Reading, Writing & Pondering

    A Family Christmas by Sally Britton tells the story of Cyril Grant's return to his grandparents at Christmastime after years abroad following his father's death. As he struggles to fit in, Jane Allen, his grandmother's younger companion, gives him a warm welcome. This was a great start to the book. I enjoyed watching Cyril and Jane get to know each other. I also liked how family life was portrayed in 1816. Christmas Forevermore by Sarah M. Eden was a sweet tale of matchmaking gone awry during the Christmas season. Or did it go awry? In this sort of re-imagining of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol, Mrs. Jackson sets up spinster Minna Schofield with three potential suitors. I loved the sweet ending to this one. Christmas at Cranfield by Ashtyn Newbold brings two childhood friends together—Hannah and Samuel as adults. Samuel is Hannah's brother's good friend, and she has admired him for years. There are some twists and turns in this story th...

  Mary's Voice: Advent Reflections to Contemplate the Coming of Christ by Dr. Amy Orr-Ewing is a beautiful devotional book to read throughout Advent that focuses on Mary's thoughts about Jesus birth and life. Mary's Voice is unique because, as the author writes in the introduction, in our Christmas programs, Mary is often seen as a quiet woman with no voice. In the programs, she is usually seen as a passive bystander. However, as the Gospels unfold, Mary was anything but passive. Especially in the Gospel of Luke, Mary is at the heart of the Gospel passage as she is the Mother of Jesus, God's chosen son. She is a woman who pondered much, as the Scriptures said, and watched the life of Jesus unfold.  I think Mary's Voice is a unique book in looking at Advent from her perspective. There are 25 readings. Each begins with Scripture, lasts 3 or 4 pages, and ends with a prayer. This book also has beautiful antique painting/artwork photos throughout the book that are bea...

  The Legacy of Longdale Manor by Carrie Turansky is a split time novel set in 1912 and 2012. It has been awhile since I read a split-time novel and I felt this one was well done with smooth transitions.  In 2012, Gwen Morris is working as an art appraiser for her grandfather's business when she is sent to England's Lake District to appraise the painting and antiques of an old family friend of her grandfather's. While she is there working, she meets David Bradford, the owner's grandson who is helping her keep her estate in good working order. Gwen also searches for her father, whom she has never met, with some interesting results. In 1912, Charlotte Harper is struggling after her father passes away and she discovers he hid an affair from her mother and their family. What makes this even worse for Charlotte is that he was also a pastor. After she finds out, Charlotte struggles with both her faith and trusting in male relationships. After her father's death, Charlott...

  Do you like the movie, Die Hard, that some people call a Christmas classic movie? If so, Christmas in the Cross hairs by Kate Angelo, Kelly Underwood and Sami A. Abrams with Lynette Eason may be right up your alley. This book includes three suspenseful novellas:Deadly Holiday Hijack, Silent Night Siege, Christmas Snowstorm Standoff. Deadly Holiday Hijack by Kate Angelo features a plot to hijack a megachurch on the Christmas pageant night. Bodyguard Christina Sherman and her fiance Grey Parker went to Savannah to watch their nephew in a Christmas program. . .but as the action and terror heat up, it doesn't look like a program will take place. How will they get the bad guys? Silent Night Seige by Kelly Underwood details Billionaire Preston Whittaker and bodyguard Laila Rabbinowitz plane flight as they head to some friends' wedding. Laila has ticked off a bad guy who is on the loose and out to get them. Will he succeed? Will Preston and Laila see the value in their relationship ...

  Sometimes, when there is so much negative stuff in the news, we need to know good things, like miracles, can still happen today too. Christmas Miracles by Karen Kingsbury is a book full of real life stories to encourage people through the Christmas season. Christmas Miracles: True Stories from the Most Wonderful Time of the Year has some wonderful heart-tugging stories in it. I enjoyed them all but I think the first story, Have I Told You Lately?, that Kingsbury wrote about her father and a Rod Stewart song was my very favorite. If you are familiar with Guideposts magazine, these stories are like a whole book of wonderful real-life stories that could have appeared in that magazine. Some of these stories will make you smile or laugh and others will cause you to tear up--some may even do both. They are all stories that bring up the emotions of the holidays.  Christmas Miracles would make a great gift for someone of about any age. I think most people would enjoy these stor...

  Creed. The man who feels like a criminal because of his past. Can he become a prince to save the princess he loves? Creed by Susan May Warren is the final book in the Minnesota Marshalls series.  I have enjoyed all the books in the Minnesota Marshalls series and have looked forward to Creed . This book is full of action, with intermittent romance, and full of many of Marshalls coming in together for the conclusion. Seeing updates to characters you recognize from past series is always fun with this author. I enjoyed the mystery of figuring out how the bad guys are and just how big this plot is that run throughout the series.  Unfortunately, some things aren't entirely wrapped up in Creed . It is like an end-of-season episode of a series like Loki that leaves one dangling with future answers to come in another series or two. I can see the fun in that for the author, but it can be frustrating to the reader. In any case, Warren has me right where she wants me as I will con...

  Are you looking for a Christmas fiction book with a mix of suspense and swoonworthy romance? Look no farther! Better Watch Out by Natalie Walters is the perfect mix of the two.  Francis, aka Frannie, headed to New York for what she hopes is a romantic weekend with her boyfriend who has been away for a year. Sadly, when she gets to New York City, instead of a romantic proposal as she hopes, she gets dumped.  Armed with a bucket list of things she hoped to do with her Ex, Frannie decides to skip the pity party and enjoy her time in the big city. However, her big brother thinks she needs to be watched over since she is a naive small-town girl. Frannie's big brother asks his buddy, Andrew, to protectively escort Frannie to the airport. Then the shenanigans began as Frannie armed with pepper spray takes aim at Andrew.  I enjoyed this novella from start to finish. It is a page turner with a mix of action and romance. I liked seeing Frannie and Andrew's developing relati...

  When I am feeling a bit down or need a pick-me-up, I can always count on a Joel Osteen book to give me some encouragement. I like that. At the same time, I like to read books about improving our physical health and well-being. I expected, 15 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier by Joel Osteen to be a mix of those two things. However, I didn't find that in this book. 15 Ways to Live Longer and Healthier: Life-Changing strategies for greater energy, a more focused mind, and a calmer sou l is more of a mind improvement book than anything. I do think it offers alot of encouragement and ideas to improve your thinking, if that is what you are looking for. There are chapters that include: Unclutter your mind, live in the present, dealing with difficult people and taming the tongue. These are all good things and I think they can be helpful if that is what you are expecting. However, I was expecting something different from the title of this book. I thought Osteen may have a book that was a...

Welcome to the Takeover + Review Blitz for Star of Wonder by Angela Hunt hosted by JustRead Publicity Tours ! About the Book When I saw Star of Wonder was written by Angela Hunt, I knew I wanted to read it. I have enjoyed her books so much in the past. Star of Wonder is an Advent Devotional. It is divided into four parts: The Places of Christmas, The Prophecies of Christmas, The People of Christmas, and The Purpose of Christmas. There is also an introduction at the beginning. In the introduction, Hunt shares how after writing several novels set in first-century Judea and the Savior's birth, she "discovered a divine majesty surrounding the people, places, promises and purposes of Christmas." Hunt hopes this book will rekindle a sense of wonder in the reader as well. I have to start by saying I love the beautiful cover of Star of Wonder. It is inviting and "speaks" of majesty to me. The book is a great size to put on your bedside table or tuck in a pu...

  Every day is full of emotional highs and lows. Do you know how to manage your emotions? Joyce Meyer has a new 90-day devotional book, Managing Your Emotions , that could help you do just that. At the start of Managing Your Emotions , Meyer has an introduction explaining why she wrote the book, her struggle with emotions in the past, and how the book could be helpful to you. Then there are 90 days worth of readings. Each day starts with a Bible verse, then has a short reading related to emotions, and ends with a prayer.  Managing Your Emotions is easy to read and understand. I always appreciate Meyer's down-to-earth approach in her books. They are easy to read and easy to relate to. She doesn't come off as someone who is "above you." Rather she is a human pastor struggling right alongside you. This book is a good size to stick in your purse, briefcase or book bag since it measures roughly 5 by 7 inches in size. I have to add that I like that cover with the mix of su...

    I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore: Restoring our Identity Shattered by Grief and Loss by Carole Holiday starts off with some sadness. Initially, Holiday shares how she was hit again and again by waves of grief and pain . She also said she felt like an invisible woman. I think many of us can relate to her story, even though our own story reads with a different plot-line leading to our own pain and sadness. In I Don't Know Who I Am Anymore , Holiday shares her story in an easy-to-read and understand manner. She also includes Scriptures related to her story that may help you with your struggles. At the end of each chapter, there is a recipe. I love that! I also like that the recipes are listed with their page numbers under each chapter in the Table of Contents so you can quickly find them again to make them at home. Ultimately, throughout the book, Holiday shares how she turned her sadness into joy and a deeper ability to love those around you. She also helps women reclaim their...