Give Thanks!

Blessings to you on this Thanksgiving Day!

Wednesday Hodgepodge, Thanksgiving Edition

It's been a couple of busy weeks, but I'm finally getting an opportunity to check back in with Joyce for the Wednesday Hodgepodge!


1.What's something you wish you knew how to do, but feel like it's too late to learn?

Well, I don't know that it's too late to learn a lot of things, but time and priorities are a huge constraint. I can sew decently but wish I were more adept.

2. Your least favorite thing to shop for? Why?

Pants or jeans. Finding the right length combined with waist and a comfortable rise is a total hassle.

3. How has the celebration of Thanksgiving today changed from when you were growing up?

Not sure if Joyce means culturally or personally. For me personally, this is the third year I have worked Thanksgiving Day and then had the rest of the weekend off. That just works better than the reverse because it gives me the most time with my kids when they are home from college.

4. What's something that when other people see it, reminds them of you? Explain.

Puns and grammar things. I am a word geek through and through!

5. If you could guest star in a TV show, what would it be and why?

Wheel of Fortune. Of course, I know it's harder when you're on the show, but I usually do pretty good on the puzzles.

6. Have you ever farmed or spent any time on a farm? Are there farm stands in your little corner of the world and do you make it a point to shop there? If so, what item do you particularly like to buy from a roadside stand or farm shop?

Nix on the farming. I am a city girl through and through. But I love Central Texas peaches fresh from the orchards!

7. What's something you've experienced recently that made you feel a sense of awe or wonder?

Seeing God's hand in situations and being reminded of His faithfulness.

8. Insert your own random thought here.

The recipe came from one of my grandmothers and it absolutely spoiled me for any other type of spiced tea or wassail. And it's really not hard to make.

SPICED TEA
1 tsp. whole cloves
1 1/2 inch stick cinnamon
3 quarts water
2 large tea bags
Juice of 3 oranges
Juice of 1 1/2 lemons
1 c. sugar

Place spices in a spice ball, add to water, and bring to a boil. Remove from heat, add tea bags, and steep. Heat juices and sugar and add to tea. Mix well and serve hot. Makes 3 quarts.

The Christmas Bell Tolls

The Christmas Bell Tolls
Robin Caroll
(RC Productions)
ASIN: B0179YKITW
November 2015/142 pages/$2.99
Abducted!

As a seasoned FBI agent, Darren Timmons has seen it all, but when his precious daughter Savannah is abducted from a Christmas wedding party, she quickly becomes the only case that ever mattered. As she is lost somewhere out in the big, dark world of Memphis’ underbelly without her inhaler or her medication, Darren is forced to sit on the sidelines of the investigation and put his faith in the one woman he’s not sure he can trust.

DNA Serologist Eva Langston is still nursing the sting of a breakup from her romance with Darren. Eva doesn’t know if she has the strength to assist when she’s called in to work the case of Darren’s missing little girl. When her name is listed as a possible suspect in the abduction, Eva wants nothing more than to escape, but she can’t bear to leave Darren alone in his desperate search for the little girl she came to love.

As the clock ticks on Savannah’s medical needs, Darren and Eva must work together and learn to trust again, to bring the little girl home. Can their search for Savannah help them find true love again?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

“I love boxing. I love Hallmark movies. I love fishing. I love scrapbooking. Nope, I've never fit into the boxes people have wanted to put me in.” ~Robin Caroll is definitely a contradiction, but one that beckons you to get to know her better.

Born and raised in Louisiana, Robin is a southerner through and through. Her passion has always been to tell stories to entertain others. When she isn’t writing, Robin spends time with her husband of twenty-five-plus years, her three beautiful daughters and two handsome grandsons, and their character-filled pets at home—in the South, where else?

She serves the writing community as Executive Director/Conference Director for ACFW. Her twenty-five books have finaled/placed in such contests as the Carol Award, Holt Medallion, Daphne du Maurier, RT Reviewer's Choice Award, Bookseller's Best, and Book of the Year.

MY THOUGHTS

A suspense by Robin Caroll is a must-read for me, and she once again delivers in The Christmas Bell Tolls. Since it's a novella, the action moves especially quick, which is good for my heart since it involves a kidnapped little girl! Caroll is an expert at character development and plot pacing, not to mention hold-your-breath moments. Even if I weren't a fast reader, I still would have read this in one sitting; it's not a story to read a couple of chapters and then lay aside for a few days. Don't miss The Christmas Bell Tolls!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from Robin Caroll and RC Productions. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Every Girl Gets Confused

Every Girl Gets Confused
A Brides with Style Novel
Janice Thompson
(Revell)
ISBN: 9780800724009
October 2015/336 pages/$13.99
How can she choose between the love she thought she lost and the love she stumbled upon in the aftermath?

Katie Fisher and Brady James may be a match made in heaven, but that doesn't seem to guarantee them a happily ever after accompanied by angelic choirs. Katie's almost-fiancé Casey is back in Fairfield, ready to rekindle their relationship. And there's nothing Katie's parents want more than for their small-town girl to leave Dallas and come home for good.

But can she really leave Brady behind? And will she ever be able to wear that gorgeous wedding dress she won?


Read an excerpt.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Janice Thompson is a seasoned romance author and screenwriter. An expert at pulling the humor from the situations we get ourselves into, Thompson offers an inside look at the wedding business, drawing on her own experiences as a wedding planner. She is the author of the hugely popular Weddings by Bella series, the Backstage Pass series, and the Weddings by Design series, as well as Every Bride Needs a Groom. She lives in Texas. Learn more at www.janiceathompson.com.


MY THOUGHTS

Janice Thompson's novels are pure fun. I loved the first Brides with Style novel, Every Bride Needs a Groom (my review is here), and this one is just as charming. While Every Girl Gets Confused can be read as a stand-alone, it is that much more enjoyable having read the first one. Katie is adorable, and I appreciate her love and commitment to her family--with all of its eccentricities--even as she enjoyed the bit of distance and independence that moving the almost-ninety miles to Dallas gave her. Janice Thompson once again delights with this romance filled with engaging characters (no pun intended!) and brimming with Texas-sized love and laughter. Don't miss it!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Revell Publishing. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

CFBA - Hand-Me-Down Princess

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingHand Me Down PrincessCANDID Publications (August 31, 2015)byCarol Moncado
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

When she’s not writing about her imaginary friends, Carol Moncado is hanging out with her husband, four kids, and a dog who weighs less than most hard cover books. She prefers watching NCIS to just about anything, except maybe watching Castle, or Girl Meets World with her kids. She believes peanut butter M&Ms are the perfect food and Dr. Pepper should come in an IV. When not watching her kids – and the dog – race around her big backyard in Southwest Missouri, she’s teaching American Government at a local community college. She’s a founding member and President of MozArks ACFW, category coordinator for First Impressions, blogger at InspyRomance, and represented by Tamela Hancock Murray of The Steve Laube Agency.

 ABOUT THE BOOK

Prince Malachi Van Renssalaer of Mevendia is getting married. The problem? He’s never even met his bride. His father arranged everything, right down to the marriage contract. Malachi swears to himself that he will be nothing like his father in the ways that count - including his fidelity to his wife.

Jessabelle Keller would happily spend her entire life in obscurity, but her father once saved the life of a future king. Before he dies, her father is committed to seeing that king make good on his promise to have one of his sons marry her so she would be taken care of for life.

No sooner than Prince Malachi and Jessabelle return from their honeymoon, they find themselves dealing with both private trauma and the very public drama of groundless accusations from the press. Just as they begin to weave their fragile trust back together, a ghost from the king’s past arrives and threatens everything they’ve ever held dear.

Secrets have a funny way of coming out and this one could rip the faith of the country in their leaders to shreds. Malachi is determined to protect Jessabelle no matter what it takes, but will it ever be enough for her to not feel like a Hand-Me-Down Princess?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Hand Me Down Princess, go HERE.


MY THOUGHTS

Stories abound of arrange marriages, but Carol Moncado gives a new and unusual twist to this one, and the result is a charming read that I couldn't put down. It would be hard enough to start an arranged marriage without ever meeting your intended; doing so in the "fish bowl" of a palace with overbearing parents/in-laws would be nearly impossible! Moncado creates a host of characters that leap off the pages of this fascinating tale. Jessabelle and Chi immediately garnered my affection and sympathies. Plenty of tension and obstacles for this sweet couple thread throughout the story, but none as great as the unforeseen twist near the end! Don't miss this incredible novel; just be sure you have some uninterrupted time before you start reading! Highly recommended.

An Endless Christmas

An Endless Christmas
Cynthia Ruchti
(Worthy Inspired)
ISBN: 978-1617955877
October 2015/240 pages/Hardcover/$15.99
Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster.

Christmas takes a very different turn when the guests of honor break up instead of announcing their engagement. Trapped with his family, they learn that love looks different than either imagined. Both in their eighties, Dodie and Wilson Binder celebrate every Christmas as if it were their last. This year, their grandson Micah is planning to ask his girlfriend, Katie, to marry him so they can celebrate with the whole family. But things go very wrong when she says, “no.” Now they are stuck. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Drawing from 33 years of on-air radio ministry, Cynthia Ruchti tells stories of hope-that-glows-in-the-dark through her novels and novellas, nonfiction books and devotionals, and speaking for women’s and writers’ events. Her books have been recognized by Romantic Times Reviewers’ Choice Awards, Selah Awards, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, Christian Retailing’s BEST Awards, and Carol Award nominations, among other honors, including a Family Fiction Readers’ Choice Award. She and her plot-tweaking husband live in Pittsville, Wisconsin, not far from their three children and five grandchildren.
Find out more about Cynthia at http://www.cynthiaruchti.com.



MY THOUGHTS

I always eagerly anticipate curling up with a novel by Cynthia Ruchti and, once again, she delights with this latest release. Ruchti specializes in finding hope among chaos, and there is certainly plenty of chaos in this tiny house crammed with family! I wanted to wrap Katie up in a big hug. I can't imagine being in her situation but am impressed with how she persevered. The entire Binder clan wrapped itself around my heart, especially those dear grandparents. Beautiful lessons of life, love, and family are tucked in this gem of a story. This is a book to be read and reread every year. Don't miss it, and remember to treasure each moment!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Worthy Inspired Publishing and Litfuse Publicity Group as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

There's no getting out of Christmas now, despite Katie rejecting Micah's marriage proposal. Cozy up this holiday season with Cynthia Ruchti's new novella, An Endless Christmas. The Binder family celebrates every Christmas as if it were their last. Too many people, too much snow, and too little room should be a recipe for disaster. But sometimes too much is just enough. Especially when it’s Christmas.

Celebrate the holidays with Cynthia and An Endless Christmas by entering her $100 Target gift card giveaway!

 

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A copy of An Endless Christmas
• A $100 gift card to Target

Enter today by clicking the icon below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 30th. The winner will be announced December 1st on Cynthia's blog.

The Five Times I Met Myself

The Five Times I Met Myself
James L. Rubart
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-1401686116
November 2015/400 pages/$15.99

What if you met your twenty-three-year-old self in a dream? What would you say?

Brock Matthews’ once promising life is unraveling. His coffee company. His marriage.

So when he discovers his vivid dreams—where he encounters his younger self—might let him change his past mistakes, he jumps at the chance. The results are astonishing, but also disturbing.

Because getting what Brock wants most in the world will force him to give up the one thing he doesn’t know how to let go . . . and his greatest fear is that it’s already too late.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

James L. Rubart is a professional marketer and speaker. He is the author of the best-selling novel Rooms as well as Book of Days, The Chair, Soul’s Gate, Memory’s Door, and Spirit Bridge. He lives with his wife and sons in the Pacific Northwest.

Find out more about James L. at http://jameslrubart.com.



MY THOUGHTS

Once again, James L. Rubart has written a book that wrapped itself around my mind and made me think. This is not a rehash of Back to the Future but a serious look at what might happen if a man decided to "fix" his current circumstances by convincing his twenty-three-year-old self (through lucid dreams) to make different decisions. If, like me, you are a little hesitant at the idea of lucid dreams, don't let that stop you from reading this incredible story. Those are simply the vehicle Rubart uses within the novel (as opposed to Marty McFly's DeLorean!) to move Brock between his present and his past. Rubart creates gripping scenes with poignant family dynamics that pulled me into the story and kept glued to the pages. This is not a casual read, as I had to pay close attention to know what reality Brock was in. The ending was worth the "work," however, and this is another masterpiece by Rubart of God's redemption and grace. A must-read!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson and Litfuse Publicity Group as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rescuing Finley

Rescuing Finley
A Forever Home Novel
Dan Walsh
(Bainbridge Press)
November 2015/250 pages
Amy Wallace has made plenty of mistakes in her young life, but she didn’t see this one coming. Chris Seger is a marine serving in Afghanistan. His life is forever altered by a single, fateful step. A mother of another Afghan war vet suffers a devastating loss, which changes the course of Finley’s life for good. Finley is a mostly golden retriever, who suddenly finds himself alone and confused in a dog shelter. Later, he’s brought to a local prison to be trained in a special program for female inmates. Could this prison actually become the place where Finley finally finds his freedom? Rescuing Finley tells the story of how one rescue dog powerfully impacts three tragic lives and puts all of them on a road toward redemption and healing.

Dan Walsh is known for page-turning, character driven novels. Fans of Dan’s other novels, as well as dog-lovers everywhere will especially enjoy Rescuing Finley. Available in print and ebook on November 19.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Dan Walsh is the bestselling author of several books, including The Unfinished Gift and The Restoration Series with Gary Smalley. He has won three Carol Awards, and three of his novels were finalists for the RT Book Reviews Inspirational Book of the Year. A member of American Christian Fiction Writers, Dan served as a pastor for twenty-five years. He lives with his wife in the Daytona Beach area, where he's busy researching and writing his next novel. Learn more at www.danwalshbooks.com.


MY THOUGHTS

I'm not a fan of dogs but I love Dan Walsh's books, so I immediately jumped at the chance to review his new novel, Rescuing Finley. While you shouldn't always judge a book by its cover, I can vouch for the fact that the story is as heartwarming as the outside of this novel. The initial chapters are a bit disjointed, the result of introducing the characters in their separate environments before their lives intertwined, but once the story picks up speed, the continuity smooths out and I was completely engrossed in the tale. This is a tug-at-your-heart book which will leave you smiling and even shedding a tear or two along the way. Walsh is an expert at crafting stories that warm your heart and touch your soul without being syrupy and overly sentimental. I look forward to the next two Forever Home novels, Saving Parker and Finding Riley, coming in 2016. Don't miss Rescuing Finley!


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a digital copy of this book free from Dan Walsh. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

Rest Assured

Rest Assured:
A Recovery Plan for Weary Souls
Vicki Courtney
(Thomas Nelson)
ISBN: 978-0849964923
November 2015/224 pages/$15.99
“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest” (Matt. 11:28)

Women are overcommitted, overconnected, overburdened, and overwhelmed. Their lives are full, but oddly, their souls are empty. They are aching for a bold challenge—one that will bring rest to their longing souls. Rest Assured is for the daring women who truly want to disrupt their current patterns and see lasting change.

Divided into two parts, Rest Assured offers not just an intervention:

• The Badge of Busyness
• The Exhausting Pursuit of Happiness
• Tethered Souls
• Worried Sick

But also a recovery plan:

• Prioritize the One Thing Needed: Time for God
• Create Room to Breathe: Time for Solitude
• Give Yourself a Break: Time for Leisure
• Pay It Forward: Time for Others

If the soul is weary, it’s time for an intervention. Rest Assured is not a quick fix, but rather a bold challenge that aids women in identifying the negative patterns that prevent them from experiencing rest in their souls. Most importantly, it will give them the tools needed to break the cycle.

A “Rest Stop” challenge is included at the end of each chapter for use in Bible studies and book clubs. Bonus material includes a 30-Day Restitution Plan and 100 Ways to Give It a Rest.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Vicki Courtney is a national speaker to women of all ages and the best-selling author of many books and Bible studies including 5 Conversations You Must Have with Your Daughter and Ever After. Vicki and her husband, Keith, have three grown children, a son-in-love, two daughters-in-love, and two amazing grandsons. Visit her website to learn more.



MY THOUGHTS

Are you weary? Do you feel like your To Do List is managing you instead of the other way around? Then this book is for you. Vicki Courtney invites women everywhere to toss the badge of busyness and find the rest we all so desperately need. In her frank and authentic style, Vicki shares her own journey of overcommitment and the havoc it wreaked on her soul and her life. In fact, she peels back the curtain and provides examples of situations that occurred even as she wrote the book and how she is becoming intentional about creating margin in her life. As someone who has recently stepped away from several of my own commitments to decrease the stress level in my life, I found this book to be encouraging and inspiring. This book can be read straight through, used for individual reflection, or studied in a small group setting. With its highly practical suggestions for implementing the concepts and suggestions, Rest Assured is a book to be read, reread, and put into practice. Preoder your copy today; you can Rest Assured that you won't regret it! Releasing in stores and online November 17.


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a copy of this book free from Harper Collins/Thomas Nelson BookLook Bloggers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

A Father's Second Chance

This week, theChristian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducingA Father's Second ChanceLove Inspired (July 21, 2015)
byMindy Obenhaus
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Word from the Author: To steal a line from Donny and Marie, I’m a little bit country, a little bit rock-n-roll. I’m trapped in the city, but prefer the country or the mountains.

I love Jesus, my family, and just about anything sweet.

I believe Jesus died for my sins, rose three days later, and will one day return. He has carried me through some of my darkest hours. Without faith in Him, I would be nowhere.

I have a penchant for chocolate, clothes, and shoes. When I’m not penning romance novels, I enjoy cooking, decorating and shopping.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Businesswoman Celeste Thompson has one goal: to make her restaurant and hotel a success. She doesn't need any distractions, even from handsome contractor Gage Purcell and his two adorable little girls. Besides, single dad Gage is just biding his time before a big job at the mines comes through. But as Celeste's project springs to life, their arguments transform into attraction. Gage isn't looking for romance, especially not with another career-driven woman like his ex-wife. But openhearted Celeste is more than just another work-consumed client. She might just be his happily-ever-after.

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Father's Second Chance, go HERE.

MY THOUGHTS

What's not to love about a story with two precious little girls who need a mommy? Although the outcome is a foregone conclusion in this Love Inspired romance, Mindy Obenhaus has created a fresh and heart-warming story that pulled me in from the opening pages. This is a quick read that will make you smile.

Another Way Home

Another Way Home
A Chicory Inn Novel (Book 3)
Deborah Raney
(Abingdon Press)
ISBN: 978-1426770456
October 2015/304 pages/$14.99
Sometimes God’s ways are not at all what we expect . . . and exactly what we need.

Grant and Audrey are adding grandchildren to their family left and right, but middle daughter, Danae, and her husband, Dallas Brooks, have been trying for years with no baby in sight.

Though Danae is ready to consider adoption, Dallas will not even discuss it. Despairing of ever having a family of her own, Danae decides to pour her passion and energies into volunteer work with a newly opened women’s shelter in town. Looking for a good cause to fill her lonely days, she never expects to give her heart to the hurting women she meets there. She’s finally learning to live her life with gratitude, but then heart-wrenching events on Thanksgiving weekend threaten to pull the entire Whitman clan into turmoil—and leave them all forever changed.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Deborah Raney’s books have won numerous awards, including the RITA, National Readers Choice Award, HOLT Medallion, and the Carol Award, and have twice been Christy Award finalists. She and her husband, Ken, recently traded small-town life in Kansas—the setting of many of Deborah’s novels—for life in the (relatively) big city of Wichita, where they enjoy gardening, antiquing, movies, and traveling to visit four children and a growing brood of grandchildren who all live much too far away. Find out more about Deborah at http://deborahraney.com.



MY THOUGHTS

I love Deborah Raney's books and her Chicory Inn series, each novel focusing on a member of the Whitman family, is a delight. Each book can be read as a stand-alone, but the characters obviously overlap so it is that much more enjoyable to read the entire series. Another Way Home portrays an issue that impacts many young couples today: infertility. In her heartwarming style, Raney creates believable characters in Danae and Dallas and depicts the very different ways they react to their struggle, as well as the impact it has on their marriage and relationships with other family members, particularly between Danae's interactions with her sisters. Compassion, sorrow, fear, anxiety...I experienced these emotions and more as I read this well-crafted story. Deb Raney's books have a way of wrapping themselves around my heart, and I couldn't put it down until I reached the final page. Don't miss Another Way Home and grab the first two books in the series as well. Perfect reading for a fall evening!


Read my reviews of the first two books in this series:

Home to Chicory Lane
Two Roads Home


Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Abingdon Press and Litfuse Publicity Group as part of a blog tour. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”


ENTER TO WIN a copy of Another Way Home—five winners will be chosen! Click the image below to enter to win. The winners will be announced November 23 on the Litfuse blog!