Sunday

Blessed Be the LORD!

 Blessed be the LORD my Rock, who trains my                                                       hands for war, and my fingers for battle. 
Psalm 144:1

Friday

A Fun to Make cookie . . . CUTE CAT COOKIES

Want something simple to bake with the kids? How about these adorable (and easy!) cat cookies?


Ingredients
1 tube (18 ounces) refrigerated chocolate chip cookie dough
54 pieces candy corn
1 can (16 ounces) chocolate frosting
Red shoestring licorice, cut into 1-3/8-inch pieces
9 thin chocolate wafer (2-1/4 inch diameter), quartered

Directions
Bake cookies according to package directions. Cool on a wire racks.
Cut off yellow tips from 18 pieces of candy corn (discard orange and white portion or save for another use). Frost cookies with chocolate frosting.
Immediately decorate with two whole candy corns for eyes, a yellow candy corn tip for nose, six licorice pieces for whiskers and two wafer quarters for ears.

Thursday

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck

Book Description:  Joy Ballard has a secret: she’s a cooking show host who can’t really cook. When her South Carolina-based cooking show, Dining With Joy, is picked up by a major network, Joy Ballard’s world heats up like a lowcountry boil.Joy needs help. Then she meets chef Luke Davis who moved to Beaufort after losing his Manhattan restaurant. A cook at the Frogmore Cafe, he’s paying debts and longing to regain his reputation in the elite foodie world.  Luke and Joy mix like oil and water…until Joy is exposed on national television. With her career and his reputation both under fire, they’ll have to work together to fix the mess. Is it possible that they can learn to feast on God’s love and dine with joy?


My Review:  Joy Ballard has taken over dad's cooking show, Dining With Charles, after her dad suffers a fatal heart attack and Joy is in desperate need of cooking skills.  For three years she and her manager have fooled the public and her TV followers because Joy can't cook!  Then her manager sells the show and just in time Mr. Right, enter, Luke Davis, hunk and a chef to boot!  Literally saves the day for Joy!
Luke is not only gorgeous but can cook!  Whereas, Joy can't boil water!  Hence, the story Dining With Joy, is all about love, cook-offs and just maybe one shouldn't have a cooking show if one can't cook!
Luke is terribly in debt and working as a lowly cook at the Frogmore Cafe.  Luke is honest, trustworthy and can cook!  Whereas, Joy is sweet, innocent and can't cook!  Luke met Joy briefly through Elle but Joy doesn't seem to remember their meeting.  At times Joy seems terribly wrapped in herself and yet she loves her family, helps raise her nieces who are living with Joy's mom while mom and dad get their lives straighten out and she loves God even though it seems to be a fairly immature love for a thirty year old woman.  The interaction between Joy and her nieces made me laugh.out.loud!  Rachel Hauck is right on target with teen attitudes.  
This is a light --- read in a day type of story.  It isn't filled with earth shaking love scenes but you are gracefully ushered in the love life of Luke and Joy much like a southern charm that one encounters in the south.  The southern charm in this read spills over from page to page.  Can one drink too much sweet tea?  Not in this book! And, OH!, the Orangina Drink!  Maybe you do have to be from the south to recognize this wonderful, refreshing soda.  It is simply the best!
The title of this read is so on target for this book....Dining With Joy is all about the joy we experience when we dine with friends and family OR with a person named Joy. 

I enjoyed this 4 star read and loved the recipes and ideas for cooking that are presented at the  end of this story.  Can't wait to try Charles Ballard's Banana Bread recipe!
Dining With Joy is simply a cook's.fun.fiction.read or a wannabes.cooking.guide! 

*I reviewed this book for BookSneeze/Thomas Nelson Publishing*










Wednesday

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Skillet Apple Cake




Skillet Apple Cake
-3 tbsp sugar + 1/4 cup sugar
-1 cup all-purpose flour
-1/2 tsp salt
-1 1/2 tsp baking powder
-1 egg
-2 tbsp whole milk
-4 tbsp (1/2 stick) butter, softened
-2 tbsp olive oil
-2-3 Golden Delicious, Golden Supreme, or Mutsu apples, peeled, cored, and cut into 1/8-inch thick slices
-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
Preheat oven to 375°F. Coat the bottom of a 10-inch cast-iron skillet with olive oil. Coat the pan with 1 tbsp of the sugar.
Sift together flour, salt, baking powder. In a small bowl, mix together the egg, milk, olive oil.
In a larger bowl, cream together the butter and 1/4 cup of sugar. Stir in the flour mixture, then the milk-egg mixture. Spread the batter into the prepared skillet, using a rubber spatula.
Starting at the edge of the cake, arrange the apple slices in a circular pattern, making the apple slices overlap slightly. Make sure the slices completely cover the cake batter. Mix together the remaining 2 tbsp of sugar and cinnamon. Sift as evenly as possible over the apple slices.
Bake for approximately 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
Allow the cake to cool for at least 10 minutes before loosening the sides with a thin knife or spatula. To remove, cover the pan with a large pan, and turn the plate-pan over so the cake fall into the pan. Cover the plate with another plate, and invert again so that the cake is right-side-up.

Tuesday

GIVEAWAY! Adventures In Odyssey CD set




Adventures In Odyssey Cause & Effect CD set #52

Winner will receive one (1) certificate for 
Adventures In Odyssey 
Cause & Effect CD set.



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GIVEAWAY ENDS NOVEMBER 4!

Friday

365 DAYS to a PRAYER-FILLED LIFE by Germaine Copeland

Book Description:  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask anything according to his will, he heareth us: and if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.  – I John 5:14-15
From the beloved author of Prayers That Avail Much® comes fresh inspiration for powerful living that will take you on a day-by-day prayer excursion toward God’s heart. 
Why does prayer matter in your day-to-day life? In a time and age where many have reduced prayer and God Himself to the “Great Vending Machine in the Sky,” Germaine stresses that the primary goal of prayer is unbroken fellowship with the eternal God of heaven and earth. 365 Days to a Prayer-Filled Life will encourage you to dig deeper and gain a stronger understanding of the purpose of prayer by unpacking core Biblical themes such as joy, unity, spiritual gifts, overcoming fear, the Holy Spirit, walking in love, and the power of words. Each day’s entry includes a Biblically informed message, a Scripture-based prayer, and a suggested Bible reading. 
For anyone who wonders if God’s Word and prayer can make a difference, and for those who long for a closer walk with God, the devotional entries in 365 Days to a Prayer-Filled Life are clear: God loves you and wants to impact every area of your life. His promises are true…and His mercies are new every morning.
My Review:  Those who are followers of Christ usually long to be in fellowship with their Savior and King.  As I began reading the book 365 DAYS to a PRAYER FILLED LIFE I realized that this isn't a book to just sit and read . . . this is a devotional book that has a page for each day of the month.  Each page has a topic, a mini devotional read, a prayer from the author that goes along with the devotional and then at the very bottom of the page there are Scripture references and a suggested Bible reading for that particular day.
This is a practical devotional book but yet the truths that are presented help the reader to look beyond himself and see that God is in control of every situation.  
This devotional book is also geared to the more serious minded Christian.  I didn't read a lot of funny or humorous make-me-laugh-at-myself-kind-of-stories but  read stories that help the reader to be blessed by the Word of God.
This book also endeavors to present prayer to the reader in a 365 day format.  Since the main topic of this book is PRAYER it seems that the devotionals all are geared to helping the reader pray everyday!
If you enjoy devotional books that get.you.going. in the mornings and help you to want to pray and live for the Lord then you'll want to buy this book!
This is a great 4 star devotional book for the more serious minded Christian.  It is also a small, hardback book that easily fits into a case or by bed stand.  It is a nice gift book for that person on your gift list who also enjoys mini devotionals on prayer and Christian living.




*I reviewed this book for Reader's Favorite.com*


Thursday

Simply Sara by Hillary Manton Lodge

Book Description: Following up on Plain Jayne, a fun new look at Amish life from the outside in, author Hillary Manton Lodge continues with young Sara Burkholder’s perspective on English life and romance in Simply Sara.
Sara, who left her Amish family to live with Jayne, discovers that the English world is a bit more challenging than she expected. As she finds a job, buys English clothes, wears makeup, and learns to drive, she begins a journey to becoming the person she might have been had she not been born into an Amish family. But when romance becomes complicated and school proves difficult, Sara escapes to her Amish sister’s home, wondering if she should return to the life she left. Torn, she seeks answers in prayer, but is the God she is seeking the same in both worlds? What’s a quilt-making, fashion-loving, formerly Plain girl to do when a new way of life starts to change her?

My Review: I enjoyed reading Plain Jayne.  In fact, this is the book that "broke" my sabbatical from reading Amish books.  I waited ever so (im)patiently for Simply Sara to arrive.  
Sara is such a sweet, innocent young lady who is trying to find her place in the world.  She simply doesn't want to live as an Amish person.  She wants color in her life without consulting the Bishop.  Sara wants to LIVE!  
She finds a job in a lovely bookstore and after obtaining her GED she is accepted into the fashion/art college.  I loved this part of the read.  The feel of the materials, the design of the quilts and the colors was amazingly described by the author.  All of this made me feel as if I was in Sara's place.
Sara simply attracts friends like honey attracts flies.  She has a wonderful circle of people to help her as she becomes English.  Sara takes to being English as a duck takes to water.  But she still bakes from scratch and doesn't leave the God of her childhood.  She has a few escapades that help one to understand the difference in the cultures and that of leaving the Amish community to live as a an Englischer.
Then there's her boss (actually her second boss) at the bookstore.  Will seems to bear a grudge against Sara.  Sara does a good job of taking care of the bookstore, going to college and making quilts.  Why does Will not like her?  Sara in her quiet, unassuming way hopes to find out why Will seems to dislike her.  Then there's her brother, Levi who is engaged to Jayne.  Is Sara in their way since she has left the Amish community?
This is an interesting almost going backwards Amish read . . . instead of learning to become Amish and being accepted into the Amish lifestyle like Jayne had to do . . . Sara is leaving the Amish community to take on the English way of living.   A neat way to "see" things from a person who lives in America but yet has been reared so differently.  No TV, no electricity, no cars/traffic, no color! all of these "no's" sum up Sara's idea that maybe there's no life.  Sara takes on life!
This is one book THAT I Simply couldn't guess the ENDING!  Wonderful!!
I suggest that you read Plain Jayne before reading Simply Sara.  This is not a must do but there are a lot of references to the first book, Plain Jayne, that will help you understand more of what is going on in Simply Sara.
Simply Sara WAS a simply wonderful 5 star read!  I simply hope that there will be a third book!


*I reviewed this book for Reader's Favorite.com*

Wednesday

WOW {Warm Oven Wednesday} Cake Box Cookies


One of my all time favorite recipes for a very quick cookie!


LEMON CAKE MIX COOKIES
1 egg
1 box lemon cake mix (no pudding)
1 (8 oz.) container Cool Whip
Mix all together. Roll off a spoon into powdered sugar which will make a ball. Place on greased and floured cookie sheet. Bake quickly at 350 degrees for 10 minutes.

 You don't like lemon? No problem - change the cake mix to strawberry or chocolate or yellow - add some flavoring such as rum or almond. The sky is the limit with these sweet treats. 




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It's No Secret by Rachel Olsen

Book Description:  Are you tired of life as usual? Ready to trade your everyday issues and emotional hang-ups for a life of greater intimacy and fulfillment?

Then it's time you join Rachel Olsen and discover some God-sized secrets to successful living.
Rachel's writing is lighthearted and fun. But she's serious about helping you uncover biblical secrets to energize your spiritual life and relationships. This book will help you:

* Handle petty conflicts and criticism with grace
* Overcome the competitive urges that leave you lonely
* Grow spiritually despite life's setbacks
* Relax unrealistic expectations in favor of emotional stability
* Uncover a surprising means to worshiping God amidst your busy schedule
* Discover how to make what you give away ultimately return to you
* Find adventure as you yield wholeheartedly to God
 
You'll explore twelve principals from scripture, and delve into the Bible yourself with end-of-chapter studies. So grab your Bible, your coffee cup,  a copy of It's No Secret, and a girlfriend and come discover twelve secrets the world doesn't know that every woman should.

My Review:  I've been looking for a great book to help me study the Word of God. So was excited to find It's No Secret.  Have you ever thought to yourself "I read the Bible, but I just don't understand it. I never get anything out of it." If you have, God divinely directed you here today because Rachel Olsen, has written a book that is a must have for every woman who longs to find and understand, in real and practical ways, the truths and promises found in the Word of God. 
There are many, many nuggets of information in this wonderful read.  Nuggets that help us to realize that it is no secret what God can do!  As I read this book that old song, 'It Is No Secret What God Can Do!' flooded my mind.  Because God is so good, so mighty and so loving I truly believe that He longs for there to be No Secrets! No secrets also means that we must present ourselves to God in truth and honesty as Rachel writes about in the first chapter of this book, Always RSVP-Revealing the Secret to Responding to God. Respond to God with your whole heart and with no holes barred!
Also, at the end of every chapter is a Bible Study.  There are (sometimes) questions for you to answer, mini thoughts/devotionals, scripture references that go with the chapter and places for you to write in the book.  I think leaving spaces to write in the book is a great idea because then you can reread or go back to your answers as a reference point.
Rachel writings are down to earth sometimes humorous, sometimes serious and always right on target.
The chapter entitled, Adjust Your Scale:  Revealing the Secret of Perfection in God's Eyes, is a chapter that all ladies and teen girls need to read.  In our society where women are praised for being "perfectly thin" or beautiful to look upon God sees our hearts. . . our compassion for others and our love for doing the Lord's work is a challenging but yet realistic goal.  This chapter reminded me of being a Proverbs 31 lady.  A lady that many of us strive to emulate.
Are you wanting to draw closer to God?  Do you long to understand His Word and do His will?  Then you'll want to read this 5 star informative, sweet read!
This book with your morning cuppa is the best way to jump start your day!
*I reviewed this book for The B & B Media Group, Inc*
A David C. Cook Book



Tuesday

Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball by Donita K. Paul

Book Description:  Can mysterious matchmaking booksellers bring two lonely hearts together in time for Christmas?







In a sleepy, snow-covered city, Cora Crowder is busy preparing for the holiday season. Searching for a perfect gift, a fortuitous trip to Warner, Werner, and Wizbotterdad’s (a most unusual bookshop) leads to an unexpected encounter with co-worker Simon Derrick. And the surprise discovery of a ticket for a truly one-of-a-kind Christmas Ball.
Every year, the matchmaking booksellers of the Sage Street bookshop host an enchanting, old-fashioned Christmas Ball for the romantic matches they’ve decided to bring together. 
This year, will Simon and Cora discover a perfect chemistry in their opposite personalities and shared faith? Or will the matchmakers’ best laid plans end up ruining everything this holiday?

My Review:  I so enjoy Christmas reads!  To me this is the perfect time of year to read  all the Christmas books before the Christmas season gets too busy and the special time is gone before I've read a  single book!
Donita K. Paul is a brand new author for me.  I chose this book partially because of the cover.  I love the book cover.  It depicts the "specialness" of the season.  The two ball tickets on the front with glowing lights in the background is a beautiful sight, makes one feel that as you open the book you are entering the story.
I was hooked from page one of this book.  The story of Cora and then meeting Simon and his sweet, loving family was like meeting friends.  
Cora has quite a few issues from her childhood but Simon, who also happens to be Cora's boss, has a sweet, kind family.  Simon and Cora have worked in the same office for over five years but neither has met the other until the fateful day they both go shopping for a book at a quaint bookstore on Sage Street.  Both Cora and Simon are secretly given tickets to the Wizard's Ball in their books.  And this is the part of the story that was so real and cute...Simon's loving, Down's Syndrome sister hears Simon telling about the ball and insists that she will attend.  Simon who can't tell her no is caught up in the preparations for the ball . .  .  And this is where the story really begins.
It's a mystery how Simon and Cora meet and then how their paths cross, how they are caught up in the Christmas Ball preparations and best of all the mystery of how it will all work out?
I love the quote on page 224 as Simon tells Cora, "The Christmas spirit is giving what you already have, not going out to find something to buy . . . . The gift is a symbol of respect, love, honor. And that's what you have."
This read has a "tinge of mystic" to it.  Nothing evil or bad.  Just makes one think about the usage of terms we use now.  The Wizard's Ball (maybe a "bad" connotation to some) is simply older gentlemen who give an extravagant ball for those who are less fortunate (wizard is actually someone who is older and wiser).  
I absolutely loved, loved this read!  It was like eating a snicker doodle cookie.  Wonderfully light with a hint of cinnamon.  
This is definitely a fictional, feel good light read that's just right for the holidays!  If you enjoy a 10 star read with a wonderful cast of characters and a truly Christian view of people and our Savior's birth then you'll want to read "Two Tickets to the Christmas Ball."

*Need to buy this book?  Click HERE!*


*I reviewed this book for Reader's Favorites.com*

Monday

The Mark of Love {GIVEAWAY}

**See the GIVEAWAY at the end of the post**

The Mark of Love
The Mend Mark tells a powerful story in two words

Mend Mark open packageHave you been “Marked?” The Mend Mark is a mission, a movement, an entire revolution. It is a bracelet meant to remind its wearers of Christ’s love and sacrifice, and its message is the passion of its creator, Hunter Harrison. 

The Mend Mark is an innovative and distinctive bracelet that is designed to reflect the scars and nail holes of Jesus. When worn, the band resembles the deep holes of the nail driven into the wrists of Jesus during his crucifixion. By bringing the story of Jesus’ life and death to constant awareness by wearing a bracelet, Mend Mark is meant to powerfully remind wearers of the ultimate act of love Jesus made for all of humankind. 

Harrison’s mission is to remind all to remember Christ’s love in both his life and death. But more than only a poignant recollection, the Mend Mark is meant to inspire and motivate wearers to live a life of service. Harrison strives to bring people together around the simplicity and power of love as lived by Jesus. But this is no example of passive love. The Mend Mark calls individuals in all walks of life to love with a profound sincerity and commitment great enough to change a neighborhood, a community, a world.

Harrison leads this call to love and sacrifice by example and joins hands with each Mend Mark bracelet purchaser to take the first step in global change. A portion of each bracelet sold goes to support Living Water International, an organization combating the clean water crisis victimizing over one billion people worldwide. Each $5,000 given will result in one well drilled, providing a community with clean water.
Mend Mark bracelet.jpgBut wearers should be prepared to be seen. Unique in its design, the Mend Mark is sure to be noticed and gives wearers an opportunity to share the story of the profound love of Jesus for each and every person. “It was important to me that the design was simple and generic enough that the observer had to ask about it to know what it meant. But I also wanted it to appear distinctive enough that it sparked curiosity,” reveals creator Hunter Harrison. “I wanted it to require the wearer of the product to engage in conversation about the love of Christ (and hopefully show that love to others) instead of just letting the product talk for them.”

Launched in late 2009 after a year and a half of packaging, material, and design development by Harrison, the bracelet has been sold across the United States, Canada, and the UK and has been featured in retail stores as well. The Mend Mark bracelet movement has grown to further fame after being worn during performances by American Idol winner Lee Dewyze, Idol runner up Siobhan Magnus, Decifer Down, Israel Houghton & New Breed, Pillar, and Finding Favour, to name a few. Says Harrison, “I want it to be more than just another bracelet; I want it to represent a movement.” Based on the way things are going, a movement is exactly what it is becoming.

Order online for $9.99 at www.mendmark.com.





I have been "marked" by the King! How about you?
Thanks to Audra @ The B&B Media group, I am able to giveaway one bracelet to one lucky commentor! Just leave me a comment telling me something amazing that Christ has done for you.....be sure to leave your email address!!! NO EMAIL=NO ENTRY! 


Giveaway ends October 23 . 


Saturday

A Suitor for Jenny by Margaret Brownley

Book Description:  Jenny Higgins is certain falling in love and finding a husband are matters of the mind. Her heart has other plans.
After their parents died, Jenny felt responsible for seeing that her two younger sisters were well taken-care of. Tipped off by an article naming Rocky Creek the town with the highest number of eligible bachelors, Jenny rolled into this Texas town with a clear objective: find suitable husbands for her two sister and then start fresh somewhere far, far away.
Jenny believe that women who fall in love at first sight often wish they'd taken a second look, so she diligently begins to follow all the rules set forth in her handy manual on how to land a husband.
But while Jenny is interviewing the less-than-promising candidates, her sisters are falling in love the old-fashioned way--with men of their choosing. And the longer Jenny stays, the more her sense of control slips away. The town isn't living up to her expectations, her sisters are rebelling against her practical choices, and soon her own heart starts to betray her, as US Marshall Rhett Armstrong stirs emotions in her that weren't part of her plan.
To relinquish her control to God and calm her restless spirit, she'll need to give her foregone conclusions about marriage, love, and faith.

My Review:  A Suitor for Jenny is a simply delightful read!  After the deaths of both their parents, Jenny packs up her two  younger sisters, Mary Lou and Brenda.  Determined to "do right" by her two younger sisters they all head to bachelor country---a  Texas town named Rocky Creek.  Rocky Creek is aptly named . . . for this is where Jenny meets her match and situations become "rocky."
Older sisters have a tendency to forget that their siblings have minds of their own!  Jenny's ideas sometimes bring out the best and most humorous "parts" of her sisters actions.
Jenny has no interest in a husband for herself but she is somewhat determined.strong minded.hard headed.not.one.to.back.down sister and sets out with posters in hand to find suitable suitors for her sisters.  
Thankfully, US Marshall Rhett Armstrong enters the picture.  He enjoys sparring with Jenny and also realizes that human emotions are not things to play around with.  He feels somewhat responsible to see that Jenny and her sisters stay out of harm's way.  But he didn't bargain for his feelings for the delightful and strong headed Jenny!  But Jenny doesn't want to have anything to do with him for she is on a mission and has  measurement requirement that all the suitors must meet.  Unfortunately, Rhett falls quite short of this feat!
Jenny has practical and great suggestions for the right suitors for her sisters but as life goes her sisters are falling in love with men of their own choosing.  And Jenny has her hands full with her own emotions that seem to be in a tangled mess with US Marshall Rhett Armstrong.
A story about forgiveness, love and letting God lead your life which also includes finding the right mate for each of us.
This is a two-thumbs up of worthy of 5 stars read!  If you enjoy good clean romance with quirky, fun characters then you need to read this great story!

*I reviewed this book for BookSneeze (Thomas Nelson Publishing)*

Friday

Everything Christmas by David Bordon and Tom Winters

Book Description:  Opening this book is like opening a box full of Christmas cheer.
  
Christmas is a time of celebration and wonder, a time to embrace longstanding traditions and establish new ones. It’s a time for meals made of memories and heartwarming stories shared around the fireplace. It’s a time for worship, reflection, and remembrance of God’s greatest gift.



Everything Christmas brings all the best ideas for the holiday season together in one volume. In this book, you’ll find your favorite classic Christmas stories and a few new ones destined to join them. You’ll discover the most delectable holiday recipes, enjoy the words to treasured hymns and carols, be encouraged by inspirational Christmas poems, and find renewed joy in the Nativity story. From decoration ideas to Christmas trivia and humor – it’s all here!

 My Review:  I enjoy everything about Christmas!  The whole season is So much fun . . .the smells, the excitement, children's laughter, adults happy smiles and the Christmas story of Jesus' birth.  
So when I received this book, EVERYTHING Christmas, I eagerly opened the pages to delve into the wonderful world of making Christmas an anticipated event.
EVERYTHING Christmas is actually divided in to the 25 days of Christmas.  Each short section has a day.....For example, December 5 has a mini story about a Refugee Camp, quotes from famous people about Christmas and Jesus, recipes for pork loin roast and green bean casserole, a poem and a menu of a traditional Portuguese Christmas dinner.  
This thick but small book is loaded with all kinds of great recipes, ideas, short and mini stories, inspirational thoughts, songs and poems.
If you need ideas for Christmas, some new and some are older, then this is definitely a book you'll want to keep on your book shelf.
There's even a page towards the end of the book with trivia questions about Christmas.  If you are planning a Christmas event for your family or even a church Christmas party this book has endless ideas.  you'll have to be selective in choosing what you want to do or you'll be overwhelmed with all of the possibilities! 
This is a one-of-kind 10 star book that party planners, teachers, and mothers really need!  Or just a for fun book that allows you to pick and choose those neat recipes and ideas for your child's class or at home party.
The quotes are fantastic in this book.  I'd like to share one from page 32, "The coming of Christ by way of Bethlehem manger seems strange and stunning.  But when we take him out of the manger and invite him into our hearts,then the meaning unfolds and the strangeness vanishes."  -Neil Strait
There is so much information and wonderful "things" packed into this book that I can tell it all!  If you love Christmas and making it a memorable event then be sure to grab this book!

*I reviewed this book for Reader's Favorites.com* 

Click HERE to buy this lovely book!




Thursday

Within My Heart by Tamera Alexander

Book Description:  Widow Rachel Boyd struggles to keep her ranch afloat and provide for her two young sons, though some days it feels as though her efforts are sabotaged at every turn. When her cattle come down with disease and her sons' lives are endangered, she must turn to Rand Brookston, Timber Ridge's physician and reluctant veterinarian. While Rachel appreciates his help, she squelches any feelings she might have for Rand--her own father was a doctor and his patients always took priority over his family. Rachel refuses to repeat the mistakes her mother made. But when she's courted by a wealthy client of the local resort, she faces a choice: self-sufficiency and security or the risk inherent in the deepest of loves.

My Review: I've always been partial to books that deal with the everyday struggle of surviving and depending on the Lord to get one through.  Within My Heart is such a read.  Rachel is widowed, at what I would deem a young age, and with two young sons she must make a way.  Not an easy feat for a woman of her time.
Through all her struggles and trials she relies on the Lord.  She wants to keep the ranch her late husband began.  However, it seems that troubles arise at every hedge.  Not being one to take on the negative side of life, Rachel keeps plodding on. 
Then Rand comes along.  Oh,my!  I fell "in like" with Rand at his first appearance!  A true man's man.  Can a true man help Rachel save the ranch and can he help Rachel see beyond her past?  
Rachel's feeling are sometimes overwhelming to her as she  wants to trust and do what is right for her sons and the ranch but she begins to have feelings for Rand.  Can she manage or will she be overwhelmed by it all?  Being better educated and maybe more in tune with life "on the range" sometimes makes this fiery woman a firecracker to be reckoned with!  Rachel's feisty attitude is probably what keeps her and the ranch afloat.  
I truly enjoyed this historical romance.  The frontier life wasn't an easy life and reading about a young widow with two small sons to provide for will tug at your heart strings and help you to get a feel for what it was like in the "early days."
Love lost, love tried, and love's budding bloom are all in this wonderful 5 star read!  A must read for those who enjoy an unforgettable story filled with love, hope and realistic expectations for the heroine!   Just a note that Within My Heart is the third book in this series but as I missed the first two I read this as a stand alone book and felt the story was not based on the first two books.  Great-tastic reading, not to be missed!

*I reviewed this book for Bethany House Publishers*

**CLICK HERE TO BUY THIS GREAT BOOK!**

About the Author: Tamera Alexander is the best-selling author of the critically acclaimed historical series-- Fountain Creek Chronicles (Rekindled, Revealed, and Remembered), and Timber Ridge Reflections (From a Distance, Beyond This Moment, and Within My Heart). Tamera's The Inheritance, the 2010 RITA Award winner and 2010 Christy Award finalist, was the first historical for the Women of Faith Fiction line. Tamera's deeply drawn characters, thought-provoking plots, and poignant prose continue to earn devoted readers--and multiple industry awards.
These awards include the 2008 and 2009 Christy Award for Excellence in Christian Fiction, and the 2007 and 2010 RITA Award for Best Inspirational Romance. Her books have also garnered the 2010 HOLT Medallion, the 2010 Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, the Bookseller's Best Award, the International Readers Choice Award, and top praise from the Library Journal, among other accolades. Tamera's novels have been translated into four languages and continue to gain international recognition. Two of her novels are also being considered for movies.
After living in Colorado for seventeen years, Tamera has returned to her Southern roots. She and her husband now make their home in Nashville, Tennessee with Tamera's father, Doug. They enjoy life there with Joe and Tamera's two adult children, and Jack, a precious--and precocious--silky terrier.
She's currently at work on a new six-book historical series based in the South, with the first book releasing in Fall 2011.
Tamera takes steps closer to the Lord as she writes, and her greatest hope is for readers to take steps closer to Him as they read. She enjoys staying connected with readers and invites you to keep in touch through the contact page on her website listed below or through facebook and twitter.

Website: www.tameraalexander.com
Blog: www.tameraalexander.blogspot.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/tamera.alexander
Twitter: www.twitter.com/tameraalexander





Wednesday

TWO WONDERFUL KINDLE CONTESTS


The Movies & Memories Giveaway
Sarah Sundin presents The Movies and Memories Giveaway in honor of book 2 in the Wings of Glory series. A Memory Between Us is available for purchase wherever fine books are sold.From the English countryside to the perilous skies over France, A Memory Between Us takes you on a journey through love, forgiveness, and sacrifice.
 AMBU_button 
To celebrate Sarah is giving one lucky winner A Movie and Memory Prize Package! One grand prize winner will receive:

* Make-your-own-photo book from Mypublisher.com 
(Capture your own Memories)
* Netflix Subscription 
(New or Nostalgic Movies delivered right to your house)
* Starbucks gift card 
(To keep your engine revvin') *Gourmet chocolate (A favorite in the 1940's and now)
* British specialty teas in carved wooden box 
(Timeless tradition)
* Miniature model of a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber & C-47 cargo plane 
(Everyone needs a few toy planes)
*Big Band music CD 
(Break out your dancing shoes)
* WWII authentic poster playing cards 
(Cards - a perfect game for two)
* Keep Calm and Carry On 
(Uplifting sayings WWII, a boost for troubled times)

To enter simple click on the icons below (Enter 
today - contest ends 10/17!)
Enter via E-mail Enter via Facebook Enter via Twitter
The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway Suzanne Woods Fisher is thrilled to announce the release of The Waiting, book two in The Lancaster Secrets Collection. In The Waiting Jorie finds herself caught be two loves and two lives in this compelling page turner about complex people living the simple life.
A must read! Visit the blog tour and find out what the reviewers are saying! Learn more about Suzanne and her books at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com!
The Waiting is the next stand alone story in The Lancaster Secrets Collection and follows in the footsteps of the best-selling, The Choice. The Waiting is in stores now and to celebrate Suzanne is hosting The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway.

One Grand Prize winner will receive a Kindle preloaded with Suzanne Woods Fisher titles and a Amazon.com gift certificate! The Prize Pack (valued at over $185.00) includes:
* A brand new KINDLE, Free 3G, 6", Latest Generation
* The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher
* The Waiting by Suzanne Woods Fisher
* A $15 dollar Amazon.com Gift Certificate

To enter, simply click on the icons below to fill out the entry form, then tell 5 or more friends about the contest.

Oh, and enter soon! Winner will be announced on 
October 28th at Suzanne's Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party.
Enter via E-mail Enter via Facebook Enter via Twitter

Join Suzanne for the 
Lancaster Secrets Book Club Party on October 28th! She'll be announcing the winner of the The Waiting KINDLE Giveaway, hosting a book club discussion of The Waiting and The Choice, and giving away copies of both books and HEAPs of readerly prizes! Be sure to join us on Thursday, October 28th at 5:00 PM PST (6:00 MST, 7:00 CST & 8 EST) at Suzanne's Author Page