Yearly Archives: 2015

Man Of The Family

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Man of the Family by Leigh Riker is a sweet romance from Harlequin’s Heartwarming Line

Have you ever relocated to another state/area?

Griffin, a former news anchor, is now living in a Florida apartment building as a maintenance man. His teen-aged daughter is still bitter of the abandonment of her mom (Griffin’s wife). Griffin tries to get his small family to live harmoniously in their new home, but, he’s failing miserably. His family is full of bitterness and resentment, and his daughter has terrible behavior problems.

Lawyer Sunny, a family acquaintance, has temporarily re-located to Florida. She’s escaping danger, and she is still haunted from a traumatic childhood experience. Griffin and Sunny find that opposites really can attract.

This book was a good, realistic read. I could imagine both Griffin and Sunny struggling with their emotional issues while trying to love one another. A good story.

Have you ever relocated to another state? How was your move? Did things turn out smoothly once you were settled in?

Secretly Yours

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Secretly Yours by Valerie Comer

Have you ever had a secret admirer? 

Well, Lindsey has one! Lindsey is a chef at a popular restaurant in town and she’s agreed to cater the youth group’s Valentine’s Day dinner/fundraiser. Her sister Madison has begged for her support. Lindsey is floored to discover that the youth pastor is Nick, the guy whom she had a crush on in high school! Nick was not very nice to Lindsey back then, so has he changed? Why is he suddenly interested in her?

To make matters more complicated, she has a secret admirer? Why is she suddenly getting all of this attention?

This novella demonstrates how we need to accept God’s grace, no questions asked. Remember His sacrifice for our sins. It’s a sweet, inspiring read.

So, have you ever had a secret admirer? If so, did you ever discover your admirer’s identity?

 

Dashing Through The Snow

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Dashing Through The Snow

Have you ever taken a long road trip during a snow storm?

Ashley, a graduate student, needs to find transportation home. She wants to surprise her mom for Christmas. When she meets Dash, a good-looking man at the airport, they are “forced” to rent the last car on the lot to drive to Seattle. The chemistry between these two strangers is strong, too strong for them to ignore.

Overall, I thought this book was extremely light reading, not too heavy story line. If you like Christmas books with a light plot, then you should give this one a try.

So, have you ever taken a long road trip during a snow storm? If so, did you make it to your destination in time?

Til Grits Do Us Part

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Til Grits Do Us Part by Jennifer Rogers Spinola

What do you recall about planning your wedding?

Shiloh P. Jacobs is getting married! However, her wedding plans are not coming along as she’d like. She’s marrying Adam, a nice Christian southern man. She’s also learning to lean on her new-found Christian faith. Shiloh has an admirer/stalker who keeps sending her dreaded gifts of roses, disturbing phone calls, and threats. How could the Lord allow these things to happen to her? After all, this should be one of the happiest times of her life, not the scariest.

As Shiloh learns secrets about her mom’s past, she continues her friendships with an eclectic mix of southern Christian friends – a far cry from her cronies in Japan.

This book shows us that we need to lean on the Lord ALL the time, especially during times of desperation and despair. This novel also touches upon guilt, you may feel bad about the way you treated a deceased loved one, but, you should not let that guilt fester and make you angry.

So, do you remember planning your wedding? Did you have any problems with your nuptial plans?

 

Sunday Brunch – Three Visitors

Have you ever heard about breaking bread with angels? Are the three visitors in Genesis 18 angels or human beings? 

In Genesis, chapter 18, Abraham receives three visitors. From his reaction, it appears that these three visitors are holy.

He tells his wife Sarah to fix these visitors a nice meal and afterwards, they tell Abraham that his wife Sarah will be with child within the next year. They also warn about the fate of Sodom and Gomorrah.

I keep thinking about these visitors, eating a meal with Abraham. Just makes me think that angels may be among us, sharing a meal, and we might not even know it. I often think of eating as a human trait, not an angelic one. I just find it strange and surreal to imagine angels sharing meals with us, right here on earth.

So, when you discussed this Biblical passage in the past, did you ever dwell on the fact that these angels were sitting down among us, eating as humans? In the passage in chapter 18, these visitors were referred to as men. In Chapter 19, two angels are mentioned. Are the two angels mentioned in chapter 19 inclusive of the three visitors mentioned in Chapter 18? If so, why did only two of the three visitors go on to Sodom and Gomorrah? I suppose the Lord had other duties assigned to the third visitor? Abraham rushed to these visitors, and it appears that he knows that these visitors come straight from the Lord!

Please comment!

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Genesis 18New International Version (NIV)

The Three Visitors

18 The Lord appeared to Abraham near the great trees of Mamre while he was sitting at the entrance to his tent in the heat of the day. Abraham looked up and saw three men standing nearby. When he saw them, he hurried from the entrance of his tent to meet them and bowed low to the ground.

He said, “If I have found favor in your eyes, my lord, do not pass your servant by. Let a little water be brought, and then you may all wash your feet and rest under this tree. Let me get you something to eat, so you can be refreshed and then go on your way—now that you have come to your servant.”

“Very well,” they answered, “do as you say.”

So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah. “Quick,” he said, “get three seahs of the finest flour and knead it and bake some bread.”

Then he ran to the herd and selected a choice, tender calf and gave it to a servant, who hurried to prepare it. He then brought some curds and milk and the calf that had been prepared, and set these before them. While they ate, he stood near them under a tree.

“Where is your wife Sarah?” they asked him.

“There, in the tent,” he said.

10 Then one of them said, “I will surely return to you about this time next year, and Sarah your wife will have a son.”

Now Sarah was listening at the entrance to the tent, which was behind him. 11 Abraham and Sarah were already very old, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing. 12 So Sarah laughed to herself as she thought, “After I am worn out and my lord is old, will I now have this pleasure?”

13 Then the Lord said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh and say, ‘Will I really have a child, now that I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year, and Sarah will have a son.”

15 Sarah was afraid, so she lied and said, “I did not laugh.”

But he said, “Yes, you did laugh.”

Abraham Pleads for Sodom

16 When the men got up to leave, they looked down toward Sodom, and Abraham walked along with them to see them on their way. 17 Then the Lord said, “Shall I hide from Abraham what I am about to do? 18 Abraham will surely become a great and powerful nation, and all nations on earth will be blessed through him. 19 For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.”

20 Then the Lord said, “The outcry against Sodom and Gomorrah is so great and their sin so grievous 21 that I will go down and see if what they have done is as bad as the outcry that has reached me. If not, I will know.”

22 The men turned away and went toward Sodom, but Abraham remained standing before the Lord. 23 Then Abraham approached him and said: “Will you sweep away the righteous with the wicked? 24 What if there are fifty righteous people in the city? Will you really sweep it away and not spare[e] the place for the sake of the fifty righteous people in it? 25 Far be it from you to do such a thing—to kill the righteous with the wicked, treating the righteous and the wicked alike. Far be it from you! Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?”

26 The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”

27 Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”

“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”

29 Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”

He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”

30 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”

He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”

31 Abraham said, “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, what if only twenty can be found there?”

He said, “For the sake of twenty, I will not destroy it.”

32 Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak just once more. What if only ten can be found there?”

He answered, “For the sake of ten, I will not destroy it.”

33 When the Lord had finished speaking with Abraham, he left, and Abraham returned home.

Genesis 19New International Version (NIV)

Sodom and Gomorrah Destroyed

1 The two angels arrived at Sodom in the evening, and Lot was sitting in the gateway of the city. When he saw them, he got up to meet them and bowed down with his face to the ground. “My lords,” he said, “please turn aside to your servant’s house. You can wash your feet and spend the night and then go on your way early in the morning.”

But he insisted so strongly that they did go with him and entered his house.He prepared a meal for them, baking bread without yeast, and they ate.

 

 

The Man You’ll Marry

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The Man You’ll Marry by Debbie Macomber

Have you ever known somebody who was a workaholic?

A magical wedding dress, two single women who are best friends, and two tense, hardworking men are thrown together in these two novellas. Shelly Hansen stunningly receives her great-aunt’s wedding dress. The legend is, after she receives the dress, the first man she meets afterwards will be the man she marries. When she literally knocks over Mark Brady on a shopping-mall escalator, she knows that he’s NOT the man she’s going to marry. However, Mark and Shelly keep running into each other, and they can’t ignore their shared attraction. Is there truth to the magical wedding dress legend?

When Shelly passes the magical wedding dress onto her best friend, Jill Morrison, Jill is surprised. She receives the dress while on her Hawaii vacation. En route to Hawaii, she sits next to workaholic Jordan Wilcox. She’s attracted to Jordan, but, can’t let herself fall for him. After all, her father was a workaholic and his ways caused him to have an early death. She knows if she gets serious about her relationship with Jordan, she may become a widow way too early, just like her mom. Jordan is scared of failing. Can he learn to love Shelly and give up his workaholic ways?

So have you ever known a workaholic? If so, did he/she remain a workaholic, or did they learn to slow down and enjoy life?

Both of these stories were short and charming. I finished them in a few hours. Very delightful reading.

Loving Luke – A Christmas Novella – Available Now! Only 99 cents!

Winter Background

Loving Luke is now available – only 99 cents! 

When Kim Taylor returns to Bethlehem to run her family’s cookie shop, her life is in shambles. She’s hurting from her broken engagement, her mom’s recently died and, she’s unemployed. She also doesn’t get along with her dad. She’s always felt like she’s played second fiddle to her perfect older sister, Tina. She secretly longs for her father to love her the way he loves her sibling.

She’s stunned when Luke Barnes, her former high school boyfriend, strolls into her cookie shop.

Recently widowed, Luke Barnes has returned to Bethlehem to raise his daughter, Lisa, in a wholesome environment. When Kim offers Lisa a job in her shop, Luke is hesitant to accept. After all, Kim was wild in high school and he doesn’t want his daughter being mentored by someone with an unsavory past.

Seeing Kim causes Luke’s dormant feelings to unfurl, but, falling for Kim is not on his agenda right now. He’s determined to provide a better way of life for his daughter. Struggling to get his college degree, he’s failing calculus, and it appears that Kim is the only person who has the knack to tutor him. Can he continue to ignore their shared attraction as they work together to pass his class?

 

 

 

Sunday Brunch – Angels!

Have you ever seen an angel?

I’ve always been fascinated by angels. I honestly don’t believe I’ve ever seen one, though. One of my Goodreads friends recommended that I watch this sermon about angels that was recorded at her church last Christmas! Wow, I loved it! This sermon gives a great overview about angels!

Hebrews 13:2

New International Version (NIV)

Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.

When I read that scripture, I think about the old TV series, Touched By An Angel. Remember that show? The angels were on earth, helping people with their problems. Near the end of each show, the angel announced to their assigned charge(s), “I’m an angel, sent by God.”

– See more at: http://ceceliadowdy.com/blog/2014/02/sunday-brunch-have-you-ever-seen-an-angel-2.html#sthash.BKZjKh2O.dpuf

So, have you ever encountered an angel? Please share your angelic experience with me!

 

Sweet Romances!

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Here are a few sweet romances that I read recently. No, these novels are not inspirational, but, inspirational readers can enjoy these books without being offended.

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In Winner Takes All, Stephanie has had a childhood crush on Daniel for a long time! Stephanie is best friends with Daniel’s sister and when she wins the lottery, she has the brilliant idea of following Daniel to Peru, where he’s currently running a clinic. She offers a nice donation to help him to set up more clinics, however, he must agree to allow her to assist him with his medical mission. Daniel is drawn to Stephanie, but, he can’t get past that she’s nothing more to him than his kid sister’s friend. Daniel has to realize that she’s a grown woman – a grown woman who’s very much attracted to him.

I liked the international setting in this story. It was also enjoyable to read a book that shows what it’s like to live in a third world country with limited medical care.

 

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Her Lone Cowboy

When an injured war veteran, Caleb, purchases a ranch, he’s determined to shut himself away from others. He’s a loner, not wanting the pity of others when they see his scars. However, when Delaney moves next door, her son forces Caleb to befriend him. Caleb is also drawn to Delaney, for some reason. He’s attracted to her, but, he’s still haunted by his war experience. He’s not a healed man – his war experience has left him mentally and physically unstable and Delaney needs to ignore their shared attraction.

For unknown reasons, Delaney is drawn to her new neighbor. She befriends him, in spite of his determination to be a loner.

I enjoyed this book because the hero has deep, emotional scars that he needs to overcome. The story showed how war can affect a man’s life long after he’s left the battle scene. This novel also shows how tough it can be to be a single mom with no emotional support from the child’s father. Overall, a very good read.

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The Hardest Fight

Lucy broke up with Dylan five years ago. They come into contact again when she’s fighting to save her shelter for battered women. Dylan is stunned to see Lucy again. He’s never stopped loving her, and still doesn’t understand why she abruptly ended their relationship five years ago.

Lucy is stunned to see Dylan again. She still has deep feelings for him, but lashes out at him, wanting him to keep his distance from her. After all, she’s still attracted to him and she doesn’t want to re-ignite these old feelings. Unbeknownst to Dylan, Lucy suffered from a traumatic experience, an experience that forced her to end their relationship.

Out of the three heartwarming titles that I read, I enjoyed this one the most. Lucy had to overcome deep, emotional pain and it shows how hard it can be to allow someone who loves us to stand by our side when we’re suffering. Overall, an excellent read.