Fresh-Brewed Writer...living a fresh-brewed life.

Beyond Molasses Creek

2012-02-11T08:00:00.000-09:00

About the book:
Three lives are bound by a single book . . . and the cleansing waters of Molasses Creek.

Having traveled to the ends of the earth as a flight attendant, Ally Green has finally returned to the Lowcountry to bury her father as well as the past. But Vesey Washington is still living across the creek, and theirs is a complicated relationship—he was once her best friend . . . and also part of the reason she’s stayed away so long. When Ally discovers a message her father left behind asking her to quit running, it seems her past isn’t through with her yet.

As Ally’s wandering spirit wrestles with a deep longing to flee again, a young woman on the other side of the world escapes her life of slavery in the rock quarries of Nepal. A mysterious sketchbook leads Sunila Kunari to believe there’s more to her story than she’s ever been told, and she’s determined to follow the truth wherever it leads her.

A deep current intertwines the lives of these three souls, and a destiny of freedom, faith, and friendship awaits them all on the banks of Molasses Creek.

About Nicole:

Nicole Seitz is the author of several critically acclaimed novels - The Inheritance of Beauty, Saving Cicadas, A Hundred Years of Happiness, Trouble the Water, and The Spirit of Sweetgrass. She is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's School of Journalism, and also has a degree in Illustration from Savannah College of Art & Design. Her paintings are featured on the covers of her books. Visit her at @NicoleSeitz, Facebook and www.nicoleseitz.com for more information.

Link to buy Beyond Molasses Creek

Pattie's Review:

This is the first Nicole Seitz book I have read, and both the story and the poetic language drew me in immediately. The language is evocative and beautiful and, in places, haunting. I enjoyed reading the story, and while it took awhile to get into the story due to the shifting narration, once I was there, I was intrigued.

I was a little surprised that as a Christian novel, this book didn't really have a blatant salvation moment. We're never quite sure if the narrators ever accept God as The One True God, rather than continually searching among the Hindu gods for peace and enlightenment. Nevertheless, there were characters for whom Christian faith was a certainty.

Overall, a good women's fiction novel.

About the Party:
Nicole is celebrating the release of Beyond Molasses Creek with a fabulous "Friendship" Facebook party! She'll be giving away a ton of great stuff (KINDLE TOUCH, some of her own beautiful artwork, a Book Club Prize Pack (10 copies of the book for your small group/book club and a Live Skype Chat with Nicole), and more!

CLICK the button (below) to RSVP for the party - then join us on February 16th for a book chat, story sharing and prizes! Hope to see you there!

Save the Date! 2/16!

Read what others are saying about the book here.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson, Nicole Seitz, and LitFuse for an advance review copy of this novel.

Blue Moon Bay

2012-02-08T05:00:00.000-09:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Blue Moon Bay Bethany House (February 1, 2012) by Lisa Wingate

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Lisa Wingate is an award-winning journalist, magazine columnist, popular inspirational speaker and a national bestselling author of sixteen books. Her first mainstream novel, Tending Roses, is in its eighteenth printing from Penguin Putnam. Tending Roses is a staple on the shelves of national bookstore chains as well as in many independent bookstores.

Recently, Lisa’s Blue Sky Hill Series, set in Dallas, received national attention with back-to-back nominations for American Christian Fiction Writers Book of the Year Award for A Month of Summer (2009) and The Summer Kitchen (2010). Pithy, emotional, and inspirational, her stories bring to life characters so real that readers often write to ask what is happening to them after the book ends.

Lisa is one of a select group of authors to find success in both the Christian and mainstream markets, writing for both Bethany House, a Christian publisher, and NAL Penguin Putnam, a general market publisher. Her bestselling books have become a hallmark of inspirational fiction. Her works have been featured by the National Reader's Club of America, AOL Book Picks, Doubleday Book Club, the Literary Guild, Crossings Book Club, American Profiles and have been chosen for numerous awards.

When not busy dreaming up stories, Lisa spends time on the road as a motivational speaker. Via internet, she shares with readers as far away as India, where her book, Tending Roses, has been used to promote women's literacy, and as close to home as Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the county library system has used Tending Roses to help volunteer mentors teach adults to read. Recently, the group Americans for More Civility, a kindness watchdog organization, selected Lisa along with Bill Ford, Camille Cosby, and six others as recipients of the National Civies Award, which celebrates public figures who work to promote greater kindness and civility in American life.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Heather Hampton returns to Moses Lake, Texas, to help facilitate the sale of a family farm as part of a planned industrial plant that will provide the area with much-needed jobs. Heather's future fiance has brokered the deal, and Heather is in line to do her first large-scale architectural design--if the deal goes through.

But the currents of Moses Lake have a way of taking visitors on unexpected journeys. What was intended to be a quick trip suddenly morphs into Valentine's week--with Blaine Underhill, the handsome banker who just happens to be opposing Heather's project. Spending the holiday in an ex-funeral parlor seems like a nightmare, but Heather slowly finds herself being drawn into the area's history, hope, and heart.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Blue Moon Bay, go HERE.

Pattie's Review: will be forthcoming in future weeks, as the book arrived just a few days ago and I'm grading research papers and prepping for final exam administration this week.

CFBA presents: Song of My Heart

2012-02-06T03:00:00.000-09:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Song of My Heart Bethany House (February 1, 2012) by Kim Vogel Sawyer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Kim Vogel Sawyer is the author of fifteen novels, including several CBA and ECPA bestsellers. Her books have won the ACFW Book of the Year Award, the Gayle Wilson Award of Excellence, and the Inspirational Readers Choice Award. Kim is active in her church, where she leads women's fellowship and participates in both voice and bell choirs. In her spare time, she enjoys drama, quilting, and calligraphy. Kim and her husband, Don, reside in central Kansas, and have three daughters and numerous grandchildren.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Sadie Wagner has always been devoted to her family. So when her stepfather is injured and can't work, she decides to leave home and accept a position as a clerk at the mercantile in Goldtree, Kansas. Goldtree also offers the opportunity to use her God-given singing talent--though the promised opera house is far different from what she imagined. With her family needing every cent she can provide, Sadie will do anything to keep her job.

Thad McKane comes to Goldtree at the request of the town council. The town has been plagued by bootlegging operations, and Thad believes he can find the culprit. After he earns enough money doing sheriff work, he wants to use it to pay for his training to become a minister.

Thad is immediately attracted to the beautiful singer who performs in Asa Baxter's unusual opera house, but when he hears her practicing bawdy tunes, he begins to wonder if she's far less innocent than she seems. And when Sadie appears to be part of the very crimes he's come to investigate, is there any hope the love blossoming between them will survive?

If you would like to read the first chapter of Song of My Heart, go HERE.

I just received this book a few days ago and because of my work schedule I wasn't able to read this book yet. I will get to it soon, and review at a later date. Special thanks to CFBA, the author, and the publisher for a review copy of the novel, and I will review it soon!

I need to use my planner more...

2012-02-05T17:43:00.001-09:00

Guess what I did? As my mom would say, I snookered myself.

Twice this week I realized I had not used my planner - my nice beautiful new 2012 black shiny planner with writers' quotes throughout - to its best advantage.

This is my busiest week. I teach for a university that holds 11-week semesters. This is week #11, which means I'm giving two different final exams (which are not.quite.ready for copying) to my 30 students (10 in one class, 20 in the other). I also have about 25 term papers in my possession that need to be graded by the end of the week (again, between the two classes). Grades are due next Monday by noon, but I have a doctor's appointment that morning at 9:40 a.m.

I have a stack of seven review books (not including the four on my Kindle which don't have deadlines attached). Two were unsolicited ARCs, one was a gift ARC from the author, and one was a late-arrival that was supposed to be reviewed sometime in January when I got around to it, but I forgot. I had three books arrive in the past four days (ah, the joys of media mail to Alaska) for which reviews are due--you guessed it, this week.

Indeed, I am very, very behind.

So you will see two CFBA posts this week, that unless I stay up late every night to finish the books, will remain unreviewed until my break between semesters (that would be starting after noon on Monday Feb. 13). The third book due this week for LitFuse, I might just be able to squeeze in when I need breaks from student papers. Or when I'm eating lunch. Or something.

And with that...off I go!

Friday Felicities

2012-01-27T07:29:00.002-09:00

Becky wrote about Nattie here.

Dark Roast Coffee
International Coffee Creamer
Journaling in a beautiful book with a great gel pen
Brand-new comp books
Writing
Reading
The Library

The Shadow of Your Smile

2012-01-24T13:00:00.000-09:00

Welcome to the LitFuse sponsored blog tour of Susan May Warren's The Shadow of Your Smile.

About the book: The Shadow of Your Smile

A beautiful blanket of snow may cover the quaint town of Deep Haven each winter, but it can’t quite hide the wreckage of Noelle and Eli Hueston’s marriage.

After twenty-five years, they’re contemplating divorce . . . just as soon as their youngest son graduates from high school. But then an accident erases part of Noelle's memory. Though her other injuries are minor, she doesn’t remember Eli, their children, or the tragedy that has ripped their family apart. What’s more, Noelle is shocked that her life has turned out nothing like she dreamed it would. As she tries to regain her memory and slowly steps into her role as a wife and mother, Eli helps her readjust to daily life with sometimes-hilarious, sometimes-heartwarming results. But can she fall in love again with a man she can’t remember?

Will their secrets destroy them . . . or has erasing the past given them a chance for a future? Read the story behind the story here: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/books/the-shadow-of-your-smile.

About Susan: Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

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

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at:www.susanmaywarren.com.

Link to buy the book: Click here to purchase The Shadow of Your Smile.

Sometimes love requires a little forgetting ... Come back to Deep Haven and find out what's been happening in your favorite quaint hamlet. If you're new to the Deep Haven series - this is the perfect book to start with - each book in the series is a stand alone story.

Susan is celebrating the release of The Shadow of Your Smile by giving away a prize pack worth over $200 from 1/9-1/28.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A $200 Visa Gift Card (Use that to rekindle a little romance, treat yourself to a spa day, snap up those shoes you’ve been eyeing, or purchase a few great books!)
The entire set of Deep Haven Books

The winner will be announced on 1/30/12 on Susan’s blog, Scribbles! Just click one of the icons below to enter and tell your friends about Susan's giveaway on FACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning.

Blog tour schedule: Click here to visit other reviews for this novel:
http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13448479

Enter 1/9 - 1/28.

Pattie's Review:

I was intrigued by this novel from the beginning, because it has a much different tone than previous Deep Haven novels. Right away I knew the marriage was in trouble, and I was all set to blame Noelle for hiding things. Of course, it is never just one spouse, just as in real life.

There were some tears shed during the course of reading this novel. Most visitors to my blog do not know that I am an adult child of divorce; by this I mean that my parents divorced when I was an adult, after 35 years of marriage. It was a very painful and horrible time for our family. So any story dealing with divorce and infidelity (even just a hint) always touches me very closely. To be honest, I would have slammed this book had it turned out differently than it did--I trust Susan May Warren to deal with things justly and in a Christian spirit.

I would not classify this book with Warren's comedies or heartwarming stories. I'd call this real life fiction, dealing with an interesting premise that is never quite solved to my satisfaction, but is probably more true-to-life than any other Christian fiction novel you'll find out there on the shelves.

Overall, I would say this is a good women's fiction novel, well-written, multi-faceted, with believable characters; a good read for both Christians and non-Christians alike.

____________________________________________________________

***Thank you to LitFuse, NetGalley, and the author for a Kindle copy of this novel.***

**FCC Note: I received a ebook galley copy of this novel
in exchange for my honest opinion.**

Cards Galore!

2012-01-13T08:02:00.001-09:00

I entered a contest on this post at (in)Courage, and wow, guess what? I won!!! The FedEx truck just pulled away from my street a few moments ago in the darkness...leaving this on my porch:

I will be blogging about sending cards later this month.

Listening...for joy

2012-01-09T08:00:00.000-09:00

Just a few of the Joy Dare items from my journal:

Three lines I overheard that were graces:

"I thought you would have some partial paralysis in your face after surgery."

"I love you."

"I prayed for you."

Listening and Challenging

2012-01-07T06:58:00.003-09:00

Melanie from "Only a Breath" designed this for me:

I found her blog on Twitter, from a link that linked to this post: One Word

What a gift, to be given something (from someone I do not know) that is so lovely that I could never, ever make on my own. This is so special to my heart.

Thank you so much, Melanie!!!!

Just as a quick check-in, I'm doing pretty well, physically and with my listening. It's hard when you're as active and as healthy as I've always been, to force yourself to rest. To relax, to take it easy, to conserve energy. Especially when the simple act of conversation takes a lot more concentrated effort than it used to!

I haven't really done a formal declaration of a Proverbs 31 challenge this year, because I have some other challenges going on (take a look at my January posts and you'll see what I mean). But since I was given the incredible gift of reading my friend Sara's manuscript for My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife (and subsequently reading the published book), I have to admit that it has always been in my mind and heart. It's like, in a weird way, sometimes I step outside myself and watch myself interact with my husband and daughters, and wonder if I could be better, if I could really stop doing what does not work, and start finding out what does work and doing that instead.

In this season of rest and recovery in which I find myself, I am grateful for the extra help I'm receiving around the house from my family. When I'm stronger, I'll do more, but in the meantime, working on my heart and my attitudes this first week of 2012 has been a very, very good thing.

Artist's Way Journey 2012

2012-01-05T11:30:00.000-09:00

This is the year I am going to do what I have wanted to do for several years: Go through all of The Artist's Way series of books by Julia Cameron.

For a long time, The Artist's Way has been THE go-to book for creativity recovery. Countless writers have gone through this workshop-in-a-book, waxed poetic about the discipline of morning pages, refilled their creative wells with art and music and poetry and photography, and praised the virtues of Cameron's writing exercises.

I went through The Artist's Way in 2006 with an online writer's group, and while I found it helpful, I did not get the breakthrough in my writing vision, dreams, or career that I had hoped to find. In the meantime, I requested the remaining workbooks Cameron had written since TAW on my Paperback Swap wishlist, and over the next four years I received every single one of them. They are: The Vein of Gold, Walking in this World, and Finding Water. I did discover that she has yet another book coming out today, entitled The Prosperous Heart. We have a big Amazon order to make soon, so I think that will be on my list (although with only 52 weeks in a year, that book might lead me into 2013!).

I always wanted to go through all of them in one calendar year. Well, my friends, for the first time in 2 years we know we are NOT moving this year, so THIS IS MY YEAR. My year of Cameron and creativity and writing and discovering things about myself I did not know.

Alongside these books, I will also reread Janice Elsheimer's The Creative Call. This is another book I went through with a group a few years ago, and I honestly don't remember anything except posting the exercises and talking. I don't know that it really changed me any. So, I'm going to give it a whirl as well.

I am learning, as I listen to the words around me, the words from God's word, and the words on the pages I read and write, that this year is going to be a lot more about process than product, about journey rather than destination. About how to become a better, happier, more content woman.

Joy Dare 2012

2012-01-05T09:25:00.001-09:00

Ann Voskamp's challenge: Dare to Count the Joys, capture the gifts of 2012, and in so doing, increase the gratitude revolution and the grace and eucharisteo.

I realized in the midst of all of my busy preparations to jump headlong back into regular life after my ear surgery that I had not yet pulled down my gratitude journal from the shelf where I stashed it before our trip.

So today, that changes. I may or may not record them all on my blog, but I will use the guided monthly prompts and begin the list in my old sketchbook with #1 again for 2012.

Are you with us? Let's join the gratitude revolution. Let's join God where He is, appreciate all He does for us, and always, always give Him the glory.

TBR Reading Challenge 2012

2012-01-01T18:35:00.001-09:00

I've been doing this TBR challenge since 2007. Last year, I sooooo failed...this year, linking in with my personal goals for 2012 I should do much better! I've made it a habit of reading over 100 books a year the past several years, so it's not for lack of trying that I don't succeed in a reading challenge. No, that would be my lack of "stick-to-it-ive-ness" that is my problem!
The Artist's Way by Julia Cameron
The Vein of Gold by Julia Cameron
Walking in this World by Julia Cameron
Finding Water by Julia Cameron
Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith by Anne Lamott
Note to Self by Samara O'Shea
Sweater Quest by Adrienne Martini
Northern Lights by Nora Roberts
Alaska by James Michener
Blonde by Joyce Carol Oates

Alternate Selections:
Zelda by Nancy Mitford
A Moveable Feast: The Restored Edition by Ernest Hemingway

Goals for 2012

2012-01-01T17:14:00.000-09:00

Just a random list of goals for the new year. Subject to change, with or without notice, as needed. Void where prohibited by law ;)

Read Anne Lamott's spiritual essay trilogy (Traveling Mercies: Some Thoughts on Faith; Plan B: Further Thoughts on Faith ; Grace (Eventually): Thoughts on Faith).
Go through Julia Cameron's four books about creativity (The Artist's Way; The Vein of Gold; Walking in this World; Finding Water).
Work on streamlining the process and systems I use for teaching composition and rhetoric.
Listen.
Be more intentional with living a life of gratitude and giving thanks.
Be intentional about journaling (not sure if this will translate into blogging yet or not...that month I blogged every day was good, but not sure I can make that commitment all the time!).

Listen

2011-12-30T13:52:00.002-09:00

I blogged about my new 2012 theme on Wives of Faith this morning (a post that took me awhile to write, because I'm not home and I'm still on my operation vacation).

My theme for 2012 is Listen.

Now, I have not gone into detail much online, other than a whittled-down list of folks on my Facebook page who are my prayer warriors, close friends and family members. But I had major ear surgery last week at Fort Lewis, Washington. I had a growth that distorted my eardrum, destroyed much of my temporal bone all the way up to my brain, began to expose my facial nerve, damaged a taste nerve, and destroyed two of the three bones needed for hearing. I now have a new reconstructed eardrum, no disease, and my facial nerve, perilously close to being exposed and damaged, is getting some steroids for strength and protection. I still have hearing in my ear--it's all sensorineural, as those parts are still in working order. My hearing loss will be able to be fixed next year (should the disease not return) with the insertion of a titanium implant replacing the two destroyed hearing bones, connecting my new eardrum to the stapes bone.

I am alive, I have no facial nerve damage (seems I'm past the window of danger for that as well, although the steroid med course continues for another week), I have no brain damage, and no terrible side effects from the medications or the procedure.

God is so good.

On Christmas Sunday, four days after my surgery, we sat in the lovely sanctuary of Chapel One at McChord Field, listening and enjoying the worship service. My heart was full. I was not seeking my theme, I was just trying to enjoy the fact that I could hear the music and the Scripture being read (the same passage which, incidentally, I had posted to my Facebook status not an hour before).

And I heard that familiar, comforting, Still Small Voice say, "Listen. Be still and know that I am God."

"Lord. Really?"

"Yes. Listen."

I had to laugh a little inside. Really? Listen. With what I thought at the time was half my hearing, He wants me to listen? It's going to be HARD. I've been a very healthy girl most of my life. Sure, ear trouble as a kid, and intermittent hearing issues the past year, but not a full-fledged disability. A handicap, really. A medical condition requiring monitoring and being careful.

This year, listening will have to be a conscious effort. It will be work. It is going to make home life harder and work life a lot harder (how in the world am I going to do a VTC class starting in Feb. if I can't hear that well?).

But I'm here. I'm alive. I'm 9 days out from surgery and managing my pain and discomfort pretty well. It will only get better from here.

Past Themes: Brave, 2009
Focus, 2010
Grace, 2011

2011-12-17T08:58:00.001-09:00

2011 Reading Challenge

Pattie has completed her goal of reading 110 books in 2011!

hide

111 of 110 (100%)

view books

Fall Into Reading Wrap-Up 2011

2011-12-17T08:45:00.000-09:00

For participation info, click here.

I am proud of myself...I finished ALL the books on my list. Usually I end up not finishing one, but this time? Oh yes, my friends, this time I finished.

I have included the content of my original post, with hyperlinks to the reviews I have posted elsewhere on my blog.

Special thanks to Katrina of Callapidder Days for allowing me to send her the link to my wrap-up early; I'm headed out of town for ear surgery.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

My List:

Happy Chaos - Soleil Moon Frye (library)
A Whisper of Peace - Kim Vogel Sawyer (my shelf; late arriving book review book)
~~The Fiction Class~~ ~~- Susan Breen (my shelf)~~
~~Wonderland Creek~~ ~~- Lynn Austin (book review book)~~
Lucky Baby - Meredith Efken (my shelf--just arrived from Paperback Swap!)

~~Hamlet~~ ~~- William Shakespeare (in the lit book I'm teaching from this semester)~~
~~and...a re-read of Sara Horn's My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife in preparation for a Proverbs 31 challenge (click button in sidebar for more info!)~~
~~Love on the Line~~ ~~- Deeanne Gist (book review book~~
~~Remembering You~~ ~~- Tricia Goyer (book review book)~~
~~Baby, It's Cold Outside~~ ~~- Susan May Warren~~ ~~(book review book)~~

Books I Also Read But Which Are Not On the List:

Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK by Betsy St. Amant (NetGalley on Kindle)

The Shakespeare Manuscript by Stewart Buettner (Kindle)--did not really like all that much.

Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares (library find)

Best Staged Plans by Claire Cook (library find)

My Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure (This was my first library loan on my Kindle! What an awesome program!!!)

Murder by Mocha by Cleo Coyle (10th Coffeehouse Mystery book--original ones recommended to me by my Nattie, back in the day...)

All That is Bitter and Sweet by Ashley Judd (it was okay, difficult read)

Delivery by Diana Prusik (disliked the book until the very end....)

Give it All, Give it Now by Annie Dillard (short gift book)

Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos

Harsh Pink by Melody Carlson

The Pioneer Women, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story by Ree Drummond

One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

Lucky Baby

2011-12-17T08:15:00.002-09:00

Meredith Efken's novel Lucky Baby is quite different from her previous novels, which were more comedy. This novel is deeper, more multi-faceted, and much more of an emotional journey than I even anticipated.

Synopsis:

Meg Lindsay has everything a woman could want except happiness. Can an adopted Chinese child bring her what she lacks?
All her life, Meg Lindsay’s mother told her what a disappointment she was. Try as she might, Meg never measured up, and the emotional bruises still hurt as an adult. In Meg’s opinion, no one could be a worse mother than the woman who gave birth to her—that is, until Meg has a child of her own to care for.

Two young girls lived in an orphanage in China. Unwanted because of a deformity and the lack of family registry, Little Zhen An was destined to spend her childhood in the orphanage. Her only friend was a slightly older blind girl, Wen Ming.

After Meg and her husband, Lewis, adopt one of the girls, Meg’s love for her new daughter grows daily, but the tension, fear, and uncertainty of motherhood drive Meg to the brink of despair. Fearing that she is becoming the kind of mother she hates, she fights circumstance, rebellion, a loving but at times tense marriage, setbacks, and the native selfishness that lives in all of us.

Meg’s journey is a magical one as East meets West and as imagination aligns with reality. Lucky Baby spans the world, bridges the gap between heart and soul, and shows that the greatest power on Earth is forgiveness.

I enjoyed the novel, but not in the same way I thought I might. It was a very emotional book for me, and I found myself setting the novel aside more than I usually do for novels. It touched my heart in a very deep place, the place where my mother-self resides. The place where my wounds are the deepest and the sweetest.

Remembering You

2011-11-26T03:00:00.002-09:00

Remembering You: a Contemporary Novel about World War II, Grandparents, Memories, and yes, Love.

About the Novel:

35-year-old Ava Andrews' dream job is interrupted by an unusual request--fulfill her 84-year-old grandfather's last wish by joining him on a battle site tour of Europe. Ava is sure her boss will refuse her request. But, instead, he gives her a directive of his own--to videotape the tour and send it back as mini-segments for the show she produces.

As if juggling these two things isn't hard enough, Ava is soon surprised again ... twice. First, Ava and Grandpa Jack arrive in Europe, only to discover the tour is cancelled. Unwilling to let down her grandfather or her boss, Ava and Grandpa Jack head out on their own. Then, while they're on their way, the pair soon meet up with Paul, her grandpa's best friend, and his grandson Dennis. The same Dennis who just happens to be Ava's first love.

Before she knows it, Ava and Dennis are swept down memory lane as they visit the sites that are discussed in the history books. And even though Ava's videotaping old soldiers, she can see their youth, their hopes and fears, and their pride in their eyes. Soon Ava learns the trip isn't just for them ... it's for her too--especially for her heart.

Read an excerpt, watch a video and find out more here. http://www.triciagoyer.com/contemporaryfiction.html#RememberingYou

Pattie's Review:

What's not to like about a story like this? I enjoyed the story, Ava's journey not only with her grandfather as he takes his, but in her own heart.

The only part of the story that I didn't like were the times Dennis judged Ava--particularly for one incident which was something she obviously didn't do. If it had been me, I think I would have written him completely off at that point. I was so upset at that man!

But overall, the love story didn't really interfere with the real story: the story of the grandfathers and their comrades-in-arms as they journeyed across Europe to remember and honor the lives they helped save--and to be remembered for the liberation they brought. I think that is the best part of the whole story.

Contest Info:

@TriciaGoyer's Remembering You Giveaway & #FB Party. Win a Kindle Touch for YOU and a friend!

Tricia Goyer is celebrating the release of her novel, Remembering You, with a KINDLE Touch Giveaway for you ... and for the friend of your choice. Then on 11/29 she'll be wrapping up the release of Remembering You with a Book Chat Party!

During the first half of the party Tricia will be chatting, sharing a sneak peek of her next book, and giving away a ton of great stuff. Then she'll head over to her website for a Live Chat! Readers will be able to chat with Tricia via video or text.

Don't miss your chance to win a Kindle Touch for yourself ... and to "remember" a friend this holiday with a Kindle Touch for them!

Read what the reviewers are saying here.

One grand prize winner will receive:

A Brand New Kindle Touch and a Kindle Touch for a Friend (winner's choice!)
A copy of Remembering You by Tricia Goyer for each

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on November 29th. Winner will be announced at Remembering You Facebook Party on 11/29. Tricia will be hosting an author chat (on Facebook and Live from her website) and giving away copies of her other WWII books and gift certificates to Starbucks and Amazon.com. So grab your copy of Remembering You and join Tricia on the evening of the 29th for an author chat, a trivia contest (How much do you know about WWII?) and lots of giveaways.

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends viaFACEBOOK or TWITTER and increase your chances of winning. Hope to see you on the 29th!

Blog Tour: The Song of Unmaking

2011-11-15T02:00:00.000-09:00

Welcome to the blog tour for Dean Barkley Briggs' book The Song of Unmaking.

This post tells a bit about the book and the contest Dean is hosting. I will be reviewing the book at a later date.

Dean is having a major giveaway to help promote this series. The massive Grand Prize includes a compete library of fantasy novels (48 titles) and a Kindle Fire. It is one of the biggest giveaways I think I have ever seen an author give! You can learn more about it here:

http://www.facebook.com/DBarkleyBriggs

The Song of Unmaking
About the Book

He was once the greatest champion in the land. Then he disappeared. With Nemesia's defeat, the Barlows have helped turn the tide in the Hidden Lands. But the victory is short-lived. An even greater evil stirs in the north with a fierce new army bent on destruction. As the twins, Gabe and Garret, discover their own special powers, a thin thread of hope emerges: long ago, a fabled king was rescued from death on our world and hidden on Karac Tor. Who is he? Each brother has their part to play. Hadyn must travel north to warn the land rulers, which leaves Ewan with a bitter choice. Will he sacrifice what is most precious to discover whether Corus lives? Even more important, if Corus is alive, can he wake the Sleeping King of legend...before it's too late?

So far, so good

2011-11-07T21:19:00.003-09:00

The nifty word count widgets aren't up yet for National Novel Writing Month, but I thought I'd check in and tell you I have 11,669 written on my novel so far. I am, interestingly, exactly where I should be for today. I wanted to get ahead, but there were too many other things going on today in my head and in my world for me to work on noveling. However, I discovered a fun plot twist tonight that should really get me going for at least the next few thousand words!

My Wilder Life

2011-11-05T07:55:00.001-08:00

Interesting insights, November 5, 2011

This review is from: The Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie (Hardcover)

I have been a Laura Ingalls Wilder nut since I was about seven years old, and I have a collection of many books about Laura Ingalls Wilder and Rose Wilder Lane. So for me, most (maybe 90%) of the information and facts given here were not new. I have also visited the De Smet and Mansfield historical sites more than once over the years.

That said, McClure's journey as depicted in the book was interesting. I enjoyed her interactions with the folks who run the historical sites, and I loved that she got her boyfriend to read the books too. I identified with her grown-up disillusionment after reading some of the literary analyses.

The resources in the back were helpful as well, since there has been more Wilder/Lane scholarship in the past five years.

Overall, I think many readers of the "Little House" series of books will enjoy the book. But true Wilder scholars probably will not.

Blogging for Stuff

2011-11-03T17:27:00.003-08:00

I'm not usually one for blogging as a commercial, unless it's a book. But I got involved with She Speaks.com awhile ago, and they've moved from posting opinions on their site to a blogger program. I have been a fan of Torani syrups for awhile now, as I'm a fan of coffee...so when Torani sponsored a blog program, I signed up right away.

I am drinking coffee with some salted caramel syrup in it, and it's really yummy.

Please know I won't be doing sponsored posts or anything overly spammy. That's not me.

I received two bottles of Torani syrup in exchange for my opinion about Torani flavored syrups. My opinions are my own.

Love on the Line

2011-11-02T02:00:00.013-08:00

Welcome to the Lit Fuse blog tour for Love on the Line.

About the book:

It's a Battle of Wills ... and Love Is on the Line!

Rural switchboard operator Georgie Gail is proud of her independence in a man's world . . . which makes it twice as vexing when the telephone company sends a man to look over her shoulder.

Dashing Luke Palmer is more than he appears though. He's a Texas Ranger working undercover to infiltrate a notorious gang of train robbers. Repairing telephones and tangling with this tempestuous woman is the last thing he wants to do. But when his stakeout puts Georgie in peril, he realizes more than his job is on the line.

About Deeanne:

Deeanne Gist--known to her family, friends, and fans as Dee--has rocketed up the bestseller lists and captured readers everywhere with her very original, very fun historical & contemporary romances. Add to this three RITA nominations, two consecutive Christy Awards, rave reviews, and a growing loyal fan base, and you've got one recipe for success.

She has a very active online community on her website at IWantHerBook.com and at Facebook.com/DeesCircle.

Pattie's Review:

When a book begins with a train robbery, you know it's not going to be a quiet "tied to the switchboard" kind of story you imagined it might be, based on the cover and the synopsis...

I enjoyed the story of Georgie and Luke. So much historical detail in the millinery plot, as well as a lot of great bird information and a few cultural details about the advent of the telephone industry in rural areas. And a nice love story as well. :)

Overall, I recommend this for those who enjoy historical Christian romance.

_____________________

Deeanne is thrilled to introduce Georgie and Luke to the word in her latest novel, Love on the Line. To celebrate Deeanne's publisher, Bethany House, is hosting the Love on the Line iPad2 giveaway an Author Chat on Facebook! Enter today and follow the link below to RSVP for Deeanne's rip-roarin' Facebook Party!

One fortunate winner will receive:

A Brand New iPad2
An Autographed Hardback Copy of Love on the Line by Deeanne Gist

Enter today by clicking one of the icons below. But hurry, the giveaway ends on November 7th. Winner will be announced at Deeanne's Author Chat Facebook Party. Deeanne will be wrapping up the Love on the Line celebration by chatting with friends new and old! So grab your copy of Love on the Line (it's okay if you don't have one yet- you might could win one!) and join Deeanne on the evening of November 8th for a rip roaring book chat, a little trivia and lots of giveaways (books, and Amazon, iTunes & Starbucks gift certificates)!

Don't miss a moment of the fun. RSVP today and tell your friends. Hope to see you on the 8th!

Thanks to Lit Fuse and Deeanne Gist and the publisher, Bethany House,
for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

November

2011-11-01T13:40:00.001-08:00

The Month of Writing a Novel.

[insert word count widget here]

Day 31: What I've Learned

2011-10-31T08:00:00.003-08:00

What have I learned from writing every day? Let's see....

I like it.
Sometimes it's hard.
I CAN do it!
Some people actually like what I write!
(That's encouraging. I need encouragement.)
I need the discipline of daily writing, even if I don't publish it daily.
It's okay not to publish everything I write.
It's also okay to turn off the internal editor.
Which is hard!!!
Facebook is a huge distraction from actual writing.
Listening to God is harder with distractions.
Being open to inspiration is important. (I credit inspiration as divine, because really, I have nothing without God. And my writing is His.)
I am proud of myself for accomplishing this October 31 Days of Writing.
And I don't mean that in a prideful way, either.
I stuck with it and accomplished a goal. That's a big deal!

Thanks to The Nester for hosting all the 31 Days blogs. To read all my blogs for the month of writing, click here.

Day 30: A month of writing.

2011-10-30T17:30:00.003-08:00

I've written something every day this month.

Wow.

I am really happy I fulfilled this portion of my end-of-the-year push toward achieving some goals.

On the minus side, listing 5 things I'm grateful for every day has been a bust. This past week kicked.my.butt. And I allowed the circumstances of this week to get in the way of my attitude of eucharisteo. So I failed at giving the hard thanks.

Some part of me thinks this is the stuff that keeps me humble.

(Some days it feels like it's the stuff that keeps me downtrodden.)

Mostly, though, I know that the Lord keeps me in His hand. And the sun will come up tomorrow (maybe not out, but it will rise).

I will keep writing. Because it's in my heart and my hands and my soul.

Day 29: Paper

2011-10-29T17:34:00.003-08:00

I have a love/hate relationship with paper. It piles up. It's hard to get rid of. It's a comfort and the bane of my existence. It's heavy. It's portable. It's shreddable and scannable and pretty.

And that's about all I have to say right now. This week I'll be re-organizing my filing cabinets and shredding things we no longer need.

Day 28: Regular Blogging

2011-10-28T20:30:00.002-08:00

It's been interesting blogging regularly this month. For a few years, I regularly posted on this blog, both personal posts and book reviews, and it was a nice quiet blog with a small following. Then I went through a really rough patch with a friend about three years ago, and I felt it was no longer safe to blog because her other friends were "reporting" back to her what I wrote, and it was feeding into the drama.

So, I got scared. And I got quiet.

And then, God started giving me a yearly theme. (I've written about them here and here. Oh, and here too.) Those themes have kept me more focused on Him instead of growing a blog. With actual followers and stuff.

Then I ended up accepting a position with Wives of Faith as the blog editor, and the bulk of my writing went toward that ministry. That's not necessarily bad, but neither is it as much of my own personal writing.

So to write every day this month has been good for me. It proved to me again that yes, daily practice does make me a better writer. Having an audience for that practice is just a bonus.

If you are on Facebook with me, you might notice I do not publish these entries on my Facebook wall. This is sort of lame, but my extended family doesn't know about this blog. It's just something that has been very quiet and personal in a weird and public way, as blogging tends to be.

One thing that I'd love to do eventually is move a lot of this over to an author blog (and I have the blogspot address for my full name already saved!). But to do that, I need to actually BE an author. In my mind, that is someone who has finished a book. Mine are all pieces, saved on a flash drive here, an external hard drive there . . . certainly nothing concrete and definitely not anything worthy of sending out to an agent! Someday, maybe. Definitely something worth striving for.

Pretty soon I won't be posting as much--my writing energies will be poured into writing a novel for National Novel Writing Month. I am determined to win this year! I think I can do it, even though I am starting to teach two classes in about a week and a half. However, if my recently discovered health issues get in the way, I will give myself grace to bow out . . . well, gracefully.

Day 27: Lost and Found

2011-10-27T21:52:00.002-08:00

I had a really rough night on Sunday night. I had a stack of student papers I thought I would start grading, and when I went to get them, I couldn't find them.

Anywhere.

I don't know about you, but I can't stand making mistakes. At all. Losing my students' papers was a big mistake.

I also cannot abide when something is lost. Drives me nuts.

I went through the office, the house, and found nothing.

I went through my car, my tote bags, my filing cabinets. Nothing.

I went to bed. I didn't sleep well at all.

The next morning, I did the same thing as I'd done the night before: looked, looked again, and looked high and low. No papers.

I emailed the dance studio. They looked. Nothing.

I had a hearing test on Monday in town, and afterwards I turned on the GPS and found I was only 2 miles from the studio. I went by. I looked. No papers.

Last night, the students were pretty much united in two things: the belief that the papers would turn up, and the deep and abiding desire to know their grade.

Tonight as I sat in the dance studio watching the last few minutes of M2's class, the office lady gave them to me! She said they'd been shoved to the back of the "lost and found" standing crate!

Praise the Lord!!!

Dear Students (Day 26)

2011-10-26T22:45:00.003-08:00

To my first college class in Alaska:

I was scared to death to fail, but I was even more scared not to try. So much you would never know was on the line: my self-esteem, my confidence in latent abilities I was afraid I'd lost forever (or at least for a while), my earning potential, my husband's view of me. In my mind, all were riding on how well I did as a teacher.

How well would I teach you how to write about literature? Could I teach a classroom of military professionals and self-professed nonfiction readers how to appreciate poetry, short stories, and Shakespearean tragedy? I may not have succeeded with every one of you - a couple of you were really tough nuts - but I think I won over a few others of you - the ones who laughed at my jokes, who teased me a little bit, who liked that I cared.

Thank you for sticking with me, for showing me that yes, I've still got it - the teaching part of me I gave up five years ago to follow my husband and where I was not able to find a teaching position. Where I thought I lost the teacher-me, traded in on the coach-me. Thank you for letting me make mistakes (way too many for my own standards), and for giving me a little grace as the new-to-Alaska girl. Thanks for the tips and the advice, for laughing with me about the butchered moose, and for being concerned about my hearing.

I hope I gave you the useful tools, and I pray you are able to complete your next classes well and successfully.

Sincerely,

Mrs. R

Days 24 and 25

2011-10-25T16:52:00.003-08:00

Yesterday's writing was not for public consumption--it was for my class! I finished writing their final exam. Today's writing is here, and to be honest, I'm not yet ready to make today's information public. I found out that something in our lives that was a possibility is now a big certainty. And it's not a fun thing, either! I hate being vague, but I'm not ready to make it public on an open forum, so "vague-blogging" will be the order of the day.

In other things...moving on...I have just had a cruddy week. I have a friend, a very dear friend, who is really big right now on choices. We have a choice in our attitude, in how we handle things. It's a hard thing, this choice. And sometimes, to borrow a toddler's expression, I don't wanna! I don't wanna be a grown up. I don't wanna deal with the hard things in life. I don't wanna choose the higher road, or the mature way. But there it is: Choice. Free will. The ability to choose how we react, not on the whims of our emotions, but on the certainty that God loves us and we do not have to allow someone else's emotions or whims or choices to affect us to the core.

I'm still dealing with that.

As Nattie would say, onward and upward. Tomorrow is a new day.

Day 23: Sunday, Sunday

2011-10-23T13:29:00.003-08:00

So for Day 22, I wrote this book review as well as this one. So while I didn't write a post for "31 Days of Writing," I did write. :D

Today is Sunday. It's a day I'd normally try to rest, but that was imposed upon me yesterday instead, having gotten sick. So today, back to work to finish the final exam for my class, as well as grade sheets for the students' essays, which also need graded by Wednesday night.

I hope to get it all finished, and still have time for the family. It's a busy, busy week ahead, with medical appointments, parent-teacher conferences, and the wrapping up of the fall term.

Baby, It's Cold Outside

2011-10-23T02:00:00.011-08:00

Welcome to the Lit Fuse blog tour for Susan May Warren's latest,

Baby, It's Cold Outside!

About the Novel:

Hope finds the hopeless when a storm hits.

It's Christmas weekend 1949, and despite the threat of a storm, the townspeople of Frost are determined to continue their holiday traditions, if only as a means to forget the war that they had all just suffered through. But the suffering hasn't ended for Dottie Morgan who lost her only son in the war. She's preparing to wallow in her isolation for the weekend, when Violet, nearly a spinster at age 29, dares to make a request that will force Dottie to publicly revive the memory of her dead son.

When a storm traps the two women at home with a strange young man who has an unbelievable confession and a neighbor with more to do with Violet's past than she would like, no one can predict how this Christmas will give them all a second chance.

Read an excerpt here and find out the story behind the novel.

Pattie's Review:

I know I'm inextricably wrapped up in the story of a novel when it's tough for me to go to bed without finishing the book. That's where I found myself the other night: up way too late, finishing the book!

I completely sympathized with Dottie. And while she's far from an "old woman" at 44 (I'm almost there myself, and despite the silver peeking through my roots, I refuse to consider myself an old woman!), I can completely understand why she feels like her life is over.

The characters were believable and perfectly flawed. The feel of the novel is still WWII, even though it takes place after the war is over. Definitely a new period, a rarely explored few years in-between WWII and the glory of the growth and expansion of the 1950s. Having gone through the Johnson Presidential Library in Austin this past spring, I can tell you it's consistent with the state of the country at that time.

Overall, a wonderful cozy read, perfect for the holidays. And to all the WAACS, God bless you.

The Contest:

Enter 10/14-10/26!

Thank you to LitFuse, Susan May Warren, and Summerside Press
for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Married Mom Solo Parent

2011-10-22T11:00:00.004-08:00

Welcome to the Lit Fuse blog tour for Carla Coroy's new book Married Mom, Solo Parent.

About the book:

For married women who feel like single parents.

Bookstore shelves are full of parenting resources for moms who are newly divorced or widowed. But where do moms turn if they feel like a single parent--but they’re not? Whether he is away on business, deployed in the military, or obsessing over a computer game, Dad may not be available for a variety of reasons. Moms who parent in this situation still need help and don’t necessarily relate to the advice given in divorce recovery or single parenting resources.

Married Mom, Solo Parent is a common-sense, down-to-earth look at the struggles wives and mothers face when their husband is not actively involved in family life. Writing from her own experience as a married single mom, Carla Anne Coroy will help wives and mothers sort through their questions, such as: Can I do this alone? How do I raise kids to honor their father? How do I give my children a healthy perspective of marriage if they never see one in action? With practical suggestions, anecdotes, and biblical teaching, this book will encourage moms to see their position as a high calling, to find healing for their worries and frustrations, and to tap into God’s strength for help in facing the daily challenge of being a married mom, solo parent.

About Carla:

Carla Anne Coroy runs the Married Single Mom blog at www.carlaannecoroy.blogspot.com. She speaks regularly and serves as a staff writer for an online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children. For more information, visit http://www.carlaanne.com/blog.

Pattie's Review:

As a military wife, I thought this might be a good resource to review. Turns out, I was right. It's written for any woman who feels like she solo parents because of her husband's job, whatever it is, that takes him away from the family for periods of time. So there are personal stories from other women included, which gives this book more of a universal appeal.

While I haven't had time to finish reading the book, what I have read makes me want to read more. I've also recommended it already on Facebook to some women who are struggling with how to best honor their deployed husbands.

Carla Anne pulls no punches. She is honest, very honest in a way that is not off-putting but definitely needed when dealing with difficult issues like emotional divorce and infidelity, honoring her husband, and parenting issues like discipline.

I think this book is a much-needed resource for women who find themselves parenting mostly by themselves.

Random fact: I realized that Carla Anne now lives near where I used to live--too bad we didn't know each other 2 yrs. ago or we could have met in real life! I emailed her and she graciously responded to me right away. (Hi Carla Anne!) I wish her all good things.

Personal Reflection Journal for the book, available on the author's website.

Small Group Study Guide for the book, available on the author's website.

Don't miss Carla Coroy's MomChat Facebook Party on 10/25!

Come to an encouraging MomChat party on Facebook…you could win a KindleTouch!

To celebrate the release of her new book Carla has partnered with her publisher, Kregel, to host a live MomChat party on Facebook! http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=177346262342482

The party will wrap up the blog tour (http://litfusegroup.com/blogtours/text/13420715) and Carla will be hosting an encouraging MomChat about all things mom and wife related. There will also be a fun contest and she’s giving away a KindleTouch and a ton of other fun stuff (books, gift certificates and more!).

So RSVP today and then come back on 10/25 at 5pm Pacific, 8pm Eastern for the party.

Don't miss the fun ... and tell your friends.

Special thanks to LitFuse, Carla Anne Coroy, and Kregel Publications
for a review copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Day 21: It's Friday!

2011-10-21T15:12:00.002-08:00

I'm so glad it's Friday.

Even as a work-from-home Mom, Friday still feels like a fun day, like a day when I get out early from school, or take off early from work.

I ordered a couple of books online that I think will help me come up with some more original material for my composition classes. (Let's hope, right?)

Today as I made my own spreadsheet-thing (pictured to the right) to figure out which elements of fiction I really wanted to teach, I realized what I really needed to do was overhaul the whole dang syllabus (I borrowed heavily from the English professor at my college, because I had to get my syllabus turned in a few days after I learned I had been hired; consequently, it has a lot of Dr. W and not a whole lot of Pattie).

So what started as a few minor tweaks has turned into a major project that remains unfinished. I sure hope the dean's administrative assistant doesn't dock my pay for not getting the final syllabus in on time!

Thankfully, as I have to stop now and pick up my daughter from school, I think all I really need to "fix" is about 5 class sessions. The remaining 6 are fine (First and last sessions and midterm are set, as are the two sessions of Hamlet and the Life poetry set I'd already overhauled from the original syllabus).

Update: I finished by 6 pm ADT! Yay!

Day 20: Exercise Part Three

2011-10-20T09:43:00.006-08:00

In case you missed them: Part One and Part Two

In the fall of 2009, we found out we were leaving North Dakota, which meant I was going to have to leave my job. I gave my notice in the spring and left at the end of April. I had been taking a class at the local community college, so I planned to leave my job the week before my final portfolio and paper was due. It worked out well. I continued my workouts until we moved, and said a reluctant goodbye to the friends I'd made there over the past 3 1/2 years.

Curves headquarters is in Waco, Texas, and I had it in my head that the Texas clubs would be hard-core into sales. Because we were fairly certain we'd only be in Texas for a year, I didn't pursue employment. Instead, we used the gym on base (convenient because I drove the girls to school there each day), where I could take yoga classes. I bought a punch-card, which lasted me all year, and I took yoga at the base gym.

Now there's been a lot of talk about yoga in the Christian community. To be honest, I have waffled about it for years--is it okay, is it not okay, for Christians to take yoga classes. I did not feel uncomfortable taking classes at the gym, because the instructor was strictly working on muscles. She rarely used the Sanskrit names for poses, and she talked all the time about the muscle groups we were working. It took me a few weeks, but I could gradually see improvement and felt more comfortable with the process of going through the classes. My flexibility improved quite a bit!

We found out we were moving again, this time to Alaska. When I began exploring my exercise options, I was not comfortable with yoga. There are many yoga studios here in the area, but they all seem to be very focused on the religious aspects of yoga, rather than the exercise-centered classes I'd been attending (that's my perception alone, not based on anything but my gut feeling after overhearing at the dance studio and visiting websites). Curves costs quite a bit more here, as well.

I found out about the Jazzercise studio from one of my new friends here who loves going. I found out about their special, and even the unlimited classes at the 12-month contract was a significant cost cut from Curves here in town--and less than driving to the base gym.

So I stumble and make mistakes, and am feeling sore muscles from not being used in this way for a long time! But I'm slowly starting to get the hang of it, after only taking a class every summer or two with my sister (who has been Jazzercising for something like 13 years).

So there it is: my exercise autobiography. :D My ultimate goals are: to keep from gaining weight, and improve my cholesterol levels, and improve my heart strength. I want to be healthier than I am without exercise. No sluggishness for me! Plus, with the darkness of winter upon us, I want to stay happy too.

Day 19: I'm too sore to write!

2011-10-19T22:10:00.003-08:00

I'll finish the exercise post tomorrow. I'm tired tonight!I exercised today and my hips and arms are sore.

I spent all the rest of the day preparing for class, and still feel like I did a mediocre job with the poetry. Ugh. I need to seriously overhaul my lessons for next term...which starts in 3 weeks! It is hard to plan for 2 classes next term while still teaching this term AND writing a final exam from scratch.

So there is my little rant for tonight. I'm tired. It's been a very long day. I'm going to go to bed and work tomorrow. And write. I promise.

PS: My students have noticed they've improved in their writing. So it's not just me :)

Wonderland Creek

2011-10-19T02:00:00.003-08:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Wonderland Creek Bethany House (October 1, 2011) by Lynn Austin

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

For many years, Lynn Austin nurtured a desire to write but frequent travels and the demands of her growing family postponed her career. When her husband's work took Lynn to Bogota, Colombia, for two years, she used the B.A. she'd earned at Southern Connecticut State University to become a teacher. After returning to the U.S., the Austins moved to Anderson, Indiana, Thunder Bay, Ontario, and later to Winnipeg, Manitoba.

It was during the long Canadian winters at home with her children that Lynn made progress on her dream to write, carving out a few hours of writing time each day while her children napped. Lynn credits her early experience of learning to write amid the chaos of family life for her ability to be a productive writer while making sure her family remains her top priority.

Extended family is also very important to Austin, and it was a lively discussion between Lynn, her mother, grandmother (age 98), and daughter concerning the change in women's roles through the generations that sparked the inspiration for her novel Eve's Daughters.

Along with reading, two of Lynn's lifelong passions are history and archaeology. While researching her Biblical fiction series, Chronicles of the Kings, these two interests led her to pursue graduate studies in Biblical Backgrounds and Archaeology through Southwestern Theological Seminary. She and her son traveled to Israel during the summer of 1989 to take part in an archaeological dig at the ancient city of Timnah. This experience contributed to the inspiration for her novel Wings of Refuge.

Lynn resigned from teaching to write full-time in 1992. Since then she has published twelve novels. Five of her historical novels have won Christy Awards in 2002, 2003, 2004, 2008, and 2009 for excellence in Christian Fiction. And two of her inspirational fiction books were chosen by Library Journal for their top picks in 2003, and 2005. One of Lynn's novels has been made into a movie for the Hallmark Channel, starring actress Shirley Jones. Ms Jones received a 2006 Emmy Award nomination for her portrayal of Aunt Batty in the film.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Alice Grace Ripley lives in a dream world, her nose stuck in a book. But happily-ever-after life she's planned on suddenly falls apart when her boyfriend, Gordon, breaks up with her, accusing her of living in a world of fiction instead of the real world. Then to top it off, Alice loses her beloved job at the library because of cutbacks due to the Great Depression.

Fleeing small-town gossip, Alice heads to the mountains of eastern Kentucky to deliver five boxes of donated books to the library in the tiny coal-mining village of Acorn. Dropped off by her relatives, Alice volunteers to stay for two weeks to help the librarian, Leslie McDougal.

But the librarian turns out to be far different than she anticipated--not to mention the four lady librarians who travel to the remote homes to deliver the much-desired books. While Alice is trapped in Acorn against her will, she soon finds that real-life adventure and myster--and especially romance--are far better than her humble dreams could have imagined.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Wonderland Creek, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

From the beginning, I found Allie to be a "kindred spirit" of books. I'm the girl who used to take a book to baseball games as a teen. I love reading. But I'm glad Allie realizes eventually that life is to be lived in person, not from behind a book.

I thought the story was just plausible enough for enjoyment, while also fantastic enough to enjoy a great deal. I liked the mystery portion of the storyline as well; it reminded me a bit of Catherine Marshall's Julie.

Overall, Wonderland Creek was a delightful book and an enjoyable story. And a good reminder, too, that we should pay attention to the life going on around us, and take a chance every so often.

Day 18: Exercise, Part Two

2011-10-18T08:00:00.000-08:00

So there I was, winter in North Dakota, and I was feeling fat and sluggish. I already deal with thyroid issues, so it was like adding insult to injury (without a literal injury).

After taking my daughter to dance class one January evening (the studio was in the "older" mall in town, in part of what apparently used to be Sears), I noticed some sort of fair or something going on in the center of the mall. I wandered over to the people and the chatter, and I discovered it was the annual health fair. I walked around, gathering a few free pencils and picking up brochures from the Y and the health club next door to the gymnastics studio where my youngest was taking classes.

Then, I saw the Curves table. I'd tried a free session at a Curves a few years ago, and while I thought it was nice, the hours weren't compatible with my teaching job at the time (for which I commuted 30 miles one way). Then when I left teaching, it wasn't compatible with our budget. My good friend Nattie worked at a Curves in Indiana, so I stopped and talked to the woman (who turned out to be the owner). She gave me their special, and I gave her my phone number.

The next week, I was a member. Because joining was cheaper than me driving to the base to work out. And I knew I had to stay active or I'd turn into a depressed lump.

I ended up really enjoying my workouts, and after my husband's deployment was over, I ended up going to work for the new owner, who is one of the most wonderful women I've known, and who mentored me (without knowing it) in dealing with people and handling a business and a family at the same time.

By this time too, my friend Nattie was gone, and I knew in some odd and peaceful way, that my job was meant to be, to carry on her legacy in a way.

What I liked about Curves was the encouraging atmosphere, and the fact that I could do cardio and strength training in 30 minutes. Oh, and I also loved working there for the same reasons. Plus my membership was included as an employee "perk."

When we found out we were moving, I was so sad to leave.

*Part Three tomorrow*

Guest Post: Emotions of the Married Single Mom

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001-08:00

Please welcome guest blogger Carla Coroy to Fresh-Brewed Writer today!

Emotions of the Married, Single Mom

A recent survey done by TheBump.com and ForbesWoman.com reveals that between 25% and 65% of both working and stay-at-home moms sometimes feel like married single moms. Reading the responses to this report and comments on blogs, it is quite clear that emotions run high. The deeply felt emotions these women deal with may have been birthed in an unequal distribution of chores, however as time goes on these emotions reveal there is something more significant going on. It’s no longer just about the chores. The emotions reveal cracks in fabric of the relationship. These emotions – loneliness, anger, jealousy, grief, etc – can have a profound impact on a married single mom and her marriage.

No girl grows up dreaming of a marriage where she feels abandoned by her man. Perhaps his job pulls him away from home for days, weeks or months at a time. Maybe he is gaming his time away, or drinking away the possibility of an intimate relationship. Regardless of why husbands are absent (or uninvolved), their wives experience a roller-coaster of emotions that can wreck havoc and disaster within their marriage.

Loneliness is a painful wound many married single moms quietly carry every day. Companionship and conversation are critical components of a happy marriage. When this isn’t available, a wife feels lonely and separated from her husband.

Disney Princesses trained us for ‘happily ever after’, but when Prince Charming doesn’t come home our hearts ache for our unmet expectations. Those unmet expectations become dashed dreams that may never be fulfilled and need to be grieved. There is a deep sense of loss and often questions and fears about what the future will hold.

Fear also raises its ugly head in other ways. She wonders about his activities. She worries about his safety and health. Concern for her kids becomes paramount. She becomes insecure in her role as a wife and mother. Insecurity in her marriage, in her purpose, and in her belief system begins to erode her confidence. Married single moms wonder if they still have what it takes to attract their husband’s love and attention.

It doesn’t take long for the twinges of insecurity to grow into soul-shaking jealousy. Husbands who are home every evening, who co-parent their children and date their wives become objects of comparison. Watching a husband and wife deep in intimate conversation can ignite a spark of jealousy. This envy can become a consuming fire tearing down whatever good might exist in her marriage.

Then shame sets in. When others question her situation, it validates her pain and points out the failure she feels. She’s embarrassed about her husband’s choices, often feeling she must make excuses for him. Blog comments regarding married single moms contain some deeply wounding words that cast blame on her because she chose to marry and stay with him.

For many, this growing burden of emotional pain becomes a cancer deep in the heart. All the emotional pain is fashioned into a sharpened sword called anger. They are angry with their husband’s choices. Angry about living married life alone. Angry about how Daddy’s absence affects the kids. Angry about everything.

There is so much grief that fills the heart of a married single mom. She’s said good-bye to dreams for herself and her children. She’s sad about the hours, days, and special moments that will never happen. She needs to grieve the what-if’s and the dreams she had as a bride. This grief needs to be addressed. Grieving our dreams includes being honest about those dreams, realizing they may never be fulfilled, and asking God for new dreams firmly planted in reality and truth.
Married single moms are not a new phenomenon. I have lived this life and many others have, too. We even find examples of married single moms throughout the Old and New Testaments. We can no longer avoid reality – married single moms are prevalent and their situations and burdens are real. But how have they survived and even thrived? Through the strength God provides. Through Christian community. Through the healing of wounded hearts. Through the hope provided by Jesus Christ.

__________

Carla Anne Coroy runs the Married Single Mom blog at www.carlaannecoroy.blogspot.com. She speaks regularly and serves as a staff writer for an online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children. For more information, visit www.carlaanne.com.

Day 17: Exercise Part One

2011-10-17T16:20:00.002-08:00

I have a love/hate relationship with exercise. By that I mean, hate/hate. Because I hate it. I hate everything about exercising--sweat, accelerated heart rate and breathing, sore muscles, sore feet . . . all of it.

I've tried many, many things: walking, running (shin splints--ow!), a traditional gym, tae-bo, yoga, Zumba, Curves, and Jazzercise. Oh, and Wii Fit.

As anyone will tell you, finding something you enjoy doing is the key to a successful fitness program.

The sad fact is, however, I dislike it all.

It wasn't until I lived in North Dakota in the winter that I needed to exercise for my mental as well as physical health. Nothing like hibernating and packing on pounds to wake a girl up!

**part two tomorrow**

Day 16: Practice Makes Better

2011-10-16T14:12:00.003-08:00

This summer, I was able to reconnect with my former cubicle-mate and birthday-buddy, Liz. We taught together at CMSU one year, and we have remained friends ever since. It's been awesome to watch how God's worked in her life.

We got together one day this summer, and we chatted about teaching college students. I was so glad she reminded me of daily writing (or in this case, weekly--I see my students only one night a week).

The freewriting at the beginning of class has become a great warm-up and a good way to see how my students have each improved in their formal writing--especially heartening since the freewriting portion of class is most definitely not formal, nor do I grade the grammar, spelling, punctuation, syntax, or diction.

I think the past two weeks of accountability in writing here at my blog, which had gone neglected other than book reviews for months, has helped me as a writer. In a way, it's proving my own theories that I've seen played out in others.

What do you think?

Day 15: Learning New Stuff

2011-10-15T09:25:00.003-08:00

As my friends and regular readers know, our family experienced two cross-country moves (one is actually cross-continent!) in 15 months. That's a whole lot of change right there. Add in some job changes and challenges, a couple of new computers, and new cell phones, and a new exercise program (Jazzercise, which is a huge challenge to someone as uncoordinated as I am) and my brain is just about full!

Is it any wonder that we feel stressed out in our 21st century culture? New technologies, new gadgets, new jobs, news in general.

That's why some of my last 100 days goals had to do with taking moments to reflect (write 5 things I'm thankful for at the end of each day; journaling a page a day/this blog), moments to relax (reading what I enjoy and finishing books that taunt me with their bookmarks halfway through), and moments to spiritually recharge (still reading through the Bible, and still seem stuck in Ezekiel, quite probably one of the saddest books in the Scriptures).

Today will be another busy day, but I hope to live in the grace of today and enjoy each moment--even when I get frustrated with all the new stuff I have to learn and do.

Day 14: Push it, push it to the limit, limit

2011-10-14T21:24:00.002-08:00

I'm tired. And I don't want to write. I don't want to do anything, actually, but I did. I cleaned all the tile and laminate floors tonight.

I finished a book tonight that was about friendship, and it was sad. And it made me melancholy. Put that together with being tired, and my hubby working late, and I'm ready for bed.

So with that, I'll close and write more hopefully tomorrow.

Guest Post: Martyr Mom or Servant Model?

2011-10-14T06:00:00.001-08:00

Please welcome guest blogger Carla Coroy to Fresh-Brewed Writer today.

Martyr Mom or Servant Model?

Do you know a martyr mom? She does her teens’ laundry and makes their lunches. She cleans the house from top to bottom—all by herself. She stays up late, day in and day out, doing all of the unfinished work.

She’s the mom who ‘sacrificially’ gives up a family outing—even though they were her kids' chores she stayed home to do. She recites her arm-length to-do list after telling you about how she agreed to help her kids with their various projects.

You likely know a martyr mom. But have you ever wondered if you might be one?
We started serving our families out of love. We loved them as we did their laundry. We served them as we packed lunches, cleaned bathrooms, drove carpools, and fixed bicycles . . . And then somewhere along the line, our serving morphed into martyrdom.

Is doing everything for everyone really loving? How can we protect ourselves from becoming martyr moms?

What would Jesus advise you to do? He taught his disciples to do what he was doing. He took them along wherever he went. He let them do some work. He sent them out to preach, heal, and cast out demons. Sometimes they did well, other times they came back wondering what went wrong. Jesus knew they needed plenty of room to try, and sometimes to fail. He didn’t hover to make sure they did things perfectly and neither did he rush to fix things when their attempts went awry.

To be servant models, we need to imitate Jesus. We need to give our children the tools to work hard and develop responsibility. Let your children watch you work, then work with you, and eventually you can watch them work and succeed without you. Give them household chores and tasks so they can develop skills, recognize what they are capable of, and discover their contribution is valuable.

We need to teach our children to set boundaries. Let your children see you turn down requests to serve sometimes. Do you really need to volunteer on every committee? Healthy boundaries encourage your kids to experience the joy of serving and to choose best over good.

Serving our families requires us to teach our kids to do their best. If we expect their best and then accept what they do, we are setting them up to succeed and persevere. If your children do their best but it isn’t as good as you would do it, leave it alone. Don’t redo the job! If Jesus only accepted perfect work from his people, he wouldn’t have chosen the rag-tag team of men he did. He expects our best, and then accepts it, even when our efforts fall short.

Love sometimes says no. When we are exhausted and we do for our kids what they could do for themselves, we are teaching them they don’t need to care about how they affect others. We are also saying that our poorest effort is better than their best. Occasionally saying no to our children also gives them permission to say no when a request butts up against their limits.
Serving also means looking around to see how you might bless someone. It means bringing a meal to a sick family, or clothes to the family who needs some, or giving Daddy a backrub. Teach your children to ask, “How could I serve someone today?” Give them the joy of serving others at home, and by volunteering at church or in the community.

Let’s leave the Martyr Mom complex behind and be like Jesus—Servant Models.

____________________
Carla Anne Coroy runs the Married Single Mom blog at www.carlaannecoroy.blogspot.com. She speaks regularly and serves as a staff writer for an online Christian women’s magazine Mentoring Moments for Christian Women. Carla Anne lives in Canada with her husband and four homeschooled children. For more information, visit www.carlaanne.com.

Day 13: Stuff

2011-10-13T14:48:00.003-08:00

A hodgepodge of stuff completed today.
Random around the house.
Didn't even make a list.
Have to leave soon, too.
Hope you had a good day!
I'll have guest posts coming up.
And a link to a writing opportunity I had today, that won't be published till next week.
It's a very cool opportunity that I was given.
I hope you will like it!
I'm sure you will. Who am I kidding? Only a handful of my friends even come here, and each one of you is completely supportive of me.
Off to get ready to take the younger girl to dance!

Day 12: A Dance Mom, but not like the show.

2011-10-12T23:38:00.004-08:00

Sometimes when there's a full moon, I get insomnia. That's sort of where I am right now: I taught class tonight, and now I'm kind of wound up.

What also doesn't help is watching "Dance Moms" on Lifetime.

I actually told two of my close friends that they have permission to slap me upside the head if I ever act all crazy like these moms do. Yes, this is "reality tv" and it's not in any way real; it's very staged and the editors are airing all the crazy moments.

My girls are good dancers and they love dancing.

But if I EVER push my girls that hard, or act that crazy in public, someone better come alongside me and give me an ever-lovin' reality check.

Day 11: At last, my moose has come along...

2011-10-11T14:40:00.004-08:00

Last night I was up late reading, as usual, and around 10 p.m. I started getting really sleepy. I placed my bookmark in my book, turned out the reading lamp, and put the reclining footrest back in its place. When I stood up, I noticed extra light outside the front window, so I moved closer toward the window to investigate. There was a car parked in the middle of the street with its lights on. Weird, I thought.

So I opened the sheers and saw movement. In just a moment I knew what it was--a moose was crossing the street! I began to smile and yes, jump up and down a bit.

The moose had ambled (yes, moose amble) over and was on the curb. The car with its lights on was waiting for any other moose that might be along for a 10 p.m. stroll, I suppose (the smart thing to do) before it finally slowly drove past our house. So the moose stood in the neighbor's yard for a while, a dark 3D outline against the white house, with its only illumination from the street lamp. Then the moose ambled off into the shadows, out of my vision.

So it wasn't the best view because of the dark, but I saw a moose from my living room window. I had my happy moment right then! I woke my husband in my excitement, which he did not share (since he was in Alaska a full month before we arrived, he has already seen moose mamas, moose babies, and moose butts).

And because it was so late I couldn't call anyone...

Day 10: Second Person

2011-10-10T19:50:00.003-08:00

I think I'll briefly pontificate upon something that drives me nuts: using the second person in essay writing.

I don't like being lectured. Never have. And that's exactly how I feel when someone uses the second person "you" (or worse, you "understood").

You know what I mean, right? When you're reading along and suddenly out of the blue, the writer says "When you read Hawthorne, you know he will use obvious symbols" or something like that. Then you can feel your hackles start to rise and you grab that pen of some other color than red, and you circle every occurrence of "you." You emphatically write in the margin, "Avoid using second person in formal writing."

(See what I did? I used it. As an illustration only, mind you...)

So imagine my surprise when I turn to the story I'm teaching this week (which is on the syllabus I borrowed in large part from our resident professor and have fallen behind in re-planning) and it's written in the imperative. The "you, understood" second person.

Talk about feeling like nails grating on a chalkboard. EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!

Since I've gotten onto my students already for using that in their essays, I can't wait to hear what they have to say about this story.

Day 9: Working

2011-10-09T12:07:00.006-08:00

One of the great debates of the 21st century among women is the debate of "at home" vs. "working outside the home." I do not really want to engage in that fight, because I've been on both sides. I've been an at-home mom and a full-time (and part-time) work-outside-the-home mom, and in my experience there are pros and cons to both places. My "sweet spot" is wherever I feel that God has led me, doing what I believe in my heart the work He has for me to do.

I'm a firm believer in seasons in life. During the season I taught full-time outside our home, my husband worked either from church or from home (and at that church, his office was literally four steps across the yard) and was able to keep the baby with him. The next teaching job I had following that one was half-time. When our children needed care during the day, we were blessed with women within our churches who had in-home daycare, where the girls were cared for in love and by familiar faces. In the season I was at home, I strugged greatly with a loss of identity in my job, found some healing, but also weathered not a few storms.

Now that the girls are older, and I am too, we aren't in need of daycare. I'm also happy to work part-time once again. This season of life brings many challenges, and the past 18 months have wrought so much change it sometimes feels like my head might literally start spinning if I think about it all.

But when I consider my new job in our new location, I realize once again it's the "sweet spot" that God gave me, wherein I am able to build a career that will help us save money for the girls' college educations, as well as help make a dent in the dance and orthodontist expenses. More than that, I have the opportunity each week to minister to my students.

I've spoken with many women over the years who struggle with this working issue. The important thing for us to remember, in my opinion, is that each woman must answer to God and her husband (or if she is not married, to God alone), not to each other. And when in doubt, extend grace rather than condemnation or judgment.

Day 8: Musings on Reading

2011-10-08T17:23:00.007-08:00

Day 7 was a book review, even though I didn't label it as Day 7.

For my 8th day of writing, I wasn't sure what to write about. I don't want to rehash the things about today that made it less than a good day. I am sore because I began a new exercise program that is not only working me hard, but is frustrating and sometimes difficult as all new exercise programs are for someone as uncoordinated as I tend to be--so that is not a great topic either.

So, a positive topic: reading. I love reading. I love reading fiction because I can, for a while, get lost in a world or a place different from my own. In a way it's escapist, but more often than not it's just an enjoyable pastime. I enjoy nonfiction because I love voices--written voices. I am not as fond of instructional nonfiction as I am personal narrative, particularly creative essays. I took a look at my bookshelves a few minutes ago while looking for inspiration for today's blog entry--and while I do have quite a few reference books for teaching and for the girls' schooling, I also have a lot of writing books and anthologies of personal narratives.

All my books make me happy.

I guess it stems from the "extrovert" part of me--I enjoy listening to people and their stories. They fascinate me. But reading those stories feeds the "introvert" part of me.

2007 Fall Into Reading

2011-10-07T16:26:00.002-08:00

Fall Into Reading

Get Ready, Get Set, Let's READ!!!

Katrina at Callapidder Days has a Mr. Linky ready to go if you're interested in signing up for this reading challenge! Click on the adorable graphic to the left for "the rules," and clickhere to sign up.

AND...there are going to be prizes! I will consider it a fall cleaning of sorts...cleaning out the TBR pile that threatens to take over my living room. Plus, finishing books helps clear the mind clutter. Enjoy the crisp fall weather, because especially here in North Dakota, it won't be long before fall turns into a snowy, below-freezing winter.

The Friday Night Knitting Club - Kate Jacobs (been in the TBR pile for a while, and I think I'll save it for the plane ride going to Roma's wedding. Also, did you know Julia Roberts optioned the film rights for this book?)

Knitting Under the Influence - Claire LeZebnik (finish - Reading at the same time as Roma)

Get Out of That Pit - Beth Moore (finish)

The Begotten and The Betrayed - Lisa Tawn Bergren (review; begun "The Begotten" and it's intense.)

The Tenth Circle - Jodi Picoult (also a Reading the Author challenge book)

Sacred Marriage - Gary Thomas (reading with a group of gals from W@H)

2008 Spring Reading Thing

2011-10-07T16:20:00.001-08:00

Found this on my Xanga. Funny!

Spring Reading Thing

Spring Reading Thing - the reading challenge that, for me, started it all, last year....
March 20-June 19, 2008

Info here. To sign up on Mr. Linky, click here.

I have a lot of unread books, and several other challenges I'm working on. However, these are a few I think I'll try to finish during this Spring challenge time (since more often than not, I don't finish my challenges on time!).

*Sweet Caroline by Rachel Hauck
*The Secret of Us by Roxanne Henke
*Hollywood Nobody by Lisa Samson
*Blue Heart Blessed by Susan Meissner
*Get Out of That Pit by Beth Moore (finish - ironically, from last year...heh)
*Generation NeXt Marriage by Tricia Goyer (for an upcoming blog tour)

alternates:
*Midnight's Children by Salman Rushdie (had to return to the library, so who knows if I'll be able to get through it!)
*The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
*The Tenth Circle by Jodi Picoult

Book Review: Addison Blakely, Confessions of a PK

2011-10-07T06:50:00.003-08:00

Book Review of Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK

What it's about:

Addison Blakely has never had much trouble pleasing her widowed, overprotective father. After all, he’s a pastor, and she knows her reputation is closely linked to his. But when the bad boy next door, the cute but arrogant quarterback, and a charming new guy all vie for Addison’s attention, she begins to doubt her resolve. To make matters worse, Addison’s best friend suddenly seems to hate her, a talent show has the entire school at odds, and an exotic exchange student from Germany is shaking everyone up. Addison attempts to separate love from lust, faith from facts, and keep her head above water in her murky, fishbowl existence.

What I thought:

As a minister's wife and self-professed "good girl" I have to say I was very curious--and a bit apprehensive--about a book with "Confessions of a PK" as part of the title. I didn't know if the author was herself a former "PK" (preacher's kid), or how she would handle depiction of life in a minister's home. (My apprehension is founded on a few Christian fiction books I've read in recent years that provided less than stellar views inside the parsonage.)

I'm happy to report that my apprehension was unfounded. Betsy St. Amant has created a good, likeable character in Addison Blakely. She is a delightful character, full of spunk and honesty. I can identify with some of her struggles, for I went through many of the same sorts of mental and spiritual struggles about God and Jesus and boys and school when I was seventeen. I thought the spiritual content was handled quite well. Again, my own experiences might color my views here.

Addison lives in a great small town unlike some I've lived in--due to the suburban-style coffee shop. Since I've lived in Midwestern small towns ranging from 95 to 1900 and none of those had a coffee shop outside the gas station, I can only assume that Crooked Hollow is on the larger side of small. I loved the coffee shop scenes, though--and the shop itself reminds me of my favorite in Warrensburg (population over 19,000). The small-town church that Addison's dad pastors is spot on.

The ending was left wide open for a sequel, and I believe I read somewhere on the author's blog that she has a contract for a series. I hope so!

If you liked Robin Jones Gunn's young adult books, or Lisa Samson's "Hollywood Nobody" series, you will enjoy this novel. It's also similar in tone to Erynn Mangum's "Match" series, but for the high school instead of post-college set.

I'm definitely going to pass this book along to my teen.

The author's website: http://www.betsystamant.com/

Thanks to Net Galley and Barbour Publishing for a Kindle galley in exchange for an honest review. The opinions expressed here are my own.

Day 6: Why Fresh-Brewed Writer?

2011-10-06T11:25:00.004-08:00

When I first started this blog six and a half years ago, it was meant to be my writing blog. I had an "everyday" blog on Xanga at the time, with my own small following--but I wanted a place to vent and whine about my attempts at--and lack of--a writing career.

I chose the title because of Nicole Johnson's first book Fresh-Brewed Life. It was one of those books that I devoured the first time I read it, and then I went back through it with my journal in hand and savored it. It is a book I've read over and over, referred to, recommended, led book clubs through, and given as a gift. I even got the mug and coffee set one year for myself for my birthday (that's the photo you see). I volunteered at Nicole's book table two years running at Women of Faith in Kansas City back in the early 2000s, and I had an absolute ball with her mom and stepdad behind the table.

You can imagine my immense joy to see that the book is now updated (Guess where some of my birthday money is going this year?).

Because I'm such a coffee fanatic, the coffee metaphor in the book spoke to me strongly and continues to do so, even now. I must choose to submit to being roasted and finely ground by God, living each day to its fullest, savoring life and relationships and friendships as much as I can. I think it's even more meaningful to me now that I am thousands of miles from the home I've always known, from my family and close friends.

I hope that my writing will encourage and inspire, but more than that, I pray that I communicate God's love through my words. I know I've spent more time whining than I ever should have . . . maybe that makes me more real, or at least gives you a glimpse that I'm far from the "Perfect Pattie" I've been accused of being! But I will keep plugging along with writing, both in practice as this month is for me, and in publication, Lord willing.

To learn more about Nicole, you can follow her on Facebook or visit her website.

Day 5: Accumulation

2011-10-05T08:31:00.003-08:00

Just some random thoughts on accumulation.

I tend to accumulate things.

Papers.

Books.

eBooks.

Pencils and Pens.

And when my desk or living area gets cluttered, I get frustrated. But it's my own fault in most cases.

So I spend a lot more time than I should, clearing out the cluttered paper and books and pens that don't work.

Moving twice in just over a year has helped me with everything but the paper monster. But the monster's tamed into one filing basket on top of my filing cabinets which have room thanks to the big paper purge of the 2010-11 winter months in Texas.

Nothing profound today, just some thoughts to say I wrote something today.

Hey, I never promised GOOD writing every day--just SOME writing ;)

Day 4: Moose: The Other White Meat?

2011-10-04T14:04:00.006-08:00

Fair warning: This story involves a dead animal and its inevitable demise to become food for someone. Don't read if you don't want to know what I saw today.

Today was one of those days when I had a lot of driving in town: drive the girls to the orthodontist, then take them back to school. Because they could fit my oldest in for the impressions and diagnostic things right after her appointment, I drove on the same stretch of road several times within an hour. This is why I saw the steps involved, as described below. (Again, if you're of tender stomach, don't read. I mean it.)

So, on our way to the orthodontist, we have to slow down and pull over for an ambulance, siren wailing and lights flashing. After getting back on the road, we turned the bend and saw why there was an ambulance: a pick-up truck with its front end dented and windshield shattered within its protective covering, and a dead moose.

You may remember just a couple days ago I lamented not having seen any moose in our two months living in Alaska. So imagine how dismayed I was that the first moose my oldest daughter and I get to see, is lying dead on the side of the road.

I already knew from both the Alaska Highway Patrol show on National Geographic AND the Alaska driving manual that roadkill belong to the state. The state then distributes the meat from the dead animal to charity.

What I did NOT know until today was that the animal is not taken to a butcher and processed, after which the meat is delivered to the charity. Ohhh no, my friends. Read on.

On my trip to take my youngest to school, we see different trucks by the dead moose and see some men poking at it and lifting its leg. We speculated about it, thinking they must be seeing if the meat is edible or something.

Driving back from this side trip to pick up my oldest, who was getting impressions done in preparation for braces in a few weeks, I see that the moose no longer has any skin on. And that one of the men I saw was hacking at the leg. I was horrified and repulsed. The skinned moose was white, as if it was layered in fat, and I saw the bone and muscle below the white (fat?) layer.

I go into the orthodontist office again, and as I'm writing the first of several large checks, I ask the office manager about the dead moose. She informs me that the people who "get" the meat as charity have to pick it up on the side of the road where the animal is freshly dead, so the meat doesn't spoil. If you're on "the list" and you can't come, they call the next person on the list till they find someone. This includes charities as was stated earlier, and people on subsistence.

They literally butcher that dead animal roadkill ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD.

So that, my friends, is what I learned about moose today.

Sabbath

2011-10-04T06:24:00.003-08:00

I'm bad at Sabbath-ing. I'm good at wasting time, but not good at resting. My friend Dana posted a link to this blog today, and I want to share it with you.

Kelly @ Love Well

Loving My Husband

2011-10-03T11:49:00.004-08:00

You've probably noticed the button on the right, the super-cute one that says laughing is a given...well, that's from my friend Sara Horn's new book, My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife. It's an excellent book, one of my favorite one-year memoirs, made even more special to my heart because I remember talking to Sara about some of the things that made it into the book. Kind of like "It's Shake-n-Bake...and I hayelped!" but not. OK, not at all. But still!

Anyway, this week's challenge is to show love to our husbands. I have to say, I know how I try to show love to my husband, and I know how he receives love from me, and they are NOT the same thing. Our love languages are, shall we say, not always in sync. But that's okay. What will make this a bit easier this week is that his birthday is on Thursday. While our middle week days are quite crazy (Tuesdays and Thursdays are dance nights, and Wednesdays involve the chapel's religious education program and the night I teach each week), Mondays and Fridays are generally much slower.

The results of this week may not make it to the blog, but I wanted you all to know I'm participating in the challenge.

Day 3: Teaching

2011-10-03T06:51:00.003-08:00

For most of my childhood, I wanted to be a teacher. I dreamed of helping others learn, of being in charge of lessons, of grading with a juicy red pen, and imparting knowledge.

Fast forward to my senior year of high school. My school didn't have a formal Future Teachers of America club, but they did have a program where those who wanted to be teachers could sign up to be a student teacher of sorts. I spent one semester with my French V teacher in a French II class, and one semester with my former English teacher in her English 9 class. Both of these ladies poured themselves into me and allowed me to do things they probably shouldn't have: grade papers, tutor students, supervise make-up tests, and teach actual lessons.

When I got to college, I knew I wanted to teach English and French. Sadly, my college lost their French professor, and the teaching minor in French disappeared. So I chose Speech and Theatre as my second teaching field. (Years later, when the grades 7-9 "junior high" certificate in my home state disappeared, I was able to apply my graduate course in modern drama toward extending my certification through grade 12.)

I wasn't able to find a job right out of college, so I substituted. What great training for a new teacher. I always tell people if they don't get a job right out of college, there is no shame in subbing. It's great if for no other reason than it tests those classroom management skills that may not have been used much during student teaching (when the regular teacher is in the room all the time for liability reasons, the student teacher doesn't always get a true test). Also, being in so many others' classrooms gave me some strong ideas of what NOT to do in my own room.

Fast forward to the spring 2004 semester. After losing a student to suicide, and having over 150 students in my care (all of whom were either seniors I was preparing for college, or juniors I was preparing for mandated state testing - in English classes, that equals a TON of grading), and seeing how my classes grew because Mr. Perfect Teacher and Coach next door had tiny classes and I got all the new students, I had a meltdown in the counselor's office. I finally said "Enough" to one student who transferred from Mr. Perfect next door and denied her transfer, only to be told by Mr. Counselor that if I didn't take this student, I risked being sued. I finally told him I'd gone beyond my limit and could not do it. He agreed, and I found out the only reason I kept getting new students was because my name came alphabetically first before Mr. Perfect, and so he was just letting the computer choose me instead of using the drop-down menu to choose Mr. Perfect, who had at least 35 fewer students than I did.

I quit after that year, and Mr. Perfect became Mr. Assistant Principal.

The year off from teaching was probably the best thing for my sanity and healing. And when I did return to the classroom, it was at the local university as an adjunct. Adjuncts rate lower than grad students on the scale of importance, but I enjoyed teaching again--no parents calling, no state mandated testing... I only had a fall semester contract, but was asked back in the spring a few weeks into the semester when a professor suddenly took FMLA leave, even though everyone knew he was looking for another job in a larger university.

Then we moved.

And we moved again.

And we moved AGAIN, this time to our current home in Alaska. About two weeks before flying up here to live, my husband found out I had been hired for a job I'd applied for online and interviewed for on the phone. It wasn't official, but they had me on the schedule! I spent a large chunk of our plane ride familiarizing myself with the Norton Anthology of Literature the bookstore manager graciously mailed to me at my inlaws' house.

So I'm teaching again. And I am enjoying it again. What a precious gift.

Day 2: Moose? I don't think they exist.

2011-10-02T12:47:00.004-08:00

When I found out we were moving to Alaska, I was so excited to see moose in the wild. My friend Cheryl used to live up here and has a moose collection, and the stuff was so darn cute I imagined I'd be able to do the same thing.

Imagine my surprise when I have yet to see a moose. We've lived here two months now. TWO MONTHS. And no moose.

A couple weeks ago I was talking to my class (many of whom are my age, so they "get" my cultural references for the most part), and I was saying something about "these mythical creatures called moose." They were all warning me about them--they walk into the road and stand, the mama moose are super-crazy around their babies, that sort of thing.

I got a lot of laughs when I said, "Moose are like ROUSes. I don't think they exist."

(If you didn't catch The Princess Bride reference there, then I have nothing more to say to you today.)

31 Days: Day 1

2011-10-01T07:15:00.005-08:00

Last night after I logged off my computer, I figured I'd have plenty to write about this morning (no scheduling posts early for me this month, oh no; if the point is to write something every day, by golly, it will be written every day!). Now as I sit here with the blank window, my mind also is blank.

I have many things in my head and on my heart, and while I am probably nicer than most and more diplomatic than others might be, I do have pretty strong opinions on a plethora of topics. Perhaps now I should explore those things. And keep a list of ideas alongside my computer for the blank-mind mornings.

I don't remember if I ever published my "2011 theme" post [note: It was a draft, never published, but it's published now!], and if I did, it's been too long since I read it. I wrote it in the beginning of January and posted it, then have had a crazy year since! When I felt the Lord giving me the grace theme, I had no idea how it would manifest in "real life." Would He grant me grace? (yes) Would I be granting grace to others? (yes) And would I be teaching my girls to do the same? (yes)

I knew when I received that theme for the year, that I would be moving. We figured if our oldest made it into her ballet intensive program again, that we would have an unusual moving experience. But in January, we didn't know where we were going, or if she would make it. In time, we learned about our move to Alaska, and that once a dancer is in the program, she's always invited back. So as we made our crazy plans, we knew it'd be a stressful time. And it was, but it could have been so much worse if I hadn't always had "grace" on my mind and heart.

As the year begins to wind down, and I am once again in the classroom, I find myself talking about grace a lot with my students. I extend a lot of grace. But there comes a point where the assignments are due, and that's the end. So I have a couple who are "borderline" if they will pass or not.

**There are a great many of us 31-Dayers. You can find more that may interest you here.**

31 Days

2011-09-30T09:29:00.014-08:00

To see all of the 31 Day-ers, click here.

I've seen a LOT of 31 Days of Change posts lately, but wasn't sure if I wanted to step on the bandwagon or just run fast, and run far. Particularly since I have not really blogged a lot lately and have pretty much lost whatever following I used to have.

But the idea of 31 Days of SOMETHING intrigues me.

I made a few personal goals for the last 100 days of 2011. One of my goals is to write something every day. Another is to find good writing prompts for my composition classes (I've gone back into the teaching profession and rather quickly too; not as much time to prepare as I would have liked to have).

So here, on the Fresh-Brewed Writer Blog, I think I'll do

31 Days of Writing (you can click on that link for all my 31 days of writing posts)

I know, I know, not original at all. But necessary for me where I am right now.

Other 31 Days:

Teri Lynne's 31 Days of Joy

Dana's 31 Days of Simply Living

Stacey's 31 Days of Being Still

Stephanie's 31 Days of Reading to her Adorable Children (ok, I sort of changed that description a bit... ;))

Maria's 31 Days of Contentment

31 Days of Reading

31 Days of Parenting Teens and Tweens

Happy Chaos

2011-09-30T09:09:00.004-08:00

I'll admit it, I'm often a sucker for celebrity autobiographies. So when I saw Happy Chaos with a grown-up Soleil Moon Frye and her daughters on the cover, I was intrigued.

This book, however, is less celeb-bio than parenting how-to guide. I did appreciate much of what she had to say--and I wonder if it's a testimony to the celebrity culture in California that she felt like she was the only mom in the entire world to feel like a failure. Really? I've felt like that before. Often. So have my friends, and I count many friends in three states. And we talk it through and encourage one another. This makes me wonder about her feeling like she had no one to share her doubts with, even just five years ago when her oldest was born. I am glad she found support online. (My oldest is about to turn 15, for the record.)

The best parts of this book are when she ties real-life experiences from her permissive upbringing into her real-life parenting experiences. The rest was just okay for me.

A final note: the title is awesome: Happy Chaos. May all our homes be filled with both happy chaos and forgiveness for our own myriad mistakes as parents.

The Fiction Class

2011-09-27T18:10:00.002-08:00

The Fiction Class is a novel by Susan Breen, which tells the story of Arabella Hicks and her mother Vera. And Arabella and her fiction writing class that she teaches one afternoon a week, while working on her own novel at home. I found the book to be easy to read, easy to get into, and I enjoyed it. I particularly liked the characters in her class--and yes, they were characters as in a novel, but "characters" as in different and vibrant people too.

I enjoyed this book.

Fall Into Reading 2011

2011-09-22T16:40:00.020-08:00

For participation info, click here.

My List:

Happy Chaos - Soleil Moon Frye (library)
A Whisper of Peace - Kim Vogel Sawyer (my shelf; late arriving book review book)
~~The Fiction Class~~ ~~- Susan Breen (my shelf)~~
~~Wonderland Creek~~ ~~- Lynn Austin (book review book)~~
Lucky Baby - Meredith Efken (my shelf--just arrived from Paperback Swap!)

~~Books I Also Read But Which Are Not On the List:~~

Addison Blakely: Confessions of a PK by Betsy St. Amant (NetGalley on Kindle)
The Shakespeare Manuscript by Stewart Buettner (Kindle)--did not really like all that much.
Sisterhood Everlasting by Ann Brashares (library find)
Best Staged Plans by Claire Cook (library find)
My Wilder Life: My Adventures in the Lost World of Little House on the Prairie by Wendy McClure (This was my first library loan on my Kindle! What an awesome program!!!)
Murder by Mocha by Cleo Coyle (10th Coffeehouse Mystery book--original ones recommended to me by my Nattie, back in the day...)
All That is Bitter and Sweet by Ashley Judd (it was okay, difficult read)
Delivery by Diana Prusik (disliked the book until the very end....)
Give it All, Give it Now by Annie Dillard (short gift book)
Definitely Not Mr. Darcy by Karen Doornebos
Harsh Pink by Melody Carlson
The Pioneer Women, Black Heels to Tractor Wheels: A Love Story by Ree Drummond
One for the Money by Janet Evanovich

100 Days Left

2011-09-22T11:33:00.003-08:00

There area 100 days left in 2011. I was going to make a list of 100 things to do over the course of those days, but that list seemed too daunting. So I whittled it down to 50 things.

Now, this is not a list of things to DO, to accomplish, exactly. I mean, some of the things are things I need to do. Things that need to be done, and then they will be complete and out of my head. Off my shoulders. Crossed and markered off my haunting, taunting ever-lovin' never-endin' to-do list!

But it's also a list including some habits I intend to cultivate. To help change my attitude, to turn my life toward service and away from my self.

Some things I'll share, some will be private, but all of them will help me be a better Pattie.

One thing I'm doing on my Facebook page is listing random Alaska facts of the day. One goal is to learn something new about my new state each day. This means I should have a nice long list when I'm finished.

I'm also dusting off my gratitude journal and working on that 1000 Gifts list again. Remembering that all is grace.

One other thing I'll be seeking is my 2012 theme.

How about you...will you have a personal challenge over the course of the last 100 days of 2011?

Quick Friday Takes

2011-09-16T12:27:00.004-08:00

I haven't blogged in so long, I've forgotten how...almost!
I spend most of my online time on Facebook, or email, or researching for my class I'm teaching (Reading and Writing).
I'm thinking about a break from Facebook.
By deactivating my account.
Just during the weeks I'm grading research papers and finals.
Because what I discovered is, if I have to, I can work hard when the computer is off.
I'm behind on my Wives of Faith editorial stuff.
Just looking at the emails piling up stresses me out.
I'm about to take my dog to the groomer's.
We're settling into life here in our new state.
It's pretty much just as busy as everywhere else---school, work, chapel activities, base activities.
Except surrounded by mountains and trees changing colors to suit the autumn.
We're fine.
Really.
I do miss my friends in the "lower 48" a lot.
I'm making new friends.
But that takes time.
I haven't been writing and I feel all pent up with words.
I also feel like I'm missing opportunities for expression.
But I'm not sure.
I still fight the spectre of insecurity, the sin of not trusting.
But in many other ways, our life is blessed, and happy, and busy, and good.
How about you?

CFBA presents A Whisper of Peace

2011-09-05T01:00:00.002-08:00

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Whisper of Peace Bethany House (September 1, 2011) by Kim Vogel Sawyer

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ostracized by her tribe because of her white father, Lizzie Dawson lives alone in the mountains of Alaska, practicing the ways of her people even as she resides in the small cabin her father built for her mother. She dreams of reconciling with her grandparents to fulfill her mother's dying request, but she has not yet found a way to bridge the gap that separate her from her tribe.

Clay Selby has always wanted to be like his father, a missionary who holds a great love for the native people and has brought many to God. Clay and his stepsister, Vivian, arrive in Alaska to set up a church and school among the Athbascan people. Clay is totally focused on this goal...until he meets a young, independent Indian woman with the most striking blue eyes he's ever seen.

But Lizzie is clearly not part of the tribe, and befriending her might have dire consequences for his mission. Will Clay be forced to choose between his desire to minister to the natives and the quiet nudging of his heart?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Whisper of Peace, go HERE.

Sadly, I have not received my copy of this book. I can't wait to read it, since I just moved to Alaska! Hopefully soon. That is one of the downsides to living here, however: The mail can potentially take a LONG time. Often it doesn't, but sometimes it does.

UPDATE: I did receive the book finally, and I did read it (finished it Dec. 2). It took me awhile to get into the story, and even with the historical and geographical detail, the story didn't really capture me as I thought it would. I don't know if it's my changing fiction taste, or just that I am finding some historical fiction in the CBA market to be predictable, but there were no surprises in this novel for me, and the characters, while likeable, weren't loveable. So with apologies to Kim Vogel Sawyer, this was just not my favorite book this year.

That said, however, I do think that if you're a fan of gentle romance and historical Christian fiction as comfort reading for yourself, this would be a good choice for you.

Homeward by Melody Carlson

2011-08-22T09:27:00.004-08:00

Welcome to the blog tour for Melody Carlson's novel Homeward.

About the Novel:

From bestselling author Melody Carlson comes this award-winning story of three generations of Lancaster women. For twenty years Meg Lancaster has avoided Briar Hedge, the Lancaster family estate. Now she has been drawn back to her grandmother's home to uncover secrets that have been hidden for decades and to try to regain the family she long ago abandoned.

This book was the winner of the Romance Writers of America RITA Award.

About the Author:

Melody Carlson has published over 200 books, making her one of the top 20 most prolific authors of all time. With total sales of over 1.4 million her award- winning books include: Homeward, Love Finds You in Sisters, Oregon; Limelight; the Diary of a Teenage Girl series; the True Colors series; and the Charter House Girls series.

Melody has worn many hats: from pre-school teacher to political activist to senior editor. Currently, she writes full-time, and freelances from her home. She has two grown sons and lives in Sisters, Oregon with her husband, Chris, and Bailey, her chocolate lab.

Pattie's Review:

I enjoyed this novel. At the beginning it had the feel of women's fiction, but as I read more it turned into a spiritual parable of sorts about forgiveness. The spiritual journey of Meg, the main character, was well-charted and seemed very realistic for someone who's been through so much trauma. I enjoyed the romance, too, because it wasn't everything to Meg--just one more way she begins to grow and change as a woman.

I also enjoyed the cranberry bog portions of the novel. How fascinating!

Overall, if you enjoy women's fiction with a Christian worldview, I recommend this novel.

You can get this book on Kindle right now for $2.99 or on the Nook, also for $2.99.

Special thanks to Glass Road PR for a free Kindle copy of this book.

Thomas Nelson Contest and Note from Colleen Coble

2011-08-18T08:08:00.003-08:00

From Thomas Nelson:

One of the highlights of our days in the Fiction department at Thomas Nelson? Receiving reader letters—either directly addressed to us or passed along from our talented authors. It’s critical to be reminded that at the end of our long days acquiring, editing, designing, selling, marketing, and publicizing books, those stories are reaching readers, striking nerves, changing lives. We want readers’ feedback. How stories have given you hope. Which authors’ series you can’t help from sharing with everyone you meet. We want to know what makes you stay up late in the night to finish a story, and conversely what turns you away.

We’re conducting a series of surveys—seeking answers from readers who love Christian fiction. Up for grabs is a free ebook for every respondent who completes the survery, as well as a $10,000 prize for one entrant. The responses we gather will help shape the future of the books we publish for years to come. As well as the data we’re collecting here, we’ll also seek more in-depth feedback from a panel we’ll develop over the next year. More details to come. The note below from one of authors gives a specific picture of how reader feedback shapes her work. In short, your opinion matters! We thank you for your time and appreciate your responding.

--Thomas Nelson Fiction

Dear Friends--

Your opinion matters. It really does. I love hearing from readers about what worked for them in a story and about what doesn’t work. Reader feedback changed the balance between romance and suspense in my novels. After the Rock Harbor trilogy, I wanted to write more suspense in my novels because that’s what I personally like. But readers really wanted more relationship and romance in the books so I moved back that direction to about the same mix of 50/50 that the Rock Harbor novels contained. I write for you even more than for myself.

I had no intention of setting a whole series of books at Bluebird, Texas. It was going to be only one book, but readers sent me requests in droves for more books. The fourth book in the Lonestar series, Lonestar Angel, will be out in October. The Rock Harbor novels were going to be complete at three. There are now five and I’m thinking about another one! All due to reader demand.

I’ve often asked for reader input on names and locations too. When I was struggling for a name for my hero in The Lightkeeper’s Ball, I turned to my readers. Harrison really fit my character, and my readers told me. Love that! When I was trying to decide on a location for the new Hope Beach series I’ve started, I asked readers. Their overwhelming response was for a series set in the Outer Banks so guess what I’m writing?!

That’s why we’re coming to you for answers. We want to give you what you really want! Don’t be afraid to let us know what you really think. We value your honesty and the time it will take to share with us. Looking forward to hearing what you have to say!

Your friend,

Colleen Coble

Free Writing eBooks

2011-08-15T07:46:00.004-08:00

I learned about these from www.pixelofink.com.

Note: I am not getting paid for these links.

Portable MFA in Writing

Robert's Rules of Writing

Spring Reading Thing 2011 Wrapup

2011-07-17T19:37:00.003-08:00

http://freshbrewedwriter.blogspot.com/2011/03/spring-reading-thing-2011.html

So I'm a few weeks late in reporting on this. Other than one book that I didn't finish, I read 11 books of the 10 I intended to read.

Thanks to Katrina...and sorry I never reported on time.

anticipation

2011-06-17T07:30:00.003-08:00

This blog gives me so much anticipation it's hard for me to stand it! I'm sad I won't get to meet this precious military wife, as she's headed to Oklahoma right now and we're in standby mode a few weeks more until we get to Alaska. But this, this makes me yearn for our new home.

http://emily-roe.blogspot.com/2011/06/farewell-to-alaska.html

How much more, then, do we who know Christ yearn for heaven...

Journaling

2011-06-15T15:32:00.001-08:00

Came across this journaling blog by Luci Swindoll today. I journal. Not as often as I should, but I do.

http://www.womenoffaith.com/blog/2011/06/the-joys-of-journaling/

My Foolish Heart

2011-06-10T22:00:00.006-08:00

The latest from Susan May Warren is My Foolish Heart, from the Deep Haven series of books set in northern Minnesota.

Don't forget about the contest Susan May Warren is hosting! Click here for more details.

About the Book:

Unknown to her tiny town of Deep Haven, Isadora Presley spends her nights as Miss Foolish Heart, the star host of a syndicated talk radio show. Millions tune in to hear her advice on dating and falling in love, unaware that she’s never really done either. Issy’s ratings soar when it seems she’s falling in love on-air with a caller. A caller she doesn’t realize lives right next door.

Caleb Knight served a tour of duty in Iraq and paid a steep price. The last thing he wants is pity, so he hides his disability and moves to Deep Haven to land his dream job as the high school football coach. When his beautiful neighbor catches his eye, in a moment of desperation he seeks advice from My Foolish Heart, the show that airs before his favorite sports broadcast.

Before he knows it, Caleb finds himself drawn to the host—and more confused than ever. Is his perfect love the woman on the radio . . . or the one next door?

Read an excerpt here: http://www.susanmaywarren.com/novels/contemporary-romance/

About the Author:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling author of over twenty-five novels, many of which have won the Inspirational Readers Choice Award, the ACFW Book of the Year award, the Rita Award, and have been Christy finalists. After serving as a missionary for eight years in Russia, Susan returned home to a small town on Minnesota’s beautiful Lake Superior shore where she, her four children, and her husband are active in their local church.

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

Susan makes her home in northern Minnesota, where she is busy cheering on her two sons in football, and her daughter in local theater productions (and desperately missing her college-age son!)

A full listing of her titles, reviews and awards can be found at: www.susanmaywarren.com.

Pattie's Review:

I really enjoyed this book. There's something about Susan May Warren's writing that is engaging from the beginning. I think part of it is the strong sense of place--small-town Minnesota--that draws me in as a reader and grabs my attention.

The characters are also wonderful. Issy's agoraphobia is understandable in that it is something that engulfs her and controls her life. I'm glad the author allows her the opportunity to naturally push that boundary when the time and circumstances seem right--but also that Issy is seeing a counselor. Sometimes we need professional help to get past the major events in our lives, and there is no shame in that.

Caleb is a likeable Iraq veteran with something to prove--and while he might not go about it the proper way, he is certainly tenacious in his goals.

The world of internet radio is explored here, and it is an interesting one for sure. I don't think I've ever really done more than listen to a handful of rebroadcasts over the years.

Susan May Warren always has faith in her fiction, and it is never preachy or forced.

For fans of Christian fiction, I recommend this book and any by Susan May Warren.

This book says "Deep Haven Book 4" but you don't have to have read any of them to enjoy this book. In fact, it's been 2 1/2 years since I read The Perfect Match and I'd forgotten a lot of it! But reading the other three is not a prerequisite to enjoying My Foolish Heart.

Thank you to LitFuse for a review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

My Foolish Heart Contest

2011-06-01T11:15:00.001-08:00

Win a Romantic Night on the Town from Miss Foolish Heart!

Susan May Warren is thrilled to announce the release of her latest Deep Haven book, My Foolish Heart!

Read what the reviewers are saying here. My own review will be posted here on June 11. Stay tuned!

To celebrate this charming novel about a dating expert who's never had a date, Susan has put together a romantic night on the town for one lucky couple. One grand prize winner will receive a Miss Foolish Heart prize package worth over $200!

The winner of the Romantic Night on the Town Prize Pack will receive:

* A $100 Visa Gift Card (For Dinner)

* A $100 Gift Certificate to a Hyatt/Marriott Hotel

* The entire Deep Haven series

To enter just click one of the icons below. But, hurry, the giveaway ends at noon on June 16th. The winner will be announced that evening during Susan’s Miss Foolish Heart Party on Facebook! Susan will be chatting with guests, hosting a book club chat about My Foolish Heart, testing your Deep Haven trivia skills, and giving away tons of great stuff! (Gift certificates, books, donuts, and more!) Don't miss the fun and BRING YOUR FRIENDS!

The Life Ready Woman + Giveaway

2011-06-01T04:00:00.002-08:00

Life Ready Woman has been lauded by reviewers as an essential resource for navigating all the roles women play - wife, mother, worker, co-worker, single, etc.... Follow the links below to read the reviews.

More about Life Ready Woman: Are you a ‘Doing it all’ or ‘Do what matters’ woman?

Whether a stay at home; or working mom, an airplane-hopping executive, an empty-nester caring for multiple generations or a single juggling high demands of career and personal life, today's fast-paced modern world leaves women gasping for balance. We as modern Christian women want to look to the Bible for guidance on how to manage our lives -- but because the world of women looks so different today than it did when the Bible was written, it is hard to find chapter and verse that seems to apply to our situation today.

More about Shaunti Feldhahn: Shaunti Feldhahn is a former Wall Street analyst, best-selling author of the book For Women Only, national speaker, and regular commentator in the media. She has been featured on The Today Show, PBS, TNT and Fox News- to name a few. You can learn more about her many activities by visiting her website Shaunti.com or get some great mom advice from her atMomLifeToday.com. She and her husband live with their two young children in Atlanta, Georgia and enjoy every minute of living at warp speed.

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

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

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

Review:

I have not finished this book, but I have read the first few chapters. So far what I've found is what I would call the typical Shaunti Feldhahn book: lots of statistics that she somehow manages to find interesting and thought-provoking. I recommend this book for either individual study or group discussion.

Giveaway Information:

I have a new copy of this book to give away. All you need to do is leave a comment on this entry to be eligible to win. The winner will be chosen at random from comments left.

Be sure to link your blog or give me your email in your comment, so I can get hold of you if you are the winner.

The winner will be chosen on Friday, June 3, at noon central time.

**Update June 9: No one commented, so I mailed the book to a good friend of mine this morning. Thank you!**

Holy Guacamole!

2011-05-19T02:00:00.001-08:00

Welcome to the Holy Guacamole! blog tour, sponsored by Glass Road PR.

HOLY GUACAMOLE - A ROMANTIC ADVENTURE FOR FOODIES

Debut authors Dan and Denise Harmer deliver a thrilling food-lover's adventure in Holy Guacamole. The culinary tale hurtles a television chef and a washed-up sports writer into a harrowing escapade that may cost them their lives.

When Trace Domingo is accepted into Chef Bonnie Miller's culinary boot camp, a life-threatening journey into Bonnie's past unfolds. In a vulnerable moment, Trace discovers part of Bonnie's closely-held secret. She hasn't yet decided to trust the "bootie" when a crisis makes the choice for her. The pair embark on a race against the clock across southern California and northern Baja in Mexico.

Laced with local references, historical sites, and culinary delights, Holy Guacamole is a fun summer beach read.

A portion of the proceeds from the sale of this book go to support the ministry of Outside the Bowl.

Pattie's Review:

While I enjoyed the book after a while, it did not immediately capture my attention. However, I pressed on so that I could review the book for Glass Road (who generously sent me a copy for review). The story really did pick up after a while.

Part of the issue with my enjoyment is that I generally don't connect with male narrators right away. The narrator, Trace, seemed like a nice enough guy with a desire to learn to be a chef, and of course he has a crush on Bonnie the chef, but beyond that, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to read his story. Besides, I wasn't sure what attraction these two shared beyond their love for food. They have a wild and bumpy ride, and that's not just a metaphor.

If you love foodie things, you'll like this story. If you have a heart for missions to Mexico, you will enjoy the latter part of the story (can't break the Reviewer Code and say more than that!).

Thank you to Glass Road PR for a review copy of this novel.

Fade to Blue

2011-05-15T23:40:00.001-08:00

My review is at the end. Thanks so much for visiting and reading!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Fade to Blue B&H Books (May 15, 2011) by Julie Carobini

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from the author:

I grew up as Julie Navarro, in a family of truly right-brained individuals. Among us you’ll find writers, artists, and musicians, all of us willing to talk about the arts at a moment’s notice.

Over the years, I’ve published several hundred articles and stories in magazines and books, including Aspire, Decision, Expecting, Focus on the Family, Key Magazine and God’s Abundance: 365 Days to a Simpler Life. As I wrote, I found a common theme cropping up: my family, the sea, and God’s timely work in the lives of those around me.

Maybe it was time to incorporate those interests into novels, I thought.

And so I did. Not once, but twice. Both times, God shut both doors and windows. So I continued to write and dream and raise my kids with Dan. Eventually I decided to write romantic seaside novels, and that’s where I found my voice.

When I’m not writing, marketing, or editing for others, I’m driving my kids around town, imagining that my mid-sized SUV is actually a sleek sailing yacht.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Suz Mitchell is the determined dreamer we should all be and won't allow her ex-husband Len's jail sentence to ruin their young son Jeremiah's life. An accomplished artist, she moves with her child across the country to California's central coast and lands a sweet job restoring priceless paintings at the historic Hearst Castle overlooking the ocean.

To her utter surprise, a serious old flame, Seth, is also now working at Hearst and jumbles the dreams inside Suz's heart. While sorting out the awkwardness of their past split and current spiritual differences, a repentent Len shows up eager to restore his family.

Suz must learn to let God be the true restorer of all that once seemed lost.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Fade to Blue, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

While I did like this book, I have to be honest and say it is not my favorite Julie Carobini novel (That would be Chocolate Beach). Suz is a likeable enough heroine, but it does seem a little unreal that everyone she meets is charmed by her. However, I do identify with her being harder on herself than others are on her. I'm that way myself.

I wonder, too, if perhaps I would have had a little more invested in the characters if I'd read the first two in this Otter Bay series. This is book three, and while I think there was enough backstory about Suz's brother Gage and his Callie to get the general idea, I do think I might have missed some things about Suz in that book.

The story is good, suspenseful enough but not too scary, and we do figure out the bad guy pretty early on - the twist is, we don't know how and why he's the bad guy, and what he is really after, until the end. The ending is satisfying, but felt rushed to me - maybe a little more time taken with the falling action and denouement would have made it a little bit more believable to me instead of boom, it's over, the bad guy is locked up.

The spiritual lessons of divorce and forgiveness are well-played out and addressed. Both of these tend to be touchy subjects, and the author handles them well without giving a black-and-white answer to a very gray subject area.

Overall, a solid new novel from Carobini, with plenty of grace.

Dining With Joy

2011-05-12T08:46:00.000-08:00

Dining with Joy by Rachel Hauck

What do you do with a cooking show host that can't cook?

You cover it up, apparently. Because Joy's the host of her own show and she can not seem to make any edible food. Her father's legacy and cooking show empire is at stake, so she and her crew continue the charade.

Enter Luke, the cook at the Frogmore Cafe (which readers of Rachel Hauck will recognize from previous novels), who is keeping Joy's secret while creating the dishes that will make her famous.

As always Rachel Hauck puts likeable heroines in impossible situations and lets the story and the romance play out. She does a great job of letting Joy's cover-up unravel with the help of one gleeful nemesis Wenda Devine, a rival cooking show chef.

The love story is well played and the spiritual lesson about truth and truth-telling is clear without being preachy. I enjoyed this novel.

Originally written for Christian Bookworm Reviews.com

CFBA Presents an Unlikely Suitor

2011-05-10T09:00:00.000-08:00

My review is at the end :)

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing An Unlikely Suitor Bethany House (May 1, 2011) by Nancy Moser

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Nancy Moser is the award-winning author of over twenty inspirational novels. Her genres include contemporary stories including John 3:16 and Time Lottery a Christy Award winner, and historical novels of real women-of-history including Just Jane (Jane Austen) and Washington's Lady (Martha Washington). Her newest historical novels are Masquerade and An Unlikely Suitor. Nancy and her husband Mark live in the Midwest. She’s earned a degree in architecture, traveled extensively in Europe, and has performed in numerous theaters, symphonies, and choirs. She gives Sister Circle Seminars around the country, helping women identify their gifts as they celebrate their sisterhood. She is a fan of anything antique—humans included. Find out more at www.nancymoser.com and www.sistercircles.com and her historical blog: http://footnotesfromhistory.blogspot.com/

ABOUT THE BOOK

New York dressmaker Lucy Scarpelli befriends socialite Rowena Langdon as she's designing her 1895 summer wardrobe. Grateful for Lucy's skill in creating fashions that hide her physical injury, Rowena invites Lucy to the family mansion in Newport, Rhode Island, encouraging the unusual friendship.

One day Lucy encounters an intriguing man on the Cliff Walk, and love begins to blossom. Yet Lucy resists, for what Newport man would want to marry an Italian dressmaker working to support her family?

Rowena faces an arranged marriage to a wealthy heir she doesn't love, but dare a crippled girl hope for anything better?

And Lucy's teenage sister, Sofia, falls for a man well above her social class--but is he willing to give up everything to marry a woman below his station?

As the lives of three young woman--and their unlikely suitors--become entangled in a web of secrets and sacrifice, will the season end with any of them finding true happiness?

If you would like to read the first chapter of An Unlikely Suitor, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

I really enjoyed this latest Nancy Moser novel. I have been a fan of hers since the days when I reviewed "The Invitation" for Multnomah, and I've enjoyed each of her books I've read ever since.

I particularly liked the characterization, and how she is able to climb into a historical time and place and make it seem almost like I'm there with the characters.

Highly recommended.

Wives of Faith

2011-05-06T09:46:00.002-08:00

I'm over at my military wife blog this weekend for the Wives of Faith blog carnival!

Writer Mama May Fun

2011-04-28T06:12:00.003-08:00

Christina Katz is hosting a book giveaway at her blog each day in May. Having been the recipient of gifts in the past, I highly recommend this giveaway. I plan to participate as much as I can as we prepare for our 2nd move in just over a year.

Friday Felicities

2011-04-22T04:48:00.003-08:00

Friday Felicities for Good Friday, April 22:

Jesus. Always Jesus.
Women at Home
Wives of Faith
My friends and family
a day off with my girls

Beside Still Waters

2011-04-18T02:00:00.004-08:00

Welcome to the LitFuse blog tour for Beside Still Waters.

Synopsis From the Publisher:

Raised among the Amish of Indiana, 18-year-old Marianna Sommer plans to get baptized into the church, marry Aaron Zook, and set up life in the only community she has ever known. But when her older brother chooses the world’s path following his rumschpringe, and a younger sibling begins showing interest in English ways, Marianna’s parents move the family to Montana.

Although she is also in her rumschpringe years and not obligated to move, Marianna makes the journey to dutifully help her mother who is expecting another child. Surprisingly, from strangers on the cross-country train ride to the less rigid stance of the new Montana community, many English influences awaken within Marianna—and even her father—the desire to pursue a deeper kind of joy and love for God.

After an accident, Marianna tells her friend Ben a defining story about the Sommer family, and his response further illumines the active relationship God seeks with His followers. In due time, she learns the move from Indiana was not about losing anything, but finding out who God really is. Despite all the shake-ups, Marianna feels a sweet peace, like still waters, in her soul.

Tricia Goyer is an acclaimed and prolific writer, publishing hundreds of articles in national magazines including Today’s Christian Woman and Focus on the Family while authoring more than twenty fiction and nonfiction books combined. Among those are 3:16 Teen Edition with Max Lucado and the American Christian Fiction Writers’ Book of the Year Award winners Night Song and Dawn of a Thousand Nights. She has also written books on marriage and parenting and contributed notes to the Women of Faith Study Bible. Tricia lives with her husband and children in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Contest!

To celebrate the release of the first book in the Big Sky Amish series Tricia is giving away 10 copies of Beside Still Waters and a pair of super cute antique Amish salt & pepper shakers. (photo attached)

Details at Tricia’s blog, It’s Real Life: http://triciagoyer.blogspot.com/2011/04/beside-still-waters-giveaway.html

BONUS! Each person who enters the giveaway will receive a FABULOUS Montana Amish Calendar. Hurry, it’s only available while supplies last!

Pattie's Review:

This review is from an advanced proof copy of this book.

I enjoyed the characters of Marianna and her family. While this family has endured much tragedy and Marianna has grown up thinking she was a replacement child, they still seemed real and likeable to me. Tricia Goyer always has well-rounded characters; it is a hallmark of her fiction.

However, there were a few rough spots in the book that I am sure Tricia and her editor likely fixed before publication. By this I mean there are a few places where details seemed out of place or out of order. Also, because this is the first in a series, it's obvious that there are several story threads that are left hanging (to borrow a quilting metaphor), which I'm sure will be tied together by the end of the series.

In conclusion, if you're a fan of contemporary Christian Amish fiction, you will enjoy this novel.

Thanks to Lit Fuse and Broadman & Holman for the opportunity to review this book.

(Personal aside: I've decided I don't like reviewing books from an advanced proof copy, because the editor in me wants to take a red pen to it, mark it up, and send it in with my resume and a letter requesting a telecommuting job with the publishing house! The errors and rough spots and notes get in the way of my enjoyment of the novel.)

You may click here to purchase the book.

Friday Felicities

2011-04-15T05:48:00.000-08:00

Happy Friday! Please go post your own felicities at Joyful Mother.

Getting to keep my dog in our next move
Grateful my husband has a job
Seattle's Best level 5 coffee (BOLD French roast)
Cool breezes in warm sunshine
UniBall Signo pens in purple

bookish musings

2011-04-11T07:35:00.003-08:00

Bullets for a Monday...

I just updated my Spring Reading Thing post for this spring. I've got 1.5 books left to read on my list.
I've read over 40 books this year, with more to follow. I'm trying to finish as many as I don't plan to move so I can get our household weight down.
I've been keeping the Post Office busy.
The Post Office is the great equalizer in terms of economic class. Everyone uses it. Just take a look at the people in line sometime and you'll see what I mean.
I love my Kindle. It was a gift from a very kind and generous friend after I had to go on a spending fast rather quickly...so it means even more to me than it would otherwise.
I am so excited about moving with the Kindle instead of a backpack full of books.
I suffer from abibliophobia--the fear of running out of reading material.
Not with a Kindle. Not ever.
I have a writing assignment for five devotionals! I'm so very excited!

Tea for Two and Two for Tea

2011-04-11T07:20:00.003-08:00

me, and you - and you, and me...

I enjoyed this book so much! What a great, cozy, fun read. It was hard to put it down.

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Tea For Two Harvest House Publishers (April 1, 2011) by Trish Perry

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A word from our Author: I started writing short stories—pretty bad ones. And I started taking creative writing courses to round out my degree. So I was in classes full of people just like me—lousy writers. But we were learning!

Then the Lord led me to a local writers' group, Capital Christian Writers, and the contacts and friends I made through CCW enriched my personal life and my writing life more than I can measure. Through CCW and through reading just about every book and magazine ever published by Writer's Digest, I started catching on. Now I'm writing full time and man oh man do I love it.

Before the writing began, I worked for attorneys in Washington, D. C. I worked for the Securities and Exchange Commission. And I was a stockbroker. A horrible stockbroker. How do people do that? Take responsibility for other people's financial futures? Yikes. I'm perfectly happy to take responsibility for the amount of time any one person wants to spend reading my books. If you enjoy the experience, then know that we both enjoyed it together. I love that about books.

In the midst of all that fretting over other people's money and writing about other people's lives, I racked up a few personal experiences myself. Some good, some bad, but all part of God's plan. Now I'm an empty nester living in Northern Virginia. My brilliantly funny son is in college. I have a savvy, gorgeous grown daughter, a charming son-in-law, and an amazing grandson.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Zack Cooper tries his best to raise his children, but he's losing his grip on them in their teen years. They've both had scrapes with the local law.

Tea Shop owner Milly Jewel has the perfect woman in mind to help Zack. Counselor Tina Milano meets weekly at the tea shop with her women's group. Milly encourages Zack and Tina to work together to draw the teens back before they get in even hotter water. Milly never thought things might heat up between Zack and Tina. Or did she?

Tina's connections with the Middleburg police department prove a mixed blessing for Zack and his kids. Both her best friend and old boyfriend are officers on the force.

And when Tina's women's group gets wind of her personal pursuits and clashes, they want to help. The group's meetings at the tea shop take on a slightly different flavor. Tina wonders who, exactly, is counseling whom.

Although heroine Tina Milano and her women's group are mentioned in The Perfect Blend (the first book in this series), Tea for Two is where we meet her and hero Zack Cooper. I knew I would write this book while I wrote the first, so it was fun to plant a passing mention of Zack and Tina while I wrote Steph's story in The Perfect Blend. By the time I was able to write Tina and Zack's story, I was eager to unfold their lives, conflicts, and love. I hope readers will be eager to experience what happens to them!

If you would like to read the first chapter of Tea for Two, go HERE.

Watch the Book Video:

Love Remains

2011-03-24T07:19:00.005-08:00

I'll just say it right away: I like Kaye Dacus. I noticed her first on the ACFW email loop--a helpful woman who was always willing to answer even the most mundane questions from newbie writers. Her blog is also enjoyable; one of my favorites is when she recasts movies or her own books with Hollywood players. When she started publishing books, I was anxious to read them, and enjoyed her Bonneterre series very much.

I follow her on Facebook, and a few months ago I participated in a discussion for her new series on her blog (one of those brainstorming sessions that turned out to be pretty fun). She sent me the first in her new series to review--which brings me here today.

The first book in the Matchmakers series is Love Remains.

From the press release: "Zarah Mitchell and Bobby Patterson become the matchmaking focus of their well-meaning grandmothers when he moves back to Nashville to work for the Tennessee Criminal Investigations Unit. Zarah believes he chose a military career over her fourteen years ago, while Bobby harbors his own resentment over choices Zarah made that furthered her education. The grandmothers notice the feelings are still there between the couple, but will matters only get worse when Bobby investigates the agency Zarah works for? Will she be the one to leave this time, taking the opportunity of a dream job in DC?"

I enjoyed this contemporary romance. The Matchmaker Grandma Brigade (as I came to think of them) is the set-up for the rest of the series, which is cute. The characters drew me into their world, their conflicts, and their resolution, which was satisfying. For a romance, this was not too sappy or fluffy; for a Christian book, it had some real faith struggles that resonated with me. Overall, a very enjoyable read.

Book 2, The Art of Romance, comes out in May 2011, with Turnabout's Fair Play following in November 2011.

No Safe Haven

2011-03-23T03:15:00.001-08:00

My review at the end. Enjoy!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing No Safe Haven B&H Books (March 15, 2011) by Kimberly and Kayla Woodhouse

ABOUT THE AUTHORS:

A devoted wife and mother, Kimberley Woodhouse is a third generation Liszt student, she has passed down her love of the arts to hundreds of students over the years.

About fifteen years ago, Kimberley began writing seriously. Songs, plays, short stories, novels, picture books, articles, newsletters - you name it - she's written it. It wasn't until a dear friend challenged her to "do something with it", that she pursued publication.

Kimberley and her family's story have been on the front page of newspapers, in magazines, articles, medical journals, and most recently her family was chosen for ABC's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. They were also asked to share their story on The Montel Williams Show and Discovery Health Channel's Mystery ER. She has recorded three albums, and has appeared at over 700 venues. Kimberley lives, writes, and homeschools in Colorado with her husband and their two children in a truly "Extreme" home.

Thirteen-year-old Kayla Woodhouse’s zest for writing comes not only from her natural ability, but also from her love of the written word as witnessed by her voracious reading appetite. One of only a few dozen cases in the world, Kayla was born with HSAN, Hereditary Sensory Autonomic Neuropathy, an extremely rare nerve disorder. Unable to sweat, or feel pain, she’s also been through brain surgery. But even through a life of extreme hardships, her ever-present smile encourages others to pursue their dreams, no matter the obstacles. In addition to being homeschooled and writing with her mom, she’s an amazing swimmer, and spends up to thirty hours a week in training. No Safe Haven, her first release from B&H Publishers in 2011, written with mother, Kimberley, makes her the youngest author to have a full-length novel published by a royalty paying publisher.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Jenna and Andi Tikaani-Gray are hoping for a fresh start. Though twelve year-old Andi has long struggled with a rare medical disorder, she and her mother have finally received good news from out-of-town specialists. It's news they desperately needed, especially after the recent death of Jenna's husband (Andi's dad) in a car accident.

But as they are flying home to Alaska, ready to begin again, the unthinkable happens. The pilot sabotages their small plane and crashes into Sultana, one of the most remote and dangerous mountains in the Land of the Midnight Sun. Even worse, a winter storm is headed their way along with someone who doesn't want to save them, but to kill them.

Only one man can keep them alive: Cole Maddox, the mysterious last-minute passenger who joined them on their flight. But trust doesn't come easy to Jenna or AndiÑand they both sense Cole is hiding something.

A relentless tale of survival and suspense unfolds, involving military technology designed by Jenna's late husband that some would do anything to possess.

Watch the Book Video:

If you would like to read the first chapter of No Safe Haven, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

I liked this book very much. It seems timely that I ordered it before we knew we were moving to Alaska, and yet here I can read about my new home state a few months before we get there!

The characters were believable, and interesting, and once I got into the multiple-voice point of view, I was able to zip through the last half of the book in one day.

Even the details were carefully worked in--it was nice to notice that the daylight time was right for April on a mountain near the Arctic Circle.

Very enjoyable! Expect more from this mother-daughter writing team.

Spring Reading Thing 2011

2011-03-20T03:45:00.009-08:00

This is my 5th Spring Reading Thing! Yay!

For more info for this year's challenge & guidelines, click here. As always, a special thanks to Katrina who hosts a great challenge each spring and autumn.

~~Mr. Monk is Miserable - Lee Goldberg~~
~~The Book Thief - Markus Zuzak~~
~~No Safe Haven - Kimberley & Kayla Woodhouse~~
~~Tea for Two - Trish Perry~~
The Life Ready Woman - Shaunti Feldhahn (finish)
and now I'm going to do what I really don't ever do and am not sure is allowed, but since I did list specific books, hopefully will be acceptable: I will read five other books (which I will then get rid of) from my shelves before we move to Alaska around the end of this challenge.
~~All Eyes on Her - Poonam Sharpa (trade)~~
~~The Cowboy Takes a Bride - Debra Clopton (in bag of giveaways)~~
~~Texas Ranger Dad - Debra Clopton (in bag of giveaways)~~
~~One Thousand Gifts - Ann Voskamp~~
(gave to a friend)
~~The Yokota Officers Club - Sarah Bird (trade)~~
~~Good Things I Wish You - A. Manette Ansay (giving to a friend)~~
~~Perfect Blend by Sue Margolis (trade)~~

A Heart Most Worthy

2011-03-09T18:27:00.003-09:00

My review is at the end. Thanks!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Heart Most Worthy Bethany House (March 1, 2011) by Siri Mitchell

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Siri Mitchell graduated from the University of Washington with a business degree and worked in various levels of government. As a military spouse, she has lived all over the world, including in Paris and Tokyo. Siri enjoys observing and learning from different cultures. She is fluent in French and loves sushi.

But she is also a member of a strange breed of people called novelists. When they’re listening to a sermon and taking notes, chances are, they’ve just had a great idea for a plot or a dialogue. If they nod in response to a really profound statement, they’re probably thinking, “Yes. Right. That’s exactly what my character needs to hear.” When they edit their manuscripts, they laugh at the funny parts. And cry at the sad parts. Sometimes they even talk to their characters.

Siri wrote 4 books and accumulated 153 rejections before signing with a publisher. In the process, she saw the bottoms of more pints of Ben & Jerry’s than she cares to admit. At various times she has vowed never to write another word again. Ever. She has gone on writing strikes and even stooped to threatening her manuscripts with the shredder.

Her ninth novel, A Heart Most Worthy, follows prior Bethany House releases: A Constant Heart (October 2008), Love's Pursuit (June 2009), and She Walks in Beauty (Apr 2010). She Walks in Beauty won the inaugural INSPY Award for Historical Fiction in Dec 2010. Two of her novels, Chateau of Echoes and The Cubicle Next Door were Christy Award finalists. Love's Pursuit was a finalist for the ACFW Carol Award.

Publishers Weekly proclaimed, "Mitchell delivers the historical goods."

ABOUT THE BOOK

The elegance of Madame Forza's gown shop is a far cry from the downtrodden North End of Boston. Yet each day Julietta, Annamaria, and Luciana enter the world of the upper class, working on finery for the elite in society. The three beauties each long to break free of their obligations and embrace the American dream--and their chance for love. But the ways of the heart are difficult to discern at times.

Julietta is drawn to the swarthy, mysterious Angelo. Annamaria has a star-crossed encounter with the grocer's son, a man from the entirely wrong family. And through no intent of her own, Luciana catches the eye of Billy Quinn, the son of Madame Forza's most important client.

Their destinies intertwined, each harboring a secret from their families and each other, will they be found worthy of the love they seek?

If you would like to read the first chapter of A Heart Most Worthy, go HERE.

Pattie's Thoughts:

Well, the story and characters were very good. Unfortunately, I was so annoyed by the narrator's use of second person ("you will think this" or "you will know that") that it kind of ruined the overall effect of the novel for me. I think it might be from my English teacher past, or those old didactic novels of yore (think Pamela, but not in epistolary form), but second person seems very bossy to me. I don't like it.

This is not Siri Mitchell's usual narrative device, and I hope it won't be again.

Otherwise, the story is great and the characterization wonderful, as one would expect from a Siri Mitchell historical.

After I published this, I found another review by Sally Bradley that better articulates the omniscient narrator. I think you'll see that it's a little more descriptive.

Emotional

2011-03-01T08:50:00.002-09:00

I still cannot figure out why paring down my belongings is such an emotional process for me. Besides crying over the bin of stuffed animals and outgrown girls' clothing, I mean. I have no emotional attachments to these books. Heck, I didn't even LIKE reading and studying them in the first place!

I am just a mess, I guess.

Moving is hard.

The Me Project Blog Tour

2011-02-22T03:00:00.002-09:00

Welcome to the Fresh-Brewed Writer blog tour stop for Kathi Lipp's newest book, The Me Project!

About the Book:

Has that rush to make (and break) New Year’s resolutions already waned? According to Daniel Pink, author of Drive: The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us, taking small steps every day will not only help you stay committed to your goal, but will also help you ultimately achieve that goal when obstacles come up. Author Kathi Lipp wants you and your friends to live out those dreams—and have some fun along the way.

As women, we forget the goals and dreams of our younger years. The busyness of everyday life gets in the way. To-do lists replace goals. The Me Project provides women with fun and creative ways to bring back the sense of purpose and vitality that comes with living out the plans and dreams God has planted in our hearts. Kathi Lipp’s warm tone and laugh-out-loud humor motivates women to take daily steps toward intentional goals. The end result? We get back our lives and enjoy living in the confidence of a purposeful life in spite of our chaotic schedules.

This handy guide coaches women to do one simple thing toward achieving our goals each day for three weeks. A woman experiencing the exhilaration of a rediscovered life offers more as a wife, mother, friend, volunteer, career woman.

Finding the balance between living day-to-day with purpose while pursuing the passions God has placed in our hearts is a delicate pursuit. In this refreshing, insightful book, Kathi lays out a doable plan that makes sense and helps make our God-given dreams a reality. Never stop dreaming, because women who dare to dream do make the world a better place.
—Jean Blackmer
author of MomSense: A Common Sense Guide to Confident Mothering
Publishing Manager, MOPS International www.MOPS.org

About the Author:

Kathi Lipp is a busy conference and retreat speaker, currently speaking each year to thousands of women throughout the United States. She is the author of The Husband Project and The Marriage Project, serves as food writer for Nickelodeon, and has had articles published in several magazines, including Today’s Christian Woman and Discipleship Journal. Kathi and her husband, Roger, live in California and are the parents of four teenagers and young adults. For more information visit her website: www.kathilipp.com

A Word From the Author, Kathi Lipp:
Kick Start Living Your Dream -

Pattie's Review:

Right in the beginning, Kathi Lipp lets me know this book is different from all the other Christian self-help-style books I've read. On page 18 she writes, "We never have one role in life" (can I get a "hallelujah"?). "There are the dozens (if not hundreds) of other things we do that make up who we are. Each of those little roles, if part of God's plan, is valuable and important, deserving of time and energy and attention. The mosaic of roles makes us who we were created to be."

FINALLY a book that I can absolutely relate to! So many books of this genre in the Christian market instruct and exhort us to find our "one thing" or our "purpose" in the Kingdom of God, usually one thing that God would have us to do that is in His will. Guess what? It's hard to find that one thing, when you have so many roles and experiences in life. I immediately felt like Kathi Lipp GOT ME.

I have to say, I did not expect to connect with this book as deeply as I did. I joke about wondering what I want to be when I grow up (since I've already done the teaching thing I worked so hard toward in high school and college), and I have wondered the past five years of my husband's active duty military career what that would look like.

The book offers a solid 21 short but packed chapters on how to achieve your goals--both for those of us who are still figuring out what we want to be when we grow up, and for those who are well into the process and might just need a little nudge.

The author is honest about her personal shortcomings, with humor and just the lightest tough of self-deprecation, she lets us know she's on this journey too. She includes space in each chapter for writing goals and their results.

Another point that I loved (and there were too many to list here), on page 183 she writes, "For most of us, it's easy to see how much further we have to go to reach our goal, but hard to remember how far God has already brought us." I really loved that! She also reminds us that we are never alone--God is always there.

This book is a keeper, for sure.

Author Site

Leader Resources

Thank you to Kathy Carlton Willis Communications for a review copy of this book.

One note to the author, should she stop by: on page 130 you say that you can't imagine someone saying "I don't know where to find a class." I noticed that you live in California, A.K.A. the Land of Everything. Having recently lived in a large metro area for the past few months, I can see why you can't imagine not finding some sort of class or learning situation nearby. However, my husband and I spent many years in small rural-church ministry, in towns under 1500 people. There were not classes, colleges, or chambers of commerce. So if you revise this for a future printing, you might let some of our sisters in rural areas know that they may have to drive for training opportunities. Or look online more. Or something. But there truly are areas in this country where there are not classes.

Yada Yada

2011-02-21T08:41:00.003-09:00

I've been a big fan of Neta Jackson's books for a few years now. I read the Yada Yada Prayer Group series about three years ago or so, and I enjoyed them. They're the kind of Christian fiction with real characters with real flaws, and in the rare instances of its appearance the kind of romance that is not all syrupy-sweet and gaggy. I strongly identified with the main character, Jodi, in many ways.

Enter Gabby and the House of Hope about a year or so after the last Yada Yada Prayer Group book was published. I reviewed the first book here, and then I borrowed books 2 and 3, finally getting around to reading them in January.

The fourth book in the Yada Yada House of Hope series is entitled Who is My Shelter? and you can find out more about it on the author's site here. It was a very satisfying conclusion to the series, but I'd recommend reading the first three for full enjoyment.

My friend Stephanie gave me her copy of the book, and since I'd recently read the first three, it was the perfect time for me to read the series finale. Now it's on to my other friend to read. I love my bookish friends! :)

Save the Date

2011-02-21T06:36:00.004-09:00

My review is at the end. Enjoy!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Save The Date Thomas Nelson (February 1, 2011) by Jenny B. Jones

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

I write Christian fiction with a few giggles, quite a bit of sass, and lots of crazy. My novels include the Katie Parker Production series and So Not Happening. I would also like to take credit for Twilight , but somewhere I think I read you’re not supposed to lie.
When I’m not typing my heart out (or checking email), I teach at a super-sized high school in Arkansas.

My students are constantly telling me how my teaching changes their lives and turned them away from drugs, gangs, and C-SPAN.

Okay, that’s not exactly true.

Some facts that are true include:

I've always been refined!

A. I got my camera confiscated by big boys with guns at the American Embassy in Europe this past summer. O la la!

B. I once worked in a seed mill office and cleaned out mice on a regular basis. Ew.

C. I’m a former drama teacher.

D. I didn’t pass my drivers test the first time. Or the second…

E. I attract stray animals like a magnet.

F. I used to assemble and test paint ball guns for a local factory...

Since my current job leaves me with very little free time, I believe in spending my spare hours in meaningful, intellectual pursuits such as:

-watching E!

-updating my status on Facebook

-catching Will Ferrell on YouTube and

-writing my name in the dust on my furniture

I’d love to hear about you, so drop me a note. Or check me out on Facebook.

ABOUT THE BOOK

You’re invited to the engagement of the most unlikely couple of the year.

When the funding for Lucy’s non-profit job is pulled, she is determined to find out why. Enter Alex Sinclair, former professional football star and heir of Sinclair Enterprises—the primary donor to Lucy’s Saving Grace organization. Alex Sinclair has it all . . . except for the votes he needs to win his bid for Congress. Both Lucy and Alex have something the other wants. Despite their mutual dislike, Alex makes Lucy a proposition: pose as his fiancée in return for the money she desperately needs. Bound to a man who isn’t quite what he seems, Lucy finds her heart – and her future – on the line.

Save the Date is a spunky romance that will have readers laughing out loud as this dubious pair try to save their careers, their dreams . . . and maybe even a date.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Save The Date, go HERE

Pattie's Review:

I really enjoyed this book! The tone of the novel reminded me of a romantic comedy film, complete with a charmingly awkward heroine, a dashing gorgeous and rich hero who is grossly misunderstood by everyone except the charmingly awkward heroine, supportive best friends, a family tragedy, and a few embarrassing moments. Oh, and a satisfying ending.

I think the novel reminded me of Kaye Dacus's Bonneterre books, minus the Louisiana references.

Overall, a fun read! Recommended!

Pattie's World

2011-02-06T12:36:00.003-09:00

I haven't posted anything but book reviews and book lists in awhile, so here's just a random list blog for this Sunday afternoon...

I've been reading Ann Voskamp's One Thousand Gifts and it's amazing. So amazing, I had to take a bit of a mental break the past couple of days. It's one of those freezer books, in that it requires change of me. I'm overwhelmed with changes right now.
We have watched The Big Bang Theory (seasons 1-3) on DVD the past few months, loaned from Teri and Mark. Sometimes wildly inappropriate, but almost always hilarious.
I've been researching Bible studies for PWOC for next year. Weird that I have to choose them, then leave. Probably.
I got to talk to a high school friend this week, a fellow military wife. It was an amazing talk.
I also found my senior musical cast photo, and began to wonder about all the people in it.
Ended up Googling my boyfriend from my senior year and finding him online. He's in ministry too. This makes me happy. God is awesome.
I have a LOT of unfinished stuff around me.
My husband is working on tax stuff. I hate tax stuff. The form for the accountant is taunting me from the other side of the desk.
I also have some books to read for review.
I have some books that need reviewed.
I want a Kindle 3G or a Nook Color. Not sure which.
Depends on where we go.
We may or may not find out this week where we're headed next. Or if we're staying here.
To quote Inigo Montoya, "I hate waiting."
Our 20th wedding anniversary is coming up.
We cannot afford a cruise, or a trip to Hawaii, nor would my husband want to spend the money on that.
We'll probably just go out for dinner.

Larkspur Cove

2011-02-02T03:00:00.001-09:00

My review at the end. Enjoy!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Larkspur Cove Bethany House (February 1, 2011) by Lisa Wingate

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Adventure is the last thing on Andrea Henderson's mind when she moves to Moses Lake. After surviving the worst year of her life, she's struggling to build a new life for herself and her son as a social worker. Perhaps in doing a job that makes a difference, she can find some sense of purpose and solace in her shattered faith. For new Moses Lake game warden Mart McClendon, finding a sense of purpose in life isn't an issue. He took the job to get out of southwest Texas and the constant reminders of a tragedy for which he can't forgive himself. But when a little girl is seen with the town recluse, Mart and Andrea are drawn together in the search for her identity. The little girl offers them both a new chance at redemption and hope--and may bring them closer than either ever planned.

If you would like to read the first chapter of Larkspur Cove, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

I enjoyed this latest novel by Lisa Wingate. I've enjoyed Lisa's writing for several years, beginning with one of her mainstream novels I happened to find by chance one time. Larkspur Cove looks to be the beginning of another series by Wingate, focused on the area surrounding Moses Lake.

Once I was drawn into this interesting community and Andrea's troubles in particular, I found myself engrossed in the novel. In fact, I stayed up very late on Sunday night to finish it! Happily, I can report a very satisfying ending, with the promise of more from Moses Lake left with some unfinished story lines.

I think I enjoyed this much more than Lisa's earlier Christian market stories from the Daily, Texas series. I recommend this novel if you like a little romance, a little suspense, a strong faith thread, and a few quirky townspeople!

My previous reviews of Lisa's work here and here.

Digitalis

2011-01-26T02:00:00.001-09:00

My review at the end. Thank you to CFBA for the opportunity to review some amazing books over the past couple of years!

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing Digitalis Barbour Publishing, Inc.(January 1, 2011) by Ronie Kendig

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Ronie has been married since 1990 to a man who can easily be defined in classic terms as a hero. She has four beautiful children. Her eldest daughter is 16 this year, her second daughter will be 13, and her twin boys are 10. After having four children, she finally finished her degree in December 2006. She now has a B.S. in Psychology through Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA. Getting her degree is a huge triumph for both her and her family--they survived!!

This degree has also given her a fabulous perspective on her characters and how to not only make them deeper, stronger, but to make them realistic and know how they'll respond to each situation. Her debut novel, Dead Reckoning released March 2010 from Abingdon Press. And her Discarded Heroes series began in July 2010 from Barbour with the first book entitled Nightshade.

This is the second book in the series.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Step into the boots of a former Marine in this heart-pounding adventure in life and love. Colton “Cowboy” Neeley is a Marine trying to find his footing as he battles flashbacks now that he’s back home. Piper Blum is a woman in hiding—from life and the assassins bent on destroying her family. When their hearts collide, more than their lives are at stake. Will Colton find a way to forgive Piper’s lies? Can Piper find a way to rescue her father, trapped in Israel? Is there any way their love, founded on her lies, can survive?

If you would like to read an excerpt of Digitalis, go HERE.

Pattie's Review:

Like Nightshade, Digitalis is a very intense book. It gets a bit confusing with the call signs and dual identities of the Nightshade team, and without having my copy of Nightshade (I gave it to a friend), I could not use the glossary at the front to keep the characters straight.

There are many layers of complexity in this story. The author does well in leaving the ending of the book solved for now, yet open for the third book in the series. However, it took me awhile longer to get into the storyline of this book. It was still a very good book, well-written, but not as immediately engrossing as the first book was.

Colton and Piper, the two main characters, kept denying their love and feelings for each other, and even though everyone else insisted they should get together, and that they loved each other, they kept denying away. That sort of got old after awhile.

I think Ronie Kendig did a superb job of picturing the entire "flashback" phenomenon of veterans. Colton's flashbacks are indeed scary, and I wish that more work had been done with the counselor. But at least he WENT to the counselor. That's more than some of our wounded veterans will do.

So yes, a mixed review of Digitalis, but overall, for those who enjoy military suspense with a hefty dose of faith, definitely check out this series.

My review of Nightshade is here.