Review and Giveaway: An Aussie Summer Christmas

I was thrilled when Narelle Atkins approached me with news of a secret Aussie project--a box set of romance novellas set in Australia in summer. I understand a summer Christmas is something most English-speaking people find odd. A little foreign, perhaps.

Well, that's kind of the point. These six authors wanted to introduce readers to Christmas Down Under, Aussie style. No snow, just sun, sand, and barbies on the beach. And a bunch of Aussie accents.

Yes, I'm a little biased. This collection features stories from some of my favourite authors. I edited each of the novellas in the collection, and I consider several of the authors personal friends (the others are the authors I haven't met yet, who are are friends-to-be!).

This collection is a great opportunity to try out some new authors, or read the latest from some of your favourite Aussie (and other) authors. Aussies and Kiwis will enjoy the familiar Down Under lifestyle, and our nothern neighbours can get a taste of what they are missing as they cuddle under their quilts and escape the winter.

Giveaway

Click here if you'd like the chance to win a Kindle copy of An Aussie Summer Christmas!

Melbourne Memories by Marion Ueckermann

Justin Taylor escapes London in an attempt to outrun his pre-Christian past. He comes to Melbourne and befriends barista and cupcake maestro Ella Anderson ... and I so want to visit her coffee shop! Melbourne is well known for the cafe culture, and this novella got it spot on.

I lived in London for ten years and got to experience what many would call a "proper" Christmas (although they were more sludge-grey than white). It was great to revisit London, and to see a different side of Melbourne (a city I've visited only too briefly). This was a standalone story, a lovely romance with a touch of suspense and a strong Christian message.

You can find out more about Marion at her website.

Next Door Santa by Lacy Williams

Lacy Williams is American, and I have no idea if she's ever experienced my idea of a proper Christmas (i.e. SUMMER). No matter. She's done a great job in Next Door Santa, which introduces us to neighbours Christmas-obsessed Bridie, and no-complications workaholic Will. And a dog.

This is standalone romance from Lacy Williams. You can find out more about Lacy at her website.

Seaside Christmas by Narelle Atkins

Political advisor Gus Donovan is reintroduced to Chelsea Somers, the girl he never called back after their one and only date. He's become a Christian since then, and reevaluated what he wants out of life. But will Chelsea see eye to eye with him?

I'm not big into politics (and watching the US election from afar merely reinforces my stuck-in-the-mud views). But even I was sold on Gus as the reformed bad boy turned rising political star ... and yet I could still see why Chelsea hesitated. Enjoyable, if a little more thought-provoking than is normal for short Christian romances.

Seaside Christmas is part of Narelle's Sydney Sweethearts series, but can easily be read as a standalone. You can find out more about Narelle at her website.

A Christmas Resolution by Rose Dee

I've always enjoyed Rose's trademark style: Christian romance with a touch of edgy suspense balanced out by a good dose of Aussie humour, and with a definite emphasis on the Christian. A Christmas Resolution is no exception.

Breeah is back in her childhood home of Kiisay Point ... and face-to-face with her past. Face-to-face with her boyfriend of ten years ago, and his brother--once her best friend. A Christmas Resolution is a great story of reconcilliation and restoration ... and light suspense.

A Christmas Resolution is the final story in Rose's Resolution series, but can easily be read as a standalone. You can find out more about Rose at her website.

All is Bright by Andrea Grigg

All is Bright is the story of good, Christian Amy, whose only fault is that she's been in love with her brother-in-law for the best part of a decade. For his part, Josh has finally over the death of his wife and considering looking for love again. But he's never considered Amy ...

This could be a morose or even cringey plot, but it isn't. Andrea Grigg tackles it with her trademark blend of Aussie and Kiwi humour, and the result is a fun romantic comedy read.

All is Bright is a standalone novella, although fans might notice a couple of characters from Andrea's first novel, A Simple Mistake.

Falling for Maddie Grace

Maddie Grace is the first female professional umpire in Aussie Rules (a football game. It won't surprise you to learn it's unique to Australia). Although she won't be a ref for much longer if she can't control the rumours about her and a certain player after an on-field accident ...

I am not a football fan. No matter what you call it: soccer, rugby, league, American football, Aussie Rules ... I'd rather read a book. Yet Meredith actually managed to convince me it might be fun to watch a game of Aussie Rules (shhh! Don't tell my husband!). This was an excellent novella, with two likeable Christians falling for each other while trying not to.

Falling for Maddie Grace is a standalone novella, although I'm sure Meredith can redeem a few of the other boys on the team and come up with a sequel (hint, hint). You can find out more about Meredith at her website.

Review: Glasgow Grace by Marion Ueckermann

Enjoyable Scottish Romance

Amazon Description

Opera singer, Skye Hunter, returns to the land of her birth as leading lady in Phantom of the Opera. This is her first trip back to bonnie Scotland since her mother whisked her away to Australia after Skye’s father died sixteen years ago.When Skye decides to have dinner at McGuire’s, she’s not going there only for Mary McGuire’s shepherd’s pie. Her first and only love, Callum McGuire, still plays his guitar and sings at the family-owned tavern.

Callum has never stopped loving Skye. Desperate to know if she’s changed under her mother’s influence, he keeps his real profession hidden. Would she want him if he was still a singer in a pub? But when Skye’s worst nightmare comes true, Callum reveals his secret to save the woman he loves. Can Skye and Callum rekindle what they lost, or will her mother threaten their future together once again?

My Review

I’ve never quite understood the American fascination with Scotsmen, from Diana Gabaldon in the general market with Outlander (Crossstitch in the UK), Carla Laureano with Five Days in Skye in the Christian market, and Nick Hawkes with The Celtic Stone representing the Australian market. The Scotsmen I've met have all been very nice men, but nothing swoonworthy. Next you’re going to expect me to believe not all Navy SEALS are perfect Christian gentlemen, and not all cowboys are salt-of-the-earth types.

I also don't get how Callum and Skye two hadn’t reconnected online before now, if they really had that level of connection as teens. My teenage daughter Snapchats Every. Single. Day. with one of her friends from primary school in London, a boy she hasn’t seen for nine years. Yes, I get that Facebook and Snapchat didn’t exist sixteen years ago, but there was still email and internet chat rooms and FriendsReunited (mostly a UK site, but hey! this is set in Scotland which is still part of the UK. Although they might be rethinking that after Brexit). Robin Jones Gunn utilised internet chat rooms to in Echoes in 1995). Of course, it’s possible my teen isn’t normal …

So, leaving aside my lack of appreciation for the dark and cold northern land, and Skye and Callum’s lack of ability to utilise modern technology to stalk reconnect with old friends … Yes, this was a great romance novella.

I’m not always a fan of romance novellas where complete strangers meet and fall in love in a handful of pages. I prefer novellas like Glasgow Grace, where the characters have some kind of history to build on—it makes it seem more realistic to me. So I did enjoy that aspect of the story.

I also loved both Callum and Skye. Skye was perhaps a little naïve and innocent, but that’s not a bad thing. Callum was everything a hero should be—I might not see the fascination with Scotsmen, but I can certainly see the fascination with men who can sing. And play guitar. Especially at the same time. Swoon.

So the characters were great, the writing was good, and the plot was a perfect mix of predictable and unpredictable (hey, this is romance. There are certain things we expect as readers, and Glasgow Grace delivered with sleighbells. Okay, perhaps no sleighbells. But plenty of winter magic.)

Recommended for anyone who likes contemporary Christian romance in a non-US setting. Especially those who love Scotland and Scotsmen.

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

You can find out more about Marion Ueckermann at her website (http://www.marionueckermann.net/), and you can read the introduction to Glasgow Grace below:

Review: Love Blossoms Box Set

Seven Lovely Novellas

From Amazon:

Seven contemporary Christian romances for your springtime reading pleasure from your favorite authors:

A Handful of Flowers (The Callaghans & McFaddens Book 1) by Kimberly Rae Jordan

They had a deal. She’d watch his kids, and he’d do the repairs on her aging home. Neither wanted anything more, but sometimes God has a different plan.

The Bridesmaid’s Hero (A Snowgum Creek Novella) by Narelle Atkins

Serena Blaxland’s job at her parents’ B&B in Snowgum Creek, Australia, is only temporary. Sparks fly when hire car driver Harry Westmore saves the beautiful pastry chef from disrupting her sister’s wedding day, but the opportunity of a lifetime threatens to push them apart. Can Harry and Serena’s love and faith overcome the obstacles in their path?

A Lesson in Love (The Macleans Book 3) by Autumn MacArthur

Love can make life complicated! Sports teachers Fraser Maclean and Sarah Browne have worked together all year, but when a garden project for their church brings them together outside of school, everything changes. Can they learn God’s lessons in love, or will secrets and fear keep them apart?

Spring at the Barncastle by Lynette Sowell

After a career disaster, Sadie Barncastle finds herself in rural Vermont, starting over and opening up a shop at the family inn. She meets up with an old friend from childhood, Peter Appleman, a widower next door with a precocious daughter. But Sadie's not sure if life in the Green Mountains is for her and feels the call of Boston drawing her. Peter, however, is drawn to Sadie but isn't quite sure if he's ready to move on yet. As Easter approaches, a time of forgiveness, restoration, and joy, the two realize that it's also a time for new beginnings, but does that include with each other?

Walk You There (Savannah Sweethearts Book 5) by Jan Thompson

A local tour guide who makes a living off Savannah history goes to battle against an award-winning developer who wants to demolish the old city block she lives in.

A Match for Magnolia (Seven Suitors for Seven Sisters Book 1) by Marion Ueckermann

Magnolia Blume’s life is perfect, except for one thing—Davis Rathbone is everything she’s not looking for in a man.

Spring Break (Seasons of the Heart Novella Series) by Susette Williams

Kelly Sanders volunteers at an orphanage and loves working with children—even if they can be a bit mischievous at times. Marc Stevenson is used to fighting fires, not rescuing damsels in distress out of trees. He thinks Kelly would be perfect for him, except for that one flaw. How does a man, with visions of children, fill a nest that’s sure to be empty if he spends it with the woman he loves? 
Will some munchkins playing matchmaker be able to bring Kelly and Marc together? Or will love’s ember never have the chance to be ignited?

My Review

Okay, I’m slow. I’d wondered why this box set was called Love Blossoms. There was the obvious: that each of the stories has a flower or garden theme. But I’ve only just realised that it’s also around spring blossoms, because it’s coming into spring in the Northern Hemisphere. Duh. It’s high summer here. Spring is almost a year away.

Anyway, onto the stories.

Several of the novellas were part of a series, although all were effective standalone stories (although after reading them, you might just want to check out more in the series).

I think my favourite story was A Lesson in Love. It’s the third Autumn MacArthur novella I’ve read, and her writing is getting better and better. I loved the way she dealt with a sensitive topic, and the way both her characters had a strong Christian faith and allowed God to speak to them.

The Bridesmaid’s Hero was a fun Aussie story from Narelle Atkins (although I come from a snake-free country so could have done without that opening!) with two characters who have to decide if their attraction and common faith is enough to overcome the obstacles in their way.

A Match for Magnolia was a lot of fun, especially the idea of seven daughters all named after flowers. This looks like being a fun series, as does the oversized modern Brady Bunch introduced in A Handful of Flowers. Spring at the Barncastle was a sweet romance set on a maple syrup farm (I would have liked a taste!), and Walk You There was the perfect combination of sweet and bittersweet. Finally, Spring Break: a lovely story, and my only complaint with Spring Break was that it was all over too quickly.

Overall, an enjoyable set of romance novellas, perfect for long summer days (or long winter nights).

Thanks to the authors for providing a free ebook for review.

Review: Oslo Overture by Marion Ueckermann

Sheppard meets Angel

Anjelica Joergensen—Angel—is one of the few females in the male-dominated world of professional wingsuit flyers. Not only is it a dangerous occupation, it’s one which attracts daredevils with too little thought for safety. She’s lost her heart to a fellow wingsuiter once before, and isn’t going to make the same mistake twice.

Kyle Sheppard has travelled all the way from New Zealand to Norway with his wingsuit team to participate in a record-setting jump as part of Norway’s National Day celebrations. He immediately gets off on the wrong foot with the pretty wingsuiter, which is unfortunate as he is attracted to her. But he’s not interested in anyone who doesn’t share his Christian faith, and she doesn’t seem to be interested in him, either …

It’s great to see a Kiwi character in a Christian novel, especially one who is recognisably Kiwi without being cliché. Some might see the team performing the haka as cliché, but who’s going to argue with men performing a war dance, especially when the translation—it is death, it is life—is so apt for those participating in such a dangerous sport. For those of you who have never seen a haka performed, get thee to an All Black test … or visit YouTube.

It’s also great to see fictional women in unusual surroundings and occupations, and to see two characters for whom the Christian faith is a lifestyle, not something to be mentioned once or twice to qualify them for the Christian bookstore (sorry, but I’m getting a little tired of “Christian” novels which aren’t. If they aren’t, that’s fine. Just don’t publish them as Christian novels. Sorry. Rant over).

The main characters were likeable, and I wanted them to get together right from the start. There were also some good minor characters, especially Eric and Luke, and I’d like to see more of them … (hint, hint). The writing is strong, and the novella was an enjoyable if brief break from daily life.

There are a couple of characters in Olso Overtures who were in Marian Ueckermann’s previous novella, Helsinki Sunrise, but the two novellas are standalone stories (I haven’t read Helsinki Sunrise, but am tempted to add it to my ever-growing to-read pile. I’m told self-control is a virtue. When it comes to books, it’s not a virtue I possess).

I’m always a sucker for a good romance, especially one with an out-of-the-ordinary setting, and Oslo Overtures ticks all the boxes for what I think a Christian romance should be. Recommended for those who like extreme sports and exotic locations (whether participating and visiting in real life or vicariously through fiction!).

Thanks to the author for providing a free ebook for review.

This counts towards my 2015 Reading Challenge as a book set in another country. Yes, most books I read are set in another country but I figured Norway was a whole lot more exotic than my usual US/UK literary destinations!

Friday Fifteen: Marion Ueckermann

Friday Fifteen: Fifteen books which have influenced your life or your writing. Today, a warm welcome to Marion Ueckermann, who was part of the SPLASH! novella collection, which I recently reviewed.


Welcome, Marian!

1 & 2. Francine Rivers and Liz Curtis Higgs

I love not only these two women’s writing style, but the kind of stories they write, too. They have definitely influenced the way I put words together.

3. Mary DeMuth

I’ve loved reading Mary’s books. It was a great blessing to attend a writers’ mini-conference she hosted in South Africa and to be inspired by her.

4. Brandilyn Collins

Brandilyn's road to publication has been an encouragement and inspiration to my own publishing journey. She’s a great writer and her Seatbelt Suspense stories are always hard to put down.

5-8. Max Lucado, Gene Edwards, Ted Dekker & Frank Peretti

The first Christian story I read, were penned by these gents. They instilled a passion in me for reading Christian fiction. Max Lucado's books are not only great reads, but have so much wisdom for daily living.

9. Eric Wilson

When I first started writing, Eric took the time to give me advice. He's one of my favorite authors to read.

10. Nicholas Sparks

Yes, I do read secular from time to time, and when I do, I'll turn to a Nicholas Sparks romance for an enjoyable escape.

11. Shirley Corder (Strength Renewed)

Shirley has been a resounding voice of caution and mentorship for many years.

12. Judith Robl (As Grandma Says)

Judith is another wonderfully sweet voice of encouragement, and one that's always ready to Beta read my manuscripts.

13. Nancy Kimball (Chasing the Lion)

Through critique and praise, this amazing author has pushed me to strive for perfection in my writing. I thank her for every positive and negative response. I'm a huge fan of her work, too, and cannot wait for the next release in her series.

14. Valerie Comer (Farm Fresh Romance)

Working with Valerie on the SPLASH! boxed set has been nothing short of amazing. She has so much knowledge to impart, and does so eagerly. Her influence has definitely steered this publishing road I'm on into a direction I'd never dreamed of.

15. Heidi McCahan (Unraveled & Covering Home)

As one of my critique partners, Heidi plays almost a daily role in my life, encouraging, advising, and strengthening my writing. Heidi is an awesome writer and I relish getting her weekly subs in my mail box.

Thank you, Iola, for the opportunity to take fifteen minutes to reflect on fifteen authors who have influenced me in some way. I really enjoyed giving thought to this. I definitely could have added more names to the list.

About Marion Ueckermann

Marion Ueckermann’s passion for writing was sparked in 2001 when she moved to Ireland with her husband and two sons. Since then she has published devotional articles and stories in Winners, The One Year Devotional of Joy and Laughter, Chicken Soup for the Soul: Miraculous Messages from Heaven. Published novellas include Helsinki Sunrise and Oslo Overtures (August 2015) from White Rose Publishing (Pelican Book Group, Passport to Romance series), and Orphaned Hearts. Marion loves writing contemporary inspirational romances set in novel places. She lives in South Africa in an empty nest with her husband and their crazy black Scottie, Wally.

Website: http://marionueckermann.com/
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