New blog

Please see my new blog at www.theconfidenthope.com.

The Life-Ready Woman (giveaway and sweepstakes info)

Intentional and Purposeful Living. I frequently feel I am caught in the day-to-day that is life with four children ranging from 3 to 12. Reading "The Life Ready Woman; Thriving in a Do-it-all World" gave me an opportunity to do some self-examination that has been very beneficial. Hard at times, but beneficial all the same. This book, written by the best-selling author Shaunti-Feldhahn and Pastor Robert Lewis covers a LOT of territory, which proves being life-ready women is a process and requires intention. I believe a lot of women today are overwhelmed by all the possibilities and self-induced "pressures" of life, so we choose to just "ride the waves" instead of being intentional in our life decision- making and planning. This leads frequently to unattainable or unrealistic expectations that result in disappointment and disillusionment.

This is a book for women from every walk of life, whether single, married, widowed, divorced, working, stay-at-home mom and everything in-between. From the biblical purposes of man, woman and marriage, to considering and properly stewarding our giftings and aptitudes, and keeping our focus in the proper place and trusting God and managing fear, it is all in this book!



The book is well-researched and very mindful to point out what God's Word says about issues. There is also a DVD Bible Study series with study guides available.

This is a part of LifeReady, by Family Life today, an organization that provides high-impact video resources to prepare couples, parents, men and women to embrace God's best for their marriages, families, and lives.

Also check out MomLife Today

At MomLife Today you will enjoy community with real moms experiencing every age and every stage of MomLife—right alongside you.

Moms need friends we can walk through life with, but more importantly we need friends who will encourage us and equip us in our role as moms in an honest and transparent way … and that’s just what you’ll find by becoming part of our MomLife Today community! We believe that every MOMent counts!

We admit it, being a mom 24/7 is not easy. Rather than lament the role of motherhood, however, we choose to embrace that role and learn from each other how to make it through each day with the right attitude. Come share the joys, sorrows, insanity, and special moments of motherhood with us as we live it and candidly write about it…we’ll have lots of fun along the way! Join us, and do tell… What’s happening in your MomLife Today? www.momlifetoday.com

Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author(For Women Only), national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She and her husband live with their two children in Atlanta, Georgia.

Robert, Lewis is the visionary leader behind the Life Ready series of video studies. He is a pastor, best-selling author(Rocking the Roles:Building a Win-Win Marriage), and the founder of the popular Men's Fraternity Bible study movement. He and his wife have four grown children and live in Little Rock, Arkansas.

This copy was provided for review by Litfuse publicity. No other compensation was received.

I have a copy to giveaway. Please comment on this post by Friday, March 4 for a chance to win.

And
In celebration of Shaunti Feldhahn’s Life Ready Woman, MomLife Today is giving away 2 Weekend To Remember Gift Packs and much more!

Not only, is MomLife Today helping promote Life Ready Woman, but they are thrilled to announce that Shaunti will be joining MomLife Today as a regular contributor!!!

Weekend To Remember Get-Aways offer marriage-changing principles that you can take home and apply to your daily lives to strengthen your marriage. Whether you are newly engaged or have been married for 50 years, you will find value in the tools provided at the getaway.

Don’t miss this opportunity to receive a conference registration for you and your spouse … and more! MomLife Today will be randomly selecting NINE lucky recipients to receive one of these great gifts:

1. 2 Weekend To Remember Get Away conference registrations for two. $259 value each pair (Two couples will receive this.)
2. 2 Life Ready Woman DVD packs. $149 value each (Two different people will receive this gift.)
3. 5 The Life Ready Woman books. (Book will go to 5 people.)

To enter click one of the icons below then tell your friends. Winner will be announced on March 2nd on the MomLife Today website.

MomLife Today provides encouragement, advice and resources to help YOU with your daily Momlife! Because…every MOMent counts!

My Psalm 23 revelation today

I was at a "Lunch and Learn" study at church on Tuesday and we were challenged to read Psalm 23 daily and meditate on it.

I missed yesterday, and decided this morning to read it from the amplified version on Bible Gateway. I'd like to share verse 5 with you and the related footnote. I can't make it any better, so I won't try.

Psalm 23:5 "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my [brimming] cup runs over"


Footnote -

"It is difficult for those living in a temperate climate to appreciate, but it was customary in hot climates to anoint the body with oil to protect it from excessive perspiration. When mixed with perfume, the oil imparted a delightfully refreshing and invigorating sensation. Athletes anointed their bodies as a matter of course before running a race. As the body, therefore, anointed with oil was refreshed, invigorated, and better fitted for action, so the Lord would anoint His "sheep" with the Holy Spirit, Whom oil symbolizes, to fit them to engage more freely in His service and run in the way He directs--in heavenly fellowship with Him."

I hope this blesses you today as much as it did me!

Nightingale by Susan May Warren and contest info!

Actions have consequences. Sometimes when we make a "mistake", in our rush to "fix" what we have done, we actually make things worse. Esther Lange and Linus, her fiance, are dealing with the consequences of a hasty decision and are now in an engagement that they don't relish. This doesn't make waiting for his return from the frontlines any easier. She spends her time nursing GIs.

Esther receives a letter from a field medic, Peter, with a letter from Linus inside. Peter's letter informs Esther that Linus was mortally wounded and Linus's letter troubles her even further.

She continues corresponding with the medic and finds out he is a doctor at a station nearby. Esther makes a surprise visit. Esther is the one surprised. The medic isn't who he seems to be. Linus's family is pressuring Esther too. What choices will Esther make next?

Nightingale a stand alone in the series Brothers in Arms.

This was a real page turner for me. I liked the theme of redemption, for Esther, Linus, and her new medic friend. I also contemplated how people rush to judgment about others based on stereotypes, especially when fear is involved. Warren's books are always good, but this one is AMAZING!



Susan May Warren is the RITA award-winning author of twenty-four novels with Tyndale, Barbour and Steeple Hill. A four-time Christy award finalist, a two-time RITA Finalist, she’s also a multi-winner of the Inspirational Readers Choice award, and the ACFW Book of the Year.

Susan's larger than life characters and layered plots have won her acclaim with readers and reviewers alike. A seasoned women’s events and retreats speaker, she’s a popular writing teacher at conferences around the nation and the author of the beginning writer’s workbook: From the Inside-Out: discover, create and publish the novel in you!. She is also the founder of www.MyBookTherapy.com, a story-crafting service that helps authors discover their voice.

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota , where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!) A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.


This book was provided for review by Litfuse Publicity Group.

Check out what others are saying about the book!

You can buy the book here!

The Letters From Home Giveaway!

Enter the Contest: Nightingale is about letters, the power of written correspondence to convey thoughts and emotions to those far away. And sometimes near. Letters are forever, they are something we savor and pull out to read again and again. They are often cherished and kept in a special place.


To celebrate the release of Nightingale, Susan would like you to write a letter. One grand prize winner will receive a Flip HD Camcorder. 5 runner's up winners will win a signed copy of Nightingale. There are two ways to enter the contest by writing letters.

1. Write a letter to a soldier. At the end of the contest we’ll print out and mail your letter for you.

2. Write a letter to a friend, loved one, family member, enemy. Tell them something you wished you’d told them before. Tell them you love them, or maybe how they touched your life. Perhaps an apology is in order or a thank you. Or perhaps you'd like to relate a funny tale or just share life. Whatever it is, submit it here along with your email address and we’ll send it for you.

Enter here or at the SHARE page on the Brothers in Arms website. Or simply click on the button to the right.

City on our Knees

Comfort zone. Is it a good thing? We all like comfortable because it is easy. No risk. But no risk, no gain. "Stepping across the line" can yield great profit to us and to others. City on our knees by TobyMac is a collection of biographical sketches of people who have risked comfortable, people who have erased the divisions to reach for unity, individuals and groups that have prayed and depended on God to achieve more than they could in their own strength. If you are looking for inspiration for yourself or a teen in your life, encouragement that one life used by God can make a difference, this is your book!



TobyMac is a Grammy Award-winning artist, producer, and songwriter. First known as part of the popular group dc Talk throughout the 1990s, he launched a solo career in 2001 and has since won numerous awards, earned three certified gold albums, and had six No. 1 CHR singles. "City on Our Knees," the inspiration for this book spent thirteen weeks as Billboard's No. 1 Christian song. TobyMac's previous books include Jesus Freaks (with dc Talk) and Under God (with Michael Tait and WallBuilders). TobyMac is married, with five children, and makes his home near Nashville, Tennessee.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Strategically Small

Bigger is better. The trend in church thinking in the 90s. The megachurch. But is it true? I know that personally I have been in several church homes. An extremely large one growing up, an extremely small one thru my teens and early 20s and then a mid-sized/smallish church from my mid 20s thru today (mid 30s). I have experienced the large church that allows people to "hide" or take advantage of church programs and services. I have been in the small church that needed all its members to pull off an event. I know it comes down to a personal preference.

In reading The Strategically Small Church, I was amazed at how much it identifies my personal feelings about a church home. While the book is meant for pastors and ministry leaders (I do not belong to either group), I felt the author expressed much of what I would like pastors to know. O'Brien discussed the trend to authenticity as a standard for gen Xers. I know this rings true for me. I cannot stand "fake". He mentions that our generation is "suspicious, sarcastic and unimpressed". Not flattering, but true. We want "genuine" and all the mess that surrounds it. Small churches tend toward the ability for more authentic relationships and faith.

The book also discusses church programming, the attitude of consumerism, the training up of other leaders, the equipping of the congregation and the benefit of the intergenerational church. I particularly agreed with the idea of the church being a "family", especially for those alone, or separated from family. I agree with the idea of eliminating age-based groups and encouraging interaction/groups irregardless of age.

Ideal resource for pastors and ministry directors!

Brandon J. O'Brien is editor-at-large for Leadership Journal and their poular blog, Out of Ur. He holds an MA in church history from Wheaton College and served as pastor of two small congregations. Bradon lives with his wife in the western suburbs of Cchicago, where he is a doctoral student in church history at Trinity Evangelical Divinity school.

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.

Don't Kiss Him Good-bye (London Confidential series)

Reviewing books targeted to the young adult market encourages me. Especially when they are filled with themes that revolve around making good decisions.



Savvy Smith has been transplanted from the U.S. to London. In addition to trying to find her place in a new peer group, she is also overcoming cultural differences. The May Day Ball is a tradition at this British school. Everyone who is anyone goes to the dance and it seems to Savvy that everyone else has a date. Her list of prospective dates begins to dwindle. When she finally believes she has met someone, she is warned about his propensity to be trouble. Will she bypass her uneasy feelings and compromise? Is this the end of the world? Where does personal identity and self-worth come from? Can we find joy in life when it seems like nothing is working for us?

The written word has such a great opportunity to convey messages and this book is no different. I love Sandra Byrd and her sweet and refreshing humor as well as the details regarding fashion and pop culture. I didn't enjoy this third installment quite as much as the first two because I felt it was lighter on revealing the character's thought process and Savvy's thinking is so encompassed by "boy-craziness", although it is probably more accurate to real-life for many of today's teens.

If you have been reading the blog for any length of time, I introducted you to the London Confidential Series a few months ago. If you want to read the reviews of Books 1 & 2 in the series, you can do that here.


Best-selling author Sandra Byrd has published nearly three dozen books in the Christian market, including her latest series, French Twist, which includes the Christy finalist Let Them Eat Cake (2007) and its sequel, Bon Appétit (2008). Many of her acclaimed fiction and nonfiction books target the tween and young adult market. She has also published a book for new moms entitled Heartbeats. Several of Sandra's shorter works appear in periodical markets such as Relevant, Clubhouse, Pockets, Decision, and Guideposts. For the past seven years, she has shared her secrets with the many students she mentors through the Christian Writers Guild. Before turning to full-time writing, Sandra was an acquisitions editor in the ABA market. She lives in the Seattle, Washington, area with her husband and two children.


This book was provided by Tyndale for review.

The Waiting

Sometimes the simple life isn't all that simple. All women are self-conscious and want to believe we are wanted and beautiful.

It isn't any different for main character Jorie King in Suzanne Woods Fisher's new novel, The Waiting. She is waiting for Ben Zook to "find" himself, settle down and finally join the Faith. News that Ben Zook has been killed reaches home and the community has to find a way to move on with life. Jorie finds comfort in friendship with Caleb, Ben's brother whose wife has recently died. Until an unlikely thing happens.....

OR not so unlikely. I could see this "twist" coming from early on in the book. Even though I wasn't surprised, I did enjoy the book. It was a sweet tale of a timid girl that doesn't think she is beautiful or that anyone else could ever choose her either. Doesn't that girl reside in all of us? AND, you know my affinity for Amish fiction, especially when it doesn't involve a buggy accident as the plot climax.

This book was provided for review by Litfuse Publicity with no compensation.


About Suzanne Woods Fisher : Suzanne Woods Fisher is the CBA bestselling author of The Choice, The Waiting, Amish Peace, and Amish Proverbs. Her interest in the Anabaptist cultures can be directly traced to her grandfather, W. D. Benedict, who was raised in the Old Order German Baptist Brethren Church in Franklin County, Pennsylvania. Benedict eventually became publisher of Christianity Today magazine. Suzanne is the host of a radio show called Amish Wisdom and her work has appeared in many magazines. She lives in California . Find out more about Suzanne at www.suzannewoodsfisher.com


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.

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. 

The Healer's Apprentice - YA

Having a 12-year-old that is a voracious reader presents challenges. I want to know what she is reading, but I cannot read everything she reads, at least if I want to get anything else done. So I have to rely on authors that are reliable and recommendations of others. I was pleased to be "introduced" to to Melanie Dickerson and her first novel The Healer's Apprentice by a close friend.



I was told this book was a retelling of the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale and so I started reading it with some preconceived notions. I wasn't sure that a tweak here and there to a fairy tale I knew well would keep my interest. Good thing this book was SO much more than just a tweak. I could not put it down! I read it all in one sitting! In the author interview she mentions what started her idea for this book. I loved the idea that she considered the prince and his sense of duty and responsibility, an idea that the author incorporates masterfully into her retelling. Worth a look for YA market AND older (like mid-30ish, like me!)

I can't wait to read more from this author in the future!

This book was provided for review by the author and Zondervan.

Love Finds You.....

in Victory Heights Washington!



WWII was an intense time. I wasn't around during the time period, but my grandmother has shared her experience. She was part of a high school class of four. Three boys and herself. When the boys quit high school to go to war, she decided to quit too and work in the factory. (She went back later and finished.) Her brothers fought in the war too.

My grandmother's story has always interested me. As I read this book, I pictured my grandmother in the factory working and doing her part to help in the war effort. It was emotional.

If you love WWII historical novels, this is the bittersweet tale of Rosalie and the loss of her fiance to war. She does her part for the war effort by working as a riveter in the local Boeing plant. She finds herself thrust into the limelight as Seattle's own "Rosie the Riveter" by an aspiring reporter. Will she allow herself to move on and open herself to love?

Tricia Goyer is the award-winning author of more than a dozen novels. She and her husband have four children and live in Arkansas. Oceanna Fleiss is a published author and editor. She lives with her husband and their four children in the Seattle area. This is the authors' second book together.

This book was provided for review by Litfuse.

Beginning homeschooling fears

I start Monday homeschooling my seventh grade daughter. I am terrified! Of what? A pre-adolescent? Really? I had to deal with lots of those in my time....

No, that isn't it. I am terrified of screwing up my child. I am prepared, I think.... I started researching curriculum over a year ago. I went to the local conference and didn't miss a session. I interviewed other homeschooling moms. I researched public/private school options in our area. I checked into what the course of study was in the public schools. I bought curriculum (chasing down bargains). Most importantly, I prayed and I know this is God's best will for my child right now.

Am I qualified? I don't know. Am I up to the challenge? I can do all things through Christ that strengthens me!! That doesn't mean that fear isn't trying to seep in. It is a daily battle.

And honestly, I am a little selfish! Yep. I admitted it. While I look forward to spending time with her, I can't help but feel like I am cut off. I can't commit to a library storytime with my preschooler. I can't commit to a daytime bible study. I can't commit to a MOPS group. Feeling a little alone.....

But I KNOW that this is God's will and His will is always greater than we can ever imagine. I KNOW that I only have so much time left to impart great things to this child before she thinks I am an ignorant lunatic. I know that my ultimate responsibility is to be the parent God has called me to be. Being a mom is the best way to beat out our selfishness. It is always a sacrifice. This is just one more of those ways. It doesn't compare to the sacrifice that my Heavenly Father made for me.

Do me a favor? Just check in on me from time to time and help me to remember....

I was recently reading a book in which a character mentioned that anxiety is rooted in fear and that if you have complete faith in God, there is no fear. Anxiety is defined as distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. Anxiety sets in if we try to control things ourselves and don't rely on God's provision. Guilty here more frequently than I'd like to admit.


A few years ago I was put on an anti-anxiety drug. A secondary usuage was for nerve pain, which I was diagnosed with. Later, the doctor told me he put me on the drugs because I seemed anxious during a visit. I was. I wonder what was his first clue? The woman crying the uncontrollable ugly cry? I don't know if the pain I was having was intensified by the anxiety or not. I wasn't on the drug long. I didn't like how it made me feel "foggy". Do I still struggle with anxiety? Yes. Absolutely. So I find studying these scriptures helps. I hope they help someone else tonight too.

Ps 27:1 - The Lord is my Light and my salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, whom shall I fear?

Ps 34:4 I sought the Lord and He answered me; He delivered me from all my fears.

Ps 46:1-3 God is our refuge and strength,
an ever-present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way
and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam
and the mountains quake with their surging.
Selah

Proverbs 3:23-26 Then you will go on your way in safety,
and your foot will not stumble;
when you lie down, you will not be afraid;
when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet.
Have no fear of sudden disaster
or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked,
for the LORD will be your confidence
and will keep your foot from being snared.


1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.

He is that perfect love! Let Him comfort you and take away your fear!

Too much

Sometimes I talk too much. I know this is surprising (NOT!). I have hurt some people and disappointed others with my words and thoughts lately. Yep, the thoughts too, because thoughts become words, and words become atttudes, and attitudes dictate actions. So, if you are one of these people, I'm sorry! I need to learn when to keep my mouth shut, and to think on things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and praiseworthy. (See Phillipians 4:8)

School Supplies

It's that time of the year again! School supply shopping! Everyone has a different approach. Personally, I try to salvage as much as possible from last years supplies with a couple of exceptions.

The kids always get a new box of markers, colored pencils and crayons. Nothing beats the new box of crayons with their perfectly sharpened tips and it's like buying happiness in a box for a quarter!

I also buy supplies in October (as they are clearancing out overstock) for next year. Folders, binders, lunchboxes, backpacks, ink pens, pencils, etc. all keep in storage well. The key is to remember where you store them!

My least favorite thing in shopping for supplies is going to multiple stores, but sometimes it can't be helped. Stores don't always stock everything. Like Art gum erasers! Wal-mart and Target take note!

I need to make a trip to Hobby Lobby to pick up the last few things for my homeschooler's enrichment day program, but for the most part, I am done.

On to the next task.....

Giving back (a lesson for me in gratitude)

It's so easy for me to get wrapped up in the daily life. Get up, make the coffee, get kiddos dressed, throw in the laundry (sometimes grumbling about how it never stops), yell at kids to do dishes, go to grocery store, etc. (You get the idea). Worrying about shallow things like who doesn't like me this week. Bad news all around us - unemployment rates, gas prices, grocery prices....

I've decided that I want to teach my children (and myself) that we are blessed beyond measure. That our "problems" could be much different and wider in scope. We have food to eat (good food too!), we have more than enough clothes to wear (though some of us may not be as stylish as we want!), we have a nice home with a nice bed to sleep in, we have clean water to drink.

When complaints arise about any of these things (from me as much as the children), I want to remember those who have less. Like the children in Africa. I don't say that as a guilt trip like moms that want their children to eat their brussels sprouts. I want to inspire gratefulness in my own heart as well as those of my children. I also want to live as those "to whom much is given, much is required." So I jumped at the opportunity to get involved with Kristen at We Are That Family and her Do it For Others Project for July. I volunteered as a seamstress to create dresses for Little Dresses for Africa out of pillowcases and supplies sent in by readers of the We Are That Family blog.

I created 10 dresses with the supplies I received with the help of my 12 year old and 10 year old daughters.



Here are some of our favorites.











This gave me an opportunity to dwell on how blessed I truly am and to thank God for His many blessings in my life. Gratitude is the key to a soft heart. Realizing what we have versus the ambition to always acquire more, new, better.....

It has also given me a door to discussion with my children. My 3 year old repeatedly asked when HER dresses would be finished and I was able to talk with her about how some of these children only have 1 dress and how thankful they will be to receive these.

I am resolved to continue to be an example of God's Love. AND to teach my children to do the same. It's the right thing to do.

Shades of Morning

Regrets. Do we all have them? Do we learn to move past them? Or gather them up and try to sweep them under the rug?

Marnie writes her regrets on slips of paper and slips them into a box. She ran from the life she once had and has created a new life. Bookstore/coffeeshop owner, a quiet and solitary life. Unexpectedly, Marnie is entrusted with the care of her sister's son, who has Down Syndrome. This development opens the door to her past. Her past love, mistakes and finally, healing.

Marlo Shalesky doesn't write this book with a typical storyline. I am not giving it away, either. While parts of the book may follow a typical plot, surprises are in store. It was a delightful and emotional read.

She Walks in Beauty

I know I rave about books, but this has to be one of my favorites in quite some time. This book was set in the late 1800s in New York City. Clara Carter is an innocent young girl in good societal circles. Her mother passed when she was young and she has been taught by a governess for several years. When she is seventeen, her aunt appears and informs her that she will be "debuting" this season. (For those of you who don't know, as I didn't, that means she was a debutant, attending balls and parties simply to find a suitable match. Clara has been told she doesn't have a choice. She "must" win the "heir" by any means necessary. Her best friend is her competition. Clara's innocence is robbed and her eyes opened during the process. She is introduced to a world where appearances are of the utmost importance and "truth" is inconvenient. Will she follow her heart or her family's wishes? Does she even have a choice? Is it true that God loves her just the way she is? Does anyone else?

Siri Mitchell's historical fiction is just phenomenal! Every time I read one, it makes me want to research more about the time period and situations presented. If you haven't read any of her work, be sure to check out The Constant Heart in addition to this one. She weaves a story so masterfully that is spellbinds this reader. I have the hardest time putting her books down to feed my family! Her characters are amazing. They come to life within the pages. She also has a tremendous ability to maneuver twists and turns that keep the reader enchanted and guessing until the end of the book. Bravo!!

Mitchell has written eight novels, two of which (Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door) were named Christy Award finalists. A graduate from the University of Washington with a business degree, she has worked in many levels of government and lived on three continents. Siri and her family currently reside in the Washington, D.C., metro area.

what's worse?

Being sunburnt all over OR being sunburnt in little patches only where you missed applying sunscreen?

I'll spare you the scary photos.

Hearts Awakening

Being comfortable in life sometimes causes people to be lazy. Desperation however can be a very powerful motivator. Elvira Kilmer is desperate. She has no hope of ever having a family of her own. She has to find work to keep from being on the streets and being destitute. She finds a widower, Jackson, who needs a housekeeper and someone to take care of his young sons. Elvira is plain. Jackson is handsome. Jackson also has a secret about his former wife. Will Elvira accept a most unusual arrangement? Will Jackson and Elvira find peace?

The book seems very formulaic. Girl is destitute. Man needs help. They meet. Make an arrangement.... blah, blah, blah.

I have to admit I wasn't impressed. It was a book. Something to read. I wish a better something. I read a quote somewhere last week (I wish I remember where) that said something to the effect of "When a scene becomes boring, make the characters fight over something..." The author of this book, Delia Parr seems to employ that strategy, and the characters fight a lot.

Not my favorite.


This book was provided for review by Bethany House publishers.

Sixteen Brides

The year is 1871. Several widows answer an ad in a shop window for women who want to take control of their own destiny. Mr. Hamilton Drake of Dawon County NE, the organizer of the Ladies Emigration Society was in St. Louis to help women acquire Land in their own name. Does Mr. Drake truly have their best interests at heart? What will happen to the women when they discover his ulterior motives?

This book takes on an ambitiously large cast of characters. While several turn out to be minor, there are still five major women characters. Surprisingly, they are not really all that hard to keep separated. Each women has her story. Some are running from their past, some are desperate, some looking for a fresh start. Lives are changed, friendships found in unlikely places and romance discovered. It is a sweet and easily read novel. It was easy to pick up, but not a compelling page turner. It would make for a great summer beach read.

Stephanie Grace Whitson, bestselling author and two-time Christy finalist, pursues a full-time writing and speaking career from her home studio in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her husband and blended family, her church, quilting, and Kitty-her motorcycle-all rank high on her list of "favorite things".

This book was provided for review by Bethany House Publishers.