Christmas Gifts by Gail Gaymer Martin

Christmas Gifts

by Gail Gaymer Martin

Review by Heather Harden

I have a rule…no Christmas songs, decorations or fa-la-la-la-la fun until December. Over the last few years I’ve become a little fanatical about it as stores begin decorating in October. But when it comes to books from my favorite authors I’m more impatient than a child on Christmas morning. So when I got Gail Gaymer Martin‘s new Love Inspired release “Christmas Gifts” in the mail I started reading it immediately (even though Halloween hadn’t arrived.)

You’ll want to read this book anytime of the year-curled up by the fire in December or on the beach in July.

From the back cover

When seven-year-old twins act up in temporary teacher Amy Carroll’s class, she meets their very apologetic widowed father, Mike Russet. The handsome man has his hands full—but can two mini matchmakers and holiday cheer open his heart to Christmas romance?

Frazzled father Mike Russet is the man and the mom of the house. The widower is raising precocious seven-year-old twins Holly and Ivy.

Teacher Amy Carroll’s life is in upheaval. Budget cuts force her to leave her job in Chicago for a job in a small town. Even as she makes her new life she must deal with her baggage from the past.

Amy knows first hand what it’s liked to be raised by a single father. She sees a chance to help Mike give some tough love to the twins.

Mike sees beyond Amy’s beauty and hard shell.

The twins see a chance to help their favorite teacher find a permanent place in their school and in their daddy’s heart.

While Mike’s genuine faith challenges Amy to put the past to rest, Amy awakens feelings that the father thought he had buried with his wife.

The novel wraps up realism, romance, faith, and the magic of the season in one small package (It’s 110 pages and I read it in one sitting.) And “Christmas Gifts” keeps on giving with a bonus novel “Her Christmas Cowboy” by Brenda Minton.

I’m putting “Christmas Gifts” on my keeper shelf and I have a feeling I’ll be pulling it out this summer for a little Christmas in July!

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Heather Harden is a children’s librarian at a small town library in eastern North Carolina (where the kids make her feel like a super hero--just call her Library Girl.) She always has something in her hand: a book, a pen to write with, a crochet hook, a smartphone, chocolate--and a dust rag and broom when she must. She has worked for her local newspaper and as a freelance journalist. She has a heart for volunteer work in her community. Her favorite organization is Susan's Kids (www.susanskids.com), a Christian charity which provides spiritual and physical support for children in need across the world. For more reviews check her blog at http://ouradvocate.wordpress.com/

Some of the many books by Gail Gaymer Martin at Amazon.com

Donita K. Paul: Romantic Fantasy

CFBR: It is truly a pleasure to have you with us. You have three very different books coming out. Can you tell us a little about each?

Donita K. Paul: The first book, Dragons of the Valley, is the second book in my new fantasy series, The Chiril Chronicles. It continues where The Vanishing Sculptor ended. The main characters Tipper and Bealomondore fight in a war, are chased by a wicked bounty hunter, and grow in character and courage.
The Dragon and the Turtle is a children's book which I co-wrote with my daughter, Evangeline Denmark. Roger the turtle and Padraig the dragon become fast friends while on a quest to find the lost turtle's home.
The third book is Two Tickets to a Christmas Ball. This novella has eccentric characters, a romantic plot, and a touch of Christmas magic.

  

     

CFBR: Your covers and illustrations are some of the best we've seen, who does your artwork, and how did you connect with them?

Donita K. Paul: Mark Ford does the cover art for the Chiril Chronicles and the DragonKeeper Chronicles. WaterBrook commissioned him.

The illustrations inside The Vanishing Sculptor were drawn by Rachael Selk, one of my employees.
Vincent Nguyen created the illustrations for The Dragon and The Turtle. He was also commissioned by WaterBrook. Isn't Vincent fantastic? If you go to dragonandturtle.com and look under the creator page, you will find a link to more pictures by Vincent. They are fun to see.

CFBR: Are your stories more romance or more Fantasy?
Donita K. Paul: I started writing romance novels, but now I mostly write fantasy. Sometimes I will add a romantic subplot.

CFBR: What was your motivation to write a fantasy?
Donita K. Paul: I have to be truthful and admit it was done on a whim. I was not an ardent fantasy fan and, in fact, had not read much before I started. One June I had an infection in my leg and had to stay down with my foot elevated higher than my heart. The length of the ordeal was to be six weeks. I was bored in five minutes. My son brought me a fantasy series - nine hardbound books, each about 900 pages! When I finished them, I thought, "That was pretty cool." Nine months later, I decided I'd give fantasy a whirl just to see what happened.

CFBR: How do you use fiction to bring people closer to God?
Donita K. Paul: My aim is not to draw people closer to God. As my characters learn and grow, it reaffirms what I know, and hopefully provides the Holy Spirit an opportunity to work in readers' hearts.

CFBR: What role does Jerry B. Jenkins Christian Writers Guild, and American Christian Fiction Writers play in your success.
Donita K. Paul: They are excellent places to network with publishers, editors, agents. They also provide professional level craft classes. 

CFBR: Your website is loaded with fun things to do. Where do all the ideas come from for all the activities-games, recipes, etc? 
Donita K. Paul: I invent the recipes with the help of my daughter. We both love to cook. My grandsons help with quality control.

CFBR: What is on the horizon?
Donita K. Paul: I am currently finishing the last book in the Chiril Chronicles. After that? More picture books, more Christmas novellas, more dragons!

CFBR: Thank you so much for taking the time out of your busy schedule to share with us.
Donita K. Paul: Thank you for giving me an opportunity to share. It is certainly my pleasure.

Donita K. Paul retired early from teaching school, but soon got bored! The result: a determination to start a new career. Now she is an award-winning novelist writing Christian Romance and Fantasy. She says, “I feel blessed to be doing what I like best.”

She mentors all ages, teaching teenagers and weekly adult writing workshops.

Other books by Donita K. Paul