today’s book: A Merry Heart
On Monday, we kicked off this year’s blog series spotlighting (over 70 this year) new and recently-released Christmas reads! This is the 7th year for the Christmas Reads Giveaway series, and I think I get more excited about it every year 🙂
Christmas is still 38 days away, according to Google, BUT it’s never too early for Christmas stories. Beginning now and continuing through just after Christmas, I’m going to spotlight several Christmasy releases from 2023. So… snuggle in, grab your fave hot beverage (wassail anyone?) and comfiest blanket, turn on some Christmas tunes and start your bookish Christmas list! And no doubt you know the drill by now – there are GIVEAWAYS with EACH POST in this series??!! (Because authors are awesome!)
A MERRY HEART: A Christmas Anthology of Clean & Christian Romance to Benefit Charity
AUTHORS: Eliza Boyd, Aminata Coote, Kaitlene Dee, Corilyn Holloway, Gayle M. Irwin, Rosanne E. Lortz, Linda Shenton Matchett, Karly Stratford, Kristy Tate & Sharon D. Tweet
GENRE: Christmas Romance Anthology (Christian & clean)
RELEASE DATE: November 7, 2023
PAGES: 802
affiliate links used
Why We Wrote A Merry Heart
by Eliza Boyd, co-author of A Merry Heart
There’s a popular saying in Christian circles that goes like this: “God doesn’t call the equipped. He equips the called.”
For me, it was getting a great idea but having no earthly clue how to make it come to fruition. Luckily, He didn’t need me to know how. He just needed me to answer the call when it finally landed on my doorstep.
Here’s what happened:
In 2022, America saw the end of Roe v. Wade. As portions of the book world united to release anthologies that would raise money for Planned Parenthood, I wondered what it would be like to release anthologies that would raise money for pregnancy centers around the US. The problem was I had no experience when it came to being a part of an anthology, organizing an anthology, or releasing an anthology. I also didn’t know who to ask.
So the idea came and went.
I was not equipped.
Two weeks later, my friend Corilyn Holloway reached out to me. “What do you think about releasing an anthology to raise money for a pregnancy center in the US?”
She was equipped with all the knowledge I lacked. What she lacked was a willing partner to work with her on it. And that was exactly what I had to offer.
Together, we combined five stories for our first anthology (Let Every Heart) and Books-4-Babies was born. That one released prior to Christmas last year, and then we published a Mother’s Day anthology (You Have Made My Heart) with four other authors in May. Now that our third one (A Merry Heart) has released, we’ve almost doubled in size, and our next two anthologies are in the works for 2024.
The best part: Every single penny we make from these books goes to the cause of life.
Our latest Christmas anthology, A Merry Heart, has ten stories this time and we’re so thankful for every author who has donated their time and talent to this project. Here’s what you can find inside A Merry Heart.
Her Best Friend’s Brother at Christmas by Eliza Boyd: When Willow’s best friend shows up for Christmas with her brother in tow, she’s happy to see him after so many years apart. But Tyler’s grumpy attitude confuses her. Tyler has been in love with Willow for as long as he can remember. To get over it once and for all, he tags along with his sister for Christmas. But instead, he realizes he’ll never stop loving Willow. When he finally thaws as Christmas draws near, will romance be in the holiday forecast? Or will Willow’s secret threaten to destroy a good thing before it starts?
The Doctor’s Christmas Miracle by Aminata Coote: When Sunshine Fairchild returns to Orange Valley for her mother’s wedding, her clash with the grumpy Dr. Matt Beckett challenges her views on life and love. Forced to work together, their beliefs collide, leaving both to wonder if a Christmas miracle awaits them.
A Family for Christmas by Kaitlene Dee: Nate, a doctor who is recently widowed, meets a young governess who has lost everything. He’s amazed by how his children, who have been so withdrawn since their mother died, come to life whenever they’re with Lizzy—the governess. The pain of ever trying to love again is unbearable, but he sees that she is what his children are so desperately needing. He puts aside his own heart, and the pain therein, and proposes a marriage of convenience. Though Lizzy loves the children and finds the doctor very attractive and kind, can she be satisfied with a marriage that offers protection and shelter but never romance?
A Governess for Christmas by Corilyn Holloway: Come back in time to the small European kingdom of Durma where love, valor and faith can bridge any troubled waters. Her father’s misdeeds have sent Jeanette into hiding but a job as governess might be the one thing to save both her life and her reputation from the dangers of the streets. Richard is a lonely widower who only seeks someone to take care of his little girl so that he may continue ignoring her and the pain of her mother’s death. Can the wonder of a child and the magic of Christmas open both their eyes to the blessing of love?
Tails of Love: A Christian Second-Chance Pet Rescue Holiday Romance by Gayle M. Irwin: Savannah Dexter and Trevor Montgomery parted ways a decade ago. When they encounter one another at Peaceable Kingdom Animal Rescue ten days before Christmas, old wounds re-open. Has bitterness taken such a deep root that forgiveness cannot prevail, even during the season of love and light?
The Heir of Allen Abbey by Rosanne E. Lortz: While the servants at Allen Abbey wager on which heiress James Allen will propose to at the Christmas house party, upper housemaid Jane is daydreaming about her own secret rendezvous with the squire’s son. But although love knows no station, is it possible that the squire and his wife will allow the heir of Allen Abbey to marry so beneath him?
War’s Unexpected Gift by Linda Shenton Matchett: Eager to do more for the war effort, nurse Gwen Milford puts in for a transfer from a London convalescent hospital to an evac hospital headed across Europe. Leap-frogging from one location to the next, nothing goes as expected from stolen supplies to overwhelming numbers of casualties. Then, there’s the handsome doctor who seems to be assigned to her every shift. As another Christmas approaches without the war’s end, can she find room in her heart for love?
As it Snow Happened by Karly Stratford: What kind of an idiot drives a miniature car through a Chicago snowstorm? The tall, handsome, Texan kind complete with a cowboy hat, a heart of gold, and an accent that can melt butter. If he hadn’t caused my truck to swerve off the road, I might have been tempted to strike up a conversation. Too bad a man who looks like that won’t notice a curvy girl like me. His loss.
The Golden Letters by Kristy Tate: Months after her husband’s death, Anna Quinn never expects to find love again–especially not in a village in Southern France. But circumstances fling her into the arms of Luc Bonnette, an artist with a haunting secret. Their journey through the holiday season reminds Anna that love lost and can be found again, even in the most unlikely places and in the most surprising ways.
The Hope of Christmas Past by Sharon D. Tweet: This year, Eleanor and Evan each return to Christmas Village with different agendas, but one hope. Can the magic of Christmas Village strike twice? Experience Christmas at the historic downtown Hawthorne Springs Christmas Village with a drive through the lights of Sparkle Lane, a hot cup of coffee from the Hearth & Home Café, and stained-glass inspiration in Joy & Jingle.
Corilyn and I both agree that this project has been God-led. Our prayer is for God to grow this project how He sees fit. He’s blessed us so far in ways we haven’t seen coming, and it has been an honor not only to be a part of it, but also to witness it as it’s happened.
Thank you for considering to support our project. All proceeds from this anthology will be donated to True Care, a pregnancy center in Casper, Wyoming. This cause is near and dear to our hearts, and we couldn’t do it without readers like you.
Proverbs 17:22 (NKJV)
A merry heart does good, like medicine,
But a broken spirit dries the bones.
Eliza Boyd is a clean and Christian contemporary romance and women’s fiction author. Born and raised in Northern Illinois, she now lives in sunny Arizona. When she’s not reading, writing, spending time with her husband, or serving at church, she can be found with her nose in her Bible, walking around her neighborhood (for exercise, not for stalking), taking photos of her pets, or cheering on her favorite BattleBot. Feel free to contact her on any of her social media sites. She spends too much time on her computer, so she’ll probably get back to you right away.
Corilyn Holloway was born in a place where sunlight pierces the darkness. Her vision changed, her direction shifted, and she found a new dimension to the stories she longed to tell in a corner of her heart. She answered the call with a huge leap of faith. She’s a proud Texan who lives in the beautiful Lone Star state with her husband, Danny, and their rescue dogs Bonnie Sue and Heidi Ho. Connect with Corilyn at her website.
Eliza Boyd is offering a print copy of Christmas Week to one of my readers! (US only. Void where prohibited by law or logistics.) This giveaway is subject to Reading Is My SuperPower’s giveaway policies which can be found here. Enter via the Rafflecopter form below.
What about you? What makes you want to read the A Merry Heart anthology by Eliza Boyd & these other great authors?
I love Christmas anthologies!
me too!
I love reading anthologies! They are such a great way to try out new authors. And a Christmas themes one? Sign me up!
exactly!!!
This looks like a great holiday novel. Thanks for the giveaway opportunity.
I love Christmas stories; some authors are new to me, and I appreciate that all are supporting the cause of life!
Sounds great!
Christmas anthologies are the best! There are several new authors to enjoy in addition to a couple of my favorites, too.
I would like to read this because Christmas anthologies are interesting.
I can’t wait to read all these uplifting Christmas stories!
Sounds like a great collection.
I love the premise of this charity. Sounds like a great book.
I love to read Christmas stories.
I’m a big fan of Christmas Stories. Thanks for your great generosity.
looks like a fun one
Sounds good. Would love to win a print copy! Thanks for the opportunity!
Thank you so much for sharing. God bless you.
It sounds like a really interesting book. Thank you for sharing.
Who can resist a Christmas anthology.
This looks good.
Wow this is awesome!
I love anything Christmas and romance!
I love Christmas stories
I love reading anthologies, any season or topic!
1. I love Christmas stories
2. Although I am familiar with some of the authors, others are new to me. And I like finding new authors.
3. The profits are going to a great cause.
I love finding new to me authors and anthologies are a great resource. I love that these are Christmas stories, the best kind.