Reading, Writing & Pondering

  The Blooming of Delphinium by Holly Varni is my first book about Moonberry, MN. I enjoyed it as a stand-alone, but I definitely want to go back and read the first book, On Moonberry Lake .  Delphinium owns a flower shop and  the apartment above the shop where her Grandma used to live before she passed away. Delphi, as her friends call her, has a fondness for the elderly. Her elderly friend Henry, brings all of his friends over to hand out in her cooler in the back room, when the Moonberry Gardens Assisted Living air conditioning goes out. Soon, she finds her shop is host to a whole bunch of elderly folks who she feeds and helps in other ways. Delphinium then must face the director of the senior care facility, Elliot Sturgis, who is trying to figure out how to handle the meandering folks.  Delphinium also has a unique talent where she can tell someone's most admirable characteristic by getting a whiff of them. Elliot carries the scent of love and loyalty, which smells like violet

  If you enjoy historical fiction that has depth and humor, I encourage you to read a Jen Turano Book. Her latest book, Meeting Her Match , will keep you turning pages. In Meeting Her Match , Renowned Matchmaker Miss Camilla Pierpont has vowed never to marry after heartbreak as a young woman. However, she recently meets Mr. Owen Chesterfield, who travels to see her to entice her to sponsor his sister, who needs social assistance desperately. She doesn't want to do it--until she realizes that she is in a tight spot and this may just be her way out. Camilla travels with Owen to West Virginia.  I enjoyed the nuanced humor and banter between Owen and Camilla throughout the book. I also enjoyed the secondary characters. This is a fun historical read and conclusion to the Matchmaker series. I did not read the second book, which may have made it even better, but it did not keep me from enjoying this one. If you enjoy historical fiction that has a lighter side, then I think that you will e

  Grieve Breathe Receive by Steve Carter may just be the best Christian non-fiction book  for me that I have read so far this year. I'll be honest, I ordered this book and then I set it aside I got it. One day I picked it up and I could not put it down for two days until I finished it.  As the title suggests, this book is divided into three sections: Grieve, Breathe and Receive. Carter was at one time a leader at Willow Creek Community Church when he resigned after learning of the senior pastor's abuse. I remember when all of this happened in 2018 as we watched a service to see Bob Goff right about that time. In this book, Carter shares why he had to resign from Willow Creek church and how that decision left him and his family reeling for a long time. This book is about grieving from a variety of losses--loss of a job, loss of friends, health issues, and much more. He also shared that he lost a couple of family members in death not long afterwards too, so it also covers grievi

The Christmas Catch by Toni Shiloh is described on the cover as "a sweet holiday novella." I have to admit every year, I look forward to the latest Christmas novellas as they are usually quick and uplifting reads. This one is exactly that. NFL Wide Receiver Jahleel "Jay" Walker injures his knee at a big football game and returns to his hometown to heal. Bebe Gordon is back in her hometown with her daughter, Hope, following a divorce. At one time, Jay and Bebe were an item but Jay left town to follow his football dream. Can they heal from past hurts and forge a new relationship? It is fun to watch Jay and Bebe renew their relationship in The Christmas Catch . At the same time, both characters have some challenges. Bebe has an ex-husband who wants nothing to do with his daughter and has a new wife. Jay is struggling with a relationship with his father and healing old wounds with his dad. He also has a knee to heal and is wondering if he will heal enough to be able to

  Home is Right Where You Are by Ruth Chou Simons is beautifully written and illustrated. This children's book is based on Psalm 23 and that Psalm is on the last page in the book in its entirety. Home is Right Where You Are is a large dust-jacketed book. It measures 9 1/2 by 11 1/4 inches in size and is 32 pages long.  The writing in Home is Right Where You Are just flows so well from one page to the next in this beautifully illustrated children's book. It would make a lovely gift. Ruth Chou Simons wrote this book with her six sons in mind so it is a book to relate to family as well as to God. I have read and enjoyed her adult books previous to this book, and this book is every bit as lovely as her adult books. Purchase Here: https://bit.ly/homeiswhereyouareFGM   I received a copy of this book from the publisher through Frontgate Media. All opinions are my own.  @tommynelsonbooks @ruthchousimons #ruthchousimons #homeisrightwhereyouare #psalm23

  Are you looking for a new book to use as a family of mixed ages to celebrate Advent? Discovering Christmas by Amanda Jass is a 25-day Advent Devotional with a mix of readings and activities to do with children as a family. Discovering Christmas is 7.25 inches square and is 98 pages long. This book is illustrated with beautiful full-color illustrations that have a lot of fun detail. I think it would be a fun book to use as a family for Advent. There are readings that go through the Biblical Christmas story, as you would expect. Then there are activities to go along with the readings such as making cocoa, going caroling, and other traditionally Christmas activities. Nothing is overly original BUT there are some good conversation starters as well as the fact that each day's activities are set and ready for you to use. I also think these simple traditional activities are ones that kids actually do enjoy so they work. Most families likely have what they need already to do the activi