Claire Knows Best by Tracey Bateman

Claire Knows Best (Claire Everett #2)

Has your home ever been damaged by a natural disaster?

In this slightly humorous book told in the first person, Claire Everett’s life gets more chaotic when a tree falls on her house during a storm. She must uproot her family and relocate to another home while her house is getting repaired.

In the meantime, Claire tries to make sense of her chaotic life. A divorced mother, she’s dating Greg, a hunky man who has a leadership role in her church. When Greg announces that he wants to become a pastor, Claire freaks out – she’s NOT pastor’s wife material.

Meanwhile, she struggles to raise her children while living in their temporary home while she pens Christian romance novels.

She also struggles with her feelings of animosity towards Darcy, her ex-husband’s new wife. Darcy is pregnant, and she struggles to make Claire love her as a friend. Can Claire put her animosity towards Darcy aside?

I enjoyed reading this novel. I also liked how the heroine was divorced. I don’t see many divorced women in Christian fiction nowadays. I also felt that the problems that Claire faced were extremely realistic. Teenagers and younger children are hard to raise, and having to do it without the help of a live-in husband is a something that many Christians face. Overall, this was a light, enjoyable read.

I read the first book in this series, Leave It To Claire, awhile ago.

So, has your home ever been damaged by a natural disaster? How did you cope? Where did you live while your home was being repaired?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Childhood Favorites – From The Blog Archives

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What are your favorite childhood stories? Which books really resonated with you?

If you know me very well, you’ll know that I LOVE READING! It’s one of the few things in my life that has been constant from early childhood until now. When I think about my time as a kid, I think about some of my favorite books. I’ve listed A FEW of them here, but, as I think about it, I’m sure there are others:

1. The Dick And Jane Series – Actually, I don’t consider this one a “favorite” but, these books kind of stay in my mind because these are the books that were used to teach me to read. I just remember the joy of being able to string words together and to actually read an entire book aloud!

2. Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House Series – I read these books over and over again. I really enjoyed seeing these characters through the pages of these novels! The family went through lots of trouble in the wilderness and Laura had lots of struggles with her nemesis, Nelly Olsen. There was also a popular TV series on in the seventies that was based upon the characters in the Little House books. I watched most of the episodes of Michael Landon’s series, too.

3. The Boxcar Children – A group of four orphaned children hide out in an abandoned boxcar to escape the care of their “evil” grandfather. The rest of the series focuses on their being raised by their grandpa and the adventures they faced. I read this entire series a couple of times I believe when I was around nine or ten?

4. The Nancy Drew Mysteries – the originals. I read the original Nancy Drew mysteries when I was in the fifth grade. I was mesmerized by this courageous, smart, 18-year-old woman who solved mysteries and…she didn’t accept payment for her services. Her mother died when she was three and she was raised by her lawyer father, Carson Drew and her housekeeper, Hannah Gruen (sp?).

5. Heidi

6. The Secret Garden

I recall reading Heidi twice and I believe I read The Secret Garden more than once. Both of these stories involved ill children, struggling to get well. In Heidi, she lives in the mountains with her grandfather, the Alm (sp?) Uncle and there’s a shepherd boy named Peter in this story too. Heidi loves to read and I recall her reading to a blind woman in the story. I believe this book took place in the Swiss Alps. Also, there was a little girl in a wheelchair, but I can’t remember her name. My memories of The Secret Garden are a bit sketchy, but I recall the garden served as a solace to a sick child as the youngster struggled to get better. I believe there was a boy named Dicken? in The Secret Garden?

So, what are your favorite childhood stories? Why were they your favorites? Have you read any of the stories that I’ve listed above?

~Cecelia Dowdy~

Should Christians Drink Alcohol?

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Image courtesy of John Kasawa at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Is it wrong for Christians to drink alcohol? Over the years, I’ve found that many Christians have mixed views about drinking. The Apostle Paul warns us not to get drunk with wine in the book of Ephesians:

Ephesians 5:17-18

¹⁷Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is. ¹⁸Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit,

At a wedding at Cana in Galilee, Jesus and his Apostles attended. When they ran out of wine, Jesus miraculously turned water into wine:

John 2:3-9

³When the wine was gone, Jesus’ mother said to him, “They have no more wine.”…⁶Nearby stood six stone water jars…⁷Jesus said to the servants, “Fill the jars with water”; so they filled them to the brim. ⁸Then he told them, “Now draw some out and take it to the master of the banquet.” They did so, ⁹and the master of the banquet tasted the water that had been turned into wine. He did not realize where it had come from, though the servants who had drawn the water knew.

I wonder why Christians have such conflicting views about drinking? Many Christians consider having a glass of wine, or a beer, to be a sin – yet, some Christians drink wine during communion, and Jesus may have served his Apostles wine during the last supper – the fruit of the vine:

Matthew 26:28-29

²⁸This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

Also, the Bible advises drinking wine to help with stomach problems and illnesses:

1 Timothy 5:23

23 Stop drinking only water, and use a little wine because of your stomach and your frequent illnesses.

I do believe it’s wrong to get drunk, and, if you’re prone to alcohol addiction, then, you should not drink at all. But, I’ve heard some ask – how much is too much? How does one measure how much to drink?

So, what’s your opinion? Is it wrong for Christians to drink alcohol? I’d be interested in hearing the responses to this thought-provoking question. Leave a comment!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Never Say Never by Victoria Christopher Murray

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Never Say Never

Never Say Never by Victoria Christopher Murray

Your best friend has an affair with your husband – could you forgive them?

That’s the question which created the catalyst for this novel. Miriam is grieving – her firefighter husband (Chauncey) has recently died in a fire and now she’s a single mom, forced to raise her three sons alone. She clings to her sister friends, Michellelee and Emily, hoping their love and support will help her get through this difficult time.

She also turns to Jamal, Emily’s husband, for support. Jamal and Miriam share a similar pain. Miriam’s husband, Chauncey, was Jamal’s best friend. The two were as close as brothers, and both were firefighters – so Jamal has lost his “brother” and Miriam has lost her husband. Both need to find a way to get through this difficult grief. They turn to one another for comfort – and that’s when their affair starts…

I enjoyed this story. Like all of Victoria Christopher Murray’s books, it was a page-turning novel, and I thought the characters were very realistic. Although both Miriam and Jamal were grieving, I still felt that they could’ve worked harder to resist temptation. Miriam feels bad about hurting Emily, and Jamal loves his wife. However, he just couldn’t resist the temptation – the grief seemed to make both Miriam and Jamal especially vulnerable.

Honestly, I doubt if I could forgive my best friend for such a deception. I know the Lord wants us to forgive, but…I think it would take me a LONG time to forgive my best friend, if ever.

So, if your best friend had an affair with your husband, could you forgive them?

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Blackberry Crunch – A Recipe

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Image courtesy of Grant Cochrane at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

This recipe is really good and simple. I used fresh blueberries (instead of blackberries), and it was still good. I’d imagine that you could use just about any fresh, pie-type fruit (apples, berries, etc.) and it would still taste good!

Have you ever made a recipe that’s similar (or the same) as this one? If you make this, leave me a comment and let me know if you liked it.

2 cups fresh blackberries (or blueberries)
2/3 cup brown sugar
Juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup flour

2/3 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
5 tablespoons butter softened

1 teaspoon cinnamon

Vanilla ice cream or whipped cream (optional)

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In 8×8 inch baking pan, combine blackberries and lemon juice together. In a separate bowl blend, flour, oats, cinnamon, brown sugar and butter. Mix until crumbly. Sprinkle over berries. Bake for 30 minutes or until crisp. Serve warm with ice cream or whipped cream.

Enjoy! 🙂

Let me know what you think about this recipe!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Congrats To The Christy Award Winners!

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Join me in congratulating the 2013 Christy Award Winners. For a complete list of the nominees, see my Christy-Award 2013 Nominees Blog Post.

Contemporary Romance/

The Breath of Dawn

by Kristen Heitzmann (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Contemporary Series, Sequels, and Novellas

You Don’t Know Me

by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House Publishers)

Contemporary Standalone/

Not in the Heart

by Chris Fabry (Tyndale House Publishers)

First Novel/

Into the Free

by Julie Cantrell (David C Cook)

Historical/

Flame of Resistance

by Tracy Groot (Tyndale House Publishers)

Historical Romance/

Against the Tide

by Elizabeth Camden (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Suspense/

Rare Earth

by Davis Bunn (Bethany House Publishers, a division of Baker Publishing Group)

Visionary/

Soul’s Gate

by James L. Rubart (Thomas Nelson, a division of HarperCollins Christian Publishing)

Young Adult/

Child of the Mountains

by Marilyn Sue Shank (Delacorte Press, a division of Random House)

Congrats, again Christy winners! 🙂

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Congrats To The Carol Award Finalists!

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Congrats to the Carol Award Finalists! The Carol Award is given by the American Christian Fiction Writers and the winner will be announced at the ACFW annual conference in the September!

Here are the finalists for the 2013 Carol Awards. The winners will be announced during the 2013 ACFW National Conference in Indianapolis at the Gala on September 15, 2013.

Category

Seaside Reunion by Irene Hannon (Love Inspired * Editor: Melissa Endlich)
A Horseman's Hope A Horseman’s Hope by Myra Johnson (Heartsong Presents * Editor: Rebecca Germany)
Lost Legacy by Dana Mentink (Love Inspired * Editor: Emily Rodmell)

Contemporary

Heart Echoes by Sally John (Tyndale House * Editors: Karen Watson/Stephanie Broene,/Kathy Olson)
You Don't Know Me (Deep Haven, #6) You Don’t Know Me by Susan May Warren (Tyndale House * Editors: Karen Watson/Sarah Mason)
Beyond the Storm (Quilts of Love #1) Beyond the Storm by Carolyn Zane (Abingdon Press * Editor: Ramona Richards)

Debut Novel

Wildflowers from Winter by Katie Ganshert (Waterbrook/Multnomah * Editor: Shannon Marchese)
Proof: A Novel (Bloodline Trilogy, #1) Proof by Jordyn Redwood (Kregel * Editor: Dawn Anderson)
A Sweethaven Summer by Courtney Walsh (Guideposts Books * Editors: Beth Adams/Rachel Meisel/Lindsay Guzzardo)

Historical

Where Lilacs Still Bloom by Jane Kirkpatrick (Waterbrook/Multnomah * Editor: Shannon Marchese)
At Every Turn by Anne Mateer (Bethany House * Editor: Charlene Patterson)
The Discovery by Dan Walsh (Revell * Editor: Andrea Doering)

Historical Romance

To Whisper Her Name by Tamera Alexander (Zondervan * Editor: Sue Brower)
A Promise to Love by Serena B. Miller (Revell * Editor: Vicki Crumpton)
Short-Straw Bride by Karen Witemeyer (Bethany House * Editor: Karen Schurrer)

Mystery/Suspense/Thriller

Downfall by Terri Blackstock (Zondervan * Editors: David Lambert/Sue Brower/Ellen Tarver)
Gone to Ground by Brandilyn Collins (B&H Publishing * Editor: Karen Ball)
The Soul Saver by Dineen Miller (Barbour Publishing * Editors: Rebecca Germany/Jamie Chavez)

Novella

You’re a Charmer, Mr. Grinch by Paula Moldenhauer (Barbour Publishing * Editors: Rebecca Germany/JoAnne Simmons)
Colonial Courtships Impressed by Love by Lisa Karon Richardson (Barbour Publishing * Editor: Rebecca Germany)
A Recipe for Hope (An Amish Kitchen Novella) A Recipe for Hope by Beth Wiseman (Thomas Nelson * Editor: Natalie Hanemann)

Romance

The Accidental Bride by Denise Hunter (Thomas Nelson * Editors: Natalie Hanemann/L. B. Norton)
Saving Gideon (Clover Ridge, #1) Saving Gideon by Amy Lillard (B&H Publishing * Editors: Julie Gwinn/Julie Carobini)
An Uncommon Grace: A Novel An Uncommon Grace by Serena B. Miller (Howard * Editor: Holly Halverson)

Romantic Suspense

Tidewater Inn by Colleen Coble (Thomas Nelson * Editor: Ami McConnell)
Saving Hope by Margaret Daley (Abingdon Press * Editor: Ramona Richards)
When a Heart Stops (Deadly Reunions, #2) When a Heart Stops by Lynette Eason (Revell * Editor: Andrea Doering)

Speculative

Daughter of Light by Morgan L. Busse (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke)
Judge Judge by R. J. Larson (Bethany House * Editors: David Long/Sarah Long)
Daystar Daystar by Kathy Tyers (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke)

Young Adult

Prophet by R.J. Larson (Bethany House * Editors: David Long/Sarah Long)
Like Moonlight at Low Tide by Nicole Quigley (Zondervan * Editor: Jacque Alberta)
The New Recruit by Jill Williamson (Marcher Lord Press * Editor: Jeff Gerke)

Again, congrats to all the finalists!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Book Giveaway Winner!

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The winner of the book giveaway is:

Carol Wong – McKinney, TX

Congrats, Carol! I hope you enjoy the novels! I’ll be mailing them to you sometime within the next week!

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Unicorns In The Bible?

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Unicorn pic courtesy of Free Digital Photos By Victor Habbick

Do you believe UNICORNS, the one-horned mythical creatures, really existed?

The word UNICORN was mentioned in the Old King James Version of the Bible. I’ve listed the scriptures at the end of this blog post. From my research, the word that was translated into UNICORN was re’em (the Hebrew word). Re’em means aurochs, which is the ancestor of domestic cattle.

It appears that the word was mistranslated in the Old King James Version. Other versions of the Bible use the word wild ox instead of unicorn.

What do you think? Is it possible that unicorns really existed after all? Do you think these wild, mythical creatures really roved on this earth?

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~

Numbers 23:22
God brought them out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn.

Numbers 24:8
God brought him forth out of Egypt; he hath as it were the strength of an unicorn: he shall eat up the nations his enemies, and shall break their bones, and pierce them through with his arrows.

Deuteronomy 33:17
His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh.

Job 39:9
Will the unicorn be willing to serve thee, or abide by thy crib?

Job 39:10
Canst thou bind the unicorn with his band in the furrow? or will he harrow the valleys after thee?

Psalm 22:21
Save me from the lion’s mouth: for thou hast heard me from the horns of the unicorns.

Psalm 29:6
He maketh them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young unicorn.

Psalm 92:10
But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil.

Isaiah 34:7
And the unicorns shall come down with them, and the bullocks with the bulls; and their land shall be soaked with blood, and their dust made fat with fatness.

The Millionaire’s Nanny Arrangement by Linda Goodnight

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The Millionaire’s Nanny Arrangement by Linda Goodnight

***note – this is a sweet romance!

The Millionaire's Nanny Arrangement (Harlequin Romance, #4053)

How would you cope if your cheating husband has died, leaving you pregnant and alone?

Workaholic Ryan Storm runs his multi-million-dollar company to ensure his motherless daughter, Mariah, has a better life than his. Widowed, he finds himself lacking a nanny/tutor for his highly-intelligent daughter. When he meets Kelsey Mason, a woman he knew in high school, at the airport, he realizes that Mariah and Kelsey get along well. There’s only one big problem, Kelsey is very pregnant – can he be sure that her pregnancy is safe – he’s not the best person to have around when a woman is expecting a child.

Kelsey recalls Ryan from her high school days, and wonders about his commitment to his daughter. He never spends time with her since he’s always working and poor Mariah craves to spend more time with her daddy. Kelsey and Ryan argue over the best way to raise Mariah while Ryan worries about Kelsey’s pregnancy – she’s recently widowed and alone – plus she’s beautiful. Although they disagree on many things, their mutual attraction sizzles.

This was a delightfully enjoyable read. A short, sweet romance that you can finish in a few hours.

So, how would you cope if your cheating husband has died, leaving you pregnant and alone?

***My e-book, Milk Money, is only 99 cents! Download it now before the price goes up!

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~Cecelia Dowdy~