This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  A Wedding Invitation  Bethany House (October 1, 2011)  by  Alice Wisler  
Alice has a great voice for first person, and this book continues to demonstrate that strength. If you enjoy a rich first person story that has depth and writing that pulls you in, then this is a great book for you!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Alice was born in Osaka, Japan in the sixties.  Her parents were Presbyterian career missionaries. As a young child, Alice loved to walk down to the local stationer's store to buy notebooks, pencils and scented erasers.  In her room, she created stories.  The desire to be a published famous author has never left her.  Well, two out of three isn't bad. She's the author of Rain Song, How Sweet It Is, Hatteras Girl and A Wedding Invitation (all published by Bethany House).

Review: The Queen

Steven James is my favorite thriller writer, and The Queen did not disappoint.

Patrick Bower is back--this time in Wisconsin where he is tracking the serial killer he first put away as a detective. Now a FBI geographic profiler, he thinks he's closed back in on the man. Before he can close that case he's sent to serve as the lead FBI agent on what looks like a domestic murder-suicide. But things go much deeper than the surface. Before long he is tangled in a web that tangles the past and present and the two cases.

Like his others, The Queen is richly layered. The plots mix and mingle. Tessa, his stepdaughter is back, dealing with ongoing issues from prior cases. Then there's Patrick's brother. His colleagues. Past cases colliding with current cases. All the twists pulled me through the pages. The short chapters make it easy to think just one more page, one more scene. And Patrick and Tessa are familiar characters I like to spend time with. There's a gut-level honesty and vulnerability in the way they act that makes them resonate.

While there are deaths, my husband and I noticed they are less graphic than past novels. These books aren't for the faint of heart though.

Can't wait for the next book!

Recordable Storybooks: Bedtime Prayers & Promises

My friend Tricia Goyer has told me about these recordable books from Dayspring. And then at ACFW she gave me one. Honestly, I was curious to see what they were like, because $29.95 seems steep for a storybook.

This particular storybook (and there are four total right now, you can find them all here.) has seven little devotionals. Each contains a couple paragraphs talking about some aspect of God's character. Then there's a Bible verse and a short prayer. This book has illustrations from the adorable Really Woolly card line.

What makes this series of books unique is that you can record the text in your voice so that when the page is turned you read it to the child. What a great way to connect a child with a distant grandparent. Or I'll use it the next time I have to travel to allow my younger kids to still hear my voice. I did that the low-tech way (a tape and tape recorder) when my oldest was two and I had to travel.

These books would make great baby shower gifts -- especially from close relatives or dear family friends. A great idea.

Fun Children's Storybook with Wall Clings

A couple weeks ago I got a book from Kregel that I gave to my youngest daughter. At three, I wanted to see what she would do with this storybook about Noah's Ark. I was drawn to the colorful illustrations, but I wanted to see what she would do with it, especially since she'd just learned the story again in Sunday School.

The story is a well-done rendition of the much-loved story of Noah's Ark. The reading level is targeted at young elementary age with a story that flows well. I love the illustrations -- not quite cartoons, but colorful and simple.

She explored the book for awhile, but what really captured her attention were the wall clings. Before long her seven-year-old brother was helping her create scenes with them. They stuck the stickers, pulled them off, and stuck them again all over the upstairs. The wall clings have done a great job staying on the walls. However, they lose their stickiness quickly when put on other surfaces -- just ask me how I know. 

This would be a great birthday present for a 1 to 4 year-old or even a fun addition to a baby shower gift -- especially if you like to give books like yours truly.

Teaching friendship

Me and my longest running friend Joanna

Friendship is hard work.

Distance can get in the way.

A busy schedule.

Simple drifting apart.

I've been reminded of that this week as I've tried to help my oldest navigate a tricky situation. What a a challenge.

I've been trying to remember what it was like as a tween or early teen. I remember not having tons of friends as a tween. Remember I was a real oddity back in the day because I was homeschooled and there weren't many of us in Nebraska back then -- especially in those tween years.

SCC and Adoption

Last night we took our two oldest kids to the Steven Curtis Chapman concert. Josh Wilson and Andrew Peterson joined him, and it was a great night. While we loved singing along with songs like Dive and Cinderella, my lasting moment will be sitting next to my friend Kim and crying with her as he sang "When Love Takes You in," her two forever girls sitting next to her.

Since I couldn't find the official video of that to share with you, here's the video to his current release that sure speaks to me right now. Ever feel like something you're doing doesn't matter? Even if it's picking up the toys for the 15th time that day, it does. 

Heiress Contest Information

I just bought this book at ACFW. I love the cover and the idea. Because there's a great contest, I wanted to get the information to you. Be sure to enter! 

Susan May Warren took a bold step with this novel and one I applaud. Gripping, this imaginative tale will leave you turning pages without pause. With unexpected twists and masterful storytelling, Warren has penned one of her best novels to date. ~~ Ane Mulligan, Novel Rocket

The word “fantastic” is, perhaps, the only word that can describe it. Jinx, Esme and the full cast of characters are exquisitely well-developed, to the point, in fact, that it’s almost unbelievable that they are not real, historical figures. The plot twists and turns so beautifully, subtly and surprisingly that it turns HEIRESS into the definition of a “page-turner.” The creativity of the character’s evolution, the problems they face and the worlds they choose to live in are amazing. ~~ Romance Junkies

Meet Susan:

Susan May Warren is an award-winning, best-selling novelist of over twenty-six 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, she 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. You can find her online at:www.susanmaywarren.com.

About the book:

They can buy anything they want—fame, power, beauty, even loyalty. But they can’t buy love. The beautiful and wealthy heiress daughters of August Price can buy everything their hearts desire. But what if their desire is to be loved, without an enormous price tag attached? When one sister betrays another for the sake of love, will she find happiness? And what happens when the other sets out across the still untamed frontier to find it—will she discover she’s left it behind in the glamorous world of the New York gilded society? What price will each woman pay for being an heiress? Set in the opulent world of the Gilded Age, two women discover that being an heiress just might cost them everything they love.

Susan is celebrating the release of Heiress with an opulent Gilded Age Giveaway!

One grand prize winner will receive:

• A $100 gift certificate to ModCloth.com
• A sleek silver iPod™ Shuffle
• A beautiful strand of Pearls
• Titanic DVD
• Speakeasy Compilation Music CD from Starbucks™
• Heiress by Susan May Warren

Click one of the icons below to enter. But do so soon - this giveaway ends 10/5/11. The winner will be announced Thursday, October 6 on Susan’s blog.

CFBA: Dangerous Mercy

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Dangerous Mercy  David C. Cook (October 1, 2011)  by  Kathy Herman ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Suspense novelist Kathy Herman is very much at home in the Christian book industry, having worked five years on staff at the Christian Booksellers Association (CBA) in Colorado Springs, Colorado, and eleven years at Better Books Christian Center in Tyler, Texas, as product buyer/manager for the children’s department, and eventually as director of human resources.

ACFW Conference Photos

Gina Conroy and me post Gala

ACFW was an amazing week. Yes, week. I left last Tuesday so I could attend a board dinner and didn't return until Monday afternoon just in time for 4:30 gymnastics. It was so good...but exhausting. Even the Energizer Bunny runs out of energy eventually.

So I thought I'd share some photos with you today. I'm usually terrible with getting photos, but thanks to Facebook, have some great ones to share with you without going through all kinds of contortions to get them off my camera and on to a computer to upload. That'll wait :-)

So the first photo is me with my writing friend

A Lancaster County Christmas

A wonderful read and a great feel good story. Once I began I did not want to put it down. The characters were so lifelike I found myself routing for each of them as they faced their personal struggles in the story. Fisher is a master storyteller. 5 stars. -blog review

Meet Suzanne:

Her interest in the Amish began with her grandfather, W.D. Benedict, who was raised Plain. Suzanne has a great admiration for the Plain people and believes they provide wonderful examples to the world.  In both her fiction and non-fiction books, she has an underlying theme: You don't have to "go Amish" to incorporate many of their principles--simplicity, living with less, appreciating nature, forgiving others more readily-- into your life. When Suzanne isn't writing or bragging to her friends about her first new grandbaby (!), she is raising puppies for Guide Dogs for the Blind. To Suzanne's way of thinking, you just can't take life too seriously when a puppy is tearing through your house with someone's underwear in its mouth. Suzanne can be found on-line at: www.suzannewoodsfisher.com.

About the book:

Jaime and C. J. Fitzpatrick began their married life as most couples do--in love and looking forward to a bright future together. But four years later they've drifted apart and are almost ready to call it quits. Mattie Riehl was hoping to give her husband Sol the Christmas gift they have both longed for--news that a baby was on the way. But as usual, she is disappointed. The holidays bring an acute awareness to Mattie that her dream of a big family isn't likely to become a reality. Then a winter storm raging outside blows the Fitzpatricks into the Riehl home--and into a much slower pace of life. Can these two couples from different worlds help each other understand the true meaning of love this Christmas? With her trademark plot twists and attention to detail, Suzanne Woods Fisher offers readers a beautiful Christmas story of love, forgiveness, and what truly matters in life.

Don't miss a merry moment during the "Christmas in September" promotion. Be sure to enter the iPad giveaway (9/7-9/26) and save the date for A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27! Hope to see you there.

Suzanne and Revell will be presenting one merry winner with a Christmas Prize Pack (valued at over $600):

• A Brand New iPad 2 with Wi-Fi
• $25 gift certificate to iTunes
• A copy of A Lancaster County Christmas

To enter, click one of the icons below. But, hurry the giveaway ends on 9/26.

Winner will be announced at the A Lancaster County Christmas Facebook Party on 9/27 at Suzanne's author page. During the party she'll be revealing something BIG - you won't want to miss it. She'll also be hosting a book chat, trivia contest and giving away a few early Christmas presents! 

CFBA Captive Trail

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Captive Trail  Moody Publishers (September 1, 2011)  by  Susan Page Davis  
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


From Susan: I've always loved reading, history, and horses. These things come together in several of my historical books. My young adult novel, Sarah's Long Ride, also spotlights horses and the rugged sport of endurance riding, as does the contemporary romance Trail to Justice. I took a vocational course in horseshoeing after earning a bachelor's degree in history. I don't shoe horses anymore, but the experience has come in handy in writing my books.

Another longtime hobby of mine is genealogy, which has led me down many fascinating paths. I'm proud to be a DAR member! Some of Jim's and my quirkier ancestors have inspired fictional characters.

Along Wooded Paths Review & Giveaway

Usually I don't read many Amish books.

I'm not sure why because I usually enjoy them when I read one.

Every once in awhile I read a book that draws me in as a reader and challenges me as a writer. Along Wooded Paths is such a book. The story is gripping, the characters are so well drawn I hated to see this book end. The faith element challenged me to deepen my walk with God. Along Wooded Paths is a beautiful story that will compel you to consider what God really asks of us.

Fun side note: my daughter squealed when this book arrived. Since reading

ACFW...Here I Come

When you read this, I'm getting in ACFW board meetings. Then tomorrow, the conference starts.

The conference really is the highlight of my writing year. I can't wait to see so many of my friends that I only get to see once a year. Facebook is great, but it's not the same as seeing and hugging people. I'm also looking forward to the classes I'll get to attend.

This year I'm coteaching four hours -- two with one of my favorite long distance friends -- Tricia Goyer.

CFBA: Here's to Friends

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Here’s to Friends  David C. Cook (September 1, 2011)  by  Melody Carlson
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Over the years, Melody Carlson has worn many hats, from pre-school teacher to youth counselor to political activist to senior editor. But most of all, she loves to write! Currently she freelances from her home. In the past eight years, she has published over ninety books for children, teens, and adults--with sales totaling more than two million and many titles appearing on the ECPA Bestsellers List. Several of her books have been finalists for, and winners of, various writing awards. And her "Diary of a Teenage Girl" series has received great reviews and a large box of fan mail.

She has two grown sons and lives in Central Oregon with her husband and chocolate lab retriever. They enjoy skiing, hiking, gardening, camping and biking in the beautiful Cascade Mountains.

ABOUT THE BOOK

Once upon a time in a little town on the Oregon coast lived four Lindas—all in the same first-grade classroom. So they decided to go by their middle names. And form a club. And be friends forever.

Decades later, they're all back home in Clifden and reinventing their lives, but the holidays bring a whole new set of challenges. Abby’s new B&B is getting bad reviews and husband Paul is acting strange. Still grieving for her mom, Caroline is remodeling the family home, but boyfriend Mitch keeps pressuring her to go away with him. Artist Marley, distracted by a friend's family drama (and a touch of jealousy), can't find her creative groove. And Janie’s drug-addicted daughter has just appeared up on her doorstep! When a long-planned New Year's cruise turns into a bumpy ride, they learn once again that, in your fifties, friends aren’t just for fun—they're a necessity!

If you would like to read the first chapter of Here’s to Friends, go HERE.

With ACFW prep I have not been able to read this book yet, but can tell you it looks fantastic and I can't wait to dive in. Maybe when I get back!

Bible Literacy

This year the kids and I have been starting each morning with devotions. First, we read the day's devotional from Jesus Calling for Kids. We are really enjoying those and talking about the challenges the author gives in how to live a life that lives with an ear attuned to Christ.

Then we turn to the Bible. Last week we finished Exodus. There was a very strategic reason I decided to start there. One, it's a little more interesting than say Leviticus with all the rules and regulations. Even

The Doctor's Lady Review and Giveaway

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  The Doctor's Lady  Bethany House (September 1, 2011)  by  Jody Hedlund  
Jody has a knack for creating characters that don't want to be together but need each other. That is exactly what she's done here. And I love the way she bases her novels on famous couples -- well, I've guessed both so far. This book will pull you in and take you on a journey of trusting God that will challenge you. I'm giving away a copy of this book, so be sure to leave a comment below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Jody has written novels for the last 18 years (with a hiatus when her children were young). After many years of writing and honing her skills, she finally garnered national attention with her double final in the Genesis Contest, a fiction-writing contest for unpublished writers through ACFW (American Christian Fiction Writers).

Her first published book, The Preacher’s Bride (2010 Bethany House Publishers), hit the CBA Best Seller list on two different occasions and has won multiple awards.

Are you an Aaron or Joshua, Pt 2

Last Friday, I talked about Aaron. Today I want to turn to Joshua.

Exodus 33:11 -- jumped out at me again as we've worked through Exodus. Here it is: The LORD spoke with Moses face to face, just as a man speaks with his friend. (HOW COOL IS THAT!!!!) Then Moses would return to the camp, but his assistant, the young man Joshua son of Nun, would not leave the inside of the tent. 

I don't know why, but that always resonates with me. Joshua didn't leave the tent. He stayed there, soaking in God's presence. 

Can you imagine what that would be like? Even if God's visible presence (the cloud) left, I can't

Guest Post: I love Research! with Giveaway

Anne Mateer joins us today. Her debut novel has just released, set during World War I and the flu pandemic. She's got a great style of writing and I'm giving away a copy. Just leave a comment below with a book you've read that had research that pulled you deeper into the story.

I love research. As a history major (way back in the dark ages when libraries weren’t automated and we still had to use the card catalog), I loved digging through dusty stacks in back corners, finding obscure texts that no one had opened in decades. Especially if those texts were transcriptions of letters or diaries from ages past. I loved discovering what people thought and talked about, what they did in their day-to-day lives. All of this fueled my desire to write historical fiction.

But guess what? Of all the cool things authors learn as we research, only a fraction make it into the final product. That was certainly true for me when I wrote Wings of a Dream. I was able to incorporate some very specific events into the text, some from general research, some from family history, but many others got cut and pasted into the “scraps” file on my computer.

Like the staggering fact that 25,000 pilots received their “wings” at Love Field in Dallas during the year of 1918.

Or the horrific week in October of 1918 when almost 4600 people died of Spanish flu in Philadelphia. Yes, in one week, in one city. They ran out of coffins.

Or the story that my great-grandfather, the inspiration for the character Frank Gresham in Wings of a Dream, fired the final shot of World War I. It’s true. They say there is even a plaque commemorating this feat somewhere in Washington D.C. and I found the shot verified in a publication by the US Office of the Navy from 1920. (Thank  you, Google Books!)

I’ve related but a few of the interesting bits of a research that didn’t find a home in Wings of a Dream. But who knows? There are many, many more stories to tell. Perhaps one day these pieces of information will find a permanent place.

Learn more about Anne Mateer and her books at her website.

Are you an Aaron or a Joshua? Pt 1

The kids and I are getting deeper into Exodus...I've felt a real need to study the Exodus and Joshua in particular. A deep need to understand what made Joshua and Caleb so different from the others.

This week, we hit the part of Exodus where Moses heads up Mount Sinai so God can give him the Ten Commandments and chapters of other laws and ordinances. He's gone for days. And the Israelites begin to worry. The people approach Aaron and beg for him to make them a god they can worship it. Why? Because they don't know what happened to Moses. (Ex. 32:1).

Think about it.

Aaron was the voice for Moses. Remember all the times Moses told God he couldn't speak? Exodus

Deadly Pursuit Review

Today got away from me. The kind of day where I could have sworn I'd already written a post...call it a cold induced fog.

Anyway, I just finished this book a couple days ago, and it's another great read from Irene Hannon. I've enjoyed her romantic suspense...to the point that I read this one with an eye on analyzing why I like it so much.

She creates great romantic tension between the characters. Alison Taylor is a social worker who cares deeply about her clients. She'll put in the extra hours if she thinks she can help save and reunite their families. As the result of an accident that left her unable to have children, she's still alone. Then her brother Cole asks her to go on a mercy date with his new partner, ex-Navy SEAL Mitch Morgan. Neither of them is looking for a relationship...or so they think. Mitch has moved home to St. Louis to help care for his ailing father. But one evening with Alison and he wants more.

Then he's around when she gets a phone call and is drawn into protecting her from a stalker. The suspense plot builds slowly. Starting with phone calls and escalating. The tension slowly ramps as the romantic tension is high from the beginning. I love how the author uses the make-up of the characters -- who they are -- to propel the suspense plot forward. And the motivation for the bad guy begins believably, and then as he spirals into meth use, his motivation spirals out of control. Yet she shows how the drugs are a critical component. Without them, he doesn't have the courage to carry out his plan.

Deadly Pursuit is a thoroughly satisfying romantic suspense. Emphasis on the romance.

Happy Labor Day to the Dads

Happy Labor Day to the dads?

I know, I know. They aren't the only ones among us who labor. We all do.

This weekend, I'm particularly grateful for my husband...who got Dad of the Year kudos on Saturday for organizing a "Top Shot" style Nerf Dart gun event for our 7 year old son and his friends. I think my son had almost as much fun planning the event as he did during the 2 hours they played. He and his dad spent a week talking, scheming, and dreaming. All I had to do was invite the boys through

Blue Skies Tomorrow Review & Giveaway

Calling all World War II fans. Sarah Sundin is back with another fantastic installment in her Wings of Glory series. Blue Skies Tomorrow focuses on the third brother, Lt. Ray Novak. A pilot like his brothers, Ray has been an instructor, but now he can't do that anymore because the army is saving those slights for those returning from the war. He's not sure he likes his new assignment, but it allows him to spend time at home where he reacquaints himself with a neighbor girl Helen Carlisle. The widow of the town hero, Helen has lost herself in the battle to live up to everybody's expectations of her.

She's lived a nightmare and in her quest to establish a life for herself and her young son, she's trapped in the quagmire of being the grieving widow. Too bad she's not really sad, especially now that Ray's back in town.

The story is richly woven with the feel of the era. I love Sarah's books

Old Testament Literacy

The kids and I are continuing to work our way through Exodus in the mornings. At a chapter a day it's slow but steady going. Many of us know the Old Testament Bible stories, but as Sunday School tales. We know the gist but not the guts of the story.

Here's what I mean. We might know that God split the Red Sea, saving Israel in a dramatic way from Egypt. But we don't think about the ten plagues. How all encompassing they were. Over a period of ten months. How they affected every part of life. How the Bible says God hardened Pharaoh's heart after several of the plagues. Pharaoh hardened his own heart after the others. But God had a purpose in it all.

The Help: My Thoughts

Last night I went to see the Help with some girlfriends. Since some of you have asked for my thoughts on the movie, here we go. Now I haven't read the book -- it's on my to be read list, but haven't made the time for it. So I can't comment on the book at all. Though after seeing the movie there are many things I want to clear up in the book.

First, it saddens me immensely that life in this country was like that as recently as 1962. So sadness might be my strongest emotion after the movie.

Second, it's a story of courage and one that showed church and faith as a source of strength. Loved that.

Third, my heart broke to think that so many children were raised by indifferent mothers who had been raised by indifferent mothers. That saddens me at such a deep level. The final scene broke me. I can't say more than that without spoiling it for those of you who haven't seen the movie.

Hold Me, the video

Have you discovered Jamie Grace? If you listen to K-LOVE, then you've heard this great song. We downloaded it from iTunes soon after hearing it. What a great pick-up! So sit back and enjoy the reminder of how much your Father loves you!

Social Media: the Race to Keep up...

As an author, I'm expected to have a social media presence. I started blogging years ago, because writers were supposed to...long before they were published.

Somewhere in there, a friend built my first website. Thanks, Lisa! Then last year, I hired a designer.

Then came Twitter. And Facebook.

And now Google+.

It's enough to make my head spin and keep it going for a long time. All in the name of building a brand

How Quickly We Forget...

Yesterday, our pastor started a sermon on the Exodus and how quickly we can forget God's provision.

If you've been reading this blog this year, then you know I've been studying this. Now the kids and I are reading Exodus together every morning in school. I think there is such a challenge to us when you look at what the Israelites experienced as they left Egypt...and how quickly they forgot.

It humbles me to think how easy it is to stumble into the same pattern.

The journey from Egypt to Canaan even with all the livestock and the children should have taken 14 days. Imagine 14 days to march across the desert that bridged your horrid past from the potential of the future God has for you. And you're only separated from that potential by 14 days...and you.

The Israelites experienced some of the plagues along with the Egyptians. Then they experienced the grace of not enduring others. They painted blood on their doorposts to keep the Angel of Death from entering their homes on the night of Passover. Then they left Egypt with the wealth of Egypt thrust into their arms. They reached the Red Sea, only to have God blow it apart. Then they marched across...on dry land.

But it wasn't enough.

Three days later they're thirsty and forgetful. The water they find is bitter. They want to turn back. Because they've forgotten all the miracles God just did for them.

Aren't we just like that? Humbling isn't it!

Great Research Tool:History Detectives

At our house, we don't watch much TV, but when we do watch, it's often PBS. The kids watch it in the morning with breakfast. And occasionally we catch something in the evening.

This week I came home from a meeting to find my family watching History Detectives. I think I might be hooked...or have found a fourth career.

Each show has three short episodes where someone tracks down the backstory to an artifact. Is it what the owner thinks? Can the story that's told be supported by evidence?

It's fascinating to watch the "detectives" at work. And I've been very impressed with the World War II segments I've watched. If you're studying something in history, this can be a great tool to get some fun information. There's even a website for kids.

Here's the adult version of the website. And if you're a writer or history lover, watching the episodes will have your mind spinning!

What's a website you've recently discovered that has soaked up your time?

Back to School...Pray: a Guest Post

It's that time of year...back to school. And whether you homeschool or watch your kids board the bus, it's a bittersweet time. A mark of how they're getting older. Carla McDougal joins us today to talk about one thing we can do for our kids every day...

By Carla McDougal  Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your strength. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, when you walk by the way, when you lie down, and when you rise up. Deuteronomy 6:5,7  Excitement’s in the air! Anticipation rises. It’s that time of year when the kids go back to school. Who can forget watching your child go to "big school" for the first time? I remember those bittersweet moments as each of my four children kissed me good-bye. I always knew that day would arrive, but nothing prepared me for the moment. Elementary school seemed to fly by and almost overnight they were in junior high and then high school. And in a blink of an eye, they were off to college. Where did the years go? I learned early on that when my children were away from home, praying for them comforted me. By turning them over to God I experienced a calm peace. Year after year my prayers intensified, yet remained the same… Elementary School – Will he make a friend? Will he eat all his lunch, or just the cookies and chips? God help him to love You with all his heart. Junior/Senior High –Will he make the right friends? Is he paying attention to the teacher? God, help him love You with all his soul. College - Will he make some forever friends? Is he making the right life decisions? God, help him to love You with all his strength. Just as our children face challenges, we as moms face our own set of challenges… To pray over our children no matter where they are in life. To be on our knees for those God entrusted to us. To ultimately pray for each child to love Jesus with all his heart, soul, and mind! Finally, to let them know we are praying for them each day! What a blessing it is to pray for our children. I ask you to take advantage of this new season too. Do you need a fresh start? Where are you in your relationship with God? In my Bible study, Reflecting Him – Living for Jesus and Loving It, I encourage you to find Jesus in your everyday activities. He is there for us 24 hours a day, and He wants to hear our everyday prayers!

Author Bio CARLA MCDOUGAL is founder of Reflective Life Ministries headquartered in the Houston, Texas area. Her true passion for her Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, shines brightly, whether she is speaking or writing. She shares experiences from her own life to encourage women to live every day for Him. God is sending Carla around the world to speak to women from all walks of life—those living in the best of circumstances to those who have hit rock bottom.  Carla’s book, Reflecting Him: Living for Jesus and Loving It, is a 10-week study that encourages you to open your eyes to God’s daily life lessons. The more you ask God to be in your life, the more you will recognize His hand on everything you do. For more information on a growing number of products from Reflective Life Ministries, and to see about booking Carla for an event or interview, go to www.reflectivelifeministries.org.

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door Review

Most of us have heard of Josh McDowell and Bob Hostetler. Josh McDowell is known for books like More than a Carpenter and Evidence that Demands a Verdict. He is known for taking apologetics and making it understandable. Bob Hostetler is a writer, pastor and teacher.

Don't Check Your Brains at the Door is a book they first wrote and released in 1992. The cover alone was in desperate need of freshening :-). Guess which one is the new one.

This book is broken into short chapters of 3-5 pages that are easy to read in a few minutes, but address big questions. The ones our kids have got to be able to answer if they are going to own and defend their

Friday Recipes: Grandma's Porcupine Meatballs

Here's an easy dish that you can make ahead and freeze. The kids like it -- always good. And it reminds me of stopping at Grandma's house on the farm. Bon Appetit!

Porcupine Meatballs

1 c. minute rice
1 lb. ground beef

A Most Unsuitable Match Review & Giveaway

This week, the Christian Fiction Blog Alliance is introducing A Most Unsuitable Match Bethany House; Original edition (August 1, 2011) by Stephanie Grace Whitson



I remember when Stephanie first started writing. My mom brought home her books because they knew each other through homeschooling. I learned so much in those historicals about Nebraska. And that flavor of making history come alive through a romance continues. This current book is set primarily on a steamboat racing up the Mississippi. The year 1869 comes to life through the eyes of Fannie, a young woman facing life alone and thrust into circumstances she doesn't know how to control. This book joins a long line of engaging fiction from a talented author!

I have an extra copy. To be considered, leave a comment with a way to reach you and your favorite body of water. Mine is probably Lake Huron because Mackinac Island sits in it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A native of southern Illinois, Stephanie Grace Whitson has lived in Nebraska since 1975. She began what she calls "playing with imaginary friends" (writing fiction) when, as a result of teaching her four homeschooled children Nebraska history, she was personally encouraged and challenged by the lives of pioneer women in the West. Since her first book, Walks the Fire, was published in 1995, Stephanie's fiction titles have appeared on the ECPA bestseller list numerous times and been finalists for the Christy Award, the Inspirational Reader's Choice Award, and ForeWord Magazine's Book of the Year.

Her first nonfiction work, How to Help a Grieving Friend, was released in 2005. In addition to serving in her local church and keeping up with two married children, two college students, and a high school senior, Stephanie enjoys motorcycle trips with her family and church friends. Her passionate interests in pioneer women's history, antique quilts, and French, Italian, and Hawaiian language and culture provide endless story-telling possibilities.

ABOUT THE BOOK

An unlikely attraction occurs between two passengers on a steamboat journey up the Missouri River to Montana...

She is a self-centered young woman from a privileged family who fears the outdoors and avoids anything rustic. He is a preacher living under a sense of duty and obligation to love the unlovable people in the world. She isn't letting anything deter her from solving a family mystery that surfaced after her mother's death. He is on a mission to reach the rejects of society in the remote wilderness regions of Montana. Miss Fannie Rousseau and Reverend Samuel Beck are opposites in every way... except in how they both keep wondering if their paths will ever cross again.

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

Mommy Brain anyone?

Several years ago, after my youngest daughter was born, I remember reading an article in USA Today about Mommy Brain. Before you laugh too hard, there is science supporting the reality that mothers of infants and toddlers have a condition called Mommy Brain.

It is the absence of long term memory. Some days I think my short term memory has abandoned me, too!

Willing to Plead?

Saturday night our church had a prayer meeting -- in response to the Response held in Houston at Reliant Stadium.

As we were sitting there worshiping and praying, I kept thinking about Abraham and God in Genesis 18. Yes, things are bad. We've got an economic crisis, a cultural crisis, wars, terrorism, natural disasters. We need God in an absolutely desperate way.

Are we willing to plead with God for our nation as Abraham pleaded with God for Sodom and Gomorrah? Do we truly believe that God will hear our pleas and respond? Do we have the faith and relationship with God to know He desires to respond when His people pray?

Flight of Shadows Review

*Flight of Shadows* is a futuristic thriller that will appeal to those who love authors like Tom Clancy but like the scientific twists of a Michael Crichton. The story is about a genetically altered woman who is fleeing government agents and bounty hunters. They know a key about her that she doesn't -- and it's the reason she's being chased. The book started a bit slow;y for me with lots of details to catch me up on what happened in the first book. I also struggled a bit because everything happens in a post-apocalyptical world. As someone who struggles with settings I haven't seen, that was an initial stumbling block. I couldn't quite wrap my mind around the story world...but as I got into the chapters that ceased to matter. I could imagine the important pieces.

People who enjoy futuristic tales that are mixed with cautionary undertones will enjoy this book immensely. And if you life science expanded to its possibilities, then you should definitely read this book.

I received this book from the publisher to review.

Friday Recipes: Grilled Chili Lime Shrimp

I can't claim credit for this recipe, but it's amazing.

I have a subscription to Better Homes & Gardens. Every once in awhile I'll go through and pull out yummy recipes to try. This was an amazing winner. The kids inhaled it, and Eric and I loved it, too. Deveining the shrimp was a pain in the behind, but it was worth it when we turned on the grill and cooked these tasty shrimp.

Here's the link to the recipe. Enjoy!

Want to Help a Fiction Publisher?

Hey, all. This is a bit different -- but I think this is really important. Thomas Nelson, a company that publishes awesome fiction like Colleen Coble, Denise Hunter, Beth Wiseman and Ted Dekker, to name just a few-- is currently taking a survey of fiction readers. My husband and I both participated, and it only took a few minutes. I love that the company is asking good questions of readers. So if you'd like to help influence a publisher, pop over and give them a couple minutes of your time. 

Cara

Starting School Woes

We started school Monday. Because I attend a conference in September, I like to get a few extra days under our belt. I also love the added flexibility the head start gives us.

The morning went great! I am talking homeschool hall of fame awesome. We have this down! Bring me your questions because I have it all together.

Then we fell apart, Math -- it is our oldest's nemesis. She is very good at it. but she fights it...for hours! By 4:30 I was ready to quit. In fact I told my husband I couldn't sign on for another year of the same old battles. It exhausts me just to contemplate it.

Fortunately, I serve a God who loves my daughter even more than I do. So Monday night I begged Him for insight and a miracle as I walked the neighborhood. I need Him to show me how to change to make this work. I don't have an answer yet, but I trust it's on it's way.

Whether or not you homeschool how do you encourage reluctant children to dive in and cooperate on their less than favorite subject?

CFBA Tour: Out of Control

This week, the  Christian Fiction Blog Alliance  is introducing  Out Of Control  Bethany House; Original edition (August 1, 2011)  by  Mary Connealy  

Mary's books are a delight. The perfect blend of humor, romance and unforgettable characters. You can't go wrong with one of hers!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Mary Connealy writes romantic comedy with cowboys. She is a Christy Award Finalist, a Carol Award Finalist and an IRCC Award finalist.

The Lassoed in Texas Series, Petticoat Ranch, Calico Canyon and Gingham Mountain. Petticoat Ranch was a Carol Award Finalist. Calico Canyon was a Christy Award Finalist and a Carol Award Finalist. These three books are now contained in one large volume called Lassoed in Texas Trilogy.

Called? or Career?

I'm chuckling. Really. Right now I'm listening to a lecture from A History of Freedom from the Teaching Company. I'd been thinking about what to write about.

Since I've turned in my last-for-now contracted book, I'm back to wondering what God has for me next. Writing? Is it a calling? Is it a career? Then the professor, Rufus Fears, starts talking about the difference between a career and calling.

Career comes from a French word which means a road. A career is a road to something. But a calling? That's something more...isn't it? It's a calling from God. Something I am compelled to do because anything less is disobedience. But does that mean I'll write the rest of my life? There's the question.

I see stories everywhere I go. They hit me from all sides. I just need the time to develop them. But honestly, publishing is scary. Probably always has been, but I'm writing now. And as lines close, ebooks take off, and publishers adjust, it's an unnerving time to write.

But at church yesterday, someone talked about the fact that God has not called us to safe places to do easy things. Instead, we are called to dangerous places to do hard things. Sounds  like publishing. I've asked God to expand my reach...and that happens with writing. More people read my books than I could ever sit down and have conversations with. And stories have power. Power to communicate ideas that we wouldn't readily accept if addressed directly.

So I'm praying. Laying down my dreams and asking God to replace them with His yet again. Because if I'm going to live a faith that goes to dangerous places to do hard things, then I want to go with my hand resting firmly in His.