CFBA Review ~ Becca By The Book

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Becca By The Book

Zondervan (January 1, 2010)

by

Laura Jensen Walker

My Thoughts:
This was the second book in the Getaway Girls Series that I've read and I loved this one as much as the first. I enjoy reading about this interesting group of women banded together by their love of books. I always really appreciate the way Laura Jensen Walker uses book quotes throughout the stories. It adds a really special and unique touch!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Laura Jensen Walker is an award-winning writer, popular speaker, and breast-cancer survivor who loves to touch readers and audiences with the healing power of laughter.



Born in Racine, Wisconsin (home of Western Printing and Johnson’s Wax—maker of your favorite floor care products) Laura moved to Phoenix, Arizona when she was in high school. But not being a fan of blazing heat and knowing that Uncle Sam was looking for a few good women, she enlisted in the United States Air Force shortly after graduation and spent the next five years flying a typewriter through Europe.



Her lifelong dream of writing fiction came true in Spring 2005 with the release of her first chick lit novel, Dreaming in Black & White which won the Contemporary Fiction Book of the Year from American Christian Fiction Writers. Her sophomore novel, Dreaming in Technicolor was published in Fall 2005.



Laura’s third novel, Reconstructing Natalie, chosen as the Women of Faith Novel of the Year for 2006, is the funny and poignant story of a young, single woman who gets breast cancer and how her life is reconstructed as a result. This book was born out of Laura’s cancer speaking engagements where she started meeting younger and younger women stricken with this disease—some whose husbands had left them, and others who wondered what breast cancer would do to their dating life. She wanted to write a novel that would give voice to those women. Something real. And honest. And funny.



Because although cancer isn’t funny, humor is healing.



To learn more about Laura’s latest novels, please check out her Books page.



A popular speaker and teacher at writing conferences, Laura has also been a guest on hundreds of radio and TV shows around the country including the ABC Weekend News, The 700 Club, and The Jay Thomas Morning Show.



She lives in Northern California with her Renaissance-man husband Michael, and Gracie, their piano playing dog.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Sales clerk, barista, telemarketer, sign waver...



At twenty-five, free-spirited Becca Daniels is still trying to figure out what she wants to be when she grows up. What Becca doesn’t want to be is bored. She craves the rush of a new experience, whether it’s an extreme sport, a shocking hair color, or a new guy. That’s why she quit her bookstore job, used her last bit of credit to go skydiving, and broke her leg.



And that’s why, grounded and grumpy, Becca bristles when teased by friends for being commitment-phobic. In response, Becca issues an outrageous wager—that she can sustain a three-month or twenty-five date relationship with the next guy who asks her out. When the guy turns out to be “churchy” Ben—definitely not Becca’s type—she gamely embarks on a hilarious series of dates that plunge her purple-haired, free-speaking, commitment-phobic self into the alien world of church potlucks and prayer meetings.



This irrepressible Getaway Girl will have you cheering her on as she “suffers” through her dates, gains perspective on her life’s purpose, and ultimately begins her greatest adventure of all.



If you'd like to read the first chapter of Becca By The Book, go HERE

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CFBA Review ~ Kelly's Chance

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Alliance

is introducing

Kelly’s Chance Barbour Books; Reprint edition (January 1, 2010)

by

Wanda E. Brunstetter


My Thoughts:

Although I felt this book was a little slow at the start, I did enjoy it. The story was sweet. I admired the courage and "pluck" of the main character. I'd certainly recommend the book if you don't mind a somewhat slow beginning.


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

A Note From Wanda:



Ever since I was a child, I wanted to be a writer. When I was in the second grade, I wrote my first poem about a moth. Luckily, I received encouragement from my teacher. During my teen years, I wrote skits that my church teen group performed during special holidays.



It wasn’t until 1980, that I took a course on writing for children and teenagers. I became serious about a career as an author. Soon after that, I began to write stories, articles, poems, and devotionals, which appeared in a variety of Christian publications. Later, I had 5 books of puppet/ventriloquist scripts published. *These books are currently available by contacting me. (wanda@wandabrunstetter.com)



My first novel was released by Barbour Publishing’s book club, Heartsong Presents, in Dec. 1997. I have now written nearly fifty books, with over 4 million books in print. Many of the novels I've written are Amish-themed.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Life for Kelly McGregor is a daily drudge of driving her overbearing father’s mules along Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Canal. She dreams of one day owning an art gallery where her own drawings and paintings are on display. But these dreams don’t include marriage. . .not after seeing what her father has done to her mother. How then can Mike Cooper, a general store owner, make her realize he is different than her father and wants to support her artistic talent? Will Kelly learn that dreams can walk hand in hand with a love created by God?



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

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Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of 1/25

The end of the month is always a pretty hectic time around our house. I'm so excited to have a freezer full of meals to select from this month. That hasn't been the case in awhile, but I did quite a bit of freezer cooking this month, so I'm all set. I kind of fell out of the habit of doing that and I am really enjoying the rewards now.

In addition to our usual end of the month craziness, Eric's birthday is on Wednesday and I need to start preparing for Blissdom, which is LESS THAN 2 weeks away. I can't believe how quickly this month has flown by.

I'm definitely feeling under-prepared for Blissdom. I want to make sure that I have meals prepared and everything ready for Eric and the kids while I'm gone. If I can find some time, I'll do that this week. If not, that will be my agenda for the weekend.

Here's what we'll be eating this week ~

Breakfasts

• Waffles, Cherry Pecan Bread, Cereal, Oatmeal, Bagels, Smoothies

Lunches

• Brown bag burritos (from the freezer), tuna melts, leftovers, sandwiches, pizza grilled cheese, fruit (clementines, apples, peaches, grapes, bananas)

Dinners

• M - Chicken something or other. I'm still debating on this based on the chicken options I have in the freezer. I'll wing it tomorrow morning.
• T - Corned beef, cabbage, carrots, baby red potatoes, rye bread (This is Eric's traditional birthday dinner. We'll celebrate his birthday the night before since he'll be home with us for dinner.)
• W - BBQ Meatballs (from the freezer), homemade mac & cheese, peas
• Th - Corned beef hash (using Tuesday's leftovers)
• F - Sloppy Joe Pizza (sloppy joe meat from the freezer)
• S - Coconut chicken, rice pilaf
• Su - Loaded Baked Potato Soup

Stop by Org Junkie for hundreds more menu plans.

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CFBA Review ~ A Lady Like Sarah

This week, the

Christian Fiction Blog Allianceis introducing

A Lady Like SarahThomas Nelson; Original edition (December 22, 2009) byMargaret Brownley



ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Thrills, mystery, suspense, romance: Margaret penned it all. Nothing wrong with this, except Margaret happened to be writing for the church newsletter. After making the church picnic read like a Grisham novel, her former pastor took her aside and said, "Maybe God's calling you to write fiction."



It turns out God was and Margaret did. She now has more than 20 novels to her credit. In addition, she's written many Christian articles and a non-fiction book. Still, it took a lot of prodding from God before Margaret tried her hand at writing inspirational fiction which led to her Rocky Creek series. "I love writing about characters at different stages of faith," she says of the new direction her writing career has taken, "and I'm here to stay."



Happily married to her real-life hero, Margaret and her husband live in Southern California.





ABOUT THE BOOK

Sarah Prescott has never known a respectable life; just a hardscrabble childhood and brothers who taught her to shoot straight.



Justin Wells left Boston in disgrace, heading out alone on the dusty trail to Texas. But when the once-respected clergyman encounters a feisty redhead in handcuffs with a dying US Marshall at her side, their journey takes a dramatic turn.



His high society expectations and Sarah's outlaw habits clash from the start. With a price on her head and a sweet orphan in tow, Justin and Sarah make the difficult journey toward Rocky Creek. There justice will be meted out hopefully with a portion of grace.





If you would like to read the first chapter of A Lady Like Sarah, go HERE



Watch the Book Trailer:

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The 24 Tradition

Last night was an exciting night for Eric and I. The new season of 24 started! We made sure we got the kids to bed on time and we prepped the house for our night curled up on the couch watching 24 together.

We have watched all but the first season of 24 together. It's our only tv-related tradition and also our longest-standing tradition. But we both love it and treasure the time we spend watching it together.

The show is usually on on Monday nights and that is a night when Eric works late. So Tuesday nights, we watch the previous days' episode together on Hulu. This is what led to our Tuesday date-night routine. It's kind of strange to admit that a tv show is the reason behind our oldest tradition as a couple.

But honestly, I wouldn't have it any other way. We bond over the show. We talk about the show throughout the week and speculate on what will happen in the next episode. We joke about our suspension of disbelief skills. And we brag about all the things Jack Bauer can do.

So tonight I am grateful for a tv show that truly is so much more than just a tv show.

Any other 24 fans out there?

Don't forget to stop by Heavenly Homemakers for Gratituesday.

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CFBA Review ~ The Last Day

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Last Day
Steerforth; 1 edition (September 1, 2009)
by
James Landis
My Thoughts:
I absolutely loved this book! As soon as I turned the last page, I let my husband know I was done so he could start reading it. I can best sum up this book with a whole string of adjectives...beautiful, insightful, riveting, heart breaking, inspiring, unforgettable. And it really is all those things, and so much more! Definitely, definitely, definitely read this book!

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:


James Landis lives in New Hampshire.


ABOUT THE BOOK

Warren Harlan Pease, the young narrator of this spellbinding novel, returns to his native New Hampshire from the Iraq War and spends an entire day with Jesus visiting and contemplating hi own life with fresh eyes, and a willing heart. He examines his relationships to those he loves─his girlfriend, his best friend, his father, his dead mother, his daughter ─ and grapples with the pain he has been carrying since the death of his mother when he was still a boy.

While in Iraq, armed with his sniper’s ‘s rifle and his deeply held faith, Specialist Pease traveled across ideological borders and earned an appreciation for his enemy’s culture and for what connect us all as human beings. He also learned how to kill and taught others to do the same. “War doesn’t test your faith in Jesus,” Warren comes to realize. “It tests your faith in yourself.” The Last Day answers some questions and asks many more. It’s a powerful meditation on religion and war, love and loss.

This work of compassion and healing grace will resonate with skeptics and believers, be shared and discussed between friends and among families. It is a book for our time, and forever.


If you would like to read an excerpt from Chapter one of , go HERE

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Saying Good-Bye To A Dear Friend

Death is never easy. It's a sad thing to lose someone you care about. And it's an even sadder thing to know your children have lost someone special in their lives.

One of our dear, sweet neighbors passed away last week, about 4 hours after her 91st birthday was officially over.

She was the self-declared surrogate grandmother to our kids. She loved them, and she loved Eric and me. She took care of us and found a lot of joy in helping us in any way possible. And fortunately, she was always good about letting us help her too.

It was hard to say our final good-byes to her this week at her funeral. Our lives will certainly be missing a little something special.

But oh, what a finer thing it is to celebrate a life lived to its fullest! A life full of family, friends and faith. There are just so many stories we'll cherish and lessons we'll pass on to the kids. I don't have enough words to fully describe what a remarkable woman she was.

Stop by Amy's Finer Things for Finer Things Friday.

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Squishing Toilet Paper

When my oldest was a toddler, I became quite adept at re-rolling a completely unrolled roll of toilet paper. I viewed it as a rite of passage and considered myself now fully entrenched in the mommy camp. After all, isn't that skill right at the top of every mom's "now I am officially a mother" list?

Well, that was then. Three kids later, I've learned that the ability to re-roll an unrolled roll of toilet paper in 30 seconds flat is one I could do without.

But the problem is, how do you keep kids from enjoying that swipe with wild abandon that sets a toilet paper roll spinning and unfurling ? Obviously you take away the joy of the act. When unrolling a roll of toilet paper takes 10 minutes instead of 10 seconds, it's lost its luster. Or at least it has for my kids.

And to do that, you just squish the roll of toilet paper before you hang it. (Place it on its side on a counter and press down firmly with your palm.) This flattens the cardboard roll just enough that unrolling it actually requires a little effort.

Maybe you're already doing this. I hope you are! But I'd like to think I'm not the only person out there who didn't know this little trick until I stumbled upon it quite by accident. So if it's new to you, give it a shot. I bet it will work for you too!

Stop by We Are THAT Family for more Works For Me Wednesday.

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For A Good Cause

I'd like to share a note from a friend of ours. I encourage you to read her short story, visit her site and consider donating to help raise money for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.

My name is Tarah McLeod and I just signed up to do my first marathon through Team in Training to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society (LLS). The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research and providing education and patient services. They have invested more than $680 million in research since 1949 - over $69 million in 2009 - specifically targeting leukemia, lymphoma and myeloma. Last year alone, LLS made 4.9 million contacts with patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals.

My coworker Mary Jo was diagnosed with stage 4 Hodgkin's Lymphoma when when was in her late 20's, with years of treatments and tons of support, she has proudly been cancer free for over 10 years. I joined this cause to help many more join Mary Jo in becoming cancer free.

If you could, please view my website - even the smallest donation can save so many!

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Menu Plan Monday ~ Week of 1/11

It seems that we are in a constant state of schedule flux. The one constant for the past 6 months or so has been the frequency with which our schedule changes. And we're in a new cycle of getting readjusted to yet another schedule change.

But this is an awesome and exciting change that has Eric at home for more dinners with us, so we're definitely all enjoying it. Although he and I have yet to re-schedule our long standing Tuesday night date nights at home. I think we're both waiting to get used to things and then we can decide on our new, perfect night.

Here's what we'll be eating this week:

Breakfasts

• Chocolate chip coffee cake, Oatmeal, Bacon and cheese muffins, Toast and Chunky Monkey smoothies

Lunches

• Quesadillas, Sandwiches, Tuna melts, English muffin pizzas, homemade mac and cheese, fruit or carrot sticks

Dinners

• M - Pork & Spinach Stew, Crescent Rolls
• T - Easy Taco Bake (from the freezer), Side Salad
• W - Chicken & Cheese Penne, Green Beans
• Th - Mexican Chicken Lasagna (double chicken mixture for the freezer), Skillet Corn
• F - Homemade Pizza
• S - Frisco Patty Melts, Crashed Potatoes, Oven Roasted Carrots and Broccoli
• Su - TBD

Stop by Org Junkie for hundreds more menu plans.

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CFBA Review ~ The Silent Governess

This week, the
Christian Fiction Blog Alliance
is introducing
The Silent Governess
Bethany House; Original edition (January 1, 2010)
by
Julie Klassen


ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Julie says: My background is in advertising and marketing, but I am blessed with a dream job—working as an editor of Christian fiction. I have been writing since childhood, but Lady of Milkweed Manor was my first novel. It was a finalist for a Christy Award and won second place in the Inspirational Reader's Choice Awards. My second novel, The Apothecary's Daughter, was a finalist in the ACFW Book of the Year awards. I am currently writing one novel a year.

I graduated from the University of Illinois and enjoy travel, research, BBC period dramas, long hikes, short naps, and coffee with friends.

My husband and I have two sons and live near St. Paul, Minnesota.


ABOUT THE BOOK


Olivia Keene is fleeing her own secret. She never intended to overhear his.

But now that she has, what is Lord Bradley to do with her? He cannot let her go, for were the truth to get out, he would lose everything--his reputation, his inheritance, his very home.

He gives Miss Keene little choice but to accept a post at Brightwell Court, where he can make certain she does not spread what she heard. Keeping an eye on the young woman as she cares for the children, he finds himself drawn to her, even as he struggles against the growing attraction. The clever Miss Keene is definitely hiding something.

Moving, mysterious, and romantic, The Silent Governess takes readers inside the intriguing life of a nineteenth-century governess in an English manor house where all is not as it appears.

If you would like to read the prologue and first chapter of The Silent Governess, go HERE. You can also sign up as a Follower when you get to that page, and get announcements of the first chapters for all the great books we tour!

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Perspective Without A Voice

Today was rather interesting. We spent a good part of the day in the ER. Initially we thought we were there to get my tonsils drained due to an abscess. Turns out it wasn't an abscess, just some severely infected, swollen tonsils.

So I avoided that painful procedure and was released after drinking a liter of water and getting two shots - a penicillin shot and a steroid shot. (And can I just say ouch? I had no idea how much pain a penicillin shot causes. It's going to be a few days until I can bend over or sit down without feeling it.)

I'm definitely on the mend now. I can swallow virtually pain free and I can talk again, although I sound like I just chugged 3 glasses of milk and ate a pound of cheese. But all in all, everything is looking up.

All day Monday and for most of the day today I was without a voice. Eric and I often joke about how I'm not such a great communicator, but I never realized how much I actually talk in one day until I wasn't able to do it.

And that was a whole new perspective for me.

It made me sad when I couldn't answer questions that were asked of me by the kids, especially Gracie, who just couldn't grasp that mama couldn't talk. I think she took my silence personally.

So I learned that a fierce hug or gentle pat on the head can say much more than words.

When Olivia and Gracie were playing yesterday while the older two were at school, I kept wanting to say things to add to their play or teach them a little life lesson.

So I learned sometimes silence is the best teacher of all.

Eric did a great job translating for me throughout the day when he was home. But his words and inflections are not mine.

So I learned a mom and a dad communicate very differently with their children. One is neither better or worse than the other, they're just different.

When Isabelle and Alex left for school each morning, I couldn't let them out the door without saying the standard good-byes.

So I learned we were smart when we taught the kids "I Love You" in sign language.

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My 2010 Blogging Goals

Who knew how revitalizing a two week hiatus from this little blog could be? I kept blogging on Cooking During Stolen Moments and continued to run Stolen Moments Menu Planning, but just letting go of the tiny bit of stress I feel when I don't write here was a huge help!

I spent some time over the past few weeks finalizing a business plan and blogging plan for 2010. (A 5 hour drive to and from Chicago sure helped with finding the time to do that!) When I saw that Savvy Blogging was posting a Mr. Linky for us all to share our blogging goals for the year, I was so excited to participate.

So here are my goals for 2010.

1. Continue to keep Priority #1 as priority #1 - God first, husband second, kids third. I got a bit off track earlier in 2009 and let twitter and other things play too much of a role in my life. I've since cut down my online socializing time to virtually nothing, and I'm reaping the rewards. I'll admit I still need to improve in some areas with this, but I'm feeling much better about how I divide my time.
2. Post at least 4-5 new recipes on Cooking During Stolen Moments per week. Begin posting more tutorials and informational posts as well.
3. Update the Wordpress plug-ins I use for CDSM. I tend to be very lazy when it comes to maintaining the backend of my blogs.
4. Stay on top of organizing alphabetical course listings of the recipes. I haven't done this is 6 months, and it needs to be done! (See #3.)
5. Actually write some of the different series I've been contemplating on A Simple Walk. If this means I skip a few opportunities to add my name to Mr. Linky once in awhile, that's okay!
   
6. Keep A Simple Walk updated at least 3-4 times a week, and let go of the guilt if it doesn't get done more often.
7. Increase RSS subscribers on both sites, and increase daily visitors. I don't have a set number for here, but I'd like to at least double both numbers by May on Cooking During Stolen Moments. I'll re-evaluate after that.
8. Continue building and nurturing my relationship with Share Our Strength. Doing good feels so good!
9. Keeping Goal #1 in mind, increase community involvement. Leave comments at other blogs, participate on twitter and skype, even if for only a few minutes a week. And stay disciplined with that time by setting a timer.
   
10. Respond to all emails within 48 hours!

There are honestly a ton more, but I don't want to bore you. I have a month-by-month plan laid out that will be broken down into weekly plans as the year moves forward.

As I mentioned, I also have a new business plan in place for Stolen Moments Menu Planning. I am excited to start going after some of the things that I've planned out.

All in all, I'm thinking 2010 has the potential to be a very exciting year. I'm looking forward to seeing where it leads - for myself, for blogging in general and for all of you!

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