Welcome to the Blog + Review Tour for A Weary World Rejoices by Stacy Monson, Eleanor Bertin, Johnnie Alexander, Angela D. Meyer, and Sara Davison, hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours!
About the Book
Title: A Weary World Rejoices
Series: A Mosaic Christmas Anthology VI
Authors: Stacy Monson, Eleanor Bertin, Johnnie Alexander, Angela D. Meyer, Sara Davison
Publisher: The Mosaic Collection, LLC
Release Date: October 16, 2024
Genre: Christian Christmas anthology
With nothing going as planned, will Christmas be a complete disaster this year?
The people in these stories are tired, weighed down by the struggles and cares of life. In the midst of their challenging situations, each receives an unexpected letter.
The Christmas Kiss – Stacy Monson
Unremarkable Sue – Eleanor Bertin
Love, Christmas – Johnnie Alexander
Gifting Christmas – Angela D. Meyer
The Back Door Christmas Tour Company – Sara Davison
Songs like "O Holy Night"are filling the airwaves and promising hope for a weary world, but what will it take for the men and women in these stories to experience true joy this Christmas?
A Weary World Rejoices is a collection of five stories about discovering joy in the midst of life's challenges—at Christmas and every day of the year.
PURCHASE LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | BookBub
Also Available
Excerpt from The Christmas Kiss by Stacy Monson
He savored her blush as much as the fudge mixture until her foot tapped out a clear message. He set the spoon down. “Okay, sooo…it’s very…what’s the word…chocolatey.”
She rolled her eyes. “I sure can’t fool you. What else do you taste?”
“Coffee. And…cream. Like a cappuccino.”
“How’s the flavor balance?”
“Depends on what you’re looking for. It’s fine with the stronger coffee flavor, but maybe a bit more cream if you want a lighter cappuccino. You could promote this for coffee lovers or add the cream so it appeals to a lighter palate.”
“Ooh, I like that idea.” She made notes in what she called her “recipe bible,” the ever-present, purple three-ring binder filled to overflowing. “How about texture?”
“I think it could be a little bit smoother, but I’m being picky for you.”
Her shoulders relaxed and a smile filled her pretty face. “That’s why you’re my number-one taste tester.”
“Because I’m rich, buff, and handsome?”
She laughed. “Because you’re honest. I trust you to give me the truth.”
“I’m not rich, buff, and handsome?” He let his shoulders droop. “I’d rather be that than honest.”
“Trust me, you don’t. Anyway,” she added, moving the mixing bowl closer to the bar pan, “you’re pretty well known for all of those traits. Now, will you hand me the green spatula?”
Unable to hide his smile, he handed the utensil to her, holding on when her fingers wrapped around it. She looked up and he winked. “I’m glad you consider me honest. And all those other things.”
Excerpt from Unremarkable Sue by Eleanor Bertin
She smiled at him, a smile that surprised him by what it did to his insides. C’mon, she’s your kid sister’s friend, barely out of high school. He hid his response by circling around to the driver’s door and hopping inside. Putting the truck in gear, he started down the street toward the highway.
“Next up,” the radio DJ was saying, “we’ve got the Bee Gees with ‘Stayin’ Alive.’”
“Oh, can I turn it up? I love this song.”
“Go ahead.” Glen wasn’t much of a Bee Gees fan, but he kept time, tapping on his leg.
Sue nodded and grooved to the music, singing, “You can tell by the way I use my wok, I’m a walrus man, no time to talk.”
He turned to gape at her, laughing out loud.
“What?” she asked, her eyes all innocent.
“Are you serious? Walrus man?” He pulled his gaze back to watch the road, slapping the steering wheel and chuckling.
“Well, who knows what they’re saying? Now hush and let me listen.” She bounced to the beat, picking up the next lines. “When I’m making a loaf, and I get hired, a cat get in, I need a trike.”
Unbelievable. Whether she was a certified dingbat or a comedian, his shoulders shook as he listened, fascinated as she invented an entire songful of bizarre lyrics.
Excerpt from Love Christmas by Johnnie Alexander
Twig sneezed, then rested her chin on the furry edge of her bed. The tip of her pink tongue protruded beyond her toothless mouth as she stared at Shannon with her expressive, bulging eyes.
“I must have been six or seven when I found this box on our porch swing,” Shannon said, as if answering Twig’s unspoken question. “It was in a gold bag, and Mother’s name was written on the tag.”
Shannon scratched Twig behind her soft ears as the memory came into sharper focus.
Dad delivered pizzas in the evening instead of heading off to the factory each morning for his shift. Her parents talked in low voices, stopping abruptly whenever she entered the room.
Her stomach now tightened with the same heavy knots she’d experienced as a child.
Those unsettling days before Dad found a new job had cast a shadow over the excitement of Christmas.
Then the mysterious box appeared on the porch swing.
Excerpt from Gifting Christmas by Angela D. Meyer
Barry filled a basket with bread. “So, Mrs. Marino, shall we feed the troops?”
Karen laughed. “Next time, could you give me a little more warning before you invite guests over for dinner?”
Barry wrapped his wife in a hug. “I’m sorry Christmas won’t be what you were hoping.”
She leaned against his chest and listened to his heartbeat for a moment. “At least we’re together.”
“That’s what matters. By the way, I ran into your dad at the store earlier. He had a letter for you, but with the storm incoming, he asked me to deliver it. You distracted me from giving it to you earlier.”
“I did, did I?”
“Yep. It’s all your fault.” Barry sobered. “In all seriousness, though. He wanted you to have it for Christmas.” He pulled out an envelope from his back pocket. “It’s from your mom.”
She gasped as she accepted it and looked at the elegant handwriting on the front of the envelope.
He kissed the top of her head. “She must have written it before you returned from New York but died before she could give it to you. Your dad found it in her things.”
She held it against her chest. Sniffling, she slid her finger under the flap.
“Hey, where’s the food?”
Barry and Karen twisted around. Thomas glared at them from the doorway into the kitchen. Karen stuffed the letter in her jeans pocket.
Barry chuckled. “You can go to the store, since you’re in a rush.”
Thomas sputtered. “Do you know who I am?”
“Someone we welcomed in from the cold when he was stranded in the snow.”
Excerpt from The Back Door Christmas Tour Company by Sara Davison
The company spokesperson, who spoke English with a light, Tahitian accent, was nice enough but firm in her insistence that, like all the other companies, their over the holidays were full.
Rav drove his fingers through his hair. Might as well see if he could catch a flight home tomorrow. Pick up his life where he had left off and carry on as though this crazy little spontaneous blip had never happened.
The thought depressed him enough that he decided to take one more shot. “I’m sorry to hear that. You were my last hope. You wouldn’t consider adding one more person if I paid extra?”
After a brief pause, the woman spoke. “Just one? Are you saying you are all alone for Christmas?” As though afraid of anyone overhearing her, the woman had lowered her voice enough that Rav pressed the phone harder to his ear, straining to catch the words. Words that suddenly brought his bleak situation into sharp focus.
He sighed. “Yeah. I suppose I am.”
“What is your name?”
“Rav Temauri.”
A clicking sound echoed through the phone, as though the woman was inputting something into a keyboard. Looking him up? His muscles tensed, but then Rav relaxed. He didn’t have much of an online presence, and he certainly didn’t have anything in his mundane life to hide. What difference would it make if she did a little research on him?
After a moment, she murmured, “So, you’re the one.”
Rav raised his eyebrows. The one? What did that mean?
About the Authors
Stacy Monson is the award-winning author of stories that reveal an extraordinary God at work in ordinary life. Residing in the beautiful, peaceful countryside outside of the Twin Cities with an old dog and 17 chickens. She has two kids, two wonderful in-law kids, and adores being G'ma to 7 amazing grandchildren.
Connect with Stacy at stacymonson.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
From her home in central Alberta, Canada, Eleanor Bertin writes fiction that ponders the depths of God’s love and mercy to humanity. She is the author of The Ties That Bind series, Lifelines, Unbound, and Tethered, the Burning Bright series, Flame of Mercy and Flicker of Trust, as well as the memoir, Pall of Silence, about her late son, Paul. She lives with her husband of 40 years and their youngest son, in what will someday be a beautiful century home.
Connect with Eleanor at eleanorbertinauthor.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Johnnie Alexander is a wannabe vagabond with a heart for making memories. As a bestselling, award-winning novelist, she has written more than thirty works of fiction in a variety of genres. She is both traditionally and indie-published, serves as board secretary for the Mosaic Collection, LLC (an indie-author group) and faculty chair for the Mid-South Christian Writers Conference; co-hosts Writers Chat, a weekly online show; and contributes to the Heroes, Heroines, and History blog. A fan of classic movies, stacks of books, and road trips, Johnnie shares a life of quiet adventure with Rugby, her raccoon-treeing papillon. Her grands call her “The Shadow” and dutifully follow this unbreakable rule ~ only she is allowed to open a new bag of Classic Lay’s potato chips.
Connect with Johnnie at johnnie-alexander.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Angela D. Meyer writes fiction that showcases God’s ability to redeem and restore the brokenness in our lives. Angela currently lives in Nebraska, where she and her husband homeschooled and graduated both of their children. Angela is a part of the Mosaic Collection and writes stories that showcase God’s redemption and restoration in our brokenness. Angela enjoys sunrises and sunsets, the ocean when she gets a chance to visit, and hopes to ride in a hot air balloon someday. Connect with Angela at angeladmeyer.com to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Sara Davison is the author of The Night Guardians, The Rose Tattoo, two sparrows for a penny, and In the Shadows series, as well as the standalone, The Watcher. A finalist for more than a dozen national writing awards, including the Christy Award, Davison is a Holt Medallion, Cascade, and two-time Carol Award winner for romantic suspense. She lives in Ontario with her husband, Michael. Like every good Canadian, she loves coffee, hockey, poutine, and apologizing for no particular reason.
Connect with Sara at saradavison.org to follow her on social media and sign up for email updates.
Tour Giveaway
(1) winner will win a paperback copy of A Weary World Rejoices as well as a metal wall hanging that says A Thrill of Hope, the Weary World Rejoices!
Full tour schedule linked below. The giveaway begins at midnight October 14, 2024 and will last through 11:59 PM EST on October 21, 2024. Winner will be notified within 2 weeks of close of the giveaway and given 48 hours to respond or risk forfeiture of prize. US/CAN only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.
Giveaway is subject to JustRead Publicity Tours Giveaway Policies.
Follow along at JustRead Tours for a full list of stops!
thank you so much for sharing about A Weary World Rejoices!
ReplyDeleteThis sounds wonderful. I enjoy anthologies where I get to try new authors, and I love Christmas stories, so this sounds like a winner to me.
ReplyDeleteThanks so much, Jolene, for showcasing A Weary World Rejoices on your blog! Blessings to you and all who stop by on the tour.
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing the excerpts. This will be a wonderful variety for Christmas reading.
ReplyDeleteThis looks like a fantastic read. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea of these stories, thanks for the excerpts!
ReplyDelete