Yearly Archives: 2011

The Christmas Shoppe By Melody Carlson

The Christmas Shoppe by Melody Carlson

When Matilda Honeycutt moves to town, she purchases an old building that was up for sale. One a townsman (one of the town’s politicians) catches wind of the sale, he’s mortified. He’d wanted to purchase the building for his own gain.

However, Matilda has other plans. She wants to open a Christmas shop. The town’s people believe that her shop will have Christmas lights, ornaments, etc. for sale, however, they’re in for a big surprise when they actually open the doors to this new establishment.

Is Matilda a witch, a sorcerer, or just somebody who seems to know all the townspeople’s needs. People come into her shop out of curiosity, but leave with changed/upbeat personalities.

I found this book a little hard to get into. I didn’t really start to enjoy this novella until about halfway through the book. I thought the beginning was kind of slow and I initially had a hard time connecting with some of the characters.

However, the connection finally happened, and, overall, this is a joyous story. There’s also a romance thread within this novel. The town manager finds herself smitten with the town’s newspaper owner. Both of these people have inner conflicts to resolve before they’re free to fall in love again.

This is a nice, short, joyous read to enjoy over the holidays!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch! Samson And Delilah

Did Samson’s lust affect his logic?

I’ve always wondered about this, so I decided to devote a Sunday Brunch blog post to this topic. In Judges, Chapter 16, the Philistine rulers approached Delilah since they knew that Samson was in love with her. They wanted to know the secret to Samson’s strength. The rulers offered to give Delilah money if she could tell them this secret.

What’s always stumped me was Delilah asked Samson FOUR TIMES, about the secret of his strength. The first three of those four times he lied to her, and, afterwards, he always fell asleep and found himself bound with the offending material, and Delilah was always yelling about the approaching Philistines. Samson always easily escaped from the ropes, fabric, thongs, etc. since these items did not deplete his strength (although he’d told Delilah otherwise).

I’ve always thought that sometime during those first three times, Samson would’ve gotten a clue that Delilah had an agenda. It was so obvious considering the pattern of events. However, he ended up telling her the truth eventually, and that caused his downfall.

Do you think that Samson was so overcome with lust and love for Delilah that he couldn’t think clearly?

I think his lust overcame his logic. Also, the scriptures mention that the Lord came upon Samson numerous times. Perhaps this was the way that the Lord wanted the events to occur?

Feel free to share your thoughts!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee! Titanic – The Movie!

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

***Note, this movie has some nudity.

What’s your favorite scene from the movie Titanic?

Titanic starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet.

This is one of my FAVORITE movies!

I think I like it so much because of the romance aspect. Jack Dawson wins a ticket on the Titanic from a card game. A young poor drifter, he leaves things to chance and is optimistic about what each day will bring. While on the Titanic, he meets Rose, a beautiful, sophisticated wealthy young woman who’s engaged to Cal.

The engagement between Cal and Rose is arranged and it’s an engagement based upon money – Rose has an excellent family name but her family has been left with a lot of debt. Her mother wants the match between Rose and Cal to bring wealth back into their family. Rose can’t stand her self-centered, over-bearing fiance (Cal), but finds herself drawn to Jack.

Jack and Rose fall in love amidst the sinking of the ship. Jack has an uncanny ability to really see into people. He’s an artist and he draws appealing pictures of people, capturing the essence of his art subjects. Jack shows Rose how to have a good time and she finds herself joyous around Jack, so joyous that it affects her relationship with Cal.

Another reason I really enjoy this movie is because of the vivid scenery and the plotting of this story is amazing! So many things are going on, and even while the ship is sinking, you still have side stories happening, making the movie even more exciting. Also, I think the characters were so vivid and so real. It’s a very-well done and intense movie and that’s one reason why I end up watching it again and again.

I also loved the way the social classes were depicted in this film. The way the people dressed, the setting, etc. – it was done in a way to show the difference between the rich passengers and the poor ones.

SPOILER!!

TITANIC – AN ALTERNATE ENDING! 🙂

I’m assuming most have seen this movie and know the ending. If it were up to me, I would’ve changed the ending and had Jack to live. He and Rose would’ve gotten married and had lots of children together…

My favorite part of the movie was when Jack takes Rose to the front of the ship and tells her to close her eyes. When she opens her eyes, she sees the vivid ocean. Amazed, feeling like she’s flying, Jack leans over and kisses her! 🙂

Oh, I love this movie!

Have you seen this movie? If so, did you like it? What’s your favorite scene in the movie?

I’d also wanted to mention that I purchased my Titanic DVD about five years ago from the discount bin at Walmart. Before that, I’d owned the VHS tapes and before that, I’d seen it a few times in the theater. One weird thing I noticed was, it doesn’t seem to be available as a new, inexpensive DVD on AMAZON or Barnes and Noble. The copies that I saw listed were used or highly expensive, like, upwards of $40. Also, I didn’t see it available to rent like most movies on Amazon. Anybody know why it’s not available to rent or why it’s not available as an affordable new DVD? Let me know if you do!

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Whisper Of Peace By Kim Vogel Sawyer

A Whisper Of Peace by Kim Vogel Sawyer

This book is one of the best I’ve read in 2011! If you haven’t read this book then you need to rush out and buy a copy now! Better yet, download a copy on your Kindle or your Nook!

Lizzie is half-Indian and half-White. One striking feature that shows her mixed race is her vivid blue eyes. Due to her mixed parentage, she’s been shunned and ostracized by her village – which include her own grandparents! She lives apart from the village, alone. Her White father left Lizzie and her mom when Lizzie was twelve. Growing up, her father taught her to read and Lizzie can speak both her native Indian language as well as English. After her mother died, Lizzie has had to survive on her own. She’s lonesome, and she only has her guard dogs for companionship.

When missionaries Clay and Vivian arrive in the Indian village near Lizzie’s home in Alaska, her life takes an interesting turn. During a comical incident where Lizzie is making sugar cookies, she encounters Clay and Vivian for the second time. She longs for companionship and since those in her Indian village have shunned her, she feels she needs to leave Alaska and travel to California where her father lives. Lizzie doesn’t know a whole lot about being White and living in the outside world, so she convinces Vivian to give her lessons that will make her more knowledgable about the outside world – Lizzie longs to be White.

Meanwhile, Clay and Vivian cause turmoil within the Indian village. Their friendship with Lizzie, a shunned Indian, is against tribal rules and they’re ordered to stop communicating with their new friend.

This book was phenomenal! I think Kim V. Sawyer did an awesome job dealing with the issues of race and forgiveness. Plus, the Alaskan setting was wonderful! I also think she did a really great job with her character development! I felt that Lizzie was the strongest, most appealing, character of all. She’s been ostracised, she’s lonesome, and she doesn’t know the love of Jesus. She’s brave and she hunts and fishes, supporting herself, and she doesn’t have the companionship of any other humans. I especially loved seeing her interact with her dogs and I loved the scenes with her working on the fur coat for her grandmother, hoping to make peace with her relative.

This book was emotional, really tugs at your heart. This book is definitely a winner and I highly recommend it.

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Saturday Matinee!

Popcorn photo courtesy of Free Digital Photos.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

I’ve decided to start doing movie reviews occasionally. Reason why? Watching movies is a great way to help with your writing. Seriously. Plotting, characters, etc. – all those elements are in a movie. I used to watch movies a lot back in the day. However, in recent years, time just gets away from me and I just don’t watch movies like I used to.

I viewed Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind starring Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey a couple of weeks ago. I rented it on Amazon and watched it on my laptop one week night. I actually enjoyed it.

***Note, this is a secular movie.Can you imagine, having a torrid romance to end badly, and then having that person erased from you mind? Well, that’s what this movie is about.

Clementine (Kate Winslet’s character) falls in love with Jim Carrey. Two trouble souls have a torrid romance that ends badly. Clementine wants Jim Carrey erased from her mind. There’s a company that will do this – erase a significant other from your mind. They hook you up to a machine and when you wake up, you feel like you’ve had a hang-over and you have no recollection of your romance.

Before the eraser people put you under, you must bring all objects and momentos relating to the romance with you. You don’t want these things lingering in your home after the person is erased from your mind – after all, you’ll have no recollection of the item and having a love letter, gift, etc. from your erased relationship will only confuse you.

Jim Carrey is confused when he runs into Clemntine working at a bookstore. It appears she doesn’t even know who he is. Befuddled, Jim Carrey accidentally discovers that Clementine has had him erased from her mind. He’s determined to go through the same process – he wants to erase Clementine from his mind. However, havoc arises when Jim Carrey is put under – he discovers that he wants to hang onto Clementine’s memories.

Since he no longer wants to erase Clementine from his mind, he finds himself trying to hide his memories from the eraser people. The erasers are finding Jim to be a difficult patient, and they find the memories in weird spots on his brain.

This movie was a bit unusual and eclectic. It’s a love story with a bit of sci-fi/fantasy thrown into the mix. As I was thinking about this movie, I wondered, what if this same concept was used for other memories, not just botch romantic memories. Like, what if you could erase the memories of a spouse, or, what if you’d had a child who’d died and you were grieving? Would you want to erase those memories to feel better? I’m thinking, initially, you might want to, but, going through traumatic, tragic and sad moments are what shape us into the people we are today. If we could conveniently erase every bad memory, then, well, the world would be strange place.

Did you see this movie? If so, what did you think of it? Can you think of a memory that you’d consider erasing?

Leave a comment! 🙂

~Cecelia Dowdy~

A Necessary Deception By Laurie Alice Eakes

A Necessary Deception by Laurie Alice Eakes

When young widow Lady Lydia Gale helps a French prisoner obtain parole, she never dreamed he would turn up in her parlor. But just as the London Season is getting under way, there he is, along with a few other questionable personages. While she should be focused on helping her headstrong younger sister prepare for her entré into London society, Lady Gale finds herself preoccupied with the mysterious Frenchman. Is he a spy or a suitor? Can she trust him? Or is she putting her family in danger?

Readers will enjoy being drawn into this world of elegance and intrigue, balls and masquerades. Author Laurie Alice Eakes whisks readers through the drawing rooms of London amid the sound of rustling gowns on this exciting quest to let the past stay in the past and let love guide the future.

This book was enticing because of the world that Laurie Alice created. It’s a world full of balls, pretty gowns, and upper-class citizens. Lydia feels that aiding a French prisoner with parole is the right thing to do – especially since the prisoner was a friend of her late husband’s. Using a an expensive bracelet (that has sentimental value), Lydia funds the prisoner’s parole.

However, Lydia’s life goes awry when it appears that her deed to help the Frenchman backfires and places her in a world of trouble.

She finds herself getting blackmailed as she aides her sister with her entrance into London society. She must help some men to become acquainted with some of her elite friends since they feel these connections are necessary. She has doubts about these men and the whole scheme is linked to the mysterious Frenchman.

As you read about a world filled with elite people and beautiful ball gowns, you will get a healthy does of a suspenseful mystery and an endearing, heartwarming romance between Lydia and Christien. I highly recommend this novel, especially if you love reading about Regency England.

I also found Lydia’s affection for her cat to be a quirky, as well as endearing, character trait.

Many thanks to Baker/Revell for providing me with a free review copy.
~Cecelia Dowdy~

Sunday Brunch – How Do You Know When A Prophet Is Really A Prophet?

When you hear a prophecy, how do you know it’s from God?

First Corinthians 14:1 Follow the way of love and eagerly desire spiritual gifts, especially the gift of prophecy.

My Sunday Brunch blog post a few weeks ago about psychics has spurred me to write about prophecy.

About ten years ago, after my first book (Promises To Keep) was released, I received an email from a local person, asking me to speak at her sister’s, Tee’s, birthday party. I accepted the invite and I arrived at the event, impressed by the large expensive house as well as the nice, immaculately-dressed party guests. We had a fancy dinner, complete with Cornish game hens, and a nice breeze blowing through the open windows.

I started talking about my writing experiences and about how I came to be published. One of the male party members asked me if I’d ever thought about sending my book to Oprah. I responded, “No, I don’t think Oprah likes to read romance novels.”

Then, Tee, the fifty-year-old birthday woman, quickly touched her forehead, and closed her eyes. She then looked at me and said, “Oh, by the way, you’re going to be on Oprah.” The whole “prophecy” experience was very quick and I barely paid it any attention.

Later, when I went to my car to get more books, D.(Tee’s boyfriend), comes outside and says, “Did you hear what Tee said about your being on Oprah?”

I said, “Yeah…”

He said, “Well, it’s true. You know Tee’s an ordained prophet.”

I said, “No, I didn’t realize that.” The whole subject of ordained prophecy was foreign to me.

Afterwards, when I got home, I glanced at the program that they’d handed out during the birthday party. The program had Tee’s picture on the front and the program also mentioned that Tee was an ordained prophet. I didn’t realize the birthday guest was an “ordained prophet” until I’d arrived at the party.

I have no idea if Tee is really an ordained prophet. But, if she says that she is an ordained prophet and I have no proof disputing that, then I feel that I can’t disbelieve her. I only saw this person once, and since my knowledge of this subject is sketchy, I can only speculate.

I still haven’t appeared on the Oprah show, but, I have no idea what, exactly, Tee was “seeing.” I guess it could still happen in the future, perhaps, since Oprah is still on TV (although her talk show was cancelled).

In First Corinthians, the Apostle Paul speaks of the spiritual gifts, but, he really advocates the gift of prophecy. The greatest gift is love, but, prophecy is placed on a higher level than speaking in tongues. The fact that Paul says that we should especially desire the gift of prophecy makes me stop and wonder about this topic. The word prophet is thrown around and used so much nowadays – it’s a common term and it’s kind of hard to know who, exactly, is a real prophet.

What, exactly, is an ordained prophet? Who ordains a prophet? Also, when somebody says that they are a prophet, how can you be sure that they’re telling you a message from God? Someone pointed out to me that sometimes psychics will disguise themselves as prophets – do you think that this is true? Leave your responses in the comments, please.

Also, a quick change in subject, if you have a Kindle and want to read a simple, heartwarming romance, then you should try my Love Inspired title, First Mates. I’ve been getting some reader mail recently about this title and I think you might find this cruise-ship-romance story very enjoyable. I’ve been getting positive comments from both male and female readers recently.

~Cecelia Dowdy~


Holiday Homecoming By Jillian Hart

Holiday Homecoming by Jillian Hart

Can you imagine leaving home after high school and not returning for several years?

That’s what happens in Holiday Homecoming.

This was an excellent Love Inspired novel! I think I enjoyed it so much because of the deep emotions that the author was able to portray in the novel.

Kristin is going home for Thanksgiving. She runs into Ryan on the flight home. She knows Ryan from her childhood since they grew up in the same neighborhood and their mothers are best friends.

Both of them are still healing from deep emotional losses – Kristin’s sister died in an accident awhile back and her family is still reeling from the pain, plus, her sister’s death has affected her parents’ marriage. Kristin’s parents used to be happily married, but now they’re so at odds with each other. Kristin feels that true love is nothing but a pipe dream since her parents are no longer happy and they used to have a joyous marriage.

Meanwhile, Ryan is still not over the death of his dad. His father died when he was eight, and Ryan left home after high school. This Thanksgiving is Ryan’s first time back at home since his teen-aged years and he’s coming home as a doctor. He struggles with his painful loss while in his old neighborhood and Kristin attempts to help him deal with his grief. Ryan doesn’t feel he’d make a suitable mate for anybody – he’s still messed up from his dad’s death and he just needs to be alone. He doesn’t want to get close to anybody and feels he’ll be happier just remaining by himself. Returning to his hometown brings back dormant nightmares.

I especially loved the holiday theme to this book! First there’s Thanksgiving, then Christmas and then Easter. I loved the setting – the falling snow, the Christmas lights, the holiday cookies – etc. This was a very visual, emotional book and I highly recommend it as a great holiday read. If you want to get into the Christmas spirit, then you should download this wonderful sweet romance on your Kindle. I’m sure you’ll love it!

So have you, or somebody you know, ever struggled with returning home or to your hometown? If so, what kind of emotional experience made you struggle with returning to your home?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

The Daddy Surprise By Ginny Aiken

The Daddy Surprise by Ginny Aiken

I downloaded this book and read it on my Kindle. Lucie had a one-week fling with Ryder during Spring break six years ago. The fling resulted in the birth of their daughter, Chloe. Lucie lost touch with Ryder after their Spring fling and has been looking for them since the birth of their daughter. She’s surprisingly found him and she brings their five-year-old daughter with her to meet her father for the first time.

Ryder is the mayor of the town and he’s stunned when Lucie arrives with their daughter – a daughter that he didn’t even realize he had. Lucie wants Ryder to develop a relationship with their daughter but she wants to buy this huge, historic house in town. Ryder owns the the house, and he refuses to sell it to Lucie. Lucie is determined to start her own business in town and Ryder’s vacant historic house is the only suitable place nearby that’s available for use.

As they “duke it out” about the possession/purchase of the house, the couple grows closer, recalling their spring romance.

This book shows how people make mistakes and then suffer the consequences of those mistakes. It also shows that we need to lean on God during rough times and to ask Him for forgiveness for our sins. Ryder clings to his pain from a past mistake instead of leaning on Jesus and asking Him for forgiveness. Sometimes it’s hard to let go of past pain and move on, and this book is prime example of how to let go of our pain and find solace in God’s grace. A nice read.

~Cecelia Dowdy~