Recipes for Busy Moms

I don't know about you, but there are days I am simply tired of hearing, "I don't know" when I ask my family what they want for supper. I have popular food items --pasta, chicken and rice, hot dogs and beans--on hand at all times, but I like to try out new recipes that work for my busy schedule. Here are links to lists of bunches of recipes for busy moms:

MyRecipes.com offers more than 50 chicken dinners, kid-approved breakfast recipes, Mexican casseroles, slow cooker recipes and more. Click here.

Food.com has 50 All-Time Favorite Dinners, 10 On-the-Go Breakfasts, and 50 Best Soup Recipes. Click here.

The Busy Mom's Recipe Box is a site run by two busy moms blogging about food. The great thing is they offer an index of their recipes per category so you can browse for things that catch your eye. The Hawaiian Grilled Chicken sounds good to me. Click here.

Make Ahead Meals for Busy Moms offers readers recipes, reviews and giveaways. They participate in a weekly blog hop called "Melt In Your Mouth Monday Recipe Blog Hop." Sounds yummy to me. Click here.

Do you have any favorite sites you like to visit for quick and easy recipes? Please share links in the comments so I can check them out.

Wordless Wednesday

Book Arrivals for Week January 18

How to make home your family's favorite place to be . . . all year long. Does your home sometimes feel like just a place to eat, sleep, and change clothes on the way to the next activity? Do you long for "home" to mean more than a place where you stash your stuff? Wouldn't you love it to become a haven of warmth, rest, and joy . . . the one place where you and your family can't wait to be?There is good news waiting for you in the pages of "The Lifegiving Home." Every day of your family's life can be as special and important to you as it already is to God. In this unique book designed to help your family enjoy and celebrate every month of the year together, you'll discover the secrets of a life-giving home from a mother who created one and her daughter who was raised in it: popular authors Sally and Sarah Clarkson. Together they offer a rich treasure of wise advice, spiritual principles, and practical suggestions. You'll embark on a new path to creating special memories for your children; establishing home-building and God-centered traditions; and cultivating an environment in which your family will flourish. (Don't miss the companion piece, "The Lifegiving Home Experience.")

Anna's Healing is the first book in a brand-new collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

When a tornado strikes the farms surrounding Cody's Creek, Anna Schwartz's life is changed forever. She suffers a spinal cord injury and suddenly finds herself learning to live as a paraplegic.

Three people--Chloe Roberts, Jacob Graber, and Ruth Schwartz--join forces to help Anna through her darkest days. Chloe is an Englischer who writes for the local paper. Jacob has recently arrived in town and stays on as a hired hand at her uncle's. And Ruth is her grandmother, a woman of deep faith and a compassionate spirit.

Then one morning Anna wakes and finds herself healed. How did it happen? Why did it happen? And what is she to do now? Her life is again turned upside down as the world's attention is drawn to this young Amish girl who has experienced the unexplainable.

Have you received any books you've been waiting for lately?

New Year's Resolution Solution Part 2 Continued

I have to tell you, lifestyle changes are so-o-o-o-o-o-o hard. Right about now all I want to do is sit down and eat an entire gallon of ice cream. Well, maybe not; but even though I like the food I am eating, I miss donuts and tossing back a movie size box of Junior Mints in one sitting. My poor Schwan's driver must hate me right about now. I've drastically reduced what I purchase from them. 

Saturday night I made mini spinach, mushroom and cheese muffins from a recipe I found in the Big Y Life in Balance. magazine. They were good, but not something I would want all the time. I like my muffins sweet. Other than that, breakfast has been hard-boiled eggs and yogurt or oatmeal with fruits and nuts. 

When I've been eating out I've stuck to salads or light meals. I joked with my husband when we took the girls out to eat on Sunday that it was a sorry state of affairs when my meal was the healthiest one on the the table. His diet is usually better than mine. 

Suppertime has been rough because my schedule has been nutty. Tonight I made myself a meatball grinder on a whole wheat pita with American cheese and salad greens. It was awesome. 

I worked out yesterday and today, but I've been keeping it a bit light because I'm not feeling one hundred percent. I did a butt workout today and my legs have felt like jelly ever since. I plan to take a day off tomorrow because I have an early house inspection. Probably for the best anyway.

They are starting up another Facebook group in February like the one I've been participating in. We get workout routines and recipes on a daily basis. We don't have to, but to keep us motivated they ask us to post workout photos and pictures of our meals and snacks. Let me know if you would like to join us.

Mailbox Monday - Jan 25

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

For us in Western Mass this weekend was the blizzard that wasn't. Most of the snow stayed to our south; though we did get around three inches. I am glad for it, but feel badly for those states that got truly pounded by the elements.

Last week was filled with book surprises. I had agreed to hold a giveaway for a book (Fallen Land), but the publisher kindly sent two copies so I could have one for myself (they knew it would be a while before I would get to it). Then a book that had been delayed arrived. Finally, Vannetta Chapman, whose street team I am on for 2016 sent me a book package that included all kinds of goodies.

How to make home your family's favorite place to be . . . all year long. Does your home sometimes feel like just a place to eat, sleep, and change clothes on the way to the next activity? Do you long for "home" to mean more than a place where you stash your stuff? Wouldn't you love it to become a haven of warmth, rest, and joy . . . the one place where you and your family can't wait to be?There is good news waiting for you in the pages of "The Lifegiving Home." Every day of your family's life can be as special and important to you as it already is to God. In this unique book designed to help your family enjoy and celebrate every month of the year together, you'll discover the secrets of a life-giving home from a mother who created one and her daughter who was raised in it: popular authors Sally and Sarah Clarkson. Together they offer a rich treasure of wise advice, spiritual principles, and practical suggestions. You'll embark on a new path to creating special memories for your children; establishing home-building and God-centered traditions; and cultivating an environment in which your family will flourish. (Don't miss the companion piece, "The Lifegiving Home Experience.")

Fallen Land is Taylor Brown's debut novel set in the final year of the Civil War, as a young couple on horseback flees a dangerous band of marauders who seek a bounty reward.

Callum, a seasoned horse thief at fifteen years old, came to America from his native Ireland as an orphan. Ava, her father and brother lost to the war, hides in her crumbling home until Callum determines to rescue her from the bands of hungry soldiers pillaging the land, leaving destruction in their wake. Ava and Callum have only each other in the world and their remarkable horse, Reiver, who carries them through the destruction that is the South.

Pursued relentlessly by a murderous slave hunter, tracking dogs, and ruthless ex-partisan rangers, the couple race through a beautiful but ruined land, surviving on food they glean from abandoned farms and the occasional kindness of strangers.

In the end, as they intersect with the scorching destruction of Sherman's March, the couple seek a safe haven where they can make a home and begin to rebuild their lives.

Dramatic and thrillingly written with an uncanny eye for glimpses of beauty in a ravaged landscape, Fallen Land is a love story at its core, and an unusually assured first novel by award-winning young author Taylor Brown.

Anna's Healing is the first book in a brand-new collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

When a tornado strikes the farms surrounding Cody's Creek, Anna Schwartz's life is changed forever. She suffers a spinal cord injury and suddenly finds herself learning to live as a paraplegic.

Three people--Chloe Roberts, Jacob Graber, and Ruth Schwartz--join forces to help Anna through her darkest days. Chloe is an Englischer who writes for the local paper. Jacob has recently arrived in town and stays on as a hired hand at her uncle's. And Ruth is her grandmother, a woman of deep faith and a compassionate spirit.

Then one morning Anna wakes and finds herself healed. How did it happen? Why did it happen? And what is she to do now? Her life is again turned upside down as the world's attention is drawn to this young Amish girl who has experienced the unexplainable.

I also picked up the following Kindle freebie.

Things are going great for Lexy Baker. She's finally opened her dream bakery, gotten rid of her cheating boyfriend and settled into her grandmothers house with her perky dog Sprinkles at her side.

But her blissful life doesn't last long. When her ex boyfriend is found poisoned with cupcakes from her bakery, Lexy finds herself in the middle of a murder investigation headed up by her hunky neighbor detective Jack Perillo.

With the help of a gang of iPad toting, would-be detective grandmothers, Lexy decides to take it upon herself to find the real murderer in order to clear her name and get her bakery back in business.

As things heat up on the murder trail, in the kitchen and between Lexy and the hunky detective, it's a race against time to put the real murderer behind bars and get back to baking.

Will Lexy get her man?


What was in your mailbox this week?

New Year's Resolution Solution Part 2

It's been an interesting week as far as the New Year's Resolution Solution Part 2 goes. I've only worked out two days because the doctor diagnosed me with tennis elbow and my work schedule has been nuts. Bummer! I can still workout, but I need to be careful. If there is any pain, I need to stop. So, no lifting weights because that kills and no planks because that doesn't feel good either.

The exciting news is this:

Doctor's visit on 12/29/15: weight 124 lb 6.4 oz, BP 120/70, Pulse 64 and BMI 23.13.

Yesterday's visit: weight 117 lb. 9.6 oz, BP 94/62, Pulse 60 and BMI 21.86.

My blood pressure always runs low, so I was surprised when it was up at the end of December. Not sure if it had something to do with the infection I was fighting.

Many people have asked me why I am working out and watching what I eat. They don't see me as overweight. Here's the scoop:

I spent the majority of my life underweight. It wasn't until I had the Lil' Princess that I kept ten extra pounds. Then I got older and then I started with menopause. The last few years I've been close to the top of the normal scale for my height and I simply didn't like my BMI number.

In addition, when tracking my cholesterol numbers and blood pressure over the last few years, I've noticed them creeping up. Not to mention I can see the slow changes in my body: rounder middle, bloating, thicker legs and arms, and flabby skin. Toss in the osteopenia and I knew I had to make some lifestyle changes.

I've cheated a couple times this week: a soda or two and a pastry today. I don't feel well when I do it, so I can see my body is getting used to my eating healthier foods and drinking more water. That will definitely help, because when you feel better, you want to continue the habits that are making you feel good.

Keeping on track with the workout is tough because it's the first thing to go when my schedule gets busy. I want to stick to it, though, because I can see the results.

Wishing me luck!

Coming in February!: Joshua's Mission & An Amish Market Novella Collection from Vannetta Chapman

Joshua Kline travels from his farm in Oklahoma to offer aid to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas after a category 4 hurricane has ravaged the area. He brings his brother with him, who needs a change of environment. The last thing he wants for Alton is another brush with the law. He is pleasantly surprised when he hears that Becca Troyer, the bishop’s granddaughter, plans on joining their team.

What will Joshua find when he arrives in Texas? A lack of electricity, certainly, which poses little problem for the Amish volunteers as they help restore order from destruction. But a budding romance? A call from God? And a possible healing of his relationship with Alton?

Joshua’s Mission is a story of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God that carries us through even the worst situations.

Pre-order from Harvest House!

All the color and variety of a quaint Amish shop in a charming collection of novellas by four of your favorite authors.Feel free to come in and browse!

Love Birds by Amy Clipston

While Ellie Lapp and her mother are still mourning the loss of her brother, Seth, Ellie starts working at one of the gift shops in town. Seth s friend Lloyd is talented at carving wooden birds, but his father disapproves and expects him to take over the family farm someday. Ellie sees the beauty in Lloyd s creations and insists Lloyd sell the birds in the gift shop where she works. As Ellie and Lloyd spend more time together, they begin to develop feelings for one another, but she accidentally betrays his trust. Will she lose any hope of a future with him?

A Bid for Love by Kathleen Fuller

Every week, Hannah Lynne brings her home-churned butter to the local market. And every week Ezra stops by to purchase some. Hannah Lynne knows not to read too much into it Ezra is a confirmed bachelor and barely even glances her way, despite any hope to the contrary. But when Ezra bids an exorbitant amount to win the quilt she had her heart set on, Hannah Lynne can t stop her heart from taking over her mind. Could Ezra finally be in the market for love?

Sweeter Than Honey by Kelly Irvin

Shattering a jar of pickled beets wasn t the impression Isabella hoped to make on her first trip to the local Combination Store of Bee County, Texas. But as embarrassed as she was by the accident, she didn t think it warranted the frosty reaction from the handsome manager of the store, Will Glick. As she soon learns, though, Will s heart has been broken one too many times. And now, for some reason, Isabella finds herself determined to be the one to repair that broken heart and renew his faith in love.

Love in Store by Vannetta Chapman

Stella Schrock works at the Old Mill in Nappanee, Indiana, with new employee David Stoltzfus, a recent widower. When strange happenings begin occurring around town, it appears as if someone wants to close the mill. Stella and David have to work together to solve the mystery of what is happening at the Old Amish Mill, and in the process they might just find that God has more in store for their future than they would ever have dreamed possible.

Pre-order from Amazon!

Coming in February!: Promise Lodge by Charlotte Hubbard

It's a better life, a fresh start--and a heaven-sent second chance. Founded by three Amish sisters determined to put misfortune behind them, Promise Lodge is a colony where faith's abiding promise can be fulfilled--and love can make all things new…

Energetic widow Mattie Bender Schwartz is working day and night to get Promise Lodge going. She's also hoping the change will help her son Noah's heart to heal after his broken engagement. But his former fiancée, Deborah, is looking for a fresh start too. Filled with regret, and cast out by her dat for a reason she can't yet reveal, Deborah can only pray Noah will forgive her foolishness.

Deborah is the last person Noah expected to show up at Promise Lodge. But with her cruel words still ringing in his head, he's reluctant to accept her apology--even if the Old Order ways demand he try. If only he could obey Christ's most important commandment: love one another. But one thing is certain--his mother and aunts, and their beloved Preacher Amos, will do their best to help him get there.

Series: Promise Lodge
Mass Market Paperback: 320 pages
Publisher: Zebra (February 23, 2016)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 142013941X
ISBN-13: 978-1420139419

Pre-order here!

Mailbox Monday - January 18

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Happy Monday, everyone! I didn't participate in this meme last week because I had a very sad, empty mailbox. That is certainly not the case this week.

I only got a tiny bit of reading done, but some is sure better than none. Work is hectic. I thought real estate was supposed to be slow during the winter. Actually, the weather is helping out with that. We have only had a couple of inches of snow this winter. I'm okay with it now that Christmas is over.

Speaking of Christmas, the final tree was taken down yesterday. I guess it's time to think of spring.

Now, on to books.

This one arrived directly from author Charlotte Hubbard. I'm grateful she reached out to me and asked if I wanted an ARC. This is the first book in her new series.

It's a better life, a fresh start--and a heaven-sent second chance. Founded by three Amish sisters determined to put misfortune behind them, Promise Lodge is a colony where faith's abiding promise can be fulfilled--and love can make all things new…

Energetic widow Mattie Bender Schwartz is working day and night to get Promise Lodge going. She's also hoping the change will help her son Noah's heart to heal after his broken engagement. But his former fiancée, Deborah, is looking for a fresh start too. Filled with regret, and cast out by her dat for a reason she can't yet reveal, Deborah can only pray Noah will forgive her foolishness.

Deborah is the last person Noah expected to show up at Promise Lodge. But with her cruel words still ringing in his head, he's reluctant to accept her apology--even if the Old Order ways demand he try. If only he could obey Christ's most important commandment: love one another. But one thing is certain--his mother and aunts, and their beloved Preacher Amos, will do their best to help him get there.

These next three I picked up for free as leftovers from the church tag sale.

In the summer of 1953, two eleven-year-old boys—best friends—are playing in a Little League baseball game in Gravesend, New Hampshire. One of the boys hits a foul ball that kills the other boy's mother. The boy who hits the ball doesn't believe in accidents; Owen Meany believes he is God's instrument. What happens to Owen after that 1953 foul ball is extraordinary.

The little beach house on Martha's Vineyard has a rickety porch and no closets, but the gorgeous location is unbeatable--and more than enough to entice three total strangers into a house share for the summer. . .

At first, the only thing Gincy, Danielle, and Clare have in common is a desire to spend weekends away from the city. No-nonsense Gincy has worked hard to leave her small-town childhood behind. Danielle grew up with every advantage and is looking for a husband who'll fit neatly into her pampered life, while Clare is enjoying a last burst of independence before marrying her ambitious fiancé. Yet lazy beach days and warm, conversation-filled nights forge an unexpected connection. And over the course of one eventful summer, Gincy, Danielle, and Clare will discover that friendship isn't always measured in how well you know a person's past--but in opening each other's eyes to everything the future could hold. . .

The spirit of motherhood is the spirit of love—and how better to capture that special feeling than in three glorious new stories from three favorite Silhouette authors?

Nurturing, caring, trust and—most of all—love. Those are the true foundations of motherhood, a secret Jilly Winston would come to learn....

These ones were Kindle books I picked up. Most were free, but I pre-ordered Colleen Coble's book because the price went up once it was released.

The plan is simple: kidnap the daughter of Senate candidate Richard McClaine, take the money and run. Nobody gets hurt, the kid goes home alive.

Twenty-two-year-old car thief Kelsey Money thinks it’s the worst idea Matt and his drug-fueled brother have ever come up with. But Matt’s the planner. He’s the one Kelsey has always depended on.

Then she discovers she only knew half the plan. By the time she finds out the rest, she’s been framed for murder, and six-year-old Holly McClaine won’t be found alive.

Across town, Elizabeth McClaine has no idea what her daughter was wearing when she disappeared. When Holly was born with Down syndrome and a cleft palate, Elizabeth placed her only child in the care of a nanny while she fought postpartum depression.

But when Holly is kidnapped and Elizabeth discovers the detective leading the hunt has already failed one kidnapped child, Elizabeth knows she cannot fail hers.

Now both women have twenty-four hours to find Holly. Because in twenty-five, she’ll be dead.

The Candidate's Daughter is a fast-paced and gripping story about love and loss, failure and redemption, about mothers and daughters and the bonds between them.

Shame and confusion have kept Mallory Davis from her home for the last fifteen years, but when her dad mysteriously dies on his mail boat route, she doesn’t have any choice but to go back to Mermaid Point.

Mallory believes her father was murdered and childhood sweetheart Kevin O’Connor, game warden in Downeast Maine, confirms her suspicions. But Kevin is wary of helping Mallory in her search. She broke his heart and left—without a word—years ago.

When Mallory begins receiving threats on her own life—and her beloved teenage daughter, Haylie—their search intensifies. There’s a tangled web within the supposed murder, and it involves much more than what meets the eye.

As answers begin to fall into place, Mallory realizes her search is about more than finding her father’s killer—it is also about finding herself again . . . and possibly about healing what was broken so long ago with Kevin. She just has to stay alive long enough to put all the pieces together.

London, 1816

Cavalry captain Gabriel Lacey returns to Regency London from the Napoleonic wars, burned out, fighting melancholia, his career ended. His interest is piqued when he learns of a missing girl, possibly kidnapped by a prominent member of Parliament. Lacey's search for the girl leads to the discovery of murder, corruption, and dealings with a leader of the underworld. At the same time, he struggles with his own transition from a soldier's life to the civilian world, redefining his role with his former commanding officer, and making new friends--from the top of society to the street girls of Covent Garden.

Artist and ex-actress Libby Sarjeant is busy directing a play for the opening of a new theatre in her village when one of her cast is found murdered. The play, written by her friend Peter, is based on real events in his family, disturbing and mysterious, which took place in the village during the last war.

As the investigation into the murder begins to uncover a tangled web of relationships in the village, it seems that the events dramatised in the play still cast a long shadow, dark enough to inspire murder.

Libby’s natural nosiness soon leads her into the thick of the investigation, but is she too close to Peter’s family, and in particular his cousin Ben, to be able to recognise the murderer?


What appeared in your mailbox last week? Hope you enjoy your haul.

New Year's Resolution Solution Part 2

Today starts New Year's Resolution Solution Part 2--another week of working out, eating right, and staying on track.

My participation in the New Year's Resolution Solution the first week of January led to me changing my diet, drinking more water, exercising five days, and losing three pounds.

I'm definitely finding it harder to keep up with the exercise now that I am back into a regular work schedule with some early morning appointments. I time blocked my calendar this week for 7:45 to 8:15 workout time, so we'll see how I do.

If you would like to join us, please visit the Facebook group here.

Wordless Wednesday

New Year's Resolution Solution Update

Saturday made all the difference for me. The workout, while intense, came easier. Breakfast was Blueberry Mornings cereal with raisins added and my usual decaf. Organic nuts and berries for a snack and then cheated with a slice of pizza for lunch. (Bad girl. Bad girl.) Yogurt for my afternoon snack and then butternut squash, chicken, and rice for supper.

Sunday is where it all falls apart. Someone said I really should give my muscles a rest. So I did. Silly me. Had to rush to church in the morning, so I didn't plan to exercise until later. Never did. Still stuck to my healthy foods, though: oatmeal with banana slices and a hard boiled egg for breakfast, one small brownie for a snack at church, salad for lunch, nuts and a pear for snack and then squash and fish with rice for supper.

Monday came, no workout again. Early morning appointments make life tough. Still no fast food and only a treat or two. Hopefully tonight I can exercise a bit.

Free for Kindle: Larkspur Dreams by Anita Higman

Larkspur Wendell hates to see anyone not enjoying life. So when she gets a new neighbor who seems more interested in his computer than in communication, Lark feels compelled to get to know him. But her spontaneity and zeal for life seems to push him further away.

Everett Holden moved to a small town to work in peace and quiet. With a neighbor like Larkspur, though, he’ll be lucky to get anything done. And being around her brings up fears and hurts that he thought he’d put away long ago. To Everett, Larkspur seems pesky, impulsive, and utterly impossible to deal with. Except for that smile of hers…

File Size: 1694 KB
Print Length: 257 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Forget Me Not Romances, a division of Winged Publications (November 3, 2015)
Publication Date: November 3, 2015
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B017KNKD3I

Purchase here!

New Year's Resolution Solution - Post Day 5

I didn't even have the strength to take a picture of my workout today. LOL! Day 5 was a tough one simply because my work schedule was crazier than it has been all week.

Breakfast was quick because I had an early appointment--Greek yogurt and some walnuts with a cup a decaf tea. Snack was walnuts and raisins because they were easy to take on the road with me. Grabbed a salad and water on the road this afternoon and didn't have an afternoon snack because I had another appointment. 

The Lil' Princess made supper for me tonight--tilapia and rice. Chomped some carrots before sitting down and drank more water, so it was a nicely balanced meal. 

Workout was horrible. Focused on abs again, which are still aching from Monday; though not as bad as they were. I couldn't do three sets of all the exercises, but I am working out more than ever before so I am happy with my progress. 

Thank God it's the weekend!

New Year's Resolution Solution - Post Day 4

Yes, that's me. I've totally collapsed and decided to take a snooze on my exercise mat. Well, not really. It made for a great photo, though.

It has been such a hard, hard week: getting the kids off to school on time then rushing home to make breakfast; working out--which I haven't done in years in case I didn't mention that before; hopping in the shower real quick and then getting myself off to the office or appointments.

I am so sore! Everything hurts. First day I worked abs. Second day it was arms. Third day was buttocks. Today was the "Wake up! and make it happen" routine with reps of burpees (had no idea this was an exercise), push ups, mountain climbers, and planks.

My chicken arms aren't meant for push ups and planks. What are these people thinking?

Today's breakfast was oatmeal with bananas and walnuts with a cup of decaf tea. Lunch ended up being a salad from Subway, then supper was a small portion of homemade Shepherd's Pie and a side salad. Had water to drink both times and drank water throughout the day. With a couple of healthy snacks in between meals I was full. I did cheat and have one waffle since I made them for the hubby's dinner. Other than that I was good.

No idea what the exercise routine will be tomorrow, but every time I need to go up or down the stairs it is horrible. Hopefully by next week my legs won't hate me so much.

Pre-Order Today!: Joshua's Mission by Vannetta Chapman

Joshua’s Mission is a new standalone novel in the Plain and Simple Miracles collection from popular author Vannetta Chapman. These stories of love and family and Amish community in Oklahoma tell of the miracles that can happen when lives are lived in service to God and to one another.

Joshua Kline travels from his farm in Oklahoma to offer aid to an Englisch town on the gulf coast of Texas after a category 4 hurricane has ravaged the area. He brings his brother with him, who needs a change of environment. The last thing he wants for Alton is another brush with the law. He is pleasantly surprised when he hears that Becca Troyer, the bishop’s granddaughter, plans on joining their team.

What will Joshua find when he arrives in Texas? A lack of electricity, certainly, which poses little problem for the Amish volunteers as they help restore order from destruction. But a budding romance? A call from God? And a possible healing of his relationship with Alton?

Joshua’s Mission is a story of love, forgiveness, and the grace of God that carries us through even the worst situations.

Format: Paperback
Number of Pages: 352
Vendor: Harvest House Publishers
Publication Date: 2016
ISBN: 0736956050
ISBN-13: 9780736956055
Availability: This product will be released on 02/01/16

Pre-order at:

Christianbook.com
Amazon
Barnes and Noble

Kindle Freebie: When Love Calls by Lorna Seilstad

When romance calls, will she choose to answer?

Hannah Gregory is good at many things, but that list does not include following rules. So when she must apply for a job as a switchboard operator to support her two sisters, she knows it won't be easy. Hello Girls must conduct themselves according to strict--and often bewildering--rules, which include absolutely no consorting with gentlemen while in training.

Hannah doubts it will be difficult to keep that rule--until a handsome young lawyer starts getting under her skin.

With historic details that bring to life the exciting first decade of the twentieth century, Lorna Seilstad weaves a charming tale of companionship that blossoms into sweet romance.

File Size: 1653 KB
Print Length: 353 pages
Publisher: Revell (May 1, 2013)
Publication Date: May 1, 2013
Sold by: Amazon Digital Services, Inc.
Language: English
ASIN: B00B85M0XG

Purchase here!

10 Things You Need to Know About Virtual Book Tours By Dorothy Thompson, Founder of Pump Up Your Book

10 Things You Need to Know About Virtual Book Tours

By Dorothy Thompson, CEO & Founder of

 Pump Up Your Book

By now, most authors know what virtual book tours are or at least have heard of them.  They’re that wonderful marketing tool that should be a must have in every new book’s campaign.  With each new book I write, I’m making a game plan before the book is even published, and a virtual book tour is the first promotional venue on that list.

While most of us know what they are, there are still a few authors who might have heard of them but have no idea what they involve.  I give you my top 10 things you need to know about virtual book tours so you know what to expect.

1. Virtual book tours are the BEST way to get the MOST online exposure for your book. Not only are you presenting your book--and yourself--to thousands of people, all of your interviews, guest posts and reviews are archived, which means months down the road you’re still selling your book because of that one tour.
2. Virtual book tours ARE a lot of work. Not only are you searching for the perfect blogs to host you, you are acting as the middle man between you and the blogger unless you are using a paid service, such as Pump Up Your Book, who will do all that work for you.  Even if you do sign up with Pump Up Your Book, there is still work to do--filling out interviews and writing guest posts (unless you choose an all review tour).  Even though it requires a little bit of your time to fill out interviews and write guest posts, it’s well worth it.
3. You will learn more about your book than you ever did. I had an author tell me that through the interviews and guest posts she had to complete she learned so much about her book, which caught her off guard.  Now, when she is interviewed on radio shows and makes television appearances she is better prepared.
4. Virtual book tours will build up your author platform.  No matter if you’re a fiction author or a nonfiction author, virtual book tours will build up your author platform using your key search words.
5. Your reviews are guaranteed. Offline publicists, while they mean well, do it all wrong.  They query a book blogger, make arrangements to send the book, then that’s where it stops.  The review is not a guaranteed thing.  The reviewer can post the review anytime they see fit.  With virtual book tours, your review is guaranteed on a certain date unless the reviewer jumps ship, which rarely happens.  I had an author tell me she signed up with an offline publicist who sent out tons of books, but only one or two reviewers actually came through for them.  That was money lost for the author.  Books don’t come cheap these days, so scheduling a date the reviewer can agree upon guarantees that review will happen.
6. Many reviewers now take eBooks, which save you money. Thank goodness someone was smart enough to invent a device that automatically loads a book in a few seconds (no waiting to go to the book store anymore, my friend) and makes it fun to read.  When Amazon lowered their price of the Kindle, sales soared and book lovers started talking about getting one.  It opened up a wonderful way to get these books to the book reviewers quickly and less expensively.  Have you noticed how much books are and how much it takes to ship them?  Not saying all reviewers will take eBooks, but as time goes on, most will have an e-reader and might prefer an eBook.
7. More website hits, more blog hits, more Twitter hits and more Facebook Fan Page hits. All authors should have a website or blog and accounts at Twitter and Facebook.  No matter if you think they’re all a waste of time.  A virtual book tour will definitely give you more hits at all places--as long as your links are in your bio.
8. Going on a virtual book tour raises your Alexa rankings. What is Alexa?  Alexa measures how well you are doing in the search engines.  When you go on a virtual book tour, your website and blog links are included in every bio (or should be!) whether it be an interview or guest post.  Those are incoming links that Alexa uses to measure your ranking.  The more your website or blog link shows up on other sites, the more valuable your site is to them, and thus, your rankings soar.
9. You will learn how to sell your book through media exposure. Not all authors take advantage of their interviews and guest posts by gearing them toward their audience, thus luring them to their book and/or website/blog.  I’ve had many authors on tour. The ones who really take the time to make their interviews and guest posts effective selling tools are the ones who profit the most.  The key thing here is to make your audience curious.  One liners, in the case of interviews, may not cut it.  Of course, there are only so many ways you can answer “What’s your book about?” but take your time and get your audience’s curiosity piqued so that they make their way over to your website or your book’s buying link.
10. Virtual book tours teach you how to connect well with others. There is no better way to learn how to network.  All these wonderful book bloggers who agree to host you are your new friends in your extended network, and they will be there for you the next time you have a book to promote (unless they completely panned it of course).  You’ll also learn how to use the social networks effectively as you study how to get people over to your tour stops with persuasive wording.  Remember to talk to your audience, not at them.

There you have it.  Ten things you need to know about virtual book tours in a nutshell.  If you have a tour coordinator as opposed to setting one up yourself, she will walk you through it so that your tour will be a fun experience for all.  Your book will thank you for it.

Dorothy Thompson is CEO/Founder of Pump Up Your Book, an award-winning public relations company specializing in online book publicity.  You can visit her website at www.PumpUpYourBook.com or follow her on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pumpupyourbook and Facebook at www.facebook.com/pumpupyourbook.

New Year's Resolution Solution - Post Days 2 & 3

There are days I think I must be crazy to do this. After the first day, my middle hurt. On Day 2, we worked our arms, so they are sore. Then today, we worked out buttocks. Half an hour later my legs still felt like spaghetti. By tomorrow, I won't be able to out of bed.

For the most part, I am sticking to the healthy eating portion of the program too. Breakfast is either oatmeal with fruit or Greek yogurt and a hard-boiled egg. Lunch is usually a salad of some kind. Dinner--I grew up calling it supper--on Day 2 was brown rice, teriyaki chicken, and broccoli. I ate lunch late today, so tonight I opted for some seafood salad (no dressing) in a whole wheat pita with some greens.

Confession time: I cheated at lunch today and had a Pepsi. Gosh, I miss it. I'm thinking, though, if I went from having two 12 oz. cans a day to one every three days, I'm still doing better than I was before. The head aches a bit, but not overwhelming.

The one challenge I am having is getting enough sleep. I really need to get to bed at least an hour earlier.

Not sure what is on tap for exercise on Thursday, but I don't think I have many body parts left that aren't in pain.

New Year's Resolution Solution - Post Day 1

The picture below is from right before yesterday's workout. Don't I look thrilled? Exercise has never come easy for me, but it's time I started doing more of what's right. 

Day 1 of the New Year's Resolution Solution started with my bowl of oatmeal with bananas and walnuts that I washed down with a cup of decaf black tea (everyone says drink green or white tea, but it isn't for me). I'm doing baby steps here. 

Then came the workout. The focus was on abs, so we did the Total Abs workout by Neila Rey--think crunches, leg raises, flutter kicks, planks, etc. My middle still hurts.

Morning snack was low-fat raspberry Greek yogurt. Lunch was a spring mix salad to which I added carrots, beets, and chickpeas. I topped it with a tiny bit of fat free Italian dressing. For the record, I am not a salad person. Drank water with both of these.

Wasn't sure what to do about afternoon snack because I was on the road, so I grabbed some carrots and unsalted dry roasted peanuts, then brought along my trusty water bottle.

I cheated a bit for dinner by having ham and cheese on a whole wheat pita. Added spinach and romaine, along with some tomatoes, to this one. Drank water with this too. I also allowed myself one chocolate chip cookie as a reward last night with a cup of tea. 

Amazingly, I made it through the entire day without a can of soda. I'm craving it, but have managed not to cave in. I haven't had a headache yet, either. If I do, I might have to add one can back in. I'm not sure if the lack of a headache has anything to do with the disastrous detox I did last week.

Trying to get myself ready for the new year, I thought an easy and not radical detox might help. Well....it might have considering my lack of caffeine withdrawal headaches this week, but I thought I was going to die last week. Three days in a row of drinking detox water (water with lemons and other fruits or mint) made me so ill I had to go to bed. I could handle the expulsion of toxins through waste, but my migraines were so bad I couldn't stand light or lift my head off the pillow. I gave up after that. 

Yesterday, makes me optimistic about my ability to stick with it. We post all kinds of photos to the Facebook group each day so we are accountable and have visual aids to remain focused. I've already had a healthy breakfast and performed today's workout, so now it's time to re-hydrate and go about my day. 

New Year's Resolution Solution

In an effort to stick with my goal of eating better and exercising more, I have joined the New Year's Resolution Solution group on Facebook.

With meal plans, daily workouts, recipes and tons of encouragement, we are working to get our bodies ready for summer time. My beach body coach is one of my high school classmates. She's been doing it for a couple of years. While I won't be doing the Shakeology part of the program--I can't stand shakes--I've already done some grocery shopping that is much better than my usual fare. Added more fruits and vegetables this week too.

Wish me luck!

Mailbox Monday - January 4

Mailbox Monday is a meme started by Marcia of To Be Continued. Mailbox Monday is the gathering place for readers to share the books that came in their mailbox during the last week. It now has a permanent home at the Mailbox Monday blog.

Warning: Mailbox Monday can lead to envy, toppling TBR piles, and humongous wish lists.

Happy New Year! Welcome to the first Mailbox Monday post of 2016. I hope you all enjoyed the holiday. We didn't do much...just hung out and had the in-laws over for a small dinner.

Thanks to setting my writing goals for this year, my mailbox was fairly full this past week.

With more than 4,000 entries and 36,000 synonyms, this updated, award-winning thesaurus encourages young writers to think analytically about their word choices. Entries are arranged in a way that distinguishes between words that are close synonyms and words that differ somewhat in meaning or usage. More than 150 full-color photographs illustrate the many example sentences and make this book as attractive as it is useful. As an added bonus, this updated edition includes an explanation of the major parts of speech, to help young writers establish a firm grasp of language.

This title's unique design ensures that writers speak to their audience with a vocabulary and style they both understand and find appealing. A fast-reference guide meant to be used along with a dictionary, thesaurus and yellow pad of paper, it will help fulfill the dream of becoming a published children's writer. Highlights include: lists of specific words introduced at each of seven reading levels (K-6); a thesaurus of synonyms, annotated with reading levels; advice and tips particular to word usage for each reading level; guideline for sentence length and themes; idea generators for other stories.

I discovered that there is a newer version of the Children's Writer's Word Book. Not sure if I will pick that one up yet. I'll see how this one works out.

This revised and updated dictionary for elementary school children includes more than 93 new entries, from broadband and graphic novel to MP3 and smartphone — for a total of 35,000 words and phrases in all. Each entry is fully explained with its definition, usage, examples, and notes on spelling and punctuation. Word senses have also been refreshed to reflect modern usage, and maps and country statistics have been updated to include new countries, borders, flags, and cities. Throughout this new edition of Merriam-Webster Children's Dictionary, there is a fresh design with a different color-coded border for each letter of the alphabet, plus updated photographs and illustrations for a lively, accessible look that gives kids lots to look at as they build important research skills.

I might return this one. It's a dictionary for kids--hence the title--and in skimming through it, I don't think I'll need it considering the other two resources I purchased.

This was supposed to be a simple summer for Billy: one more lazy expanse of time before college began. He'd fill the hours playing with Jimmy – his canine best buddy – going camping and doing all the things he promised Jimmy they'd do before Billy left. But that was before the accident that shook the entire town. It was before the summer job that turned into something so much more than a way to get a paycheck. And it was before Vicki. This summer was destined to be many things to Billy, things he didn't truly understand until now. But it was definitely not going to be simple.

An enormously touching, richly textured, deeply moving novel of new adulthood, THE CHANGING SEASON is an experience to savor.

This book releases in February. I am hoping to read it before then. Manchester writes emotional stories that pull at the heartstrings.

What are some of the books you received last week? Are you digging into the books Santa put under your tree?

Personalized Gifts from GetNameNecklace.com

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I was checking out their Family Necklaces, many of which have birthstones of family members embedded on them along with engraved names. What a unique, special gift for a family to share.

GetNameNecklace.com offers top quality products that arrive in free gift boxes. They ship everywhere for free and orders over $150 qualify for free express shipping. Not satisfied with your order? Return it within 60 days--even if the item has been engraved!

On their website you'll find a helpful jewelry sizing guide, jewelry maintenance guide, and purchasing tips and advice.

What are you waiting for? Visit GetNameNecklace.com today!



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