Love, Lies, & Laughter — Patty Howell

ENTERTAINING ANGELS When a man stands her up by sending a 'stand-in,' a woman doesn't quite know what to make of it. But bells ringing and stars twinkling lead her to want to know 'why? Branson Adams was always cleaning up his brother's messes and this one sure becomes a doozy. Enter a five-year-old homeless child and Gwen and Branson get caught up in discovering love can wrap its warmth around the most resilient of hearts. THE PATIENT GIFT Lea Novak has allowed grief to harden her heart. Durham North's fortuitous need for a tow truck sends him knocking on Lea's door and a Christmas miracle is about to occur. NO LAUGHING MATTER Did you know it's a criminal offense to tickle a woman in Virginia? A jealous sister, a nutty social worker, and a prosecutor wanting to chalk up an 'easy' win to his credit, use this antiquated law to further their divergent agendas. HEARTFELT A heart transplant recipient is mystified by a child in a restaurant who comes to her table saying she knows her. After several chance encounters with little Essie, Cela meets the child's father, a widower. Cela's mother's wisdom and unshakable faith in God is a golden thread woven throughout this poignant story. Her parents have seen her through years of sickness and recovery and continue to support her as she finds love-a love that has some very special meanings. STREET MANNERS In this second 'silly laws' story, Lisa Butler meets her match in a New York City Firefighter. When sparks fly, fire is soon to ignite as the two match wits in using old-but still valid-laws to outdo each other. THE CHRISTMAS CONFLICT A runaway goat. Infighting in the church over the nativity scene display this year. An atheist in the neighborhood who clearly did not want the crèche the previous Christmas. How could this possibly be a setup for romance? Penny Nichols is about to find out God's plans for her life are going to take an unlikely turn. Will she walk on that path or will past disappointments cloud her judgment? The Christmas Conflict is a story of trusting God in the face of difficult circumstances. MUSES IN THE MOONLIGHT Calli Winson, an anthropologist, returns to the town she grew up in, seeking answers to her own origins. On a mountaintop, a childhood place of retreat, she meets Jacob Isaacs, a pastor, who lends an attentive ear. Something about her story prods at his memory and he sets about solving the mystery of her past. An Amazon Reviewer: Author Howell has penned a classic tale of love and heartwarming reunion. A very nostalgic feel permeates the story, one that reached straight to the heart of this reader. I daresay we might have the makings of a future Nora Roberts or Barbara Delinsky. Much of the dialogue had me smiling, a good sign of an excellent read. Looking forward to many more from Ms. Howell! NOAH'S ARCH Archer Webster, a psychologist accused of stalking, seeks a top-notch defense lawyer to represent him. Referred to the firm of Adams & Adams, he finds himself having to decide who's the craziest: the woman accusing him or the attorney defending him. When Archer seeks representation by her legal firm, Noah Adams uses her male given name to her advantage. Or so she thinks. She soon learns the difficulty and embarrassment of straightening out a relationship begun on a lie. Can love at first sight overcome the hurdles of lies, deception, and trickery? LOVE TO LAST A LIFETIME What can compare to young love? Joey and Luke fell in love in high school but, as often happens, life intervened. Twenty years later Luke wants answers and needs to supply some of his own. But will Joey's fear of responding to his questions lead her to make another bad decision? Walk with Luke and Joey in discovering how time, forgiveness, and true abiding love can heal old wounds.