Inspirational Seasonal Fiction: Just in Time for Christmas by Davalynn Spencer

She’s seventeen with a ranch to run, a fear of heights, and a cowboy intent on stealing her heart.


Abigale Millerton leaves a Denver women’s school and returns to her grandparents’ high-country ranch to find the boy she’d grown up with not a boy any longer—and butting in on her challenge with local timber thieves. If he’d stop telling her what to do, they might get along.

Seth Holt has loved Abigale since before he knew better. And now that she’s back in the high country, she’s still as bull-headed as ever. But Seth can match her, and he’s determined to keep her out of harm’s way and in his line of sight. Trouble is, he’d rather keep her in his arms.

File Size: 1267 KB
Print Length: 113 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: Wilson Creek Publishing (November 1, 2019)
Publication Date: November 1, 2019
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English

Purchase here!

Free E-Book: Ask for the Rain Compiled by Larry Sparks

Position Yourself to Experience Holy Spirit Outpouring!

Ask the LORD for rainIn the time of the latter rain. (Zechariah 10:1)

God is pouring out His Spirit and revival rain is falling across the Earth. How should you respond? Ask for more!

How can revival impact your everyday life? Maybe you’ve thought revival is for “super-charged” Christians—not for everyday people going through everyday life. Wrong. God wants your everyday to be overflowing with Holy Spirit power.Do you feel like there is more to being a Christ-follower than rhetoric, rules and regulations? The truth is, you were created for a dynamic relationship with the living God. Don’t settle for scattered showers when there is a great outpouring available.

God is seeking ready ground to pour out His revival rain on.

Are you ready?

File Size: 2262 KB
Print Length: 226 pages
Publisher: Destiny Image (April 26, 2016)
Publication Date: April 26, 2016
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B01CN2HGGI

Purchase here!

Task it Tuesday - July 28

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. Last week presented a challenge for me. I simply didn't feel like doing anything. I'm not sure why. Here is what I accomplished:

• Daily Bible reading - DONE
• Weed garden
• Update planner - DONE
• Three doctor's appointments - DONE
• WriteAngles meeting - DONE
• Walk three days - DONE
• Start Strong from the Heart by Jon Land for August review - Reading now
• Continue cleaning bonus room
• Finish chapter 2 of The Sisterhood  - DONE

Overall, I had a great week. I just didn't feel motivated. 

This week, my real estate workload should be manageable, but I definitely need to prospect more. Here is what else I have on tap:

• Daily Bible reading
• Update planner
• Weed garden
• One meeting
• Visit with my sister from out of state
• Walk three days
• Complete Strong from the Heart by Jon Land for August review
• Continue cleaning bonus room
• Write next chapter of The Sisterhood

What does your to-do list look like? Did you accomplish all you wanted to last week? How do you celebrate when you check something off your to-do list?

Mailbox Monday - July 27

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.

How hard to believe this is the last Monday of July. This month flew by. Some weeks productivity abounded. Others, well, definitely could have been better. I have four more closing coming up, so that is a good thing. 

I'm happy to say I've been staying on top of my reading goals, reviews, and I'm on track with my daily planner. I also finished a chapter in my women's novel that I am writing with one of my sisters. We had completed it in 2006, but it needs a total rewrite.

As far as my physical mailbox goes, these arrived this past week. I purchased them with my birthday gift card.

I also grabbed these two that were free for my Kindle. The first one is set on the Outer Banks with a library in the Bodie Island Lighthouse. We visited Bodie prior to it being renovated and open to the public to climb. I would like to go back for a visit and see the inside. Though it wouldn't be large enough to house an actual library, it would still be fun to take a peek at.

What did your mailbox hold this week? Anything I should add to my wish list?

Kindle Freebie: Hope for Christmas by Elizabeth Maddrey

Cyan Hewitt drifts onto his estranged grandparents’ New Mexico ranch in time for Thanksgiving… and stays. As a cyber security consultant, he can telecommute, so why not from here, where his restless soul is soothed and his heart is awakened by the attractive ranch housekeeper?

Maria Sanchez works at Rancho de Esperanza to provide a stable life for her son. She’s content—mostly—in her roles as housekeeper, part-time student, and mom, but when her precocious seven-year-old is diagnosed with diabetes, her world shatters. There’s no time for distractions from the long-term visitor who’s stirring a longing in her for more.

Cyan may think her faith and courage are inspiring, but Maria feels vulnerable. Relying on others has only ever resulted in broken dreams. Christmas might be a season of hope, but does she dare risk everything for love?
Hope Ranch is a place where second chances and God’s love are waiting for everyone.

File Size: 2436 KB
Print Length: 160 pages
Simultaneous Device Usage: Unlimited
Publisher: JoNaTiMa Books (June 20, 2019)
Publication Date: June 20, 2019
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07TDRG47T

Purchase here!*


* Sales price subject to change without notice.

Cookbook Spotlight: Start Simple by Lukas Volger

From veteran food writer, recipe developer, and creator of the James Beard Award-winning Jarry magazine comes an innovative approach to vegetarian cooking.

What have I got to eat? It’s a question we ask every time we open up the refrigerator or pantry door. It might be eggs, some cheese, and half a loaf of bread, or a box of wilting greens, garlic, and some sweet potatoes. Though these ingredients may not seem like much to make a delicious meal, recipe developer and author Lukas Volger knows it’s all you need. In Start Simple he offers a radically new, uncomplicated, and creative approach to cooking that allows you to use what you already have on hand to make great meals you didn’t think were possible.

Magic can happen with just a few ingredients: sweet potatoes, tortillas, eggs, cabbage, hearty greens, beans, winter squash, mushrooms, tofu, summer squash, and cauliflower. Volger advises readers to stock up on these eleven building blocks instead of shopping for a single recipe. A protein (tofu, beans, eggs) is a foundation. A crunchy garnish (cabbage, greens) is a finishing touch. Once these structural components of a meal are established, home chefs can throw in their own variations and favorite flavors—mixing, matching, and adding ingredients to customize their dishes.

While Start Simple is a vegetarian cookbook—none of the recipes include meat—Volger’s approach transcends categories. His methods aren’t about subscribing to a specific dietary regimen; they are about simply recognizing and embracing the way people cook and eat today. Creating weekly meal plans based on intricate recipes sounds good, but it can be difficult to execute. Having a well-stocked pantry paired with a choose-you-own adventure guide to creating simple yet inventive meals is more practical for your average home cook.

File Size: 192657 KB
Print Length: 266 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0062883593
Publisher: Harper Wave (February 18, 2020)
Publication Date: February 18, 2020
Sold by: HarperCollins Publishers
Language: English
ASIN: B07NVGQVQB

Purchase on Kindle for only $2.99*


* Sale prices subject to change.

Task it Tuesday - July 21

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Welcome back to Tuesday. I have to admit to feeling unproductive this week. I have tasks, but don't feel like tackling them. When I feel this way, I take a walk to clear my head or force myself to plod through. I took a short walk this morning and also watered the garden. This afternoon, I hope to go back into the garden for a bit to keep the weeds from growing too quickly.

Let's look at last week's list to see what I accomplished.

• Meal planning - DONE
• Daily Bible reading - DONE
• Update planner  - DONE
• Walk three days this week - DONE
• Book review due Wednesday - DONE
• Empty pantry Tuesday night or Wednesday morning - DONE
• Added - Clean upstairs bathroom - DONE
• Added - Clean bonus room - Started

So, last week was probably the most productive week I've had in a while. I'm thrilled.

Here is what is on my list this week.

• Daily Bible reading - on track
• Weed garden
• Update planner 
• Three doctor's appointments 
• WriteAngles meeting
• Walk three days 
• Start Strong from the Heart by Jon Land for August review
• Continue cleaning bonus room
• Finish chapter 2 of The Sisterhood

Looks like my week is full. What does your week look like? Anything specific you need to accomplish?

Movie Review: Frozen II (2019)

As a follow up to its popular Frozen movie released in 2013, Disney released Frozen II in November of last year. Now available on Disney+, Blu-ray, DVD, and Prime Video, this follows Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Olaf, and Sven on a journey to discover the secrets of the past in an effort to help their kingdom.

Elsa rules over the peaceful kingdom of Arendelle with her sister, Princess Anna, but she has steadily felt her powers growing and doesn't always feel Ardendelle is where she belongs. When a mysterious song continues to keep her awake, Elsa decides to answer the siren's call. Elsa, Anna, and their friends make their way to the enchanted forest to find the answers they seek, only to discover there is more to the history of Arendelle and their relationship with the neighboring tribe of Northuldra than they could ever imagine.

Captivating, exciting, and funny are all words to describe this sequel, but parents should be aware Frozen II is a bit darker and more intense than the original movie. When Elsa agrees to answer the siren's call, it comes at a cost. While, ultimately, things turn out the way one would expect in a Disney movie--happily ever after--the journey is fraught with danger and emotion (topics like death, feeling rejected and alone, Olaf talking about how he will understand everything once he matures, and the discovery of Arendelle's past) that may be intense for some children. The scene where Elsa extinguishes the fire in the enchanted forest might be frightening.

Overall, I felt this is a great movie with superb animation. Anna, Elsa, and Kristoff all sing songs that will tug at your heartstrings, and the ending will definitely make you smile.



Official Sites: Disney+ | Official Site
Runtime: 103 min
Language: English
Release Date: 22 November 2019 (USA)
Rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements

I watched this movie on Disney+. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Mailbox Monday - July 20

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.

How is it Monday again? Oh, right. Every day seems the same now that we are pretty much trapped in our houses together. LOL! Sometimes you just have to make a joke to lighten the mood. We are blessed to be healthy, so that's a good thing.

After a rough week, I drove to visit my mother-in-law so that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law could have a break. She had been with them since March and they haven't gone anywhere considering the pandemic. I'm not sure I would want to camp in the middle of a heat wave, but I am sure the change of pace is good.

As for me, I'm enjoying my new Kindle Fire HD and Kindle Unlimited. I've even watched a movie or two. With the gift card from my birthday, I bought the following two cookbooks that arrived this week.

I scooped up these two Kindle freebies.

I promoted this book when it first came out, but never had a chance to read it for the tour.

These are the books I grabbed through Kindle Unlimited. The first one I grabbed for curiosity's sake. I have a three-month free trial. If I don't read anything off my list, then I will cancel before October.

I have two more books arriving this week. I'm in the middle of reading one that will take me a while, so I will probably need to break off and read the next book I have scheduled for review in August.

That's it from my neck of the woods. What did your mailbox hold? Anything good you would like to share?

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #13

 

Have you ever felt defeated? Not hopeless or angry, but downright defeated? Welcome to my world.

I am tired of asking for help cleaning the house while I try to balance home and work responsibilities. I am tired of being the only one who cooks or does laundry. You know who I have to blame for that? The person I see in the mirror.

In my desire to provide the girls a carefree childhood, I skipped over the importance of chores. By the time I tried to reverse that issue, they were no longer interested in being mama's little helpers. 

Now, I have to beg, cry, and sometimes scream to get help. Their rooms look like war zones. The bonus room is a disaster area. It seems no one cares about a clean house other than me. I try to ignore it, but the mess drives me crazy.

After a busy day, someone else cooking supper would be lovely. What would it feel like if I came home to clean laundry or vacuumed floors?

This week, I started a new Bible plan title Finding Peace by Charles Stanley. Yesterday's devotional was particularly helpful. It discussed the 5 Essential Beliefs for a Peaceful Heart. I might just read that for a few days to see if I can refocus my heart and mind on what's important.

What do you do to find peace?

Book Review: The Christian Christmas Condition by Scott Rankin

Author Scott Rankin asks readers to join him along a journey of considering many favorite Christmas traditions and viewing them from God's perspective.

The Christian Christmas Condition brings you through history to uncover how traditions like the Christmas tree were repurposed into symbols and celebrations of Christ's birth. But, is that how God wants it to be? Are we honoring Him and glorifying Him when we re-purpose a pagan tradition? Is it right to tell our children about the existence of Santa Claus and his expectations of being good to get gifts? When we finally tell them Santa Claus is made up, how can they believe us when we tell them an unseen God who loves and provides for us is real? These and other topics of discussion may have you reconsidering your holiday traditions.

I have to be honest with you: this is not an easy read. It's an excellent book, and it poses important questions to Christians about family traditions, but you can't help but feel uncomfortable by them. Who wants to be told their time-honored tradition of an evergreen tree harkens back to the time when Romans celebrated a festival where no one could be arrested or convicted for a variety of horrible crimes? I sure don't.

One, however, can't argue against the Biblical stories of Gideon and other ordinary men and women whose obedience to God came with great rewards ...just like the rewards our obedience gains for us. Rankin put together the puzzle pieces into an inspiring and encouraging way to allow us to see how Christmas can be so much more. I love how he reminded readers that God didn't focus on His Son's birth. He focused on Jesus as our Savior ...an act that was thirty-three years in the making. His birth isn't the important part. His death and resurrection are.

Am I ready to pitch my Christmas trees in the fire? I can't say that I am. However, Rankin has given me a lot to think about. I'm glad he shared how his family phased in changing their Christmas traditions, because, admittedly, he also felt there was nothing wrong with the Christmas tree and Santa Claus traditions when his wife first questioned them. Rakin encourages each of us to discover the direction God desires for us and reminds us not to be afraid to ask the question, "What does God say about this?"

Paperback: 196 pages
Publisher: Scott Rankin Publishing (November 25, 2019)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 1734084804
ISBN-13: 978-1734084801

I received a copy of this book from the author. This review contains my honest opinions, which I have not been compensated for in any way.

Task it Tuesday - July 13

Originally created by The Geeky Blogger, Task it Tuesday is a weekly meme to help you--and me--get things done. The challenge is to post a task or list of tasks you want to complete before next Tuesday. These tasks can help you with your blogging life, reading life, personal or professional life.

Well, it has been a few weeks since I posted a Task it Tuesday. I don't keep a task list when I'm on vacation. That kind of defeats the purpose of vacation.

Let's face it---2020 has been kind of a bust. I had a stellar year planned in many ways. Then the pandemic hit; we lost my father-in-law; and, as much as we love each other, spending every day at home together isn't all it's cracked up to be. The vacation helped us a great deal. Now, I am ready to get back on track.

Here is this week's list:

• Meal planning - DONE
• Daily Bible reading - Started a new week-long plan
• Update planner  - on track
• Walk three days this week
• Book review due Wednesday
• Empty pantry Tuesday night or Wednesday morning - new doors and frame being installed

That's it for this week. Not sure if I will accomplish everything, but I need to stay focused.

What's on your to-do list this week?

Mailbox Monday - July 13

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.

I am posting this early because we are home and I have a closing Monday morning. Our drive home from the Outer Banks was painless. We arrived Saturday morning and I tried not to overdue it right away. Yesterday was my birthday, so all the kids were here. They went all out and bought me a neat gift:

I also received a gift card, so I bought a few books I had my eye on and picked up a few new Kindle freebies. I also signed up for three free months of Kindle Unlimited. Not sure how much I'll use Prime Video, but we will see how that works out.

While we were away, two books arrived in my mailbox.

These Kindle freebies are on my new device.

With my Kindle Unlimited subscription I grabbed the first book in The Time Hunters series, so I can read it before the second book.

How was your week? Are you reading a lot or have you been distracted? What was one of your favorite recent reads? 

Book Spotlight: Taming Your To-Do List by Glynnis Whitwer

No matter how much we accomplish in a day, we nearly always feel a little guilt over what we didn't do. Taming Your To-Do List exposes a seismic shift in society: from one in which most of us were proactive to one in which we carry the burden of having to respond--to every email, text, tweet, and message we receive. This creates a cycle where everyone else sets the priorities for our days rather than us directing our own lives. The result? We procrastinate, putting off the important stuff for later while we tend to the "urgent" stuff right now. It's time to take back your schedule! Ready to tame your to-do list? This book shows you how.

File Size: 4485 KB
Print Length: 201 pages
Page Numbers Source ISBN: 0800736028
Publisher: Revell (June 18, 2019)
Publication Date: June 18, 2019
Sold by: Amazon.com Services LLC
Language: English
ASIN: B07NDMNQT1


Purchase here!

Book Review: Ketty Lester: From The Cotton Fields To Grammy Nominated "Love Letters" to Little House on the Prairie by Revoyda F. Buckley

For fans of Little House on the Prairie, she is known as Hester-Sue Terhune. To her family, she is Re-V or Vorda--a unique name given to a talented woman who had careers as a pop/R&B singer and an actress in movies and television.

Ketty Lester: From The Cotton Fields To Grammy Nominated "Love Letters" to Little House on the Prairie brings you through Buckley's beginnings as the fifteenth child to a farming family, to leaving home and attending college for nursing, to her performing in clubs as Ketty Lester and recording records, to her acting career which spanned decades.

Told in a style as if you were sitting across the table with Buckley asking her about her life, you discover she has loved and lost, she has known the challenges of having a career in a competitive industry, she dealt with discrimination and unequal pay, and she has met and worked with other amazing industry professionals.

This is a story told in chronological order which includes several pictures, her filmography, and discography.  This autobiography held nothing back. It will make you admire and feel compassion for Buckley. Though she is now retired, her mark on music and film remains.

As a fan of Little House on the Prairie, I am glad I read this story. I learned more about this talented woman than I knew before. Though the editor in me wanted a more polished version of the story, I totally believe that there is a lot to be said for being true to yourself and telling an authentic story in your own way, which is just what Buckley did.

Paperback: 240 pages
Publisher:  Elite Publishing House (April 20, 2020)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0578662337
ISBN-13: 978-0578662336

I purchased a copy of this book from Amazon. This review contains my honest opinions, which I was not compensated for in any way.

Vacation Memories

We are coming to the end of our 2020 vacation. Though it has been a very different experience as a result of the pandemic, it has still been a blessing to be away.

We walked around a lot this year and visited a couple new places to eat. 

Whether we are on Cape Cod or at the Outer Banks, Theo loves the beach. 

I will be back to a more regular blogging schedule next week. Hope you enjoy your weekend.

Mailbox Monday - July 6

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.

Good morning from the Outer Banks. I hope you had a nice weekend. This is the second week of our vacation. I didn't get to the bookstore in Manteo yet, but I am looking forward to going today. Here are some photos from this past week.

Puzzle time

The Christmas Shop in Manteo

Theo getting ready for the beach

July 4 on the beach in Kill Devil Hills

I should have a book waiting for me in the pile of mail when I get home on Saturday. I also downloaded these two this weekend.

What arrived in your mailbox last week? 

An Imperfect Christian Mom's COVID-19 Diary #12

 

It's Independence Day in America. A sad day this year. So much of the focus is on what divides us. So many lives, actions, and happenings politicized for the benefit of one party or another. Add to that the many who have lost loved ones this year and are still not able to grieve normally or gather with family and friends due to the current circumstances. All this is so distancing.

When the Declaration of Independence was signed, not all parties agreed; yet they worked together for the common good. Maybe we should watch the movie Independence Day with Will Smith and Bill Pullman to remember we are better when we all pull together. That seems so silly to say, but we really need to give more attention to having compassion for each other, helping each other, and remembering how great America is.

We were blessed to be able to vacation this year, but even we are staying closer to the vacation home than in other years. When we go out, everyone has masks on. Some restaurants have not survived the pandemic or are working at reduced capacity per restrictions or with reduced hours because of travel restrictions leading to no international work staff. Think of how those international students who planned to spend their summers working here are feeling, too. What has this pandemic cost them?

As things open up, some states are experiencing new spikes in cases. An end to this situation seems far away. A vaccine trial has been delayed. Maybe a pause or a push back in re-opening is on the horizon.

I'm okay with adjusting to this new normal, but my heart yearns to see forgiveness, compassion, and peace reign. Little acts of kindness mean so much--like the car full of teenagers who paid $5 toward our Dairy Queen bill yesterday simply because I let them into the drive thru line. I pray we can move forward as a country to a better place.


Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. Do not repay evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary, bless, for to this you were called, that you may obtain a blessing.

~ 1 Peter 3:8-9