Jewels of the Quill Holiday Anthologies

SMALL GIFTS, A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology
TREASURES OF THE HEART, A Jewels of the Quill Valentine's Day Anthology
SHADOWS IN THE HEART, A Jewels of the Quill Halloween Anthology
CHRISTMAS WISHES, A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology
MAGICAL KISSES, A Jewels of the Quill Valentine's Day Anthology
HALLOWEEN TREASURES, A Jewels of the Quill Halloween Anthology
CHRISTMAS GEMS, A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology

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Christmas Wishes

(Cover art designed by Karen Wiesner)
CHRISTMAS WISHES
A Jewels of the Quill Christmas Anthology
Edited by Barbara Raffin, Jane Toombs
and Karen Wiesner
978-1-60313-258-9 (trade paperback);
978-1-60313-259-6 (electronic)
Available now from
Whiskey Creek Press
Paperback from Amazon.com
Download from Amazon.com
Download from BN.com

bestseller Whiskey Creek Press TOP TEN BESTSELLER LIST for sales in November and December 2008!

5 heart sweetheart Award nominee from The Romance Studio!

Rediscover the magic of Christmas!

SIX JEWELS OF THE QUILL AUTHORS offer exciting holiday stories--each featuring a wish, possibly small, but straight from the heart!

A collection of Christmas stories for readers to enjoy this holiday season...or any day of the year!

Little Cat Feet {YA fantasy} by Margaret L. Carter (Dame Onyx): In this tale inspired by the legend that animals can speak on Christmas Eve, a teenage runaway on the streets saves a stray cat from abuse. The cat helps her in return.

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Men of Moonstone Logo All She Wore Was A Bow (Men of Moonstone Series, Book 2) {humorous contemporary romance} by Christine DeSmet (Dame Moonstone): They're tall as the oaks, bold as the bulls they've ridden in rodeos, and they don't talk about the past. They're three buddies who’ve seen the worst the world has to dish out. One by one, they ride into Moonstone for missions impossible and women improbable.

Kincaid "Kade" Hunter rocked the rodeo world with a record-breaking bull ride in Las Vegas, Nevada. He's a rising star! He grew up wild and willing to try just about anything--except marriage. But when he comes to Moonstone at Christmas-time to save his friend John "Bozeman" Hall from marrying what looks like the wrong woman, Kade meets with interference extraordinaire: Gloria Gibson, the wedding planner from Hell. Gloria has her own ideas about where to hang mistletoe and what or who Kade should be riding to glory.

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Sapphire Palace Logo Annie's Outlaw (Sapphire Palace Series, Book 2) {romantic historical/old west} by Nancy Pirri (Dame Sapphire): Outlaw Cane Smith arrives in Bozeman, Montana, released after serving several years' time in a Texas prison for a crime he didn't commit. He'd led a hard life as a cowboy, herding cattle from Texas to Montana for years, until he was accused of robbing a train. Living behind bars in Texas has changed him--especially when he discovers he's a father. On one of his cattle drives, he'd spent a few nights in a Bozeman brothel, where he met and fell in love with one of the prostitutes. When he learns the woman was killed but left behind his child, Cane resolves to prove his innocence. A year later, Cane arrives in town to claim his son, who's been adopted by successful rancher, Tom Callahan.

Tom can't fault Cane for wanting to claim his son, but has his own daughter, Annie, to deal with. Annie Callahan works at The Sapphire Palace, and she's helped her father raise the small boy she named Mark. After all this time, she can't give him up. He's a Callahan.

Cane, who's been longing for a love and home of his own, has a solution: Miss Annie will have to marry him if she wants to keep Mark in her life.

Annie will do anything to keep her little boy with her--but can she live with the hard, rough Cane Smith?

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North of Nonesuch Series Logo Are You Listening? (North of Nonesuch Series, Book 6) {YA paranormal} by Jane Toombs (Dame Turquoise): A six-year-old's wish to have her daddy back for Christmas uncovers a dark secret.

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Kaleidoscope Series Logo Perfect Cadence (Kaleidoscope Series, Book 1) {contemporary romance} by Karen Wiesner (Dame Amethyst): Kaleidoscope Office Building provides employment to nine hot, young singles--all about to make a love connection. Working 9 to 5 has never been so complicated...or so much fun!

Thirty-year-old Keri Woods has had it with her no-commitment, no-way boyfriend Rob. Planning to get her head on straight, she accepts her boss Angela's offer to use the Lewis family's cabin for a two-week skiing vacation over the Christmas holiday. Little does Keri realize that her boss's cousin, Joshua Lewis, is already occupying the very same cabin at the very same time.

Ten years earlier, Keri and Joshua had shared a single, unforgettable day and night together that ended with a kiss that left them both desperately smitten. Yet Joshua's life had been too complicated. At only twenty-six, he'd realized that there could be no long-distance, long-term relationship between them. He hadn't been ready to have his whole life happen to him at once. His decision to leave and never see her again had come back to bite him in the butt. For years after confiding to his closest friend Dandy--the foreman on his father's cattle ranch in Fever, Texas and the true father figure in his life--Joshua had had to listen to the old man encourage and berate him for not following his heart with Keri Woods.

Joshua has come to the family cabin after the recent death of Dandy, who'd made him promise to return to the cabin to "mend old regrets." The last thing Joshua expects to find is the drop-dead beautiful woman he'd regretted abandoning a decade earlier naked in his bed.

Unbeknownst to either of them, Dandy and Angela had schemed to make all of Joshua and Keri's Christmas wishes come true.

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Christmas Faith {inspirational romance} by Karen Woods (Dame Coral): Faith Caldwell finds her name to be a joke. Faith? Not her. Not when everyone she's ever loved has been cruelly taken from her. What kind of loving God lets people suffer like that? The veterinarian wants nothing to do with the God she grew up trusting implicitly. So, when the new neighbor happens to be a widowed minister with a houseful of kids, Faith tries to be civil but distant. But none of the Hendersons--from little Clara to "Father Ed" in the Anglican collar--understand civil or distant. Ed helps her to realize God still loves her, but can reborn faith heal her scars?

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Reviews for CHRISTMAS WISHES:

5 Hearts! "This anthology offered the best of the best by the Jewels of the Quill group of authors. The six stories were as diverse as the writers themselves. There was so much fabulous reading enjoyment in this anthology that I could not read it fast enough. These women offer some of this era's greatest writings. However, this seemed to be above and beyond the levels I have come to expect. The characters were spectacular, the storylines enthralling, and the actions by even the lesser characters was spell-binding. I loved each of these stories, even those which are not my favorite genres. I loved the books and am thrilled to be able to read/review them. Kudos to the authors. I highly recommend this anthology to everyone. You will definitely not be disappointed. I guarantee it." ~Brenda Talley for The Romance Studio http://theromancestudio.com/reviews/reviews/christmaswisheswcpantho.htm

5 Wings! “In these five heart warming stories of Christmas, no matter the temperature or season outside, this book will keep warm with Christmas cheer. These five delightful reads give you a wonderful sense of family, relationships, and the joy of the season as you read them. They are wonderfully paced stories that flow from one to the other, keeping the rhythm at an easy cadence. I enjoyed all of these stories, reading about the NFR in All She Wore was a Bow was a fun laugh as I deal with it every year, and animals talking to those that listen on Christmas Eve (in Little Cat Feet) is a wonderful thought. Perfect Cadence had a perfect middle story cadence as you watched Joshua and Keri find their way back to each other. Are You Listening? is a delightful tale of Christmas hope and family love in the cold Upper Michigan, but going back to the 1800's Bozeman, WY, for the last story tied the anthology up and ended the book on a deep sigh. Each story makes you want to pick up the rest of the author's books, especially any that are part of a series. While each are read easily alone, they do make you want to see what other patterns have been woven into the quilt of these towns. I give this book an high 5 wings and recommend to anybody looking for a uplifting book to read anytime of year.” ~Melissa for Classic Romance Revival http://www.classicromancerevival.com/component/resource/article/crr-reviews/27-anthology/101-christmas-wishes-jewels-of-the-quill.html

5 Stars! "An anthology filled with Christmas love... All She Wore Was A Bow by Christine DeSmet: Christine DeSmet does it again. She never disappoints her numerous fans. This story will keep readers laughing and wishing for their own cowboy. Little Cat Feet by Margaret L. Carter: This was probably my favorite story. I love cats. Lauren's story is heart warming, especially knowing that it is true for many teens. Christmas Faith by Karen Woods: What a beautiful story. This story captures the spirit of Christmas. Perfect Cadence by Karen Wiesner: What could make a better story than a cabin and an old flame? Karen Wiesner is a talented author; I always look forward to her art. Are You Listening? by Jane Toombs: This is a unique story from an author that pens distinctive YA paranormal stories. It is sure to be a big hit with teens. Annie's Outlaw by Nancy Pirri: An endearing romance. The six stories in CHRISTMAS WISHES are sure to be cherished favorites. Each story centers on Christmas and a wish or need. Pirri, Wiesner, Toombs, Woods, Carter and DeSmet make a formidable team of authors. Each brings their own unique perspective [to this Jewels of the Quill holiday collection]. While this anthology is filled with love, it is not all romance. Thank you, ladies, for another good read." ~Debra Gaynor for ReviewYourBook.com http://www.reviewyourbook.com/review.cfm?reviewid=608

4 1/2 Pixies! "A delightfully diverse collection, the Jewels of the Quill's CHRISTMAS WISHES Anthology is sure to delight readers of many tastes and fans of these special authors. Six talented ladies take on the task of spinning Christmas cheer to Jewels of the Quill fans; each offer delectable morsels for the reader's imagination as their hopeful and optimistic approach to happy endings brings joy and the glory of the Christmas spirit straight to readers' hearts. From fantasy and the Old West to paranormal, inspirational, and humorous contemporary, all with a powerful helping of romance, tension, and the proverbial happy endings, the Jewels of the Quill Dames delight and titillate with scrumptious holiday offerings to fill any reading table. Although designed for Christmas on the theme of the Christmas Wish, these stories can be enjoyably sampled in any season. Margaret Carter's Little Cat Feet examines the different nature of animals at the holiday season, and proves that charity does indeed have its own reward. Christine DeSmet's All She Wore Was A Bow is part of the author's Men of Moonstone Series: rodeo star conflicts with wedding planner--all in the name of male friendship--and oh, do the sparks fly! Annie's Outlaw from Nancy Pirri's Sapphire Palace Series is a touching and heartwarming Old West romance. Jane Toombs' Are You Listening? from her North of Nonesuch Series is a spooky and difficult-to-forget family tale of the paranormal with many unexpected twists and revelations. Perfect Cadence is from prolific author Karen Wiesner's Kaleidoscope Series and looks at young singles working in the same office building, whose Christmas plans turn topsy turvy. Christmas Faith, a heartbreaking yet wholly optimistic inspirational romance from Karen Woods, works on many semantic levels. This story will linger in the reader's mind for a long time to come." ~Frost for Dark Angel Reviews https://www.darkangelreviews.com/Christmas_Wishes.html

4 1/2 Books! "The Jewels—Dame Moonstone, Dame Onyx, Dame Coral, Dame Amethyst, Dame Turquoise, Dame Sapphire--give us six stories that fit many different moods of the Christmas holiday season. All of them leave us with that good feeling that things do come right even if it does take longer than we plan at times. All She Wore Was a Bow by Christine DeSmet takes us back to Moonstone, Wisconsin, a quaint little village where unusual things happen. The humor and the love that shines through in this poignant tale far outweigh the confusion. The lasting, real joys of life rather than the fleeting excitement of casual sex and fast money are revealed in loving and subtle ways that leave the reader with an affirmation of the good in humanity. It also reminds us we need to find a place to get away and "listen to the quiet" to find our center when things are hectic. Little Cat Feet by Margaret L. Carter is a young adult paranormal story that touched my heart even though I'm long past young adult status. I grew up on fairy tales, fables, and folklore so, of course, I believe animals talk on Christmas Eve just like the tabby named Pumpkin talks to Lauren. When a confused, unhappy, scared teenager and a talking cat get together and conspire, good things come out of bad circumstances. This is a delightful tale. Good reading! Christmas Faith by Karen Woods is an inspirational story that tells us that even though we stop loving God, He does not stop loving us. Christmas Faith is a story of love on many levels--family, friends, and lovers. Some of the secondary characters are treasures, especially little Clara who brings joy to the heart. Karen Woods uses some quotes from the Bible and the 1928 Book of Common Prayer that bring comfort in a troubled world. This is a story to be enjoyed more than once. Perfect Cadence by Karen Wiesner is from her Kaleidoscope Series, Book 1. These two extremely independent people have lots of stumbling starts before they find their way in this emotion called love that they are both rather leery of. Josh's cat, Leonardo the Maine coon, tries to help in his own special way. Are You Listening? by Jane Toombs is a paranormal story that made me shiver. Twelve-year-old Rico grows up in a hurry when his three-year-old sister Holly goes missing. The things he comes to realize about his father and himself make a gripping story. Annie's Outlaw by Nancy Pirri is part of her Sapphire Palace Series, Book 2. As the characters try to untangle the emotional web that has them all on edge, the reader sees distinct personalities emerge. Personalities that create tension, doubt, and love as the story unfolds. This is a story to read on a cold, stormy night while being thankful for the warmth and comfort of home. Romantic love and family love shine like stars on a cold clear night in Annie's Outlaw. What a happy-ever-after! CHRISTMAS WISHES is an anthology for the keeper shelf of your library." ~Camellia for The Long And The Short Of It Reviews http://www.longandshortreviews.com/LASR/1208/ChristmasWishes-AN.htm

4.25 Fangs! “If you love Christmas stories this book is one to keep on your shelves. You'll want to pull it out every year and cuddle up by the fireplace with a hot cup of cocoa while reading (if you don't have a fireplace snuggle up in your favorite blanket like I do, imagining a fireplace in front of me). All She Wore Was a Bow by Christine DeSmet is a warm holiday tale filled with sweet romance and holiday surprises. I loved the setting and characters. Little Cat Feet by Margaret L. Carter is a quick read that shows us holiday miracles do exist. Christmas Faith by Karen Woods confronts pain and the power of healing in her story of faith, understanding and love. Perfect Cadence by Karen Wiesner is a story of second chances, a tale of the one that got away being found again. I loved the setting--a perfect winter romance set in a cabin in the mountains. Are You Listening? by Jane Toombs is a wonderful little paranormal Christmas story. It was a nice surprise to find a paranormal among the contemporary romances. Annie's Outlaw by Nancy Pirri is another story with the hint of the supernatural mingled in. Set in the old west we see how important family is during the holidays and that anyone--not just those bound by blood can be family. This sweet Christmas anthology has a great variety of stories: romance, humor, holiday cheer and even a touch of the supernatural blended in. I loved each story and delighted in the different genres and themes. This is a book I would like to revisit each year to add a little more holiday spirit to the season.” ~Fang-tastic Books http://fang-tasticbooks.blogspot.com/2010/12/review-of-christma-wishes-jewels-of.html

4 Cups! "All She Wore Was a Bow by Christine DeSmet: Sweet and warm as hot cocoa by a cracking fire on a snowy Wisconsin Sunday. Christine DeSmet has penned a delicious little romance you can wrap yourself up with. Loved the setting, loved the characters, and loved her delightful tale of holiday surprises. Little Cat Feet by Margaret L. Carter: Ms. Carter gives us a short little gem that reminds us miracles can come from the most unlikely sources. We just need to open our eyes and ears and appreciate them when they come along. Christmas Faith by Karen Woods: In a very honest look at pain and the power of healing, Karen Woods exposes her characters' flaws to the light of love and understanding. Her story seems to be a tableau written from an inspired heart, her message universally relevant. Perfect Cadence by Karen Wiesner: A warm and hopeful tale of true love lost and found again, this story made me want to book a mountain cabin with my own true love, my own Perfect Cadence. Of course, like Keri, I would let him do the cooking and wood chopping. Are You Listening? by Jane Toombs: A happy paranormal Christmas can be found in this Jane Toombs' short story. I liked Rico and his relationship with his baby sister and the resolution was satisfying. Annie's Outlaw by Nancy Pirri: A sweet and slightly supernatural story set in the old west, Ms. Pirri's tale shows that love for a child can turn strangers into family, and family into the greatest Christmas gift of all. This anthology has variety, humor, romance, and some old fashioned holiday cheer for flavor. I liked the individual stories, differing genres, and hopeful themes. A good, light seasonal read, Christmas Wishes had me looking for my fireplace and hot cocoa." ~Heather for Coffee Time Romance http://www.coffeetimeromance.com

"First up in this Christmas collection is All She Wore Was a Bow by Christine DeSmet. You won't need to read the first book to enjoy this romance. This is a contemporary love story with some humor and a lot of Christmas. The characters are easy to warm to and the story is a little over the top but it hits the spot. Margaret L. Carter is next up in the anthology with a Young Adult story called Little Cat Feet. This is a short but sweet story that any reader will enjoy. Magical, inspiring and full of moral, this is the kind of tale that shows what the festive season is really about. Christmas Faith by Karen Woods is up next. This was nicely written and had a nice ending. Karen Wiesner carries on this collection with her story Perfect Cadence. Matchmaking can be fun, and it can work which this story proves. A typical romance with nice characters, this will leave any reader of this genre satisfied and wanting more. And there will be more...the next story in this series will be out for the Valentine's anthology. The next story is another Young Adult tale called Are You Listening? by Jane Toombs. This lovely paranormal story was a nice breath of fresh air to the collection. Although short, it makes an impression and reads like a modern day Christmas fairy tale. The last story in this Christmas collection is Annie's Outlaw by Nancy Pirri. This historical romance is set in the 1880's. With some nice characters and an interesting story, this story added something different to the collection and gave it a nice ending. This anthology will definitely get any reader into the Christmas spirit. With so many different genres covered, there is something for everyone. With most of the stories being part of a series, this collection gives the reader the chance to try out an array of authors and find some future reading material." ~Anne Marie Chalmers for Front Street Reviews http://www.frontstreetreviews.com/

"The six Quill contributions cover several genres to include young adult, but share in common an interesting and uplifting jewel of a holiday theme." ~Harriet Klausner http://genregoroundreviews.blogspot.com/2008/09/christmas-wishes-jewels-of-quill.html

"Six Jewels of the Quill authors join forces for a Christmas collection. The stories are family oriented and heartwarming..." ~Barb Anderson for RT Book Reviews

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