Posted on November 20, 2011 - by Lorna Seilstad
Hot Reads for Cold Nights
Deck the shelves
With lots of books
Fa La La La La La La La La
Kindle ones and even Nook
Fa La La La La La La LaLa
Don we now our comfy bath robes
Fa La La La La La La Lala
To curl up with book and cocoa
Fa La La La La La La LaLa
As we all begin the bustle of the holiday season, it’s time to remember to give ourselves a gift. And what could be better than….you guessed it….a book! In the next couple of weeks, the Inkspirational Messagers will be featuring hot reads for cold winter nights, including some Christmas reads which are sure to warm you as much as Grandma’s eggnog.
O Christmas read, O Chris
tmas read
How lovely art thou pages!
O Christmas read, O Christmas read,
How lovely art thou pages!
The season comes with bitter nights
But you fill us with warmth and light
O Christmas read, O Christmas read
How lovely art thou pages!
Okay, so you can all be glad I’ve chosen to give up writing poetry, but I wanted a fun way to introduce this great Christmas novel to you by fellow Revell author, Dan Walsh. Remembering Christmas is a 272 page Christmas read you won’t want to miss.
Here’s the back cover blurb:
“Can one Christmas change a life forever?
Rick Denton lives his life on his terms. He works hard, plays hard, and answers to no one. So when his mother calls begging him to come home after his stepfather has an aneurysm, Rick is more than a little reluctant. What was supposed to be just a couple days helping out at the family bookstore turns into weeks of cashing out old ladies and dealing with the homeless guy who keeps hanging around the store. The one bright spot is the lovely and intriguing young woman who works at his side each day.
As Christmas nears, Rick’s old life beckons, the hurts from his past loom large, and the decisions he makes will determine more than just where he spends Christmas Eve.
With skillful storytelling, Dan Walsh creates a Christmas story that will have you remembering every good and perfect gift of Christmas.”
If you aren’t already running to your nearest book store, you should also know that this book with warm your heart. It is not just a Christmas story. It’s a family love story. It’s a story of healing after years of hurt
and assumptions. It’s a tender story of hope. It’s a powerful story that will make you take a second look at the gifts you have already been blessed with.
If you grew up in the ‘80’s, you’ll find this book especially delightful. Dan reminds us of a time not so long ago “when IBM had not yet launched the personal computer, the Boombox was hot; Reality TV was unheard of; MTV was just launching; and Ronald Reagan was president.”
Remembering Christmas received 4 ½ stars and was a Top Pick by Romantic Times Book Reviews.
“Walsh crafts the perfect holiday page-turner. Few people ever get the opportunity to know how a seemingly minor act can affect another’s life. With his gift for words, Walsh brings that experience to life, all the while making the reader feel like a dear old friend.” –RT Book Reviews
To win a copy of gently used copy of Remembering Christmas, leave a comment in the next two weeks and we will add your name drawing. Today, let’s talk about the ’80’s. If you’re a child of the ‘80’s, what things do you remember? What things have changed the most in the world? If that was long before your time, what have your parents shared about that time period?
After you leave a comment, give yourself a Christmas gift and hurry out to purchase Dan Walsh’s Remembering Christmas today.
27 Comments
We'd love to hear yours!
White Pearls by Shannon Taylor Vannatter
Shell doesn't have a good reputation...But no matter what everyone in Rose Bud, Arkansas, thinks of her, she's back in town with a job to do. She'll stick it out and make the best of things. But why does Ryler have to be the landscaper on this project? She was just getting her heart under control. Ryler has his own reasons for being in Rose Bud, and they don't include Shell. Spying on his birth family was going to be hard enough. He doesn't have time to worry about a woman who dumped him...even if his heart says otherwise. McKenzie’s Branson Brainteaser by Shari Barr
McKenzie and Sydney meet in Branson, Missouri, where McKenzie has been recruited to help at the Dixie Stampede. While the girls take in the sights and sounds of Silver Dollar City, they become involved in a search to find a teen girl’s long lost uncle–who is rumored to have settled near the Branson area. With no clue other than a whittled necklace with an “SS” on the back, how will they ever reunite Shara with her uncle? The Camp Club girls are on the case, and they’re not about to give up until they close the gap and reconnect Shara’s family.
The Prodigal Daughter by Linda Fulkerson
Ruled by despair, remorse, and anger, the author’s life had become a classic rendition of the cliché “What’s a nice girl like you doing in a place like this?” Desperate. Overwhelmed. Isolated. Trapped. She hit bottom.
On the elevator of life, those descending will all exit on different levels–some much lower than others. You don’t have to go all the way to the bottom. Stop now and push the “up” button. This book will show you how!
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November 21, 2011
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Kav said:
I’ve read this one and loved it. Just like his others. He really knows how to set a mood, doesn’t he? And his storytelling skills — sigh — beautifully paced with depth and meaning.
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November 21, 2011
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Dawn Ford said:
Starting my Christmas list today.
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November 21, 2011
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Brenda Anderson said:
Now you’ve got me in the singing mood, Lorna, but that doesn’t take much.
I’ve read Dan Walsh’s previous books & I’ve heard wonderful things about Remembering Christmas. It’s cover sets the perfect mood for reading doesn’t it?
The 80′s. O boy. Remember leg warmers? Big poofy hair? Loved the show FAME. Went to college. Got married.
Twins won the World Series. It was a great decade.
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November 21, 2011
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Kav said:
Whoopsie, I forgot to say that I enjoyed your unique twist to Christmas carols. We should keep that up all week long. LOL
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November 21, 2011
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Regina Merrick said:
This sounds great! I’ve wanted to read Dan’s books, and this one sounds like one I’d really love.
The 80′s? Graduated from high school, got married, worked at a bank, had my first child, started college (in that order!).
My most vivid memory of the 80′s? Shoulder pads. They made my waist look so TINY!
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna Seilstad said:
Kav, Dan is a master storyteller, and he’s a genuine and warm man, too.
Dawn, I wonder how many books you’ll end up with on that list by the end of next week.
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna Seilstad said:
Brenda, it’s the time of the year that puts most of us in a singing mood, I think. I just loved FAME! And poofy hair–oh yeah. I had my own Farrah style.
Shoulder pads, Regina! I’d forgotten about those. They did have a slendering effect, didn’t they.
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna Seilstad said:
Kav, I’m glad you liked the quirky songs. We’ll see if any of the other Inkspers follows suit.
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November 21, 2011
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Glenda Knapp Parker said:
I loved the songs. So cute! The “80″ I was not a child then. Two of my daughters got married in the “80″, I had four grandkids born, and I went back to college. It was a good time of my life. I look forward to reading Dan’s book.
Glenda Parker
http://glendaparkerfictionwriter.blogspot.com
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna said:
Good morning, Glenda! I hope the two weddings weren’t too close together. I know that can be extremely stressful. Did either of your daughters have a big puffy veil? I remember those well.
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November 21, 2011
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Dan Walsh said:
Hi Lorna, loved the songs and the review! So glad you enjoyed the book. Obviously don’t enter me for that slightly used copy of the book
. Just wanted to drop by and say hey.
Beyond the 80′s things I included in the book, on a personal note, our daughter was born (who’s now given us our first grandchild), and we moved into our first house, which we’re still living in (though we’ve fancied it up a bit, and just last year paid it off).
Just those 2 things remind me…the 80′s were like SO long ago.
Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving.
Dan
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna Seilstad said:
Dan, thanks for stopping by! And thank you for writing books that warm our hearts.
In the 80′s I graduated from high school and then from college. I met the man who would become my husband in 1990, too. One of my most vivid 80′s memories is the day the Challenger space shuttle exploded. I was in college at the student center and saw it happen on t.v.
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November 21, 2011
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Dan Walsh said:
I actually walked outside and saw the Challenger explosion from my front yard. We live 45 minutes north of the Cape. We can’t see the takeoffs, but rockets show up in the sky pretty well at about the 30 second mark. Something you never forget.
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November 21, 2011
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Wilma Metcalf said:
I love all of Dan’s books & especially this one. Would love to win it for a gift to a family member.
The biggest thing about the 80′s was our last child, out of 4, flew the nest & our first grandson was born to another son. Lots went on for us during that time.
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna Seilstad said:
Dan, that had to be an awful thing to witness. I’m sure it’s burned in your memory.
Wilma, the last one flew the nest? My second is heading off for college this year, but I still can’t imagine a time when all three are gone.
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November 21, 2011
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Judy Miller said:
Loved the post, Lori. Would be more fun if I could have heard you singing those new renditions of old time Christmas favorites–but I’m doing my best to imagine hearing your lovely voice.
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November 21, 2011
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Judy Burgi said:
I haven’t read anything by Dan yet. Remembering Christmas, is a book I must read.
I was married and had two children when the 80′s began. I had a 7 and a 5 year old. Batman was the rage and that is what my son wanted to be when he grew up. My daughter was into the Wonder Woman doll and anything to do with Holly Hobbie. I smile just thinking about both of my children back then! Now, they are 39 and 37 years of age. Where did the time go??
I would love to win a gently used copy of Dan’s book!
Blessings!
Judy B
judyjohn2004[at]yahoo[dot]com
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna Seilstad said:
Two Judys in a row! What a treat!
Judy M., glad you enjoyed the songs, but I’m not sure how lovely I’d sound today.
Judy B., you’d love Dan’s book. I remember Holly Hobbie. I was older when she became popular, but I do remember her. Did she have a Cabbage Patch doll, too?
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November 21, 2011
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Pam K. said:
In the 80s I was out of college and working my first real job. I bought my first VCR during this decade. Computers were not commonplace as they are now.
I’ve read one of Dan’s books and enjoyed it very much so would love to win “Remembering Christmas.”
Oh, I thought your poems were fun!
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November 21, 2011
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Lorna said:
Hi Pam! Thanks for stopping by. It’s hard to imagine a world without computers. My hubby had a Compaq computer and it had a screen that was about six inches wide and five inches tall. The rest of the computer was huge. Good luck on the drawing!
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November 21, 2011
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Marianne said:
Had to do a lot of thinking about what i did in the 80′s – had graduated by then, and had a couple of jobs (librarian for the community library, and TA for kindergarten), in the 80s i went to northern Alberta on a 6 month missionary stint (and decided nursing was NOT for me), took my first international trip, by car, most of the driving at night, to Michigan and stopped at Niagara Falls (and was it cold, i’ve never been back) i remember the Challenger explosion, no computers for me then yet! The 80s ended bad tho, cause my Dad was diagnosed with colon cancer.
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November 21, 2011
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Marianne said:
oh, i forgot to say i’d love to win the book. Thanks
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November 22, 2011
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Lorna said:
Marianne, sorry to hear about your dad’s diagonosis in the 80′s. My mother died of colon cancer in the 90′s.
You sound like that was a busy time for you! Good luck on the book drawing. You’d love it.
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November 22, 2011
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Stephanie Ludwig said:
Sounds like a great read and I’d love to be included in the drawing. I’ve heard lots of great things about Dan Walsh’s books!
Oh boy, do I feel young… I was a true child of the 80s, in that I was born in 1983 (ducking…please don’t throw things at me!). I don’t have a lot of memories of pop culture stuff because I was so young, but I remember watching in my kindergarten class the first space shuttle to launch AFTER Challenger blew up. Of course, I didn’t get the significance, I just thought we were watching a space launch.
I also remember my parents were really into ABBA and Barry Manilow (I still love ABBA!), which were really more 70s than 80s. Although I do remember dancing around as a little kid to vinyl records, and my parents telling me I could only do it in certain parts of the living room, because I was making the record skip!
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November 22, 2011
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Lorna said:
Stephanie, you’d love Dan’s books! And I won’t throw anything at you, but I graduated from high school in 1983.
What a great little ABBA memory! My favorite group was Air Supply, and yes, I had albums.
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November 23, 2011
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Judy Burgi said:
Lorna, yes my Daughter had a Cabbage Patch doll too! Those were the days! How I miss my children!
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November 30, 2011
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Jackie Smith said:
The 80′s??? Daughter graduated from high school, then college, then married. Busy years! I don’t know when I ever wanted a book so much as this one….I have tried local library and several books places and can’t find it….so sure hope I win this copy. I have read all his books and loved them!
jackie.smith[at]dishmail[dot]net