Sunday, December 29, 2013

Creative

It hardly seems possible that I've been doing this for six years, but the telltale links are at the bottom of this post.

I don't really feel up to writing a whole lot today, which belies the word creative, I suppose. I've been in recovery mode from ear surgery #3 inside of 24 months. I took the winter term off from teaching. I have only subbed one half-day. I've been mourning the loss of the possibility of restored hearing, and getting tired of explaining the anatomy of the ear for those who look confused, and yes, pouting just a little bit. I took a break from writing, from blogging, from blog editing and blog team leading at Wives of Faith, and was lazy if you want to know the truth. I read a lot, wrote very little, and tried to spend more time with my family.

This business of life is hard, sometimes. 

 

I was not really looking very hard for a word to express my theme for 2014. In fact, I was really okay with taking a year off. However, as is the usual mode of themes, it chose me. (Or rather, God hit me over the head with it over and over for the past several weeks.)

I have a small stack of books about art and creativity to read this year. I want to take some time and space to learn to be creative--in whichever medium that takes. Yarn. Paper. Photos. Words on the screen.

The possibilities truly are endless.

Thanks to Melanie at Only a Breath
for the adorable "1 word" template
I was able to edit at PicMonkey.

"In the beginning, God created..." (Genesis 1:1a)

Past themes:
Brave (2009)
Focus (2010)
Grace (2011)
Listen (2012)
Dream (2013)


Review with Giveaway: Whispers of Hope by Beth Moore

Whispers of Hope is the latest from Bible teacher, author, and speaker Beth Moore.

Publisher's Summary:

Best-selling author Beth Moore addresses how to pray without ceasing and pray effectively in Whispers of Hope, by walking readers through an easy to remember and apply method of prayer, coupled with seventy daily devotionals, and followed by prompts to put this prayer method into practice. In turn, readers will better understand how devotional reading and prayer are central to a stronger relationship with God.

Review:

I received a copy of this book to review recently, and I was surprised at how pretty it is. It's got such a beautiful cover design (photos are mine via my non-smart cell phone!), and the edges of the pages are really uneven and soft.

This book invites writing.

I took another photo of the inside. Each day of the ten weeks of wonderful devotionals has a prayer guide for you to use. To write in. To dig deep and learn much about God and praying to Him. The devotionals are solid and Biblical, with the ultimate goal of putting into practice what God's Word teaches us about prayer.

I recently finished going through Beth Moore's Bible Study Stepping Up, and one of the stories she told was about hungry people eating the seed in their hunger, instead of planting it and waiting for it to grow and multiply into more food. This book, friends, is planting seeds, not for eating them now and not letting them grow in our hearts.

Icon Media Group, who coordinated my review copy and my review (thank you!!!), is graciously offering to donate a copy of this book as a giveaway through B&H Publishing. To enter this "sweepstakes," please leave a comment with a valid email address to be eligible for the drawing.
**Deadline to enter is Monday, January 6, 2013, at noon Eastern time.**

**WINNER chosen using Random.org and it's Grace! Thank you!**

To read my friend Teri's review of this book, click here.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book for review. Photos and commentary is my own, and no other compensation was ever intended or implied.

Monday, December 02, 2013

CFBA Presents Merry Humbug Christmas

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Merry Humbug Christmas
B&H Books (October 15, 2013)
by
Sandra D. Bricker


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For more than a decade, Sandra D. Bricker lived in Los Angeles. While honing her chosen craft of screenwriting in every spare moment, she worked as a personal assistant and publicist to some of daytime television's hottest stars. When her mother became ill in Florida, she walked away from that segment of her life and moved across the country to take on a new role: Caregiver.

The author says that it was her 8th novel that opened the door to finding her way as a writer. "I'm a Christian woman, first and foremost," she says. "So it was a bit of a dream-come-true when Summerside Press chose me as one of two authors to launch the Love Finds You line."

Sandie's real-life role as cancer survivor has parlayed into her steadfast commitment to raising awareness and funds for ovarian cancer research. Spearheading a series of devotionals for Summerside Press (such as the popular His Grace is Sufficient...Decaf is Not), the author has stipulated that a portion of each contributor's proceeds will go to the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund.


"Being allowed to combine my faith and my humor with raising funds for my pet projects ... and still pursue my writing dream," says Bricker, "well, that's the best of all worlds, as far as I'm concerned!"

And one of the author's pet projects is animal rescue, evidenced by the special bond she has created with one particular formerly-abandoned puppy -- a red-haired collie with "killer brown eyes and the heart of the class clown."

ABOUT THE BOOK

A Merry Humbug Christmas features two holiday romance novellas from hilarious and heartwarming author Sandra D. Bricker. -- the perfect gift to yourself or someone else at this most wonderfully stressful time of year.

 In "Once Upon a Jingle Bell," A Bah! Humbug cruise to the Mexican Riviera is Joss Snow’s answer to this year’s quest to avoid the holidays completely; at least until she’s rebooked on a different kind of cruise altogether. Candy canes, holly wreaths, reindeer and ornaments seem to be stalking her on the 12 Days of Christmas holiday cruise extravaganza. An escape back to land is her only goal . . . until she meets a kindred spirit in rugged Irishman Patrick Brenneman, and then the game is on! Avoid Christmas festivities at all costs . . . except maybe for that one stop under the mistletoe.

In "It Came Upon a Midnight Deer," Reese’s guilt over abandoning best friend Joss on their holiday tradition of avoiding all things Christmas is trumped by the joy of her recent engagement. Meeting Damian’s family for the first time on idyllic Sugarloaf Mountain is about as far from that Bah! Humbug cruise as she can get, and Reese can hardly wait to get there. But from the moment they hit that deer in the road just two miles from the cabin, everything seems to go wrong. There are no drummers drumming or pipers piping this particular year! And once she sets her future in-laws’ family cabin ablaze, she’s pretty sure there won’t be even ONE golden ring in her future.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Merry Humbug Christmas, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

Two novellas, two friends, both have their traditional holiday plans completely upended with trademark Sandra Bricker humor--and both stories are humorous and very fun. I really enjoyed this light, heartwarming duo of friends in their pair of novellas!

In fact, I'll be giving this collection to my friend with whom I have celebrated many Christmases, who knows me as well as I know myself, and who would be the supportive Joss to my Reese anytime I needed her--even thousands of miles away. (Here's hoping she meets her own Irishman--or shoot, any nationality will do....)

I'm grateful for family and friends with whom to celebrate the holidays--and with whom to share good books.

Saturday, November 30, 2013

Where ya been?

This probably seems like a crazy title for someone who purports to be somewhat of an expert in American English language usage. Indeed.

But sometimes, friends, we gotta tell it like it IS.

I've been offline a lot the past couple of weeks (well, I've been on Facebook playing games and stalking friends' holiday photos, but who hasn't?). I have not, as you might wonder, been writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month. I started, but then, well, I got bored. I'm not sure why.

So I quit.

Then I had surgery. Again. On my right ear. Again. It's the third ear surgery I have had in the past 24 months.

This time around, I gave myself permission to take time off, to recover. Thankfully my husband was okay with me taking the winter term off from teaching, so other than possibly substituting after my next check-up with the ear surgeon, I am off till January.

I'm also taking a break from most of my volunteering with Wives of Faith. I love the ministry, but it was time for me to step back and take more than a one- or two-week break for moving or surgery. I think having the holidays off will be good for me.

I have been reading and watching movies, spending more purposeful time with my family, and resting. Not just sleeping more, but really trying to rest. (Then again, the other day doing laundry and taking a shower nearly did me in--so that's the extent of my energy levels these days!)

I think this break will rejuvenate the writing part of my brain, hopefully rejuvenate my teaching brain, and certainly give me some time to evaluate what I want to do with my time and energy.

Wednesday, November 06, 2013

CFBA: Paige Rewritten Book 2 in Paige Alder Series

My review is at the end of this post.


This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Paige Rewritten
NavPress (October 8, 2013)
by
Erynn Mangum


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:



A few things about her:

So, if we were having this conversation in person, we would probably be hanging out at Starbucks or one of the cute coffeehouses in town. I’m nuts about all things coffee, I’m crazy about all things pink and girly, and I love, love, love the Food Network! I’m married to my best friend and the most amazing guy ever, Jon. He is amiable toward coffee, does not like anything pink or girly and tolerates the Food Network. So, we make a good match! In July 2010, we became parents to one of the funniest, cutest, sweetest little guys in the whole world (and nope, we aren’t biased at all!), our Nater-Tot, who is legally known as Nathan. Most days, I’m cleaning up messes, making goofy faces, trying to fit some writing in, and just LOVING the life that God has given me!

ABOUT THE BOOK

Paige Alder is in a really good place. She’s dating nice guy Tyler. Her boss has offered her a raise. Her walk with God is strong. Life is great—and that’s when things start to change.

First, the youth pastor at church keeps asking Paige to work with him full-time. Then her sister shows up newly engaged and wanting to reconnect, even though they haven’t spoken in years. And now former boyfriend Luke has come back into her life. How is Paige supposed to know what the right decisions are?

This warm and humorous second book in the Paige Alder series will help young girls work through important issues, such as forgiving others and obeying God.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Paige Rewritten, go HERE

Pattie's Review:
What I like about Erynn's writing is that it's easy to read, spiritual, without hitting me over the head with preachiness. Paige is as likeable a heroine as Lauren Holbrook or Maya Davis. She's a good Christian who struggles with grace. And as someone who grew from a "good kid" to a "nice lady" I can totally relate to Paige's struggles with forgiveness--not only with those who wronged her, but with herself.

Being book two in a series is a tough place to be. I did not read book one, but with the cliffhanger closing this book, I'm definitely looking into book three when it comes out in the spring.

Monday, November 04, 2013

All For a Song by Allison Pittman

All for a Song is a fascinating novel by Allison Pittman. It tells the story of Dorothy Lynn Dunbar, a woman who is used to singing for church, but longs for something more.

From the Publisher:

Dorothy Lynn Dunbar has everything she ever wanted: her family, her church, her community, and plans to marry the young pastor who took over her late father’s pulpit. Time spent in the woods, lifting her heart and voice in worship accompanied by her brother’s old guitar, makes her life complete . . . and yet she longs for something more.

Spending a few days in St. Louis with her sister’s family, Dorothy Lynn discovers a whole new way of life—movies, music, dancing; daring fashions and fancy cars. And a dynamic charismatic evangelist . . . who just happens to be a woman. When Dorothy Lynn is offered a chance to join Aimee Semple McPherson’s crusade team, she finds herself confronted with temptations she never dreamed of. Can Dorothy Lynn embrace all the Roaring Twenties has to offer without losing herself in the process?

Pattie's Review:

Allison Pittman says she got the idea for this story from reading and researching the life and ministry of Aimee Semple McPherson, a female evangelist who traveled and preached in the 1920s and 30s, eventually settling in Los Angeles where she founded the Foursquare Church.

But this novel focuses on Dorothy Lynn Dunbar. Dorothy's quest for something more is much more than a desire for fame and fortune. She longs to make a difference in this world, to make a mark in history and for Christ...and yet, there's that fine line between ministry and fame. Pride creeps in. And the admiration of others. She questions everything she was taught, everything she knows, and she questions her own heart, too.

It is fascinating to have the story of 107-year-old Lynnie intersect with a young Dorothy Lynn, and having Charlotte reminding Lynnie of the past is a nice framing device for the story.

An excellent and fascinating novel by Allison Pittman. I look forward to reading her latest, All for a Story.

Review: Greetings from the Flipside

CFBA presented this book a couple of weeks ago, and I posted that intro here. I received my copy of the book about a week later.

Greetings from the Flipside is a quirky story by coauthors Gutteridge and McKay. I signed up to review this novel because I had totally enjoyed their previous book Never the Bride. I was not disappointed. Quirky is the best word I can think of to describe this novel. Fun, funny, silly, and profound all at once, the story of greeting card writer wannabe Hope is a fun, yet profound, view into the world of a creative woman who feels trapped in her own life.

The best part of the book, for me, is the characters. They're fun and unusual, and yes, quirky. Not bizarre, but certainly not "stock characters" or what anyone would consider "normal" in the usual sense.

The plot twists were enough to keep me guessing, and for an English teacher and avid reader (and sometimes cynical critic of fiction), that's quite a job. But I enjoyed this book, all the plot twists and turns, and I really am glad I was able to read and review it.

This book is for fans of unusual (not speculative, but not predictable) fiction. It's lighthearted, yet has its moments of grounding. It's not overly preachy, but still has a message consistent with a Christian worldview. And for those who enjoy a good romantic comedy, I think this one delivers an enjoyable story.

Thursday, October 31, 2013

Day 31 of Inspiring Quotations

I hope you have enjoyed my 31 Days series of inspiring quotations. I have enjoyed sharing them with you!


October 31:


"No one is useless in this world who lightens the load of another."

Charles Dickens
author

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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Day 30 of Inspiring Quotations


October 30:

"If you do not tell the truth about yourself you cannot tell it about other people."

Virginia Woolf, author


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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Tuesday, October 29, 2013

Day 29 of Inspiring Quotations


October 29:


"Time you enjoyed wasting is not wasted time." 

T.S. Eliot
poet


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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Monday, October 28, 2013

Day 28 of Inspiring Quotations


October 28:

"Learn the lines and don't bump into the furniture."
Noel Coward
actor and playwright
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Sunday, October 27, 2013

Day 27 of Inspiring Quotations


October 27:

"No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow."

Alice Walker, author

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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Saturday, October 26, 2013

Day 26 of Inspiring Quotations


October 26:

"It is not fair to ask of others what you are not willing to do yourself.

Eleanor Roosevelt
First Lady, writer, speaker
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Friday, October 25, 2013

Day 25 of Inspiring Quotations


October 25:

"Life is short, but it is wide."

Rebecca Wells, author

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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Day 24 of Inspiring Quotations


October 24:

In spite of everything I still believe that people are really good at heart.

Anne Frank
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Day 23 of Inspiring Quotations


October 23:

"There are only two ways to live your life.
One is as though nothing is a miracle; the other is as though everything is a miracle."

Albert Einstein
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Day 22 of Inspiring Quotations


October 22:

"The last of human freedoms is to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances."

Viktor Frankl
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Monday, October 21, 2013

Day 21 of Inspiring Quotations


October 21:
"Let other pens dwell on guilt and misery."
Jane Austen
Author
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Sunday, October 20, 2013

CFBA: Greetings From the Flipside

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
Greetings from the Flipside
B&H Books (October 15, 2013)
by
Rene Gutteridge


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Rene is the author of seventeen novels. She also has extensive experience writing comedy sketches, and worked for five years as the director of drama for a church. She has a degree specializing in Screenwriting, for which she earned the Excellence in Mass Communication Award, and graduated magna cum laude.

She is married to Sean, a musician and worship leader, and has two children. They reside in Oklahoma, where Rene writes full time and enjoys instructing in college classrooms and writers conferences.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Hope Landon has been rewriting other people's greeting cards since she was six years old -- there's always a funnier caption. She's all set to chase those creative dreams with her musician fiance in New York City until he leaves Hope at the altar, deciding he must not really love this girl if he can't write a song for her. That may give her something to write about . . .

Hope disappears alone on what was supposed to be the couple's month long honeymoon. Upon returning she learns of her funeral -- everyone in her life concluded Hope must have killed herself after being jilted. Needing a fresh start more than ever, she heads for the Big Apple only to discover it's not that easy to rent a place when you've been declared dead.

Taking shelter at the YWCA, Hope soon lands a job at a Christian inspirational greeting card company as an assistant to Jake, a guy who shut down his organization's humor department. She has lost her faith in love; he needs to find something or someone that will make him laugh.

Is there anything in the cards for these two? Find out in the truly original Greetings from the Flipside by authors Rene Gutteridge (Boo) and Cheryl McKay (screenplay for The Ultimate Gift).

If you would like to read the first chapter of >Greetings from the Flipside, go HERE.

No review on this book, as I have not yet received my review copy. I'm really looking forward to reading it, though!
My review is here!


Day 20 of Inspiring Quotations


October 20:
"If you're not looking forward, you're looking backward
and you're going to smack into something really hard." 

Uma Thurman, actress
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Class Reunion Series Review - CFBA

You can see the CFBA review of book 1 here. I enjoyed the whole series. I ended up reading them all in a row and really enjoyed the maturing of the characters through the three reunions. I related to bits and pieces of each character. I hope you give the series a try!


ABOUT THE BOOKS


Priscilla Slater goes to her ten-year high school reunion with equal parts dread and eager anticipation. Even though she’s a successful owner of a chain of hair salons and no longer has the mousy brown hair, crooked teeth, and discount-store wardrobe, she still feels like the ugly duckling. But when she arrives at the reunion, Priscilla soon realizes that her old classmates aren’t exactly as she remembers them. With humor and a just a touch of sassiness, Priscilla finds herself facing her own truth—and she may be surprised at what she discovers.

As Priscilla Slater’s 15-year class reunion approaches, she decides to attend out of curiosity… and to flaunt her latest achievement—taking her business to a national level with the possibility of a TV show. As if getting ready for the event and putting up with the pranks of her former classmates isn’t enough, Priscilla’s hometown visit is further complicated by her parents’ separation. With the once-solid sanctuary of her home broken at the foundation, there’s only one thing Priscilla’s parents can agree on: no matter what sort of accolades their daughter receives as a hair stylist, she’s not living up to her potential. Eager to escape the painful reality of her childhood home, Priscilla bolts as soon as a call from New York brings good news: her offer to purchase one of the best salons in the country is likely to come through. But returning to New York means returning to Tim, Priscilla’s best friend and business pal who has been impatiently suggesting their relationship should be more than a friendship. Despite her recent achievements, will Priscilla learn that success doesn’t always result in popularity—or love?

Priscilla Slater shows up at her 20-year reunion as a national celebrity. Her hair salon dynasty has skyrocketed, and to top it off, she has her own line of hair products. She has become a huge success with the “Ms. Prissy Big Hair” line that lets women with the thinnest of locks get the coveted “big hair” look so popular in the South. Her classmates have finally come to terms with adulthood, but they’re handling it with the grace of a Southern woman wearing white after Labor Day. It’s just downright awkward! Asserting the maturity that her classmates have often lacked, Priscilla holds her head high. But she can’t ignore everything. When she catches her mother in the arms of her former high school principal, Priscilla can’t get out of town fast enough. Eager to get back to her more comfortable life, Priscilla runs head on into an ultimatum: Tim tells her they’re not getting any younger—as if she has to be reminded.

If you would like to read an excerpt from Pretty is as Pretty Does (bk 1), go HERE

JOIN THE PARTY! Now that all three books have released, let’s party! (Yes, really!) Join our online class reunion the week of October 7, 2013 on Debby Mayne’s Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/136447929891169/ Stop by to answer questions about the books, respond to fun polls, join in fun activities to help you reminisce your high school days, and win great prizes. Tell your friends and meet us there!


Saturday, October 19, 2013

Day 19 of Inspiring Quotations


October 19:
"Nothing great was ever achieved without enthusiasm."
Ralph Waldo Emerson, writer and philosopher
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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Friday, October 18, 2013

Day 18 of Inspiring Quotations


October 18:

"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain."

Dolly Parton, singer/songwriter

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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Thursday, October 17, 2013

In case of emergency, please call me


October 17:

For a military wife new to the area, this is one issue that is SUCH a concern. It may not seem like a huge deal, but it really can be.

Offer to be her emergency contact person.

You'd be surprised at how often paperwork of various kinds asks for an emergency contact that is not family. I think you'd also be very surprised at how much your offer to do this means to her.



Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

Link to all the posts in this series

Link to my other #31Days series of Inspiring Quotations

Day 17 of Inspiring Quotations


October 17:

"Nobody has ever measured, even the poets, how much a heart can hold."

Zelda Fitzgerald
writer and wife of author F. Scott Fitzgerald



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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Wednesday, October 16, 2013

Vehicular Care


October 16:

This would be a great way to help a friend or family  - or if you're really ambitious, make it a church project for all military families, single ladies, etc.

Offer to change her oil.

Or, you can offer to pay for her oil change with a nice little gift certificate or something, too.

Or, you can offer to watch her kids so she can go get the oil changed and grab a coffee and some quiet time in the process.

Sometimes it's the things that seem little to some people, but are a huge monster deal to someone who's already feeling overwhelmed.



Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

Link to all the posts in this series

Link to my other #31Days series of Inspiring Quotations

Day 16 of Inspiring Quotations


October 16:

"Life is either a daring adventure or nothing."

Helen Keller
writer and activist



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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Tuesday, October 15, 2013

3 Ways to Encourage with Dinner


October 13, 14, and 15:

Dinner plans when the military service member is away can often be hit-or-miss for a busy spouse, especially when she's doing it all with the kids' schedules, working part-time or full-time, or both!

Here are three unobtrusive ways to help your military spouse friend out with her dinner plans.

1. Invite her over, old-school. (If she already started her dinner, have her bring it over like a potluck.)
2. Make dinner and take it over to her house.
3. Give her a gift card to her favorite restaurant so she can go out on a day she doesn't feel like cooking.

Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

Link to all the posts in this series

Link to my other #31Days series of Inspiring Quotations

Unspoken by Dee Henderson

I received a NetGalley ebook from Bethany House Publishers in exchange for a review. (UPDATE: I also ended up getting a paperback copy of this book later on in the mail, that I will pass along for someone to enjoy. Thank you to Bethany House.)



Publisher's Synopsis: 

Charlotte Graham is at the center of the most famous kidnapping in Chicago history. 

The task force of FBI and local cops found her two abductors, killed them, rescued her, but it took four very long years. The fact she was found less than three miles from her home, had been there the entire time, haunts them. She's changed her identity, found a profession she loves, and rebuilt her life. 

She's never said a word--to the cops, to her doctors, to family--about those four years.

A family legacy has brought her back to Chicago where a reporter is writing a book about the kidnapping. The cops who worked the case are cooperating with him. Her options are limited: Hope the reporter doesn't find the full truth, or break her silence about what happened. And her silence is what has protected her family for years. 

Bryce Bishop doesn't know her past, he only knows she has coins to sell from her grandfather's estate--and that the FBI director for the Chicago office made the introduction. The more he gets to know Charlotte, the more interested he becomes, an interest encouraged by those closest to her. But nothing else is working in his favor--she's decided she is single for life, she struggles with her faith, and she's willing to forego a huge inheritance to keep her privacy. She's not giving him much of an opening to work with.

Charlotte wants to trust him. She needs to tell him what happened. Because a crime cops thought was solved, has only opened another chapter...


Review: 


Once again, the NetGalley for Kindle has deleted all the double-f's (so the characters go o to the o ice, and there is a lot of stu on the desk. You get the idea). I have reported it to NetGalley, so hopefully this won't continue to be a problem as it has been for other titles from Bethany House and Revell.

That annoying slowdown aside, I appreciate the opportunity to read and review this book. 

The beginning of the book gets really bogged down with the coin stuff. We could have had half of the discussion and about a third of Charlotte's leading Bishop on and on (and on and on!), but I know why she kept it all. It was to build Charlotte's trust in Bryce.

Trust is key in Henderson's novels.

The really good "Dee Henderson"-y stuff is in the second half of the book.

While I don't think the main romantic relationship is realistic per se, it works within the context of the previous Henderson novel Full Disclosure (suspension of disbelief for Dee's world, if you will). Plus, in typical Henderson fashion, she intertwines details of the previous book with the current book, building upon the story and weaving in the plot threads. That part of her writing, I love.

I waffled between 3 and 4 stars, and landed on 4 in the end because the book kept me reading, and I really did care enough to figure out what happened to Charlotte.

www.deehenderson.com is the author's website for more information.

Day 15 of Inspiring Quotations


October 15:

"The quality of my life is determined by one thing: my attitude toward it."

Nicole Johnson
speaker, dramatist, author



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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Monday, October 14, 2013

Day 14 of Inspiring Quotations


October 14:

"Happiness is not a station to arrive at, but a manner of traveling."

Margaret Lee Runbeck



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Part of The Nester's #31Days - click to find more fabulousness

To read all the posts in this series, click here.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

We Get It


October 12:

If you are not a military spouse but have a friend who is, you may have come across a few of those venting blogs. You know the ones. "I hate it when my civilian friend says her husband's business trip is just like my husband's deployment." On the other side of the coin, it's more like this: "My friend's husband is in a war zone and I don't know what to say. I mean, my husband only had to go to Austin, not Afghanistan."

Let me share something with you from my perspective. It's okay to talk to your friend. Because the truth of the matter is this:

Gone is gone.

When the husband is gone, things are not the same. Your heart is in another location, and it makes life harder when the one you share that life with is not at home.

It's okay to talk about it, but it's not okay to make assumptions. You know what they say about the word assume :)


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Day 13 of Inspiring Quotations


October 13:

"Life is change.
Growth is optional.
Choose wisely."
Karen Kaiser Clark



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Saturday, October 12, 2013

Day 12 of Inspiring Quotations


October 12:

"You must do the thing which you think you cannot do."

Eleanor Roosevelt
First Lady, writer, speaker



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Friday, October 11, 2013

Prayer for Patience


October 11:

One way to encourage a military wife friend in your life is to pray for her to have an extra measure of patience. Patience is a tough commodity for your military wife friend, one that is needed often. We military families, who often seem to live by the saying "Hurry up and wait," tend to do a lot of waiting: We wait for news about our husband's promotions, his next school assignment, his next TDY (like a business trip), his next deployment, his next duty station (will we move? where? when?), and the list could go on and on.

Patience would be a welcome commodity in the life of any military wife.

But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
Galatians 5:22-23, (NLT)


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Day 11 of Inspiring Quotations


October 11:

"We must use time creatively, and forever realize that the time is always ripe to do right."

Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
minister, writer and activist



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Thursday, October 10, 2013

The Leaf and Snow Corollary


October 10:

The corollary to yesterday's post about yard work:

It's autumn, so that means if you live near any trees at all, leaves likely cover the bulk of your yard. Another way to help a military wife whose husband is gone would be to rake the leaves in her yard.

During winter, helping with snow shoveling really, really helps too.



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Day 10 of Inspiring Quotations


October 10:

"Laughter is the sun that drives winter from the human face."

Victor Hugo
author



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Wednesday, October 09, 2013

Yard Work


October 9:

When I asked friends about how best to encourage a military wife whose husband is away for any length of time, the #1 answer was:

MOW THE YARD

You'll give her the biggest blessing with one of the hardest tasks if you mow and trim the yard. If you're a gardener, offer to help weed the flower beds too.


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Day 9 of Inspiring Quotations


October 9:

"There is no perfect time to write. There's only now."
Barbara Kingsolver, author



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Tuesday, October 08, 2013

Please don't say it


October 8

I read a lot of military spouse information online, so oftentimes I'm not sure what content makes it out of the mil-spouse bubble and what doesn't. But one of the least helpful things I've ever heard or read is this:

You chose this life. You knew what you were getting into when you married a __________ {soldier/sailor/airman/marine/coast guard/reservist/guard member}.

Friends, this is not helpful. At all. Because there are many of us who did not marry a military service member. Then there are others of us who got married with stars in our eyes and love in our hearts, and we didn't have any clue what was in our futures.

Just like everyone else.

So the next time you hear a military wife friend express frustration over something with her husband's job, or worries aloud about whether or not her husband's next paycheck will be coming, extend to her a bit of grace. Don't say that least helpful thing; instead, offer to pray with her about her concerns.

Proverbs 16:9 says, "In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps."

We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow.


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Day 8 of Inspiring Quotations


October 8:

"Walking with a friend in the dark is better than walking alone in the light."

Helen Keller
writer and activist



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Monday, October 07, 2013

Let's talk about pets, baby...


October 7

There are many reasons why military families travel. Sometimes there is an opportunity for a pre-deployment or post-deployment vacation together, or an opportunity to visit their extended families. Sometimes the family needs to travel for an emergency of one kind or another. And sometimes, like anyone else, they want to take a special trip for a special occasion. It's not always feasible to take their furry, feathered, or finned friends with them, and kenneling is sometimes difficult to find and expensive, too.

Enter the world of pet-sitting. Dogs and cats and hamsters and fish need attention when their families travel, especially around the holidays. If you're willing and able, offer to watch a military family's pet while they travel. Better yet, if you have older children, ask them to do this. The military family will appreciate having their pet pampered while they're away, and it will cost them a fraction of the cost of a professional kennel.



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