The Crooked Halo Series-Book 2

 by Diana Mccollum

Kathy Coatney is a multi-published author. Her Crooked Halo Series is such an interesting concept. Aurora is the head angel of the Lost Soul Division, of Heaven Sent, a private detective agency run by three retired nuns. She is in charge  of angels Olivia and Zack. She sends them on a joint mission in hopes of bringing them together for their happily ever after. I love that the angels get around on stars!

 

So two love stories in this story.  

 

HER CHRISTMAS WISH, is book two in the Crooked Halo Series.

 

The angels are assigned to Bella. She runs The Wishing Stone, a jewelry store in the town of Hopes Crossing. After her husband left her on Christmas Eve two years ago, the joy of Christmas is gone, and decorating is depressing.

 

Matt is smitten from the moment he walks in to  The Wishing Stone. Matt is a baseball player just like the husband who walked out on Bella. Matt has to convince Bella that he will always be there for her. 

 

With help from guardian angels, Olivia and Zack, Matt is determined to show Bella that he is the one for her, and the answer to her Christmas Wish.

 

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08KGWN2XM?notRedirectToSDP=1&ref_=dbs_mng_calw_1&storeType=ebooks

 

Here is an excerpt:

 

Olivia and Zack, the two guardian angels are starting their assignment. They were killed in action as CIA agents.

 

“Olivia kept her distance from Zack as he reached for a star, then gestured for her to precede him. Instead, she grabbed her own star, but before she climbed on, Zack’s taunt stopped her.

 

“Afraid to ride with me?”

 

She pivoted to face him. “No. I just prefer not to.”

 

“Why?”

 

Olivia arched a brow. “Do you really need to ask?”

 

“Apparently.”

 

She heaved a resigned sigh. “You made it abundantly clear you don’t want me, so rather than make us both uncomfortable, I’m keeping my distance.”

 

Zack’s eyes darkened with an emotion she couldn’t decipher. He released the star he’d been holding and closed the distance between them until the scent of cedar and leather surrounded her.

 

“I never said I didn’t want you. I told you I wanted more than you were willing to give.”

 

His voice sent a tendril of need curling through her. “I don’t see a difference.”

 

He brushed a finger over her cheek and desire burst through her like a comet jetting through the heavens. She leaned into his touch, closing her eyes when his voice whispered over her.

 

“I’m offering seduction, romance, passion. You offered sex.”

 

Her eyes fluttered open desperately craving what he offered. She swayed toward him, and his mouth brushed the tender spot behind her ear.

 

“When you want the same thing, I’ll be here waiting,” he murmured, then pulled back, grabbed another star, and held his hand out to her.

 

A moment ago she’d refused, but this time she accepted. In fact, she could deny him nothing right now.

 

As they soared across the sky, Olivia wondered where the driven, unemotional CIA agent had gone-the one who’d always been focused on the job?”

 

I really enjoyed reading this story. The author weaves together the angels and Bella and Matt’s 

love stories. I highly recommend this book, and frankly, any book by Kathy Coatney. You won't be disappointed!!

 

Why couldn’t angels have emotions like we do?

 

I often wonder how many people believe in angels. I know I do! 

 

Do you?

 

 

 

Spinning a Holiday Classic

By Robin Weaver

  

I know Lowes and Walmart have had Christmas decorations out for days (as I'm writing this, it's not even Halloween), but that doesn't mean I'm in the mood for a holiday romance. Since I haven't read anything (sigh), I don't have anything to recommend. 

But fear not, I've decided to put a spin on a classic, It's a Wonderful Life—truly one of the all-time greats. Only as a writer, I have been conditioned, since I first put my fingers on the keyboard, to always deliver the unexpected. And let's be honest, It's a Wonderful Life is hardly unexpected—not by today’s standards anyway. So let's change it up.

Having a fat old man be an angel is unexpected, even by today standards, so we’ll leave Clarence as is. No, wait. An angel is a bit predictable no matter what his shape. What if we made him a shape shifter? Hmm, that will screw up the plot. We want Clarence to evolve, not be dinner.

So who can hear when George wishes he’d never been born? I know, he can wish on a penny. Oops—that’s absolutely predictable. Let's make it a dollar bill instead.

So George finds a dollar and… He simply cannot wish he'd never been born--even to a dollar bill. I mean seriously, how many times has that been done? Let's have him wish he's been born a woman. To which the dollar replies, “The PMS alone would kill you. I like horses. What if I make you my little pony instead?"

And poof. Before George can protest, he’s got hooves and a shiny teal tail. He trots down the street, running into his mom—who falls and breaks a hip. Predictable, but what else can happen? Grandma has just been run over by a horse.

She’s screaming, “Bloody horse murderer!” because she doesn’t recognize her son. Did I mention he’s a horse?

Anyway, George’s mom is rescued by Uncle Billy—who hasn’t been institutionalized because the Building and Loan is still going strong.  Don’t get me wrong, the Building and Loan collapsed (just like in the original story), only the government bailed out the financial institution. Billy splints mom’s broken hip and then kicks George the horse (didn’t expect that, did you? Evil grin).  Billy pulls out his mobile telegraph (hey, no cellphones in this era) so George gallops home.

Mary will help him. Hold on, we have to make Mary less predictable, too.  She can’t be some lonely, scared spinster. Maybe George was holding her back. She’s gone to Vegas and become…a champion bull rider (Gotcha. You were expecting a showgirl, huh?)

So George realizes he shouldn’t have wished he was dead. Or a woman. And a bell rings—only let’s make it a bullhorn. In the old story, we all know the angel got his wings. In our story, the angel becomes…hmmm, how about a boy wizard.

Okay. You’re right. The original is better. Maybe with a classic, predictable is okay. Only let’s not call it predictable. Let's call it tradition.

Hope your traditions are wonderfully predictable. 

Available at Amazon.com