a puppy during Christmas truly a jingle-all-the-way experience? Here are the pros and cons.

Christmas

Pros:

  1. Merry Moments: The holiday season is all about creating cherished memories, and a puppy can make them even merrier. From adorable antics to heartwarming cuddles, their presence will add an extra layer of joy and laughter to your Christmas celebrations.
  2. Time on Your Side: With time off from work or extended vacation periods, you have the gift of extra time during the holidays. This allows you to invest more quality time in training, bonding, and ensuring a smooth transition for your new puppy.
  3. Love Multiplied: Nothing brings a family closer than caring for a puppy together. From shared responsibilities to teamwork, raising a puppy during Christmas strengthens the bonds among family members, creating a shared sense of love and commitment.

Cons:

  1. ‘Tis the Season of Stress: The hustle and bustle of the holiday season can overwhelm even the jolliest of puppies. With parties, guests, and disruptions to routines, it may take longer for your puppy to settle in, potentially leading to anxiety or behavioral issues.
  2. Post-Holiday Blues: As the festivities wind down, the realities of daily life kick in. Busy schedules, work, and school commitments can limit the time and attention you can devote to your puppy. Make sure you can provide consistent socialization and care, even after the Christmas magic fades away.
  3. Presents vs. Training: Training a puppy requires patience, consistency, and a structured environment. The holiday season, however, often brings distractions and a less structured routine. This can make training more challenging, potentially slowing down your puppy’s progress.

When it comes to getting a puppy during Christmas, there are both delightful pros and thoughtful cons. Take a moment to assess your readiness, lifestyle, and ability to provide the care and attention a puppy needs before adding a Christmas puppy to your festivities.

Black Friday sale!

Mark your calendars. On Black Friday, November 24th, my sweet and inspirational holiday romance boxed set, Holiday Hearts Volume Four, will be on a Kindle Countdown sale and only 99 cents. (US Residents only.) FREE on Kindle Unlimited.

Holiday Hearts Volume 4

This collection includes the following 3 books:

A Christmas Puppy To Cherish (Inspirational)
You don’t need ears to hear God’s plan. All you need is an open heart…

A Chocolate-Box Christmas Wish
He’s been all over the world. She’s a home-town girl. Can a holiday wish bridge the gap?

A Chocolate-Box Irish Wedding
A woman who wanted more. A man who wanted her. Can they rediscover their love in the seaside town where it all began?

Be sure to pick up your copy before the price goes up.

Available in ebook, paperback, and large print paperback. Audiobooks for each book sold separately.

 

Why we love collections and binge-reading

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Happy World Smile Day! I hope you have a reason to smile today, wherever you are in the world.

We had a beautiful October day today, and had a chance to enjoy the falling leaves and the amazing colors of autumn. I like my seasons the way I like my books – in bundles of three. In preparation for the holiday season that is getting closer every day, I would love to share with you this lovely collection of books from our friends over at Written Musings.

Three heartwarming holiday stories featuring children writing letters to Santa in hopes of achieving what they want most: a happily ever after for their family.

Women’s Fiction – Single Dad – Romance
Decker needs help pulling off a remodeling job before Christmas. His daughter wants a mother. Will the new woman in their home bring joy, or tear their world apart?

What readers are saying…

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Sometimes life is better than a soap opera. This book is gut wrenching, heart breaking, and beautiful. Wishes do come true for Christmas.​.”

Kindle ● Play ● iBooks ● Nook ● Kobo

Also on Audible!

Women’s Fiction- Single Mom – Romance
When single mother Maura moves to Chicago with her eight-year-old son, she teams up with fellow employee Rick to fulfill the Christmas wishes of children across the city. Will the spirit of the season bring their hearts together, or will secrets tear them apart? ​

What readers are saying…
​
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Definitely could be made into a Hallmark movie…​”

Kindle ● Play ● iBooks ● Nook ● Kobo

Also on Audible!

Detective – Suspense – Adoption
Detective Finola McGregor’s job is mostly routine — until she joins a team that uncovers a human trafficking ring that kidnaps children and forces them to beg. One look into the little girl’s eyes, and Finn will risk everything to make Maddie’s Christmas wish come true. ​

What readers are saying…
​
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “Ms. Colt did a great job handling this subject, and the case was quickly solved, bringing Christmas magic to little Maddie.”​

Kindle ● Play ● iBooks ● Nook ● Kobo

Also, if you’re in the mood to discover a new favorite, award-winning author Susan Tarr has a FREE literary fiction book for a limited time, and a bunch of other amazing books to check out.
My name is Malcolm. I used to think it was MmmMalcolm. I used to stutter back then, back when Mummy died and everything changed. Now I don’t stutter.
This is my story.
I always wanted regular boys’ shoes. Brown. Mine were always black boots, and one boot was made especially for my gimpy leg. Now I have regular men’s shoes. Brown. I have learned to talk again and to write. I used to. When I was at school. When I was ‘bright’. I remember that as clear as the day I fell into the goldfish pond. I was showing Julie the goldfish. One day something bad happened. Then it went dark. And I was back in the mental hospital up the hill from the little railway station where my father and Bella left me.
And finally, if you haven’t checked these out already, feel free to add them to your list of binge-reading, because they are seasoned for every season! 🙂
Until next time, my friends.
Fondly,

Holiday Stories with a Bang by Nancy Radke

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In my Silver Bell series—which is holiday themed—I have mostly Christmas stories, also two at New Year’s, and one set with a bang on the Fourth of July. I started Trouble Never Knocks, my Fourth of July story, as a sweet beach read with the heroine galloping her horse along a sandy beach in Oregon. I switched to the hero’s point of view and had him on the top of a cliff nearby, watching her. A forest ranger, he was checking out the condition of the trails.

Then someone shot him off the cliff, and my story completely switched to include fireworks that come out of guns and a higher body count than most of my other books.  As a romance, the hero had to keep the heroine safe, although she did rescue him more than once. So much for trying to write a sweet beach story.

Trouble Never Knocks is on sale for all of July at 99 cents.

Holiday Stories

My other high body count story, The Prisoner Returns, involved a bodyguard hired to protect an heiress who was expected to receive a fortune. Those people wanting her money had to wait until she got it. In the meantime, they needed to get rid of the bodyguard so that they could control her. This story also had horses in it, but took place on the opposite side of the US, in Massachusetts.

Gun laws switch according to state boundaries. Protecting yourself with a gun is better done in New Hampshire, or it was when I wrote the story. So when my hero had to face several killers, it helped that he was in New Hampshire at the time. It also helped that he was smart enough to wear body armor.

The Prisoner Returns

If you’ve read all my contemporary books, you might try my Trahern Series which is set after the Civil War. Most of them have “fireworks” also.

HOME ALONE FOR THE HOLIDAYS by @PatriceWilton

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While everyone is celebrating Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas with their family and friends, it is perfectly natural to feel a little down about the idea of being home alone. I join you in this feeling as I will be spending my holidays alone.

Home Along

 

Unable to change our situation doesn’t mean we can’t be happy, and it is up to us to be realistic and look for positive, uplifting ideas that we might enjoy. Remember, we don’t live in a Hallmark movie, so we must keep our expectations more grounded—even if that means turning off that channel for the holiday season, and to reach out to friends or make plans of our own.

 

I was reading on the internet before writing this article and they suggest that we focus on what we can do; not let our mind wonder back to the good times we had, but to move forward with ideas of our own.

Find others who are home alone

What makes you happy? Being around people? Do you know others who are on their own too? Gather friends for a dinner party, even if it’s not on the exact date. You can celebrate a day early or a day late and laugh and enjoy the moment. This is a great way to cheer up everyone who is home alone.

Indulge yourself—why not? Getting out for a few hours, or away for a few days can brighten any season. Go for walks in a park or along an ocean. Feel the breeze on your face, the scent of winter in the air. Speak with people, strangers or not. Look for things that make YOU happy. Book a weekend trip to a place you’ve always wanted to visit, go to a movie by yourself, or a little theater nearby to enjoy a live play, or listen to your favorite music. Try out a new recipe. Join a card group, or take up a hobby or sport that you have longed to do.

Make a Difference

Volunteer

Giving to others not only improves their lives, it will also improve yours. Volunteering helps us meet new people, learn a new skill, feel a part of the community, and gain confidence in our ability to try something new and different.

No matter what you choose, remember that it’s okay to be sad, but you owe it to yourself to be happy, too.

I wish you all a pleasant holiday season. Read a great book. Binge watch a new TV series. Get out and enjoy a nice day. Remember, you are not alone. Loved ones will always be a phone call away, thinking and missing you, too.

~  ~  ~

Don’t miss A CHRISTMAS COLLECTION, a 4-book set on sale for 99 cents.

A Christmas Collection

Also available: A SANTA TO KEEP, a sweet holiday story that will have you thinking you’re watching a Hallmark movie!

A Santa To Keep